Abstract: Apparatus for preparing extrudable food products prior to cooking includes depositing portions of food product onto a horizontal surface, coating the food portions with flour, vacuuming away excess flour, and incrementally flattening the food portions to a desired thickness. An apparatus for performing this process includes a first flour depositor, a food depositor, a second flour depositor, and a food flattener, all mounted above a conveyor belt. The conveyor belt is mounted atop a supporting chassis which, in addition to providing a mounting base for the components named above, houses the electrical and hydraulic control means for the apparatus. The food depositor comprises conventional extruding means suitable for use with raw dough or ground meat, and a duality of hydraulically activated, high-speed cutter blades. The uniquely designed cutter blades have flattened, essentially planar cutting edge portions which create an aerodynamic shock wave along the line of impact between the blades.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for continuous shaping of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic tubes, a carbon fiber prepreg in tape form impregnated with a first thermosetting resin is laminated on and around a mandrel; the laminate provided on said mandrel is preheated; and the preheated laminate is pulled in and through a hot die together with the mandrel, during which it is gelled, cured, and shaped into a carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic tube, wherein a second thermosetting resin is uniformly supplied onto the outer circumference of the laminate in a resin squeezing zone in the hot die.

Abstract: The molding machine of the present invention comprises a screw extruder for extruding plastic material. A plurality of molds are moved one at a time to the outlet end of the extruder for receiving the plastic material therefrom, One end of the mold is open for receiving the plastic material and the opposite end of the mold includes a closure plate covering the end of the mold. The closure plate has a small fill sensing aperture therein. A sensing switch is mounted adjacent the fill sensing aperture and is adapted to sense when molded plastic exits from the fill sensing aperture so as to shut off the extruder and cause the mold to move away from the extruder so that an additional mold can be filled. A cylinder operated closure device clamps the opposite ends of the mold after the mold has moved away from the filling station so as to contain the plastic material within the mold while the plastic material cools and hardens.

Abstract: An improved device and method for segregating molded parts and runners flowing from a molding operation is disclosed. The device includes a restricted flow space, an array of fingers filling the space and movable therein to capture and lift runners away from the space, and strippers removing the runners to a lateral position. Prefered embodiments include a cylindrical chute and a rotating array.

Abstract: Apparatus for molding stick cosmetics, which comprises:closely fitting a molding block into a vertically extending annular member formed around a container charged with a liquid feed composition for solid cosmetics, said molding block having therethrough a plurality of longitudinal slots which are open at both ends;filling said liquid feed composition into said longitudinal slots; and, thereafter,solidifying and drying the thus filled liquid feed composition.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a slide fastener chain includes an injection molding machine with a mold, a sprue and runner cutter adjacent the mold, a pelletizer adjacent to the cutter for reducing the sprues and runners to particle size which are delivered to a first hopper, a second hopper for fresh molding materials, a mixing hopper for blending the used and fresh molding materials to be fed to the mold, and controls for regulating the proportions of used and fresh materials.

Abstract: A machine for producing small mounds of a solidifiable substance, especially an almond fragments/chocolate mass mixture, includes a plurality of adjacent troughs which delimit respective substantially coextensive parallel channels, each of which includes a succession of an upstream mixing section, an intermediate sieving section, and a downstream settling section, which opens onto an unloading conveyor. The substance is introduced in a predetermined quantity into the respective mixing sections, at which it is subsequently engaged and advanced by one of a plurality of individual pusher elements of a multiple pusher.

Abstract: A device and method for flash suppression in a molding with rotation system having a non-rotating mating surface capable of venting gases during the molding process while simultaneously suppressing flash. Flash is directed inwardly and away from the mating surface and contained between a mandrel and mandrel housing in a low pressure reservoir which is completely separate from the mating surface. A cooling fluid is utilized to carry away flash particles from the low pressure reservoir and thereby further prevent contamination of the mating surface.

Abstract: A filler carrier of the type adapted to move metal extrusions in a generally horizontal plane beneath the dispensing nozzle of a machine for dispensing uncured liquid plastic is disclosed. Uncured liquid plastic is dispensed into a channel of the extrusion which is subsequently cut so as to form a thermal barrier between the remaining sections of the extrusion which remain coupled by means of the cured plastic material. The filler carrier is provided with a mechanically driven conduit that is movable between a first lowered position that permits the passage thereover of the extrusion, to a second raised position wherein an upper opening of the movable conduit receives the nozzle of the dispensing machine so that uncured liquid plastic from the machine and any subsequent flushing solvent passing therethrough may be collected and transferred to an appropriate container in a clean and simple fashion.

Abstract: Extrusion apparatus for extruding plastic filaments and having a trough for cooling filaments, the trough being pivoted about a horizontal pivot means such that the upper end of the trough can pass from the collecting position through the fall line of the filaments to a position where the filaments fall behind the trough.

Abstract: Feeding of molten plastic strands into a discharge trough. At its upper end the discharge trough includes a slidably movable segment that can be extended behind the fall line of the strands as they emerge from nozzles. In its operating position, the extended segment catches the strands, and can be moved into a fore-running or non-operating position permitting free passage of the strands at the side of the discharge trough. A separational element is associated with the movable segment. As the segment is moved through the fall line of the strands, the separational element acts upon the strands and effects the desired separation. The strands which enter the discharge trough are cooled and ultimately fed to a granulator.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for the manufacture of conical hollow poles with an essentially circular cross-section, made of fiber reinforced synthetic resin, in which the fiber reinforcement is wound off from a carrying tube which is introduced into the mold, attaches itself onto the interior wall of the mold and is saturated by the synthetic resin which is injected into the mold from one end, with the nozzle being guided approximately longitudinally to the mold and with a light source arranged on the opposite end of the mold illuminating the interior of the mold, the inside diameter of which corresponds to the predetermined inside diameter of the pole at the pole bottom.

Abstract: A parts separator for separating molded plastic parts from sprue-runner elements. The separator comprises a supporting frame, a hollow drum mounted for rotation about a first horizontal axis and constituting an outer separator element, and an inner separator element mounted within the drum for rotation about a second horizontal axis which is spaced from and parallel with the first axis. The drum has a plurality of apertures in its outer surface and the inner separator element includes a plurality of pins which extend through the apertures, so that rotation of the inner and outer separator elements about their respective axes causes the outer end of each pin to reciprocate within the aperture between an inner position wherein the end of the pin is flush with the outer surface of the drum to an outer position wherein the end of the pin extends substantially beyond the outer surface of the drum.

Abstract: A continuous and automatic process for molding chocolate blocks each having an ornamental relief pattern of one color and a body portion of different color carrying the relief pattern is provided. Also, there is provided apparatus for continuously and automatically producing such ornamental chocolate blocks. A first chocolate material for forming the ornamental relief pattern is cast into a first mold and scraped to scrape off the excess chocolate material. A second mold is then placed on the first mold and a second chocolate material for forming the body portion is cast into through-openings of the second mold. The second chocolate material inevitably oozing into the interface between the first and second molds adheres only onto a rough surface portion formed around and surrounding the through-openings of the second mold without the second chocolate material adhering onto the first mold. It is thus not necessary to remove the oozing chocolate material from the first mold.

Abstract: Wafers are produced by guiding a sheet of bread having friable outer crusts and a relatively soft center through wafer forming apparatus. The apparatus includes a pair of rolls, one of said rolls, i.e., a cutting roll having one or more wafer forming recesses or cavities therein and the other roll being a pressure roll which operates in rolling engagement with the cutting roll. As the sheet of bread is introduced into the nip formed between the two rolls the pressure roll acts to press the bread into the cavity or cavities on the cutting roll and into engagement with the edges of the cavity or cavities to cut wafers from the sheet of bread. Each cavity is configured to have a bottom surface which rises as a gradually tapering wall to a cutting edge which is coterminious with the surface of the cutting roll.

Abstract: A tabletting machine having a ring-shaped die table rotatable about a generally upwardly extending axis and having dies arranged at a die surface. Punches supported in the die table and reciprocably driven with respect to the dies co-operate with punches semi-rigidly mounted on a rotatable hub to form and eject tablets from the dies. The hub is rotated to move the punches mounted thereon in a circular path to enter and exit the dies in a predetermined sequence. Individual pump means associated with the punches in the die table and means for catching and extracting loose tabletting material falling from the dies serve to reduce contamination of the many parts of the machine by the tabletting material.

Abstract: A parts separator for separating small parts from a mixture with larger members, comprising a vertical cylindrical separator baffle wall and a continuously rotating conical rotor mounted co-axially in the baffle; the upper surface of the rotor is radially corrugated with the outer ends of the corrugation "valleys" large enough to accept the small parts but not the larger members. A mixture deposited on the rotor at an input location moves downwardly and outwardly, so that the small parts fall into the corrugation valleys and then through an annular gap between the rotor and the baffle onto a floor at the base of the separator; the small parts are pushed along the floor and out through a small parts discharge port. The larger members ride down the corrugation peaks and come out through a different discharge port, comprising a large gap in the baffle wall. A proximity switch monitors separator operation and affords an alarm in the event of interruption; a friction clutch affords specific overload protection.

Abstract: A process and system for recovery and recycling of hard rock core forming aggregate used in the slip forming of elongated hollow-cored concrete planks using wash water to remove slurry and a rotating screen to remove the water from the aggregate with collection and conveying means for the aggregate.

Abstract: A molding press for soap cakes is provided which comprises a vertical plate rotating about a horizontal axis and having mold cavities on one or both front surfaces thereof.The rotating plate is driven step by step in three different stations, i.e. a first station in which soap blanks are pressed into the form cavities, a second station in which the soap blanks are molded and a third station in which the molded soap cakes are withdrawn. In order to anchor the soap blanks to the mold cavities through holes are provided intermediate each pair of cavities in which the excess soap material is pushed by the operation of the pressing means.

Abstract: Device for recovering thermoplastic materials comprising a hopper and downstream of the latter a chamber of decreasing cross-section, means for feeding to said chamber the material from the hopper, means for supplying heat to the material for gradually melting the material being fed in the chamber, one or more orifices being provided downstream of the chamber for the outlet or discharge of the material.

Abstract: A scrap recovery system for recovering scrap material from plastic articles such as plastic bottles. The system comprises a hammer mill for breaking the articles into a heterogeneous mixture of chips, a combination separator and sorter for separating the plastic chips from foreign objects and sorting the plastic chips into batches of chips of discrete homogeneous plastic material, a novel melter for melting the batches of homogeneous chips, and a pelletizer for reforming the molten material into solid marketable pellets.

Abstract: Equipment for filling molds with colored mortars to obtain cement tiles or the like, having a pattern, includes a filling station having a pair of mold partitions which can be raised and lowered with respect to the molds and which can be rotated horizontally through 180.degree. between a first position, in which a partitioned unit is aligned with a mold, which may be a multiple mold, to be filled, and a second position in which a mold unit is in an outer washing position. A batching unit is raisable and lowerable on the mold, and includes several small tanks for the colored mortars, discharge tubes emerging from the bottoms of the tanks, and batching cups that can slide in a sealed manner along the tubes and which are moved along the tubes between a position submerged in the mortar of the small tanks and a raised and emergent position, in which the mortar contained therein is discharged into the respective tube.

Abstract: A multi-stage extruder apparatus comprising at least two extruder units operatively joined together in series for the progressive sequential working of plastic molding material moving continuously therethrough. The apparatus comprises an improved extrusion screw for a succeeding extruder unit of the multi-stage apparatus which prevents adverse effects attributable to an imbalance of the rate or volume of molding material moving continuously through the multi-stage apparatus.

Abstract: A device for removing molded articles and cured sprues from the cavity and cover plates, respectively, of a multi-plate multi-cavity injection mold, includes a molded article ejection unit and a sprue extraction unit which, when the molding machine is opened, are juxtaposed, respectively, to a space between the mold cover and cavity plates and to a space between the mold cover plate and the face plate of the injection unit of the machine. A common carrier unit is provided for shifting the article ejection and sprue extraction units jointly into and out of the said spaces. In a preferred construction, the article ejection unit includes a plurality of ejector pins for the mold cavities, and means responsive to the arrival of the ejection unit at the end of its in-stroke for causing the ejector pins to penetrate the cavities from one face of the cavity plate.

Abstract: An extrusion device, comprises an extruder housing, having a cylindrical interior wall and a cylindrical rotor rotatable in the wall at spaced relationship from the interior wall of the housing, so as to define an extrusion passage therebetween which connects at one end to an inlet, and at an opposite end to an outlet, which has an extrusion control device located to close a portion of the extrusion passage. The construction also includes at least one second extrusion control device located in the passage between the outlet and the inlet, which is regulated to close at least a portion of the extrusion passage before the extruded material moves through the outlet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for manufacturing an even laminated product by extruding a molten thermoplastic coating material track onto a basic-material track. The edge strips of the coating material track are cooled by means of jets of heat absorbing material to keep the said edge strips of coating material from adhering to the basic-material track. The edge strips of each track are then cut off said tracks, chopped separately, and directed separately for recovery.

Abstract: In a strand forming machine wherein a polymeric strand in molten form is fed downward into and through an upright tube positioned below the surface of a liquid quenching medium in a container having a bottom and side walls, the improvement comprising a hollow element mounted in the container and surrounding the tube, the hollow element extending above the side wall of the container and having a channel extending outwardly over the wall of the container in such a manner that in the event the strand fails to pass through the tube the excess molten strand will accumulate in and flow outward through the channel to a location outside the container.

Abstract: Method and means for engaging a molded component by an externally positioned handling device during an injection molding operation and prior to the opening of the mold. A passageway is provided to the exterior of the mold from a mold cavity which latter may be a cavity for the forming of a molded part or it may be a runner, the sprue or some combination of two or more thereof. A handling device is positioned adjacent the mold to receive molten material from said passageway during the molding operation and thereby establish a solid connection from said handling device to said molding component. When the mold opens, said molding component may then be removed from the mold with control thereover retained by the handling device for such further processing as desired.

Abstract: A tire tread moldin apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus, which produces an endless and seamless toroidal tire tread for use in retreading of tire carcasses, utilizes a central mandrel and a sectional retractable outer portion, defining the inner and outer sides of a mold. The mandrel and the outer mold sections are heated to cure the rubber stock as it is formed into a tire tread, and curing pressure is provided by the manner in which the outer mold sections converge upon the mandrel and by thermo-expansion.

Abstract: A mold for fabricating articles formed of a fluent material, especially rubber, comprising at least two mold parts enclosing a mold compartment. One of the mold parts possessing a tear or break groove at the region of the mold parting plane, the tear groove surrounding the mold compartment. The tear groove provided in said one mold part has an inner wall which is located exactly opposite the marginal or outer rim of the mold compartment formed in the other mold part and encloses an angle of about 90.degree. or less with the mold parting plane.

Abstract: In a moulding press with parted press tools for producing hot-pressed products of plastic materials, particularly grammophone records, an arrangement for holding and handling the products, which is movable between the pressing area and a stripping apparatus situated outside said area, said arrangement incorporating a holder provided with means for anchoring the pressed product to it while utilizing the excess material exuding during pressing from between the tool halves.

Abstract: An improved device and method for segregating molded parts and runners flowing from a molding operation is disclosed. The device includes a restricted flow space, an array of fingers filling the space and movable therein to capture and lift runners away from the space, and strippers removing the runners to a lateral position. Preferred embodiments include a cylindrical chute and a rotating array.