Abstract
An apparatus for accommodation and dispensing of miscible materials has an accommodation vessel having a lower region in the form of a truncated cone, with a lower discharge opening in the direction of gravity, and ha a mixing mechanism shaft disposed centrally in a mixing space, which shaft has at least one mixing mechanism that revolves in the accommodation vessel. The discharge opening is provided with a displacer apparatus that projects into the interior of the lower region of the accommodation vessel. The lower end of the mixing screw or mixing spiral of the mixing mechanism projects into the approximately V-shaped channel between the lower vessel wall and the displacer apparatus.
Claims
1. Apparatus for accommodation and dispensing of miscible materials, having a cylindrical accommodation vessel having a lower region in the form of a truncated cone, which region has a lower discharge opening in a direction of gravity, and having a mixing mechanism shaft disposed centrally in a mixing space, which shaft has at least one mixing mechanism that revolves in the accommodation vessel, wherein the discharge opening is provided with a displacer apparatus that projects into the interior of the lower region of the accommodation vessel, and wherein a main mixing tool of the mixing mechanism projects into a channel that is approximately V-shaped in cross-section, between a lower vessel wall and the displacer apparatus, wherein the displacer apparatus contacts and seals a lower edge of the lower vessel wall at a circumferential sealing region, wherein the displacer apparatus is movable into the lower region of the accommodation vessel or lowered out of the lower region of the accommodation vessel via a lifting and rotating movement, wherein the displacer apparatus can be lowered below the discharge opening to open the discharge opening, wherein the main mixing tool extends downwards towards a center of the lower discharge opening, wherein the displacer apparatus comprises an inclined surface, the inclined surface projecting into the lower region of the accommodation vessel, wherein an incline of the inclined surface amounts to twenty-five degrees or more relative to a horizontal plane, the horizontal plane lying orthogonal to the direction of gravity, wherein the at least one mixing mechanism comprises a first arm attached to the mixing mechanism shaft, the main mixing tool being attached to the first arm, wherein the first arm extends at a continuously downward angle from the mixing mechanism shaft towards the lower vessel wall, wherein the main mixing tool has a tip disposed directly above the circumferential sealing region, wherein the mixing mechanism shaft terminates in a tapered free tip disposed adjacent an upper end of the displacer apparatus.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacer apparatus is disposed within the mixing space.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacer apparatus is structured as a rotating component.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a drive motor and a gear mechanism are disposed in the displacer apparatus.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacer apparatus is produced from a smoothly ground metallic material.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacer apparatus is produced from a plastic through which gas can flow.
7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacer apparatus is produced from a flexible material.
8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacer apparatus can be flexibly inflated or shrunken.
9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacer apparatus can be flexibly turned inward and pulled out at the bottom.
10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacer apparatus is excited using vibration technology.
11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacer apparatus is shaped, subsequent to the lower vessel wall, in such a manner that the rotating main mixing tool can take up the mixed material without any dead space and in stress-free manner.
12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least two accommodation vessels that overlap in certain regions, having at least two mixing mechanisms that circulate in the respective accommodation vessel are combined.
13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one lance for addition of liquid to the displacer apparatus is provided.
14. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a static mixing tool is attached to the displacer apparatus.
15. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the displacer apparatus guides the mixed material from the center of the mixing space into its periphery, where the material is taken up by the main mixing tool and conveyed upward.
16. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main mixing tool is shaped contour-parallel corresponding to the lower vessel wall.
17. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a clearance angle is disposed between the lower vessel wall and the main mixing tool.
18. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the incline of the surface between a lower edge of the displacer apparatus and the upper end of the displacer apparatus has an angle of at most 65 degrees relative to the direction of gravity after the lifting and rotating movement.
19. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a gap between the inclined surface of the displacer apparatus and the main mixing tool, the gap extending between the tip of the main mixing tool and the displacer apparatus.
Description
(1) Further characteristics, details, and advantages of the invention are evident on the basis of the following description and using the drawings. Some exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail, as examples, using the following drawings. Objects or elements that correspond to one another are provided with the same reference symbols in all the figures. These show:
(2) FIG. 1 a cross-sect ion through an accommodation and dispensing apparatus according to the invention, and a mixing mechanism and a displacer apparatus in the closed position,
(3) FIG. 2 a variant of FIG. 1 in the open position,
(4) FIG. 3 a further variant in the closed position,
(5) FIG. 4 a variant in the closed position,
(6) FIG. 5 the variant from FIG. 4 in the open position,
(7) FIG. 6 a further variant in an alternative open position,
(8) FIG. 7 a variant in the closed position,
(9) FIG. 8 a variant according to FIG. 7 in the open position,
(10) FIG. 9 a variant according to FIGS. 7 and 8 in an alternative open position,
(11) FIG. 10 a variant having a dynamic displacer apparatus,
(12) FIG. 11 the variant from FIG. 10 in the open position,
(13) FIG. 12 the variant from FIG. 10 in an alternative open position,
(14) FIG. 13 a further variant with a dynamic displacer apparatus,
(15) FIG. 14 the variant in FIG. 13 in the open position,
(16) FIG. 15 the variant from FIG. 13 in an alternative open position,
(17) FIG. 16 a variant with an inflated displacer apparatus,
(18) FIG. 17 the variant from FIG. 16 with a shrunken displacer apparatus,
(19) FIG. 18 an additional, variant in the closed position,
(20) FIG. 19 the variant from FIG. 18 in the open position,
(21) FIG. 20 the variant from FIG. 18 in an alternative open position,
(22) FIG. 21 the variant from FIG. 18 in the open position, with a lifting/rotating movement,
(23) FIG. 22 the variant from FIG. 20 with an alternative open position and a lifting/rotating movement,
(24) FIG. 23 a further variant with an additional stripper tool on the displacer apparatus,
(25) FIG. 24 a double combination of two accommodation and dispensing apparatuses with corresponding different displacer apparatuses,
(26) FIG. 25 a triple combination,
(27) FIG. 26 a schematic top view of a triple combination,
(28) FIG. 27 a top view of a dynamic displacer tool,
(29) FIG. 28 a cross-section through the lower region of the accommodation vessel of the accommodation and dispensing apparatus according to the invention, a mixing tool, and a displacer apparatus in the closed position,
(30) FIG. 29 top view of the lower region of the accommodation vessel of the accommodation and dispensing apparatus according to the invention, a mixing tool and a displacer apparatus in the closed position,
(31) FIG. 30 a further cross-section through the lower region of the accommodation vessel,
(32) FIG. 31 a further top view of the lower region of the accommodation vessel,
(33) FIG. 32 a detail view of a cross-section through the lower region of the accommodation vessel,
(34) FIG. 33 a further top view of the lower region of the accommodation vessel,
(35) FIG. 34 a further detail view of a cross-section through the lower region of the accommodation vessel,
(36) FIG. 35 a further detail view of a cross-section through the lower region of the accommodation vessel,
(37) FIG. 36 a further detail view of a cross-section through the lower region of the accommodation vessel,
(38) FIG. 37 a further top view of the lower region of the accommodation vessel,
(39) FIG. 38 a further detail view of a cross-section through the lower region of the accommodation vessel,
(40) FIG. 39 a further detail view of a cross-section through the lower region of the accommodation vessel,
(41) FIG. 40 a further detail view of a cross-section through the lower region of the accommodation vessel,
(42) FIG. 41 a cross-section through an accommodation and dispensing apparatus according to the invention and a displacer apparatus with an open position and lifting/rotating movement,
(43) FIG. 42 a cross-section through an accommodation and dispensing apparatus according to the invention and a displacer apparatus with an open position and lifting/rotating movement.
(44) An apparatus for accommodation and dispensing of miscible materials, according to the invention, indicated in general with 1, has an essentially cylindrical accommodation vessel 2 having a lower region 3 in the form of a truncated cone, with a lower discharge opening 4 in the direction of gravity, and with a mixing mechanism 5 that circulates in the accommodation vessel 2. The mixing space 7 of the apparatus 1 according to the invention is formed by the accommodation vessel 2 and the lower region 3 in the form of a truncated cone. The circulating mixing mechanism 5 with its additional mixing tools 5, 5 is disposed in this mixing space 7. The mixing mechanism shaft 6 of the mixing mechanism 5, which also serves as a drive shaft for the mixing tools 5, 5, is mounted centrally in the mixing space 7. A mixer drive, not shown in any detail, is situated above on an essentially horizontal pivot axis. The mixing mechanism shaft 6 has at least one mixing mechanism 5 that can also be wound around the mixing mechanism shaft 6 in helix manner, as a helical spiral. A further mixing tool 9 can be disposed at the lower, tapered free tip 8 of the mixing mechanism shaft 6, as the main mixing tool.
(45) According to the invention, the discharge opening 4 is provided with a displacer apparatus 10 that projects into the interior of the lower region 3, in the form of a truncated cone, of the accommodation vessel 2. This apparatus can particularly be structured as a closure cone with an acute angle or a wide angle. Its shape can be structured, for example, to be conical, hyperbola-like, parabola-like, scale-like, dome-like, roof-like, hemispherical, trumpet-shaped, droplet-shaped, in the form of a truncated cone, convex or concave. It is also possible to configure the displacer dynamically, for example approximately in sickle shape 10a, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 10 to 15 and FIG. 27.
(46) It is provided, in every case, that the displacer apparatus 10, 10a ends by contacting and sealing the lower edge 11 of the vessel wall 13, forming a seal at a circumferential sealing region. It can also be translationally movable into the mixing space 7 or can be lowered out of it.
(47) FIG. 11 shows how the displacer apparatus 10a is lowered out of the lower region 3 of the accommodation vessel 2 by a lifting/rotating movement, by means of a rotary lever 12, while FIG. 12 shows how the displacer apparatus 10a is moved into the lower region 3 of the open vessel 2 by a lifting/rotating movement. The incline angle of the surface after the lifting/rotating movement should amount to at most 65 degrees relative to the direction of gravity between a lower edge 17 of the displacer apparatus 10, 10a and an upper end 23 of the displacer apparatus 10, 10a, in order to guarantee fast and thorough emptying even at a low construction space below the discharge opening 4. Alternatively, the displacer apparatus 10a, as shown in FIG. 14 as an example, can be translationally lowered out of the mixing space 7, or, as shown in FIG. 15, can be lifted into it. Further translational opening movements are evident from FIGS. 19 and 20, while further lifting/rotating movements are shown in FIGS. 21 and 22.
(48) The displacer apparatus 10 can be structured as a fixed component, on the one hand, but it can also rotate as shown with the reference symbol 10a in FIGS. 10 to 15 and 27, in order to improve the mixing performance. It can be formed from a smoothly ground metallic material, as well as from a plastic through which gas can flow. It can be produced both from a solid material and from a hollow material, but also from a flexible material. In this case, it can be inflatable or shrinkable, and can be pushed flexibly inward and pulled out downward. The surface of the displacer apparatus 10 can furthermore have a hydrophobic nanostructure. As a result, the mixed material can slide along the displacer apparatus 10 particularly well, due to gravity, and cleaning is facilitated by this surface.
(49) In every case, it is advantageous if the displacer apparatus 10 is shaped, following the conical wall part of the lower vessel wall 13, in such a manner that the rotating main mixing tool 5 or 9 can take up the mixed material free of dead space, and in stress-free manner. The Lower vessel wall 13 and the cylindrical accommodation vessel 2 can also have a surface having a hydrophobic nanostructure.
(50) In an embodiment, it is provided that the displacer apparatus 10 is stripped off by the rotating main mixing tool 5. Furthermore, a mixing tool 14 can additionally be disposed on the displacer apparatus 10, as is evident from FIG. 23. If necessary, liquid can be added by way of a lance 15 on the displacer apparatus 10.
(51) The significant advantage of the apparatus according to the invention consists in that the mixed material, which essentially flows down in the center, along the mixing mechanism shaft 6, which serves as the drive shaft of the mixing tools 5, 5, is guided, at the bottom of the accommodation vessel 2, which ends in the shape of a truncated cone, by the mixing mechanism shaft 6, in other words the axle of rotation of the mixing mechanism 5, to the periphery, where upward flow takes place. As a result, all the mixed materials situated in the mixing space 7 can reliably flow through both the zones of slight mixing and the zones of intensive mixing. This is guaranteed in that the main mixing tool 5, in other words the lower end of the mixing screw or the lowermost element of the mixing mechanism 5, projects into the approximately V-shaped channel 16 between lower vessel wall 13 and displacer apparatus 10. In this regard, the displacer apparatus 10 can be both a dynamic element 10a and a static element 10. In every case, it is ensured that all the particles participating in the formulation come into relative motion with regard to the adjacent particles, in each instance. The problems that have existed until now in the case of vertical mixers having a conical outlet or an outlet in the form of a truncated cone, which problems consist in that the materials situated in the center practically only turn in a circle, are solved in simple and effective manner.
(52) The accommodation apparatus 1 can be simply opened and emptied in the manner described, specifically without residue. This can be done either in that the displacer apparatus 10 is lowered below the discharge opening 4 or displaced info the interior of the accommodation vessel 2, specifically either by means of a translational movement or a lifting/rotating movement. Alternatively, it is provided that the displacer apparatus 10 can be flexibly inflated or shrunken, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, so that it also allows exit of the mixed material from the accommodation container 2 when gas or air are let out. This task can also be accomplished in that the displacer apparatus 10 can be flexibly turned inward into the lower region 3 or pulled out downward. Any mixed material that might still be adhering to it can be loosened in that the displacer apparatus 10 can be excited using vibration technology. Also, it is provided that the displacer apparatus 10 is stripped off by the rotating main mixing tool 9.
(53) Particular advantages occur if two apparatuses 1, 1, 1 according to the invention are combined with one another, as shown in FIG. 24. Three apparatuses according to the invention can also be combined with one another, as is evident from FIG. 25 and FIG. 26, with FIG. 25 showing the view through the section planes XXV-XXV of FIG. 26. In both cases, the mixer outputs can be further increased and the mixing times can be shortened, in part. The mixing tools 5, 5 are disposed on the respective mixing shafts 6, 6, 6, driven and controlled in such a manner that they do not collide with one another and cannot hook into one another. The same holds true for the main mixing tool 5 that projects into the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section, between lower vessel wall 13 and the displacer apparatus 10, in other words the lower end of the mixing screw or the lowermost element of the mixing mechanism 5. Particular advantages occur if the mixing mechanism 5 also has a hydrophobic nanostructure on its surface.
(54) FIG. 28 shows a cross-section through the lower region 3 of the accommodation vessel of the accommodation and dispensing apparatus 1 according to the invention (FIG. 1), the main mixing tool 5 and the displacer apparatus 10, 10a in the closed position. As can be seen, the main mixing tool 5 of the mixing mechanism 5 (FIG. 1) projects into the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section, between lower vessel wall 13 and the displacer apparatus 10, 10a. The main mixing tool 5 is shown with a broken line in the region in which it projects into the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section. The main mixing tool 5 projects into the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section, in such a manner that, the lower end of the main mixing tool 5 reaches all the way to just barely above the bottom 22 of the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section, which bottom is formed by the edge 11 between the lower vessel wall 13 and the displacer apparatus 10, 10a. Furthermore, the main mixing tool 5 is formed in such a manner that it takes up the mixed material at the bottom 22 of the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section. For this purpose, the tip 20 of the main mixing tool 5 reaches all the way to the bottom 22 of the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section. In the example shown, the main mixing tool 5 strips the displacer apparatus 10, 10a off only in the lower region part of the displacer apparatus 10, 10a, so that the mixed material that trickles down or flows down from above, onto the displacer apparatus 10, 10a, is guided by the displacer apparatus 10, 10a, out of the center of the mixing space 7 into its periphery, solely due to gravity. There, the mixed material is taken up by the main mixing tool 5 and conveyed upward again. For this purpose, the rotating main mixing tool 5 is adapted to the contour of the lower vessel wall 13 and shaped contour-parallel corresponding to the lower vessel wall 13. In the exemplary embodiment, the main mixing tool 5, which can be the lower end of a mixing screw or a mixing spiral of the mixing mechanism 5 (FIG. 1), is structured as a helical spiral or mixing mechanism coil. In the representation according to FIGS. 28, 29, and 33 to 40, the displacer apparatus 10, 10a is situated in the closed position, so that a sealing zone is formed between the lower edge 11 of the vessel wall 13 and the displacer apparatus 10, 10a, which zone closes off the discharge opening 4 (FIG. 2). In this exemplary embodiment, the sealing zone is disposed above the lower edge 17 of the displacer apparatus 10, 10a. Furthermore, in this exemplary embodiment the sealing zone forms the bottom 22 of the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 28, the discharge opening 4 (FIG. 2) can be opened in that the displacer apparatus 10, 10a is lowered below the discharge opening 4 (FIG. 2).
(55) FIG. 29 shows a top view from the direction of the lower free tip 8 (FIG. 1) of the lower region 3, shown in FIG. 28, of the accommodation vessel 2 (FIG. 1) of the accommodation and dispensing apparatus 1 according to the invention (FIG. 1), and the main mixing tool 5 and a displacer apparatus 10, 10a in the closed position. As can be seen in FIG. 23, the main mixing tool 5 projects into the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section (FIG. 28), in such a manner that a tip 20 of the main mixing tool 5, as the lower end of the main mixing tool 5, reaches all the way to the bottom 22 of the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section, which bottom is formed by the edge 11 (FIG. 28) between the lower vessel wall 13 and the displacer apparatus 10, 10a. In this regard, the main mixing tool 5 is formed in such a manner that it can take up the mixed material at the bottom 22 of the Channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section (FIG. 28). For this purpose, the main mixing tool 5 has a tip 20 that reaches all the way to the bottom 22 of the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section (FIG. 28). In a lower region part, the main mixing tool 5 strips off the displacer apparatus 10, 10a. For this purpose, the tip 20 of the main mixing tool 5 is also adapted to the contour of the displacer apparatus 10, 10a in this region. Because the main mixing tool 5 is formed contour-parallel, corresponding to the lower vessel wall 13, the mixed material is reliably conveyed upward along the lower vessel wall 13 during rotation of the main mixing tool 5 about the mixing mechanism shaft 6 (FIG. 1).
(56) A further cross-section through the lower region 3 of the accommodation vessel 1 (FIG. 1) is shown in FIG. 30. In this regard, however, the focus was placed on the representation of the placement of the main mixing tool 5 in the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section (FIG. 29), so that FIG. 30 shows only a detail of the lower region 3. It is advantageous if the mixed material taken up by the main mixing tool 5 is conveyed upward along the lower vessel wall 13, after it has trickled down or flowed down along the mixing mechanism shaft 6 (FIG. 1) and guided from the center of the mixing space 7 (FIG. 1) to its periphery by the displacer apparatus 10, 10a. In order to guarantee effective conveying of the mixed material by the main mixing tool 5, the gap 21 between the lower vessel wall 13 and the main mixing tool 5 is slight, i.e. the main mixing tool 5 is adapted to the contour of the lower vessel wall 13, and the main mixing tool 5 is formed contour-parallel, corresponding to the lower vessel wall 13. In FIG. 30, as well, the displacer apparatus 10, 10a is shown in the closed position. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the discharge opening 4 (FIG. 2) can be opened in that the displacer apparatus 10, 10a can be pushed into the interior of the accommodation vessel 2 (FIG. 1). Here, the displacer apparatus 10, 10a, with its lower edge 17, forms a sealing zone with the lower vessel wall 13, in the closed position. It can furthermore be seen that the lower end of the main mixing tool 5, in other words the tip 20, reaches all the way to barely above the bottom 22 of the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section and is formed by the edge between the lower vessel wall 13 and the lower edge 17 of the displacer apparatus 10, 10a. The gap 21 that occurs here between main mixing tool 5 and the bottom 22 of the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section, is selected in such a manner that the mixed material that is situated on the bottom 22 is taken up. The tip 20 of the main mixing tool 5 is furthermore formed in such a manner that acquisition of the mixed material takes place in stress-free manner. As a result, the mixed material does not undergo any further stress but rather is handled gently. The gap 21 and the tip 20 should therefore be dimensioned as a function of the accommodated mixed material, in other words as a function of the size and the state of the mixed material, so that acquisition of the mixed material, free of dead space and in stress-free manner is guaranteed.
(57) FIG. 31 shows a further top view of the lower region 3 of the accommodation vessel 2 (FIG. 1). Similar to FIG. 29, the perspective from which the lower region 3 is looked at is the direction in which the lower free tip 8 (FIG. 1) projects. The cross-sectional plane that is shown in the detail of FIG. 32 is indicated with the broken line that carries the designation XXXII-XXXII. In the exemplary embodiment, the main mixing tool 5 continuously narrows to a point. With its tip 20, the main mixing tool 5, as already described above, projects into the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section (FIG. 28), between lower vessel wall 13 and the displacer apparatus 10, 10a.
(58) The detail in FIG. 32 shows a detailed cross-section through the lower region 3 of the accommodation vessel 2 (FIG. 1) in the section plane designated with XXXII-XXXII in FIG. 31. As can be seen, the tip 20 (FIG. 31) of the main mixing tool 5, as the lower end of the main mixing tool 5, projects all the way to just above the bottom 22 of the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section and is formed by the edge between the lower vessel wall 13 and the displacer apparatus 10, 10a.
(59) FIG. 33 shows a further top view, similar to FIGS. 29 and 31, of the lower region 3 of the accommodation vessel 2 (FIG. 1). The perspective of the top view is selected as in FIGS. 29 and 31. In FIG. 33, three section planes XXXIV-XXXIV, XXXV-XXXV, and XXXVI-XXXVI are drawn in; these are shown as details in FIGS. 34, 35, and 36. In the exemplary embodiment, the main mixing tool 5 narrows to a point, wherein the tip 20 of the main mixing tool 5 is adapted to the form of the displacer apparatus 10, 10a. The main mixing tool 5, as already described above, projects with its tip 20 into the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section (FIG. 28), between lower vessel wall 13 and the displacer apparatus 10, 10a.
(60) In the detail in FIG. 34, a detailed sectional representation through the lower region 3 of the accommodation vessel 2 (FIG. 1) is shown in the section plane designated as XXXIV-XXXIV in FIG. 33. The main mixing tool 5 projects into the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section (FIG. 28), in such a manner that only a small gap 21 remains between displacer apparatus 10, 10a, the lower vessel wall 13, and the main mixing tool 5. In this way, it can be ensured that the mixed material on the bottom 22 of the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section (FIG. 28), is also taken up. In this way, it is guaranteed that the mixed material is taken up by the main mixing tool 5 without any dead space. Here, the displacer apparatus 10, 10a is stripped off by the main mixing tool 5 in a lower region part, while this does not happen in the upper region part of the displacer apparatus 10, 10a. In this upper region part, the mixed material only slides along the displacer apparatus 10, 10a due to gravity.
(61) In the detail of FIG. 35, a detailed sectional representation through the lower region 3 of the accommodation vessel 2 (FIG. 1) is shown in the section plane designated as XXXV-XXXV in FIG. 33. Because of the contour-parallel corresponding shape, a gap 21 that remains uniform over the tool length also exists at this location of the main mixing tool 5. As can be seen, the gap 21 between the lower vessel wall 13 and the main mixing tool 5 is selected to be so small that effective conveying of the mixed material by the main mixing tool 5, along the lower vessel wall 13, is guaranteed. For this purpose, the main mixing tool 5 is adapted to the contour of the lower vessel wall 13.
(62) In the detail of FIG. 36, a detailed sectional representation through the lower region 3 of the accommodation vessel 2 (FIG. 1) is shown in the section plane designated as XXXVI-XXXVI in FIG. 33. At this location, as well, a corresponding gap 21 exists between the main mixing tool 5 and the lower vessel wall 13.
(63) FIG. 37 shows a further top view, similar to FIGS. 31 and 33, of the lower region 3 of the accommodation vessel 2 (FIG. 1). The perspective of the top view is selected as in FIGS. 31 and 33. In FIG. 37, three section planes XXXVIII-XXXVIII, XXXIX-XXXIX, and XL-XL are also drawn in, which are shown as details in FIGS. 38, 39, and 40. In the exemplary embodiment, the main mixing tool 5 narrows to a point, wherein the tip 20 of the main mixing tool 5 is adapted to the form of the displacer apparatus 10, 10a. As already described above, the main mixing tool 5, with its tip 20, projects into the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section (FIG. 28), between lower vessel wall 13 and the displacer apparatus 10, 10a.
(64) In the detail in FIG. 38, a detailed sectional representation through the lower region 3 of the accommodation vessel 2 (FIG. 1) is shown in the section plane designated as XXXVIII-XXXVIII in FIG. 37. The main mixing tool 5 projects into the channel 16, which is approximately V-shaped in cross-section (FIG. 28), in such a manner that only a small gap 21 remains between displacer apparatus 10, 10a, the lower vessel wall 13, and the main mixing tool 5. Here, the displacer apparatus 10, 10a is stripped off by the main mixing tool 5 in a lower region part, while this does not happen in the upper region part of the displacer apparatus 10, 10a. Differing from the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 34, a clearance angle 18 is disposed between the lower vessel wall 13 and the main mixing tool 5. This clearance angle 18 is disposed in such a manner that conveying of the mixed material along the lower vessel wall 13 can take place in stress-free manner. Thus, mixed material parts that get into the gap 21 between lower vessel wall 13 and main mixing tool 5 are not stressed further but treated gently by the free angle 18 that lies behind them in the conveying direction. Mixed material parts that were not taken up during the first rotation of the main mixing tool 5 are taken up during one of the following rotations and conveyed upward. In this way, stress-free acquisition of the mixed material by the main mixing tool 5 is guaranteed.
(65) In the detail of FIG. 39, a detailed sectional representation through the lower region 3 of the accommodation vessel 2 (FIG. 1) is shown in the section plane designated as XXXIX-XXXIX in FIG. 37. The gap 21 between the lower vessel wall 13 and the main mixing tool 5 is selected to be so small that effective conveying of the mixed material by the main mixing tool 5, along the lower vessel wall 13, is guaranteed. With the clearance angle 18 between main mixing tool 5 and lower vessel wall 13, it is furthermore guaranteed that acquisition of the mixed material by the main mixing tool 5 takes place in stress-free manner along the lower vessel wall 13.
(66) In the detail of FIG. 40, a detailed sectional representation through the lower region 3 of the accommodation vessel 2 (FIG. 1) is shown in the section plane designated as XL-XL in FIG. 37. At this location, as well, a corresponding gap 21 having a clearance angle 18 exists between the main mixing tool 5 and the lower vessel wall 13.
(67) FIGS. 41 and 42 show an apparatus 1 according to the invention having a cylindrical accommodation vessel 2 with a lower region 3 in the form of a truncated cone and a lower discharge opening 4 in the direction of gravity. The displacer apparatus 10, 10a that projects into the interior of the lower region 3 closes off the discharge opening 4 in the closed position. The displacer apparatus 10, 10a is shown in an open position with a broken line, wherein the opening angle is different in FIGS. 41 and 42. Here, the opening angle occurs by means of a lifting/rotating movement, during which the displacer apparatus 10, 10a is lowered out of the lower region 3 of the accommodation vessel 2. In FIG. 41, an opening angle of about 15 degrees is shown, whereas in FIG. 42, an opening angle of 20 degrees is shown. Even at an opening angle of 30 degrees, the incline of the surface between a lower edge 17 of the displacer apparatus 10, 10a should have an angle of at most 65 degrees relative to the direction of gravity after the lifting/rotating movement. The incline of the surface with which the displacer apparatus 10, 10a projects into the lower region of the accommodation vessel should therefore amount to about 25 degrees or more relative to a horizontal plane that lies orthogonal to the direction of gravity, even in the open position. The mixing mechanism includes a first arm 38 attached to the mixing mechanism shaft 6. The main mixing tool 5 is attached to the first arm 38. The first arm 38 extends at a continuously downward angle from the mixing mechanism shaft 6 towards the lower vessel wall 13. The main mixing tool has a tip 20 disposed directly above the circumferential sealing region. The mixing mechanism shaft 6 terminates in the lowered, tapered free tip 8 that is disposed adjacent the upper end 23 of the displacer apparatus 10
(68) Of course, the invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments shown. Further embodiments are possible without departing from the basic idea. Thus, it is also possible, for example, to configure the displacer apparatus 10 dynamically, not statically. In this case, a displacer apparatus 10a rotates about its own axis 19, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 15 and 27, for example. For this purpose, a separate drive with gear mechanism can be provided in the displacer apparatus 10a. Furthermore, at least one dynamic additional tool can be provided. Furthermore, the material that can be mixed using the apparatus according to the invention can be not only moist materials but also, above all, powders or solid small-format bodies.
REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST
(69) 1 apparatus 2 accommodation vessel 3 lower region in the form of a truncated cone 4 discharge opening 5 mixing mechanism 5 mixing tool 5 main mixing tool 6 mixing mechanism shaft 6, 6 mixing mechanism shafts 7 mixing space 8 free lower tip 9 mixing tool 10 displacer apparatus 10a displacer apparatus 11 lower edge 12 rotary lever 13 lower vessel wall, conical wall 15 lance 16 channel with V-shaped cross-section 17 lower edge of the displacer apparatus 18 free angle 19 axis of the displacer apparatus 20 tip of the main mixing tool 21 gap 22 bottom of the V-shaped channel 23 upper end of the displacer apparatus 38 first arm
