Agitating – Stirrer within stationary mixing chamber – Rotatable stirrer
Patent
1996-06-20
1998-01-13
Soohoo, Tony G.
Agitating
Stirrer within stationary mixing chamber
Rotatable stirrer
3663251, 426606, 426519, A23G 116
Patent
active
057071454
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns the use of a mixing apparatus comprising a drum with a shaft having a drive mechanism rotatably mounted therein for conching, in particular of bulk chocolate, wherein a plurality of mixing tools are attached to the shaft.
Mixing tools of this kind are known in the art through German patent manuscript 1 276 986.
This type of mixing tool has been known in the art for decades, and they are utilized in largely horizontal drums in order to mix solid and liquid bulk materials of all kinds. The tools are attached to a shaft which is mounted in a rotatable fashion in the drum. When installing the mixing tools one must pay particular attention to the installation location of the mixing tools relative to the inner wall of the drum since the mixing tools should have a small separation from the drum inner wall. Material deformation can lead to a blocking of the centrifuge mechanism in the drum in the event of improper configuration of the centrifuge mechanism (shaft and mixing tools) and their positioning relative to the drum. That is to say, even without any product in the mixing device, it is possible for material deformation (of the drum and/or the centrifuge mechanism) to occur and due to the intrinsic weight of the centrifuge mechanism, individual mixing tools can seat on the drum surface to block the centrifuge mechanism in the drum. This problem can always be addressed if one arranges the mixing tools sufficiently far from the inner surface of the drum such that even under unfavorable circumstances, direct contact between the mixing tools and the drum is not possible.
Such a simple measure cannot be effectively utilized in high efficiency mixing apparatus since it normally leads to undesired product deposits on the inner surface of the drum and creates gaps which are not actively utilized in the desired fashion during mixing and product processing.
Plough blade scoops are known in the art as published in DE PS 1 276 986. These mixing tools are arranged in a drum in such a fashion that a wedging of the product in the gap between the mixing tool and the inner surface of the drum cannot take place. This is done with the mixing tool using a tapered gap which opens opposite to the rotation direction of the centrifuge mechanism. This, in turn, is effected by displacing the bottom wall of the mixing tools, by appropriately slanting same, or by tilting the mixing tool itself.
Other mixing tools have become known in the art through DE 28 02 876 C2 and GB 2158365 A both concerning the mixing of largely solid bulk material. This bulk material cannot, however, enter into and be compressed between the inner wall of the drum and the outer edge of the mixing tool to wedge the bulk material and thereby slow or even stop the mixing tool.
The mixing tool of DE 28 02 876 C2 utilizes a bulk material comprising lighter and heavier particles. The axial transport of the mixing tool is increased or decreased by the attachment of the mixing tools and the configuration of the side walls. This transport effect cannot, however, be achieved with the mixing tools which are shown opening in the direction of rotation in the figure of DE 28 02 876 C2, since bulk material entering between the inner wall of the drum and the mixing tool would cause the mixing process to come to a stop. DE 28 02 876 C2 does not disclose any reason for the particular tilted position shown.
GB 2158365 A refers to U.S. Pat. No. 3,027,102 with regard to the constructive configuration of the mixing tools, wherein the outer sides of the mixing tools are curved in a manner adapted to the mixing drum. With the mixing device configuration according to GB 2158365 A a mixture is to be brought relatively rapidly into a state in which its size can be reduced, wherein the original mixture can comprise dried powder and other particles to which a fluid can be added at a later time in order to form a mash. This originally dried mixture would, however, enter between the inner wall of the drum and the mixing tool to stop the mixing
REFERENCES:
patent: 2109077 (1938-02-01), Straight
patent: 2750161 (1956-06-01), Simmons
patent: 2802650 (1957-08-01), Straight
patent: 3027102 (1962-03-01), Lodige
Lucke Roland
Luke Bernhard
Meyer Thomas
Gebrueder Loedige Maschinenbau-Gesellschaft mbH
Soohoo Tony G.
Vincent Paul
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