Ribbon Blender

A ribbon blender is a factory mixer built to mix dry powders, grains or thin pastes until every part of the batch looks the same. It serves drug chemicals, food and cosmetic plants. The main part is a long U-shaped metal trough lying on its side. A single shaft runs lengthwise inside the trough. Two spiral metal ribbons – one on the inside, one on the outside – attach to the shaft. The shaft turns the ribbons. The outer ribbon moves the load toward the center - the inner ribbon moves the load toward the ends. This back-and-forth motion blends the contents quickly plus evenly. Factories build ribbon blenders from mild steel or stainless steel. Sizes start at a few litres and reach multiple thousand litres – the same design works for test lots or full production. The edge of each ribbon sits close to the metal wall, leaving almost no space. Tight clearance erases dead pockets but also adds the small shear needed for a uniform blend. Optional scrapers wipe the wall – optional spray nozzles add small amounts of liquid for coating jobs. Power reaches the shaft through belts or a direct coupling – both types allow speed changes to match the mix time needed. Workers pour raw material in through a top hatch. After the set time, a valve on the trough bottom opens and the batch drops out. Hinged lids lift for washdown. The cover seals dust inside. Emergency stop buttons as well as lid interlocks protect operators. The blender handles many recipes, uses little power and gives the same result every run, which is why bulk plants treat it as basic equipment.