Abstract: Adjusting means for aligning the cutting plane of the knives and the surface of a perforated die plate of pelletizing apparatus including a ring having a wedge cross section adjustable between the mountings for the plate and the knives to vary the angular relation of said mountings.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for simultaneously forming a flow of extruded material, especially dough, into a plurality of downwardly extending ribbons each at a substantially uniform flow rate and for controlling the tendency of such ribbons to curve as they emanate from the die. The apparatus is an extrusion device which includes a housing adapted for attachment at the exit of the extruder barrel and includes an inlet passage for directing the flow of extrudant downwardly and an outwardly flared section in fluid communication with and downstream of the inlet passage. A die plate is supported by the housing downstream of the inlet and across the flared section and includes a plurality of dies having orifices for forming the extrudant into a plurality of ribbons. A generally cone-shaped mandrel is supported within the flared section of the housing in spaced apart relationship from the die plate surface and the flared section wall defining an annular flow channel for the extrudant.

Abstract: Granulating apparatus wherein a cutter shaft mounting a multi-blade cutting implement, bearing means for the cutter shaft and drive means therefor are combined into a unit, which unit is mounted so that it can be swivelled about a bearing surface adjacent a cutter plate to adjust the cooperation of the blades of the cutting implement with the cutting plate. Screw drives are preferably provided to effect the adjustment.

Abstract: Apparatus for the extrusion of a flowable mass onto a conveyor, comprises first and second cylindrical containers. The first container is disposed for rotation about a longitudinal axis and includes first passages for depositing the flowable mass. The second container includes a wall portion which contains a plurality of second passages. The wall portion is disposed against the first container, the latter rotating relative to the second container so that the first and second passages are periodically aligned to enable the flowable mass to be deposited onto the conveyor. The first and second containers define a gap therebetween which creates a negative pressure to suck-in excess mass from the outer periphery of the apparatus. A spatula is provided to push the mass into the gap.

Abstract: A process for extruding and granulating thermoplastic material comprises passing a thermoplastic melt through a face-cut extruder or melt pump having an insulated die plate where the insulated die plate consists of a die plate having on its face or as an integral part of the die plate which is in contact with the cooling liquid a member or portion having a plurality of cavities or pores which surround the extrusion holes, the cavities or pores being of a type that communicate with the cooling liquid. Also disclosed is the thermoplastic processing apparatus.

Abstract: An improved process for melt cutting ethylene polymers is provided wherein the improvement comprises adding to the melt cutter water a small amount of nonionic or anionic surfactants thereby significantly increasing the agglomeration temperature of the ethylene polymer. This allows for an increase in melt cutting capacity and productivity.

Abstract: Organic foams having a low density and very small cell size and method for roducing same in either a metal-loaded or unloaded (nonmetal loaded) form are described. Metal-doped foams are produced by soaking a polymer gel in an aqueous solution of desired metal salt, soaking the gel successively in a solvent series of decreasing polarity to remove water from the gel and replace it with a solvent of lower polarity with each successive solvent in the series being miscible with the solvents on each side and being saturated with the desired metal salt, and removing the last of the solvents from the gel to produce the desired metal-doped foam having desired density cell size, and metal loading. The unloaded or metal-doped foams can be utilized in a variety of applications requiring low density, small cell size foam. For example, rubidium-doped foam made in accordance with the invention has utility in special applications, such as in x-ray lasers.

Abstract: A plastic resin cutting apparatus for cutting a plastic extruded from an extrusion opening provided in a flat surface of an extrusion block. The apparatus comprises a rotating shaft disposed substantially perpendicular to the surface of the extrusion block with its front end positioned opposite to said surface; a drive mechanism for rotating the rotating shaft; and a cutting tool interposed between the surface of the extrusion block and the front end of the rotating shaft and having formed at its front surface facing the surface of the extrusion block at least one cutting blade having a flat cutting edge. At least the front end portion of the rotating shaft is urged resiliently toward the surface of said extrusion block by the action of an elastic member such as a spring. The connection of the cutting tool to the shaft is a universal connection.

Abstract: Improved molding compositions and a dry blend process for preparing same, such compositions being especially adapted for fabrication into packaging materials and comprising an intimate blend of a styrene polymer and myrcene compound.

Abstract: Extrusion apparatus for production of a shaped article comprising one or more filling materials enclosed in a coating material. Included in the apparatus are inner and outer conduits through which the materials are extruded toward an iris valve adjacent the terminal portion of the outer conduit. An inner conduit preferably terminates within the outer conduit at a distance from the iris valve equal to the distance between outer surface of the inner conduit and inner surface of the outer conduit. Operation of the iris valve both determines the length of the article and the shape of forward and rearward ends of the article.

Abstract: A cutter hub for use in an underwater pelletizer such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,207, issued Oct. 31, 1978, which includes a replaceable, double or single edged blade attached to each arm of the hub with a major portion of the length of the blade being attached to and supported by the arm on the hub thereby resulting in less axial deflection with increased cutting pressure, since the rigid hub arm carries the rotational stress without deflection of the critical blade cutting surface. This arrangement produces higher quality pellets, fewer knife adjustments, reduces the radial wear pattern on the pellet die plate, permits the use of thinner, less costly blades and permits the use of single edged or double-edged blade with a useable second side.

Abstract: Granulating apparatus, for plastics melt and other materials comprising an extruder head with a perforated member, a rotating cutter to cut material extruded through the perforated member, a housing surrounding the cutter and forming a granulating chamber with a generally upright axis and liquid supply means to supply cooling liquid to the top edge of the granulating chamber so that the cooling liquid flows in a film over the inner wall of the housing of the granulating chamber to prevent the cut material from sticking to said inner wall and to cool the cut material. The liquid supply means may include a perforated pipe encircling the granulating chamber or a weir at the inner edge of an annular chamber.

Abstract: The moldings are manufactured from synthetic thermoplastics, from non-thermoplastic fibrous flakes, which are available in an uncoated or incompletely coated state, and from optionally admixed fillers. The fibrous flakes and the thermoplastic material are mixed under the action of pressure and heat to produce a precompacted composite material, in which the fibrous flake material constitutes about 65% or more by volume of the composite material, and the latter is then extruded and is subsequently finally shaped and finally compacted at the same time.

Abstract: At least one knife on a cutting device for use with an extruder rotates to strike the extruded product with an upward motion to thereby force the product in a generally upward direction. The knife is encased in a vapor-permeable shroud having a size sufficient to prevent substantial striking of the shroud by the cut product.

Abstract: An extrusion press particularly for forming animal feed pellets is provided with means for detecting slip between the roll and the die and the operating conditions, e.g. feed of material to the nip, are varied when the slip exceeds a predetermined value or the rate of change of slip exceeds or corresponds to a predetermined value.

Abstract: An extrusion process is disclosed wherein coolant under pressure is directed against the outer surface of a thermoplastic material being forced through an extrusion orifice such that at least a portion of the coolant immediately vaporizes and the resultant heat of vaporization required for such action is taken from the material immediately contacting such. The coolant is introduced into an intermediate zone downstream from an initial extrusion zone and the interface between such zones is insulated so as to restrict conductive heat transfer between such zones immediately adjacent thereto so as to prevent possible freeze ups of said material in the initial extrusion zone.

Abstract: By block-copolymerizing a mixture of an aromatic vinyl compound and a conjugated diene in two stages in an aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent, using an organomonolithium compound or an organodilithium compound as a polymerization initiator, a block copolymer is formed as a suspension polymer in a slurry state.The resulting block copolymer is very clear and excellent in mechanical properties, especially, strength, elongation and impact strength. It has a wide application in the field of general resins.

Abstract: An extruder for feeding finely divided solids. And, in combination therewith, means for using gas in various ways to repulverize the finely divided solids. It lends itself to a procedure for continuously charging finely divided solids with water into a high pressure reactor. The high pressure is inherently contained, and the solids are repulverized for use in a reaction.

Abstract: Continuously extruded strands of cheese are case hardened by a flow of air directed against the strands as they emerge from the die openings. The strands are periodically cut at the face of the die plate to form short strand pieces. The cutting blade moves within the air flow and the air impinging upon the strand pieces move the pieces away from the blade as they are cut.

Abstract: A retreading envelope is made by extruding a split tube of rubber which is passed over a rotating stretching wheel to stretch the split tube to a predetermined shape. The stretched split tube is removed from the stretching wheel after moving around a part of the circumference thereof and is turned inside out and placed on a table whereat it is formed and cut into an annular shape preparatory to completion of the retreading envelope.

Abstract: A die formed of a series of concentric rings is disclosed. An outer body has a series of communication ports for the introduction of a heating medium. An inner body having the same axial thickness as the outer body is placed inside the outer and in the annular space defined between the inner and outer bodies a series of annular rings are placed. The annular rings each have a series of nozzles disposed in a circumferential ring and are formed with grooves on their outer walls to define jackets between the rings. The jackets are in communication with the communication ports to supply a heating medium to the jacket.

Abstract: Plastic materials are dewatered in an extruder by applying heat and pressure and venting out vaporized water; before the plastic is extruded through the die orifice a gas is injected under high pressure into the plastic and this causes gas explosions when the plastic is released through the die orifices. The particles produced have micropores which provide improved workability, and form bales of controllable density.

Abstract: A knife adjustment system including a normally non-rotatable quill threadably attached to a hub outwardly extending from the face of an extrusion die at a point proximal said face in order to insure that the operating temperatures of such quill and hub at the connection location are generally equal. Adjustment means for threadably rotating the quill with respect to the hub so as to in turn adjust the spacing of cutter knives with regard to the die face in the form of a planetary gear system located at that end of the hub distal from the die face is further included. The knives are fixed to a knife carrier and in turn supported for rotation about the quill.

Abstract: An improved flat-faced die face cutter is provided which permits flushing of the face with water with minimal chilling of the die. A spindle is provided which minimizes thermal effects on knife die face-positioning.

Abstract: An improved melt cutter apparatus for producing pellets from a strand of a partly molten thermoplastic resin in cooperation wth an extrusion die is provided. The apparatus comprises a drive shaft, a drive rod rotatably connected thereto, a knife holder connected rotatably to the drive rod, a knife attached thereto and means for advancing the knife toward the extrusion die.

Abstract: A method for cleaning thermoplastic material especially for reclaiming thermoplastic material from scrap material which includes in addition to the thermoplastic material, materials having a higher melting point than the thermoplastic, such as metal, thermosetting material, etc. The scrap material which has been treated to remove large particles of metal and/or other hard materials is heated and extruded to thereby provide a confined pressurized stream of melted thermoplastic material containing therein small metallic or other unmelted particles. A portion of the stream of melted material is filtered to provide a filtrate composed of melted thermoplastic material containing therein unmelted materials having a size less than a preselected size.

Abstract: A carbon cathode structure is described comprising an aggregate of discrete, porous, semi-rigid carbon conglomerates which are impressed from both sides onto a screen-like substrate for physical support thereby. The substrate additionally functions as a current collector by uniformly and electrically contacting the interior of the resulting structure. Electrolyte-conducting channels formed between adjacent conglomerates of the thick, porous cathode structure serve to maximize the cell rate capability and cell discharge capacity.

Abstract: An extrusion pelletizing process is disclosed wherein coolant is injected into the stream of thermoplastic material being extruded in such a fashion to interrupt the flow thereof and form discrete material lengths thereof as the material moves through the extrusion die and exits at the other end thereof in the form of pellets. The coolant is permitted to at least partially vaporize upon contact with the material stream and accordingly forms a solidified shell therearound including end portions of adjacent pellets so as to effectively separate such as they pass through the die. Such system enables the formation of discrete material lengths or pellets without the need of conventional cutting apparatus such as knives and the attendant support equipment necessary in their use.

Abstract: A pellet cooling system including a novel coolant cage construction and operational manner so as to insure the cooling of warm thermoplastic pellets as they emerge from a die head and are cut by rotating knives is disclosed. After cooling, as by entrainment in coolant flows simultaneously directed peripherally about the cage sides and radially across the front face thereof, the pellets are immediately withdrawn from the cage. Additionally, a feature of the coolant cage is the provision of a novel slinger for distributing a coolant flow evenly over its front face.

Abstract: A method for conveying ground cheese in which the cheese is initially ground and the ground cheese is then extruded by an auger through a multiplicity of holes in a die plate. Two sets of rotating blades are located in a housing outwardly of the die plate and act to cut the extruded cheese into a plurality of small particles or plugs. Air is supplied to the lower end of the housing and the cut particles are suspended in the air stream and discharged from the upper end of the housing.

Abstract: An injection moldable phenol aldehyde resin composition in pellet form having a diameter of at least 1/16 of an inch and having in admixture with the pellets a metallic salt of a long chain fatty acid and to a process for preparing such composition in pellet form.

Abstract: Moisture-containing nylon-4 powder is treated under heat and pressure to produce a solid material of bulk density suitable for melt-spinning.

Abstract: Centrifugal spinning apparatus is provided for the manufacture of fibrils from hot viscous hydrocarbon solutions of olefin polymers having an intrinsic viscosity of at least 3.5. The apparatus consists of an impeller which rotates at high speed in a cylindrical cavity having a discharge port. The impeller has a plurality of blades whose narrow dimensions lie substantially in the plane of the impeller's rotation and whose tips come in close proximity to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical cavity. The blades are arranged in at least two substantially-identical sets. Within each set, the blades are offset substantially equidistant from one another, both in the rotational plane of the impeller and in the plane transverse thereto. Two inlet ports are provided in the peripheral surface of the cylindrical cavity to feed liquids to the cylindrical cavity, each of which port is narrow in a plane transverse to the plane of the impeller's rotation and extends over substantially the entire peripheral surface.

Abstract: A sintered granulate produced from acrylo-nitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer powders. The copolymer powder is exposed to a high pressure and heated to a temperature below the melting point and extruded through nozzles, and the extruded product is chopped into granulate.

Abstract: An improved method for handling and transporting thermoplastic materials such as chewing gum base is disclosed. Chewing gum base, formulated as a hot viscous blend, is initially extruded and then pelletized. The pellets are subsequently cooled in a liquid medium such as water. Instead of drying the pellets and coating the pellets with a lubricating powder for packaging and shipment, a slurry of the cooling medium and pellets is conveyed to bulk containers or railroad tank cars for transport to the customer-user, a chewing gum manufacturer. By transporting in a liquid the tendency of the tacky pellets to agglomerate is eliminated, and the prior steps of drying and coating the pellets with a lubricating power are unnecessary. The customer-user, in the case of chewing gum base, furthermore, does not have to separate agglomerated pellets before use, and the pellets need only be strained and conveyed directly to a blender for formulation into chewing gum compositions.

Abstract: An extrusion pelleting process and apparatus is disclosed wherein the outermost portion of an extrusion orifice is surrounded by a heat reservoir maintained at a temperature significantly higher than the softening temperature range of the polymer being extruded. The high temperature heat reservoir constitutes a heat source from which individual extrusion orifices may be heated above the polymer's softening range to assist in melting frozen plugs of polymer which may block the orifice from time to time.Also disclosed is a heat flow control mechanism, in effect, for slowing the heat release from the reservoir to the individual extrusion orifices for economy of operation while still making available such high temperature source for unfreezing such plugs.

Abstract: A pellet cooling system including a novel coolant cage construction and operational manner so as to insure the cooling of warm thermoplastic pellets as they emerge from a die head and are cut by rotating knives is disclosed. After cooling, as by entrainment in coolant flows simultaneously directed peripherally about the cage sides and radially across the front face thereof, the pellets are immediately withdrawn from the cage. Additionally, a feature of the coolant cage is the provision of a novel slinger for distributing a coolant flow evenly over its front face.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a substantially spherical homogeneous molded mass of elastomer highly cross-linked into a three dimensional network with long, flexible cross-links formed from a metal-containing cross-linkable monomer, said comonomer simultaneously functioning at least in part as a filler, said mass exhibiting substantially isometric compression across any diameter. Advantageously the elastomer comprises polybutadiene and said metal-containing cross-linkable monomer comprises zinc dimethacrylate present in about 15 to 60 parts per 100 parts by weight of the polybutadiene. The composition may additionally contain a small amount of zinc oxide. By proper selection of the shape and make up of the slugs from which the balls are molded or by particular techniques, e.g. laboratory sheeting mills, balls can be produced which have a maximum difference in compression across different diameters of about 5 units.

Abstract: An improved cutter for hot plastic strands is provided which uses an annular die plate having a plurality of strand-extruding openings, the openings being generally coplanar. A rotating cutter is provided adjacent the die plate with cutting knives resiliently tensioned toward the face of the die, the cutter being adjustably mounted relative to the die in a manner to provide highly accurate adjustment and to minimize thermal movement of the die relative to the cutter.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing marbled toilet bars including the addition of a liquid dye material to the vacuum chamber between the upper and lower barrels of a double-barrel soap plodder. The soap segments falling into the vacuum chamber are defined as having either a circular, rectangular or triangular configuration and a geometric ratio (surface area/volume) of from 2 to 12.

Abstract: Method for cooling and pelletizing thermoplastic material including compacting the plastic material through a plurality of orifices. Air is vented from the compacting device by a conduit, and a pressurized gaseous stream is supplied in the conduit in a direction away from the compacting device. A signal is generated indicative of the temperature of a portion of the compacting device, and the flow rate of gaseous stream is controlled in response to the signal.

Abstract: A method of providing a fibrous thermoplastic resin for depolymerization thereof wherein the fibrous thermoplastic resin is formed into a shaped article having a specific gravity of at least 1/2 of the true specific gravity of the fibrous thermoplastic resin, said shaped article consisting of the fibrous thermoplastic resin mass having on its surface a crusty thin resin layer which may be press-bonded or melt-bonded to the mass. The thus provided shaped article of the fibrous thermoplastic resin can be advantageously employed as a starting material for the depolymerization reaction. In accordance with this invention, the time required for completion of the depolymerization can be greatly shortened as compared with that of the conventional technique and the rate and efficiency of the depolymerization can be greatly improved.

Abstract: Apparatus for pelletizing synthetic plastic resins, comprising an extruding die assembly having extrusion orifice sleeves pervious to liquid, a water jacket surrounding each sleeve in such manner that water will pass through the walls thereof to chill plastic being extruded therethrough while at the same time lubricating passage of the plastic therethrough. Severing means are provided at the die face for cutting the plastic into pellets as it is extruded. Optionally means are provided for collecting the pellets such as a casing that surrounds the die and the cutting means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing loose-fill packing material in the form of hollow, substantially hemispherical bodies made from an extrudable, expandable synthetic plastic composition.

Abstract: Synthetic resins are extruded through nozzles of a die under water, each nozzle having a straight bore having an inner diameter of 3 mm or above at a velocity of at least 1.0 m/sec. and cut into pellets under the water in front of the exits of the nozzles.

Abstract: a process is provided for the formation of block copolymer particles having a reduced tendency to agglomerate which comprises extruding the block copolymer into a water bath in the presence of water-dispersible polyvalent metal salts of higher fatty acids and/or water-dispersible surfactants and forming nibs, pellets or strands in the bath. Suitable water soluble surfactants include anionic, cationic and non-ionic surfactants. Especially contemplated is the use of zinc stearate as the surfactant.