NL1022813C1 - Lamella pump device for dividing flow of liquid, e.g. foodstuff, contains single rotor with multisection lamellae and fold away knife - Google Patents

Abstract

A lubricating film of liquid is formed between the rotor and pump. A single rotor and multi-section lamellae are used. The product is guided directly into a single mould part (O). A press device for a fold-away knife (L) can be altered during use of the system. A dividing system comprising one or more lamella pumps used to divided a flow of liquid according to a fixed ratio uses a lubricating film of liquid formed between the rotor and pump casing to lower the rotor rotation resistance. A single rotor is used for all of the pumps and multi-section lamellae are used. The product is guided directly into a single and quickly replaceable mould part. A press device for a fold-away knife can be altered during use of the system.

Description

Distributor with multiple slats or vane pumps Distributor in general:

The invention relates to a distribution device for liquids and thick liquid masses which may optionally contain solid parts. These distribution devices are used in various industries such as dough processing, frikandell and croquette production and the like and have been used for years and are commercially available. A distributing device serves to distribute a pressurized liquid mass flow from one or more sources over 10 streams, the ratio between the streams always being constant. A vacuum filler is often used as a t feeding device. The divide system can be used to get multiple constant streams of product or in combination with an abbreviation for making portions with a reproducible weight.

The existing distribution units are constructed. from two or more vane pumps in a joint housing. In its simplest embodiment, a vane pump consists of a rotor with 2 or more continuous vanes in a pump housing with an inlet and outlet.

The baffles can slide relative to each other within the rotor. The pump housing is designed in such a way that the distance between two opposite points on the inner circumference, measured by the center of the rotor, is always the same. The lower part of the pump housing as well as the upper part is circular. The rotor is positioned so that it rests against the underside of the pump housing. The various rotors are connected to each other by means of rods or pins. The incoming mass flow is divided into flows with a fixed ratio that are directly proportional to the volume of the individual vane pump.

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Disadvantages of the existing distribution devices are: - Large shear forces exerted on the mass to be distributed, whereby structural changes can occur in the mass to be distributed caused by resistance in the distribution system; 30 - Large standard deviation due to mutual rotation of the rotors; f022813w 2 - Risk of being produced by mistake with different molded parts at the same time; Warping the product; - Blade force of the abbreviations cannot be adjusted during operation;

Unsafe blade construction.

The object of this invention is to overcome these disadvantages.

1) Rotor resistance:

The pressure exerted on the inlet of the vane pump presses the rotor against this wall, as a result of which great friction is created, which has negative consequences for the spread of the distribution to be achieved. Product damage may be caused with shear-sensitive masses. In some cases the rotor can even get stuck.

Solution: The rotor is placed at a distance from the rotor housing. This creates a liquid film under the rotor which ensures lubrication of the rotor. The baffles which run through the rotor provide sufficient sealing at the bottom.

Several embodiments are possible including:

The rotor is rejuvenated where the baffles are located. In many cases, 2 mm will suffice. The passage through the sealing wall between the various vane pumps themselves remains intact. This solution is very suitable for existing distribution units;

The transit between the vane pumps is designed such that there is some space (e.g.

2 mm) is located between the bottom of the bushing and the bottom of the pump housing. The rotors can be made with a uniform diameter.

2) Mutual rotor rotation:

The rotors rotate relative to each other due to pressure and resistance differences. This distortion means that the volume flows between the tracks will vary. To prevent this, the connection between the rotors must be rigid. For this purpose, several solutions have been proposed in the 1022813 (1 3 literature) in which these rotors are connected to each other by means of screws, rods or pins, whether or not they run, round or unround. All these solutions entail disadvantages with regard to assembly or because there are due to hygiene risks.

5 Solution: The rotors of the vane pumps are made in one piece. As a result, the rotors cannot rotate relative to each other and no leakage along the rotors or product accumulation between the rotors can take place.

Execution: For each vane pump, one vane consists of one whole, while all others consist of two parts for assembly. The division of the partitions does not lie in the part where the various partitions slide over each other to prevent mutual hooking. The construction of the divided partitions is such that the forces are evenly distributed over the width of the partitions. As a result, the bulkheads cannot skid. The rotor is preferably made symmetrical and is pierced through the entire longitudinal axis. This bore serves to provide space for the displacement of liquid between the partitions for the purpose of mutual displacement of the partitions and to equalize the liquid pressure at the two end ends. The retaining shields at the head ends release the rotor slightly (2 mm) so that the rotation of the rotor is not impeded by the vertical surfaces. The design of the rotor can be combined with the adjustments necessary for reducing the resistance as described in point 1.

3) Use of product form determining parts interchangeably:

There is a good chance that different product forms will be used interchangeably with all the associated consequences.

Solution: Parts that determine the product form are combined into one whole. For the purpose of quickly changing the part, this part is mounted with the aid of quick closures.

Execution: Two or more dowel pins are mounted on the housing of the distribution system. These pins correspond to holes in the molded part or vice versa.

All tracks are formed simultaneously by means of this one molded part. 1022813 · 4 recesses have been made in the housing for a sealing ring per track. The molded part is pulled against the housing with the aid of quick closures. The molded part can be hardened to prevent wear by the abbreviation.

5 4) Warping product:

When distributing a product with solid parts or fibers, a crooked product sometimes occurs. Solution: The molded part is provided with a straight channel of sufficient length after the final product form has been obtained. The tension in the product to be formed can be equalized through this straight channel.

10 Version: The outlet of the vane pump is the same for each product form. The molded part is made such that first the final product shape is obtained and then comprises a straight channel in which the shape is retained.

5) Abbreviation: 15 The pressing force of the blades cannot be adjusted during operation.

Solution: The distribution unit, for the purpose of shortening with a joint knife for several tracks simultaneously which is driven by preferably one drive cylinder, is provided in an (air) cylinder for the joint pressure control.

Implementation: The pressing force of the knife is obtained with a cylinder, preferably a rotary cylinder. The force is transmitted by means of one or more slide or roller bearings that press the knife against the mold plate and guide against a (plastic) knife guide. The pressure force can be continuously adjusted during production using an air pressure regulator. The pressing force can be different for the rising stroke of the knife than for the falling stroke by varying the air pressure with the rising and falling movement of the knife. The lateral guide of the knife is obtained by a guide plate located behind the knife, this side guide remaining outside the range of the products to be formed.

1022813 · 5 6) Safety:

Cut-off knives fixed to the cutting head create a risk for cleaning, changing shape and maintenance.

Solution: The knife as e.g. referred to in paragraph 5 is made rotatable relative to the mold plate.

Execution: The (turning) cylinder mentioned in paragraph 5 is also used to turn the knife away from the molded part for cleaning purposes and for changing the molded part. When the protective cover of the distribution unit is opened, the blade is automatically folded away. The knife lies in a (plastic) guide plate 10 which serves as a support behind the knife and as a side guide for the knife during trimming. This guide plate is mounted on the blade drive mounting bridge and rotates with the knife. The guide plate can slide vertically parallel to the knife and is spring-loaded. In the collapsed state, the plate slides downwards due to the spring force and shields the blade. When the knife is placed in the production position, the guide plate shifts against the spring pressure so that the knife is released and rests on the molded part. The shape of the underside of the guide plate is adapted for this. The guide plate hooks into the molded part so that this plate is fixed during the up and down movement of the knife.

Ml228t3 * 6

Figure 1 shows the blades for a rotor with two blades per pump.

Figure 2 shows the blades for a rotor with three blades per pump.

Figure 3 shows a monorotor for three vane pumps. The space between the slots in which the slats are placed is increased so that the rotor is free from the housing.

Figure 4 shows a mono rotor for three vane pumps. The space between the slots in which the slats are placed is not increased. The distance between the underside of the rotor and the pump housing is achieved by placing the passage through the pump wall slightly above the underside of the pump.

Figure 5 shows a pump housing for a monorotor according to Figure 3.

15 biguur 6 shows a pump housing for a monorotor according to figure 4.

Figure 7 shows the distribution device in the operating position. The slats or vane pumps are placed in a housing (G). The (turning) cylinder (H) attached to the housing is connected to a bridge-shaped part. Attached to this are the protective plate (J) and the drive (I) of the blade (L) and the thrust bearings (K). The protection plate is attached by means of a vertical guide over which the knife protection plate can slide. The protective plate is pressed down by means of a spring. In the operating position, the protective plate is pushed up by the shape of the underside of the protective plate. The protective plate hooks into the molded part (O) so that the plate can no longer slide. The molded part is provided with a straight guide (M) to equalize the mold stresses in the product.

Figure 8 shows the distribution device in the cleaning position. With the help of the (turning) cylinder (H) the knife is folded away from the molded part. The protective plate is also screwed in with the knife T022813 · 7. Due to the spring above the protective plate, it has fallen slightly downwards along the knife, in such a way that the knife is protected against contact.

1022813 ·

Claims (1)

An adaptation to the (possibly already existing) rotors of a distribution system, based on mutually coupled slat pumps, whereby space is left under the rotor for a sufficiently thick liquid film between rotor and pump housing, thereby reducing the friction between the rotors and the pump housing; An adaptation to the end retaining plates that creates space for a sufficiently thick liquid film, which reduces the friction between the rotors and the pump housing; Use of a one-piece rotor in which several rotors are formed from one piece of material. Elierdoor promotes hygiene and improves the consistency of the distribution. - Dividing the slats into two separate parts so that they can be placed in the mono-rotor. An embodiment of the divided slats such that they are both left and right bearing and in which the partial surface is not in the range of the slats that slide relative to each other and in which individual parts cannot slip; Merging all form-determining parts into one (quick-change) changing part to prevent errors, among other things. Extending the molded part so that, after the product mold has been reached, there is still a sufficiently straight length in the mold channel whereby the tensions in the dough are equalized to prevent warping of the molded product; A pressure mechanism, preferably a rotary cylinder, which presses the cut-off knife against the forming plate with an adjustable force so that the pressure force can be changed during operation; - Folding the knife away from the molded part (automatically) with the aid of the (turning) cylinder of the pressure mechanism, so that the molded part can be changed quickly; - Protecting the blade by letting the blade guide protrude in front of the blade in the cleaning position so that work can be carried out safely. TG228tSft