Including Product Handling Means Patents (Class 425/377)
  • Patent number: 11472086
    Abstract: An extruding unit, a forming roll unit and a thick portion forming mechanism are provided. The extruding unit has an ejecting slit which ejects sheet-shaped molten resin. The ejecting slit includes a standard gap portion and an enlarged gap portion. The standard gap portion is formed as a gap having a constant size. The enlarged gap portion is formed as a gap larger than the standard gap portion in a position corresponding to a thick portion. The thick portion forming mechanism forms one or several thick portions which are thicker than other portion, in the sheet-shaped molten resin continuously in the extrusion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: SHIBAURA MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Mizunuma, Yuusuke Uno, Masahiro Tanada
  • Patent number: 11285639
    Abstract: A portable mixer includes a frame, a hopper for receiving therein dry cementitious mix, and a chute rigidly coupled to the hopper that communicates with the hopper via an aperture. The hopper and chute are pivotally coupled to the frame. The portable mixer further includes an auger extending from the hopper into the chute via the aperture, a water supply system configured to apply water to cementitious mix, and a motor coupled to the auger and configured to rotate the auger to mix the dry cementitious mix with the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: RED DOG MOBILE SHELTERS, LLC
    Inventors: Rick Scott, Tim Gragson, Randy Lacy
  • Patent number: 11089811
    Abstract: A device for processing gluten products includes an extruder. A press forming mold that includes a fixed mold and a movable mold is provided at a discharge end of the extruder. A bowl is provided at an end surface of the fixed mold, and a bowl matched with the bowl of the fixed mold is provided at an end surface of the movable mold. A feeding channel is provided inside the fixed mold. A through hole is provided in the movable mold. An feed tube which is movable relative to the movable mold is arranged in the through hole. A die holder is arranged at the other end surface of the movable mold for holding the feed tube, and is movable with respect to the movable mold. A push-and-pull mechanism is provided at an end of the die holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CHANGSHA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jianhui Wang, Zhimin Cheng, Dongmin Liu, Yan Wang, Shouyao Xiong, Jingheng Ning, Wen Li, Yongsheng Zhang, Zhiqiang Hu, Lei Yang, Yaru Sun
  • Patent number: 11006641
    Abstract: A system for forming all variants of hamburger steaks, without being dedicated to a single variant, from a mass of meat comprises a mold including at least one cavity for forming hamburger steak, a channel for supplying the meat mass to the mold, and an element for forming an interface between the channel for supplying the meat mass and the mold. The element for forming an interface includes a pipe length having a first end connected to an outlet of the channel for supplying the meat mass and an opposite second end connected to an inlet of the mold, a grinding plate, and edges for holding the grinding plate in a cross section of the pipe length, the edges for holding the grinding plate being discretely distributed along the pipe length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: MAREL FRANCE
    Inventors: Jacques Le Paih, Yohann Pierre, Bertrand Le Paih, Jean-Noël Grill, Johannes Martinus Meulendijks, Dirk Meskendahl
  • Patent number: 10780635
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes an extruder and a gear pump in fluid communication with extruder. The additive manufacturing apparatus also includes a nozzle in fluid communication with the gear pump. The extruder is connected to a guide member such that at least a portion of the extruder is configured to expand and move along the guide member according to a thermal expansion of the extruder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Thermwood Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Susnjara, Brian S. Smiddy, John Fuquay, Scott G. Vaal
  • Patent number: 10774195
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate generally to systems and methods for manufacturing a master batch with a graphitic material dispersed in a polymer matrix. In some embodiments, a method for manufacturing the master batch can include combining the graphitic material with a polymer, adding a supercritical fluid to the mixture, and depressurizing the supercritical fluid to remove the supercritical fluid. In some embodiments, the method includes mixing the graphitic material and the polymer for a first time period to form a first mixture and transferring the supercritical fluid to the first mixture to form a second mixture. In some embodiments, the method includes mixing the second mixture for a second time period and depressurizing the second mixture to allow the supercritical fluid to transition to a gas phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: NanoXplore Inc.
    Inventors: Seyed Mahdi Hamidinejad, Chul B. Park, Soroush Nazarpour
  • Patent number: 10525408
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method and to an improved device for degassing polymer melts and for neutralizing the thus produced pollutants, characterised by the following characteristics: said pollutants are guided to a plasma source after removal from the degassing area and prior to adding to a filter step or a separator, said plasma source being built and/or formed such that in said plasma source, the pollutants are transformed, entirely or partially, in a plasma aggregate state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: BRÜCKNER MASCHINENBAU GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Josef Eisch, Nicole Ambrosius-Voss, Rainer Schwuchow, Stefan Seibel
  • Patent number: 10444726
    Abstract: A control unit configured to control a section of an I.S. machine having a blank station including a first plurality of mechanisms and a blow station including a second plurality of mechanisms is provided. The control unit includes an operator interface configured to receive a first input and a second input from an operator. The control unit includes a controller configured to transition the section from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation. Upon receipt of the first input the control unit is configured to supply power to either the first or second plurality of mechanisms and not to supply power to the other. The control is configured to move one of the mechanisms to which power is being supplied in the second mode of operation based on the second input received from the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventors: Christian Von Ah, Inge Friberg, Eliseo Di Nitto
  • Patent number: 9750261
    Abstract: Apparatus and process for producing and discharging spherically shaped products from a pasty material. The apparatus includes a feed device for moving the pasty material along a conveyor path, a portioning device connected downstream of the feed device for shaping the pasty material into balls, and a transport device for discharging the balls produced by means of the portioning device. The portioning device has an outlet opening having a plurality of outlets for the balls to be shaped, arranged in mutually juxtaposed relationship so that the delivered products touch each other or are arranged in closely mutually juxtaposed relationship, and the portioning device and the transport device are so arranged relative to each other that regions of the transport device in the transport direction provide an abutment function for the balls which are to be oriented in mutually juxtaposed relationship in a row substantially transversely relative to the transport direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: VEMAG Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Weller, Heiko Walther
  • Publication number: 20150140191
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the continuous or semi-continuous enrichment of one or more gluten fractions and one or more starch fractions in wheat flour. It further relates an apparatus for the separation, and to gluten enriched fractions and starch enriched fractions thus obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Norbertus Philippus Koot, Elizabeth Egberdina Johanna Van Der Zalm, Theo Van Den Abeele
  • Patent number: 9022772
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for accelerating food product in order to cause the product to be stretched aligning the fibers of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Formtec, LLC
    Inventor: James B. Wolff
  • Patent number: 9022764
    Abstract: A system for manufacturing an irrigation pipe comprises an extrusion unit, a calibrator unit, a cooling unit for cooling the irrigation pipe in a cooling liquid, and a traction unit for drawing the irrigation pipe in the cooling unit. The cooling unit comprises a device for detecting holes in the wall of the irrigation pipe and arranged for being immersed in the cooling liquid. The device for detecting holes comprises at least one optical transmitter and at least one optical receiver which define an optical barrier. The device is arranged so that the holes in the irrigation pipe located below the device produce gas bubbles which modify the optical barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Maillefer S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Wisler, Jean-Charles Zaramella
  • Patent number: 8985993
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for accelerating food product in order to cause the product to be stretched aligning the fibers of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Formtec, LLC.
    Inventor: James B. Wolff
  • Patent number: 8979522
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for accelerating food product and decreasing pressure of the product in order to cause the product to be stretched aligning the fibers of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Formtec, LLC.
    Inventor: James B. Wolff
  • Patent number: 8974209
    Abstract: An underwater cutting and pelletizing apparatus includes: a cutting device that cuts, with a cutter in a water chamber, molten resin, extruded from a die, into pellets; a separation device that separates, from carrier water, pellets sent from the water chamber of the cutting device to downstream with carrier water; a tank that is disposed below the separation device and stores carrier water discharged from the separation device; and a circulation path formed so as to circulate carrier water between the tank and the water chamber, wherein a hydroelectric power generator is provided on a return side of the circulation path formed on a downstream side of the water chamber, and generates electricity from the energy of the carrier water flowing downward in this path. According to such a configuration, the underwater cutting and pelletizing apparatus is made so as to achieve energy savings by recovering and reusing potential energy accompanying carrier water pumped up to a higher location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuto Nagaoka, Masahiko Kashiwa
  • Patent number: 8956142
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for producing strand-shaped goods in the form of small bands, fiber strands, monofilaments, or films, which are extruded from a polymer melt. After cooling in a cooling bath, a thermal treatment occurs between rolling feed units, wherein the goods are brought into contact with a hot medium. In order to be able to perform an individual thermal treatment depending on the thermoplastic material, the hot medium is provided optionally in the form of hot air or hot water according to the invention. For this purpose, the heating apparatus is formed from a forced-air oven and a water bath apparatus, which can be optionally activated to thermally treat the goods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Oerlikon Textile Gmbh & Co. KG
    Inventor: Jens Weinhold
  • Publication number: 20150037095
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a profiled section made of a thermally insulating composite material. A thermoset matrix is injected into an injection box where continuous natural fiber rovings circulate. The continuous natural fiber rovings and a portion of the thermoset matrix are pultruded. The natural fiber volume ratio is between 50 and 70% and a natural fiber mass ratio is between 55 and 75%. During the injection step, the ratio of natural fibers can be adapted so that the composite material has a conductivity of less than 0.30. The continuous natural fiber rovings can be twisted before the steps of injecting and pultruding. Preferably, during the twisting step, a number of turns per meter of between 10 and 30 is transmitted to the continuous natural fiber rovings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: INNOBAT
    Inventor: Michel Maugenet
  • Patent number: 8939755
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the implementation of a method for the production of pellets of polyamide 6 or copolyamides. The method can include production of a melt of polyamide 6 or copolyamides by means of polymerization, production of pellets from the melt by means of underwater pelletization into a process fluid, removal of the pellets from a site of underwater pelletization in the process fluid, supply of the pellets in the process fluid to an extraction stage, extraction of low-molecular components as extract, and drying of the pellets after extraction, wherein the underwater pelletization stage and the extraction stage take place using the same process fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Deiss
  • Patent number: 8841368
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a nonflammable polyester resin composition comprising: making a polymer mixture containing the following (A) to (E) components in a melted state pass through a space between two parallel faces, with a face-to-face distance x being set to 5 mm or less; (A) a polyester resin of 40 to 80% by weight; (B) a polycarbonate resin of 5 to 40% by weight; (C) a rubbery polymer of 5 to 30% by weight; (D) a polyphenylene sulfide resin and/or a phenol resin of 2 to 20% by weight; and (E) a phosphorus-containing acid ester compound and/or a polyamide resin of 0.1 to 25% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yasuo Kurachi, Akira Ohira
  • Publication number: 20140271970
    Abstract: A modular system for processing an exfoliated aggregate material or a polymer composite material comprising the exfoliated aggregate, utilizing supercritical fluid processing is described. The modular system may provide exfoliated aggregate particulates, polymer composite materials or master batch polymer composite materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: nanoScience Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: nanoScience Engineering Corporation
  • Patent number: 8770956
    Abstract: A system for continuous High Internal Phase Emulsion (HIPE) foam production. A (HIPE) is produced then extruded onto a carrier sheet positioned on a belt surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Thomas Allen Desmarais
  • Patent number: 8678799
    Abstract: Included is a spinning cell for a synthetic fiber such as spandex. The spinning cell includes a top closure which reduces or eliminates solvent vapor transfer, where solvent vapor process gas(es) may leave the cell and room air may be introduced into the spinning cell. A bottom closure device may also be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Invista North America S.ár.l.
    Inventors: John T. Casey, James B. Elmore, Charles P Deturk, David A. Wilson
  • Patent number: 8679378
    Abstract: A method and system for generating an optical fiber is provided. The method includes creating a green fiber consisting primarily of a ceramic material and sintering the green fiber with a laser by moving the green fiber through a beam of the laser to increase the density of the fiber after sintering. The system for creating a continuous optical fiber includes an extruder, a processing chamber and a laser. The extruder is configured to extrude a ceramic slurry as a green fiber. The processing chamber is configured to receive and process the green fiber. And, the laser is configured to direct a laser spot on the green fiber exiting the processing chamber to sinter the green fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Jonathan Goldstein, Geoff Fair, Heedong Lee, HyunJun Kim
  • Publication number: 20140057077
    Abstract: An extrusion molding device includes: an extrusion die configured to extrude a molten material; a sizing die configured to shape the material extruded by the extrusion die; and a transfer device configured to follow the material and to be operated, the material passing through the sizing die, and configured to transfer a transfer surface formed as a specular surface to the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyasu Sato, Takuya Toriumi, Takeo Mitsui
  • Patent number: 8647099
    Abstract: An extrudate transport apparatus comprises a free floating roller assembly, wherein the roller assembly controls a rotational pitch of a cylindrical green ceramic extrudate as the green ceramic extrudate moves longitudinally from a first location to a second location within the extrudate transport apparatus. The free floating roller assembly has a predetermined effective weight and comprises a contact roller having a deformable outer surface for frictionally contacting an outer surface of the green ceramic extrudate in motion adjacent thereto, while maintaining a constant contact force upon said green ceramic extrudate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: John Christian Duroe
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20140023743
    Abstract: A modular plastic extrusion apparatus has several component parts. The design of the integration of those parts into a modular extrusion system is unique. Said design allows for rapid assembly, testing, disassembly and placement into production of extruded plastics. This modular plastic extrusion apparatus has several components with replaceable counterparts that, after one product line of a particular color has been extruded by the apparatus, enable the component parts used to produce the particular color extrusion to be removed from the apparatus and replaced with their clean counterparts to continue producing an extrusion product line of a different color while the removed components are cleaned off line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Mark K. Donohoo, Terry B. McGregor, Michael L. Walker, Michael A. Meredith, Steven W. Spahn, Jeffery H. West
  • Patent number: 8585389
    Abstract: Device (1) for manufacturing a rubber strip material comprising cord material. The device comprises an extruder (4) with an integrated gear pump (13) with adjustable pump speed and with a conveying screw for extruding unvulcanised rubber around the cord material for the purpose of producing a continuous rubber strip. The device furthermore comprises a control unit (15) for adjusting the pump speed of the gear pump, a measuring unit (16) for measuring the height and the width of the rubber strip and for emitting a measuring signal indicative of the measured height and width. The measuring unit can be connected to the control unit for adjusting the pump speed of the gear pump for emitting the measuring signal to it, wherein the pump speed of the gear pump can be controlled by the control unit at least based on the measuring signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: VMI Holland B.V.
    Inventors: Jan Kornelis Grashuis, Cornelis Wouteres Janszen
  • Patent number: 8579624
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for manufacturing multi-wall corrugated polymer pipe. The system includes an extruder configured to co-extrude concentric annular tubes; a corrugator configured to form the concentric annular tubes into a dual-wall pipe having a smooth wall and a corrugated wall; a cross-head die configured to extrude an outer wall of pipe onto the corrugated wall of the dual-wall pipe; a vacuum punch configured to penetrate the outer wall of pipe and draw a vacuum between the corrugated wall and the outer wall, such that the outer wall of pipe deforms inward toward the corrugated wall of pipe between bell and spigot portions of the corrugated wall; and a cutter configured to cut the pipe into sections where the vacuum punch deformed the outer wall between the bell and spigot portions of the corrugated wall. A method of manufacturing multi-wall corrugated polymer pipe is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald S. Sutton, David J. Kelley, Randall A. Kolbet
  • Publication number: 20130193609
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to a device for producing strand-shaped goods in the form of small bands, fiber strands, monofilaments, or films, which are extruded from a polymer melt. After cooling in a cooling bath, a thermal treatment occurs between rolling feed units, wherein the goods are brought into contact with a hot medium. In order to be able to perform an individual thermal treatment depending on the thermoplastic material, the hot medium is provided optionally in the form of hot air or hot water according to the invention. For this purpose, the heating apparatus is formed from a forced-air oven and a water bath apparatus, which can be optionally activated to thermally treat the goods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventor: Jens Weinhold
  • Publication number: 20130164425
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating a venturi effect through an orifice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventor: James B. Wolff
  • Publication number: 20130149521
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a profile that contains at least one layer of continuous fibers and at least one layer of discontinuous fibers. Said method allowing the selective control of features to achieve a profile that has increased transverse strength and flexural modulus. The layer of continuous fibers may be formed from one or more continuous fiber reinforced ribbons (“CFRT”) (12) that contain fibers embedded within a thermoplastic polymer matrix, whereby a void fraction and in turn is minimized and flexural modulus is optimized Further, the ribbon (s) are consolidated so that the continuous fibers remain fixed in alignment in a substantially longitudinal direction (e.g., the direction of pultrusion). In addition to enhancing the tensile properties of the profile, the use of such ribbons also allows an improved handability when placing them into the desired position within the pultrusion die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: TICONA LLC
    Inventors: Sherri M. Nelson, David W. Eastep, Timothy A. Regan
  • Publication number: 20130134621
    Abstract: A method of forming a preform may include providing a layer of tackified fibrous material containing structural fibers and resin. The layer may be passed through a forming die set having a die cross-sectional shape. The thermoplastic resin may be heated. The layer may be formed into the die cross-sectional shape. The thermoplastic resin may be allowed to solidify in a manner such that a preform is formed having the die cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Karl Tsotsis, Gerould K. Young
  • Publication number: 20130122168
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and molding devices for molding three-dimensional products from a mass of foodstuff. The molding device includes a rotatable drum provided with mold cavities that are filled with the mass of foodstuff to form the three-dimensional products. The method includes use of the molding device to continuously fill mold cavities in filling operations without a time gap between successive filling operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: MAREL STORK POULTRY PROCESSING B.V.
    Inventor: MAREL STORK POULTRY PROCESSING B.V.
  • Publication number: 20130084350
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating a venturi effect in a food product molding machine. The venturi effect accelerates food product in order to cause the product to be stretched aligning the fibers of the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventor: James B. Wolff
  • Patent number: 8403658
    Abstract: A consumable assembly comprising a container portion configured to retain a supply of filament, a guide tube connected to the container portion, and a pump portion connected to the guide tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Stratasys, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Swanson
  • Patent number: 8342834
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for spinning and crimping a synthetic multifilament yarn, wherein a filament bundle is spun from a polymer melt and compressed to a yarn plug. The yarn plug is advanced at a cooling speed and cooled within a cooling zone in a moving cooling groove. After cooling, the yarn plug is disentangled to form a crimped yarn, with the latter being wound to a package. To obtain an adequate cooling of the yarn plug and, with that, a stable and highest possible crimp in the yarn, the method of the invention provides for selecting the length of the cooling zone and the cooling speed of the yarn plug such that the yarn plug is cooled in the cooling groove over a period of at least 1 second. To this end, the apparatus of the invention includes a cooling groove, whose width is dimensioned such that the yarn plug can be advanced in meander form in a plurality of superposed layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Oerlikon Textile GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Mathias Stündl, Diethard Hübner
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8297961
    Abstract: A cutter assembly for an extruder includes an elongated extrusion member having an open feed end. The open feed end is attachable in fluid communication with the extruder for supplying a mash to said elongated extrusion member. An extrusion die is supported on a front of the elongated extrusion member. The extrusion die includes an extrusion outlet formed therein. A filling tube is mounted on a rear of the elongated extrusion member and is attachable in fluid communication with the extruder for supplying a filling to the filling tube. A cutter member has a drivable end and a cutter blade with a cutting surface for cutting extrudate to a desired length as the extrudate exits the extrusion die. The cutter member is operably connectable at the drivable end to a drive device of the extruder for reciprocatably sliding the cutting surface of the cutter blade over and away from the outlet of the extrusion die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Kerry, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas B. Hunter
  • Patent number: 8282384
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuous curing of a plurality of extruded strands can include a rigid frame structure formed by interconnecting a plurality of rigid frame members. A rigid top plate member and a rigid bottom plate member are attached to the rigid frame structure. A plurality of upper spindle units is rotatably attached to the rigid top plate member and a plurality of lower spindle units is rotatably attached to the rigid bottom plate member. A pair of drive motors is attached to the rigid frame structure. A gear assembly attached to the rigid frame structure is operably engaged to the pair of drive motors and a chamber is supported on the rigid frame structure for curing the plurality of extruded strands. The pair of drive motors drives the gear assembly to continuously pass the plurality of extruded strands through the chamber for continuous curing and post-curing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventor: Michael R. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20120225989
    Abstract: Material processing systems are disclosed. Some systems include methods of eliminating or reducing defects in elongate workpieces that can undergo large deformations during processing. Some systems include apparatus configured to facilitate such large deformations while maintaining internal stresses (e.g., tensile stresses) below a threshold stress. Some disclosed systems pertain to powder extrusion techniques. Continuous and batch processing systems are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Accellent Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Broadley, James Alan Sago, John Eckert, Jeffrey M. Farina
  • Patent number: 8226401
    Abstract: Gum manufacturing machinery and method of manufacturing gum is illustrated in which a gum loafing machine generates loaves of finished gum that are then subsequently run through a gum conditioner to more uniformly set the temperature and viscosity of the gum material prior to further processing. Upon achieving the appropriate conditioning level, a further forming extruder may be used to generate a continuous gum ribbon for subsequent rolling and scoring operations. The gum conditioner may include vertically stacked conveyors that have different operational modes including a first mode that provides a serpentine path for a long residence time and a second mode that provides a cascading path that avoids or bypasses much of the length of some of the conveyors to provide a shorter residence time. The gum manufacturing machinery may be used in an adjustable manner so as to accommodate difference gum recipes for different batches of gum product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
    Inventors: Jim Olejarski, Joseph Roarty, Arthur W. Upmann, James A. Duggan
  • Publication number: 20120126446
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a concrete body having a planar upper side, wherein a high surface quality is obtained. In the method, a concrete body is extruded from unset concrete and is provided with a groove profile at the upper side thereof by means of a profiling unit. By means of the profiling unit and depending on the comb-shaped profile thereof, the sand particles are separated according to size, wherein large sand particles are displaced from the surface area of the concrete body toward the inside, this being toward the interior of the concrete body. Only fine sand particles can pass the profile, whereby raised areas of the groove profile are formed, which are made of extremely fine-grained unset concrete. Subsequently, the upper side of the concrete body is leveled by means of a leveling unit, wherein the raised areas of the groove profile are crushed and the fine-grained unset concrete of the raised areas of the groove profile is distributed to form a cover layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Maik Rower, Benno Bohm, Burkhard Marczok
  • Patent number: 8157556
    Abstract: A system for controlling the dimensions of an extrudate exiting an extruder and for compensating for the variations in the extrusion rate of the extruder, expansion rate and rate of travel of the extrudate through sizing devices by changing the speed of an extrudate puller device, includes an extruder which extrudes the extrudate; a conveyor system comprising rollers and a series of sizing devices; a puller device for pulling the extrudate through the sizing devices; and a laser proximity measuring device to assist the system in keeping the desired shape of the extrudate. The laser proximity measuring device includes at least one pair of optical non-contact displacement transducers, a real time processor, and an interactive touch screen display unit. The transducers emit a laser beam which provides a laser point on the side of the extrudate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Strandex Corporation
    Inventor: David F. Dostal
  • Publication number: 20120076884
    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: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Mars, Inc.
    Inventor: Siegfried Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8137094
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a composite yarn including continuous glass filaments intermingled with continuous organic thermoplastic filaments and an apparatus for implementing the process. The continuous glass filaments come from a bushing and are separated into plural sheets. The continuous organic thermoplastic filaments come from a spinning head and are separated into plural sheets. The thermoplastic filaments are thrown into the glass filaments so as to mingle them, in a ratio of at least one sheet of thermoplastic filaments in each sheet of glass filaments, the mingled filaments then being gathered into at least one composite yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: OCV Intellectual Capital, LLC
    Inventors: Philippe Boissonnat, Daniel Richard
  • Patent number: 8092204
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for inflation extrusion molding of pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet, the apparatus including: one or a plurality of extruders; a die into which one or a plurality of resin materials including at least a resin material for forming a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and extruded respectively from the extruders are respectively introduced and which extrudes from an ejection opening the resin materials into an inflated cylindrical shape having a predetermined diameter in accordance with an inflation method; and two stabilizers facing each other at a predetermined angle so as to upwardly approach each other, and defining a space therebetween through which the cylindrically-shaped resin materials extruded from the die are passed to be deformed into a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet in a flattened elliptical shape having a predetermined width, in which the stabilizers each have a plurality of air floating portions each of which blows air toward the resin materials; and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Kooki Ooyama, Shinsuke Ikishima, Naoto Hayashi, Tadao Torii, Toshihisa Yamane, Yuuki Katou
  • Publication number: 20110256281
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for fabricating semi-solid food product such as cheese into bite-size or larger pieces by placing the product into a receptacle and pushing the product through a two-dimensional matrix of closely-spaced die apertures without disrupting the overall longitudinal conformation of the food product other than cutting the pieces for length. Substantial portions of the product emerge from the process having maintained fabrication conformation and longitudinal alignment with die apertures before, during, and after passing through the die, relative to where those portions were when received in the receptacle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventor: Charles Johnson
  • Patent number: 7959848
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for producing fibers made from one or more polymers or polymer composites, and to structures that can be produced from such fibers. In one embodiment, the fibers of the present invention are nanofibers. The present invention also relates to apparatus for producing fibers made from one or more polymers or polymer composites, and methods by which such fibers are made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventors: Darrell H. Reneker, George Chase, Oludotun Dosunmu, Woraphon Kataphinan
  • Patent number: RE42424
    Abstract: In the extrusion of feed-stuff pellets and relevant consumer products, the extruded products are subject to expansion as a result of the boiling of their water content when the products, after being exposed to high extrusion pressure and a correspondingly high temperature, are discharged to the atmosphere through the extrusion nozzles. Such an expansion is directly aimed at, but it is desirable to be able to control it, which is difficult by adjustment of the ordinary process parameters. With the invention it has been found that the expansion which arises can be controlled in a highly constant manner, i.e. by carrying out the extrusion into a closed chamber in which an over-pressure of a few bar is established in relation to the atmospheric pressure, and which can be regulated. The extrusion products can be continuously discharged from this chamber, or they can be discharged intermittently in portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Andritz Feed & Biofuel A/S
    Inventor: Anders Flarup-Knudsen