Title of Invention

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GRANULATE

Abstract Disclosed is a device for the production of a granulate whereby a perforated rotating outer tube with a supply device for the dripping material arranged on the inside thereof is disposed on a rocker whereby the drive motor for the drum is disposed as a counterweight on the side opposite the pivoting axis of the rocker. The rocker is pressed against a stop for positioning and is provided with a pivoting arm part (6a) which bears the bearing for a side of the rotating drum and which can be pivoted laterally with the bearing for maintenance activities or similar in order to enable easy dismantling of the drum.
Full Text Description
Apparatus for the Production of Granulate
The invention relates to an apparatus for the production of granulate comprising a perforated
rotating drum with a feeding device for flowable masses in its interior space the exit openings of
which come to overlap at the bottom circumference of the drum with the perforations of the latter,
as well as a cooling belt disposed below the rotating drum upon which the masses, that exit the
drum in the form of drops, fall and solidify.
DE 3421625 discloses an apparatus for the production of granulate comprising a perforated
rotating drum and a cooling belt disposed below the rotating drum, upon which the masses that exit
the drum in the form of drops fall and solidify. The drum according to DE 3421625 is held by
support arms that can be pivoted around a swivel axis that extends parallel relative to and in the
same plane as an axis of the drum. The support arms are formed as rigid parts and have at their
respective free ends a ball bearing to rotatably support the drum.
Another apparatus is known from DE 28 53 054 C3. In the marketplace, these apparatuses are
known under the designation of "rotoformers;" and they have proved their value with regard to the
processing of the most varied kinds of melts of granulate. In these devices, the rotating drum is
held up on both sides above the cooling belt, employing the aid of a support frame. But when the
apparatus is to be serviced or also when the rotating outer tube is to be replaced with another tube
that has a different perforation distribution or a different perforation diameter, a relatively complex
disassembly effort is required because one of the bearings must be axially pulled off before the
drum can be released. Moreover, during operation of such rotoformers, a safety risk may arise at
times because the rotoformers, which is fixedly disposed above the cooling belt, forms together
with the cooling belt a draw-in gap that may result in damage to the device and even possible
injury to the operator.
Therefore, the object of the present invention consists in providing an apparatus of the kind
described in the introduction specifically in such a way that, on the one hand, easy mounting and
removal of the rotating drum and, on the other hand, safe operation are made possible.
To achieve this object it is envisioned that for an apparatus of the kind as described at the outset
the drum is held on support arms that can be swung around an axis which extends parallel relative
to the axis of the drum. With this configuration, it is possible to pivot the drum in a simple fashion
upwards and away from the cooling belt if service and
maintenance work or similar tasks are to be performed. On the other hand, however, this
way it is also possible to easily adjust the distance between the rotating drum and the
cooling belt and, if in an improvement of the present invention the drum is positioned by
way of a stop that is disposed on a support frame against which the support arms are
pressed, also to provide for the possibility that the rotating drum can be automatically
pivoted upward should any items be pulled into the draw-in gap.
The new configuration therefore allows for better accessibility during service and
maintenance work, increases the safety of the device during its operation and allows,
moreover, for easily carrying out any adjustments in relation to setting the distance of the
rotating drum from the cooling belt.
An improvement of the invention provides therefore that the stop be realized as
adjustable.
An improvement of the invention envisions that the support arms can be configured as
part of a rocker whose arms, extending beyond the swiveling axis, are interconnected by
a cross bar. The result is, on the one hand, a stable swiveling arrangement and, on the
other hand, the driving motor for the drum, usually connected to the driving wheel of the
drum by way of a chain drive, can be disposed on the cross bar whereby a certain weight
equalization is achieved at the location of the rocker that ensures that the rocker including
its rotating drum that is disposed thereon can be pivoted without exercising any major
application of force.
To improve the work processes during service and maintenance tasks or when
exchanging rotating drums, one of the support arms can advantageously have the ability
to pivot around an axis that extends in the vicinity of the swiveling axis and in a
perpendicular direction relative to the swiveling axis. This pivotable support arm can be
equipped with a bearing arrangement that engages on a front side of the drum thereby
making the drum easily accessible for disassembly or assembly tasks, if the drum is to be
pulled off, by way of the simple swinging away of a support arm part.
In an embodiment of this inventive idea, the bearing arrangement can be disposed having
the ability to rotate around a connecting pin that can be fastened on the swivel arm and on
the feeding device. Also, the bearing arrangement can have a bearing guard that can be
pushed into the drum on the front side of the drum and that can be axially pulled out of
the drum, in particular with the assistance of the connecting pin that can also be
configured in such as way that it is possible to axially pull it off the feeding device. If, in
the embodiment of the invention, the connecting pin is equipped with a stop that takes the
bearing guard axially along with it when it is axially pulled off the feeding device, the
subsequent swivel-off process of the swivel arm part is possible. The bearing guard itself
can be held in this case in a suitable embodiment by an axial sleeve in pivot bearings that
are fastened to the support arm; and the axial sleeve can have a collar that acts in
cooperation with the stop of the connecting pin. As will be explained below, this way it
is possible to very easily first release the bearing from the drum thereby allowing for the
carrying out the swivel-off process of the bearing after which the drum can easily be
pulled off. Assembly is effected following these steps in the opposite order.
The invention will be illustrated by way of an embodied example in the drawing and will
be explained in more detail in the following. Shown are in:
Figure 1 an apparatus according to the invention comprising a rotating perforated
drum; in
Figure 2 the enlarged representation of a detail of Figure 1; in
Figure 3 the representation of a partial section along the plane III-III in Figure 2; in
Figure 4 a representation similar to the one in Figure 2, but with partially folded-off
bearing arrangement for the rotating drum; in
Figure 5 a depiction similar to the one in Figure 4, but with completely folded-off
bearing arrangement; and in
Figure 6 the representation similar to the one in Figure 5, but with the drum pulled
off.
Figure 1 shows a granulating apparatus comprised of a rotating perforated drum 1 which
in turn is driven by way of a chain drive 2 by an electric motor 4 having gearing 3.
Rotating drum 1 is here supported by swivel arms 5, 6 that are part of a rocker 7 that can
be pivoted around axis 8 which in turn extends parallel relative to axis of rotation 9 of
drum 1. Driving motor 4 is, in this context, arranged on a connecting bar 10 of rocker 7
which, seen from the perspective of rotating drum 1, is located on the opposite side of
swiveling axis 8. It is easily recognizable that the weight of driving motor 4 and of the
gearing constitutes in an arrangement of this kind a counterweight to rotating drum 1 and
to the feeding tube running inside the drum for the mass that is to be dropped down, and
of which tube a part 11 extends laterally from drum 1. By way of part 11 of the
stationary feeding tube and in a way that is not shown in more detail, the mass that is to
be dropped down is added, usually a melt, which is then released on the bottom side of
rotating drum 1 onto a transport or cooling belt 12, which is drawn as transparent in the
representation according to Figure 1 in order to help show idle roll 13 that is located
below rotating drum 1.
Both rocker 7 with its parts as well as idle roll 13 are supported on a support frame 14.
Uppermost longitudinal bar 15 of this support frame 14 has a stop 16 on each side that is
height-adjustable. Rocker 7 is pressurized counterclockwise by a pneumatic cylinder 17
in such a way that its lever arms 5 and 6 and/or parts of bearing 18 fastened to them end
up resting on stop 16. This allows for the precisely defined adjustment of the height of
rotating drum 1 above belt 12.
Since the melt that is to be introduced through feeding tube 11 is usually heated and must
be maintained at a certain temperature, entry and exit lines 19, 20 for a heating medium
are envisioned in a way known in the art, with the medium flowing inside the feeding
tube in a way known in the art.
Figures 2 and 3 indicate that bearing 18, which is fastened to swivel arm 6, is disposed
centrally around a connecting pin 21 the axis of which falls together with rotational axis 9
of drum 1. Connecting pin 21 is arranged with the ability to rotate and has at its end that
protrudes to the outside a furrowed end cap 22 or a corresponding actuation device and at
its inside end a thread 23 by which it is screwed onto a threaded journal 24 of stationary
inner tube 11 in order to stably support the inner tube. Screwed pin 24 and connecting
pin 21 are also equipped with a guide cone 25 that secures alignment and connection of
pin 21 and inner tube 11.
Envisioned radially inside bearing 18 is a sleeve 26 that is held in a centered fashion but
is axially movable inside bearing 18 and that has at its left end a bearing guard 27 with a
collar 26 extending axially into the front end of drum 1. Envisioned on bearing guard 27,
on the one hand, and on inner tube 11, on the other hand, are shielding pans and sheets
that ensure that cone 25 and thread 23 are covered as much as possible against the
atmosphere prevailing inside drum 1.
In Figure 2 it can be seen that rocker 7 is lifted off stop 16 when in the position according
to Figure 2 and after pivoting counterclockwise - which is effected with the aid of
pneumatic cylinder 17 - it rests according to Figure 3 on stop 16 whereby distance a
between drum circumference 1 and cooling belt 12 is stably and securely adjusted. For
this purpose, stop 16 is configured in such a way that its height is adjustable. This can be
achieved, for example, by placing a collet 30 onto stationary screwed bolt 31 which
makes the adjustment possible, and the adjusted distance is then secured by locking screw
32.
But Figure 2 also shows a swiveling lever 33 having two walls that extend parallel
relative to each other, and the lever overlaps the upper edge of swiveling lever 6 during
operation, as demonstrated in Figure 1. For the purpose of anchoring bearing 18,
swiveling lever 6 comprises a lever part 6a that can be pivoted around an axis 35, and
whereby in the vicinity of swiveling axis 8 axis 35 extends in a perpendicular direction
relative to said swiveling axis 8. Reason and purpose for this lever part 6a, that can be
swung upward, is to allow for the easy removal of bearing 18 from drum 1 in order to, for
example, service or replace the drum. In its position according to Figure 1, swiveling
lever 33 secures lever part 6a in a flush alignment relative to swiveling lever 6. To
remove bearing 18 from the drum, swiveling lever 33 is pivoted upward into its position
according to Figure 2 following the direction of arrow 38.
Afterwards - starting with operating position as shown in Figure 3 - connecting pin 21 is
released from inner tube 11 which is achieved by unscrewing. During this process of
unscrewing, connecting pin 21 is moved to the right thereby releasing cone 25 and taking
with it, via step 36, sleeve 26 which features a stop ring 37 at its right end that engages
with step 36. During the further screwing process, sleeve 26 with bearing guard 27 is
therefore axially moved further to the right by connecting pin 21 until collar 28 exits on
the front side of drum 1. Bearing bush 29 has then also released protection disc 30 and,
after pivoting safety lever 33 in the direction of arrow 38, which in fact cannot occur until
after collar 28 has been loosened from the drum, part 6a of swiveling lever 6 can be
pivoted to the right along with bearing 18, as shown in figure 4, specifically until
reaching the position according to Figure 5 in which it is possible, without problem, to
axially pull off drum 1 from the seating disposed on the opposite side. Inner tube 11 with
an added adapter piece 39 is now also accessible for service and maintenance work, as
shown in Figure 6.
WE CLAIM:
1. Apparatus for the production of granulate comprising a perforated rotating drum (1)
with a feeding device (11) for flowable masses such as herein described in its interior
space the exit openings of which come to overlap at the bottom circumference of drum
(1) with the perforations of the latter as well as a cooling belt (12) disposed below the
rotating drum, upon which the masses that exit the drum in the form of drops, fall and
solidify
wherein
drum (1) is held by support arms (5, 6) that can be pivoted around a swivel axis (8) that
extends parallel relative to and in the same plane as an axis (9) of drum (1)
characterized in that one of the support arms (6) has a part (6a) that can be pivoted
around an axis (35) with the latter extending in the vicinity of and perpendicular
relative to swivel axis (8).
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein drum (1) is positioned by a stop (16) that is
disposed on a support frame (14) against which support arms (5, 6) are pressed.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein stop (16) is adjustable.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein support arms (5, 6) are part of a rocker (7)
whose arms that extend beyond swivel axis (8) are interconnected by a cross bar (10).
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein driving motor (4) for drum (1) is disposed on
cross bar (10).
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein driving motor (4) is connected to a driving
wheel of drum (1) by way of a chain drive (2).
7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein part (6a) of the swivel arm is equipped with a
bearing arrangement (18) that engages on the front side of drum (1).
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein bearing arrangement (18) has a
rotational internal part surrounding a connecting pin (21), which can be
fastened to swivel arm (6a) and feeding device (11).
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein sleeve (26) that is arranged inside
bearing arrangement (18) has a bearing guard (27) with a color (28) that can
be pushed into the drum on the front side.
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein bearing guard (27) and collar (28)
are disposed in such a way that they can be axially pulled out of drum (1).
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein connecting pin (21) is configured in
such a way that it can be axially pulled off feeding device (11).
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein connecting pin (21) is screwed onto
threaded journal (24) of feeding device (11).,
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein connecting pin (21) is equipped
with a stop (36) that takes bearing guard (27) with collar (28) along when
feeding device (11) is axially pulled off.
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein bearing guard (27) with collar (28)
is held inside bearing (18) via an axial sleeve (26), with the bearing being
fastened to support arm (6), and wherein axial sleeve (26) has a collar (37)
that acts in collaboration with stop (36) of connecting pin (21).
Disclosed is a device for the production of a granulate whereby a perforated rotating
outer tube with a supply device for the dripping material arranged on the inside thereof is
disposed on a rocker whereby the drive motor for the drum is disposed as a
counterweight on the side opposite the pivoting axis of the rocker. The rocker is pressed
against a stop for positioning and is provided with a pivoting arm part (6a) which bears
the bearing for a side of the rotating drum and which can be pivoted laterally with the
bearing for maintenance activities or similar in order to enable easy dismantling of the
drum.

Documents:


Patent Number 225193
Indian Patent Application Number 01574/KOLNP/2005
PG Journal Number 45/2008
Publication Date 07-Nov-2008
Grant Date 05-Nov-2008
Date of Filing 08-Aug-2005
Name of Patentee SANTRADE LTD.
Applicant Address ALPENQUAI 14, CH-6005 LUZERN
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 GIERKE, STEPHAN HEGNACHERSTRASSE 38, 70736 FELLBACH
2 ROTH, BERNHARD KOHLWEG 6, 71336 WAIBLINGEN
3 NOCELLA, ROGER KELTERSTASSE 27, 71394 KERNEN-ROMMELSHAUSEN
4 HAFELE, DIETRMAR FRIEDRICHSTRASSE 1, 73650 WINTERBACH
PCT International Classification Number B01J 2/20
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP2004/000983
PCT International Filing date 2004-02-04
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 103 06 688.8 2003-02-11 Germany