RU2040326C1 - Aggregate for loose materials mixing and homogenization and apparatus for continuous flour and similar materials measuring in doses - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: loose materials mixing and homogenization. SUBSTANCE: simultaneous mixing of all components of raw materials in preliminary mixing chamber so, that after the procedure continuous homogenization is exercised. Weighers, conjugated with worm unloading apparatus, are made mainly in pipe-shaped form and together form one differential regulator of consumption. Contacting materials inner surface of whole system is pipe-shaped and during material movement in it is subjected to long time self-cleaning. Besides, several unloading apparatuses of weighters are located in the manner, their axes are crossing in one point, that is located on exit of preliminary mixing chamber. EFFECT: aggregate and apparatus are used in loose materials mixing and homogenization processes. 19 cl, 8 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to an apparatus for mixing and homogenizing bulk milled materials with several continuously operating multicomponent weighing batchers.

 For the mixing and homogenization of bulk crushed materials, in particular raw materials for the production of food products and animal feeds, the so-called batch mixers were used almost without exception. They provide good mixing and a high degree of homogenization of all even the smallest raw components, for example, for preparing a baking mixture. In practice, there are a variety of concepts that, in accordance with the industry, are of a special nature. As a simple solution, a batch mixer is performed simultaneously, like a bucket scale. The necessary raw materials are weighed one after another with the help of weighting signs according to a given recipe and then homogenized by mixing working bodies, covering the entire batch bucket. Homogeneity can dominate here due to the suitable performance of the mixing organs and the optimal time span. But with this decision, two fundamental flaws are obtained. Firstly, due to strictly separated technological cycles, an intermittent mode of operation is formed: dosing-weighing; mixing-homogenization; unloading.

Secondly, the volume of the batch mixer (for example, 1-2 m ³ ) and the time required for one cycle of mixing and homogenization, specify the amount that can be mixed in an hour. As a result, narrow boundaries have been set to increase productivity.

 In various ways, they tried to reduce these disadvantages, for example, by the fact that at least one part of the raw materials is simultaneously supplied by means of weight batchers. As a result of this, a real increase in productivity is achieved while additional bucket scales are used, in which, during the homogenization process, a new mixture can be completely prepared according to the recipe and descended into the batch mixer in a few seconds. Moreover, the time required for unloading can be reduced, when after the batch mixer there is a bucket of the same size, into which one full batch is dumped as needed. Thus, a continuous stream of product is discharged from this bucket through the discharge elements. Therefore, for the continuous production of a homogenized product with a high hourly output, high structural costs must be incurred, since a certain structural height, respectively, a building height is necessary for the three buckets to be located one above the other so that the product can be transferred by gravity. If sequentially processed product mixtures cannot be contaminated or if very high hygiene requirements are set, then thorough cleaning should be carried out periodically and after each replacement of the mixture, if necessary, certain residues should be removed from the buckets.

Continuous systems are used to somewhat reduce these shortcomings. A known installation for the continuous mixing of bulk materials with several continuously operating weighing batchers of components, which contains a chamber for preliminary mixing of the individual components. At the output of the said chamber there is a chamber with a horizontal screw that performs the function of additional homogenization. In the pre-mixing chamber are located mechanical mixing working bodies [1]
Due to the poor flow properties of at least one part of the components or the crushed materials, simple dosing elements for liquids or for freely flowing granular material cannot be used.

 The purpose of the invention is the continuous release of a homogenized product, as well as high throughputs with a high degree of homogeneity with respect to all components of the product.

 The goal is achieved in that in the installation for mixing and homogenization, containing a pre-mixing chamber for simultaneous continuous mixing of the individual components coming from multicomponent weighing batchers, part of the weighing batches is made in the form of differential flow controllers.

 Moreover, they (weighing batchers) for all low-flowing, for example, flour and flaky components, are made in the form of weights with a tube-shaped cross section and a screw discharge device.

 Subsequently, several multicomponent weighing batchers can be arranged radially relative to the preliminary mixing chamber so that their axes intersect at one point located on the axis of the said chamber. In this case, the distances from the end of the unloading devices to the intersection point are the same. This solution can completely eliminate the hitherto existing difficulties in the continuous homogenization of crushed materials. Continuous mixing and homogenization causes the simultaneous recharge of all individual components. Especially the use of a tubular balance with a screw as an unloading device on the principle of a differentiated flow meter allows true simultaneous supply of difficult-to-meter raw materials, such as bran, coarse product or high-fat flour, so that when starting up, during operation, and at the end of the loading of the mixture there are no obstacles or uncontrolled flows of the mixture.

 The weighing time can by principle of differential flow measurement fall to almost zero, as it occurs in a continuous product stream.

 The tubular cross-section of a tubular balance, like the tubular screw, allows the products to flow in a full cross section. As a result, during normal operation, the product actively covers mainly all internal surfaces and thus a self-cleaning action occurs. In no place can the product stick or remain. There are almost no residues that present a known problem in food processing. By appropriately programming the entire control, the current complete unloading of all elements after each product replacement can be provided.

 Unloading devices of multicomponent weighing batchers are located horizontally relative to the collection funnel or pre-mixing chamber with transfer of material to the homogenizer, so that the portions of the unloaded material of the screws of the multicomponent weighing batches are directly merged in a common collection point. The result can be further improved when the structural transfer of the product from the tubular screw to the collection funnel is carried out in such a way that a strong product flow does not displace weaker product flows on one side when mixing is performed immediately.

 For many loadings of the mixture, additives with a very low content relative to the base material can be mixed in addition to a mixture of two, three, several basic raw materials. For this, one or more microdifferential weight batchers can be used. In addition, it is advisable to arrange several multicomponent weighing batchers annularly and at approximately the same height with respect to the collection point.

 Another embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the pre-mixing chamber and the homogenizer form one structural unit, the homogenizer operating continuously.

 The pre-mixing chamber and the homogenizer form one structural unit, and it is presented in the form of a continuously working pneumo-homogenizer, which may contain a central exhaust pipe. An adjustable outlet is formed in the bottom region with the help of the central outlet pipe, so that it is controllable through computing means and / or high-quality sector means based on qualitative parameters, such as humidity, brightness, protein, raw fiber, etc. In the future, the homogenizer can also be performed in the form of a mechanical vertical conveyor with homogenizing elements, therefore, with the function of lifting (releasing) and with a controlled return to the premixing chamber. The vertical conveyor is located along the axis of the controlled outlet of the premixing chamber.

 With very high requirements for the homogeneity of the final product, pneumatically acting means or mechanical mixing tools can be located in the preliminary mixing chamber. At the same time, controlled means of product withdrawal must be interfaced with a vertical conveyor to control product withdrawal and product return. In each case, for automatically operating plants, it is proposed to place measuring and control devices at the output of the homogenizer for qualitative parameters of the product. For special applications, for example, feed mixtures, immediately after the homogenizer, there can be a spare hopper for mixing and holding the product, with which the conveyor is connected to circulate the product.

 Using the invention, most complex products can be successfully processed (mixed): flour of various quality, grains, dunst, bran, seasonings such as dry gluten, dyes, vitamin C, calcium, phosphate, egg powder, salt, baking powder, feed ingredients suitable for animal feed mixtures. However, instantaneous weighting signals can also be used to dispense water or other liquid components.

 The invention allows for the supply of special mixtures, for example mixtures for pasta, or making bread at the same time directly control the dosage of water, egg liquid mass or, for example, liquids.

 In FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for continuous mixing and homogenization; in FIG. 2 pre-mixing chamber; in FIG. 3 is a horizontal projection of the annular arrangement of multicomponent weight batchers with respect to the preliminary mixing chamber; in FIG. 4 embodiment with the additional use of a product warehouse; in FIG. 5 mechanical mixer with a homogenizer; in FIG. 6 simplified mixer-homogenizer unit; in FIG. 7 the same, but for very high requirements for homogeneity; in FIG. 8 pneumo-homogenizer.

 Installation for mixing and homogenization of bulk materials (Fig. 1, 2, 3) contains hoppers 1 of the original components, under which are placed feeders, which are unloading devices 2 and screw conveyors or cell drums 3. Under the feeders placed weighing batches 4, which together with the tubular screw 5 form a differential flow controller 6. The installation has a control device 7. Unloading devices of weighing batchers are connected to the preliminary mixing chamber 8, which together with the homogenizer 9 forms a single structural unit. The homogenizer is equipped with an exhaust pipe 10. Arrow 11 indicates the flow of the processed material.

 Each of the dispensers is connected via a control line 12 to a control device 7. The electronic device 13 provides the necessary signals to the feeders and turns on the vibrators 14. Accordingly, the signal is then output to one unified unit 15 of the drive of the tubular screw 5.

 In many applications, only one single microdifferential dispenser is required 16. It can be located directly in the premixing chamber 8.

 In the case of using several weighing batchers, the unloading devices are located radially relative to the chamber 8 so that the axes of the unloading devices intersect at one point 17 located on the axis of the chamber 8, while the distances from the end of the unloading devices to the said intersection point are the same.

 Weight batchers 4 are located annularly relative to the chamber 8 and are attached to it horizontally or vertically at the same height relative to point 17.

 The homogenizer 9 is equipped with a drive 18 of the shaft 19. The shaft is equipped with a large number of blades 20 and is placed in a closed tube-shaped housing 21.

 The weighing batchers 4 include a weighing bucket 22, which is connected in the upper part to the rigid supply 23 of the product by means of an elastic collar 24. The screw discharge device 25 is connected to the chamber 8 by means of a rubber collar 26. The discharge opening is indicated by 27. The differential flow controller 6 is equipped with measuring elements for weight quantities or a weight receiver (not shown).

 In the embodiment of FIG. 4 of the embodiment, after the homogenizer 9, a horizontal screw 28 is installed, to which a branch line 29 is connected. The vertical auger 30 is designed to divert insufficiently homogeneous material to the food warehouse 31, which is a spare hopper, under which a metering gateway 32 and a tubular softener 33 are placed, connected by a supply pipe 34 to the discharge line 29. The output of the homogenizer 9 is installed measuring and control device 35.

 FIG. 5 shows an advantageous embodiment, the pre-mixing chamber 8 being configured as a combined unit with a homogenizer 9. In the pre-mixing chamber 8 in FIG. 5, mechanical mixing working bodies 36 are additionally located, which may have a known shape per se.

 The homogenizer is a mechanical vortex homogenizer 37. A feed screw 39 is installed in the funnel-shaped part 38 of chamber 8. The homogenizer is equipped with homogenizing blades 40, driven by a motor 41. The homogenizer is equipped with overflow 42, directing the product or to overflow line 43 (to return to chamber 8) , or through the discharge gateway 44, conveyor 45, tubular softener 46 for completion 47. In the chamber 8, a bottom valve 48 is provided.

 FIG. 6 partially represents a simplified embodiment of FIG. 5. In particular, the prefabricated funnel of chamber 8 is formed by one simple, combined unit: a pre-mixing chamber homogenizer, in which the corresponding homogenizing working bodies are located, which can also be supplemented with fluid tools (Fig. 7). This embodiment can be applied when, for example, only different types of flour are to be mixed and homogenized, therefore, microcomponents should not always be fed.

 In addition, in FIG. Figure 6 shows the possibility of direct passage of the main product coming from the mills, for example baking flour or pasta, through the first control differential scales 49. A small warehouse 50, 51-53 weighing batchers of other components are installed in front of the differential scales.

 FIG. 7 is a further development of the apparatus of FIG. 6. Moreover, all the advantages of the installation of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, regarding very high requirements for homogeneity, are automatically supported by trace elements. Reference numeral 54 schematically indicates the location of all differential dispensers in chamber 8, similar to FIG. 1-3.

 The chamber 8 and the homogenizer 9 (Fig. 8) can be combined into a single pneumatic homogenizer 55 containing a central exhaust pipe 56. Overflow level 57 is marked above the pipe.

 The pneumatic homogenizer is made with a double bottom 58 formed by a porous plate connected to the blower 59 through an adjustable choke 60. The arrow 61 indicates the direction of movement of the circulating material. Air is vented through suction 62.

 The pipe 56 is installed with the possibility of vertical movement, forming the outlet section of the pneumatic homogenizer. In the latter case, the pipe is led to an adjustable outlet 63.

 Considering separately a device for continuous dosing of flour and similar materials (Fig. 7), it can be pointed out that the transition from a vertically arranged tubular shape to a horizontal screw discharge dispenser is made with the same cross section. The balance is equipped with a supporting hopper 64 with a controllable bottom valve 65. The volume of the hopper is 50-100% of the volume of the balance.

 The balance together with the motor 66 form a node suspended on the bending rods 67.

 Installation works as follows.

 Raw material A and B is fed from hoppers 1 (Fig. 1) through sub-hopper feeders to multi-component weight batchers 4.

 From both differential flow controllers 6, the weight quantities set by the control device 7 simultaneously arrive in the pre-mixing chamber 8 in the homogenizer 9 and are transferred for further processing through the outlet pipe 10 (arrow 11). The entire product flow is controlled by the control device 7. The device 7 or the computer transmits the corresponding signals to all the relevant elements of the installation. In particular, each of the multi-component weight batchers 4 receives an accurate dosing command via the control line 12. The electronic device 13 provides the necessary signals, for example, to the feeders, respectively, turns on the vibrators 14. Similarly, one further signal is issued to one standardized unit 15 of the drive of the tubular screw 5 in order to maintain the volumetric nominal batching capacity for start using the speed, which ( signal) then, after the end of volumetric dosing, it is replaced by the weight per unit time by differential weighing and, accordingly, is adjusted according to the set state wu mixture or prescription.

 In many cases, when applying to a mixture of two or more basic components, for example, two grades of flour, one or more additional components are added, but with a very low content. For this, special, microdifferential weighing batchers 16 are used. If only one single microdifferential weighing batcher 16 is required, it can be located directly along the preliminary mixing chamber 8. Thus, all the described raw material components are reduced to one (imaginary) collection point 17 and flow directly into the homogenizer 9. The homogenizer 9 has a drive 18 of the blade shaft 19, providing a relatively high peripheral speed so that a large number of blades 20 inside the closed tube-shaped housing 21 Intense turbulence occurs.

 If in the multicomponent weighing batcher 4 the quantity of the product has reached the selected height and filling, the subsequent product through the feeder is stopped through the corresponding signal of the balance. At least when the installation starts, after a short settling time, the actual weight of the quantity of product in the weighing bucket 22 is established on the scales and can be started by turning on the drive unit 15 by unloading the product. If the corresponding numerical values are accumulated in the control device 7, then by setting a certain number of revolutions of the pipe screw 5, the desired performance can be output. The dosing rate set as a result of this is a function of the speed and volumetric efficiency of the tubular screw 5. This means that the dosing accuracy by volumetric dosing is worse than the accuracy of differential weight measurement. Already with small unloadable quantities, a weight reduction is established in the multi-component weight doser 4. Reducing weight per unit time allows for a change in the weight definition of the material being discharged. The weight value measured by the weighing method can be adjusted almost without a time delay, in any case, the required change in the number of revolutions of the tubular screw 5 through the drive unit 15. In the unloading devices 25 (FIG. 3), the tubular screw 5 exists along an equal supply path until individual partial flows meet. After a predetermined time dosing interval in the weighing bucket 22, the contents dropped to the lower filling height. With this value, adopted as the lower level of filling, the signal for the actuation of the feeding element is again issued, and the weighing bucket 22 is again filled. During filling, the weight signal cannot be used for the dosing capacity of the tubular screw 5. But during the filling period, the corresponding stored or set value or the number of revolutions associated with the dosing power is maintained, or the measured number of revolutions is constantly held. The installation is used for mixing flour materials, especially in the field of mills, feed mills, bakeries or, for example, for preparing material in pasta factories, at least for components that are somewhat fluid. But with appropriate design in the area of the homogenizer 9, additional liquid components can also be mixed.

 The product in the chamber 8 (Fig. 4) of the preliminary mixing and from it under the action of gravity is fed directly to the continuous homogenizer 9. This is a solution for simple mixing tasks. Accordingly, a homogenizer 9 is simplified. At the output of the homogenizer 9, a measuring and control device 35 is located, after which the material is fed through a horizontal screw 28 to the product discharge line 29. In this embodiment, the first fraction, which is not sufficiently homogenized, can be fed through the second vertical screw 3 to the food warehouse 31, from which it is again fed to the product discharge line 29 through the supply pipe 34 in very small quantities. But it is also possible through multiple circulating feeds to automatically homogenize the product in the grocery warehouse, while it (the product) from the tubular softener 33 is fed back to the horizontal auger 28 and the vertical auger 30. All monitoring, control and regulation tasks can be carried out here, as on FIG. 1, respectively: mixer, computing device 7.

 The quality of the mixture in a continuous process depends on the homogeneity of the individual raw materials. Therefore, FIG. 4 shows another possibility for the homogenization of various feed components. Several similar types of raw materials are combined into groups with current shares, for example, 25, 33 or 50% are fed to a differential flow controller. Moreover, each share should be supplied only with an accuracy of ± 5%. This means that under the appropriate bins 1 with similar raw materials components, inexpensive unloading elements such as, for example, rotary locks with a preselected speed can be used. However, the mixing of the group is recorded with the accuracy of the weights through the component weighing batchers 16.

 In the installation of FIG. 5, it is important that here all the constituent materials simultaneously and with the weight accuracy in the correct composition enter the preliminary mixing chamber 8, so that good mixing is carried out immediately, homogenization proper, i.e. uniform high dispersion of all components is carried out in a mechanical vortex homogenizer 37. In the funnel-shaped part 38, the feed screw 39 moves the incoming material into the vortex homogenizer 37, equipped with homogenizing blades 40. The homogenizer is driven by a reversible motor 41. In this case, the mixing working bodies 36 can be rotated the same drive. From overflow 42, the cargo is first transported through the NiR measuring and control device 35, from where it either flows back through the bypass line 43 to the chamber 8 or is fed through the discharge gateway 44 for further processing. For very simple cases of mixing two types of flour, the mixed material can be discharged directly from the chamber 8 through a controllable bottom valve 48 and transferred through a conveyor 45 for the same purpose as from the discharge gateway 44. In another case, with especially high requirements for homogeneity, the first stream and / or residual quantities can also be transmitted through the bottom valve 48 for refinement 47.

 Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 6, which indicates the possibility of direct passage of the main product coming from the mills, for example, baking flour or pasta, through the first control scales 49. The control scales 49 measure the continuous flow M of product from the mill and bring it directly to the preliminary mixing chamber 8. A small warehouse 50 in front of the differential balance takes back pressure during the phase of gravimetric measurement. All other components based on a given recipe and each of the instantaneous weight signals of the control weights 49 with each of the dependent weight batchers 51-53 or through an appropriate control, similar to FIG. 4 and 5, but with the current weight adjustment, can be supplied in the desired percentages and homogenized.

 And thus, for the first time, after the continuous technological process in the mill itself, it is also possible to produce homogeneous flour mixtures under continuous operation without appropriate intermediate storage, which is a great progress with all products that should not be stored according to product quality requirements.

 In the installation of FIG. 8, material may be supplied identically to FIG. 5. During normal operation, all the main components of the material are fed into the pre-mixing chamber 8 and filled up to the overflow height 57 of the pipe 56. At the same time, air blower 59 is blown in through the double bottom 58 with a porous plate through an adjustable choke 60. Due to the fact that the individual components are fed to the periphery, and the material homogenized by liquefaction and intense swirl flows down to the center (arrow 61) and the air is also sucked out in the center, through the suction 62 with the help of dry air it can be reached excellent homogeneity, especially for ground products.

 To release the product, the pipe 56 is lowered to interface with the hole 63.

 The invention also provides a host of other new combination possibilities.

Claims (19)

 1. Installation for mixing and homogenizing bulk materials, containing several devices for the continuous dosing of components, a preliminary mixing chamber for simultaneous continuous mixing of the individual components, characterized in that at least part of the weighing batchers are made in the form of differential flow controllers.  2. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the weight dispensers are made in the form of a tubular balance with a tube-shaped cross section and a screw discharge device.  3. Installation according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the unloading devices of the weighing batchers are located radially relative to the preliminary mixing chamber so that their axes intersect at one point located on the axis of the preliminary mixing chamber, while the distance from the end of the unloading devices to the aforementioned intersection points are the same.  4. Installation according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the weight dispensers are arranged annularly relative to the pre-mixing chamber and are attached to it horizontally or vertically at the same height relative to the point located on the axis of the said chamber.  5. Installation according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pre-mixing chamber and the homogenizer form one structural unit.  6. Installation according to claim 5, characterized in that the mixing chamber and the homogenizer are made in the form of a pneumo-homogenizer.  7. Installation according to claim 6, characterized in that the pneumatic homogenizer contains a central exhaust pipe.  8. Installation according to claim 7, characterized in that an adjustable outlet is made in the bottom of the pneumatic homogenizer under the central exhaust pipe.  9. Installation according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the homogenizer is made in the form of a vertical conveyor, the output of which is communicated with the preliminary mixing chamber.  10. Installation according to claim 9, characterized in that the vertical conveyor is located coaxially with the adjustable outlet of the pre-mixing chamber and protrudes from it.  11. Installation according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the pre-mixing chamber is equipped with mechanical mixing working bodies.  12. Installation according to claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the vertical conveyor is provided with controllable means of product withdrawal for control during removal and return of the product.  13. Installation according to PP.5 to 12, characterized in that the installation is equipped with a measuring and control device for product quality, located at the output of the homogenizer.  14. Installation according to claims 5 to 13, characterized in that it is equipped with a spare hopper for mixing and holding the product, with which the conveyors for circulation are interfaced, while the spare hopper is connected to a horizontal homogenizer.  15. A device for continuous dosing of flour and similar materials, containing scales, characterized in that the latter are tubular in shape and each of them is equipped with a screw discharge element rigidly connected to it in the lower part.  16. The device according to p. 15, characterized in that the transition from a vertically arranged tubular shape to a horizontal screw discharge dispenser is made with the same cross section.  17. The device according to p. 15, characterized in that the scales form a unit with the drive motor, which is suspended on the bending rods.  18. The device according to PP.15 to 17, characterized in that it is equipped with a retaining hopper with a controllable bottom valve located above the tubular balance.  19. The device according to p. 18, characterized in that the volume of the retaining hopper is 50 to 100% of the volume of the balance.

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