MIXING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MIXING MEDIA

Abstract

The invention relates to a mixing device having a mixing chamber bounded by an inner surface of a wall, wherein the wall also has a cylindrical outer face, wherein the wall has at least one feed duct which ends on one side with an opening in the cylindrical outer surface of the wall and on the other side with an opening in the inner surface of the wall, wherein the mixing device furthermore has a magazine which has a cylindrical inner surface, the cylinder axis of which is coaxial with cylinder axis of the cylindrical outer surface of the wall, wherein the magazine has a multiplicity of ducts which each extend from in each case one port to in each case one opening in the cylindrical inner surface of the magazine, wherein the magazine and the wall are movable with respect to one another such that the openings of the multiplicity of ducts in the inner surface of the magazine are each able to be connected in a medium-conducting manner to the opening of the at least one feed duct in the outer surface of the wall, wherein the mixing device also has a mixer which is movable in the nixing chamber along the cylinder axis of the outer surface of the wall in order to mix media.

Claims

1. A mixing device comprising: a mixing chamber bounded by an inner surface of a wall, wherein the wall also includes a cylindrical outer surface, wherein the wall defines at least one feed duct that ends on one side with an opening in the cylindrical outer surface of the wall and on the other side with an opening in the inner surface of the wall, wherein the mixing device furthermore includes a magazine that includes a cylindrical inner surface, the cylinder axis of which is coaxial with a cylinder axis of the cylindrical outer surface of the wall, wherein the magazine includes a plurality of ducts that each extend from in each case one port to in each case one opening in the cylindrical inner surface of the magazine, wherein the magazine and the wall are movable with respect to one another such that the openings of the plurality of ducts in the inner surface of the magazine are capable of being connected in a medium-conducting manner to the opening of the at least one feed duct in the outer surface of the wall, wherein the mixing device also includes a mixer that is movable in the mixing chamber along the cylinder axis of the outer surface of the wall in order to mix media.

2. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the at least one feed duct in the inner surface of the wall adjoins an end surface of the mixing chamber, said end surface being surrounded by the inner surface of the wall and being fixed with respect to the wall.

3. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the magazine includes an annular magazine, and wherein the annular magazine and the wall are rotatable with respect to one another about the cylinder axis of the outer surface of the wall and/or are displaceable with respect to one another in the direction of the cylinder axis of the outer surface of the wall.

4. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the magazine contains at least 4 of the ducts.

5. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein all openings of the plurality of ducts of the magazine are arranged in a common plane in the inner surface of the magazine, said plane being perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the cylindrical outer surface of the wall.

6. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the openings of the plurality of ducts of the magazine are arranged in exactly two or exactly three planes in the inner surface of the magazine, said planes being perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the cylindrical outer surface of the wall.

7. The mixing device according to claim 1, having an outlet that is arranged in an end surface of the mixing chamber, said end surface being fixed with respect to the wall and being perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the outer surface, and through which outlet media are able to be discharged from the mixing chamber.

8. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the mixer has a disk that is perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the outer surface, said disk containing mixing structures, through which media can flow from one side of the disk to the other side.

9. The mixing device according to claim 1, including a piston that bounds the mixing chamber on one side in the direction of the cylinder axis of the outer wall, said side being located opposite an end surface of the mixing chamber, said end surface being fixed with respect to the outer wall, and which piston is movable in the direction of the cylinder axis of the outer wall.

10. The mixing device according to claim 9, wherein the piston includes a vent valve, through which, in an open state, gas is capable of escaping from the mixing chamber and which is closable with respect to the throughflow of gas and medium.

11. The mixing device according to claim 10, wherein the mixer includes a disk that is perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the outer surface, said disk including mixing structures, through which media can flow from one side of the disk to the other side, wherein the piston has a number of shaped elements equal to the number of mixing structures, said shaped elements being arranged on that side of the piston that faces the mixer such that they completely fill the mixing structures when the piston bears against the disk of the mixer.

12. The mixing device according to claim 11, wherein the mixing structures are ducts that narrow in the direction from the piston to the end side or ducts with parallel walls, the axes of which are parallel to the cylinder axis of the outer surface of the wall.

13. The mixing device according to claim 1, respectively including a valve for each of the ducts of the magazine, through which valve media is capable of being conducted into the corresponding duct and with which the inflow of the media into the corresponding duct is capable of being regulated.

14. The mixing device according to claim 1, having two or three of the feed ducts.

15. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the wall includes a sealing cylinder that surrounds the mixing chamber, wherein the outer surface of the sealing cylinder forms at least a part of the cylindrical outer surface of the wall, and wherein the at least one feed duct passes through a cylinder wall of the sealing cylinder.

16. The mixing device according to claim 1, wherein the media are liquids, pastes, powders and/or gases.

17. A method for mixing media, wherein the method comprises: receiving media, for mixing in a mixing chamber bounded b an inner surface of a wall that also includes a cylindrical outer surface, wherein the wall defines at least one feed duct that ends on one side with an opening in the cylindrical outer surface of the wall and on the other side with an opening in the inner surface of the wall, wherein the mixing device furthermore includes a magazine that includes a cylindrical inner surface, the cylinder axis of which is coaxial with a cylinder axis of the cylindrical outer surface of the wall, wherein the magazine includes a plurality of ducts that each extend from in each case one port to in each case one opening in the cylindrical inner surface of the magazine, wherein the magazine and the wall are movable with respect to one another such that the openings of the plurality of ducts in the inner surface of the magazine are capable of being connected in a medium-conducting manner to the opening of the at least one feed duct in the outer surface of the wall, wherein the mixing device also includes a mixer; and moving the mixer in the mixing chamber along the cylinder axis of the outer surface of the wall in order to mix media.

18. The method for mixing media according to claim 17, comprising moving the annular magazine and the wall with respect to one another such that the openings of at least two ducts in the inner surface of the magazine, between which at least one further opening of a duct of the magazine is located, are connected successively in a medium-conducting manner to the opening of the at least one feed duct in the outer surface of the wall, wherein either the opening of the at least one further duct is passed over by the opening of the feed duct during the movement from one of the at least two openings to the other of the at least two openings, and a valve, through which medium is conducted into the at least one further duct, is closed at least during the passing over, or the magazine is moved with respect to the wall in the direction of the cylinder axis of the outer wall during the movement from one opening to the other, such that it is moved past the opening of the at least one further duct during the movement in the angular direction about this cylinder axis.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein, in a first step, the opening of the feed duct is connected to a duct of the magazine from which a basic material is introduced into the mixing chamber, in a second step, the teed duct is connected to a duct of the magazine through which a first additional material is introduced into the mixing chamber, in a third step, the feed duct is connected to a duct of the magazine through which a second additional material is introduced into the mixing chamber, and in a fourth step, the feed duct is reconnected to the magazine duct through which the basic material is introduced into the mixing chamber.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein, in a step that is carried out between the second and the third step, the feed duct is reconnected to the duct of the magazine through which the basic material is introduced into the mixing chamber.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein the second step and also the step between the second and the third step are repeated for at least one further additional material.

Description

IN THE FIGURES

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a section through a mixing device according to the invention,

[0044] FIG. 2 shows various configurations of a magazine according to the invention,

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a device for moving the magazine with respect to the wall,

and

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a section through the device shown in FIG. 3.

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a mixing device according to the invention. The mixing device has a mixing chamber 1 which is bounded by an inner surface 2 of a wall 3. The wall 3 also has a cylindrical outer surface 4. The wall 3 contains at least one feed duct 5, which ends with an opening 5a in the inner surface 2 of the wall on one side and with an opening 5b in the cylindrical outer surface 4 of the wall 3 on the other side.

[0048] The mixing device also has a magazine 6 which has a cylindrical inner surface 7, the cylinder axis of which is coaxial with a cylinder axis of the cylindrical outer surface 4 of the wall 3.

[0049] The magazine 6 has a multiplicity of ducts 8a, 8b, 8c, which each extend from a port 9a, 9b, 9c to in each case one opening 10 in the cylindrical inner surface 7 of the magazine 6.

[0050] The magazine 6 and the wall 3 are movable with respect to one another such that the openings 10 of the multiplicity of ducts 8a, 8b, 8c in the inner surface 7 of the magazine 6 are each connectable in a medium-conducting manner to the opening 5b of the feed duct 5 in the outer surface 4 of the wall 3.

[0051] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the mixing device also has a mixer 11 which is movable in the mixing chamber 1 along the cylinder axis of the outer surface 4 of the wall 3 in order to mix media. The mixer 11 has mixing structures 12, through which medium can flow from one side to the other of a disk of the mixer 11.

[0052] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the mixing structures 12 are cylindrical bores through the plate of the mixer 11, having cylinder axes parallel to the cylinder axis of the outer surface 4.

[0053] In the example shown, the mixing device also has a piston 13, which is movable along the cylinder axis of the outer surface 4 of the wall 3. Together with a fixed end surface 14, the piston 13 bounds the mixing chamber 1. The plate 11 of the mixer moves between the piston 13 and the end surface 14.

[0054] In order to meter media present in the mixing chamber 1, the mixing device has an opening 15 in the end surface 14 in the example shown. Through this opening, media present in the mixing chamber 1 can be discharged by means of the piston 13. In the example shown, the opening 15 is arranged in the middle of the end surface 4.

[0055] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the mixer 11 is moved by means of a rod 16, which is arranged centrally on the mixer 11 on that side that is remote from the end surface 14. The rod 16 extends through a central opening in the piston 13. The opening is sealed off with respect to the passage of media by sealing elements 17.

[0056] In the example shown, the mixer 11 is advantageously sealed off by means of a sealing ring 18 with respect to the wall 2 which bounds the mixing chamber 1.

[0057] On its side facing the mixing chamber and the mixer 11, the piston. 13 has molded elements 19 which are configured such that, when the plate 11 of the mixer bears against the piston 13, the molded elements 19 completely fill the mixing structures 12.

[0058] In the example shown, the piston 13 also has a vent valve 20 which extends from that side of the piston 13 that bounds the mixing chamber to that side of the piston 13 that is remote from the mixing chamber 1 and is closable with respect to the throughflow of gases and media.

[0059] In the example shown, a sealing ring 21 is arranged between the wall 3 and the inner surface 7 of the magazine 6, said sealing ring 21 extending around the wall 3 in contact therewith and bearing against the inner wall 7 of the magazine. Here too, the sealing element 21 can be considered part of the wall 3. The duct 5 thus extends through an inner part, facing the mixing chamber 1, of the wall 3 and through the sealing element 21 as far as the opening 5b, where the feed duct adjoins the inner surface 7 of the magazine or an opening 10 of a duct 8a, 8b, 8c.

[0060] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the magazine 6 is configured as a ring with a square cross section. The ducts 8a, 8b, 8c are straight and extend in a radial direction through the annular body of the magazine 6. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the individual ducts are arranged equidistantly from one another in a common plane which is perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the inner surface 2 of the wall 3.

[0061] FIG. 2 shows various possible configurations of the magazine 6 as can be used in the invention. The configuration shown in FIG. 2A corresponds to the one shown in FIG. 1. All the ducts 8a, 8b, 8c are arranged in a common plane and equidistantly in the angular direction. In particular, all the openings 10 of the multiplicity of magazine ducts in the inner surface 7 are located in a common plane which is perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the cylindrical outer surface 4 of the wall 3.

[0062] FIG. 2B shows an alternative configuration of the magazine 6, in which the multiplicity of ducts 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e, 8f are arranged in precisely two common planes which are perpendicular to the cylinder axis of the cylindrical outer surface 4 of the wall 3. In this case, twice as many ducts can be provided as in FIG. 2A. As a result of such an arrangement of the ducts 8a to 8f, it is possible, with a given circumference of the magazine 6, to provide more ducts 8a to 8f than in an arrangement in only one plane. Both the openings 10 and the ports 9a to 9f are distributed in two planes here. In a direction parallel to the cylinder axis, in each case two ducts are arranged alongside one another in the example shown in FIG. 2B.

[0063] FIG. 2C shows a further possible configuration of a magazine 6 as can be used in the invention. In the example shown in FIG. 2C, the ports of the ducts 8a to 8f are arranged in precisely two planes. Those openings 10 in the inner surface 7 of the magazine 6 that face the wall 3 are arranged in precisely one common plane, however. If the density of the openings 10 in the inner surface 7 of the magazine 6 is not intended to be increased compared with an arrangement of the ports 9a to 9f in a single plane, as shown in FIG. 2A, it is possible, as shown in FIG. 2C, to arrange in each case only one port 9a to 9f in an angular direction. The ports of the adjacent planes are offset in an angular direction with respect to one another.

[0064] FIG. 3 shows a mixing device according to the invention, in which the inflow of media through the ducts 8a to 8f is controlled by means of solenoid valves 22a, 22b and 22c. In this configuration of the invention, all the outlet openings 10 in the inner surface 7 of the magazine 6 can be arranged in a single plane, since, when openings 10 are passed over by the feed duct 5, medium only passes into the feed duct 5 when the corresponding valve 22a, 22b or 22c is open.

[0065] In the example shown in FIG. 3, the magazine 6 is rotatable with respect to the wall 3 by means of a drive 23, the torque of which is transmitted by means of a belt 24 to an output wheel 25 surrounding the wall 3. In the example shown, the device for controlling the solenoid valves 22a, 22b and 22c has a magnet 26 which is arranged on an arm 27. The arm 27 is fixedly connected to the wall 3 of the mixing chamber and, upon rotation of the wall 3, is moved therewith. As seen from the mixing chamber 1, the magnet 26 can be arranged in that angular direction in which the feed duct 5 extends. In this way, by way of the magnet 26, it is possible to open that solenoid valve 22a, 22b, 22c which closes the duct that is connected in a medium-conducting manner to the feed duct 5.

[0066] In the example shown in FIG. 3, the mixing device has a translation device 28, by means of which the magazine 6 is displaceable in an axial direction in the direction of the cylinder axis of the wall 3. As a result of this displacement in the direction of the cylinder axis, it is possible for the magnet 26 not to act on those solenoid valves which are passed over when heading for an feed duct 8a, 8b, 8b from which no medium is intended to be introduced into the mixing chamber 1. Furthermore, such a displacement can have the effect that the opening 5b, as shown in FIG. 1, is moved past those openings 10 of ducts 8a to 8f from which no medium is intended to be passed into the mixing chamber 1.

[0067] It should be noted that a configuration as shown in FIG. 3 can also be readily realized in such a way that the wall 3 is axially displaced and the magazine 9 is rotated by a drive device 23.

[0068] FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the invention shown in FIG. 3 in section. The inner part of the mixing device within the ports 9a, 9b and the wall 3 corresponds to the example shown in FIG. 1, and so reference is made to the description there.

[0069] The drive device 23 having a V belt 24 and output wheel 25 corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. Likewise, the valves 22a, 22b and the magnet 26 are configured as shown in FIG. 3.

[0070] FIG. 4A shows the configuration, shown figure, of the mixing device in a state in which no medium is introduced into the feed duct 5. To this end, the magazine 6 is pushed downward, i.e. away from the piston 13, in the direction of the cylinder axis of the wall 3. As a result, the opening 5b of the feed duct 5 is located above the duct 8a in the axial direction. Furthermore, the magnet 26 is far enough away from the corresponding solenoid valve 22a for the latter to remain closed in this position, the mixing chamber can be rotated with the wall 3 about the cylinder axis and moved to a duct 8a, 8b without passing over other ducts 8a, 8b.

[0071] In FIG. 4B, compared with FIG. 4A, the magazine 6 has now been moved in the axial direction toward the piston 13, such that the duct 8a adjoins the opening 5b of the feed duct and the duct 8a is connected in a medium-conducting manner to the feed duct 5. In the process, the valve 22a was moved toward the magnet 26, with the result that the solenoid valve 22a of the duct 8a is opened.

[0072] In the device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, any one of the ducts 8a, 8b, 8c can be approached without passing over other ducts 8a, 8b, 8c. To this end, the magazine 6 is displaced in the axial direction with respect to the wall 3, then rotated about the cylinder axis of the wall 3 and, when the feed duct is located above the duct 8a, 8b, 8c to be headed for, displaced back in the axial direction.

[0073] The media are able to be fed to the ports 9a to 9f of the ducts 8a to 8f in the magazine 6 for example via hoses. They can be pressurized for example by means of pumps, such that they are present under pressure as far as the corresponding valve and pass through the valve when the latter is opened.

[0074] The research work which resulted in these results was sponsored by the European Union.