Patent ID: 7404664

Claim:
A ram for use in an internal, intensive batch mixing machine, having counter-rotating, non-intermeshing rotors in a mixing chamber, the ram comprising: an upper and a lower portion, the upper portion being connectable to a rod of the batch mixing machine that allows the ram to be raised to a raised position to permit introduction of ingredients into an ingredients-receiving opening of the mixing chamber, and lowered to a lowered position to move the ingredients down into the mixing chamber, close the ingredients-receiving opening of the mixing chamber and oppose forces exerted by ingredients in the mixing chamber, the lower portion of the ram comprising: a bottom surface for facing the mixing chamber when the ram is lowered to the lowered position, said bottom surface having a lateral length L, the bottom surface comprising: a first end at a first lateral end of the length of the bottom surface of the ram, a second end at the opposite lateral end of the length of the bottom surface of the ram, a first intermediate section extending from the first end of the bottom surface to one edge of a central section a lateral distance A, a second intermediate section extending from the second end of the bottom surface to another and opposite edge of the central section a lateral distance A, the central section being between said first and second intermediate sections comprising four protruding surfaces that meet at a protruding apex parallel to a rotational axis of rotors of the internal batch mixing machine with which the ram is to be employed, each protruding surface of the central section shaped such that a horizontal cross-sectional area of said central section of the bottom surface is of a smaller cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the ingredients-receiving opening into the mixing chamber of the internal batch mixer into which the ram is to be inserted, such that the protruding apex is of a lateral distance less than the lateral length L of the bottom surface, the central section sized such that protruding apex will extend a distance into the mixing chamber of the internal batch mixing machine with which the ram is to be used when the ram is lowered to it lowered position, wherein the protruding apex comprises a point at which the four protruding surfaces of the central section meet.