METHOD FOR FEEDING SOLID MATERIAL TO A MIXING DEVICE, SOLID-MATERIAL FEEDING DEVICE AND MIXING ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The invention relates to improvements in the technical field of feeding solid materials to mixing devices. For this purpose, the solid-material feeding device, inter alia, is proposed. The solid-material feeding device comprises the slide, which can be moved between a first end position and a second end position through a conveying connection, which is arranged between a funnel and a solid-material outlet of the solid-material feeding device. By means of the slide, adhesions within the conveying connection can be loosened without having to remove the conveying connection.

Claims

1. A method for feeding solid material, in particular bulk material, such as, for example, powder, to a mixing apparatus with the use of a solid material feeding apparatus, the solid material feeding apparatus having a funnel for receiving solid material and a solid material outlet which is connected to a solid material inlet of the mixing apparatus, the solid material outlet and the funnel being connected to one another via a conveying connection, the solid material being fed to the mixing apparatus via the conveying connection, the solid material feeding apparatus having a slide which can be moved through the conveying connection between a first end position and a second end position, wherein the slide and is set up to detach adhesions of solid material within the conveying connection, and in that the slide is activated and is moved through the conveying connection, in order to clear the conveying connection, as soon as the conveying connection is clogged between the solid material outlet and the funnel, clogging of the conveying connection being detected by way of a monitoring apparatus, and the monitoring apparatus activating the slide at least indirectly, as soon as clogging of the conveying connection is detected.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, the solid material being conveyed, in particular sucked, with the aid of vacuum into the mixing apparatus, in particular into a mixing chamber of the mixing apparatus, the vacuum preferably being generated by way of a rotor/stator unit of the mixing apparatus.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, clogging of the conveying connection being detected by way of a monitoring apparatus of the solid material feeding apparatus.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, clogging of the conveying connection being detected on the basis of a drop in the power consumption of a drive of the rotor/stator unit and/or, in particular by way of a monitoring sensor, for example by way of a pressure sensor, on the basis of a pressure change in the conveying connection and/or in the mixing apparatus, in particular in the mixing chamber of the mixing apparatus.

5. A solid material feeding apparatus for feeding solid material, in particular bulk material, such as, for example, powder, to a mixing apparatus, the solid material feeding apparatus having a funnel for receiving solid material, and a solid material outlet which can be connected to a solid material inlet of a mixing apparatus, the solid material outlet and the funnel being connected to one another via a conveying connection, the solid material feeding apparatus having a slide which can be moved through the conveying connection (8) between a first end position and a second end position, wherein the solid material feeding apparatus has a monitoring apparatus which is set up for the detection of clogging of the conveying connection and for the at least indirect activation of the slide.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the slide fills a clear cross section of the conveying connection and/or of the solid material outlet, and/or in that, in its second end position, the slide protrudes out of the solid material outlet and/or has an overhang with respect to the solid material outlet, the overhang which the slide has in its second end position with respect to the solid material outlet being, in particular, as great as a distance between an inlet cross section into a solid material inlet and an orifice cross section of the solid material inlet into a mixing chamber of a mixing apparatus which can be connected to the solid material feeding apparatus.

7. The solid material feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the slide is a piston of a piston valve which is mounted downstream of the funnel in the conveying direction of the solid material through the solid material feeding apparatus.

8. The solid material feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the piston valve has a housing which surrounds at least one section of the conveying connection, preferably the entire conveying connection, between the funnel and the solid material outlet, the solid material outlet being arranged or configured, in particular, on the housing.

9. The solid material feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the funnel has a funnel outlet which opens into the conveying connection, in particular into the housing of the piston valve, a mouth of the funnel outlet into the housing preferably being arranged between the first end position and the second end position of the slide.

10. The solid material feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the funnel outlet is arranged within the conveying connection, and the slide can be moved through the mouth of the funnel outlet.

11. The solid material feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in particular in or on the funnel, the solid material feeding apparatus has a solid material loosener and/or a fluidizer and/or a vibrator and/or a knocker.

12. The solid material feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the solid material feeding apparatus has a slide drive, in particular a pneumatic and/or electric slide drive.

13. The solid material feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the slide drive has a spindle, by way of which the slide can be displaced between the first end position and the second end position, and/or in that the slide drive has a gear mechanism, in particular a step-down gear mechanism, which is connected to a or the spindle.

14. The solid material feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the solid material feeding apparatus (3) has a monitoring sensor, in particular a monitoring sensor, for example a pressure sensor, and/or is connected to a monitoring sensor, for example a pressure sensor.

15. (canceled)

16. A mixing arrangement comprising at least one mixing apparatus and at least one solid material feeding apparatus as claimed in claim 5.

17. The mixing arrangement as claimed in claim 16, the mixing apparatus being a solid/liquid mixing apparatus, in particular which has a rotor/stator unit which is arranged in a mixing chamber of the mixing apparatus, the rotor/stator unit being set up, in particular, to generate a vacuum in the mixing chamber, by way of which vacuum the solid material can be conveyed through the conveying connection of the solid material feeding apparatus into the mixing apparatus, in particular into a mixing chamber of the mixing apparatus.

18. The mixing arrangement as claimed in claim 16, the at least one mixing apparatus having a solid material inlet which is connected to the solid material outlet of the at least one solid material feeding apparatus.

19. The mixing arrangement as claimed in claim 16, the solid material inlet opening via an orifice cross section (18) into a mixing chamber of the mixing apparatus, and, in its second end position, the slide of the solid material feeding apparatus filling the orifice cross section (18) and/or protruding out of the orifice cross section into the mixing chamber.

20. The mixing arrangement as claimed in claim 16, further comprising an overhang which the slide has in its second end position relative to the solid material outlet of the solid material feeding apparatus being as great as a distance between an inlet cross section into the solid material inlet and an or the orifice cross section of the solid material inlet into a or the mixing chamber.

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

Description

DRAWINGS

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a mixing arrangement with a solid material feeding apparatus and a mixing apparatus which is connected thereto,

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a side view, sectioned along the sectional line D to D, of a conveying connection between a funnel and a solid material outlet of the solid material feeding apparatus, a slide of the solid material feeding apparatus being situated in its first end position, with the result that the conveying connection is open, and

[0049] FIG. 3 shows a sectioned side view of the conveying connection shown in FIG. 2 with a slide which is situated in its second end position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] FIGS. 1 to 3 show at least parts of a mixing arrangement (denoted in its entirety by 1) for mixing solid materials into liquids. The mixing arrangement 1 comprises a mixing apparatus 2 and a solid material feeding apparatus 3 which is connected thereto. Via the solid material feeding apparatus 3, the mixing apparatus 2 can be fed solid material, for example powder.

[0051] The mixing apparatus 2 which is shown in the figures is a solid/liquid mixing apparatus. Via a connector (not shown), the mixing apparatus 2 is supplied with liquid, into which the solid material is to be mixed. The mixing apparatus 2 has a solid material inlet 4, to which the solid material feeding apparatus 3 is connected. The solid material feeding apparatus 3 serves to feed solid material, in particular bulk material, for example powder, to the mixing apparatus 2.

[0052] The solid material feeding apparatus 3 has a funnel 5. The funnel 5 serves to receive solid material. According to FIG. 1, an emptying apparatus 6 is arranged above the funnel 5. With the aid of said emptying apparatus 6, solid materials can be filled from big bags into the funnel 5 of the solid material feeding apparatus 3.

[0053] Furthermore, the solid material feeding apparatus 3 has a solid material outlet 7 which can be connected to the abovementioned solid material inlet 4 of the mixing apparatus 2 and is connected according to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0054] The solid material outlet 7 of the solid material feeding apparatus 3 is connected via a conveying connection 8 to the funnel 5.

[0055] The solid material feeding apparatus 3 has a slide 9 which can be moved through the conveying connection 8 between a first end position (cf. FIG. 2) and a second end position (cf. FIG. 3). Here, the spacing of the two end positions is selected in such a way that the slide 9 can be moved through the entire conveying path of the conveying connection 8.

[0056] The sectional illustrations of FIGS. 2 and 3 clarify that the slide 9 has completely filled a clear cross section of the conveying connection 8 and also a clear cross section of the solid material outlet 7 of the solid material feeding apparatus 2. According to FIG. 3, in its second end position, the slide 9 protrudes out of the solid material outlet 7 of the solid material feeding apparatus 2. In its second end position according to FIG. 3, the slide 9 is pushed out of the solid material outlet 7 of the solid material feeding apparatus 2 to such an extent that it protrudes into the solid material inlet 4 of the mixing apparatus 2 and also fills said solid material inlet 4 completely.

[0057] Here, an overhang which the slide 9 has with respect to the solid material outlet 7 in its second end position is as great as a distance between an inlet cross section 21 in the solid material inlet 4 and an orifice cross section 18 of the solid material inlet 4 into a mixing chamber 19 of the mixing apparatus 2 which is connected to the solid material feeding apparatus 3.

[0058] The solid material inlet 4 of the mixing apparatus 2 is configured as a tubular connection piece.

[0059] The slide 9 of the solid material feeding apparatus 3 is a piston of a piston valve 10. The piston valve 10 is mounted downstream of the funnel 5 of the solid material feeding apparatus 3 in the conveying direction of the solid material through the solid material feeding apparatus 3. The piston valve 10 has a housing 11. The housing 11 forms not only the entire conveying connection 8 between the funnel 5 and the solid material outlet 7 of the solid material feeding apparatus 3, but also has the solid material outlet 7.

[0060] The funnel 5 comprises a funnel outlet 12 which opens directly into the housing 11 of the piston valve 10. Here, a mouth 13 of the funnel outlet 12 into the housing 11 of the piston valve 10 is arranged between the first end position and the second end position of the slide 9. The funnel outlet 12 is arranged within the conveying connection 8, that is to say within the housing 11. The mouth 13 of the funnel outlet 12 is enclosed at least partially by the housing 11. The slide 9 can be moved through the mouth 13 of the funnel outlet 12. As a result, the housing 11 is connected directly to the funnel 5.

[0061] Furthermore, the solid material feeding apparatus 3 comprises a solid material loosener 14 which, within the funnel 5, ensures that the solid material which is situated therein remains sufficiently loose and therefore flowable. The solid material loosener 14 has a drive 15. Via the drive 15, blades 14a (shown in section in FIGS. 2 and 3) of the solid material loosener 14 can be rotated within the funnel 5, in order to loosen or keep loose solid material which is situated therein. A rotational axis R of the solid material loosener 14 is indicated in FIG. 1.

[0062] The solid material feeding apparatus 3 has a slide drive 16. The slide drive 16 can be configured, for example, as a pneumatic or else as an electric slide drive. Pneumatic or electric slide drives are particularly suitable, in particular, for applications in the food and/or pharmaceutical field on account of the hygienic requirements which are in place there. In principle, the use of hydraulic slide drives would also be conceivable.

[0063] The slide drive 16 is connected via a spindle 17 to the slide 9. With the aid of the spindle 17, the slide 9 can be moved to and fro between the first end position and the second end position. Furthermore, the slide drive 16 can have a gear mechanism (not shown in the figures) which can preferably be configured as a step-down gear mechanism. Via the gear mechanism, the slide drive 16 is then connected to the spindle 17.

[0064] The sectional illustrations of FIGS. 2 and 3 clarify that the solid material outlet 7 of the solid material feeding apparatus 3 is connected to the solid material inlet 4 of the mixing apparatus 2. The solid material inlet 4 has an orifice cross section 18 directly into a mixing chamber 19 of the mixing apparatus 2. Via said orifice cross section 18, solid material which is fed in via the solid material inlet 4 can be introduced directly into the mixing chamber 19 of the mixing apparatus 2. In its second end position, the slide 9 of the solid material feeding apparatus 3 reaches as far as into the orifice cross section 18 of the solid material inlet 4 of the mixing apparatus 2, and fills said orifice cross section 18 completely (cf. FIG. 3). An end side 20 of the slide 9 closes the orifice cross section 18 of the solid material inlet 4 in a manner which is flush against the wall when the slide 9 has reached its second end position according to FIG. 3. It is ensured in this way that the complete conveying path which is provided by the conveying connection 8, the solid material outlet 7 and the solid material inlet 4 is swept by the slide 9 and can be freed from adhesions as required.

[0065] FIG. 3 clarifies that an overhang which the slide 9 has in its second end position relative to the solid material outlet 7 is as great as a distance between an inlet cross section 21 into the solid material inlet 4 and the orifice cross section 18 of the solid material inlet 4 into the mixing chamber 19.

[0066] The solid material feeding apparatus 3 has a monitoring apparatus 23. The monitoring apparatus 23 is set up for the detection of clogging of the conveying connection 8. In the case of one embodiment of the solid material feeding apparatus 3, the monitoring apparatus 23 can be connected to a monitoring sensor 24 in the form of a pressure sensor. The monitoring sensor 24 can be arranged in the mixing chamber 19 of the mixing apparatus 2 or else in the conveying connection 8. The rotor/stator unit 22 of the mixing apparatus 2 is set up to generate a vacuum in the mixing chamber 19. By way of the vacuum, the solid material is conveyed through the conveying connection 8 of the solid material feeding apparatus 3 into the mixing chamber 19 of the mixing apparatus 2. As soon as the conveying connection 8 is clogged by way of adhesions of solid material, the monitoring sensor 24 can detect a pressure drop in the mixing chamber 19 or in the conveying connection 8.

[0067] Furthermore, the monitoring apparatus 23 can also monitor a power consumption of a drive of the rotor/stator unit 22. If a drop in the power consumption of the drive can be detected, this can indicate clogging of the conveying connection 8, and the slide 9 can be activated.

[0068] The mixing arrangement 1 and the solid material feeding apparatus 3 are set up to carry out the method which is described in the following text:

[0069] Here, solid material, for example bulk material in the form of a powder, is fed to the mixing apparatus 2 with the use of the solid material feeding apparatus 3. Here, the solid material passes via the conveying connection 8 of the solid material feeding apparatus 3 into the mixing apparatus 2 and, in particular, into the mixing chamber 19 of the mixing apparatus 2 here. As has already been indicated above, the solid material feeding apparatus 3 has the slide 9. Said slide 9 can be moved through the conveying connection 8 between its first end position and its second end position, and is set up to detach adhesions of solid material within the conveying connection 8. The slide 9 is activated and is moved through the conveying connection 8, in order to clear the conveying connection 8, as soon as the conveying connection 8 is clogged between the solid material outlet 7 and the funnel 5. In order to move the slide 9 through the conveying connection 8, the slide drive 16 is actuated and is activated correspondingly.

[0070] In the case of the mixing arrangement 1 which is shown in the figures, the solid material is conveyed with the aid of vacuum into the mixing chamber 19 of the mixing apparatus 2, namely is sucked in. The vacuum, by way of which the solid material is sucked in, is generated with the aid of the rotor/stator unit 22 of the mixing apparatus 2. The conveying connection 8 is monitored for clogging by way of the monitoring apparatus 23 of the solid material feeding apparatus 3. The monitoring apparatus 23 activates the slide 9 at least indirectly, as soon as clogging of the conveying connection 8 is detected. In this way, the method can be carried out in an automated manner.

[0071] The clogging of the conveying connection 8 can be detected, for example, on the basis of a drop of the power consumption of a drive of the rotor/stator unit 22. It is also possible for the clogging of the conveying connection 8 to be detected on the basis of a pressure change in the conveying connection 8 and/or in the mixing chamber 19 of the mixing apparatus 2. For this purpose, one or more monitoring sensors 24 (configured, for example, as pressure sensors) of the monitoring apparatus 23 can be used.

[0072] The invention is concerned with improvements in the technical field of the feeding of solid materials to mixing apparatuses. For this purpose, inter alia, the solid material feeding apparatus 3 is proposed. Said solid material feeding apparatus 3 has the slide 9 which can be moved between a first end position and a second end position through a conveying connection 8 which is arranged between a funnel 5 and a solid material outlet 7 of the solid material feeding apparatus 3. With the aid of the slide 9, adhesions within the conveying connection 8 can be detached, without dismantling of the conveying connection 8 being necessary.