Abstract: In a copending application Ser. No. 298,065 filed Aug. 31, 1981 modular mixing apparatus has been disclosed combined with a barrel and main power driven extruder screw and the mixing apparatus is necessarily required to be at the same speed as the main power driven extruder screw and operates through a common barrel member.In the present invention improved modular mixing apparatus has been constructed and arranged to operate with independent drive means for rotation in a separate stationary sleeve member and extruded material leaving the main extruder screw and barrel is introduced into the mixing module. The mixing apparatus may, in this form, be driven at variable speeds which are independent of the speed of the main extruder screw.The improved modular mixing apparatus of this invention also includes a newly devised shearing lug module.

Abstract: A helically moving fluid body leaving an extruder screw and brought into contact with rotating shearing means, undergoes laminar displacement, is then guided through a stationary sleeve along undulating linear paths of travel of relatively short axial length, and thereafter undergoes further laminar displacement and discharges into a die.During movement of the fluid mixture along the undulating linear paths of travel subdivision and blending of substantially all of the material in the fluid body, which is not in a fluid state, takes place. Thereupon the blended mixture is advanced to a die member at a desired fluidity and temperature in response to die requirements. Heating of the barrel is significantly reduced and energy conservation of an appreciable nature is achieved.In carrying out mixing as noted above there is employed a modular mixing apparatus constructed with multiple processing means suitable for shearing, kneading, flow diverting, dispersing, blending and the like.