Abstract: The invention relates to the use of an apparatus for adding at least one solid or viscous liquid additive, or an additive dispersed in solvent, to a reactor interior of a reactor for preparing crosslinked, finely divided polymers by copolymerizing (a) water-soluble, monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and (b) from 0.001 to 5 mol %, based on the monomers (a), of monomers comprising at least two polymerizable groups, (c) from 0 to 20 mol %, based on the monomers (a), of water-insoluble monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, where the apparatus comprises at least one screw for conveying the at least one additive and the at least one screw ends in an addition orifice substantially flush with the inner wall of the reactor interior.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of an apparatus for adding at least one solid or viscous liquid additive, or an additive dispersed in solvent, to a reactor interior of a reactor for preparing crosslinked, finely divided polymers by copolymerizing (a) water-soluble, monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and (b) from 0.001 to 5 mol %, based on the monomers (a), of monomers comprising at least two polymerizable groups, (c) from 0 to 20 mol %, based on the monomers (a), of water-insoluble monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, where the apparatus comprises at least one screw for conveying the at least one additive and the at least one screw ends in an addition orifice substantially flush with the inner wall of the reactor interior.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of an apparatus for adding at least one solid or viscous liquid additive, or an additive dispersed in solvent, to a reactor interior of a reactor for preparing crosslinked, finely divided polymers by copolymerizing (a) water-soluble, monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and (b) from 0.001 to 5 mol %, based on the monomers (a), of monomers comprising at least two polymerizable groups, (c) from 0 to 20 mol %, based on the monomers (a), of water-insoluble monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, where the apparatus comprises at least one screw for conveying the at least one additive and the at least one screw ends in an addition orifice substantially flush with the inner wall of the reactor interior.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of an apparatus for adding at least one solid or viscous liquid additive, or an additive dispersed in solvent, to a reactor interior of a reactor for preparing crosslinked, finely divided polymers by copolymerizing (a) water-soluble, monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and (b) from 0.001 to 5 mol %, based on the monomers (a), of monomers comprising at least two polymerizable groups, (c) from 0 to 20 mol %, based on the monomers (a), of water-insoluble monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, where the apparatus comprises at least one screw for conveying the at least one additive and the at least one screw ends in an addition orifice substantially flush with the inner wall of the reactor interior.

Abstract: An apparatus for granulating extruded material includes an extruder and an underwater granulator connected to the extruder and having a cutting plate for cutting extruded material, the granulator being hinged so that it can swivel about a swivel axis when disconnected from the extruder. A feed pipe is connected to said granulator for providing process water and a discharge pipe is connected to the granulator for transporting and cooling granulate, the feed pipe and the discharge pipe each having a swivel joint with an axis of rotation which is coaxial to the swivel axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for granulating extruded material includes an extruder and an underwater granulator connected to the extruder and having a cutting plate for cutting extruded material, the granulator being hinged so that it can swivel about a swivel axis when disconnected from the extruder. A feed pipe is connected to said granulator for providing process water and a discharge pipe is connected to the granulator for transporting and cooling granulate, the feed pipe and the discharge pipe each having a swivel joint with an axis of rotation which is coaxial to the swivel axis.

Abstract: An extruder includes a barrel having at least one axial bore extending to a downstream end of the barrel, a cutting plate of a granulating unit, received against a contact surface at the downstream end, and a plurality of heating elements in the barrel in the immediate vicinity of the contact surface. The heating elements are preferably heating cartridges which are received in two pairs of parallel bores at right angles to each other, thereby forming a square in a plane transverse to the axial bore.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compounder comprising a mixing unit, which can be mechanically driven by a drive module and is provided with one or more feed devices (5) for the material to be processed and one or more additives that are to be mixed with this material. The mixing unit is located in a supporting frame configured as a three-dimensional framework, and the supply and discharge lines required to operate the mixing unit, for the material being processed, and auxiliary materials or operational materials and energy as well as for the measurement, control and regulation technologies are substantially completely installed in or on the supporting frame and are connected to the mixing unit. The supporting frame is configured both as a transport frame for transporting the compounder to the job site and as a mounting frame for the placement of the operational compounder on a substructure at the job site.

Abstract: At least one screw of a screw-type extruder drive-connected via a coupling to a gearing that is driven by a motor, the coupling being able to be coupled to and decoupled from the screw. A gearing carriage is provided which is configured such that the gearing can be drawn by a short distance on the gearing carriage in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the screw in order to decouple the coupling, and which gearing carriage can be swiveled or can move transverse to the longitudinal axis of the screw. The gearing with the coupling can be moved away from the screw to such an extent that the screw can then be withdrawn completely from the extruder counter to the feed direction of the screw, and a screw-changing device is provided by which the existing screw of the extruder can be received and can be replaced by another screw located in the screw-changing device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a compounder comprising a mixing unit, which can be mechanically driven by a drive module and is provided with one or more feed devices (5) for the material to be processed and one or more additives that are to be mixed with this material. The mixing unit is located in a supporting frame configured as a three-dimensional framework, and the supply and discharge lines required to operate the mixing unit, for the material being processed, and auxiliary materials or operational materials and energy as well as for the measurement, control and regulation technologies are substantially completely installed in or on the supporting frame and are connected to the mixing unit. The supporting frame is configured both as a transport frame for transporting the compounder to the job site and as a mounting frame for the placement of the operational compounder on a substructure at the job site.

Abstract: An underwater pelletizer for granulating thermoplastics, includes an extruder having a die plate with holes for extruding thermoplastics in the form of single strands which are cut by a rotating cutting tool in short pieces in a cutting plane in parallel relation to an exit plane of the die plate, thereby forming a granulated product. The exit plane of the die plate and the cutting tool are positioned in a chamber which is filled with cooling water streaming through the chamber. The chamber has a cooling water inlet, which is arranged above the pivot axis of the cutting tool, and an outlet, arranged beneath the pivot axis of the cutting tool, for discharge of a mixture of water and granulated product, whereby the outlet is configured as free discharge opening which opens into a separator, positioned immediately underneath the outlet, for separating the granulated product from the cooling water.

Abstract: Continuous fibers are led through a roller nip which is formed between a pair of wetting rollers which are driven in opposite rotational directions and the surface of which has a coating of the flowable plastic material in a thickness which is sufficient for the constant filling of the roller nip with the plastic material. The wetted fibers are fed to the plastic material in the extrusion chamber, and the continuous fibers are mixed with the plastic material in the extrusion chamber. A device for carrying out the method includes a screw-type extruder having an extrusion chamber surrounded by an extruder barrel which has, in addition to the entry opening and the exit opening for the extruded plastic material, a lateral opening for the feeding in of continuous fiber material, and a wetting device for the wetted fiber material to be fed in, the outlet of which is in transporting connection with the lateral opening.

Abstract: A multi-shaft thin-layer reactor for treating fluid materials in which gaseous material is present during such treatment. The treatment involves the addition of gas to the fluid material or the removal of gas therefrom. The reactor includes a housing in which a plurality of axis-parallel conveying shafts are disposed. The housing is cylindrical and the shafts are disposed around the inner periphery thereof in such a manner that each shaft meshes with the two shafts adjacent thereto. The meshing shafts jointly define the outer periphery of a treatment chamber within the housing. At least one sun-and-planet roller extrusion assembly rotates the shafts and is adjacent at least one end of the shafts in a form-locking manner. The conveying shafts also scrape against the internal wall of the housing so that thin layers of the fluid materials fed into the reactor are formed and these thin layers become disposed on the conveyor shafts.

Abstract: A back-pressure bearing arrangement for a twin-screw extrusion device which prevents any back-pressure forces from affecting a gear arrangement used for driving the screws. By disposing the back-pressure bearings between the gear arrangement and the housing of the extrusion device and by providing a bearing plate, which is supported by adjustment bolts or tension rods, the bearings are frictionally disconnected from the gear arrangement housing and the back-pressure forces of the screw shafts are effectively prevented from adversely affecting the gear arrangement.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the material pressure in a twin-screw extrusion device, wherein adjustment bolts are employed as deformation components for returning the axial back-pressure of the screws to the housing of the extrusion device, the deformation components having strain gauges affixed thereto.

Abstract: A temperable screw casing for a twin screw extruder for processing plastics comprises a supporting member and wear resistant liner disposed therein. The liner has a spectacle shaped bore accommodating both screws of the extruder. The supporting member, which engages around the liner, takes over the reinforcing function of the screw casing. Low technical manufacturing cost and satisfactory tempering of the screw casing is achieved by providing the liner with a circular external cross section, surrounded by a supporting member which has a circular internal recess. Axial tempering holes are provided in wedge shaped projections which extend into the spectacle shaped bore of the liner. Axial tempering holes are disposed opposite one another in the supporting member, at the sides of the spectacle shaped bore of the liner. These result in individual tempering systems, by which the liner and supporting member can be tempered independently.

Abstract: Each screw shaft of a twin screw extruder with power branching gearing is driven by a gear train comprising a driven pinion, a first pair of intermediate gears meshing with the driven pinion from opposite sides, a second pair of intermediate gears each meshed with a respective one of the first pair of intermediate gears and a drive pinion meshed on its opposite sides with the second pair of intermediate gears and coupled to a power shaft. The first and second pairs of intermediate gears are capable only of rotation in a gear casing in which they are mounted but the drive pinion and the driven pinion are capable of radial movement in the casing. As shown the driven pinion has an axial extension with curved teeth engaged in one end of a coupling sleeve with internal curved teeth and a portion of the shaft has curved teeth engaged with the curved teeth in the other end of the sleeve, the shaft being mounted in bearings.

Abstract: Drive means for a twin screw extruder has a pair of drive shafts mounted in a housing and each to be connected to a drive and to a respective one of the screws of the extruder. A thrust bearing to absorb the axial thrust applied to the screws comprises a thrust ring surrounding both drive shafts and supported in the housing by an axial roller bearing, a pair of coaxial butting rings inserted in and secured against rotation with respect to the thrust ring, off-set from one another in an axial direction and surrounding the two drive shafts and a respective shaft thrust ring for each drive shaft secured thereon against relative rotation. The two shaft thrust rings are off-set from one another in an axial direction with each shaft thrust ring bearing against a respective one of the butting rings.The surfaces of each thrust ring and associated butting ring facing towards one another are preferably of tapered construction to facilitate lubrication.

Abstract: A transmission for two driven shafts which are parallel to and at a small spacing from one another and which drive the twin screws of the extruder wherein each shaft has a respective driven pinion thereon with the two pinions axially displaced with respect to one another and for each pinion there is a respective drive each comprising three intermediate gears equiangularly disposed around the pinion and meshed therewith, a ring gear surrounding and meshed with the three intermediate gears and drive means to rotate the ring gear, the pinion and two of the three intermediate gears not having any mountings, i.e. floating, and the third intermediate gear being free to move in directions radially of the pinion thereby to obtain equal division of drive power between the three intermediate gears and avoid forces tending to move the pinion radially.