US2306145A - Apparatus for forming nodules and the like - Google Patents

Description

1942- J. H. THOMPSON 2,306,145

APPARATUS FOR FORMING NODULES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 22, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. M 1% 7M ATTORNEY.

Dec. 22, 1942. J. H. THOMPSO N 2,306,145 7 APPARATUS FOR FORMING NODULES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 22, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 22, 1942. J. H. THOMPSON APPARATUS FOR FORMING NODULES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 22, 1936 ,3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVE OR.- M1667 ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 22, 1942 APPARATUS FOR FORMING NODULES AND THE LIKE John H. Thompson, Glendale, Calif., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Sprout, Waldron and Company, Muncy, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 22, 1936, Serial No. 117,172

21 Claims.

This invention relates to forming apparatus and more particularly to a machine for formin nodules, pellets and the like.

The art of producing breakfast foods, stock foods, and medicinal products, as Well as mineral and ceramic material in nodule or pellet form is well known. The moldable material from which the nodules are formed is forced through a die comprising a series of forming apertures, the extruded material being severed or broken into desired lengths. Various types of apparatus are employed for producing nodules or pellets of the nature described in large quantities for commercial purposes. However, the production of most of these machines is Very limited, and the nodules produced are ununiform in size. Furthermore, these machines comprise a great number of wearing parts, which is undesirable, particularly when the material formed is of an abrasive nature.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for forming nodules or the like, which comprises a minimum number of wearing parts and which is exceptionally economical to construct and maintain.

It is another object of the invention to provide .a machine which will continuously produce nodules or pellets of uniform size at a high rate of speed and with a minimum of power.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine in which material is fed between a pair of revoluble members, one of which is provided with an annular tapered surface, which is adapted to act upon the material for compressing and grinding the same against the other of said members.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a rotary die and a cooperative revoluble member having an annular tapered surface in grinding relation with the rotary die, whereby to produce a grinding action upon the material for forcing or extruding the material into the die.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a rotary die which is positively driven, :and a cooperative revoluble member which is fric- :tionally driven for forcing the moldable material into the die.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a machine for forming nodules, pellets, or the like, which comprises a revoluble die having a chamber therein for receiving a moldable material, and a revoluble cooperative member having an annular tapered surface adapted for grinding relation with respect to the chamber walls, whereby to force or extrude the moldable material into the die; the invention further contemplates means for adjusting said revoluble cooperative member.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine for forming nodules, pellets, or the like, which comprises a revoluble die having a chamber therein for receiving a moldable material, and a number of revoluble cooperative members having annular tapered surfaces adapted for grinding relation with respect to the chamber Walls, whereby to successively act upon the material for forcing or extruding the same into the die during its rotation; the invention further contemplates means for adjusting the cooperative members with respect to the chamber walls.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which will be made more easily apparent from a consideration of the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings and forming part of the present specification. 1 shall now proceed to describe these forms in detail, which illustrate the general principles of my invention; but it is to be understood that this description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a nodual or pellet forming machine embodying my invention. Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken as indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 1 Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by line 4-4 of Figure 3. Figure 5 is reduced View taken as indicated by line 55 of Figure 3, and Figure 6 is a modified form of the invention.

Referring more in particular to the drawings, I provide a base HI providing a supporting pedestal H at one end thereof and a pair of spaced supporting pedestals l2 at the opposite end thereof. The base may be secured to any suitable foundation as by the bolts l3.

The mechanism for forming the pellets is carried by a supporting sleeve M in a manner hereinafter described. One end of the supporting sleeve 14 enters a seat It formed in the upperportion of the supporting pedestal H, as shown clearest in Figures 3 and 5. It is held therein by a clamping cap 16, which passes over the sleeve 14 and is stationarily secured to the pedestal H by the bolts ii. The portion of the supporting sleeve extending from the pedestal l I, carries a pair of spaced roller bearing structures l8 and I9, which in turn revolubly support an annular die carrier 26 upon which a pellet forming die hereinafter described is mounted. The inner race of the rear bearing structure !8 bears against an The sleeve 22 and the adapted to contain a lubricant for lubricating the bearing structures I8 and IS. The lubricant is supplied to said chamber through a fitting 25.

A cap 26 and a plate 28 are provided over the outer ends of the respeotive bearing structures carried on the outermost end of the supporting sleeve I4.

The outer end of the die carrier is formed with a. flared portion 32 to which a cylindrical die 33is secured as by the screws 34. The die cylinder 33 is provided with pellet forming apertures 35 which are arranged in rows completely around the same as shown in Figure 3. A hopper 36 is secured to the outer end of the cylindrical die 33 for feeding the material to be formed thereinto, and screws 31 serve to secure the hopper to the die cylinder. The die cylinder 33 is adapted to be rotated about a number of spaced rollers 38, 39, and 40, which act upon the material fed into the cylinder in such a manner as to effect its extrusion through the pellet forming apertures, all of which is hereinafter further described.

The means for rotating the cylindrical die 33 includes a sprocket 4|, which is secured to an annular flange 42 formed on the die carrier 20 by the bolts 43. The sprocket 4| is connected with a driving sprocket 44 through a chain 45. The driving sprocket 44 is in turn carried on a shaft 46 which is journaled in bearings 41' carried by the spaced supporting pedestals 12 (Figure 5). The shaft 46 carries a pulley 41 and may be driven from any suitable source through a belt 48. The supporting means for the rollers 38, 39, and 40 is such as to permit the adjustment of the rollers circumferentially of the cylindrical die 33 and to also permit the adjustment of the rollers to and from the inner face of the die cylinder. Said supporting means includes a spindle 49 contained in an eccentric opening 50 formed in the supporting sleeve l4. Figure 4 best shows the eccentricity of the spindle with respect to the axis of the sleeve [4. The spindle 49 is formed with a tapered portion 5!, and is provided with a reduced end 52 which is eccentric with respect to the spindle axis. The reduced end 52 carries a spider 53 which is splined thereto by the key 5.4, and a nut 55 serves to retain the spider 53 on said reduced portion.

The opposite end of the spindle 49 is threaded and carries a nut 55 by which the tapered portion 5| of the spindle is drawn into wedging relation with the corresponding tapered portion of the eccentric opening 50. This wedging action obviously restrains the spindle from rotating within the supporting sleeve l4.

vare similar of construction, and are similarly mounted on the spider 53 as shown in connection with the roller 38 in Figure 3., They contain well-known roller bearing structures 51 by which they are revolubly mounted on pins 58. The inner ends of the pins 58 are threaded into bosses 59 formed on the spider 53, and the rollers are supported for rotation between said bosses and the heads 60 provided on the outer ends of the pin 58.

In operation, the material fed through the hopper 36 into the cylindrical die 33 is in the form of a loose mass of moldable material, which assumes an angular position along one side of the die cylinder during its rotative movement. The rollers are positioned so that one of them enters the upper portion of .the body of loose material as indicated in the diagrammatic view, Figure 2. It will be noted that the various rollers are successively spaced different distances from the inner face of the cylindrical die 33, and that the roller engaging the loose mass of material is spaced farthest from said die. Considering the cylindrical die as rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, it will be obvious how the loose material fed between the roller 38 and the cylindrical die 33 is compressed, a portion of the material being forced into the pellet forming apertures 35. The compressed material assumes a layer on the cylinder Wall equivalent to substantially the space between the roller 38 and the die. This layer is carried past the next successive roller 39 which further compresses the material, causing a further extrusion of the material through the pellet forming apertures. The resultant layer of material is finally compressed by the roller 40 for effecting a still further extrusion of the material. The formed material projecting outwardly from the mouths of the pellet forming apertures is acted upon by a knife 6| which severs the material into pellets. The pellets drop through an opening 62 formed in the bottom of a housing 63 surrounding the cylindrical die, and may be collected in any suitable receptacle (not shown). The variation in the peripheral speed of the rollers produces a twisting and grinding action of the material against the cylindrical die 33, whereby to facilitate the extrusion of the moldable material into the die apertures. It is to be understood, of course, that the variation in the peripheral speed along the length of the passage formed between the die and the conical rollers is inherent property of a cylinder cooperating with a frustro conical surface. In the art it is customary to consider that the variation in peripheral speed is a result of the variation of the ratio of the curvatures of the surfaces. Inasmuch as the curvature of the cylinder is constant along a transverse line while the curvature of the conical surface decreases from end to end, it can be seen that the ratio of the curvature varies along the line of pressure. The form and arrangement of the rollers whereby this grinding action is produced, provides an important feature of this invention. However, it should be understood that any suitable number of rollers might be employed for accomplishing the desired purpose.

In order to effect a proper feeding of the loose material between the roller 38 and the cylinder, it is important that said roller be properly positioned with respect to the body of material. Different materials will obviously assume different angles of repose within the cylindrical die if it is driven at a constant speed, thus necessitating a repositioning of the roller 38 in order to effect a proper feeding of the material. This adjustment is accomplished by loosening the bolts I! of the clamping cap l6, and rotating the supporting sleeve I4 and the spindle 49' together,

until the roller 38 is properly positioned. All of the rollers are correspondingly adjusted circumferentially, since they are all mounted on the spider 53, which is in turn carried by the spindle 49. During the above adjustment the spindle 49 and supporting sleeve are restrained against relative rotation due to their wedging relation. The supporting sleeve and the die cylinder are coaxial, and the relation between said axes and the axis of the reduced spindle and 52 remains the same. Since the axes of the pressure applying rollers are equi-distant from the axis of the reduced spindle end, it will be obvious how the rollers will travelin a path concentric about the common axis of the die cylinder and supporting sleeve. Accordingly the spaced relation between the die cylinder and the respective rollers remains the same for all circumferential positions of adjustment.

Under certain conditions it might be desired to vary the spaces between the pressure applying rollers and the cylindrical die. This may be ac-' complished by unloosening the spindle nut 58 and slightly tapping the rearward end of the spindle 49 for unwedging the same to permit its rotative movement within the supporting sleeve, which may be held against rotation by the clamping cap it. A rotative movement of the spindle within the supporting sleeve results in a proportionate adjustment of the rollers toward or away from the inner face of the die cylinder, depending upon the direction in;which the spindle is rotated.

Under certain conditions it might be desirable to rotate the rollers bodily within the die cyline der and to simultaneously rotate said die cylinder. In this event the rollers would be. spaced equi-distant from the die cylinder through the adjustment just described. In the modified form of Figure 6 the supporting sleeve Hi instead of being rigidly supported at one end as in the form heretofore described, is revolubly supported in a pair of bearing structures 66. The outer end of the sleeve l4 carries a sprocket 54, which is driven from a sprocket 65 through a chain 66, whereby to rotate the spider and its accompanying rollers (not shown). The drive shaft 61 upon which the sprocket 65 is mounted, also carries a sprocket 68. A sprocket 69 carried by the die carrier 19 is driven from the sprocket 68 through the chain ll, whereby to effect a rotation of the die cylinder (not shown). The spider and its accompanying rollers will obviously be driven at a greater rate of speed than the die cylinder, and it will be obvious how said rollers will overrun the die cylinder. The die carrier and supporting sleeve might be driven from independent power sources and their speeds independently controlled, without departing from the spiritof this invention.

I claim:

1. In forming apparatus, a revoluble die having a cylindrical surface for receiving a moldable material, a cooperating member supported for rotation about an axis disposed angularly with respect to the die axis and having a tapered surface in grinding relation with said cylindrical surface, and means for rotating said die, the moldable material being carried on said cylindrical surface into contact with the tapered surface whereby to rotate said cooperating member and effect an extrusion of the moldable material through said die.

2. In apparatus of the character described, a body having a chamber therein, said chamber having a cylindrical surface for receiving mate rial, means for rotating said body, one or more pressure applying members supported for rotation about axes disposed angularly with respect to the axis of rotation of said body and having tapered surfaces in grinding relation with respect to said cylindrical surface, and means for effecting bodily rotation of said pressure applying members circumferentially of said cylindrical surface.

3. In apparatus of the character described,- means forming a chamber having a cylindrical surface for receiving material, said means having therein forming apertures communicating with said surface, one or more pressure applying mem bers supported for rotation about their respective axes and having tapered surfaces in grinding relation with said cylindrical surface, and means for effecting bodily rotation of said pressure applying. memberscircumferentially of said cylindrical surface, whereby to forcethe moldable material through said forming apertures.

4. In forming apparatus, a die having a cylindrical chamber therein, said die having a series of forming apertures extending therethrough from said chamber, one or more elements supported for rotation about axes disposed angularly with respect to the chamber axis andbeing positioned adjacent the cylindrical surface of said die for grinding action upon material disposed between said elements and surface, whereby its passage into said apertures is eifected, and means for producing relative movement between-said die and elements.

5. In forming apparatus, a die having a cylindrical chamber therein, said die having a series of forming apertures extending therethrough from said chamber, one or more elements supported for rotation about axes disposed angularly with respect to the chamber axis and being positioned adjacent the cylindrical surface of said die. for grinding. action upon material disposed between said elements and surface, whereby its passage into said apertures is effected, means for producing relative movement between said die and elements, and means for adjusting each of said elements to and from said chamber surface.

6. In apparatus for forming material, a pair of members having apair of cooperative curvilinear. surfaces, oneof said surfaces: being tapered, and one of said members having pellet forming orifices extending therethrough from its surface, said surfaces of said members being engageable with material to be formed, and means for effecting relative motion-between said members.

7. In apparatus for forming material, a member having a surface. for receiving material, a second member having a surface cooperative with and encompassed by said first surface, one of said surfaces of said members being tapered, and one of said members having pellet forming orifices extending therethrough from its surface, the surfaces being engageable with material to be formed, and means for effecting relative motion between said members.

8. In apparatus for forming material, a'member having a surface for receiving material, a second member having a surface cooperative with and encompassed by the surface of the first member, one of said surfaces being frusto-conical, said surfaces being engageable with material-to be formed, one of said members having pellet forming orifices extending therethrough from its surface, and means for effecting relative move ment between said members.

9. In combination, a member having an inner cylindrical surface for receiving material, a member having a frusto-conical surface encompassed by said cylindrical surface, said surfaces being engageable with material therebetween, one of said members having pellet forming orifices extending therethrough from its surface, and means for effecting relative movement between said members. 7 r

10. A machine for acting upon material comprising a die having .an enclosing chamber and having apertures extending through the wall thereof to its periphery, one or more rotatable elements having tapered outer surfaces adjacent the apertured portion of said die for reception of material therebetween, and means for rotating said chamber with respect to said elements.

11. A machine for acting upon'material comprising a member having a primary curved surface, a plurality of members having secondary surfaces adjacent said primary surface, said members having said secondary surfaces being adapted to be positioned with their surfaces spaced by progressively decreasing distances from said primary surface for reception of material therebetween, at least one of said secondary surfaces being tapered for effecting a slippage upon the material, and means for producing relative movement between said primaryand secondary members.

12. A machine for acting upon material comprising a die having an enclosing chamber and having apertures through the walls thereof, a

plurality of rotatable tapered bodies having outer surfaces encompassed by said die and spaced by progressively decreasing distances therefrom for reception of material therebetween, and means for rotating said die with respect to said bodies.

13. A pellet mill comprising eccentrically'disposed rotatable members mounted in relative axial angularity one within the other, one of said members embodying a cylindrical compressing surface having pellet forming orifices therein, said surface being cooperative with the other of said members to compress material therebetween and effect its extrusion through said orifices, and drive means for one of said members.

14. A machine for acting upon material comprising a die having an enclosing chamber and having apertures extending through the walls of said die to its periphery, one or more rotatable tapered elements having outer surfaces adjacent the apertured portion of said die for reception of material therebetween, and means for producing relative rotational movement between said die and said rotatable elements.

15. In a pellet mill, a member having formed thereon a surface of revolution about an axis, a second member having formed thereon a surface of revolution about an axis, one of said members having pellet forming apertures extending therethrough from its surface of revolution, means supporting said members with the axes of their surfaces of revolution non-coincident and with the curvatures of said surfaces approaching each other to define a pressure passageway that extends transversely with respect to said curvatures, the ratio of the curvatures varying along said transverse pressure passage, and means for rotating one of said members about the axis of its surface.

" '16. A machine for acting upon material comprising "eccentri'cally disposed. rotatable members mounted in relative axial angularity, one of said members having a wall forming a compressing surface, said wall having pellet forming orifices therethrough and cooperative with the other of said members to compress material between the surface of said wall and a surface of the second mentioned member and effect its extrusion through said orifices, one of said surfaces being cylindrical, and drive means for one of said members.

17. In'apparatus of the character described, a die having a chamber therein and rotatable about'a generally horizontal axis, said die having pellet forming orifices extending through the wall thereof, a roller support extending into the interior of the die from one end. thereof, a roller mounted on said support adjacent the inner surface of the die for exerting pressure on material passing between said roller and said die, a wall at the opposite endof said die from said roller support, means for feeding material into said chamber through said end wall, and means forming a seal between said die and said support to retain material within said chamber.

18. In apparatus of the character described, a die having a chamber therein and pellet form ing orifices extending through its walls, a support supporting said die from one end only for rotation about a generally horizontal axis, a support ing member extending through said support and carrying a roller cooperating with the inner surface of said die, a wall at the opposite end of said die from said support having an opening therein for feeding material into the chamber, and means forming a seal between said die and said supporting member to retain material withinsaid chamber. 1

19. In apparatus of the class described, a supporting member having a roller rotatably mounted on one end thereof, a circular die encompassing said roller and having a supporting member surrounding said roller support, bearing means between said supporting members mounting said die and its supporting member on said roller support for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, and sealing means between said die and said roller support to retain material within said die.

20. In apparatus of the character described, a member having a cylindrical chamber therein for receiving material, means for rotating said member, and a body'having a tapered surface, said body and said member being mounted with said tapered surface in grinding relation with the cylindrical wall of said chamber to produce a grinding action upon said material.

21. In apparatus of the character described, a member having a cylindrical chamber and mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, a cooperating member supported for rotation about an axis angularly disposed with respect to the axis of the first member and having a tapered surface for producing a grinding action upon material disposed between the cylindrical surface of said chamber and said tapered surface, and means for rotating the first mentioned member, whereby material within said chamber is carried on the cylindrical surface into engagement with the second mentioned chamber.--

JOHN H. THOMPSON.

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