Vezin Sampler with Mixing Tank

The Vezin Sampler Mixing Tank (VSMX) combines two integrated units into a single, cohesive sampling solution designed for accuracy and consistency in bulk material handling. The Vezin sampler component is engineered to extract increments from a vertically falling primary material stream, capturing a representative portion of the material as it flows through the process line. This method of increment extraction is widely regarded as an effective way to obtain samples that closely reflect the true composition of the material being processed.

The second unit, the mixing tank (MX), collects a specified number of extracted increments in a dedicated mixing and homogenizing tank. Rather than allowing collected increments to settle or separate, an internal impeller keeps the material under continuous agitation. This ensures the sample remains thoroughly and evenly mixed at all times, so that what is ultimately drawn from the tank accurately represents the average composition of the primary material captured by the Vezin sampler. This homogenization step is particularly important in applications where material density, particle size, or moisture content can vary across a production run, as it helps eliminate sampling bias and supports more reliable downstream analysis.

The VSMX is available in two configurations to suit different sampling requirements. The standard variant, the Vezin Sampler Single Mixing Tank (VS-SMX), features a single cutter that extracts one representative increment per rotation, making it well suited for standard sampling applications where a steady, moderate sampling frequency is sufficient. For operations that require a higher sampling rate or increased confidence in sample representativeness, the Vezin Sampler Dual Mixing Tank (VS-DMX) offers two opposing cutters, enabling the extraction of two representative increments per rotation. In this configuration, both increments are delivered to a common mixing tank, where they are combined and homogenized together, effectively doubling the sampling frequency without requiring additional equipment or floor space.

Together, the Vezin sampler and mixing tank form a compact, integrated system that simplifies the sampling process while maintaining the accuracy and consistency required for quality control, process monitoring, and laboratory analysis in demanding industrial environments.

The Vezin Sampler with Mixing Tank is:

• An efficient sampling solution combining two parts of the sampling operation into one step.
• Well suited for relatively small volumes of bulk material in particular powdered material with lumps up to 40 mm.
• Highly accurate and robust.
• Easy to install and operate.
• Designed for primary, secondary and tertiary cross-stream sampling of falling streams of material.
• Equipped with an easily accessible hatch for easy inspection/ maintenance.

The first unit, the VS, is fully enclosed within a funnel-shaped housing that supports a gear motor driving a Vezin-type cutter, which rotates around a vertical axis. The cutter head is radially delineated, with its dimensions and working velocity individually optimized to suit the specific material being sampled. A hatch on top of the VS provides easy access for cleaning, maintenance, inspection, and exchange of cutter heads, helping minimize downtime during routine servicing.

When triggered, the VS extracts a representative increment with each rotation, guiding it directly into the sample outlet chute, which is oriented parallel to the main process discharge port, before it continues on to the next stage of the sampling process. Reject material passes directly through the VS without interruption to the main flow. After each completed rotation, the cutter returns to a safe parked position well away from the material stream, preventing the influx of extraneous material and avoiding cross-contamination between samples. Acceleration and deceleration from the parking position occur entirely outside the cutting zone, ensuring the cutter maintains a constant operational speed throughout each cycle.

The mixing tank ensures that sampled material is continuously mixed by means of an internal impeller, keeping it representative of the average material captured by the VS at all times. The tank can be fitted with an observation window for visual monitoring and includes an overflow feature to safeguard against overfilling, with excess sample material returned passively to the main material stream by gravity. Discharge from the mixing tank is handled by an automatically operated gate at its base, allowing collected material to be released into either a bucket or a chute for further processing, depending on the facility’s downstream requirements.

The VSMX control software manages the coordinated operation of both the Vezin sampler and the mixing tank, ensuring the two units function as a single, synchronized sampling system. It controls the timing and triggering of the cutter rotation, initiating each increment extraction according to a configured sampling frequency or in response to signals from upstream process equipment.

The software continuously manages the mixing tank’s impeller, keeping it active to maintain consistent homogenization of collected increments throughout the sampling cycle. It also monitors tank levels, using the overflow safeguard to prevent overfilling, and controls the automated discharge gate, timing releases so collected material is delivered into a bucket or chute at the appropriate stage of the process.

Operators can monitor system status, cutter rotation counts, and discharge events through the control interface, giving clear visibility into the sampling process at any point in the cycle. Sampling parameters, including increment frequency and discharge timing, can be configured to match specific process requirements, allowing the VSMX to be adapted to different material flow rates and production demands.

The software also includes fault detection and alerting, flagging issues such as motor faults, tank level anomalies, or incomplete cutter cycles so maintenance teams can respond quickly and maintain consistent sample quality.