A high-quality industrial ribbon mixer is ideal for blending powders and granules. These machines combine a wide range of ingredients to create a homogenous blend that meets the industry’s most exacting standards for quality and consistency.
Choosing the right ribbon blender depends on several factors, including the size of your operations and the material density you need to blend. You should also consider your process requirements and the features that can be adjusted to suit your needs.
Variable Speed Drive
The variable speed drive is one of the most important components of a high-quality industrial ribbon mixer. This control feature reduces energy consumption and improves process efficiency while also reducing maintenance costs.
This control feature is especially useful when the machine is fully loaded with materials. It allows it to start at a slow speed and slowly increase the speed as it runs through its mixing and discharge processes.
Variable speed drives vary a motor’s output by changing the torque transmitted between a low-inertia rotor and a gear reducer. This direct-drive configuration is more compact and cleaner than belt or chain-driven machines and requires less maintenance.
High Shear
High-shear mixers use a phenomenon of fluid dynamics known as sheer strain to thoroughly combine solid, gas, or liquid components that would otherwise not be mixed. They incorporate a rotor or impellor, which rotates at extremely high speeds, and a stationary stator that remains stationary.
The outer ribbon gathers materials from both sides, and the inner spiral conveys the material from the center to both ends, forming convective mixing. This ensures fast and thorough blending even when the batch contains components with different sizes, shapes, and densities.
Mixing homogeneity is affected by several factors, including feed preparation characteristics (particle size and blending) and operational parameters such as rotational speed and mixing time. This study investigated the effect of these factors on mixing homogeneity in a convective batch ribbon mixer.
Large Trough
A high-quality industrial ribbon mixer’s largest component is its trough. Usually made from sanitary stainless steel, the trough accommodates liquid and solid ingredients.
The most common troughs are U-shaped, although there are many other types. These troughs are designed for efficient mixing and dispersion of powders, granules, pastes, and other materials.
A horizontal agitator moves material in a highly-balanced axial and radial flow pattern during the blending process. This helps to ensure consistent batch or continuous mixing and high precision.
Low Noise
Ribbon mixers can produce a wide range of sound frequencies depending on your needs. This is primarily due to how classic ribbon mics are sensitive to input impedance.
A high-quality industrial ribbon mixer will typically have a low noise output. This is because the agitator in a ribbon mixer moves materials in axial and radial motions.
The speed of these movements is dependent on the density and particle size of the materials that are being mixed. This is why ensuring that your raw materials are accurately weighed and verified is important.
Easy Maintenance
It’s essential to properly maintain your ribbon mixer if you want to get the most use out of it. In the long term, this will help you maintain it operating efficiently and save you money.
Most high-quality industrial ribbon mixers have a simple maintenance process, including checking the motor, gearbox, and discharge assembly for wear and damage. It also includes cleaning the agitator and mixing chamber.
Some mixers come with optional hoisted agitator shafts that make it easier to clean the inside of the mixing chamber. Simple customizations include match marks on the shaft flanges, while more elaborate modifications allow users to raise the agitator without disturbing bearings or seals.
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