초록 ▼

The agitator of the present invention comprises: a drive source; a differential unit; a rotation-direction switching unit; and a brake unit. The drive source generates rotational driving forces. The differential unit and rotation-direction switching unit are positioned in a driving-force transmissio

The agitator of the present invention comprises: a drive source; a differential unit; a rotation-direction switching unit; and a brake unit. The drive source generates rotational driving forces. The differential unit and rotation-direction switching unit are positioned in a driving-force transmission path between agitation vessels containing agitation-target material. The brake unit alternately stops the rotation of two rotating shafts extended from the differential unit. Here, the differential unit of the agitator has functions of receiving the rotational driving forces from the drive source and transmitting the rotational driving forces to the two rotating shafts in a differential manner. The rotation-direction switching unit has a function of inverting the rotation direction of the rotational driving forces transmitted to the agitation vessel while the rotation of the rotating shaft is being stopped by a brake.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An agitator comprising: a drive source generating rotational driving forces; a differential unit, having two rotating shafts extending therefrom, the differential unit receiving the rotational driving forces and transmitting the received rotational driving forces to the rotat

What is claimed is: 1. An agitator comprising: a drive source generating rotational driving forces; a differential unit, having two rotating shafts extending therefrom, the differential unit receiving the rotational driving forces and transmitting the received rotational driving forces to the rotating shafts in a differential manner; two brake units alternately activated to exert friction braking force on the rotating shafts and stopping the rotating shafts from rotating, one of the two brake units being provided for each of the two rotating shafts; a rotation-direction switching unit, coupled to at least one of the rotating shafts, outputting rotational driving forces from the coupled rotating shaft while switching a rotation direction of the coupled rotating shaft between forward and reverse; a plurality of agitation vessels, each of the agitation vessels, (i) having therein a containing space for a material to be an agitation target, (ii) coupled to the rotation-direction switching unit in a manner that enables input of the output rotational driving forces to each of the agitation vessels, and (iii) having a rotatable structure; and a control unit outputting, based on a prestored drive sequence, control signals individually to each of the drive source, the differential unit, the two brake units, and the rotation-direction switching unit. 2. The agitator of claim 1, wherein each of the rotating shafts is associated with a different one of rotation-direction switching units and a different one of the agitation vessels. 3. The agitator of claim 2, wherein the control unit transmits, to one of the rotation-direction switching units which is coupled to one of the rotation shafts whose rotation is being stopped by one of the two brake units, a control signal for causing the coupled rotation-direction switching unit to switch the rotation direction of the coupled rotation shaft between forward and reverse while the rotation is being stopped. 4. The agitator of claim 1, wherein the differential unit allocates the rotational drive forces from the drive source for the rotating shafts in proportion to loads exerted on the rotating shafts, and transmits the allocated rotational driving forces to each of the rotating shafts. 5. The agitator of claim 1, wherein in each of the agitation vessels, a dimple process is applied to an internal surface surrounding the containing space. 6. The agitator of claim 1, wherein in each of the agitation vessels, a discharge path is formed outwardly from a section, and a vicinity thereof, within an internal surface surrounding the containing space, the section lying, in a radial direction of rotation, furthest from a central axis of rotation. 7. The agitator of claim 6, wherein the containing space is substantially spherical, and the discharge path is formed outwardly from an equator of rotation, and a vicinity thereof, on the internal surface surrounding the containing space. 8. The agitator of claim 6, wherein a valve operating mechanism opening and closing the discharge path is positioned in the discharge path. 9. The agitator of claim 6, wherein a guide cover for collecting the material discharged from the discharge path due to rotation of the agitation vessel is positioned, at or in a vicinity of an outer circumference of the agitation vessel, so as to correspond to an outer end of the discharge path. 10. The agitator of claim 9, further comprising: a collection container rotating in synchronization with the agitation vessel and collect the material discharged from the discharge path, wherein the guide cover is rotatable in synchronization with both the agitation vessel and the collection container. 11. The agitator of claim 1, wherein each of the agitation vessels contains a plurality of materials, and the plurality of materials contained in each of the agitation vessels are agitated due to rotation of the agitation vessel. 12. The agitator of claim 1, wherein each of the agitation vessels contain granular or aggregated material, and the granular or aggregated material contained in each of the agitation vessels is pulverized due to rotation of the agitation vessel. 13. The agitator of claim 1, wherein each of the agitation vessels rotate at a velocity to pulverize granular or aggregated material contained within each of the agitation vessels. 14. An agitator comprising: a drive source generating rotational driving forces; a differential unit having two rotating shafts extending therefrom, the differential unit receiving the rotational driving forces and transmitting the received rotational driving forces to the rotating shafts in a differential manner; means for alternately exerting friction braking force on the rotating shafts and stopping the rotating shafts from rotating; a rotation-direction switching unit, coupled to at least one of the rotating shafts, outputting rotational driving forces from the coupled rotating shaft while switching a rotation direction of the coupled rotating shaft between forward and reverse; means for pulverizing granular material, the means for pulverizing granular material coupled to the rotation-direction switching unit; and a control unit outputting, based on a prestored drive sequence, control signals individually to each of the drive source, the differential unit, the means for alternately exerting friction braking force on the rotating shafts and stopping the rotating shafts from rotating, and the rotation-direction switching unit. 15. The agitator of claim 14, wherein the differential unit allocates the rotational drive forces from the drive source for the rotating shafts in proportion to loads exerted on the rotating shafts, and transmits the allocated rotational driving forces to each of the rotating shafts. 16. The agitator of claim 15, wherein the means for pulverizing granular material includes a plurality of agitation vessels and each of the agitation vessels include a containing space with dimples in an internal surface of the containing space. 17. The agitator of claim 16, wherein the containing space is substantially spherical, and in the agitation vessel, a discharge path is formed outwardly from an equator of rotation, and a vicinity thereof, within the internal surface of the containing space. 18. The agitator of claim 17, wherein the agitation vessel contains a plurality of hard balls of a size and configuration to engage the granular material wherein the granular material is contacted by the plurality of hard balls in motion within the agitation vessel. 19. An agitator for mixing chemical and food products comprising: a drive source generating rotational driving forces; a differential unit having two rotating shafts extending therefrom, the differential unit receiving the rotational driving forces and transmitting the received rotational driving forces to the rotating shafts in a differential manner; means for alternately exerting friction braking force on the rotating shafts and stopping the rotating shafts from rotating; a rotation-direction switching unit, coupled to at least one of the rotating shafts, outputting rotational driving forces from the coupled rotating shaft while switching a rotation direction of the coupled rotating shaft between forward and reverse; a plurality of agitation vessels mixing chemical and food products coupled to the rotation-direction switching unit in a manner that enables input of the output rotational driving forces to each of the agitation vessels, each of the agitation vessels having a rotatable structure and including a containing space that is substantially spherical with an internal surface, wherein the containing space stores the chemical and food products, the containing space includes a plurality of dimples in the internal surface to aid in mixing the chemical and food products, and a discharge path is formed outwardly from an equator of rotation within the internal surface of the containing space; and a control unit outputting, based on a prestored drive sequence, control signals individually to each of the drive source, the differential unit, the means for alternately exerting friction braking force on the rotating shafts and stopping the rotating shafts from rotating, and the rotation-direction switching unit. 20. The agitator of claim 19, wherein the chemical and food products include a plurality of granular material and the agitation vessel contains a plurality of hard balls of a size and configuration to engage the granular material wherein the granular material is contacted by the plurality of hard balls in motion within the agitation vessel.