Means Forming From Bulk And Downstream Severing Means Patents (Class 425/308)
  • Patent number: 11950601
    Abstract: There is described an inline cutting system comprising an extruder having an outlet, an outlet line connected with the extruder outlet. The outlet line comprises a side wall surrounding an internal passage. Cutting means is arranged in connection with the outlet line. The extruder is arranged for continuously producing a meat analogue product and the extruded string of meat analogue product is cut into meat pieces by the cutting means. The cutting means is extending through the side wall of the outlet line and extends inside said internal passage. The cutting means comprises at least one cutting edge which is pointed in a substantial axial direction of the outlet line in order to establish a cutting in the longitudinal direction of the string of meat analogue product. The extruder and the outlet line forms a closed enclosure upstream of the cutting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: SOURCE TECHNOLOGY APS
    Inventor: Thomas Kniep Jørgensen
  • Patent number: 11944103
    Abstract: A device, comprising a cooker and a topper for auto cooking and or topping of food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Muhammed A. Okur
  • Patent number: 11717986
    Abstract: A process and system are provided for introducing a blend of chopped and dispersed fibers on an automated production line amenable for inclusion in molding compositions as a blended fiber mat for structural applications. The blend of fibers are simultaneously supplied to an automated cutting machine illustratively including a rotary blade chopper disposed above a vortex supporting chamber. The blend of chopped fibers and binder form a chopped mat. The chopped mat has a veil mat placed on either side, and is consolidated with the veil mat using heated rollers maintained at the softening temperature of thermoplastic binder, with consolidated mats being amenable to being stored in rolls or as flat sheets. A charge pattern is made using the consolidated mat, and the charge pattern can be compression molded in a mold maintained at a temperature lower than the melting point of the thermoplastic fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Teijin Automotive Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Probir Kumar Guha, Philippe Bonte, Marc-Philippe Toitgans, Dominique Boyer, Gaetan Boivin, Anais Harbonnier
  • Patent number: 11491687
    Abstract: A method of forming a retaining device with hooks, wherein: a molding strip is provided that presents an inside face and an outside face, and that has a plurality of cavities, each cavity defining a stem extending from the outside face towards the inside face and including an end forming a head that extends from the stem towards the inside face of the molding strip; the molding strip is positioned on rotary drive means, the inside face of the molding strip being arranged to bear against the drive means; and molding material is dispensed against the outside face of the molding strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: APLIX
    Inventors: Damien Bosser, Anthony Mahe
  • Patent number: 11439264
    Abstract: A housing has a first end and a second end, an inner surface of the housing defining a channel that is configured to slidably receive therein a food product. A food product motivating mechanism is configured to engage a food product, the food product motivating mechanism being slidably receivable in the first end of the housing, the food product motivating mechanism and the housing being configured to cooperatively slidably urge a food product from the first end of the housing toward the second end of the housing. A rotating cutting mechanism is removably attachable to an outer surface of the second end of the housing, the rotating cutting mechanism being configured to rotate about the second end of the housing, the rotating cutting mechanism being further configured to cuttingly engage a food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Prota Labs, LLC
    Inventors: William C. Little, Kyle A. Buzzard
  • Patent number: 10849329
    Abstract: The purpose of this invention is to take a given food product such as loose hamburger meat and form it into multiple patty shapes with the use of a compacter within a container and a cutter. The patties should be formed without the user having any direct contact with raw meat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Inventor: Angela Marie Hotz
  • Patent number: 10730218
    Abstract: A pelletizing system including a supporting rail, a pelletizer that is suspended from the supporting rail, a suspension base, a supporting arm, and an articulated arm. The supporting arm is supported at a first end on the suspension base by means of a first swivel joint and is hinged to the supporting rail at a second end by means of a second swivel joint. The articulated arm includes a first articulated arm branch which is connected to a second articulated arm branch by a third swivel joint. The first articulated arm branch is supported on the suspension base by means of a fourth swivel joint, and the second articulated arm branch is hinged to the supporting rail by means of a fifth swivel joint. In an embodiment, the first through fifth swivel joints each have an essentially vertical swivel axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: MAAG AUTOMATIK GMBH
    Inventors: Juergen Veltel, Matthias Berrendorf
  • Patent number: 10421414
    Abstract: A contour connect system for applying a vehicle trim includes a fabric loop and a low-profile hook component. The fabric loop component includes a spacer layer, Class A surface layer, and a loop-containing layer, the Class A surface layer being adhered to one side of spacer layer while the loop-containing layer is adhered to the opposite side of spacer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: LEAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lisa Townley, Paul S. Severinski, Louella Ann Patterson, Larry Francis Kocher, Pusheng Chen
  • Patent number: 9918525
    Abstract: Touch fastener products, as well as apparatus and methods for manufacturing such products, are described. The methods and apparatus feature certain mold cavity shapes that are designed to facilitate demolding of hammer hook touch fastener elements exhibiting desirable fastening properties. Such mold cavity shapes can be combined with particularly soft molding resins to produce useful fastening products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Velcro BVBA
    Inventors: Christopher M. Gallant, Andrew Collins
  • Patent number: 9676274
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a transport refrigeration system is provided. The fuel tank includes an elongate tank body. The elongated tank body has a first end wall; a second end wall; a sidewall extending between the first and second end walls; and an interior space defined by the sidewall and the first and second end walls. The fuel tank further includes a fuel tank vent configured to vent air outside of the fuel tank; a fuel outlet fitting; a fuel discharge tube fitting; and a fuel pickup tube fitting. The entire tank body can be made of a plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott Phillip Pearce, Sunil Kumar P, Mary Elizabeth Kime
  • Patent number: 9427906
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for calibrating and cooling a film or sheet of plastic which comprises at least two cooling or calibrating rolls (1), the rolls being followed by a downstream cooling zone (7). According to the invention, it is in this case provided that the downstream cooling zone (7) comprises pairs of rolls (2, 3, 4) arranged one behind the other. The invention also relates to a method for calibrating and cooling a film or sheet of plastic which comprises the steps of: introducing a film coming from a slot die into the nip between two cooling or calibrating rolls (1), polishing the film (5) between the two cooling or calibrating rolls (1), cooling the film (5) in a cooling zone (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: BATTENFELD-CINCINNATI GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Nikolaus Krampf, Kurt Huth
  • Patent number: 9156198
    Abstract: Systems and processes that limit distortion of inserts (e.g., previously formed parts) in insert molding and overmolding processes. Initially, a mold may be closed (e.g., clamped) about an insert with the mold at a first temperature. After closing the mold about the insert, the mold is heated up to a second temperature (e.g., a temperature suitable for injection of the molding material) and filled with the molding material to contact (e.g., encapsulate) the insert. After the mold has been cooled, the mold may be opened and the finished part (including the insert and the solidified molding material) removed (e.g., ejected). The process may be repeated for additional finished parts. Closing the mold about the insert before heating the mold to the injection temperature advantageously limits distortion of the insert that would otherwise occur by placing the insert into the mold with the mold already at the injection temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventors: Jichen Qin, Charles R. Hill, Richard Dale Michonski, Zhong Wang, Weineng Jiang, Marlon M. Lalican
  • Publication number: 20150093467
    Abstract: A feed roll for a strand pelletizer and a method for producing the feed roll for a strand pelletizer. The feed roll comprises a metallic roll core and a sheathing located on the metallic roll core. The sheathing can comprise a plastic material and at least one metal mesh. The feed roll can be produced by: providing a metallic roll core, arranging a metallic mesh on the roll core, and molding over the metallic mesh with a plastic material to form the sheathing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Jochen Scheurich
  • Patent number: 8992198
    Abstract: An apparatus is described having an extrusion means for extruding a molten polymer strand; a pelletizer; and a trough disposed to convey a polymer strand from the extrusion means to the pelletizer; the trough has an interior bottom surface; a water dispensing means disposed to provide a layer of water on a first portion of the interior bottom surface that is proximate to the extrusion means; a mesh or perforated surface disposed in the trough downstream from the water dispensing means, disposed to permit the separation of water from a water-immersed strand incident upon it; and a second portion of the interior bottom surface downstream from that mesh or perforated surface, disposed to contain a layer of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Dennis Gerard Madeleine, Michael Joseph Molitor, John Harvey Eng
  • Patent number: 8985987
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for producing thermoplastic resin pellets of uniform shape. The apparatus includes a batch-type polymerization vessel whose inner pressure can be controlled; a pelletizer for cutting a strand-form thermoplastic resin discharged from the polymerization vessel, thereby forming pellets; a pipe for transferring the pellets to a storage container by pneumatic transportation or suction transportation; a pressure differential measuring unit for determining variation in a pressure difference between the inlet and the outlet of the transfer pipe; and a pressure controlling unit for controlling the inner pressure of the batch-type polymerization vessel on the basis of the variation in the measured pressure difference; wherein the inner pressure of the batch-type polymerization vessel is controlled in relation to a pressure loss in the transfer pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsumi Shinohara, Tomomichi Kanda, Hideyuki Kurose, Minoru Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20150049960
    Abstract: An apparatus for making a film bag with reinforced bag seams includes a film extruder that produces a continuous tube of film. A flattener produces a continuous web of flattened film which has an upper surface and a lower surface. A fold maker has a receiving portion positioned above the web and a displacing portion is positioned below the web that moves cyclically upward to a first position to locate a portion of the web into the receiving portion, thereby forming a fold. A fold retention device prevents the fold from opening. A presser flattens the fold against the web. A sealer seals through the fold, forming a reinforced bag seam. A cutter severs a sealed portion from an unsealed portion of the web. A transport mechanism moves the film from the extruder, through the flattener, into the fold maker, beneath the presser, into the sealer and to the cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel Brian Tan, David H. G'Sell, Sr.
  • Patent number: 8944803
    Abstract: A machine and method of extruding concrete building product, e.g., brick, tile, paver, or shingles, and concrete mixture therefor. The mixture has aggregate, liquid and binder that includes fly ash and can include slag with moisture content controlled producing a zero or negative slump loose feed mixture compacted in a consolidation chamber of the machine into increased density consolidated mixture extruded from an extrusion chamber in communication with the consolidation chamber with compaction force being generally transverse to extrusion force. Compaction force is maintained during extrusion through a die of non-tapering construction. Where the extruded product is a brick, the extruded slug is cut into a plurality of bricks using a rotary cutter having an offset forming an increased moisture absorbing region in the cut surface of each brick formed from the slug that better bonds with mortar during bricklaying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: TEC Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Terence J. Fellabaum
  • Patent number: 8932043
    Abstract: Disclosed is a plastic trim reclaim process that recycles otherwise wasted trim into for reuse or densified composite bricks for resale. The device combines four sections to process trim scrap from a typical plastic extrusion process. The four sections comprise an input and feed section, a grinding and pre-sizing section, a compaction and sizing section, and a repelletizing and recovery section. The final product takes one of two forms: a compacted plastic brick or pellet-sized beads that can be directly reused in a new extrusion process. The compaction and sizing section utilizes a heating chamber and ram to force ground trim through an extruder, which is then cut into sections to form brick. The repelletizing and recovery section utilizes an extrusion process that feeds into a cutting plate, whereafter the sized pellets are cooled to solidify their structure prior to being vacuum transported into a container for reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Inventor: Michael Brandon Wilhelm
  • Publication number: 20140377430
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for processing a pourable food substance (1), in particular hot melted cheese, which is introduced, by means of a feed neck (2), into a gap (3) between two vertical shaping rolls that are covered by cooling strips (11, 12) made especially of metal, the food substance (1) is shaped into a product strip (10) having a defined thickness, a carrier film arrangement (21) being placed between the first cooling strip (11) and the product strip (10). In order to be cooled, the product strip (10) is conveyed in the direction of travel (T) along with the carrier film arrangement (21) and is fed to a longitudinal cutting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: HOCHLAND SE
    Inventors: Andreas Biggel, Maria Jacob, Wolfgang Tipolt, Franz Stadelmann, Markus Fuhge
  • Publication number: 20140353870
    Abstract: A carpet pellet machine and method are disclosed. One embodiment provides an apparatus comprising a compressor to receive fibrous material and compress the fibrous material, a mold pipe system to receive compressed fibrous material from the compressor, wherein the compressor is configured to press the fibrous material through the mold pipe system, and a heat chamber to heat the fibrous material within the mold pipe system and create an encapsulation layer on the fibrous material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: C-Power Tech, LLC
    Inventors: David Roshau, Charles Jones
  • Patent number: 8894399
    Abstract: Embodiments of a method of injection molding with two molding steps and tools for this method are described. The transfer tool for high-volume manufacturing allows transfer of molded parts from one injection molding tool to another injection molding tool without separating the molded part from runners and without degating. The single step transfer, which can be performed without degating and without separating the molded parts from one another, can reduce cycle time as well as complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventors: Craig M. Stanley, William Bredall, Kurt R. Stiehl
  • Patent number: 8894397
    Abstract: In a process and a device for producing blocks of expanded polystyrene, a loose mass (7) of polystyrene spheres is expanded in a mold (2-3), where a rear surface (9) of the polystyrene block (8) previously produced delimits the mold forming chamber. Therefore, through adherence the newly formed block (7-8) is joined to the rear end (9) of the block previously formed, and the block (8) made in this way is fed forward until it forms the rear end (9) for another newly expanded block (8), and so on to produce a sort of continuous block (8), which can be formed for cutting to any desired size, without producing any waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Angelo Candiracci
  • Publication number: 20140342028
    Abstract: A high-speed stack molding device utilizing a rotary multi-mould, including a base having a moving rail formed on an upper surface thereof; a mould-rotating unit disposed on the base and supporting both ends of a multi-mould to selectively rotate the multi-mould; a movable driving frame including vertical frames extending upward from slide-coupling parts, which are moved forward and rearward along the moving rail and an upper frame connecting upper end portions of the vertical frames to cover an upper portion of the multi-mould; a fiber-reinforced resin supplying unit connected to the movable driving frame and supplying a fiber discharged from a supplying roller to the upper frame through pressure rollers; and a stacking head provided at an end portion of an articulated robot arm connected operably to the upper frame for pressurizing and stacking the fiber-reinforced resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Research Institute of Medium & Small Shipbuilding
    Inventors: Yong Won KWON, Je Hyung Cho, Hong Kwon Lee, Ho Yoon Jang
  • Publication number: 20140328961
    Abstract: An insulated die plate assembly for use in underwater pelletizing and other granulation processes includes a thin, continuous air chamber formed across the plate assembly generally parallel to the die face such that the heated upstream portion of the die plate assembly is thermally insulated from the downstream portion. The air chamber is atmospherically equilibrated by venting the air chamber to the atmosphere. The plurality of extrusion orifices, either individually or in groups, are formed in extrusion orifice extensions that extend through the insulation chamber so that the process melt to be granulated can pass therethrough. The orifice extensions and the components forming the air chamber around the orifice extensions channel heat along said extensions to maintain the process melt therein at a desired temperature, to help rigidify the die plate assembly and to better seal the air chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: GALA INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Michael A. FRIDLEY
  • Publication number: 20140308519
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for recycling broad goods material into a flaked feed material. The broad goods material includes reinforcement fibers and thermoplastic material. The recycling method includes applying heat and pressure to impregnate the reinforcement fibers at a filament level with the thermoplastic material to form an impregnated fiber material. The method also includes cooling the impregnated fiber material, and cutting the cooled impregnated fiber material into flakes to produce the flaked feed material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: The Boeing Company
  • Publication number: 20140302189
    Abstract: A device for texturizing strand material into a wool-type product includes outer and inner nozzle sections. The outer and inner nozzle sections interface and define a passage through which the strand material travels. A locking device in the inner nozzle section is operable to selectively stop movement of the strand material. The locking device includes a seal holder that positions a sealing member within the inner nozzle section to prevent debris from entering the inner nozzle section, thereby promoting continued effective operation of the locking device. The outer nozzle section includes an end nozzle assembly including a hardened outlet tube. The hardened outlet tube is distinct from the outer nozzle section and, thus, can be repaired or replaced independently of the outer nozzle section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventor: Luc J.L. Brandt
  • Patent number: 8851880
    Abstract: A powder slush molding process and associated equipment utilize a flow restrictor disposed between a powder box and a mold surface to deposit powdered resin onto the mold surface in a controlled manner, thereby forming skins having decreased variation in thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Edgar P. Nimmergut
  • Publication number: 20140264992
    Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes extruding a mixture, conveying the extruded mixture through one or more pairs of forming rollers, and cutting the extruded mixture into one or more oral products. The mixture can include polymer and at least one flavorant, sweetener, active ingredient, or combination thereof. The extruded mixture forms an extrudate having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The one or more pairs of forming rollers abut to define a passage there between as each forming roller rotates. The passage has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional shape. The method can be performed using a machine including an extruder, one or more pairs of forming rollers, and a cutting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Carl Gregory Miller, Charles Lester Dendy, Jeremy J. Straight, Gregory James Griscik
  • Patent number: 8827671
    Abstract: An extrusion and conditioning apparatus, with an extruder in a conveying position, leads into a conveyor housing connected in a sealed manner to a pneumatic supply line and to a pneumatic conveyor line in which extruded material can be removed pneumatically, by means of superheated steam, via the conveyor line. The extruder can be moved from the conveying position into a bypass position, in which the extruder leads to the exterior of the conveyor housing, having a means for sealing the supply and conveyor lines and the conveyor housing from the surroundings when the extruder is in the conveying and bypass positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Mars, Inc.
    Inventor: Siegfried Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20140182766
    Abstract: A microporous insulation material mixture is blended and the blended mixture is spread across a lower conveyor belt which is trained over rollers. To aid the spreading of the mixture a spreading device is used. The mixture is delivered by the conveyor to a pressing system which in this case comprises an upper conveyor belt. The pressing system also comprises a nipping means provided in this case by a plurality of upper and lower nipping rollers. The gaps between the individual rollers are adjustable. An upper fleece liner is led from a delivery roller to lie between the upper conveyor belt and the insulation mixture and a lower fleece liner is fed from a delivery roller to lie between the insulation mixture and the lower conveyor belt. The fleece liners may be used to encase the core prior to enclosing in an envelope and applying a vacuum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: KINGSPAN HOLDINGS (IRL) LIMITED
    Inventors: Malcolm Rochefort, Adrian Pargeter
  • Publication number: 20140175695
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a melt processing plant, comprising a melt charger for charging a processing head, in particular palletizing head, with melt, wherein upstream of the processing head a diverter valve for discharging the melt during a starting and/or retooling phase is associated to the melt charger, and to a method for melt processing in such melt processing plant. In accordance with the invention, a portioning device for portioning the discharged melt into melt portions is associated to the diverter valve, wherein a cooling device for cooling the melt portions to at least partly solidified chunks of material is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: GALA INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Eloo, Juergen Veltel
  • Publication number: 20140127341
    Abstract: The invention refers to a cutting-to-length device (13; 14; 15; 16) for a pellet press (1) with at least one cutting-to-length means (19) for biogenic fibrous pellets (11), especially wood pellets, and at least one fastening area (17), in which the cutting-to-length device (13; 14; 15; 16) can be fastened in such a way to a stationary housing part (2) of the pellet press (1) that the cutting-to-length means (19) can be arranged in the radially outer area of a pivoted annular die (4) of the pellet press (1) and at a distance from said pivoted annular die (4) which has radial through-holes (5). According to the invention, the cutting-to-length means (19) has a concave arched contour (21) and can be attached in such a way on the radially outer area of the annular die (4) by means of the fastening area (17), that the cutting-to-length means (19) extends largely helically with its curvilinear contour (21) over at least the area of one of the radial through-holes (5) of the annular die (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventor: Franz Blieninger
  • Patent number: 8690560
    Abstract: The invention concerns an extrusion granulator for the granulation of plastic strands gripped by a pair of feed rollers and directed over a slideway in the direction of a cutting rotor with an opposing blade. A guided air stream directed onto the slideway, and deflected perpendicularly towards the cutting rotor by said slideway, impinges on the strands carried on the slideway with such a speed that the strands are held in a parallel orientation by the air stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Rieter Automatik GmbH
    Inventor: Jochen Scheurich
  • Publication number: 20140087047
    Abstract: A product-spreading hood assembly (10) for use with a die unit (128) includes a deflector (14) having wall structure defining a product inlet opening (90) and a product outlet opening (92); the deflector (14) is preferably generally frustoconical in shape and is supported by a housing (12). An optional air delivery assembly (16) allows air currents to be directed from the area of the inlet (90) towards outlet (92) to facilitate separation of discrete products. Advantageously, the air currents are delivered in a circumferential fashion about the die unit (128). Use of the hood assembly (10) serves to separate high moisture or “sticky” extrudates, thereby preventing agglomeration thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Matthew James Edelman, Dennis Howard Baumgartner, Dennis R. Hartter, Jason Dean Selland, Marc L. Wenger
  • Publication number: 20140070447
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the pelletization of waxes, wax-like and other materials having a sharp melt point include a vessel for forming the wax into a hot molten material. A heat exchanger then cools the molten wax to a temperature just above its melt temperature. The cooled liquid wax is fed to an extruder which further reduces the temperature and mixes the liquid wax into a thoroughly mixed extrudable solid wax. The solid wax is then extruded through die orifices of a die plate into a cutting chamber, and a rotary cutter cooperating with the die face of the die plate cuts the extruded solid wax strands into pellets. The die plate, cutting chamber and rotary cutter can have the same structure as an underwater pelletizer, but operating without water or liquid as a dry face pelletizer. The thus formed wax pellets drop out of the cutting chamber by gravity through an opening in the bottom thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: GALA INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Boonlert THEPSIMUANG, J. Wayne MARTIN
  • Publication number: 20140048972
    Abstract: Mineral samples for use in analytical instruments are created by a system that greatly reduces the sample preparation time and facilitates automation. For example, in some implementations, rather than grinding to expose the interior of mineral particles in sample plug containing mineral particles in an epoxy compound, the sample plug is sliced with a saw, which more rapidly provides in many applications a sufficiently smooth surface on the exposed particle surfaces for observation. Rather than slowly mixing a slow curing epoxy to avoid introducing bubbles into the sample plug, some implementations use a fast settle fixative and a mechanical mixture that avoid bubbles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: FEI COMPANY
    Inventor: Paul Gottlieb
  • Publication number: 20140037811
    Abstract: An apparatus for extruding foodstuffs is comprised of a one-piece housing having an inlet configured to be attached to a food processing machine, a distributor portion integrally formed with the inlet, the distributor portion having at least two side walls outwardly angled from the inlet, a die retaining portion configured for housing a die therein and integrally formed with the side walls, and an outlet through which an extruded food product can exit. A die defining at least one passage for forming a food product having a shape defined by the passage is inserted into the housing. A pair of removable retaining members extends through the housing and abuts against the die to retain the die within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventor: Paul Colosimo
  • Patent number: 8602767
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an in-mold cutting unit for a thermoforming machine having at least one mold element (4), at least one counter-mold element (5) intended to cooperate, in use, with a respective mold element (4), and actuation means intended to command the relative movement of the mold (4) and countermold (5) elements; the cutting unit comprising at least one annular knife element (60) having a sharp edge (61), and at least one counter-cutting element (7) for each knife element (60), defining a sharp counter-edge portion (71), and the in-mold cutting unit comprising at least one witness-forming insert (8) removably housable in a respective reception seat (S) at the at least one annular knife element (60) or the at least one counter-cutting element (7), and delimiting at least one recess or incision (89) thereon, during use very close to the sharp edge (61) of the annular knife element (60) or to the sharp counter-edge portion (71) for the formation of a respective witness (T) between a thermof
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: OMV Machinery S.r.L.
    Inventor: Giancarlo Bissoli
  • Publication number: 20130259963
    Abstract: An extruder system for extruding material through a die/extrude insert in an opening in an extruder plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Inventor: James M. Pinchot
  • Publication number: 20130234357
    Abstract: Polymer pellets are formed using air to influence the separation of polymer from a polymer melt. In accordance with one or more embodiments, a polymer material is extruded through a nozzle to form a polymer melt extending from the nozzle. A non-uniform thickness is generated in the polymer melt using a gas or gasses to apply a drag force to the polymer melt. This drag force reduces a thickness of a portion of the polymer melt adjacent the nozzle, and the polymer melt is fractured into discrete droplets at the reduced thickness. The discrete droplets are then solidified to form pellets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: WISCONSIN ALUMNI RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Tim Andreas Osswald, William Maurcio Aquite
  • Publication number: 20130214447
    Abstract: A system for producing porous masses may include a mold cavity disposed along the material path, at least one hopper before at least a portion of the mold cavity for feeding a matrix material to the material path, a heat source in thermal communication with at least a first portion of the material path, and a cutter disposed along the material path after the first portion of the material path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Celanese Acetate LLC
    Inventor: Celanese Acetate LLC
  • Patent number: 8512026
    Abstract: The present invention is a dough sheeter with integral dough docker. The dough docker is a removable assembly with a docker subassembly and a scraper subassembly. The docker subassembly includes the docker roller and grate. The docker sprocket, driven by the sheeter motor, has a disk that meshes with a complimentary disk on the docker roller. The scraper subassembly includes the scraper, the backer attached to the scraper, and the gap adjuster, which includes a semicircular shaft that abuts the backer, a rectangular shaft attached to the scraper, and a threaded rod extending from the semicircular shaft through a hole in the scraper and a threaded hole in the rectangular shaft. The gap is adjusted by turning the rod in or out of the threaded hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Somerset Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Voyatzakis, George Athanasiadis
  • Publication number: 20130181369
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an assembly and process for creating a co-extruded pipe which includes the steps of extruding a first elongated component exhibiting an open interior. Additional process steps include co-extruding at least one, and typically a pair, of additional elongated components each having an arcuate or lobe cross sectional shape or profile. The additional components are bonded to exterior locations of the first component to establish a pair of additional open interiors between the components and prior to cooling and hardening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: U.S. FARATHANE CORPORATION
    Inventor: U.S. FARATHANE CORPORATION
  • Publication number: 20130139630
    Abstract: Gear-shaped resin sheets Sa are laminated such that tooth portions 2b are aligned in an axial direction, thereby preparing a spur gear-shaped net-shape body 4. The net-shape body is accommodated in a net-shape body holder 14 having a spur gear-shaped holding space 14a. A spur gear-shaped pushing member 15a provided in an upper die 15 is lowered to heat and compress the net-shape body 4, while tooth portions of the resin gear formed in a lower die 12 are pressed in a helical tooth-shaped molding space to deform the tooth portions 4a of the net-shape body 4 into a helical tooth tilted relative to the axial direction, and the direction of reinforcement fibers at the tooth portions 2b of the molded resin gear 1 is tilted relative to the axial direction. A resin gear that hardly causes peeling off of resin by a load applied to a tooth surface can be obtained, and a production apparatus suitable for producing such resin gear is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Inventors: Shizuo Itani, Shigeo Shinozaki
  • Patent number: 8414283
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the pelletization of plastics and/or polymers, in which a melt coming from a melt generator is supplied via a diverter valve having different operating positions to a plurality of pelletizing heads through which the melt is pelletized. The plurality of pelletizing heads have different throughput capacities and are used sequentially for the start-up of the pelletizing process, with the melt first being supplied to a first pelletizing head having a smaller throughput capacity and then the melt volume flow being increased and the diverter valve being switched over such that the melt is diverted by the diverter valve to a second pelletizing head having a larger throughput capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Gala Industries, Inc
    Inventors: Michael Eloo, Juergen Heinz Veltel
  • Publication number: 20130004611
    Abstract: A device for producing pellets that has a perforated plate for extruding a melt into a process chamber, and a cutting device for cutting the melt into pellets. The process chamber can have an inlet and an outlet. A conveying device can deliver a process fluid through the inlet, and carry the process fluid and pellets through the outlet. The inlet can have an inlet opening and an inlet channel. A three-way valve can be located between the inlet channel, a process fluid supply line, and a process fluid discharge line, and below the inlet. The outlet can have a discharge opening and an outlet channel. A pneumatic device can provide compressed air to the process chamber for emptying and expelling the process fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: AUTOMATIK PLASTICS MACHINERY GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Dahlheimer
  • Patent number: 8337188
    Abstract: An apparatus for making a shingle, together with the shingle made thereby, is provided, in which one or more thermoplastic materials are extruded or co-extruded to form an extrudate, with the extrudate being cut into a preliminary shingle shape, which is allowed to dissipate heat, and then is delivered to a compression mold, wherein the preliminary shingle shape is compression molded to substantially its final dimensions and is then discharged from the mold and allowed to cool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: CertainTeed Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Kevin MacKinnon, Robert E. Dodd, Joong Youn Kim, Douglas H. Wylie
  • Patent number: 8337189
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing pellets from plastic material or from material to be pelletized. Said device comprises a continuous casting device (1) from which at least one strand (2) of the material to be pelletized is issued, and a belt conveyor (3) comprising at least one conveying belt (4) on which the strand (2) can be fed to a pelletizer (5), said pelletizer breaking the strand up into pellets (6). The invention is characterized in that the belt conveyor (3) has a switchable direction of conveyance of the conveying belt (4), a direction of feed conveyance towards the pelletizer (5) and a direction of discharge conveyance away from the pelletizer (5). The invention also relates to a method for operating said device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Fenchel, Jochen Scheurich
  • Publication number: 20120306117
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a plastic hollow body including extruding a molten plastic parison through a die. At least one longitudinal cut is made in the parison. The parison is introduced into a mold comprising two cavities. The hollow body is molded by conforming the parison to the mold cavities. The die includes a passage for the molten plastic which gradually modifies the shape of the parison so that it is substantially flattened on exiting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (S.A.)
    Inventors: Bjorn CRIEL, Philippe Bournonville, Pierre-François Tardy
  • Patent number: 8304518
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for thermally treating polyester pellets to obtain partial crystallization, whereby the polyester melt is supplied to an underwater granulating system and granulated; the thus obtained granulate are fed from the underwater granulating system into a water-solids separator. The dried granulate is then fed into a treatment device at a granulate temperature higher than 100 degrees C., without external energy or heat being supplied. The intrinsic heat of the granulate is used as the heat treatment leading to partial crystallization. The crystallization device is embodied as an at least lightly inclined reactor, into which granulate is fed at a temperature higher than 100 degrees C. The granulate passes through the reactor from the loading point to the discharge point under its own weight and exits the reactor with a temperature higher than 130 degrees C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: BKG Bruckmann & Kreyenborg Granuliertechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Theodor Bruckmann