Abstract:
A device for processing free-flowing input material is provided that includes a rotor rotating around a shaft within a housing, the rotor being fitted over its circumference with rotor tools. Stator tools, permanently fixed to the housing, are arranged, which are disposed opposite the rotor tools allowing a working gap and interact with the rotor tools to process the input material. The stator tools are held in a holder, forming a tool unit. The tool units are made self-supporting over the length of the rotor and end sections of the tool units are fixed removably in respective clamping devices.

Description:
[0001]    This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2009 020 712.0, which was filed in Germany on May 11, 2009, and which is herein incorporated by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to a device for the workup of input material with a rotor-stator system. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Background Art 
         [0005]    The purpose of the mechanical processing technique is the workup of input material, wherein in particular the comminution of materials is of great importance, in other words, the conversion of substance from a given initial size to a smaller intermediate or final size. However, the present invention is also understood to include workup of the input material in which mere size reduction of the material is not paramount, but which involves breaking up the bonding of the components forming a composite material. This can also be done by comminution of at least one component of the composite material. Correspondingly, the starting materials may be present in a form that is pure in type, for example, as plastic, metal, or wood, or as a mixture or composition, optionally bonded together, as is often the case with recycling material. Representative composite materials include electronics waste, plastic-coated cable residues, used tires, used wood containing nails, and the like. 
         [0006]    Comminution devices include comminution devices with a rotor-stator system in which the comminution tools on the rotor interact with stationary comminution tools on the stator. For this purpose, the rotor tools located on a common circle of rotation are conveyed past stator tools of fixed position while maintaining a working gap. The work of comminution is performed in the working gap between the rotor and stator tools, wherein the input materials, depending on the nature of the processing tools, are subjected to a cutting, shearing, mashing, tearing, chopping or striking process. The wear occurring during the use of such devices makes it necessary for both rotor tools and stator tools to be reset or replaced with sharpened or new tools at regular intervals. The stoppage times linked with this result in production losses and therefore strongly influence the economical operation of such comminution devices. Additional factors influencing the economy of devices of this class include maintenance, cleaning, and repair work, wherein the resulting expense depends greatly on the access to the interior of the device. 
         [0007]    From DE 102 22 814 A1 a comminution device is known in which a roller rotor outfitted with knives is disposed in the center of a housing and interacts with stator tools of fixed position relative to the housing. The stator tools are screwed onto supporting beams directed coaxially to the rotor axis, said beams in turn being rigidly connected to the housing walls and in this way representing a supporting element within the overall machine construction. One drawback of such devices is that the stator tools are extensively attached to the bearing beams by screw connection, so that the work of screwing and unscrewing to be performed when loosening the screw connection when changing a knife result in long stoppage times for knife changes. In addition, the bearing beams rigidly connected to the housing permit only limited accessibility to the interior of the housing, thus getting in the way during cleaning, repair, and maintenance work. 
         [0008]    With DE 10 2006 056 542 A1, which corresponds to U.S. Publication No. 20080135658, which is incorporated herein by reference, the need for rapid and simple adjustment, or optionally replacement, of the stator tools of devices of similar class was recognized and a solution to this problem was presented. Here each of the stator tools, together with the tool holders, represents a tool packet that can be slid axially into and out of the operating position. The fastening of the tool packets in their intended operating position takes place via a bearing beam welded to the opposite housing walls, opposite which an axially parallel clamping beam is movably located at a tangential distance. The tool packet is arranged between the bearing beam and the clamping beam, and is tensioned against the bearing beam with the aid of the clamping beam. Thus this device already made it possible to achieve the considerable advantage of accomplishing rapid exchange of the tool packets by simply loosening the clamp, thus minimizing the wear-related stoppage times of the device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is therefore an object of the invention to further develop devices to shorten wear- or maintenance-related stoppage times. 
         [0010]    Before this invention was made, it was commonly believed by experts in the field that tool units having a stator tool and a holder must be supported along one or several longitudinal supports over the entire axial length of the comminution space. In addition to the supporting function for the tool units, the longitudinal supports had the further task of strengthening the machine frame by acting as supports. 
         [0011]    The contribution of the present invention is to have escaped from this concept and instead to have designed the tool units to be self-supporting over the total length of the rotor from one housing wall to the opposite one. 
         [0012]    A first advantage resulting from the avoidance of completely rigid support of the tool units is based on a simplified machine design. Since the tool units are self-supporting over the length of the rotor, thus do not need additional supporting elements, the number of component parts and thus the weight of the device is reduced. The savings of material and installation expenses thus achieved permit a more cost-advantageous production of devices according to the invention compared to known devices. 
         [0013]    The terminal sections of the tool units are preferably passed through openings in the transverse walls of the housing to the outside, where they are fixed in gripping mechanisms. This has the advantage that the gripping mechanisms are readily accessible from the outside and therefore can be quickly tightened or loosened, and are not exposed to the wear-inducing mechanical stress imposed by the input material during the comminution operation. After the gripping mechanism is loosened, the possibility of rapid tool replacement via the axial or radial insertion and removal of the tool unit exists. This can advantageously be partially automated by using a cylinder piston unit. 
         [0014]    It proves advantageous for the operator of devices according to the invention that no installations that cross through the comminution chamber are present after removal of the tool units. The accessibility for maintenance, repairs, or cleaning is therefore considerably improved. 
         [0015]    According to an embodiment of the invention, gripping mechanisms are provided for fastening the tool units, in which the tool units are clamped against supporting surfaces. The supporting surfaces are formed by embrasure surfaces of openings in the housing walls, a fact that contributes to further simplifying the machine construction. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment, because the tool units with their end sections are disposed in an accurately fitted manner into corresponding recesses or openings in the housing walls, it proves advantageous to provide radially acting lifting and retaining components, for example in the form of threaded pins, between the housing and tool units, which permit controlled loosening of the tool units in their supporting region to prevent damage and injuries to the operating personnel insofar as possible. 
         [0017]    The goal of a simple but sturdy machine design is also systematically employed in the area of the tool units. In a preferred embodiment, the tool units comprise a one-piece, beam-like holder into which a recess for the stator tools is machined. Despite the simple machine design, here also a finely tuned adjustment of the projection of the stator tools above the support is possible in that thin-walled adjusting plates are introduced between the stator tools and the support surface in the holder. 
         [0018]    Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a longitudinal section through a device according to the invention along line I-I shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a cross section through the device shown in  FIG. 1  along the line II-II there; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the device shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is an oblique view of a device shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5   a  is view of the front side of the tool unit shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5   b  is a cross section through the tool unit shown in  FIG. 5   a  along the line there, V-V; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6   a  is a top view of the tool unit shown in  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 6   b  is a cross section through the tool unit shown in  FIG. 5   a  in the area of its end sections along the line there, VI-VI. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    The detailed structure of a device according to the invention is shown in  FIGS. 1-3 . Said device has a housing  1 , the lower housing part of which is formed by the transverse walls  2  and longitudinal walls  3 . For opening the housing  1 , the longitudinal walls  3  are fastened pivotably via the hinge  4  to the transverse walls  2 . The following upper housing part has trapezoidal transverse walls  5  attached to this, the inclined edges of which are respectively connected by correspondingly inclined longitudinal walls  6 . The upper edges of the transverse walls  5  and longitudinal walls  6  in this process form a rectangular opening  7 , followed by a vertical input shaft  8  for filling the device with input material. The housing  1  thus surrounds a comminution chamber  9 , which in the upper housing part expands from the opening  7  toward the interior. Toward the bottom, the housing  1  is open for withdrawing the input material after it has been processed. 
         [0029]    At the level of the transition from the upper to the lower housing part, a rotor  10  extending parallel to the longitudinal walls  3  and  6  is seen, the axis of rotation of which is labeled with  11 . The drive shaft  12  of the rotor  10  extends through openings in the transverse walls  2  and  5  and is held there in horizontal axial bearings  13 , which in turn rest on mounting brackets  14  welded permanently to the outsides of the transverse walls  2  and  5  and thereby each maintain an axial distance from the transverse walls  2  and  5 . The drive shaft  12  is coupled with a rotational drive not further illustrated, which can be driven in both the left-hand and the right-hand direction. 
         [0030]    Within the housing  1 , irrotatably fixed on the drive shaft  12 , are five coaxial rotor discs  15 , over the circumference of which holders are respectively distributed, which serve to receive rotor tools  16 . In the operation of a device according to the invention, therefore, the rotor tools  16  describe a common circle of rotation around the axis of rotation  11 . 
         [0031]    Stator tools  20  are located opposite the rotor tools  16  at a close radial distance. The stator tools  20  are supported within holders  21 , together with which they form the tool units  22 . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 4 ,  5   a, b  and  6   a, b  show the more detailed design of the tool units  22 . The holder  21  of each tool unit  22  is designed as a beam with an inner side  23  facing the axis of rotation  11 , an opposite outer side  24 , as well as a front side  25  and an opposite back side  26  ( FIGS. 5   a ,  6   a ). Except for the end sections  27 , the holder  21  has an essentially rectangular perimeter; the end sections  27 , on the other hand, each have on their back side an offset  18  increasing from the outside  24  in the direction toward the inside  23 , as a result of which the end sections  27  each have a wedge-shaped cross section with a wedge surface  28 , which, as will be explained later in further detail, serve for clamping the tool units  22  to the housing  1 . The wedge surface  28  in this process can be lined with a replaceable fill plate  19 , so that different thicknesses of the fill plate  19  can modify the wedge height and thus the relative radial position of the tool unit  22  relative to the rotor tools  16 . 
         [0033]    The front side  25  of the tool unit  22  is machined in the area between the end sections  27  to form a one-piece receptacle for the stator tools  20 . The receptacle comprises a first support surface  29  extending lengthwise in a tangential plane and a second support surface  30  traveling at a right angle to this, lying in an axial plane. In addition, a strip-shaped extension  31  is formed along the longitudinal edge of the holder  21 , formed by the outer side  24  and the front side  25 . 
         [0034]    In the recess formed in this way, the stator tools  20  are placed and clamped with screws  32  against the first support surface  29 , optionally with insertion of adjusting plates between the first support surface  29  and stator tools  20  to adjust the radial projection of the stator tools  20 . In this process the active edges of the stator tools  20  project over the inside  23 , and in the operating position, form the previously mentioned working gap with the rotor tools  16 . 
         [0035]    Additional clamping of the stator tools  20  is accomplished by a clamping plate  33 , which is clamped with the aid of a plurality of screws  34  against the front side  25  of the holder  15  and in so doing presses the stator tools  20  against the second support surface  30 , wherein here also adjustment plates may be inserted between the stator tool  20  and the second support surface  30 . The clamping plate  33  ends flush with the inner side  23  of the holder  21  and on the opposite side is supported on the extension  31 , wherein a lip  35  formed on the clamping plate  33  covers the front side of the extension  31 . 
         [0036]    In the area of the end section  27 , in addition, a penetrating hole  37  traveling parallel to the wedge surface  28  is introduced, which has internal threading at least over part of its length and the purpose of which will be discussed in further detail in the following. 
         [0037]    Even though not illustrated in the drawing, the term “tool unit” also includes embodiments in which only reinforced stator tools extend from one transverse wall to the other transverse wall of the housing. The tool unit is thus formed monolithically. 
         [0038]    A tool unit  22  prepared outside of the device in this way is disposed inside the device in accordance with the invention in the area of the lower vertex of the rotor  10  and relative to the axis of rotation  11  with the same angular distance of about 120° toward both sides in the area of the rotor  10  near the circumference and in an axially parallel position to this. For fastening the lower tool unit  22 , in each of the transverse walls  2  an opening  36  is provided, the width of which is adapted to the wedge-shaped cross section of the end section  27 , in other words the opening  36  narrows toward the axis  11 . In the radial direction, on the other hand, the opening  36  is somewhat higher than the holder  21  including the projection of the stator tool  20  over the inner side  23  to permit axial sliding of the tool unit  22  into and out of the housing  1  through the opening  36 . This can take place semiautomatically with the aid of the cylinder piston unit  17  disposed axially in the lower area of the housing  1 , for which purpose the axially movable piston of said unit extends through the housing wall  2  and is coupled with the tool unit in a push-pull force transmitting manner outside the housing  1 . In the intended operating position of the tool unit  22 , the end sections  27  extend through the openings  36 . In this process the triangular surfaces formed by the offset  18  in the area of the end sections  27  are adjacent to the transverse walls  2 , which in this manner act as axial stops. 
         [0039]    The end sections  27  of the lower tool unit  22  are each held in a clamping device  40  ( FIG. 3 ). Here the embrasure surface of the opening  36  forms a radially acting support surface  41  and on both sides of this are adjacent lateral support surfaces, against which the tool unit  22  is clamped by via a pressure surface  42 . By appropriately selecting the thickness of the fill plates  19 , the depth of insertion of the tool unit  22  in the opening  36  can be selected in advance. The pressure surface  42  is formed by a wedge  43  which is supported movably on mounting bracket  44  connected permanently with the outside of the transverse wall  2 . The clamping movement of the wedge  43  is created by a threaded pin  45 , which extends with one end into the front face of the wedge  43  and with the other end is supported over a threaded nut against a fixed-position support plate  46 . The clamping movement of the wedge  43  leads to a relative approximation of the pressure surface  42  and the first support surface  29 . 
         [0040]    According to an embodiment of the invention that is not shown, the pressure surfaces could also be formed in each case by the piston of a hydraulic press, which generates a clamping force perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the tool units  22 . 
         [0041]    For installation and removal purposes, an additional lifting and holding mechanism  47  is provided, with an angular retaining part  48 , the radial arm of which is screwed onto the front face of the tool unit  22  and through the axially traveling arm of which a threaded pin  49  is passed. The end of the threaded pin  49  again meshes in a threaded hole in the mounting bracket  14 . By screwing the threaded pin  49  in or out or by screwing or unscrewing a nut on the threaded pin  49 , the tool unit  22  can be lifted or lowered in a controlled manner. 
         [0042]    This method of fastening the lower tool unit  22  basically can also be applied in the case of the upper tool units  22 . In addition, however, an alternative embodiment of the fastening is described. Thereby the upper tool units  22  each lie in recesses  50  which extend radially inward from the edge of the transverse wall  5 . The shape of the recesses  50  in turn corresponds to the cross section of the end sections  27  of the tool units  22 , wherein the embrasure surface of the recess  50  forms the bearing surface  41  lying in a tangential plane and lateral bearing surfaces adjacent to it on both sides, on which the end sections  27  are respectively under contact. Here also, by appropriately selecting the thickness of the fill plates  19  the insertion depth of the tool units  22  in the recesses  50  can be preselected. 
         [0043]    The clamping device  40  for fixing the tool unit  22  in the recesses  50  is formed by clamping beams  51 , which on their underside facing the housing  1  have a piston-like projection which presses on the outside of the end sections  27  of the tool units  22 . With the aid of screws  53 , the clamping beams  51  are clamped in the direction of the tool units  22 . 
         [0044]    Between the recesses  50  and the drive shaft  12 , in each case a mounting bracket  54  is seen, which supplies an abutting surface for a radially extending threaded spindle  55  used temporarily for removal purposes. The threaded spindle  55  extends through the penetrating hole  37  parallel to the wedge surface  28  and meshes with the threaded section inside the penetrating hole  37 . By screwing in the threaded spindle  54 , therefore, a radially directed lifting force can be exerted on the upper tool unit  22 . 
         [0045]    Basically it is possible to use this type of fastening in the case of the lower tool unit  22  as well. 
         [0046]    The circumferential sections between the lower tool unit  22  and the two upper tool units  22  are closed by sieves  56 , which are fixed on pivotable sieve frames. The input material comminuted adequately during the work-up passes through the sieve  56  and leaves the device through the housing  1  open at the bottom. 
         [0047]    The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.