Abstract: A turning device for food processors that include a rotatable cutter to cut foodstuffs to be processed. A stationary container is fitted with a lid, and a tubular member extends upwardly from the container bottom through which a driven shaft extends. The cutter is mounted on the shaft and includes a sleeve-like central part and radially-outwardly-extending cutting knives. The turning device includes at least a pair of strips that extend axially from a tubular holder that is adapted to fit over the central part of the cutter. In use, the turning device is disposed over the central part of the cutter with the holder positioned above the strips. The turning device extends longitudinally relative to the cutter to cover essentially the whole of the central part of the cutter above the position of the cutting knives, and it is stationary relative to the container during operation of the food processor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making confectionery products and an apparatus for use in the method. The apparatus includes a hopper for mixing the ingredients of a confectionery mix with water to provide a confectionery-based slurry, a device to deliver the confectionery-based slurry from the hopper to a scrape evaporator, and a scrape evaporator. The scrape evaporator includes at least a substantially cylindrical upper cooking section having a first surface at a first temperature for receiving the slurry from the hopper and first scrapers. The first scrapers remove the slurry from the first surface and urge the slurry towards a substantially cylindrical lower cooking section having a second surface at a second temperature and second scrapers.

Abstract: The apparatus for treating viscous substances described is composed of a heatable vessel with, on one side, an inlet for the materials of the mix and, on the other side, an outlet for the materials of the mix and of two or more corotating shafts to which mixer elements have been attached, characterized in that the mixer elements are composed of two layers of bars, which are arranged crosswise in relation to each other, connected to one another. There are pins running axially attached to the face sides of the bars. These clean the interstices between the bars of the mixer elements of the adjacent shaft.

Abstract: A toner cartridge includes a container body for holding toner therein, at least one rotatable member including a rotation center shaft, for discharging the toner outside from the container body, disposed in the container body, the container body having an opening at one end thereof in the axial direction of rotation of the rotatable member, and a cap member for opening and closing the opening formed in the container body, which is capable of serving as a bearing member for the rotatable member thereon and is detachable through the opening in the direction of the axis of rotation of the rotatable member. This toner cartridge is available with toner loaded therein, and can be recycled when the toner is used up. A method of recycling this toner cartridge is provided. In addition, an image formation apparatus including this toner cartridge is proposed.

Abstract: A pot stirring device 10 for mixing, stirring, and agitating the contents of a cooking pot 100 as well as cleaning and scraping the interior sides and bottom of the cooking pot 100, wherein the device 10 includes a handle member 20 having an elongated stem element 22 provided with a blade array 12 including a plurality of stirrer blade member 20 each having a generally S-shaped stirrer blade element 36 provided with a sharpened bottom edge 38 and a support leg element 34 provided with a sharpened outer edge 35. The sharpened edges 38 and 35 are provided to scrape the bottom and sides respectively of the interior of a cooking pot 100.

Abstract: A dehydrating apparatus includes a chamber for receiving wet material to be dehydrated. A rotatably-mounted agitator is provided with the chamber. The agitator is adapted to agitate material in the chamber when the agitator rotates in a first direction and convey the material out of the chamber when the agitator rotates in the other, second direction.

Abstract: Mixer vehicle is typically a tractor drawn and powered trailer for mixing and distribution of bulk materials such as farm animals feedstuffs. It includes a semi-cylindrical body (10) having a side discharge opening (22) with a single logitudinal agitation rotor (36) centered therein, the rotor having helical sweep bars (40) rotating close to the body wall in at least the body part not occupied by the opening acting as a skeleton auger driving material along the body into its discharge zone, and a lesser diameter return auger (50) in the latter zone acting to return material from that zone so that the material is circulated for mixing. When a door (28) is opened the action of the rotor discharges the material through the opening where it may be further acted on by a faster feed-out rotor (34).

Abstract: A developing device which can withstand resistance at a time a coagulated toner is scraped off is provided merely by providing a rotating shaft with a strength needed for agitating and conveying toner during normal operation. When the coagulated toner is scraped off, a large load is applied to the rotating shaft through an agitator. The rotating shaft bends, and a crank portion of the rotating shaft moves off of an axis. As a result, the crank portion is supported in a cut portion in a support plate. Therefore, strength of the rotating shaft becomes apparently greater. During normal operation, the crank portion of the rotating shaft moves out of the cut portion so as to be set in a state of non-contact with the cut portion. Therefore, no unnecessary load is applied to the rotating shaft, and the crank portion and the cut portion are not worn.

Abstract: A lid is adjustable for fitting over various sized pots. Fastening structure is provided for attaching the lid to the pot. A motor is configured to attach to the lid. A stirring apparatus is adapted to be disposed within the pot when the lid is attached to the pot. A drive mechanism is attached to the motor and to the stirring apparatus, and is configured to rotate the stirring apparatus. The lid includes a substantially disk shaped central support structure which supports the motor. An aperture within the support structure is configured for the drive mechanism to extend there-through. A series of overlapping leafs are disposed annularly about the support structure and are hingedly connected thereto. The drive mechanism includes a drive shaft attached to the motor, and a nested structure which comprises an elongated sleeve and an elongated piston which is slidable within the sleeve. The nested structure includes structure to restrict the piston from rotating relative to the sleeve.

Abstract: A scraping heat exchanger for continuously heating or cooling viscous or highly viscous substances, particularly shortenings, includes a product cylinder which is surrounded by the heat carrier medium and a rotatably driven shaft mounted in the product cylinder. Together with the product cylinder, the shaft forms an annular gap for receiving the substance to be treated. Elongated scraping blades are attached to the shaft, wherein each blade has a cutting edge at the leading side in the direction of rotation and fastening webs at the trailing side. The scraping blades have comb-like teeth in the space behind the edge and between the fastening webs.

Abstract: An apparatus for shearing and mixing a product in an at least partially cylindrical trough has a shaft which is rotatably and concentrically supported in the trough. At least one support extends radially from the shaft and supports a tool which forms a rotor together with said shaft. The tool includes a shearing throwshovel which extends in circumferential direction of the rotor along a longitudinal axis and has a sickle tip on one end and a spoon-like formation on its opposite end. This shearing throwshovel forms a first angle by being bent, when seen in cross-section, from its sickle tip towards the opposite end, so as to deviate from the direction of the longitudinal axis; a second angle between a tangent to said inner surface of said trough and a tangent to said circumferential direction so as to have an increasing distance to the inner surface of the trough from said sickle tip towards the opposite end; and a third angle between said longitudinal axis and said shaft axis.

Abstract: A self-cleaning reactor/mixer, in particular a disk reactor, with a large available useful capacity, which cleans itself kinematically, comprising at least two or more parallel shafts rotating in the same direction, on which axially offset, not necessarily circular disks with scrapers distributed on their circumference are situated, and a surrounding housing. The reactor/mixer on account of the special geometry of its rotors, which extensively avoids acute product-side angles, is particularly suitable for processing solids-bearing materials to be mixed.

Abstract: A motorized self-stirring cooking device for a container (8) that includes a handle (16) attached to the outside of the container (8) is provided. The self-stirring cooking device comprises: a back-tapered projection (36) on the bottom inner surface (14) of the container; a vertical shaft (46) with a blade (52) attached normally thereto, a tab(54) of the blade(52) in rotational communication with the projection (36); a motor assembly(62) for rotating the vertical shaft (46) and blade (52); connection mechanism for positioning the motor assembly (62) from the rim (10) of the container (8) over the opening of the container (8) in a cantilevered fashion; and a power cord (90) for supplying electricity. The motor assembly (62) further includes a low voltage motor (68), a gearbox (70), a pair of orthogonal bevel gears (72), (74), a current limiting electronic unit (80), and a speed control knob (82).

Abstract: A polycondensation reactor for processing low viscosity polyester or another polymer into relatively highly viscosity polymer comprises a substantially cylindrical horizontal reactor vessel with a polymer inlet and a polymer outlet adjacent its opposite ends and a vapor exhaust opening in the upper side of the vessel at its outlet end. A polymer agitator is rotated axially within the chamber and includes plural alternating annular overflow and underflow baffles and multiple perforated film-forming screens disposed therebetween in parallel spaced relation to one another. The overflow baffles are in peripheral polymer-sealing relation to the vessel while the underflow baffles have multiple underflow recesses in their outer peripheries, whereby the baffles define a tortuous polymer flow path alternately through their respective polymer overflow and underflow openings to control residence time, distribution and viscosity growth as the polymer flows between the baffles.

Abstract: A shaft toe mount intended for inclined or vertical agitators such as are used for the processing of materials including food materials in a kettle, the present toe mount provides a bearing surface for that end of a rotary shaft of the agitator which extends into the interior of the kettle. Agitators advantageously mounted by the shaft toe mount of the invention include mixing structures capable of stirring or mixing operations within a kettle and particularly when inner walls of the kettle are to be scraped to prevent material adhesion or "burn-on" such as occurs when food materials are heated and/or cooked within a kettle. The present shaft toe mount is configured to allow rapid removal from the kettle so that the mount as well as the kettle and agitator can be cleaned daily according to accepted standards of cleanliness.

Abstract: A bearing mount particularly useful for mounting a non-driven end of a rotary shaft of an inclined or vertical agitator used for the processing of materials such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, foodstuffs and the like in kettles wherein such materials are mixed or stirred either with or without scraping of inner wall surfaces of the kettles, the present bearing mount provides a bearing surface for the distal end of the rotary shaft of the agitator which extends into the interior of the kettle toward inner walls of the kettle and which said distal end requires a bearing mount to hold the end of the shaft in a desired spaced relation from the wall of the kettle. The bearing mount of the invention comprises an idler bushing mounted to the distal end of the shaft, the idler bushing having bearing surfaces which are complementary with bearing surfaces provided by an idler pin removably mounted to an idler base fixed to the inner wall of the kettle.

Abstract: A bowl scraper for an industrial size mixer has a bar shaped mandrel with a horizontal section and a vertical section. The horizontal section has a quick connect/disconnect coupler affixed thereto. A gravity actuator/keeper locks the mandrel in place while the mixer is operating. The vertical section is shaped to complement the shape of the interior wall of the bowl. A rubber boot, which fits over the vertical section, is adapted to scrape the bowl regardless of the direction in which the mixer turns.

Abstract: A food steamer with a stirring mechanism that can be set to start after a predetermined amount of time. A timer assembly and a gear assembly are mounted to the underside of the cover. The gear assembly includes a spring loaded gear that activates the gear assembly and causes the stirring assembly to rotate thereby avoiding over heating of portions of the foodstuff being cooked.

Abstract: Improved paddle mixer, including a stationary drum solid to a support frame, with a vertical shaft engaged with a motor-reducer unit and provided with a plurality of transverse arms to each of which at least a paddle is fixedly or otherwise rotatively connected, wherein each of the paddles, being fixed with respect to the relevant support arms, is made up of two like plates disposed at the free end of the corresponding arm and between which a rubber element is interposed so that, by the rotation of the shaft, that is, during the blending of the materials introduced inside the drum, the rubber element provides for scraping the side or respectively bottom wall of the drum.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing bone cement and containing the mixed bone cement preparatory to dispensing. The mixing chamber has an outlet for the mixed cement. A cartridge has an inlet releasably coupled to the outlet of the mixing chamber for receiving mixed bone cement therefrom. Structure is provided for moving cement from an upper region of the mixing chamber down into a lower region thereof to mix same and for moving such mixed cement off an inner surface of the mixing chamber and into the cartridge.

Abstract: A device for mixing pharmaceutical, cosmetic ointments, pastes, creams, gels, emulsions and the like, including a screw container, a screw cap having an inner thread cooperating with an external rim thread of the container body of the container, a motor-driven shaft extending through a central opening of the cap and having a vane stirrer at its end for producing a prescription mixture, and a plug for closing the cap central opening when the shaft is removed.

Abstract: An automatic stirrer including a battery powered electric motor driven set of stirring blades held in position atop a cooking container enabling unattended automatic stirring of foodstuff during the cooking process. Also included are components for setting stirring speed, sealing the automatic stirrer at the cooking container interface, and for adjusting the stirrer for use with a wide variety of cooking container diameters and depths. A transparent window is provided to view cooking foodstuffs and, in one embodiment, to provide ventilation. In an alternate embodiment a timer is provided which enables operation over a fixed period, and in yet another alternate embodiment a stirrer blade set is provided which precludes sticking of foodstuff to the cooking container bottom.

Abstract: A method for mixing bone cement by mixing PMMA powder and MMA liquid in a vacuum chamber using a rotary mixer having a pair of spaced mixing arms. The rotary mixer is manually rotated by a gear drive. The arms of the rotary mixer follow continuous paths, each path having a plurality of loops at the wall of the chamber and curved portions extending across the chamber between loops. The arms move through the cement, break bubbles and thoroughly mix the PMMA and MMA. Gas from broken bubbles is vacuum drawn from the mixer by a vacuum source. The vacuum source is deactivated when a vacuum tube is detached from the mixer.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing bone cement and containing the mixed bone cement preparatory to dispensing. The mixing chamber has an outlet for the mixed cement. A cartridge has an inlet releasably coupled to the outlet of the mixing chamber for receiving mixed bone cement therefrom. Structure is provided for moving cement from an upper region of the mixing chamber down into a lower region thereof to mix same and for moving such mixed cement off an inner surface of the mixing chamber and into the cartridge.

Abstract: Disc reactors with large free useful volume which clean themselves kinematically, consisting of two or more parallel shafts, rotating in the same or opposite directions, on which are located axially staggered, circular discs with scrapers distributed over their periphery, and an enclosing casing.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing bone cement and containing the mixed bone cement preparatory to dispensing. The mixing chamber has an outlet for the mixed cement. A cartridge has an inlet releasably coupled to the outlet of the mixing chamber for receiving mixed bone cement therefrom. Structure is provided for moving cement from an upper region of the mixing chamber down into a lower region thereof to mix same and for moving such mixed cement off an inner surface of the mixing chamber and into the cartridge.

Abstract: A dynamic mixer comprises a cylindrical chamber portion 50 the rear end of hich is closed by a sealing plate 51 provided with conical pipe sockets 58, 59 adapted for being directly inserted into outlet openings of cartridges from which the pasty components to be mixed are supplied. Due to the closed structure of the mixer housing 50, 51, contamination of the device by the components and cross-contamination between them is avoided when the mixer is removed from the cartridges. Further, the direct connection of the mixer to the cartridges results in minimum travelling distances for the components, thus low friction losses, which is particularly advantageous in case of substances of high-viscosity.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus for cooling, washing and draining liquid from a suspension of material that includes discrete particles of a friable material such as cottage cheese curd and a transporting liquid, and for blending an additive liquid such as cottage cheese cream dressing into the friable material after it has been drained to prepare a blended material. The apparatus includes a vessel having a bottom wall, a lower aperture in the bottom wall, a side wall and a top wall. A sweep is mounted in the vessel for rotation about a principal axis to gently agitate suspended or blended material. A manifold is mounted in surrounding relation to the lower aperture of the vessel and has upper and lower chambers, a foraminous screen mounted between the upper and lower chambers, a first opening for admitting or exhausting material from the upper chamber above the foraminous screen, and a second opening in fluid communication with the lower chamber for draining liquid.

Abstract: A peeling apparatus comprises a support shaft which is laterally mounted on a frame, a container arranged on the outside of the support shaft and having an inner surface which is curved with respect to an axis of the support shaft and with respect to an axis extending perpendicularly to the axis of the support shaft, and a cutting edge extending along an inner surface of the container and movable with respect to the container.

Abstract: A cooking utensil with a built-in automatic stirring device includes a pot body and a cover which is provided on an open top of the pot body and which confines an enclosed space. A rotary knob is rotatably mounted on the cover and has an axial shaft which extends into the enclosed space. The rotary knob is rotated so as to set a desired stirring method. A gear set is provided inside the enclosed space and rotates with the axial shaft of the rotary knob. A stirring implement has a shaft portion which is rotatably driven by the gear set and which extends into the pot body. The shaft portion has a lower end which is disposed adjacent to a closed bottom of the pot body and which is provided with at least one radially extending stirring blade. A spiral spring is connected to the gear set and is wound when the rotary knob is rotated. The spiral spring gradually unwinds to drive rotatably the gear set and cause axial rotation of the stirring implement for the duration of the stirring period.

Abstract: A curdling tank includes two upright, mutually intersecting, circular tank sections, each of the circular tank sections having a concentrically operated stirring system. The bottom portions of each of the circular tank sections are shaped to include sloping sides to form respective concentric bottom grooves with a downwardly pointed cross section, the lowermost portions of the grooves meet or overlap each other midway between the two shafts. The grooves are arranged in the shape of a figure of eight and the grooves achieve an effective emptying through a single outlet.

Abstract: A paint mixing container comprising a main body (2) of circular cross section with a base (4), side walls and an open top (6). There is a stirring arm (40) comprising a rotatable central shaft (42) with a helical blade (43, 100) rigidly mounted about the central shaft. As well, there is a removable cover (20) with locking means (12, 52, 70, 72, 73) to allow the cover to be attached to the main body. The removable cover has a sealable opening (22, 69) and means (24) to rotatably support the stirring arm in the interior of the main body.

Abstract: A rotary mixer scraper blade commonly termed a beater scraper blade for a freezer machine for producing ice cream, frozen yogurt and like confectionery foods in which the mixer has diametrically opposite scraping blades at opposite ends thereof. The scraper blades have a generally triangular cross sectional shape with a thick body portion narrowing to the thin scraping edge thus presenting a leading face of the blade which is presented at an angle which facilitates removal therefrom of material it engages during mixing and scraping thus reducing tendencies toward hangup of material thereon. Since the blades have a cross sectional shape with a thicker section than conventional blades they can be made of resinous material instead of metal because the shape imparts greater flex strength to the blades compared to conventional parallel sided blades.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing high viscosity materials consisting of a heatable, horizontal vessel with a product inlet on the one end and a product outlet on the other end and, parallel to the axis of the vessel, a heatable rotating hollow shaft, supporting a plurality of heatable stirrer elements, and between these stirrer elements, fixed to the wall of the vessel, stationary baffle and scraping elements of different configurations.Each stirrer element comprises one to four stirrer wings, each with two hollow spokes and a peripheral, hollow ring-segment connecting the spokes, and fixed to the peripheral end of these ring-segment connections trailing product dragging blades.

Abstract: With reference to FIG. 1, a continuous mixer 1 comprises a housing 2 formed with intersecting cylindrical chambers 3 and 4, and a pair of substantially parallel shafts 5 and 6, mounted for rotation within the housing. Paddle members 10 and 11 are mounted on the shafts 5 and 6 so that when the shafts are rotated, each in the same direction, the peripheral parts of the paddle members on one shaft are wiped by the cooperating parts of the paddle members on the other shaft, and vice versa. As shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the end faces of each paddle member are formed with lobes, the number of lobes at one end face of the member being different to that at the opposite end face. The arrangement results in continuous distribution, re-orientation and dispersal of material flowing through the mixer.

Abstract: A heat exchange device that can be used for continuously cooling or heating a slurry of food consisting of lumps in a non-viscous liquid. The device comprises several vertically spaced heat transfer trays in alignment with each other and each having an opening extending therethrough, that is not in alignment with like openings of adjacent trays, and having raised portions next to the openings to restrict the rapid flow of liquid through the openings, so the food slurry has to be pushed or scraped by slowly moving scraper members to each opening, where it can fall by force of gravity to an adjacent lower tray.

Abstract: A mixer includes an agitating means and a material scraping means in a spherical casing. A mixer further includes a cracking-dispersing means for an easily cohesive powder or an impalpable powder. If crushing of particles need be restricted to a moderate level, the mixer includes either one the above mixers as a mixer main body and an angle setting means for setting the tilt the mixer main body at a given angle.The above mixers may preferably be used for agitating and mixing a powdery or granular material of all kinds, particle sizes, and specific gravities ranging from an easily cohesive powder or an impalpable powder to particles with which it is preferable to restrict a crushing level.

Abstract: A novel plastic extruder is taught which employs a compound feed screw having both a flights' section, and a wiper section adjacent thereto. The compound feed screw is positioned in a jacketed extruder barrel through which a foam plastic melt is propelled and cooled by means of a coolant circulated through the jacket, or other cooling means, prior to being forced through a die to form a cellular plastic sheet. The flights' section of the feed comprises a helical spiral ridge machined on a rotatable shaft, while the wiper section comprises a plurality of wiper blade assemblies mounted longitudinally on pairs of spaced apart, raised circular ridges, machined on the shaft, adjacent wiper blade assemblies being mounted radially displaced relative to each other.

Abstract: A stirrer comprises a frame fixed to a drive shaft (6) including coupling means (18) for coupling the drive shaft to a drive motor (8), and according to the invention the stirrer includes at least one bottom scraper segment (15) extending downwards from the frame along a bottom edge thereof, together with adaptor means (14) for changing the distance between the coupling means (18) and a bottom edge (19) of the bottom scraper segment.

Abstract: Disclosed is an agitator apparatus for mixing tanked fluids while simultaneously wiping any adherent fluids from the tank wall. The device comprises a fluid agitating means rotationally mounted within the tank for mixing the fluid held therein. At least one tank wall wiper blade is attached to the fluid agitating means to skim or wipe fluid from the tank wall as rotational movement of the agitation means occurs. The agitation means may, in itself, comprise one or more perforated mixing panels attached to a rotating shaft member so as to effectively mix the fluid as the shaft member is rotated.

Abstract: A paint mixing container comprising a main body (2) of circular cross section with a base (4), side walls and an open top (6). There is a stirring arm (40) comprising a rotatable central shaft (42) with a helical blade (43) rigidly mounted about the central shaft. As well, there is a removable cover (20) with locking means (12,52) to allow the cover to be attached to the main body. The removable cover has a sealable opening (22) and means (24) to rotatably support the stirring arm in the interior of the main body.

Abstract: A refrigerated mixing and dispensing machine for the preparation of frozen dairy products and ice mixed beverages. The machine has a housing within which is mounted standard industrial units such as a compressor, condenser, evaporative coils and regulatory equipment. Also mounted in the housing is a gear motor having a torque adjustable clutch designed to disengage the gear motor from the drive line in the event of an overload. Its unique configuration and integral receptor features function to conserve space and shorten the drive line. A mixing pump is connected to the clutch and it is of an offset, rotary cam design, that features a uniquely shaped and positioned plunger valve designed to transmit and regulate the pressure of fluids pumped from the mix tank to the dasher cylinder. Fitted to a cavity of the pump housing and extending above fluid levels of the mix tank is a sleeve type metering valve which functions to house the pump plunger and regulate the mixture of air and fluid entering the pump.

Abstract: Disclosed is an agitator apparatus for mixing tanked fluids while simultaneously wiping any adherent fluids from the tank wall. The device comprises a fluid agitating means rotationally mounted within the tank for mixing the fluid held therein. At least one tank wall wiper blade is attached to the fluid agitating means to skim or wipe fluid from the tank wall as rotational movement of the agitation means occurs. The agitation means may, in itself, comprise one or more perforated mixing panels attached to a rotating shaft member so as to effectively mix the fluid as the shaft member is rotated.

Abstract: A blade mixer device for liquid and/or doughy products contained in a cylindrical tank comprises a structure that supports at least a first and a second pair of blades acting, respectively, on the base and on the wall of the said tank; the bearing structure can moreover be associated in a removable manner with an operating shaft which extends coaxially with the tank. Characteristically, the said structure consists of a portal element restrained in a removable manner astride the top of the said operating shaft, to rotate together with it.

Abstract: For bonding particularly radioactive wastes into a binder, a transporting and mixing device is used which transports the mixture to a storage tank prior to the hardening. The wastes are transported into the mixing zone by gravity and aided by the conveyor helix which also imparts additional wall cleaning action through the dry conveyor zone. A single or multi-component binder is concurrently transported in a direction lateral to the mixing tool to the mixing zone. The mixture is conducted in a straight-line extension of the transport and mixing direction to an outlet to which the storage tank is connected.

Abstract: A jacketed kettle on a trunnion mount is tiltable for pouring a contained liquid. The inside of the kettle has a central substantially cylindrical portion that permits an agitator to be driven from the underside of the kettle while making a liquid seal above the contained liquid surface. The jacket may contain water which is heated by an immersed thermostatically controlled electric heater. A sight glass mounted into the outside of the kettle provides a visual indication of the water level in the jacket. Continuation of the outside of the kettle below the jacket provides a covered enclosure for a motor that drives the agitator by means of a gear drive unit, and for necessary electrical connectors. A symmetric agitator provides for wiping at or near the kettle inside surface and the surface of the central cylindrical portion of the kettle, and for mixing liquid within the kettle. The kettle is balanced for tipping by a lever and for return to the vertical position upon release of the lever.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for the thickening of mud-like slurries produced during the course of industrial processes, e.g. the thickening of red muds produced during operation of the Bayer process for the production of alumina. The invention involves the step of feeding the slurry, a fluocculating agent and washing liquor to a deep thickening vessel having an underflow outlet for the thickened slurry and an overflow outlet for clarified washing liquor. The solids content of the slurry leaving the underflow outlet is increased and kept constant by the use of a stirrer having a number of generally vertical rod-like members rotated in the vessel above the underflow outlet. The stirrer enhances dewatering of the slurry and prevents undue build up of thick inactive mud which may block the outlet or cause fluctuations in the solids content of the thickened slurry.

Abstract: An agitator for mixing food or other materials in a kettle either with or without heating of the materials, the invention allows gentle and thorough mixing of materials ranging from liquids to semi-solids. The present agitator is especially usefual, for mixing and blending of substantially liquid mixtures having suspended solids, the solids being uniformly suspended within the mixture without damage to the solids. The agitator preferably takes the form of a rotary shaft horizontally disposed within a kettle having a substantially hemispherical bottom portion, each end of the shaft having a substantially arcuate element of particular contour attached thereto. The arcuate elements lie in planes which are perpendicular to each other and are the same general shape.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process and apparatus for dispensing a uniform flow of carbon black from a tank. The process is carried out by stirring the carbon black in a surge tank, providing equal movement of the carbon black away from the center of the surge tank towards the outlet(s) of the surge tank and removing caked carbon black from the wall of the tank and/or minimizing caking of carbon black on the wall of the surge tank. The apparatus includes horizontal blades for stirring the carbon black, lifters for lifting carbon black from the bottom of the tank, impeller vanes shaped in the form of curves such that each segment of rotation of the vanes causes an equal movement of the carbon black away from the center of the surge tank towards the tank outlet(s), and side scrapers for removing caked carbon black from the wall of the tank and/or minimizing caking of carbon black on the wall of the surge tank.

Abstract: A machine for making ice cream or other frozen comestible from a liquid. The machine includes an outer housing in which is inserted a removable freezing chamber which can be independently frozen and replaced in the chamber. Internally of the freezing chamber is a compartment in which can be placed a rotary assembly including a plurality of radially extending blades rotatable with the compartment. The blades include slits at their outer edges defining fingers for atomizing, aerating and moving the frozen liquid through the freezing chamber to its outlet. The blades are of a hard, elastic, low friction material with the outer tips of their fingers lying on an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the freezing compartment. The blades are then stressed when inserted into the freezing chamber to forceably engage the inner cylindrical surface of the freezing chamber and are twisted like a helix towards the outlet of the freezing chamber.