A tank, such as a fermentation tank, includes a scraper blade assembly slideably coupled to a bottom surface of the tank. The scraper blade assembly includes a blade arranged to displace solids deposited on the bottom surface of the tank out through an aperture arranged flush with the bottom surface of the tank.

An apparatus for mixing a solution includes first and second tanks, a sampling element, a flow control element, a mixing assembly, first and second air-intake systems, and first and second air-exhaust systems. The first tank has a first chamber. The second tank has a second chamber. The sampling element has an extraction port located in the first chamber. The flow control element connects and communicates with the first chamber. Two opposite ends of the mixing assembly connect and communicate with the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively. The first air-intake system and the first air-exhaust system connect and communicate with the first chamber. The second air-intake system and the second air-exhaust system connect and communicate with the second chamber.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, an apparatus for mixing a solution includes first and second tanks, a sampling element, a flow control element and a mixing assembly is provided. The first tank has a first chamber and a first fluid inlet. The second tank has a second chamber. The sampling element is connected and communicated with the first chamber. The flow control element connects and communicates with the first chamber through the first fluid inlet. Two opposite ends of the mixing assembly connect and communicate with the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises a plurality of flexible impact elements for controlling the buildup of solids in a mixer, submerged flight conveyor, unloader or similar device. The device for use with the impact elements has at least one shaft and a plurality of rotating elements which rotate around a drive sprocket or extend radially from a shaft for moving ash or similar particulate solids. The flexible impact elements communicate with the device so as to limit or control the buildup of solids on the rotating elements, thus enabling a more efficient throughput of materials by the device.

A continuous paste mixer comprising a mixing apparatus secured to a frame is described herein. The mixing apparatus includes one or more mixer assemblies configured to extend and stack with respect to the frame, the one or more mixer assemblies to mix various ingredients (thixotropic and/or non-Newtonian) continuously and uniformly without risking uncontrolled exothermic reactions. The continuous paste mixer comprises a support member operatively connected to the mixing apparatus, and a controller configured to automatically control movement and operation of the high-shear mixer during mixing according to one or more mixing profiles.

A paint packet-making apparatus may include a plurality of containers configured to contain one or more base paints and one or more tints, a sachet packaging apparatus, and a precision dispenser configured to work in concert with the sachet packaging apparatus and fluidly connected to the plurality of containers to selectively dispense the one or more base paints and the one or more tints into respective sachets to produce at least one custom paint sample with a volume of 125 mL or less.

A paint packet-making apparatus may include a plurality of containers configured to contain one or more base paints and one or more tints, a sachet packaging apparatus, and a precision dispenser configured to work in concert with the sachet packaging apparatus and fluidly connected to the plurality of containers to selectively dispense the one or more base paints and the one or more tints into respective sachets to produce at least one custom paint sample with a volume of 125 mL or less.