Dual action mixer

A dual action mixer, comprising:

• a mixer drum having opposed first and second end walls;
• a drive shaft at said first end wall;
• a drive sleeve disposed about said drive shaft;
• a bearing block supported at said second end wall generally in coaxial alignment with said drive shaft and movable between a normal position projecting into said drum and a retracted position substantially withdrawn from said drum;
• a first mixing element including a driven shaft having one end for generally coaxial driving connection with said drive shaft and an opposite end for rotatable support by said bearing block when said block is in the normal position, said driven shaft being axially movable relative to said drive shaft and bearing block between a first position advanced toward said drive shaft for driving connection thereto and a second position retracted from said drive shaft for disconnection therefrom, said first mixing element further including first mixing members mounted on said driven shaft;
• a second mixing element including second mixing members mounted on a pair of support hubs rotatably supported generally at opposite ends of said driven shaft;
• and
• means for coupling one of said support hubs with said drive sleeve for rotation of said second mixing element when said driven shaft of said first mixing element is drivingly connected to said drive shaft;
• said first and second mixing elements being removable from said drum upon disconnection of said driven shaft from said drive shaft, movement of said bearing block to the retracted position, and uncoupling of said one support hub from driving relation with said drive sleeve.

A dual action mixer, comprising:

• a mixer drum having opposed first and second end walls;
• a drive shaft projecting through said first end wall and including a threaded end portion within said drum;
• a drive sleeve disposed about said drive shaft and projecting through said first end wall into said drum;
• a bearing block supported at said second end wall generally in coaxial alignment with said drive shaft and movable between a normal position projecting into said drum and a retracted position substantially withdrawn from said drum;
• a first mixing element including a driven shaft having one end threaded for generally coaxial driving connection with said drive shaft threaded end portion and an opposite end rotatably supported by said bearing block when said block is in the normal position for sufficient axial sliding movement to permit connection and disconnection of said driven shaft with said drive shaft, said first mixing element further including a plurality of first mixing members radiating outwardly from said driven shaft and including angularly set mixer paddles for mixing ingredients within said drum upon rotation of said driven shaft;
• a second mixing element including a pair of support hubs rotatably supported generally at opposite ends of said driven shaft, said support hubs each being secured to a respective pair of outwardly radiating scraper arms in close association respectively with said first and second end walls, a first mixer blade connected between one of said scraper blades of each pair, and a second mixer blade connected between the other of said scraper blades of each pair, said mixer blades being radially positioned for clearance relative to said paddles;
• one of said support hubs and said drive sleeve including axially presented and matingly engageable drive surfaces formed respectively thereon;
• and
• shoulder means on said driven shaft for retaining said one support hub in an axial position with said drive surfaces matingly engaged when said driven shaft is drivingly connected to said drive shaft, said shoulder means being retracted axially from said one support hub upon disconnection of said driven shaft from said drive shaft to permit axial retraction of said one support hub from driving engagement with respect to said drive sleeve;
• said first and second mixing elements being removable from said drum upon disconnection of said driven shaft from said drive shaft, movement of said bearing block to the retracted position, and uncoupling of said one support hub from driving relation with said drive sleeve.

In a dual action mixer having a coaxial drive shaft and counterrotatable drive sleeve projecting through a first end wall of a mixer drum having opposite first and second end walls, removable mixing apparatus, comprising:

• a bearing block supported at said second end wall generally in coaxial alignment with said drive shaft and movable between a normal position projecting into said drum and a retracted position substantially withdrawn from said drum;
• a first mixing element including a driven shaft having one end for generally coaxial driving connection with said drive shaft and an opposite end for rotatable support by said bearing block when said block is in the normal position, said driven shaft being axially movable relative to said drive shaft and bearing block between a first position advanced toward said drive shaft for driving connection thereto and a second position retracted from said drive shaft for disconnection therefrom, said first mixing element further including first mixing members mounted on said driven shaft;
• a second mixing element including second mixing members mounted on a pair of support hubs rotatably supported generally at opposite ends of said driven shaft;
• and
• means for coupling one of said support hubs with said drive sleeve for rotation of said second mixing element when said driven shaft of said first mixing element is drivingly connected to said drive shaft;
• said first and second mixing elements being removable from said drum upon disconnection of said driven shaft from said drive shaft, movement of said bearing block to the retracted position, and uncoupling of said one support hub from driving relation with said drive sleeve.