High-pressure roller press

Abstract

A high-pressure roller press has a press frame and two main rollers rotatable about respective main-roller axes in the press frame, together forming a filling funnel level with the main-roller axes, and having a gap width that is variable during operation of the roller press. Respective end plates axially flank and delimit the filling funnel between axially outwardly directed end faces of the main rollers. Respective end rollers are movable axially inward toward the end plates with each end roller laterally adjacent the main rollers vertically level with the roller gap, rotatably mounted about its end-roller axis, and laterally delimiting the roller gap, the end rollers being movable relative to the respective end plates. The end plates can each be urged by biasing forces axially toward of the respective main-roller end faces, whereas they are axially outward against the biasing forces during operation of the roller press.

Claims

1. A high-pressure roller press comprising: a press frame; two main rollers rotatable about respective main-roller axes in the press frame, together forming a filling funnel level with the main-roller axes, and having a gap width that is variable during operation of the roller press; respective end plates axially flanking and delimiting the filling funnel between axially outwardly directed end faces of the main rollers, the end plates being mounted on the press frame so as to be axially movable; respective end rollers movable axially inward toward the end plates, each end roller being laterally adjacent the main rollers vertically level with the roller gap width, rotatably mounted about its end-roller axis, and laterally delimiting the roller gap width, the end rollers being movable relative to the respective end plates; and means for urging each of the end plates by biasing forces axially toward of the respective main-roller end faces, the end rollers being pressed axially outward against the biasing forces during operation of the roller press.

2. The roller press according to claim 1, wherein the end rollers are each mounted on the press frame so as to be movable and are each biased independently of the respective end plates.

3. The roller press according to claim 1, further comprising: respective end-roller mounts rotatably carrying the end rollers and mounted on the press frame in a movable and biased manner.

4. The roller press according to claim 3, wherein each end-roller mount is a rocker pivoted on the press frame for rocking about a respective pivot axis.

5. The roller press according to claim 3, further comprising: respective spring elements biasing the end rollers or the respective end-roller mounts, forming the means, supported on the press frame, and bearing against the respective end roller or end-roller mount.

6. The roller press according to claim 5, wherein the spring element is a mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic spring with adjustable and controlled or controllable spring force.

7. The roller press according to claim 1, further comprising: respective spring elements biasing the end rollers and the end plates, forming the means, and exerting a greater pressure on material in the funnel with the end rollers than with the end plates.

8. The roller press according to claim 1, wherein one of the main rollers is a fixed main roller and the other of the main rollers is a movable main roller that is movable relative to the fixed main roller, the press further comprising: force-generating means urging the movable main roller radially against the fixed main roller to vary the gap width during operation.

9. The roller press according to claim 1, wherein the end plates each have an inner face facing the respective main-roller end face and oriented parallel to the respective main-roller end face, and a material-guiding pocket integrated into the end plate above the end roller on the respective end plate and recessed with respect to the inner face so that the end roller can be supplied with material from above via the material-guiding pocket.

10. The roller press according to claim 9, wherein each material-guiding pocket is formed in side view like a funnel with a width tapering downward or with a downwardly decreasing axial dimension.

11. The roller press according to claim 9, wherein the end plates each have a hole through which passes the respective end roller rotatably mounted behind the end plate into a region of the material-guiding pocket or into a region below the material-guiding pocket.

12. The roller press according to claim 9, further comprising: one or more guide elements for guiding the material onto the end rollers and integrated into the material-guiding pockets.

13. The roller press according to claim 9, wherein the end plates are each provided with one or more additional sealing plates that are parallel to the inner faces of the end plates or extend on the inner faces and partially cover the material-guiding pocket on an axial inner side.

14. The roller press according to claim 1, wherein an upper apex of each of the end rollers is above the main-roller axes or a lower apex of each of the end rollers is below the main-roller axes.

15. The roller press according to claim 1, wherein an upper apex of the end roller is above a compression zone between the main rollers and end plates or a lower apex of the end roller is below the compression zone.

16. The roller press according to claim 1, wherein the end-roller axis of each of the end rollers is vertically level with the main-roller axes.

17. The roller press according to claim 1, wherein diameters of the end rollers are at least 5% of diameters of the main rollers or the diameter of each of the end rollers is at least 50 mm.

18. The roller press according to claim 1, wherein an axial width of each of the end roller is greater than a maximum roller gap width or a width of each of the end rollers is about 1% to 10% of the diameter of the main rollers, or a width of each of the end rollers is at least 50 mm.

19. The roller press according to claim 1, wherein each end roller has an outer surface that is profiled or structured or each end roller has wear-resistant armor on its end-roller outer surface.

20. The roller press according to claim 1, wherein each end roller is driven without its own drive by material in contact with the end roller or by the end faces of the main rollers.

21. The roller press according to claim 1, wherein the end rollers are driven by a drive.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The invention is explained below with reference to drawings, that however merely show one embodiment of the invention. Therein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a greatly simplified schematic vertical section through both main rollers of a roller press,

(3) FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the roller gap of a roller press according to the invention in a detail view,

(4) FIG. 3 is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 2,

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view from inside of a end plate according to the invention with the end roller, and

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view from outside of the end plate with the end roller according to FIG. 4.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) Referring now to the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a high-pressure roller press 1 a particle-stream roller mill or compacting machine. It has a press frame 2 and two main rollers 3 and 4 driven in the directions of the arrows and mounted in the press frame [2]. A funnel-shaped region, the so-called filling funnel, is formed between the main rollers. The lower region of this filling funnel is a compression zone 5. A roller gap S defined at a level of the main-roller axes X and X has a gap width W that is variable during operation of the roller press 1. This is because the main roller 3 is fixed and the other main roller 4 is movable and is connected to biasing means, for example a hydraulic actuator B that urges it (in a horizontal plane) toward the fixed main roller 3, so that the width W of the roller gap S changes within certain limits during operation. The roll gap S or the gap width W is set along the roller gap until a certain pressure is effective between the main rollers. This means that the main-roller axes X and X are in a common horizontal plane and are parallel to one another in a starting position (at zero gap). During operation, however, the movable main roller 4 can tilt relative to the fixed main roller 3 about a vertical axis and consequently in a horizontal plane, so that the main-roller axes X and X are during operation always at the same height and consequently in a horizontal plane but can be oriented within this plane at a certain angle with respect to one another.

(8) The material is fed from above via a feed shaft (not shown in more detail) and is drawn into the compression zone by the counter rotation of the main rollers and is comminuted (or compacted) there under the action of the existing milling pressure. The filling funnel formed between the main rollers and in particular the compression zone 5 at its lower end, are delimited at axial ends of the main rollers 3 and 4 by end plates 8 axially flanking the main rollers 3 and 4 and in practice also referred to as filling-funnel delimiters or cheek plates. These end plates 8 are movable relative to the press frame 2, namely biased in for example by springs 9, the application of force acting axially on main-roller end faces 6. During operation, the end plates 8 can be pushed axially out against the biasing force for example of the springs 9. This is essential because in such a roller press the already mentioned oblique position of the main rollers 3 and 4 is intentionally permitted.

(9) At each of the two end plates 8, a single respective end roller 10 is mounted level with the respective main-roller axes X or X, rotatable about its end-roller axis Y, and axially delimiting the roller gap S. In the illustrated embodiment, the end rollers 10 are not fastened to the end plates 8 but are each movable independently of a biasing force toward the respective main-roller end face, so that the end roller 10 can be pressed back against the biasing force during operation of the roller press. According to the invention, therefore, both the end plates 8 can be pressed back against the biasing force during operation of the roller press independently of one another and in particular against different forces. For this purpose, the end rollers 10 are mounted on the press frame 2 so as to be movable and biased independently of the respective end plate 8. In the illustrated embodiment, the end rollers 10 are each rotatable on a respective end-roller mount 16 that itself is movable relative to and biased toward the press frame 2. The drawing shows that here the end-roller mount 16 is pivotable and actually is a rocker 16 pivoted on the press frame 2 about a respective pivot axis 17 fixed on the press frame. Such a rocker 16 can have as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 two side arms carrying on their ends respective main roller bearings 19 flanking the respective main roller [10]. FIG. 2 shows how a respective spring 18 is braced between the press frame 2 and each rocker 16 between the respective end roller 10 and axle 17. In another optional and unillustrated embodiment the springs 9 can engage the rocker level with the end roller 10. Here the springs 9 and 18 are preferably mechanical coil springs. The springs 9 that bias the end plates 8, mechanical springs are used. The end roller 10 or its mount could also be biased by a hydraulic system for example a hydraulic cylinder that is not shown in the drawing. Hydraulic (or pneumatic) cylinders have the advantage that their spring force is variable so that for example during assembly the spring force can be set to the required level. Particularly preferably, the springs 18 for the main rollers, on the one hand, and the springs 9 for the end plates 8, on the other hand, are designed in such a way and consequently matched to one another such that a greater pressure is exerted on the material in the filling funnel and consequently on the particle stream than by the end rollers 10 on the end plates 8. Moreover, the springs can of course also be connected via force-transmission means to the end plates or main rollers, for example by push rods or the like. These are not shown.

(10) As explained, the end rollers 10 are mounted on and biased relative the press frame 2 independently of the respective end plates [8]. However, they are each positioned at the respective end plate 8 and preferably immediately axially outwardly of the respective end plate 8. For this purpose, each end plate [8] has a hole 15 through which passes the respective end roller 10 directly axially outwardly of the end plate 8. Even if the end plate 8 and the end roller 10 are mounted and biased independently of one another, they functionally form a unit during operation. Here, each of the two end plates 8 has a planar inner face 11 directed axially toward the respective main-roller end face 6 and parallel to the respective main-roller end face 6. Here, a material-guiding pocket 12 axially outward of the previously defined inner face 11 is integrally formed in each of the end plates 8 above the respective end roller 10 so that the end roller 10 can be fed from above with material via the guide pocket 12. The guide pocket 12 consequently has an inner face 13 offset axially outward from the respective inner face 11 and at least locally offset from the main roller inner face 6 that here is designed to be curved both in a vertical section according to FIG. 2 and in top view according to FIG. 3. In the preferred illustrated embodiment, this material-guiding pocket 12 is funnel-shaped in side view or in a perspective view from the inside (according to FIG. 4), i.e. it has a downwardly tapering width B. In addition, the material-guiding pocket can have a downwardly decreasing depth T (see FIG. 2). The material is fed via the material-guiding pockets 12 from above into the region of the two end rollers 10 axially flanking of the roller gap S. Excess material is held in the axially outer regions of the main rollers 3 and 4 via the material-guiding pockets 12. Due to the axially outwardly offset face 13 of the material-guiding pocket 12, the influence of friction that affects feed of the material is shifted axially outward from the roller gap so that the material flows better at the main roller ends and is better drawn in. The end rollers 10 at the same time considerably reduce friction at the compression zone 5, on the one hand minimizing wear and on the other hand improving distribution of the material over the gap width.

(11) The advantages described in connection with the embodiment according to FIG. 4 can also be realized with an embodiment that is not shown in detail. In this case, the material-guiding pocket 12 also has a downwardly tapering width B. In contrast to the illustration in FIG. 2 however, the material-guiding pocket has a depth T that is constant over its height, so that the face of the material-guiding pocket is oriented substantially perpendicularly. Details are not shown.

(12) It can also be seen in FIG. 1 that the upper vertex 10a of the illustrated end roller 10 is above the main-roller axes X and X. The lower apex 10b of the end roller 10 is below the main-roller axes X or X. In the illustrated embodiment according to FIG. 1, the upper vertex 10a is above the compression zone 5, while the lower apex 10b is below the compression zone 5. According to FIG. 1 the compression zone 5 is the zone of the roller press, extending between the two main rollers over a circumferential angle an of 5 to +15, specifically with respect to the horizontal plane of the main-roller axes X and X. Consequently, the compression zone 5 is, by definition, the region that starts +15 above the main-roller axis and ends 5 below the main-roller axes X and X. In this case, the end-roller axis Y of the end rollers 10 here lies on or approximately on the plane of the axes X and X of the main rollers 3 and 4. It should be noted here that the diameters of the main rollers 3 and 4 on the one hand and of the end rollers 10 on the other hand are not shown to scale.

(13) The axial width E of each of the end rollers 10 is greater than the maximum gap width W and consequently greater than the zero gap of the roller gap S plus at least the distance to which the roller gap opens by horizontal movement of the movable main roller 4 during machine operation. The main roller width E means the axial width, that is to say the width of the working surface of each of the end rollers.

(14) The main roller outer surface 7 of the main rollers 3 and 4 is generally provided with a special finish, for example with a wear-resistant coating or jacket. Details are not shown in the drawing. In preferred embodiments, the outer surface 14 of the end rollers 10 can also be provided with a wear-resistant coating. These cylindrical outer surfaces 14 of the end rollers 10 can consequently have a wear-resistant design or have a wear armor. In this wear armoring of the end rollers 10, known measures for the wear armoring of the main roller surfaces can be employed. Thus, for example, a plurality of bolts can be integrated in a knob-like manner into the outer surface (stud lining). Alternatively, a wear armor may be realized from a plurality of tile-like wear elements attached to the surface. Furthermore, wear armor can be by a built-up weld. The main roller itself is always preferably made of steel and the wear armor is on the outer surface of this main roller from a hard, wear-resistant material. Optionally or additionally, the outer surface 14 of the end rollers can be equipped with a profiling or structuring. Details are not shown. Moreover, there is the possibility that the end rollers 10 are each driven by a drive. Such a drive is not shown in the drawing. Furthermore, guide structures for guiding the material onto the end rollers 10 can be integrated into the material-guiding pockets 12, but such guide installations are also not shown. However, FIG. 4 shows in a simplified manner that the end plates 8 can each be provided with one or more additional sealing plates 20, for example, parallel to the inner face 11 or extend in the inner face 11 and partially cover the material-guiding pocket 12 on the front side. In this way, the supply of the material into the region of the end roller 10 and at the high-compression zone 5 can be optimized.

(15) Finally, FIGS. 4 and 5 show that the end plates 8 each have an opening or hole 15 through which the respective end roller 10 rotatably mounted axially behind the end plate 8 passes. In a region below the material-guiding pocket 12. Consequently, the end plates 10 are mounted on the axial outer face of the end plates 8, it is mounted so as to be rotatable about their axes Y.

(16) The end roller 10 or the body thereof is thus in a pocket-like recess 12 of the end plate 8 below the material-guiding pocket 12, i.e. the funnel-shaped material-guiding pocket 12 opens on the underside into the pocket 12 or into the recess 15 for the end roller 10. The end roller 10 or its body thereof engages through the hole 15.

(17) Moreover, there is optionally also the possibility of equipping the end plates, e.g. their inner face 11 and the material-guiding pockets 12, with a wear armor. In this case, the end plates can be, for example, made from steel and a wear armor can be on the respective surfaces.