MIXING DEVICE HAVING A TWO-PART CLOSURE LID

Abstract

A mixing device includes a container for receiving mixing material, with an emptying opening being arranged in the bottom thereof, and a closure cover for closing the emptying opening. The mixing device includes an emptying opening that can be easily and space-savingly opened and closed. The closure cover includes two closure cover portions which can be reciprocated relative to each other between a closed position in which the two closure cover portions are in contact with each other and together form the closure cover and an opened position in which the two closure cover portions are spaced from each other so that an opening is formed between the two closure cover portions for removal of the mixing material from the container.

Claims

1. A mixing device comprising a container for receiving mixing material, with an emptying opening being arranged in the bottom thereof, and a closure cover for closing the emptying opening, wherein the closure cover comprises two closure cover portions which can be reciprocated relative to each other between a closed position in which the two closure cover portions are in contact with each other and together form the closure cover and an opened position in which the two closure cover portions are spaced from each other so that an opening is formed between the two closure cover portions for removal of the mixing material from the container.

2. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein both closure cover portions can be pivoted about a pivot axis to reciprocate them between the closed position and the opened position, wherein preferably both closure cover portions are pivotable about the same pivot axis.

3. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the two closure cover portions each have a contact surface, wherein the two contact surfaces are in contact with each other in the closed position, wherein at least one contact surface and preferably both contact surfaces have a recess in which an elastic sealing element is arranged.

4. The mixing device according to claim 3, wherein the elastic sealing element is of such a dimension that it projects beyond the contact surface so that it is elastically deformed in the closed position.

5. The mixing device according to claim 3, wherein the recess is in the form of a groove extending over the entire contact surface, wherein preferably the recess is deeper and/or wider at the ends of the groove, wherein the elastic sealing element is designed to correspond to the recess so that it is thicker and/or deeper at its end regions than in a central region connecting the two end regions.

6. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the closure cover portions can be moved into a cleaning position which is between the open position and the closed position and there is provided at least one cleaning nozzle so oriented that cleaning agent supplied by way of the cleaning nozzle can be sprayed on to the contact surfaces of the closure cover portions in the cleaning position.

7. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein each closure cover portion has a pivotal arm, by way of which the closure cover portion is connected to a drive element arranged on the pivot axis, wherein preferably each closure cover portion has a support arm, by way of which the closure cover portion is supported on the drive element of the other closure cover portion.

8. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein each closure cover portion is of a substantially semicircular cross-section.

9. The mixing device according to claim 2, wherein the closure cover portions have an inner surface which with the emptying opening closed is arranged within the container, an outer surface which with the emptying opening closed is arranged outside the container, and an edge surface which with the emptying opening closed is arranged opposite an edge surface of the emptying opening, and the closure cover portions, the emptying opening and the pivot axis are of such a configuration and arrangement that a point arranged furthest away from the pivot axis on the inner surface or the edge surface of the closure cover portions describes a circle in the pivotal movement, wherein the closure cover portions are arranged within the circle and the edge surfaces of the emptying opening are arranged outside the circle.

10. The mixing device according to claim 2, wherein the emptying opening and the closure cover portions have mutually corresponding edge surfaces which come into contact with each other when the closure cover portions are in the closed position.

11. The mixing device according to claim 10, wherein the edge surfaces of the closure cover portions are of a curved configuration such that they lie on a notional sphere, wherein the centre point of the notional sphere is on the pivot axis.

12. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the closure cover ends flush with the bottom so that a flat bottom surface is afforded when the closure cover is positioned in the emptying opening.

13. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein there is provided at least one abutment element which limits the movement of the closure cover portions in the direction of the closed position so that both closure cover portions bear against the abutment element in the closed position.

14. The mixing device according to claim 13, wherein at least one abutment element is arranged at the edge surface of the emptying opening.

15. The mixing devices according to claim 1, wherein the container for receiving mixing material is rotatable about a container axis, wherein a rotatable mixing tool is arranged in the interior of the container, wherein the mixing tool has a mixer shaft which is arranged parallel to the axis of rotation of the container and which is preferably arranged spaced from the container axis.

Description

[0035] Further advantages, features and possible uses of the present invention will be apparent from the description hereinafter of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying Figures in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a mixing container of the state of the art,

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a lateral section through the mixing device and the mixing container fitted therein as shown in FIG. 1,

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a lateral section through a mixer with divided closure cover and device for operating the closure cover according to the present invention,

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the closure region of FIG. 3,

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a second plan view of the closure region of FIGS. 3 and 4,

[0041] FIGS. 6 and 7 show two lateral sectional views of the closure region of FIGS. 4 and 5 with a multi-part closure cover in the closed and opened state respectively,

[0042] FIG. 8 shows a modification of FIG. 7 with a closure cover opened in a cleaning position with extended cleaning nozzle,

[0043] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a closure cover portion,

[0044] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a closure cover, comprising two closure cover portions, and

[0045] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a sealing element.

[0046] The configuration of the state of the art shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has already been described above.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a lateral section through a mixer with a divided closure cover of a mixing device according to the invention. The cylindrical mixing container 1 has a mixing tool 2 which is arranged eccentrically in the mixing container and which is supported in overhung relationship on a central mixer shaft 3 as well as a stationary wall/bottom scraper (not shown) mounted vertically in overhung relationship from above. Fixed to the lowermost plane of the mixing tool 2 are vertically downwardly projecting bottom blades 4 which operate at a small spacing relative to the surface of the container bottom.

[0048] The emptying opening 5 is in the centre of the mixing container 1. The emptying opening can be closed with the closure element in the form of a closure cover 6′, 6″. The mixing container bottom 7 can be seen here. As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 6 and 7 arranged in the container bottom 7 is an emptying opening 5 which can be closed by means of a two-part closure cover 6′, 6″. FIGS. 5 and 7 show a situation in which the closure cover is completely opened. FIGS. 4 and 6 show a situation in which the closure cover is closed. FIG. 8 shows the closure cover in the cleaning position in which the closure cover is partly opened.

[0049] The container bottom 7 rotates together with the container about an axis of rotation 8. The two closure cover portions 6′ 6″ are rotated about a pivot axis 9 for opening and closing the closure cover 6′, 6″. So that this is possible the emptying opening and the closure cover portions preferably have mutually corresponding edge surfaces curved in such a way that they lie on a notional sphere so that, for opening or closing the emptying opening, the closure cover portions can be pivoted about a pivot axis on which the centre point of the notional sphere lies.

[0050] In general disposed in the mixing container arranged above the mixing container bottom 7 is mixing material which, when the closure cover 6′, 6″ is opened, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, falls into the mixing material discharge 10 through the emptying opening. The mixing material discharge 10 is connected to the container bottom so that same rotates with the container. Arranged on the mixing material discharge 10 is a skirt 11 connected to the stationary system. The mixing material discharge 10 and the skirt 11 are rotatable relative to each other by way of a rotary bearing.

[0051] A lift device 12, 13 is also arranged connected to the stationary system, for example in the mixer base, in which the corresponding mixer is positioned. In the illustrated example four lift stroke pistons 13 are arranged in the corresponding chambers within the piston housing 12. In per se known manner the fluid chambers formed by the lift pistons 13 can be acted upon with pressure fluid within the piston housing 12 in order to reciprocate the lift piston 13 within the housing 12 between its two extreme positions shown for example in FIGS. 4 and 5 and FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively.

[0052] The lift piston 13 is connected to a first lift element portion 14. When the lift device 12, 13 is actuated the lift element portion 14 can be moved upwardly and downwardly together with the list piston 13. The lift element comprises the first lift element 14 and the second lift element 15. The two lift element portions 14, 15 are rotatable relative to each other by way of a rotary bearing 16. As the first lift element 14 is fixed to the lift piston 13, that is arranged in the stationary system, that is to say it does not rotate together with the mixing container. The second lift element portion 15 in turn is connected to the mixing material discharge 10 so that it rotates together with same and the mixing container when the container is driven. The first lift element portion and the second lift element portion are so arranged that they are connected together in positively locking relationship in the direction of the linear movement of the lift device 12, 13, which means that, when the first lift element 14 is moved from the lower position shown in FIG. 4 into the upper position shown in FIG. 5, the second lift element portion 15 is also lifted.

[0053] As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 4 and 5 a cam plate 17 is connected to the second lift element portion 15. A lever 18 runs on the cam plate, in turn being connected to the mixing container or the mixing material discharge 10. When now the lift device is actuated to move the lift element from the FIG. 4 position into the FIG. 5 position the lever 18 runs along the cam plate 17 and is rotated in the clockwise direction about the pivot axis 9. As the pivot axis 9 is connected to a closure cover portion the latter is also rotated about the pivot axis 9. It will be seen from FIG. 3 that provided on the opposite side are a further cam plate and a further lever which move at the same time but in opposite relationship, in which respect the other closure cover portion is connected to the upper lever.

[0054] FIGS. 6 and 7 show a sectional view of the plan view of FIGS. 4 and 5. Besides the two closure cover portions 6′, 6″ a retracted cleaning nozzle 24 in the skirt portion 11 is also shown. FIG. 7 shows the completely opened closure with the closure cover portions 6′, 6″ in their end position. The cleaning nozzle 24 is retracted in the wall of the skirt 11.

[0055] FIG. 8 shows a modification of FIG. 7 with a closure cover opened in a cleaning position, with the cleaning nozzle extended. The closure cover portions 6′ and 6″ are moved into a partly opened position by means of the partly extended lift device 12, 13 so that there is a gap between the corresponding edge and contact surfaces. To perform cleaning of the edge and contact surfaces a preceding step involves removing the mixing material completely from the mixing container by completely opening the closure cover as shown in FIG. 7. The closure cover portions 6′, 6″ are then pivoted in such a way that the cleaning position is adopted. While the closure cover portions are being pivoted into the cleaning position a cleaning nozzle 24 disposed in the stationary skirt portion 11 can be extended into the skirt region 11 or the mixing material discharge 10 through which the mixing material flows and the surface and edge and contact surfaces of the closure cover portions 6′ and 6″ can be cleaned off by spraying a cleaning fluid thereon.

[0056] The closure cover portions are shown in FIGS. 9 to 11. FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a closure cover portion 6′. The closure cover portion 6′ is of a substantially semicircular configuration and is connected to a pivotal arm 19 driven by the pivot shaft 21. Provided on the opposite side is a support arm 20 which is supported on the oppositely disposed pivot axis.

[0057] FIG. 10 shows the closure cover comprising two closure cover portions 6′, 6″. In the illustrated structure both closure cover portions 6′, 6″ have a recess in which a suitable sealing element 22 is arranged by way of example in the closure cover portions 6′. When the two closure cover portions are moved into their closed position the two sealing elements bear against each other and close the gap between the two closure cover portions 6′, 6″. The sealing element 22 is of an elastic nature and has a thickened portion at its end regions 23. The recess within the closure cover portions 6′, 6″ is of a configuration corresponding to the sealing element 22. It is precisely in the corner region of the closure cover elements that a sealing structure is necessary to prevent mixing material from escaping from the container.

[0058] In the illustrated embodiment the emptying opening is circular so that the two closure cover portions are substantially semicircular and together form a circle corresponding to the circular shape of the emptying opening.

[0059] Alternatively, in the region in which the two closure cover portions 6′, 6″ meet the emptying opening could differ from the circular shape and could have corresponding inwardly projecting abutment elements. In that case the shape of the closure cover portions 6′, 6″ should also differ from the circular shape in the region of the abutment elements.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0060] 1 mixing container [0061] 2 mixing tool [0062] 3 mixer shaft [0063] 4 bottom blade [0064] 5 emptying opening [0065] 6′, 6″ closure cover [0066] 7 mixing container bottom [0067] 8 axis of rotation [0068] 9 pivot axis [0069] 10 mixing material discharge [0070] 11 skirt [0071] 12 piston housing [0072] 13 lift device [0073] 14 first lift element [0074] 15 second lift element [0075] 16 rotary bearing [0076] 17 cam plate [0077] 18 lever [0078] 19 pivotal arm [0079] 20 support arm [0080] 21 pivot shaft [0081] 22 sealing element [0082] 23 end regions [0083] 24 cleaning nozzle [0084] 101 mixing container [0085] 102 mixing tool [0086] 103 central shaft [0087] 104 mixing blade [0088] 105 wall/bottom scraper [0089] 106 bottom blade [0090] 107 emptying opening [0091] 108 closure cover [0092] 109 mounting trunnion [0093] 110 carrier arm [0094] 111 pivot shaft [0095] 112 transfer box