Abstract: A mixer for mixing materials, such as coarsely chopped meat, during a mixing operation prior to a grinding operation, is provided with a tub (12), mixing means such as one or more paddle assemblies, and an auger (34) in the bottom of said tub. Both the auger and the paddle assemblies may be operated in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction. An auger housing (38) extends from the tub and houses a portion of the auger (34) which extends from an end of the tub. An opening is provided in the auger housing (38), which is surrounded by a hopper (40). Loading of the mixer is accomplished by feeding the meat into the hopper (40). The meat passes through the opening in the auger housing (38) and is introduced into the auger (34) so as to be conveyed into the tub (12) by the auger (34) during the loading operation. The direction of rotation of the auger (34) may be reversed in order to unload the mixed meat from the mixer. A discharge means (56) cooperates with the auger (34) for unloading the mixer.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying resinous material includes a reaction vessel and a pair of counter-rotating hollow shafts disposed in the vessel. Each of the shafts supports a plurality of blades for stirring the resinous material to be dried in the vessel. A flow of hot gas is continuously supplied through hollow shafts into the blades and released into a reaction vessel through a plurality of apertures in the blades when the blades are in contact with the resinous material.

Abstract: A kneading machine with a charging opening leading to a kneading chamber, in which two axially parallel kneading tools can be driven in opposite directions at different rotational speeds, has at least three such kneading chambers which are disposed next to each other and an aperture which connects their internal spaces. The material to be kneaded can be conveyed through this aperture, which extends transversely of the shafts of the kneading tools from one kneading chamber to the next, so that the material is continuously treated until it reaches in the last kneading chamber an evacuating opening and preferably an evacuating worm which is mounted at such location and by means of which the material is ultimately evacuated from the machine. In this manner, the advantages of a kneading machine with shafts for kneading tools which are journalled at both ends are combined with the advantages of continuous treatment of the material to be kneaded.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for drying or cooling particulate materials in a machine where said particles are made to circulate, with a particle flow moving downwards along the inside of a chamber wall. The method is characterized in that a cooling or drying agent, or the like is introduced from above into the interface area between the particle flow directed downwards and the chamber wall.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a pair of agitator blades which have a plurality of annular members connected to each other and which are provided in parallel in a cylindrical vessel body, the agitator blades being held so that the edges of one of the agitator blades enter the rotational region of the other agitator blade and pass therethrough. Consequently, the invention prevents liquid to be treated from adhering to and rotating together with rotational shafts and the agitator blades and deterioration in product quality due to scaling so as to enable the continuous treatment of a highly viscous material.

Abstract: A double-shaft forced-feed mixer, for example for building material mixtures, is proposed which is assembled according to the principle of movement of the batch-type mixer and is usable both for continuous and discontinuous operation.

Abstract: A continuous mixer with twin parallel rotors, a feed end and a discharge end is disclosed which is characterized by mismatched rotors. The apexes, or points at which the rotor tips change direction, are substantially misaligned as between the individual rotors of the pair.

Abstract: In a feeder assembly for highly viscous particulate material, a hopper is provided with two pairs of counterrotating agitators, one pair being disposed above the other. Each agitator is provided with a plurality of blades or paddles located in planes extending radially and longitudinally relative to the respective axis of rotation. Each blade or paddle in turn comprises a plurality of transverse rods equispaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the respective agitator, as well as a longitudinally extending rod connected to the outer ends of the transverse rods. The agitators are driven so that the portions thereof at the nips of the respective agitator pairs move upwardly away from the outlet of the hopper.

Abstract: A viscous liquids feeder for an extruding machine including a first container having a pair of cone-shaped rotors and a second container having a screw, the first container being jointed to the second container at a given angle so that the mass of viscous materials in the first container can be extruded into the second container in which the material is fed by the screw toward the mold provided at the head of the second container.

Abstract: A screw conveyor type drying apparatus has a plurality of hollow drive shafts each having a plurality of hollow feed vanes located on the respective drive shaft along an imaginary helix positioned on the outer peripheral surface of the drive shaft. The drive shafts are driven so that adjacent drive shafts are rotated in mutually opposite directions, whereby a material to be dried is conveyed. A heating fluid supply device feeds heating fluid into the hollow internal of the feed vanes through the hollow drive shafts, whereby the material coming in contact with the feed vanes during conveyance is heated and dried.

Abstract: A dual shaft pan mixer comprises a mixing vessel (1) having a first and a second pan section (3 and 4), a pair of paddle assemblies (10) having drive shafts (13) which are disposed horizontally and in paralllel relationship with each other within the mixing vessel (1) and adapted to rotate in mutually opposite directions, and a drive source (20) for synchronously driving the pair of paddle assemblies (10). The mixing vessel (1) includes a substantially triangular space (22) below an area intermediate the first and the second pan section and displaced out of the loci of rotation of the paddle assemblies (10), and also includes a discharge port (5) which is disposed adjacent to the space (22). The mixer also comprises a rod-shaped vibration generator (30) disposed within the space (22) and extending in a direction parallel to the drive shafts (13).

Abstract: A conditioning device for an extruder includes two juxtaposed, frustocylindrical, intercommunicated chambers, one chamber of which has a greater cross sectional area than the other chamber. A mixing shaft centrally located within the small chamber carries a number of radially extending beaters which rotate at a speed twice that of the rotational speed of paddles mounted on a second mixing shaft located in the large chamber and material introduced into the vessel is passed from side-to-side between the two chambers while being advanced along the length of the vessel. The use of relatively fast moving beaters within a small mixing chamber in combination with relatively slow moving paddles in a larger mixing chamber enables flour-like materials to be properly blended with water with both sufficient agitation and proper retention times within the vessel.

Abstract: A device with vertical buoyancy tanks fitted to its upper part is provided with rotors which generate horizontal and vertical propulsion, and which stirs the liquid uniformly as it moves freely through a liquid storage tank, thereby preventing the accumulation of sludge. The vertical buoyancy tanks stabilize the stirrer and provide a restoring force if the stirrer is upset. The stirrer is fitted with an ultrasonic ultrasonic wave emitter, and ultrasonic receptors are installed at several positions in the liquid tank. An ultrasonic pulse is emitted after a certain interval when the stirrer is at rest on the bottom of the tank. The position of the stirrer is computed for each pulse emission, and the average is taken to give the actual position of the stirrer.

Abstract: Non-intermeshing four-wing and three-wing rotors for use in high intensity mixing machines of the batch type provide new sequences and new characteristics of dynamic interactions for achieving advantageously increased mixing effectiveness and strength of the rotors. These new rotors are adapted for driving at unequal speed (unsynchronized rotation) or at equal speed (synchronized rotation). In the four-wing rotors, long wings and short wings both originate from both ends of the rotor. The new four-wing and three-wing rotors intensify axial mixing action and transverse distributive mixing for causing the mixes (batches) to become more homogeneous. The markedly increased twist angles T in both types of rotors decreases the volume of material "sitting" at the center of the mixer for maximizing the dispersive mixing or high shear occurring between wing tips and wall surface of each rotor cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing solids with one another and with liquids, particularly for producing moulding sand mixtures, comprises a circular, fixed trough and at least two groups of mixing tools engaging with different spacings from the trough axis and trough bottom, which revolve about the trough axis and set with opposite angles with respect to the tangent of the circular path thereof. In order to obtain both a horizontal and vertical movement of the material being mixed in the case of maximum throughput, the mixing tools are formed in paddle-like manner from part cylindrical circumferential segments with roughly horizontal axis of curvature, the mixing paddles of the outer group point inwards with their concave side, while those of the inner group point outwards. There are also separate, revolving wall strippers for the inner and outer trough walls.

Abstract: An inlet device comprises an inlet chute, an inlet hopper pan and two agitator blades in counter rotation above the flights of a plug screw feeder. The blades are housed in a pan which sealingly connects to a cast plug screw liner which is a U-shaped trough for the plug screw. The agitator blades are driven by shafts supported in pillow block bearings fastened to a main housing. The main housing holds a gear train driven by a right angle gearmotor. The gearmotor is also mounted on the main housing and drives abutting geats in counter rotation above the flights of the plug screw. A storage bin, reservoir, worm conveyor or some type of pulsating feeding arrangement feeds directly into the instant inlet device. The inlet device then feeds into line operations, e.g., a pulp refiner line operation.

Abstract: A closed mixing machine suitable for mixing rubber materials, which includes a closed mixing chamber and a pair of rotors received in the chamber for rotating in opposite directions, wheren the rotor tips' clearance and the rotor rotation speed are increased up to values greater than typical values of the conventional mixing machine. Accoridng to this arrangement, mixing productivity is increased by a maximum of 70% with the even discharge temperature and energy consumption is reduced in comparison with the conventional machine.

Abstract: Non-intermeshing two-wing rotors for use in high intensity mixing machines of the batch type provide new sequences and new characteristics of dynamic interactions for achieving advantageously increased mixing effectiveness, improved performance and productivity for such machines. These new rotors are adapted for driving at unequal speed (unsynchronized rotation) or at equal speed (synchronized rotation), and thus they are adapted for retrofitting into existing mixing machines. The optimum results are achieved by turning the two rotors at synchronous speed with a phase angle relationship of about 180.degree. between rotors as shown by various well-known performance criteria. These criteria are plotted, and rating results are tabulated as compared with 0.degree., 90.degree. and 135.degree. phase angle relationships. By virtue of driving the rotors at synchronous speed with the phase angle relationship of about 180.degree.

Abstract: A feed mixer for cattle and other livestock. The mixer includes a mixing tank with two main chambers on either side of an auxiliary chamber. Rotors in the general shape of paddle wheels are mounted in each main chamber. The mixing paddles of each rotor are elongated and extend between corresponding sections of the rotor with the axis of each paddle offset from the rotational axis of the rotor by about 15 degrees. In this manner, the mixing paddles give a slight axial component of movement to the feed as it is being mixed. The paddles of each rotor are preferably operated out of phase with those of the other rotor wherein portions of the feed are alternately transferred across from one main chamber to the other. This transferring effect combined with the axial component of movement imparted in each main chamber by the mixing paddles results in a unique mixing pattern wherein feed is moved between and along the main chambers substantially in a spiral 8 path.

Abstract: A storage bin for handling and discharging plug flow material uses shrouds to prevent wedging of plug flow material such as refuse derived fuel between vertical screws and the end walls of the bin. The bin is divided into two separate sections by the vertical screws. Wedging of plug flow material in both bin sections and material discharge is then stopped. The shrouds force the plug flow material into the active surface area of vertical screws and continuous discharge through an elongated discharge aperture is assured. Two horizontal screws are used to further augment material discharge beneath the elongated discharge aperture. The two horizontal screws are parallel and the bottom of vertical screws are between the two horizontal screws.

Abstract: A method and apparatus adapt a beater/whipper unit to be used in food processor bowls of varying diameter which have upstanding side walls wherein a revolving head of the beater/whipper unit is mountable on an upstanding central well of each working bowl. The revolving head carries a pair of closely spaced counter-rotating beaters which extend downwardly from the revolving head toward the bottom of the bowl so that the beaters are revolved around the central well by the revolving head. A deflector blade having an inclined front surface is detachably mounted on the revolving head when the beater unit is intended to be used on a working bowl having an upstanding side wall of a first predetermined large diameter. The deflector blade is inclined radially inwardly with respect to the direction of travel of the revolving head for deflecting ingredients in the bowl inward from the side wall toward the counter-rotating beaters.

Abstract: A mixing device is provided having spaced end frames and side walls defining an internal mixing chamber and a removable hopper affixed thereto for receiving material to be fed into the chamber. A weight extends into the hopper and the chamber to force the material through the hopper and into the mixing chamber. A sleeve is provided to protect the internal portion of the mixer within the end frames from abrasion due to sidewise motion of the weight during mixing and extend upward into the hopper to inhibit relative motion between the hopper and the mixer frames and side walls during the mixing process.

Abstract: The discharge apparatus comprises an at least four-shaft screw pump having engaging shafts (1,2,3,4) which rotate in opposite directions in pairs. The viscous product to be processed is caught up over a large area and removed by the screws. A double shaft screw pump is connected downstream of the actual collection zone as a pressure build-up zone. The two center screws (2, 3) of the collection zone merge equiaxially into the screw shafts (2a, 3a) of the pressure build-up zone. The collection zone and the pressure build-up zone are combined into one constructional unit. At least one screw shaft is driven. The resulting high viscosity product strands (7) are caught up by the screws in the collection zone and are moved on into the pressure build-up zone. The double shaft screw pump is used for the build up of a high operational pressure and thus provides the prerequisite for the subsequent connection of further procedural stages.

Abstract: At least two levels of mixing, one adjacent the top of the vessel and one adjacent the bottom of the vessel are provided and individually driven at appropriate speeds to produce a single flow pattern in the fluid in the vessel. The bottom mixing apparatus is preferably a single large diameter impeller whereas the top mixing apparatus includes a plurality of smaller diameter impellers positioned equally distant from and symmetrical about the lower impeller's vertical axis of rotation. Each of the impellers have a converging flow field exiting the impeller.

Abstract: A roller-mill for mixing and plasticizing materials, comprises two tempered, rotatable rollers which are operable at different circumferential speeds. The rolls are long and are provided with angular grooves which are inclinedly disposed relative to the axis of rotation of the rolls. The grooves on the two rolls extend in opposite directions to one another. The grooves producing biaxial shearing in the nip between the rolls because material is reliably fed into the nip. The grooves also produce a simultaneous, axial conveying of the material. Along the roll nip, various materials which are to be mixed can feed-in simultaneously or successively and, depending upon the intended purpose of the end product, the materials are removed from the device for further processing in either a partially plasticized state or in a fully homogenized state, as desired.

Abstract: An upright red wine fermentation tank has a substantially circular cross-section taken vertically to its cenhter plane (24). An agitator is arranged in the tank 10. The agitator can be rotated about at least one preferably horizontal shaft (20), and its agitator elements sweep at least through a substantially spherical volume.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a homogeneous flexible layer of material such as butter or margarine, comprising an input portion for guiding blocks of said material into a central portion, in which two rotors 11, 12 are arranged in a horizontal plane, a central region 33 between said rotors 11, 12 lying beneath said input portion and are driven in opposite directions, each rotor being provided with a number of axial blades 22, 23 radially displaceable in slots and guided by guiding means at the ends thereof.

Abstract: Foundry apparatus for mixing sand with binder ingredients to produce a composite mixture suitable for foundry molds includes a first premixing chamber enclosing a first bladed shaft mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal first axis operable for conveying and commingling sand with a first binder ingredient to produce a first sand/binder ingredient mixture. A second premixing chamber, separate from the first premixing chamber, encloses a second bladed shaft mounted for counterrotation about a second axis, substantially parallel to the first axis, for conveying and commingling sand with a second binder ingredient to produce a second sand/binder ingredient mixture. A final mixing chamber includes agitators for receiving the sand/binder ingredient mixtures and blending them into a composite mixture while simultaneously transporting the composite mixture to a final discharge station.

Abstract: Individually separated juice-bearing vesicles are provided by processing citrus fruit having clusters of juice-bearing vesicles within natural enclosures. Extra-gastric digestion may be employed to expose these clusters. A slurry is then formed including exposed clusters of juice-bearing citrus fruit vesicles, and such slurry is propelled in countervailing first and second streams until the clusters are broken up into discrete juice-bearing vesicles.

Abstract: Apparatus for mixing powdered and liquid materials to form slurries comprising a mixer body having an inlet for such materials and parallel mixing chambers extending to a discharge outlet. Rotors are mounted for rotation in the chambers and include feed sections leading from the inlet to mixing sections and to the outlet. The mixing section of each rotor includes a first lobed mixing portion having short advancing helices, and reverse helices adapted to quickly wet and pressurize the mixture to force entrapped air back through inlet. The mixing section also has a second mixing portion having an increased number of lobes following the first portion to increase the mixing action and shear on the mixture. The second mixing section is followed by a lobed discharge section adapted to impel the mixture through the outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing viscous substances or substances which can be made viscous during processing has a casing, in whose bore is arranged a rotatable disk rotor, which comprises a shaft provided with disks. The disks only have a limited clearance relative to the bore wall and define between them a chamber, which has an outlet in front of a damming-back point. In order to provide a self-cleaning construction of the disk rotors and particularly the damming-back points, at least two disk rotors are arranged in axially parallel, partly interpenetrating bores. The disks of one disk rotor project into the chambers of the other disk rotor and the outer circumference thereof is substantially clearance-free with respect to the shaft.

Abstract: A feed mixer includes a mixer tank with a bottom wall having two curved wall portions defining the bottom of a large main chamber and smaller auxiliary chamber with an elongated ridge therebetween. A rotor having several elongated rotor bars adjacent the outer periphery is supported in the main chamber for rotation in a direction for movement of the rotor bars across the bottom of the main chamber toward the auxiliary chamber. The auxiliary chamber includes a pair of stacked augers adapted for moving material from one end of the tank to the other in opposite directions. Material is thus continuously cycled from the main chamber into a lower portion of the auxiliary chamber where it is moved toward one end of the mixer, forced upwardly into an upper portion of the auxiliary chamber and then directed toward the opposite end of the tank while spilling back into the main chamber for efficient end-to-end mixing of even long stringy hay material.

Abstract: The bioconverter includes a collecting vessel having a plurality of stirring shafts rotatably mounted therein, each of which is driven by a separate electric motor. Adjacent shafts operate in opposite directions and stirring arms are oriented relative to each shaft moving the carrier mixture within the vessel which is in close proximity to a shaft in opposite directions along adjacent shafts. A moisture sensing device is adapted to be located below the level of the carrier mixture within the vessel for sensing the percentage moisture content of the mixture and waste material added thereto. A first fan is provided for exhausting the air from the vessel and a second fan is provided for moving the air over the surface of the mixture within the vessel. A first heating coil is located on the bottom of the vessel for heating the mixture within the vessel, and a second heating coil is provided adjacent the second fan for heating the air which is blown over the upper surface of the mixture within the vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing or homogenizing viscous material is disclosed. Stirrers, comprising multiple vane mixing blades are mounted on a pair of parallel shafts in corresponding spaced apart parallel tiers. Each vane has a working surface inclined relative to the shaft and offset relative to the vanes of an immediately adjacent blade. One shaft is advanced relative to the other so that the vanes intermesh. The inclination of the vanes in one blade is mirrored in sense to the other blade on the adjacent shaft, and the shafts are rotated in opposite sense so that the stirrers in each tier pump the material in the same relative direction when the shafts are so rotated.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus in which parallel augers are located in a box. The upper mixing augers have specially shaped flighting which provides straight edges linked by corners rather than the conventional helical edge. The lower conveying auger is a helically edged auger with notches at intervals along the edge providing radially oriented surfaces which assist in engaging the material.The flighting of the special straight edged augers is produced from a square blank of sheet metal by pressing it into the spiral configuration required and attaching it to the auger shaft. The complete flighting is made up by several such sections joined end to end.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus for blending one or more relatively viscous liquids into a homogeneous mixture, the apparatus including a fixed vessel, a pair of rotors rotatively housed in the vessel, each rotor rotating on its own rotary shaft, the rotary shafts being rotated in opposing directions, the rotors having helical mixing vanes thereon wound oppositely in directions and differently in number, wherein the outside diameters D.sub.1, D.sub.2 of the rotors, the distance A between the rotary shafts, the rotating angular velocities of the rotors, and the number of the helical vanes are defined by the numerical criterion: A is smaller than 1/2(D.sub.1 +D.sub.2), and the ratio between velocities of the rotors is equal to the inverse number of the ratio between the numbers of the helical mixing vanes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating for disposal organic waste material carried within a sludge, by adding to the sludge an alkali metal silicate and a setting agent, is disclosed. The apparatus includes several mixers, each having a trough with an input end and a discharge end, at least one rotatable shaft mounted longitudinally along the trough, a plurality of blades mounted to the shaft, and a drive for rotating the shaft. The sludge is deposited within a first mixer, and then directed from the mixer into a tank. A series of chopper pumps recirculate the sludge into the tank, and alternatively, the sludge may be passed through an additional mixer. Leaving the tank, the sludge is directed into a second mixer at its input end. Water is introduced at the input end, and a setting agent is added along the trough at a point adjacent the input end. Further along the trough, an alkali metal silicate is introduced. The mixture is recovered from the second mixer, and carried to a remote location for setting.

Abstract: A wall scraping mixing tool for mixing, drying or reacting dry materials, semi-dry materials, or viscous, pasty materials with or without fillers or fibers, within the walls of a mixing container having a main shaft, and at least one support arm coupled to said main shaft. The mixing tool has a generally flat, rectangular plate mounted perpendicular to the radial plane of the support arm having a forward straight edge disposed adjacent to the container wall and a rear edge disposed away from the container wall so that the rectangular plate is inclined with respect to the container wall. There are two substantially triangular planes disposed on the rectangular plate, having side surfaces inclined relative to each other and connected at one edge thereof forming a wedge-shaped double-sided body for connection to the end of the support arm. The forward edges define a point located on the forward straight edge of the plate.

Abstract: A mixer having an open top mixing box accommodating a pair of lower augers and a pair of upper paddle conveyors drivably connected to the augers. A power box pivotally mounted on one end of the mixing box is drivably connected to the augers with releasable drive connections. The power box is a motor driven power transmission assembly that can be disconnected from the augers and removed from the mixing box. A movable door associated with the bottom of the mixing box is used to selectively open and close a discharge opening allowing mixed and blended material to be discharged into a conveyor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closed type mixing and kneading apparatus with two juxtaposed double-wing rotors providing increased mixing and increased shearing action. One of the wings of each rotor has a length ratio of 0.6 to 0.9 relative to the total length of the rotor at a twist angle of 10.degree. to 40.degree.. The two wings of each rotor are overlapped by between 0.2 and 0.8 times the total length of the rotor.

Abstract: A mixing device for preparing wet mix cementitious products comprised of large aggregates includes a pair of generally tubular, horizontally disposed casings which form a mixing chamber, and which share common, open sides. An open top of the chamber receives raw materials to be mixed. Elongated central impeller shafts extend longitudinally, generally coaxially within each of the casings, rotatably terminating in appropriate bearings. A pump impeller assembly removably mounted to each of the impeller shafts includes rigid, spaced-apart spiders having three, integral, radially spaced-apart outwardly extending arm segments. The spider arm segments support a pair of spiralled, spaced-apart mixing rods.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed, for mechanically agitating, in a non-reciprocating manner, a permalloy composition used in an electroplating procedure, in such a way as to apply a film of improved uniformity of composition and thickness thus avoiding limitations of prior electroplating processes which, due to uneven boundary layer flow patterns caused by reciprocating agitation, result in non-uniformities in film composition and thickness.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for producing an alkali metal salt of a mineral acid, characterized by the provision of a specific agitating means, said agitating means having a pair of shafts adapted to contra-rotate and a plurality of columnar agitating elements securely attached to each of said pair of shafts and being so constructed that it forcibly causes the migration of the reaction mixture at least in the region where the liquid phase of the reaction mixture is substantially continuous and forcibly causes the kneading of the reaction mixture at least in the region where the solid phase of the reaction mixture is substantially continuous.

Abstract: This invention relates to pneumatic suction devices for removing slowly movable material from enclosed storage spaces, of the kind in which a suction pipe secured to a pivotable arm and having a supply of air arranged to be fed to a suction aperture thereof, is provided with peripherally distributed driven tools for loosening the material. According to the invention, at least three axially parallel drivable spindles are distributed around the end of the suction pipe, the spindles carrying, at least at the lower end thereof, tools for loosening the material and conveying it to the suction aperture and the suction pipe. Adjacent ones of the spindles are preferably rotatable in opposite directions, but at least two adjacent spindles out of an odd number of the spindles are rotatable in the same direction. The tools may include strip-shaped radial vane surfaces with bent-over ends substantially parallel to the spindles and arranged at an angle to the direction of rotation.

Abstract: To impregnate loose cotton staple and like fibers with chemicals, a mass of such fibers is fed into and through a series of compartments in a baffled housing assembly and is there acted upon by a series of cooperating rotating paddle assemblies while in contact with a chemical containing aqueous liquor at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The paddle assembly initially produces, with the liquid, turbulent columns of bubbles within each of the compartments, with the result that the cotton fibers are located in the thin walls between the bubbles.

Abstract: Mixing equipment includes a mixing compartment and at least one mulling assembly for dispersing therein material, including granular material, such as foundry sand. An agitator is provided for improving the mulling and aerating of the dispersed material within the compartment. The agitator includes a rotor rotated about an upright axis disposed within a cavity opening into the mixing compartment. The rotor includes a hub disposed within the cavity and having a plurality of fingers extending outwardly therefrom. Upon rotation of the rotor, the fingers move forcibly out of the cavity and into the mixing compartment to impact the material moving therepast, for mixing and aerating the material. An overflow discharge opening in a side wall of the compartment permits the prepared material to be discharged continuously from the mixing compartment. The supply of material to the compartment and the discharge of material are under the control of door, material consistency sensing, and timing apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for drying a substance is disclosed. Apparatus (10) includes a pair of side-by-side cylinders (12). Drums (14) are concentrically journalled within cylinders (12). Rows of slightly spiralled chains (40) are attached to drums (14). As the drying substance moves under the influence of gravity and the velocity of a hot gas, it also is forced centrifugally outwardly so as to pass through aperture (25) to impact oncoming drying substance. The drying substance is pulverized and the drying function is accomplished more efficiently.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cattle feeding device in the form of a movable container provided with a plurality of augers, some extending horizontally and some inclined in order to effect proper mixing of feed introduced into the container together with means for discharging the thoroughly mixed feed for consumption by cattle.

Abstract: A mixing and kneading machine including a pair of parallel rotors each having a long vane and a short vane, both of which extend spirally about the center line of the rotors. A length ratio of the short vanes to the long vanes is selected within a range of 0.48 to 0.1. Also described is a mixing and kneading device which has a pair of parallel rotors rotating in opposite directions within a mixing chamber defined by a casing and an end frame. Each of the rotors comprises a long vane and a short vane, both of which extend spirally about the center line of the rotor, the spiral direction thereof being selected such that material to be mixed flows from the edges of the rotors into the central portion thereof. The ratio of the length of the short vane to that of the long vane is determined within the range of 0.48 to 0.1 and a ratio of axial thrust exerted on the material by the short vane to that by the long vane is determined between 0.7 and approximately 0.

Abstract: The present mixer for construction materials, such as a bituminous sludge, has a trough with an inlet and an outlet and two mixing shafts equipped with blades rotatably supported in the trough in parallel to each other. The blades are uniformly spaced along both shafts and staggered by 90.degree. around each shaft whereby the blades of each shaft follow one another in helical succession. Simultaneously the blades form four in line rows on each shaft. The arrangement of the blades is identical on each shaft except that the helix formed by the blades on one shaft has preferably a pitch direction opposite to that formed by the blades on the other shaft since the shafts rotate in opposite directions but convey in the same direction. The spacing between adjacent blades on both shafts is the same. However, blades located in the same plane extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axes of the shafts are always spaced by 90.degree.