Support Arms / Spokes

Support arms, also known as spokes, are critical structural elements in a ribbon blender agitator assembly. They radiate from the central shaft and provide rigid mounting points for the inner and outer helical ribbons. These components maintain precise spacing between the ribbons and the vessel walls while transmitting torque from the drive system to the mixing elements. Their design ensures proper material flow patterns, prevents ribbon deflection under load, and contributes to uniform blending efficiency throughout the batch cycle.

Support arms function as cantilevered beams that transfer rotational force from the central agitator shaft to the mixing ribbons. As the shaft rotates, the arms create a rigid framework that maintains the geometric relationship between inner and outer ribbons. This fixed positioning ensures consistent shear and convective mixing actions while preventing contact between moving parts and stationary vessel surfaces. The arms work in conjunction with the ribbons to create the characteristic figure-eight material flow pattern essential for homogeneous blending.