Introduction of Ribbon Blender
Applications for solid-solid and liquid-to-liquid communication can be found in many industries, including food and beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, and agricultural. The batch ribbon blender is used in these applications because it can bend pellets, coat smaller particles, dry materials under vacuum, or achieve the desired paste moisture content.
An inner and an outer helical ribbon with a horizontal U-shaped trough make up a ribbon blender. The ribbons are angled to travel in an opposing axial and radial direction. The normal speed of the agitator tip range is 300 feet per minute. The batch volume and product bulk density will indicate whether a normal or heavy-duty model is needed when choosing a ribbon blender. The ribbon blenders typically have a bulk density limit of 35 lb/cu ft.
The compatibility of the raw materials influences the choice of construction material. Surface polish, tight covers, safety gratings, the size and type of the discharge valve, high-speed choppers, heating/cooling jacket, etc. are some features that should be discussed with your ribbon blender provider.
Flexible belts and a set of pulleys are used in the ribbon blender’s drive system to assist it achieve the necessary speed and torque ranges. A belt drive is also included for power transfer between the motor and gear reducer.
Ribbon Blender Design
For ribbon mixing operations, a gear motor is a one-piece motor reducer that fits the characteristics of the gear unit. This creates a high degree of dynamic capability. Additionally, it functions well with electronic inverters that offer improved speed control, overload protection, and programmable starting torques.
The ribbon blender system needs to have the tension adjusted after installation because the belt expands and wears out over time. Additionally, it reduces the lifespan of the motor/reducer bearings. Belt slippage causes the belt-driven ribbon blender system to lose horsepower and efficiency. In contrast, gear motors offer superior performance, greater operational efficiency, and other benefits. Due to the overhung stresses on the motor, elimination of the reducer-shaft bearings in gear motors, and adjustment of the coupling and belts, the service life is greater.
As shot-filled couplings were prone to overheating and hydraulic coupling was followed by a fail-safe fuse, the majority of manufacturers rely on belt-driven systems. Gear motor uses the most recent electronic drive technology, which opens up all industrial options, as opposed to earlier blender designs. The variable frequency drives (VFD) enable a soft start throughout the blending and discharging process, offering a handy method of speed control. For ribbon mixer or blender applications, gear motor and variable frequency drives (VFD) are the most dependable and economical choice. Complex PLC systems can be simply connected to programmer different processes and recipes.