Blenders

Abstract

A blender has a mixing chamber for reception of materials to be blended. A mixing screw is mounted at a bottom of the mixing chamber for mixing materials within the mixing chamber and delivering mixed materials to an outlet feeding a processing line. A baffle is mounted at the outlet extending about the mixing screw. The baffle inhibits upward movement of material at the outlet tending to cram material into the outlet.

Description

INTORDUCTION[0001]This invention relates to blenders for various processes but may also be used in other applications.[0002]The invention particularly relates to blenders for the controlled mixing and delivery of particulate blend additives into a material processing line, for extruding plastics material for example. Examples of such blenders are to be found in our previous patent no's: U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,709 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,184. A problem can arise in handling low bulk density materials such as regrind flake in accurately mixing and feeding material mixtures containing such low bulk density materials. Further, such blenders are commonly used for batch production processes. It is therefore necessary to regularly clean out all the raw materials from a current batch production before setting up the blender for a new batch production run for another product. This is typically done manually. However, these blenders are often in somewhat inaccessible and elevated locations. Thus...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0028]In another embodiment each material supply bin has a pressurised air supply connected to it which may be actuated via a control means to purge remaining material from the supply bin via the associated drain chute, thus providing complete cleaning of the supply bin.

Problems solved by technology

A problem can arise in handling low bulk density materials such as regrind flake in accurately mixing and feeding material mixtures containing such low bulk density materials.

However, these blenders are often in somewhat inaccessible and elevated locations.

Thus, cleaning can present a safety hazard to workers and there is also a danger that they will damage other machinery in gaining access to the blender for cleaning.

Another problem that can arise is with regard to the moisture content of the ingredient raw materials.

This is undesirable and adversely affects production quality.

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