PARTICULATE MATERIAL TREATING APPARATUS

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a particulate material comprising; a casing defining a treating chamber having a discharge opening for permitting overflows of the material under treatment, drive means for rotating the casing at high speed to produce a centrifugal force for pressing the material in the casing against an inside wall surface of the casing, treating means disposed in the casing to be rotatable relative to the inside wall surface of the casing, and a classifier communicating with the discharge opening, whereby the discharge opening is disposed adjacent a center of rotation of the casing, and limiting means are provided adjacent the discharge opening for limiting the overflows of the material under treatment, whereby the discharge opening is defined by a tubular partition, and the limiting means comprise an annular projection defined on an inside wall of the tubular partition and that the tubular partition is continuous with a lower ring-like partition, the tubular partition and ring-like partition being rotatable coaxially with and in the same direction as the casing, and that the classifier is directly connected to the casing, the tubular partition defining a coarse particle return passage extending from the classifier to the casing.

Description: The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating various types of particulate material in various ways, specifically pulverizing, mixing, granulating, coating and other.wise treating such materials. This apparatus comprises a casing defining a treating chamber having a discharge opening for Permitting overflows of the material under treatment, drive means for rotating the casing at high speed to produce a centrifugal force for pressing the material in the casing against an inside wall surface of the casing, treating members disposed in the casing to be rotatable relative to the inside wall surface of the casing, a classifier communicating with the discharge opening, whereby the discharge opening is disposed adjacent a center of rotation of the casing, and limiting means are provided adjacent the discharge opening for limiting the overflows of the material under treatment. A known treating apparatus having a construction as noted above, taking a pulverizing or crushing apparatus for example, is disclosed in U.S. patent no. 4,529,135. According to the known construction, however, the treating chamber defined by the rotatable casing is open substantially over an entire top area thereof, and this opening provides an overflow oultet for the material under treatment. Therefore, it is possible for a considerable amount of material not sufficiently treated, namely coarse particles not reduced to fine particles, to leave the treating chamber as entrained in gas flows along with fine particles. Since coarse particles naturally require a much higher conveying gas speed than fine particles, a great amount of gas must be supplied from a gas supply unit which raises the power cost for supplying the gas. Furthermore, the classifier receiving the material from the treating chamber must undergo a heavy workload, and its classifying precision tends to be poor because of a wide distribution of particle sizes. Thus, the known construction has room for improvement. Moreover, the crusher and the classifier in the known construction are separate entities, wherein the discharge outlet of the crusher is connected to the inlet of the classifier by a pipe, and the coarse particle cutlet of the classifier is connected to the inlet of the crusher by another pipe. This constitutes the further disadvantage of the prior art that the entire installation tends to be large. The course particles returning from the classifier are no longer very coarse since they have undergone at least one cycle of treatment. Since such particles are mixed with fresh untreated material for feeding to the crushing chamber, the crushing efficiency is somewhat poor with respect to the coarse particles returning from the classifier. The known construction remains to be improved in this respect also. Demands for treating apparatus of this type are expected to grow at an increasing rate in the fields of medicines, foods, cosmetics and new materials such as ceramics. However, conventional treating apparatus including those disclosed in the foregoing publications are not satisfactory. It is the object of the invention to provide an improvement for permitting the entire installation to be compact and coarse particles returning from the classifier to be treated with high efficiency. In order to achieve this object, a treating apparatus according to the invention comprises, in addition to the foregoing features, a tubular partition defining the discharge opening and a ring-like partition continuous from a lower end of the tubular partition. The tubular partition includes an annular projection formed on an inside peripheral surface thereof to act as overflow limiting means. The two partitions are rotatable coaxially with and in the same direction as the casing. The classifier is directly connected to the casing, and a coarse particle return passage is defined around an outer periphery of the tubular partition for intercommunicating the classifier and the casing. Thus, the classifier is in direct communication with the casing for receiving treated material entrained by gas currents from the discharge opening of the treating chamber without necessitating an additional pipeline. The coarse particle return passage defined peripherally of the tubular partition permits the coarse particles falling from the classifier to return to the treating chamber again, without necessitating an additional pipeline. Therefore, the entire installation is much more compact than the prior art construction wherein the classifier and the crushing chamber are interconnected through two pipelines. The ring-like partition receives the coarse particles falling through the return passage and discharges the coarse particles toward the inside peripheral wall surface of the casing by means of a centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the ring-like partition. This permits the coarse particles returning from the classifier, which are no longer very coarse, to be directed to the casing inside surface for immediate treatment by the treating members without becoming mixed with fresh fed, untreated material. Hence, the returning coarse particles are subjected to further treatment efficiently. Consequently, the treating apparatus according to the present invention has the advantages of being compact and easy to install, and excellent in treating efficiency. This apparatus has excellent performance and is economical also. A further object of the invention is to provide a treating apparatus capable of carrying out various operations efficiently and reliably, such operations including pulverizing, mixing, granulating, rounding, coating, capsulating particulate materials. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description. The drawings illustrate particulate material treating apparatus embodying the present invention, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view, in vertical section, of a treating apparatus and peripheral equipment according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is a section taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a section taken on line V-V of Fig. 2, Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged views of parts of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, respectively, Fig. 6 is a schematic view, in vertical section, of a treating apparatus and peripheral equipment according to a second embodiment of the invention, Fig. 7 is a section taken on line X-X of Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is an explanatory view of a third embodiment, and Fig. 9 is an explanatory view of a fourth embodiment, A first embodiment of the invention will be described hereinafter with reference to Figs. 1 through 5. The apparatus shown therein comprises a base 1, a vertical tubular rotary shaft 2A attached to the base 1, and a pulverizing chamber 3 which is one example of treating chamber defined by a bottomed cylindrical casing 4 concentrically mounted on an upper end of the tubular rotary shaft 2A. The tubular rotary shaft 2A is driven by a drive mechanism 5 connected to a lower end thereof and consisting of an electric motor 5a and a speed changer 5b, whereby the casing 4 is rotatable to direct a material under treatment by centrifugal force against a peripheral inside wall surface 4a thereof. The rotational speed of the casing 4 is adjustable to impart an appropriate centrifugal force according to the characteristics of material to be treated. The base 1 supports a vertical rotary shaft 30 coaxially extending through the tubular rotary shaft 2A. The rotary shaft 30 carries a disk 31 coaxially mounted on an upper end thereof. The disk 31 supports through a plurality of vanes 33 a perforated disk 32 disposed above and concentrically with the disk 31. The casing 4 houses pulverizing members 9 which are one example of treating members secured to the perforated disk 32 by means of a support 8a. These pulverizing members 9 treat the material in cooperation with the inside surface of the casing 4. The pulverizing members 9 define inclined surfaces approaching the casing 4 in the direction of rotation of casing 4. A drive mechanism 34 consisting of an electric motor 34a and a speed changer 34b is operatively connected to a lower end of the rotary shaft 30 to drive the rotary shaft 30 so that the pulverizing members 9 are revolvable relative to the inside wall surface 4a of the casing 4 and in the same direction in which the casing 4 is rotatable. The revolving speed of the pulverizing members 9 is adjustable to cause the pulverizing members 9 to revolve relative to the inside wall surface 4a of the casing 4 with a suitable speed difference therebetween in accordance with the characteristics of the material to be treated. A pipe 35 extends downwardly to a position above the center of the disk 31, the pipe 35 being connected to a blower 18 for feeding a suitable amount of air, inert gas or the like, and a feeder 19 for feeding the material to be treated. The material descending through the pipe 35 is directed to lower portions of the inside wall surface 4a of the casing 4 by a centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the disk 31 and the distributing action of the revolving vanes 33. The casing 4 defines an overflow type discharge opening 11 at an upper center thereof for permitting gas-entrained discharge of only part of the material pulverized into ultrafine particles by the cooperation of the inside wall surface 4a of casing 4 and the pulverizing members 9. The casing 4 is in communication with a classifier 14A having an upwardly diverging case 36. The case 36 houses, in an upper space thereof, a downwardly tapering conical member 39 attached to a rotary shaft 38 operatively connected to an electric motor 37. The conical member 39 includes a plurality of classifying vanes 40 arranged as shown in Fig. 3. The classifying vanes 40 surround a space in communication with a fine particle collecting passage 41. As shown in Fig. 4, the case 36 includes corrugations to provide seals between the case 36 and the classifying vanes 40. The fine particle collecting passage 41 is connected to a suitable ultrafine particle collector 15 such as an electric dust collector and to a suction blower 16 in the mentioned order. The discharge opening 11 is defined by a tubular partition 42 which, as shown in Fig. 5, includes an annular projection 42a on an inside wall thereof constituting one example of overflow limiting means. The tubular partition 42 is continuous at a lower end thereof with a ring-like partition 43. A coarse particle return passage 44 is defined along an outer periphery of the tubular partition 42 and an upper surface of the ring-like partition 43. In other words, the tubular partition 42 defines the first half 44a of the coarse particle return passage 44, and the ring-like partition 43 defines the second half 44b of the return passage 44. As shown in Fig. 5, the ring-like partition 43 is secured to the casing 4 through a plurality of vanes 45 to be rotatable with the casing 4. Coarse particles thrown through the classifying vanes 40 and sliding down inside surfaces of the case 36 of the classifier 14A are received at the first half 44a of the coarse particle return passage 44 and are allowed to advance to the second half 44b continuous with the first half. Then, by the centrifugal force produced by the ring-like partition 43 and a throwing action of the vanes 45 the coarse particles are sent flying from an outlet of the ring-like partition 43, which outlet is opposed to the inside wall surface 4a of the casing 4, to upper portions of the inside wall surface 4a. Thus, the coarse particles are subjected to a further pulverizing treatment. The casing 4 and the case 36 of the classifier 14A are surrounded by a cover 7A connected to a blower 18 through a passage 46 including a variable throttle. This prevents the particles from flowing out of the casing 4 and the case 36. A second embodiment will be described hereinafter with reference to Figs. 6 and 7. Common elements in the third and fourth embodiments are affixed with the same reference and their description is not repeated. The fourth embodiment differs from the third embodiment in the specific construction of classifier 14A. The classifier 14A shown in Fig. 6 includes a sieve 47 comprising a metal netting, a porous sheet or the like and extending over an upper inside area of the case 36, and a rotary nozzle 48 disposed downstream of the sieve 47 and having a slit outlet opposed to the sieve 47. The rotary nozzle 48 is operatively connected to an electric motor 49, and also connected to the blower 18 through a rotary joint 51 and a passage 50 having a variable throttle. Thus, gas jets from the rotary nozzle 48 are applied to a substantially entire area of the sieve 47 to prevent its clogging. Various other means may be employed for preventing clogging of the sieve 47. For example, as in a third embodiment shown in Fig. 8, the sieve 47 may be contacted by an oscillating piece of an ultrasonic oscillator 52, wherein the clogging is prevented by vibrations of the sieve 47. Fig. 9 shows a fourth embodiment wherein a space downstream of the sieve 47 is in communication with a pressure line 55 extending through an electromagnetic valve 57 to a compressor 54. The valve 57 is opened and closed with a short frequency by a controller 56 to cause pressure variations in that space. This results in impacts applied to the sieve 47 for preventing its clogging. Furthermore, though not shown, an ultrasonic wave generator may be provided to transmit an ultrasonic wave toward the sieve 47 thereby to cause its vibration. The foregoing first to fourth embodiments may be modified in various ways. For example, the tubular partition 42 and ring-like partition 43 may be provided to be rotatable with the pulverizing members 9. The tubular partition 42 and ring-like partition 43 may comprise separate elements, i.e. not integral with each other, the tubular partition 42 being fixed to the case 36 leaving only the ring-like partition 43 to be rotatable. Further, a drive mechanism may be provided exclusively for the tubular partition 42 and ring-like partition 43.

Claims: An apparatus for treating a particulate material comprising; a casing (4) defining a treating chamber (3) having a discharge opening (11) for permitting overflows of the material under treatment, drive means (5) for rotating the casing (4) at high speed to produce a centrifugal force for pressing the material in the casing (4) against an inside wall surface (4a) of the casing (4), treating means (9, 9a, 9b) disposed in the casing (4) to be rotatable relative to the inside wall surface (4a) of the casing (4), and a classifier (14, 14A) communicating with the discharge opening (11), whereby the discharge opening (11) is disposed adjacent a center of rotation of the casing (4), and limiting means (21, 42a, 60) are provided adjacent the discharge opening (11) for limiting the overflows of the material under treatment, characterized in that the discharge opening (11) is defined by a tubular partition (42), and the limiting means (21, 42a, 60) comprise an annular projection (42a) defined on an inside wall of the tubular partition (42) and in that the tubular partition (42) is continuous with a lower ring-like partition (43), the tubular partition and ring-like partition (42,43) being rotatable coaxially with and in the same direction as the casing (4), and that the classifier (14, 14A) is directly connected to the casing (4), the tubular partition (42) defining a coarse particle return passage (44) extending from the classifier (14, 14A) to the casing (4). An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the limiting means comprise classifying vanes (21). An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the classifying vanes are revolvable coaxially with and in a peripheral direction of the casing (4). An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the classifying vanes (21) are attached to the casing (4), and the treating means (9, 9a, 9b) are revolvable coaxially with and in the peripheral direction of the casing (4). An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the treating means (9, 9a, 9b) comprise pulverizing members. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the treating means (9, 9a, 9b) comprise friction members (9a) and scraping members (9b). An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ring-like partition (43) is attached to the casing (4) through vanes (45) acting to throw coarse particles toward the inside wall surface (4a) of the casing (4), and the treating means (9, 9a, 9b) are revolvable coaxially with and in the same direction of the casing (4). An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the limiting means comprise a barrier (60). An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the casing (4) and the treating means (9, 9a, 9b) include heating and cooling means. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the treating means comprise friction members (9a) and scraping members (9b). An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the treating means (9, 9a, 9b) comprise friction members (9a) and scraping members (9b); the friction members (9a) and the scraping members (9b) including heating and cooling means.

Inventors: HOSOKAWA, MASUO, KATO, MASASHI, KOHMITSU, KEIICHIRO, MATSUO, SADAMITSU, TANAKA, AKIO, URAYAMA, KIYOSHI, YOKOYAMA, TOHEI
Applicants: HOSOKAWA MICRON CORPORATION
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B01J2
IPC codes: B01J2, B02C19, B02C7