A weighing apparatus for the preparation of a mixture of granular components that comprise batches of material required by a plurality of processing machines in a plant for the manufacture of plastic products is described. The apparatus comprises a Multi-Channel Gravimetric Batch Blender (MCGBB) configured to weigh predetermined weights of the raw materials and to combine the weighed portions of raw materials into batches according to a predetermined recipe for each processing machine and a computer that controls the operation of all components of the MCGBB. The MCGBB comprises several weighing units arranged in a way that allows material weighed in each of the weighing units to fall through individual chutes via a common funnel into a manifold that distributes the weighed batches to several processing machines via a system of delivery pipes.

A grinding and mixing mechanism for mixing and grinding fluid paint or fluid slurry includes a barrel, a rotor rotatably mounted in the barrel, grinding rolls rotatably mounted in the outer perimeter of the rotor and rotatably kept in contact with the inner barrel wall of the barrel for grinding a fluid paint or slurry, and a stirrer connected to the rotor for synchronous rotation with the rotor to mix the fluid paint or slurry circulated through the barrel. The invention also provides a mixer grinder using the grinding and mixing mechanism.

A unit for grinding biological samples, comprising a grinding device including at least two tubes having different volumes, suitable for being mounted on a support of the grinding device, each tube comprising an inner space having a height (h) along the axis of the corresponding tube, and being intended to contain samples to be ground, means for driving the support in a precession movement, the support having an axis the position of which varies by describing a cone, each tube being subjected to a movement (d) defined by the projection, onto the axis of said cone, of the distance between the extreme positions of a same point of the tube during the precession movement.

Embodiments of the present disclosure involve methods, devices, and systems for hydrating polymers using multiple mixing chambers. Adjacent mixing chambers may be coupled using an under-over baffle, and each mixing chamber may be generally rectangular with rounded corners.

This disclosure features methods of forming chemical compositions. The method includes (1) mixing a plurality of continuous material flows in a mixing tank to form a chemical composition, each continuous material flow including at least one component of the composition; and (2) moving a continuous flow of the chemical composition to a packaging station downstream of the mixing tank. The mixing and moving steps are performed continuously. This disclosure also features systems that can be used to perform such methods.

The present disclosure provides apparatuses and methods related to a high pressure processing device that is configured to simplify batch processing. In an embodiment, a high pressure processing device includes a processing module configured to reduce a particle size of a material or achieve a desired liquid processing result for the material, a pump configured to pump the material to an inlet of the processing module, a recirculation pathway configured to recirculate the material from an outlet of the processing module back to the pump, an input device configured to receive at least one user input variable, and a controller configured to (i) determine a number of pump strokes for the pump based on the user input variable, and (ii) control the pump according to the determined number of pump strokes so that the material makes a plurality of passes through the processing module.

Assembly for dispensing a liquid, in particular a colorant for paint, comprising a container for holding a liquid, a pump, a valve, at least one dispense opening, and comprising or associated with a controller arranged to operate the pump and the valve to withdraw liquid from the container and to dispense liquid via the opening and to operate the pump and the valve to purge liquid from the pump to the container via the dispense opening.

Methods and systems for conveniently producing fresh smoothies, which can be tailored to the particular nutritional requirements and desires of the individual customer. The system is typically a semi-automatic or fully automatic system and may be in the form of a vending machine for smoothies. It allows a consumer to select ingredients and other options, and provides a freshly-made smoothie in a short amount of time. The system generally includes a user input apparatus for receiving orders and customer preferences, and then makes a smoothie to order, delivers the smoothie to the customer, and cleans the blending device.

Blending devices can be used to blend material directly in a container such as a disposable container, such as a paper or plastic cup. In some instances, a disposable container can be coupled to an adapter that includes a blade assembly to blend a food product. The food product can be blended directly within the container when the container is coupled to the adapter and supported with a support sleeve that at least partially surrounds an exterior of the disposable container. In further instances, a stand can selectively couple with multiple different sizes of sleeves and disposable containers to the adapter. The food product can be blended directly within the disposable container without causing damage or flex to the disposable container.

A powdery-material feeding device is configured to feed a powdery material to a compression-molding machine configured to obtain a molded product by filling a die bore with the powdery material and to compress the powdery material with punches. The powdery-material feeding device includes a detector configured to detect a biologically-originated foreign matter mixedly contained in the powdery material to be fed to the compression-molding machine, and a controller configured to control to remove the powdery material mixedly containing the biologically-originated foreign matter detected by the detector to avoid feeding of the powdery material mixedly containing the biologically-originated foreign matter to the compression-molding machine, or to control to stop the feeding of the powdery material to the compression-molding machine.