About GRANULATION LINE
BLENDERS
Octagonal Blender
Description
Based on the body shape, an octagonal blender is designed to process a large volume of material i.e. batch size of around 80 of blender volume. The geometry of the body about the pivot axis ensures compactness and lesser consumption of powder. A full size the window is provided for baffle assemble and visual inspection after the cleaning operation. Internal baffles (plate/pipe section) are provided to break the lumps formed due to excessive moisture during mixing. Contra rotary baffle with mechanical seals at both ends can be provided for critical mixing application. Most ideal for lubrication of granules and homogenization of multiple batches into single batch.
Powder charging can be done by any of the three methods:
- Drum charging
- Lifting & Positioning Device
- Vacuum powder conveying process
Bin Blender
Single Column Bin Blender- Widge Type
Description
One of the perfect example of batch blending where sized granules collected in a container, docked to the blender arm, clamped, lifted from a single end and tumbled for the pre-validated time.
The low shear blending action prevents excessive fines or changes to particle shape or size. Fast loading, complete discharge, short cycle time, low powder requirement and minimum maintenance are some of the features.
Conta blending improves efficiency compared to conventional blenders because of mixing in the diagonal and eccentric planes.
Enormous flexibility – different capacity of bins (for e.g. 200 Ltrs., 400 Ltrs., 600 Ltrs.) can be docked in the single fork of the same conta blender. Also various shapes of bin can be accommodated. (For eg: You could dock an Octagonal / V Shaped Blender body in the same arm of the Conta bin)
The arm of the bin blender does not have any nylon rollers or pins. It is a simple sliding system with a wedge arrangement for resting.
Bin Blender
Hydraulic Clamping
Description
Bin Blender Vertical hydraulic clamping type
As regards to its clamping, it happens with the help of three hydraulic cylinders which is a part of the blending arm.
In case of heavy bins, (single column blending) it is ideally used. Mostly for 1500 Ltrs to 3000 Ltrs capacity.
The blender bin will have to be kept at the point of clamping. There is no maneuvering of the blender bin into the blending arm in this case.
All appropriate safety measures are considered. There is a pressure switch in the circuit such that in case of any hydraulic leakage, the main drive motor stops immediately bringing the machine to a halt.
Bin Blender
Split Fork Type
Description
These are typically conventional Bin Blenders with the only difference being the way it is being clamped. In these kind of blenders, the Blending bin has got two cavity lugs on each side of the body.
The blending arm has got a fork with split type openings at each end. When the bin is inserted into the arm and the two forks enters the lugs respectively, after complete insertion the end of the fork opens like a flower thereby completely locking the bin from getting out the arm during blending operation. The opening of the split end of the arm happens through a hydraulic cylinder (50mm stoke). The split end is connected by a tensile spring.
To ensure the spit arm does not collapse during blending there is a hydraulic pressure switch available which stops the main motor in case the pressure drops against the set pressure. A pneumatic also as an additional safety limit switch in provided for the completion of the stroke. In case the 50mm stroke is incomplete, the main drive motor would not start. In additional to all the advantages of a conventional bin blender, there is something more to add: Ideally suited from 500 Ltrs to 1500 Ltrs
- Hydraulic Locking of the bin with feedback to the PLC ensuring that there is no manual intervention whatsoever.
- The same cavity arrangement is used for the blending cycle as well as the lifting of the bins on top of the compression machines.
- Very easy and hassle free arrangement ensuring compactness of the entire machine.
Bin Blender
Twin Column
Description
Another example of batch blending, similar to the conta blender except that instead of a single point lifting, the bin is lifted at two ends and rotated. Therefore blending occurs only in a diagonal plane and not in eccentric plane.
Advantages
- Flexibility of blending varying volumetric capacities is achieved in these blenders.
- After blending, the following options are available
- Discharge the blended contents into containers of varying heights.
- In case of large volume, the blended bins itself can be wheeled to the desired location of discharge.
Double Cone Blender
Description
The double cone blender consists of two cone shaped sections with 45˚ slope. The cone section is welded at their wide ends to a Centre band. The blender is mounted between two trunnions that permits the unit to tumble end over end. In operation, material is loaded to a fill level of 50 to 60% of the blender’s capacity. The blender tumbles and the material in the vessel spreads out. The transition area at the band between the cones prevents the material from siding along the inner wall and instead causes the material to fold over itself this provides gentle mixing with only very slight shear. The blender is ideal for powders of granules that degrade by attrition. The smooth transition area in the vessel also simplifies cleaning because there are no areas to trap particles and cross-contaminate batches. Contra rotary baffles with mechanicals seals of both ends can be provided for critical mixing applications.
Vee Blender
Description
Vee Blender consists of two large diameter pipes cut to 80˚ angle and welded together to form a V shaped body. Inlets are located on top of the body, outlet is at the bottom of V point where there is transition from an elliptical to cylindrical discharge port.
In operation, material is loaded to a fill level of 50 to 60% of the blender capacity. The Unit tumbles end over end like the double cone blender, but the mixing action is different because of the body shape. As the body tumbles, the material continuously splits and recombines with the mixing occurring as the material free falls randomly inside the body. Mixing is achieved in 5 to 15 minutes with better homogeneity.
The free falling action combined with increased frictional contact between the material and the body’s long straight sides result in slightly less gentle mixing, can create slight shear, producing some particle size reduction through attrition. The blender is suited to most powders and is widely used in the pharmaceutical industries.
Provision for pin type intensifier bar is used for breaking soft, friable agglomerates, which are found in raw materials or formed during blending to ensure an intimated blend minor additives are used.