Patent ID: 6203184
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: B01F,B29B,B29C

Abstract:
A blender for mixing particulate materials prior to discharge to a process line, the blender comprising:a mixing chamber, the mixing chamber having an inlet for reception of additive materials to be mixed and a blended material outlet,a lower portion of the mixing chamber tapering inwardly and downwardly towards a bottom of the mixing chamber which forms a trough,the blended material outlet being centrally located in the trough at the bottom of the mixing chamber,a mixing screw rotatably mounted in the trough at the bottom of the mixing chamber,the mixing screw having a central portion located above the blended material outlet,the mixing screw having a rotatable shaft with a pair of mixing blades of opposite pitch extending outwardly from the central portion of the mixing screw located adjacent the blended material outlet,each mixing blade upon rotation of the shaft delivering material towards said blended material outlet,the mixing screw being connected to drive means for rotation of the mixing screw within the trough at the bottom of the mixing chamber for circulating and mixing of materials within the mixing chamber,a vacuum loader being provided associated with each material supply bin, the vacuum loader operable to draw material from a material storage reservoir into the bin, said vacuum loader having a vacuum pipe connected to the bin with a filter mounted across said vacuum pipe, cleaning means being provided for cleaning the filter.