JP2001105427A - Kneading apparatus and method for dispersing - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a kneading apparatus having no riskiness of winding or the like, simple cleaning of itself and capable of suitably providing a large variety of coloring resin compositions for various tests in small quantities. SOLUTION: In the kneading apparatus comprising a bottom member, a cylindrical wall member 5 separable from the bottom member 1, a cover member 6 separable from the wall member, a rotary shaft 4 having a diameter of the bottom member side larger than a diameter of the cover member side, agitating blades 8a, 8b mounted at the axial center of the shaft at the bottom member so as to become substantially parallel to the wall member and disposed at the shaft nearest the bottom member, agitating blades 9a, 9b disposed nearest the cover member at the shaft, and agitating members 7a, 7b having convection surfaces to the bottom member between the agitating blades and the agitating members, the adjacent agitating members are provided at substantially opposite positions at the shaft as a center, and gaps between the three types of the agitating members and the inner surface of the wall member are 5 mm at the maximum.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for softening or melting a thermoplastic resin by using frictional heat when mixing and kneading a colorant and a thermoplastic resin, and adding the colorant into the thermoplastic resin. The present invention relates to a kneading device for dispersing and a dispersing method using the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a kneading / dispersing apparatus for mixing / kneading a colorant and a thermoplastic resin and dispersing the colorant in the thermoplastic resin, there are known two rolls, a pressure kneader, a Banbury mixer and the like. Various devices are used. However, in the case of kneading with two rolls, it is necessary to remove the colored resin composition during kneading from the rotating roll with a spatula or a scraper or the like, and then re-inject the colored composition between the rolls, and peel off. There is a danger of being caught in a roll at the time of reloading. If it is a large double roll, it is easy to take various safety measures,
It is extremely difficult to take various safety measures in the case of a small two-roll used when trying a colored resin composition of another type for various tests, as compared with a large-sized two-roll.

Further, when a colorant and a thermoplastic resin are mixed and kneaded using two rolls, the thermoplastic resin is first softened or melted using a heated two roll, and then softened or melted. Since it is necessary to knead the molten thermoplastic resin and the colorant, it takes a certain amount of time to soften or melt the thermoplastic resin. When a large amount of a colored resin composition is produced using a large two-roll, the effect on productivity is small even if a certain time is required for softening or melting the thermoplastic resin. However, when trying to obtain a small amount of a different type of colored resin composition for use in various tests, the type and amount of the colorant, the type and amount of the thermoplastic resin, and other various additives are changed. Since the thermoplastic resin must be softened or melted each time, the workability is poor.

In addition, when mixing and kneading using a pressure kneader, a Banbury mixer or the like, it is not necessary to melt the thermoplastic resin in advance as in the case of two rolls. Although there is little danger, since the structure of the apparatus is more complicated than that of the two rolls, cleaning the apparatus after mixing and kneading requires more time than the case of the two rolls. When a large-sized apparatus is used to produce a large amount of the colored resin composition, the effect on productivity is small even if a certain amount of time is required for cleaning the apparatus. However, when trying to obtain a small amount of a different type of colored resin composition for various tests, the type and amount of the colorant, the type and
Every time the amount or other various additives are changed, a certain time is required for cleaning the apparatus itself, so that the workability is extremely poor. In addition, in the case of a small device, the number of fine parts increases compared to the case of a large device, so much time must be spent for cleaning, and there is a limit to downsizing, and a pressure kneader, a Banbury mixer Etc. could not be put to practical use when trying to obtain a small amount of another kind of colored resin composition.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a kneading apparatus for mixing and kneading a colorant and a thermoplastic resin and dispersing the colorant in the thermoplastic resin. In addition, it is possible to easily clean the apparatus itself, to provide a kneading apparatus that can suitably provide a small amount of other types of colored resin compositions that can be subjected to various tests, and to provide a colorant using the kneading apparatus It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of mixing and kneading with a thermoplastic resin and dispersing the colorant in the thermoplastic resin.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems As a result of intensive studies, the present inventors have found that there is no danger of entanglement or the like by rotating a rotating shaft of a specific structure having a stirring blade having a specific function, and The present inventors have found that the colorant type and the resin type can be frequently and easily changed with good workability, and completed the present invention. That is, the first invention provides a bottom member, a cylindrical wall member separable from the bottom member, a lid member separable from the wall member, and a diameter of the bottom member being smaller than a diameter of the lid member. A large rotating shaft, the kneading device comprising: a rotating shaft attached to a bottom member so that the axial center of the rotating shaft is substantially parallel to the cylindrical wall member; To the bottom member side between the closest stirring blade, the stirring blade located closest to the lid on the rotation shaft, and the stirring blade closest to the bottom member side and the stirring blade closest to the lid member side. A stirring blade having a convection surface of the three types, wherein, among the three types of stirring blades, adjacent stirring blades are provided at positions substantially opposite to each other with respect to the rotation axis, and tip portions of the three types of stirring blades A gap between the inner wall of the cylindrical wall member and the inner wall of the kneading device is at most 5 mm.

In a second aspect of the present invention, a pair of agitating blades provided near the bottom member are provided at the same position in the axial direction of the rotary shaft and at substantially opposite positions about the rotary shaft. A kneading apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein

In a third aspect of the present invention, a pair of agitating blades provided near the lid member are provided at the same position in the axial direction of the rotating shaft and at substantially opposite positions about the rotating shaft. A kneading apparatus according to the first or second invention, characterized in that there is a kneading apparatus.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, a stirring blade having a convection surface toward the bottom member located between the stirring blade closest to the bottom member and the stirring blade closest to the lid member is provided at different positions in the axial direction of the rotating shaft. One or more stirring blades among the stirring blades provided at least one and having a convection surface toward the bottom member are provided at positions substantially opposite to each other about the rotation axis. A kneading apparatus according to any one of the third aspects of the invention.

A fifth invention is the kneading apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth inventions, wherein the rotating shaft is a vertical rotating shaft.

In a sixth aspect of the present invention, the bottom member and the lid member are provided so as to be substantially parallel to a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis. It is a kneading device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a convection surface on the bottom member side of the stirring blade located between the stirring blade closest to the lid member side and the stirring blade closest to the bottom member side is formed with respect to a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis. The kneading apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth inventions, wherein the kneading apparatus is inclined at 45 degrees or less.

In an eighth aspect, the stirring blade closest to the bottom member is inclined at an angle of 45 degrees or less with respect to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis,
The kneading apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh inventions, wherein the rotating shaft is rotatable in a direction in which a stirring blade closest to the bottom member is inclined toward the bottom member.

A ninth invention is characterized in that the stirring blade closest to the lid member is inclined at an angle of 45 degrees or less with respect to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis so as to form a convection surface toward the bottom member. The kneading apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth inventions.

According to a tenth aspect, in the kneading apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, a colorant and a thermoplastic resin are contained in the kneading apparatus,
This is a method in which the thermoplastic resin is softened or melted using frictional heat generated by rotating a rotating shaft, and the colorant is dispersed in the thermoplastic resin.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a kneading apparatus and a dispersing method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view (schematic view) showing an embodiment of a kneading apparatus of the present invention in which a rotation axis is vertical and a bottom member and a cover member are provided so as to be substantially parallel to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis. Figure). As shown in FIG. 1, the rotating shaft 4 has a larger diameter on the bottom member side than on the lid member side. With such a structure, it is possible to prevent the thermoplastic resin and the colorant from staying on the bottom member side. In FIG. 1, the rotating shaft 4 has a substantially cylindrical shape near the lid member, and has a mode in which the diameter increases from the middle toward the bottom member side. The diameter may increase toward the bottom member.

The kneading apparatus of the present invention has at least three types of stirring blades, that is, the one closest to the bottom member, the one close to the lid member, and the one located in the middle thereof (hereinafter also referred to as an intermediate stirring blade). This is very important. That is,
The kneading apparatus of the present invention prevents the thermoplastic resin and the coloring agent from staying on the bottom member side by increasing the diameter of the rotation shaft 4 on the bottom member side and providing stirring blades near the bottom member side. Meanwhile, the thermoplastic resin or the like is convected from the lid member side to the bottom member side by the intermediate stirring blade, in other words, is pushed down, and the thermoplastic resin or the like near the lid member is further pushed back to the bottom member side by the stirring blade closest to the lid member side. By rotating the rotating shaft, the colorant and the like can be efficiently dispersed in the thermoplastic resin.

In the kneading apparatus of the present invention, the gap between the tip of each of the three types of stirring blades and the inner surface of the cylindrical wall member 5 is at most 5 mm, preferably 3 mm or less, more preferably 0.1 mm or less.
By setting the thickness to 5 to 1 mm, the thermoplastic resin can be easily softened or melted by frictional heat without providing special heating means. In the case of the conventional two-roll, it was necessary to melt the thermoplastic resin before kneading, but in the apparatus of the present invention, the gap between the tip of the stirring blade and the inner surface of the cylindrical wall member 5 was required. As described above, such a need is eliminated. That is, the colorant and the thermoplastic resin are put into a kneading apparatus, and the lid member is firmly bonded to the cylindrical wall member, that is, after the hermetically sealed state, the rotating shaft is rotated to easily produce the thermoplastic resin by frictional heat. The colorant can be dispersed, mixed, and kneaded in the softened or molten thermoplastic resin in a short time while being softened or melted. When using a thermoplastic resin that easily softens or melts, the colorant can be sufficiently dispersed / mixed / kneaded even if the gap is relatively wide, but if it is larger than 5 mm, the colorant can be dispersed / mixed / kneaded. In order to cause trouble or to ensure the same degree of dispersion, mixing and kneading, it is necessary to mix and knead for a longer time.

It is important that the kneading apparatus of the present invention is further provided such that adjacent stirring blades of these three types of stirring blades are located at substantially opposite positions about the rotation axis, that is, on the opposite side by 180 degrees. is there. When this state is viewed from the lid member side, the three types of stirring blades are located substantially in a straight line about the rotation shaft 4. By doing so, after dispersing, mixing, and kneading the colorant and the thermoplastic resin, it becomes easier to remove the softened or molten kneaded material adhering to the stirring blade and the rotating shaft, thereby improving workability. .
That is, the cylindrical wall member 5 and the bottom member 1 are detachably attached, the lid member 6 and the cylindrical member 5 are detachably attached, and the two members are dispersed in a state where they are firmly connected to each other. -After mixing and kneading, if the lid member is separated from the cylindrical wall member and the cylindrical wall member is separated from the bottom member, the kneaded matter adhering to the rotating shaft 4 and each stirring blade is exposed. . And, since the stirring blade is located substantially in a straight line about the rotation shaft 4, using a spatula, tweezers or the like, the kneaded material on one side of the straight line formed by the stirring blade,
The kneaded material on the other side of the straight line, the kneaded material between the stirring blade closest to the bottom member and the stirring blade closest to the lid member, the kneaded material between the bottom member and the middle stirring blade, and the middle stirring blade The kneaded material between the and the lid member can be easily peeled off. Particularly, the kneaded material between the stirring blades and between the stirring blades and the bottom member can be peeled off at once from a certain direction. If the stirring blades closest to the bottom member, the intermediate stirring blades, and the stirring blades closest to the lid member are not placed almost opposite to the center of the rotation shaft 4, the dispersion, mixing, and kneading themselves are performed by the three types of stirring blades. Although it is possible that there is not much difference from the case where the rotating shaft 4 is located substantially opposite to the center, after dispersing, mixing and kneading, the lid member is separated from the cylindrical wall member, and the cylindrical wall member is separated from the bottom member. Even if the kneaded matter adhering to the rotating shaft 4 and the stirring blade can be exposed, the stirring blade is not linear when viewed from above the rotating shaft 4, so that one side of the stirring blade and the other The kneaded materials on the sides cannot be peeled off at once. Further, the workability is poor because the kneaded material between the stirring blades cannot be peeled off at once from a certain direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the kneading apparatus according to the present invention is located at the same position in the axial direction of the rotary shaft 4 and at a position substantially opposite to the rotary shaft 4 as a center. It is preferable to provide a pair of stirring blades 8a and 8b.
When a pair of stirring blades 8a and 8b are provided near the bottom member side, the retention of the thermoplastic resin, the coloring agent, and the like on the bottom seat side can be more effectively suppressed than when only one stirring blade 8a is provided. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the kneading device of the present invention is located at the same position in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 4,
Further, it is preferable to provide a pair of stirring blades 9a and 9b closest to the lid member at positions substantially opposite to each other with respect to the rotation shaft 4. When a pair of stirring blades 9a and 9b are provided near the lid member side, the efficiency of the thermoplastic resin and the colorant scraped up from the bottom member side to the lid member side is higher than when only one stirring blade 9a is provided. It can be pushed back to the bottom member side. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the kneading apparatus of the present invention is located at a position between the stirring blades 8a, 8b closest to the bottom member and the stirring blades 9a, 9b closest to the lid member, and is located in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 4. Stirring blade 7 having convection surface toward bottom member at different positions
Preferably, a and 7b are provided at substantially opposite positions about the rotation shaft 4. The intermediate stirring blade is, for example, 7b, 1
The two cases of 7a and 7b allow the thermoplastic resin and the colorant to more efficiently convect toward the bottom member than the two cases. In FIG. 1, the intermediate stirring blades 7a, 7
The case where two of b are provided is shown, but the number provided can be changed as needed. For example, one stirring blade closest to the lid member side may be provided, three intermediate stirring blades may be provided, and one stirring blade closest to the lid member side may be provided. However, it is important that adjacent stirring blades are provided at substantially opposite positions about the rotation shaft 4. As described above, after the thermoplastic resin and the colorant are dispersed, mixed, and kneaded, the kneaded material is easily removed.

FIG. 2 is a right side view (schematic diagram) of the rotating shaft 4 shown in FIG. The stirring blades 7a, 8a, 9a located on the opposite surface of the rotating shaft 4 are indicated by broken lines. The stirring blades 8a and 8b closest to the bottom member preferably have a convection surface toward the lid member as shown in FIG.
It is preferable that each is inclined at 45 degrees or less with respect to a plane orthogonal to the angle, more preferably at 30 degrees or less,
More preferably, it is 13 to 20 degrees. Providing a convection surface to the lid member side on the stirring blades 8a and 8b closest to the bottom member side not only prevents the colorant and the thermoplastic resin from remaining on the bottom member side, but also allows the thermoplastic resin and the like to be covered with the lid member. Can be lifted to the side. Although depending on the size of the stirring blade, when the stirring blade is inclined more than 45 degrees, the resistance tends to increase during dispersion, mixing and kneading, and there is an advantage that the thermoplastic resin can be quickly softened or melted. However, there is also a tendency to accelerate the thermal degradation of the thermoplastic resin. On the other hand, if the inclination of the stirring blade is less than 8 degrees, the effect of preventing the thermoplastic resin or the like from staying on the bottom member side can be prevented, but the effect of lifting up the lid member side cannot be expected much.

It is important that the intermediate stirring blades 7a and 7b have a convection surface toward the bottom member as shown in FIG. The angle is preferably 30 degrees or less, more preferably 13 to 20 degrees. Such an inclination angle is preferable for the same reason as in the case of the stirring blades 8a and 8b closest to the bottom member. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, one of the intermediate stirring blades 7a and 7b may have a plurality of convection surfaces toward the bottom member having different inclination angles.

Further, the stirring blade 9a closest to the lid member side,
As shown in FIG. 2, 9b preferably has a convection surface toward the bottom member side, and is preferably inclined at 45 degrees or less with respect to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis 4, and is preferably 30 degrees or less. Is more preferable, and it is still more preferable that it is 13 to 20 degrees. That is, the stirring blade 9 closest to the lid member side
By providing a convection surface to the bottom member side in a, 9b,
This is because a thermoplastic resin or the like staying in the vicinity of the lid member can be effectively pushed down to the bottom member side. Although depending on the size of the stirring blade, when the stirring blade is inclined more than 45 degrees, the resistance tends to increase during dispersion, mixing and kneading, and there is an advantage that the thermoplastic resin can be quickly softened or melted. However, there is also a tendency to accelerate the thermal degradation of the thermoplastic resin. On the other hand, if the inclination of the stirring blade is smaller than 8 degrees, the thermoplastic resin or the like can be pushed down to the bottom member side, but there is not much difference from the case where the inclination is not made.

In the kneading apparatus of the present invention, the rotating shaft 4 of the kneading apparatus of the present invention is rotatably mounted on a motor 2 placed outside the bottom member as shown in FIG.
Can be rotated by In this case, motor 2
And the bottom member 1 may be integrated with the member 1 ′ that covers the periphery of the housing portion. Further, the rotating shaft 4 of the kneading apparatus of the present invention is rotatably attached to a motor placed outside the lid member (the side opposite to the side where the cylindrical member is provided), and is rotated by the motor 2. You can also. For example, a rotation shaft is provided so as to penetrate the bottom member 1, or a rotation shaft is provided so as to penetrate the lid member 6. Then, the rotating shafts 4 are attached to the motor 2 placed outside the bottom member 1 or the lid member 6 by any means, and an intermediate stirring blade 7 provided on the rotating shaft 4 is provided.
What is necessary is just to rotate the rotating shaft 4 in a direction in which a and 7b can form a convection surface toward the bottom member 1. Preferably, the rotating shaft 4 is attached to the motor 2 so that it can be easily separated. Hereinafter, a case where the motor 2 is installed outside the bottom member 1 will be described. Screw-shaped irregularities are provided at the lower part of the rotating shaft 4 penetrating the bottom member 1. Is firmly engaged with the unevenness of the member 3 that can reflect the rotation on the rotating shaft 4, the cylindrical member 5 is attached to the bottom member 1, a coloring agent and a thermoplastic resin are put in, the lid member 6 is attached, and the rotating shaft is attached. 4 is rotated to disperse, mix and knead the colorant and the thermoplastic resin. Thereafter, the cover member 6 is removed, the cylindrical member 5 is removed, the engagement of the screw-like irregularities below the rotation shaft 4 is loosened, and the rotation shaft 4 is changed from the member 3 capable of reflecting the rotation of the motor 2 on the rotation shaft 4. Can be removed. By making the rotating shaft 4 easily separable in this way, it is possible to easily remove the resin composition of the coloring agent and the thermoplastic resin after dispersion, mixing, and kneading. The cylindrical wall member 5 in the kneading apparatus of the present invention only needs to have a cylindrical portion on the inner surface, and the shape of the portion attached to the bottom member 1 and the shape attached to the lid member 6 are not particularly limited. Although a groove may or may not be provided on the inner surface of the cylindrical wall member, it is preferably provided, and when provided, it is preferable to provide a plurality of grooves substantially parallel to the axial direction of the rotating shaft. Further, any of the screw-shaped irregularities below the rotating shaft 4 and the unevenness of the member capable of reflecting the rotation of the motor 2 on the rotating shaft 4, the bottom member 1 and the cylindrical member 5, and the cylindrical member 5 and the lid member 6 It is, of course, important that the shaft does not come off while rotating the rotating shaft.

The coloring agent used in the dispersion method of the present invention includes chromatic pigments and achromatic pigments, as well as so-called processed pigments using these chromatic or achromatic pigments. Here, the term "processed pigment" refers to a pigment obtained by previously mixing the pigment and wax, a pigment obtained by kneading the pigment and a thermoplastic resin, and the like.

[0026]

According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently disperse, mix and knead a colorant and a thermoplastic resin without danger of entrainment and the like, and to remove and knead the kneaded material with good workability. Because it can be simplified, the colorant type and resin type can be changed frequently and easily, and it is possible to safely and easily obtain a small amount of other types of coloring compositions for various tests. Was.

[Brief description of the drawings]

 FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the kneading apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2: Right side view of the rotating shaft 4 shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: bottom member 1 ′: motor cover integrated with bottom member 1 2: motor 3: member capable of reflecting rotation of motor 2 on rotation shaft 4: rotation shaft 5: cylindrical wall member 6: lid member 7a, 7b: middle stirring blade 8a, 8b: stirring blade closest to bottom member 9a, 9b: stirring blade closest to lid member

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A bottom member, a cylindrical wall member separable from the bottom member, a lid member separable from the wall member, and a diameter at the bottom member side is larger than a diameter at the lid member side. A kneading device comprising: a rotating shaft, wherein the rotating shaft is attached to a bottom member such that an axial center of the rotating shaft is substantially parallel to the cylindrical wall member; A stirring blade that is located; a stirring blade that is located closest to the lid member on the rotation axis; and a convection surface toward the bottom member between the stirring blade that is closest to the bottom member side and the stirring blade that is closest to the lid member side. A stirring blade having: a stirring blade adjacent to the rotating shaft; and a tip portion of the three kinds of stirring blades and the cylindrical member. A gap with the inner surface of the wall member being at most 5 mm. 2. A stirring blade which is located closest to the bottom member is a pair of stirring blades provided at the same position in the axial direction of the rotating shaft and at substantially opposite positions about the rotating shaft. The kneading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 3. A stirring blade closest to the lid member is a pair of stirring blades provided at the same position in the axial direction of the rotating shaft and substantially at the opposite position about the rotating shaft. The kneading device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. A stirring blade having a convection surface toward the bottom member located between the stirring blade closest to the bottom member and the stirring blade closest to the lid member, two or more stirring blades are provided at different positions in the axial direction of the rotating shaft. The stirring blades adjacent to each other among the stirring blades having a convection surface toward the bottom member are provided at positions substantially opposite to each other about the rotation axis.
4. The kneading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The kneading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotating shaft is a vertical rotating shaft. 6. The kneading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bottom member and the lid member are provided so as to be substantially parallel to a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis. 7. A convection surface on the bottom member side of the stirring blade located between the stirring blade closest to the lid member side and the stirring blade closest to the bottom member side is 45 degrees or less with respect to a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis. The kneading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the kneading apparatus is inclined. 8. The stirring blade closest to the bottom member side is inclined at an angle of 45 degrees or less with respect to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis, and the stirring blade closest to the bottom member is inclined toward the bottom member side. 2. The rotating shaft according to claim 1, wherein the rotating shaft is rotatable.
8. The kneading apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 7. 9. The stirring blade closest to the lid member is inclined at an angle of not more than 45 degrees with respect to a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis so as to form a convection surface toward the bottom member. 9. The kneading apparatus according to any one of 1 to 8. 10. A kneading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a colorant and a thermoplastic resin are contained, and the thermoplastic resin is softened or softened by utilizing frictional heat generated by rotating a rotating shaft. A method of melting and dispersing the colorant in the thermoplastic resin.