High pressure homogenizing apparatus and method thereof

The present invention is a high pressure homogenizing apparatus and a method for dividing a fine solid material or fibrous cellulose of chemical, medical, and resin products in suspension as a dispersion or emulsification, or dividing by crushing cell membranes of fungi with high efficiency. The apparatus is free from valve damages to simplify maintenance and control. The high pressure homogenizing apparatus to finely divide a raw material in suspension includes a high pressure homogenizing device having an orifice, a raw material receiving passage connected to the high pressure homogenizing device, a processing piston, and a processing recess disposed in a receiver. A front end of the processing piston is inserted into the processing recess with a pressure intensifier and a volume compression inside the processing recess pressurizes the suspension in the processing recess to lead the suspension into the raw material receiving passage for dividing the raw material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a dispersion and an emulsification of suspensions containing fine solid raw materials in food, chemical products, medical products, various resins and also of suspension containing fibrous cellulose in paper manufacturing field. The present invention relates to a fine division of raw materials, such as crushing cell membranes of fungi of coliform bacillus and yeast cells contained in liquid. The present invention provides a high efficiency of dispersion and emulsification of solids in the suspensions, and a high efficiency crushing of the cell membranes. The present invention has a high process capacity and a possibility for automation. In the present invention, valves are not damaged so that a maintenance and control become easy.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a conventional high pressure homogenizing apparatus in the paper manufacturing field (JP,S60-19921,A), a suspension containing fibrous cellulose is passed through a small orifice with a high pressure and the fibrous cellulose is finely divided.

The conventional apparatus employs a reciprocating movement of a piston in a cylinder with a motor to flow the suspension of the fibrous cellulose through the small orifice with high pressure. Since the fibrous cellulose is viscous, the conventional apparatus can not flow the fibrous cellulose quickly through the orifice, causing a low productivity of fine division.

Furthermore, the fibrous cellulose sticks to an inlet and outlet valve seats of the piston, causing a trouble in an open and close of the valve, a leakage of the raw material under the high pressure, and accordingly the low productivity.

Since the conventional apparatus is operated under high pressure, the piston and the inlet and outlet valves wear rapidly and are damaged easily. For this reason, the maintenance and control of the apparatus is required and cause an increasing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a high pressure homogenizing apparatus and method of dispersing and emulsifying a solid material contained in a suspension or of crushing cell membranes. The apparatus has a simple structure and high processing capacity under high pressure. The apparatus can be automated and has no valves damaged so that the parts of the apparatus become long-life and has easy maintenance and control.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a high pressure homogenizing apparatus includes a high pressure homogenizing device having a small diameter orifice for passing a suspension containing fine solid materials, fibrous celluloses, or cells at high pressure and high speed, a raw material receiving passage connected to the high pressure homogenizing device, a processing piston, a receiver opposed to the processing piston, a processing recess disposed in the receiver and for inserting a front end of the processing piston with a pressure intensifier, whereby the receiver and/or the processing piston is moved relatively with the pressure intensifier and a volume inside the processing recess is compressed so that a desired amount of the suspension containing a raw material is pressurized and led into the raw material receiving passage to be finely divided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the processing recess is disposed inside a booster piston or the receiver, which moves relatively to the processing piston fixed to a frame, of the pressure intensifier.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the processing recess is disposed inside the receiver or a movable cylinder, which moves relatively to the processing piston fixed to the frame, of the pressure intensifier.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the processing recess is disposed inside the cylinder as the receiver moving relatively to the processing piston connected with a booster piston of the pressure intensifier disposed movably to the frame.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the processing recess is disposed inside the movable cylinder as the receiver moving relatively to the processing piston connected to the booster piston of the pressure intensifier disposed movably to the frame.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the raw material receiving passage is disposed inside the processing piston in a longitudinal direction thereof.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the raw material receiving passage is communicated between the processing recess and the high pressure homogenizing device and disposed at in a radial direction of the processing recess.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the raw material receiving passage is connected at one end to a bushing having a T or L-shaped section disposed at a lower position of the processing recess.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the processing recess has a sliding valve therein at a lower position of the processing recess and the sliding valve opens and closes the raw material receiving passage with a spring responding to an internal pressure change.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the suspension containing the raw material is led into the raw material receiving passage when the processing piston passes through a watertight position and the processing recess becomes watertight.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, when the processing piston passes through the watertight position and the suspension is filled in the processing recess and raw material receiving passage to be watertight, the suspension in the raw material receiving passage is pressurized.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, a hopper supplying the suspension is disposed at an opening of the processing recess and the processing piston is inserted into the processing recess through the hopper to be watertight.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the booster piston, the processing piston, or the movable cylinder is returned to an initial position by a cylinder driven with the pressure intensifier after the suspension is led into the raw material receiving passage at high pressure.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the pressure intensifier has a booster cylinder for oil or water to flow into and the booster piston disposed slidably inside the booster cylinder and having the processing recess at one end in a secondary path for inserting the front end of the processing piston.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, the pressure intensifier includes the booster cylinder for oil or water to flow into, the booster piston as the processing piston disposed slidably in the booster cylinder, and the cylinder having the processing recess at the one end for inserting the front end of the processing piston.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, when the pressure intensifier is returned to the initial position after finely dividing the raw material, a relative movement of the receiver and/or the processing piston increases the volume inside the processing recess so that the suspension is led into the processing recess and filled over the watertight position in the processing recess.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, the processing piston is moved manually to the initial position, at which the suspension is filled over the watertight position, by a handle disposed around the processing piston.

According to an eighteenth aspect of the present invention, the processing piston is moved with a motor, a gear group having a drive gear attached to a shaft of the motor and a driven gear engaging with the drive gear and a screw disposed at an outer wall of the processing piston, a key groove disposed at the outer wall of the processing piston intersecting with the screw in the axial direction, and a key being locked into the key groove.

According to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention, a relative moving stroke of the receiver and/or the processing piston at an automatic operation is adjusted with a stroke controller.

According to a twentieth aspect of the present invention, a detachable cover is disposed at an upper face of the receiver to cover the processing recess and slidably passed through by the processing piston.

According to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention, the cover includes a fixing plate attached to an upper portion of the receiver having the processing recess, an annular cover main body attached to an upper face of the fixing plate and having a first locking edge at an outer circumference thereof, an upper cover having a through-hole for inserting the processing piston and a second locking edge to be faced with the first locking edge, and collars separated in two parts to hold the first and second locking edges. The upper cover is detachable to the cover main body with the collars.

According to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention, the high pressure homogenizing device has a valve moving along an axial direction thereof driven with oil pressure or air cylinder for pressing variably a valve seat at the orifice to adjust an internal pressure to finely divide the raw material.

According to a twenty-third aspect of the present invention, the high pressure to finely divide the solid material, fibrous cellulose, or cells contained in the suspension in the high pressure homogenizing device is determined by converting a low pressure of oil or water detected at a primary path inside the booster cylinder of the pressure intensifier.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of high pressure homogenizing devices are connected to the other end of the secondary path of the raw material receiving passage.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention, the internal pressure of the high pressure homogenizing device to finely divide the raw material of the solid material, fibrous cellulose, or cells is detected from the low pressure of oil or water led into the booster cylinder of the pressure intensifier, and the booster piston and the cylinder are automatically controlled and operated based on the detected signals.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention, a method of high pressure homogenizing includes the steps of supplying a suspension containing a raw material of a fine solid material, fibrous cellulose, or cells to a processing recess for inserting a front end of a processing piston with a pressure intensifier, driving the pressure intensifier for moving a receiver and/or the processing piston relatively each other, decreasing a volume inside the processing recess, and leading the desired amount of the suspension into a raw material receiving passage disposed inside the processing piston along a longitudinal direction or disposed in a radial direction of the processing recess and connected with the processing recess and a high pressure homogenizing device for finely dividing the suspension, increasing the pressure of the suspension inside the raw material receiving passage, passing the suspension through an orifice of the high pressure homogenizing device at high speed, and finely dividing the raw material into a dispersion, an emulsification, or a crush of the cell membranes.

According to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention, the method of high pressure homogenizing includes the steps of supplying the suspension containing the raw material of the fine solid, fibrous cellulose, or cells to a hopper, inserting the front end of the processing piston through the hopper into the processing recess disposed inside the receiver and opposed to the processing piston, passing the processing piston through a watertight position in the processing recess to increase the pressure inside the processing recess at the watertight state, driving the pressure intensifier for moving the receiver and/or the processing piston relatively each other,

decreasing a volume inside the processing recess, and leading the desired amount of the suspension into the raw material receiving passage disposed inside the processing piston along the longitudinal direction or disposed in the radial direction of the processing recess and connected with the processing recess and the high pressure homogenizing device for finely dividing the suspension, increasing the pressure of the suspension inside the raw material receiving passage, passing the suspension through the orifice of the high pressure homogenizing device at high speed, and
finely dividing the raw material into the dispersion, emulsification, or the crush of the cell membranes.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention, the method of high pressure homogenizing includes the steps of supplying the suspension containing the raw material of the fine solid material, fibrous cellulose, or cells over the watertight position in the processing recess disposed inside the receiver with the processing piston as a preliminary step, inserting the front end of the processing piston into the processing recess, passing the processing piston through the watertight position in the processing recess to increase the pressure inside the processing recess at the watertight state, driving the pressure intensifier for moving the receiver and/or the processing piston relatively each other, decreasing the volume inside the processing recess, and leading the desired amount of the suspension into the raw material receiving passage disposed inside the processing piston along the longitudinal direction or disposed in the radial direction of the processing recess and connected with the processing recess and the high pressure homogenizing device for finely dividing the suspension, increasing the pressure of the suspension inside the raw material receiving passage, passing the suspension through the orifice of the high pressure homogenizing device at high speed, and finely dividing the raw material into the dispersion, the emulsification, or the crush of the cell membranes.

According to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention, the method of high pressure homogenizing includes the steps of returning the pressure intensifier to the initial position, increasing the volume inside the processing recess with the relative movement of the receiver and/or the processing piston, and

leading the suspension into the processing recess to fill over the watertight position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A high pressure homogenizing apparatus of the present invention passes a suspension2containing a raw material G such as fine solid materials, fibrous cellulose, and cell membranes through a small orifice3disposed in a high pressure homogenizing device1to disperse and emulsify the raw material G or crush, that is, subdivide the cell membranes under high pressure. The high pressure homogenizing apparatus has a raw material receiving passage6, a processing piston5, a receiver opposed to the processing piston5, and a processing recess7to receive a front end (one end)5aof the processing piston5by means of a pressure intensifier9. When the pressure intensifier9is driven, the receiver and/or the processing piston5moves relatively and the suspension2flows into the raw material receiving passage6with a desired amount to be processed by a change of volume inside the processing recess7. The solid materials, fibrous cellulose, and cells in the suspension2are finely divided at the orifice3of the high pressure homogenizing device1.

As shown inFIG. 1, the high pressure homogenizing apparatus includes a hopper4disposed at an opening of the processing recess7to receive the suspension2, the processing piston5having the raw material receiving passage6inside along the axial direction, the front end5abeing movable in the hopper4relatively and the other end5bbeing connected to the high pressure homogenizing device1, a booster piston8as the receiver having the processing recess7disposed at one end8a, the pressure intensifier9to move the booster piston8up and down with respect to the processing piston5with increased pressure, and cylinders10to reciprocate the booster piston8. The relative movement of the processing piston5and the processing recess7can change the volume inside the processing recess7. The fine solid materials, fibrous cellulose, or cells in the suspension2corresponding to the volume change in the processing recess7flow into the raw material receiving passage6and are finely divided at the high pressure homogenizing device1.

As shown inFIG. 1, the high pressure homogenizing device1has a homogenizing valve V which drives straight in the axial direction X with a hydraulic cylinder C or air cylinder, and a valve seat V.S to form the orifice3. The homogenizing valve V contacts with the valve seat V.S in order to adjust an internal pressure for fine dividing process of the raw material G.

The raw materials G are considered as the followings. In foods, the raw materials G are solid materials such as preparations and fibrous cellulose. They are contained in the suspensions2of finished or semi-finished products of foods such as tomato ketchup, oil, dairy products of butter and yogurts, soft drinks, fruit juices, soups, and baby foods in order for separation prevention, long-term stability, flavor, and swallowing. In chemical products or cosmetics, the raw materials are solid materials such as pigments, magnetic powders, or minerals contained in the suspensions2or emulsions of finished or semi-finished products thereof. In medical products, they are solid materials such as minerals and crude drugs contained in the suspensions2or emulsions of finished or semi-finished products thereof. In glassware, they are fine solid materials such as pigments and minerals contained in liquid glasses. In synthetic resin industries, they are pigments, minerals, elasticizer, and reinforced fibers contained in the suspensions2or emulsions of finished or semi-finished products thereof. In paper manufacturing field, they are solid materials such as fibrous cellulose contained in the suspensions2during manufacturing. In pathology laboratories, they are cells of fungi such as coliform bacillus and yeast cells contained in the suspensions2.

The hopper4is a container and the raw material G is supplied to the hopper4through a flexible pipe11, one end of which is connected to the hopper4.

A section area φ1and a length L1of the raw material receiving passage6are set so as that the high pressure homogenizing device1can achieve the best process of fine division of the raw material G.

The booster piston8of the pressure intensifier9is moved upwardly by pressure. When the processing piston5passes through a watertight position S of the processing recess7disposed at the end8aof the booster piston8, the suspension2supplied to the hopper4is forced to flow in the raw material receiving passage6and a desired amount thereof is received.

The pressure intensifier9has a booster cylinder12and the booster piston8. Oil O or water W flows into the booster cylinder12. The booster piston8is slidable to the booster cylinder12and has the processing recess7at the end8ainto which the front end5aof the processing piston5is inserted for the reciprocating movement.

When a low pressure oil O or water W is supplied to the booster cylinder12of the pressure intensifier9with a pump P, the booster piston8is moved toward the processing piston5. The front end (the one end5a) of the processing piston5is inserted into the processing recess7disposed at one end8athrough the hopper4and the processing recess7is pressurized. The suspension2containing the raw material G in the hopper4is led into the raw material receiving passage6in the processing piston5.

In the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the booster cylinder12has an inner diameter φ2of about 340 mm at a cross section S1and the processing recess7has an inner diameter φ3of about 110 mm at a cross section S2.

The booster cylinder12has initially a low internal pressure H1of 100 Kg/cm2(9,800 KPa) when the oil O or water W flows into the booster cylinder12. When the processing piston5enters into the processing recess7, the internal pressure of the raw material receiving passage6reaches to a high pressure H2of 955 Kg/cm2(93,590 KPa). The internal pressure of the raw material receiving passage6can be reached to the maximum pressure H2of 2,300 Kg/cm2(225,400 KPa) by adjusting the inner diameter φ2of the booster cylinder12and the inner diameter φ3of the processing recess7, and selecting the pump P of a desired power.

A high pressure H3at the high pressure homogenizing device1, which disperses and emulsifies the solid materials or fibrous cellulose and crushes the cells for finely dividing the raw material G in the suspension2, is estimated from the primary low pressure H1, which is induced by the oil O or water W flowing into the booster cylinder12, measured at an oil pressure indicator13and detected by a sensor (not shown).

The cylinders10have piston rods14connected to the booster piston8in order to increase the internal pressure of the raw material receiving passage8to the high pressure H2by moving the rods14up and down.

The high pressure homogenizing device1is attached to an upper portion of a frame15as shown inFIG. 1. The cylinders10are attached to both sides of the upper portion of the frame15. The processing piston5is arranged in the center of the upper portion inside the frame15and the booster cylinder12is arranged in a lower portion of the frame15.

A discharge pipe11′ is connected to the high pressure homogenizing device1and is utilized to discharge the subdivided raw material G to a container16as needed.

The structure of the high pressure homogenizing device1is explained in the above. A process thereof for dispersing or emulsifying the raw materials of the solid materials or fibrous cellulose contained in the suspension and for crushing to finely divide the cell membranes is explained.

The raw materials G are considered as the followings. In foods, the raw materials G are solid materials such as preparations and fibrous cellulose. They are contained in the suspensions2of finished or semi-finished products of foods such as tomato ketchup, oil, dairy products of butter and yogurts, soft drinks, fruit juices, soups, and baby foods in order for separation prevention, long-term stability, flavor, and swallowing. In chemical products or cosmetics, the raw materials are solid materials such as pigments, magnetic powders, or minerals contained in the suspensions2or emulsions of finished or semi-finished products thereof. In medical products, they are solid materials such as minerals and crude drugs contained in the suspensions2or emulsions of finished or semi-finished products thereof. In glassware, they are fine solid materials such as pigments and minerals contained in liquid glasses. In synthetic resin industries, they are pigments, minerals, elasticizer, and reinforced fibers contained in the suspensions2or emulsions of finished or semi-finished products thereof. In paper manufacturing field, they are solid materials such as fibrous cellulose contained in the suspensions2during manufacturing. In pathology laboratories, they are cells of fungi such as coliform bacillus and yeast cells contained in the suspensions2.

In order to finely divide the raw material G of the solid materials, fibrous cellulose, or cells of fungi contained in the suspension2, the suspension2is supplied to the hopper4through the flexible pipe11. The suspension2is also supplied to the processing recess7(refer toFIG. 1).

When the pressure intensifier9is driven and the booster piston8is moved upwardly, the front end5aof the processing piston5enters into the processing recess7through the hopper4as seen inFIG. 2.

The movement of the booster piston8is driven by the low pressure H1of the oil O or water W flowed into the booster cylinder12.

After the processing piston5passes through the watertight position S of the processing recess7, the inside of the processing recess7is pressurized.

The booster piston8moves toward the processing piston5until a sensor detects a stop. The compression of the volume inside the processing recess7presses and leads the suspension2into the raw material receiving passage6to the desired amount. The suspension2is further pressurized in the raw material receiving passage6.

As described above, in the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the booster cylinder12has the inner diameter φ2of about 340 mm and the processing recess7has the inner diameter φ3of about 110 mm. The booster cylinder12has initially the low internal pressure H1of 100 Kg/cm2(9,800 KPa). When the processing piston5enters into the processing recess7, the internal pressure of the raw material raw material receiving passage6reaches to the high pressure H2of 955 Kg/cm2(93,590 KPa). The internal pressure of the raw material receiving passage6can be reached to the maximum pressure H2of 2,300 Kg/cm2(225,400 KPa).

When the raw material G pressurized to H2passes through the orifice3having a small gap between the valve seat V.S and the homogenizing valve V, wherein the valve seat V.S is connected to the end5bof the processing piston5and is pressed by the homogenizing valve V, the raw material G flows in the orifice3very fast and causes cavitation therein. A shearing action is induced due to the high pressure difference when the cavity breaks. The raw material G is then discharged from the orifice3with high speed and clashed to a wall. As the result, the solid material or fibrous cellulose in the suspension2is dispersed or emulsified under the high pressure H3. The cells are torn apart and the cell membranes are crushed under the high pressure H3. The raw materials G are finely divided in this manner. As the raw material receiving passage6has higher pressure H2, the raw material G passes through the orifice3with higher speed and is clashed more strongly.

The value of the high pressure H2for finely dividing the raw material G is converted from that of the oil pressure indicator13in the primary path where the oil O or water W forms the low pressure H1in the booster cylinder12and the pressure is detected by the sensor (not shown). Measurement instruments such as the oil pressure indicator13endures the internal pressure and the measurement can be easily made without wear and failure.

In the high pressure homogenizing device1, the valve seat V.S forming the orifice3is pressed by the homogenizing valve V with the hydraulic or air cylinder C as shown inFIGS. 1 and 7along the axial direction X in straight. The pressure to push the homogenizing valve V can be varied from the depressing pressure to high and very high pressures. The internal pressure in the vicinity of the orifice3is adjusted by the hydraulic cylinder C to finely divide the solid materials, fibrous cellulose, or cell membranes in the raw material G. The raw material G subdivided by the high pressure homogenizing device1is discharged into the container16through the discharge pipe11′.

After finely dividing the raw material G, the oil O or water W in the booster cylinder12is discharged and the booster piston8is moved downwardly without resistance to the initial position with the cylinders10through the piston rods14as seen inFIG. 5. The booster piston8departs from the processing piston5attached to the frame15and the processing piston5is pulled out of the processing recess7so that the booster piston8returns to the initial position.

When the booster piston8is moved downwardly, the pressing of the homogenizing valve V to the valve seat V.S is released by driving the hydraulic cylinder C to introduce an air into the raw material receiving passage6fast and easily. The vacuum inside the raw material receiving passage6prevents the booster piston8from moving down easily (FIG. 5).

The booster piston8moves inside the booster cylinder12smoothly to the initial position (FIG. 6) and the position of the booster piston8is detected by the sensor (not shown).

The low pressure H1of the primary path is measured by the oil pressure indicator13and detected by the sensor. A driving timing and stroke of the booster piston8is decided based on the detected signal. The detected signal controls the amount of the suspension2to be received in the raw material receiving passage6inside the processing piston5and also controls the high pressure H2to the desired value to receive the raw material G in the raw material receiving passage6.

From the detected signal of the low pressure H1of the primary path, the hydraulic cylinder C to drive the homogenizing valve V for pressing the valve seat V.S, which forms the orifice3with the valve V, is controlled so as to decide the internal pressure for the raw material G, the pressing timing, and the pressing order, by adjusting the pressing pressure of the homogenizing valve V to the valve seat V.S. The detected signal can also control the timing for the booster piston8to return the initial position by means of the cylinders10.

These controls are easily achieved with a computer program. The computer program can achieve the fine division process of the dispersion, emulsification, or crushing of the raw material G automatically. The automation process is carried out by the following processes. The suspension2is supplied to the hopper4, the booster piston8is pressurized, the processing piston5is passed through the watertight position S of the processing recess7, the suspension2is led into the raw material receiving passage6and pressurized to the high pressure H2and subdivided once at the high pressure homogenizing device1, and the suspension2containing the subdivided raw material are discharged to the container16and is supplied to the hopper4again through the pipe11. The pressing force of the homogenizing valve V to the valve seat V.S is further increased by the hydraulic cylinder C for making finer fine division of the raw material G than before at the high pressure homogenizing device1.

When this process is repeated, the raw material G is finely divided to a desired size easily and fast.

In the process of the first embodiment, the raw material G is pressurized to the high pressure H2in the raw material receiving passage6right after the processing piston5passes through the watertight position S. Consequently, the desired amount of the raw material G can be led smoothly under the pressure or high pressure into the high pressure homogenizing device1even that the orifice3is small and the suspension2is viscous.

Since an entire operation is carried out continuously, the dispersion and emulsification of the solid materials and cellulose, or the crushing of the cell membranes is effectively made.

The high pressure homogenizing apparatus of the embodiment 1 was tested to verify the capacity and found it has a high performance.

As a first measurement, the suspension2of the fibrous cellulose contained in a piece of paper was subdivided with the high pressure homogenizing device1of the apparatus of the first embodiment and it was measured the relation between the discharge pressure of the orifice3and the fine division of the fibrous cellulose.

As shown in the micrograms ofFIGS. 8 to 11, the fibrous cellulose in the suspension2becomes smaller as the discharge pressure at the fine division of the high pressure homogenizing device1increases.

A paper containing about 8 wt % water was cut into a size of about 4 mm*15 mm by a paper cutter (Type: NS-32C of Matsue Nakabayashi Co.).

The cut paper of about 43.5 g was admixed to a water of about 956.5 g. The admixture was stirred with a mixer (Type: MX-152S of Matsushita Denki Sangyo Co.) for one minute to break the fibrous cellulose into a small size. The suspension2of 4 Kg containing 4 wt % of the solid material (fibrous cellulose) dispersed uniformly in the water was prepared.

FIG. 8shows a microgram of the suspension2before finely dividing. The microgram was obtained by using a reflection/transmission microscope (Type: Eclipse ME 600L of Nikon Co.) with magnification of 10 to 50 and a digital camera unit (Type: DS-5M-L1 of Nikon Co.) attached to the microscope.

FIG. 9shows a microgram of the suspension2subdivided three times continuously at the orifice3with the discharge pressure of 500 Kg/cm2(49,000 KPa).FIGS. 10 and 11show micrograms of the suspensions2subdivided three times continuously at the orifice3with the discharge pressures of 1,000 Kg/cm2(98,000 KPa) and 1,500 Kg/cm2(147,000 KPa) respectively.

As seen inFIG. 8, the fibrous cellulose having a section diameter of about 20 to 25 μm are uniformly dispersed in the suspension2before finely dividing.

InFIG. 9, micro fibrils are found around the fibrous cellulose of the diameter of about 15 μm and it shows the fine division of the raw material G at the discharge pressure of 500 Kg/cm2.

FIG. 10shows that the fibrous celluloses are broken into a shorter length and the micro fibrils are found much more around the fibrous celluloses of the diameter of about 7 to 14 μm and it shows further fine division of the raw material G at the discharge pressure of 1,000 Kg/cm2.

FIG. 11shows that the shorter fibrous celluloses present much more and the micro fibrils are found much more around the fibrous cellulose of the diameter of about 10 μm and it shows furthermore division of the raw material G at the discharge pressure of 1,500 Kg/cm2.

FromFIGS. 8 to 11, it was found that the fibrous celluloses in the suspension2were subdivided by the high pressure homogenizing device1, that a plurality of divisions subdivided further the fibrous celluloses more than once, and that the higher discharge pressure of the orifice3subdivided the fibrous celluloses furthermore than the lower discharge pressure.

As a second measurement, a relation between the discharge pressure of the orifice3and the discharge temperature of the fibrous celluloses was measured while the fibrous celluloses in the suspension2were being subdivided.

The discharge temperature was measured at the first, second, and third fine division at the discharge pressure of 500 Kg/cm2, 1,000 Kg/cm2, and 1,500 Kg/cm2respectively.

The discharge temperature of the raw material G discharged from the orifice3was measured with a mercury thermometer of a scale 0 to 300 degrees C.

As the measurement condition, the water temperature was 26 degrees C., the ambient temperature was 27 degrees C., and the temperature of the raw material G after stirring by the mixer was 28.5 degrees C.

The discharge temperature of the raw material G at the discharge pressure of 500 Kg/cm2at the orifice3was 38.0, 41.5, and 42.5 degrees C. at the first, second, and third fine division, respectively.

The discharge temperature of the raw material G at the discharge pressure of 1,000 Kg/cm2at the orifice3was 45.5, 54.0, and 54.5 degrees C. at the first, second, and third fine division, respectively.

The discharge temperature of the raw material G at the discharge pressure of 1,500 Kg/cm2at the orifice3was 49.0, 60.0, and 63.0 degrees C. at the first, second, and third fine division, respectively.

TABLE 1 shows that the discharge temperature increases with the increase of the discharge pressure 500 to 1,500 Kg/cm2.

TABLE 1 shows that the temperature increase from the second pass to the third pass is smaller than that of from the first to second at the each discharge pressure.

It was found that the discharge temperature of the raw material G at the orifice3was not proportional to the discharge pressure at the orifice3.

When the pressure is applied to the primary path of a tube having a given volume inside, the discharge pressure and discharge temperature of the secondary path are given by
ρ·Q·c·ΔT=P·Q[EQ. 1]
that is
ΔT=P·Q/ρ·Q·c[EQ. 2]
where ρ: specific gravity of liquid (Kg/cm3), c: specific heat of liquid (Kcal/(Kg° C.), Q: discharged amount of liquid (Kgf/cm3), P: discharge pressure (Kgf/cm2), and ΔT: discharge temperature (° C.).

The values related to the liquid are put into EQ. 2 to derive the discharge temperature of the subdivided raw material G discharged from the orifice3of the high pressure homogenizing device1.

FIGS. 12 to 14show the discharge temperatures of the experiment A and the calculation B of EQ. 1 or EQ. 2 at the each discharge pressure.

FIG. 12shows that for the discharge pressure 500 Kgf/cm2the calculated discharge temperatures B are 28.5° C., 40.0° C., 52.0° C., and 64.0° C. at after stirring, after the first fine division, after the second fine division, and after the third fine division, respectively. While, the experiment A gives 28.5° C., 38.0° C., 41.5° C., and 42.5° C. at the each corresponding step, respectively.

FIG. 13shows that for the discharge pressure 1,000 Kgf/cm2the calculated discharge temperatures B are 28.5° C., 55.0° C., 75.0° C., and about 98.0° C. at after stirring, after the first fine division, after the second fine division, and after the third fine division, respectively. While, the experiment A gives 28.5° C., 45.5° C., 54.0° C., and 54.5° C. at the each corresponding step, respectively.

FIG. 14shows that for the discharge pressure 1,500 Kgf/cm2the calculated discharge temperatures B are 28.5° C., 64.0° C., about 98.0° C., and 135.0° C. at after stirring, after the first fine division, after the second fine division, and after the third fine division, respectively. While, the experiment A gives 28.5° C., 49.0° C., 60.0° C., and 63.0° C. at the each corresponding step, respectively.

It is apparent that at the each condition of the discharge pressure and the number of pass the calculated value B is always higher than the measured value A.

TABLE 1 shows that the temperature increase at the next fine division decreases with the increase of number of the pass at the each discharge pressure.

The measured values of the discharge temperature are 28.5 to 63.0° C. at 500 to 1,500 Kgf/cm2and the temperature increase thereof is smaller than that of the calculated values. The calculated values have proportional temperature increases.

The temperature difference of the measured values A and the calculated values B is assumed to result from the energy to be consumed for cutting hydrogen bonding of the fibrous cellulose when the fibrous cellulose is passed and subdivided through the orifice3.

Accordingly, the discharge temperature does not change the property of the fibrous cellulose.

Since the fine division of the present invention does not change and degrade the property of the raw material, it can be adapted to the raw materials G described above, such as in foods, in chemical products or cosmetics, in medical products, in glassware, in synthetic resin industries, in paper manufacturing field, and in pathology laboratories.

The fine division of the present invention can be adapted to not only the solid materials having a strong resistance to thermal alteration, but the materials having a weak resistance to thermal alteration.

In the conventional apparatus, the raw material is led into and discharged from the processing piston, driven with the motor, in the cylinder. After the several intakes and discharges of the raw material are carried out and the apparatus reaches to a prescribed high pressure, the raw material is finely divided. As the result, the conventional apparatus takes time to start the fine division. In the first embodiment of the present invention, the high pressure homogenizing device1can pressurize the raw material receiving passage6to 2,300 Kg/cm2quickly so as to achieve a high efficient fine division of the raw material G.

The conventional apparatus drives the piston in the cylinder with the motor and whereby the raw material is flowed through the intake valve and discharged from the outlet valve. On the other hand, the first embodiment of the high pressure homogenizing apparatus of the present invention does not utilize the piston driven with a motor, the intake and outlet valves to pressurize the raw material G to the high pressure H2at the preceding step of the high pressure homogenizing device1. Then the high pressure homogenizing apparatus of the present invention can subdivide easily the suspension even containing an entangling solid material, such as fibrous cellulose. Since the high pressure homogenizing apparatus does not have the piston driven with the motor, the intake valve, and the outlet valve, the valve operation is not required so that the solid material does not stick to the valves and the valve seats. The apparatus can supply the desired amount of the suspension2at a constant speed.

The homogenizing apparatus of the first embodiment can subdivide the raw material G with high efficiency under high pressure or very high pressure without leakage of the raw material G.

The homogenizing apparatus of the present invention does not utilize the piston driven with the motor, the intake valve, and the outlet valve to pressurize the raw material. Consequently, the maintenance and control to repair and replace these parts are not required to the apparatus of the first embodiment. Since the apparatus does not have these parts to be worn or damaged, the lifetime of the apparatus becomes longer so that the labor hour and cost are saved.

FIGS. 15 to 17show a high pressure homogenizing apparatus of a second embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus has a cylinder10connected to a booster piston8, through a joining bar20attached to one end of the cylinder10and joining rods21suspended downwardly from the joining bar20at both sides thereof. The second embodiment utilizes one cylinder10to move the booster piston8compared with the first embodiment so that as the number of parts becomes small, the manufacturing and assembly become easy and the manufacturing cost is reduced. The formation and operation of the apparatus is same as those of the first embodiment.

FIG. 18shows a high pressure homogenizing apparatus of a third embodiment of the present invention. The homogenizing apparatus has a longer booster piston8than those of the first and second embodiments. The longer booster piston8can be easily formed and has higher resistance to pressure. The longer booster piston8does not require high accuracy manufacturing to assemble and manufacture with a booster cylinder12and a processing piston5. The formation and operation of the apparatus is same as those of the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 19shows a fourth embodiment of a homogenizing apparatus of the present invention.

In the first to third embodiments, the each cylinder10to move the booster piston8is disposed at the upper portion of the frame15. In the fourth embodiment, in place of that, a hydraulic or water pressure circuit K is disposed inside a booster cylinder12of a pressure intensifier9. A booster piston8is moved toward a processing piston5with the pressure and a front end (one end5a) of the processing piston5is inserted into a processing recess7through a hopper4. When the processing piston5passes through a watertight position S in the processing recess7and pressurizes the processing recess7, a suspension2containing a raw material G is led into a raw material receiving passage6and pressurized to a high pressure H2. The booster piston8is returned to an initial position by changing the hydraulic or water pressure of the circuit K.

The fourth embodiment does not have a cylinder10to move the booster piston8so that the number of parts is reduced and the manufacturing and assembly become simple. The formation and function are the same as those of the first to third embodiments.

FIG. 20shows a fifth embodiment of a homogenizing apparatus of the present invention.

In the first to third embodiments, the cylinder10to move the booster piston8is disposed at the upper portion of the frame15. In the fifth embodiment, in place of that, a plurality of cylinders10are disposed around a booster cylinder12receiving the booster piston8through piston rods14and joining bars20′. The booster piston8of a pressure intensifier9is movable toward a processing piston5. The booster piston8is moved toward the processing piston5with the pressure and a front end (one end5a) of the processing piston5is inserted into a processing recess7through a hopper4. When the processing piston5passes through a watertight position S in the processing recess7and pressurizes the processing recess7, a suspension2containing a raw material G is led into a raw material receiving passage6and pressurized to a high pressure H2. The booster piston8is returned to an initial position by driving the cylinders10.

In the first to third embodiments, the cylinder10is disposed above the frame15. The cylinders10are disposed around the booster cylinder12of the pressure intensifier9disposed at a lower position of the frame15. The hopper4to receive the raw material G is placed above the cylinders10so that an oil or water to drive the cylinders10does not contaminate the raw material due to leakage. Since a large space is available around the hopper4, it is possible to observe fast and assuredly the condition or the supply of the raw material G and to easily manufacture and assembly, and maintain and control the apparatus.

In the fifth embodiment, an air inlet valve30having a hole30ato supply air is disposed at one side of a high pressure homogenizing device1placed at the other end (an upper end inFIG. 20) of the processing piston5. The booster piston8is returned to the initial position after the raw material G is finely divided with the same process as the other embodiments. When the booster piton8returned, the outside air is led from the hole30ainto the raw material receiving passage6in the processing piston5to break vacuum so as to make the downward movement of the booster piston8easily.

In the fifth embodiment, the subdivided raw material G received in a container16is supplied to the hopper4with a prescribed time and amount through a pipe11having a pump P1for further fine dividing. In the fifth embodiment, there is a raw material tank T, which supplies the initial raw material G to the hopper4through a pump P2and a selector valve V1. InFIG. 20, the hopper4is an encapsulated type but not limited to this type and can be an opened type.

The air inlet valve30can be any type of structure as far as the outside air is led from the valve30every after the raw material G is finely divided at the high pressure homogenizing device1.

FIG. 21shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

The sixth embodiment has a plurality of high pressure homogenizing devices1, two mechanisms1inFIG. 21, attached to one end5bin a secondary path. A suspension2containing a raw material G is pressurized by a booster piston8similarly to the other embodiments. The sixth embodiment can achieve larger processing amount and higher efficiency of fine division of the raw material compared with the first to third embodiments. The fine divisions of the plurality of the high pressure homogenizing devices1can be performed at the same time or at the different time each. The number of the high pressure homogenizing devices1is not limited to two as shown inFIG. 21and can be optional.

FIG. 22shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

In the first to sixth embodiments, the booster piston8is moved toward the processing piston5fixed to the frame15and the front end5aof the processing piston5is inserted into the processing recess7and the suspension2containing the raw material G is led into the raw material receiving passage6so as to pressurize the suspension2to the high pressure H2.

In the seventh embodiment, as shown inFIG. 22, a pressure intensifier9includes a booster cylinder12′, into which an oil or water flows, above a frame15and a booster piston8′, slidable to the booster cylinder12′, has a processing piston5at the center of a lower portion thereof. A hopper4and a cylinder8″ are disposed at a lower portion of the frame15. The cylinder8″ as a fixed receiver has a processing recess7arranged at one end thereof and a front end5aof the processing piston5is inserted into the processing recess7.

The processing piston5attached to the booster piton8′ is moved, downwardly inFIG. 22, to the cylinder8″ fixed to the lower portion of the frame15. The front end5aof the processing piston5is inserted into the processing recess7in the cylinder8″ to make watertight between them. The suspension2is led into a raw material receiving passage6and pressurized to a high pressure H1and subdivided at a high pressure homogenizing device1. Except above, the formation and operation are the same as those of the first to sixth embodiments.

FIG. 23shows a eighth embodiment of the present invention.

The eighth embodiment includes a high pressure homogenizing device1attached to one end5b(upper end in FIF.23) of a processing piston5and an air inlet valve30′, arranged one side of the high pressure homogenizing device1, having a valve30′a which is always closed by a spring force. A booster piston8of a pressure intensifier9disposed at a lower portion of a frame15is moved toward the processing piston5and a suspension2containing a raw material G is finely divided by the same process as described in the first to sixth embodiments.

In the eighth embodiment, when the booster piston8is returned to an initial position, the air inlet valve30′ leads an outside air into a raw material receiving passage6through the high pressure homogenizing device1so that the movement of the booster piston8becomes easier than that in vacuum. The eighth embodiment has a pump P1arranged on a way of a pipe11to supply the suspension2containing the subdivided raw material G to a hopper4. The pump P1has the same formation and function as that of the fifth embodiment shown inFIG. 20. Except the pump P1, the eighth embodiment is the same as the fourth embodiment ofFIG. 19.

FIG. 24shows a ninth embodiment of the present invention.

The ninth embodiment includes a processing piston5fixed to a frame15, a booster piston8movable toward the processing piston5, and a cylinder40movable toward the processing piston5. The movable cylinder40has a processing recess7and is driven by the booster piston8so that a front end (one end5a) of the processing piston5enters into the processing recess7.

In order to lead a suspension2in a hopper4, containing a raw material G, into a raw material receiving passage6disposed inside the processing piston5, a water W or oil O is flowed into a booster cylinder12with a pump P and the booster piston8is moved upwardly. The movable cylinder40is moved toward the processing piston5, causing a compression inside the processing recess7, and the suspension2is led into the raw material receiving passage6and pressurized to a high pressure H2. The pressurized suspension2is then passed through an orifice3of a high pressure homogenizing device1with high speed at a high pressure H3to finely divide the raw material G. The formation and function are different from those of the fourth and eighth embodiments.

After the fine division of the raw material G at the orifice3, the movable cylinder40is moved downwardly to an initial position by a plurality of cylinders41disposed at an upper surface of the booster cylinder12. It is suitable to finely divide the raw material G at very high pressure. Except that, the formation and function is the same as the fourth and eighth embodiments.

FIG. 25shows a tenth embodiment of the present invention.

In the tenth embodiment, a processing piston5is connected to a booster piston8′ and movable with respect to a frame15and a cylinder8″ is fixed to the frame15. The formation is the same as the seventh embodiment. The different formation and function from the seventh embodiment is that a raw material receiving passage6is disposed in a radial direction of a processing recess7and communicates with the processing recess7and a high pressure homogenizing device1instead of being disposed inside the processing piston5. Then, the suspension2in the raw material receiving passage6is led into the high pressure homogenizing device1horizontally and the raw material G is finely divided at the high pressure homogenizing device1.

In the tenth embodiment, the raw material receiving passage6is arranged horizontally instead of the first to fifth, seventh, and eighth embodiments where the raw material receiving passage6is arranged in the axial direction of the processing piston5. Thus, a high pressure homogenizing apparatus can be smaller and compact size. Since the processing piston5does not have the raw material receiving passage6along the axial direction, it can be easily manufactured and formed. The tenth embodiment is adapted to a raw material G having high viscosity, large size solid materials, or long fibrous celluloses. These raw materials can be passed through the raw material receiving passage6fast and assuredly and subdivided through an orifice3of a high pressure homogenizing device1.

FIG. 26shows an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

In the eleventh embodiment, similarly to the tenth embodiment, a processing piston5is connected to a booster piston8′ and movable with respect to a frame15and a cylinder8″ is fixed to the frame15. A raw material receiving passage6is disposed in a radial direction of a processing recess7and communicates with the processing recess7and a high pressure homogenizing device1. The horizontal raw material receiving passage6is disposed at a bottom7aof the processing recess7without a step so as to flow smoothly inside the raw material receiving passage6with a desired amount of a suspension2containing a raw material G.

Contrast to the seventh and tenth embodiments, in the eleventh embodiment, cylinders10′ to move up and down piston rods14′ are disposed around a booster cylinder12. Ends of the piston rods14′ are connected to both sides of a joining bar50, through which the processing piston5passes at about the center. After the fine division of the raw material G through an orifice3, the booster piston8′ is moved upwardly to an initial position with the cylinders10′.

FIGS. 27 and 28show a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

The twelfth embodiment includes a sliding valve60disposed inside and at a lower portion of a processing recess7. The sliding valve60is opened and closed by a pressure change caused by a processing piston5and communicates the processing recess7with a high pressure homogenizing device1so that the horizontally extending raw material receiving passage6is opened and closed. For finely dividing a raw material G with the high pressure homogenizing device1, a front end5aof the processing piston5is inserted into the processing recess7by driving a pressure intensifier9disposed at an upper position of a frame15and the processing piston5passes through a watertight position S to pressurize the processing recess7.

As the processing piston5of a booster piston8′ is moved downwardly and the internal pressure of the processing recess7increases, the sliding valve60is moved downwardly against a spring61to open the raw material receiving passage6. When the processing recess7is pressurized by the processing piston5, which passes through the watertight position S and a volume inside the processing recess7is compressed, the raw material G flows into the raw material receiving passage and is finely divided when the raw material G passes through an orifice3of the high pressure homogenizing device1.

Each of the thirteenth and fourteenth embodiments includes a processing piston5, or a booster piton8′ of a pressure intensifier9, movable with respect to a frame15and a receiver, or a movable cylinder40facing to the processing piston5. The movable cylinder40has a processing recess7for inserting a front end (one end5a) of the processing piston5. A raw material receiving passage6disposed in a radial direction of the processing recess7is connected to a lower end of the processing recess7through a bush70with T or L (not shown) section. The eleventh embodiment does not have the bush70. In the thirteenth and fourteenth embodiments, the manufacturing of the raw material receiving passage6becomes easy and the assembly and replacement of the parts of the raw material receiving passage6to the movable cylinder40become easy. Hence, the maintenance and inspection can be made assuredly. The other formation and function are the same as the eleventh embodiment.

As shown inFIG. 30, the fourteenth embodiment has an air inlet valve71disposed at the other end of the raw material receiving passage6. A valve71ais disposed inside the air inlet valve7and closed with a spring force. A fine division of a raw material G is achieved by the process described above. After the fine division, when the processing piston5is returned to an initial position, the air inlet valve71leads an air into the processing recess7so as to make the movement of the processing piston5easy.

A high pressure homogenizing apparatus of the fifteenth embodiment passes a suspension2containing a raw material G such as fine solid materials, fibrous celluloses, and cell membranes through a small orifice3disposed in a high pressure homogenizing device1to disperse and emulsify the raw material G or crush, that is, subdivide the cell membranes under high pressure. The high pressure homogenizing apparatus has a raw material receiving passage6, a processing piston5, a receiver opposed to the processing piston5, and a processing recess7to receive a front end (one end)5aof the processing piston5by means of a pressure intensifier9. When the pressure intensifier9is driven, the receiver and/or the processing piston5moves relatively and the suspension2flows into the raw material receiving passage6with a desired amount to be processed by a compression in the processing recess7. The solid materials, fibrous celluloses, and cells in the suspension2are finely divided at the orifice3of the high pressure homogenizing device1. The process is the same as those of the first to third embodiments.

In the first to third embodiments, the cylinder10to move the booster piston8is disposed at the upper portion of the frame15. In the fifteenth embodiment, in place of that, a hydraulic or water pressure circuit K is disposed inside a booster cylinder12of the pressure intensifier9similarly to the fourth embodiment shown inFIG. 19. A booster piston8is moved toward the processing piston5with the pressure and the front end (the one end5a) of the processing piston5is inserted into the processing recess7through a hopper4. When the processing piston5passes through a watertight position S in the processing recess7and pressurizes the processing recess7, the suspension2containing the raw material G is led into the raw material receiving passage6and pressurized to a high pressure H2. The booster piston8is returned to an initial position by changing the hydraulic or water pressure of the circuit K.

However, in the fifteenth embodiment, the suspension2containing the raw material G, such as fine solid materials, fibrous celluloses, or cells, is filled into the processing recess7over the watertight position S before fine division as a preliminary step.

First of all, a cover80(refer toFIG. 31) is removed from the receiver. The cover80is usually placed above the receiver to close the processing recess7and has a hole for inserting the processing piston5slidably and is detachable to the receiver.

The suspension2containing the raw material G is filled into the processing recess7over the watertight position S. The suspension2can be filled into the processing recess7manually or automatically.

The cover80is returned to close the processing recess7. A handle81disposed around the processing piston5is rotated. The handle81is threadably mounted on the processing piston5by a screw disposed inside a boss81aof the handle81and a screw94disposed in the circumference along the axial direction of the processing piston5. The processing piston5is manually moved into the processing recess7through the cover80. The processing piston5is prohibited from rotating by a key k. The processing piston5is moved to pass through the watertight position S of the processing recess7so that the suspension2is filled in the raw material receiving passage6as an initial position.

As shown inFIGS. 38 to 44, the cover80includes a fixing plate82disposed above the receiver having the processing recess7, an annular cover main body84fixed to an upper surface of the fixing plate82with bolts83and having a first locking edge84aaround the cover main body84, a through-hole85afor inserting the processing piston5, an upper cover85having a second locking edge85bto be contacted with the first locking edge84aof the cover main body84, and collars86separated in two parts to hold the first and second locking edges84aand85band having fitting processing recesses86a. The upper cover85is attached removably to the cover main body84with the collars86, which are fastened by bolts86A.

The cover80is utilized for preventing the raw material G from scattering to a surrounding area during fine dividing process. The high pressure homogenizing apparatus can be easily cleaned and the maintenance and control such as replacement of parts can also be easily performed.

The apparatus has a hopper87to supply the raw material G and a valve88, which is disposed between the hopper87and the raw material receiving passage6. The valve88can be operated manually or automatically (not shown).

One end of an overflow pipe89is attached to one side of the upper cover85and the other end of the overflow pipe89is led into a reservoir90to keep the overflowed raw material G. The overflow pipe89may have a valve (not shown) to keep the inside of the processing recess7watertight.

The following steps are performed in order for finely dividing the raw material G in the fifteenth embodiment. The suspension2containing the raw material G is supplied to the processing recess7over the watertight position S (refer toFIGS. 31 to 33).

The pressure intensifier9is driven so that the processing piston5is inserted into the processing recess7and the front end5athereof is passed through the watertight position S and the processing recess7is pressurized (refer toFIG. 34). At this time, the valve88at the hopper87stops to supply the suspension2to the raw material receiving passage6.

The volume compression inside the processing recess7caused by the insertion of the processing piston5results in leading the suspension2to the raw material receiving passage6with a desired amount.

The suspension2is further pressurized in the raw material receiving passage6and is passed through the orifice3at high speed so that the solid material, fibrous celluloses, or cells are finely divided into the dispersion, emulsification, or crushing of cell membranes (refer toFIG. 35), respectively.

When the booster piston8is moved downwardly to the initial position after the fine division of the raw material G, the increase of the volume inside the processing recess7leads the suspension2into the processing recess7and fills it over the watertight position S. The valve88is opened to supply the suspension2from the hopper87. This function makes the high pressure homogenizing device1possible of an automatic operation for the fine division of the raw material G. The automatic supply of the suspension2into the processing recess7is suitable for finely dividing fluent materials containing the dispersion or emulsification of the solid material, fibrous cellulose, or cells.

The cover80is mounted detachably on the upper surface of the booster piston8so that the cleaning inside of the processing recess7and the replacement of the parts are easily made, and the maintenance and control are also easily made. The other formation and function are the same as the other embodiments. The booster piston8is moved up and down by the circuits K of oil or water pressures but can be moved by any other means. In the above embodiment, a pressing force of a homogenizing valve V to a valve seat V.S is adjusted automatically with the oil pressure cylinder. In this embodiment, the adjustment of the pressing force of the homogenizing valve V can be automatic or manual.

FIGS. 45 and 46are a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention. The sixteenth embodiment includes a cylinder8″ having a processing recess7at an upper face thereof and fixed to a lower portion of a frame15, and a processing piston5of a pressure intensifier9disposed at an upper position of the frame15. This arrangement is contrary to the fifteenth embodiment shown inFIGS. 31 to 44. The formation and function are the same as the seventh embodiment (FIG. 22) and the tenth embodiment (FIG. 25).

In the sixteenth embodiment, the pressure intensifier9to move and return the processing piston5into and from the processing recess7includes a motor M, a gear group95having a drive gear92connected with a motor shaft91, a gear tooth93adisposed at an outer circumference of an annular driven gear93and engaging with the drive gear92, and a gear tooth93bdisposed at an inner circumference of the driven gear93and engaging with a screw94disposed at an outer wall of the processing piston5, where the driven gear93is rotatable around the processing piston5, a key groove94A disposed at the outer wall of the processing piston5and intersecting with the screw94in the axial direction, and a key94B to be inserted into the key groove94A.

As similarly to the fifteenth embodiment, a cover80is removed from an upper cover85and a suspension2is filled in the processing recess7over a watertight position S as a preliminary step.

The upper cover85is returned to close the upper face of the processing recess7. After that, the drive gear92is driven by the motor M so that the driven gear93is rotated. The gear tooth93bdisposed at the inner circumference of the driven gear93engages with the screw94. Accordingly, the processing piston5locked by the key94B in the key groove94A to be rotated is moved downwardly and inserted into the processing recess7. When a front end5apasses through the watertight position S, the suspension2is pressurized further.

When the processing piston5is further moved downwardly, the volume compression inside the processing recess7presses and flow the suspension2into the raw material receiving passage6with the desired amount. The processing piston5is further moved downwardly to pressurize the suspension2to high pressure so that the suspension2is passed through an orifice3at high speed to finely divide a raw material G of the solid material, fibrous cellulose, or cells.

After the fine division, the processing piston5is returned to an initial position by means of the gear group95driven by the motor M. When the processing piston5is returned to the initial position, the increase volume inside the processing recess7leads the suspension2into the processing recess7from a hopper8and the suspension2is filled in the processing recess7over the watertight position S.

After every fine division, the suspension2is supplied to the processing recess7from the hopper87with a valve88opened by virtue of the increase of the volume inside the processing recess7. The formation and function are the same as the fifteenth embodiment.

FIGS. 47 and 48show a seventeenth embodiment of the present invention.

The seventeenth embodiment includes a cylinder8″ having a processing recess7disposed at an upper face8″ a thereof and for inserting a front end5aof a processing piston5through a watertight position S, and a raw material receiving passage6disposed inside the cylinder8″, and a hopper87disposed in a radial direction R of the cylinder8″ and for supplying a suspension2to the processing recess7. The processing recess7is communicated with a high pressure homogenizing device1having a homogenizing valve V to finely divide a raw material G so that the suspension2is supplied to the processing recess7and the processing piston5is moved downwardly to pressurize and subdivide the raw material G.

In the seventeenth embodiment, after removing an upper cover85, the suspension2containing the raw material G is filled manually into the processing recess7over the watertight position S.

The upper cover85is returned to close the upper face of the processing recess7. After that, a drive gear92is driven by a motor M so that a driven gear93disposed around the processing piston5is rotated with an engagement of the drive gear92with a gear tooth93a. The processing piston5having a screw94at an outer circumference thereof engaging with the driven gear93is moved downwardly into the processing recess7. When the front end5apasses through the watertight position S, the suspension2is pressurized further.

When the processing piston5is further moved downwardly, the volume compression inside the processing recess7presses and flow the suspension2into the raw material receiving passage6with the desired amount. The processing piston5is further moved downwardly to pressurize the suspension2to high pressure so that the suspension2is passed through an orifice3at high speed to finely divide the raw material G of the solid material, fibrous cellulose, or cells.

After the fine division, the processing piston5is returned to an initial position by means of a gear group95driven by the motor M. When the processing piston5is returned to the initial position, the increase volume inside the processing recess7leads the suspension2into the processing recess7from a hopper8and the suspension2is filled in the processing recess7over the watertight position S.

After every fine division, the suspension2is supplied to the processing recess7from the hopper87with a valve88opened by virtue of the increase of the volume inside the processing recess7. The other formations and functions are the same as the tenth embodiment ofFIG. 25, the eleventh embodiment ofFIG. 26, the twelfth embodiment ofFIGS. 27 and 28, and the sixteenth embodiment ofFIGS. 44 and 45.

FIGS. 49 to 55show an eighteenth embodiment of the present invention.

In the sixteenth embodiment shown inFIGS. 45 and 46, the suspension2is filled into manually the processing recess7over the watertight position S after removing the cover80. After covering the processing recess7with the cover80, the processing piston5is moved downwardly into the processing recess7through the cover80and passed over the watertight position S manually to set up the initial position.

In the eighteenth embodiment, a cover80is covered to a processing recess7after a suspension2is filled into the processing recess7over a watertight position S (refer toFIGS. 49 and 50).

When a processing piston5is further moved downwardly, the volume compression inside the processing recess7pressurizes and flows the suspension2into a raw material receiving passage6with the desired amount (refer toFIGS. 51 and 52).

The suspension2is passed through an orifice3at high speed to finely divide a raw material G of the solid material, fibrous cellulose, or cells (refer toFIG. 53). After the fine division, a booster piston8is moved downwardly to the initial position. When returning to the initial position, the increase volume inside the processing recess7leads the suspension2into the processing recess7and the suspension2is filled in the processing recess7over the watertight position S (refer toFIGS. 54 and 55).

After every fine division, the suspension2is supplied to the processing recess7from a hopper87by virtue of the increase of the volume inside the processing recess7.

A stroke J of the processing piston5to move relative to the booster piston8at an automatic operation is adjusted with stroke controllers100. As shown inFIGS. 49 to 55, each stroke controller100has a stopper102of a plate shape. The stopper102is attached eccentrically to a post101and can be rotated horizontally. At the automatic operation, when the booster piston8is moved up and down, the stoppers102are rotated to oppose to each other. The stoppers102lock a fixing plate82attached with the cover80detachably every time the booster piston8moves downwardly at the automatic operation so that the stoppers102can adjust the moving stroke J of the booster processing piston5of a pressure intensifier9. The other formations and functions are the same as that of the fifteenth embodiment. The stroke controller100in the eighteenth embodiment controls mechanically the moving stroke J with the stoppers102. The control of the moving stroke J is not limited to the mechanical type but can be adjusted by controlling a circuit K based on signals from electric, magnetic, and optical sensors.