Batch mixer with plunger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9630355-B2
Application number	US-201113307623-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2011
Priority date	Nov 30, 2011
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

A batch mixer is equipped with a plunger for pushing material from the batch mixer. The batch mixer includes a mixer tank structured to accommodate material. The mixer further includes a mixer head comprising at least one blade structured to blend the material within the mixer tank. The mixer further includes a plunger mechanism structured to push the blended material directly from the mixer tank.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A batch mixer, comprising:
a mixer tank structured to accommodate material and defining an inlet;
a mixer head connected to and spaced from a shaft by a first arm extending between the shaft and the mixer head, the mixer head comprising at least one blade structured to blend the material within the mixer tank; and
a plunger mechanism connected to and spaced from the shaft by a second arm extending between the shaft and the plunger mechanism, the plunger mechanism structured to push the blended material directly from the mixer tank,
wherein the mixer head and the plunger mechanism are configured to be interchangeably received within said inlet, such that the mixer head is positioned outside of and remote from the mixer tank when the plunger mechanism is positioned in the mixer tank and the plunger mechanism is positioned outside of and remote from the mixer tank when the mixer head is positioned in the mixer tank.

2. The batch mixer of claim 1 , wherein the at least one blade is a plurality of blades comprising paddle blades.

3. The batch mixer of claim 1 , wherein the plunger mechanism is a screw type mechanism.

4. The batch mixer of claim 1 , wherein:
the mixer head is rotatable and moveable in a vertical direction; and
the plunger mechanism is rotatable and moveable in the vertical direction.

5. The batch mixer of claim 4 , wherein the vertical movement of the mixer head is limited by a first pin positioned on the shaft and a second pin positioned on the shaft, and the vertical movement of the plunger mechanism is limited by a third pin positioned on the shaft and the second pin positioned on the shaft.

6. The batch mixer of claim 4 , wherein the mixer head and the plunger mechanism are locked in different positions by a respective pin.

7. The batch mixer of claim 4 , wherein the mixer head and the plunger mechanism are moveable along the common shaft.

8. The batch mixer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a die in fluid communication with an interior portion of the mixer tank, wherein the blended material is discharged through the die;
a valve structured to adjust a flow rate of the blended material from the die; and
an opening in fluid communication with the mixer tank structured to receive purge gases or provide a vacuum in the mixer tank.

9. A batch mixer, comprising:
a mixer tank structured to accommodate material;
a mixer head connected to and spaced from a shaft by a first arm extending between the shaft and the mixer head, the mixer head comprising at least one blade structured to blend the material within the mixer tank;
a plunger mechanism connected to and spaced from the shaft by a second arm extending between the shaft and the plunger mechanism, the plunger mechanism structured to push the blended material directly from the mixer tank;
a water bath downstream of the mixer tank; and
a pelletizer downstream from the mixer tank configured to transform the blended material discharged from the mixer tank into pellets.

10. The batch mixer of claim 1 , wherein the blended material is a polymeric material.

11. The batch mixer of claim 1 , wherein the blended material is a food product.

12. The batch mixer of claim 1 , wherein:
the mixer head is rotatably attached to the shaft by the first arm; and
the plunger mechanism is rotatably attached to the shaft by the second arm.

13. The batch mixer of claim 12 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are each rotatable about the shaft and vertically moveable along the shaft.

14. The batch mixer of claim 13 , further comprising:
a first mechanical structure on the shaft;
a second mechanical structure on the shaft; and
a third mechanical structure on the shaft.

15. The batch mixer of claim 14 , wherein:
the first arm is attached to the shaft between the first mechanical structure and the second mechanical structure; and
the second arm is attached to the shaft between the second mechanical structure and the third mechanical structure.

16. The batch mixer of claim 14 , wherein:
the first mechanical structure and the second mechanical structure define limits of vertical movement of the first arm along the shaft; and
the second mechanical structure and the third mechanical structure define limits of vertical movement of the second arm along the shaft.

17. The batch mixer of claim 14 , wherein:
the second mechanical structure locks the first arm to the shaft when the mixer head is in the mixer tank and the plunger mechanism is remote from the mixer tank; and
the second mechanical structure locks the second arm to the shaft when the plunger mechanism is in the mixer tank and the mixer head is remote from the mixer tank.

18. The batch mixer of claim 14 , wherein the mixer head is completely outside the mixer tank when the plunger mechanism is sealed on the mixer tank.

19. The batch mixer of claim 1 , wherein the mixer head is completely outside the mixer tank when the plunger mechanism is sealed on the mixer tank.

20. The batch mixer of claim 9 , wherein the mixer head is completely outside the mixer tank when the plunger mechanism is sealed on the mixer tank.

Assignees

• Alsewailem Fares D
• King Abdulaziz City Sci & Tech

Inventors

• Alsewailem Fares D

Classifications

• B29C48/397 Primary

  using a single screw · CPC title

• B29K2101/00

  Use of unspecified macromolecular compounds as moulding material {(use of unspecified rubbers B29K2021/00)} · CPC title

• B29C48/295

  in gaseous form · CPC title

• B29C48/285

  Feeding the extrusion material to the extruder · CPC title

• B29C48/03

  characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion · CPC title