Mixing machine having static blades and a static blade for use therein

Abstract

A material mixing machine having a central axis and comprising a vessel with at least one pair of neighboring compartments. Each compartment has a compartment axis parallel to said central axis, a dynamic mixing tool rotatable about said compartment axis, and a side wall having a height and an inner surface having an arced shape terminating at two compartment edges spaced by an open area for material flow. The neighboring compartments are disposed to have at least one pair of adjacent compartment edges and a common meshing area comprising portions of said open areas. The or each pair of neighboring compartments comprises a blade supporting wall connecting the adjacent edges; and a static blade having a cutting edge and a fixation surface spaced towards the blade supporting wall, mounted, optionally detachably, between said compartment walls, the cutting edge protruding into said meshing area and extending along said side wall height.

Description

[0001] Mixing Machine Having Static Blades And A Static Blade For Use Therein

[0002] TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[0003] The presently disclosed subject matter relates to the technical field of mixers, and in particular, to mixers having more than one rotating blade.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] References considered to be relevant as background to the presently disclosed subject matter are described below.

[0006] US3722831A discloses a high-speed mixing machine in which power-driven tools are arranged to rotate in a mixing vessel to produce a forced vortex -like movement of the material being mixed. The mixing machine has a plurality of separate tools rotatable in coacting compartments of the vessel which merge with one another so that the material, particularly synthetic material to be processed and / or mixed e.g. with other material in the form of additives or liquids, is continuously transferred from one compartment to another of the vessel.

[0007] EP4327925A1 discloses a mixing device for forming mixed powders for food products. The mixing devices encompasses a mixing chamber suitable for mixing powdered particles, the mixing chamber contains at least one discharge opening for discharging mixed powder, as well to input openings at a distance from each other in a top side of the mixing chamber for the separate addition of powdered particles into the mixing chamber. There is a mixing assembly in the mixing chamber to generate at least one mixing zone, the mixing assembly encompassing preferably in each mixing zone one vertical mixing body that rotates around an essentially vertical axis for mixing at least two types of powder. Both input openings are equipped with a first, finer sieve with smaller maximum sieve openings and a second, coarser sieve with larger maximum sieve openings respectively. BE1023611B1 discloses a side mixer for a device used for mixing powdery particles. The side mixer comprises a central shaft or a central tube equipped with at least one mixing unit. A mixing unit includes a housing provided with a central opening that can be slid over the central shaft or the central tube, and further equipped with at least one cutting element that is seamlessly mounted to the housing.

[0008] Acknowledgement of the above references herein is not to be inferred as meaning that these are in any way relevant to the patentability of the presently disclosed subject matter.

[0009] GENERAL DESCRIPTION

[0010] A mixing machine operable for mixing material, according to the presently disclosed subject matter comprises at least when assembled, a vessel with at least one pair of neighboring compartments mounted therein. Each compartment can have a compartment axis and a dynamic mixing tool rotatable about the compartment axis to move the material therein. This structure will further be referred to as a basic structure of the mixing machine.

[0011] Further, in the present description and claims, the mixing machine according to all aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter is described as assembled, unless specifically indicated otherwise.

[0012] According to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, in a mixing machine having the above basic structure, the vessel can comprise at least one static blade having at least one cutting edge and stationarily mounted, optionally detachably, in the machine so that the cutting edge is located within the vessel and is exposed to the material within the vessel.

[0013] In this case, each compartment can be formed with at least one open area allowing the material to be mixed to enter into and exit from the compartment, said blade being located at least adjacent to said open area.

[0014] Further or alternatively in this case, the static blade can have at least one fixation surface spaced from the cutting edge thereof, via which the blade can be mounted in the mixing machine. The mixing machine can comprise at least one fastening element, which is connectable, optionally detachably, or formed integrally with the fixation surface, and is connectable, optionally detachably, to the mixing machine to secure the static blade in place relative to the vessel.

[0015] According to another aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, in the mixing machine having the above basic structure and / or according to the above aspect or any aspects described below, the dynamic mixing tools can be rotatable in the same direction, i.e. they both can be rotated clockwise or both can be rotated counterclockwise.

[0016] According to a further aspect of the presently disclosed, in the mixing machine having the above basic structure and / or according to any of the above aspects or any aspects described below, the mixing machine can comprise at least one reinforcing element that engages with the compartments to provide support thereto.

[0017] According to a still further aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, in the mixing machine having the above basic structure and / or according to any of the above aspects or any aspects described below, the mixing machine can facilitate or generate a vacuum inside the vessel. The vacuum can dehumidify of the material being mixed inside the vessel.

[0018] In this case, the mixing machine can comprise at least one vessel lid mountable at an upper end of the vessel to seal the vessel, and designed to withstand the high forces exerted thereon by the vacuum.

[0019] According to a still further aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, which can be used in any of the aspects described above or below, the at least one pair of neighboring compartments is constituted by a single pair of neighboring compartments, and the mixing machine comprises two static blades, as described with respect to the first described aspect, which, for example, can be mounted so as to face one another.

[0020] According to a still further aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, which can be used in any of the aspects described above or below, there is provided a static blade for use in a mixing machine having the above basic structure.

[0021] According to a still further aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, the static blade described above with respect to the previous aspect can constitute a part of a kit. The kit can comprise at least the at least one static blade and a corresponding number of fastening elements having one end connectable to the static blade.

[0022] Below are further aspects and embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter: A mixing machine operable for mixing material, said mixing machine having a central axis and comprising, at least when assembled, a vessel with at least one pair of neighboring compartments located therein; each compartment having a compartment axis parallel to said central axis and a dynamic mixing tool having at least one radially extending blade mounted to a shaft rotatable about said compartment axis, and a compartment side wall having an inner compartment surface defining an interior of the compartment and an outer compartment surface facing away from said interior, the compartment side wall having a height along said compartment axis and the inner compartment surface having an arced shape in a cross-section of the vessel taken perpendicular to said central axis; the inner compartment surface terminating at two compartment edges spaced apart by an open area through which material to be mixed can enter and exit the compartment; the neighboring compartments being so disposed relative to each other as to have at least one pair of adjacent compartment edges and a common meshing area defined by at least portions of the open areas of the compartments located adjacent to the or each pair of the adjacent compartment edges; the or each pair of neighboring compartments comprising a blade supporting wall connecting the adjacent compartment edges of the neighboring compartments; and a static blade having a cutting edge and a fixation surface spaced therefrom towards the blade supporting wall, the static blade being mounted, optionally detachably, between said compartment walls at least partially by means of said blade supporting wall and said fixation surface, so that the cutting edge protrudes into said meshing area, is parallel to said central axis of the machine and extends along at least a majority of the height of the compartment side walls. The mixing machine according to embodiment 1, wherein one of said blade supporting wall and said fixation surface comprises at least one centering element protruding therefrom towards the other of the blade supporting wall and the fixation surface, and wherein said other of the blade supporting wall and said fixation surface comprises at least one centering recess receiving said centering element; optionally the blade supporting wall and the fixation surface having at least two centering element-and-centering recess pairs, spaced apart along the central axis.

[0023] 3. The mixing machine according to embodiment 1 or 2, wherein said static blade comprises a body having a generally triangular shape in a cross-section of the vessel perpendicular to the central axis, and comprising, in addition to the cutting edge and the fixation surface, two blade side surfaces diverging from the cutting edge towards the fixation surface and forming with the fixation surface two spaced apart blade corners.

[0024] 4. The mixing machine according to embodiment 3, wherein each of said two side blade surfaces is arc-shaped in said cross-section and is continuously aligned with the adjacent arc-shaped inner compartment surface of one of the neighboring compartments.

[0025] 5. The mixing machine according to any one of the proceeding embodiments, wherein said fixation surface comprises at least two fixation elements and said machine further comprising at least two fastening elements detachably and fixedly engaging said fixation elements for securing the static blade in place relative to the remainder of the vessel at least partially by means of said blade supporting wall.

[0026] 6. The mixing machine according to embodiment 5, wherein each fixation element is a threaded opening in the fixation surface, said blade supporting wall has a through bore aligned with said threaded opening, and each fastening element has a proximal fastening end threadedly received in said threaded opening, an intermediate fastening element portion at least a part of which passes through the through bore of the blade supporting wall, and a distal fastening end protruding from the blade supporting wall at its side facing in a direction away from the static blade and at least indirectly fixed relative thereto.

[0027] 7. The mixing machine according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein for each pair of adjacent compartment edges, said vessel has a blade fastening wall disposed further from the static blade than the blade supporting wall and aligned with the blade supporting wall. The mixing machine according to embodiment 7, when dependent on embodiment 6, wherein said blade fastening wall has a through bore aligned with the through bore of the blade supporting wall, and the intermediate fastening element portion passes through the through bore of the blade supporting wall and the through bore of the blade fastening wall so that the distal fastening end of the fastening element protrudes from the blade fastening wall at its side facing in a direction away from the blade supporting wall. The mixing machine according to any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising at least one reinforcing rib attached to and protruding outwardly from the outer compartment surfaces of the compartment side walls. The mixing machine according to embodiment 9, wherein said at least one reinforcing rib is constituted by at least one reinforcing ring, optionally two reinforcing rings surrounding the compartments and spaced apart from each other along said central axis. The mixing machine according to embodiment 10, wherein said at least one reinforcing ring comprises two ring portions, each ring portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends and the second ends are respectively connected to each other. The mixing machine according to embodiment 5, or any one of embodiments 6 to 11 when dependent on embodiment 5 directly or indirectly, wherein the width of the open area in said cross-section of the vessel is essentially greater than the sum of a dimension of the static blade between the cutting edge and the fixation surface thereof and a length to which the fastening elements protrude from the fixation surface when the proximal ends thereof are threadedly received within the threaded openings. The mixing machine according to any one the preceding embodiments, wherein said at least one pair of neighboring compartments is constituted by a single pair of neighboring compartments. The mixing machine according to any one of the preceding embodiments wherein, at least when assembled, each of said dynamic mixing tool comprises a shaft extending along said compartment axis, and said at least one radially extending blade is constituted by at least two radially extending blades spaced from each other along said compartment axis. 15. The mixing machine according to embodiment 14, wherein at least one of said at least two radially extending blades comprises a proximal end portion connected to said shaft and a distal end portion curved perpendicularly to the radial extension of the blade.

[0028] 16. A detachable static blade for use in a mixing machine of any one of embodiments 1 to 15.

[0029] 17. The detachable static blade according to embodiment 16, wherein said blade has an elongate shape with a length corresponding to the height of the compartment side walls of the mixing machine, and further has at least one of the following features: a thickness between the cutting edge and the fixation surface, which does not exceed the width of the fixation surface between the blade comers; an angle between the blade side walls is an acute angle exceeding 40°, optionally in the range of 45° to 85°; and a material of which the blade is made is the same as that of the compartment walls.

[0030] 18. The detachable static blade according to embodiment 16 or 17, constituting a part of a kit, said comprising at least two of said detachable static blade, each detachable static blade having at least two threaded openings spaced along the length of the blade, and at least two fastening elements each having one end threadedly receivable within one of the threaded openings.

[0031] 19. The mixing machine according to any one of embodiments 1 to 15, wherein the dynamic mixing tool of one of said compartments is rotatable about the compartment axis thereof in the same direction as that of the dynamic mixing tool of its neighboring compartment. 0. The mixing machine according to any one of embodiments 1 to 15 or embodiment 19, wherein the mixing machine comprises a vacuum pump operable to generate a vacuum within the vessel. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] Fig- 1 illustrates a schematic top view of the interior of a vessel of a mixing machine according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

[0034] Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate a schematic cross-sectional view of an interior of the vessel of the mixing machine of Fig. 1, taken along the plane A- A, with a static blade and without the static blade, respectively;

[0035] Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a static blade which can be used in a vessel illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

[0036] Fig. 5 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of the static blade illustrated in Fig. 4, taken along the plane B-B;

[0037] Fig. 6 illustrates a perspective cut-away view of part of a mixing machine, according to an example of the presently disclosed subject matter, in which the vessel of the kind shown in Figs. 1 and 2 can be used;

[0038] Fig. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a static blade constituting a part of the mixing machine of Fig. 6;

[0039] Fig. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the interior of a vessel of the mixing machine illustrated in Fig. 6, taken along the plane C;

[0040] Fig. 9 illustrates an enlarged view of the area D in Fig. 8;

[0041] Fig. 10 illustrates a cut-away view of a system comprising a mixing machine according to a further example of the presently disclosed subject matter;

[0042] Fig. 11 illustrates a perspective view of part of the mixing machine illustrated in Fig. 10;

[0043] Fig. 12 illustrates a perspective view of one of the reinforcing ribs illustrated in Fig. 11; and

[0044] Fig. 13 illustrates a kit according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0045] A mixing machine operable for mixing material, according to the presently disclosed subject matter is of the type that comprises, at least when assembled, a vessel with at least one pair of neighboring compartments located therein, each compartment having a dynamic mixing tool. The mixing machine has a central axis, and each compartment has a compartment axis parallel to the central axis. Each dynamic mixing tool has at least one radially extending blade mounted to a shaft rotatable about the compartment axis thereby causing the material within the compartment to be moved. The compartments can be formed as a unitary body, or integrally assembled, with the remainder of the vessel or rather can be detachably mounted therein.

[0046] In the present description and claims, the mixing machine and its components should be considered as being described as assembled, unless specifically indicated otherwise.

[0047] Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic top view of the interior of a vessel 101 of a mixing machine 1 according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter. The mixing machine 1 has a central axis C and comprises a vessel 101 comprising a pair of neighboring compartments 10. Each compartment 10 has an axis X parallel to the central axis C, and a dynamic mixing tool 20 mounted therein that is rotatable about the compartment axis X. Each of the dynamic mixing tools 20 in the mixing machine 1 comprise a shaft 21 with a plurality of blades 22, 24, 26 mounted thereto.

[0048] Each compartment in a mixing machine according to the presently disclosed subject matter can have a compartment side wall having an inner compartment surface that defines an interior of the compartment, and an outer compartment surface facing away from said interior. The compartment side wall can have a height along the compartment axis and at least the inner compartment surface can have an arced shape along at least a majority of its height in a cross-section of the vessel taken perpendicular to the central axis. The inner compartment surface can terminate at least at two compartment edges spaced apart by an open area through which material to be mixed can enter and exit the compartment from a neighboring compartment. Some compartments may comprise two compartment edges and thus one open area, while other compartments may comprise four or more compartment edges and thus two or more open areas.

[0049] The neighboring compartments can have their open areas coextensive, or overlapping at least along a majority of their length, so as to have at least one pair of adjacent compartment edges and a common meshing area defined by at least portions of the open areas of the compartments located adjacent to the or each pair of the adjacent compartment edges. In some examples, a common meshing area can be defined by the entirety of the open areas of the compartments located adjacent to the or each pair of the adjacent compartment edges. More particularly, in examples wherein two neighboring compartments share two pairs of adjacent compartment edges, i.e. each of two compartment edges of one compartment are each adjacent to a corresponding compartment edge of the other compartment, the entire open area of each of the compartments can constitute a part of the meshing area. When the material within each compartment is moved by the dynamic mixing tool thereof actively mixing material, material from one compartment can meet and mix with material from a neighboring compartment in the meshing area, whereby the materials can be transferred between compartments through the meshing area.

[0050] In general, the number of the blades in each of the neighboring compartments can be any, and they can have a height along the axis of the compartment, which is essentially smaller relative to the radial dimension thereof and can be mounted at different locations along the height of the shaft.

[0051] Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of an interior of the vessel 101 of the mixing machine 1 illustrated in Fig. 1, taken about the plane A-A of Fig. 1, wherein each compartment 10 comprises a compartment side wall 12 having a height h along the compartment axis X and having an inner compartment surface 12a defining a compartment interior 14, and an outer compartment surface 12b facing away from the compartment interior 14. The blades of each compartment comprise upper, lower and middle radially extending blades, designated 22, 26, and 24 respectively, spaced apart along the compartment axis C.

[0052] The blades can have different shapes and orientations. For example, some of the blades, e.g. those that are located closer to the bottom of the corresponding compartment, can have a distal end portion curved upwardly and oriented transversely to the remainder of the blade. When the mixing machine is in use, i.e. when material is disposed in the vessel and the blade having the above distal end portion rotates about the compartment axis, this curved distal end portion can lift material upwards into the meshing area. In mixing machines with a dispensing port in the compartment side wall, the curved distal end can lift material towards the port. Each dynamic mixing tool can also have at least one upper and one lower blade radially extending and spaced apart along the compartment axis, with the lower blade being beneath the upper blade.

[0053] In the present example, the lower blades 26 in each of the compartments are curved upwards at their proximal ends 26a towards a direction perpendicular to their radial extension.

[0054] Reverting to Fig. 1, in the mixing machine of the present example, the inner compartment surface 12a has an arced shape along the entire height h of the compartment side wall 12 in a cross-section of the vessel taken perpendicular to said central axis C, and it terminates at two compartment edges 16 spaced apart by an open area 18 through which material can enter and exit the compartment 10. The neighboring compartments 10 are disposed next to each other so that they have two opposite pairs of adjacent compartment edges 16 and two adjacent co-extensive open areas 18 which together define a common meshing area 19 of the neighboring compartments 10. The meshing area 19 thus extends between the two opposite pairs of adjacent compartment edges 16 and it also includes areas of the compartments 10 adjacent to their open areas 18.

[0055] The blades of each of the dynamic mixing tools can have different radial dimensions and, in at least some of them, this dimension can be such as to allow the blade / s to extend into the meshing area when passing thereby during its / their rotation. In some examples, the blades of the dynamic mixing tools of the two neighboring compartments located at different heights along the axis X can extend into the meshing area during their rotation, increasing shear forces developed in the meshing area.

[0056] Reverting to Fig. 2, in the present example, the radial dimension of the upper blades 22 is shorter than that of the middle and lower blades 24 and 26, and the radial dimensions of the middle and lower blades are such that they extend into the meshing area 19.

[0057] In some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter, the mixing machine can comprise more than two compartments. For example, the mixing machine can comprise three compartments with the compartments arranged such that their respective compartment axes are parallel to each other and positioned in a triangular configuration when viewed in a cross-section perpendicular to the axes, resulting in three pairs of neighboring compartments. Each compartment has two compartment edges, and each compartment edge is adjacent to a compartment edge of one of the other two compartments, resulting in three meshing areas. In other examples, three or more compartments may be aligned in a linear arrangement, wherein the compartments at either end of the line have two compartment edges adjacent to compartment edges of a compartment positioned between them; as a result, in this case, the total number of meshing areas in the mixing machine is one less than the number of compartments.

[0058] In a mixing machine according to the presently disclosed subject matter, the dynamic mixing tools including those described above can operate to rotate the blades either in the same direction or in opposite directions relative to each other. In the former case, the blades within the neighboring compartments can be rotated all clockwise or all counterclockwise. In the latter case, blades in one of the neighboring compartments can be rotated clockwise and in the other - counterclockwise.

[0059] Rotation of the dynamic mixing tools in two neighboring compartments in the same direction can generate higher shear forces in the meshing area compared to rotation of the dynamic mixing tools in opposite directions. The mixing machine can thus comprise features, examples of some of which are described below, allowing to withstand such forces and improve durability of the machine, at least partially by enhancing material processing and reinforcing its structure.

[0060] In a mixing machine according to the presently disclosed subject matter, the or each pair of neighboring compartments of the vessel can comprise at least one static blade having a cutting edge and mounted between the neighboring compartments of the vessel so that the cutting edge protrudes into their common meshing area, e.g. it protrudes in a direction transverse, optionally, perpendicular to a line connecting the central axes of the neighboring compartments in a cross-section of the vessel perpendicular to these axes. The at least one static blade can be positioned so as to provide a plowing effect during mixing of material in the vessel, diverting the flow of material into each of the neighboring compartments. In some examples the static blade can comprise more than one cutting edge. Furthermore, in some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the mixing machine can comprise at least two static blades each disposed between adjacent compartment edges of each pair of neighboring compartments. In this case, the static blades are located at two opposite ends of the merging area common for the two neighboring compartments.

[0061] The static blade / s can be detachably mounted between the neighboring compartments to allow their replacement which will likely be needed in view of the fact that the static blade will have to experience high forces thereon during use of the mixing machine, and as a result can experience significant wear and tear.

[0062] The at least one static blade can be at least partially made of a material that is the same as that of the compartment walls, or it can at least partially be made of a different material.

[0063] In the mixing machine 1 of the present example, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, two static blades 30 each comprising a cutting edge 32 are detachably mounted to the vessel 101 such that the cutting edges 32 thereof protrude into the meshing area 19 at two opposite ends thereof. In Fig. 2, only one of the static blades 30 is seen. To facilitate the illustration, the static blade 30 is shown in Fig. 2 in thicker lines than the remainder of the figures.

[0064] In a mixing machine according to the presently disclosed subject matter, the or each pair of neighboring compartments of the vessel can comprise at least one blade supporting wall configured for a static blade to be mounted thereto. In some embodiments, each compartment edge can comprise its own blade supporting wall, whereas in other embodiments, the blade supporting wall can extend along a length between adjacent compartment edges of the neighboring compartments. In some examples of the presently disclosed mixing machine, the blade supporting wall can extend along the entire distance between the adjacent compartment edges, connecting the adjacent compartment edges. More particularly, in some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the mixing machine can comprise at least two blade supporting walls, at least one blade supporting wall being disposed between each of the adjacent compartment edges of each pair of neighboring compartments.

[0065] Fig. 3 illustrates the same view of the vessel 101 as in Fig. 2, but without the static blade 30. As seen, the vessel 101 comprises a blade supporting wall 40 extending the entire distance between the adjacent compartment edges 16 for the attachment of the static blade 30 thereto.

[0066] A static blade according to the presently disclosed subject matter can have at least one fixation surface spaced from the cutting edge thereof. The static blade can be detachably mountable to the at least one blade supporting wall between the compartments at least partially by means of the blade supporting wall / s and the fixation surface / s. In some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the at least one blade supporting wall may comprise at least one protrusion and the at least one fixation surface may comprise a recess shaped to receive the protrusion of the blade supporting wall for fixation thereto. Alternatively, the at least one fixation surface may comprise a protrusion and the at least one blade supporting wall may comprise at least one recess shaped to receive the protrusion for connection thereto. Further alternatively, the static blade may be attachable directly to the inner compartment surfaces of neighboring compartments, and thus the vessel of the mixing machine may not comprise a blade supporting wall at all.

[0067] Fig. 4 schematically illustrates a perspective view of the static blade 30 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which comprises a fixation surface 34 spaced from the cutting edge 32, and which is detachably mountable, at its fixation surface, to the blade supporting wall 40 of the mixing machine 1 shown in Fig. 3

[0068] In a mixing machine according to the presently disclosed subject matter, the at least one static blade can have any suitable orientation and size. In some embodiments, the cutting edge of the at least one static blade can be parallel to the compartment axis of the mixing machine and can extend along at least a majority of the height of the compartment side walls. In other embodiments, the at least one static blade can comprise a plurality of short static blades positioned along the height of the compartment. Each of the plurality of such blades may be positioned with their cutting edges oriented along the same direction, for example each cutting edge being parallel to the compartment axis and be spaced to the same or different distances therefrom, or they can be oriented in different directions.

[0069] Furthermore, in some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, the at least one static blade may include a body having a cross-sectional shape, taken perpendicular to its cutting edge, that is generally polygonal. The polygonal shape can include both traditional polygons with straight sides, such as squares, hexagons, or triangles, as well as modified polygons where one or more sides are curved. For example, a "triangular" shape in this context can include three sides, some or all of which may be curved. The at least one static blade can comprise two blade side surfaces that diverge from the cutting edge towards the fixation surface, and form with the fixation surface two spaced apart blade corners. An angle between the blade side surfaces can be in the range of 25° to 85°, more particularly it can be an acute angle in the range of 45° to 85° and still more particularly, in the range of 60° to 80°, or alternatively in the range of 25° to 45°. Each of the two side blade surfaces can be straight or arc-shaped in the aforementioned cross-sectional view. If they are arc-shaped, the arc shapes can be continuously aligned with the adjacent arc-shaped inner compartment surfaces of the neighboring compartments. In some embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter, the body of the static blade can have a thickness between the cutting edge and the fixation surface, which does not exceed the width of the fixation surface between the blade comers. In other embodiments, the thickness between the cutting edge and the fixation surface can be larger that the width of the fixation surface between the blade corners.

[0070] In the example of the presently disclosed subject matter illustrated in Fig. 2, the static blade 30 extends along the majority of the height h of the compartment side walls 12. The cutting edge 32 of the static blade 30 is oriented parallel to the central axis C of the vessel 101. As seen in Fig. 5, which illustrates a cross-sectional view of the static blade 30 along the line BB marked in Fig. 4, the static blade 30 comprises a body 31 having a generally triangular shape in a cross-section of the vessel perpendicular to the central axis C of the vessel. As seen best in Figs. 4 and 5, the static blade 30 comprises two blade side surfaces 33 that diverge from the cutting edge 32 towards the fixation surface 34 and form with the fixation surface 34 two spaced apart blade corners 35. An angle a (shown in Fig. 5) between the two blade side surfaces 33 is 72°. Each of the two blade side surfaces 33 are arc-shaped in the aforementioned cross-sectional view. As best seen in the cross-sectional view illustrated in Fig. 1, the arc-shaped blade side surfaces 33 are continuously aligned with the adjacent arc-shaped inner compartment surfaces 12a of the neighboring compartments 10.

[0071] In a mixing machine according to the presently disclosed subject matter, the at least one static blade must be mountable to the vessel securely, so as to withstand forces exerted thereon during use of the mixing machine. Thus, at least one fastening element is provided to securely fix the at least one static blade to a blade supporting surface of the vessel. The fixation can be such as to allow attachment and detachment of the static blade without dissembling the vessel from the mixing machine. Alternatively, the fixation can be of a kind requiring dissembling of the vessel for the replacement of the static blade.

[0072] The fastening element / s must be robust enough to prevent the static blade from dislodging or becoming loose due to the high-impact forces and vibrations generated within the mixing machine during operation. Examples of such fastening element / s include bolts, screws, rivets, welds, clamps, magnetic components, or any other suitable fastening means. The at least one fastening element can also be an integral part of the static blade itself, shaped to detachably and fixedly engage with a corresponding portion or element of a blade supporting surface of the vessel. Proper selection and installation of the at least one fastening element is crucial to ensure the structural integrity and safe functioning of the mixing machine. At least one static blade and at least one fastening element can constitute at least a part of a kit for a mixing machine.

[0073] In some examples of the mixing machine according to the presently disclosed subject matter, the fixation surface of the static blade can comprise at least two fixation elements spaced from each other along the height of the blade, and the mixing machine can further comprise at least two fastening elements that detachably and fixedly engage the fixation elements to secure the static blade in place relative to the vessel, at least partially by means of the blade supporting wall.

[0074] Each fixation element can be in the form of a threaded opening in the fixation surface, and the blade supporting wall can have a through bore aligned with each threaded opening. Each fastening element can be elongated and have a proximal fastening end that can be threadedly received in the threaded opening, an intermediate fastening element portion, at least a part of which passes through the through bore of the blade supporting wall, and a distal fastening end that can protrude from the blade supporting wall at its side facing in a direction away from the static blade when it is at least indirectly fixed relative thereto. The blade supporting wall can comprise at least one through bore for receiving the distal fastening end of a fastening element such that it protrudes therefrom. Alternatively, the blade supporting wall can received the distal fastening end of a fastening element such that it is flush with an outward facing surface of the blade supporting wall.

[0075] Fig. 6 illustrates a cut-away view of part of a mixing machine 1000 according to another example of the presently disclosed subject matter, and Fig. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the static blade 300 used therein as seen on the right side in Fig. 6. The mixing machine 1000 comprises all of the features of the mixing machine 1 described heretofore and illustrated in Figs. 1 - 5, and thus includes corresponding reference numerals for corresponding features that are a multiple of 10.

[0076] As illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the fixation surface 340 of the static blade 300 comprises three fixation elements 342, and the mixing machine 1000 further comprises three fastening elements 50 that detachably and fixedly engage the fixation elements 342 to secure the static blade 300 in place relative to the vessel 1020 by means of the blade supporting wall 400.

[0077] As best seen in Fig. 8, each static blade 300 comprises a number of threaded openings 344 in the fixation surface 340, constituting fixation elements 342 of the static blade 300. The corresponding blade supporting wall 400 has through bores 410 aligned with the threaded openings 344. Each fastening element 50 has a proximal fastening end 50a threadedly received in the corresponding threaded opening, an intermediate fastening element portion 50b, a part of which passes through the through bore 410 of the blade supporting wall 400, and a distal fastening end 50c protruding from the blade supporting wall 400 at its side facing in a direction away from the static blade 300 and indirectly fixed relative thereto.

[0078] Fig. 9 provides an enlarged view of the area D marked in Fig. 8, illustrating an area of the static blade 300 connected to the blade supporting wall 400, together with one of fastening elements 50 used therefor. As seen in Fig. 9, the fastening element 50 comprises the proximal fastening end 50a threadedly received in the threaded opening 344 in the static blade, the intermediate fastening element portion 50b, which passes through the through bore 410 of the blade supporting wall 400, and the distal fastening end 50c protruding from the blade supporting wall 400 at its side facing in a direction away from the static blade 300 and fixed directly thereto.

[0079] A static blade, according to the presently disclosed subject matter, can be assembled with the rest of the mixing machine in a number of ways. In some examples, when assembling the mixing machine, fastening elements can first be connected to the fixation elements of the static blade and then connected to the blade supporting wall. To facilitate assembly of the static blade in the mixing machine, the width of the open area in a cross-section of the vessel taken perpendicular to its central axis and to the compartment axes can be essentially greater than the sum of a dimension of the static blade between the cutting edge and the fixation surface thereof, and a length to which the fastening elements protrude from the fixation surface when the proximal ends thereof are threadedly received within the threaded openings. In other examples, when assembling the mixing machine, the static blade may be aligned with the blade support wall, and fixation elements may be introduced through the respective bores in the blade support wall and then into the corresponding fixation elements. As shown in Fig. 6, the width of the open area designated LI is greater than the sum of a dimension of the static blade between the cutting edge and the fixation surface thereof designated L2, and a length designated L3 to which the fastening elements protrude from the fixation surface when the proximal ends thereof are threadedly received within the threaded openings.

[0080] In a mixing machine according to the presently disclosed subject matter, a self- centering arrangement can be provided in order to improve the ease, speed and position accuracy of assembling a static blade with a vessel. Such a self centering arrangement can comprise any appropriate elements or shapes or materials which aid the static blade to achieve quick and accurate alignment with the at least one blade supporting wall. For example, the fixation surface of the static blade can comprise at least one elongated protrusion operable to fit within a corresponding elongated groove on the at least one blade supporting wall, or the fixation surface of the static blade can comprise at least one magnet that engages a corresponding at least one magnet in the blade supporting wall.

[0081] Further examples of such an arrangement can comprise at least one centering element and a corresponding centering recess or recesses located in the static blade and / or the blade supporting wall. One of the blade supporting wall and the fixation surface can comprise at least one centering element protruding therefrom towards the other of the blade supporting wall and the fixation surface. The other of the blade supporting wall and the fixation surface can comprise at least one centering recess that receives the centering element. In some examples of such an arrangement, the blade supporting wall and the fixation surface have at least two centering element-and-centering recess pairs, spaced apart along the central axis. In a more particular example, the fixation surface of a static blade according to the presently disclosed subject matter can have two centering elements protruding therefrom and spaced apart along the central axis. The blade supporting wall can have two centering element recess corresponding spaced along the central axis, each configured to receive one of the centering elements.

[0082] As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the fixation surface 340 of each static blade 300 comprises two centering recesses 346 and each of the corresponding blade supporting walls 400 comprises two centering recesses 446, that each receive one end of a centering element 600.

[0083] In some embodiments of a mixing machine according to the presently described subject matter, for each pair of adjacent compartment edges the vessel can have a blade fastening wall disposed further from the static blade than the blade supporting wall and aligned with the blade supporting wall. The blade fastening wall can abut the blade supporting wall, or it can be spaced at a distance therefrom. The blade fastening wall can have a through bore aligned with the through bore of the blade supporting wall, and the intermediate fastening element portion can pass through the through bore of the blade supporting wall and the through bore of the blade fastening wall so that the distal fastening end of the fastening element protrudes from the blade fastening wall at its side facing in a direction away from the blade supporting wall. The distal fastening end of the fastening element can be fixed to the blade fastening wall.

[0084] As illustrated in Fig. 8, the mixing machine 1000 comprises blade fastening walls 700 disposed further from each static blade 300 than each blade supporting wall 400 and aligned with the blade supporting wall 400. The blade fastening wall 700 comprises through bores 710 aligned with the through bores 410 of the blade supporting wall 40.

[0085] A vessel in a mixing machine according to the presently described subject matter, can comprise an outer wall that surrounds at least a majority of the compartment outer surfaces and is spaced therefrom. The outer wall can comprise the blade fastening wall described heretofore. High forces in the vessel during mixing of material can cause heating of the material, thus in some examples of the presently disclosed subject matter, a cooling means can be provided at least partially in the space between the outer surface of the compartments and the outer wall. The cooling means can comprise any suitable mechanism, such as a stationary or circulating cooling liquid or gel. For instance, in one example, a stationary cooling gel may be housed in the space between the outer surface of the compartment and the outer wall, providing cooling by absorbing heat generated during mixing. In another example, a circulating liquid coolant, such as chilled water or glycol, may flow through channels provided in the space between the outer surface of the compartment and the outer wall, transferring heat away from the compartment.

[0086] Fig. 10 illustrates a cut-away view of a system comprising a mixing machine 1000 of the kind illustrated in Fig. 8, with a vessel 1020 having two compartments 100. The compartments 100 have compartment walls 120 and the vessel has an outer wall 900 connected to the compartment walls 120 and spaced therefrom by a space 910 therebetween. Optionally, a cooling means can be provided in the space 910.

[0087] A mixing machine, according to the presently disclosed subject matter, may further comprise bottom and top walls sealingly attached to the vessel to enclose a mixing space bound by the compartment inner surfaces and the bottom and top walls. The top wall may be constituted by a vessel lid. The mixing machine may further comprise at least one vacuum pump configured to generate a vacuum within the mixing space. The vacuum can function to dehumidify the material being mixed in the mixing space. In examples of a mixing machine comprising a vacuum according to the presently disclosed subject matter, the vessel lid is constructed with sufficient strength to withstand the forces exerted thereon by the vacuum.

[0088] Referring again to Fig. 10, the mixing machine 1000 comprises a top wall 950 constituted by a vessel lid, and a bottom wall 960, sealingly attached to the vessel 1020 so as to enclose a mixing space 1001.

[0089] To facilitate the ability of the vessel to withstand high forces in the vessel compartments developed during mixing of material therein, at least one reinforcing element can be provided to reinforce the vessel. The at least one reinforcing element may be in the form of the outer wall described heretofore with or without at least one dedicated reinforcing elements. In some examples, the at least one dedicated reinforcing element can be constituted by at least one reinforcing rib. This rib / s can be attached to and protrude outwardly from the outer compartment surfaces of the compartment side walls, can be connected to the outer wall of the vessel and can have any suitable shape. In some embodiments, the rib / s can be constituted by reinforcing ring / s disposed on one or each compartment. The or each reinforcing ring can comprise two ring portions, each ring portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends and the second ends are respectively connected to each other, detachably or permanently, for example via welding. Each ring portion can comprise at least two arced lengths shaped to fit along a length of corresponding two compartments. The ring portions can be welded to the corresponding two compartments. Furthermore, the at least one reinforcing ring can comprise at least two reinforcing rings that surround the compartments and are spaced apart from each other along the central axis.

[0090] Fig 11 illustrates an interior view of the vessel 1020 of the mixing machine 1000 illustrated in Fig. 10, wherein the outer wall 900 is hidden. Two reinforcing ribs 800 are attached to and protrude outwardly from the outer compartment surfaces 120b of the compartment side walls 120. The two reinforcing ribs 800 are spaced from each other along the central axis of the mixing machine. The reinforcing ribs 800 are each constituted by a reinforcing ring disposed on each compartment. Each reinforcing ring 800 comprises two ring portions 810, each ring portion 810 having a first end 810a and a second end 810b, wherein the first ends 810a and the second ends 810b are respectively connected to each other.

[0091] Fig. 12 illustrates a perspective view of one of the reinforcing ribs 800 illustrated in Fig. 11. Each ring portion 810 comprises two arced lengths 820 shaped to fit along a length of corresponding two compartments.

[0092] A kit according to one example of the presently disclosed subject matter can comprise at least one static blade as described heretofore, and at least one fastening element as described heretofore. In some examples, the kit can comprise at least two static blades as described heretofore and at least two fastening elements configured for use therewith. In some examples of a kit according to the presently disclosed subject matter, each static blade can have at least two threaded openings spaced along its length, with a number of fastening elements, each having one end threadedly receivable within one of the threaded openings. In one particular example, the kit comprises two static blades, each having three threaded openings spaced along the length of the blade, and six fastening elements, each having one end threadedly receivable within one of the threaded openings of one of the static blades.

[0093] Fig. 13 illustrates one example of a kit 2000 according to the presently disclosed subject matter. The components of the kit 2000 are shown assembled to the vessel of a mixing machine for illustrative purposes, with the view being a cutaway view. The kit 2000 comprises two static blades 2300, each comprising three fixation elements 2342 constituted by threaded openings 2344 spaced along the length of the blade. The kit 2000 further comprises fastening elements 2020, each having one end that can be received in one of the threaded openings 2344 of one of the static blades 2300.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A material mixing machine, said material mixing machine having a central axis and comprising, at least when assembled, a vessel with at least one pair of neighboring compartments located therein; each compartment having a compartment axis parallel to said central axis and a dynamic mixing tool having at least one radially extending blade mounted to a shaft rotatable about said compartment axis, and a compartment side wall having an inner compartment surface defining an interior of the compartment and an outer compartment surface facing away from said interior, the compartment side wall having a height along said compartment axis and the inner compartment surface having an arced shape in a cross-section of the vessel taken perpendicular to said central axis; the inner compartment surface terminating at two compartment edges spaced apart by an open area through which material to be mixed can enter and exit the compartment; the neighboring compartments being so disposed relative to each other as to have at least one pair of adjacent compartment edges and a common meshing area defined by at least portions of the open areas of the compartments located adjacent to the or each pair of the adjacent compartment edges; the or each pair of neighboring compartments comprising a blade supporting wall connecting the adjacent compartment edges of the neighboring compartments; and a static blade having a cutting edge and a fixation surface spaced therefrom towards the blade supporting wall, the static blade being mounted, optionally detachably, between said compartment walls at least partially by means of said blade supporting wall and said fixation surface, so that the cutting edge protrudes into said meshing area, is parallel to said central axis of the machine and extends along at least a majority of the height of the compartment side walls.

2. A material mixing machine according to Claim 1, wherein one of said blade supporting wall and said fixation surface comprises at least one centering elementprotruding therefrom towards the other of the blade supporting wall and the fixation surface, and wherein said other of the blade supporting wall and said fixation surface comprises at least one centering recess receiving said centering element; optionally the blade supporting wall and the fixation surface having at least two centering element-and-centering recess pairs, spaced apart along the central axis.

3. The material mixing machine according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein said static blade comprises a body having a generally triangular shape in a cross-section of the vessel perpendicular to the central axis, and comprising, in addition to the cutting edge and the fixation surface, two blade side surfaces diverging from the cutting edge towards the fixation surface and forming with the fixation surface two spaced apart blade corners.

4. The material mixing machine according to Claim 3, wherein each of said two side blade surfaces is arc-shaped in said cross-section and is continuously aligned with the adjacent arc-shaped inner compartment surface of one of the neighboring compartments.

5. The material mixing machine according to any one of the proceeding claims, wherein said fixation surface comprises at least two fixation elements and said machine further comprising at least two fastening elements detachably and fixedly engaging said fixation elements for securing the static blade in place relative to the remainder of the vessel at least partially by means of said blade supporting wall.

6. The material mixing machine according to Claim 5, wherein each fixation element is a threaded opening in the fixation surface, said blade supporting wall has a through bore aligned with said threaded opening, and each fastening element has a proximal fastening end threadedly received in said threaded opening, an intermediate fastening element portion at least a part of which passes through the through bore of the blade supporting wall, and a distal fastening end protrudingfrom the blade supporting wall at its side facing in a direction away from the static blade and at least indirectly fixed relative thereto.

7. The material mixing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein for each pair of adjacent compartment edges, said vessel has a blade fastening wall disposed further from the static blade than the blade supporting wall and aligned with the blade supporting wall.

8. The material mixing machine according to Claim 7, when dependent on Claim 6, wherein said blade fastening wall has a through bore aligned with the through bore of the blade supporting wall, and the intermediate fastening element portion passes through the through bore of the blade supporting wall and the through bore of the blade fastening wall so that the distal fastening end of the fastening element protrudes from the blade fastening wall at its side facing in a direction away from the blade supporting wall.

9. The material mixing machine according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one reinforcing rib attached to and protruding outwardly from the outer compartment surfaces of the compartment side walls.

10. The material mixing machine according to Claim 9, wherein said at least one reinforcing rib is constituted by at least one reinforcing ring, optionally two reinforcing rings surrounding the compartments and spaced apart from each other along said central axis.

11. The material mixing machine according to Claim 10, wherein said at least one reinforcing ring comprises two ring portions, each ring portion having a first end and a second end, wherein the first ends and the second ends are respectively connected to each other.

12. The material mixing machine according to Claim 5, or any one of Claims 6 to 11 when dependent on Claim 5 directly or indirectly, wherein the width of the open area in said cross-section of the vessel is essentially greater than the sum of adimension of the static blade between the cutting edge and the fixation surface thereof and a length to which the fastening elements protrude from the fixation surface when the proximal ends thereof are threadedly received within the threaded openings.

13. The material mixing machine according to any one the preceding claims, wherein said at least one pair of neighboring compartments is constituted by a single pair of neighboring compartments.

14. The material mixing machine according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, at least when assembled, each of said dynamic mixing tool comprises a shaft extending along said compartment axis, and said at least one radially extending blade is constituted by at least two radially extending blades spaced from each other along said compartment axis.

15. The material mixing machine according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said at least two radially extending blades comprises a proximal end portion connected to said shaft and a distal end portion curved perpendicularly to the radial extension of the blade.

16. A detachable static blade for use in a mixing machine of any one of Claims 1 to 15.

17. The detachable static blade according to Claim 16, wherein said blade has an elongate shape with a length corresponding to the height of the compartment side walls of the mixing machine, and further has at least one of the following features: a thickness between the cutting edge and the fixation surface, which does not exceed the width of the fixation surface between the blade comers; an angle between the blade side walls is an acute angle exceeding 40°, optionally in the range of 45° to 85°; and a material of which the blade is made is the same as that of the compartment walls.

18. The detachable static blade according to Claim 16 or 17, constituting a part of a kit, said comprising at least two of said detachable static blade, each detachable static blade having at least two threaded openings spaced along the length of the blade, and at least two fastening elements each having one end threadedly receivable within one of the threaded openings.

19. The material mixing machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 15, wherein the dynamic mixing tool of one of said compartments is rotatable about the compartment axis thereof in the same direction as that of the dynamic mixing tool of the neighboring compartment.

20. The material mixing machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 15 or Claim 19, wherein the mixing machine comprises a vacuum pump operable to generate a vacuum within the vessel.

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