A method to control a mixer (10) for concrete, mortar, powders, dry and semi-dry granulates, cement-based mixes or similar or comparable mixes or mixtures, comprises an input step in which it provides to communicate to a control and command unit (15) of the mixer (10) a plurality of input data correlated to the formulation of the mix that has to be treated in the mixing cycle, a detection step in which it provides to detect the values of an electric quantity characteristic of the electric power line of a drive unit (12) comprised in the mixer (10), a processing step in which the control and command unit (15) processes the data detected in the detection step in order to calculate the overall active power that is generated as a function of time, and to carry out one or more verifications, comparing the data processed with one or more of the respective data introduced among the input data, in order to transmit to a programmable logic controller (14) that commands the functioning of the mixer (10) alternately a consent signal to discharge the mix subjected to the mixing cycle, or an anomaly signal selectively correlated to the verification or verifications that have had a negative outcome, so that the operator can respectively command in the first case the discharge of the mix from the mixer (10), and in the second case the consequent corrective actions on the mixing cycle.

A mixer machine assembly having a drive unit with an electric motor, a drive shaft assembly connected to the electric motor, and a propeller. The propeller has a hub, a plurality of blades, and a propeller shaft from the drive shaft assembly. The control unit is operatively connected to the electric motor, and is configured for monitoring and controlling the operation of the mixer machine. The control unit monitors a drive shaft torque about a drive shaft of the drive shaft assembly. The control unit determines an average torque range based on at least one torque range, wherein each torque range is the difference between the highest and the lowest torque value detected during a predetermined angle of rotation of the propeller during operation of the mixer machine assembly. The control unit compares the determined average torque range with a predetermined torque range limit value.

A mixer machine assembly having a drive unit with an electric motor, a drive shaft assembly connected to the electric motor, and a propeller. The propeller has a hub, a plurality of blades, and a propeller shaft from the drive shaft assembly. The control unit is operatively connected to the electric motor, and is configured for monitoring and controlling the operation of the mixer machine. The control unit monitors a drive shaft torque about a drive shaft of the drive shaft assembly. The control unit determines an average torque range based on at least one torque range, wherein each torque range is the difference between the highest and the lowest torque value detected during a predetermined angle of rotation of the propeller during operation of the mixer machine assembly. The control unit compares the determined average torque range with a predetermined torque range limit value.

A beverage mixing system/method allowing faster mixing/blending of frozen beverages is disclosed. The system/method in various embodiments utilizes inductive coupling to introduce heat into the frozen beverage during the mixing/blending process via a rotating driveshaft and attached mechanical agitator to speed the mixing/blending process. Exemplary embodiments may be configured to magnetically induce heat into the driveshaft and/or mechanical agitator mixing blade to affect this mixing/blending performance improvement. This heating effect may be augmented via the use of high power LED arrays aimed into the frozen slurry to provide additional heat input. The system/method may be applied with particular advantage to the mixing of ice cream type beverages and other viscous beverage products.

An agitator is configured to move within a vessel in order to circulate at least one substance, the agitator including at least one sensor, the sensor being configured to detect parameters of the circulating process and/or parameters of the substance and/or parameters of an reaction and/or parameters of the agitator, and agitator being configured to supply energy to at least one sensor in a wireless manner and to transmit sensor signals to an evaluating device.

The invention further relates to an agitator system with such an agitator and a method for detecting and measuring, respectively, process parameters in a wireless and/or battery-free manner.

The invention relates to improvements in the technical field of feeding solid materials to mixing devices. For this purpose, the solid-material feeding device, inter alia, is proposed. The solid-material feeding device comprises the slide, which can be moved between a first end position and a second end position through a conveying connection, which is arranged between a funnel and a solid-material outlet of the solid-material feeding device. By means of the slide, adhesions within the conveying connection can be loosened without having to remove the conveying connection.

The invention relates to improvements in the technical field of feeding solid materials to mixing devices. For this purpose, the solid-material feeding device, inter alia, is proposed. The solid-material feeding device comprises the slide, which can be moved between a first end position and a second end position through a conveying connection, which is arranged between a funnel and a solid-material outlet of the solid-material feeding device. By means of the slide, adhesions within the conveying connection can be loosened without having to remove the conveying connection.

A particulate material sensing and agitation control system of an agricultural system includes an agitator configured to induce movement of particulate material through the agricultural system, a drive system coupled to the agitator, and a sensing system configured to determine a current flowing through the drive system. The drive system is configured to move the agitator, and the drive system is powered via an electrical circuit. The sensing system includes a first input coupled to a first point on the electrical circuit, the sensing system includes a second input coupled to a second point on the electrical circuit, the sensing system is configured to determine a voltage differential between the first point and the second point, and the sensing system is configured to determine current flowing through the electrical circuit based on the voltage differential.

A method of forming a composite material includes mixing granules of thermoplastic(s) and granules of reinforcing material(s) using a mixer with an interior friction coating. The friction generated by interaction between the granules and friction coating causes granules of at least one of the thermoplastic(s) to be heated to a liquid or semi-liquid state. The liquid/semi-liquid thermoplastic(s) act a binder for the mixed material. A system for forming such a composite material includes such a mixer with an interior friction coating. The system may also include a mould and/or a press for forming material produced by the mixer into a finished shape. The method and system may use post-consumer and post-industrial material as an input allowing such material to be recycled. In some cases, cross-contaminated or mixed post-consumer/post-industrial material may be recycled, potentially reducing environmental impacts.

A system for making a brine solution is provided comprising: a single conveyor; and a hopper assembly configured to receive a salt and a solvent, the hopper assembly comprising a lower hopper having a shape in which sides of the lower hopper direct any solid contents of the lower hopper, under a force of gravity, towards an entry point of the single conveyor, the hopper assembly further comprising a solvent inlet arranged to spray the salt, wherein the solvent inlet is configured to create a brine solution from a spray of the solvent combined with the salt in the hopper assembly, and wherein the single conveyor is configured to remove debris from the hopper assembly at the entry point of the single conveyor. A novel sediment tank is also provided.