JP6118226B2 - Stirrer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a stirring device to which a stirring blade is attached.

  As an apparatus for dispersing, mixing or stirring an object having a relatively high viscosity, such as a liquid or a mixture of powder and liquid, a stirring apparatus having a plurality of stirring blades is used. Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a conventional stirring device and stirring blade. In the configuration disclosed in this document, the plurality of stirring blades are attached to a rotation driving unit of the stirring device, and each of the stirring blades rotates and revolves in a container that accommodates the target object.

  The stirring blade is an attachment portion attached to the rotation drive portion of the stirring device, a top frame portion extending in a radial direction from the attachment portion, a bottom frame portion positioned below the top frame portion and configured to rotate around the rotation axis, It has a pair of side frame part which connects the both ends of a top frame part, and the both ends of a bottom frame part. In Patent Document 1, the top frame portion and the bottom frame portion are in a positional relationship shifted by 90 degrees around the rotation axis. Further, the pair of side frame portions have a twisted shape between the top frame portion and the bottom frame portion.

  In Patent Document 1, two agitating blades are attached so as to have rotation axes parallel to each other. The distance between the rotating shafts that rotate the two stirring blades is constant regardless of revolution. When the two stirring blades rotate, the state in which the side frame portions have portions that are very close to each other is maintained. When the top frame portion and the bottom frame portion form an angle of 90 degrees, any one of the side frame portions is close to each other. By appropriately setting a gap between adjacent parts of the side frame, a strong shearing force acts on the target object in the gap. Thereby, dispersion | distribution, mixing, or stirring of a target object can be performed.

  However, a part of the two stirring blades that generates a shearing force that significantly contributes to dispersion, mixing, or stirring of the target object is limited to the part that is very close to the above. The remaining part merely agitates the target object relatively gently according to revolution and rotation, and no significant shear force is generated. For this reason, in order to fully disperse | distribute, mix, or stir a target object, it is unavoidable that it requires an appropriate time. In recent years, the fields in which stirring devices are used are becoming increasingly widespread, such as chemical, medical, electronic, ceramics, food, and feed, and the properties of target objects are diversified. Depending on the properties of the target object, a case where it is difficult to smoothly complete dispersion, mixing, or stirring is assumed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-267032

The present invention has been conceived under the circumstances described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a stirring device capable of performing dispersion, mixing, stirring, and the like more smoothly in a shorter time. .

Stirring device thus provided in the present invention, and two or more stirring blades, a container for accommodating the stirring object, the state where one by at least a portion of each stirring blade is accommodated in the container, wherein each stirring blade A rotation drive unit that rotates around the rotation axis , wherein the stirring blade includes a ceiling frame portion that extends in a radial direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction, and the ceiling frame portion. A pair of side frames that are connected to both ends of the bottom frame portion and the top frame portion that are spaced apart in the direction of the rotation axis and twisted in the same direction along a cylinder having the rotation axis as a central axis. A stirring blade that is held and rotated on the top frame portion side, and the pair of side frame portions are located on the top frame portion side and per unit length in the rotation axis direction. The twist angle around the rotation axis is relatively small A weakly twisted portion, and a strongly twisted portion that is located on the opposite side of the top frame portion and that has a relatively large twist angle around the rotation axis per unit length in the rotation axis direction. The outer diameter of the side frame portion is constant in any part in the direction of the rotation axis, and the twist directions of the two or more stirring blades coincide with each other, and the rotation shafts of the two or more stirring blades The directions are parallel to each other, and the distance between the rotation axes of the two or more stirring blades is set to be greater than the outer diameter of the side frame portion, and the twist angle between the pair of side frame portions is 180 It is characterized by a degree of 270 degrees . Preferably, the rotation driving unit rotates the stirring blades around the rotation shafts and revolves while maintaining a distance between the rotation shafts.

  According to the present invention, when a plurality of the agitating blades are attached to the agitating device, shearing force can be generated at many locations on the target object, and dispersion, mixing, or agitation can be smoothly completed. .

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It is a side view which shows the stirring apparatus with which an example of the stirring blade which concerns on this invention is used. It is a front view which shows the stirring apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the stirring blade which concerns on this invention. It is a front view which shows the stirring blade of FIG. It is a side view which shows the stirring blade of FIG. It is a top view which shows the stirring blade of FIG. It is a bottom view which shows the stirring blade of FIG. The stirring process by the stirring blade in the stirring apparatus of FIG. 1 is shown, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a plan view, (c) is a front view, and (d) is a perspective view. The stirring process by the stirring blade in the stirring apparatus of FIG. 1 is shown, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a plan view, (c) is a front view, and (d) is a perspective view. The stirring process by the stirring blade in the stirring apparatus of FIG. 1 is shown, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a plan view, (c) is a front view, and (d) is a perspective view.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 show a stirring device in which a stirring blade A which is an example of a stirring blade according to the present invention is used. 1 is a side view of the stirring device B, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the stirring device B. The stirrer B has a rotation drive unit 61. The rotation drive unit 61 is connected to a rotation drive source such as a motor (not shown) built in the stirring device B via a gear or the like. The rotation drive unit 61 can be attached with two stirring blades A, and is configured to revolve these two stirring blades A while rotating each of them. A container 62 can be disposed below the rotation drive unit 61. The container 62 accommodates a target object that is dispersed, mixed, or stirred by the stirring device B. When dispersing, mixing, or stirring the target object in the container 62, the two stirring blades A are revolved and rotated while the two stirring blades A are immersed in the target object in the container 62.

  3 to 7 show the stirring blade A. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the stirring blade A. FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the stirring blade A. FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the stirring blade A. FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the stirring blade. FIG. 7 is a bottom view showing the stirring blade A. FIG. In these drawings, the direction in which the rotation axis Oz, which is the center of rotation of the stirring blade A, extends is the z direction, and the direction in which the ceiling frame 2 and the bottom frame 3 to be described later extend is x. A direction perpendicular to the direction, the z direction, and the x direction is defined as a y direction for convenience.

  The stirring blade A is rotated around the rotation axis Oz while being attached to the stirring device B. In addition, the stirring device B is configured to set two rotation axes Oz for rotating the two stirring blades A, and these two rotation axes Oz revolve. The material of the stirring blade A is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, it is made of a metal such as stainless steel. The stirring blade A has a mounting portion 1, a top frame portion 2, a bottom frame portion 3, and a pair of side frame portions 4. As an example of the size of the stirring blade A, the height in the z direction is about 140 mm and the dimension in the x direction is about 73 mm.

  The attachment part 1 is a part used for attaching the stirring blade A to the rotation drive part 61 of the stirring device B. The shape and size of the attachment portion 1 are appropriately set depending on the configuration of the rotation driving portion 61. In the present embodiment, the attachment portion 1 has a cylindrical shape with the rotation axis Oz as the central axis. Further, a hole for inserting a bolt, a pin or the like for fixing the stirring blade A to the rotation drive unit 61 is appropriately provided. As an example of the size of the attachment portion 1, the height in the z direction is about 30 mm, the outer diameter is about 30 mm, and the inner diameter is about 15 mm.

  The top frame portion 2 extends in the x direction from the attachment portion 1 and has a symmetrical shape with the rotation axis Oz interposed therebetween. 2 of the present embodiment extends obliquely downward from the attachment portion 1, but in order to perform the function intended by the present invention, the top frame portion 2 extends in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis Oz. It is an essential requirement that the shape extends downward in the z direction, for example, due to circumstances such as attachment to the rotation drive unit 61 and the convenience of forming the pair of side frame portions 4. The cross section of the lower end portion in the z direction of the top frame 2 is, for example, hexagonal.

  The bottom frame portion 3 is disposed so as to be spaced downward in the z direction with respect to the attachment portion 1 and the top frame portion 2. In the present embodiment, the bottom frame portion 3 has, for example, a straight bar shape with a substantially triangular cross section. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the bottom frame portion 3 is parallel to the top frame portion 2 when viewed in the z direction. However, as will be understood from the configuration of a pair of side frame parts 4 described later, it is considered that the bottom frame part 3 is rotated 180 degrees around the rotation axis Oz with respect to the top frame part 2.

  The pair of side frame parts 4 connect both ends of the top frame part 2 and both ends of the bottom frame part 3. However, in the case of this embodiment, each side frame part 4 has connected the end of the top frame part 2, and the end of the bottom frame part 3 located in the other side in this x direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the side frame 4 has a twist angle α0 around the rotation axis Oz of 180 degrees. It can be said that the relationship between the two side frame portions 4 is axisymmetric with respect to each other rotated 180 degrees around the rotation axis Oz. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the outer diameter D of the pair of side frame portions 4 in the radial direction when the direction in which the rotation axis Oz extends is the axial direction is constant in any part in the z direction. In this embodiment, it is about 73 mm, for example. Moreover, the z direction height of the side frame part 4 is about 110 mm, for example.

  The side frame portion 4 has a weakly twisted portion 41 and a strong twisted portion 42. The weakly twisted portion 41 is located on the top frame portion 2 side in the z direction, and in this embodiment, is a portion corresponding to the upper half of the side frame portion 4 in the z direction, as shown in FIG. The strongly twisted portion 42 is located on the bottom frame portion 3 side in the z direction, and is a portion corresponding to the lower half of the side frame portion 4 in the z direction in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the twist angle α1 around the rotation axis Oz of the weak twist portion 41 is smaller than the twist angle α2 around the rotation axis Oz of the strong twist portion 42. Therefore, the twist angle around the rotation axis Oz per unit length in the z direction is relatively small with respect to the strong twist portion 42 in the weak twist portion 41, and the strong twist portion 42 with respect to the weak twist portion 41. The relationship is relatively large. In this embodiment, the twist angle α1 is 45 degrees, the twist angle α2 is 135 degrees, and the ratio of the twist angles around the rotation axis Oz per unit length in the z direction is 1: 3. The cross-sectional shape of the side frame portion 4 is, for example, a hexagonal shape.

  In the present embodiment, the weakly twisted portion 41 has a constant twist angle around the rotation axis Oz per unit length in the z direction. Further, the torsion angle of the strongly twisted portion 42 around the rotation axis Oz per unit length in the z direction is constant. For this reason, a bent portion 43 in which the twist angle around the rotation axis Oz per unit length in the z direction is discontinuous is formed at the boundary portion between the weak twist portion 41 and the strong twist portion 42. In addition, it is good also considering the part of the bending line which faces the diagonally upward direction which appears in FIG. 3 among the bending parts 43 as a smooth curved surface. In this case, when the stirring blade A after stirring is cleaned, there is an advantage that the target object hardly remains in the bent portion 43 and cleaning can be performed appropriately.

  Next, the stirring process using the stirring blade A in the stirring device B will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 shows the initial state of the stirring step and the state positioned for convenience in this description. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of two stirring blades A as viewed obliquely from above, FIG. 2B is a plan view, FIG. 2C is a front view, and FIG. d) is a perspective view seen obliquely from below. First, the distance L between the rotation axes Oz of the two stirring blades A is set to be smaller than the outer diameter D of the side frame portion 4. As an example of the distance L, when the outer diameter D of the side frame portion 4 is about 73 mm, it is set to about 59 mm. For this reason, as shown to the same figure (b), the two stirring blades A are the positional relationship in which some mutually overlap in the z direction view. The two stirring blades A are in a relationship in which the rotational positions around the rotational axis Oz are shifted by 90 degrees. Specifically, the top frame portion 2 of the stirring blade A on the left side in the drawing is in a posture along the left-right direction in the drawing as viewed in the z direction, whereas the top frame portion of the stirring blade A on the right side in the drawing is shown. 2 is a posture along the vertical direction in the figure.

  With respect to the arrangement of the two stirring blades A configured as described above, the outer diameter D and the distance L are in the above-described magnitude relationship, and the rotational position is in a relationship shifted by 90 degrees. The two stirring blades A are in a state in which the portions surrounded by the two circles P drawn with imaginary lines in FIG. 8 are very close to each other. The gap between the two stirring blades A in the circle P is set according to the relationship between the outer diameter D and the distance L, and is set to, for example, about 2 mm in this embodiment. In the present embodiment, in the same figure (b), at a position rotated 45 degrees upward and a position rotated 45 degrees downward with respect to the direction in which the top frame portion 2 of the left stirring blade A extends. Two stirring blades A are in close proximity. More specifically, the bent portions 43 of the side frame portions 4 of the two agitating blades A are very close to each other, and 1/3 from the lower end of the strong twist portion 42 of the side frame portion 4 of the two agitating blades A The parts located in the degree are very close to each other.

  In the stirring device B, the two stirring blades A are each rotated around the rotation axis Oz. The rotation direction N of rotation is the same direction, and the rotation speed is also the same. Further, the two agitating blades A are revolved in the container 62 while maintaining the mutual distance L by the rotation driving unit 61. 8 to 10 illustrate the function of the agitation process by autorotation, and in actuality, they are revolved while maintaining the state shown in these figures.

  FIG. 9 shows a state where the two stirring blades A are rotated 45 degrees in the rotation direction N from FIG. Even in the state shown in the figure, as shown in the figure (b), the circle P is present at substantially the same position as the position shown in the figure 8 (b) when viewed in the z direction. In the state shown in the figure, as shown in the figures (a), (c), and (d), the upper ends and the lower ends of the side frame portions 4 of the two stirring blades A have the same orientation as viewed in the z direction. In close proximity. Further, portions located about 1/3 from the upper ends of the four strongly twisted portions 42 of the two stirring blades A are very close to each other. In the state shown in the figure, since the upper end and the lower end of the side frame portion 4 are very close to each other, the portions surrounded by a total of three circles P are very close to each other. The state in which these three circles P are present occurs at the moment shown in the figure, and immediately before and after that, there are two circles P.

  FIG. 10 shows a state in which the two stirring blades A are rotated 45 degrees in the rotation direction N from FIG. Even in the state shown in the figure, as shown in the figure (b), the circle P exists at substantially the same position as the positions shown in FIGS. 8 (b) and 9 (b) when viewed in the z direction. In the state shown in the figure, the bent parts 43 of the side frame parts 4 of the two agitating blades A are very close to each other as shown in the figures (a), (c), and (d). Further, the portions located about 1/3 from the lower ends of the strongly twisted portions 42 of the side frame portions 4 of the two stirring blades A are very close to each other.

  The state shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrates the state of the two stirring blades A. However, since it is configured to rotate at the same speed in the rotation direction N, the rotation shown in FIGS. The state similar to the state shown in FIG. 6 or the state corresponding to the middle of the states shown in these drawings is continuously maintained. For this reason, the two stirring blades A are always in a state where there are two circles P, and three circles P appear at a frequency of once every 90 degrees.

  Next, the operation of the stirring blade A will be described.

  The inventors first focused on the fact that by increasing the twist angle α0, the number of locations (circle P) where the two stirring blades A are in close proximity can be increased. That is, the configuration shown in Patent Document 1 corresponds to a configuration in which the twist angle α0 is 90 degrees. In the case of such a configuration, only one of the parts indicated by the circle P in the above description always appears. Therefore, a strong shearing force is generated between the two stirring blades on the target object only at one location. On the other hand, according to the stirring blade A, two circles P always appear, and a strong shear force is generated in the target object at two locations. Thereby, dispersion | distribution, mixing, or stirring can be performed in a shorter time.

  However, as the twist angle α0 is increased, the twist angle around the rotation axis Oz per unit length in the z direction is increased in the entire side frame portion 4. The inventors of the present invention are effective in improving efficiency of dispersion, mixing, stirring, and the like. On the other hand, depending on the properties of the target object, the target object is enclosed inside the pair of side frames 4 that are twisted. Therefore, it was discovered that there are cases in which dispersion, mixing, or stirring beyond a certain level cannot be performed. For example, the viscosity of the target object is remarkably high, or the mixture is a mixture of powder and liquid, the proportion of the powder is relatively high, and the fluidity is relatively low. In order to increase the efficiency of dispersion, mixing or stirring even for such a target object, it is effective to enlarge the portion where the circle P appears. Therefore, as a result of the test, the inventors did not increase the torsion angle around the rotation axis Oz per unit length in the z direction over the entire length of the side frame portion 4, but the lower end side of the side frame portion 4 is relatively unit. It is possible to make it difficult for the target object to be enclosed between the two side frame parts 4 by adopting a configuration in which the torsion angle around the length is large and the upper end side is relatively small at the unit length. I found it. For this reason, the weakly twisted portion 41 and the strongly twisted portion 42 are formed in the side frame portion 4. It is considered that the strongly twisted portion 42 contributes to the efficiency of dispersion, mixing or stirring, and the weakly twisted portion 41 promotes the discharge of the target object from between the two side frame portions 4.

  In addition, by providing the strong twisted portion 42 on the lower end side, for example, when dispersing, mixing, or agitating a small amount of target object that is a fraction of the capacity of the container 62, only the strong twisted portion 42 is the target. It can be in a state in contact with an object. Thereby, it is possible to efficiently disperse, mix or stir a small amount of target object.

In addition, according to the knowledge of the inventors, when the dispersion, mixing, or stirring is efficiently performed and it is intended not to frequently enclose the target object, the twist angle α0 is 180 degrees to
270 degrees is preferred.

  The stirring blade and the stirring device according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments. The specific configuration of each part of the stirring blade and the stirring device according to the present invention can be modified in various ways.

  The side frame part 4 is not limited to the structure which consists only of the weak twist part 41 and the strong twist part 42. FIG. Even if it is the structure which has parts other than weak twist part 41 and strong twist part 42 in the upper part side of weak twist part 41, between weak twist part 41 and strong twist part 42, the lower part side of strong twist part 42, etc. Good. The weak twist portion 41 and the strong twist portion 42 have a constant twist angle around the rotation axis Oz per unit length in the z direction, but are not limited thereto. For example, the twist angle around the rotation axis Oz per unit length in the z direction from the upper end to the lower end of the side frame portion 4 may gradually increase. In this case, there is no clear boundary portion between the weakly twisted portion 41 and the strongly twisted portion 42 such as the bent portion 43, but the weakly twisted portion 41 and the strongly twisted portion 42 are sandwiched between appropriate portions of the side frame portion 4. There is a part that can be considered. For example, even if the twist angle α1 of the weak twist portion 41 is 0 degree, the weak twist portion 41 has a small twist angle around the rotation axis Oz per unit length in the z direction with respect to the strong twist portion 42. It is thought. Moreover, the structure which does not have the bottom frame part 3 may be sufficient. In this case, one end of the two side frame portions 4 is connected to both ends of the top frame portion 2, and the other ends of the two immediate frame portions are free ends. For example, when the viscosity of the target object is remarkably high and close to solid, when the stirring blade A is inserted into the container 62 containing the target object, the bottom frame 3 is prevented from receiving a strong resistance force, The stirring blade A can be inserted smoothly.

  The number of stirring blades A attached to the stirring device B is not limited to two and may be three or more. In addition, a mechanism that combines rotation and revolution is suitable for efficient dispersion, mixing, or stirring, but the stirring blade A may be applied to a configuration that performs only rotation, for example. The name of the stirring device B is defined as the convenience of a device that performs dispersion, mixing, or stirring, and is not limited to a device that performs only stirring.

A Stirring blade B Stirring device 1 Attaching part 2 Top frame part 3 Bottom frame part 4 Side frame part 41 Weak torsion part 42 Strong torsion part 43 Bending part 61 Rotating drive part 62 Container α0 Twist angle α1 Twist angle α2 Twist angle Oz Rotating shaft P Circle L Distance D Outer diameter N Direction of rotation

Claims (2)

Two or more stirring blades;
A container for containing an object to be stirred;
A rotation drive unit that rotates each of the stirring blades around the rotation shaft in a state where at least a part of each of the stirring blades is housed in the container;
A stirring device comprising:
The stirring blade is
A top frame portion extending in a radial direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction;
A bottom frame portion that is spaced apart from the top frame portion in the rotational axis direction;
A pair of side frame parts connected to both ends of the top frame part and having a shape twisted in the same direction along a cylinder having the rotation axis as a central axis;
A stirring blade that is held and rotated by the top frame side,
The pair of side frame portions are positioned on the top frame portion side, and a weak twist portion having a relatively small twist angle around the rotation axis per unit length in the rotation axis direction, and the top frame parts located on the opposite side of the, and have a, a high helix portion is relatively large twist angle about the rotation axis per unit length of the rotation axis direction,
The outer diameter of the side frame portion is constant in any part in the rotation axis direction,
The twist directions of the two or more stirring blades coincide with each other,
The rotation axis directions of the two or more stirring blades are parallel to each other,
The distance between the rotating shafts of the two or more stirring blades is smaller than the outer diameter of the side frame portion,
The stirrer characterized in that a twist angle between the pair of side frame portions is 180 to 270 degrees . 2. The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation driving unit rotates each of the stirring blades around the rotation shaft and revolves while maintaining a distance between the rotation shafts.

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