Ceramics – Plastic Clay Muller

Energy Efficient Production and Reliable Design for Ceramic Applications

The modern Simpson Mix-Muller® is the product of many years of close cooperation with ceramic manufacturers worldwide. The Simpson Mix-Muller® is a medium speed, intensive mixer suitable for application in an array of ceramic applications. Typically used in the production of refractory, refractory brick, ceramic, ceramic tiles, pottery clay, and plastic clay. The Simpson Mix-Muller® is available with many optional features in addition to those normally provided and specified herein. Please don’t hesitate to request or suggest design modifications to the standard equipment. Simpson desires to continue to supply equipment and services which are the best of their respective kind, and in conformance with modern industry practices.

 

Download Process Data Sheet

Customization Option

In lieu of standard mild steel, to provide the mixing bowl, all internal elements, dust hood and discharge assembly in #304 or #316 corrosion resistant stainless steel.

The Simpson Mix-Muller® has been used in the production of ceramics for over 100 years!

Description

Simpson Mix-Muller® for the safe and energy efficient production of ceramic materials.

Application

For the safe production of plastic ceramic material characteristically in the ceramic industries.

Features 
– Crib and Wheel Scrapers to Improve Homogenization and Discharge Time
– Dust hood to Encapsulate Fugitive Materials and Acts as a Guard

– Robust Design with Strengthened Motor and Gearbox

Equipment Overview

The Simpson Mix-Muller is particularly effective in applications where raw materials of varying particle size, densities and proportions must be intensively blended into a perfectly uniform consistency. Mulling is a unique form of intensive mixing utilizing a combination of kneading, smearing and spatulating actions that intensively homogenizes difficult to mix materials.  A tool set of vertically oriented mulling wheels and plows mounted to a crosshead rotate freely around a center axis to impart the mulling action to the materials on the mixer floor. The combination of plows moves the material into the path of the mullers and assists in the blending operation. Material discharge is accomplished via a bottom door in the mixer pan.

This application is for ceramic / plastic clay, which is known to be turgid and tacky. To combat material, build up along the walls and wheels, scrapers are included in this application. The bedplate is fabricated with rounded door.

Muller Main Body

The mixing pan is fabricated from rolled steel plate. The mixing bowl is protected by removable liners consisting of thick carbon steel wear plate segments in the bowl bottom and thick carbon steel side liners on the bowl sides.

Intensive mixing is accomplished by a mixing tool set, rotating counterclockwise, consisting of two (2x) cast iron mulling wheels vertically mounted 180 degrees apart on independent suspended rocker arms and two (2x) mixing plows mounted on a crosshead. The standard broad face muller wheels are reversible to increase muller life. A loading spring arrangement is provided for each muller to adjust the effective muller weight range and vary the intensity of the mulling according to the requirements of the mixture. The mullers are equipped with dust sealed, anti-friction ball bearings. The two (2x) plows provide blending and movement of the material into the muller wheel path. Complete coverage of the mixing pan assures no dead spots in the mixing operation. A robust spatula type wall scraper is mounted on the rotating mixing elements to clean the inner periphery of the mixer wall.

A single, large discharge door is provided in the pan bottom to allow evacuation of processed material by plow action. The door is operated by an air cylinder.

Sealed anti-friction bearings are used throughout the machine. All internal lubrication is accomplished by means of a centralized system fed from a single, external location.

Liquid additions can be made to the mixer through the dust hood to a centrally located liquid funnel. The funnel is secured to the crosshead and rapidly disperses the liquid addition to the material mass as the mixing tools rotate.

 

Dust Hood

The dust hood is fabricated from 12 GA steel and will be arranged for manual loading through a hinged top cover. It is also designed with an inspection door, a liquid addition fitting, a centralized lubrication fitting and an air exhaust port unless otherwise specified.

Muller Power System

The muller crosshead is driven through a keyed connection to a vertical drive shaft. The drive shaft is supported in the muller by a completely sealed crosshead support turret mounted to the muller base. The bottom of the drive shaft connects to the gear reducer output shaft by a coupling. The heavy-duty gear reducer consists of steel spiral bevel and helical gearing and is equipped with anti-friction bearings and totally enclosed in a cast iron housing with positive splash type lubrication. The reducer is mounted on the bedplate of the mixer.

To start the motor, we provide an across-the-line magnetic style motor starter with separate push button station located in a NEMA 12 (IEC 529, IP 55) enclosure.

CE Conformity

As an option, the machine can be provided to conform to the necessary CE norms for customers in the European Community.

Ceramic Case Studies

Emerson Creek Pottery
During the peak of 2020, most businesses were slowing down, but Emerson Creek was picking up. As orders came in, they realized they needed to expand their operations, and Simpson was fortunate to help provide a solution—replacing a paddle mixer with a Simpson Mix-Muller. Read More

Robertson Manufacturing Company | Tile Division
“Doubled productive capacity, incomparably better moisture control, and reduced labor costs identify just a few of the numerous benefits we have realized by installing a Simpson Mix-Muller to compact clay for manufacturing ceramic tile.” – Factory Manager Read More