Patents Assigned to Addex, Inc.
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Patent number: 11938668Abstract: The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a unidirectional cooling element having a unidirectional cooling interface containing a cooling gas deflector spaced adjacent to the molten film tube. The unidirectional cooling element operably expels cooling gas in a path with the flow of the molten film tube toward an exit gap formed between the unidirectional cooling interface and the molten film tube. The minimum gap between the unidirectional cooling interface and the molten film tube occurs at the exit gap, and advantageously, the unidirectional cooling interface is provided with one or more compound angles to maximize stability and cooling efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2021Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cree, William J. Randolph
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Patent number: 11919218Abstract: The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process, comprised of a divergent cooling element with a divergent cooling interface containing a cooling gas deflector spaced adjacent to the molten film tube and providing an expelled cooling gas (i) in a path opposing the flow of the molten film tube toward a first exit gap and (ii) in a path with the flow of the molten film tube toward a second exit gap. A minimum gap between the divergent cooling interface and the molten film tube occurs at the first exit gap and/or the second exit gap. Advantageously, the divergent cooling interface is provided with one or more compound angles to maximize stability and cooling efficiency. Additionally, multiple cooling elements can preferably be arranged in a stackable configuration to achieve higher throughput rates.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cree, William J. Randolph
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Patent number: 11919219Abstract: The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process, comprised of one or more enclosures with one or more respective cavities that directly receive a portion of cooling gas emanating from one or more associated cooling elements. Each enclosure includes a port containing a variable exhaust device and optional flow buffer, acting to maintain a pressure differential between the cavity and an adjacent inside volume of the molten film tube, adjustable to optimize molten film tube stability cooling element efficiency and spaced apart dimension between cooling elements. Significant increases in production speeds are achieved with improved film quality over an increased range of tubular film sizes, down to a minimum size which occurs when operating at zero internal to molten film tube pressure.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cree, William J. Randolph
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Patent number: 11787099Abstract: The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process, comprised of one or more enclosures with one or more respective cavities that directly receive a portion of cooling gas emanating from one or more associated cooling elements. Each enclosure includes a port containing a variable exhaust device and optional flow buffer, acting to maintain a pressure differential between the cavity and an adjacent inside volume of the molten film tube, adjustable to optimize molten film tube stability cooling element efficiency and spaced apart dimension between cooling elements. Additionally, at least one cooling element is provided, comprised of a divergent cooling element with a divergent cooling interface containing a cooling gas deflector spaced adjacent to the molten film tube and providing an expelled cooling gas.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cree, William J. Randolph
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Patent number: 11458666Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cooling.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2018Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cree, William J. Randolph
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Patent number: 11298865Abstract: The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process, comprised of one or more enclosures with one or more respective cavities that directly receive a portion of cooling gas emanating from one or more associated cooling elements. Each enclosure includes a port containing a variable exhaust device and optional flow buffer, acting to maintain a pressure differential between the cavity and an adjacent inside volume of the molten film tube, adjustable to optimize molten film tube stability cooling element efficiency and spaced apart dimension between cooling elements. Additionally, at least one cooling element is provided, comprised of a divergent cooling element with a divergent cooling interface containing a cooling gas deflector spaced adjacent to the molten film tube and providing an expelled cooling gas.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2016Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cree, William J. Randolph
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Patent number: 11292176Abstract: The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process, comprised of one or more enclosures with one or more respective cavities that directly receive a portion of cooling gas emanating from one or more associated cooling elements. Each enclosure includes a port containing a variable exhaust device and optional flow buffer, acting to maintain a pressure differential between the cavity and an adjacent inside volume of the molten film tube, adjustable to optimize molten film tube stability cooling element efficiency and spaced apart dimension between cooling elements. Additionally, at least one cooling element is provided, comprised of a divergent cooling element with a divergent cooling interface containing a cooling gas deflector spaced adjacent to the molten film tube and providing an expelled cooling gas.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2017Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cree, William J. Randolph
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Patent number: 11241817Abstract: The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process, comprised of one or more enclosures with one or more respective cavities that directly receive a portion of cooling gas emanating from one or more associated cooling elements. Each enclosure includes a port containing a variable exhaust device and optional flow buffer, acting to maintain a pressure differential between the cavity and an adjacent inside volume of the molten film tube, adjustable to optimize molten film tube stability cooling element efficiency and spaced apart dimension between cooling elements. Significant increases in production speeds are achieved with improved film quality over an increased range of tubular film sizes, down to a minimum size which occurs when operating at zero internal to molten film tube pressure.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2019Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cree, William J. Randolph
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Patent number: 11207816Abstract: The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a unidirectional cooling element having a unidirectional cooling interface containing a cooling gas deflector spaced adjacent to the molten film tube. The unidirectional cooling element operably expels cooling gas in a path with the flow of the molten film tube toward an exit gap formed between the unidirectional cooling interface and the molten film tube. The minimum gap between the unidirectional cooling interface and the molten film tube occurs at the exit gap, and advantageously, the unidirectional cooling interface is provided with one or more compound angles to maximize stability and cooling efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2019Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cree, William J. Randolph
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Patent number: 11186026Abstract: The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process, comprised of a divergent cooling element with a divergent cooling interface containing a cooling gas deflector spaced adjacent to the molten film tube and providing an expelled cooling gas (i) in a path opposing the flow of the molten film tube toward a first exit gap and (ii) in a path with the flow of the molten film tube toward a second exit gap. A minimum gap between the divergent cooling interface and the molten film tube occurs at the first exit gap and/or the second exit gap. Advantageously, the divergent cooling interface is provided with one or more compound angles to maximize stability and cooling efficiency. Additionally, multiple cooling elements can preferably be arranged in a stackable configuration to achieve higher throughput rates.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2019Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cree, William J. Randolph
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Patent number: 11104054Abstract: The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process, comprised of one or more enclosures with one or more respective cavities that directly receive a portion of cooling gas emanating from one or more associated cooling elements. Each enclosure includes a port containing a variable exhaust device and optional flow buffer, acting to maintain a pressure differential between the cavity and an adjacent inside volume of the molten film tube, adjustable to optimize molten film tube stability cooling element efficiency and spaced apart dimension between cooling elements. Additionally, at least one cooling element is provided, comprised of a divergent cooling element with a divergent cooling interface containing a cooling gas deflector spaced adjacent to the molten film tube and providing an expelled cooling gas.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cree, William J. Randolph
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Patent number: 10391697Abstract: The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process, comprised of one or more enclosures with one or more respective cavities that directly receive a portion of cooling gas emanating from one or more associated cooling elements. Each enclosure includes a port containing a variable exhaust device and optional flow buffer, acting to maintain a pressure differential between the cavity and an adjacent inside volume of the molten film tube, adjustable to optimize molten film tube stability cooling element efficiency and spaced apart dimension between cooling elements. Significant increases in production speeds are achieved with improved film quality over an increased range of tubular film sizes, down to a minimum size which occurs when operating at zero internal to molten film tube pressure.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cree, William J. Randolph
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Patent number: 10391696Abstract: The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process, comprised of a divergent cooling element with a divergent cooling interface containing a cooling gas deflector spaced adjacent to the molten film tube and providing an expelled cooling gas (i) in a path opposing the flow of the molten film tube toward a first exit gap and (ii) in a path with the flow of the molten film tube toward a second exit gap. A minimum gap between the divergent cooling interface and the molten film tube occurs at the first exit gap and/or the second exit gap. Advantageously, the divergent cooling interface is provided with one or more compound angles to maximize stability and cooling efficiency. Additionally, multiple cooling elements can preferably be arranged in a stackable configuration to achieve higher throughput rates.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cree, William J. Randolph
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Patent number: 10357914Abstract: The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a unidirectional cooling element having a unidirectional cooling interface containing a cooling gas deflector spaced adjacent to the molten film tube. The unidirectional cooling element operably expels cooling gas in a path with the flow of the molten film tube toward an exit gap formed between the unidirectional cooling interface and the molten film tube. The minimum gap between the unidirectional cooling interface and the molten film tube occurs at the exit gap, and advantageously, the unidirectional cooling interface is provided with one or more compound angles to maximize stability and cooling efficiency.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2016Date of Patent: July 23, 2019Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cree, William J. Randolph
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Patent number: 7568899Abstract: An oscillating hauloff for blown film has a bearing structure positioned along the vertical process centerline. The bearing structure is separated into upper and lower sections to maintain a clear and open pathway for the web to pass across the process centerline. Passing the web across the process centerline allows the web to change directions before passing over a second turning bar, thus canceling any web wandering introduced by a first turning bar.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2006Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Cree, Frank P. F. Luebke
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Patent number: 7341217Abstract: An electrostatic charging system holds a film web to a roll without significant slippage, thus allowing for proper tension control of the web even with extreme differences in tension upstream and downstream of the motorized roll. The system can electrostatically transfer a web using motorized drum rolls with an internally integrated web severing knife.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2005Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventor: Robert E. Cree
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Patent number: 7314592Abstract: A plastic resin extrusion line for the production of blown film includes an external thickness control device that provides a controllable amount of air from an inlet side through an annular region to one or two sets of lips. Barriers that can be manually or automatically controlled are provided in the annular region for localized control of air flow and thus for localized thickness control. The pressure drop across the barriers is significant relative to that in the lips.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2004Date of Patent: January 1, 2008Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventors: William Randolph, Robert E. Cree
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Publication number: 20070194502Abstract: An oscillating hauloff for blown film has a bearing structure positioned along the vertical process centerline. The bearing structure is separated into upper and lower sections to maintain a clear and open pathway for the web to pass across the process centerline. Passing the web across the process centerline allows the web to change directions before passing over a second turning bar, thus canceling any web wandering introduced by a first turning bar.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2006Publication date: August 23, 2007Applicant: Addex, Inc.Inventors: Robert Cree, Frank Luebke
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Patent number: 7150848Abstract: A blown film die divides a flow of material into two flows with higher and lower flow portions and recombines the flow by combining higher flow portions with lower flow portions. The flow can be divided in circumferential channels between an annular feed ring and an annular distribution ring.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2005Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Assignee: Addex, Inc.Inventor: Robert E. Cree
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Publication number: 20060180697Abstract: An electrostatic charging system holds a film web to a roll without significant slippage, thus allowing for proper tension control of the web even with extreme differences in tension upstream and downstream of the motorized roll. The system can electrostatically transfer a web using motorized drum rolls with an internally integrated web severing knife.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2005Publication date: August 17, 2006Applicant: Addex, Inc.Inventor: Robert Cree