Powder Mixers

Powder mixing machine

Industrial powder mixers can be divided into two main categories, depending on the machine’s operating cycle:

Batch Mixers (or discontinuous mixers)
Continuous Mixers

Batch mixers

In a batch mixer, after loading a predetermined quantity of products, the mixing cycle will start for a set time.

At the end of the set operating time, the mixture obtained is discharged from the outlet mouth through an electro pneumatic guillotine hatch.

The discontinuous blenders are in turn divided into:

Horizontal ribbon blender

GIMAT’s Horizontal ribbon blenders are made of thick plates of painted carbon steel or stainless steel AISI 304 or 316 with surface treatment fit for use.

Mixing is done gently and evenly without overheating the product mixed, thanks to the special four-way and four cross-flow ribbon, with central drain.

The low peripheral speeds make it particularly suitable for applications in hazardous areas in accordance with ATEX regulations.

The direct transmission (a gear motor with helical gearboxes bevel wheels, integrated with elastic coupling with torsional flexibility) ensures a high performance of the entire kinematic chain and extremely quiet operation.

In order to accurately manage the quantity of product, the range of bulk bag fillers can be equipped with load cells.

Another device that is part of the discontinuous horizontal ribbon blenders is the ploughshare mixer.

The ribbon blender is composed of a mixing chamber with inlet, a discharge outlet with a valve and a venting outlet.

The mixing principle is based on creating turbulence inside the mixing chamber thanks to the special shape, position and speed of the mixing blades integral with the central shaft.

This type of mixing prevents the formation of dead zones ensuring a high precision of homogenisation in a short time with products having particle sizes and apparent specific gravity that are very different from each other.

High reliability, low maintenance and minimum wear of the mixing elements are among the main advantages of this type of blender.
In some cases additional agitators can be installed with high-speed rotation.

Vertical ribbon mixer (conical mixer)

Moving onto vertical mixers, these are characterized by a conical body, with a vertical axis mixing helicoid.

The rotation of the helicoid creates an upward flow of product on the peripheral portion of the mixing chamber and descending in the centre.
The rotation of the mixing shaft is carried out by means of a geared motor unit with single bearing support on the top.
The vertical blenders are particularly targeted at the food industry and pharmaceutical industry, as they ensure good mixing and the absence of residues during the unloading phase.

Furthermore, the particular shape of the conical mixer body, allows a high quality of interior finish and ease of cleaning. They are also suitable for being placed under vacuum should they be loaded pneumatically.

As in the case of ribbon blenders, the mixing also occurs in a gentle and homogeneous manner without overheating the mixed product.

The low speed peripherals make them particularly suitable for applications in hazardous areas in accordance with ATEX regulations.

Continuous mixers

As far as continuous mixers are concerned, two main types can be identified:

Batching hoppers
Paddle mixers

Batching hoppers incorporate powder storage, the dosing of the various components, transport and mixing in the same system.

They are ideal to carry out the mixing of 2 or more products in powder, granule or milled form.

The individual components starting from the Bag emptying stations or by Bulk Bag Unloaders, through Volumetric feeders are conveyed to the inlet of a Flexible screw conveyor which picks up the already dosed products and mixes them during transportation towards the unloading point.

Paddle mixers come into play in cases where accurate mixing is required, or in situations of mixing ratios or granulometries that are very different between the individual products, thanks to the centrifugal movement tailored to the individual particles.

The products arrive at the loading mouth of the blender pre-measured.

The unit is made up of a series of rotary swivel blades suitably configured, so as to be able to increase or decrease the time spent in the blender during the horizontal transport toward the unloading mouth.