TW201902579A - Powder feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for discharging a powder in a quantised manner, having a metering element (3) that comprises first metering recesses (6) and can be driven rotatably about a rotational axis (4) in a housing (1), and a filling volume (14) in which said metering recesses (6) can be filled with the powder, wherein means (19) are provided, at an emptying point (11), for generating a fluid stream by means of which the powder can be conveyed out from the first metering recesses (6) into an outlet volume (13). The first metering recesses (6) are open toward an edge (3') of said metering element (3). The metering element (3) is surrounded by an annular element (5) which has second metering recesses (7) that are open in the radial inward direction, said annular element (5) being fixedly associated with the housing (1).

Description

   Powder feeder   

The present invention relates to a device for quantitatively outputting powder, comprising a feeding element having a first feeding tank, which can be rotationally driven in a casing around a rotation axis, the feeding element has a filling volume, and the filling volume is at the filling volume. The feed tanks can be filled with the powder, wherein a member for generating a fluid flow is provided on the emptying point, and the powder can be discharged from the first feed tank through the member.

CN 201737998 U describes a feeding device for quantitative output of powder. The housing of the device described herein is provided with a rotatable disk having a plurality of feed openings each having a circular diameter on an arc line surrounding the axis of rotation of the disk. The housing has a filling volume into which powder can be fed. The feed tank is exposed towards the filling volume so that powder can enter this feed tank. The disc-shaped feed element turns to the bearing surface, so that powder cannot be discharged from the feed tank. The filled feed trough is conveyed toward the take-up point by the rotary motion of the feed element, where a fluid flow, such as an air flow, blows powder from the feed trough into the discharge volume. Here the powder can be mixed with the air stream to form an aerosol.

Other feeding devices are described in CN 20080083324.6, CN 200720097519 and US 5,615,830, wherein these feeding devices are here constituted by a roller and exposed towards the outer surface of this roller.

The object of the present invention is to improve the feeding device of the same type in terms of repeatable conveyance rate and to reduce the dispersion width of the particle flow.

This objective is achieved through the invention given in the scope of the patent application. Ancillary items are not only beneficial improvement solutions for independent items, but also original solutions for this purpose.

The present invention firstly and substantially proposes a device whose conveying rate is variable by the rotation speed of the device through a feeding element, wherein the conveying rate is consistent with a particle flow in which particles are conveyed per unit time. The volume should be kept as constant as possible and should have a small time dispersion width. The feeding element rotates around a rotation axis, wherein the first feeding troughs first pass through a filling volume, in which the first feeding troughs are filled with particles. Rotate the filled feed slot further towards the pick point. There is provided a member that generates a fluid stream, such as a liquid stream or a gas stream, that passes through the first feed tanks, so that the powder is fed into the discharge volume from the first feed tank by the fluid stream. In a preferred technical solution of the present invention, the feeding element is composed of a disc, wherein the radial distances between the first feeding grooves exposed to the edges and the rotation axis of the disc are the same. In the technical solution of the present invention, the fluid flow intersects the rotation plane of the feeding element, so as to output the powder particles from the feeding tank. In a refinement of the invention, the feeding element is surrounded by a ring element. The feeding grooves formed by the feeding elements may extend between the protrusions respectively, wherein the protrusions constitute free ends on a circular arc line, which extends around the rotation center of the feeding element. The faces of these feeding troughs can be partitions of round, oval, oval or polygonal faces. However, in addition, the same design can be adopted for all feed tanks. However, in an alternative, the feeding troughs can also have different shapes, such as circular shapes with different diameters or generally have faces with different areas. The feed tanks may be equally spaced in the circumferential direction. However, the distance between several feed tanks can also be changed in the circumferential direction. These feeding tanks can also advantageously adopt an asymmetrical arrangement, so that the feeding tanks are optimally filled with powder during the rotational movement of the feeding elements. The free end of the protrusion is preferably at a distance from the housing or from the ring-shaped element surrounding the feeding element, wherein the distance constitutes a gap in which the particles of the powder can be located. In a modification of the present invention, the ring-shaped element has a second feeding groove exposed inward in the radial direction. The first and second feeding tanks can adopt the same construction scheme as each other and are separated from each other by protrusions. The feeding troughs are formed by recesses extending in a rotation plane, wherein the first feeding troughs are recesses radially inward and the second feeding troughs are recesses radially outward. The feeding grooves are exposed toward the two wide-face areas of the feeding element or the ring element. The azimuth distance of the protrusion of the ring element is consistent with the azimuth distance of the protrusion of the feeding element, so that in a certain rotation position, the protrusion of the ring element is arranged opposite to the protrusion of the feeding element. In this rotational position, the surfaces of the first and second feed tanks are preferably complementary to form a circular surface. Adjacent circular surfaces are preferably connected in space, because the free ends of the oppositely disposed protrusions are spaced slightly apart from each other. When the feeding element rotates, the protrusion of the feeding element passes beside the protrusion of the ring element and passes through the second feeding groove. During this process, the amount of particles stored in the two feed tanks is swirled. The vortex prevents particles from agglomerating in the feed tank when transporting the particles, and also prevents particles or agglomerates from attaching to the edges of the feed tank for a long time. The diameter of the circle formed by the semi-circular feeding troughs is preferably at least three times the axial height of the feeding troughs, wherein the axial height of the feeding troughs is determined by the feed troughs. The material thickness of the feed element in the area is defined. The axial height of the second feed tank is substantially equivalent to the axial height of the first feed tank. Therefore, the feeding element and the ring element are preferably constituted by a thin-walled body. The material thickness of the thin-walled body is preferably 0.5 mm. The preferred range of material thickness is 0.1mm to 1mm. The volumes of the first and second feed tanks that complement each other are approximately 0.01 mm ³ . The cross-sectional area of the feed tank ranges from 0.002 mm ² to 0.05 mm ² . These faces may refer to semi-circular faces. The fluid flow used to output the particles from the feed tank is preferably generated by an air flow that passes through an air intake channel parallel to the axis of rotation of the feed element. Thereby, an axial fluid flow is generated that passes through the feed slot in the axial direction, so that the particles contained therein are input into a discharge channel aligned with the intake channel, and the discharge channel is in communication with the discharge volume. Another airflow can pass through the discharge volume. However, it is sufficient to produce aerosols when the feed tank is emptied by an axial fluid flow.

1‧‧‧shell

2‧‧‧shell wall

3‧‧‧Feeding element

3'‧‧‧ edge

4‧‧‧rotation axis

5‧‧‧ ring element

6‧‧‧feed tank

7‧‧‧feed tank

8‧‧‧ raised

9‧‧‧ raised

10‧‧‧ clearance

11‧‧‧Empty point

12‧‧‧Exhaust channel

13‧‧‧Discharge volume

14‧‧‧ Filling volume

16‧‧‧pipe

17‧‧‧ bearing surface

18‧‧‧lower case

19‧‧‧ Intake channel

20‧‧‧ spring element

The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Among them: FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a disc-shaped feeding element 3, a feeding groove 6 arranged on an edge 3 'and a ring-shaped element 5 surrounding the feeding element 3, and FIG. 2 is a part II in FIG. Enlarged view of the first rotation position of the feed element 3, FIG. 3 is a view of the second rotation position of the feed element 3 in FIG. 2, wherein the protrusion 8 of the feed element 3 and the protrusion 9 of the ring element 5 Relatively arranged radially, FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a section taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a partial sectional perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of another view of the embodiment Illustration.

The device, which is only shown schematically in the drawing, is used to generate a flow of particles transported by a gas flow, wherein the flow rate (volume / time) can be produced with smaller tolerances and smaller dispersion widths.

A disc-shaped feeding element 3 is provided in the casing 1 of the device, and the feeding element 3 can be rotationally driven around a rotation axis 4 by a rotation driving device (not shown). Feeding grooves 6 are arranged on the edge 3 ′ of the feeding element 3 in the form of outer teeth, wherein adjacent feeding grooves 6 are separated from each other by protrusions 8. The protrusion 8 has a free end facing away from the rotation shaft 4. The edge of the feed slot 6 extends on the semi-circular contour line, so that the feed slot 6 is approximately semi-circular.

The material thickness of the disc-shaped feeding element 3 is about 1 mm. The distance between the protrusions 8 is greatly enlarged in the drawing. The diameter of the circle between two adjacent protrusions 8 or defining the contour of the feed tank 6 is preferably less than 1 mm. The diameter is preferably less than 0.3 mm. The cylindrical volume forming the feed tank 6 is preferably less than 1 mm ³ and more preferably less than 0.01 mm ³ .

The feed element 3 is surrounded by a ring element 5. The ring element 5 is fixedly connected to the housing 1 and is located in the same plane as the feeding element 3. The material thicknesses of the ring element 5 and the feed element 3 are preferably the same. The ring-shaped element 5 has a second feed groove 7 in the form of a tooth on its radially inner edge. Therefore, the feeding element 3 constitutes a first feeding tank 6 opposite to the second feeding tank 7.

It can be seen from FIG. 3 that the first feeding groove 6 and the second feeding groove 7 are complementary in a circular shape. The mutually spaced circular cavities formed by a first feeding tank 6 and a second feeding tank 7 are connected through a gap 10, wherein the gap 10 is formed by the distance between the two protrusions 8, 9 and the distance will be The first feeding tank 6 or the second feeding tank 7 is separated from the adjacent first feeding tank 6 or the second feeding tank 7.

To make such a device, different alternatives exist. In this way, a metal plate with a material thickness of about 1 mm can be made first, and the metal plate can be made into a circle. In this circular metal plate, small spaced holes are made along the edges. Subsequently, a suitable separating tool, such as a laser beam or a water beam, is used to separate the spacers between the two circular openings, thereby forming a semi-circular first feed separated by protrusions 8, 9 respectively. The groove 6 and the semi-circular second feeding groove 7, wherein a gap 10 is formed when the spacer is separated. However, the preferred method of manufacturing the feed elements 3 and 5 uses laser cutting, in which a thin laser beam is used to make edge grooves in a preferably 0.5 mm thick metal plate, so that the feed grooves 6 and 7 are thus made. This method can be used to make a feed tank with an approximately arbitrary surface shape, that is, not only the semi-circular shape shown in the figure, but also a polygon, oval or oval shape.

However, as an alternative, the drilled holes can be joined together so that they overlap each other without separating the spacers.

FIG. 4 is a rough schematic view of a cross section along a line IV-IV in FIG. 3. The radially outer section of the ring element 5 is fixed to the housing wall 2 of the housing 1. The disc-shaped feed element 3 is turned to a flat support surface 17 which closes the first feed tank 6 downwards. The first feeding tank 6 is exposed upward in the filling volume 14 containing powder from above, so that the powder enters the feeding tank 6.

The duct 16 constituting the intake passage 19 communicates with the area of the emptying point 11, and the airflow can pass through the intake passage. The outlet of the pipe is arranged above the axial direction of the first and second feed tanks 6 and 7.

The opening of the duct 16 is aligned with the second feeding tank 7 or extends on a circular surface, which is equivalent to the circular surfaces of the two feeding tanks 6 and 7, so that particles are blown out of the feeding tanks 6 and 7 by an air current. To this end, the discharge channel 12 extends as a through hole of the support surface 17 in alignment with the intake channel 19, which discharge channel communicates with the discharge volume 13.

The airflow passing through the air inlet channel 19 separates the particles from the feed tanks 6 and 7 to form aerosol.

When the feeding element 3 is rotated, the free end of the protrusion 8 passes by the free end of the protrusion 9. As shown in FIG. 3, the feeding element then passes through a second feeding tank 7. In this movement, the particles in the feeding tank 6 partly move along with it, but part of them are also sent into the second feeding tank 7 to form a vortex there. The particles in the feed tank 7 remain partially in the second feed tank 7. However, these particles are also partially output from the second feed tank 7.

Surprisingly, a device of the same type is realized through this improved solution, thereby preventing temporal fluctuations in the volume flow of the particles. According to the present invention, the toothed wheels of the feeding element 3 and the annular element 5 are arranged opposite to each other, wherein the teeth are spaced from each other in the radial direction and the pitch is smaller than the radius of the circle of the contour line defining the first and second feeding groove .

The feed element 3 slides on a flat bearing surface 17 during its rotational movement about the rotation axis 4. A spring element 20 is provided, which biases the feeding element 3 in the direction of the flat support surface 17.

The foregoing embodiments are used to describe the inventions included in the present application as a whole. These inventions independently constitute an improvement scheme relative to the prior art through at least the following feature combinations, and two, several, or All are combined with each other, that is, a device characterized in that the first feeding grooves 6 are exposed toward the edge 3 ′ of the feeding element 3.

A device characterized in that the feeding element 3 has a disc shape and rotates in a rotation plane, and the member 19 generates a fluid flow crossing the rotation plane.

A device is characterized in that the feeding troughs 6 extend between protrusions 8 and the protrusions are separated from the housing 1 or a ring element 5 fixed to the housing by a gap 10.

A device, characterized in that the feeding element 3 is surrounded by a ring element 5 having a second feeding trough 7 exposed radially inward, wherein the ring element 5 corresponds in particular to a fixed position Shell 1.

A device characterized in that the first and second feeding tanks 6 and 7 have projections 8 and 9 at the same interval from each other, and wherein the adjacent projections 8 of the first feeding tank 6 are separated from each other. The open protrusions 8 are aligned with the protrusions 9 that separate the adjacent second feed tanks 7.

A device characterized in that the ends of the protrusions 8, 9 aligned with each other have a distance 10 in the radial direction.

A device is characterized in that the first and second feeding tanks 6 and 7 are complementary to form a circular, oval, elliptical or polygonal surface when the protrusions 8 and 9 arranged oppositely are used.

A device, characterized in that the diameter of the circle is at least three times the material thickness of the feeding element 3 in the region of the feeding trough 6, wherein the material thickness of the feeding element 3 is particularly about 0.1 mm To 1 mm, and the area of the feed tank 6 is in the range of 0.002 mm ² to 0.05 mm ² .

A device characterized in that the axial heights of the first and second feeding grooves 6 and 7 are the same.

All the disclosed features (as a single feature or a combination of features) are the essence of the invention. Therefore, the disclosure content of this application also includes all the content disclosed in the related / attached priority files (copy of the previous application), and the features described in these files are also included in the scope of patent application of this application. The subsidiary items describe the features of the present invention's improvements to the prior art with their characteristics (there are no features of the related claims), and their main purpose is to make a divisional application based on these claims. In addition, the invention given in each claim may have one or more of the features previously indicated, in particular by the symbol of the element and / or in the description of the symbol. The present invention also relates to embodiments in which individual features of the foregoing features are not achieved, especially where such features are obviously redundant for a particular use or can be replaced by a technically equivalent means.

Claims (11)

    A device for quantitatively outputting powder, comprising a feeding element (3) having a first feeding tank (6), which can be rotationally driven in a casing (1) around a rotation axis (4), the feeding element having The filling volume (14), in which the feed tanks (6) can be filled with the powder, wherein a member (19) for generating a fluid flow is provided on the emptying point (11), and the powder can be obtained by The component inputs the discharge volume (13) from the first feeding tanks (6), wherein the first feeding tanks (6) are exposed toward the edges (3 ') of the feeding elements (3) and are respectively at Extending between two protrusions (8), characterized in that the protrusions (8) are separated by a gap (10) from a section of the housing (1) that surrounds the feeding element (3), and / Or the first feeding troughs (6) are arranged opposite to the second feeding troughs (7) exposed radially inward.         The device of claim 1, wherein the feeding element (3) is disc-shaped and rotates in a rotation plane, and the component (19) generates a fluid flow crossing the rotation plane.         The device according to claim 1, wherein the gap (10) extends between the feeding element (3) and the ring-shaped element (5) fixed on the housing.         The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second feed troughs (7) are formed by annular elements (5), which in particular correspond in a fixed position to the housing (1).         The device according to claim 1, wherein the first protrusion (8) separates the first feeding groove (6) from each other and the second protrusion (9) separates the second feeding groove (7) from each other, wherein The first protrusions (8) are aligned with the second protrusions (9) in the radial direction.         The device of claim 5, wherein the ends of the first and second protrusions (8, 9) aligned with each other have a distance (10) in the radial direction.         The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first and second feeding grooves (6, 7) are complementary to form an integral shape when the protrusions (8, 9) are arranged oppositely.         The device of claim 5, wherein the overall shape is a circular, oval, oval or polygonal surface.         The device of claim 7, wherein the diameter of the overall shape is at least three times the material thickness of the feeding element (3) in the region of the feeding trough (6).     The device according to claim 1, wherein the material thickness of the feeding element (3) is about 0.1 mm to 1 mm, and / or the area of the feeding groove (6) is in the range of 0.002 mm ² to 0.05 mm ² .     The device according to claim 1, wherein the axial heights of the first and second feeding tanks (6, 7) are the same.