Abstract: A resin composition of a thermoplastic resin and long fiber is injected into a molded article having good physical properties by molding the composition in the form of a pellet having a length of 3 mm or more and containing 10 to 80% by weight, based on the composition, of a fiber having a length substantially equal to that of the pellet and arranged in the lengthwise direction of the pellet, characterized by using an injection molding machine having a nozzle diameter of 6 mm or more.

Abstract: In an injection unit of an in-line screw type injection molding machine, a screw is provided rotatably in both normal and reverse directions within a heating cylinder. The screw is periodically reversed in a charging stroke with the period of normal rotation being longer than that of reverse rotation, whereby a resin material is kneaded and plasticized. As a result, the resin in a melting and pooling zone (flow zone) between the inner wall of the heating cylinder and the outer peripheral wall of the screw is effectively moved back and forth and hence plasticized and molten into a uniform molten resin.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a toy molder/extruder which is used for cold molding and/or cold extruding of clay dough with the use of toy molds and toy dies. This toy has a main housing with a base, an upright middle section and a top. A pinion gear is rotatably located at the top of the housing and a crank wheel and handle is connected to the pinion gear to enable the user to rotate the pinion gear. A ram piston with a rack gear is attached to the main housing with the ram piston being connected to the top of the housing in a vertically movable fashion, so as to engage the rack gear and the pinion gear with on another. The toy also has a compression chamber with an open top which is connected to the housing and located below the ram piston. It has a cross-sectional dimension adequate to allow ram insertion of the ram piston and has a tapered bottom with an outlet orifice substantially smaller than the compression chamber's open top.

Abstract: An extruder screw and a method for extrusion to achieve high output rates with thermally sensitive plastic materials and without thermal degradation problems involving the use of a single flight metering type extruder screw having an initial feed zone, distal metering zone, and a transition zone interconnecting the feed and metering zones. In particular, improvements in the extrusion of thermally sensitive plastics such as PVC are achieved through use of a compression ratio of approximately 2:1, a constant lead and pitch, and a proportioning of the length of the feed zone, transition zone, and metering zone relative to the total length of the zones of 27-33%, 23-25%, and 45-48%, respectively. To achieve cooler and more uniform mixing with rigid PVC, polyethylene and like materials, an improved arrangement for using rings of mixing pins is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for the mixing and continuous extrusion of a plastic mass having a first stage in which an intermittently operating mixer receives the starting materials batchwise and a second stage having a screw extruder which is supplied at periodic intervals, with material from the intermittent mixer. In order to provide a simple, inexpensive apparatus for two-stage mixing and extruding in which the full output of the first stage can be used and, independently of the state of the intermediate product, a continuous feed of material into the screw extruder of the second stage is effected. The second stage has mixing and kneading blades continuously rotating within a trough and an extrusion screw which extends along the bottom of the trough into an extrusion cylinder. A continuous drive motor for the extrusion screw is controlled so that the trough is always filled at least to 25% of its volume.

Abstract: Apparatus for mixing material in a twin screw extruder by longitudinally advancing material by the interengaging threads of two screws in the housing of a twin screw extruder such that a plurality of separate streams of material are advanced by the threads of the screws, combining the separate streams of material in a thread-free zone of the screws in which the passage area for the streams of material undergoes uniform reduction and lateral displacement around one of the screws, and thereafter dividing the combined stream back into separate streams downstream of the thread-free zone. In the thread-free zone, a baffle element is mounted on the shaft of one of the screws, the baffle element being of conical shape and increasing uniformly in diameter in the direction of advance of the product.

Abstract: Pellets of polymeric material are fed into the hopper of a screw extruder to produce a molten extrudate, and a liquid additive, particularly a molten lubricant, is introduced downstream of the hopper into the root of a screw flight, particularly in the feed section of the screw longitudinally and internally of the screw shaft.

Abstract: A system for producing a screw feeder for use in a plastic injection-molding machine, according to which system a molten material is extruded through an injection opening of a rotating die, the injection opening of the die including a groove obliquely with respect to the axis thereof, thereby forming a screw feeder having a shank and a spiral integral lengthwise therewith.

Abstract: Method of and apparatus for making a shaped crosslinked extruded polymeric product by extruding compacted, melted polymer, e.g., polyethylene, into a mixer formed on or fitted to the discharge end of an extruder, injecting proportionate amounts of a mixture of compounding ingredients including olefinically unsaturated hydrolyzable silane, free-radical generator and, preferably, a silanol condensation catalyst into the compacted, melted polymer. The polymer and compounding ingredients are blended in the mixer until the silane is grafted to said polymer, and the resulting grafted polymer mixed with the silanol condensation catalyst is extruded thruugh a die to form the product of the required final shape. The resulting product is subjected to the action of H.sub.2 O until the grafted polymer is crosslinked.

Abstract: In the extrusion process an inhomogeneous thermoplastic marbled product is made from a base plastic material and at least one marbling additive material mixed therein. The additive material is fed into the interior of an extrudate flow made from the base plastic material in an extruder device. The extruder has a mixing head at the end of its screw having a narrow throat surrounded by a ring. The ring is formed with angularly spaced slot-like passages for the base material. The additive veining plastic is fed through the mixing head downstream of this throat.

Abstract: Rotary extruder apparatus is provided comprising housing (22), recess (29) within housing (22), cylindrical rotor (30) rotatably mounted within recess (29) in housing (22), feed inlet (25), discharge outlet (52) providing fluid communication between recess (29) and diehead (26), in combination with gear pump (160) adapted to increase the pressure of material received from discharge outlet (52). Knurled rotor (30), undercut feed inlet (25), segmented rotor shafts (18, 18'), thrust rings (109, 109') made of dissimilar metals, and circumferentially spaced cartridge heaters (63) in housing (22) are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention refers to a high-pressure mixing device, for at least two chemical components to be mixed, in particular of the type having a movable mixing chamber, in which the mixing chamber communicates with an outlet duct for discharging the mixture therefrom through a lateral passage and in which the component inlet apertures open directly into the mixing chamber but are oriented so as to face away from the lateral passage in a direction which is opposite to the flow of the mixture in the outlet duct.

Abstract: A method for molding a thermosetting resin pipe having a balanced compressive strength between the axial direction and the direction normal to the pipe axis is disclosed. The method includes steps of molding a thermosetting resin in a smooth zone in the front section of a screw to such an extent that the resin after being extruded from the cylinder is capable of retaining its own shape, and orienting the resin and/or a fibrous filler randomly. An apparatus for producing such a thermosetting resin, and a thermosetting resin having a balanced compressive strength are also disclosed.

Abstract: A screw extruder and a method of operation thereof. The screw extruder comprises a barrel including a section that is supported for rotation about the longitudinal axis of the barrel. A screw extends and is supported for rotation in the barrel; and, in use, rotation of the screw rotates and advances plastic material through the barrel. Rotation of the screw also causes the rotatable barrel section to rotate, and a brake is connected to that rotatable section to maintain the rotational speed of the rotatable section less than the rotational speed of the extruder screw. The rotational speed of the screw relative to the rotatable barrel section controls the relative rates at which plastic is mixed, heated, and pressurized in the barrel.

Abstract: Material to be colored is fed from an extruder to a positive displacement means such as a gear pump. The output from which is split into at least two streams one of which is fed to a mixer which is preferably a cavity transfer mixer. Colorant is injected into one of the streams either before or at the mixer and the two streams are recombined downstream of the mixer preferably in a diehead. The arrangement provides for reliable coloration whilst premitting flexibility in production.

Abstract: A method of materials processing (e.g. polymer extrusion) in which the material flows along an axially extending passageway. A pressure differential is established across the passageway transverse to the axial flow direction so as to create a flow of material through the die which has a velocity component transverse to the axial flow direction. Preferably the pressure differential transverse to the extrusion direction is continuous thereby estabilshing a continuous change of velocity component transverse to the axial flow direction. Preferably also there is at least one reversal of transverse pressure differential (and hence transverse velocity component). Apparatus for performing this method comprises for example, successive sections (3-5) of identical trapezoidal cross section with adjacent ones of these sections having their cross-sections displaced through 180.degree. relative to each other.

Abstract: A mixer assembly for mixing fluid material in the bore of a barrel wherein the mixer assembly includes structure for mixing and pumping toward its outlet end the material fed thereto comprising a stator assembly fixed in the barrel having outer cylindrical surface portions conforming substantially to the surface of the bore and having a stator bore provided with a groove-interrupted inner surface, and a driven rotor member having a groove-interrupted outer surface confronting the inner stator surface.

Abstract: A plastification cylinder of an injection molding machine includes an outside cylinder and an inside cylinder, the inside cylinder including heating elements and temperature sensors therearound and defining a screw antechamber at one end thereof, the outside cylinder being shaped so that the end thereof which surrounds the end of the inside cylinder that defines the screw antechamber is in a pressure fit contact with the inside cylinder while the other end of the outside cylinder is spaced away from the corresponding end of the inside cylinder, thereby providing an annular chamber therebetween. Connecting elements extending through the outside cylinder can be used to cause a fluid heating or cooling medium to flow through the annular chamber.

Abstract: In a dryer for drying extrudable materials, a worm is rotatably disposed in a tubular sleeve which is equipped at its front portion with a hopper to supply extrudable materials. The worm is supported at its both ends by bearings in the sleeve or outside the sleeve. A seal screw is formed around the rear portion of the worm, and an outlet for discharging the extrudable material is formed on the side surface of the sleeve near the end of the seal screw. The end of the seal screw is connected with a flushing ring which is protruded from the end of the worm.

Abstract: The outer periphery of a screw and the inside of a barrel of a screw type extruding or kneading machine are made of ceramics, to improve the abrasion and heat resistances thereof, so that the screw and the barrel will operate for a longer life time even if a hard material or a material containing a hard material is worked.

Abstract: An extrusion apparatus for the production of mixtures of molten synthetic material includes a gear pump which is provided in the flow of molten material. The gear pump comprises a housing and two meshing gear pump wheels. The line joining the centers of the two wheels extends at right angles to the central longitudinal axis of the hollow cylinder. Outlet and inlet openings are formed in the cylinder of the extrusion apparatus which lead directly into the gear pump housing into regions which are, respectively, upstream and downstream of the gear wheels. The major surfaces of the gear wheels are disposed horizontally relative to the central longitudinal axis of the hollow cylinder.

Abstract: A synthetic granulate is fed into an extruder through an inclined upper part transiting into a short vertical lower part communicating with an inlet in the extruder. A down shaft of smaller diameter for feeding a stream of a dye stuff projects through the inclined part and terminates about midway in the vertical lower part. The stream of synthetic granulate forms below the outlet of the filling channel a funnel-shaped cavity onto which a stream of dosed dye stuff continuously falls. The interface of the cavity with the synthetic granules is continuously renewed and thus a uniform stream of the dye stuff is admixed to the granules.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for continuously varying the pressure within a screw channel of a plasticating machine by way of a variable restriction in the screw channel. The apparatus includes a cylindrical barrel, a shaft rotatable within said barrel having a substantially circular cross-section and a longitudinal axis for rotation concentric with the barrel. The shaft is provided with a helical screw channel which is defined between successive turns of at least one helical flight integrally formed with the shaft. At least one radially movable first member is disposed at a right angle to said axis within the channel at a location along the axis and is located within the channel at a location along the axis at which the material being processed is substantially melted.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a cross-linked, extruded or sprayed product.

Abstract: A plasticating unit having a channeled rotor rotating in an annular housing for processing plastic or polymeric material. The processed material is fed by a screw to a chamber which expands to receive a predetermined charge of material for injection into a mold.

Abstract: A screw for use in an extruder barrel for plasticizing plastic material from a solid phase to a viscous form wherein the feed screw has a cylindrical core with a helical flight extending for the full length of the screw. A selected portion or portions of the screw's core has a polygonal cross section whose apexes are parallel to the axis of rotation of such screws to thereby more precisely control the plasticizing action of the plastic material, its viscosity and temperature while providing a thoroughly mixed and homogeneous melt.

Abstract: Injection molding apparatus is disclosed in which weld lines are removed from a part, such as a parison, which weld lines are caused by the interruption or splitting of the flow of plastic material around core support pins or the like by the provision of an annular mixing chamber which opens into the plastic material flow passage. The plastic material is caused to move radially into the mixing chamber where it is spread by reason of the increasing volume encountered, accompanied by a reversal of flow radially inwardly into an annular injection gate. The movement of plastic material within the chamber and the resultant increase in temperature by reason of shear, eliminates the weld lines which have been formed in the material by reason of the splitting of flow around the pins.

Abstract: A mini-extruder apparatus for extruding small quantities of material. The apparatus is designed to overcome the problems of excessive heat transfer from the heated portion of the barrel to the feed portion of the extruder barrel and the premature failure of the long thin extruder screws employed in extruders. The mini-extruder includes an extruder barrel having a substantially circumferential, radially extending cavity formed in an isolator portion of the extruder barrel to thermally isolate the feed portion from the heated portion. The mini-extruder also includes a drive system constructed to drive the extruder screw at both ends. The mini-extruder can also be designed as a co-rotating or counter-rotating twin screw extruder where each end of each extruder screw is driven.

Abstract: An annular extrusion die for the production of a tubular thermoplastic film web material, such as an annular extrusion die including a filtering arrangement for the formulation of a more consistently or uniformly distributed polymer melt conveyed to the die orifice of the extrusion die which will impart improved properties to the extruded thermoplastic film material. Also disclosed is a method of producing an improved extruded thermoplastic film web material through the utilization of the inventive extrusion die arrangement. A cavity or die flow chamber within the body of the annular extrusion die is filled with a particulate inert material of either uniform granular size or of random sizes, so as to force the polymer melt being conveyed towards the die orifice to randomly flow through the interstices which are present between the particles of the granular material, and thereby uniformly fill the cavity.

Abstract: Grittiness in soap-containing formulations, one source of which is the reworking of previously processed soap, is reduced in an efficient manner by passing the formulation through a cavity transfer mixer.

Abstract: An improved, low cost, energy efficient extrusion device and method for processing of cellulose- or fiber-bearing materials (e.g., wood chips, crop residues, whole or ground soybeans) is described which includes a transition screw section designed to smooth out material flow through the extruder and allow creation of increased barrel pressure and temperature levels. The transition section includes first and second alternating flights, with the depth of the first flight being less than that of the second flight and preferably gradually increasing until it equals the second flight depth. The overall extruder apparatus also advantageously includes a single flighted inlet screw section and a double flighted compression screw section respectively disposed on opposite sides of the transition section; in addition, the extruder has a pressure responsive adjustable die so that the effective dimensions of the die opening can be varied during the extrusion operation.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a cross-linked extruded elongated product from polyethylene or other suitable polymer. The polymer is fed into the hopper of a screw extrusion machine. The polymer is heated and melted while being conveyed through the barrel of the screw extruder. A liquid silane compound which comprises a modified vinyl functional silane, a free-radical generator, and a condensation catalyst is carefully metered and injected into the melted polymer. The melted polymer and the liquid silane compound are then mixed and blended to obtain a uniform blended mixture thereof. The blended mixture is then extruded through an extrusion die to form an elongated product of a required final shape and the elongated product is then subjected to the action of moisture and heat until the polymer in the elongated product is cross-linked.

Abstract: A crosshead (10b) and a method are provided for extruding a tubular layer of a thermoplastic material, or for coextruding tubular layers of various thermoplastic materials, without incurring a weld line. The crosshead (10b) includes a supply passage (46) which provides an annular flow of thermoplastic material around a mandrel (18b) by providing separate flows that merge distal from a supply passage (52), a first compressive forging passage (72) that provides static mixing by transverse viscous shear, a longitudinal shear mixer (44a) that provides static mixing by longitudinal viscous shear, and a second compressive forging passage (94) that provides static mixing by longitudinal shear, and an extrusion opening (110).

Abstract: An extruder assembly for admixing and reacting a hydrolyzable silane reactant with a thermoplastic polymer to produce a water-curable, silane modified polymer and for extruding the resultant polymer into a shaped product.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed which greatly facilitate molding of plastic material in the form of structural foam. The invention contemplates the provision of a valve-like mixing nozzle assembly which is selectively operable to control the flow of plastic material into an injection mold. Significantly, the nozzle assembly includes a mixing turbine rotatably mounted in the flow path of the plastic material. Notably, the turbine is driven by the plastic material itself as the material is driven into the mold assembly, and thus desirably provides intense mixing of the material during injection. This mixing action can be advantageously employed for effecting dispersion and/or expansion of the blowing agent carried by the plastic material for greatly enhanced control and flexibility in molding structural foam articles.

Abstract: A passage for transferring molten plastic material processed in an extruder contains distributing elements for dividing the molten stream into partial streams and for recombining said partial streams in a different relation to each other. In order to minimize boundary layer faults which result from the distribution of the partial streams, the molten stream is divided into partial streams by at least one annular distributing disc, which is provided on its entrance side with an annular series of openings, and in which adjacent ones of said openings are succeeded by bores which extend radially outwardly and radially inwardly, respectively, so that the molten stream is divided into sectorlike partial streams which are conducted radially inwardly and radially outwardly, respectively, in adjacent bores and are then recombined.

Abstract: In order to homogenize and to obtain a uniform temperature distribution in a plastics substance, which is to be extruded between an inner and an outer component, in a nozzle, the substance is made to pass a bearing structure comprising a number of rolling bearings, where the balls serve as kneading bodies. The inner and the outer components of the orifice rotate in opposite directions, which will orientate the molecular chains in the surface zones of the extruded products at an angle to the direction of extrusion. In this manner the structure of the product is enhanced, while simultaneously the kneading operation reduces the risk of impurities in the plastics compound causing weak spots in the product.

Abstract: A forming machine for chocolate and the like which comprises, located directly downstream of the hopper, a metering device having a contoured mixing and metering cavity which accommodates a rotatively driven rotor provided with disk-like spaced-apart collars and with rotary pistons respectively in the form of bridges interconnecting said disk-like collars axially. On the interior of said mixing and metering cavity, said rotor defines, accordingly, movable metering chambers in the shape of annular segments at one side, in each whereof there is respectively reciprocable a detent segment of a respective oscillating delivery disk valve and formed on a common shaft element, and a mixing chamber at the other side. Provided in said valves is a throughgoing passage which opens below the forming machine lower plane, and a depression for the unhindered passage of the respective rotary piston.

Abstract: A method of replastifying thermoplastic foil strips comprising the steps of: rotating a worm within a cylinder baffel having a chamber, an inlet end, outlet end, and a widened area in the region of the inlet end; winding at least one continuous thermoplastic foil strip in multiple layers completely around the worm in the widened area; compressing the layers of the at least one strip on the worm; snagging the at least one strip wound on the worm on edges of at least one longitudinal groove formed on a wall of the chamber, thereby causing the at least one strip to be cut into pieces; and advancing the pieces from the chamber by rotation of the worm.

Abstract: Process and apparatus are disclosed for manufacturing foamed articles such as tubes used as pipe insulation, which tubes are of a high impermeability and flexibility and are formed of a polymer, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, containing up to about 25% of an elastomer.

Abstract: A soap-containing formulation capable of becoming transparent on working is subjected to shear between two mutually displaceable surfaces. A shear zone is formed in the formulation as the latter is entrained in the surfaces.

Abstract: A backflow preventer on the end of a plastifying screw for an injection molding apparatus has a housing provided with radial bores which are axially and angularly offset. A pin accessible from the exterior of the housing passes through a radial hole but traversing in a valve member with clearance to permit the stroke of the valve member to be adjusted by selective insertion of the pin in the bores.

Abstract: A gear pump assisted screw conveyor extrusion system utilizing a cartridge heating device disposed axially within the screw and having the drives for the gear pump and the screw correlated in speed to create relatively little pressure in the thermoplastic material being extruded such that relatively little mechanical working thereof occurs. The thermoplastic material is melted in the screw conveyor primarily by heat transfer from the cartridge heater and the gear pump is utilized for conveying the melted material under pressure to a subsequent work station. A relatively deep material-conveying spiral channel is provided in the screw for maximized extrusion output per revolution of the screw and minimized mechanical energy generation by the screw. A motionless mixer may be employed intermediate the screw and the work station to homogenize the melted material for reducing temperature gradients therein.

Abstract: The phases present in a shear sensitive soap-containing formulation are controlled and may be changed by passing the formulation through shear zones formed by mutually displaceable surfaces. The shear zones are formed within the formulation by entraining it in the surfaces during passage between the surfaces.

Abstract: The mush and/or lather properties of soap-containing material including free fatty acids can be improved by subjecting the material to working. The material is passed through the shear zone(s) formed between two mutually displaceable surfaces between which the material passes.

Abstract: A backflow preventer at the end of an injection molding worm has a pressure ring which abuts directly upon the worm and serves a shank of the valvehead which also bottoms in a bore upon the worm so that force transmission to the worm is over its entire cross section. The shank is surrounded by a blocking ring which can shift in its axial stroke between a position in which it abuts the head and a position in which it abuts the pressure ring, the axial stroke being adjustable by shims forming the floor against which the shank abuts within the bore of the worm.

Abstract: Pressurized colored liquids are inserted in the base mass, immediately upstream or in correspondence with the last homogenizing means; then a rotor arranged between the last perforated refining means and the extrusion hole, provides for a partial mixing of the paste. The speed of rotation of the rotor is adjustable from outside of the extrusion head, and independent of the speed of the extrusion screw.

Abstract: Process for the plasticization and pumping of low bulk density synthetic thermoplastic materials through extrusion die means employing a mixer type extruder, the extrudate from said extruder is passed through a rotary melt pump and the molten material is discharged therefrom through a die member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a substantially uniform thermoplastic foam extruded from an extruder, the molten thermoplastic resin having uniformly distributed therein a foaming agent. A cooling-mixer continuously receives the extruded mass of resin and foaming agent from the extruder and intimately mixes and substantially cools the mass. A substantially adiabatic zigzag mixer is connected to the cooling-mixer and divides the mass into a plurality of separate streams which are at least partially separated and recombined. A die is connected to the zigzag mixer and extrudes the uniformly cooled mass into a lower pressure zone to produce a substantially uniform thermoplastic foam.

Abstract: Apparatus for preparing bread dough comprises a hopper for bulk dough, a rotary pump communicating with the hopper, a die through which dough is extruded by the pump in a continuous ribbon, conveyor means for receiving and conducting the ribbon of dough in succession through proofing means, guide rolls, means for cutting the ribbon of dough into individual pieces, means to roll the individual pieces into cylindrical shapes, and means to divide the cylindrical shapes into at least two further pieces. High production is achieved with a minimum of labor, and excessive working and kneading of the dough are avoided.