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(11) | EP 0 334 180 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Flour purifier |
| (57) The flour purifier according to the invention comprises a base (1) with elastic elements
(2) on which at least one box-like body (3) is rigidly coupled; the box-like body
has a plurality of superimposed rows of sifters (4,5) in its middle position, at least
one suction hood (6,7) in an upward position and at least one collector (15,16) in
a downward position. The box-like body (3) is laterally provided with a mechanism
(35) suitable to make it oscillate. The box-like body also has means (9) for adjusting
the suction airflow passing through the sifters. Means (24,25,18,19) are provided
for feeding the product to be processed into the box-like body, for conveying the
processed product and for discharging the waste material. |
[0002] Various types of purifier are known in the current art, all deriving from a single constructive concept.
[0003] In fact they comprise one or more vibrating sieves which support a plurality of superimposed sifters, above which boxes for feeding the product to be processed are rigidly associated.
[0004] One or more hopper-like collectors/conveyors for the purified product after processing are provided below said rows of sifters.
[0005] The rows of sifters are crossed by a flow of suction air conveyed towards a fixed hood arranged above the sieves and divided by partitions into a plurality of regions, each of which has an air flow-rate adjustment system.
[0006] Known machines are therefore composed of a vibrating part and of a fixed part which co-operate with one another and are mutually connected.
[0007] Such machines are therefore affected by the problem that seals between the fixed part and the movable part must be provided.
[0008] Since the suction hood is fixed and does not vibrate like the rest of the machine, the suction performance is not very high, and flour deposits between the partitions which divide the various suction regions.
[0009] Current mechanisms adapted to impart an oscillating motion to the movable part of the machine are generally constituted by a motor which rotates a crankshaft coupled to a connecting rod system, by one or more motorized vibrators of standard construction (motors fitted with eccentric masses on their shaft) or by oscillators with eccentric masses actuated by gears.
[0010] Such known mechanisms, and particularly those of the latter type, generate hardly negligible problems related to the need to be lubricated in order to operate adequately; this need clashes with the requisite of extreme cleanliness required for all machines to be installed in mills.
[0011] The aim of the present invention is to provide a purifier which eliminates the disadvantages described above in the known art.
[0012] Within the scope of the above described aim, an important object is to provide a purifier which has improved suction efficiency with respect to those currently in use.
[0013] Another important object is to provide a purifier which is not constructively more complicated than the current ones.
[0014] Still another object is to provide a purifier which has all the requisites of cleanliness for its installation in mills.
[0015] Not least object is to manufacture a purifier at low costs, with the usual production systems.
[0016] This aim, as well as these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a flour purifier, characterized in that it comprises a base with elastic elements on which at least one box-like body is rigidly coupled, said box-like body having at least one row of superimposed sifters in its middle region, at least one suction hood with means for adjusting an airflow crossing said sifters in its upward region and at least one collector in its lower region, said box-like body having an oscillation mechanism and being associated with means for feeding the product to be processed and with means for conveying the processed product and the waste material.
[0017] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of an embodiment, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
figures 1 and 2 are isometric views of the machine according to the invention;
figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the base of the machine and of a device for conveying the product after processing;
figure 4 is an enlarged isometric detail view of the upper region of the machine, comprising a suction box;
figure 5 is an enlarged isometric detail view illustrating two of the regions into which a suction hood, fitted to the machine, is divided, with air flow-rate adjusters;
figure 6 is a view of the oscillating mechanism fitted to the machine according to the invention;
figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a connecting rod adapted to transmit an independent vibrating motion to a conveyor such as the one in figure 3.
[0018] With reference to the above described drawings, a purifier according to the invention comprises a substantially H-shaped base 1 which rests on the ground; a substantially cylindrical element 2 made of elastic material is arranged above each of the four ends of said base for supporting the corresponding corner of a substantially parallelepipedal box-like body 3 made of sheet metal.
[0019] Said box like body 3 has, in its middle region, two rows of three superimposed sifters; figure 2 illustrates their holders, respectively indicated by the reference numerals 4 and 5.
[0020] Above each row of said sifters, the box-like body 3 is shaped so as to form suction hoods, respectively indicated by 6 and 7, transversely divided into a plurality of regions by vertical partitions 8 which are externally visible by virtue of ports made of transparent material and provided on each hood.
[0021] Above said partitions 8, each suction hood 6 and 7 has a lamina, not visible in the figures, with a plurality of holes through which the air flows.
[0022] The holes of each region into which each hood is divided can be partially closed by means of slidable elements 9 having holes shaped complementarily to those of the plate; each slidable element 9 is actuated by a screw mechanism rigidly associated with a knob 10 arranged outside the hood.
[0023] Each suction hood 6 and 7 is connected to a single central conveyor connection 11 which is in turn connected to a conveyor box 13 by means of a connecting sleeve 12.
[0024] The box 13 is fixed above a frame 14 which extends from two vertical uprights, not shown, fixed to said base 1.
[0025] Below said rows of sifters, said box-like body 3 has hopper-like collectors 15 and 16; a series of plate-like baffle elements 17 is articulated inside said collectors on a same longitudinal axis and are adapted to direct the flow of processed product to one channel or the other of known conveyors 18 and 19 adapted to channel said processed product in two opposite directions.
[0026] Each conveyor 18 and 19 furthermore has two different outlets with connecting sleeves 20 and 21.
[0027] Said conveyors 18 and 19 are separate from said box-like body 3 and are directly coupled to said base 1.
[0028] Said rows of sifters are slightly inclined with respect to a horizontal plane and are fed by distribution boxes 24 and 25 which are arranged in the uppermost region and are integrated into said box-like body 3; said boxes are connected, by means of connecting sleeves 26 and 27, to tubes 28 and 29 fixed to an extension of said frame 14.
[0029] The lower region of said rows of sifters is connected to two boxes 32 and 33, for collecting waste material, by means of two series of three connecting sleeves, respectively 30 and 31; each box is located within the corresponding end region of the base 1 and is divided into three regions by movable baffle walls 34.
[0030] An oscillation mechanism, generally indicated by the reference numeral 35, is fixed to said box-like body 3 below said distribution boxes 24 and 25 and is constituted by two masses 36 and 37 keyed eccentrically on corresponding horizontal shafts 38 and 39 rotoidally coupled to supports 40 fitted with bearings and fixed to said box-like body 3.
[0031] A toothed wheel, respectively 41 and 42, is keyed on each shaft, and a belt 43 meshes between said toothed wheels; said belt is toothed on both sides and is adapted to transmit the rotary motion of an electric motor 44 which is also fixed to the box-like body 3.
[0032] The transmission is provided so that the two masses 36 and 37 rotate in opposite directions mutually in step, so that the result of their motion is a substantially horizontal oscillating motion.
[0033] On the side of said oscillating mechanism 35, the box-like body 3 is associated with each conveyor 18 and 19 by means of connecting rods 45 for transferring the oscillating motion, so that said conveyors can oscillate but do so independently from the movement of the sifters.
[0034] The operation of the purifier is as follows: the oscillating box-like body 3 receives a flow of material to be processed from the tubes 28 and 29 at the upper regions of the superimposed rows of sifters; said flow is then subject to a series of siftings, leaving on each sifter some waste material which drops and is collected in the boxes 32 and 33.
[0035] The processed material then drops into the hopper-like collectors 15 and 16 and subsequently into the conveyors 18 and 19 which oscillate independently from said box-like body 3.
[0036] During sifting, the sieves are crossed by airflows sucked by the hoods 6 and 7; the flow-rates of said airflows are adjustable by means of the knobs 10 in each of the regions into which said hoods are divided.
[0037] Said machine is not affected by the disadvantages described in the known types since the suction hoods are rigidly associated with the box-like body 3 and therefore oscillate therewith and therefore no flour deposits therein.
[0038] The oscillation mechanism, having a two-sided toothed-belt transmission, furthermore requires no lubrication of any kind and is therefore not subject to becoming soiled by grease or other dirt.
[0039] Finally, the machine according to the invention does not have the problems related to the need for seals which occur in known machines between the fixed parts and the movable parts, as it has a single movable box-like body.
[0040] From what has been described above and illustrated it is evident that the intended aim and objects of the present invention have been achieved.
[0041] The purifier according to the invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.
[0043] In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements.
[0044] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.
1. Flour purifier, characterized in that it comprises a base (1) with elastic elements
(2) on which at least one box-like body (3) is rigidly coupled, said box-like body
having at least one row of superimposed sifters (4,5) in its middle region, at least
one suction hood (6,7) with means (9) for adjusting an airflow crossing said sifters
in its upward region, and at least one collector (15,16) in its lower region, said
box like body having an oscillation mechanism (35) and being associated with means
for feeding the product to be processed and with means (18,19) for conveying the processed
product and the waste material.
2. Flour purifier, according to claim 1, characterized in that said base (1) is substantially
H-shaped and rests on the ground, and one of said substantially cylindrical elastic
elements (2) is upwardly connected to each end and is adapted to retain a corresponding
lower portion of said box-like body (3).
3. Flour purifier, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said box-like
body (1) is substantially parallelepipedal and is made of sheet metal.
4. Flour purifier, according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that each of said
rows of superimposed sifters is slightly inclined with respect to a horizontal plane
and each sifter is rigidly connected to a sifter-holder (4,5) and thus fixed to said
box-like body.
5. Flour purifier, according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said suction
hood (6,7) is divided into a series of regions by vertical transverse partitions (8),
said hood being connected, by means of rigid and elastic tubes (12), to a suction
box (13) fixed to a frame (14) arranged above said box-like body and extending below
with two uprights fixed to said base (1).
6. Flour purifier, according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said adjustment
means for an airflow crossing said sifters are composed of a plate arranged above
said partitions of said hood, said plate having a plurality of holes and being associated,
in each of the regions into which said hood is divided, with elements (9) which have
complementarily shaped holes and are slidable by means of couplings with screws and
external knobs (10), the sliding of said elements partially closing the holes for
the passage of the air.
7. Flour purifier, according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said collector
(15,16) is in the shape of a hopper and plate-like baffle elements (17) are articulated
on a longitudinal axis thereof, said baffle elements being adapted to channel the
material falling from above towards one side or the other.
8. Flour purifier, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said oscillating
mechanism (35) is composed of two masses (36,37), each eccentrically keyed to a corresponding
horizontal shaft (38,39) rotoidally associated with said box-like body (3) by means
of supports fitted with bearings, toothed wheels (41,42) being keyed to said shafts,
a belt (43) meshing between said wheels and being toothed on both sides, said belt
being adapted to transmit the rotary motion of an electric motor (44) fixed to said
box-like body, said transmission rigidly associating said two masses (36,37) so that
they rotate in opposite directions and in step.
9. Flour purifier, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said means
for feeding the product to be processed are constituted by distribution boxes (24,25)
arranged in said box-like body in the uppermost region of each row of sifters, each
box being connected, by means of connecting sleeves (26,27), to a connecting tube
(28,29) fixed to said upper frame (14) of said base.
10. Flour purifier, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said
means for conveying the processed product are constituted by known conveyors (18,19)
with two channels and two outputs arranged below said hopper collectors, directly
coupled onto said base and associated with said box-like body by means of connecting
rods (45) adapted to transmit the oscillating motion imparted by said oscillating
mechanism.
11. Flour purifier, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said
means for conveying the waste material are constituted by connecting sleeves (30,31)
which connect the lowest region of said rows of sifters to collecting boxes (32,33)
provided directly inside said base and having movable baffle walls (34).