Industrial Mixing Machine

Abstract

An industrial mixing machine is disclosed for mixing material to be mixed in mixing containers that are open on the connection side and differ in at least one feature of their design, wherein one mixing container is attachable in each case to the mixing head of the mixing machine for mixing the material to be mixed contained therein, and wherein at least two mixing tools differing in at least one feature of their design are mountable on a mixing head of the mixing machine. The mixing machine has a detection device which is configured to determine whether the mixing tool currently mounted on the mixing head matches with the mixing container which is to be connected to the mixing head and in which the material to be mixed is located, and a safety device in communication with the detection device, which prevents the mixing tool and the mixing container opening from being brought together when the detection device detects that the mixing tool mounted on the mixing head does not match with the mixing container.

Claims

1. An industrial mixing machine for mixing material to be mixed in mixing containers having an opening on the connection side comprising: at least two mixing containers that differ in at least one feature of their design from each other, wherein each mixing container is attachable in each case to the mixing head of the mixing machine for mixing the material to be mixed contained therein; at least two mixing tools differing in at least one feature of their design from each other are mountable on a mixing head of the mixing machine; the mixing machine having a detection device which is configured to determine whether the mixing tool currently mounted on the mixing head matches with the mixing container which is to be connected to the mixing head and in which a material to be mixed is located, and a safety device in communication with the detection device, which prevents the mixing tool and the mixing container opening from being brought together when the detection device detects that the mixing tool mounted on the mixing head does not match with the mixing container.

2. The industrial mixing machine of claim 1 wherein the detection device is configured to detect which mixing tool is mounted on the mixing head.

3. The industrial mixing machine of claim 1 wherein the detection device has sensors and at least one mixing tool has an identifier determinable by the sensors and distinguishable from the other mixing tool.

4. The industrial mixing machine of claim 1 wherein the identifier is an identification contour.

5. The industrial mixing machine as claimed claim 1 wherein a feather key is arranged on the mixing head or on the shaft driving the mixing tool, which feather key abuts a keyway on the side of the mixing tool in a formfitting manner in the mounted state to transmit a torque from the shaft to the mixing tool and which feather key has at least one contour sensor.

6. The industrial mixing machine of claim 1 wherein the detection device is configured to evaluate signals resolved by the angle of rotation of the mixing tool.

7. The industrial mixing machine of claim 3 wherein the identifier is the diameter of the mixing tool.

8. The industrial mixing machine of claim 7, wherein the detection device has at least one light barrier which is arranged eccentrically with respect to the pivot point of the mixing tool and the measuring direction of which is aligned within the diameter of the mixing tool.

9. The industrial mixing machine of claim 8 wherein at least two light barriers aligned in parallel and arranged eccentrically with respect to a pivot point of the mixing tool are arranged at a distance from one another and at a different distance from the pivot point, wherein the first light barrier measures a first mixing tool diameter and the second light barrier measures a second mixing tool diameter which is different from the first.

10. The industrial mixing machine of claim 1 wherein the sensors are tactile sensors, inductive sensors, or ultrasonic sensors.

11. The industrial mixing machine of claim 1 wherein the sensor of the detection device is arranged in the area of the mixing head on the mixing machine.

12. The industrial mixing machine of claim 1 wherein the mixing machine has a mixing tool storage area on which at least one mixing tool not mounted on the mixing head is stored during the use of the mixing machine and the detection device is configured to monitor the mixing tool storage area in order to conclude from the occupancy of the mixing tool storage area which mixing tool is mounted on the mixing head.

13. The industrial mixing machine as claimed in claim 12 wherein the mixing tool storage area has mixing tool storage spaces which are each provided for precisely one specific mixing tool.

14. The industrial mixing machine of claim 12 wherein the detection device has a proximity sensor which is configured to determine whether a part of a mixing tool is in its vicinity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] FIG. 1 shows an industrial mixing machine having a mixing head and a mixing tool storage area,

[0064] FIG. 2 shows details of the mixing tool storage area of the mixing machine shown in FIG. 1 having a detection device according to a first embodiment,

[0065] FIG. 3 shows a mixing tool mounted on the mixing head of the mixing machine shown in FIG. 1 having a detection device according to a second embodiment,

[0066] FIG. 4 shows a mixing tool mounted on the mixing head of the mixing machine shown in FIG. 1 having a detection device according to a third embodiment,

[0067] FIG. 5 shows a mixing tool mounted on the mixing head of the mixing machine shown in FIG. 1 having a detection device according to a fourth embodiment,

[0068] FIGS. 5a-c show possibilities for coding a mixing tool for a detection device according to the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 5,

[0069] FIG. 6 shows a mixing tool mounted on the mixing head of the mixing machine shown in FIG. 1 having a detection device according to a fifth embodiment,

[0070] FIG. 7 shows a mixing tool mounted on the mixing head of the mixing machine shown in FIG. 1 having a detection device according to a sixth embodiment,

[0071] FIG. 7a shows a detailed view of the mixing head shaft of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7,

[0072] FIG. 8 shows a mixing tool mounted on the mixing head of the mixing machine shown in FIG. 1 having a detection device according to a seventh embodiment,

[0073] FIG. 8a shows the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 in a side view,

[0074] FIG. 9 shows a mixing tool mounted on the mixing head of the mixing machine shown in FIG. 1 having a detection device according to an eighth embodiment,

[0075] FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of a part of the mixing machine,

[0076] FIGS. 11 and 12 show enlarged representations of the mixing machine, on the mixing head of which a first mixing tool is mounted, and

[0077] FIGS. 13 and 14 show the views of FIGS. 11 and 12, but of a mixing machine to which another mixing tool is attached.

[0078] Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures of the drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than limiting. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0079] FIG. 1 shows an industrial mixing machine 1. The industrial mixing machine 1 has a frame 2, comprising a first support 3 and a second support 4, which are connected in their upper areas by a mixing traverse 5. The mixing traverse 5 has a mixing drive 6, using which a mixing tool mounted on a mixing head 7, which cannot be seen in FIG. 1 because it is concealed, is driven. The mixing machine 1 has a container entrance 8 located under the mixing traverse 5. A mixing container, not shown here, in which the material to be mixed is located, it is moved by a worker into the container entrance 8 and positioned. Such a mixing container moved into the container entrance 8 is a provided mixing container, ready to be picked up by the mixing machine 1 in order to mix its contents. To pick up the mixing container, the mixing machine 1 has two laterally arranged spindle drives 9, 9.1 having lifting plates 10, 10.1 connected to them, which engage under an outwardly projecting flange plate of the mixing container, so that the mixing container can be brought toward the mixing head 7 and thus to the mixing tool 1 by means of the spindle drives 9, 9.1.

[0080] In order that the mixing container is aligned with respect to the mixing tool 1, the container entrance 8 has lateral guide rods 11, 11.1 mounted near the ground.

[0081] If the mixing container is held on the mixing head 7 by means of the spindle drives 9, 9.1 or the lifting plates 10, 10.1, respectively, the mixing traverse 5 is tilted around its longitudinal axis, mounted on the supports 3, 4, so that the mixing container is brought into an inverted position. The mixing drive 6 is activated, which mixes the material to be mixed in the mixing container by means of a mixing tool mounted on the mixing head 7 and not shown in detail here.

[0082] The mixing machine 1 has on one side support 4 a mixing tool storage area 12 in which mixing tools 13, 13.1 are stored at mixing tool storage spaces 14, 14.1 when they are not mounted on the mixing head 7. For this purpose, the mixing tool storage spaces 14, 14.1 have receiving pins 15, 15.1, using which the mixing tools 13, 13.1 are held at their pivot point.

[0083] To ensure a specific mixing quality and/or to prevent the mixing tool from coming into contact with the mixing container and being damaged as a result, it is provided that the mixing machine 1 determines by means of a detection device which mixing tool is currently mounted on the mixing head 7. To determine the mixing tool mounted on the mixing head 7, this can be determined directly on the mixing head 7 or it can be determined which mixing tool storage space 14, 14.1 is occupied in the mixing tool storage area 12 in order to draw conclusions therefrom as to which of the mixing tools 13, 13.1 is mounted on the head 7.

[0084] FIGS. 2 to 9 show various embodiments for detecting the mixing tool, whether on the mixing head 7 or in the mixing tool storage area 12. It is obvious that, even if in the following explanations the determination takes place on the mixing head 7 or in the mixing tool storage area 12, mutatis mutandis the detection can also take place in the respective other area. Identical parts are denoted by the same reference signs hereinafter. Only with regard to differently designed mixing tools is a separate letter used as a suffix with regard to the mixing tool for each design.

[0085] FIG. 2 shows a possible detection of mixing tools 13, 13.1, stored at mixing tool storage spaces 14, 14.1 of the mixing tool storage area 12 shown in FIG. 1. The two mixing tools 13, 13.1 are stored at their mixing tool storage spaces 14, 14.1 essentially in one plane in this embodiment. The distance between the receiving pins 15, 15.1 is smaller than the radius of the larger mixing tool 13 and larger than the radius of the smaller mixing tool 13.1. In this way, the larger mixing tool 13 can only be placed on a mixing tool storage space 14 (here the upper one) if it is forced that a blade of the mixing tool 13, 13.1 is aligned with the receiving pins 15, 15.1. In order to force such an alignment, it can be provided that proximity sensors 16, 16.1 are aligned with the receiving pins 15, 15.1. If no mixing tool—or no blade of one of the two mixing tools—is detected by the proximity sensors 16, 16.1, an error message or the like is output. As is the case here, the proximity sensors 16, 16.1 are preferably spaced apart far enough from the receiving pins 15, 15.1 that they are directed towards the end area of the respective mixing tool 13, 13.1. If the smaller mixing tool 14.1 were placed on the mixing tool storage space 14 actually assigned to the larger mixing tool 13, the proximity sensor 16 would not be triggered. In this way, mixing up the mixing tools 13, 13.1 with regard to their mixing tool storage spaces 14, 14.1 is prevented by a clever combination of geometric factors and the arrangement of the sensors. This optimized design is a particularly cost-effective design that requires few additional parts. The proximity sensors 16, 16.1 can moreover—advantageously—be assigned to the detection device of the mixing machine 1, wherein the proximity sensors 16, 16.1 are used to determine whether the respective mixing tool 13, 13.1 is held at its mixing tool storage space 14, 14.1.

[0086] FIG. 3 shows the mixing machine 1 in a different configuration: Here the mixing tool 13a is mounted on the mixing head 7 or on the shaft of the mixing drive 6, respectively. Ultrasonic sensors 18, 18.1 are arranged in the flange plate 17 associated with the mixing head 7. These ultrasonic sensors 18, 18.1 are arranged at different diameters in relation to the shaft of the mixing drive 6, and therefore in relation to the pivot point of the mixing tool 13a mounted on the mixing head 7; a first ultrasonic sensor 18 is aligned on a wider diameter than a second ultrasonic sensor 18.1. Starting from the flange plate 17, the ultrasonic sensors measure pointing downward in the direction of the mixing tool 13a.

[0087] To measure the mixing tool 13a, the mixing tool 13a is rotated so that a blade 19 is arranged below the ultrasonic sensors 18, 18.1 and can be measured by them. To rotate the mixing tool 13a, this can be done manually by a worker; it is also possible for the mixing tool 13a to be driven by means of the mixing drive 6 or a separate drive, which is not shown in detail here. A corresponding signal from the ultrasonic sensors 18, 18.1, which report whether a mixing tool 13a is detected below them, can be used to determine the diameter of the mixing tool 13a in order to check whether the mounted mixing tool 13a matches with the mixing container provided.

[0088] Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, two mixing tools 13b, 13b.1 arranged one above the other are shown to visualize the measuring method. The first mixing tool 13b has a larger diameter than the second mixing tool 13b.1. To measure the mixing tools 13b, 13b.1, three light barriers 20, 20.1, 20.2 are arranged in this embodiment in such a way that their measuring direction is aligned with the diameter of the two mixing tools 13b, 13b.1. Furthermore, the measuring directions are aligned in parallel and have different distances to the pivot point 21 of the mixing tools 13b, 13b.1. The measuring directions of two light barriers 20, 20.2 are aligned opposite with respect to the pivot point 21. With this configuration it is possible to distinguish the mixing tools 13b, 13b.1 from one another without the mixing tools 13b, 13b.1 having to be rotated: If the mixing tool 13b is in a position as shown in FIG. 4, the blade 19 is detected by the first light barrier 20. The mixing tool 13b is not detected by the light barrier 20.2. If the mixing tool 13b were in a different rotational position, in contrast to the rotational position shown, so that the blade 19 would not be detected by the light barrier 20, the mixing tool 13b, or for example the blade 19.1, would be detected by the opposite light barrier 20.2.

[0089] The two outer light barriers 20, 20.2 are at such a distance from the pivot point 21 that they never detect the smaller mixing tool 13b.1.

[0090] In a further embodiment, FIG. 5 shows a detection of mixing tools by means of magnets. Different mixing tools 13c, 13c.1, 13c.2 have magnets 22, 22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4, 22.5 at different positions—resulting in a unique combination of distances. The detection device has Hall sensors 23, 23.1 which are arranged here on the flange plate 17 and which are directed towards the magnets 22.3, 22.5 of the mixing tool 13c.2 mounted here by way of example. By rotating the mixing tool 13c.2, the individual magnets 22, 22.1, 22.2, 22.3, 22.4, 22.5 are detected in succession depending on the angle of rotation of the mixing tool 13c.2. From this it can be concluded which mixing tool 13c.2 is involved, so that it can be determined whether the mounted mixing tool 13c.2 matches with the mixing container provided.

[0091] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment which is based on RFID technology. The flange plate 17 has an RFID sensor 24; the mixing tool 13d has an RFID chip 25. If the mixing tool 13d is mounted on the mixing head 7, a sealing ring 26 presses, for example, against the flange plate 17 in order to seal off the area in which the RFID chip 25 is arranged and in particular to keep it free of dust. By reading the RFID chip by way of the RFID sensor, the corresponding information can be read in order to draw conclusions about the mounted mixing tool 13d.

[0092] FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment, wherein the detection of the mixing tool 13e mounted here on the mixing head 7 is detected by a detection contour (identified by reference sign 27 in an enlarged view in FIG. 7a) inside the mixing tool 13e. In this case, the detection contour 27 is an indentation introduced into the material. In the feather key 28 of the drive shaft of the mixing drive 6, tactile sensors 29, 29.1, 29.2 are arranged. While the two top tactile sensors 29, 29.1 detect the indentation 27 of the detection contour, the bottom tactile sensor 29.2 detects a protrusion of the detection contour in this case. This is used to identify the mixing tool 13e.

[0093] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment in which mixing tools 13f, 13f.1 (which are again shown simultaneously in this view) are detected by a scanner 30. The scanner 30 scans an area 31 and determines the corresponding diameter of the mixing tool in this area (identified here by reference sign 32, 32.1). A side view of this configuration is shown in FIG. 8a. It can be seen that the scanner 30 is at the same level as the mixing tools 13f, 13f.1, so that the scanner 30 can register the mixing tools 13f, 13f.1.

[0094] FIG. 9 shows a configuration in which the mixing tool 13g mounted on the mixing head 7 is detected by a camera system 33 via optical imaging methods.

[0095] If the mixing tool 13-13g, which is mounted on the mixing head 7, is detected—for example according to one of the embodiments described above—it is determined whether the mixing tool 13-13g matches with the provided mixing container, which in this embodiment has entered the container entrance 8. In particular, it is checked whether the diameter of the mixing tool 13-13g matches with the container opening, so that contact between the mixing tool 13-13g and the mixing container is avoided. If the check is positive, meaning that the mounted mixing tool 13-13g matches with the mixing container provided, the mixing container is moved up to the flange plate 17 so that the mixing tool 13-13g plunges into the container opening. The mixing process then begins.

[0096] FIG. 10 shows a mixing tool 13.2 mounted on a fitting of the mixing machine 1, namely on the drive shaft 34. The mixing tool 13.2 has a detection section E in the form of a pin, which protrudes from the material surrounding the detection section E. The detection section E penetrates into the drive shaft 34, which is designed here as a hollow shaft. The drive shaft 34 is mounted radially on the outside on a bearing arrangement 35. In the center of the drive shaft 34 a linkage 36, designed here as a rod, is used. The linkage 36 penetrates the drive shaft 34. The linkage 36 is surrounded at least in sections in the radial direction by the drive shaft 34 and is thus mounted and displaceable in a translational manner.

[0097] The detection section E acts on a distal end of the linkage 36, on the so-called sensor section 37, formed here by the end face of the rod. By mounting the mixing tool 13.2 on the drive shaft 34, the linkage is displaced in a translational manner, here in a vertical upward direction, into a different position. The displacement takes place against the spring force of a restoring spring 38, against which the linkage 36 is mounted relative to the mixing machine 1 in the displacement direction. Using the measuring device 39 designed as a proximity sensor, the detection device of the mixing machine 1 connected to the measuring device 39 detects whether the linkage 36 or the measuring section 40, therefore: the distal end of the linkage 36 opposite to the sensor section 37, protrudes far enough from the drive shaft 34 that it can be concluded that the detection section E of the mixing tool 13.2 acts on the sensor section 37 of the linkage 36. In this way, the mounted mixing tool 13.2 can be inferred.

[0098] FIGS. 11 to 14 show detail snapshots of two different mixing tools: a first mixing tool 13.2 (FIGS. 11 and 12) and a second mixing tool 13.3 (FIGS. 13 and 14) differing therefrom, each attached to the mixing machine 1. FIGS. 11 and 13 show the upper area of the mixing machine 1 (which is also shown in FIG. 10), in FIGS. 12 and 14 show the lower area, namely the area to which the mixing tool 13.2, 13.3 is attached.

[0099] The two mixing tools 13.2 and 13.3 differ in their maximum diameter. They also differ accordingly in their detection section: While the first mixing tool 13.2 has a detection section E, the second mixing tool 13.3 does not have this. Correspondingly, the linkage 36 is displaced translationally by the detection section E of the first mixing tool 13.2 in the drive shaft 34 (see FIG. 11), while it is not displaced in the case of the second mixing tool 13.3 (see FIG. 13). If the first mixing tool 13.2 is mounted, the measuring device 39 (designed as a proximity sensor) detects that the linkage 36 has been brought into its vicinity; this is exactly what is not the case with the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14 (other mixing tool 13.3 mounted). In this way, the two mixing tools 13.2 and 13.3 can be distinguished.

[0100] This distinction is assisted by the restoring force of the restoring spring 38, which moves the linkage 36 into its starting position shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 against the translational displacement by the detection section E when the detection section E no longer engages in the driveshaft 34 due to a mixing tool change.

[0101] Advantageously, the drive shaft 34 with the mixing tool 13.2, 13.3 mounted thereon can be set in a rotational movement without any problems, without the measuring device 39 being impaired in its measurement thereby or additional electrical contacts, for example via slip ring contacts, having to be led from the attachment of the mixing tool 13.2, 13.3. Due to the central arrangement of the linkage 36 in the center of the drive shaft 34, it also does not act as an eccentric imbalance that negatively influences smooth operation of the mixing tool 13.2, 13.3.

[0102] The invention has been described on the basis of exemplary embodiments.

[0103] Numerous further embodiments for implementing the inventive concept without departing from the scope of the invention set out in the claims are apparent to a person skilled in the art, without these having to be explained in greater detail in the context of these explanations.

[0104] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations therefore. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims hereinafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations are within their true spirit and scope. Each apparatus embodiment described herein has numerous equivalents.

[0105] The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0106] In general the terms and phrases used herein have their art-recognized meaning, which can be found by reference to standard texts, journal references and contexts known to those skilled in the art. The above definitions are provided to clarify their specific use in the context of the invention.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs  1 mixing machine  2 frame  3 first support  4 second support  5 mixing traverse  6 mixing drive  7 mixing head  8 mixing container entrance  9, 9.1 spindle drive 10, 10.1 lifting plate 11, 11.1 guide rod 12 mixing tool storage area 13, 13.1, 13a, 13b, mixing tool 13b.1, 13c, 13c.1, 13c.2, 13d, 13e, 13f, 13f.1, 13g 14, 14.1 mixing tool storage space 15, 15.1 receiving pin 16, 16.1 proximity sensor 17 flange plate 18, 18.1 ultrasonic sensors 19, 19.1 blade 20, 20.1, 20.2 light barrier 21 pivot point 22, 22.1, 22.2, 22.3, magnet 22.4, 22.5 23, 23.1 Hall sensor 24 RFID sensor 25 RFID chip 26 gamma ring 27 detection contour 28 feather key 29, 29.1, 29.2 tactile sensor 30 scanner 31 scanning area 32, 32.1 diameter 33 camera system 34 drive shaft 35 radial bearing 36 linkage 37 sensor section 38 restoring spring 39 measuring device 40 measuring section E detection section