Abstract: A fixed blade support device includes a biasing member and a fixed blade support member (11). The fixed blade support member (11) includes a base surface portion (11a), an upright surface portion (11b), and a retainer portion (11c). The upright surface portion (11b) extends from the base surface portion (11a) in a biasing direction so as to close a rear side of a root portion of a fixed blade (12) on an opposite side to a blade edge portion thereof, and is configured to prevent the fixed blade (12) from being disengaged in a direction of engagement with a movable blade. The retainer portion (11c) extends from the upright surface portion (11b) so as to cover the root portion of the fixed blade (12), and is configured to prevent the fixed blade (12) from being disengaged in the biasing direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for granulating hot cut, in particular thermoplastic resin material, the material strands melted by an extruder being knocked off into granule pellets in a granulating housing by rotating knives disposed on a shaft driven by way of a motor, the granule pellets being picked up by a cooling medium flowing in the granulating housing, cooled and discharged out of the granulating housing, characterized in that a flow opening establishing a continuous fluid connection between the inside of the granulating housing and the outside environment is designed between the shaft and the region of the granulating housing in which the shaft penetrates the granulating housing.

Abstract: A cookie decorating tool includes a main body having attachment points for a plurality of decorating tool heads. In one version, the tool heads are in the form of one or more interchangeable stamps or rollers, each having a different design that may be imparted onto cookie dough to leave an impression prior to baking.

Abstract: An acetyl xylan esterase variant having perhydrolytic activity is provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters and a source of peroxygen. More specifically, a Thermotoga maritima acetyl xylan esterase gene was modified using error-prone PCR and site-directed mutagenesis to create an enzyme catalyst characterized by an increase in specific activity. The variant acetyl xylan esterase may be used to produce peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in a variety of applications such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, bleaching, wood pulp processing, and paper pulp processing applications.

Abstract: Device for eliminating oversize pellets from balling disks, includes a plow-like tool defined by a series of cylindrical rods that are coplanar and parallel to each other and incorporated into a horizontal plate, whose medial portion incorporates a vertical tubular arm that protrudes vertically and upwards to pass axially through and be selectively and adjustably attached to a vertical sleeve that is incorporated in a distal portion of an extensible arm, which composes a trussed structure that is adjacently attached to a balling disk and protrudes over its area of operation.

Abstract: A comestible product sheeter is configured to provide enhanced access to the rollers and other components of the roller assembly. The one or more frame members of the roller assembly are configured to support the rollers at different vertical locations. Enhanced access is provided to both the rear and front rollers of the roller assembly by supporting one of the rollers in a cantilever configuration. The roller assembly may also be provided with a pivotally mounted cutting roller support arm to further improve access to the rollers and other components of the roller assembly.

Abstract: An improved dough sheeter having a pair of counterrotating sheeter rollers and a cutter roller rotating against a front one of the sheeter rollers to cut a pattern into a sheet of dough therebetween. The improvement is the cutter roller being formed from an oil-impregnated wear resistant plastic that results in a much longer cutter life. The dough sheeter's cutter roller may have axial shaft, a pair of cutter lift arms including a U-shaped end, and a pair of needle bearing assemblies, each needle bearing assembly located on a corresponding end of the axial shaft. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing a cutter roller for a dough sheeter where the crown is formed before the cutting pattern is cut into the cutter roller.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for granulating thermoplastic materials with a die plate and a rotary cutter head, said rotary cutter head carrying cutter knives and being positioned in front of said die plate in a water chamber, said rotary cutter head being centered by means of a rocker bearing and being connected in rotationally fixed manner to an axially displaceable drive shaft through a torque transmitting element, the torque transmitting element being in the form of a tubular slotted spring surrounding the drive shaft, said slotted spring connecting the end of the drive shaft facing the rotary cutter head to the rotary cutter head in the peripheral region of the rocker bearing, said rocker bearing being disposed between the end of the drive shaft and the rotary cutter head in the radial direction.

Abstract: A die plate for an extruder is coupled directly to a fluid-driven motor on one side and to an extruder on the other side. Suitable fluid inlet and outlet passages are formed in the die plate to supply the motor with fluid and withdraw fluid. A cutter assembly includes a housing to receive the motor within and is coupled for rotation to an output shaft from the motor, so that in use blades mounted on the housing are caused to rotate into the path of extrudate and to sever it.

Abstract: A die plate for an extruder is coupled directly to a fluid-driven motor on one side and to an extruder on the other side. Suitable fluid inlet and outlet passages are formed in the die plate to supply the motor with fluid and withdraw fluid. A cutter assembly includes a housing to receive the motor within and is coupled for rotation to an output shaft from the motor, so that in use blades mounted on the housing are caused to rotate into the path of extrudate and to sever it.

Abstract: An assembly retainer for a self-aligning pelletizer cutter hub having a self-aligning driving connection between a cutter hub and a drive shaft for the hub in which the cutter hub is capable of universal pivotal movement as well as a driving connection through diametrically located recesses and spherical balls. The retainer is supported on the hub to retain the torque transmitting balls in the recesses. In one embodiment, the balls are retained by circular plates attached to the hub in position to form a closure for an open end of each recess. In another embodiment, spring pins are inserted in passageways in the hub with one end extending into an open end of said recesses to form an obstruction in each recess.

Abstract: A rotary cutter (74) is rotated by a motor (76) through a drive and a belt (326) inside of a combination guard and belt tensioner assembly (260). The rotary cutter (74) includes a cutter head (82) having integral blade holders (92) which slideably receive knives (90) in a channel (230) each having a detent (236) which is received in an aperture (91) in the knife (90) so that no fasteners or moveable parts are provided for holding the knives (90) and adjustment of the knives (90) is not needed or allowed. Guard quarters (266, 314) and a guard half (268) are held in a closed position by a single latch (325). The guard half (268) includes an idler (300) which tensions the belt (326) in the closed position. The second guard quarter (314) mounted upon a pivotable cover (306) together with the mount (262) for the motor (76) defines an enclosure for the rotary cutter (74) and abuts with the guard half (268) in their closed positions.

Abstract: The invention concerns a fast three-dimensional modeling method comprising the following steps: a phase which consists in transforming the raw material in the work space (32) by means of a device inducing transformation (1); at least at one moment, a phase which consists in supplying non-transformed material, downstream of the doctor blade; a phase which consists in covering the transformed material (PI) with non-transformed material (MAT), which consists in moving the blade in a direction (F), driving in rotation about an axis a rolling member (26, 27) whereon an extruded log of non-transformed raw material (28) is wound, arranging a pushing member (22) such that its proximal edge (23) coincides with the surface of said work space, and positioning said rolling member downstream of the pushing member, and opposite thereof, so as to channel the extruded log of non-tramsformed material towards a cavity formed between the proximal edge and the rolling member facing it.

Abstract: A mechanism for transporting a hub is provided. Particularly, a transport mechanism for a pelletizer knife hub is disclosed. The mechanism comprises a clamp for selectively engaging and releasing the shaft of the pelletizer knife hub. The clamp is connected to a support bar. The support bar, in turn, has a hoisting connector for being raised, lowered, and maneuvered by a hoisting system. According to the mechanisms of the present invention, the clamp is rotatable relative to the hoisting system. In one embodiment, a counter-balance to the hub is provided. In another arrangement, the hoisting system supports the hub above the hub for balancing the system.

Abstract: A mechanism for transporting a hub is provided. Particularly, a transport mechanism for a pelletizer knife hub is disclosed. The mechanism comprises a clamp for selectively engaging and releasing the shaft of the pelletizer knife hub. The clamp is connected to a support bar. The support bar, in turn, has a hoisting connector for being raised, lowered, and maneuvered by a hoisting system. According to the mechanisms of the present invention, the clamp is rotatable relative to the hoisting system. In one embodiment, a counter-balance to the hub is provided. In another arrangement, the hoisting system supports the hub above the hub for balancing the system.

Abstract: The pillow cutter of a food product extrusion system is provided with motor driven roller means designed to pull filled, or unfilled, extrusions, including hollow tubes, or ropes, of extruded food material from the extrusion die head. The ropes are then cut in various shapes such as square, diamond or triangle pillows, sticks or bars. The roller means constitute rotatable base rollers sized to effect telescopic assembly with removable, interchangeable, tubular, cylindrical cutter sleeves engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the sleeves with variable cutting patterns so the user of the system can optionally change the cutting patterns by selective choice of cutter sleeves.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a balling drum assembly including a wear resistant insert. The balling drum assembly includes an inclined rotary drum member having an inlet at its one end for receiving agglomerative material and at its other end an outlet for balls formed from the agglomerative material. At least one scraper blade assembly is operatively attached to the drum member parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum member. Each scraper blade assembly includes a blade support member and separate blade segments secured eccentrically to the blade support member with respect to the axis of rotation of the drum member. Each blade segment includes a wear resistant insert.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a balling drum assembly including a wear resistant insert. The balling drum assembly includes an inclined rotary drum member having an inlet at its one end for receiving agglomerative material and at its other end an outlet for balls formed from the agglomerative material. At least one scraper blade assembly is operatively attached to the drum member parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum member. Each scraper blade assembly includes a blade support member and separate blade segments secured eccentrically to the blade support member with respect to the axis of rotation of the drum member. Each blade segment includes a wear resistant insert.

Abstract: A separate parison separation assembly for each parison in a multiple parison blow molding apparatus. Each assembly has a shear plate secured in a recess machined into the mold in order to provide a positive and repeatable location of the shear plate. The shear plate is square and provides eight cutting edges; each of the four sides of the shear plate by rotating the shear plate as an edge wears, and by turning it over. The shear plate has a useful life up to eight times that of the prior art designs. The cut-off knife for each assembly is secured to the other half of the mold, directly on its surface, with a compression pocket cut into the face of this half of the mold to contain and to compress the parison between the mold halves. The design eliminates open space at the edge where the flash forms, reducing the mass of polymer at the edge and thus the temperature of the flash edge.

Abstract: A cutter hub holder for blades acting against a die plate of an underwater pelletizer including a resilient axially biased blade holder that is drivingly connected with a driven shaft and biased axially toward the die plate by a piston and piston rod engaging a resilient device by a variably controlled pressure. The motor shaft has a through bore to introduce the variably controlled pressure to vary the resilient axial bias exerted on the cutter hub holder. In one embodiment, the driving connection between the shaft and cutter hub holder includes a quick connect and disconnect drive coupling to enable the blade holder to be quickly replaced. In another embodiment, the driving connection between the shaft and cutter hub holder includes an axially movable keyed connection and the piston rod includes two axially spaced pistons to increase the axial force exerted on the cutter hub holder through a resilient device.

Abstract: This device ensures insertion of a film into the entrance of a transverse drawing machine, leaving a longitudinal drawing machine. This device includes a fixed cylinder with an axis perpendicular to the travel axis of the film, located upstream of the entrance to the transverse drawing machine, whose lower generatrix is located in the film travel plane in the transverse drawing machine, a chest whose axis is perpendicular to the travel axis of the film, mounted on a movable support, so that it can be displaced between a retracted position and a position in which the chest is located between the fixed cylinder and the entrance to the transverse drawing machine, the upper surface of the chest then being disposed substantially in the plane in which the film travels in the transverse drawing machine.

Abstract: A pelletizer comprises a knife head, which is mounted by a denture coupling on a rotatably drivable shaft. The denture coupling comprises at least one serrated ring mounted on the knife head and on the shaft, respectively, the serrated rings having a frontal tooth system and intermeshing. Furthermore, a chucking arrangement of the type of a collect chuck is provided for releasably locking the knife head and the shaft in the direction of their axis.

Abstract: A cutter hub holder for blades acting against a die plate of an underwater pelletizer including a spring-loaded blade holder that is drivingly connected with a driven shaft and biased axially toward the die plate at a variably controlled pneumatic pressure. The driving connection between the shaft and cutter hub holder includes a quick connect and disconnect drive coupling to enable the blade holder to be quickly replaced. The motor shaft has a through bore to introduce the pneumatic pressure to the cutter hub holder.

Abstract: A mixing system is provided for mixing and dispensing measured volumes of kneaded material. The system includes an adjustable frame, top and side feeder assemblies, a cutter assembly. The top feeder assembly is secured to the frame and maintains a supply of raw kneadable material and minor ingredients to the side feeder assembly. The side feeder assembly includes an input housing, receiving raw material from the top feeder assembly and a preblender housing in communication with the input housing. A pair of oppositely rotating helical screws are disposed within the input and preblender housings for transporting the kneadable material to the kneader cylinder. The input and preblender housings are detachably connected to one another and slidably mounted on the frame, for selective movement between operating and cleaning positions. The preblender housing is also rotatably mounted on the frame, which further facilitates cleaning the unit.

Abstract: Extrusion machine having a machine frame, an extrusion press and a material inlet opening and a material outlet opening, a drive for the extrusion press and a die located in the vicinity of the material outlet opening and a cutting tool associated with the die. A changer mechanism is provided, which has a support member for at least two replaceable dies and/or cutting tools and the support member is arranged in movable manner relative to the extrusion press in the vicinity of the material outlet opening. The support member has a circular arc-shaped configuration and is pivotably mounted. The pivot pin of the support member is displaced with respect to the material outlet opening plane and is substantially perpendicular to the material discharge direction.

Abstract: A self-aligning pelletizer cutter hub having a self-aligning driving connection between the cutter hub and drive shaft for the hub in which the cutter hub is capable of universal pivotal movement as well as a driving connection between the drive shaft and cutter hub. The self-aligning hub includes an adapter mounted on the end of a drive shaft with the adapter having a partial spherical outer surface that matches a partial spherical inner surface or bore in the cutter hub. The adapter includes diametrically located recesses for receiving spherical balls which are also received in recesses in the inner surface of the cutter hub to transmit driving force from the adapter to the cutter hub. The inner surface of the cutter hub also includes longitudinal recesses extending to one edge thereof and associated with the ball recesses to enable assembly of the balls and the partially spherical surface of the adapter into the hub bore when the adapter is arranged in 90.degree.

Abstract: An extrusion machine has a machine frame, an extrusion press with a material inlet opening and a material outlet opening, a drive for the extrusion press and a die located in the vicinity of the material outlet opening and a cutting tool associated with the drive. In the extrusion press is provided a changer mechanism, which has a support member for at least two changeable dies and/or cutting tools, the support member being movably located in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the material outlet opening relative to the extrusion press.

Abstract: In a cotton candy machine for spinning granular sugar into filaments and having a rotatable shaft, a spinner head mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, bearings rotatably supporting the rotatable shaft below the spinner head, an impeller mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and being disposed between the spinner head and the bearings. The impeller rotates to blow sugar which finds its way down to the level of the impeller away from the bearings. The impeller has a plurality of radially extending fins or vanes on at least one of the upper and lower side, and an O-ring groove in its lower side in which an O-ring is seated which seals against the motor. Radially directed air flow generated by rotation of the impeller with the rotating shaft directs sugar granules away from the bearings, and the O-ring seals the impeller against the motor to provide an additional check against sugar entering the bearings. Sugar is unable to reach the bearings of the motor and motor life is increased.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for aligning the cutting surfaces of cutting blades of a granulating device, in which an abrasive plate is detachably connected to the granulating hood of the granulating device after disconnection of the hood from a die plate. The abrasive plate remains fixed and the cutting surfaces of the cutting blades are ground by rotating the cutting head so that the cutting surfaces will be aligned axially on the axis of rotation of the drive shaft of the cutting head and located in a common plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The grinding operation for alignment can be carried out in situ on the granulating device, or the granulating hood and cutting head can be removed from the granulating device and the grinding and alignment can be effected in a separate support.

Abstract: An apparatus for perforating packaging film which includes a cylindrical roller which is rotatable about a longitudinal axis. Bearings are mounted to each end of the roller to facilitate rotation. A number of longitudinal, circumferentially spaced grooves are formed in the outer surface of the roller. Perforation pin holders are removably and adjustably mounted in the grooves. The perforating pins are removably or permanently mounted on the holder.

Abstract: A divider assembly for removable attachment to a dividing and rounding machine, the assembly including a divider blade formed into a circular geometric pattern, with relatively movable plugs fitted into the openings of the geometric pattern, the blade being affixed to a divider plate having openings and the plugs projecting through the openings. The top ends of the plugs are fitted through a plug plate and have reduced diameter shanks for engagement into keyhole-shaped openings in a lock plate. Two knobs are threadable into the respective plates to hold the entire assembly together.

Abstract: I provide the quick release cutting hub assembly for a pelletizer with a cutting plane formed between a cutter and a die plate comprising a pelletizer shaft having a bore, a cutter assembly supporting the cutter and a support means mounted on one end of the pelletizer shaft and supporting the cutter assembly and having a spring means in compression urging the cutter assembly toward the cutting plane and also having a quick release means mounted within the support means for releasing the cutter assembly from the shaft. The quick release means when actuated bears against the cutter assembly and is held in place due to the pressure exerted by the compression of the spring located in the support means.

Abstract: plurality of synthetic-resin strands are made in a nozzle having a housing forming a passage having an upstream end and a downstream end. The downstream end is formed as an elongated slot having a relatively great length and a relatively short width measured perpendicular to its length. An extruder connected to the housing at the upstream end of the passage introduces a fluent thermoplastic synthetic resin thereinto under pressure so the resin exits from the slot in a predetermined flow direction. A plurality of blades are retained in holders on the nozzle immediately downstream of the downstream of the passage at the slot with each blade traversing the slot crosswise of its length. Thus the resin exiting from the slot is cut by the blades into the strands. The holders are adjustable along the slot for horizontally displacing and fixing the blades so as to vary the dimensions of the strands.

Abstract: A granulator for forming granules of cross-linkable plastic compounds in which a screw extruder extrudes the compound into the smaller diameter end of a funnel-shaped, annular conduit, the other end of the conduit facing a die with circular arrays of through-holes. The compound which passes through the through-holes is cut into granules by rotating blades having air nozzles which remove particles of the compound from the blades. The granules are received in a chamber from which they are removed pneumatically. Where the annular conduit meets the die, there are channels within and outside of the arrays of through-holes which lead to the outside of the granulator and which provide conduits for removal of compound which does not directly impinge on the entrances of the through-holes which are specially shaped to avoid accumulation of the compound between the through-holes.

Abstract: A duplex extruder head for receiving extrudate from each of two extruders to deliver a composite unitary extrudate such as tire tread stock has a cavity plug or vee-block insert secured in an open top channel-shaped receiver without bolts or hinges by a pair of slidable clamps. The head also has a transverse slot for slidably receiving a die assembly endwise into the slot. The die assembly is then elevated to operating position and securely clamped by a pair of wedge-like gibs. Clamping of either the insert or the die assembly is effected by hydraulic cylinder or equivalent means. The foregoing abstract is not to be taken as limiting the invention of this application, and in order to understand the full nature and extent of the technical disclosure of this application, reference must be made to the accompanying drawing and the following detailed description.

Abstract: Three-dimensional work pieces, such as instrument panels or dashboards, are made of initially flat stock or of synthetic material such as a two-component foamable material. The tools of the present apparatus include upper and lower holding tools which are preferably simultaneously shaping tools, and cutting or trimming tools. The upper tools and the cutting or trimming tools may have a common support which is preferably exchangeably secured in a main frame. The shaping tools are moved into a first cooperating position relative to each other, whereby the work piece is formed into the desired shape. The shaping tools may then be locked in the shaping position or they may be moved into a second cooperating position to be rigidly locked in the second position. A tool support such as a table carried by a scissors lift frame is used for moving the shaping tools into the desired positions. The cutting or trimming is then performed by applying pressure to the respective tools.

Abstract: A regenerating apparatus for foamed plastics comprising two rollers connected to driving means capable of rotation toward inside respectively and mounted horizontally in parallel with each other at a predetermined gap, a heating means incorporated to the inside of the rollers, and a scraping means for molten plastics provided to the outside of at least one of the rollers in contaction with the surface thereof.

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: A rotary moulding machine for biscuit dough of the kind comprising a pair of co-operating rolls defining the bottom of a dough hopper, one roll having an embossed surface for feeding dough downwardly and into contact with the surface of the other or moulding roll which is formed with moulding recesses, and a scraper blade mounted to bear against the surface of the latter roll so as to press dough into the moulding recesses and remove excess dough from the remainder of the surface, includes the improvement that the scraper blade is carried by a pivoted mounting capable of infinitely variable adjustment along a path which guides the mounting in a direction having at least a substantial vertical component and a biasing arrangement is provided which exerts a turning moment on the mounting about the pivotal axis so as to press the scraper blade against the surface of the moulding roll.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming rings which are made from a formable food mass, made, for example, from onion pieces and a binder. The apparatus includes a hopper for containing the food mass. A rotating cylindrical member is horizontally mounted within the hopper and annular openings are preferably provided in the outer periphery of the cylindrical member for receiving the food mass at a first position. A ring is reciprocally mounted within each of the annular openings, the rings being reciprocated between the loading position and a discharge position, at which the rings are moved towards and beyond the periphery of the cylindrical member. To separate the formed rings from the cylindrical member, a moving cutter is provided near the discharge position.