APPARATUS FOR COMMINUTING POURABLE FEEDSTOCK AND METHOD FOR OPENING SUCH AN APPARATUS

Abstract

A device for comminuting pourable feedstock as well as a method for opening a device of this type. The device includes a housing, which encloses a comminution chamber, in which a rotor rotating around a rotation axis is arranged, the rotor being equipped with rotor tools over its circumference. A sieve holder, whose sieve extends along a circumferential section of the rotor, is used to separate the sufficiently comminuted material. The feedstock supplied to the rotor via a material infeed is removed from the device via a material discharge after being sufficiently comminuted. To improve accessibility to the interior of the device, it is proposed that, to open the housing, the sieve holder is pivotable around a first pivot axis from a closed first position into an open second position and additionally around a second pivot axis into a third position.

Claims

1. A device for comminuting pourable feedstock, the device comprising: a housing that encloses a portion of a comminution chamber, in which a rotor rotating around a rotation axis is arranged, the rotor being equipped with rotor tools over its circumference; a sieve holder including a sieve, which extends along a circumferential section of the rotor and separates the sufficiently comminuted material; a material infeed for loading the rotor with feedstock; and a material discharge for removing the sufficiently comminuted material, wherein the sieve holder is pivotable around a first pivot axis from a closed first position into an open second position for the purpose of opening the housing, wherein the sieve holder is additionally pivotable around a second pivot axis into an open third position, and wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis run transversely with respect to each other.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis run transversely to each other, preferably at an angle of 90°.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second pivot axis is vertically oriented.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis define a common plane or form a common intersection point in the open second position.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first pivot axis is formed by a first pivot bearing and a second pivot bearing, situated at a distance therefrom, the sieve holder being detachably held in the first pivot bearing.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second pivot axis is formed by the second pivot bearing and a third pivot bearing, situated at a distance therefrom, the second pivot bearing having at least two degrees of freedom and being formed by a ball joint.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second pivot axis is formed by the second pivot bearing and a third pivot bearing, situated at a distance therefrom, the third pivot bearing having at least two degrees of freedom or at least three degrees of freedom.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the third pivot bearing has a vertical axis, which is rotatably supported around a rotation axis in parallel to the first pivot axis.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second pivot axis is formed by the second pivot bearing and a third pivot bearing situated at a distance therefrom, the distance of the first pivot bearing from the rotation axis approximately corresponding to a distance of the third pivot bearing from the rotation axis.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein device further comprises a drive for pivoting the sieve holder into the open second position, preferably a linear drive, which extends between the housing and the sieve holder, between the housing and the third pivot bearing.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the sieve holder abuts the housing of the device in a connecting plane, the connecting plane enclosing an angle α with a vertical, the angle being greater than zero, preferably at least 10°.

12. A method for opening a device according to claim 1, the method comprising: pivoting, in a first step, the sieve holder around the first pivot axis until the open second position is reached; and pivoting, in a second step, around the second pivot axis until the open third position is reached, the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis forming a common intersection point S, at least in the open second position of the sieve holder.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the second pivot axis is displaced in a translatory manner when carrying out the first step.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein, when the first step is carried out, the sieve holder is pivoted around the first pivot axis by a maximum of 60°, preferably by a maximum of 40°, in particular by a maximum of 30°.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein, when the second step is carried out, the sieve holder is pivoted by at least 90° and/or preferably by a maximum of 180°.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] 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:

[0028] FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of a device according to the invention, including a closed sieve holder;

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0031] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1 along the plane marked by A-A in FIG. 2;

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the device illustrated in FIG. 1 along the plane marked by B-B in FIG. 3;

[0033] FIG. 6 shows an oblique view of the device according to the invention, including a partially open sieve holder;

[0034] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the device illustrated in FIG. 6;

[0035] FIG. 8 shows a front view of the device illustrated in FIG. 6;

[0036] FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of the device illustrated in FIG. 6 along the plane marked by C-C in FIG. 7;

[0037] FIG. 10 shows an oblique view of the device according to the invention, including a sieve holder open all the way;

[0038] FIG. 11 shows a side view of the device illustrated in FIG. 10; and

[0039] FIG. 12 shows a front view of the device illustrated in FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The structural design of a device according to the invention arises from a combined examination of FIGS. 1 through 12. FIGS. 1 through 5 show a device according to the invention in the form of a cutting mill 1 in the state ready for operation, i.e., in a first position, in which sieve holder 2 is closed. To open cutting mill 1 for repair, maintenance and cleaning purposes, sieve holder 2 may be swung open from housing 3 in two steps. FIGS. 6 through 9 show partially open cutting mill 1 in a second position in a state after the end of the first step; FIGS. 10 through 12 show cutting mill 1 in a third position, in which sieve holder 2 is opened all the way after the end of the second step.

[0041] Cutting mill 1 includes a housing 3, which encloses a comminution chamber 40 with its transverse walls 4, 4′ and longitudinal walls 5. A pivot bearing 41, in which a rotor 7, rotating around a horizontal rotation axis 6, is rotatably supported, is arranged on the outer sides of transverse walls 4, 4′. Rotor 7 is essentially made up of a drive shaft 8, on which multiple rotor disks 9 are rotatable fixedly seated in an axially staggered manner. Rotor tools 10, which describe a common orbit with their blades, are distributed uniformly over the circumference of rotor 7 on rotor disks 9. Rotor 7 is driven by a motor 22, which sets drive shaft 8 in rotation via drive belts and a multi-groove disk seated on drive shaft 8.

[0042] To supply the feedstock, cutting mill 1 includes a hopper-shaped material infeed 13 upstream from rotor 7, which is limited in the axial direction by transverse walls 4, 4′, which are each covered by a wear plate 21 in this region. Material infeed 13 has a base 42, which is inclined in the direction of rotor 7, on which the feedstock slides to rotor 7 due to the force of gravity.

[0043] Housing 4 furthermore comprises two massive blade beams 11, 11′ axis-parallel to rotation axis 6, which connect transverse walls 4, 4′ to each other and are situated approximately diametrically opposed to rotation axis 6 (FIG. 5). Lower blade beam 11′ is situated offset in the direction of material infeed 13 with respect to a vertical plane through axis 6 and forms the lower end of material infeed 13. Upper blade beam 11 is situated offset in the in the opposite direction above the vertical plane outward through axis 6 in the direction of sieve holder 2 and forms the upper end of material infeed 13. In this way, blade beams 11 and 11′ span a connecting plane 23, which runs obliquely from the lower inside to the upper outside at an angle α of preferably more than 10°, in particular more than 20°, with respect to a vertical. In the present exemplary embodiment, angle α is approximately 30° (FIG. 5).

[0044] Upper stator blades 12 and lower stator blades 12′ situated opposite rotor 7 are removably fastened to blade beam 11, 11′ with the aid of blade holding plates and screws. The active edges of stator blades 12, 12′ are situated opposite rotor tools 10 in the axial direction, with which they interact to comminute the feedstock.

[0045] The circumferential section of rotor 7 facing away from material infeed 13 is used to classify the comminuted material with the aid of a sieve 14 and to capture and remove the through fraction with the aid of an discharge trough 16. Sieve 14 and discharge trough 16 are part of sieve holder 2, as is described in greater detail below.

[0046] Sieve 14 of sieve holder 2 extends over the entire axial length of rotor 7, maintaining a radial gap, and over a circumferential region of rotor 7, which is limited by upper stator blades 12 and lower stator blades 12′. In the present exemplary embodiment, sieve 14 extends over a circumferential region of more than 180°. Sieve 14 is held by multiple arc-shaped ribs 17, which are fastened by their ends to sieve holder 2 in plane-parallel vertical planes with respect to axis 6 and support sieve 14 in the radial direction by their inner circumference.

[0047] Sieve holder 2 also comprises a hood-like sieve holder housing 15, which is open in the direction of rotor 7, accommodates ribs 17 and sieve 14 and permits a tight connection of sieve holder 2 to housing 3 in the region of connecting plane 23. Sieve holder housing 15 includes front walls 18, 18′, which continue transverse walls 4, 4, and a circumferential wall 19, which connects front walls 18, 18′. Circumferential wall 19 forms a hopper 20, which is downwardly open in the lower region of sieve holder 2 and which opens into an discharge trough 16, which is rigidly fastened to sieve holder housing 15.

[0048] To pivotably fasten sieve holder 2 to cutting mill 1, a first pivot bearing 31 is arranged on the outside of transverse wall 4 in the end region of upper blade beam 11, and a second pivot bearing 32 is arranged on the outside of opposite transverse wall 4′ in the opposite end region of blade beam 11, which together form a first pivot axis 25 having an approximately horizontal orientation. Sieve holder 2 is pivotably held in the two pivot bearings 31, 32 by its upper edge in parallel to axis 6. First pivot bearing 31 is lockable and unlockable, i.e., sieve holder 2 may be detached from housing 3 in first pivot bearing 31. Second pivot bearing 32 permits not only the pivoting around first pivot axis 25 but also a pivoting around a second pivot axis 26, which is explained in detail later on. For example, second pivot bearing 32 is made up of a bearing having at least two degrees of freedom, in particular a ball joint or the like. A locking mechanism 24 is also arranged on transverse wall 4 (FIG. 19), which, in the closed state of sieve holder 2 in the first position, locks the latter securely to housing 3.

[0049] To pivot sieve holder 2 around first pivot axis 25, cutting mill 1 includes a drive 27 suitable for this purpose, which in the present exemplary embodiment comprises a linear guide 35 having two guide frames spaced a distance apart and aligned with each other, which are rigidly fastened to the outside of transverse wall 4′ of housing 3, and a push rod 30, which is displaceably supported in the aligned guide frames. The longitudinal axis of push rod 30 is oriented horizontally or inclined slightly downward in the direction of sieve holder 2.

[0050] Push rod 30 is linearly adjustable relative to housing 3 with the aid of a motor-driven or manually driven threaded spindle 34. Threaded spindle 34 is rotatably held by its one end in a holder on the front end of push rod 30 and also extends through threaded bores in the guide frames axis-parallel to push rod 30. The push rod itself or the drive for push rod 30 may also be formed by a cylinder piston unit or the like.

[0051] Linear drive 27 is linked to sieve holder 2 via a third pivot bearing 33, which is arranged on the outside of front wall 18′ of sieve holder housing 15 in the lower edge region facing lower blade beam 11′. Third pivot bearing 33 is thus situated below second pivot bearing 32 or rotation axis 6 and moves on a circular path around first pivot axis 25 during the pivoting of sieve holder 2.

[0052] Third pivot bearing 33 comprises an approximately vertically oriented axis 28, whose ends are held by the two legs of a U-shaped clip 29. Axis 28 defines a second approximately vertical pivot axis 26. First pivot axis 25 and second pivot axis 26 thus run transversely to each other, preferably approximately perpendicularly, and together define two plane-parallel planes, which maintain a distance to each other in the closed first position of sieve holder 2, which corresponds to the distance between first pivot axis 25 and second pivot axis 26. Second pivot axis 26 and second pivot bearing 32 are situated in a common vertical plane on first pivot axis 25.

[0053] Third pivot bearing 33 is fastened to sieve holder 2 in such a way that, during a linear movement of push rod 30, third pivot bearing 33 moves on a circular path around first pivot axis 25, while axis 28 executes a translatory movement, which corresponds to a parallel displacement of second pivot axis 26 in the direction of movement of push rod 30. Axis 28 retains its original orientation.

[0054] This is made possible in that the free end of push rod 30 has two bores situated a vertical distance apart, which are penetrated by axis 28 with clearance, and in that clip 29, together with axis 28, is rotatably fastened to front wall 18′ around a rotation axis in parallel to first pivot axis 25. In this way, axis 28 is held in a vertical orientation at any point in time during the actuation of linear drive 27. At the same time, a relative movement is possible between axis 28 and push rod 30 in the vertical direction.

[0055] During operation, a cutting mill 1 according to the invention is in the first position illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5. When linear drive 27 is in the inserted state, sieve holder 2 is pivoted against housing 3 of cutting mill 1 and closes it in connecting plane 23. Sieve holder 2 is locked in this position with the aid of locking mechanism 24.

[0056] Sieve holder 2 is opened in two steps, a pivoting movement of sieve holder 2 around first pivot axis 25 being effectuated in a first step. For this purpose, locking mechanism 24 is first released, while the locking of first pivot bearing 31 is left in place. By subsequently pulling out linear drive 27, sieve holder 2 is pivoted around first pivot axis 25 by angle ß (FIG. 7) until the partially open second position of cutting mill 1 is reached. FIGS. 6 through 9 show this state.

[0057] Due to the described design of third pivot bearing 33, second pivot axis 26 undergoes a parallel displacement during the first step in the direction of the movement of linear drive 27, which is continued until second pivot bearing 32 is in alignment with second pivot axis 26. In this position, first pivot axis 25 and second pivot axis 26 define a common plane, i.e., first pivot bearing 31, second pivot bearing 32 and third pivot bearing 33 are in the same plane. Only after this second position is reached is it possible to carry out the second step for opening cutting mill 1. Prior to reaching the second position of sieve holder 2, the kinematics according to the invention bring about a blocking effect and thereby prevent the second step from being initiated prematurely.

[0058] In the second step, first pivot bearing 31 is then released, and sieve holder 2 is swung open to the side around second pivot axis 26 manually or by machine. Throughout the second step, second pivot axis 26 is stabilized by second pivot bearing 32 and third pivot bearing 33. The vertical orientation of second pivot axis 26 prevents sieve holder 2 from posing a danger to the personnel by sieve holder 2 being unintentionally pivoted. After the conclusion of the second step, cutting mill 1 is open all the way, which is illustrated in FIGS. 10 through 12. The opening angle between housing 3 and sieve holder 2 is 90°.

[0059] The described steps are carried out in the reverse order to close cutting mill 1.

[0060] 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.

[0061] What is claimed is: