Patent ID: 8182133
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: B01F

Abstract:
1. A mixing apparatus for mixing constituents of a feedstock, the mixing apparatus comprising: a vessel for containing feedstock, the vessel having a vessel wall, the vessel wall including a side wall and an end wall, a side wall surface extending along the side wall for being engaged by the feedstock as the constituents of the feedstock are mixed within the vessel, and an end wall surface extending along the end wall for being engaged by the feedstock as the constituents of the feedstock are mixed within the vessel; a mixing blade assembly including a mixing blade, the mixing blade assembly being adapted to rotate within the vessel, about an axis of rotation, in either one of a forward direction of rotation and a reverse direction of rotation wherein the mixing blade will circulate feedstock within the vessel, the mixing blade assembly including an end mixing blade support member spaced from the end wall surface and extending along a radial direction between the axis of rotation and the side wall; a side scraper blade carried by the mixing blade assembly for sweeping along a side path of travel extending in juxtaposition with the side wall surface, the side scraper blade having opposite first and second side scraper edges and being mounted upon the mixing blade assembly for movement relative to the mixing blade assembly, the side scraper blade being configured such that upon rotation of the mixing blade assembly in the forward direction of rotation, the side scraper blade will be moved relative to the mixing blade assembly, in response to engagement with feedstock, into a first position wherein the first side scraper edge of the side scraper blade is juxtaposed with the side wall surface to scrape feedstock material from the side wall surface for direction of scraped feedstock material by the side scraper blade to feedstock being circulated by the mixing blade, and in the reverse direction of rotation, the side scraper blade will be moved relative to the mixing blade assembly, in response to engagement by feedstock into a second position wherein the second side scraper edge of the side scraper blade is juxtaposed with the side wall surface to scrape feedstock material from the side wall surface for direction of scraped feedstock material by the side scraper blade to feedstock being circulated by the mixing blade; and an end scraper blade carried by the mixing blade assembly for sweeping along an end path of travel extending in juxtaposition with the end wall surface, the end scraper blade having opposite first and second end scraper edges and being mounted upon the end mixing blade support member for movement relative to the mixing blade assembly, the end scraper blade being configured such that upon rotation of the mixing blade assembly in the forward direction of rotation, the end scraper blade will be moved relative to the mixing blade assembly, in response to engagement with feedstock, into a first position wherein the first end scraper edge of the end scraper blade is juxtaposed with the end wall surface to scrape feedstock material from the end wall surface for direction of scraped feedstock material by the end scraper blade to feedstock being circulated by the mixing blade, and upon rotation of the mixing blade assembly in the reverse direction of rotation, the end scraper blade will be moved relative to the mixing blade assembly, in response to engagement with feedstock, into a second position wherein the second end scraper edge of the end scraper blade is juxtaposed with the end wall surface to scrape feedstock material from the end wall surface for direction of scraped feedstock material by the end scraper blade to feedstock being circulated by the mixing blade, the end scraper blade extending from an inner end adjacent the axis of rotation to an outer end juxtaposed with the side wall surface, along an end scraper direction making an acute angle with the radial direction.