Patent GB-859460-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to mixing and granulating apparatus
IPC: B01F29/64
Filed: 1959-05-29
Abstract: 859,460. Mixing. EIRICH, W., and EIRICH, G. May 29, 1959 [May 31, 1958], No. 18434/59. Class 86 A machine for comminuting, mixing, kneading and granulating materials in. powder or lump form comprises a rotary dish 8 the axis of rotation of which is adjustable in inclination, and mixing tools 39, 40 which are arranged in that portion of the dish which is uppermost when it is tilted and are rotated on an axis 36 which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the dish. The dish 8 is rotatable in bearings 32, 33 on a frame 9, 10 carried on trunnions 6 on a base 2, the rotation being effected by a motor 28 through gearing 29, 30. The tilting of the dish 8 is effected by a hydraulic cylinder 11, adjustment and locking levers 12, 13 being provided on the trunnions 6. The dish may have its inclination constantly changing during mixing, a motor operating a change-over valve controlling the cylinder 11 so that the two ends of the cylinder are alternately connected to pressure and exhaust. The cylinder 11 may be replaced by a nut and screw means, the nut being driven by an electric motor the direction of which is reversed at the ends of the travel of the nut on the screw. In Fig. 1, the dish is shown in three positions, a level position for mixing, a 60 degrees tilted position for granulating and discharge of the granules by a fork 53, and a tilted position beyond the vertical for emptying the dish. The trunnions are fitted with rubber covered buffers which operate in the latter position. The fork 53 has prongs spaced to arrest granules of the required size, and the fork may have an orbital motion to remove the granules to a conveyer or inclined trough. The mixing tools 39, 40 are driven, through a reduction gearing, by a variable speed, reversible motor 35, accommodated in a cup-like housing 20 which is releasably clamped at 25 to a semi-circular rail 17 secured to the frame 9, 10, the motor unit being pivotally supported at 22 in a member secured, to a cross-rail 18 secured to the ends of. the rail 17. The clamp 25 permits, therefore, the motor-mixer assembly to be swung into the desired position about the pivot 22 and along the rail 17, and then clamped. The tools 39, 40 comprise upwardly and downwardly projecting knives carried by a ring 38 and carrying projections 41, 42, 44 which clean the wall and bottom of the rotating dish 8. Nozzles may be arranged on the tools for spraying a liquid. To prevent accumulations on the upper parts of the dish wall, a lining 65 with a smooth surface is provided, e.g. a plastic, glass or enamel lining from which the material is easily removed by a fixed scraper 66. A resilient, e.g. rubber lining may be used, which lining will distort under variations in load as the drum rotates on an inclined axis, the distortion dislodging the accumulation. This effect may be increased by having an air-filled lining. When the apparatus is used with a constantly varying dish-inclination, a measured quantity of material can be introduced into the dish every time it reaches the level position. In order to comminute lumps of the material being mixed and granulated, the cross-rail 18 is arranged to carry a rotary knife assembly 105-108, the assembly being adjustable arcuately, by a clamp 102, about the rail 18, and universally adjustable by a universal joint 110. Instead of the dish 8 being emptied by tilting, this may be effected through a central aperture in the dish bottom, covered either by a downwardly removable, hydraulically operated plate, or by a plate which is mounted on an arm which is pivoted on an axis which is not quite vertical, so that as the arm swings to bring the plate away from the aperture it becomes slightly spaced from the bottom of the dish. The plate is pivoted for rotation in the arm so that it rotates with the dish when mixing is in progress. The drive of the dish is, in this case, by a pinion engaging a spur wheel on the bottom of the dish. The material may be heated during mixing, e.g. by a stationary burner directed into the dish.