Abstract: A self-cleaning dosing apparatus includes a material hopper for containing pellets of material, a feed screw, a first material outlet through which pellets of material fall by gravity onto a first end of the feed screw for the feeding of pellets to a process machine. A second material outlet is located beneath the first end of the feed screw, with a slide gate blocking the second material outlet. A pneumatic piston is provided for pulling the slide gate to unblock the second material outlet, and a Venturi pump is located under the second material outlet for pulling pellets through the second material outlet when the slide gate is opened.

Abstract: A homogenizer for homogenously blending a feedstock includes a separator, an agitator and a hopper integrated as a single unit in a common housing. The separator receives a material feed, in the form of a fluid medium carrying a composite feedstock, and separates the composite feedstock from the fluid medium. The agitator receives the separated composite feedstock from the separator, and mixes the composite feedstock to yield the homogenously blended feedstock. The hopper receives the homogenously blended feedstock from the agitator and holds the homogenously blended feedstock for release to either a processing machine or a storage container. The homogenizer is controlled by one or more control units that use signals received from a sensor in the hopper to control the delivery of a material feed to the homogenizer, and the flow of feedstock therethrough.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling a color masterbatch feed rate in production of a manufactured part to match a color of the manufactured part to a target color by adjusting a concentration of masterbatch that is mixed with a raw material and fed into a processing machine for producing the manufactured part. Control of the color masterbatch feed rate is based on optical spectral properties of an in-line manufactured part, a known reference part having the target color, and an algorithm for calculating and adjusting the color masterbatch feed rate.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods for creating a textured or patterned surface on elastomeric extruded film.

Abstract: The invention is a weighing and mixing system for the preparation of mixtures of components required by processing machines for the manufacture of plastic products. In particular the invention is suitable for the preparation of weighed mixtures comprised of at least two different masterbatches in order to obtain the color shade desired for a specific plastic product.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for optimizing a match between the color of an in-line part manufactured by a plastic product production machine and the color of a reference part by adjusting the concentration of masterbatch in the mixture of raw material fed to the plastic product production machine. The optimization of the color is based on interlaced spectra of the in-line part and reference part obtained using the same spectrometer, thereby eliminating the requirement for high accuracy spectrometer calibration and allowing a controller of the system to determine the rates at which the base masterbatches are added to the raw material in real time on the manufacturing floor while the plastic product production machine is being operated to manufacture in-line parts.

Abstract: Synthetic paper that includes at least one resin layer formed from a composition including a polymeric resin and a low aspect ratio filler, a tear additive, or both. The present invention also relates to methods for making the synthetic paper. The synthetic paper has the texture and appearance of tissue paper.

Abstract: A polyolefin composition comprising a predetermined amount of an ethylene inhibitor for binding 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic-acid (ACC) to reduce an amount of ACC available for an ethylene biosynthetic pathway.

Abstract: An ethylene polymer composition having improved optical properties and masterbatch for producing the composition comprising a predetermined amount of clarifying agent, and a predetermined amount of an amide slip agent.