Working
• The feed is moved into the vessel by the hopper present o the top of the vessel.
• To achieve the fast blending the ingredients are loaded top to bottom instead of side to side.
• The metallic vessel which rotates either manually or with the help of the electric motor.
• In the rotation of the vessel the ingredients come over one another and the function of mixing takes place.
• For the mixing of the large bulk powders, the mixing of the powders is done in the vessel of a suitable design along with the baffles which gives a thorough mixing.
• The rotation of the vessel should be slow so that the powder does not remains stationary against the side of the vessel held by the centrifugal force but lifted by baffles and falls over continuously.
• Tumblers typically operate at speeds of 5-25 rpm and have capacities of 0.5 - 200 ft3. They can be filled to about 75% of their maximum capacity. 2,3
The most recent technology in tumble mixing is in bin blending. In bin blending allows for ingredients to be loaded, tumble-blended, then stored or transported all in the same container. The advantages of this technology are the elimination of a transfer step from blender to container and the elimination of a cleaning step between different batches. Since the process is all occurring within one container, forces that could potentially cause segregation of the mixture are also greatly reduced.