Mixing machine

Abstract

A mixing machine includes a mixing head and at least one connection means for connecting a mixing container to the mixing head for forming a closed mixing container. The mixing head is pivotably mounted with respect to a frame such that the closed mixing container formed from the mixing head and container can be pivoted relative to the frame for performing the mixing process. The mixing head carries at least one rotationally-driven mixing tool. The mixing head comprises a head plate having a connecting flange molded thereon which is configured as an annular disc and comprises a planar contact surface. This contact surface has a radial extension such that mixing containers with different connection diameters on their mixing head connection side can be connected to the mixing head. The at least one connection means is configured for gripping mixing containers which differ in the diameter of their connection sides.

Claims

1. A mixing machine comprising: a mixing head and at least one connection means for connecting a mixing container containing material to be mixed to said mixing head, the mixing head and the mixing container together forming a closed mixing container; the mixing head and the at least one connection means, as part of a pivotable assembly, are pivotably mounted with respect to a frame such that the closed mixing container formed by the mixing head and mixing container can be pivoted relative to said frame in performing a mixing process, and the mixing head carries at least one rotationally driven mixing tool; wherein the mixing head comprises a head plate having a connecting flange molded thereon, the connecting flange is configured as an annular disc and comprises a planar contact surface; which contact surface of said connecting flange has a radial extension such that mixing containers with different connection diameters on their mixing head connection side can be connected to said mixing head; wherein the at least one connection means is configured for gripping mixing containers which differ in the diameter of their mixing head connection sides.

2. The mixing machine of claim 1, wherein the head plate with its connecting flange is a plate with a planar inside surface and the connection surface of the connecting flange is part of the planar inside surface of the head plate.

3. The mixing machine of claim 1, wherein the diameter and the radial extension of the connecting flange has such a dimension, that at least mixing containers with two different sizes concerning their connecting diameter of their mixing head connecting side are connectable to the mixing head.

4. The mixing machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one connection means for connecting the mixing container to the head plate of the mixing head comprises two lifting devices arranged diametrically opposite with respect to a center axis of the head plate, the lifting devices form components of the pivotable assembly, each lifting device has a lifting plate which can be adjusted towards the center axis of the head plate for engaging under a radially-projecting connecting flange of the mixing container, and each lifting device can be adjusted in a radial direction with respect to the center axis of the head plate.

5. The mixing machine of claim 4, wherein the lifting devices are configured as lifting spindles driven by an electric motor for adjusting the lifting plates.

6. The mixing machine of claim 4, wherein each lifting device is driven by a spindle drive for adjustability of the lifting devices in the radial direction.

7. The mixing machine of claim 4, wherein a pivotable locking lever is associated with each of the lifting plates of the lifting devices, and the pivotable locking levers are configured to act on an outer wall of the mixing container held by the lifting plates when in use.

8. The mixing machine of claim 7, wherein the pivotable locking levers can be adjusted pneumatically.

9. The mixing machine of claim 4, wherein the lifting plates comprise centering plates for centering the mixing container held by the lifting plates.

10. The mixing machine of claim 1, wherein the pivotable assembly comprises an insertion limiting device for connection of the mixing container inserted into the frame to the mixing head.

11. The mixing machine of claim 10, wherein the insertion limiting device comprises a container stop which can be radially adjusted with respect to a center axis of the head plate.

12. The mixing machine of claim 11, wherein the container stop can be adjusted pneumatically.

13. The mixing machine of claim 11, wherein the container stop is secured in various positions by a locking pin, and the locking pin can be adjusted transversely to an adjusting direction of the container stop.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present disclosure is further described below with reference to the appended figures:

(2) FIG. 1: is a perspective view of an industrial mixing machine;

(3) FIG. 2: is a front view of the mixing machine of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3: is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 2 with a bottom view of the pivotable assembly of the mixing machine;

(5) FIG. 4: is a perspective view of the two lifting devices of the mixing machine of FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5: is a perspective view of only an insertion limiting component of the mixing machine;

(7) FIG. 6: is a side view of the insertion limiting component of FIG. 5 in a first position;

(8) FIG. 7: is a side view of the insertion limiting component of FIGS. 5 and 6 in a second position;

(9) FIG. 8: shows two front views of the mixing machine with a mixing container of a first mixing container size inserted in its container receptacle (top view) and with the mixing container lifted by the lifting devices and connected to the mixing head (bottom view);

(10) FIG. 9: shows two front views of the mixing machine with a mixing container of a second mixing container size inserted in its container receptacle (top view) and with the mixing container lifted by the lifting devices and connected to the mixing head (bottom view);

(11) Before further explaining the depicted embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangements shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purposes of description and not limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) A mixing machine 1 is used for industrial mixing of material to be mixed, for example plastic granules, located in a mixing container. The mixing machine 1 has a frame 2 which is provided by two columns 3, 3.1 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. A container entryway 4 is located in the bottom area between the columns 3, 3.1. The container entryway 4 is separated from the columns 3, 3.1 on each of its sides by a side wall 5, 5.1. The two columns 3, 3.1 are interconnected in their top sections via a pivotable assembly 6. The pivotable assembly 6 includes a frame component 7 with a pivot shaft 8 fastened to its two narrow sides. The pivot shaft 8 is mounted in the columns 3, 3.1. The column 3 houses an electromotive drive 9, with which the pivotable assembly 6 can be pivoted about the axis of the pivot shaft 8.

(13) Two lifting devices 10, 10.1 configured as spindle-type lifting units are part of the pivotable assembly 6. The lifting devices 10, 10.1 are of identical construction. The general structure of the lifting device 10 is described below. These statements apply likewise to the lifting device 10.1. The lifting device 10 has a lifting plate 11 as part of a lifting plate unit which can be moved in the vertical direction by a spindle 12. Another plate which is beveled towards the container flange is located on the lifting plate. This plate centers the container when it is lifted. The lifting plate unit is guided on a guide 13. The spindle 12 is driven by an electric motor. The spindle 12 can be used to adjust the lifting plate unit in the vertical direction. FIG. 1 shows it in its lowest position. A further part of the lifting plate unit is a locking lever 14, which can be pivoted about a vertical pivoting axis from its base position shown in FIG. 1 towards the mixing container receptacle. By pivoting the locking lever 14, a mixing container inserted in the container entryway 4 can be locked. The locking lever 14 acts on the outer wall of such a mixing container. The lifting device 10 can be moved via an electric motor 15 as part of the pivotable assembly 6 in the longitudinal extension direction of the pivot axis of said pivotable assembly 6. The electric motor 15 drives one spindle drive for this purpose.

(14) The pivotable assembly further includes a mixing head, the top side (outer side) of which is visible in FIG. 1.

(15) The configuration of the mixing head 16 can be seen in the front view of the mixing machine 1 shown in FIG. 2. The mixing head 16 of the mixing machine 1 is configured as a cover for closing the mixing container which is open at its top side. The mixing head 16 includes a head plate 17. This is described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3 below. A part of the mixing head 16 is a mixing tool 18, which is spaced apart from the bottom side of the head plate 17 visible in FIG. 2 and driven by an electric motor 19. The drive shaft of the electric motor 19 passes through the head plate 17.

(16) The arrangement of the mixing head 16 with respect to the frame component 7 which carries it and the two lifting devices 10, 10.1 can be seen from the bottom view of the pivotable assembly 6 of FIG. 3. The mixing head 16 with the two lifting devices 10, 10.1 is gimbaled inside the frame component 7. The mixing head 16 with its two lifting devices 10, 10.1 can be pivoted about a rotational axis extending transversely to the pivot axis of the frame component 7 by a pivot drive 20. As a result, the mixing head 16 can be pivoted about two axes which are at a right angle to one another when the mixing machine 1 is in operation. This allows carrying out a mixing process in which a mixing container connected to the mixing head 16 performs a multidimensional oscillating motion.

(17) In an embodiment not shown in the figures, the pivotable assembly can only be pivoted relative to the frame via the pivot shafts described above. In this design, the pivotable assembly is not gimbaled, which is why the frame component of the embodiment shown in the figures is not present in this design.

(18) The head plate 17 of the mixing machine 1 is a rotationally symmetrical disc, which is part of the head plate assembly 21. A cylinder piece, through which the drive shaft for driving the mixing tool 18 is guided, is fastened to the outside of the head plate 17. The drive shaft passes through the center of the head plate 17 in which a drive shaft passage is incorporated for this purpose. As can be seen in FIG. 1, opposing adapter shafts 22 are fastened to the shell surface of the cylinder piece. These are used to receive the mixing head 16 in the present geometry. Furthermore, an opening for a suction flow is provided in the head plate 17. The head plate 17 further carries a temperature sensor.

(19) The head plate 17 is configured as a planar plate. The outer edge region represents a connecting flange 23 configured as an annular disc. The top side of the connecting flange 23, which faces away from the cylinder piece, is a contact surface for mixing containers to be connected to the mixing head 16 or its head plate 17, respectively. Due to the radial extension of the connecting flange 23 mixing containers of a different diameter as to their connecting flange can be connected to the head plate 17 of the mixing head 16. For this reason, the lifting devices 10, 10.1 can be radially adjusted relative to the head plate 17 by the spindle drive described above.

(20) FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the lifting device 10.1. The parts already described with reference to FIG. 1 are identified by their reference symbols.

(21) Furthermore, a part of the pivotable assembly 6 is an insertion limiting device, which is provided by an insertion limiting component 36 in the mixing machine 1. A perspective view of the insertion limiting component 36 is shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of this component 36 relative to the mixing head 16 and the two lifting devices 10, 10.1. The insertion limiting component 36 has a container stop 37 which can be radially adjusted to the center axis of the head plate 17. The container stop 37 is provided in the embodiment shown by three vertically extending plate-like components, wherein one of the narrow sides of the plate-like components faces the container entryway 4. The insertion limiting device provided by the insertion limiting component 36 is used for adjusting mixing containers of different diameters which are to be connected to the mixing head 16 of the mixing machine 1 for mixing the mixing material contained therein. The structure of the insertion limiting component 36 is visible in the side view shown in FIG. 7 with the side wall removed. The container stop 37 can be radially adjusted by a pneumatic cylinder 38. FIG. 6 shows the insertion limiting component 36 with its container stop 37 in the position which said component 36 is in when a mixing container with the greatest possible diameter is to be connected to the mixing head 16 of the mixing machine 1. The container stop 37 is connected to the pneumatic cylinder 38 by a piston rod 39. A locking pin 41 engaging in a locking member 40 is used to secure the component in the position shown in FIG. 6. The locking pin 41 can be adjusted transversely to the adjusting direction of the container stop 37, identified by a block arrow in FIG. 6, and protects the piston-cylinder unit for adjusting the container stop 37 from impacting mixing containers.

(22) FIG. 7 shows the insertion limiting component 36 in its extended position, which its container stop 37 is in when a mixing container with a smaller diameter is to be connected to the mixing head 16 of the mixing machine 1. The locking pin 41 is located in a different recess of the locking member 40 for securing this position. The locking pin 41 can also be activated by a pneumatic cylinder to remove it from its position where it engages in a recess of the locking member 41 for adjusting the container stop 37 (not visible in the figures due to perspective). FIG. 6 indicates this adjusting movement by an arrow next to the locking pin 41.

(23) The top illustration in FIG. 8 shows the mixing machine 1 when receiving a mixing container M.sub.1 with a smaller diameter. In the position shown at the top of FIG. 8, the lifting plates 11 of the two lifting devices 10, 10.1 have engaged under the outwardly projecting annular flange 42 of the mixing container M.sub.1. The mixing container M.sub.1 has for this purpose been inserted into the container entryway 4 until a wall outer side 43 rests against the container stop 37, which is in the position shown in FIG. 7. The locking levers 14 are in locking position and also act on the wall outer side 43 of the mixing container M.sub.1. When the lifting device 10, 10.1 is operated, the mixing container M.sub.1 is lifted and its connecting flange 42 is moved until it contacts the head plate 17. The top side of the connecting flange 42 provides a sealing which is activated when the connecting flange 42 of the mixing container M.sub.1 rests against the contact surface of the connecting flange 23 of the head plate 17 of the mixing head 16. The process of mixing the material in the mixing container M.sub.1 starts in the position shown at the bottom of FIG. 8. The pivotable assembly 6 is for this purpose first pivoted into an overhead position.

(24) The same sequence of figures as in FIG. 8 are shown as an example in FIG. 9. But the mixing container M.sub.2 has a greater diameter than the mixing container M.sub.1. Accordingly, the insertion limiting component 36 was brought into its position shown in FIG. 6. The lifting devices 10, 10.1 are also in a position that is radially farther outwards than in FIG. 8.

(25) The invention has been described with reference to illustrative embodiments. Without departing from the scope of the applicable claims, a person skilled in the art will see other options of implementing the invention, which do not have to be explained in detail herein. While a number of aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations therefore. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims hereinafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations, which are within their true spirit and scope. Each embodiment described herein has numerous equivalents.

(26) The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the invention has been specifically disclosed by embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims. Whenever a range is given in the specification, all intermediate ranges and subranges, as well as all individual values included in the ranges given are intended to be included in the disclosure. When a Markush group or other grouping is used herein, all individual members of the group and all combinations and sub-combinations possible of the group are intended to be individually included in the disclosure.

(27) In general, the terms and phrases used herein have their art-recognized meaning, which can be found by reference to standard texts, journal references and contexts known to those skilled in the art. The above definitions are provided to clarify their specific use in the context of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(28) TABLE-US-00001  1 Mixing machine  2 Frame  3, 3.1 Column  4 Container entryway  5, 5.1 Side wall  6 Pivotable assembly  7 Frame component  8 Pivot axis  9 Drive 10, 10.1 Lifting device 11 Lifting plate 12 Spindle 13 Guide 14 Locking lever 15 Electric motor 16 Mixing head 17 Head plate 18 Mixing tool 19 Electric motor 20 Pivot drive 21 Head plate assembly 22 Adapter shaft 23 Connecting flange 36 Insertion limiting component 37 Container stop 38 Pneumatic cylinder 39 Piston rod 40 Locking member 41 Locking pin 42 Annular flange 43 Wall outer side M.sub.1 Mixing container M.sub.2 Mixing container