Patents by Inventor Jürgen Schweikle

Jürgen Schweikle has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7981340
    Abstract: The method of degassing is performed in a ring extruder wherein at least one process chamber is provided with at least one degassing opening. The radius R of the conveyor element in the degassing zone is smaller by ?R than the full radius Rv of the conveyor element required for the mutual stripping of adhering product in a closely intermeshing screw operation with adjacent conveyor elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Achim-Phillipp Sturm, Jürgen Schweikle, Andreas Christel, Federico Innerebner
  • Publication number: 20100085831
    Abstract: The method of degassing is performed in a ring extruder wherein at least one process chamber is provided with at least one degassing opening. The radius R of the conveyor element in the degassing zone is smaller by ?R than the full radius Rv of the conveyor element required for the mutual stripping of adhering product in a closely intermeshing screw operation with adjacent conveyor elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Achim-Phillipp Sturm, Jürgen Schweikle, Andreas Christel, Federico Innerebner
  • Patent number: 7654725
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple-screw extruder that comprises a first process chamber (1) and a second process chamber (2). In the degassing zones of said extruder, at least the first process chamber is provided with at least one degassing opening. The radius R of the conveyor element in the degassing zones, in at least one conveyor element (7; 9) of at least one screw (5, 7; 5, 9) configured as a passage screw, in a subsection configured as a passage subsection (71a, 71e; 91a, 91e), along the peripheral direction of the at least one conveyor element (7; 9) is by ?R smaller than the full radius Rv of the conveyor element (6; 8) required for the mutual stripping of adhering product in a closely intermeshing screw operation with die adjacent conveyor elements (6; 8) of adjacent conventional screws (5, 6; 5, 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Achim-Phillipp Sturm, Jürgen Schweikle, Andreas Christel, Federico Innerebner
  • Patent number: 7080935
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-shaft extruder for the continuous treatment and/or processing of bulk material, especially a powdery, granular or flocculent product, comprising a plurality of shafts (3) which are arranged in a crown-like manner in a cavity (1) of an extruder housing (2), said shafts extending parallel to the axial direction (A) of the extruder and forming an inner processing chamber (1a) inside the crown, and an outer processing chamber (1b) outside the crown. Each shaft carries a number of axially successive processing elements (4), at least part of the same being elements (4a; 4c; 4e) having a transporting effect, and with which adjacent shafts engage in a sealed manner at least in partial regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Federico Innerebner, Andreas Christel, Achim-Philipp Sturm, Jürgen Schweikle
  • Patent number: 7040798
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-screw extruder for the continuous treatment and/or processing of a bulk material, especially a product in powder, granular or flake form, comprising several shafts (3) which are arranged in a ring shape in a cavity (1) of an extruder housing (2) and which extend parallel to the axial direction (A) of the extruder. The extruder housing (2) is provided with axially parallel, concave segments (5a, 6a) of a circle on the radially inner (5) and radially outer (6) surfaces of the cavity (1). These circle segments act as a guide for the axially parallel shafts (3) with their processing elements (4) on the inside (5) or on the outside (6) of the shaft ring (3, . . . ). The inventive improvement lies in the radial extension of the axial partial area of the cavity (1) containing the shafts (3), which is located in the area of the feed opening (9), this radial extension (10b) extending along part of the shaft ring (3, . . . ) in the peripheral direction (U) of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Federico Innerebner, Achim Philipp Sturm, Jürgen Schweikle
  • Patent number: 6841656
    Abstract: A method for processing a polycondensate to give a granulate formed as pellets is disclosed, whereby the polycondensate is fused in the course of the method and then later resolidified. In an exemplary method, a total time during which the temperature of the polycondensate is above the melting point thereof is less than about 60 seconds. This method can be carried out by a multi-shaft extruder, whereby the degrassing and/or drying of the polycondensate in the solid state occurs at a pressure below atmospheric pressure and/or with addition of an inert gas. The time period, during which the polycondensate remains in the extruder, after being melted therein, amounts to, for example, less than about 15 seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Buhler AG
    Inventors: Andreas Christel, Jürgen Schweikle