Patents Assigned to Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH
  • Patent number: 9950446
    Abstract: A device for producing pellets from a melt material. The device can have a perforated plate with nozzles from which a melt material emerges. Located opposite the perforated plate is a cutting chamber with a motor-driven cutter arrangement having a cutter head with at least one blade, and a cutter shaft. A coolant is introduced into the cutting chamber from an inlet apparatus. The inlet apparatus has a separate inlet chamber that circumferentially encloses the cutting chamber in the area of rotation of the at least one blade, and has an adjustable annular inlet nozzle arrangement. Coolant is introduced into the cutting chamber circumferentially and substantially radially inward from the outside. A substantially centripetal flow of the coolant is produced in the area of rotation, and the coolant and the pellets are conveyed to an outlet of the cutting chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhardt-Karsten Mürb
  • Patent number: 9879907
    Abstract: A method and device for continuously drying and crystallizing water-flushed granulate. The method comprises the steps of: feeding water-flushed granulate into a pre-dryer, pre-drying granulate in the pre-dryer, conveying pre-dried granulate into a dryer/crystallizer, and discharging crystallized granulate from the dryer/crystallizer. An air conditioning means produces temperature-controlled and humidity-conditioned air that is delivered to the dryer/crystallizer, wherein the exhaust air of the dryer/crystallizer is delivered to the pre-dryer, and wherein the exhaust air of the pre-dryer is returned to the air conditioning means forming a closed air circuit is formed by the dryer/crystallizer, pre-dryer, and air conditioning means. The device comprises a pre-dryer, a dryer/crystallizer, an air conditioning means, and optionally a control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Deiss
  • Patent number: 9120099
    Abstract: A shredder for producing particles from a sheet material is disclosed herein. The shredder can have a longitudinal cutting device with a first cutting roller and a second cutting roller. A transverse cutting device can be positioned after the longitudinal cutting device. The first cutting roller and the second cutting roller can each have special profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: AUTOMATIK PLASTICS MACHINERY GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Dahlheimer
  • Publication number: 20150202788
    Abstract: The invention refers to a pelletizing device for cutting plastic strands into pellets having a cutting rotor (20) which is rotated by a drive system (22), and cutting blades (24) distributed over a circumference (26) of the cutting rotor (20) having cutting edges (78), root areas (44) of which cutting blades (24) are arranged in grooves (34) in the rotor body (20), each cutting blade (24) having a recess (46) parallel to the cutting edge (78), which recesses (46) are covered by one of the grooves (34) to receive and interact with one clamping device (48) being held in an opposite recess (42) in the rotor body (20), wherein each clamping device (48) comprises a radially extendable clamping sleeve (50) and a spreading device (58, 64, 70) to widen the clamping sleeve (50) at least radially with respect to the clamping sleeve (50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH
    Inventor: Tim Harmon
  • Patent number: 9073237
    Abstract: A granulating device for producing pellets from a plastic material can have a die plate, a cutting chamber housing adjoining the die plate, and a cutting device with a cutter. The cutting device can be driven via a cutter shaft by a cutter drive device located in a cutter drive housing. The cutting chamber housing can have a cutting chamber housing flange section connected with a cutter drive housing flange section of the cutter drive housing by a connecting element. The connecting element can have a clamping collar arranged to enclose at least one section of the flange sections, and an eccentric closure element. The eccentric closure element can be connected to the clamping collar, and can have an index opening. In a closure position, the index opening can be located in alignment with a locating pin that passes through the index opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: AUTOMATIK PLASTICS MACHINERY GMBH
    Inventor: Kai Fiebeler
  • Patent number: 9017057
    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: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Dahlheimer
  • Patent number: 8961164
    Abstract: A cutter head holder for blades of an underwater granulator for granulating pellets from a plastic melt that emerges from a perforated plate into a process chamber of a housing of an underwater granulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Dahlheimer
  • 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: 8939750
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for pelletizing at least one strand of material to be pelletized. Said device comprises a cutting device with two blades that can be displaced relative each other, at least one feed roller and at least one strand feeder for feeding the strand to the cutting device. An additional tab-shaped rectification guide is arranged downstream of the strand feeder in the region directly in front of the feed roller and next to the same, said guide being adjustable and movable in relation to the strand feeder. The rectification guide can be used to adjust the angle at which the strand is fed to the feed roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH
    Inventors: Sven Fenchel, Jochen Scheurich
  • Patent number: 8851410
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting device for a granulator for obtaining granules from cutting plastic strands which are discharged from nozzles, said cutting device comprising a cutting rotor which is connected to the drive shaft by means of a Cardan joint piece comprising a driven part and a drive part. Said drive part and the driven part comprise a force transfer piece, respectively having a prong like shape such that the prongs rotate about the force transfer piece when they are pivoted at about 90 degrees in relation to each other. Each prong supports the axis which extends through the force transfer piece and both axes are offset in relation to each other essentially about 90 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Dahlheimer
  • Publication number: 20140251442
    Abstract: A device and a method for reducing the pressure of a fluid containing granules. The device comprises a free space devoid of moving rotor blades and a housing with an inlet and an outlet. The shape of the wall within the housing and of the free space therein applies a centripetal flow component to the fluid containing the granules flowing therethrough. The pressure of the fluid containing the granules is decreased after the flow has passed through the device. The device and method further and impart a rotational motion to the fluid containing the granules in the area of the outlet, which is generally located in the central area of the free space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: AUTOMATIK PLASTICS MACHINERY GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Dahlheimer, Helmuth Meidhof, Stefan Deiss
  • Patent number: 8721317
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for granulating plastic strands having a cutting wheel (15), the individual blades of which graze past a counter blade (2) disposed in a blade carrier (1) when the cutting wheel is rotated, thus cutting the plastic strands (13) being guided over the counter blade into a granulate (14), wherein a rail (3a, 3b) composed of hard material running parallel to the counter blade is disposed adjacent to the counter blade and after said counter blade in the rotational direction of the cutting wheel that collects cut granulate and conducts said granulate into a discharge channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH
    Inventor: Jochen Scheurich
  • Publication number: 20140117580
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for making granules from strands of a melt of a thermoplastic polymer material having the steps of creating and providing the melt of the material, discharging the material in multiple strands from a perforated plate, impinging the strands with an impinging flow fluid from an impinging flow nozzle, cooling the strands and dividing the strands into individual granules, wherein the strands are impinged by the impinging flow fluid only during discharge from the perforated plate, and wherein, as it is discharged from the impinging flow nozzle, the impinging flow fluid has a temperature above the melting temperature of the material and has a discharge velocity in the range from 50 m/sec to 300 m/sec; the invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method with an impinging flow device that can be pivoted by means of a pivoting joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: AUTOMATIK PLASTICS MACHINERY GMBH
    Inventor: Jochen Scheurich
  • Publication number: 20140103564
    Abstract: A method for continuous casting and granulating strands of a thermoplastic material which uses a nozzle head having a plurality of nozzle apertures of a maximum diameter of 4 mm each, and water-moistened guide member for cooling and guiding the plastic strands exiting the nozzle aperture via inlet rollers to the inlet of the cutting unit for chopping up the plastic strands into granules approx. 2-3 mm in length. The flow rate of the melt, with the strands being cooled down on their way from the nozzles via the guide member the feed rollers of the cutting unit, of at least 100 m/min in the central spatial region of the nozzle apertures will be increased to such an extent that the cutting unit will chop up the strands at a cutting rate of >2,000 cuts/s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: AUTOMATIK PLASTICS MACHINERY GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan DEISS, Frank GLOCKNER, Stefan DAHLHEIMER
  • Publication number: 20140077013
    Abstract: A shredder for producing particles from a sheet material is disclosed herein. The shredder can have a longitudinal cutting device with a first cutting roller and a second cutting roller. A transverse cutting device can be positioned after the longitudinal cutting device. The first cutting roller and the second cutting roller can each have special profiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: AUTOMATIK PLASTICS MACHINERY GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Dahlheimer
  • Publication number: 20140042659
    Abstract: A method for producing pharmaceutical products from a melt material, wherein the melt material emerges from nozzles in a perforated plate, and is then granulated. A motor-driven cutter arrangement having at least one blade is opposite the perforated plate so that it cuts pellets emerging from nozzles in the perforated plate. A gaseous coolant flows through a housing which adjoins the perforated plate and encloses the at least one blade. The pellets of the melt material are then solidified in the coolant. Coolant is introduced from a separate inlet chamber that circumferentially encloses the housing in the area of rotation and from an inlet nozzle arrangement extending circumferentially between the inlet chamber and the housing. Coolant is introduced circumferentially from all sides essentially radially inward. A substantially centripetal flow of the coolant is produced in the area of rotation, and the coolant and pellets are conveyed to an outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: AUTOMATIK PLASTICS MACHINERY GMBH
    Inventor: Reinhardt-Karsten Mürb
  • Patent number: 8636492
    Abstract: The methods and apparatuses for granulating thermoplastic material emerging from nozzles in a perforated plate are provided. The apparatus can have a motor-driven cutter arrangement having at least one blade located opposite the perforated plate. The at least one blade can pass over the nozzles in the perforated plate and cuts pellets of the emerging thermoplastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhardt-Karsten Muerb
  • Patent number: 8616480
    Abstract: A shredder for producing particles from a sheet material is disclosed herein. The shredder can have a longitudinal cutting device with a first cutting roller and a second cutting roller. A transverse cutting device can be positioned after the longitudinal cutting device. The first cutting roller and the second cutting roller can each have special profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Dahlheimer
  • Publication number: 20130309345
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting apparatus for a granulator for cutting plastics-material strands emerging from nozzles into granules. The cutting apparatus includes a knife rotor which is connected to a drive shaft via an articulation component having a drive part and via a driven part carrying the knife rotor. The drive part is inserted into a spherical head in a matching spherical cap in the drive part. The spherical head passes through by at least one direction axle, about which the spherical head is rotatable in the spherical cap in case of an axial offset of the drive part and the driven part. In this case, an end of the directional axle that emerges from the spherical head is mounted in a groove in the spherical cap and extends transversely to the direction of rotation of the spherical cap such that, in the case of an offset of the drive part with respect to the driven part, the end moves in the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: AUTOMATIK PLASTICS MACHINERY GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Dahlheimer, Helmuth Meidhof, Gino Czerny
  • Patent number: 8557155
    Abstract: A process for production of polyethylene terephthalate pellets includes the steps of: production of a melt of polyethylene terephthalate material; production of polyethylene terephthalate pellets from the melt by means of underwater pelletization into a process fluid; removal of the polyethylene terephthalate pellets from the site of underwater pelletization in the process fluid; crystallization of the polyethylene terephthalate pellets in the process fluid, wherein a surface of the polyethylene terephthalate pellets is crystallized and an interior of the polyethylene terephthalate pellets remains amorphous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Automatik Plastics Machinery GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Deiss, Frank Gloeckner, Horst Mueller