Patent Grant
10688529
None.
The present disclosure relates to rotary (centrifugal) sifters, and more particularly, to improvements in the inspection, cleaning, and removal of rotor and screen assemblies from a rotary sifter.
Industrial rotary (centrifugal) sifters are commonly used to scalp and/or sift various materials and products (e.g., bakery mixes and ingredients, plants, confectionaries, powders, etc.). Such rotary sifters are designed to separate particles into two product streams, or alternatively, to remove tramp or undesirable materials from the desired material. An example of a previously known rotary sifter is shown in
From time to time, rotary sifters must be inspected and cleaned, during which, several internal components must be removed, including, for example, the screen frame assembly 6 and the rotor assembly 7. To do so, a side door 10 in the body assembly 3 is unfastened and opened such that the screen frame assembly 6 and the rotor assembly 7 can be viewed and if needed, an end door 11 and screen and bearing retainer 12 in the body assembly are unfastened and opened to allow for access to, and removal of, the screen frame assembly 6 and the rotor assembly 7. The screen frame assembly 6 is pulled and removed from the body assembly 3 through the screen and bearing retainer 12 and end door 11 followed by the rotor assembly 7, and the screen and rotor assemblies 6, 7 are then cleaned and inspected. Once cleaned and inspected, the screen and rotor assemblies 6, 7 must be properly aligned and re-inserted into the body assembly 3 through the screen and bearing retainer 12 and end door 11.
Due to their weight and size, removing and replacing the screen frame assembly 6 and the rotor assembly 7 can be cumbersome and time consuming, as removal and replacement of the screen and rotor assemblies 6, 7 often requires more than one person. Additionally, in conventional designs, the screen frame assembly 6 and the rotor assembly 7 must be moved to a separate area for cleaning and inspection. Thus, manually removing, cleaning, and replacing the screen and rotor assemblies 6, 7 is a timely and laborious process that requires the rotary sifter to be shut down thereby decreasing production time and increasing labor costs. Both of these factors decrease the efficiency of the rotary sifter process which is undesirable in an industrial environment.
The present disclosure addresses these issues by providing a rotary sifter that allows for easier and faster inspection and cleaning than previous rotary sifter designs thereby reducing production downtime and labor cost, so as to increase the efficiency of the rotary sifter process.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, a rotary sifter is disclosed that includes a body assembly, and a base assembly supporting the body assembly and the drive mechanism. The body assembly includes a housing, a screen frame assembly that is positioned within the housing, and a rotor assembly mounted for rotation within the screen frame assembly. The drive mechanism is in mechanical cooperation with the rotor assembly to rotate the rotor assembly and is axially fixed in relation to the housing, the screen frame assembly, and the rotor assembly. The base assembly includes a guide rail system that is configured and dimensioned to permit longitudinal movement of the rotor assembly and the screen frame assembly in relation to the housing and the drive mechanism to allow for removal of the rotor assembly and the screen frame assembly from the housing.
In certain embodiments, the drive mechanism may be disconnectable from the rotor assembly such that the rotor assembly and the screen frame assembly can be removed from the housing without the drive mechanism.
In certain embodiments, the body assembly may include an end plate supporting the screen frame assembly and the rotor assembly such that the end plate is movable in conjunction with the screen frame assembly and the rotor assembly.
In certain embodiments, the end plate may be configured and dimensioned for axial and rotational movement in relation to the housing to cause corresponding axial and rotational movement of the screen frame assembly and the rotor assembly.
In certain embodiments, the end plate may include a pivot plate that is connectable to a pivot bearing to facilitate rotation of the pivot plate and the end plate in relation to the housing.
In certain embodiments, the pivot bearing may include an outer ring and an inner ring in mechanical engagement with the outer ring such that the inner ring is rotatable in relation to the outer ring. In such embodiments, the pivot plate may be connectable to the inner ring.
In certain embodiments, the rotary sifter may further include a guide plate that is configured and dimensioned to support the pivot bearing such that the pivot bearing is rotatable in relation to the guide plate.
In certain embodiments, the guide plate may be in mechanical engagement with the guide rail system such that the guide plate is longitudinally movable along the guide rail system together with the end plate, the screen frame assembly, and the rotor assembly.
In certain embodiments, the guide rail system may include a first guide rail and a second guide rail laterally offset from the first guide rail.
In certain embodiments, the first and second guide rails may be positioned on opposing sides of the base assembly.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, a rotary sifter is disclosed that includes a base assembly, a body assembly positioned atop the base assembly that includes an end plate supporting a rotor assembly and a screen frame assembly, and a drive mechanism in mechanical cooperation with the rotor assembly to rotate the rotor assembly within the housing. The drive mechanism and the end plate are positioned adjacent opposing longitudinal ends of the housing such that the end plate, the rotor assembly, and the screen frame assembly are concomitantly movable in relation to the drive mechanism.
In certain embodiments, the end plate, the rotor assembly, and the screen frame assembly may be axially movable in relation to the housing such that the rotor assembly and the screen frame assembly are removable from the housing.
In certain embodiments the rotary sifter may further include a longitudinal guide rail system supporting the end plate to permit axial movement of the end plate, the rotor assembly, and the screen frame assembly in relation to the housing.
In certain embodiments, the guide rail system may include a first guide rail and a second guide rail laterally offset from the first guide rail and substantially parallel to one another.
In certain embodiments, the end plate, the rotor assembly, and the screen frame assembly may be configured, dimensioned, and connected for concomitant rotation in relation to the housing.
In certain embodiments, the end plate may include a pivot plate that is connectable to a rotatable pivot bearing to facilitate rotation of the pivot plate and the end plate in relation to the housing.
In certain embodiments, the rotary sifter may further include a guide plate that is configured and dimensioned to support the pivot bearing such that the pivot bearing is rotatable in relation to the guide plate.
In certain embodiments, the guide plate may define an opening that is configured and dimensioned to receive the pivot bearing.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, a rotary sifter is disclosed that includes a housing configured and dimensioned to removably receive a rotor assembly and a screen frame assembly, and a drive mechanism in mechanical cooperation with the rotor assembly to rotate the rotor assembly within the screen frame assembly. The rotor assembly and the screen frame assembly are supported within the housing such that the rotor assembly and the screen frame assembly are axially movable in relation to the drive mechanism.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, a method is disclosed for disassembling a rotary sifter that includes a screen frame assembly and a rotor assembly rotatable by a drive mechanism. The method includes: (i) unlocking an end plate from a housing of the rotary sifter; (ii) axially repositioning the end plate in relation to the housing to disconnect the rotor assembly from the drive mechanism; and (iii) withdrawing the rotor assembly and the screen frame assembly from the housing by moving the rotor assembly and the screen frame assembly axially in relation to the drive mechanism.
In certain embodiments, axially repositioning the end plate may include sliding the end plate along a guide rail system.
In certain embodiments, sliding the end plate along the guide rail system may include sliding the end plate along first and second guide rails that are laterally offset from each other.
In certain embodiments, sliding the end plate along the guide rail system may include sliding a pivot plate of the end plate together with a guide plate that is mechanically connected to the pivot plate via a pivot bearing positioned between the pivot plate and the guide plate.
In certain embodiments, the method may further include rotating the pivot plate in relation to the guide plate via the pivot bearing to cause angular displacement of the end plate, the rotor assembly, and the screen frame assembly in relation to the housing.
In certain embodiments, rotating the pivot plate may include causing an inner ring of the pivot bearing to rotate in relation to an outer ring of the pivot bearing, the pivot plate being connectable to the inner ring of the pivot plate.
The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawings may not be to-scale and may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity.
The present disclosure describes an improved industrial rotary (centrifugal) sifter that allows for the simple and quick removal of the screen and rotor assemblies from the rotary sifter so as to reduce the downtime and labor costs associated with inspecting, removing, and cleaning the screen and rotor assemblies of the rotary sifter thereby increasing the efficiency of the rotary sifter process. The improved rotary sifter includes a body assembly and a base assembly supporting the body assembly and the drive mechanism. The body assembly includes a housing, and an end plate that supports internal rotor and screen assemblies within the housing such that the rotor assembly is rotatable within the screen frame assembly to scalp, sift, or otherwise process media or various materials, such as bakery mixes and ingredients, plants, confectionaries, powders, etc. The presently disclosed rotary sifter allows for easier and quicker inspection, disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly of the screen and rotor assemblies compared to known rotary sifter systems by allowing for the guided removal of the end plate, the rotor assembly, and the screen frame assembly using a guide rail system. During disassembly, the end plate, the rotor assembly, and the screen frame assembly are longitudinally separated from the housing and the drive mechanism using a guide plate that is slidably supported by the guide rail system. After the rotor and screen assemblies are fully removed from the housing, the end plate, the rotor assembly, and the screen frame assembly can be pivoted in relation to the housing and the drive mechanism to allow for continued disassembly, inspection, and cleaning of the rotor assembly and the screen frame assembly.
By supporting the rotor assembly and the screen frame assembly during disassembly and reassembly, the inspection and cleaning process can be simplified by reducing the requisite time and labor required compared to processes associated with other known rotary sifter systems. In addition, by allowing the drive mechanism to remain stationary and disconnected from the rotor and screen assemblies, a significant amount of weight is eliminated from the disassembly/reassembly process, thereby further simplifying and increasing the ease with which the process is completed.
The secondary stand 104 is configured and dimensioned to support various internal components of the body assembly 200 during disassembly and reassembly of the rotary sifter 1000, as discussed below. The secondary stand 104 is connected to, and extends from, the primary stand 102, and includes a frame 114 with a pair of forward legs 116A and a pair of rearward legs 116B having upper ends 118B. The forward legs 116A may be common with or combined with a pair of the legs 108 from the primary stand 102. As in the primary stand 102, the legs 116A, 116B of the secondary stand 104 are interconnected by a plurality of longitudinal and transverse support members (struts) 120. The forward legs 116A each define a first height HA, and the rearward legs 116B each define a second height HB greater than the first height HA. To permit movement of the secondary stand 104, each of the forward legs 116A and rearward legs 116B have casters 112 mounted thereon similar to the primary stand 102. By way of a non-limiting example, the secondary stand 104 may have two forward legs 116A and two rearward legs 116B wherein the forward legs 116A may be common with the legs 108 from the primary stand 102. In addition, the secondary stand 104 may have four caster wheels 112 and four struts 120 wherein two of the caster wheels 112 may be common with the caster wheels 112 on the primary stand 102.
As seen in
In various embodiments, it is envisioned that the primary stand 102 and the secondary stand 104 may be fixedly connected to one another so as to form the unitary frame 101. Alternatively, it is envisioned that the primary and secondary stands 102, 104 may be releasably connected such that the secondary stand 104 can be moved in relation to the primary stand 102 (e.g., for storage when not in use).
To process media or material through the rotary sifter 1000, the body assembly 200 includes an inlet 202, as shown in
To separate the desired media or material from the undesirable media or material, the screen frame assembly 210 includes a substantially cylindrical housing 216, as shown in
The rotor assembly 212 includes a substantially cylindrical, central shaft 224 that extends along a horizontal axis, as shown in
As shown in
The body assembly 200 further includes an end plate 240 that is movable in relation to the housing 206 of the body assembly 200 to allow for removal, inspection, and replacement of the screen frame assembly 210 and the rotor assembly 212 in accordance with the discussion below. More specifically, the end plate 240 is repositionable between a first position, as shown in
The end plate 240 is connected to the rotor assembly 212 to support the rotor assembly 212 and the screen frame assembly 210 during operation, disassembly, inspection, cleaning, and reassembly of the rotary sifter 1000. More specifically, the end plate 240 provides a substantially circular disc 242 having a boss 244 connected to the center of the disc 242 and extending away from the housing 206. An aperture 246 extends through the boss 244 and the disc 242 of the end plate 240. A plurality of longitudinal supports 248 are also connected to the disc 242 of the end plate 240 and extend longitudinally away from the housing 206. In a non-limiting example, there may be four longitudinal supports 248 extending from the disc 242. The longitudinal supports 248 support a substantially cylindrical coupling 250 having an aperture 252 extending therethrough wherein the coupling 250 is coaxial with the boss 244 connected to the disc 242. The boss 244 and the coupling 250 house a bearing assembly 254 as seen in
As seen in
In order to provide pivotal rotation of the pivot plate 264, the pivot bearing 272 provides a rotatable interface between the pivot plate 264 of the end plate 240 and a guide plate 274 that is slidably connected to the guide rails 124A, 124B. The pivot bearing 272 includes respective inner and outer rings 276, 278 that are configured, dimensioned, and adapted for relative rotation. More specifically, the outer ring 278 is received within an opening 280 defined by the guide plate 274 such that the inner ring 276 is rotatable in relation to the outer ring 278 and the guide plate 274. The inner ring 276 includes apertures 282 positioned in correspondence with the apertures 268 formed in the pivot plate 264 such that the fasteners 270 extend through the pivot plate 264 into the apertures 282 formed in the inner ring 276.
To provide linear motion along the guide rails 124A, 124B, the guide plate 274 includes a central body portion 284 and lateral wings 286A, 286B that extend integrally and outwardly from the central body portion 284 to form a substantially U-shaped structure. The central body portion 284 and the wings 286A, 286B are generally planar in configuration, and the central body portion 284 defines the opening 280 that receives the pivot bearing 272. Each of the wings 286A, 286B supports a tubular guide 288 that is connected to and extends from the underside of the wings 286A, 286B thereby defining a channel 290 within the tubular guides 288 that is configured and dimensioned to slidably receive the guide rails 124A, 124B such that the tubular guides 288 and the guide plate 274 are longitudinally slidable along the guide rails 124A, 124B to allow for longitudinal movement of the guide plate 274 (e.g., in relation to the secondary stand 104, the housing 206 of the body assembly 200, and the drive mechanism 234). The guide plate 274 is configured such that the wings 286A, 286B are axially offset from the opening 280 so as to define longitudinal recesses 292A, 292B that accommodate the upper ends 118B of the legs 116B of the secondary stand 104 as the end plate 240 is moved from the first position as shown in
As can be appreciated through reference to
To restrict angular movement, it is envisioned that a locking mechanism 294, as shown in
With reference now to
As seen in
Following reassembly of the screen frame assembly 210 and the rotor assembly 212, the end plate 240, the rotor assembly 212, and the screen frame assembly 210 can be returned to the position illustrated in
As seen in
Persons skilled in the art will understand that the various embodiments of the disclosure described herein and shown in the accompanying figures constitute non-limiting examples, and that additional components and features may be added to any of the embodiments discussed hereinabove without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, persons skilled in the art will understand that the elements and features shown or described in connection with one embodiment may be combined with those of another embodiment without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, and will appreciate further features and advantages of the presently disclosed subject matter based on the description provided. Variations, combinations, and/or modifications to any of the embodiments and/or features of the embodiments described herein that are within the abilities of a person having ordinary skill in the art are also within the scope of the disclosure, as are alternative embodiments that may result from combining, integrating, and/or omitting features from any of the disclosed embodiments.
Use of the term “optionally” with respect to any element of a claim means that the element may be included or omitted, with both alternatives being within the scope of the claim. Additionally, use of broader terms such as “comprises,” “includes,” and “having” should be understood to provide support for narrower terms such as “consisting of,” “consisting essentially of,” and “comprised substantially of.” Accordingly, the scope of protection is not limited by the description set out above, but is defined by the claims that follow, and includes all equivalents of the subject matter of the claims.
In the preceding description, reference may be made to the spatial relationship between the various structures illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and to the spatial orientation of the structures. However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of this disclosure, the structures described herein may be positioned and oriented in any manner suitable for their intended purpose. Thus, the use of terms such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” “inner,” “outer,” “upward,” “downward,” “inward,” “outward,” etc., should be understood to describe a relative relationship between structures and/or a spatial orientation of the structures. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that the use of such terms may be provided in the context of the illustrations provided by the corresponding figure(s).
Additionally, terms such as “approximately,” “generally,” “substantially,” and the like should be understood to allow for variations in any numerical range or concept with which they are associated. For example, it is intended that the use of terms such as “approximately” and “generally” should be understood to encompass variations on the order of 25%, or to allow for manufacturing tolerances and/or deviations in design.
Each and every claim is incorporated as further disclosure into the specification, and represents embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, the phrases “at least one of A, B, and C” and “A and/or B and/or C” should each be interpreted to include only A, only B, only C, or any combination of A, B, and C.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2216914 | Holtzman | Oct 1940 | A |
| 6193072 | Link | Feb 2001 | B1 |
| 9370796 | Maynard | Jun 2016 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 2000024551 | Jan 2000 | JP |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20200030852 A1 | Jan 2020 | US |
