FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT 1970 (39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules, 2003 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10, and rule 13)
1. TITLE OF INVENTION MIXER
2. APPLICANT(S)
a) Name : MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES MACHINERY
TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
b) Nationality : JAPANESE Company
c) Address : 6-22, KAN-ON-SHIN-MACHI 4-CHOME,
NISHI-KU, HIROSHIMA 733-8553, JAPAN
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed : -

{Technical Field}
The present invention relates to a mixer in which rotors mix and knead a material in a mixing chamber and a floating weight pushes down the material during mixing and kneading the material.
{Background Art}
An internal mixer has a mixing chamber having rotors incorporated in a hopper (body), and mixes and kneads a material in the mixing chamber. A material to be mixed and kneaded is a raw material used for various rubber products such as a tire for an automobile. The mixer is provided with a floating weight for pushing down the material in the mixing chamber during mixing and kneading the material. The floating weight moves upward and downward by activation of hydraulic cylinders.
Each hydraulic cylinder is connected at its head to the hopper and connected at its rod to a connecting beam. The connecting beam is a horizontal member disposed above the hopper and extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upward and downward direction. Other than the hydraulic cylinders, a rod member whose lower end is fixed to the floating weight is connected to the connecting beam. The hydraulic cylinders are activated so as to move the floating weight upward and downward along with the upward and downward movement of the connecting beam and the rod member.
During mixing and kneading the material, the motion of the rod member occurs in accordance with the motion of the floating weight in contact with the material. Hence, the hydraulic cylinder should be prevented from receiving, through the connecting beam, bending stress caused by the movement of the rod member. Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique to secure a smooth upward and downward movement of a floating weight, and to prevent abnormal abrasion of a guide

member for guiding a rod member. The guide member is a member attached to a hopper top surface.
{Citation List} {Patent Literature}
{PTL1}
The Publication of Japanese Patent No. 3474725
{Summary of Invention} {Technical Problem}
The technique disclosed in Patent Literature 1 sets a gap at a connection portion between a rod of each hydraulic cylinder and a connecting beam to be equal to or greater than a gap between the rod member and the guide member. Unfortunately, abrasion due to repetitive operations of the mixer widens the gap between the rod member and the guide member, and if this gap becomes equal to or greater than the gap at the connection portion between the rod of each hydraulic cylinder and the connecting beam, bending stress acts on the hydraulic cylinders. If the amount of movement of the connecting beam due to inclination of the connecting beam becomes equal to or greater than the gap at the connection portion between the rod of each hydraulic cylinder and the connecting beam, bending stress also acts on the hydraulic cylinders. Consequently, such disadvantages occur that the hydraulic cylinders do not work smoothly, or damages are caused on components of the hydraulic cylinders.
The present invention has been made in the light of the above disadvantages, and has an object to provide a mixer capable of securing a smooth operation of each hydraulic cylinder and of preventing damages on the hydraulic cylinders regardless of movement of a floating weight or force applied on the floating weight.

{Solution to Problem}
In order to solve the above disadvantages, the mixer according to the present invention employs the following solution.
The mixer according to an aspect of the present invention includes a body having a mixing chamber thereinside; a floating weight for pushing a material in the mixing chamber; a rod member whose one end is fixed to the floating weight, and movable in an axial direction; a connecting beam whose middle portion is fixed to the other end of the rod member; a cylinder whose one end is connected to an end of the connecting beam and whose other end is connected to the body, so as to move the connecting beam in the axial direction of the rod member; and a first connection portion provided at a connection portion between the connecting beam and the cylinder, the cylinder being at least biaxially rotatable around the connection portion.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the body has the mixing chamber thereinside, and the floating weight pushes the material in the mixing chamber. The material in the mixing chamber is pushed down by the floating weight while the material is being mixed and kneaded by rotors and others provided in the mixing chamber. The one end of the rod member is fixed to the floating weight, and the floating weight is movable in the axial direction along with the rod member. The other end of the rod member is fixed to the middle portion of the connecting beam.
The connecting beam may be a member extending vertically to the axial direction of the rod member, for example. Each end of the connecting beam is connected to one end of each cylinder- The other end of the cylinder is connected to the body, so that the cylinder moves the connecting beam relative to the body in the axial direction of the rod member. Therefore, the rod member and the floating weight are movable in the axial direction of the rod member by the movement of the cylinder.

In addition, the first connection portion is provided at the connection portion between the connecting beam and the cylinder, and the first connection portion allows the cylinder to be at least biaxially rotatable around this connection portion. Force is applied onto the floating weight in various directions such as vertical and horizontal directions during mixing and kneading the material, and even if such force in various directions is transferred to the cylinder through the rod member or the connecting beam, the connection portion between the connecting beam and the cylinder allows the cylinder to be inclined in various angular directions. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent bending stress from acting on the cylinder.
In an aspect of the present invention, the mixer may further include a second connection portion provided at a connection portion between the body and the cylinder, the cylinder being at least biaxially rotatable.
According to an aspect of the present invention, the second connection portion is provided at the connection portion between the connecting beam and the cylinder, and the second connection portion allows the cylinder to be at least biaxially rotatable around this connection portion. Force is applied onto the floating weight in various directions such as vertical and horizontal directions during mixing and kneading the material, and even if such force in various directions is transferred to the cylinder through the rod member or the connecting beam, the connection portion between the body and the cylinder allows the cylinder to be inclined in various angular directions. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent bending stress from acting on the cylinder.
In an aspect of the present invention, the mixer further includes a guide rod disposed to the body and having an axis parallel to the axial direction of the rod member, and the connecting beam is provided with a through hole through which the guide rod is inserted, and the connecting beam may move along the guide rod through the through hole in the axial direction of the rod member.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a guide rod is disposed to the body, and the guide rod is inserted through the through hole formed in the connecting beam. The guide rod has an axis parallel to the axial direction of the rod member, and when the connecting beam moves along the guide rod through the through holes, the movement direction of the connecting beam is identical to the axial direction of the rod member. Accordingly, it is possible to move the rod member together with the connecting beam in the axial direction without being inclined, and to smoothly move the floating weight.
{Advantageous Effects of Invention}
According to the present invention, it is possible to secure a smooth operation of each hydraulic cylinder, and to prevent damages on each hydraulic cylinder regardless of a movement of the floating weight or force acting on the floating weight.
{Brief Description of Drawings}
Fig. 1 is a side view of illustrating the mixer according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a front view of illustrating the mixer according to one embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along a line A-A of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a partial enlarged cross sectional view of illustrating a sliding portion.
Fig. 5 is a front view of illustrating a first connection portion.
Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along a line B-B of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along a line C-C of Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a side view of illustrating a second connection portion.
Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along a line D-D of Fig. 8.
Fig. 10 is a front view of illustrating the second connection portion.
{Description of Embodiment}
Hereinafter, the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
With reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, description will now be provided on the configuration of a mixer 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The mixer 1 is an internal mixer, includes a mixing chamber 5 having rotors 6 incorporated at a lower portion of a hopper 12, and mixes and kneads a material in the mixing chamber 5. A material to be mixed and kneaded may be a raw material used in various rubber products such as a tire for an automobile.
The hopper 12 has a hollow thereinside, and is provided with an input port 4 on its side face so as to be opened and closed, and input the material into the hopper 12. Each hydraulic cylinder 3 is fixed at its head to the side face of the hopper 12 such that the hydraulic cylinder 3 is disposed so as to extend along the side face of the hopper 12.
The mixer 1 includes a floating weight 15, a rod member 14, a connecting beam 7, the hydraulic cylinders 3, and a guide rod 2 and others. In the present embodiment, a portion where the connecting beam 7 and the guide rod 2 slide relative to each other is referred to as a sliding portion 8; a connection portion where the connecting beam

7 and each hydraulic cylinder 3 are connected to each other is referred to as a first connection portion 9; and a connection portion where the hopper 12 and each hydraulic cylinder 3 are connected to each other is referred to as a second connection portion 10.
The floating weight 15 is disposed inside the hopper 12 and at the upper portion of the mixing chamber 5. The bottom surface of the floating weight 15 is in contact with the material, and the top surface thereof is connected to the rod member 14. The floating weight 15 pushes down the top of the material in the mixing chamber 5 while the rotors 6 are mixing and kneading the material in the mixing chamber 5. Accordingly, the floating weight 15 is subjected to forces in various directions such as vertical and horizontal directions during mixing and kneading the material. The floating weight 15 is movable upward and downward along with the movement of the rod member 14.
The rod member 14 is disposed in the hopper 12 so as to have an axial direction identical to the vertical direction of the hopper 12, and the upper end of the rod member 14 extends through the hopper top surface 11. The rod member 14 is connected at its lower end to the floating weight 15 so as to support the floating weight 15. The rod member 14 is connected at its upper end to the connecting beam 7 at a position above the hopper top surface 11. The rod member 14 is movable upward and downward in its axial direction along with the movement of the connecting beam 7.
The guide member 13 is disposed on the outer surface of the hopper top surface 11, and a through hole through which the rod member 14 is inserted is formed in the guide member 13. The rod member 14 slides along the inner peripheral wall of the through hole of the guide member 13.

The connecting beam 7 may be a long horizontal member extending in one direction and disposed vertical to the axial direction of the rod member 14, for example. The connecting beam 7 is connected at its middle portion to the upper end of the rod member 14, and connected at its each end to each hydraulic cylinder 3, respectively. A through hole for inserting a guide rod 2 therethrough is formed in the connecting beam 7.
The guide rod 2 is a rod member, and its lower end is disposed on the hopper top surface 11. Two guide rods 2 may be provided, for example, and the respective rods are disposed such that each axial direction of the guide rods 2 is parallel to the axial direction of the rod member 14. Each guide rod 2 extends through the through hole formed in the connecting beam 7. Since the guide rods 2 have axes parallel to the axial direction of the rod member 14, when the connecting beam 7 moves along the guide rods 2 through the through holes, the movement direction of the connecting beam 7 is identical to the axial direction of the rod member 14.
The hydraulic cylinder 3 is one example of a cylinder, and may be an oil-hydraulic cylinder, for example. The hydraulic cylinders 3 may be disposed at two positions along the side face of the hopper 12, for example. Each hydraulic cylinder 3 is connected to the connecting beam 7 and to the hopper 12 such that a piston rod at the upper end of the hydraulic cylinder 3 is connected to the connecting beam 7, and the head at the lower end of the hydraulic cylinder 3 where its piston rod do not come outside is connected to the side face of the hopper 12. Each hydraulic cylinder 3 is activated so as to move the connecting beam 7 upward and downward relative to the hopper 12. Specifically, the connecting beam 7 moves in the axial direction of the rod member 14, and the rod member 14 connected to the connecting beam 7 also moves together with the floating weight 15 fixed to the rod member 14 in the axial direction of the rod member 14.
With reference to Fig. 4, description will now be provided on the sliding portion 8.

The sliding portion 8 includes each guide rod 2 fixed to the hopper top surface 11 and each through hole 17 formed in the connecting beam 7 for inserting each guide rod 2 therethrough. The axial direction of each through hole 17 is disposed to be parallel to the upward and downward direction of the floating weight 15. A guide bush 16 is inserted in each through hole 17, and the connecting beam 7 slides along each guide rod 2 through a guide bush 16. Accordingly, when the connecting beam 7 moves upward above the hopper top surface 11, the connecting beam 7 is supported by a pair of the guide rods 2 in the direction vertical to the axial direction of each guide rod 2.
With reference to Fig. 5 to Fig. 7, description will now be provided on the first connection portion 9.
The first connection portion 9 denotes the connection portion between the connecting beam 7 and each hydraulic cylinder 3. The first connection portion 9 allows each hydraulic cylinder 3 to be at least biaxially rotatable around the connection portion between the connecting beam 7 and each hydraulic cylinder 3.
The first connection portion 9 has a configuration as illustrated in Fig. 5 to Fig. 7, for example. Specifically, a coupling bracket 20 is disposed at the tip end of the piston rod of each cylinder 3, and the coupling bracket 20 is inserted in a groove provided in the connecting beam 7. A pin 19 is inserted through both of a spherical bearing 18 disposed to the coupling bracket 20 and the connecting beam 7.
This configuration connects the connecting beam 7 and each hydraulic cylinder 3 to each other. The configuration of using the spherical bearing 18 at the connection portion between the connecting beam 7 and each hydraulic cylinder 3 not only enables a single-axial rotation of each hydraulic cylinder 3 through a hinge coupling, but also allows each hydraulic cylinder 3 to be movable in various angular directions.

With reference to Fig. 8 to Fig. 10, description will now be provided on the second connection portion 10.
The second connection portion 10 is a connection portion between the hopper 12 and each hydraulic cylinder 3. The second connection portion 10 allows the hydraulic cylinder 3 to be at least biaxially rotatable around the connection portion between the hopper 12 and each hydraulic cylinder 3.
The second connection portion 10 has a configuration as illustrated in Fig. 8 to Fig. 10, for example. Specifically, a pair of support brackets 21 supporting a pin 24 to the hopper 12 are disposed opposite to each other. The pin 24 is fixed to the support brackets 21 so as to be parallel to the side face of the hopper 12. Adaptor members 22, 25 are disposed between the pair of the support brackets 21. These adaptor members 22, 25 constitute four sides, thereby defining an adaptor that is a frame member. A through hole 23 through which the pin 24 is inserted is formed in each adaptor member 22, and a through hole 26 through which the pin 28 is inserted is formed in each adaptor member 25. A support member 27 having the pin 28 is installed in the adaptor constituted by the adaptor members 22, 25. The pin 28 is fixed to the support member 27 so as to be vertical to the side face of the hopper 12. The support member 27 accommodates the head of each hydraulic cylinder 3 as well as supports the hydraulic cylinder 3. The structure of the support member 27 and the pin 28 may be embodied by installing a trunnion to each hydraulic cylinder 3.
The hopper 12 and each hydraulic cylinder 3 are connected to each other through the above described configuration. In addition, the two pins 24, 26 vertical to each other are provided, and the adaptor constituted by the adaptor members 22, 25 and the support member 27 are provided at the connection portion between the hopper 12 and each hydraulic cylinder 3, so as to allow each hydraulic cylinder 3 to be biaxially rotatable. This configuration enables a single-axial rotation of each hydraulic cylinder 3 through a hinge coupling, but also allows each cylinder 3 to be movable in various angular directions.

Description will now be provided on the advantageous effects of the mixer 1 according to the present embodiment.
In the mixer 1, bending stress may act on the hydraulic cylinders 3 if the gap between the rod member 14 and the guide member 13 becomes greater because of abrasion due to repetitive operations, or the amount of movement of the connecting beam 7 becomes greater due to the inclination of the connecting beam 7.
To the contrary, according to the present invention, the spherical bearing is used at the first connection portion 9 at the tip end of the piston rod of each hydraulic cylinder 3, so that the piston rod of each hydraulic cylinder 3 becomes movable in various angular directions. In addition, the two pins 24, 26 vertical to each other are used at the second connection portion 10 at the head of each hydraulic cylinder 3, which enables the head of each hydraulic cylinder 3 to be movable in various angular directions in accordance with the movement of the piston rod of each hydraulic cylinder 3.
Force is applied onto the floating weight 15 in various directions such as vertical and horizontal directions during mixing and kneading the material, and even if force in various directions is transferred to the hydraulic cylinders 3 through the rod member 14 or the connecting beam 7, the first and the second connection portions 9, 10 allow each hydraulic cylinder 3 to be inclined in various angular directions. As a result, the mixer 1 according to the present embodiment prevents bending stress from acting on the hydraulic cylinders 3. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent damages on the components of the hydraulic cylinders 3 and to secure a smooth operation of the hydraulic cylinders 3.
The plural guide rods 2 are disposed on the hopper top surface 11, and the guide rods 2 and the guide bushes 16 at the through holes 17 formed in the connecting beams 7 slide relative to each other, so that the connecting beam 7 moves upward and downward along the guide rods 2. As a result, even if the plural hydraulic

cylinders 3 work asynchronously so that the connecting beam 7 becomes inclined, the connecting beam 7 can be forcibly maintained to be horizontal relative to the vertical direction of the hopper 12. Accordingly, it is possible to secure a smooth upward and downward movement of the floating weight 15 without inclining the rod member 14 connected to the connecting beam 7 and without causing abnormal abrasion to the guide member 13 along which the rod member 14 slides

{Reference Signs List}
1 Mixer
2 Guide rod
3 Hydraulic cylinder (cylinder)
4 Input port
5 Mixing chamber
6 Rotor
7 Connecting beam
8 Sliding portion
9 First connection portion
10 Second connection portion

11 Hopper top surface
12 Hopper (body)
13 Guide member
14 Rod member
15 Floating weight
16 Guide bush
17 Through hole
18 Spherical bearing
19 Pin
20 Coupling bracket
21 Support bracket
22.25 Adaptor members
23.26 Through holes
24,28 Pins
27 Support member

WE CLAIM:
1} A mixer comprising:
a body having a mixing chamber thereinside;
a floating weight for pushing a material in the mixing chamber;
a rod member whose one end is fixed to the floating weight, the rod member
being movable in an axial direction thereof;
a connecting beam whose middle portion is fxed to another end of the rod
member;
a cylinder whose one end is connected to an end of the connecting beam and
whose other end is connected to the body, so as to move the connecting beam
in an axial direction of the rod member; and
a first connection portion provided at a connection portion 6etween the
connecting beam and the cylinder, the cylinder being at least biaxially
rotatable around the connection portion.
2} The mixer according to Claim 1, wherein
the mixer further comprises a second connection portion provided at a connection portion between the body and the Cylinder, the cylinder being at least biaxially rotatable around the connection portion,
3} The mixer according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein
the mixer further comprises a guide rod disposed to the body and having an axis parallel to the axial direction of the rod member, and the connecting beam is provided with a through hole through which the guide rod is inserted, and the connecting beam moves along the guide rod through the through hole in the axial direction of the rod member.