Abstract: A process for making a self-emulsifying composite suitable for use in forming latex emulsions includes contacting a resin with a solid or highly concentrated surfactant, a solid neutralizing agent in the absence of water and an organic solvent to form a mixture, melt mixing the mixture, and forming a self-emulsifying composite of the melt mixed mixture such as a granule. Self-emulsifying granules are also provided and configured to form a latex emulsion when added to water, which may then be utilized to form a toner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for high intensity blending of toner particles in order to cause additive materials to become firmly affixed to the surface of base toner particles. The method includes using a blending tool having a shank with riser members at each end, such risers being angled outward from the axis of the shank between 10 and 16 degrees and having regions toward the trailing edges that are thicker than regions near the leading edges.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high intensity blending apparatus, particularly for blending operations designed to cause additive materials to become affixed to the surface of base particles. The tool comprises a shank having riser members at each end, such risers being angled to the axis of the shank between 10 and 16 degrees and having regions toward the trailing edges that are thicker than regions near the leading edges.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high intensity blending apparatus, particularly for blending operations designed to cause additive materials to become affixed to the surface of base particles. The tool comprises a shank having riser members at each end, such risers being angled to the axis of the shank between 10 and 16 degrees and having regions toward the trailing edges that are thicker than regions near the leading edges.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for high intensity blending of toner particles in order to cause additive materials to become firmly affixed to the surface of base toner particles. The method includes using a blending tool having a shank with riser members at each end, such risers being angled outward from the axis of the shank between 10 and 16 degrees and having regions toward the trailing edges that are thicker than regions near the leading edges.

Abstract: An eductor-spike nozzle device includes (a) a first cylindrical member having a first wall including a cowl lip and defining a first hollow interior, and (b) a second cylindrical member mounted within the first hollow interior and having a second wall (i) externally defining an annular flow path with the first wall for flow of a first stream of fluid, and fluid compressing throat region with the cowl lip for creating a high velocity stream, and (ii) internally defining a second hollow interior for flow of a second stream of fluid so as to form the composite stream of high velocity fluid with the first stream of fluid, thereby increasing a probability of the composite stream receiving and entraining particles introduced into the composite stream.

Abstract: A jet mill includes plural nozzle devices for discharging a composite stream of high velocity fluid. Each nozzle device includes a plural odd number of nozzle openings for discharging an individual stream of high velocity fluid. Each nozzle opening comprises (i) a converging region for converging and accelerating a volume of high pressure fluid; (ii) a throat region defining a narrowest diameter region of the nozzle opening; (iii) a first expansion region for producing a linear expansion of the volume of high pressure fluid, and (iv) a second expansion region for producing a turning expansion as well as a parallel flow of the volume of high pressure fluid. The first expansion region has a radius “r1” and a length “s1” with radius r1 and length s1 determined such that (dr1/ds1) is a constant. The second expansion region has a radius “r2” and a length “s2” with radius r2 and length s2 determined such that (dr2/ds2) is non-linear and a function of s2.

Abstract: An article including: disk or vortex ring with a circular opening in the center of the disk; and a fastener adapted to concentrically attach the disk to the particle outlet opening of a classifier wheel.

Abstract: A toner extruder method for the preparation of a toner resin extrudate from a resin is provided. The method includes conveying a base resin to an aperture in a housing of a toner extruder, the housing surrounding a conveyor, providing a lead-in gap at a feed port end of the conveyor, inhibiting adhesion of melted resin to walls of the aperture, adding chemical initiator to a toner extruder, mixing the base resin and the chemical initiator within the extruder to form the mixed resin, and conveying the mixed resin within the extruder to an extruding die. Inhibiting adhesion can include repelling melted base resin into a flow of base resin, inhibiting heat transfer from the extruder to the base resin at the aperture by, for example, spacing at least one of the housing and the conveyor from the resin at the aperture.

Abstract: An eductor-spike nozzle device is provided for mounting through side walls of a fluidized bed jet mill to discharge a composite stream of high velocity fluid for receiving, entraining and delivering particles of material into a grinding chamber of a fluidized bed jet mill for particle to particle collisions.

Abstract: A fluidized bed jet mill has been provided for grinding particles of material. The fluidized bed jet mill includes plural nozzle devices mounted through side walls into a grinding chamber for discharging a composite stream of high velocity fluid that receives and delivers, for particle to particle collision, entrained particles of material to be ground within the grinding chamber. Each of the nozzle device includes a plural odd number of bell-like nozzle openings for each discharging an individual stream of high velocity fluid that together form the composite stream of high velocity fluid.

Abstract: A toner extruder for the preparation of a toner resin extrudate from a resin is provided. The extruder includes a housing defining a housing aperture and a resin inlet opening in the housing. The extruder also includes a conveyor for conveying the resin through the housing aperture. A lead-in gap at the resin inlet opening collects prematurely melted base resin and holds it for take-up by the conveyor, thus preventing fusing of the resin on the conveyor and avoiding clumping. The extruder can further include a member adjacent the resin inlet opening for inhibiting the heat transfer from the housing and/or the conveyor to the resin at the opening. The flow of resin adjacent the opening is thus improved.

Abstract: An article including: a disk or vortex ring with a circular opening in the center of the disk; and a fastener adapted to concentrically attach the disk to the particle outlet opening of a classifier wheel.

Abstract: A fluid pumping assembly for pumping particulate material includes a pump housing defining a pump cavity including a pumping chamber for handling particulate material, a motive fluid chamber, and a moveable diaphragm. The fluid pumping assembly also includes devices for loading particulate material into the pumping chamber, and for injecting a high pressure, high volume purging fluid into the pumping chamber. Further, the fluid pumping assembly includes a control system having a control valve for shutting off flow of high pressure, high volume purging fluid into the pumping chamber when particulate material is being loaded into the pumping chamber, thus enabling dense phase loading of particulate material, and thereby optimizing a particulate material pumping capacity of the fluid pumping assembly.

Abstract: A fluid pumping assembly for pumping particulate material includes a pump housing defining a pump cavity including a pumping chamber for handling particulate material, a motive fluid chamber, and a moveable diaphragm. The fluid pumping assembly also includes devices for loading particulate material into the pumping chamber, and for injecting a high pressure, high volume purging fluid into the pumping chamber. Further, the fluid pumping assembly includes a control system having a control valve for shutting off flow of high pressure, high volume purging fluid into the pumping chamber when particulate material is being loaded into the pumping chamber, thus enabling dense phase loading of particulate material, and thereby optimizing a particulate material pumping capacity of the fluid pumping assembly.

Abstract: A method for filling a powder container, including the steps of placing a first powder container to be filled in filling relationship to a supply of powder in a vessel, vibrofluidizing the powder in the vessel to improve its flow properties, dispensing powder from the vessel into the first container, removing the first container from the vessel, and placing a second container to be filled in filling relationship to the vessel.

Abstract: A device for use in transporting particulate materials including: a conduit adapted for transporting particulate material from the first end to the second end of the conduit via an interior hollow chamber; a gas impermeable outer wall; a gas permeable inner wall; a compressed gas inlet nozzle which traverses the outer wall; a gas distribution chamber situated between the outer wall and the inner wall; and a gas pressure source attached to the gas inlet nozzle which conveys gas to the gas distribution chamber and through the gas permeable inner wall.

Abstract: A method for filling a powder container, including the steps of placing a first powder container to be filled in filling relationship to a supply of powder in a vessel, vibrofluidizing the powder in the vessel to improve its flow properties, dispensing powder from the vessel into the first container, removing the first container from the vessel, and placing a second container to be filled in filling relationship to the vessel.

Abstract: A die for the preparation of a toner resin in an extruder having a housing defining a housing aperture therein and a conveyor for conveying the resin through the housing aperture to form a stream of resin is provided. The die includes a member connected to a first end of the housing. The member defines an opening therethrough. The cross sectional area of the opening is progressively reduced in the direction of the stream of resin for at least a substantial portion of the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for assisting in filling a container from a hopper containing a supply of powder is provided. The apparatus includes a conduit operably connected to the hopper and extending downwardly therefrom. The conduit is adapted to permit a flow of powder therewithin. The apparatus also includes a nozzle operably connected to the conduit and extending downwardly therefrom. The nozzle defines an inlet thereof for receiving powder from the conduit and defines an outlet thereof for dispensing powder from the nozzle to the container. The inlet defines an inlet cross sectional area perpendicular to the flow the powder and an outlet defining an outlet cross sectional area perpendicular to the flow the powder. The inlet cross sectional area is larger than the outlet cross sectional area. The apparatus further includes an conveyor located at least partially within the conduit. The conveyor assists in providing the flow of powder from the container.