Method and apparatus for preparing a mixture of materials

Apparatus for preparing a material mixture from a plurality of mineral raw material components comprising:

• a) a plurality of storage cells for accommodating the individual raw material components;
• b) remote controlled proportioning devices disposed below said storage cells;
• c) a mill for comminuting said components;
• d) adjustable proportioning means for delivering a proportioned quantity of said components to said mill;
• e) homogenizing means downstream of said mill for mixing the comminuted components;
• f) a burning device downstream of said homogenizing means for burning the mixed components;
• g) at least one material sampling station between said homogenizing means and said burning device for removing material samples;
• h) at least one analysis device for analyzing the samples at least with regard to selected chemical compositions thereof and generating actual value information as to such chemical compositions;
• i) a control device including a computer coupled to said analysis device and to said proportioning means operable in the event said actual value information determined by the analysis device deviates from a predetermined desired value to adjust at least one of said proportioning devices to enable said actual value to approach said predetermined value;
• j) said analysis device being located on the spot of the material sampling station and being operable to perform automatic X-ray fluorescence analysis of the samples and to transmit said actual value information to said computer;
• and
• k) said homogenizing section being divided into a mixing zone and a storage zone and including an adjustable distribution device arranged downstream of said mixing zone, said adjustable distribution device being connected by a first conveying path to said burning device and being connected by a second conveying path to said storage zone, said storage zone communicating at least with said burning device via an adjustable proportioning device.