Abstract: An apparatus for producing rubber mixtures. A ram kneader that operates in a batch process is provided for producing a master batch. A ram-less kneader for producing a final mixture is disposed below the ram kneader. A chute is disposed between the ram kneader and the ram-less kneader for supplying rubber mixture to the ram-less kneader via an inlet thereof. At least portions of the walls of the chute form closure members that are pivotable downwardly to at least partially close off the inlet of the ram-less kneader.

Abstract: A horizontal-type biaxial kneader for rubber kneading and such operation. It comprises two mixing chambers provided in juxtaposed relation, which mixing chambers are connected through an interposed region below a ram and above a bridge, and rotary shafts each equipped with a rotor blade including at least two blade wings, which rotary shafts are provided in parallel to each other within the two mixing chambers, so that the content of the mixing chambers is interchanged between the mixing chambers by rotating the rotor blades in directions opposite to each other. The rotor blades have a cross-sectional configuration characterized in that a scrape angle on the rear side of the tip of each blade wing is made larger than a bite angle on the front side of the same.

Abstract: The new invention proposes a new method and a device for the production of dough, particularly for pasta. The formation of dough from the dry raw materials to the finished pressed products is effected in a very short time in two stages. A raw dough is first produced in a 2-shaft mixing kneader; this dough has a substantially complete protein structure. The forming of the dough, including the mixing of the raw materials, takes place by means of an interplay of kneading and shearing, but without extrusion die pressure at the end of the first stage. In the case of classic pasta, the dough which is produced in pieces by the short 2-shaft mixing kneader is transferred to a long single-shaft press and pressed with high pressure to form the desired shapes.

Abstract: A two-shaft continuous mixing apparatus includes a housing containing two rotors having substantially horizontally aligned centerlines and a material passage formed so as to communicate with a mixing chamber in which the rotors rotate, the material passage extending nearly horizontally from a discharge port of the mixing chamber. The material passage has an upper surface forming an edge with the mixing chamber, and a lower surface forming an edge with the mixing chamber. The material is thereby scraped off the edges and flows through the material passage as the rotors are rotated.

Abstract: A dynamic mixing system and method intensively mixes thermoplastic melt with other ingredients and entrains gas as a blowing agent in a thermoplastic melt so as to provide a foamed thermoplastic extrudate. The dynamic mixing system includes a plurality of mixing balls disposed circumferentially about the surface of a cylindrically shaped spindle which is rotatably disposed within a barrel, such that upon rotation of the spindle the mixing balls rotate in a planetary manner so as to intensively mix a flow of thermoplastic melt, for example, to entrain a blowing agent in the melt.

Abstract: A continuous mixer having a series of end-to-end mixing compartments each with two parallel shaft-driven agitator ribbons arranged for folding a product into the middle and for end-to-end mixing, as in a batch mixer. As the product is being mixed in each compartment it is gradually and continuously transferred at a controlled rate to the next compartment for further mixing. The completely mixed product in the last compartment is discharged continuously at a rate substantially equal to the rate of transfer between compartments. The mixer has steam jackets for heating each of the compartments so that the mixer may be used for cooking. By adjusting the steam pressure, the amount of heat going into each compartment can be controlled to suit the heating requirements of a variety of products. For example, the compartments may be heated to progressively higher temperatures to prevent burn on.

Abstract: Described herein is an internal mixer of the type including a mixing chamber rotatably accommodating mixing rotors therein, a hopper frame erected on the mixing chamber, a charge hopper provided on one lateral side of the hopper frame for charging a mixing material therethrough, and a floating weight provided in the hopper frame for upward and downward movements therein, the floating weight being held in an upper lifted position when charging a mixing material into the mixing chamber and then lowered into a pressing position in a mixing stage to apply pressure on the charged material in the mixing chamber, wherein the floating weight is dimensioned to have an axial length sufficient for closing an inlet opening formed in the side wall of the hopper frame in communication with the charge hopper, when in the lower pressing position, and lift means for lifting the floating weight up and down in the hopper frame is provided separately from a pressing means with a function of pressing the floating weight resilient

Abstract: A closed type kneader has two rotors rotatably mounted in a casing for rotation about parallel axes. Two blades extend from each of the rotors such that the blades of the rotors intermesh. Each rotor has both a main blade and an auxiliary blade. The auxiliary blade has a length not less than one-half of the length of the rotor and an angle of torsion not smaller than 0.degree. in the same direction as the angle of torsion of the main blade. The rotors are rotated in synchronism with one another so that the main blade tip of each rotor may be in phase with the auxiliary blade tip of the other rotor at the axial centers of the rotors.

Abstract: Apparatus for the continuous processing, such as mixing, homogenizing, gassing and degassing, polymerizing of liquids, emulsions, suspensions, viscous substances and similar materials, is designed with several shafts (1) arranged vertically in ring fashion, with parallel axes and driven in equal direction. Each shaft carries a number of disk-shaped processing elements (13-15) arranged axially staggered in parallel planes, meshing with elements on adjacent shafts, and enclosing together with the shafts at least one central cavity or chamber (16) in whose area the processing elements are arranged in such a way that their circumferential surfaces are exposed. The material is efficiently mixed and homogenized while being handled gently and evenly, and local shearing stress leading to temperature peaks in the material is avoided by leaving the surfaces (130, 140) of the processing elements exposed on the outside, i.e. on the side facing away from the chamber (16).

Abstract: Apparatus for producing rubber mixtures in two stages, namely a master-batching stage and a final mixing stage, with the maximum temperature during final mixing being less than the maximum temperature during master batching. In order to reduce the overall mixing time, and in order to simplify the mixing apparatus, the material that is to be mixed is passed successively through a master batcher and then a final mixer. The material that is to be mixed is transferred or conveyed from the master batcher to the final mixer via the force of gravity without intermediate storage thereof. After the master batching, the material that is to be mixed is cooled in the final mixer. During cooling and final mixing of a first charge in the final mixer, master batching or a subsequent charge is already effected in the master batcher. The master batcher and the final mixer are expediently combined in such a way that the master batcher is a ram kneader, and the final mixer is a ram-less kneader.

Abstract: A kneading machine has a cylinder formed with upper and lower ports for compressed fluid, a piston slidably fitted in the cylinder and having a weight connected to the underside thereof, a case disposed under the cylinder and having an upper opening to be closed and opened by the weight and kneader blades disposed within the case. An overload preventing system is provided and includes an upper pipe extending from a compressed fluid feed source to the upper port. A solenoid valve and the upper pipe selectively communicates the upper port with either the atmosphere or the compressed fluid feed source. Similarly, a lower pipe has a solenoid valve for selectively connecting the lower port to either the atmosphere or the compressed fluid feed source. A connecting pipe connects the upper and lower ports and includes a solenoid valve which selectively closes the connecting pipe. A kneader relay monitors the load of the motor which drives the kneader blades.

Abstract: A devolatilizer, especially suitable for high viscosity polymers, comprising a vacuum chamber into the top of which the polymer is introduced after having passed through a tubular or equivalent heat exchanger, with a low shear mixer located in the vacuum chamber and a pumping device for removing the devolatilized polymer from the bottom of the vacuum chamber. Devolatilization of high viscosity polymers is achieved in this apparatus and method without severe degradation.

Abstract: A single two-shaft continuous kneading and mixing machine, which is provided with a pair of shafts having blade members secured thereto, and a barrel accommodating the shafts such that they can be rotated, carries out kneading of a mixture of magnetic grains and a solution, which contains a binder in an organic solvent, in a normal kneading region and thereafter carries out dilution kneading of the mixture, which resulted after kneading in the normal kneading region was carried out, and an organic solvent in a dilution kneading region. The solids concentration in the mixture subjected to kneading in the normal kneading region is adjusted so that it falls within the range of 65 to 95 wt %. The solids concentration in the mixture subjected to dilution kneading is adjusted so that it falls within the range of 30 to 60 wt %.

Abstract: An apparatus for the mixing and continuous extrusion of a plastic mass having a first stage in which an intermittently operating mixer receives the starting materials batchwise and a second stage having a screw extruder which is supplied at periodic intervals, with material from the intermittent mixer. In order to provide a simple, inexpensive apparatus for two-stage mixing and extruding in which the full output of the first stage can be used and, independently of the state of the intermediate product, a continuous feed of material into the screw extruder of the second stage is effected. The second stage has mixing and kneading blades continuously rotating within a trough and an extrusion screw which extends along the bottom of the trough into an extrusion cylinder. A continuous drive motor for the extrusion screw is controlled so that the trough is always filled at least to 25% of its volume.

Abstract: A kneading apparatus for an elastomer has a casing with a pair of rotors mounted therein. The casing defines a rotor chamber having a cocoon shaped cross-section. The pair of rotors are rotatably disposed in the rotor chamber, and extend in parallel with each other. Each of the rotors is integrally provided with at least two continuous blades, the rotating blades define a space therebetween in which rubber-like material is introduced for kneading. Each of the blades is continuously provided along a length of the rotor, and each of the blades includes a first blade portion oriented in a first direction at axially one end portion of the rotor, and a second blade portion oriented in a second direction. The first blade portion is provided at rotationally advanced position, and the second blade portion is provided at rotationally rear position.

Abstract: A dough developer is provided having an elongated chamber and a pair of dough conditioning rotors extending axially of the chamber. An inlet and an outlet are provided at respective opposite ends of the chamber to permit dough to be pumped through the chamber. A plurality of conditioning bars are mounted on a respective shaft of each rotor and extend radially outward therefrom with these bars axially disposed as between the two rotors so that bars revolve in overlapping planes. Each of the conditioning bars is of a U-shaped configuration formed from a cylindrical rod with the conditioning bars disposed in planes extending substantially axially relative to the rotors.

Abstract: Internal mixer with hydraulic cylinders (31 to 34) that are symmetrically disposed about the charging hopper (2). The floating weight (20) is driven via a movable crosspiece (22) and a shaft (21) for the floating weight. A low overall construction of the internal mixer is achieved. In the mixing operation position of the floating weight (20), the upper piston chambers (41) communicate with a first pressure reservoir (64), and the lower piston chambers (42) communicate with a second pressure reservoir (78), so that the hydraulic actuating mechanism (30) effects a resilient retention of the pistons (40) and hence of the floating weight (20), which therefore can retreat resiliently in the mixing operation position relative to the material that is to be mixed.

Abstract: A closed mixing machine includes a pair of nonintermeshed rotors rotatable in chambers at a predetermined differential rotation ratio and having respective rotor tips set at a predetermined differential phase angle. The predetermined differential rotation ratio is set to be 1.0 and the predetermined differential phase angle is set to be 0 to 45 degrees so that the mixing machine performs improved macro-dispersion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process to remove residue from partially hydrogenated nitrile rubber. The process is undertaken by mixing and kneading the rubber in the presence of an extractant fluid. The extractant fluid is a solvent for the residue but is not a solvent for the rubber. At the conclusion of the process, the rubber is separated from the residue-containing extractant fluid.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a kneader having a vessel for housing a material to be kneaded, rotor shafts passing through opposite two lateral walls of the vessel, and blades for kneading the material formed at the outer peripheries of the rotor shafts inside of the vessel.In the kneader, those portions of the rotor shafts located inside of the vessel, are straight, and an external member having the blades is fitted on each of the rotor shafts at the straight portion thereof. The external members have both ends which extend to the outside of the opposite two lateral walls of the vessel, and are secured to the rotor shafts outside of the opposite two lateral walls of the vessel.

Abstract: For bonding particularly radioactive wastes into a binder, a transporting and mixing device is used which transports the mixture to a storage tank prior to the hardening. The wastes are transported into the mixing zone by gravity and aided by the conveyor helix which also imparts additional wall cleaning action through the dry conveyor zone. A single or multi-component binder is concurrently transported in a direction lateral to the mixing tool to the mixing zone. The mixture is conducted in a straight-line extension of the transport and mixing direction to an outlet to which the storage tank is connected.

Abstract: A jacketed kettle on a trunnion mount is tiltable for pouring a contained liquid. The inside of the kettle has a central substantially cylindrical portion that permits an agitator to be driven from the underside of the kettle while making a liquid seal above the contained liquid surface. The jacket may contain water which is heated by an immersed thermostatically controlled electric heater. A sight glass mounted into the outside of the kettle provides a visual indication of the water level in the jacket. Continuation of the outside of the kettle below the jacket provides a covered enclosure for a motor that drives the agitator by means of a gear drive unit, and for necessary electrical connectors. A symmetric agitator provides for wiping at or near the kettle inside surface and the surface of the central cylindrical portion of the kettle, and for mixing liquid within the kettle. The kettle is balanced for tipping by a lever and for return to the vertical position upon release of the lever.

Abstract: Four-wing, non-intermeshing rotors are optimized for synchronous rotation to be driven by synchronous drive means at a constant 180.degree. phase angle, there being two long wings and two short wings on each rotor. A first long wing and first short wing originate at a first end of each rotor, and a second long wing and second short wing originate at the second end of each rotor, the helix angle "A" being the same for all wings on both rotors, and being in the range from about 10.degree. to about 50.degree.. The axial length l.sub.1 is the same for all long wings, the axial length l.sub.2 also being the same for all short wings. Each rotor has a transition zone opening between the termination of a short wing and the termination of the next succeeding long wing relative to the direction of rotation, the next succeeding long wing originating at the opposite end of the rotor from the short wing.

Abstract: A batch mixer has position monitoring means for the ram operably coupled to the ram moving motor to move the ram within a range of positions adjacent the ram's "down" position to improve mixing by allowing limited upward movement of the ram as a result of internal pressures inside the mixer. Excessive ram return movement is prevented however, and the limited ram movement is achieved by feedback control influence on the pressure to the fluid actuator that operates the ram. Also disclosed is a feed-back control for batch size to assure that optimum use is achieved for the mixer during each batch mixing interval.

Abstract: Rotary extruder apparatus is provided comprising housing (22), recess (29) within housing (22), cylindrical rotor (30) rotatably mounted within recess (29) in housing (22), feed inlet (25), discharge outlet (52) providing fluid communication between recess (29) and diehead (26), in combination with gear pump (160) adapted to increase the pressure of material received from discharge outlet (52). Knurled rotor (30), undercut feed inlet (25), segmented rotor shafts (18, 18'), thrust rings (109, 109') made of dissimilar metals, and circumferentially spaced cartridge heaters (63) in housing (22) are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a pair of agitator blades which have a plurality of annular members connected to each other and which are provided in parallel in a cylindrical vessel body, the agitator blades being held so that the edges of one of the agitator blades enter the rotational region of the other agitator blade and pass therethrough. Consequently, the invention prevents liquid to be treated from adhering to and rotating together with rotational shafts and the agitator blades and deterioration in product quality due to scaling so as to enable the continuous treatment of a highly viscous material.

Abstract: A closed mixer having rotors whose axial separation is adjustable, comprising an external casing containing a mixing chamber housing two rotors with projecting lobes operating at a limited distance from one another, and caused to rotate by a motor unit via transmission means, wherein the rotors are equipped with end shafts, having a relatively small diameter, rotatably supported within opposite heads of the external casing by means of supports housed within elements which can move and be locked in a number of positions, as a result of moving which elements the distance between the axes of the rotors can be varied, there being provided holding means between the rotors and the heads of the chambers across which they extend, in order to ensure that the axial separation of the rotors is held in the various positions.

Abstract: A mixer having an elongate barrel with an interior wall defining a mixing chamber, at least a pair of shafts extending axially within the barrel driven in the same direction of rotation and at the same speed of rotation, and mixing elements on each of the shafts. Radially opposite paddles are on each of the shafts, each comprising hub portions and wing portions radially spaced from the hub portions. The wing portions extend axially to overlie the hub portions and each wing portion has a radially inner surface generating the configuration of the radially inner surface of a wing portion on the radially adjacent paddle and further has a radially outer surface generating hub portions of the radially adjacent paddle, and the wall of the chamber.

Abstract: Novel system for providing a homogeneous mixture of materials comprising an internal mixer, an extruder, a cavity transfer mixer, means for discharging a mix from the internal mixer directly into the extruder, said extruder and cavity transfer mixer being juxtaposed in fluid-tight arrangement whereby material traversing the length of the extruder passes directly into the cavity transfer mixer, means for injecting material into the cavity transfer mixer for admixture with material traversing therethrough from the extruder, output means for removing the resulting homogeneous mix from the cavity transfer mixer, and motor means for operating said internal mixer, extruder and cavity transfer mixer, said motor means comprising means for separately driving and varying the speed of said cavity transfer mixer, whereby said cavity transfer mixer is adapted for operation at varying speeds higher than said extruder.

Abstract: A closed mixing machine suitable for mixing rubber materials, which includes a closed mixing chamber and a pair of rotors received in the chamber for rotating in opposite directions, wheren the rotor tips' clearance and the rotor rotation speed are increased up to values greater than typical values of the conventional mixing machine. Accoridng to this arrangement, mixing productivity is increased by a maximum of 70% with the even discharge temperature and energy consumption is reduced in comparison with the conventional machine.

Abstract: A plasticating unit having a channeled rotor rotating in an annular housing for processing plastic or polymeric material. The processed material is fed by a screw to a chamber which expands to receive a predetermined charge of material for injection into a mold.

Abstract: An epicyclic mixing system for materials held in a tank is provided having dual concentric sun shafts which both orbit a pair of planetary drive shafts having mixing implements at their bottom ends and act to rotate the pair of planetary drive shafts about their own axes. The two concentric shafts are connected to dual drivers through separate drive systems so that the shafts can be selectively operated at different rotating speeds.Another epicyclic mixing system includes upper and lower housings driven about a central axis that extends through the upper housing by a sun drive shaft. The lower housing is adjustably secured to the upper housing. A first planetary drive shaft extends through the upper housing and a second planetary drive shaft extends through the lower housing. The first drive shaft is driven by a fixed sun gear about which the lower housing rotates so as to rotate the first drive shaft, which rotates the second drive shaft by way of a gear train.

Abstract: A mixing and kneading machine comprises a rotating shaft with four circumferentially juxtaposed kneading members, which have an angle of inclination bringing about an axial feed action. Another shaft rotates four times faster. The faster rotating shaft has kneading members with a four times greater slope than the kneading members on the slower shaft. A faster axial product feed in the casing part surrounding the more rapidly rotating shaft is prevented by baffle plates provided in said casing part, so that a narrower residence time distribution for the product is obtained.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a food processing device having a mixing drum which is disposed on a support frame such that it slightly clears the floor. A horizontal tool shaft is eccentrically disposed in the drum. The mixing drum has a hinged front cover. A transport blade is disposed in the center of the front cover, and is embodied as an angled piece and provided with its own motor. To permit the device to be cleaned simply, quickly, and reliably, a special arrangement and sliding guide is provided for the outlet slide of the mixing drum. Easily-removable fasteners and seals are provided for the transport blade, the tools, and the tool shaft which bears the tools. The fasteners and seals facilitate rinsing out in the vicinity of a passage through the wall. Furthermore, a flap which closes off a feed opening on top can be provided. The flap comprises transparent material, has a contoured inner side and is removably fastened on a pivoting axis parallel to the axis of the drum.

Abstract: A mixing device is provided having spaced end frames and side walls defining an internal mixing chamber and a removable hopper affixed thereto for receiving material to be fed into the chamber. A weight extends into the hopper and the chamber to force the material through the hopper and into the mixing chamber. A sleeve is provided to protect the internal portion of the mixer within the end frames from abrasion due to sidewise motion of the weight during mixing and extend upward into the hopper to inhibit relative motion between the hopper and the mixer frames and side walls during the mixing process.

Abstract: A base frame supports a hopper for receiving grain to be ground and made into bread. An inverted cone-shaped grinding head on the shaft is supported at the bottom of the hopper and cooperates with a base member having a recess corresponding in shape to the grinder. The cone-shaped grinding head is spaced from the base to form a grinding area and grinding is accomplished by upright surface grooves in the base member and grinding teeth on the grinding head. The grinding head has an inlet passageway leading to the grinding area and the base member has outlet means at the top of the grinding area to discharge ground grain which is forced upwardly by centrifugal force as well as the augering action of the grinding surface. The shaft supports a mixing arm at the bottom thereof having an angle bend which provides simultaneous mixing and kneading of ingredients into bread dough. The bread dough making apparatus is combined with apparatus for driving food processing attachments such as a blender and meat grinder.

Abstract: Novel rotary processors which involve a devolatilizing stage including a rotatable element carrying a plurality of annular channels and a stationary element providing a coaxial closure surface operationally arranged with the channels to provide enclosed processing passages. Each passage of the devolatilizing stage includes inlet means, outlet means and a channel blocking member all associated with the stationary element and arranged and adapted so that material fed to the inlet can be carried forward by the rotatable channel walls to the blocking member for discharge from the passage. The passages are interconnected by material transfer grooves formed in the closure surface.The rotary processors of this invention include a novel vacuum system to evacuate the devolatilizing stage.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing viscous substances or substances which can be made viscous during processing has a casing, in whose bore is arranged a rotatable disk rotor, which comprises a shaft provided with disks. The disks only have a limited clearance relative to the bore wall and define between them a chamber, which has an outlet in front of a damming-back point. In order to provide a self-cleaning construction of the disk rotors and particularly the damming-back points, at least two disk rotors are arranged in axially parallel, partly interpenetrating bores. The disks of one disk rotor project into the chambers of the other disk rotor and the outer circumference thereof is substantially clearance-free with respect to the shaft.

Abstract: An extruder for polymeric materials, comprising a housing forming a mastication stage with one or more feedscrews, includes a preheating and premixing stage with a cylindrical chamber centered on a vertical axis which is eccentrically traversed by a supply passage for the feeding of polymeric material to the mastication stage. The chamber, which is heated from the outside, contains two mixing wheels jointly rotatable about the axis, each wheel having a plurality of raker arms projecting from a hub to the chamber periphery in an off-radial direction and with a tilt causing the arms of the upper wheel to draw incoming fresh material toward the axis and down into the orbit of the arms of the lower wheels which in turn drive the material toward the periphery and, to the extent that an outlet port leading to the mastication stage is obstructed, back into the orbit of the arms of the upper wheel for recirculation.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus for blending one or more relatively viscous liquids into a homogeneous mixture, the apparatus including a fixed vessel, a pair of rotors rotatively housed in the vessel, each rotor rotating on its own rotary shaft, the rotary shafts being rotated in opposing directions, the rotors having helical mixing vanes thereon wound oppositely in directions and differently in number, wherein the outside diameters D.sub.1, D.sub.2 of the rotors, the distance A between the rotary shafts, the rotating angular velocities of the rotors, and the number of the helical vanes are defined by the numerical criterion: A is smaller than 1/2(D.sub.1 +D.sub.2), and the ratio between velocities of the rotors is equal to the inverse number of the ratio between the numbers of the helical mixing vanes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a closed type mixing and kneading apparatus with two juxtaposed double-wing rotors providing increased mixing and increased shearing action. One of the wings of each rotor has a length ratio of 0.6 to 0.9 relative to the total length of the rotor at a twist angle of 10.degree. to 40.degree.. The two wings of each rotor are overlapped by between 0.2 and 0.8 times the total length of the rotor.

Abstract: A method for mixing and masticating highly viscous materials in a mixing apparatus comprising a mixing chamber the wall of which is provided with heat exchange means for heating and cooling and at least one rotor, driven by a motor, wherein the energy utilized for mixing and masticating (UE) and the supplied energy (SE) are determined by recording the couple and the number of revolutions of the rotors, and the heat exchanged between the materials treated and the wall is determined by recording the temperature of the materials treated, the temperatures of the heat transfer medium on entering and leaving the heat exchange circuit and the flow rate of the heat transfer medium, and the ratio of UE to SE is adjusted to an optimal value at a minimal SE.

Abstract: Novel and improved methods and apparatus for processing liquid or viscous materials. Essentially, the methods and apparatus involve feeding liquid materials to an annular processing passage for controlled processing. The annular processing passage is provided by two elements. One is a rotatable element carrying at least one processing channel. The other element is stationary and provides a complementary coaxial surface arranged with the channel to provide the enclosed processing passage. Also associated with the stationary element are an inlet for feeding material to the passage, an outlet for discharging material from the passage, an element near the outlet providing a material collecting end wall surface and an element positioned between the inlet and outlet providing a liquid material spreading surface.

Abstract: A double-worm press, especially an extrusion or plastifying press for thermoplastic materials and particularly high viscosity thermoplastics, has generally conical worms, at least the discharge zones of which are formed so that the material is treated generally adiabatically therein. For this purpose, the end of the discharge zone has a depth of the worm flight which is between 24 and 33% of the worm diameter, preferably between 26 and 30%, with the ratio of the depth of the flight (or height) to the diameter of the worm increasing progressively away from the discharge end, counter to the direction of feed of the material.

Abstract: A process for producing a polyacetal homopolymer or copolymer which comprises continuously feeding a liquid starting mixture containing molten trioxane and a catalyst and optionally a comonomer through a feed opening of a reactor, said reactor being a continuously stirring-type mixer having two stirring shafts having a plurality of plate-like paddles fixed thereto the cross-section of each of said paddles taken perpendicularly of the axial direction of the stirring shaft having a shape of a convex lens, an ellipse or a quasipolygon inscribing a phantom circle at each vertex, one of said paddles facing another paddle fixed to the other stirring shaft and said one paddle being positioned such that it rotates while the edges thereof keep a slight clearance from the inner surface of the barrel and the other paddle; polymerizing the starting mixture while moving it toward the discharge opening by the rotation of the paddles, the improvement wherein the profiles of the paddles are changed, or the arrangement of the

Abstract: Novel and improved methods and apparatus for processing liquid or viscous materials. Essentially, the methods and apparatus involve feeding liquid materials to an annular processing passage for controlled processing. The annular processing passage is provided by two elements. One is a rotatable element carrying at least one processing channel. The other element is stationary and provides a complementary coaxial surface arranged with the channel to provide the enclosed processing passage. Also associated with the stationary element are an inlet for feeding material to the passage, an outlet for discharging material from the passage, an element near the outlet providing a material collecting end wall surface and an element positioned between the inlet and outlet providing a liquid material spreading surface.

Abstract: An internal mixer includes a pair of rotors each having spiral vanes adapted to advance materials in the axial direction of the rotors. More particularly, each of the respective rotors has a long vane and a short vane and each of the vanes is of a spiral direction. The spiraling or screwing direction of the long vane is the same as the screwing direction of the short vane on the respective rotors. The flow of the materials along the axial direction differs from one rotor to another. Also disclosed is a mixing and kneading machine including a pair of parallel rotors each having a long vane and a short vane, the long vane extending spirally about the center lines of the rotors and the short vane extending along the center lines of the rotors. Flowing behavior of material to be mixed and kneaded occurs in opposing directions between both rotors.

Abstract: A breadmaking method and apparatus particularly adapted for household use. A combined trough and baking-pan unit is removably mounted on a lift table arranged in the oven and, when raised, is automatically covered by a downwardly spring-biased closure member and receives a measured amount of water as allowed to fall down through the bottom port of a water tank provided above and through holes formed in the closure member. Also provided are agitator means which are operable to act upon the mixture in the combined trough and baking pan unit raised. For fermentation and degassing of the dough thus formed in the unit, the lift table is lowered to its bottom position and held there for an appropriate length of time and thereafter the oven temperature is raised to a suitable level.

Abstract: A seal construction and rotary processor including the seal construction in which the seal includes nested truncated conical members of thin stiffly-resilient material interposed between relatively rotatable coaxial surfaces with inner edge portions of the members adjacent and in flow resistant relation to one, and outer edge portions adjacent and in flow resistant relation to the other of the surfaces, marginal portions at either the inner or the outer edge portions of the loops being held to enable pressure against the loops to force the outer or inner edges respectively into improved sealing relation to the surface to which they are adjacent.

Abstract: A mixing and kneading machine including a pair of parallel rotors each having a long vane and a short vane, both of which extend spirally about the center line of the rotors. A length ratio of the short vanes to the long vanes is selected within a range of 0.48 to 0.1. Also described is a mixing and kneading device which has a pair of parallel rotors rotating in opposite directions within a mixing chamber defined by a casing and an end frame. Each of the rotors comprises a long vane and a short vane, both of which extend spirally about the center line of the rotor, the spiral direction thereof being selected such that material to be mixed flows from the edges of the rotors into the central portion thereof. The ratio of the length of the short vane to that of the long vane is determined within the range of 0.48 to 0.1 and a ratio of axial thrust exerted on the material by the short vane to that by the long vane is determined between 0.7 and approximately 0.