Abstract: Convenient access for quick and thorough clean-out and maintenance of an openable mixing chamber and both rotors in two-rotor continuous mixers for plastic materials is advantageously achieved by making each rotor in three separate pieces: a drive journal, a rotor body (also called a "rotor section" or a "rotor") and a driven journal. These three separate pieces of each rotor are axially aligned, with the rotor body being positioned between the drive journal and the driven journal. Each rotor body is disengageably coupled to its respective drive and driven journals. The drive and driven journals are rotatably mounted in bearing assemblies which are separate from the mixing chamber barrel (also called a "mixing chamber housing").

Abstract: A coupling mechanism for quickly coupling a rotor body to its drive and driven journals and obtaining radial and axial alignment thereof in a closely confined space is provided. The coupling mechanism includes a split ring collar and a clamping ring securely holding in appropriate placement a chamfered split ring for radially and axially aligning the rotor and the journals, referred to as co-axial alignment.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism for quickly coupling a rotor body to its drive and driven journals and thereby obtaining radial and axial alignment thereof in a closely confined space is provided. The coupling mechanism includes a split ring collar and a clamping ring securely holding in appropriate placement a chamfered split ring for radially and axially aligning the rotor and the journals, hereinafter referred to as co-axial alignment.

Abstract: Convenient access for quick and thorough clean-out and maintenance of an openable mixing chamber and both rotors in two-rotor continuous mixers for plastic materials is advantageously achieved by making each rotor in three separate pieces: a drive journal, a rotor body (also called a "rotor section" or a "rotor") and a driven journal. These three separate pieces of each rotor are axially aligned, with the rotor body being positioned between the drive journal and the driven journal. Each rotor body is disengageably coupled to its respective drive and driven journals. The drive and driven journals are rotatably mounted in bearing assemblies which are separate from the mixing chamber barrel (also called a "mixing chamber housing").

Abstract: Rotor zone cooling method for channeling liquid coolant flow in rotors in continuous mixers provides for predetermined zones along the lengths of the rotors to be cooled as may be desired and provides for other predetermined zones to remain neutral. A sequence of alternating cooling/neutral/cooling/neutral/cooling/neutral zones can be provided, including zones of various possible lengths, locations and numbers of such zones for tailoring or customizing these zones to optimize temperature conditions along a rotor depending upon mixing requirements and characteristics of plastic materials being mixed. A central coolant feed tube conveys coolant from an entrance into the bore to a discharge end of the feed tube positioned near the bore terminus in a first cooling zone. Coolant flow is diverted into isolation channels within isolation tubing sections spaced inwardly from the rotor bore wall for creating a neutral zone.

Abstract: A one-piece barrel for a hot-fed extruder extends from drive means at its upstream end to its discharge mouth near the downstream end of the feed screw. This one-piece extruder barrel has a split-level, in-feed opening adapted for connecting a strong, reinforcing converging hopper in close tolerance therewith for feeding molten plastic into the extruder barrel through this in-feed opening. A feed screw propels along the barrel molten plastic fed into the barrel through the in-feed opening. The barrel is a one-piece, integral, strong, cylindrical member with an axial bore whose entire length may be finish machined at one time. Such one-time finishing of the entire bore of a barrel is not possible in prior hot-fed extruder barrels, because they were built up from multiple sections assembled end-to-end to form the whole barrel.

Abstract: Quick-disconnect couplings for three-piece rotors in a two-rotor continuous mixer for plastic materials enable a main rotor section (or "main rotor body") of each rotor to be uncoupled from a drive journal located at one end of the main rotor section and a driven journal located at the other end of the main rotor section.

Abstract: Rotor zone cooling apparatus channels liquid coolant flow in rotors in continuous mixers of plastic materials for causing predetermined zones along the lengths of the rotors to be cooled as may be desired and for other predetermined zones to remain neutral, i.e. without significant cooling. A sequence of alternating cooling/neutral/cooling/neutral/cooling/neutral zones can be arranged, including zones of various possible length, various possible locations and various possible numbers of such zones. These zones are tailored or customized for optimizing temperature conditions along a rotor depending upon the mixing requirements and characteristics of plastic materials being mixed. Within an axial bore in a rotor is inserted a novel elongated cooling tubing assembly which rotates with the rotor. For creating a neutral zone, coolant flow is diverted inwardly into an isolation channel within an isolation tubing section spaced inwardly from the rotor bore wall.