Abstract:
First and second virgin polymers, not normally miscible when combined in one or more conventional melt-processing means, are combined in a known melt-processing means having mechanical vibration, referred to as a TekFlow® “processor” in which the polymers are extensively shear-thinned, substantially disentangled and stress-fatigues. A process in which melts of each virgin polymer are separately modified, mixed and melt-processed in a conventional extruder, is also effective if the melt of one polymer, modified in a processor, is mixed with virgin melt before being modified in another processor. In each embodiment, the resulting blend is unexpectedly found to be a single phase, that is, a miscible blend.
Abstract:
A system (10) and method for forming an article from thermoplastic material and fiber. The method includes heating thermoplastic material to form a molten thermoplastic material for blending with the fiber. The molten thermoplastic material is blended with the fibers to form a molten composite material having a concentration of fiber by weight. The molten composite material may then be extruded through dynamic dies (16) to deliver discrete controlled material that is gravitated onto a lower portion of a mold (19). The lower portion of the mold (19) may be moved in space and time while receiving the flow of composite material to deposit a predetermined quantity of molten composite material thereon conforming to mold cavities of the lower and an upper portion of the mold (19, 23). The upper portion (23) of the mold may be pressed against the predetermined quantity of molten composite material and closing on the lower portion of the mold (19) to form the article.
Abstract:
A die head (65) suitable for preparation of a dual textured pet food having a core and a shell surrounding or essentially surrounding the core, the die head (65) attached to or an integral part of an extruder, which comprises a) at least two shell flow areas (73-76) through which an extruded shell composition flows, b) a shell flow control regulator (78) which is capable of impinging upon the shell flow, c) a core inlet tube (81) located post shell flow control regulator (78), its orifice (84) in the shell flow, and delivering core composition to the shell flow wherein the shell composition essentially or totally envelops the core composition, d) the shell enveloped core composition exiting the die orifice (86).
Abstract:
Methods for forming foamed polyurethane composite materials in an extruder including a vacuum section are described. One method includes introducing a polyol, a di- or poly-isocyanate, and an inorganic filler to a first section of an extruder and mixing the components. After mixing, the composite material is advanced to a second section of the extruder, which is maintained at a vacuum pressure. The composite material can begin foaming in the second section and then be extruded from the output end of the extruder. The vacuum pressure of the second section removes non-foaming related gasses entrained in the composite material. A further method includes directing the extruded composite material into a mold.
Abstract:
Methods for forming composite materials containing fiber in an extruder are described. A first method includes introducing a polymeric material, an inorganic filler, and a fiber to an extruder. A fiber metering device is used to control the rate the fiber is introduced to the extruder based on the extrusion rate of the extruder. A further method is described that includes introducing a polymeric material and an inorganic filler to an extruder. Then, downstream of the polymeric material and inorganic filler, a fiber metering device introduces a constant weight percentage of fiber to the extruder based on the amount of polymeric material and inorganic filler introduced to the extruder. After the polymeric material, inorganic filler, and fiber are introduced to the extruder by either method, the components are mixed to produce a composite material.
Abstract:
Methods for forming foamed polyurethane composite materials in an extruder including a vacuum section are described. One method includes introducing a polyol, a di- or poly-isocyanate, and an inorganic filler to a first section of an extruder and mixing the components. After mixing, the composite material is advanced to a second section of the extruder, which is maintained at a vacuum pressure. The composite material can begin foaming in the second section and then be extruded from the output end of the extruder. The vacuum pressure of the second section removes non-foaming related gasses entrained in the composite material. A further method includes directing the extruded composite material into a mold.
Abstract:
Process for production or processing of starch-based thermoplastic materials comprising: feeding of starch, water and any other components, as plasticizers, for example polyhydric alcohols, into a first section of a screw extruder; compression and homogenization of the material with formation of a melted mixture in said first section; compression of the mixture in a second section of a screw extruder and extrusion via an appropriately shaped die; process comprising the passage of said material through a pressure control valve located between said first and second section.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for extrusion establishes a target extrusion rate for a product to be extruded, uses a target extrusion rate to compute amount of extruded product desired to be produced in given time, numerically accumulates weight of batches of material supplied successively to the extruder, numerically accumulates time for the successively supplied batches to be extruded into actual product, compares the computed amount of extruded product desired to be produced to a numerically accumulated weight of batches of material which had been supplied successively to the extruder and adjusts extruder motor speed if the computed amount of material targeted to be extruded into product differs by more than a preselected amount from the numerically accumulated weight of material batches which have been extruded into actual product to produce a final extruder product.
Abstract:
Feeding device for bulk material including a funnel-shaped storage container (4) which acts as the weighing container of a mass flow dosing apparatus, where it is suspended in a freely movable manner on measuring elements (3) and where its output (11) is arranged above a conveying unit (6) for removing the bulk material. A conical or pyramidal retaining and supporting body (14) carried by the storage container (4) is provided below said output (11), its cone or pyramid point being oriented towards the output (11). The cone or pyramid surfaces (29) form with the edge (28) of the output (11) a polydirectional opening.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a film-making machine (10) for producing stretch film, comprising an outlet device (20) with an outlet gap (22) for the outlet of free-flowing film material (100) and a rotatably mounted casting roll (30) for receiving the released free-flowing film material (100) on the surface (32) of the casting roll (30), and further comprising a cleaning device (40) with a rotatably mounted cleaning roll (42) for contacting the film material (100) lying on the surface (32) of the casting roll (30), wherein the cleaning device (40) has an adjusting mechanism (50) with a circumferential adjustment (52) for adjusting a cleaning position (PP) of the cleaning roll (42) around the circumferential direction of the casting roll (30).