Patent Application
20070091717
The invention concerns a device for the dosing and mixing of powdery materials, comprising reservoirs for the starting materials arranged essentially horizontally next to each other, comprising a closing and dosing gate or the like at the lower end, and comprising dosing devices for dosing the materials, and comprising at least one mixing device for mixing the dosed materials, wherein beneath the reservoir at least one batch tank is movably arranged, comprising a lid at the upper end, to receive dispensed amounts of starting materials.
The invention moreover concerns a device for dosing of powdery materials comprising a reservoir comprising a closing and dosing gate or the like at the lower end, and comprising dosing devices for dosing of materials.
In many sectors of industry, such as the construction material industry, the chemical industry, the animal feed industry, but also the foodstuff industry and pharmaceutical industry, it is necessary to mix powdery materials in more or less precisely dosed amounts in order to obtain an intermediate product or an end product. For example, in the construction material industry, in order to make adhesives or the like one blends the respective powdery ingredients and additives and fills them into bags. Depending on the type of adhesive or the compensation mass, different mix ratios are required. For this purpose, all possible starting materials are usually kept available in corresponding containers. The size of the particular container will depend on the usual dosage of the starting material. Thus, powdery materials of large quantity and [requiring] rather low dosing precision will be kept in rather large containers, such as silos, while additives of moderate quantity and [requiring] moderate dosing precision will be kept in containers of moderate size, and finally additives of rather small quantity and [requiring] rather high dosing precision will be kept in small containers or bags. To make it possible to produce a desired product according to a specific formula from specific starting materials, a common dosing device is generally used, which is transported from one container to another, or to which the containers are connected in succession. It will be necessary, between dosing of different materials, to clean the dosing device, or else there will be unacceptable deviations from the formula. This is required, for example, in the chemical industry when dosing paint pigments, so as not to obtain the wrong color results. Changes in materials always entail very great expense.
A dosing device for powdery products is known, for example, from DE 197 28 624 C2, wherein each reservoir is coordinated with a dosing device, which doses the particular material into a tank scale. After this, the dosed powders are taken by pneumatic conveyors to an inspection scale and finally to a mixer. However, it is necessary at regular intervals to clean the conveyors, as well as the weighing devices, which substantially increases the expense of the method. Also, in the case of fine-grain heavy ingredients, mixture separation may occur during pneumatic conveyance.
A device for the dosing and mixing of powdery materials of the kind in question is known in the field of the foodstuff industry from DE 199 09 896 C2. In this case, one produces a mixture of friable materials in order to produce baked goods by dosing and mixing of the powdery components. The batch tanks are adapted to the different functions for receiving the mixed powder by replacing the lids. The transport lid is loosely placed on the edge of the tank. Such a device would not be suitable for the filling of especially delicate substances, as in the pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, in order to empty the batch tank one must rotate it about 180 degrees, since this occurs through a funnel-shaped drainage lid.
DE 38 18 637 A1 shows a device for bringing together pourable material components into a mixture, wherein reservoirs for the starting materials are provided that are arranged essentially horizontally next to each other, having dosing worms flanged onto their bottoms, taking the materials to a respective weighing tank. From the weighing tank the dosed material is delivered via a pivoted tilting arm into a collecting tank arranged underneath. All components are dosed at the same time into the weighing tanks and then emptied one after the other into the collecting tank and thereafter taken on to a mixing operation. The reservoirs are firmly anchored and connected to supply lines, so that their replacement or a replacement of the product contained therein can be done only with great expense. Since the dosing and weighing devices are assigned to the individual reservoirs, when the reservoirs are replaced one must also replace or at least clean the dosing and weighing device.
DE 101 42 949 A1 shows a device for preparing a mixture from starting substances, wherein the reservoirs for the starting materials are arranged essentially horizontally next to each other and a collecting or batch tank is movably arranged beneath the reservoirs. In this design as well, dosing devices are assigned to the individual reservoirs. What is more, the collecting tank has no gate or the like at its lower end, so that an emptying of same is possible only by a costly 180-degree turning.
Finally, DE 38 16 202 A1 shows a layout design for the production and packaging of a multicomponent mixture, in which reservoirs for the starting materials are arranged essentially horizontally next to each other, and a dispensing, weighing and transfer device is arranged under each of them. Tanks are movably arranged beneath the filling stations in which the individual components are dosed. The transfer process from the weighing tanks occurs by a relatively costly 180-degree turning movement of the weighing tank.
The problem of the present invention consists in creating a dosing and mixing device as indicated above, as well as a dosing device that is as flexible and as expandable as possible, and furthermore has the simplest possible construction. Moreover, when a change occurs in the makeup of the mixture, the fewest possible number of components should require cleaning, so that the dosing and mixing process does not have to be interrupted for too long. Finally, a quick and precise dosing should be possible, and the dosing and mixing should be automated as much as possible.
The problem is solved by an above-indicated dosing and mixing device, wherein the reservoirs are configured as dosing tanks comprising integrated dosing devices. Such a configuration of the reservoirs and batch tanks of the dosing and mixing device achieves an optimal and automatable filling and emptying of same. A costly manipulation of the tanks for emptying them, e.g., by turning them 180 degrees, is not necessary on account of the gate or the like at the lower end of the batch tank. The dosing and mixing device in question is distinguished by an especially low structural height, since the components are arranged essentially next to each other. This arrangement also enables a simple and quick expansion. In contrast, present-day dosing and mixing layouts often have an especially high structural height, since the reservoirs are arranged above the weighing and mixing equipment with a stationary weighing tank placed underneath, connected to the dosing tanks by dosing equipment. Such a vertical layout is usually limited, so that an expansion to new starting materials and thus a changing of the formula involves great expense. In the known dosing and mixing devices, dosing equipment is usually coordinated with small silos and, like them, has a stationary construction, or, less often, stationary dosing equipment is also coordinated with flexible tanks. Usually, however, the dosing equipment is suitable for only one unchanging raw material. A changing of the formula entails very high expense, usually involving a complete disassembling and cleaning of the component parts. A product change in the mixing and dosing layout of the invention can be done by quick replacement of the entire reservoir, configured as a dosing tank with integrated dosing equipment, without cleaning expense. At a later time, the removed reservoir or dosing tank can be integrated back in the mixing and dosing layout, so that the layout can be quickly and easily adapted to changing formulas. This is of great importance, especially for complicated and short-lived formulas, and also when there is an increasing number of raw materials. The dosing equipment is preferably constituted by dosing worms.
Advantageously, covers are arranged at the upper ends of the dosing tanks, so that they can be replaced automatically or manually.
According to another feature of the invention, the gates or the like of the batch tanks and possibly the closing and dosing gates or the like of the dosing tanks can be activated automatically. In this way, an automated mixing of the powdery materials can occur.
It is likewise beneficial that the covers of at least the batch tanks and, in any case, also the covers of the dosing tanks can be automatically activated. The automatic activation can be done pneumatically or electrically.
According to another feature of the invention, at least one collecting funnel is arranged underneath one or more dosing tanks for collecting at least one starting material. The collecting funnel can be arranged precisely underneath a dosing tank and the starting material of this dosing tank can be collected accordingly before being passed on to the batch tank. It is likewise possible, for example, to arrange the collecting funnel underneath several dosing tanks and to pass the starting materials of these dosing tanks one after another via the same collecting funnel to the respective batch tank.
Advantageously, a filling head is connected to the collecting funnel at the lower end for filling the batch tank. This filling head is docked at the cover of the batch tank and thus enables a dust-free filling of the batch tank with the starting materials located in the collecting funnel.
The filling head can have a device for activating the cover of the batch tank being filled, so that when the filling head docks at the upper end of the batch tank the cover can be automatically activated. This can occur purely mechanically, but also pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically. A construction with a turning and swiveling movement of the cover is especially suitable for manipulation of the cover.
The collecting funnel can contain a weighing device, by which the material dispensed into the batch tank can be weighed. Various designs are possible for the weighing device. The weighing device provided in the collecting funnel, or the collecting funnel configured as a weighing device serves, in particular, for fine dosing of a very small quantity of material with the utmost precision.
It is likewise possible to provide weighing frames on which the dosing tanks can be placed. The dosing by means of weighing equipment arranged in such weighing frames underneath the dosing tanks or integrated into the dosing tanks usually represents the normal situation. In this way, the material of the dosing tanks can be weighed out in medium quantities and with medium precision by a subtractive weighing. The data put out by the weighing equipment can be relayed by wired or wireless means to corresponding control mechanisms.
Advantageously, the dosing tanks, which are also arranged essentially horizontally next to each other, are also arranged so that they can move along a predetermined path. In this way, on the one hand, a replacement of empty dosing tanks becomes possible and, on the other hand, a changing of the starting materials for changing formulas is quickly and easily possible. Likewise, the dosing tanks can be moved along a path to replenishing stations.
For large components that are supplied in large amount and with rather low dosing precision, large silos and conveying and dosing equipment can also be provided for mixing these large components into the batch tank or collecting funnel. These large silos with greater volume than the dosing tank can be placed next to the layout and be connected to the collecting funnels, for example, by worm conveyors.
Furthermore, devices can be provided for manual mixing-in materials that are configured essentially identical in design to the dosing tanks and possibly to the batch tanks, providing an opening for the mixing-in materials. This device for manual mixing-in materials can be incorporated in the dosing and mixing device, just like normal dosing tanks, with the sole difference being that the materials being mixed in are placed by hand into the opening. Likewise, these devices for manual mixing-in materials can also be arranged above the dosing tanks, and in this way certain materials can be placed by hand into the dosing tanks. The opening can be arranged at the side, so that it is easily possible add the materials, for example, from bags.
It is likewise advantageous for the dosing tanks to contain stirring mechanisms. Such stirring mechanisms preferably serve to remove all materials located in the dosing tank without a trace, so that essentially no material remains in the dosing tank. For this purpose, the dosing tank is preferably configured flat at its lower end.
According to another feature of the invention, the movement paths of the batch tanks and/or the dosing tanks are composed of individual elements that have conveying mechanisms, preferably rollers. Thanks to such a modular construction, a modification of the dosing and mixing device or an expansion can be done especially quickly and easily. Instead of building the movement paths with rollers, systems with chain conveyors are also conceivable.
Individual elements of the movement paths can pivot, in order to accomplish a change in direction of the batch tanks and/or dosing tanks being delivered along the movement paths. Also, when the movement paths are composed of chain conveyors, chain conveyor tables can be provided. It is likewise possible to transport the batch tanks and/or the dosing tanks suspended along a movement path. For this, the batch and/or dosing tanks are outfitted with an appropriate design on their top side, which rests against a so-called overhead conveyor. Such an overhead conveyor can be designed as a roller or pulley train driven at one or both ends, or a chain conveyor. Such a design advantageously frees up floor space.
When elements of the movement paths contain weighing devices, the filling of the batch tank or dosing tank located at the particular element can be weighed and thus the quantity of the added material can be adjusted.
Advantageously, a transport device such as a crane is arranged above the dosing tank for the moving of the dosing tank or for the positioning of replenishment containers. This enables a quick replacement of dosing tanks and, thus, a quick adapting of the layout to altered circumstances.
The dosing tanks and/or the batch tanks are preferably formed from a tank that is arranged inside a frame. The frame confers the necessary stability on the dosing tank or batch tank and, moreover, offers possibilities of manipulation.
Especially in the case of the batch tank, the tank has a downward-tapering funnel shape. Thanks to this, the powder located inside is guided toward the gate at the bottom of the batch tank.
The tank and frame preferably have rectangular horizontal projections. In this way, it becomes possible to arrange several dosing tanks or batch tanks in a row, making optimal use of the space.
If openings are provided at the bottom of the frame to accommodate the forks of a forklift truck or the like, the dosing tank and the batch tank can be easily transported with a corresponding forklift truck or the like.
As an alternative or in addition to this, the dosing tank and/or the batch tank can have openings at their tops for insertion of a hoisting mechanism. This makes it possible to handle them by means of a crane.
Advantageously, four suspension devices are provided at each corner of the top side of the dosing tank and/or the batch tank. This enables lifting the dosing tank by means of an appropriately configured X-shaped or rectangular lifting implement, without the risk of the dosing tank swaying back and forth. In this way, a precise setting-down is possible. This, in turn, facilitates a fully automatic operation of the dosing and mixing layout.
If both the dosing tank and the batch tank have identical outer dimensions, the flexibility will likewise be enhanced, since the dosing tank and batch tank can be exchanged for each other, if necessary. Only the dosing equipment located in the dosing tanks is not usually contained in the batch tank.
In order to enable a lifting of the dosing tank or batch tank, or a lowering of same, a lifting mechanism for lifting the dosing tank and/or the batch tank can be provided, integrated along the movement path of the dosing tank or batch tank. This lifting mechanism can be outfitted with forks, for example, in the manner of a forklift truck, which engage with the aforementioned openings at the bottom of the frame of the dosing tank and/or the batch tank.
For especially high flexibility, the lifting mechanism can be rotated 360 degrees.
For a partial operation or fully automatic operation, it is advantageous for at least the batch tank and possibly the dosing tank to have devices for identification. These can be formed, for example, by barcodes, which can be sensed by corresponding reading devices, or also by integrated circuits, which can be polled by corresponding transponders.
According to another feature of the invention, the batch tank and possibly the dosing tank have interfaces for connection to a control mechanism. These interfaces enable a polling of weighing devices in the batch tanks and possibly the dosing tanks, but also an activation of mechanisms located therein, such as mixing devices, dosing devices, or opening mechanisms for the cover or the gate.
Furthermore, it is advantageous for the batch tank and possibly the dosing tank to have mechanisms for connection to an electrical voltage supply, a pressurized air source, or the like, especially plug and socket connections. Through these plug-and-socket connections or slip-ring connections, the batch tank and possibly the dosing tank are supplied with the necessary energy at their corresponding positions, so that an operation of the dosing device or mixing device as well as an automatic opening and closing of the cover and the gate becomes possible.
It is advantageous in a fully automatic operation for the batch tanks to be able to move along an essentially closed path.
The problem is also solved by an above-indicated dosing device, wherein the reservoirs are configured as dosing tanks with integrated dosing devices. Thanks to such a configuration of the reservoirs, an optimal emptying of same becomes possible. A costly manipulating of the tanks for emptying them, for example, by turning them 180 degrees, is not necessary. A changing of product in the dosing device according to the invention can occur by quick replacement of the entire reservoir, configured as a dosing tank with integrated dosing equipment, with no cleaning expense. At a later time, the removed dosing tank can be integrated into the mixing and dosing layout once again, so that the layout can be quickly and easily adapted to changing formulas. This is of especially great importance for complicated and short-lived formulas and when there is an increasing number of raw materials. The dosing devices in the dosing tanks are preferably formed by dosing worms.
Advantageously, a cover is arranged at the top side of the dosing tank, so that it can be replaced automatically or manually.
According to another feature of the invention, the closing and dosing gates or the like of the dosing tank can be automatically activated. In this way, an automatic dosing of the powdery materials can be accomplished.
It is likewise advantageous that the covers of the dosing tanks can be automatically activated. The automatic activation can be pneumatic or electrical.
It is likewise advantageous for the dosing tanks to contain stirring mechanisms. Such stirring mechanisms preferably serve to remove all materials located in the dosing tank without a trace, so that essentially no material remains in the dosing tank. For this purpose, the dosing tank is preferably configured flat at its lower end.
The dosing tanks are preferably formed from a tank that is arranged inside a frame. The frame confers the necessary stability on the dosing tank and, moreover, offers possibilities of manipulation.
The tank can have a downward-tapering funnel shape. Thanks to this, the powder located inside is guided toward the gate at the bottom of the dosing tank.
The tank and frame advantageously have a rectangular horizontal projection. In this way, it becomes possible to arrange several dosing tanks in a row, making optimal use of the space.
If openings are provided at the bottom of the frame to accommodate the forks of a forklift truck or the like, the dosing tank can be easily transported with a corresponding forklift truck or the like.
As an alternative or in addition to this, the dosing tanks can have openings at their tops for insertion of a hoisting mechanism. This makes it possible to handle them by means of a crane.
Advantageously, four suspension devices are provided at each corner of the top side of the dosing tank. This enables lifting of the dosing tank by means of an appropriately configured X-shaped or rectangular lifting implement, without running the risk of the dosing tank swaying back and forth. In this way, a precise setting-down is possible. This, in turn, facilitates a fully automatic operation of the dosing layout.
For a partial duty or fully automatic duty, it is advantageous for the dosing tanks to have devices for identification. These can be formed, for example, by barcodes, which can be sensed by corresponding reading devices, or also by integrated circuits, which can be polled by corresponding transponders.
According to another feature of the invention, the dosing tanks have interfaces for connection to a control mechanism. These interfaces enable a polling of weighing devices in the dosing tanks, but also an activation of mechanisms located therein, such as mixing devices, dosing devices, or opening mechanisms for the cover or the gate.
Furthermore, it is advantageous for the dosing tanks to have mechanisms for connection to an electrical voltage supply, a pressurized air source, or the like, especially plug and socket connections. Through these plug-and-socket connections or slip-ring connections, the dosing tanks are supplied with the necessary energy at their corresponding positions, so that an operation of the dosing device or mixing device, as well as an automatic opening and closing of the cover and the gate, becomes possible.
The dosing device can contain a weighing mechanism, by which the material located in the dosing tank can be weighed. Various designs are possible for the weighing mechanism.
If at least one dosing mechanism is provided for a rough dosing and at least one dosing mechanism for a fine dosing, it is possible to accomplish a fast dosing, on the one hand, and a precise dosing on the other. For rather large quantities of the powdery material, the dosing mechanism for the rough dosing will be activated, and for the dosing of fine amounts the dosing mechanism for a fine dosing will then be activated and appropriately controlled.
The at-least two different mechanisms can be formed by two conveyor worms of different sizes.
The present invention will now be explained more closely by means of the enclosed drawings, which show sample embodiments of a dosing and mixing device, as well as details thereof.
These show:
a and 3b, a schematic view of the top side of a batch tank to illustrate the automatic cover opening;
a, a perspective view in a partly cross-sectional dosing tank with dosing mechanism arranged therein;
b, a partly cross-sectional view through a dosing tank;
c, a cross-sectional view of one variant of a dosing tank with fine dosing;
a and 5b, a schematic view of a batch tank with automatically activated gate arranged therein;
a, a perspective view of a mechanism for manual mixing-in materials;
b, a side view of the arrangement per
As already mentioned above, chain conveyors or the like can also be used instead of roller trains 5. Finally, constructions are also possible for delivering the batch tank 2 and/or dosing tank 1 that offer free floor space, in that the batch tank 2 and/or the dosing tank 1 are transported suspended (not shown). In this case, structures are arranged at the top end of the batch tank 2 and/or the dosing tank 1 that rest against an overhead conveyor. These conveyors can be designed as roller or pulley trains driven at one or both ends, or as chain conveyors.
a and 3b show a perspective schematic view of the top end of a batch tank 2 with a corresponding cover 13. By the filling head 4, the cover 13 is lifted and then turned to the side, whereupon the filling head 4 docks at the opening of the batch tank 2 and the material located in the collecting funnel 3 is placed into the batch tank 2. Thus, an automatic opening of the cover 13 is possible.
a shows a schematic perspective view of several dosing tanks 1 arranged next to each other and
c shows a cross-sectional view of one variant of a dosing tank 1 with fine dosing. For this purpose, next to the dosing mechanism 12 in the form of a conveyor worm for the rough dosing, there is provided another dosing mechanism 34 in the form of a smaller conveyor worm. By actuating the dosing mechanism 12 for the rough dosing, a rather large quantity of the powdery material can be dosed via the closing and dosing gate 27. By using the dosing mechanism 34 for the fine dosing, the particular fine dosing of the powdery material is then accomplished.
a shows a perspective view and
a shows a perspective view of the arrangement of mechanisms 20 for the manual mixing of materials and
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| A 722/2003 | May 2003 | AT | national |
| A 486/2004 | Mar 2004 | AT | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AT04/00165 | 5/11/2004 | WO | 8/22/2006 |
