Abstract: A plasticizing and melting apparatus for granular synthetic plastic material has a heatable cylinder one end of which has an inlet opening for reception of granular material from an adjustable feeding unit which includes a shaker. The cylinder surrounds a rotary feed screw having a material advancing section in the region of the inlet opening, a first material densifying section immediately downstream of the advancing section, a collar which defines with the cylinder a narrow annular shearing gap immediately downstream of the first densifying section, a pressure relaxing section immediately downstream of the collar, and a second densifying section immediately downstream of the pressure relaxing section. The cylinder has one or more gas evacuating apertures which connect the interior of the cylinder with the atmosphere in the region surrounding the pressure relaxing section.

Abstract: An injection molding machine wherein the ram in the injection cylinder can be moved at several speeds and can be subjected to different fluid pressures by an apparatus having a two-way valve whose inlet is connectable to one or more pumps by way of discrete check valves and whose outlet is connected with a chamber of the injection cylinder by a conduit containing an electrically adjustable pressure relief valve. The valve member of the two-way valve is movable between a first position in which it completely seals the inlet from the outlet and several second positions in which it acts as a flow regulating means to permit the fluid to flow from the inlet to the outlet at a selected rate. The valve member is movable by a solenoid-operated pilot valve which cooperates with a stop extending into the path of movement of the valve member and being movable axially by a reversible motor which is controlled by the programming system of the injection molding machine.