阅读说明：本技术 球磨机和用于球磨机的研磨罐 (Ball mill and grinding pot for ball mill ) 是由 斯特凡·德雷克斯勒 巴斯蒂安·松塔格 于 2020-01-16 设计创作，主要内容包括：提出了一种实验室规模的行星式球磨机以及一种为此预设的研磨罐。研磨罐仅从下方由轴向上活动的夹紧元件保持,并且优选地为了拆卸而在轴向上被夹紧元件提升。(A laboratory-scale planetary ball mill and a grinding pot intended therefor are proposed. The grinding pot is held only from below by the axially movable clamping element and is preferably lifted in the axial direction for removal by the clamping element.)

1. A laboratory-scale ball mill (1), in particular in the form of a centrifugal ball mill and/or a planetary ball mill, comprising: at least one grinding pot carrier (3) for at least one grinding pot (4); a tensioning device (14) comprising at least one clamping element (13) for axially holding or tensioning the grinding pot (4) on the grinding pot carrier (3) or against the grinding pot carrier in the axial direction and/or for axially relaxing the grinding pot (4); and a carrier device (7) which is preferably rotatably mounted about a central axis (Y2), wherein the grinding pot carrier (3) is rotatably mounted relative to the carrier device (7) about an offset planet gear axis (Y1) and is entrained by it about the central axis,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the clamping element (13) is designed to hold the grinding pot (4) on the underside or on the bottom side and/or

The clamping element (13) is designed to be adjustable in the axial direction in order to tension the grinding pot (4) axially and/or radially on the grinding pot carrier (3), or to tension the grinding pot axially and/or radially against the grinding pot carrier, and/or to relax or lift the grinding pot (4) in the axial direction.

2. The ball mill according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping elements (13) directly hold or act on the grinding pots (4).

3. The ball mill according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tensioning device (14) and the grinding pot holder (3) are designed for accommodating, holding and/or tensioning the grinding pot (4) only on the underside or only on the bottom side.

4. A grinding pot (4) for a ball mill (1),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the grinding pot (4) is equipped on the bottom side with a holding section (21) for holding or tensioning on the bottom side next to or on a grinding pot carrier (3) of the ball mill (1).

5. A laboratory scale ball mill (1'), comprising: a carrier device (2 ') rotatably mounted about a central axis (3 a'); at least one grinding pot carrier (4 ') for at least one grinding pot, wherein the grinding pot carrier (4 ') is rotatably mounted on the carrier device (2) and is entrained therewith about the central axis (3a '), and preferably rotatably mounted relative to the carrier device (2 ') about offset planet gear axes (21 '), and wherein the grinding pot carrier (4 ') comprises at least one clamping element (19') for axially tensioning the grinding pot into and/or onto the grinding pot carrier (4 ') or against the grinding pot carrier, characterized in that a lifting device (30 ') comprising at least one lifting element (31 ') is provided for transmitting a motorized and/or manually generated clamping force to the clamping element (19'), wherein the lifting element (30 ') is kinematically decoupled from a rotational movement of the carrier device (7 ') and/or a rotational movement of the grinding pot carrier (4 ').

6. The ball mill (1 ') according to claim 5, characterized in that the lifting apparatus (30 ') comprises at least one adjustment element (35 ') for adjusting, in particular for lifting, the lifting element (31 ') and for transmitting a motorized and/or manually generated driving force to the lifting element (31 ').

7. A laboratory-scale ball mill, in particular in the form of a centrifugal ball mill and/or a planetary ball mill, comprising: at least one grinding pot holder (1 ") for at least one grinding pot which can be closed with a grinding pot lid; a tensioning device (2 ") comprising at least one clamping element (7") for axially holding or axially tensioning the grinding pot on or against the grinding pot carrier (1 ") and/or for axially relaxing the grinding pot; and a carrier which is preferably mounted so as to be rotatable about a central axis, wherein the grinding pot carrier (1 ") is mounted so as to be rotatable about an offset planet gear axis relative to the carrier and is carried along by the grinding pot carrier about the central axis, characterized in that, in the tensioned state of the grinding pot, it is provided that a tensioning and/or holding force for the grinding pot is applied to the grinding pot only on the shell side and/or only on the base side, and/or that, in the tensioned state of the grinding pot, the grinding pot cover is freely accessible from above while the tensioned state is maintained.

8. The ball mill according to claim 7, characterized in that the clamping elements (7 ") are designed for transmitting the tensile force to the grinding pots on the shell side and/or on the underside or on the bottom side.

9. The ball mill according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the grinding pot holder (1 ") comprises at least one stop (14", 20 ") as a seat for a holding device (13") of the grinding pot which is designed on the outer circumference of the grinding pot, wherein the grinding pot is tensioned in the axial direction and preferably in the circumferential direction on or against the grinding pot holder (1 ") by means of the stop (14, 20) and the holding device (13") during the transmission of the tensioning force.

10. A grinding pot for a ball mill according to any one of claims 7, 8 or 9, comprising at least one holding device (13 ") on the housing side for a stopper (14", 20 ") on a grinding pot holder (1") of the ball mill.

Technical Field

A first aspect of the invention relates to a laboratory-scale ball mill according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a grinding pot for a ball mill according to the preamble of claim 4. In particular, the present invention relates to a laboratory scale ball mill comprising: a carrier rotatably supported about a central axis; at least one grinding pot carrier for at least one grinding pot, wherein the grinding pot carrier is rotatably supported about an offset planet gear axis relative to the carrier and is carried along by the carrier about a central axis; and a tensioning device comprising a clamping element to axially tension the grinding pot against the grinding pot holder and for axially relaxing the grinding pot.

Background

The laboratory ball mill according to the proposal can be designed as a planetary or centrifugal single ball mill comprising only one grinding station or also as a ball mill comprising a plurality of grinding stations, wherein the grinding stations are preferably arranged symmetrically around a central axis in order to equalize the moments of inertia as well as possible.

DE 102012009987 a1 discloses a laboratory ball mill. Comprising a carrier device rotating around a vertical central axis. On the carrier device, a plurality of grinding stations are mounted, each of which can be rotated relative to the carrier device about a planetary gear axis offset parallel to the central axis, wherein each grinding station has a cage-like receptacle for at least one grinding pot which can be filled with grinding stock and grinding bodies, in particular grinding balls. Each of the receiving means is carried along by the carrier means about the central axis and also (mostly oppositely) rotates relative to the carrier means about the respective planet gear axis.

The laboratory ball mill described in DE 102012009987 a1 comprises: a tensioning device comprising a clamping element to axially tension the grinding pot in the containment; and a motorized drive for the clamping element which automatically actuates the tensioning of the grinding pot in the receptacle. The axial tensioning is achieved by means of an eccentric shaft which extends transversely to the planet gear axis and serves as a clamping element, wherein the eccentric shaft is rotatably mounted in a receiving device for the grinding pot. The ball mill has a motor which is fixed in a stationary manner relative to the plant housing outside the support device. The motor drives a drive shaft which is slotted at its ends so as to be able to be coupled to the eccentric shaft. Coupling to the eccentric shaft is only possible when the grinding station is in a particular loading and unloading position and in the correct rotational orientation. Subsequently, the eccentric shaft can be rotated by the motor, wherein the axial height change of the eccentric shaft is transmitted by the cup spring to a spring-mounted pressure plate, which lifts the grinding pot until it rests on the upper side with the grinding pot cover against a stop of the receiving device. By reversing the eccentric shaft, the tensioning can be relieved again.

The known ball mill has a costly structural construction. Furthermore, it is disadvantageously difficult to engage the motor with the eccentric shaft to tension/relax the grinding pot. Since the eccentric shaft is mounted in the receiving device for the grinding pot, the eccentric shaft also rotates during operation of the ball mill, which leads to unbalance effects, which in turn lead to vibrations and higher wear. Since the containment device is designed as a rigid cage, accessibility to the grinding tank is severely limited. For sampling, the grinding pot always needs to be removed from the cage. The operation of the known ball mill is therefore less user-friendly.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a ball mill and a grinding pot for such a ball mill, which at the same time ensure high safety and at the same time allow easy sampling while at the same time ensuring high operational comfort and in particular improved accessibility of the grinding pot. In particular the tensioning and loosening of the grinding pot on the grinding pot holder should be able to be carried out more quickly and with less expenditure. Preferably, the ball mill should have a simple structural construction. Furthermore, the degree of unbalance should be very low during operation of the ball mill.

The aforementioned object is achieved by a ball mill according to claim 1 or a grinding pot according to claim 4. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims 2 and 3.

In a first aspect of the invention, the ball mill preferably comprises a clamping element for holding the grinding pot on the underside or on the bottom side next to or on the associated grinding pot holder. In particular, the tensioning device and the grinding pot holder are designed to receive, hold and/or tension the grinding pot only on the underside or only on the bottom side. This makes possible a very simple construction and very good accessibility.

The grinding pot according to the proposal is characterized in particular in that it is equipped with a holding section (only) on the bottom side for holding or tensioning on or against the associated grinding pot holder or to the bottom side thereof. Thereby yielding corresponding advantages.

The grinding pot is therefore preferably held to or against the grinding pot holder only on the underside or only on the bottom side and/or the grinding pot opening is freely accessible even in the operating state, i.e. when the grinding pot is held on the grinding pot holder.

According to a second aspect of the invention, which can also be realized independently, the clamping element is preferably designed to be axially adjustable in order to tension the grinding pot axially and/or radially onto or against the grinding pot holder. This likewise allows a simple construction and/or good accessibility.

According to a third aspect of the invention, which can also be realized independently, the clamping element is preferably designed to be axially adjustable for loosening or lifting the grinding pot in the axial direction, i.e. for detaching the grinding pot from the grinding pot holder. This makes a very simple and particularly intuitive operation or a high level of operating comfort possible.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, which can also be realized independently, the clamping element is preferably held in its position holding or tensioning the grinding pot solely by spring force, without the need for servo drives such as the motor and eccentric shaft in DE 102012009987 a1 to generate the necessary force or pretension or axial feed. This allows a simple construction and reproducible tensioning.

Preferably, it is proposed that the clamping element is designed to be axially adjustable, wherein an axial tensile force can be transmitted by the clamping element to the at least one grinding pot by lowering the clamping element or by moving the clamping element in the axial direction in a first direction, in order to pull the grinding pot towards the grinding pot carrier or to tension the grinding pot in the axial direction in the downward or in the first direction. By lifting the clamping element or by moving the clamping element in the axial direction in the second direction, an axial lifting force can preferably be transmitted to the grinding pot in order to lift the grinding pot upwards off the grinding pot holder or to thereby relax the grinding pot in the axial direction. After the milling jar is relaxed, it can then be removed from the ball mill.

The ball mill according to the invention therefore differs fundamentally from the ball mill known from DE 102012009987 a1 in that the clamping element (i.e. the eccentric shaft) transmits an axial pressure force to the grinding pot in order to press the grinding pot upwards against the stop of the cage-like grinding pot holder and thereby tension it in the axial direction. In the known solutions, the grinding pot is then lowered and thereby loosened in the axial direction by rotating the eccentric shaft.

The tensioning device preset according to the invention makes possible a series of important advantages. On the one hand, by tensioning the grinding pot in the axial direction by pulling it downwards, easy accessibility to the grinding pot from above and thus a convenient sampling are achieved. On the other hand, by transmitting the pulling force to the grinding pot, a less expensive and rapidly performable tensioning and loosening of the grinding pot can be achieved.

The tensioning device provided in the ball mill according to the invention can be implemented in a simple manner in terms of construction, with a low number of components. In addition, a design can be selected in which the clamping element together with the grinding pot carrier is mounted so as to be rotatable about the planet gear axis relative to the carrier device and is carried along by the carrier device about the central axis with a low degree of ball mill imbalance.

Finally, in the ball mill according to the invention, a plurality of grinding pot holders or grinding stations can be realized in a simple manner, wherein the grinding stations are arranged in particular symmetrically about the central axis in order to equalize the moments of inertia as well as possible, and wherein subsequently at least one clamping element is assigned to each grinding pot holder in each case, and a plurality of clamping elements can be simultaneously relaxed.

The laboratory ball mill according to the invention can also be used for larger milling pots in laboratory scale, in particular milling pots of a size of more than 100ml, more than 250ml and/or up to about 500ml or more per milling pot, and enables high milling powers.

Advantageously, a lifting drive for lifting the clamping element and for automatically actuating the slackening of the grinding pot is provided. The lifting force for lifting the clamping element can be generated electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically. The transmission of the hoisting force to the clamping element can be effected, for example, by means of a (crank) lever mechanism, an eccentric tensioner and/or a screw winch or a rack jack.

Preferably, the motor of the motorized lifting drive can be arranged in a stationary manner on the plant housing of the ball mill, so that it does not rotate together with the carrier device, but remains stationary during operation of the ball mill. In particular, the motor of the lifting drive does not have to be arranged laterally with respect to the carrier device, but can also be arranged, for example, below the carrier device. This results in a reduced lateral dimension of the plant housing of the ball mill according to the invention.

In addition, the lifting drive for lifting the clamping element can be designed to hold the clamping element in an unloading position in which the grinding pot is lifted or relaxed relative to the grinding pot carrier. Thus, the loading and unloading of the milling pot can be performed quickly and easily.

Particularly preferably, the lifting drive for the clamping element actuates only the loosening of the grinding pot and, if appropriate, the holding of the grinding pot in the unloading position, but not the tensioning of the grinding pot on the grinding pot holder. The axial tensile force which is to be transmitted to the grinding pot via the clamping element in order to tension the grinding pot is therefore not provided by the lifting drive. Instead, at least one spring element acting on the clamping element can be provided, which is elastically deformed and pretensioned when the clamping element is lifted. If the force transmission from the lifting drive to the clamping element is then terminated and the lifting force transmitted by the lifting drive is preferably reduced to zero, the spring force of the pretensioned spring element automatically initiates the lowering of the clamping element and thus the tensioning of the grinding pot. The lowering of the clamping element is then initiated solely by the restoring of the deformed spring element, wherein the tensile force required for tensioning the grinding pot is preferably less than the spring-back force or spring force of the prestressed spring element. It should be understood that a plurality of spring elements can be provided in order to increase the clamping or tensile force transmitted to the grinding pot via the clamping element.

In principle, however, a loose structural design of the grinding pot which is actuated manually, i.e. the lifting force required for lifting the clamping element and, if necessary, the holding force which holds the clamping element in the unloading position in which the grinding pot is axially relaxed, are applied manually, is not excluded either. Manual force transmission can be realized in a simple manner, for example, by means of a lever mechanism, in particular a toggle lever mechanism as is already used in scissor lifts.

As already mentioned, the clamping element can preferably be held and/or supported on the grinding pot carrier and can be entrained by the carrier device during the rotation of the carrier device about the central axis by means of the grinding pot carrier. The clamping element can be designed as a rod-shaped tensioning anchor rod which extends coaxially to the planetary gear axis and is axially displaceable in the shaft of the grinding pot carrier and is preferably arranged rotationally fixed relative to the shaft. The shaft of the grinding pot carrier can be rotatably mounted in its part in the sun gear of the carrier device. The grinding pot carrier can comprise a grinding pot carrier which is connected to the shaft in a rotationally fixed manner and, when the grinding pot is tensioned, the grinding pot is tensioned against the grinding pot carrier by means of the clamping element until a frictionally contacting or rotationally fixed connection is achieved between the grinding pot and the grinding pot carrier. In particular, the design of the clamping element as a rod-shaped tensioning anchor extending along the planet gear axis contributes to the fact that the ball mill according to the invention has a very low degree of unbalance during rotation of the support device.

In order to be able to transmit the tensile force of the clamping element to the grinding pot, the clamping element can be connected to the grinding pot in a form-fitting and/or frictional contact and non-destructively, for example by means of a bayonet connection.

The grinding pot can have a connection region or a holding section on its underside for detachable connection to the clamping element. When the grinding pot is inserted into the ball mill, the grinding pot is placed, inserted and/or screwed onto the grinding pot holder or the clamping element from the top. If a bayonet connection is provided between the grinding pot and the clamping element, the grinding pot can be twisted in the mounted state to align the contact surfaces of the bayonet until the grinding pot and the clamping element are mechanically connected. The connection is then preferably effected by a plugging movement and/or a turning movement. The bayonet connection is preferably designed such that it only causes the grinding pot to be held axially on the tensioning anchor rod. The grinding pot is then connected to the tensioning anchor only by an insertion-rotation movement.

In order to prevent relative rotation between the clamping element and the grinding pot, it is alternatively or additionally also possible to provide a frictionally contacting connection, wherein a friction coating, for example a rubber coating, can be provided on the contact surface of the clamping element and/or on the contact surface of the grinding pot. Such a frictionally contacting coating can additionally be provided when the grinding pot and the clamping element are coupled by a bayonet connection. By means of the frictional contact, it is ensured that, after the bayonet joint has been produced, the grinding pot cannot be accidentally inverted into a position in which the tensioning anchor only overlaps or only partially overlaps or engages behind only the partial region of the undercut in the grinding pot or the connection geometry of the bayonet connection on the grinding pot and on the clamping element, which could lead to damage to the grinding pot.

Another variant envisages a bayonet connection comprising magnetic means for positioning.

If the ball mill comprises a plurality of grinding pot holders, it is preferable if a corresponding tensioning device is provided for each grinding pot holder, which respectively comprises a clamping element in order to hold or tension the grinding pot axially against the grinding pot holder.

For the simultaneous lifting of a plurality of (preferably all) clamping elements, a common lifting device can be provided, wherein in a preferred embodiment the lifting device can comprise a lifting element, preferably a lifting plate, arranged below the carrier device and in particular below the clamping elements. The lifting element can then act on the clamping element from below during the lifting process and transmit the lifting force and, if applicable, the holding force required for lifting the clamping element to the clamping element. In this connection, a common motorized drive can be provided for all the clamping elements, which in particular automatically actuates only the loosening of the grinding pot and, if necessary, automatically actuates the holding of the grinding pot in the unloading position.

For the force transmission of the horse onto the lifting element, a joining device can be provided, which is preferably likewise arranged below the carrying device and in particular below the lifting element. The plant housing of the ball mill according to the invention thus has a low lateral dimension.

Expediently, the lifting element is arranged in the installation housing so as to be rotationally fixed and/or so as to be liftable and lowerable in the axial direction.

Preferably, in the tensioned state of the grinding pot, the lifting element is kinematically decoupled from the rotational movement of the carrier device. This results in a very low degree of unbalance or rotational mass during operation of the ball mill according to the invention.

In addition to tensioning the grinding pot, the clamping element can also fulfill a safety function. This safety function can be derived from the property that the clamping element can be lowered significantly further under tension in the case of an unfilled grinding pot than in the case of one or more filled grinding pots. In this connection, an advantageous development of the invention provides that the clamping element can be lowered in the disconnected state from the grinding pot until a frictional and/or form-fitting connection is formed with the lifting device, in particular with the lifting element, and/or with a stationary housing part in the ball mill, in order to brake and/or prevent a rotational movement of the support device. If the connection between the clamping element and the grinding pot fails during grinding, the clamping element can likewise assume this or another impact position and fulfill an active braking function. Thus, a self-monitoring and fail-safe configuration is possible. No further elements are required to additionally monitor the operationally safe position of the clamping element, in which the clamping element is connected to the grinding pot as intended. Thereby, cost advantages can be achieved.

As already described above, it is preferably provided that the grinding pot is tensioned upwards without a stop on the grinding pot holder. In other words, this means that the grinding pot or the grinding pot cover does not have to be pressed against the stop of the grinding pot carrier in order to tension the grinding pot in the axial direction. This ensures free access to the grinding pot from above and thus convenient sampling.

The grinding chamber of the grinding pot can be closed in a conventional manner by a grinding pot lid connected to the grinding pot. The grinding pot lid can be screwed, for example, to the grinding pot.

Finally, at least one torsion-proof element for the grinding pot, for example a securing pin, can be provided on the grinding pot carrier, as a result of which the grinding pot can be connected to the clamping element in a form-fitting and/or frictional contact, or a specific rotational position of the grinding pot relative to the clamping element is possible. In this case, for example, a design of the connection geometry can be predetermined such that the connection of the torsion-protection element to the grinding pot is simultaneously formed if, after insertion and rotation relative to the clamping element, the grinding pot has reached a lowered position or a position in which the connection geometries of the bayonet connection of the grinding pot and the clamping element bear against one another and form a bayonet connection.

Other sub-aspects of the first aspect of the invention relate to a laboratory scale ball mill,

wherein the clamping element holds or acts indirectly on the grinding pot, and/or

Wherein the grinding pots can be held without a stop at the grinding pot holder or can be tensioned axially at the grinding pot holder, facing upwards against the mill housing, and/or

Wherein the clamping element can be connected to the grinding pot in a form-fitting and/or frictional and non-destructive manner in a detachable manner, and/or

-wherein by lowering the clamping element, an axial pulling force can be transmitted to the grinding pot by the clamping element, in order to pull the grinding pot downwards against the grinding pot holder and against the grinding pot holder, to tension the grinding pot in axial direction, and/or

Wherein by lifting the clamping element, an axial lifting force can be transmitted to the grinding pot by the clamping element in order to lift the grinding pot upwards from the grinding pot carrier and to axially loosen the grinding pot, or in order to detach the grinding pot from the grinding pot carrier, and/or

At least one spring element acting on the clamping element is provided, wherein the spring element is unloaded when the pretensioned clamping element is lifted and the clamping element is lowered, and/or

Wherein the clamping element is held and/or supported on the grinding pot carrier and is carried along with it by the carrier device during rotation of the carrier device, and/or

Wherein the clamping element is designed as a tension anchor extending coaxially with the planet gear axis and/or in the form of a rod, and/or

In which a drive or lifting device for lifting the clamping element and/or the grinding pot is foreseen, and/or

-wherein the lifting device comprises a lifting element arranged below the gripping element, wherein during or for lifting the lifting element preferably acts on the gripping element from below, and/or #

Wherein the lifting element is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner and/or can be raised and lowered in the axial direction, and/or in the tensioned state of the grinding pot is kinematically decoupled from the rotational movement of the carrier device and/or the rotational movement of the grinding pot carrier, and/or

Wherein the clamping element can be lowered into a frictionally and/or form-fitting connection with a stationary housing part in the lifting apparatus and/or the ball mill in order to brake and/or prevent a rotational movement of the carrying device, and/or

At least two grinding pot supports and at least two tensioning devices each comprising a clamping element are provided in order to tension or hold the grinding pots respectively in the axial direction against the grinding pot supports, preferably wherein a common lifting device is provided for simultaneously lifting a plurality of (preferably all) clamping elements, and/or

Wherein the clamping element or tensioning device comprises or forms a centering tensioner, and/or

Wherein the clamping element or tensioning device comprises a plurality of holding elements which are distributed in the circumferential direction or are movable in the axial direction in order to hold or center the grinding pot in frictional contact or in a form-fitting manner and/or

The ball mill comprises a grinding pot which is equipped on the bottom side with a holding section for holding on the bottom side next to or on a grinding pot holder.

In addition, other sub-aspects of the first aspect of the present invention relate to a grinding pot for a ball mill,

wherein the retaining section is designed as a ring or flange and/or preferably projects radially inwardly, and/or

-wherein the retaining section forms or defines a recess or circumferential groove opening radially inwards.

In addition, a second aspect of the present invention relates to a laboratory scale ball mill comprising: a carrier rotatably supported about a central axis; at least one grinding pot carrier for at least one grinding pot, wherein the grinding pot carrier is rotatably mounted on and/or in the carrier and is entrained therewith about the central axis and preferably rotatably mounted relative to the carrier about an offset planet gear axis, and wherein the grinding pot carrier comprises at least one clamping element for axially tensioning the grinding pot into and/or against the grinding pot carrier and the clamping element is entrained therewith about the central axis by the carrier during rotation of the grinding pot carrier. If the grinding pot carrier itself is mounted so as to be rotatable about the offset planetary axis relative to the carrier device, the clamping element is correspondingly entrained by the grinding pot carrier during the rotation of the grinding pot carrier or is likewise arranged so as to be rotatable about the planetary axis relative to the carrier device.

From DE 102012009987 a1, a laboratory ball mill having the previously described features is known. Such laboratory-scale ball mills are used for a wide range of applications, for example for comminuting and mixing samples and/or for mechanically refining alloys. Possible embodiments of a laboratory ball mill, in particular those designed as planetary ball mills and centrifugal ball mills, are described in DE 102012009987 a 1.

In particular, DE 102012009987 a1 describes a planetary ball mill or centrifugal ball mill on a laboratory scale, in which the grinding containers are tensioned in the axial direction in a rigid cage in order to fasten the grinding containers at the grinding station for the grinding process. The axial tensioning is accomplished by means of an eccentric shaft extending transversely to the planet gear axis, wherein the eccentric shaft is rotatably supported in a receiving device for the grinding pot. The eccentric shaft is located below the clamping bottom which is displaceable in the axial direction. The clamping bottom can be tensioned by an eccentric shaft, over a predefined length, upwards against the grinding container, so that the grinding container is tensioned in the cage from below in the axial direction against the upper cross beam. For example, the eccentric shaft transmits the tensioning force to the clamping base by means of a needle bearing, wherein the eccentric shaft is supported between the lower bottom part and the clamping base by means of a ball bearing. The clamping base raises the pressure plate upward by means of a spring unit, which in turn first moves the filled grinding container toward a pressure yoke serving as a stop for the grinding pot cover until the axial play is eliminated from the system. During the further tensioning, the seal between the grinding pot and the grinding pot lid is pressed. If it is pressed as a rigid height stop, the clamping bottom presses the cup spring on the remaining clamping path of the eccentric shaft to induce a true axial tension for the grinding vessel within the rigid cage.

The motor of the motorized drive for adjusting or rotating the eccentric shaft is arranged in a stationary manner on the installation housing and does not rotate with the carrier. For actuating the eccentric shaft, a joining device is provided, which couples the motorized drive to the eccentric shaft in the rest state of the ball mill with a specific rotational orientation of the grinding container, so that in the rest state the eccentric shaft can be actuated outside the carrying device. Thereby, for example, a feed line to the rotating carrier can be avoided, and even for a mill comprising a plurality of grinding stations, only one motor is required.

The adapter of the known laboratory mill comprises a plurality of co-acting engagement elements of the motorized drive and the eccentric shaft, which should automatically snap into one another in a form-fitting manner when the grinding station is brought into the loading and unloading position. The engaging device is designed as a slot engager, wherein a pin extending transversely to the eccentric shaft extends into a slot of a drive shaft extending coaxially with the eccentric shaft when the grinding station is in the loading and unloading position. In the switched-in state, the eccentric shaft can be rotated by the motor in order to automatically tension the grinding vessel in the axial direction or to automatically release the tensioning again. As the motor, a commercially available variable speed motor that generates a torque on the drive shaft that is transmitted to the eccentric shaft may be preset.

The previously described tensioning mechanism of the known laboratory mill provides a plurality of clamping elements for axially tensioning the grinding bowl, which clamping elements are part of the grinding bowl carrier, are rotatably mounted on the carrier and are carried along by the carrier about the central axis when it rotates. The eccentric shaft serves as a lifting element and a clamping element and is provided for raising and lowering the clamping base, the spring set and the pressure plate as further clamping elements. In known laboratory mills, eccentric shafts are used for transmitting and transmitting the motorized drive force to further clamping elements. However, the structural design of the tensioning mechanism is mechanically expensive. Due to the eccentric shaft which rotates during the grinding process together with the cage provided for protecting the grinding container and the additional clamping element which rotates, a large number of rotating masses are provided, which makes it difficult to equalize the unbalance and can lead to operational faults during the operation of the known laboratory grinding mill. The large moving mass of the tensioning mechanism results in greater bearing loads and requires the use of correspondingly high value, expensive bearing assemblies.

Further, all clamping forces for axially tensioning the grinding pots in the cage have to be absorbed within the cage, which leads to high mechanical loads of the cage structure. Problems associated with locking and unlocking the cage can arise due to component loading and material fatigue.

The connection of the eccentric shaft to the motorized drive, which is required for motorized actuation of the eccentric shaft, is also mechanically expensive, subject to more wear and, as a result, requires intensive maintenance. The access needs to precisely comply with the specific rotational position of the carrier. If this rotational position is not precisely observed, this can lead to tensioning of the components in the region of the joining device, or even to a complete hindrance of the joining function, so that tensioning or de-tensioning of the grinding container can no longer be achieved.

Furthermore, it is disadvantageous to use known tensioning mechanisms for planetary ball mills or centrifugal ball mills comprising a plurality of grinding stations. Thus, each grinding pot carrier has a separate tensioning arrangement formed by the eccentric shaft and the further clamping element. In order to tension a plurality of grinding pots, it is necessary to subsequently bring the grinding stations into the loading and removal position, respectively, in order to establish the engagement between the motorized drive and the eccentric shaft of the respective grinding station, and to subsequently tension the grinding pots of the respective grinding station. Therefore, tensioning of multiple grinding pots is very time consuming.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a laboratory ball mill of the type mentioned at the outset, which comprises an improved tensioning and/or relaxing mechanism for at least one grinding pot in a grinding pot carrier in comparison with the prior art, wherein the tensioning and/or relaxing mechanism makes possible the transmission and transmission of a clamping force, which is generated in a motorized or optionally manual manner, to the clamping element in a structurally simple manner under conditions of high operational safety, and the clamping force required for tensioning results in a lower mechanical load of the structure of the grinding pot carrier. Therefore, the tensioning and/or relaxing mechanism should be low maintenance and allow for the transmission of high clamping forces. In particular, the tensioning and/or relaxing mechanism should provide the possibility of causing tensioning of the grinding pots in the grinding pot holder in planetary ball mills and centrifugal ball mills comprising a plurality of grinding stations with a low expenditure of time and in a simple and comfortable manner for the user.

The above object is achieved by a ball mill having the features according to claim 5. An advantageous embodiment of the invention is the subject matter of the dependent claim 6.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the ball mill according to the invention comprises a lifting device as part of the tensioning mechanism and/or the relaxation mechanism, which comprises at least one lifting element for transmitting the motorized and/or manually generated clamping force to the at least one clamping element, wherein the lifting element is kinematically decoupled from the rotational movement of the carrier and/or the rotational movement of the grinding pot carrier. A plurality of lifting elements for transmitting the clamping force to the clamping element can also be provided. During the rotation of the carrier device, the lifting elements are not entrained by the carrier device together about the central axis.

In the sense of the present invention, the term "lifting element" preferably refers to a passive member for transmitting and/or transmitting a purely motorized or manual driving force to the clamping element. The driving force may be applied manually or by a motorized drive unit. The lifting element is preferably located substantially below the grinding pot carrier, more preferably below the clamping element, and serves in particular to transmit an axial lifting force to the clamping element. An "axial" lifting force in the sense of the present invention exists when the force vector is at least substantially parallel or coaxial (coaxial) with respect to or with the axis of rotation of the grinding pot holder and/or the axis of rotation of the clamping element. However, embodiments are not excluded in which the lifting element transmits at least also or possibly only horizontal or radial force components to the clamping element. In the following, the invention is described merely by way of example and not exclusively for the transmission of a purely axial lifting force from a lifting element to a clamping element.

During the force transmission from the lifting element to the clamping element, the lifting element can bear directly against the clamping element, wherein the force transmission is effected via the contact surfaces of the lifting element and the clamping element which are in contact with one another.

In addition, the lifting element can be continuously connected to the motorized drive. In particular, there may be a connection to a motorized drive if the carrier rotates about the central axis during operation of the ball mill.

According to a second aspect of the concept, the invention is based on the idea that, for transmitting the clamping forces required for tensioning and/or relaxing the grinding vessel in and/or on the grinding vessel carrier, a clamping or lifting element is inserted which is at least substantially fixed in position relative to the carrier device and which interacts for tensioning and/or relaxing with the grinding vessel carrier clamping element which is carried along by the carrier device during operation of the ball mill. In the embodiment known from DE 102012009987 a1, eccentric shafts which rotate together during operation of the ball mill are used to transmit and transmit the clamping forces which are generated by the motor. In contrast, the invention provides for at least one lifting element which is kinematically decoupled from the rotary movement of the support device and remains stationary during operation of the ball mill. The invention therefore allows a constructive design of the tensioning and/or relaxing mechanism for the grinding bowl, which is distinguished by a smaller number of components which are carried along by the carrier device about the central axis during operation of the ball mill. With a lower rotating mass, a simple structural design with low wear and thus low maintenance requirements is possible. Further, the invention allows a structural design of the tensioning and/or relaxing mechanism, wherein the clamping force is absorbed in particular by the grinding pot holder at lower mechanical loads. In addition, the tensioning and/or relaxing mechanism can preset the transmission of the motor-generated clamping force from the motor to the clamping element without engagement, so that the disadvantages associated with the use of an engagement device in the ball mill known from DE 102012009987 a1 can be circumvented.

The grinding pot holder is in particular only designed for holding the grinding pot on the underside or on the underside and/or is adjustable in the axial direction for tensioning the grinding pot to the grinding pot holder or against it in the axial direction and/or in the radial direction and/or for loosening the grinding pot in the axial direction and/or in the radial direction. This makes it possible for the grinding pot to be fastened to the grinding pot holder in a user-friendly manner next to, in, on and/or by means of the same. Compared to the design of the grinding pot holder known from DE 102012009987 a1 as a side-fillable cage, the possibility exists according to the invention of a more rapid exchange of the grinding pot and/or a rapid access to the grinding pot interior by removing the grinding pot lid.

A particularly simple structural design of the invention provides for the lifting element to be guided and/or supported in a height-adjustable manner, in particular only substantially parallel and/or coaxial to the longitudinal or rotational axis of the grinding pot holder, grinding pot and/or clamping element, preferably in an at least substantially vertical direction. Thereupon, the lifting force is transmitted to the clamping element when they are in contact with each other, preferably only by height adjustment of the lifting element. In this connection, the lifting element can be designed, for example, as a lifting block, the height of which can be adjusted in the axial direction, preferably in an at least substantially vertical direction, by means of an adjusting element or actuating element.

Alternatively, a design can also be provided in which the lifting element as such is adjustably guided and/or supported transversely to the rotational axis of the grinding pot carrier and/or of the clamping element. In this embodiment, the lifting element can be designed, for example, as a link comprising an inclined lifting ramp, wherein the lifting ramp bears against the clamping element during an adjusting movement of the link and, depending on the direction of movement, lifts or lowers the clamping element during the adjusting movement in order to transmit the clamping force.

In a further alternative embodiment, the lifting element can also be designed as an eccentric shaft, which is arranged so as to be rotatable transversely to the longitudinal or rotational axis of the grinding pot carrier and/or the clamping element, wherein an eccentric section of the eccentric shaft is in contact with the clamping element for transmitting the required clamping force. The invention is concerned here with the use of the eccentric shaft known from DE 102012009987 a1 for transmitting clamping forces, but, in contrast to the known ball mills, a positionally fixed arrangement of the eccentric shaft is proposed according to the invention, wherein the eccentric shaft is kinematically decoupled from the rotary movement of the carrier device and/or the rotary movement of the grinding pot carrier.

Finally, the term "lifting element" in the sense of the present invention may also be an actuator or a linear motor which moves the force transmission element against the clamping element, preferably in an at least substantially vertical direction, and thereby transmits the force required for lifting or lowering to the clamping element. For this purpose, an actuator or a linear motor may be arranged below the clamping element.

It is expedient if the axial lifting force of the lifting element can be transmitted only when a specific loading and/or removal position of the carrier device is reached, i.e. when a specific loading and/or removal position of the grinding pot carrier is reached, i.e. when a specific rotational orientation of the carrier device is reached. When the clamping element is located coaxially above the lifting element, a specific loading and/or removal position is preferably reached.

In the state in which the grinding pot is tensioned as intended on and/or in the grinding pot carrier, the lifting element is preferably spaced apart from the clamping element, so that a relative movement between the clamping element and the grinding pot carrier on the one hand and the lifting element on the other hand in the circumferential direction of the encircling track along which the grinding pot carrier is moved during operation of the ball mill is possible. The lifting element is then mechanically decoupled from the clamping element, in particular without any direct physical connection between the two components.

In the case of an unfitted grinding pot or an unfitted grinding pot, the clamping element can be lowered or lowered relative to the lifting element according to the invention, so that a positive and/or non-positive connection is formed between the clamping element and the lifting element. If the grinding pot is not held as intended on and/or in the grinding pot holder, the lifting element is then mechanically coupled and/or couplable to the clamping element and a braking or stopping function for the carrier device and/or the grinding pot holder can be realized.

In order to transmit a motorized and/or manual drive force to the lifting element and to adjust, in particular to lift, the lifting element, the lifting device may comprise at least one adjusting element. The adjusting element is then also kinematically decoupled from the rotary movement of the carrier device and/or the grinding pot carrier. Particularly preferably, an adjustment movement of the adjustment element transverse to the longitudinal axis or the rotational axis of the grinding pot carrier and/or the clamping element causes an adjustment movement of the lifting element. In this connection, the adjusting element can be designed as a spindle or a link, wherein the motorized drive force of the drive motor is transmitted to the spindle or link, if necessary, via a motor coupling, and the lifting element is adjusted, preferably lifted, by axial adjustment of the spindle or link. A structurally simple high clamping force transmission is thereby made possible.

As an adjusting element, an eccentric shaft can also be provided which is arranged so as to be rotatable relative to the lifting element and which acts on the lifting element, wherein the lifting element can be lifted by means of an eccentric section of the eccentric shaft.

Finally, as an adjusting element, a lever can also be provided in order to adjust (in particular lift) at least one lifting element for transmitting the clamping force with a reduced effort.

The adjusting element can be mechanically connected, in particular non-engaged, continuously (i.e. in particular during the rotation of the carrier or during the operation of the ball mill) to the motorized drive. It is also possible to provide engagement means for rigid, elastic, movable or detachable connection of the adjustment element to the motorized drive means. The motorized drive can be arranged preferably laterally spaced apart from the rotating component and/or vertically below the grinding pot carrier. More preferably, a drive is arranged in a stationary manner, which drive is kinematically decoupled from the rotary movement of the carrier and/or the rotary movement of the grinding pot carrier. In principle, it is also possible to actuate the adjusting element manually by means of an adjusting tool or an adjusting handle.

Preferably, at least one coupling element for the kinematic coupling of the adjustment element to the lifting element is provided, wherein the coupling element can be adjusted relative to the adjustment element, preferably by rotation of the adjustment element. The coupling element can, for example, be designed wedge-shaped with an inclined and/or curved rising surface. These rising surfaces come into contact with the lifting element during the translational movement of the setting element, which causes the lifting of the lifting element. A sliding or rolling contact can reduce the friction and enable a less laborious kinematic coupling of the adjusting element with the lifting element via the coupling element. The low-friction coating and/or the hardened raised surface of the coupling element also simplifies the kinematic coupling. Corresponding rising surfaces can also be provided on the lifting element. In a particularly preferred manner, the lifting element can rest against an inclined or curved lifting surface on the coupling element by means of at least one roller, which during the lifting movement of the lifting element rolls upwards or downwards along the lifting surface.

The coupling element is preferably a separate member. However, embodiments are not excluded in which the adjusting element acts directly (i.e. not indirectly) on or rests against the lifting element and has, for example, an obliquely upward rising face which is in operative connection with the lifting element during the adjusting movement of the adjusting element and, for example, lifts the lifting element for transmitting the clamping force.

Preferably, however, the coupling element is guided adjustably on the adjusting element. In this connection, the adjusting element can be designed as a spindle with an external thread, and the coupling element can have a threaded bore for a threaded section of the spindle. If the coupling element is adjustable only in the linear direction, an adjusting movement of the coupling element along the axis of rotation of the spindle occurs, depending on the pitch of the threaded spindle when it is rotated.

The coupling element is likewise kinematically decoupled from the rotary movement of the carrier device and/or the grinding pot carrier.

The lifting device may further comprise at least one lifting housing, wherein the lifting element is guided and/or supported within the lifting housing, preferably height-adjustable, more preferably laterally with a clearance. The lifting housing can have a recess for the lifting element, in which the lifting element is preferably accommodated with an axially adjustable height. Expediently, the lifting element is accommodated loosely (i.e. not in a snug abutment) in the recess and guided therein. Thereby, a lifting movement of the lifting element in the interspace is possible without the risk of jamming of the lifting element.

Expediently, the lifting housing is likewise kinematically decoupled from the rotary movement of the carrier device and/or the grinding pot carrier. Thus, during the rotary movement of the carrier means, the lifting housing as part of the lifting device is not entrained by it around the central axis.

In order to keep the component loads, in particular the support device and/or the grinding pot carrier, low, at least one support section or bearing section can be provided on the lifting housing to form a support for the grinding pot carrier. For this purpose, the grinding pot carrier can comprise a retaining section which corresponds to a seat section on the lifting housing. The formation of the seat requires the seat section to be in contact with the retaining section. In particular, the formation of the abutment can be effected as early as before, at the same time as or after the contact of the lifting element with the clamping element. However, the lifting of the clamping element is preferably only effected after the holding section on the grinding pot carrier has been brought into abutment against the stand section against the lifting housing.

In particular, by means of the seat for grinding the tank holder, it is ensured that: the lifting housing is held on the grinding pot carrier during the transmission of the clamping force and the pressure transmitted by the lifting element to the clamping element and the reaction force on the support are substantially compensated. The lifting housing is not supported substantially above the bottom of the grinding mill, so that substantially no tensioning or loosening forces have to be transmitted via the bearing devices of the carrier device and grinding pot carrier. In particular, during the lifting of the lifting element, it is essentially not necessary for any vertical forces to be absorbed by the adjustment element.

To form the abutment, the holding section on the grinding pot carrier can engage the abutment section on the lifting housing from below and/or from behind. Alternatively, it is possible for the seat section on the lifting housing to engage the corresponding retaining section on the grinding pot carrier from below and/or from behind. The seat section on the grinding pot carrier can be designed in a particularly advantageous manner on the lower end of the planet shaft of the grinding pot carrier, for example as a radially outwardly projecting shoulder. The bolt-like or piston-like clamping element can be guided in the planet shaft in an axially adjustable or height-adjustable manner. On the lifting housing, recesses can be provided, on which projections are designed which project radially inward and form the seat sections on the lifting housing.

In order to form the abutment or to bring about a mutual contact of the abutment section on the lifting housing and the holding section on the grinding pot carrier (in particular on the planet shaft of the grinding pot carrier), the lifting housing can be adjustable, in particular height-adjustable, to form the abutment with respect to the grinding pot carrier. The formation of the carrier is expediently coupled to the achievement of a specific rotational orientation of the carrier device which is predetermined for the loading/unloading of the grinding pot. In addition, during the height adjustment of the lifting housing, a corresponding height adjustability of the adjusting device and, if appropriate, of a drive device connected to the adjusting device is preferably preset.

During the rotation of the support device about the central axis or during the operation of the ball mill according to the invention, a design of the tensioning and/or relaxing mechanism can be provided such that the grinding pot carrier is carried along by the support device and is freely movable over and/or partially in the lifting housing.

If the holding section is designed on the lower end of the planetary shaft body in which the clamping element can be guided in a height-adjustable manner, the planetary shaft body can project with its lower end facing the lifting housing into a corresponding recess in the lifting housing and periodically pass through this recess during the rotary movement of the carrier device. For this purpose, the recess can be open on both sides in the circumferential direction of the carrier device, so that no collision of the components occurs during the passage of the planet gear shaft with its lower end through the lifting housing. The holding geometry and the abutment geometry on the grinding pot holder on the one hand and on the lifting housing on the other hand are correspondingly designed. In order to be able to reliably exclude collisions between the grinding pot carrier (in particular the shaft body of the grinding pot carrier) and the lifting housing, it is possible, for example, to design a seat section on the lifting housing which extends over only a part of the width of the recess and/or over a part of the circumferential length of the recess and is more preferably arranged opposite.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lifting housing can preferably be arranged only in a height-adjustable manner relative to the grinding pot carrier and/or the shaft body of the grinding pot carrier and in a positionally fixed manner in a direction transverse to the rotational axis of the grinding pot carrier and/or transverse to the rotational axis of the clamping element or transverse to the rotational axis of the carrying device.

If the coupling element is intended for force transmission to the lifting element, it can be adjustably guided in and/or on the lifting housing and preferably moved in a direction transverse to the axis of rotation of the grinding pot carrier and/or transverse to the axis of rotation of the clamping element during an adjusting movement relative to the lifting housing.

The guiding of the coupling element in and/or on the lifting housing can be effected by means of rollers. Sliding contacts are also possible. In order to be able to reliably exclude the coupling element from becoming jammed in the lifting housing during the adjusting movement, the lifting housing has corresponding guide recesses for the coupling element, in which the coupling element is guided with play (preferably loosely and not in a snug abutment). More particularly, a rotationally fixed guidance of the coupling element in the lifting housing is ensured by corresponding guiding geometries on the lifting housing and/or on the coupling element. When the coupling element is actuated by the spindle, an adjusting movement of the coupling element relative to the lifting housing is effected only in the longitudinal direction of the spindle.

The coupling element can preferably be raised or lowered together with the lifting housing. Preferably, the lifting or lowering of the lifting housing is brought about by an adjusting movement of the coupling element or a displacement of the coupling element relative to the adjusting element.

If, for example, a threaded spindle is provided as an adjusting element, wherein the coupling element, which is provided with a threaded bore and through which the threaded spindle engages, can be displaced or adjustably guided in the lifting housing only in one direction, then during the displacement of the coupling element, by rotation of the threaded spindle along the spindle axis, a rail-guided lifting or lowering of the coupling element and thus of the lifting housing takes place.

For example, the lifting device can comprise a preferably positionally fixed support element for the coupling element, on which the coupling element rests and with the aid of an adjusting element the coupling element is adjusted relative thereto. The support element can provide at least two different height levels for the coupling element, wherein the coupling element is adjusted by means of the adjustment element and slides together with the lifting housing during the adjustment from the first height level to the second height level. During the adjusting movement of the coupling element by the adjusting element, a change in the height of the coupling element and the adjusting element and thus of the lifting housing occurs automatically.

Since according to the invention a lifting device is provided which comprises a lifting element which is kinematically decoupled from the rotary movement of the carrier and/or the grinding pot carrier, the lifting device can be designed for synchronously raising and/or lowering a plurality of clamping elements. For this purpose, adjustment elements can be provided, the adjustment of which causes the actuation, in particular the lifting, of a plurality of lifting elements and thus the simultaneous lifting and/or lowering of the gripping elements of a plurality of grinding stations. For example, a threaded spindle can be provided on which the two coupling elements are guided in an axially displaceable manner. Each coupling element interacts with a lifting element, wherein an adjusting movement of the spindle (i.e. a rotation of the spindle about the axis of rotation) brings the coupling elements into contact with the lifting elements at the same time, following which the lifting elements can, in terms of their aspects, come into contact with the clamping elements of the two grinding pot holders and actuate (in particular lift) the clamping elements. If the adjusting element is designed as a threaded spindle and the coupling element is guided on the threaded spindle in an axially adjustable manner, the coupling element can have a threaded bore and the threaded spindle can correspondingly have male thread sections with different directions of rotation, so that during the rotational movement of the threaded spindle an adjusting movement of the two coupling elements in opposite directions occurs. For example, a shaft having left and right male thread sections can be used as an adjustment element with a coupling element having corresponding female thread holes with different rotational directions. By means of the two coupling elements, it is possible in a simple manner to adjust (in particular raise or lower) simultaneously two lifting elements which, in terms of their part, act against the clamping elements of the two grinding stations.

A preferred embodiment of the mill according to the invention has at least two grinding pot holders and at least two tensioning devices, which comprise clamping elements, respectively, to axially hold or tension the grinding pot on or against and/or in the respective grinding pot holder, respectively, and/or to axially relax, in particular wherein a common lifting device is provided for simultaneously and/or synchronously lifting and/or lowering a plurality of (preferably all) clamping elements. However, it is not excluded that a plurality of adjusting elements can be preset in order to be able to adjust a plurality of coupling elements independently of one another if necessary. The thread turns can also be of the same direction, so that during the adjusting movement of the adjusting element both coupling elements are adjusted in the same direction.

In addition, a further sub-aspect of the second aspect of the invention relates to a laboratory scale ball mill,

wherein the adjusting element is kinematically decoupled from the rotary movement of the carrier device and/or the grinding pot carrier, and/or

At least one coupling element is provided for kinematically coupling the adjusting element with the lifting element, wherein the coupling element is preferably adjusted relative to the adjusting element by rotation of the adjusting element and is kinematically decoupled from the rotary movement of the carrier and/or the grinding pot carrier and/or

-wherein the lifting device comprises at least one lifting housing and the lifting elements are guided and/or supported within the lifting housing, preferably height-adjustable, more preferably laterally gapped, and/or

Wherein the lifting housing is kinematically decoupled from the rotary movement of the carrier device and/or the grinding pot carrier, and/or

Wherein at least one seat section is prearranged on the lifting housing for forming a seat for the grinding pot holder, and/or

In this case, the coupling element is guided adjustably in and/or on the lifting housing, preferably in a direction transverse to the grinding pot carrier and/or transverse to the planetary gear axis of the clamping element, relative to the lifting housing, and/or

Wherein the coupling element can be raised or lowered together with the lifting housing, wherein preferably the raising or lowering is brought about by an adjusting movement of the coupling element relative to the adjusting element, and/or

-wherein the lifting device (30 ') is designed for synchronously raising and/or lowering a plurality of gripping elements (19').

Finally, a third aspect of the invention relates to a laboratory-scale ball mill, in particular in the form of a centrifugal ball mill and/or a planetary ball mill, comprising: at least one grinding pot holder for at least one grinding pot which can be closed with a grinding pot lid; a tensioning device comprising at least one clamping element for holding or tensioning the grinding pot in the axial direction on or against the grinding pot holder and/or for loosening the grinding pot in the axial direction; and a carrier device which is preferably mounted so as to be rotatable about a central axis, wherein the grinding pot carrier is mounted so as to be rotatable about the offset planet gear axis relative to the carrier device and is entrained by the grinding pot carrier about the central axis. Further, the invention relates to a milling pot for a laboratory mill according to any of the preceding claims.

The laboratory ball mill according to the invention can be designed as a planetary or centrifugal single ball mill comprising only one grinding station or also as a ball mill comprising a plurality of grinding stations, wherein the grinding stations are preferably arranged symmetrically around a central axis in order to equalize the moments of inertia as well as possible.

DE 102012009987 a1 discloses a laboratory ball mill. Comprising a carrier device rotating around a vertical central axis. On the carrier device, a plurality of grinding stations are mounted, each of which can be rotated relative to the carrier device about a planetary gear axis offset parallel to the central axis, wherein each grinding station has a cage-like receptacle for at least one grinding pot which can be filled with grinding stock and grinding bodies, in particular grinding balls. Each of the receiving means is carried along by the carrier means about the central axis and also (mostly oppositely) rotates relative to the carrier means about the respective planet gear axis.

The laboratory ball mill described in DE 102012009987 a1 comprises: a tensioning device comprising a clamping element to axially tension the grinding pot in the containment; and a motorized drive for the clamping element which automatically actuates the tensioning of the grinding pot in the receptacle. The axial tensioning is accomplished by means of an eccentric shaft body, which extends transversely to the planet gear axis, as a clamping element, wherein the eccentric shaft body is rotatably mounted in a receiving device for the grinding pot. The ball mill has a motor which is fastened in a stationary manner relative to the plant housing outside the support device. The motor drives a drive shaft body that is slotted at its ends to enable coupling to an eccentric shaft body. Coupling to the eccentric shaft body is only possible when the grinding station is in a particular loading and unloading position and in the correct rotational orientation. Subsequently, the eccentric shaft body can be rotated by the motor, wherein the axial height change of the eccentric shaft body is transmitted by the disk spring to a spring-mounted pressure plate, which lifts the grinding pot until it rests on the upper side with the grinding pot cover against a stop of the receiving device. By inverting the eccentric shaft body, the possibility of releasing the tensioning again arises.

The known ball mill has a costly structural construction. Furthermore, it is disadvantageously difficult to engage the motor with the eccentric shaft body to tension/relax the grinding bowl. Since the eccentric shaft body is mounted in the receiving device for the grinding pot, the eccentric shaft body also rotates during operation of the ball mill, which leads to unbalance effects, which in turn lead to vibrations and higher wear. Since the containment device is designed as a rigid cage, accessibility to the grinding tank is severely limited. For sampling, the grinding pot always needs to be removed from the cage. The operation of the known ball mill is therefore less user-friendly.

In addition, the object of the invention is to provide a ball mill and a grinding pot for such a grinding mill, which make it possible to ensure both a high level of operating comfort with high safety and, in particular, a convenient sampling when the accessibility of the grinding pot is improved. In particular the tensioning and loosening of the grinding pot on the grinding pot holder should be able to be carried out more quickly and with less expenditure. Preferably, the ball mill should have a simple structural construction. Furthermore, the degree of unbalance should be very low during operation of the ball mill.

The aforementioned object is achieved by a ball mill according to claim 7 or a grinding pot according to claim 10. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims 8 and 9.

In order to achieve the object defined above, according to a third aspect, in a ball mill of the type mentioned at the outset, it is proposed according to the invention that, in the tensioned state of the grinding pot, it is provided that a tensioning force and/or a holding force for the grinding pot is applied to the grinding pot only on the shell side and/or only on the bottom side. Another aspect of the invention relates to the freely accessible grinding pot head in the tensioned state of the grinding pot from above while maintaining the tensioned state, wherein the tensioning device is designed such that in the tensioned state of the grinding pot no clamping force is exerted on the grinding pot head from above.

In order to achieve the aforementioned object, the grinding pot according to the invention comprises at least one holding device on the housing side for a stop on the grinding pot carrier of the ball mill.

In the following, the term "grinding pot" is likewise used for grinding vessels whose grinding pot is directly tensioned or held on the grinding pot holder and for grinding vessels of this type, in which the grinding pot is tensioned or held on the grinding pot holder by means of a grinding pot adapter as a separate component.

The clamping and/or holding force for tensioning or holding the grinding pot in the axial direction on or against the grinding pot holder is therefore applied only to the region of the outer shell surface and/or through the grinding pot bottom and not above the grinding pot lid. Thus, in the tensioned state, the grinding pot lid is freely accessible on the lid side (i.e. from above) by the tensioning device. It is thus possible to carry out the sampling easily also in the tensioned state of the grinding pot, without having to detach it from the grinding pot holder. The grinding pot head can be detachably connected to the grinding pot by means of locking and/or screwing means known per se from the prior art.

The tensioning device serves for holding or axially tensioning the grinding pot on or against the grinding pot holder and/or for axially loosening the grinding pot and is thereby distinguished from the tensioning of the grinding pot top cover against the grinding pot which can be achieved by means of locking and/or screwing means known per se from the prior art.

In order to hold or tension the grinding pot in the axial direction and/or to relax the grinding pot in the axial direction, the clamping element is designed to transmit a tensioning force to the grinding pot on the housing side and/or on the underside or on the bottom side.

A simple structural design of the invention provides that the clamping element is designed to be adjustable in the axial direction in order to tension the grinding pot axially and/or radially on or against the grinding pot carrier and/or in order to relax the grinding pot axially and/or radially. In this case, the clamping element is adjusted relative to the grinding pot holder.

In a preferred embodiment, the clamping element is raised or pressed upwards in order to tension the grinding pot and correspondingly lowered or pulled downwards in order to relax the grinding pot. However, a constructive design of lowering or pulling the clamping element downwards in order to tension the grinding pot and correspondingly raising or pressing the clamping element upwards in order to relax the grinding pot is not excluded.

The clamping element may be spring-loaded by at least one spring element. Preferably, the clamping force required for tensioning the grinding pot is applied only by means of the spring element. Thus, in order to relax the grinding pot, it is necessary to move the clamping element from the first position, in which the grinding pot is tensioned, into the second position, in which the grinding pot is relaxed, against the spring force of the spring element. The adjustment force required for this purpose can be generated by a motorized drive or manually. In contrast, in a further embodiment, it can also be provided that the clamping force required for tensioning the grinding pot is applied by a motorized drive. After the motorized release of the clamping element, without a force transmission from the motorized drive to the clamping element taking place during the release, the clamping element can then be brought into a position in which the grinding pot is relaxed by means of the at least one spring element.

The grinding pot holder expediently comprises at least one stop as a seat for at least one projecting holding device of the grinding pot, which holding device is designed on the outer circumference of the grinding pot, wherein the grinding pot is held or tensioned in the axial direction and preferably in the circumferential direction on or against the grinding pot holder by the stop and the holding device during the transmission of the tensioning force.

The transmission of the tensioning force from the clamping element to the grinding pot therefore causes the holding lug to be adjusted in the axial direction together with the grinding pot and pressed against the stop. When the stop together with the clamping element is transferred from the relaxed state to the tensioned state, self-centering of the grinding pot can occur due to the complementary geometry of the stop and the retaining lug.

The stop can preferably be preset in the outer circumferential extent of the grinding pot holder. More preferably, the grinding pot carrier can comprise stops as seats for a plurality of holding projections on the grinding pot, wherein between the stops an in particular circular receiving region for the grinding pot is formed. The grinding pot can then be inserted in a simple manner from above into the insertion region between the stops of the grinding pot carrier and subsequently tensioned.

In order to achieve easy accessibility of the grinding pot lid with high operating comfort, the stop on the grinding pot carrier can be provided in the region below half height, preferably in the region of the lower third of the grinding pot height, in particular in the region near the bottom of the grinding pot, in relation to the grinding pot held in or on the grinding pot carrier. Correspondingly, in the region below half the height, preferably in the region of the lower third of the height of the grinding pot, in particular in the region near the bottom, the grinding pot has at least one holding projection as a holding device, which interacts with the stop in the tensioned state of the grinding pot. In this way, the grinding pot is freely accessible above the stop, and preferably on the housing side, without manual access to the grinding pot in this region being impaired by parts of the grinding pot tensioning system and/or tensioning device.

In addition, the grinding pot carrier may comprise at least one further stop which causes a limitation of the rotational movement of the grinding pot in the circumferential direction of the grinding pot carrier. The further stop preferably interacts for this purpose with a holding device on the outer circumference of the grinding pot. After the grinding pot has been inserted into the grinding pot carrier and/or the grinding pot has been placed on the grinding pot carrier, the holding device can be brought into abutment against a further stop by rotation of the grinding pot relative to the grinding pot carrier. In this way, the grinding pot can be brought in a relaxed state by rotation relative to the grinding pot carrier into a position in which it is then tensioned on or against the grinding pot carrier by transmitting the tensioning force and is preferably automatically centered relative to the grinding pot carrier as a result of the axial movement of the grinding pot during tensioning.

The stop on the grinding pot carrier and the holding device on the grinding pot can have complementary geometries, so that a positive-locking connection between the grinding pot and the grinding pot carrier, which is effective in the axial direction and preferably in the circumferential direction, is achieved by the stop and the holding device in the tensioned state of the grinding pot. This ensures that the grinding pot is securely fastened to the grinding pot holder in the tensioned state.

The grinding pot holder and the grinding pot may have complementary detent means, wherein preferably the detent means are designed for forming a detent connection when the grinding pot reaches a specific rotational position relative to the grinding pot holder, and more preferably before the grinding pot is tensioned on or against the grinding pot holder. For example, at least one ball hold-down element can be provided on the grinding pot holder, preferably on the housing side of the grinding pot, which ball hold-down element snaps into an opening or recess on the outer circumference of the grinding pot when a certain rotational position of the grinding pot is reached. Thereby, a specific rotational position of the grinding pot can be found in a simple manner when the grinding pot is still in a relaxed state, i.e. no tension forces have yet been transmitted to the grinding pot. By means of a latching connection and/or a form-fitting connection between the grinding pot holder and the grinding pot, it can be ensured in a simple manner that the grinding pot cannot be accidentally moved out of a specific rotational position relative to the grinding pot holder before tensioning.

A structurally simple embodiment of the invention provides that the grinding pot carrier comprises at least one connecting plate arranged on the outer circumference of the grinding pot carrier, wherein the stop is integrated into the connecting plate. For this purpose, a recess can be provided in the connecting plate, into which recess the projecting holding means on the grinding pot can be screwed by rotation of the grinding pot relative to the grinding pot holder after the grinding pot has been inserted into the grinding pot holder and/or the grinding pot has been placed on the grinding pot holder. By subsequently raising or lowering the grinding pot relative to the grinding pot carrier, the holding device can then be tensioned in the connecting plate against the stop.

In order to improve the safety of the grinding mill according to the invention, in order to prevent the grinding pot from being released from the grinding mill during the grinding operation, and in order to ensure that the grinding pot is inserted or placed into and/or onto the grinding pot carrier as intended before the grinding mill is operated, an axially adjustable slide valve can be provided, which can be coupled kinematically to the grinding pot, preferably can be raised and/or lowered together with a holding device provided on the grinding pot, wherein the slide valve forms a mechanical stop in the case of an inserted or inserted grinding pot as intended, so that a rotation of the grinding pot carrier is precluded. In this way, a rotation of the carrier device for the grinding pot carrier and thus an irregular operation of the laboratory grinding mill are very effectively prevented.

A further sub-aspect of the third aspect of the invention relates to a laboratory scale ball mill,

wherein the grinding pot carrier comprises a plurality of stops which serve as seats for the grinding pots, wherein a receiving space for the grinding pots is formed between the stops, and/or

-wherein the grinding pot is only subjected to a tensioning and/or retaining force, and/or only in the range below half the height of the grinding pot, preferably in the lower third of the height of the grinding pot, more preferably in the near-bottom range

Wherein the grinding pot holder comprises at least one connecting plate arranged on the outer circumference of the grinding pot holder, wherein the stop is integrated into the connecting plate, and/or

Wherein the grinding pot holder and the grinding pot have complementary detent means, and preferably the detent means are preset for forming a detent connection before the grinding pot is tightened onto or against the grinding pot holder when the grinding pot has reached a specific rotational position relative to the grinding pot holder, and/or

Wherein at least one stop device is integrated into the connecting plate, and/or

An axially adjustable slide valve is provided, which can be coupled kinematically to the grinding pot and can preferably be raised and/or lowered by means of a holding device on the grinding pot, wherein the slide valve forms a mechanical stop in the event of a grinding pot not being inserted or not being inserted as intended, so that a rotation of the grinding pot carrier is precluded.

The aforementioned aspects of the invention may be arbitrarily combined with each other independently of the paragraph format, even if this is not explicitly mentioned in detail.

The aspects of the invention described above and the inventive aspects derived from the description below can be implemented independently of one another, but can also be implemented in any combination.

Drawings

Further advantages, features, characteristics and aspects of the invention emerge from the claims and the following description of a preferred embodiment on the basis of the drawings.

In the following, the invention is explained in detail on the basis of embodiments and with reference to the drawings, in which features of the embodiments can be combined with each other. In the drawings:

fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a ball mill according to the invention according to a first embodiment, comprising two oppositely arranged grinding stations,

figure 2 shows a side view of a clamping element for axial tensioning and loosening of grinding pots on a grinding station,

figure 3 shows a perspective view of the clamping element according to figure 2,

figure 4 shows a front view of the clamping element according to figure 2,

fig. 5 shows a sectional view of an auxiliary disc which can be connected to a grinding pot, comprising a joint geometry for connection to a clamping element according to fig. 2,

figure 6 shows a top view of the auxiliary disc according to figure 5,

fig. 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a ball mill according to the invention according to a second embodiment, comprising grinding pots according to the invention,

figure 8 shows a perspective view of a ball mill according to the invention comprising two grinding pot holders,

figure 9 shows a top view of the ball mill according to figure 8,

fig. 10 shows a partial sectional view of the ball mill according to fig. 8 along the tangent line III-III according to fig. 2, wherein the grinding pot holder is shown in a tensioned state,

fig. 11 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the ball mill according to fig. 8, showing the right-hand grinding pot carrier and a part of the lifting device for the grinding pot carrier in the relaxed state of the grinding pot carrier,

figure 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the ball mill according to figure 8 along the tangent line V-V according to figure 9,

figure 13 shows a detail VI according to figure 12 in an enlarged view,

fig. 14 shows a perspective view of an arrangement for a ball mill, wherein the arrangement comprises a grinding pot holder and a tensioning device, which is designed for axially retaining or axially tensioning the grinding pot adapter shown in fig. 17 to 19 on or against the grinding pot holder and for axially relaxing the grinding pot;

figure 15 shows a top view of the arrangement of figure 14,

fig. 16 shows a sectional view along the line III-III according to fig. 15, in which a grinding pot adapter connected to the arrangement is shown for a grinding pot not shown,

fig. 17 shows a side view of the arrangement of grinding pot holder and tensioning device shown in fig. 14 in the direction of the arrow IV according to fig. 14, wherein a grinding pot adapter connected to the arrangement for a grinding pot not shown is shown,

fig. 18 shows a cross-sectional view of the arrangement shown in fig. 17 along the tangent V-V according to fig. 15, and

fig. 19 shows a partial sectional view of the arrangement according to fig. 17 along the sectional plane VI according to fig. 18.

Detailed Description

In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar parts, wherein corresponding features and advantages are achieved even if a repeated description is omitted for the sake of simplicity.

Fig. 1 to 7 show a ball mill according to the proposal according to a first aspect of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a ball mill 1 according to the proposal according to a first embodiment, which comprises one or more (in particular two) grinding stations 2, which are preferably embodied to be structurally identical.

The ball mill 1 is preferably embodied as a laboratory mill or planetary mill.

In the following, the invention is elucidated by means of a ball mill 1 comprising two grinding stations 2. However, the description of the features of the ball mill 1 is not limited to a ball mill 1 comprising two grinding stations 2, but is equally applicable to a laboratory ball mill comprising more than two grinding pots 2 or also to a planetary single ball mill. In view of the preferably identical design of the grinding stations 2, the features and the structural elements of the ball mill 1 or of the grinding station 2 are first described below, using as an example only the grinding station 2 shown on the left in fig. 1.

The grinding station 2 comprises a grinding pot holder 3 for a grinding pot 4.

Optionally, the grinding pot 4 is equipped with or fixedly connected to an auxiliary disk or a head piece or a bottom element 5, preferably by means of a plurality of screws 6. In principle, the grinding pot 4 and the auxiliary disk or base element 5 can also be designed in one piece. Correspondingly, the auxiliary disc or bottom element 5 or the grinding pot 4 can form an end face or grinding pot end, by means of which the grinding pot 4 is seated or held in the operating state (i.e. as shown in fig. 1) on the grinding pot holder 3.

The grinding pot carrier 3 can be mounted so as to be rotatable about a vertical planetary axis Y1 relative to or on the carrier device 7.

The carrier device 7 has a sun wheel 8 which is rotatable about a central axis Y2 of a preferably central bearing shaft 9 and which is rotatably supported in particular by means of a bearing 9 a.

The grinding pot carrier 3 can be mounted in a rotating manner, in particular on or in the sun wheel 8, preferably by means of a shaft 10 or a bearing or rolling bearing 10 a.

Preferably, the carrier device 7 or the sun gear 8 is driven by an electric drive motor, not shown, or preferably by a belt drive 11a, only briefly described. During the rotation of the carrier 7 or sun wheel 8, the grinding pot carrier 3 is entrained about the central axis Y2.

The (rotational) drive of the grinding station 2 or of the shaft 9 is preferably effected by means of a rotary or belt coupling 11b, as indicated by the pulleys 11c and 11 d.

The two grinding stations 2 face each other about the central axis Y2 such that their moments of inertia cancel each other out.

The grinding pot holder 3 preferably comprises a grinding pot tray 12 for holding the grinding pot 4.

For axially holding or tensioning the grinding pot 4 against the grinding pot carrier 12 or the grinding pot holder 3 and/or for axially loosening the grinding pot, a clamping element 13 or a tensioning device 14 is provided. In particular, the tensioning device 14 comprises a clamping element 13.

The clamping element 13 preferably extends coaxially with the planetary gear axis Y1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the clamping element 13 coincides with the planetary gear axis Y1.

The clamping element 13 is preferably connected to the shaft 10 of the grinding pot carrier 3 in a rotationally fixed manner, but is guided on or in the shaft 10 so as to be axially displaceable, as is schematically indicated by the arrow or lifting movement H in fig. 1.

By lowering the clamping element 13 (axially) into the holding or tensioning position shown in fig. 1, an axial holding or pulling force can be transmitted to the grinding pot 4 via the clamping element 13 and the optional auxiliary disk 5. The holding or pulling force causes the grinding pot 4 to be held or pulled downward (via or via the auxiliary disk 5) against the grinding pot carrier 12 of the grinding pot carrier 3 and thus, in particular, the grinding pot 4 is held or axially tensioned against or on the grinding pot carrier 3 only on the bottom side or on the underside.

As shown in fig. 1, in the installed or operating state, the grinding pot 4 or the auxiliary disk 5 (if present) is located on the grinding pot holder 3 or the grinding pot carrier 12, particularly preferably on the contact and centering surface 15 formed by it, with the bottom or, in particular, the underside which comprises the contact and centering surface 16.

In particular, the grinding pot carrier 3 and the grinding pot 4 or the contact and centering surfaces 15, 16 are designed to be matched and/or complementary to one another, so that a radial centering of the grinding pot 4 on the grinding pot carrier 3 or relative to the planet gear axis Y1 or the shaft 10 is achieved and/or a preferably form-fitting rotational synchronization or rotational coupling is achieved. Alternatively or additionally, however, the centering and/or rotational coupling can also be realized by axial holding or tensioning and/or by an engagement of the clamping element 13 or of the tensioning device 14 on the grinding pot 4 or its auxiliary disk 5. In addition, one or more engagement elements, such as pins or torsion-proof elements 26, can also be inserted, alternatively or additionally, for the desired positioning, centering and/or rotational coupling between the grinding pot 4 or its auxiliary disk 5 on the one hand and the grinding pot holder 3 or its grinding pot carrier 12 on the other hand.

The clamping element 13 is lifted in order to loosen or release the grinding pot 4 from the grinding pot carrier 3. For example, the grinding pot 4 can then be twisted and thereby removed from the engagement of the clamping element 13 or tensioning device 14.

By lifting the clamping elements 13, preferably by means of the clamping elements 13, an axial lifting force is transmitted to the grinding pot 4, which results in the grinding pot 4 (together with the auxiliary disc 5, if any) being lifted off the grinding pot tray 12 of the grinding pot carrier 3 and/or the grinding pot 4 being axially loosened or slackened.

Preferably, when the grinding pot 4 is loosened from below, a force acts against the clamping element 13 and lifts it with respect to the contact and centering surfaces 15, 16 of the grinding pot tray 12 and the auxiliary disc 5.

The optional holder or bowl 17 is advantageous here for accommodating or holding or supporting one or more springs, in particular cup springs 18, for biasing or moving the clamping element 13 downward or toward the holding or tensioning position.

The clamping element 13 is preferably fixedly connected to the holder or the bowl-like structure 17, in particular, such that a relative movement between the clamping element 13 and the holder or the bowl-like structure 17 is not possible in the axial direction.

At the location of the cup spring 18, other means for preserving potential energy, such as a gas spring, can also be provided.

In the example shown, an optional sleeve 19 is arranged between the spring 18 and the shaft 10.

The cup spring set rests radially inwardly, preferably against the inner ring of the lower rolling bearing 10a shown in fig. 1, by means of which the shaft 10 is supported in the sun wheel 8. The spring 18 can then preferably rotate together with the grinding pot holder 3, the shaft 10 and the clamping element 13 as well as the pot-shaped structure and/or the pulley 11 c.

During the lifting of the clamping element 13, the cup spring 18 is pretensioned or further clamped. If the grinding pots 4 (including the auxiliary disk 5) are lifted sufficiently far that the grinding pots 4 can be rotated together with the auxiliary disk 5 relative to the grinding pot tray 12 or by it and/or the clamping element 13 or released relative to the tensioning device, the grinding pots 4 can be removed together with the auxiliary disk 5 from the ball mill 1 and optionally new grinding pots 4 can be inserted into the ball mill 1.

In the embodiment shown, the clamping element 13 can be connected to the auxiliary disk 5 or grinding bowl 4, preferably by a bayonet connection, by a combined plug-in and rotary movement. The auxiliary disk 5 or grinding pot 4 accordingly preferably has a connecting region or connecting section 21 on the underside for detachable connection with the clamping element 13 or for engaging or acting on the tensioning device 14. In fig. 2 to 6, a preferred connection geometry of the clamping element 13 to the auxiliary disk 5 is shown in detail.

Fig. 2 to 4 show a clamping element 13 which is preferably designed to tension the anchor rod. At the end of the clamping element 13 facing the grinding pot 4, it has at least one engagement section or first connection geometry comprising in the present case preferably three radial connection projections 20, which are spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction. On the grinding pot 4 or on the auxiliary disk 5, a connecting region is provided in a matching manner, in particular in the form of one or more preferably complementary connecting projections or connecting sections 21, which, when connected, interact with the clamping element 13 or the connecting projection 20 of the clamping element, in particular axially overlapping in order to hold the clamping element 13 or the tensioning device 14 axially in a form-fitting manner.

The ball mill 1 or the tensioning device 14 preferably has a lifting device 22 for axially moving or lifting the clamping element 13 or for automatically actuating or triggering the loosening or loosening of the grinding pot 4 from the grinding pot holder 3. In particular, the lifting device 22 can act on the clamping element 13 with an axial force (lifting force), for example by means of a lifting element 23, wherein in fig. 1 the clamping element 13 is shown only in the lowered state or in the state in which the grinding pot 4 is tensioned or held.

The connection of the grinding pot 4 to the clamping element 13 is effected by placing the grinding pot 4 (including the auxiliary disk 5) on the contact and centering surface 15 on the upper side of the grinding pot tray 12, wherein the grinding pot 4 together with the auxiliary disk 5 is twisted relative to the grinding pot tray 12 in the placed state in order to form a bayonet connection (in order to align or overlap the connection projections 20, 21 flush in the axial direction). Preferably, for this purpose, the grinding pot 4 together with the auxiliary disk 5 must be lifted off the grinding pot carrier 12 (in particular by means of the clamping element 13) and loosened axially.

Subsequently, the clamping element 13 is lowered or the lifting force acting on the clamping element 13 for raising the clamping element 13 is released, so that the cup spring 18 or the tensioning device 14 fixes, holds or tensions the grinding pot 4 via the auxiliary disk 5 and the clamping element 13 (due to the bayonet connection formed between the auxiliary disk 5 and the clamping element 13) on the contact and centering surface 15 of the grinding pot carrier 12, i.e. on the grinding pot holder 3. Correspondingly, the removal process of the grinding pot 4 is effected in the reverse order.

For the (simultaneous) lifting of one, more or all clamping elements 13, a lifting device 22 is foreseen, which preferably comprises a lifting element 23 arranged below the clamping elements 13 and designed as a lifting plate by way of example. By lifting the lifting element 23 it is possible to simultaneously transmit sufficient lifting force for lifting all clamping elements 13 and simultaneously relax a plurality of grinding pots 4, in particular all grinding pots 4. Thereby, it is possible in a simple manner to achieve a position-independent relaxation of the grinding pot 4.

For lifting the lifting element 23 or the clamping element 13 or the lifting device 22, an electrical, hydraulic and/or pneumatic drive can be provided. The drive means thus serve to automatically actuate the relaxation of one, more or all grinding pots 4 and are preferably designed to hold the clamping element 13 in the axially relaxed unloading position of the grinding pots 4. Thereby, it is possible to load and unload the grinding pot 4 in a simple and convenient manner. In the loaded state, the grinding pot 4 can be opened at the same time and thus allow convenient sampling at any point of the grinding. It is not necessary to remove the milling pot 4 for this purpose.

A drive means comprising a drive element, such as an electric motor, may be arranged below the hoisting element 23.

In principle, however, it is also possible to generate the lifting force manually.

In the case of a stationary positioning of the lifting device 22, a plurality of different mechanisms can be used for transmitting the lifting force to the lifting element 23 for the purpose of loosening the grinding pots 4. For example, the lifting force of the drive device can be transmitted to the lifting element 23 by means of a toggle lever mechanism, an adapter comprising an eccentric tensioner or a screw winch or a rack jack.

The lifting element 23 is preferably connected to the clamping element 13 only in the relaxed state of the grinding pot 4. If the grinding pots 4 are tensioned, the mechanism for applying the lifting force to the clamping elements 13 is, on the contrary, preferably completely decoupled from the rotation of the components of the ball mill 1. The unbalance or the rotational mass of the ball mill 1 during operation is significantly reduced by the smaller number of rotating components.

The tensile force required to tension the grinding pot 4 on the grinding pot holder 3 is preferably generated exclusively by the cup spring 18 and transmitted to the clamping element 13. The drive provided for raising the clamping element 13 and for axially loosening the grinding pot 4 therefore does not contribute to the tensile or clamping force required for tensioning the grinding pot 4.

As already explained above, the drive therefore preferably does not participate in the tensioning of the grinding pot 4.

In addition, the lifting element 23 preferably does not extend beyond the clamping element 13 in the radial direction, in any case preferably beyond the sun wheel 8 in the radial direction. This results in a space-saving design of the ball mill 1. In addition, in order to generate the lifting force, the drive part of the drive device is preferably arranged below the lifting element 23 and not on the side. Furthermore, this contributes to a lower structural size of the ball mill 1 in the lateral direction.

The accessibility of the grinding station 2 is very good for the user. Cleaning of the components of the ball mill 1 is simplified due to the small number of exposed components.

For operation, the grinding bowl 4 is preferably closed by a grinding bowl lid 24, which is preferably screwed on. One or more valves 25 are preferably pre-set in the grinding pot head 24.

In addition to tensioning the grinding pot 4, the clamping element 13 can also fulfill a safety function. In this case, there is the structural possibility of pulling the clamping element 13 downward significantly further through the cup spring 18 during tensioning than when one or more grinding pots 4 are installed, without the grinding pots 4 being installed. In the sense of the present invention, the term "loading" is understood to mean placing the respective grinding pot 4 (including the auxiliary disk 5) on the contact and centering surface 15 of the grinding pot tray 12. If at least one grinding pot 4 or a plurality of grinding pots 4 are not installed in this way, the respective clamping element 13 can be lowered further, so that the clamping element 13 enters into a frictionally contacting and/or form-fitting connection with the lifting device 22 (in particular with the lifting element 23) and/or with a stationary housing part of the ball mill 1, and thus the starting of the ball mill 1 can be prevented by mechanically blocking the rotational movement. The stabilization element 13 can then fulfill an active braking function by virtue of the pretensioning of the disk spring 18. It is therefore also possible to ensure that two grinding pots 4 must always be inserted and tensioned into the ball mill 1 in order to put the grinding mill 1 into operation. In this way, it is possible to detect a securely tensioned grinding pot 4 without further sensors or elements being necessary to monitor the operationally safe position of the clamping element 13. In addition, a structural embodiment can be realized in which, in the event of a failure of the bayonet connection between the clamping element 13 and the grinding pot 4, the clamping element 13 likewise assumes a strongly lowered position during the grinding process and comes into frictional and/or form-fitting contact with the lifting device 22 (in particular with the lifting element 23).

The tensioning of the grinding pot 4 against the grinding pot carrier 3 shown and described by pulling or holding the grinding pot 4 against the grinding pot carrier 3 with the clamping element 13 preferably allows a self-monitoring and fail-safe construction, in which the position of the clamping element 13 is occupied in any machine state, in which the ball mill 1 automatically passes into a safe operating state, when a grinding pot is not installed and/or when the connection between the clamping element 13 and the grinding pot 4 fails.

As schematically indicated on the right side in fig. 1, anti-twist pins or twist-stop elements 26 are foreseen to prevent the grinding pot 4 from being accidentally twisted during grinding. This anti-twist function is advantageous for the stability of the connection between the grinding pot 4 and the clamping element 13. In addition, by using one or more anti-twist pins or twist-stop elements 26, it is possible to safely transmit torque to the grinding pot 4 under high loads.

Structurally, it is possible to arrange an anti-rotation pin 26, so that the positioning of the grinding pot 4 in the correct rotational position relative to the grinding pot carrier 12 or the clamping element 13 is simplified, or it is possible to place the grinding pot 4 completely in the axial direction, for example only when the bayonet connection is completed. As a result, the anti-twist pins 26, which may be provided, for example, on the underside of the auxiliary disk 5, can only be lowered into corresponding bores in the grinding pot tray 12 if the rotational position of the grinding pot 4 relative to the clamping element 13 causes a substantially complete overlap of the connecting projections 20, 21.

Next, a second embodiment of the ball mill 1 according to the proposal and of the milling pot 4 according to the proposal is explained in detail with the aid of the schematic sectional view of fig. 7, wherein the previous embodiments and explanations function in particular correspondingly or supplementarily.

Fig. 7 shows the ball mill 1 only within the grinding pot 2, wherein other parts, such as the sun wheel 8, are omitted for reasons of clarity.

In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment as well, the grinding pot 4 is preferably held or tensioned (at least substantially) only on the underside or bottom side by the grinding pot holder 3, the tensioning device 14 or the clamping element 13, in particular against or on the grinding pot carrier 12 of the grinding pot holder 3 or grinding pot carrier, as shown.

Preferably, the grinding pot 4 is held in a form-fitting manner in the axial and/or radial direction in the tensioned or held state. In principle, however, it is also only possible to hold the grinding pot 4 in frictional contact, in particular in the axial direction, in order to prevent it from being lifted or removed from the grinding pot holder 3, as will be discussed later.

The clamping element 13 or the tensioning device 14 preferably comprises at least one radially movable holding element 27 for holding or centering the grinding pot 4.

In the example shown, a plurality of holding elements 27 are preferably foreseen, which are in particular (evenly) distributed in the circumferential direction. This particularly contributes to the desired centering and/or clamping or holding distributed in the circumferential direction. Thereby, a centering tensioner may be formed in particular.

However, in the following, mainly also only the design of the holding element 27 will be discussed in detail, wherein this preferably also applies to the other holding elements 27. In principle, however, it is also possible to fit holding elements 27 of different designs, if desired.

In the retaining state, the retaining element 27 is moved or pretensioned radially, in particular outward, preferably in order to project into a recess or groove or circumferential groove 28 and/or to engage or overlap the retaining section or connecting section 21 from behind and/or in order to radially abut or press against a wall 29 of the grinding pot 4 (or a base element or end piece of the grinding pot 4 formed by the auxiliary disk 5 or the like).

Preferably, the wall 29 surrounds the holding element 27 and/or defines a recess or groove 28.

Preferably, the recess or circumferential groove 28 opens radially inward.

Preferably, the holding or connecting section 21 defines a recess or groove 28 in the axial direction and/or downwards.

The retaining section or connecting section 21 is preferably designed to be annular or flange-like and/or projects radially, in particular inwardly.

Preferably, the holding section or connecting section 21 forms an axial stop and/or a preferably circumferential shoulder, in particular for one or more holding elements 27, alternatively for the connecting projection 20 of the clamping element 13 according to the first embodiment.

Preferably, the clamping element 13 or the tensioning device 14 or the at least one holding element 27 acts internally on the grinding pot 4 or on a base element or end of the grinding pot 4 formed by the auxiliary disk 5 or the like, in particular on the lower end wall or circumferential wall 29, and/or protrudes internally into the recess or circumferential groove.

In principle, however, it is also possible to alternatively or additionally hold or tension the grinding pot 4 in the holding state from the radially outer side and/or from the axial bottom in the region of the lower or bottom end of the grinding pot.

Preferably, the holding or tensioning of the grinding pot 4 is always effected axially below the grinding pot bottom 4a which defines the grinding pot interior.

In particular, the receptacle or recess 28, the wall 29 and/or the connecting section 21 are arranged in the region of the lower end of the grinding pot 4 or in the region of its end opposite the grinding pot opening.

The grinding pot holder 3 or the grinding pot carrier 12 preferably forms a receptacle or recess 12a, in particular conical, for the grinding pot 4 or the grinding pot lower end or wall 29.

In the second embodiment, the tensioning device 14 or the clamping element 13 preferably has a top end 13a, which is arranged or designed on the grinding pot-side end of the clamping element 13. The head 13a is connected in a force-fitting manner to the clamping element 13 by means of a screw 13 c.

The clamping element 13 or the head 13a preferably has a contact surface 13b inclined to the radial plane, which serves as an inclined plane or acts on the holding element 27 in order to move (here outwards) or pretension at least one holding element 27 radially when the clamping element 13 is lowered axially.

At least one holding element 27 preferably bears axially against the grinding pot carrier 3 or the grinding pot carrier 12 via a sliding surface 12b, so that the holding element 27 is displaced radially (preferably outwardly) when the clamping element 13 is lowered axially, i.e. when the tip 13a is displaced axially against the grinding pot carrier 12. Preferably or alternatively, the engagement or tensioning movement is not purely radially elongated, but can also be additionally inclined to a radial plane, in particular pointing downwards, in accordance with a symmetrical or asymmetrical inclination of the faces 12b and 13b, in order to bring about a desired axial tensioning of the grinding pot 4 or its holding section 21 against the grinding pot carrier 3 or grinding pot carrier 12.

The inclination of the engaging movement or tensioning movement of the holding element 27 relative to the radial plane is preferably greater than 2 ° or 5 ° and/or preferably less than 10 ° or 15 °.

In the shown example, the holding element 27 is designed preferably at least substantially triangular or trapezoidal in cross-section, wherein the face (in particular the outer surface 27a) preferably substantially forms a circumferential face, in particular with respect to the preferably annular wall portion 29. However, other shapes are possible.

The holding element 27 can selectively act radially and/or axially in a punctiform or linear manner on or influence the grinding pot 4 or its end piece.

In the example shown, the holding element 27 preferably acts only or only substantially at the lower end or stop 27b on the grinding pot 4 or its connecting section 21 and/or projects into the receptacle or recess 28.

Alternatively or additionally, however, the holding element 27 can also act with its circumferential or outer surface 27a on, against and/or press against the grinding pot 4 or its wall 29. In this case, a frictional connection is thus produced in the axial direction between the tensioning device 14 or the one or more holding elements 27 on the one hand and the grinding pot 4 or its wall 29 on the other hand, if necessary also only in the axial direction. In this case, the holding element 27 or its outer surface 27a rests only on the wall 29, for example, in a punctiform or linear manner.

Alternatively or additionally, the holding element 27 can also project radially into the wall 29 or, for example, into a recess formed in the wall when the wall 29 is of concave design and the holding element 27 is of corresponding shape (for example, of spherical design), and thereby (if necessary additionally) brings about a form-fitting holding or fixing of the grinding bowl 4 in the axial direction.

The axial bearing surface formed by the holding portion 21 or the shoulder for the holding element 27 or its stop 27b is preferably slightly inclined with respect to the radial plane, in particular inclined to the free end or inclined against the engaging movement or the tensioning movement of the holding element 27.

The clamping device 14 or at least one holding element 27 preferably has a restoring device or restoring element 30 in order, when the clamping element 13/tip 13a is released or lifted in the axial direction, to move one or more holding elements 27 back into the initial position again, i.e. in this case radially inward, so that the grinding pot 4 or its holding section 21 is released in order to be able to remove or remove the grinding pot 4 (axially) from the grinding pot holder 3.

Preferably, as a restoring device or restoring element 30, an elastic element, such as a spring or an elastic band or the like, is provided in order to bias all holding elements 27 radially inward and thus to bring about the desired restoring when the clamping element 13 or the head 13a is lifted. In the example shown, the clamping element 13 is elongate, for example, through a through-opening of the holding element 27 and extends over the entire circumference. However, other structural solutions are also possible.

Preferably, a seal 31 is arranged, preferably annularly, between the top end 13a and the grinding pot tray, in particular as an annular seal or a shaped seal. The seal 31 may, for example, be arranged or held in an annular groove 12c of the grinding pot tray 12. However, other structural solutions are also possible.

The clamping element 13 with its top end 13a is preferably guided or supported in the shaft 10 or the grinding pot carrier 12 connected thereto in an axially displaceable or displaceable manner by means of an upper bearing element 32a and/or a lower bearing element 32 b. However, other structural solutions are also possible.

In the second embodiment, the clamping element 13 is not necessarily rotationally coupled to the shaft 10.

The shaft 10 is preferably fixedly connected or screwed to the grinding pot tray 12 by means of screws 12c in order to be able to hold the grinding pot tray rotatably in the desired manner.

In the second embodiment, the restoring spring or the spring pack (here the pack of cup springs 18) is preferably arranged or snapped around the clamping element 13, in particular between the shoulder 13d of the clamping element 13 as an axial stop on the one hand and the stop of the shaft 10 or the grinding pot carrier 12 as a second axial stop on the other hand. However, other structural solutions are also possible.

The cup spring 18 is preferably arranged in the shaft 10 or grinding pot holder 3.

In particular, the restoring spring or the spring set is preferably prestressed even in the tensioned or lowered state of the clamping element 13 or the clamping device 14.

The grinding station 2 or the shaft 10 is preferably mounted so as to be rotatable about a planetary axis Y1 by means of bearings 10 a.

The grinding station 2, the grinding pot carrier 3 or the shaft 10 is preferably coupled in rotation to the central bearing shaft 9 by means of a toothing 10b or a belt pulley or the like (not shown), in particular, so that the grinding station 2 or the grinding pot carrier 3 and thus the grinding pot 4 rotate about the planetary gear axis Y1 when the carrier 7 or the sun wheel 8 (not shown in fig. 7) rotates.

In the second embodiment, the lifting device 22 preferably comprises a motor or drive 33 and/or an adjusting element 34, which acts on the lifting element 23, particularly preferably via a ramp or other transmission, in order to move or lift the clamping element 13 axially. However, if required, the adjusting element 34 can also directly influence (axially) the clamping element 13 instead of the lifting element 23. In addition, other structural solutions are possible.

The grinding station 2 or the grinding pot carrier 3 or the shaft 10 preferably has an engagement possibility 10c and/or a stop 10d for the lifting device 22 or the holding device 35 of the lifting device 22 in order to make possible or ensure an axial abutment or holding of the grinding pot carrier 3 or the shaft 10 during the axial displacement (in particular lifting) of the clamping element 13.

As already mentioned, in the second embodiment, no separate bottom element, such as the auxiliary disc 5, is arranged or shown on the grinding pot 4. However, suitable end pieces or bottom wall elements or suitable inserts can be arranged or fastened on the grinding pot 4 for forming and/or adjusting the engagement possibilities for the grinding pot holder 3 or grinding pot carrier 12 and/or for the clamping device 14. Fastening may be achieved, for example, by a clip and/or a screw connection. By means of such a head piece or bottom element, it is also possible to fit the auxiliary equipment of an existing grinding tank 4 to the new clamping system.

A particularly preferred aspect of the specified solution is that the grinding pot 4 can be held or fixed and/or clamped, preferably without a thread and/or form-fit, in the axial direction on the grinding pot holder or grinding pot base 12.

Particularly preferably, the tensioning device 14 is designed as a quick clamp and/or projects into a recess or recess of the grinding pot 4 only on the bottom side or underside, wherein the underside or bottom side of the grinding pot 4 can optionally be formed by a head piece or a bottom element, such as the auxiliary disk 5 or the like.

It is noted that in the example shown, the pretensioning device 14 can preferably comprise the clamping element 13 with its top end 13a, one or more or all holding elements 27, the spring return or cup spring 18 and/or the lifting device 22.

The individual aspects and features of the different embodiments can be combined with one another in any desired manner, but can also be implemented independently of one another.

Fig. 8 to 13 show a ball mill according to the proposal according to a second aspect of the invention.

In fig. 8 to 13, a laboratory-scale ball mill 1' is shown, which comprises a carrier device 2' which is rotatably mounted about a central shaft body 3' and which rotates about a central axis 3a ' during operation of the mill 1 '. In this exemplary selected embodiment, the ball mill 1 'has two grinding pot holders 4', wherein each grinding pot holder 4 'is designed for fixing a grinding pot, not shown, for a grinding operation of the ball mill 1'. The size of the milling jar may be, for example, between 100ml and 500 ml.

Each grinding pot carrier 4' is rotatably mounted on the carrier 2' and is carried along by it during rotation about the central axis 3a '. In addition, each grinding pot carrier 4 'comprises a planetary shaft body 5 and is mounted so as to be rotatable relative to the carrier 2'.

The two grinding pot holders 4' face one another with respect to the central axis 3a ' in such a way that their moments of inertia cancel one another out or their masses produce as low an imbalance as possible during rotation about the central axis 3a '. However, the features described hereinafter by way of example of a ball mill 1' comprising a plurality of grinding stations can also be realized in the same way in a laboratory ball mill comprising only one grinding station or comprising more than two grinding stations.

The drive motor 6' rotates the carrier device 2' about the central axis 3a ' by means of a V-belt 7' via a belt pulley 8', the grinding pot carrier 4' thereby running in a circulating path about the central axis 3a ' together with the cover plate 9' of the carrier device 2 '. The cover plate 9' is not shown in fig. 10 and 11.

By means of a toothed belt drive 10' coupled to the belt drive of the belt pulley 8', a rotary movement of the grinding pot carrier 4' about a planet gear axis 21' which is eccentrically mounted with respect to the central axis 3a ' is additionally caused. The grinding stations thus orbit around the central or sun axis 3a 'and simultaneously also rotate around their respective planet gear axes 21'. The directions of rotation may be opposite.

The central shaft body 3' is rigidly connected to the base plate 11', which in turn is fastened to the housing base plate 12 '. The support device 2 'is rotatably mounted on the stationary central shaft body 3' by means of ball bearings 13', 14'.

The coupled belt drive 10' comprises toothed belt wheels 15', 16' in order to drive the rotation of the grinding pot carrier 4 by means of two further toothed belts 17', 18 '.

As can be seen in particular from fig. 10 and 11, each grinding pot holder 4' has a piston-like clamping element 19' for axially tensioning the grinding pot on the grinding pot receptacle 20 '. The clamping element 19 'is accommodated in the planet shaft body 5' so as to be displaceable in the axial direction. During the self-rotation of the grinding pot carrier 4', the planet shaft body 5' rotates about its planet axis 21', wherein the planet shaft body 5' is rotatably mounted by means of the ball bearings 22', 23' on the one hand on the block-shaped reinforced bearing region 24 'of the belt pulley 8' and on the disc-shaped bearing block 25 'fixedly connected to the belt pulley 8'.

Tensioning and slackening of the grinding pot on the grinding pot holder 4' is effected as described hereinafter. Fig. 10 shows the grinding pot holder 4' in a tensioned state, wherein, with the grinding pot base of the grinding pot resting as intended on the grinding pot receptacle 20', the clamping block 26' is pushed radially outward by the pressure plate 27' into a corresponding retaining bead on the grinding pot base, thereby fixing the grinding pot on the grinding pot receptacle 20 '. The pressure plate 27' is fixedly connected to the clamping element 19' in the axial direction, wherein the clamping element 19' is spring-loaded. The two cup springs 28 'press the clamping element 19' and thus the pressure plate 27 'downward in the vertical direction away from the grinding pot receptacle 20', which, when the grinding pot is placed on the grinding pot receptacle 20', causes the grinding pot to be tensioned by the outwardly projecting clamping block 26'. For the grinding pot to relax or to be able to remove it from the grinding pot holder 20', the clamping element 19' is lifted vertically upwards counter to the spring force of the disk spring 28', so that the pressure plate 27' is lifted together, and the clamping block 26 is pulled radially inwards by the further spring device 29 '. The clamping block 26 'thereby passes from the trough-like receptacle to the grinding pot bottom, thereby releasing the grinding pot and enabling it to be removed from the pressure plate 27'.

Fig. 11 shows the grinding pot holder 4 'in a relaxed state by way of example, with the clamping element 19' and thus the pressure plate 27 'raised and the clamping block 26' pulled radially inward.

In order to exert the lifting force required to lift the clamping elements 19' from the tensioned state to the relaxed state, the ball mill 1' comprises a lifting device 30 '. Next, the principle of the lifting device 30' and the force transmission to the clamping element 19' is described by means of an example of the tensioning and relaxing mechanism of the clamping element 19' shown in fig. 8 to 13 and the clamping of the grinding pot on the grinding pot receptacle 20' by the grinding pot bottom shown and described by means of the clamping block 26 '. It should be understood that the clamping mechanism and the loosening mechanism shown and described are exemplary selected to illustrate the transfer of clamping or lifting forces to the clamping elements of the grinding pot carrier. For the purpose of lifting the clamping elements, the lifting device 30 'described below can also be fitted, as required, into a grinding pot carrier 4' of a structurally different design than the embodiment shown, in order to transmit axial and/or vertical clamping forces to at least one clamping element of the grinding pot carrier.

The lifting device 30 'has a lifting element 31', which is guided in a lifting housing 32 'so as to be displaceable coaxially with the clamping element 19'. The lifting element 31 'is freely seated or loosely in the recess of the lifting housing and is freely movable in the axial direction of the clamping element 19'.

The lifting element 31' rests by means of two rollers 33' against a lifting wedge as a coupling element 34 '. The rollers 33 'are connected to each other by holding bolts 33 a'. The lifting element 31 'is held centrally on the holding bolt 33 a' between the two rollers 33 'by means of a bore in the lifting element 31'.

The lifting wedge kinematically couples the lifting element 31 'with an adjusting element 35' designed as a double-sided threaded spindle. The coupling element 34 'comprises a through-hole with an internal thread and is guided displaceably in the axial direction of the adjusting element 35' in the lifting housing 32 'and is located on two side-by-side roller pairs 36'. Each roller pair 36 ' is supported on the lifting housing 32 ' by a bearing bolt 37 '. This is visible in particular from fig. 13, which shows in a sectional view lateral projections 38 'in the bottom region of the coupling element 34', which engage from below and from behind lateral shoulders 39 'on the inner housing side of the lifting housing 32'. By means of the shoulder 39 ', the coupling element 34' can be displaced in the axial direction of the adjusting element 35' and is guided in a manner that is non-displaceable transversely to the axial direction.

Fig. 11 shows the milling pot receptacle 20 'in a relaxed state with the clamping element 19' lifted. Due to the threaded guidance of the coupling element 34' on the adjusting element 35', a corresponding adjusting movement of the coupling element 34' occurs when the adjusting element 35' is rotated about its rotational axis in the direction of movement 40 ', depending on the direction of rotation of the threaded spindle. Since the lifting element 31 'is guided by the roller 33' on the obliquely upward lifting surface 41 'of the coupling element 34', an adjustment movement of the coupling element 34 'to the right or to the left according to fig. 11 causes a corresponding upward or downward movement of the lifting element 31' in the longitudinal direction of the clamping element 19', so that the clamping element 19' is raised or lowered. This causes the pressure plate 27 'to be lifted when the clamping element 19' is lifted (as described above), whereupon the clamping block 26 'is pulled radially inward and releases the grinding pot standing with its bottom on the grinding pot holder 20'.

The lifting device 30' comprising the lifting housing 32 ' and the lifting element 31' guided on the lifting housing 32 ' and the coupling element 34' also guided on the lifting housing 32 ' and the adjusting element 35' designed as a threaded spindle are kinematically decoupled from the rotary movement of the carrier 2' or the belt pulley 8' and all components connected to the belt pulley 8' about the central axis 3a '. In other words, this means that the lifting device 30 'is not moved by the carrier 2' about the central axis 3a 'during operation of the ball mill 1'.

For driving the adjusting element 35', an adjusting motor 42' is foreseen, which may be referred to as a commercially available variable speed motor. The adjusting motor 42 'transmits a torque to the adjusting element 35', which is converted into a movement of the lifting element 31 'by means of the coupling element 34'. The adjusting motor 42 'is arranged such that it can follow the adjusting movement, in particular the height adjustment, of the adjusting element 35'.

As can be seen further in particular from fig. 11, the lifting housing 32 'has a lateral abutment section 43' in the upper region. The planet shaft body 5' has a diameter enlargement on the lower end, which forms an annular retaining section 44 ' that engages the bearing section 43 ' from below and from behind. However, the lifting housing 32 'is designed to be open in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the clamping element 19' or the planet gear axis 21 'or transverse to the central axis 3 a'. A recess which is open in the circumferential direction of the circulating path is produced in the lifting element 31 'for the lower end of the planet shaft body 5', wherein the planet shaft body 5 'moves along the circulating path during the rotation of the carrier 2'.

Fig. 11 shows the grinding pot receptacle 20' in a relaxed state, in which the lifting element 31' lifts the clamping element 19 '. In this case, the holding section 44 ' rests from the inside against the abutment section 43 ' of the lifting housing 32 ' at the lower end of the planet shaft body 5' to form an abutment during the transition of the grinding pot carrier 4' from the clamped state into the relaxed state.

In order to form the carrier, the lifting housing 32 ' can be vertically adjusted or lowered relative to the grinding pot carrier 4' or relative to the planetary shaft body 5 '. The lowering of the lifting housing 32 'is coupled to the reaching of a specific rotational orientation of the carrying device 2', wherein the clamping element 19 'is arranged above the lifting element 31'. By the possibility of lifting and lowering the lifting housing 32 'as required, the planet shaft body 5' can be entrained by the carrier 2 'together about the central axis 3' during the rotation of the carrier 2', i.e. during the grinding operation of the ball mill 1', and is guided freely past the seat section 43 'of the lifting housing 32'. Before or at the same time as the lifting element 31 'is lifted, a seat is formed by lowering the lifting housing 32'.

The lifting and lowering of the lifting housing 32 ' is effected by a lifting plate 46 ', which is preferably fixedly connected to the housing base plate 12', and which has a shoulder 47 ' which opens into an inclined surface 48 '. The coupling element 34' has a bevel 49 ' on the underside and, when the lifting housing 32 ' is lifted, lies with the underside on the shoulder 47 ' in the tensioned state of the grinding pot carrier 4 '. This is shown in fig. 3. During the rightward adjustment of the coupling element 44 'according to fig. 3, i.e. during the lifting of the lifting element 31', the coupling element 34 slides down by means of the corresponding identical inclined surfaces 48 ', 49', which causes a vertical lowering of the lifting housing 32 'together with the stand section 43' and the formation of the stand according to fig. 3. As a result, during the lifting of the lifting element 31', the lifting housing 32 ' is supported only on the planet shaft body 5', which leads to a very low load, in particular of the bearing components.

As can be seen from fig. 10, the lifting device 30 'is designed for synchronously raising and lowering the clamping elements 19 of the opposite grinding pot carrier 4' and for this purpose in particular has two coupling elements 34', two lifting housings 32', two lifting elements 31 'and a threaded spindle as an adjusting element 35', wherein the threaded spindle has a left-hand thread section and a right-hand thread section. By the opposite inclination of the rising face 41 ' and the corresponding different thread direction, during the rotation of the threaded spindle, which is preset as the adjusting element 35', a movement of the coupling elements 34' of the two lifting devices 30' towards or away from each other occurs, which causes the lifting elements 31' to be simultaneously raised or lowered.

By means of a spring device 50 '(preferably a ring spring) wound around the holding bolt 33 a' and the two bearing bolts 37 ', the holding bolt 33 a' is tensioned vertically such that, in addition to the force of gravity, it is always subjected to a downward spring tension in order to keep the bolt 33a 'in contact with the coupling element 34' as always as possible via the roller 33. The risk of the holding screw 33a 'and the drum 33' and the lifting element 31 'accidentally remaining in the upper position due to only a negligible jamming is thereby avoided, even if the coupling element 34' has not just lifted it.

Fig. 14 to 19 show a proposed arrangement of a ball mill according to a third aspect of the invention.

Fig. 14 to 19 show an arrangement which is formed by a grinding pot holder 1 "and a tensioning device 2" of a ball mill (in particular a planetary ball mill), not shown in detail. The tensioning device 2 "is designed for axially holding or axially tensioning a grinding pot not shown in fig. 14 and/or a grinding pot adapter shown in fig. 16 to 19 on or against the grinding pot carrier 1" and for axially loosening the grinding pot or grinding pot adapter 3 ". Not shown, the ball mill can comprise a carrier device which is mounted so as to be rotatable about a central axis, wherein the grinding pot carrier 1 is mounted so as to be rotatable about an offset planetary gear axis relative to the carrier device and is carried along by the latter about the central axis.

The grinding pot adapter 3 "is designed for fastening together with a grinding pot not shown. In a manner known per se from the prior art, the grinding chamber of the grinding pot is closed by a grinding pot cover, wherein the grinding pot cover can be detachably connected to the grinding pot in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner.

It should be understood that the features described below with reference to the drawings can also be implemented in a corresponding manner in a grinding vessel, wherein the grinding pot adapter 3 "and the grinding vessel are designed in one piece, in other words, the lower region of the grinding pot assumes the function of the grinding pot adapter 3".

According to fig. 14, the grinding pot holder 1 "has a plate-shaped base body 4" which comprises three connecting plates 5 "screwed onto the outer circumference of the base body 4". The connection plate 5 "is screwed to the base body 4" by means of two screws 6 ", respectively.

The connecting plate 5 "is arranged on the outer circumference of the grinding pot carrier 1" or of the main body 4 ", wherein the connecting plate 5" has an arcuate inner contour, so that a circular receiving region for the grinding pot adapter 3 "is obtained.

As can be seen in particular from fig. 16, the tensioning device 2 ″ has a piston 7 ″ as a clamping element, which is mounted in the shaft body 8 ″ via a plain bearing 9 ″ with a height-adjustable adjustment in the axial direction. The piston 7 "is spring-loaded by a cup spring assembly 10", wherein the cup spring assembly 10 "is only schematically illustrated in fig. 16. The clamping force required for tensioning the grinding pot or grinding pot adapter 3 "is applied only by the cup spring set 10". In order to tension the grinding pot or grinding pot adapter 3 ", the spring force presses the piston 7" in the axial direction upward against the pressure plate 11 ", which has an annular projection 12" on the edge side. By means of the annular projection 12 ", a tensioning force is transmitted to the grinding pot adapter 3" during the lifting of the piston 7 ".

The clamping mechanism provides that, via the piston 7 ″, a tensioning force is transmitted to the pressure plate 11 ″, which lifts the grinding pot or grinding pot adapter 3 ″, out of the position shown in fig. 16, so that the radially projecting retaining means 13 ″, which are arranged offset from one another by, for example, 60 °, on the outer jacket surface of the grinding pot adapter 3 ″, rest against a stop 14 ″, which is integrated in the connecting plate 5 ″. The stop 14 "forms a seat on the grinding pot carrier 1" in the axial direction, so that, as a result of the spring force of the cup spring assembly 10 ", the grinding pot adapter 3" together with the grinding pot fastened to the grinding pot adapter 3 "can be tensioned in the axial direction and fixed on the grinding pot carrier 1.

Fig. 16 shows the grinding pot adapter 3 "in an untensioned state, in which the retaining device 13" is spaced apart from the stop 14 "in the associated connecting plate 5".

The retaining device 13 "can be designed in one piece on the outer circumference of the grinding pot adapter 3". The retaining means 13 "may also refer to a separate component which is fixedly connected with the grinding pot adapter 3".

In order to form the stops 14 ", each web 5" has a recess 15 ". The recesses 15 "in the connecting plate 5" are of identical design, but may in principle also have different geometries. Each recess 15 "is delimited in the axial direction upwards by a vertical wall section 16" and two inclined wall sections 17 ", 18" adjoining the vertical wall section 16 ". In the circumferential direction, the recess 15 "is defined by a vertical wall section 19". On the side opposite the vertical wall section 19 ", the recess 15" is designed to be open, so that when the grinding pot adapter 3 "is placed on the base body 4" of the grinding pot holder 1 ", it is possible to screw the retaining means 13" on the grinding pot adapter into the recess 15 ". In this case, the grinding pot adapter 3 "is placed from above onto the base body 4" or inserted into the grinding pot holder 1 "and then rotated until the holding device 13" rests against the vertical wall section 19 "of the web 5". The vertical wall section 19 "thus forms a further stop 20" and a seat for the holding device 13 "which acts in the circumferential direction.

As can be seen from fig. 19, the geometry of the retaining device 13 "is adapted in cross section to the wall geometry of the web 5" in the region of the recess 15 ". For example, according to fig. 19, the holding device 13 ″ can have two centering bevels 21 ", 22" on its upper side in cross section.

To insert the grinding pot adapter 3 ", the piston 7" which is fixedly connected to the pressure plate 11 "by means of the screw 23" is initially pulled downward against the spring force of the cup spring assembly 10 ". For this purpose, a motorized drive, not shown, can be provided. Only in this way is it possible to insert the milling pot adapter 3 "into the milling pot holder 1" and to place the milling pot adapter 3 "on the base body 4" in the region between the connecting plates 5 ". Subsequently, the milling pot adapter 3 "is rotated in a clockwise direction. If the retaining device 13 "abuts in the circumferential direction against a stop 20" in the connecting plate 5 ", the grinding pot adapter 3" reaches a final rotational position in which the grinding pot adapter 3 "can be fixed on the grinding pot carrier 1.

For a simplified rotatability of the grinding pot adapter 3 "to reach the final rotational position, a sliding plate 24" may be preset. Alternatively or additionally, at least one ball press 25 "can also be provided, which is inserted into the bore 26" of the base body 24 "and on which the bottom of the grinding pot adapter 3" rolls down when it is rotated relative to the grinding pot carrier 1 ".

As a twist-proof, two mating pins 27 "can be provided. The shaft body 8 "is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the base body 4" by means of screws 28 ".

Not shown, the shaft body 8 ″ can be mounted rotatably on a not shown carrier device and is entrained by the carrier device during its rotation about the central axis. The shaft body 8 ″ then forms a planet gear axis which is rotatably mounted relative to the carrier. The support device is mounted so as to be rotatable about a central shaft body and rotates about a central axis during operation of the ball mill.

The drive motor can rotate the carrier device about the central axis by means of a V-belt via a belt pulley, the grinding pot carrier 1 ″ thereby running in a circulating path about the central axis together with the carrier device. The grinding pot carrier 1 ″ is additionally set into a rotary motion about a planet gear axis mounted eccentrically with respect to the central axis by means of a toothed belt drive coupled to the belt drive of the belt pulley. For this purpose, the shaft body 8 has on its outer side a tooth profile 29 ″ for a toothed belt of a belt drive, not shown. The grinding stations thus orbit around a central or sun axis and simultaneously also rotate around their respective planet gear axes. The directions of rotation may be opposite.

The ball mill may exemplarily have two grinding pot holders 1 ", wherein each grinding pot holder 1" is designed for fixing a grinding pot for a grinding operation of the ball mill. The size of the milling jar may be, for example, between 100ml and 500 ml.

If the piston 7 "is pulled down by a motor before the grinding pot adapter 3" is inserted into the grinding pot holder 1 ", the transmission of the motor-driven tensile force to the piston 7" is interrupted and the piston 7 "is made force-free as far as possible in order to release the clamping mechanism. Thereupon, the piston 7 "is pressed axially upwards with the pressure plate 11" due to the spring force of the cup spring package 10 ", so that the annular projection 12" on the outer edge of the pressure plate 11 "is pressed against the bottom of the grinding pot adapter 3" and lifts the grinding pot adapter 3 "in the axial direction. The grinding pot adapter 3 "is therefore pressed by the retaining means 13", provided on the circumference, against the axial stop 14 "in the connecting plate 5" and is simultaneously centered on the retaining projection 13 "due to the inclined wall sections 17", 18 "in the connecting plate 5" and the centering ramps 21 ", 22". In the tensioned state of the grinding pot adapter 3 ", a positive connection acting in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction is achieved between the grinding pot adapter 3" and the grinding pot carrier 1 "by means of the stop 14" and the retaining device 13 ".

The described clamping concept presupposes that the grinding pot adapter 3 ″ is only subjected to a tensioning force on the base side and on the housing side. The grinding pot connected to the grinding pot adapter 3 "is thus not tensioned upwards between the top cover and the bottom, but the grinding pot is pressed from below by the piston 7" into the stop 14 ". The stop 14 ″ forms a support which acts in the axial direction and in the circumferential direction in order to securely tension the grinding pot adapter 3 ″ on or against the grinding pot carrier 1 ″.

As can be seen further from fig. 14 to 19, the retaining device 13 "is preset in the region of the near bottom of the grinding pot adapter 3". The seat section formed by the stop 14 "in the connecting plate 5" is correspondingly preset in the range below half the height of the milling pot adapter 3 ", preferably in the lower third of its height. In the region above the connecting plate 5 ", the milling pot adapter 3" and thus the milling pot connected to the milling pot adapter 3 "are freely accessible on the housing side. In particular, in the tensioned state of the grinding pot, the grinding pot lid is freely accessible from above while maintaining the tensioned state, which improves the operating comfort and still allows access to the grinding chamber of the grinding pot in the tensioned state of the grinding pot by removing the grinding pot lid.

As a monitoring device, a slide valve 30 "can be provided on at least one connecting plate 5", which is arranged in a longitudinally displaceable manner on a corresponding longitudinal recess of the connecting plate 5 ", wherein the slide 30" is pushed into the locking position by means of the spring device 31 "when the milling pot adapter 3" is not inserted or is not inserted as intended into the milling pot holder 1 ". In the locking position, the lower locking edge 32 ″ strikes against a stationary mill part, in particular against a bearing of the mill. Thus, a free rotatability of the shaft body 8 "and thus of the grinding pot carrier 1", and preferably of the carrying device for the grinding pot carrier 1 ", is not obtained.

When the grinding pot holder 3 "is fixed or when the grinding pot holder 3" is tensioned on and/or in the grinding pot holder 1 ", the curved actuating arm 33" of the slide 30 "is lifted by the retaining device 13" in the axial direction against the spring force of the spring device 31 "and the slide 30" enters a release position in which the locking end 32 "is released from the fixed part of the mill. In this release position, on the one hand, a free rotatability of the grinding pot carrier 1 ″ and preferably, on the other hand, of the carrying device for the grinding pot carrier 1 ″ is obtained thereby. When the milling pot adapter 3 "is correctly inserted and tensioned, the slide 30" is lifted, which does not slide mechanically against a fixed stop on the laboratory mill during the test operation.

For guiding the slide 30 ", a vertical guide 34" is provided in the upper region of the connecting plate 5 ", in which guide an axial shaft block 35 is guided on an actuating arm 33" of the slide 30 "so as to be longitudinally displaceable.

In order to make the specific rotational position of the grinding pot adapter 3 "relative to the grinding pot holder 1" tactilely and/or acoustically recognizable to the user before the grinding pot adapter 3 "is tensioned, in the embodiment shown, a detent means 36" designed as a ball press is prearranged, wherein the detent means is spring-loaded and snaps into a complementary recess in the outer shell surface of the holding means 13 "when the grinding pot adapter 3" has reached the specific rotational position, preferably the final rotational position, before the grinding pot adapter 3 "is tensioned. It is thereby ensured that the grinding pot adapter 3 ″ cannot accidentally be reversed or rotated further out of a specific rotational position.

For the engagement of the stop means 36 "into the retaining projection 13", the retaining projection may have a longitudinal groove 38 ".

In order to be able to raise the slide 30 "into the release position relative to the guide sleeve 38" in which the locking device 36 "is guided so as to be laterally displaceable, the slide 30" has an elongated hole 39 ".

In addition, the slider 30 "has a further elongated hole 40" for a retaining projection 41 "on the connecting plate 5", wherein the slider 30 "in the locked position rests against the retaining projection 41" and is secured downward against further axial displacement.

List of reference numerals:

1 ball mill

2 grinding station

3 grinding pot support

4 grinding tank

4a grinding pot bottom

5 auxiliary disc

6 screw

7 bearing device

8 sun wheel

9 center bearing shaft

9a bearing

10 axle (grinding pot)

10a rolling bearing

10b engaging part

10c undercut

10d shaft shoulder

11 axle

11a belt drive device

11b belt coupling device

11c belt pulley

11d belt pulley

12 grinding pot tray

12a accommodating part

12b sliding surface

12c annular groove

12d screw

13 clamping element

13a top end

13b contact surface

13c screw

13d stop part

14 tensioning device

15 contact surface (tank)

16 contact surface (Chassis)

17 bowl-shaped structure

18 disc spring

19 casing tube

20 connecting boss

21 connecting section

22 lifting device

23 lifting element

24 grinding pot top cover

25 valve

26 anti-twist element

27 holding element

27a outer surface

27b stop part

28 circumferential groove

29 wall part

30 reduction element

31 sealing element

32a upper bearing element

32b lower bearing element

33 drive device

34 adjusting element

35 holding device

H lifting movement

Y1 planetary gear axis

Central axis of Y2

1' ball mill

2' grinding station

3' grinding pot support

4' grinding pot

4a' grinding pot bottom

5' auxiliary disc

6' screw

7' carrying device

8' sun gear

9' center bearing shaft

9a' bearing

10' shaft (grinding pot)

10a' rolling bearing

10 b' engaging part

10c' bottom notch

10d' shaft shoulder

11' shaft

11a' belt drive

11b' belt coupling device

11c' belt pulley

11d' belt pulley

12' grinding pot tray

12a' receiving part

12b' sliding surface

12c' ring groove

12d' screw

13' clamping element

13a' top end

13b' contact surface

13c' screw

13d' stop

14' tensioning device

15' contact surface (tank)

16' contact surface (Chassis)

17' bowl-shaped structure

18' disc spring

19' sleeve

20' connection boss

21' connecting section

22' hoisting device

23' hoisting element

24' grinding pot top cover

25' valve

26' anti-twist element

27' holding element

27a' outer surface

27b' stop

28' circumferential groove

29' wall part

30' reduction element

31' seal

32a' upper bearing element

32b' lower bearing element

33' driving device

34' adjusting element

35' holding device

H' lifting movement

Y1' planetary gear axis

Central axis of Y2

1' grinding pot support

2' tensioning device

3' grinding pot adapter

4' base body

5' connecting plate

6' screw

7' flask

8' axle body

9' slide bearing

10' disc spring group

11' pressing plate

12' annular boss

13' holding projection

14' stop

15' notch

16' wall section

17' wall section

18' wall section

19' wall section

20' stop

21' centering bevel

22' centering bevel

23' screw

24' sliding plate

25' ball pressing piece

26' drilling

27' mating pin

28' screw

29' tooth profile

30' slide block

31' spring device

32' locking end

33' actuator arm

34' guide device

35' axle block

36' stop device

37' longitudinal groove

38' guide

39' long hole

40' long hole

41 "hold the boss.