Abstract: The invention relates to an anvil (1) for an ultrasonic welding device (100), the anvil (1) comprising: —a working surface (2) formed on the anvil (1), on which working surface an object to be welded by means of ultrasonic vibrations is to rest; and—a bearing surface (3) formed on the anvil (1); wherein the bearing surface has two portions for the resting of the anvil (1) on a support surface formed on an anvil carrier (10); wherein the two portions at least partly include an angle in the range of 150° to 30°, 135° 45°, 135° to 95°, 95° to 45°, 120° to 60°, or 105° to 85° in an intermediate space lying between the two portions, which intermediate space lies outside of the anvil (1). The invention also relates to a corresponding anvil carrier (10) and to an ultrasonic welding device (100).

Abstract: A moisture sensing system is configured to determine the moisture level in granulate materials, such as, but not limited to, plastic resin pellets and agricultural grains. The system is configured to measure various parameters relating to the environment around the granulate material, and to determine additional characteristics of the granulate material based on these parameters. In some embodiments, the system is configured as a multi-sensor array with the computational and communicative capabilities to process the acquired measurements and provide outputs to a process device, such as a dryer, to help optimize the drying or other processes performed on the granulate material after the moisture measurements and other data are acquired.

Abstract: Systems for drying granular materials, such as resin granulates, powdered materials, and agricultural grains, can include a storage vessel for holding the granular material; a drying hopper having a body defining an interior volume configured to receive the granular material; a diffuser configured to direct process air into the interior volume; a vacuum source for transferring the granular material from the storage vessel and to the drying hopper; and a moisture sensor for determining a moisture content of the granular material at a location upstream of the drying hopper. At least one of the residence time of the granular material within the drying hopper, and the temperature, humidity, and flow rate of the process air are regulated based on the moisture content of the granular material measured upstream of the drying hopper at, for example, the storage vessel.

Abstract: An extrudate cooling tank having cooling water chambers adapted for running passage of extrudate serially therethrough at a preselected regulated variable pressures with water in the chambers being at different temperatures, and a wheel-servo motor combination hingedly connected to the chamber and being movable with respect thereto between a first position with the wheel engaging running extrudate and a second position with the wheel remote from engagement with the extrudate.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying granular resin material in a hopper including a first sub-system, including a membrane and a heater receiving drying gas from the membrane to be heated, the first sub-system supplying dried heated gas to a first portion of the hopper; and a second sub-system, including a mixing device and a heater for receiving drying gas from the mixing device to be heated, the mixing device inducing withdrawal of gas from the hopper and mixing the withdrawn gas with gas supplied from the first subsystem, the mixed gases being heated and supplied to a second portion of the hopper, the improvement comprising a gas separation membrane for separating inert gases from air supplied to the apparatus and providing the separated inert gas in the first subsystem; a heater for heating air supplied to the apparatus; and a thermostat for controlling the heater and thereby maintaining the supplied air at a selected temperature.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a carbogenic nanoparticle polymer inks including a conducting polymer, such as those made of CQD-PPy and/or R-GO-PPy, methods of making the inks, and moisture and VOC sensors made therefrom.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for drying granular resin material by heating compressed air to a temperature prescribed for gas separation membrane operation, presenting the heated compressed air to a membrane separating out oxygen-size and smaller molecules to provide a stream of gas molecules of at least nitrogen-size at a pressure substantially that of the compressed air, heating the stream of gas molecules of at least nitrogen-size to a temperature at which dew point of the stream is no higher than ?40 degrees F., and introducing the heated stream of gas molecules into a chamber for upward flow to atmosphere through granular resin material in the chamber.

Abstract: An extrudate cooling tank having cooling water chambers adapted for running passage of extrudate serially therethrough at a preselected regulated variable pressures with water in the chambers being at different temperatures, and a wheel-servo motor combination hingedly connected to the chamber and being movable with respect thereto between a first position with the wheel engaging running extrudate and a second position with the wheel remote from engagement with the extrudate.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for pneumatically conveying granular resin material and controlling such conveyance includes a sensor associated with granular plastic resin material receiver with the sensing vacuum level thereat and a microprocessor adjusting vacuum pump speed based on vacuum level sensed at the receiver.

Abstract: A controlled, variable speed vacuum pump with a flow limiter connected to the suction head of the vacuum pump conveys granular plastic resin material from a supply to receivers retaining and dispensing resin when needed by a process machine.

Abstract: A vacuum pump with a first flow regulator connected to the suction head of the vacuum pump for conveying granular resin material from a supply to receivers retaining and dispensing the resin when needed by a process machine and a second flow regulator controlling and limiting to a maximum value vacuum flow through a conduit carrying auxiliary additives to the receivers.

Abstract: Method for pneumatically conveying granular resin material and controlling such conveyance includes a sensor associated with granular plastic resin material receiver with the sensing vacuum level thereat and a microprocessor adjusting vacuum pump speed based on vacuum level sensed at the receiver.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer fixture has an entrance and an exit for tubular extrudate passing therethrough; ultrasonic transducers within a closed chamber in position for passage of the tubular extrudate therebetween; and a vacuum source communicating with the chamber interior for maintaining sub-atmospheric pressure within the chamber. The water level in the chamber is controlled so that the ultrasonic transducers remain immersed in the water.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for pulling polymeric material from an extrusion die as a tubular extrusion uses a pair of mutually-facing endless belts for pulling the extrusion from the extrusion die by frictional contact with the extrusion, the belts being spaced apart from one another for frictional driving passage of the tubular extrusion therebetween, spacing of the belts being continuously adjusted in response to signal from a gauge continuously measuring outer diameter of the tubular extrusion upstream of the belts.

Abstract: A controlled, variable speed vacuum pump with a flow limiter connected to the suction head of the vacuum pump conveys granular plastic resin material from a supply to receivers retaining and dispensing resin when needed by a process machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for drying granular resin material in a hopper including a first sub-system, including a membrane and a heater receiving drying gas from the membrane to be heated, the first sub-system supplying dried heated gas to a first portion of the hopper; and a second sub-system, including a mixing device and a heater for receiving drying gas from the mixing device to be heated, the mixing device inducing withdrawal of gas from the hopper and mixing the withdrawn gas with gas supplied from the first subsystem, the mixed gases being heated and supplied to a second portion of the hopper, the improvement comprising a gas separation membrane for separating inert gases from air supplied to the apparatus and providing the separated inert gas in the first subsystem; a heater for heating air supplied to the apparatus; and a thermostat for controlling the heater and thereby maintaining the supplied air at a selected temperature.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for pneumatically conveying granular resin material and controlling such conveyance includes a sensor associated with granular plastic resin material receiver with the sensing vacuum level thereat and a microprocessor adjusting vacuum pump speed based on vacuum level sensed at the receiver.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for drying granular resin material by heating compressed air to a temperature prescribed for gas separation membrane operation, presenting the heated compressed air to a membrane separating out oxygen-size and smaller molecules to provide a stream of gas molecules of at least nitrogen-size at a pressure substantially that of the compressed air, heating the stream of gas molecules of at least nitrogen-size to a temperature at which dew point of the stream is no higher than ?40 degrees F., and introducing the heated stream of gas molecules into a chamber for upward flow to atmosphere through granular resin material in the chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for drying thermoplastic resin prior to molding into plastic parts comprises a continuous loop liquid circuit for furnishing liquid at a prescribed temperature to a mold in which the plastic parts are fabricated; a continuous loop air circuit for passing heated dry air through a hopper containing the thermoplastic resin thereby drying the thermoplastic resin to a prescribed level of dryness; and a coupling thermally connecting the two circuits for heat transfer from the liquid to the drying air; the liquid is selected from the group comprising water and ethylene glycol; microprocessor control facilitates generation and retention of custom water temperature and resin dryness/temperature optionally based on machine learning principles.

Abstract: Apparatus for pneumatically supplying granular material from a supply to at least one receiver for temporary storage of the granular material prior to transfer to a process machine including a timer for measuring time required for loading the receiver and a microprocessor for comparing times measured by the timer and triggering an alarm when consecutively compared times increase by a preselected amount and a method and apparatus for determining when a filter of a granular material receiver providing granular material to an associated process machine, is at reduced filtering efficiency.