Abstract: The present invention provides an improved extruder assembly, that includes a wiper for wiping a screw portion in a low pressure extruder stage, whereby the wiping of the screw portion improves melt conveyance through the low pressure extruder stage. The present invention has particular utility when used in a low pressure venting and entrainment extruder stage of a single screw compounding extruder. The present invention also provides an extrusion/injection unit for use in-line compounding molding system that incorporates the improved extruder assembly.

Abstract: A static mixer comprising a mixer body with a first and a second array of intermeshed and interconnecting passageways formed therein that connect, and provide a convoluted flow path between, flow faces at ends of the mixer body. The first and second arrays of passageways preferably interconnect such that the boundaries of adjacent intermeshed passageways overlap to form mixing portals. When used in an injection molding system, a singular melt flow is initially divided at the first flow face of the static mixer, wherein the melt flow divides into the intermeshing passageways and further divides and re-combines at the locations of mixing portals before exiting the static mixer at the second flow face as homogenized melt.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved extruder assembly, that includes a wiper for wiping a screw portion in a low pressure extruder stage, whereby the wiping of the screw portion improves melt conveyance through the low pressure extruder stage. The present invention has particular utility when used in a low pressure venting and entrainment extruder stage of a single screw compounding extruder. The present invention also provides an extrusion/injection unit for use in-line compounding molding system that incorporates the improved extruder assembly.