Discontinuous Screw Patents (Class 366/322)
  • Patent number: 11845087
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a hydroseeder has an integrated bale grinder. The hydroseeder includes a tank, an agitator, a plurality of grinding flights, and a basket. The tank includes an opening and is configured to hold a material slurry. The agitator is positioned below the opening and is configured to agitate the material slurry. The plurality of grinding flights extends from the agitator and is configured to grind a material bale as it is introduced into the tank. The basket extends from the opening of the tank and is configured to direct the material bale toward the plurality of grinding flights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: DHG, INC.
    Inventors: Gordon Maciulewicz, Aaron Andrew Kime
  • Patent number: 11766812
    Abstract: An injection molding system includes an extruding system. The extruding system includes a mixing unit configured to receive the polymeric material from the melting unit and configured to mix a polymeric material with a blowing agent and to form a mixture, wherein the mixing unit includes a mixing rotor disposed in a hollow mixing cartridge, and a ratio of a shortest distance between an inner sidewall of the hollow mixing cartridge and the mixing rotor to a diameter of the mixing rotor is in a range of 1:1500 to 1:4500. The injection molding system further includes a discharging channel communicable with the extruding system, a molding device configured to receive the mixture from the discharging channel, and a supporting device configured to facilitate an engagement of the discharging channel and the molding device, the supporting device includes a first element protrudes from the extruding system and a second element disposed on the molding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: KING STEEL MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Liang-Hui Yeh, Ching-Hao Chen
  • Patent number: 11490637
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a frozen soft-serve confection dispensing machine where the soft serve confection is a flavored frozen soft-serve confection having a base selected from ice creams, frozen yogurts, sorbets and gelatos. The dispensing machine comprises one or more base hoppers, each base hopper being linked to a dedicated detachable base cartridge, a dedicated plurality of detachable flavour cartridges containing a flavour mix and a dedicated mixing chamber and storage slot associated with each detachable flavour cartridge. The detachable base cartridge and plurality of flavour cartridges are connected to one of the base hoppers. Control means are provided to enable a user to select a flavour mix from one of the dedicated flavour cartridges, and to cause the base and selected flavour mix to be mixed in the dedicated mixing chamber and then storing and refrigerating the mixture of the base and flavour mix in the storage slots to form a mixed frozen soft-serve confection for dispensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: Sunveer Mann
  • Patent number: 10695769
    Abstract: Method and apparatus to facilitate recycling of at least one fraction of bitumen-containing materials. This can be accomplished by dissolving the at least one fraction, for example, maltenes or asphaltenes in roofing shingles, into at least one solvent. In one aspect, the apparatus comprises a dissolution vessel, a tumbler positioned therein, and at least one solvent distributor. The tumbler is configured to facilitate wetting the bitumen-containing materials with solvent. In a second aspect, a system comprises the apparatus, a solid-liquid separator, for example, a vibratory screen, and at least one solvent-fraction separator, for example, a flash drum. The at least one solvent can comprise one or more solvents useful to extract the at least one fraction. In a third aspect, a first fraction is extracted from the bitumen-containing materials with a first solvent composition, then a second fraction is extracted from the remaining bitumen-containing materials with a second solvent composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Shingle Resource Recycling, LLC
    Inventors: Robert William Palmer, Stephen Woodson Craig, David Woodson Craig, Randell Gween Shelton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9498899
    Abstract: A screw pair includes first and second screws having an outer circumferential surface on which a groove is spirally formed, and transports a raw material in a first direction along each of axis centers. An inner surface of the groove of each of the screws includes a first surface, which faces in the first direction, and in which the outer circumferential surfaces of the screws are formed to coincide with each other without a gap therebetween in the state where the screws mesh with each other, and a second surface, which faces in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and which forms a gap between the outer circumferential surfaces of the screws in the state where the screws mesh with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: THE JAPAN STEEL WORKS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yohei Shimizu, Kiyoshi Handa, Jun Kakizaki
  • Patent number: 8781371
    Abstract: A stir-transport member is formed on a circumferential surface of a rotation shaft with a first spiral blade, and a second spiral blade formed to overlap the region of the first spiral blade and is opposite the first spiral blade in phase and having a smaller radial-direction height than the first spiral blade. Sections of the spiral blades along the cross longitudinal direction thereof have trapezoidal shapes. The first spiral blade have a plurality of first swell portions, a part of each corresponding to a bottom of the trapezoidal shape and is more swollen than the other portions. The second spiral blade have a plurality of second swell portions, a part of each corresponding to the bottom of the trapezoidal shape and is more swollen than the other portions. The first spiral blade cross the second spiral blade at least at one of the first swell portions per turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Akihiro Watanabe, Norio Kubo, Yukihiro Mori
  • Patent number: 8123394
    Abstract: A mixer having a mixing pipe (1), a rotatable mixing unit (3) having back-mixing action, and a supply of the liquid colorant (4, 5) through the wall of the mixing pipe in the area of the mixing unit allows uniform mixing of liquid colorants of differing viscosities even with fixed-cycle supply of the liquid colorants. Mixing liquid colorants using this mixer allows direct dosing of the mixed liquid colorant into a plastic processing machine in the event of volumetric dosing of the employed liquid colorants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Simon Becht, Andreas Kluge, Maurice Weelen, Martin Welp
  • Patent number: 7909500
    Abstract: A mixing and kneading machine (1) for continual compounding comprises a screw shaft (3) rotating in a casing 2 and simultaneously moving axially translationally. To sustainably enhance the efficiency of the machine as regards its material thruput per unit of time a screw shaft is proposed having the following geometric ratios: Da/Di=1.5 to 2.0, i.e. the ratio of screw shaft outer diameter Da to screw shaft inner diameter Di is 1.5 to 2.0, Da/H=4 to 6, i.e. the ratio of screw shaft outer diameter Da to stroke H is between 4 and 6, T/H=1.3 to 2.5, i.e. the ratio of pitch T to stroke H is between 1.3 and 2.5. The mixing and kneading machine (1) provided with such a screw shaft (3) is operated preferably at a rotational speed exceeding 500 rpm, particularly exceeding 800 rpm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Buss AG
    Inventors: Heini Grutter, Hans-Ulrich Seigenthaler
  • Patent number: 7857500
    Abstract: A system and method for making processed meat products without the need for a vacuum system is disclosed. Meats and other meat product constituents are forced into a mixer having rotating elements for directing the constituents through a housing. The system limits the amount of air that is in contact with the constituents while resident within the housing, and provides high shear force to reduce the necessary mixing time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
    Inventors: Paul G. Morin, Michele L. Reeve, Jennifer L. Tomey, Daniel B. Wilke
  • Publication number: 20080049543
    Abstract: A segmented auger mechanism is mounted in the hopper of a concrete dispensing apparatus used to distribute a hydrated concrete mixture into a horizontally disposed form to manufacture pre-cast concrete structures, such as concrete wall panels used to form a foundation for a residential or commercial building. The auger mechanism is formed of connected segments that can be individually and independently removed from the concrete structure for service and repair. The auger is rotatably supported by a pair of end bearings supported on the opposing end walls of the hopper of the dispensing apparatus, and by at least one interior bearing rotatably supporting a jack shaft having opposing half-round connecting portions for attachment to a corresponding connecting portion on the auger shaft. Removal of a segment of the auger mechanism facilitates the removal of the entire auger mechanism to minimize the down time of the concrete dispensing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Melvin M. Zimmerman, Carl S. Martin, Matthew S. Hildebrand
  • Patent number: 7230037
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the continuous mixing of at least one polyol component and at least one isocyanate component and optionally additives to form a polyurethane reaction mixture in a stirrer mixer with an axially conveying stirrer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Hennecke GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Michael Sulzbach, Reiner Raffel, Jürgen Wirth, Wolfgang Pawlik, Florian Thiebes, Lothar Röhrig
  • Patent number: 7137730
    Abstract: According to the various aspects of the invention, a method and apparatus for mixing electrographic developer is provided. An elongate shaft having two ends and an intermediate location between the two ends is rotated. Developer is moved away from the intermediate location toward one of the ends with an inner helical ribbon mounted concentrically to the elongate shaft for rotation therewith. Developer is moved away from the one of the ends toward the intermediate location with an outer helical ribbon mounted concentrically to the elongate shaft for rotation therewith, the inner helical ribbon is disposed within the outer helical ribbon. Developer is moved away from the intermediate location toward another of the ends with another inner helical ribbon mounted to the elongate shaft for rotation therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Edward Michael Eck, Wendy Sue Buhay-Kettelkamp
  • Patent number: 7059761
    Abstract: A command module, draw switch, blending and dispensing assembly, and multiple ingredient storage and delivery modules are added to a conventional milk shake freezer and dispensing machine. A selector panel is provided to enable the operator to dispense a shake-like product according to a customer flavor or mix order, upon raising the standard draw handle on the original dispenser head of the conventional machine. The blending and dispensing assembly includes a high speed auger with backflow inducers for blending and moving the base and ingredient product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Flavor Burst Co.,
    Inventor: Ernest C. Gerber
  • Patent number: 6808380
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing stiffness-taper tubing includes a die having an extrusion hole, a die holder for holding the die, and a mandrel mounted inside the die holder and that fits in the extrusion hole. The apparatus forms stiffness-taper tubing by switching between and supplying resins having different stiffnesses over the mandrel from a plurality of resin-supply ports formed in the die holder such that the stiffness gradually changes in the lengthwise direction. A mandrel insertion hole connecting to the extrusion hole is formed in the die holder and the mandrel is mounted in this mandrel insertion hole. The plurality of resin-supply ports open to a cylindrical space formed between the inner surface of the mandrel insertion hole and the outer surface of the mandrel at a position separated from the extrusion hole in the die, and the plurality of resins flow together in this space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: GMA Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Watanabe, Takeshi Kizuka
  • Patent number: 6786631
    Abstract: A mixing and reducing machine with an upward-conveying mixing spiral that rotates around a vertical rotational axle. In order to achieve a more intensive mixing of the mixed product a second mixing spiral is connected in the axial direction after a first mixing spiral, with a transition zone arranged in between. In this way, zones of different axial conveying capacity are connected after each other in the axial direction. The mixing spirals are formed of several mixing blades arranged after each other in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: LIPP Mischtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Eberhard Lipp
  • Publication number: 20040136264
    Abstract: A mixer apparatus is disclosed for mixing livestock feed and the like. The apparatus includes a container for the reception therein of the feed. The container includes a housing and a wall extending away from the housing. The wall defines an opening which is disposed remote from the housing for the reception therethrough of the feed. The arrangement is such that the housing and the wall define therebetween an enclosure for the feed received through the opening. An auger is disposed within the enclosure, the auger having an axis of rotation which extends through the housing. A final driven wheel is disposed within the housing, the final driven wheel being rotatable about the axis of rotation. The final driven wheel is drivingly connected to the auger so that when the final driven wheel is rotated within the housing, the auger is rotated therewith within the enclosure. The final driven wheel and the auger together as a unit are removable and replaceable relative to the housing and enclosure respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Christopher Albright, Ric Joranlien, Claude McFarlane
  • Publication number: 20040136261
    Abstract: A continuous mixer (32) is disclosed which can be used for mixing of incoming product streams (22, 24) of different characteristics respectively to yield a final product stream (26) of predetermined, consistent characteristics. The mixer (32) includes an elongated housing (42) having a pair of product input ports (50, 52) and an output (64), with a pair of elongated, axially rotatable, mixing screws (44, 46) located within the housing (42). The screws (44, 46) include a series of outwardly projecting mixing elements (114) preferably of pyramidal design and arrayed in a helical pattern along the length of the screws (44,46). The mixer (32) may be used in a processing system (20,200) having individual product lines (28,30,204,206) coupled to the mixer (32), and is especially useful for processing of incoming meat streams (22,24) of different fat/lean ratios, to give a final comminuted output stream (26) of an intermediate and essentially constant fat/lean ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Gordon R. Huber, Gerald E. Schmelzle, Timothy R. Hartter, Adrian L. Strahm, Michael J. Strahm
  • Patent number: 6648501
    Abstract: A continuous mixer (32) is disclosed which can be used for mixing of incoming product streams (22, 24) of different characteristics respectively to yield a final product stream (26) of predetermined, consistent characteristics. The mixer (32) includes an elongated housing (42) having a pair of product input ports (50,52) and an output (64), with a pair of elongated, axially rotatable, mixing screws (44,46) located within the housing (42). The screws (44, 46) include a series of outwardly projecting mixing elements (114) preferably of pyramidal design and arrayed in a helical pattern along the length of the screws (44,46). The mixer (32) may be used in a processing system (20,200) having individual product lines (28, 30, 204, 206) coupled to the mixer (32), and is especially useful for processing of incoming meat streams (22,24) of different fat/lean ratios, to give a final comminuted output stream (26) of an intermediate and essentially constant fat/lean ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Wenger Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon R. Huber, Gerald E. Schmelzle, Timothy R. Hartter, Adrian L. Strahm, Michael J. Strahm
  • Patent number: 6550959
    Abstract: A continuous mixer (32) is disclosed which can be used for mixing of incoming product streams (22, 24) of different characteristics respectively to yield a final product stream (26) of predetermined, consistent characteristics. The mixer (32) includes an elongated housing (42) having a pair of product input ports (50, 52) and an output (64), with a pair of elongated, axially rotatable, mixing screws (44, 46) located within the housing (42). The screws (44, 46) include a series of outwardly projecting mixing elements (114) preferably of pyramidal design and arrayed in a helical pattern along the length of the screws (44,46). The mixer (32) may be used in a processing system (20,200) having individual product lines (28, 30, 204, 206) coupled to the mixer (32), and is especially useful for processing of incoming meat streams (22,24) of different fat/lean ratios, to give a final comminuted output stream (26) of an intermediate and essentially constant fat/lean ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Wenger Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon R. Huber, Gerald E. Schmelzle, Timothy R. Hartter, Adrian L. Strahm, Michael J. Strahm
  • Publication number: 20020181324
    Abstract: A continuous mixer (32) is disclosed which can be used for mixing of incoming product streams (22, 24) of different characteristics respectively to yield a final product stream (26) of predetermined, consistent characteristics. The mixer (32) includes an elongated housing (42) having a pair of product input ports (50, 52) and an output (64), with a pair of elongated, axially rotatable, mixing screws (44, 46) located within the housing (42). The screws (44, 46) include a series of outwardly projecting mixing elements (114) preferably of pyramidal design and arrayed in a helical pattern along the length of the screws (44,46). The mixer (32) may be used in a processing system (20,200) having individual product lines (28, 30, 204, 206) coupled to the mixer (32), and is especially useful for processing of incoming meat streams (22,24) of different fat/lean ratios, to give a final comminuted output stream (26) of an intermediate and essentially constant fat/lean ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventors: Gordon R. Huber, Gerald E. Schmelzle, Timothy R. Hartter, Adrian L. Strahm, Michael J. Strahm
  • Patent number: 6409376
    Abstract: A mixer apparatus is disclosed for mixing livestock feed and the like. The apparatus includes a container for the reception therein of the feed. The container includes a housing and a wall extending away from the housing. The wall defines an opening which is disposed remote from the housing for the reception therethrough of the feed. The arrangement is such that the housing and the wall define therebetween an enclosure for the feed received through the opening. An auger is disposed within the enclosure, the auger having an axis of rotation which extends through the housing. A final driven wheel is disposed within the housing, the final driven wheel being rotatable about the axis of rotation. The final driven wheel is drivingly connected to the auger so that when the final driven wheel is rotated within the housing, the auger is rotated therewith within the enclosure. The final driven wheel and the auger together as a unit are removable and replaceable relative to the housing and enclosure respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Inventor: William Knight
  • Publication number: 20020071343
    Abstract: A mixer apparatus is disclosed for mixing livestock feed and the like. The apparatus includes a container for the reception therein of the feed. The container includes a housing and a wall extending away from the housing. The wall defines an opening which is disposed remote from the housing for the reception therethrough of the feed. The arrangement is such that the housing and the wall define therebetween an enclosure for the feed received through the opening. An auger is disposed within the enclosure, the auger having an axis of rotation which extends through the housing. A final driven wheel is disposed within the housing, the final driven wheel being rotatable about the axis of rotation. The final driven wheel is drivingly connected to the auger so that when the final driven wheel is rotated within the housing, the auger is rotated therewith within the enclosure. The final driven wheel and the auger together as a unit are removable and replaceable relative to the housing and enclosure respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Christopher Albright, Claude McFarlane, Ric Joranlien
  • Publication number: 20020071338
    Abstract: A mixer apparatus is disclosed for mixing livestock feed and the like. The apparatus includes a container for the reception therein of the feed. The container includes a housing and a wall extending away from the housing. The wall defines an opening which is disposed remote from the housing for the reception therethrough of the feed. The arrangement is such that the housing and the wall define therebetween an enclosure for the feed received through the opening. An auger is disposed within the enclosure, the auger having an axis of rotation which extends through the housing. A final driven wheel is disposed within the housing, the final driven wheel being rotatable about the axis of rotation. The final driven wheel is drivingly connected to the auger so that when the final driven wheel is rotated within the housing, the auger is rotated therewith within the enclosure. The final driven wheel and the auger together as a unit are removable and replaceable relative to the housing and enclosure respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventor: William S. Knight
  • Patent number: 6395516
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vessel for mixing a cell lysate. The invention also relates to a method of using the vessel to mix a cell lysate in order to obtain high-purity products such as nucleic acids or proteins for use in a variety of applications. The invention also relates to a method for monitoring the degree of cell lysis in a cell suspension by measuring the viscosity of the cell suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Cobra Therapeutics Limited
    Inventors: Alvin William Nienow, Antony Gordon Hitchock, Grainne Lois Riley
  • Publication number: 20020031048
    Abstract: A mixing and reducing machine with an upward-conveying mixing spiral that rotates around a vertical rotational axle. In order to achieve a more intensive mixing of the mixed good, it is proposed to connect a second mixing spiral in the axial direction after a first mixing spiral, with a transition zone arranged in between. In this way, zones of different axial conveying capacity are connected after each other in the axial direction. In a preferred embodiment form, the mixing spirals are formed of several mixing blades arranged after each other in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: LIPP Mischtechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Eberhard Lipp
  • Publication number: 20020021618
    Abstract: A mixer apparatus is disclosed for mixing livestock feed and the like. The apparatus includes a container for the reception therein of the feed. The container includes a housing and a wall extending away from the housing, the wall defining an opening disposed remote from the housing for the reception therethrough of the feed. The arrangement is such that the housing and the wall define therebetween an enclosure for the feed received through the opening. An auger is disposed within the enclosure, the auger having an axis of rotation which extends through the housing. The auger includes a core and flighting connected to the core so that when the auger rotates, feed disposed within the enclosure is mixed. The flighting includes a first portion and a second portion staggered relative to the first portion such that movement of the feed between the first and second portions is interrupted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Ric Joranlien, Claude McFarlane
  • Publication number: 20010038573
    Abstract: A mixer apparatus is disclosed for mixing livestock feed and the like. The apparatus includes a container for the reception therein of the feed. The container includes a housing and a wall extending away from the housing. The wall defines an opening which is disposed remote from the housing for the reception therethrough of the feed. The arrangement is such that the housing and the wall define therebetween an enclosure for the feed received through the opening. An auger is disposed within the enclosure, the auger having an axis of rotation which extends through the housing. The mixer apparatus further includes a further auger which is disposed within the enclosure, the further auger having a rotational axis disposed approximately parallel and spaced from the axis of rotation of the auger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: William S. Knight
  • Patent number: 6136246
    Abstract: A screw extruder (10) having a barrel (18) which has a bore (26) defining an inner surface (44) and one or more extruder screws (28), positioned within the bore (26). The extruder screw or screws (28) include a central shaft (34) and one or more screw flights (30). The extruder screw or screws (28) farther including one or more dispersive mixing elements (204), (234), (308), (406), (508), (558), which interact with the inner surface of the barrel (44) to form one or more progressively narrowing passages (46) through which material is forced into multiple regions of high elongational and shear stress (480, (120), (214), (310), (410), (510), (564).A second preferred embodiment is a screw extruder (10) having a barrel (18) having a bore (26) defining an inner surface (44) and one or more extruder screws (600), (701), positioned within the bore (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Rauwendaal Extrusion Engineering
    Inventors: Chris J. Rauwendaal, Paul J. Gramann, Bruce A. Davis, Tim A. Osswald
  • Patent number: 6080346
    Abstract: Polyvinyl alcohol is processed into fiber or pellets for further processing, or directly into water-soluble film, in a screw-and-barrel extruder, which has a slow temperature rise and a mild kneading action achieved by a non-stick coating applied to the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: British Technology Group Inter-Corporation LIC LIM
    Inventor: Raymond Leslie Jack
  • Patent number: 6050721
    Abstract: The present invention is for a mixing machine for plasticizable compounds which attaches directly to a molding machine and which is used to color a base material with a color additive. The apparatus receives a base material and color additive for mixing and has a mixing chamber within which the compounds are mixed. The machine has a central impeller which drives a first and second helical flight one of which is right handed and the other is left handed. The material is folded over itself within the mixing chamber before depositing into a molding machine. The mixing chamber consists of a cylindrical housing which has a drive motor attached to one end wall, the other end wall being removable. The housing has a substantial portion of its lower wall remove to form an exit aperture into a downwardly extending funnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas David Rainey
  • Patent number: 5965173
    Abstract: Plasticating apparatus includes a barrel having an inlet for the introduction of resinous material and an outlet for the discharge of plasticated molten extrudate, along with a screw rotatably mounted within the barrel and in communication with the inlet and outlet for receiving resinous material, plasticating the resinous material, and discharging plasticated molten extrudate. The screw includes a helical flight with an outside diameter sized rotatably engaging an inside surface of the barrel and further, a helical valley disposed between flight lands of the helical flight within a transition section includes two root diameters, namely a rear root diameter and a forward root diameter, with the rear root diameter being larger than the forward root diameter proximate the inlet. In addition, a metering section is provided with special infeed and outfeed passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Inventor: Frederick H. Goldup
  • Patent number: 5961212
    Abstract: A water treatment apparatus comprising a power source driving a shaft supporting a helicoidal, spiral-shaped screw having an upper end part and a lower end part and fitted round at least part of the shaft, such that water is sucked up or impelled downwards, the screw comprising at least one continuous screw blade, and at least one discontinuous screw blade near at least one of its end parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Aquasystems International N.V.
    Inventor: Johny Hector Haegeman
  • Patent number: 5932159
    Abstract: A screw extruder (10), including a barrel (18) having a bore (26) which defines an inner surface (24). At least one extruder screw (28) is positioned within the bore (26), each screw (28) further including a central shaft (34) and at least one screw flight (30). Each screw flight (30) further includes a front pushing face (36) and a rear face (38). The profile (40) of each front pushing face (36) acts with the inner surface (24) of the barrel (18) to form a progressively narrowing passage (46) through which material is forced into multiple regions of high elongational and shear stress (48) which act to break down agglomerates of material and thus dispersively mix the material.Also presented is a screw extruder (100) having a single screw (28) which includes dispersion disks (102) which are rotationally offset from one another and whose design is not constrained by interaction with a second disk, which provides improved distributive and dispersive mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Rauwendaal Extrusion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Chris J. Rauwendaal
  • Patent number: 5855432
    Abstract: A method of eliminating gel contained in polymer, by efficiently plasticizing and melting the polymer supplied into a barrel with the stress in a rotor reduced, and next kneading the polymer with a rise in temperature of the polymer suppressed and a residence time of the polymer in the barrel increased. A continuous kneader for realizing this method is also provided. The gel eliminating method includes the first step of plasticizing and melting the polymer by using a first rotor having a given number of wings; and the second step of kneading the polymer after the first step by using a second rotor having a given number of wings fewer than the number of wings of the first rotor, so as to suppress a rise in temperature of the polymer and increase the volume of a kneading chamber to thereby increase a time period of residence of the polymer in the kneading chamber. The continuous kneader includes a rotor having the first rotor and the second rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Kimio Inoue, Kazuyoshi Imuta, Tsugushi Fukui, Hiroshi Ueda, Yoshinori Kuroda
  • Patent number: 5833361
    Abstract: A mixer for delaminating, deagglomerating, mixing, and extruding a mixture of powder and liquid, which contains a mixing chamber, a variable speed rotating shaft disposed within the chamber, a multiplicity of stators extending from the interior wall of the chamber towards the shaft, and a multiplicity of differently configured auger blades connected to the shaft. The device contains a first, second, and third set of auger blades, each of which is connected to the shaft. The first set of augur blades has a pitch which is at least twice as great as the pitch of each of the second and third set of augur blades, and it also has a smaller face area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Inventor: James E. Funk
  • Patent number: 5823667
    Abstract: A mixer is disclosed which allows more effectively mixing and easy maintenance. The mixer can positively and effectively mix different kinds of concrete. an inside mixing blade 18 includes first and second mixing blade elements 19, 19each provided with a supporting member 18d for supporting mixing blades 18a. The two mixing blades 18a are each formed in helical configuration and has greater width. the first and second mixing blade elements 19, 19 are inserted to a shaft body 17a as well as a spacer 17a and prevented from coming off the shaft body 17a by a end plate 17b. The inside mixing blade 18 is formed in helical shape of substantially 360 .degree.. When any one of the mixing blades 18a is damaged, only the mixing blade element 19 having the damaged mixing blade 18a should be replaced with new one so that the replacement can be simply performed and the maintenance of the mixer 1 is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Pacific Machinery & Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fukushima, Hisashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5758238
    Abstract: A development system for a reproduction machine includes a pair of augers which mix and transfer the developer mixture to a magnetic roll brush system. A supply auger having a length at least as great as said magnetic brush roll is positioned along a horizontal plane and adapted to transport developer material in a direction so as to supply said material to said magnetic brush roll. The auger has a first portion thereof having an irregular blade edge and wedge shaped paddles to eliminate auger mark print defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel P. Mordenga, Lam F. Wong, Gerald T. Lioy, Rhonda L. Staudt, Timothy G. Struczewski, Gene S. Serafine, Justine M. Woods, Ronald A. Fraser
  • Patent number: 5727876
    Abstract: A mixing apparatus suitable for mixing and conveying solid, particulate, polymeric materials, comprising a barrel that can be heated and cooled, at least two co-rotatable, self-wiping extruder screws located within the bore of the barrel, the screws being connected through a laterally flexible coupling to a dirve means which can reverse the direction of rotation of the screws upon the occurrence of a predetermined event. The apparatus also comprises a closeable feed port and a closeable discharge port, both of which can be made gas-tight, the shafts of the screws being provided with seals capable of withstanding elevated gas pressures inside the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Daniel Gregory Tynan
  • Patent number: 5673618
    Abstract: A screw flight element of a mechanical screw press for expressing liquids from fibrous material such as may be found in rendering operations and a method of remanufacture thereof and the product produced by the method. The helical flight section is one of several having different pitches used in such screw presses and is equipped with carbide elements spaced at strategic points along the periphery of the helical section and further surrounded with plasma arch welded cladding, thereby providing wear and shear points which are harder than the surrounding cladding which is in turn harder than the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Inventor: Ramond P. Little
  • Patent number: 5638745
    Abstract: An improved juice finisher having a housing including a screen defining a central cavity with a rotating finisher worm disposed within the cavity and having a first section with a plurality of first flights, an intermediate section with a plurality of paddles, and a final section with a plurality of final flights; with the intermediate section beginning at the point the first flights terminate so juice may be more efficiently extracted from juice-carrying pulp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Juzar A. Lokhandwala, Carl R. Christian
  • Patent number: 5599098
    Abstract: A plastic materials screw has a metering section defined by a series of axially extending discontinuous and partially overlapping flightings. The flightings overlap each other by about a half to one turn to define overlapping portions whereby the flow in the primary channel is divided into a pair of secondary flow channels which have velocity profiles normal to the channel root greater than that in the primary channel. At the end of the overlapped portion, the first flighting is discontinued and the second flighting continues with a result that the flows are recombined in a distributive manner to provide improved mixing with a minimum of additional shear stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: The Black Clawson Company
    Inventor: Andrew W. Christie
  • Patent number: 5590959
    Abstract: A continuous mixer in which the rotors used to mix the material are composed of a rotor shaft, and a plurality of rotor segments fitted onto said rotor shaft. The plurality of rotor segments can be removed from the shaft and replaced by rotor segments of differing specifications to produce a rotor of a different shape and specifications in accordance with any change in the kind of mixing conditions required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueda, Tsugushi Fukui, Kazuyoshi Imuta, Hirofumi Kimura, Shoji Yasuda, Shin Hotani, Kimio Inoue, Ryota Minato, Yoshimitsu Tanaka, Katsunori Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5505537
    Abstract: A conical-bottom silo, particularly suitable for small-sized pieces of plastic material with properties of high elasticity, includes a conical screw stirrer inserted axially in the conical bottom of the silo. The conical screw of the stirrer is discontinuous and divided into several sections. The silo has a structure for discharging the material arranged below an outlet port positioned laterally in relation to the stirrer and including two co-operating cylindrical screws. The stirrer can be provided with apertured grill outlets for heated, forced air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Sorema s.r.l.
    Inventor: Flavio Previero
  • Patent number: 5480227
    Abstract: A screw-type extruder in which the wall of the cylinder receiving the screw has an annular recess which is disposed in a radial region of a core bead of the screw and pins extend through this recess and are diagonally inclined to the radial plane thereof close to the circumference of the bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Krupp Maschinentechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Wilfried Baumgarten
  • Patent number: 5411710
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing materials, a process for mixing, finishing and de-volatizing polyamide to make 66 nylon and the 66 nylon made by this process. The apparatus comprises an agitator section having an outlet adjacent the bottom thereof; a transfer screw disposed adjacent the outlet of the agitator section; a spiral ribbon extending upwardly from the transfer screw; a ring disposed vertically above the spiral ribbon, at least one baffle disposed vertically above the spiral ribbon and connected to the ring and a wall-wiping spur connected to the ring. Preferably, the apparatus has two baffles--an upper one for pumping the material downwardly and a lower one for pumping the material upwardly. The diameter of each baffle is preferably about 80% of the diameter of the agitator section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Assignee: E. I. DuPont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: John M. Iwasyk
  • Patent number: 5356281
    Abstract: A screw-type resin injection apparatus for injection molding which includes a cylinder element having a cylinder chamber for receiving resin therein, and having, at an end portion, a nozzle for injecting the resin. A screw element is arranged within the cylinder chamber in a manner allowing rotation and axial movement. A rotary drive shaft is connected to the screw element telescopically so as to be capable of transmitting a torque. The rotary drive shaft is rotatively driven by a motor. A fluid pressure cylinder unit is arranged laterally of the cylinder element in parallel relation thereto. The fluid pressure cylinder unit is rotatably engaged with the screw element to drive the screw axially. Preferably, the screw element is provided with a mixing screw portion which has a screw groove small in pitch and large in lead angle and an axial groove extending axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Three Bond Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Katsuno, Toru Shimizu
  • Patent number: 5354127
    Abstract: An auger conveyor assembly including a helical auger infeed section having interrupted auger flights which communicate with an offset, commonly driven outfeed section including a helical ribbon auger and whereat both augers simultaneously blend the mixture at a controlled speed differential. A surrounding housing includes a formed length of rubberized channelway and means are provided for varying the tilt angle of the housing, whereby the blending rate and contained volume of mixture are controlled relative to an outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Inventors: William Del Zotto, William Ackerson
  • Patent number: 5318358
    Abstract: A screw kneader for a plastic material in which a pair of longitudinal screws are rotatably mounted in respective bores for conveying plastic material through the kneader. The screws have spaced portions for advancing the plastic material from an inlet region to an outlet region and between the spaced portions is a section with reversed threads opposing plastic flow to effect mixing of the plastic material. The threads of the intermediate section are provided with openings to permit passage of up to 20% of said plastic material in the direction of advance. Transfer elements with helical threads connect opposite ends of the threads in the intermediate section with the threads of the inlet and outlet regions. The transfer elements of the two screws mutually engage one another to strip plastic material from one another and from the walls of the bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Werner & Pfleiderer GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Wobbe, Eberhard Uhland
  • Patent number: 5318357
    Abstract: A screw for use in an plasticating injection apparatus includes a plurality of interrupted primary flights. An outer surface of a primary valley is formed by the primary flights and features a plurality of plateaus. The plateaus span adjacent sections of the primary flights and define shallow levels between deeper levels of the primary valleys. This depth differential contributes to a turbulent mixing action which, along with the primary and secondary valleys, contributes to improve mixing action within a metering section of the screw. The primary flights are interrupted by secondary valleys which are of opposite hand to the primary valleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Spirex Corporation
    Inventors: Paul N. Colby, Bradley P. Smith, Shawn P. Bodnar
  • Patent number: 5222935
    Abstract: Centrifuge for the separation of a suspension into a solids phase and at least one liquid phase, especially decantering centrifuge with separator following in alignment, full-jacket screw centrifuge or the like with screw (2) rotating at differential speed of rotation from its jacket (1), the helices (4) of which fit close against the course of the inner surface of the jacket, which narrows conically over at least some of its axial section looking toward the solids outlet (13) in particular, and between which, the hub (3) of the screw, and the jacket (1) is left the separation section (6), into which the suspension is injected, especially through a cavity (10 & 11 or 10 & 12) in the hub (3) of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Flottweg GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Schlarb