US Patent 7316502 Mixing blade, blending apparatus, and method of mixing

A blade for mixing a material includes a disk comprising a plastic or composite material. The disk may have one or more circumferentially-spaced openings extending through the disk from a substantially flat top surface to a substantially flat bottom surface. The openings are located at a common radial distance from a center of the disk. The disk may be made from a plastic material such as nylon, Teflon®, polyethylene, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, or combinations thereof. The disk may also have one or more sets of mixing teeth extending outwardly from a circumferential edge of the disk. A blending apparatus includes one or more of the disks mounted on a rotatable shaft.