April 2, 1963 R. I.

LUND
3,083,404
MIXING MILL ACCUMULATING SHELF
Filed Feb. 8. 1962
2 Sheets-Sheet 1

Z INVENTOR.
RICHARD I. LUND
if?)
April 2, 1963 R. I. LUND 3,083,404
MIXING MILL ACCUMULATING SHELF
Filed Feb. 8, 1962
2 Sheets-sheaf 2

1/49
/63

62 .

INVENTOR.
50 RICHARD I. LUND
BY
66

ATTY.
 United States Patent 0 M 3,683,404
Patented Apr. 2, 196-3
1 2
3,083,494 _ _, __
apparatus in combination'with a roll mill having an over
MIXING MILL ACQUMULATlNG SHELF head mixer whereby all portions of ‘an elastomeric batch
Richard I. Lurid, Akron, Ohio, assignor to The B. F. being mixed on said mill are intimately mixed with one
Goodrich Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of another.
New York It is a further object‘of this invention to provide an
Fiied Feb. 3, 1962, Ser. No. 171,889 apparatus'in combination with a roll mill having an'ove'r
6 Ciaims. (Ci. 18—2) head mixer wherein means are provided to accumulate
This invention pertains to apparatus for mixing plastic a portion of an elastomeric batch being mixed thereon
materials,‘ and, more particularly, toimprovements in vroll above and out of contact with the rollers of said mill
mills for the mixing of elastomeric materials. before allowing said portion to pass between'said rolls.
In the mixing of elastomeric materials it is common It is a‘ still further object of'this invention to provide an
practice to blend compounding ingredients into a rubber apparatus as described in the preceding paragraph wherein
matrix-on a roll mill having a pair of closely adjustably said means to accumulate a portion of the batch comprises
spaced, horizontal, parallel ‘and contra-rotating milling a horizontal batch accumulating shelf mounted beneath
15 the overhead mixer for'movementin-horizontal directions.
rolls. In such a mill, one of the rolls is rotated-at a higher
speed than'the other, in the order of 40% ‘greater, thereby It is a still further object’ of the present invention to pro
subjecting material passing through the bight of such rolls vide an apparatus as-described in the preceding paragraph
to shearing forces which act to disperse the compounding wherein the'horizontal movement of s'aidshelf is effected
ingredients uniformly throughout the rubber. The ma in timed‘relationship to the speed of rotation of the over
head mixing rolls.
terial passing'through the bight’ forms a'continuous band
on one of the two rolls, generally the slower of'the two. Further objects and advantages to be gained'through the
The volume of the batch being mixed is preferably greater use of the present'invention will be apparent to those
than that needed to form this band, and the excess ma skilled in the art to which it pertains from the following
terial forms a rolling bank above the bight of the rolls. 25 detailed description of a vpreferred embodiment of the
In order to more uniformly mix the batch and allow the apparatus and from the drawings which form a part of
this-application and in which: _ __
bank to pass between the rolls the operator cuts the band
from side to side with aknife held in'his one hand, while FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a rollmill with
rolling the material out with the other hand until the overhead mixer in combination with the movable 'stock
rolling bank is nearly completely passed between the accumulating shelf;
30 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevational View of the
rolls, at which time he allows the roll he has formed by
hand to be caught in the bight to again form a band. At apparatus taken along‘line 2-42 of FIG. 1; and
best, this operation is di?icult, time consuming and ex 'FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram'of the electrical and
tremely dangerous to the operator. pneumatic circuits for controlling movement of the stock
In order to facilitate the mixing of the'band from side 35
accumulating shelf.
to side such mills have been furnished with overhead The stock accumulating shelf assembly A‘ of the present
mixers comprising a pair of rolls’located above the mill invention is illustrated in'the drawings as it is used in
rolls and parallel‘the'reto. One of'these rolls is driven in conjunction with a conventional two-roll mixing mill B,
timed relationship to 'the speed of the ‘mill rolls. The ?tted with an overhead mixer ‘C. The-mill B c-omprises'a
operator can cut the entire band from its mill roll and 40 pair of vertical side supports 10 in which a pair of milling
throw it up to the bight of the overhead mixing rolls which rolls 11 and 12, having supporting shafts 13'and 13a, are
pull the entire band up and dump it into the bight of the journalled. A spur gear 14 is mounted onone end of
mill rolls. This, in'effect, lengthens the band of rubber, shaft 13 for roll '11 and is engaged with a similar gear
thereby reducing the size of the rolling'bank over the mill 15~mountedon the shaft '13:: for roll 12. A third ‘spur
rolls. In addition, a guide carriage is provided in front 45 gear 16, mounted on a drive shaft 17, is in driving engage
of the overhead mixing rolls. This carriage travels in ment with gear 14, thus causing rolls 1'1 and 12 to rotate
directions parallel'to the axes of‘th'e rolls on an endless in'oppositea’directions as ‘drive shaft -17, connected to a
double reversing screw rotated in timed relationship to source of power not shown, ‘is rotated. When rotated
the rotational speed of the mill rolls. The carriage guides as shown in the drawings, the rolls 11 and‘liz draw a band
the rubber band to the overhead mixer rolls and auto 50 18 of elastomeric material ‘from 1a rolling bank 19‘ ‘of
matically performs an operation similar to that of the the material through the bight of the rolls.
operator in cutting the band from side to side. 'The overhead mixing'assenibly 7C comprises a pair of
In the use‘ of'such equipment, particularly in conjunc side support members $24) each'mounted on one off the
tion with internal mixers of the Banbury type, where the vertical side supports '10 ofthe mill B. A- drawing roller
size of the batch being-mixed is large,‘in'the order of 400 55 21 is mounted on a ‘shaft '22 ro-tatably journalled between
pounds or more, it is‘impossible to completely eliminate supports 20. A second drawing roller 23 is mounted on
the rolling bank of material above the mill rolls‘ bight. a shaft 124 rotatably journalled between a 'pairof pivot
The band of material being carried to the bight of the arms 2-5 eachp-ivotally mounted on supports 20. Shaft
mill rolls by the overhead rolls tends to pass under this 22 is rotated'by means of a chain'26 passing about a
rolling bank and through the bight of the mill rolls again. 60 sprocket 27 on shaft ZZ-and a 1sprocket$28~ on the output
Therefore, the material in the rolling bank does ‘not be shaft of a variable speed reducer :29 ‘which is driven by
come intimately mixed with the rest of the material with a-motor 30. As the roller 321 is driven in the direction
the result that the rest of the material is continually passed indicated in the ‘drawings, the'band-18- ofelastomeric ma
between the mill rolls to become overheated and possibly terial is drawn between the rollers 21*and'23. Roller v23
scorched or otherwise have its properties deteriorated. 65 is urged against‘the‘band -18>by theiforce-‘of gravity. A
In an effort to overcome'this'serious drawback in the screw member 31 is mounted on a shaft 32 which is rotat~
milling of large rubber batches it became encumbent upon ably journalled between side supports 20, Screw mem
those concerned with the problem'to devise an apparatus ber 31 is rotated in response-to ‘rotation of roller 21 by
which would insure complete and'intimate mixing of all means of laschain 33 trained about sprockets'34'and ‘35
portions of a batch being mixed thereon. 70 mounted on shafts <22 and 32, respectively. Mounted be
It is an object of this invention therefore, to provide an tween supports Zti, and parallelto screw member 31, is a
guide rod 36. Slidably-mounted on guide rod 136 is a
 3,083,404
3 .
screw follower member 37 engaged with an endless dou
ble reversing screw thread 38, formed in screw member
31, for movement in alternating opposite directions as
screw member 31 is rotated. Rotatably mounted on the
front of member 37 is a horizontal roller 39‘ by which
the band 18 of elastomeric material is supported as it is
drawn upward by the rollers 21 and 23. A pair of hori
zontal parallel rollers ‘40, each mounted on one of a pair
of brackets 41 mounted on member 37, guide the lateral
movement of the band 18 as member 37 moves from
side to side.
The stock accumulating shaft assembly A includes a
pair of horizontal parallel channel guide members 42
each mounted on the inner side of side supports 20‘ below
the drawing rolls 21 and 23 ‘and screw member 31. A 15
rectangular shelf 43, formed of a front angle member 44
and rear angle member 45 which support a horizontal
plate 46, is slidably mounted in guide members 42. Also ' the art to which it pertains however, that adaptations
mounted on the inner sides of side supports 21! are a pair
of double acting air cylinders 47, each having a piston
48 and piston rod 49. The outer end of each piston rod
49 is mounted on rear angle member 45 to thereby move
shelf 43 as pistons 48 are moved in cylinders 417 by air
directed thereto by a four-way spring return valve 50.
Valve ‘59 is actuated in response to the contact of either 25 of elastomeric material comprising, in combination with
of a pair of limit switches 51 and 52, mounted on side
supports 20, by tripping ?ngers 53 and 54, respectively,
which are mounted on the under side of screw follower
member 37. Operation of the apparatus will be more
clearly understood from the operating description which
follows:
Machine Operation
In the use of the shelf assembly A in cooperation with
a roll mill B to uniformly mix elastomeric materials, the
operator cuts the band ‘18 as it passes about mill roll 11
and throws the end of the band 18 over the horizontal
roller 39 of the overhead mixer C, between the parallel
rollers 40, to the bight of the drawing rollers 21 and 23.
The accumulating shelf is normally in the position shown
in full line in FIG. 2, thereby interrupting the return of
the band 18 to the rolling bank 19 of material above the
bight of the milling rolls 11 and 12. The operator then
adjusts the speed of drawing roller 21 to at least match
that of the milling roll 11 by means ‘of an adjusting
handle 55 ‘for the variable speed reducer 29‘. Thus, the
band 18 is pulled directly from milling roll 11 by draw
ing rollers 21 and 23 without troublesome bagging or
sagging. Screw member 31 turning in response to rota-p
tion of roller 21 causes follower member 37 to move
from side to side distributing the band 18 over the width
of shelf 43 in a folded or rolled condition, as at 56. As
member 37 moves to ‘the left as viewed in FIG. 1, ?nger
54 trips limit switch ‘52 causing electrical current to ?ow
in a solenoid coil 57. Energization of coil 57 causes a
piston rod 58 of valve 150 and its pistons 59 to move to
their positions shown in phantom in FIG. 3 against the
force of piston return spring 60. Air from supply line
61 thus ?ows ‘through valve '50 and line 62 to one side
of pistons 48 of cylinders 47, causing pistons 48 and shelf
43 to move to their positions shown in phantom in FIGS.
2 and 3, air from the opposite side of pistons 48 being
exhausted through line 63 and valve 51) to exhaust line
64. As shelf 43 is so moved, a scraper member 65,
rigidly mounted between side supports 20, causes the
material at 56 to be scraped from the shelf onto the bight
of the milling rolls 11 and 12. As member 37 reverses
its direction ?nger 54 disengages limit switch 52 inter
rupting current to solenoid coil 57 and allowing piston
rod 58 and pistons 59 of valve 50 to be returned to their
positions shown in ‘full line in FIG. 3. Air ‘from supply
line 61 is thus directed through line 63 to move the pis
tons 48 of cylinders 47 and shelf 43 to their positions
shown in full line in FIGS. 2 and v3, air being exhausted
from cylinders 47 through lim} -_52 and valve 50 to exhaust 75
4
line 66. As member 37 moves to the right ‘as viewed in
FIG. 1, the band 18 again accumulates on shelf 43 to
diminish the rolling bank 19. As member 37 approaches
the extreme of its travel in this direction ?nger ‘53 con
tacts limit switch 51 to repeat the dumping cycle.
In the mixing of greater amounts of elastorneric ma
terial is may be necessary or desirable to allow member
37 to move the entire length of its travel and return be
fore causing actuation of the accumulating assembly A,
thus decreasing the size of the rolling bank ‘19 to a mini
mum. To accomplish this, either of the limit switches
51 or 52 may be removed from the circuit shown in
PEG. 3. Thus, solenoid coil 57 would be actuated by
but one of the ?ngers ‘53 or 54 on follower member 37.
The invention has been described with respect to one
speci?c embodiment thereof as incorporated in a two
roll mixing mill. It will be apparent to those skilled in
and modi?cations of the apparatus may readily be made
and hence the invention is not limited to the construc—
tional details herein illustrated and described except as
required by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
Having thus described the invention, I claim:
1. Apparatus for increasing the uniformity of mixing
a roller mill having a pair of mixing rolls and an over
head mixer, a movably mounted material accumulating
member normally in position to receive said material as
it passes from said overhead mixer; and means to move
said accumulating member from said position thereby
allowing said material accumulated thereon to drop onto
said mixing rolls.
2. Apparatus for increasing the uniformity of mixing
of elastorncric material comprising, in combination with
a roller mill having at least two mixing rolls and an over
head mixer; a material accumulating shelf movably
mounted on said apparatus beneath said overhead mixer
and above said mixing rolls; and means to move said
shelf to and from a position for accumulating said ma
terial as it passes from said overhead mixer.
3. Apparatus for uniformly mixing elastomeric ma
terial comprising at least two parallel adjacent rolls for
receiving and milling elastomeric material therebetween,
means for receiving the elastomeric material after pas
sage between said rolls and for directing it through a path
spaced from said rolls for repassage therebetween, ma
terial accumulating means selectively positionable in said
path to temporarily prevent passage of material to said
rolls, and means responsive to passage of material in said
path for periodically moving said material accumulating
means to and from its material passage preventing posi
tion. .
4. Apparatus for improving the uniformity of mixing
of elastomeric material on a roller mill having at least
two mixing rolls and an overhead mixer, comprising a
horizontal material accumulating shelf, means slidably
mounting said shelf on said apparatus for movement in
a plane disposed between said overhead mixer and said
mixing rolls, means to move said shelf to and from a
position for receiving said material as it passes from said
overhead mixer, and means to dislodge said material from
said shelf as said shelf is moved from said position there
by allowing said material to be dumped onto said mixing
rolls.
5. In an apparatus for improving the uniformity of
mixing of elastomeric material on a roller mill having at
least two contra-rotating mixing rolls, and an overhead
mixer including a pair of material drawing rolls, an end
less double reversing screw rotated in timed relationship
70 to the speed of rotation of said mixing rolls, and a ma
terial guide carriage mov-ably engaged with said reversing
screw to move said carriage in alternating opposite direc
tions as said reversing screw is rotated; the improvement
comprising a material accumulating shelf, means mount
 5 6
ing said shelf on said apparatus for movement in a hori- '
zontal plane disposed between said drawing rollers and
said mixing rolls, motive means operable to move said
shelf to and from a position for receiving said material
passing from said drawing rollers, means responsive to
movement of said guide carriage in at least one direction
to operate said motive means, and means to dislodge said
material from said shelf as said shelf is moved from said
position thereby allowing said material to fall onto said
mixing rolls.
‘6. Apparatus for uniformly mixing elastomeric mate
rial, comprising at least two material mixing rolls movably
mounted on said apparatus in generally axially parallel
relationship, at least two material drawing rollers mov
ably mounted on said apparatus, an endless double re
versing screw rotatably mounted on said apparatus adja 15
cent to said rollers and axially parallel thereto, a mate
rial guide carriage movably mounted on and engaged With
said screw to move axially of said screw in alternating
opposite directions as said screw is rotated and to guide
material from said rolls to said rollers, a material accumu 20
lation shelf slidably mounted on said apparatus for move
ment in a horizontal plane disposed between said rolls
and said rollers, motive means operable to move said
shelf in said plane to and from a position for interrupting
the passage of material passing from said rollers to said
rolls, means to rotate said rolls in opposite directions to
one another, means to rotate at least one of said rollers at
a peripheral speed at least equal to the peripheral speed
of said rolls, means responsive to rotation of said rollers
to rotate said screw, means mounted on said apparatus
10 adjacent at least one end of said screw engageable with
said guide carriage to operate said motive means, and
means to scrape said material from said shelf as the latter
moves from said position.
References Cited in the ?le of this patent
UNITED STATES PATENTS
1,736,582 Davidson ____________ __ NOV. 19, 1929
‘1,397,961 Snyder ______________ __ Feb. 14, 1933
2,593,282 Engler ______________ __ Apr. 15, 1952
2,973,549 Hurst ________________ __ Mar. 7, ‘1961