Abstract: The present disclosure provides a reactor for at least two liquid materials, comprising an enclosed reactor housing; a feeding tube having liquid material inlets for receiving corresponding liquid materials respectively; a distribution tube communicating with the feeding tube and extending into the reactor housing, the distribution tube being provided with a plurality of distribution holes in the region thereof extending into the reactor housing; a rotating bed in form of a hollow cylinder, which is disposed in the reactor housing via a fixing mechanism, thus dividing inner cavity of the reactor housing into a central area and an outer area, the rotating bed being capable of rotating driven by a driving mechanism; and a material outlet provided in a lower portion of the reactor housing for outputting product after reaction.

Abstract: Improved preconditioners (10) are provided for partial moisturization of human food or animal feed ingredients prior to downstream final processing thereof in an extruder (56) or pellet mill. The preconditioner (10) preferably includes an elongated housing (12) having a wall (14) with an inlet (20) and an opposed outlet (22). The housing (12) also has a larger diameter end wall (16) proximal to the inlet (20), a smaller diameter end wall (18) proximal to outlet (22), and a progressively converging housing wall (14) with a taper angle of from about 2-9°. A shaft (36) extends along the length of housing (14) and supports a plurality of outwardly extending mixing elements (46) positioned in axially and circumferentially spaced relationship along the length of the shaft (36). The outer margins (54) of the mixing elements (46) cooperatively define a taper along the length of the housing wall (14).

Abstract: A mixing shaft (1) is disclosed, used in an assembly (2) of a unit for thorough mixing and comminuting of food products. The mixing shaft (1) comprises a steel core (3), surrounded by a one-piece plastic coating (6) with mixing elements (4). In order to retain the plastic coating (6) on the steel core (3) of the mixing shaft (1), the surface of the steel core (3) has a structured embodiment. The plastic coating (6) is applied to the mixing shaft (1) by means of a particular isostatic pressurized application method.

Abstract: A method and system for preparing a granulated product, whereby one or more ingredients are first ground in a centrifugal grinding unit, and then granulated in a centrifugal granulating unit before being fed to a centrifugal mixing and flavoring unit; each of the centrifugal units having a tubular outer shell having an axis and defining a processing chamber; and a powered shaft housed in the shell, coaxially with the axis, and fitted with a row of appendixes projecting radially from, and connected integrally and interchangeably to, the shaft.

Abstract: A continuous method and system for processing whole muscle meat employs a mixer housing having a pair of parallel rotating shafts located therein. The parallel rotating shafts have a plurality of mixing elements thereon, such as frustoconical elements, blocking elements, or ellipsoid elements. The mixer housing has an input end to receive the meat ingredients, such as meat pieces, salt solution, water, preservatives, and other additives such as spices. The mixer housing has an output, which is separated a distance from the input, such that the output discharges the whole muscle meat product. As the ingredients including the meat move from the input to the output along the shafts, the mixing elements work the meat with the other ingredients thereby increasing ingredient incorporation including diffusion of the salt solution into the whole muscle meat pieces.

Abstract: The rocker chiller 10 includes a semi-cylindrical tank 12 filled with heat exchanging liquid and a baffle assembly 18 that rocks back and forth across the bottom wall of the tank. The baffle 26 of the baffle assembly 18 defines baffle openings 29 that are sized and shaped to pass the heat exchanging liquid through the openings in response to the rocking of the baffle, but small enough so that the baffle engages and retards the movement of at least some of the carcasses from moving through the baffle, thereby massaging the carcasses and increasing the moisture retained in the carcasses.

Abstract: Improved preconditioners (10) are provided for partial moisturization of human food or animal feed ingredients prior to downstream final processing thereof in an extruder (56) or pellet mill. The preconditioner (10) preferably includes an elongated housing (12) having a wall (14) with an inlet (20) and an opposed outlet (22). The housing (12) also has a larger diameter end wall (16) proximal to the inlet (20), a smaller diameter end wall (18) proximal to outlet (22), and a progressively converging housing wall (14) with a taper angle of from about 2-9°. A shaft (36) extends along the length of housing (14) and supports a plurality of outwardly extending mixing elements (46) positioned in axially and circumferentially spaced relationship along the length of the shaft (36). The outer margins (54) of the mixing elements (46) cooperatively define a taper along the length of the housing wall (14).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a stirrer tool that includes a head component having a first body portion and a second body portion connected to the first body portion with a first plurality of projections extending substantially radially out from and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a body portion. Head component may also have a second plurality of projections extending in a substantially distal direction away from a distal end of the body portion, and all of the projections may be made of a substantially stiff material that is flexible enough to be bent to fit through an opening in a container that is smaller in diameter than a diameter of the head component and stiff enough to mix viscous products.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a stirrer tool that includes a head component having a first plurality of projections extending substantially radially out from and substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a body portion. Head component may also have a second plurality of projections extending in a substantially distal direction away from a distal end of the body portion, and all of the projections may be made of a substantially stiff material that is flexible enough to be bent to fit through an opening in a container that is smaller in diameter than a diameter of the head component and stiff enough to mix viscous products. The projections may further be capable of being shortened by cutting off a selected length of the projections. The first plurality of projections may be configured to create a vortex mixing action and the second plurality of projections may be configured to reach and stir up sediment on bottoms and in corners of containers.

Abstract: A bioreactor apparatus for processing waste, comprising a cylindrical pressure vessel having an inlet end and an exit end, an internally rotating main shaft having spaced apart ends, and a plurality of paddles and agitator bars attached to and extending radially from the shaft. At least some of the plurality of paddles and/or agitator bars extend radially outward from the shaft and form a helical spiral pattern when viewed from either of the spaced apart ends.

Abstract: An improved, dual-shaft preconditioner (10, 70) is provided having independent drive mechanism (18, 20, 78, 80) operatively coupled with a corresponding preconditioner shaft (14, 16, 74, 76) and permitting selective rotation of the shafts (14, 16, 74, 76) at rotational speeds and directions independent of each other. The mechanisms (18, 20, 78, 80) are operatively coupled with a digital controller (60) to allow rotational speed and direction control. Preferably, the preconditioner (10, 70) is supported on load cells (62, 100) also coupled with controller (60) to permit on-the-go changes in material retention time within the preconditioner (10, 70). The preconditioner (10, 70) is particularly useful for the preconditioning and partial gelatinization of starch-bearing feed or food materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for mixing of a chemical medium in gaseous or liquid state with a pulp suspension. The apparatus comprises a housing having a wall (2) that defines a mixing chamber (4), a first feeder (6) for feeding the pulp suspension to the mixing chamber, a rotor shaft (8, 104, 204, 300, 406, 502), that extends in the mixing chamber, a drive device for rotation of the rotor shaft, a rotor body (10, 200, 407, 504), that is connected to the rotor shaft and arranged to supply kinetic energy to the pulp suspension flow, during rotation of the rotor shaft by the rotation of the drive device, such that turbulence is produced in a turbulent flow zone (12) in the mixing chamber, a second feeder (13) for feeding of the chemical medium to the mixing chamber, and an outlet for discharging the mixture of chemical medium and pulp suspension from the mixing chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus for mixing a chemical medium with a pulp suspension is disclosed, comprising a housing, a first feeder for feeding the pulp suspension to a mixing chamber, a rotor body connected to a rotor shaft to supply kinetic energy to the pulp suspension flow, such that turbulence is produced in a turbulent flow zone in the mixing chamber, a second feeder for feeding the chemical medium to the mixing chamber, and a flow-restraining disk in the outlet from the mixing chamber with flow passages arranged to temporarily increase the flow velocity of the pulp suspension, the second feeder comprising a chemical distribution element integrated with the rotor body to distribute the chemical medium close to the turbulent flow zone, and the rotor body comprising a number of rotor pins which extend from the rotor shaft.

Abstract: In a method for reproducible dissolution of a pharmaceutical product in a dissolution medium contained within a vessel, a flow regime characterized by high turbidity and low bulk movement of dissolution medium is induced within the vessel. Simultaneously, solid particles of the pharmaceutical product on a bottom portion of the vessel are mechanically dispersed. Induction of the flow regime and mechanical dispersion of solid particles may be accomplished by a brush body adapted to sweep a bottom portion of the vessel. The brush body is repeatably biased into contact with the bottom portion of the vessel, and caused to rotate in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A mixing device for low speed precision mixing of contents of a vessel has a support member adapted to be rotatably supported in spaced relationship from a bottom portion of the vessel and separated therefrom by a gap, and a brush assembly depending from the support member for sliding engagement with the bottom portion of the vessel. Low speed rotation of the support member within the vessel causes the brush assembly to sweep the bottom portion of the vessel while mixing the contents of the vessel. The brush assembly can be made of a resilient coil or a plurality of filamentary or lamellar elements, affixed to the support member. This device provides controlled and repeatable mixing and is well suited for use in drug dissolution measurement apparatuses used for assessing drug release characteristics of solid oral pharmaceutical products.

Abstract: In a method for reproducible dissolution of a pharmaceutical product in a dissolution medium contained within a vessel, a flow regime characterized by high turbidity and low bulk movement of dissolution medium is induced within the vessel. Simultaneously, solid particles of the pharmaceutical product on a bottom portion of the vessel are mechanically dispersed. Induction of the flow regime and mechanical dispersion of solid particles may be accomplished by a brush body adapted to sweep a bottom portion of the vessel. The brush body is repeatably biased into contact with the bottom portion of the vessel, and caused to rotate in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A kneading device kneads a main raw material of high viscosity and a secondary raw material of liquid or powder and continuously delivers a kneaded raw material obtained, and a ropesizer includes a sheet forming unit, and a delivering unit applies a second raw material onto a first raw material, which is elongated into a sheet shape and is conveyed by the sheet forming unit, so as to be in a strand form.

Abstract: This invention provides a mixing chamber that utilizes several tined cylinders to convey materials through the mixing chamber for applying liquid additives to the materials. Each of the tined cylinders includes a number of spring biased tines extending from the surface of the cylinder. The tined cylinders are arranged within the mixing chamber such that, as the tined cylinders rotate about an axis, the spring biased tines engage the materials within the mixing chamber and “sweep” them along towards a discharge opening of the mixing chamber. As the materials are conveyed through the mixing chamber, an additive liquid, typically containing various chemicals, colorants, dies, and/or paints, is sprayed onto the materials. In this manner, liquid additives are applied to materials more evenly and more thoroughly, resulting in a more consistent finished product.

Abstract: A mixing device for low speed precision mixing of contents of a vessel has a support member adapted to be rotatably supported in spaced relationship from a bottom portion of the vessel and separated therefrom by a gap, and a brush assembly depending from the support member for sliding engagement with the bottom portion of the vessel. Low speed rotation of the support member within the vessel causes the brush assembly to sweep the bottom portion of the vessel while mixing the contents of the vessel. The brush assembly can be made of a resilient coil or a plurality of filamentary or lamellar elements, affixed to the support member. This device provides controlled and repeatable mixing and is well suited for use in drug dissolution measurement apparatuses used for assessing drug release characteristics of solid oral pharmaceutical products.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing and advancing a polymer melt, which includes a mixer and a conveying device. The mixer comprises a tubular mixing shaft (outer shaft) and an inner mixing shaft (inner shaft). The tubular outer shaft is arranged in surrounding relationship with the inner mixing shaft. Both mixing shafts extend in cantilever fashion into a mixing chamber, and a passageway is formed at the front end between the mixing chamber wall and the free end of the outer shaft, so that the mixing chamber is divided into an inner mixing chamber (inner chamber) and an outer mixing chamber (outer chamber), which are interconnected via the passageway. A melt inlet and a melt outlet are arranged in such a manner that the melt flow advances through the inner chamber and the outer chamber in opposite directions.