EP2656927A1 - Method and device for fractionating bulk goods - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a housing (3) with an inner space for accommodating a wire. The bulk material (2) is separated into two fractions. The housing has an inlet (5) for feeding the bulk material, and an outlet for discharging the fraction of bulk material. A drive (7) is arranged on and/or in the housing. Several rods (8) are operatively connected to housing on one surface and the drive displaces the housing in free swinging motion. The housing has a roof (9), a bottom, and a side wall (12). The rod is connected with the side wall. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) a method for fractionating bulk material; (2) a method for upgrading and/or modifying device for fractionating bulk material; and (3) a computer program product for fractionating bulk material.

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for the fractionation of bulk material, a computer program product for the method and a method for upgrading and / or converting a device for fractionating bulk material according to the preambles of the independent claims.

Such devices for fractionating bulk material, such as unpurified cereals, which can be separated by the device into a purified fraction and a waste fraction, are known in the art.

From the US 3,422,955 is a screening device with a housing for receiving a sieve stack for the fractionation of bulk known. The device has a frame on which the housing is suspended freely swinging by means of cables.

This known device for fractionating bulk material has the disadvantage that a frame for suspending the housing is necessary, which is costly. In addition, a flexible scaling of the device is possible by adding further housings either by enlarging the frame, which is expensive, or by adjacent arrangement of housings suspended in racks, which is costly through the use of multiple racks and leads to a large amount of space.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to avoid the disadvantages of the known, in particular to provide a device and a method for fractionating bulk material, which is reliable in operation and inexpensive to produce and with respect to the throughput of bulk material through the device simple and inexpensive is scalable at the best possible utilization of the existing footprint for the device for fractionation. A further object of the present invention is also to provide a method for upgrading and / or converting an existing apparatus for fractionation in such a way that the apparatus is scalable in a simple and flexible manner with regard to the throughput of bulk material with optimum utilization of the installation surface. These objects are achieved by an apparatus and method having the features of the independent claims.

The device according to the invention for fractionating bulk material comprises at least one housing with an inner space for accommodating at least one screen. In particular, the interior is suitable for receiving at least one sieve pile. The bulk material is separated into at least a first fraction and a second fraction. The housing comprises at least one inlet for feeding the bulk material onto the sieve and at least one outlet for discharging at least one fraction of the bulk material. At least one drive is arranged on and / or in the housing. The housing can be erected on a surface by means of a plurality of bars operatively connected to the housing and can be set into a freely oscillating movement by means of the drive. In other words, the rods are operatively connected to the housing, wherein the housing is erectable by means of the rods on the surface and in the erected state by means of the drive in the freely oscillating movement is displaceable.

For the purposes of the present application, the term "bulk material" is understood to mean a granular, floury or else lumpy material which is present in a pourable form and, in particular, is free-flowing. In particular, as a bulk rice, flour, Grain, flowable, powdery substances and any combination thereof understood.

For the purposes of the present application, a "fractionation" is a separation of a material into at least two parts, i. H. a first fraction and a second fraction understood.

Under an "operative connection" of the rods with the housing is understood in the context of the present application, an attachment of the rods by means of a rod attachment means on the housing. Such rod fastening devices are, for example, plug-in devices, clamping devices, screwing devices, an adhesive bond, a weld or any combination thereof.

For the purposes of the present application, a "surface" is understood to be the floor on which the device is set up, for example a factory floor. The device is therefore not suspended.

For the purposes of the present application, the term "a and / or b" means the following possible combinations: a; b; a and b; a and no b; b and no a.

The device has the advantage that the possibility of dispensing with a frame for suspending the housing as known from the prior art, the cost of manufacturing can be reduced. In addition, a better utilization of the existing footprint for the device is achieved because the footprint compared to the prior art is reduced.

For the purposes of the present application, the term "standing area" is understood to mean the area of the device that is actually necessary, which space is required for operation.

When used as intended, the housing preferably has a roof, a bottom and a side wall, wherein the bars are operatively connected to the side wall of the housing. In particular, the inlet in the roof and / or the outlet are arranged in the floor.

For the purposes of the present application, the term "sidewall" means, when used as intended, a wall of the housing which is arranged between the roof and the floor and surrounds the interior in the circumferential direction.

The attachment of the rods to the side wall has the advantage that, depending on the required vibration characteristics of the device, the position of the operative connection between the housing and rods is selectable. In addition, this has the advantage that on the roof and / or the floor if necessary more space remains for the arrangement of, for example, drive, inlet and outlet.

Particularly preferably, the rods are arranged spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the housing.

For the purposes of the present application, the term "circumferential direction" means, when the device is used as intended, a direction substantially perpendicular to the effect of gravity on the outer envelope, in particular along a cross section lying in this plane, through the housing.

The spacing of the bars circumferentially from each other has the advantage that the bars depending on the requirements such as vibration and stability of the device can be arranged in operation.

Most preferably, the drive is arranged on the roof and / or on the floor.

For the purposes of the present application, the wording "on the roof" and "on the ground" means that the drive is not arranged in the interior. For example, the drive may be arranged on the outside of the housing on the roof or under the floor or, for example, the roof and / or the floor may be formed as a cavity separate from the interior, in which the drive is arranged.

The arrangement of the drive has the advantage that the footprint of the device is reduced for a further improved utilization of the existing footprint.

Preferably, the rods with a fastening device on and / or in the surface can be fastened.

This has the advantage of secure fixation of the device on and / or in the surface, so that in operation, the footprint of the device is minimized and no further fastening devices are necessary, which reduces the manufacturing cost.

Particularly preferably, the fastening device is designed as a screwing device, as a recess in the surface for the rods, as a clamping device, as a suction device or any combination thereof.

In particular, the recess in the surface is formed complementary to the rods, so that they can engage in the recess for fixing the rods.

For the purposes of the present application, the term "complementary" is understood to mean that two components can essentially intermesh with each other in an exactly fitting manner.

For the purposes of the present application, a "suction device" is understood to be a device for fastening the rods on and / or in the surface by means of suction.

These fastening devices have the advantage that depending on the requirements, the correspondingly recommended fastening device can be selected.

Most preferably, the housing has a substantially rectangular cross-section substantially perpendicular to the side wall.

The term "substantially perpendicular to the side wall" in the context of the present application means a section through the side wall of the housing substantially perpendicular to the effect of gravity when used as intended. In particular, the cut is substantially parallel to the roof and / or bottom of the housing.

The formation of the housing with a rectangular cross-section has the advantage that the best possible utilization of the existing footprint is made possible, especially in the arrangement of multiple housing.

Preferably, the rods in the region of the corners of the housing are operatively connected to the housing. In particular, the device has a bar at each corner and preferably a total of four bars.

For the purposes of the present application, the wording "in the area of the corners" means that the bars are operatively connected to the housing adjacent to the corners and in particular at a distance of not more than 20% and particularly preferably not more than 10% of the distance between two corners respective corner are arranged.

The arrangement of the bars in the region of the corners has the advantage that the reliability of the device is increased in operation while minimizing the production costs by a small number of rods.

When used as intended, the rods are preferably operatively connected to the side wall above the center of gravity of the housing with the housing.

The center of gravity of the housing is the center of gravity of the housing without bulk material.

Particularly preferably, the rods are in use according to the side wall length L in the range of 30% of the side wall length L starting from the inlet facing the end of the side wall operatively connected to the side wall. Preferably, the rods in the range of 20%, more preferably in the range of 10% and most preferably in the range of 5% of the side wall length L, starting from the end of the side wall facing the inlet operatively connected to the side wall.

For example, the inlet may be arranged in the roof of the housing; starting from the roof along the side wall, the bars are operatively connected to the side wall in the region of 30% of the side wall length; with a side wall length L = 1 m, a rod is thus fixed starting from the roof in the area of the first 30 cm.

For the purposes of the present application, the "lateral wall length" is understood to mean the average distance between the roof and the floor when used as intended, parallel to the direction of gravity.

This arrangement of the bars on the side wall allows for reliable operation, thereby minimizing maintenance costs, making the device more cost effective in operation.

Most preferably, the device comprises at least two housing substantially abutting on the side walls, wherein the rods in the region of the outer corners of the housing are operatively connected to the housings.

For the purposes of the present application, the expression "substantially fitting" means that the side walls abut each other at least in sections. Alternatively, it is also understood that parts of the device which are connected to the side wall, abut each other such as frames for fixing the side wall.

The design of the device with adjacent housings has the advantage that a simple scaling with optimal utilization of the existing footprint for the device is made possible. The arrangement of the rods in the region of the outer corners of the housing, the flexible scalability of the throughput of bulk material through the device as possible optimal utilization of the footprint further improved. In addition, the costs are minimized because, for example, even with the use of two adjacent housings with rectangular cross-section, the number of outer corners remains the same and thus no additional rods with fasteners are necessary.

For the purposes of the present application, "outside corners" are understood to mean the corners of the housings which do not rest on adjacent housings.

Preferably, the rods have a modulus of elasticity of greater than 20,000 N / mm ² , preferably greater than 30,000 N / mm ² and particularly preferably greater than 40,000 N / mm ² . In particular, the rods are made of glass fiber reinforced plastic (abbreviated GRP) and / or steel.

Particularly preferably, at least one of the GFRP rods has a diameter in the range from 30 mm to 40 mm, preferably from 32 mm to 38 mm and particularly preferably from 33 mm to 35 mm.

Particularly preferably, at least one of the steel rods has a diameter in the range from 15 mm to 25 mm, preferably from 17 mm to 24 mm and particularly preferably from 19 mm to 21 mm.

In particular, the rods (for example of GFRP) have a tensile strength of 250 to 500 N / mm ² along the longitudinal axis of the rods. In particular, the rods (for example made of steel) have a tensile strength of 1000 to 1500 N / mm ² along the longitudinal axis of the rods.

The length s of the rods is preferably in the range from 1 m to 2 m, particularly preferably from 1.3 m to 1.6 m.

These material properties of the rods have led in practice to a reliable and low-maintenance and thus cost-effective operation.

Most preferably, the device has a control and / or regulating device for controlling and / or regulating the device and in particular the drive. The control and / or regulating device is designed such that a resonance oscillation state of the device can be avoided and / or relinquished.

For example, during operation, a resonance vibration state of the device may occur unintentionally, in which large forces act on the device and, in particular, the rods, which can lead to material fatigue and possibly to material breakage.

The arrangement of the control and / or regulating device has the advantage that when a resonance oscillation state occurs, the device, such as, for example, the drive or else the feed rate of bulk material, can be varied.

The control and / or regulating device can be designed, for example, as a digital computer with electronic modules, so that the drive and / or the bulk material supply can be controlled and / or regulated. Such devices are known in the art.

Preferably, the device has a vibration sensor for vibration measurement, wherein the control and / or regulation of the device by means of the control and / or regulating device can be carried out in dependence on the vibration measurement.

This has the advantage that by means of the vibration sensor, a resonance vibration state can be detected early and the device is controlled accordingly and / or regulated to leave this, which makes the operation more reliable and cheaper by less material wear.

Suitable vibration sensors such as a piezoelectric vibration sensor are known in the art and can be selected according to the requirements.

Most preferably, the rods have a natural frequency f unlike the excitation frequency a of the housing by the drive, wherein in particular the natural frequency f is smaller than the excitation frequency a.

The natural frequency of the rod is defined as follows: with the gravitational acceleration g ≈ 9.8 m / sec ² known to the person skilled in the art; s: Length of the bars.

The excitation frequency a is the frequency at which the housing is excited by the drive to vibrate.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of fractionating bulk material with a device as described above. The method comprises the step of fractionating bulk material in the apparatus. In particular, there is a control and / or regulation of the vibration behavior of the device, such that a resonance oscillation state of the device is avoided.

This method is used with a device as described above performed and therefore has the corresponding advantages described above.

An additional aspect of the present invention relates to a method for upgrading and / or converting a bulk material fractionation apparatus. The method comprises the step of assembling a plurality of bars, such that a housing of the device can be erected by means of the bars on a surface for producing a device as described above.

This has the advantage that an already installed apparatus for fractionating bulk material can be upgraded and / or converted to produce a device as described above, which is cost-effective, since no installation of a completely new device for fractionating bulk material is necessary.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program product which can be loaded directly into the internal memory of a digital computer and in particular a control and / or regulating device and comprises software code sections with which a device as described above with a method for fractionating bulk material such described above is controllable and / or controllable when the product is running on the digital computer.

The computer program product can be designed, for example, as a CD, DVD, USB memory, hard disk and computer or any combination thereof comprising the software code sections. The computer program product may also be designed as the software code-comprehensive, downloadable software. In particular, the software is downloadable to a CD, DVD, hard disk, USB memory and a computer or any combination thereof.

Figur 1:

perspektivische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung zur Fraktionierung von Schüttgut;

Figur 2:

perspektivische Darstellung einer alternativen erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung zur Fraktionierung von Schüttgut mit zwei Gehäusen;

Figur 3:

schematische Darstellung einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung zur Fraktionierung von Schüttgut in einer Vorderansicht.

Further features and advantages will be explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments for better understanding, without the invention being restricted to the exemplary embodiments. Show it:

FIG. 1:

perspective view of an inventive device for fractionation of bulk material;

FIG. 2:

perspective view of an alternative inventive device for fractionating bulk material with two housings;

FIG. 3:

schematic representation of an inventive device for fractionation of bulk material in a front view.

In FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a device 1 for fractionating bulk material 2 shown.

The device 1 comprises a housing 3, which is operatively connected by means of a rod attachment 19 with rods 8, so that the device 1 can be set up by means of the rods 8 on a surface, not shown here. In the present illustration, only three rods 8, which are operatively connected by means of the rod fasteners 19 with the housing 3, visible. A fourth staff is hidden because of the perspective.

The housing 3 comprises an inlet 5 for feeding the bulk material 2 into the interior space on a sieve stack arranged in the interior. The inlet 5 is arranged on or in the roof 9. On the roof 9, an annular drive 7 is further arranged for the displacement of the device 1 in a swinging movement for carrying out the fractionation. The inlet 5 on the roof 9 is disposed within the annular drive 7, which is why bulk material 2 falls through the drive.

The rods 8 are made of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP) and have a modulus of elasticity of 20,000 N / mm ² . A tensile strength along the longitudinal axis of the rods 8 is about 400 N / mm ² and. The rods 8 have a circular cross-section with a diameter D = 34mm.

The rods 8 are operatively connected to the housing 3 in the region of the corners 14 of the housing. The rods 8 are operatively connected to a side wall 12 of the housing.

The housing 3 comprises a door 18 for inserting or removing sieve stacks into or out of the interior of the housing. In addition, this access facilitates the maintenance of the device.

In FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative inventive device 1 shown.

The same reference signs denote here and below the same features in the figures and are therefore explained again only when needed.

In contrast to FIG. 1 has the device 1 according to FIG. 2 two housing 3, which are bolted together. The rods 8 are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the housing as well as in FIG. 1 are shown and are operatively connected in the region of the outer corners 14 of the housing 3 with the housings 3. The present embodiment of the inventive device 1 thus also comprises four rods.

In operation, bulk material 2 can be conveyed through the two inlets 5 of the two housings 3 into the interior spaces of the housings 3 and be fractionated in parallel.

In FIG. 3 is shown in a schematic representation in a front view of another alternative device 1 according to the invention for the fractionation of bulk material.

The housing 3 is erected on a surface 11 by means of rods 8, only two of which are visible here. The rods 8 are operatively connected by means of the rod attachment 19 with the housing 3. The surface 11, which is a floor of a factory floor, has as fastening means 13 recesses into which the rods can engage. In the present case, the Aussparrungen are complementary to the outer shape of the rods 8 formed, which is not shown.

The housing 3 has a bottom 10 with an outlet 6 and an interior 4, in which stack of sieves can be arranged. For the sake of clarity, these are not shown here.

Furthermore, a drive 7 is arranged with a control device 15 under the bottom 10. On the roof 9, an inlet 5 for the bulk material and a vibration sensor 16 for measuring the vibration behavior of the device 1 is arranged in operation. In addition, the device 1 comprises a computer program product 17 which is loaded into the internal memory of a digital computer for controlling the method for fractionating bulk material. The communication between controller 15 and digital computer is wireless in the present case. Alternatively, a wire connection can be used.

The rods 8 are operatively connected to the side wall 12 along the sidewall, in the range of 10% of the sidewall length L = 1 m, based on the sidewall length L, starting from the inlet-facing end of the sidewall.

In operation, by means of the computer program product in communication with the control device 15, the drive 7 comprising a flywheel mass is set in motion in such a way that the device is set in a swinging motion.

The rods 8 have a length s = 1.5 m with a natural frequency f ≈ 2.5 Hz. The drive 7 has an excitation frequency of about 5 Hz.

The rods 8 are made of steel with a diameter of about 20 mm.

Claims (15)

Device (1) for fractionating bulk material (2), comprising at least one housing (3) with an interior space (4) for receiving at least one sieve, in particular at least one sieve stack, for fractionating the bulk material (2) into at least one first fraction and one second fraction, wherein the housing (3) has at least one inlet (5) for supplying the bulk material (2) to the screen and at least one outlet (6) for discharging at least one fraction of the bulk material (2), wherein on and / or at least one drive (7) is arranged in the housing (3), characterized in that the housing (3) can be set up on a surface (11) by means of a plurality of rods (8) operatively connected to the housing (3) and by means of the drive (7 ) is displaceable in a freely oscillating movement. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing (3) when used as intended has a roof (9), a bottom (10) and a side wall (12), the bars (8) being connected to the side wall (12 ) of the housing (3) are operatively connected, wherein in particular the inlet (5) in the roof (9) and / or the outlet (6) in the bottom (10) are arranged. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rods (8) in the circumferential direction of the housing (3) are spaced from each other. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the drive (7) on the roof (9) and / or on the bottom (10) is arranged. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rods with a fastening means (13) on and / or in the surface (11) can be fastened. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the housing (3) in section substantially perpendicular to the side wall (12) has a substantially rectangular cross-section. Device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the rods (8) in the region of the corners (14) of the housing (3) are operatively connected to the housing (3), wherein in particular the device (1) at each corner (14 ) has a rod (8) and preferably a total of four rods (8). Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the rods (8) when properly used on the side wall (12) over the center of gravity of the housing are operatively connected to the housing. Device (1) according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the rods (8) when used according to the side wall length L in the range of 30%, preferably in the range of 20%, particularly preferably in the range of 10% and most preferably in the range of 5% of the side wall length L, starting from the end of the side wall (12) facing the inlet (5), are operatively connected to the side wall (12). Device (1) according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the device (1) comprises at least two on the side walls (12) substantially adjacent housing (3), wherein the rods (8) in the region of the outer corners (14) of the housing (3) with the housings (3) are operatively connected. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the rods (8) has a modulus of elasticity of greater than 20,000 N / mm ² , preferably greater than 30,000 N / mm ² and particularly preferably greater than 40 '. 000 N / mm ² , wherein the rods (8) are made of glass fiber reinforced plastic and / or steel. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the rods have a natural frequency f unlike the excitation frequency a of the housing by the drive (6), wherein in particular the natural frequency f is smaller than the excitation frequency a. Process for the fractionation of bulk material (2) with a device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by the step of fractionating bulk material (2) in the device (1), wherein in particular a control and / or regulation of the vibration behavior the device (1) takes place such that a resonance vibration state of the device (1) is avoided. Method for upgrading and / or retrofitting a device (1) for fractionating bulk material (2), comprising the step of mounting a plurality of rods (8), such that a housing (3) of the device (1) by means of the rods (2) 8) can be set up on a surface (11) for producing a device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12. Computer program product (17) which can be loaded directly into the internal memory of a digital computer and in particular a control and / or regulating device (15) and comprises software code sections with which a device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12 for fractionating Bulk material (2) according to claim 13 can be controlled and / or regulated when the product is running on the digital computer.

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