BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a removal device for removing an adherent from an article-to-be-processed, which is composed of a film-like or sheet-like mold base having on one surface or both surfaces thereof an adherent adhered thereon in a layer form.

2. Related Art

In the conventional process of removing adherent from an article-to-be-processed, which is composed of a film-like or sheet-like mold base having on one surface or both surfaces thereof an adherent adhered thereon in a layer form, there has been used, for example, a treatment device capable of processing therein an article-to-be-processed, which is composed of a packaging material (base) and an adherent such as residue of foods previously contained therein, so as to separate it into the base and the adherent, and output them in a separate manner (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication. No. 2000-167426, referred to as Patent Document 1). The device disclosed in this publication has a feeding port (loading port) through which the article-to-be-processed is loaded, a drum (process tank) communicated with the loading port, and a crushing blades (rotating blades) disposed in the process tank so as to be rotationally driven therein, and is configured to crush the article-to-be-processed introduced through the loading port into the process tank by the rotational driving of the rotating blades, to thereby separate the base and the adherent. In other words, the device crushes the base by the rotational driving of the rotating blades, and separates (removes) the adherent from the base. However, since the adherent adhered to the base in a layer form may not thoroughly be removed, so that there has been proposed a device having comb-like components, each of which having a plurality of recesses aligned in the edge portion thereof, and fixed to each of the rotating blades (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2007-021284, referred to as Patent Document 2).

The device disclosed in Patent Document 2 is configured to have a plurality of rotating blades and a process tank arranged relative to each other. At least one of the rotating blade has a comb-like component having a plurality of recesses laterally aligned therein, and the process tank has a cutting edge formed on the inner wall thereof while geometrically conforming to the recesses formed in the comb-like component. An article-to-be-processed loaded through the loading port is housed in the process tank, brought into contact with the rotating blades rotationally driven in the process tank, and moved towards the inner wall of the process tank by the centrifugal force while being rotated in the process tank. In this process, the base is forcedly cut at a plurality of positions by the comb-like component and the cutting edge, and cleaning water is then jetted from a jetting nozzle to the fragmented base, so as to separate (remove) the adherent therefrom.

SUMMARY

In the article-to-be-processed having the adherent adhered to the base in a layer form, the layered adherent having a larger adhesiveness than that of foods previously being packaged in the packaging material (base) adheres over a predetermined range of the base. According to the device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the base is cut at a plurality of points by the comb-like component and the cutting edge, so that only a small part of the adherent adhered at the cut portion or the folded portion may be removed, whereas most part of the adherent remain unremoved, and is hardly removable even by the succeeding jetting of cleaning water. Accordingly, the film-like or sheet-like mold base typically composed of resin, or other adherents such as ceramics and plaster removed therefrom cannot be re-used as source materials for new products, against a spirit of recycling of resources. In addition, the devices disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 may generate static electricity, due to contact of the article-to-be treated with the process tank and rotating blades, so that the adherent once removed from the base may occasionally be discharged in a re-adhered form on the base.

The present invention was proposed to solve the above-described problem inherent to the conventional devices, and is aimed at providing a novel removal device for removing adherent capable of effectively removing an adherent adhered to a film-like or sheet-like base in a layer form, capable of effectively avoiding re-adhesion of the adherent to the base, and is also fully contributive to recycling of resin, or other materials such as ceramic and plaster.

The present invention is proposed in order to solve the above-described problem. According to a first invention (invention described in claim 1), there is provided a removal device for removing adherent which includes:

a process tank communicated respectively with a loading port through which an article-to-be-processed, which is composed of a film-like or sheet-like mold base having on one surface or both surfaces thereof an adherent adhered thereon in a layer form, is loaded, and with the base discharge path through which the base removed from the adherent is output, and houses therein the article-to-be-processed;

a spindle disposed in the process tank, and rotationally driven by a drive unit;

a plurality of rotating blades each of which having the base end fixed to the spindle, and having the top end located inside the process tank;

a large number of openings provided to the process tank so as to allow therethrough passage of the adherent; and

a plurality of receiving components consecutively disposed below the process tank along the longitudinal direction of the process tank, the individual receiving components having ducts respectively at the lower ends thereof, which are provided so as to communicate themselves with the receiving components, and each of the ducts being connected with one end of a suction pipe having the base end thereof being connected to a suction device.

According to the first invention, the article-to-be-processed which is loaded through the loading port, allowed to pass through an introduction port, and housed in the process tank is tumbled by the rotating blades which rotate in the process tank, and collides against the rotating blades and the inner circumferential surface of the process tank, folded in an irregular and geometrically undefined manner (in the process tank, depending on hardness of the base of the article-to-be-processed, and speed of rotation of the rotating blade), and is cut while being ruptured in an irregular and geometrically-undefined manner. A part of the adherent may be separated from the base, in the process of folding or cutting of the article-to-be-processed, or as a result of sliding contact with the inner circumferential surface of the process tank. The article-to-be-processed thus cut in a geometrically undefined manner further moves so as to be beaten against the inner circumferential surface of the process tank by rotational force or centrifugal force ascribable to the rotating blades, and further moves along the inner circumferential surface of the process tank while keeping slide contact therewith. On the other hand, the adherent separated from the base in the process tank drops through a large number of openings provided to the process tanks into the individual receiving components by its own weight, and also while being assisted by suction force of the suction device. More specifically, in this removal device for removing adherent, the inner space of the process tank is brought to have a negative pressure by the suction device, so that the air comes through the loading port and the base discharge path into the process tank, and then sucked through the individual suction pipes by the suction device. As a consequence, the adherent composing the article-to-be-processed is sucked up through the individual suction pipes by the suction device as described in the above, and the base is output through the base discharge path out into the external, while being pushed out by the article-to-be-processed loaded through the loading port.

According to the removal device for removing adherent of the first embodiment, the adherent may be prevented from re-adhering to the base, even if static electricity should generate in the process tank due to sliding contact with the rotating blades and with the inner circumferential surface of the process tank, so that only the base may be output through the base discharge path, and only the adherent may be output through the suction pipe out from the process tank.

According to a second invention (invention described in claim 2), the base ends of the individual suction pipes in the above-described first invention are respectively fixed to connection pipes fixed to the suction device, and each of the connection pipes has disposed thereon an adjustment component which independently adjusts suction force exerted through the suction pipes.

In the second invention, the plurality of receiving components, which are the constituents of the first invention, are consecutively disposed in the longitudinal direction of the process tank, and each of the connection pipes, to which the base ends of the individual suction pipes connected to the individual receiving components are fixed, has disposed thereon an adjustment component which independently adjusts suction force exerted through the suction pipes. Accordingly, typically by making adjustment such as enhancing the suction force exerted through the suction pipe closest to the loading port, and by reducing the suction force exerted through the suction pipe closest to the base discharge path, the adherent may more efficiently be sucked up, and inhibition of output of the base may successfully be avoidable by virtue of the suction force exerted through the suction pipes.

According to a third invention (invention described in claim 3), in the above-describe first or second invention, each of the plurality of rotating blades has recesses formed at the end thereof so as to he aligned in the longitudinal direction of the rotating blade, and the process tank has a cutting edge profiled so as to project towards the recesses.

In the third invention, as described in the above, the article-to-be-processed loaded through the loading port, allowed to pass through the introduction port, and housed in the process tank is tumbled by the rotating blades which rotate in the process tank, and collides against the rotating blades and the inner circumferential surface of the process tank, folded in an irregular and geometrically undefined manner (in the process tank, depending on hardness of the base of the article-to-be-processed, and speed of rotation of the rotating blade), and is cut while being ruptured in an irregular and geometrically-undefined manner. In this process, the individual cutting edges composing the third invention are fixed to the process tank, whereas the recesses are formed at the end of the rotating blades, so that the base which composes the article-to-be-processed is thoroughly cut between the recesses and the cutting edge, and the base after being separated from the adherent is output through the base discharge path.

According to the removal device for removing adherent of the first invention (invention described in claim 1), the adherent may be prevented from re-adhering to the base, even if static electricity generates in the process tank due to sliding contact with the rotating blades and with the inner circumferential surface of the process tank, so that only the base may be output through the base discharge path, and only the adherent may be output through the suction pipe out from the process tank. As a consequence, the present invention is fully contributive to recycling of materials such as resins, ceramics, and plaster.

According to the second invention (invention described in claim 2), a plurality of receiving components which are the constituents of the first invention, are consecutively disposed in the longitudinal direction of the process tank, and each of the connection pipes, to which the base ends of the individual suction pipes connected to the individual receiving components are fixed, has disposed thereon an adjustment component which independently adjusts suction force exerted through the suction pipes. Accordingly, typically by making adjustment such as enhancing the suction force exerted through the suction pipe closest to the loading port, and by reducing the suction force exerted through the suction pipe closest to the base discharge path, the adherent may more efficiently be sucked up, and inhibition of output of the base may successfully be avoidable by virtue of the suction force exerted through the suction pipe.

According to the third invention (invention described in claim 3), the individual cutting edges are fixed to the process tank, whereas the recesses are formed at the end of the rotating blades, so that the base which composes the article-to-be-processed is thoroughly cut between the recesses and the cutting edge, and the base after being separated from the adherent is output through the base discharge path. As a consequence, even if the base cannot be cut only by the rotation of the rotating blades, depending on the thickness or hardness of the base which composes the article-to-be-processed, the base may thoroughly be cut and may be output through the discharge path by virtue of the above-described configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a right side elevation schematically illustrating a removal facility equipped with the removal device for removing adherent according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the removal facility illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view illustrating the removal facility illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the removal device for removing adherent according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a right side elevation of the removal device for removing adherent illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an opened state of a process tank of the removal device for removing adherent illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a left essential portion of the internal structure of the removal device for removing adherent illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a right essential portion of the internal structure of the removal device for removing adherent illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation of rotating blades and cutting edges which compose the removal device for removing adherent illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the internal structure of the removal device for removing adherent illustrated in FIG. 7, taken along line A-A; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a structure of connection pipes connected to a suction device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The removal device for removing adherent (referred to as a â€œremoval deviceâ€ , hereinafter) according to one embodiment of the present invention will be detailed below, referring to the attached drawings. The removal device of this embodiment configures a removal facility 110 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Therefore, the removal facility 110 will be briefed first, and the removal device will then be detailed. The removal facility 110 and the removal device 1 described later are those applied with the present invention, aimed at removing a ceramic layer from an article-to-be-processed (referred to a â€œgreen sheetâ€ , hereinafter) which is configured to have a polyetylene terephthalate (PET) film as a base, and a ceramic layer formed as an adherent on one surface of the film. The removal facility 110 will be explained below.

The removal facility 110 is configured, as illustrated in FIG. 1, by the removal device 1, a conveyor device 111 which conveys the green sheet to a hopper 23 composing the removal device 1, and a suction device 112 which is connected through three suction hoses (the suction pipes of the present invention) 16A, 16B, 16C described later to the removal device 1. The conveyor device 111 is disposed on the rear side of the removal device 1, as illustrated in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, and has a loading port 114 disposed on the right lower side in FIG. 1 and through which the green sheet is loadable, and a conveyor belt 115 configured to be circulatable while carrying thereon the green sheet loaded through the loading port 114. The conveyor device 111 is disposed in an inclined manner so as to enable conveyance of the green sheet placed on the conveyor belt 115 into the hopper 23, described later, of the removal device 1. The conveyor belt 115 has stopper ribs 116 fixed at regular intervals so as to prevent sliding and dropping of the green sheet placed on the surface thereof, and is driven in a circulating manner by an unillustrated drive motor, so that the upper surface thereof having the green sheet placed thereon is elevated. The green sheet placed on the conveyor belt 115 is conveyed from the lower side up into the hopper 23.

The suction device 112 is disposed on the rear side of the removal device 1 as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and has an unillustrated suction pump inside thereof. The base end portion of a connection pipe 17 illustrated in FIG. 11 is fixed to the suction pump, and three suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C are respectively connected to the connection pipe 17. The suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C are respectively connected to receiving components 15A, 15B, 15C disposed at three positions of the removal device 1 illustrated in FIG. 4. The inner space of the process tank 31 (see FIG. 8) of the removal device 1 is brought to have a negative pressure through the suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C and the connection pipe 17, by operation of the unillustrated suction pump, so that ceramics separated from the green sheet in the process tank 31 is sucked up through the suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C and the connection pipe 17 by the suction device 112.

Next, the removal device 1 will be explained. The removal device 1 of this embodiment has four casters 2 at the bottom as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, and has an enclosure 3 given in a form of nearly rectangular parallelepiped as an outer case. A front cover 4 is detachably disposed slightly leftward from the center front of the enclosure 3 (see FIG. 6), and an unillustrated freely openable front door is provided on the right of the front cover 4. A discharge duct 7 is formed on the right of the front of the enclosure 3 as seen in FIG. 2, so as to be communicated with a base discharge path 69, described later, of a process tank 31 provided in the enclosure 3 (see FIG. 5), with a discharge port 7a, which opens downward, provided to the lower surface at the end thereof.

On the rear of the front cover 4, a freely-openable rear cover 9 illustrated in FIG. 3 is disposed, and on the left thereof, rear doors 5, 6 are disposed. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 6, on the upper left of the removal device 1, there is disposed a loading port 11 which allows therethrough loading of an unillustrated green sheet to be processed, for the purpose of removing an adherent typically composed of a ceramic having a layer form on the surface of a base composed of a PET film. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the loading port 11 which opens downward is provided to the top surface of the hopper 23, at a level of height slightly higher than the top surface of the enclosure 3. A left door 14 is provided to a left side plate 3a of the enclosure 3, at a level of height slightly lower than the loading port 11. In a portion hidden behind the left door 14, an unillustrated control panel and switches are disposed. In the vicinity of the left door 14, there are provided an unillustrated start switch and a stop switch which are electrically connected to the control panel and so forth, so as to allow an operator to start and stop operation of the removal device 1.

Between the front cover 4 and the rear cover 9, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a drive motor 21 is fixed on a stage 22. The drive motor 21 is electrically connected to the control panel. Above the drive motor 21, the hopper 23 which communicates with the loading port 11 is provided. The hopper 23 is composed of an unillustrated front plate opposed to the front cover 4, an unillustrated rear plate opposed to the rear cover 9, a bottom plate 23a, and a partition plate 24 opposed to the left side plate 3a. The bottom plate 23a is composed of a first inclined bottom plate 23b which slopes down towards the right hand side of FIG. 4, a vertically-suspended plate 23c which vertically suspends from the right edge of the first inclined bottom plate 23b, and a second inclined bottom plate 23d which slopes down from the bottom edge of the vertically-suspended plate 23c towards the right hand side in the drawing. The lower end of the second inclined bottom plate 23d (the edge close to the process tank 31 described later) continues to a vertical plate 27, and in the upper middle portion of the vertical plate 27, an opening having a spindle 72 described later inserted therethrough is formed.

Now, as illustrated in FIG. 4, FIG. 6, FIG. 8 or FIG. 9, the process tank 31 composing the present invention is disposed in the enclosure 3, and between an unillustrated front door and a rear door. The process tank 31 has an opened-top main process tank unit 32, and a lid 33 connected in a freely openable manner through a hinge 41 to the main process tank unit 32 so as to close the top of the main process tank unit 32. An overall shape of the main process tank unit 32 combined with the lid 33 is a cylinder having a longitudinal axis aligned in the horizontal direction. As illustrated in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9, the main process tank unit 32 is composed of a bottom plate 32a molded into a semi-cylindrical form, a left semicircular plate 32b disposed on the left (closer to the loading port 11) and molded into a semicircular form, and a first right semicircular plate 32c opposed to the left semicircular plate 32b.

The lid 33 is composed of a top plate 33a molded into a semi-cylindrical form, a second right semicircular plate 33b possibly be aligned, when closed, in the same plane with the first right semicircular plate 32c which composes the main process tank unit 32, and a base discharge path 69 disposed on the left of the right semicircular plate 33b, and is formed over a width approximately one-fifth as wide as the lateral length of the lid 33. As illustrated in FIG. 6, below the partition plate 24, a semicircular opening 25 having a curvature conforming to that of the lid 33 is formed, and an arc-form projection 25a which slightly projects into the process tank 31, when the lid 33 closes the main process tank unit 32, is formed around the opening 25. Accordingly, the green sheet (article-to-be-processed) loaded through the loading port 11 is allowed to pass through the hopper 23 by the self weight, then passes through the opening 25 formed in the partition plate 24, and housed in the process tank 31.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the main process tank unit 32 is supported in a fixed manner on the front side thereof by a front vertical fixing plate 36 having a front horizontal plate 36a formed on the upper end by folding it, and is supported in a fixed manner on the rear side thereof by a rear vertical fixing plate 37 having a rear horizontal plate 37a formed on the upper end by folding it. On the other hand, to the front of the lid 33, as illustrated in FIG. 6, a handle fixing component 38 having a crank form in a side view is welded, wherein the handle fixing component 38 is composed of a rid-side horizontal plate 38a which is formed to have the same width with the front horizontal plate 36a and is placed on the front horizontal plate 36a, a fixed plate 38b which is formed by folding the base end of the rid-side horizontal plate 38a at an angle of nearly 90Â° and fixed on the front of the lid 33, and a vertically-suspended plate 38c which is formed by folding downward the top end of the rid-side horizontal plate 38a and has a handle 39 used for opening or closing the lid 33 welded thereon.

On both lateral sides of the vertically-suspended plate 38c composing the handle fixing component 38, as illustrated in FIG. 6, two hooks (reference numerals not given) are fixed, and the front vertical fixing plate 36 has lock fittings 40, 40, each of which having a hook strip engageable with the hook, provided respectively on the left and right so as to enable locking between the lid 33 and the main process tank unit 32. In this configuration, the operator may open the main process tank unit 32 as illustrated in FIG. 6, by unlocking the lock fittings 40, 40, and by lifting the lid 33 upward from the state illustrated in FIG. 4, so as to pivot the lid 33 around the hinge 41 while holding the handle 39. In the vicinity of the lock fittings 40, 40, an unillustrated limit switch is fixed. The limit switch is a detection means for judging whether the lid 33 is closed or not, electrically connected to the above-described unillustrated control panel, so as to prevent the drive motor 21 to operate while leaving the lid 33 open, or so as to bring the drive motor 21 into emergency stop when the lid 33 is opened during operation of the drive motor 21, for fail-safe operation.

The semi-cylindrical bottom plate 32a which composes the main process tank unit 32 has a large number of circular openings 32d arranged in a staggered manner, as illustrated in FIG. 9, so as to allow therethrough output of the adherent (ceramics) separated from the base of the green sheet which moves after being cut by rotation of first to fourth rotating blades 81 to 84 described later. The green sheet moves so as to be beaten against the inner circumferential surfaces of the main process tank unit 32 and the lid 33, by contribution of rotation and centrifugal force ascribable to the rotating blades 81 to 84, and travels along the inner circumferential surfaces of the main process tank unit 32 and the lid 33 while being brought into sliding contact therewith, so that the adherent having been adhered on the base of the green sheet is output through the openings 32d.

Below the openings 32d, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the receiving components 15A, 15B, 15C having the same configuration are consecutively disposed at three positions in the longitudinal direction of the process tank 31. For example, the receiving component 15A is configured, as illustrated in FIG. 7 (a configuration of the receiving component 15B is illustrated in FIG. 8) to have a hollow conical portion 15a which is molded using a sheet material into a hollow conical shape with the diameter expanded towards the top, and a cylindrical portion 15b which is molded using a sheet material into a cylindrical shape, and is provided so as to communicate with the bottom diameter-shrunk portion of the hollow conical portion 15a. The diameter-expanded top portion of the receiving component 15A is fixed to the front vertical fixing plate 36 and the rear vertical fixing plate 37. To the cylindrical portions 15b of the individual receiving components 15A, 15B, 15C, one ends of three suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C which communicate through the connection pipe 17, described later, with the unillustrated suction pump of the suction device 112 are respectively fixed. The other ends of the suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C are respectively connected to first to third connection pipes 18, 19, 20 of the connection pipe 17 illustrated in FIG. 11. The connection pipe 17 is configured to have, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the first connection pipe 18 having one end of which fixed to the suction pump of the suction device 112, and to have the second connection pipe 19 and the third connection pipe 20 respectively connected to the middle of the first connection pipe 18 so as to respectively communicate the both at the base ends thereof (as if they are branched out from the first connection pipe 18). The first to third connection pipes 18, 19, 20 are respectively disposed with suction force adjustment mechanisms (adjustment components of the present invention) 26, 26, 26 which independently adjust suction force exerted through the suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C.

Since the suction force adjustment mechanisms 26, 26, 26 have the same configuration, so that the suction force adjustment mechanism 26 provided to the second connection pipe 19 will representatively be explained. The second connection pipe 19 has a pivot shaft 28 rotatably supported therein by the arc-form top portion and bottom portion, and the top end (reference numeral not given) of the pivot shaft 28 is formed so as to project outside of the second connection pipe 19. The pivot shaft 28 has a rectangular hole (reference numeral not given), which allows therethrough insertion of a gate valve 29 described later, formed in a portion thereof located in the second connection pipe 19, and in the rectangular hole, the gate valve 29, which is formed to have a disk shape having the diameter slightly shorter than the inner diameter of the second connection pipe 19, is fixed. To the outwardly projected top end of the pivot shaft 28, an operating lever 34 is fixed. By moving the operating lever 34, the gate valve 29 is pivoted together with the pivot shaft 28, so that the flow rate of air through the second connection pipe 19 is adjusted, and thereby the suction force exerted through the suction hose 16A may be adjustable. Since the suction force adjustment mechanism 26 is respectively disposed to each of the first to third connection pipes 18, 19, 20 as described in the above, so that the suction force exerted through the suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C may independently be adjustable.

The operating lever 34 has a center disk 34a, a pivot tab 34c formed at a part of the outer circumference of the disk 34a so as to allow pivoting operation thereof, and an oblong hole 34b formed in the disk 34a concentrically around the pivot shaft 28 so as to extend over an approximately quarter range of circumference. In the oblong hole 34b, a shaft portion of a lock screw 35 is inserted, and an unillustrated male-threaded portion thereof is configured to be screwable into the second connection pipe 19. Pivoting of the operating lever 34 may be locked by tightening the lock screw 35, and may be freed by loosening it. The pivoting of the gate valve 29 is limited as a result of contact of the lock screw 35 with both ends of the oblong hole 34b, so as not to pivot beyond 90Â° or around. The disk 34a of the operating lever 34 has an unillustrated isometric scale provided thereon, thereby a current angle of pivoting of the gate valve 29 (suction force) may visually be confirmed. Alternatively, the lock screw 35 may be a butterfly bolt or the like.

According to the configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the air in the second connection pipe 19 may be allowed to pass almost fully, in the state where one end of the oblong hole 34b of the operating lever 34 is brought into contact with the lock screw 35 so as to align the plane of the gate valve 29 in parallel with the inner sidewall of the second connection pipe 19. By pivoting the operating lever 34 clockwise from this state so as to bring the other end of the oblong hole 34b of the operating lever 34 into contact with the lock screw 35, the plane of the gate valve 29 is aligned orthogonal to the inner sidewall of the second connection pipe 19 (so as to intercept the flow passageway in the pipe), and thereby the air flow in the second connection pipe 19 is nearly shut up. The flow rate of air through the second connection pipe 19 may be freely adjustable between approximately 100% and approximately 0%, by moving the operating lever 34. In this way, the suction force exerted through the suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C may freely be adjustable in an independent manner. Accordingly, typically by making adjustment such as enhancing the suction force exerted through the suction hose 16A illustrated in FIG. 4 closest to the loading port 11, and by reducing the suction force exerted through the suction hose 16C closest to the base discharge path 69, the adherent may more efficiently be sucked up, and inhibition of output of the base may successfully be avoidable by virtue of the suction force exerted through the suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C.

As illustrated in FIG. 6 or FIG. 9, the lid 33 has first to sixth guide ribs 61 to 66 attached to the inner circumferential surface thereof. The first to sixth guide ribs 61 to 66 are formed so as to be slightly inclined while shifting the front ends thereof rightward from the rear ends as illustrated in FIG. 9, so that the air in the process tank 31, sucked up through the loading port 11 as a result of rotation of the first to fourth rotating blades 81 to 84 and first to fourth fan blades 86 to 89, described later, may be guided from the left hand side to the right hand side of FIG. 6 and FIG. 9. The first to sixth guide ribs 61 to 66 are fixed to the lid 33 by welding.

On the right hand side, in FIG. 9, of the lid 33, attached with the first to sixth guide ribs 61 to 66, the base end of the base discharge path 69, which allows therethrough passage and discharge of the base (PET film) cut in the process tank 31 and separated from the adherent (ceramics), is fixed. The base discharge path 69 is configured to have the base end thereof communicated with the process tank 31 as illustrated in FIG. 8, and to have the other end thereof projected frontward and inserted into the base end of the discharge duct 7, formed in the front door 42, to thereby communicate therewith when the front door 42 is closed as illustrated in FIG. 5. The base discharge path 69 have a large number of circular discharge holes 69a formed in the rear upper portion thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 9. Accordingly, when the base output out from the process tank 31 passes through the base discharge path 69 while being carried by the air flow, the residual adherent having been adhered on the base may effectively be removed or separated through the discharge holes 69a into the enclosure 3, and thereby the base to be output may become more suitable for recycling.

In the thus-configured process tank 31, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a spindle 72 which is coupled through a coupling component 71 to an output axis 21a of the drive motor 21 is disposed in the horizontal direction (see FIG. 9). The spindle 72 is supported, in a freely rotatable manner at the left middle portion thereof, by one bearing 73a detachably fixed to the left side surface of the vertical plate 27, and again in a freely rotatable manner at the right side thereof, by the other bearing 74 detachably fixed to the right vertical plate 43. The left middle portion of the spindle 72 is inserted through an unillustrated opening formed in the vertical plate 27. In the removal device 1, the distance from the top end of the vertical plate 27 (the bottom end of the second inclined bottom plate 23d) to the spindle 72 is adjusted a little longer, so as to ensure a large difference of height (fall) between the bottom edge of the second inclined bottom plate 23d and the first to fourth rotating blades 81 to 84 described later, when viewed in a state where opposing twos of the first to fourth rotating blades 81 to 84 are horizontally aligned. To the spindle 72, in the process tank 31 as illustrated in FIG. 4, FIG. 7 or FIG. 9, the base ends of the rotatable first to fourth rotating blades 81 to 84 are fixed in a detachable manner, and as illustrated in FIG. 4, FIG. 8 or FIG. 9, the base ends of the first to fourth fan blades 86 to 89 are fixed in a detachable manner. The spindle 72 herein is formed to have a square cross-section in the portions where the first to fourth rotating blades 81 to 84 and the first to fourth fan blades 86 to 89 are fixed in a detachable manner as illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, so as to ensure a sufficient level of stability of fixation.

The first to fourth rotating blades 81 to 84 are fixed to the square-cross-sectioned portion of the spindle 72 at regular intervals therearound and 90Â° away from each other in the direction of rotation, using bolts (reference numeral not given), as illustrated in FIG. 7 or FIG. 9. In this embodiment, each of the rotating blades 81 to 84 has the same length (width) as measured from the spindle 72 side thereof to the end. The first to fourth rotating blades 81 to 84 have first to fourth comb-like components 76 to 79, respectively, fixed in a detachable manner at the ends thereof (on the inner circumferential surface side of process tank 31), using bolts (reference numeral not given). The comb-like components 76 to 79 have a large number of U-shape recesses 76b to 79b, respectively, which are aligned at regular intervals along the edges thereof so as to give a comb-like profile as a whole by contribution of the recesses 76h to 79b and a mesa. portion (reference numeral not given) remained between every adjacent recesses.

At a position close to where the end sides of the individual comb-like components 76 to 79 passes by rotation, and at the upper edge of the front vertical fixing plate 36 illustrated in FIG. 7, a cutting tool 95 having a large number of cutting edges 95a (see FIG. 10) formed thereon is fixed while being mediated by the left side upper edge of the main process tank unit 32 illustrated in FIG. 7. The cutting tool 95 has a large number of cutting edges 95a which are formed thereon so as to be opposed y projected towards the large number of recesses 76b to 79b formed on each of the comb-like components 76 to 79, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

The green sheet (article-to-be-processed) loaded through the opening 25 illustrated in FIG. 9 into the process tank 31 collides against the end portions of the first to fourth comb-like components 76 to 79 which rotate in the process tank 31, folded in an irregular and geometrically undefined manner (in the process tank, and cut while being ruptured in an irregular and geometrically-undefined manner, while being captured between the individual recesses 76h to 79b of the first to fourth comb-like components 76 to 79, and the individual cutting edges 95a of the cutting tool 95 illustrated in FIG. 10. In the process of folding and rupture of the green sheet, the adherent may thoroughly be removed. In addition, the green sheet cut in a geometrically-undefined manner moves so as to be beaten against the inner circumferential surfaces of the main process tank unit 32 and the lid 33, by contribution of rotation and centrifugal force ascribable to the rotating blades 81 to 84 and the comb-like components 76 to 79, and travels along the inner circumferential surfaces of the main process tank unit 32 and the lid 33 while being brought into sliding contact therewith.

The first to fourth fan blades 86 to 89 are fixed to the other end side of the spindle 72 (closer to the base discharge path 69) at regular intervals therearound and 90Â° away from each other in the direction of rotation, using bolts (reference numeral not given), as illustrated in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9, and, in this embodiment, have the same length (width) as measured from the spindle 72 side thereof to the end. The first to fourth fan blades 86 to 89 have fan plates 101 to 104, fixed in a detachable manner at the ends thereof, using bolts (reference numeral not given), as illustrated in FIG. 8 or FIG. 9.

Next, operations and effects of the removal device 1 configured as described in the above will be explained below, referring to the attached drawings.

First, upon operation of an unillustrated start switch, the drive motor 21 illustrated in FIG. 4 starts to operate, and in association therewith, the first to fourth rotating blades 81 to 84 and the first to fourth fan blades 86 to 89, which are provided in the process tank 31 as illustrated in FIG. 7, FIG. 8 or FIG. 9, rotate together with the spindle 72 connected through the coupling component 71 to the drive motor 21, in the counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. By the rotation of the rotating blades 81 to 84, the air located in front of the individual rotating blades 81 to 84 as viewed in the direction of rotation flows towards the centrifugal direction, towards the direction orthogonal to the centrifugal direction, and towards the direction therebetween at a predetermined wind velocity and wind force, beaten against the inner circumferential surfaces of the main process tank unit 32 of the process tank 31 and the lid 33, and travels along the inner circumferential surfaces of the main process tank unit 32 and the lid 33 in the counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 7. On the other hand, the air located in front of the individual fan blades 86 to 89 as viewed in the direction of rotation flows towards the centrifugal direction, towards the direction orthogonal to the centrifugal direction, and towards the direction therebetween at a predetermined wind velocity and wind force, beaten against the inner circumferential surfaces of the main process tank unit 32 of the process tank 31, the lid 33, and the base discharge path 69, and travels along the inner circumferential surfaces of the main process tank unit 32, lid 33 and base discharge path 69 in the counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 8.

In this process, the air in the process tank 31 is guided by the guide ribs 61 to 66 illustrated in FIG. 9, and not only moves towards the base discharge path 69 while being rotated in the process tank 31, but also passes through the openings 32d of the main process tank unit 32 illustrated in FIG. 9, respectively through the receiving components 15A, 15B, 15C and the suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C illustrated in FIG. 4 and through the first to third connection pipes 18, 19, 20 which compose the connection pipe 17 illustrated in FIG. 11, while being assisted by the suction force of the suction device 112 illustrated in FIG. 1. In association with the passage of air, the green sheet (article-to-be-processed) consequently moves while being pressed against the inner circumference of the openings 32d, and is thereby applied with frictional resistance. Accordingly, in the removal device 1, the inner space of the process tank 31 is brought to have a negative pressure by operation of the suction device 112, so that the air flows through the loading port 11 and the base discharge path 69 into the process tank 31, and then sucked through the individual suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C by the suction device 112. As a consequence, the adherent which composes the green sheet (article-to-be-processed) may be sucked up through the individual suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C by the suction device 112, and at the same time, the base is output through the base discharge path 69, while being pushed out by the green sheet loaded through the loading port 11.

In this state, when the green sheet (article-to-be-processed) is conveyed by the conveyor device 111 illustrated in FIG. 1 and loaded through the loading port 11 of the hopper 23 illustrated in FIG. 4, the green sheet slides on the first inclined bottom plate 23b and on the second inclined bottom plate 23d, or, flies through the space in the hopper 23, and moves as if being drawn through the opening 25 into the process tank 31, illustrated in FIG. 6 or FIG. 9. By the travel, the green sheet directly collides against the end portions of the first to fourth comb-like components 76 to 79 which rotate together with the first to fourth rotating blades 81 to 84, or captured between the individual nearly-U-shaped recesses 76b to 79b formed on the end portions of the first to fourth comb-like components 76 to 79 and the individual cutting edge 95a of the cutting tool 95 illustrated in FIG. 10, or, moves frontward ahead of the comb-like components 76 to 79 or the rotating blades 81 to 84, as viewed in the direction of rotation.

The green sheet directly collides against the end portions of the comb-like components 76 to 79 is folded in an irregular and geometrically undefined manner, and cut while being ruptured in an irregular and geometrically-undefined manner. Since the cutting tool 95 on one side is fixed to the front vertical fixing plate 36, and the comb-like components 76 to 79 on the other sides are allowed to rotate, the green sheet captured between the individual recesses 76b to 79b of the first to fourth comb-like components 76 to 79 and the individual cutting edges 95a of the cutting tool 95 may more thoroughly be folded into an irregular and geometrically undefined manner, and may more thoroughly be cut while being ruptured in an irregular and geometrically-undefined manner. In the processes of folding and cutting of the green sheet, the adherent may be separated from the base by impact, and sucked up through the openings 32d of the main process tank unit 32, through the individual suction hoses 16A, 16B, 160 and so forth, by the suction device 112.

The green sheet thus cut in a geometrically-undefined manner is further beaten against the inner circumferential surface of the main process tank unit 32 of the process tank 31 or the lid 33 illustrated in FIG. 7 or FIG. 9 (also in this process, a part of the adherent may be separated by impact), by rotational force, centrifugal force, or wind force ascribable to the rotating blades 81 to 84 and the comb-like components 76 to 79, and travels along the inner circumferential surface of the main process tank unit 32 or the lid 33 while being brought into sliding contact therewith. By the travel, the adherent (ceramics) having been adhered to the base of the green sheet, which is brought into sliding contact with the inner circumferential surface of the main process tank unit 32, is pressed against the inner circumferential surface of the main process tank unit 32 by the air which is about to pass through the large number of openings 32d formed in the main process tank unit 32, forcedly scratched off at the edge of the openings 32d of the main process tank unit 32, output through the openings 32d, and sucked up through the individual suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C and so forth by the suction device 112.

On the other hand, the green sheet moved to the front side of the comb-like components 76 to 79 or the rotating blades 81 to 84, as viewed in the direction of rotation, is beaten against the inner circumferential surface of the main process tank unit 32 of the process tank 31 or the lid 33 (also in this process, a part of the adherent may be separated by impact), by rotational force, centrifugal force, or wind force ascribable to the rotating blades 81 to 84 and the comb-like components 76 to 79, travels in the counter-clockwise direction (see FIG. 7), and travels along the inner circumference of the process tank 31 while being brought into sliding contact with the inner circumferential surface of the process tank unit 32 or the lid 33. Also in this travel, the adherent on the green sheet is forcedly scratched off at the edge of the openings 32d of the main process tank unit 32, output through the openings 32d, and sucked up through the individual suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C and so forth by the suction device 112, similarly to the case where the green sheet directly collides against the comb-like profiled portion at the end of the comb-like components 76 to 79, or to the case where the green sheet is captured between the individual recesses 76b to 79b of the first to fourth comb-like components 76 to 79, and the individual cutting edges 95a of the cutting tool 95. The green sheet travels through the process tank. 31 while being tumbled therein towards the base discharge path 69, by the centrifugal force or wind force ascribable to the comb-like components 76 to 79 and the rotating blades 81 to 84, while being guided by the guide ribs 61 to 66 illustrated in FIG. 9.

Accordingly, the green sheet loaded through the hopper illustrated in FIG. 4 is folded in the process tank 31 in an irregular and geometrically-undefined manner, cut while being ruptured in an irregular and geometrically-undefined manner, beaten against the inner circumferential surface of the main process tank unit 32 or the lid 33, travels while being brought into sliding contact with the inner circumferential surface of the main process tank unit 32 or the lid 33 in the counter-clockwise direction when viewed in FIG. 7 or FIG. 8, crumpled between the inner circumferential surface of the main process tank unit 32 and the comb-like components 76 to 79, or moves in the counter-clockwise direction, while being captured between the large number of recesses 76b to 79b of the first to fourth comb-like components 76 to 79 and the large number of cutting edges 95a of the cutting tool 95. While repeating these processes, the adherent is separated from the base, and output through the openings 32d of the main process tank unit 32, or through the discharge holes 69a of the base discharge path 69, whereas the base after being separated from the adherent is transferred through the base discharge path 69, output from the discharge port 7a of the discharge duct 7 illustrated in FIG. 5, and is recovered into an external unillustrated base recovery box.

As has been described in the above, according to the removal device 1 of this embodiment, the adherent (ceramics) output through the openings 32d of the main process tank unit 32 or the discharge holes 69a of the base discharge path 69 illustrated in FIG. 9 are sucked up, respectively through the receiving components 15A, 15B, 15C, the suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C, and the first to third connection pipes 18, 19, 20 which compose the connection pipe 17 illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 11, by the suction device 112. Accordingly, even if static electricity should generate in the process tank 31 due to sliding contact with the comb-like components 76 to 79, the rotating blades 81 to 84, or with the inner circumferential surface of the process tank 31, the adherent may be prevented from re-adhering onto the base, and thereby only the adherent may be recovered in the suction device 112, and on the other hand, only the base may be output out through the base discharge path 69.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, below the process tank 31, the receiving components 15A, 15B, 15C are consecutively disposed in the longitudinal direction of the process tank 31. The individual receiving components 15A, 15B, 15C are respectively connected with one ends of the suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C, the suction hoses 16A, 16B, 16C are respectively connected, at the other ends thereof, with the first to third connection pipes 18, 19, 20 respectively having the suction force adjustment mechanism 26 provided thereto, and the first to third connection pipes 18, 19, 20 are connected through the connection pipe 17 to the suction pump of the suction device 112. Accordingly, by adjusting the suction force adjustment mechanism 26, typically so as to enhance the suction force exerted through the suction hose 16A closest, to the loading port 11, and to reduce the suction force exerted through the suction pipe 16C closest to the base discharge path 69, the adherent may more efficiently be sucked up, and inhibition of output of the base may successfully be avoidable by virtue of the suction force exerted through the individual suction hoses 16A, 16B, 160.

In addition, since the cutting tool 95 on one side is fixed to the front vertical fixing plate 36 illustrated in FIG. 7, and the comb-like components 76 to 79 on the other sides are allowed to rotate, the base which composes the green sheet (article-to-be-processed), captured between the individual recesses 76b to 79b of the first to fourth comb-like components 76 to 79 and the individual cutting edges 95a of the cutting tool 95, illustrated in FIG. 10, may more thoroughly be cut by the individual recesses 76b to 79b of the first to fourth comb-like components 76 to 79 and the individual cutting edges 95a of the cutting tool 95, and the base after being removed from the adherent may be output through the base discharge path 69.

1 removal device
3 enclosure
11 loading port
15A, 15B, 15C receiving component
16A, 16B, 16C suction hose
17 connection pipe
18, 19, 20 connection pipe
21 drive motor
26, 26, 26 suction force adjustment mechanism
28 pivot shaft
29 gate valve
31 process tank
32 main process tank unit
32a bottom plate
32d opening
33 lid
34 operating lever
69 base discharge path
72 spindle
76 to 79 comb-like component
76b to 79b recess
81 to 84 rotating blade
95 cutting tool
95a cutting edge
112 suction device