Importance

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Abstract

A mixing apparatus for mixing material in a mixing chamber (19) is provided. A rotor (21) is mounted on a shaft (15) which is both rotated and moved axially simultaneously. Motors (13) through gears (14,16) rotate shaft (15) and rotor (21)' and hydraulic cylinders (9) move the rotor (21) axially. Motors (13), the gears (14,16), the rotor shaft (15), and the rotor (21) are all supported by carriages (11) which slide on horizontal rods (7). The rotor (21) has internal radial mixing slots (39). A rotor cleaning apparatus is provided which includes two separable collar parts (41, 41') having a plurality of cleaning prongs (43) in the form of a comb. The collar parts (41, 41') are supported by comb carriages (45, 45') which move the collar parts (41, 41') radially from a non-use position into cleaning position. When the rotor cleaning apparatus is in cleaning position, the cleaning prongs (43) are in alignment with the radial slots (39). Cleaning is effected when cleaning drive cylinders (35) move the rotor (21) into contact with the cleaning prongs (43). Wedges (53, 53') assist the alignment of radial slots (39) with the cleaning prongs (43). A positioning apparatus is affixed to the rotor shaft (15) for aligning the radial slots (39) of the rotor (21) with the cleaning prongs (43). The positioning apparatus includes a registration gear (31) which is moved by a detent element (49) projecting from a spring biased pawl (50) pivotally attached to a radially moving bar (52). When the detent (49) engages a tooth in registration gear (31), the radial slots (39) of rotor (21) are placed in alignment with the cleaning prongs (43) of the cleaning apparatus.

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First Claim