Abstract: An extruder assembly includes a rolling assembly. An extrusion block includes a plurality of extruding ports that receive an extrudable material from the rolling assembly. A regulating mechanism is positioned within, above, or otherwise near each extruding port of the plurality of extruding ports. The regulating mechanism is operable with respect to the rolling assembly to modify a flow of extrudable material through each respective extruding port.

Abstract: A cutting assembly for cutting an extruded edible material includes an extrusion assembly having a food extrusion port that extrudes an edible material in an extrusion direction. A cutter frame having a cutting edge is positioned proximate the food extrusion port. The cutting edge moves through a cutting region proximate the extrusion port in a cutting motion. First and second servo motors are operably coupled to the cutter frame, wherein the first servo motor operates the cutting edge to define a first component of the cutting motion perpendicular to the extrusion direction. The second servo motor operates the cutting edge to define a second component of the cutting motion generally parallel with the extrusion direction. The first and second servo motors combine the first and second components to define a cutting path and a return path of the cutting edge through the cutting region.

Abstract: A mixer having an elongate barrel with an interior wall defining a mixing chamber, at least a pair of shafts extending axially within the barrel driven in the same direction of rotation and at the same speed of rotation, and mixing elements on each of the shafts. Radially opposite paddles are on each of the shafts, each comprising hub portions and wing portions radially spaced from the hub portions. The wing portions extend axially to overlie the hub portions and each wing portion has a radially inner surface generating the configuration of the radially inner surface of a wing portion on the radially adjacent paddle and further has a radially outer surface generating hub portions of the radially adjacent paddle, and the wall of the chamber.

Abstract: Material mixing apparatus and methods wherein a barrel defines a mixing chamber, a pair of parallel mixing shafts extend within the barrel chamber and are driven in the same direction of rotation and at the same speed of rotation, mixing elements are on each of the shafts in radial interwiping relation, the barrel has a pair of radially separated, reduced cross-section, annular discharge chambers through which the shafts extend, and one of the discharge chambers has a radial discharge port interjacent its ends, the barrel has a cross-sectionally enlarged end pass chamber through which the shafts further extend at the ends of the discharge chambers, the end pass chamber being of such cross-sectional volume relative to the conveying capacity of the other discharge chamber, as to operate in a partially starved mode at substantially atmospheric pressure, radially aligned paddle portions are on each of the shafts in the end pass chamber, shaped to wipe one another and the end pass chamber wall, one of the shafts h

Abstract: A process simulator system for analyzing the forces imposed upon a mixing paddle of a predesignated configuration utilizes a rotary container with a curvilinear interior wall surface. A shaft extends into the container from above and supports a mixer paddle having a profile surface comprising side flanks of curvilinear configuration converging to an end surface concentric with the axis of the container which is immersed in the material adjacent the container wall surface. An indicator system provided with a zero force indicator and reactive to torque or bending forces imposed by the viscous material indicates the force imposed.

Abstract: A remotely transmitting batch mixer has a bowl and a shaft carrier mounting shafts with mixers which mix material in the bowl. Drive mechanism revolves the carrier about an axis generally centrally aligned with the axis of the bowl to move the shafts relatively orbitally about the bowl, and at the same time revolves them about their individual axes. A static enclosure, which mates with the bowl, is provided for the carrier and drive mechanism. Sensor mechanism responsive to the temperature of the material in the bowl and/or to loads applied to one of the shafts is mounted on one of the shafts and connects with slip ring mechanism and an electromagnetic signal transmitter mechanism on the revolving carrier and a signal receiver mounted on the static enclosure.

Abstract: An expansible duct seal construction for a batch mixer vessel with a cover clamped to the open end of the vessel wherein a flexible duct perimetrally surrounds the cover and the end portion of the vessel adjacent the cover, the duct being secured to the sides of the vessel and including an expansion fold around its perimeter secured to the cover in a manner to prevent the escape of vaporous material. A gas under pressure is provided in the duct to balance the pressure in the duct with the gaseous pressure in the vessel and inhibit the migration of material from the vessel in the preferred form of the invention.

Abstract: A centrifugal pelletizer has a hollow electrically and thermally conductive rotor with a series of orifices along its outer rim portion for centrifugally powering strands of heated thermoplastic material from a body of said material in a flowable state within the interior of the rotor. A knife mounted on the frame adjacent the rotor orifices severs the strands into pellets of a predetermined length. A molten material feed tube with fins therein at the exit end to divide the flow extends into a rotor housing to direct flow in a uniform manner to an axially opposite impeller on the rotor and control mechanism, sensitive to the temperature of the rotor adjacent the orifices, controls the supply of current to electromagnets, which have a peripheral magnetic flux conducting plate system extending to and forming a part of the housing creating a flux field which is interrupted by the spinning rotor to induce currents in the rotor which heat it according to the temperature sensed.

Abstract: Uniform pellets of thermoplastic material are formed by centrifugally expressing strands of heated material from orifices on the rim of a hollow rotor and severing the strands with a linearly moving endless blade at a selected radial distance from the rim. The severed pellets pass in a tangential path through a cooling spray at the entrance to a pellet outlet duct. The severing blade is mounted on a bracket for movement to and from the severing position and for adjustment radially and circumferentially of the rotor axis. Two blade assemblies are employed alternately so that blade replacement may be accomplished without interrupting operation. Downstream from the outlet duct an auxiliary knife-gate is employed adjacent a scrap duct and is movable from a severing position to a scrap duct closing position.

Abstract: Uniform pellets of thermoplastic material are formed by centrifugally expressing strands of heated material from orifices on the rim of a hollow rotor and severing the strands with a linearly moving endless blade at a selected radial distance from the rim. The severed pellets pass in a tangential path through a cooling spray at the entrance to a pellet outlet duct. The severing blade is mounted on a bracket for movement to and from the severing position and for adjustment radially and circumferentially of the rotor axis. Two blade assemblies are employed alternately so that blade replacement may be accomplished without interrupting operation. Downstream from the outlet duct an auxiliary knife-gate is employed adjacent a scrap duct and is movable from a severing position to a scrap duct closing position.

Abstract: Uniform pellets of thermoplastic material are formed by centrifugally expressing strands of heated material from orifices on the rim of a hollow rotor and severing the strands with a linearly moving endless blade at a selected radial distance from the rim. The severed pellets pass in a tangential path through a cooling spray at the entrance to a pellet outlet duct. The severing blade is mounted on a bracket for movement to and from the severing position and for adjustment radially and circumferentially of the rotor axis. Two blade assemblies are employed alternately so that blade replacement may be accomplished without interrupting operation. Downstream from the outlet duct an auxiliary knife-gate is employed adjacent a scrap duct and is movable from a severing position to a scrap duct closing position.

Abstract: A barrel assembly for a twin screw mixer or similar device is especially designed for ready access to a replaceable split liquid tight barrel liner which is accurately held in seated position within a housing block by a minimum number of bolts or other detachable connectors. Housing blocks are formed with liner half receiving recesses defined by flat surfaces which include inwardly convergent side walls and a flat inner wall. The liner half is of complementary shape and projects slightly from the recess, when seated in the recess so that closing of the housing blocks engages abutting surfaces on the two liner halves to clamp these surfaces against each other during operation of the machine. The housing blocks are mounted upon the machine frame by brackets for swinging movement about horizontal axes, meshing pinion gears couple the housing blocks to each other so that the weight of one housing block is counterbalanced by the other during opening and closing movements.

Abstract: A fluid pressure actuated system for axially reciprocating an element while the element is being driven in rotation. A piston is mounted within a piston chamber in a rotary shaft. The rod side of the piston head is continuously exposed to fluid under pressure supplied by a pump. A pilot valve is mounted in a chamber within the piston and is axially movable relative to the piston between opposite end limits. The valve cooperates with a ported sleeve which defines the valve chamber to apply pressure from the pump to the valve in a manner which shifts the valve from one of its end limits to the other each time the piston arrives at an end of its stroke. Shifting of the valve in turn controls the supply of fluid under pressure to the piston to cause reversal of the piston stroke. Both piston and valve are biased in one direction by fluid pressure at all times, movement of the piston and valve against the biasing pressure being accomplished by applying an overcoming fluid pressure in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A rotor has a coaxial hollow casing with a plurality of concentric radially spaced sieves or screens therein. At least one light phase liquid inlet tube has communication with the radially outer portion of the rotor chamber, and at least one heavy phase liquid inlet tube has communication with the radially inner portion of the rotor chamber to supply light and heavy phase fluids, respectively to the chamber casing. The heavy phase liquid moves radially outward and is removed from the outermost portion of the rotor chamber while the light phase liquid moves radially inwardly and is removed from the radially inner portion of the rotor chamber. The machine is constructed with concentric, radially open distributor or dispersing trays within the rotor chamber communicating directly with each of the light and heavy phase liquid inlet tubes.

Abstract: An improved system for treating material proceeding continuously through a processing barrel having at least twin interconnected cylinders with saddle portions of generally V cross section at the points of interconnection of the cylinders. Twin rotating parallel mixer shafts, co-axially mounted in the cylinders, have radially interwiping screw or paddle elements between a material charging inlet and a material discharging outlet which are configured to wipe the cylinders including the saddle portions. Sets of paddle elements, each of which includes a cylinder closing paddle, are provided on the shafts at a flow control station between the inlet and outlet, and a movable flow-controlling saddle or valve element is mounted with relation to the cylinder closing paddle sets in a position such that it can be moved from an opened position to a position to restrict or block flow past the sets of paddle elements.

Abstract: Articles which nest, such as baking pans, are assembled into a stack by a two-stage lift mechanism in which the assembly of a second stack is commenced while a previously assembled first stack is being discharged from the stack forming apparatus, so that the flow of pans into the apparatus need not be interrupted. Articles such as pans are fed in succession into a stacking station at which the articles are aligned with a vertical path and then dropped. A first stage lift receives the articles and is lowered one step upon the receipt of each article until the first stage lift is lowered to a transfer station. At the transfer station, support of the stack of articles is transferred to a second stage lift which is similarly lowered one step upon the addition of each subsequent article to the stack until a preselected number of articles have been accumulated in the stack.

Abstract: A bowl type centrifuge for separating solids and liquids from mixtures in which the rotary differential speed between the centrifuge bowl and an internal conveying scroll is established by variably augmenting the frictional torque imparted to the bowl by the mixture driven in rotation by the scroll. The scroll is directly driven in rotation by a drive motor. The mixture to be separated is in turn driven in rotation by the rotating scroll and the frictional drag between the rotating mixture and the inner surface of the bowl induces rotation of the bowl. The speed of rotation of the bowl thus induced is less than that of the scroll, thus creating a rotary speed differential which enables the scroll to convey solid particles of the mixture axially toward one end of the bowl.

Abstract: A candy making system wherein a viscous candy mass is cooked and continuously fed through a closed chamber reactor wherein a gas, such as air under pressure, is homogeneously intermixed with the continuously proceeding melt product stream to incorporate gas bubbles of a predetermined microscopic size therein. The candy is cooked at a temperature well below its heat degradation temperature until a relatively high viscosity mass is obtained and the cooked viscosity is substantially maintained during the passage of the mass through the reactor chamber while elongated bubbles repeatedly created in the mass are repeatedly sliced when the product is forced through reduced size openings and a knife moves through the product at a speed such as to slice the elongated bubbles. The product is discharged from the chamber to atmosphere at the bubble slicing viscosity which may be described as "taffy-like".

Abstract: An oven fueling system providing a chamber for food products exposed to at least one assembly of ribbon burners for heating the chamber atmosphere. An air heater is provided for transmitting pre-heated air through a conduit to a mixer aspirator leading to the header of the assembly. An oil line connects with the conduit upstream of the aspirator mixer for supplying oil to be injected into the preheated air passing through and a gas line communicates with the conduit for supplying gas to the conduit selectively with the oil line supply. Valves thus isolate both the oil line and the gas line selectively. Additionally a sensor is provided for sensing the temperature of the assembly and a control is provided for preventing the valve at the gas line from opening until a predetermined burner assembly temperature is reached. The valve for the oil line is prevented from being opened until the temperature of the chamber is such that the oil will vaporize satisfactorily.