Abstract: For manufacturing tape or yarns, plastic polymer material is extruded into a film (20, 21) having a pattern of parallel, longitudinal, alternating ribs (31, 32) and deep, narrow grooves (33, 34) on each of its two opposite sides, at least a plurality of the grooves (33, 34) in one side each being located diametrically opposite one of the grooves (34, 33) in the other, opposite side. Yarns and tapes obtained in the form of or from such a film typically have a substantially improved tensile strength and are more supple and smooth.

Abstract: A mineral fiber plate product is produced by producing a first non-woven mineral fiber web containing mineral fibers predominantly arranged in a first longitudinal direction and segments of the first mineral fiber web are arranged in a partly mutually overlapping relationship for producing a second non-woven mineral fiber web, which contains mineral fibers generally transversally relative to one another. The second mineral fiber web is folded transversely for producing a third non-woven mineral fiber web. The third non-woven mineral fiber web is cured for producing a cured non-woven mineral fiber web from which a mineral fiber plate, or alternatively, a tubular insulating element is cut. In packaging, the volume of the mineral fiber plate may be reduced to 40%-60%.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and shaping spherical products, such as filled dumplings, including a plurality of shutter members, each shutter member having first and second adjacent sliding surfaces and an elongated hole, a connecting member for slidably connecting adjacent shutters, and shafts equidistantly disposed on an imaginary circle which are received in the elonagated holes for slidably rotating the shutter members to thereby open and close a central opening.

Abstract: Substantially constant tension is maintained on a melt-blown nonwoven fibrous sheet by mounting the sheet take-up roller for longitudinal movements relative so as to accommodate the increasing diameter of the sheet material being wound convolutely on the take-up roller. Sheet tension during production is thereby maintained substantially constant by virtue of a continual increase in the longitudinal distance (in relation to the machine direction) between the fiber collection mandrel and the take-up roll. Preferably, tension control is achieved by a pneumatic pressure-regulating system which includes at least one rotatable press roller which is longitudinally fixed in position relative to the collection mandrel and is in contact with the sheet material being wound around the take-up roll. The take-up roller is pneumatically advanced toward the press roller by the pneumatic actuation of at least one air cylinder.

Abstract: Multi-veined chewing gum is produced by injecting a plurality of different liquid flavor/dye compositions into a substantially homogeneous gum base composition or into a laminated or coextruded gum composition. The injection may be performed while the gum composition is being conveyed in one or more extruder head barrels, the injection being at a plurality of radial and/or circumferential positions in the barrel. In embodiments of the invention substantially straight longitudinal veins of color are then partially mixed to partially displace the colored veins in a direction transverse to the direction of extrusion so as to create veined, multi-colored patterns substantially throughout a cross section of the product in a manner so that the multi-colored patterns in the cross-section differ along the length of the extrudate. The extrudate is cut to obtain gum pieces having different veins of injected liquid additives which provide a swirled or marbleized pattern in the opposing cut ends.

Abstract: A mill is described for compacting agricultural fibrous matter, such as straw or other agricultural waste, into a structural board. The board is useful as a dominant part of a load bearing and insulating panel replacing many of the load bearing and insulating structures typically used to make small buildings, such as houses. The mill includes many features not found in previous mills of this type, including not only a packer to place material in front of an oscillating ram head as is known, but a precompactor arrangement to regulate the volume of material fed to the packer. Another feature incorporated into the mill to aid in achieving a consistent density is a pressure offset mechanism which adjusts the rate of core formation. The mill has a modular design to facilitate replacement of those components subjected to significant wear.

Abstract: The invention relates to an extrusion head (3) for manufacturing a product ade of a rubber compound, provided with an inlet passage (41) for said rubber compound to pass into an accumulation chamber emerging in an extrusion orifice (6) through which said rubber compound is forced and which includes a wall (8) acting cooperatively with a rotating roller (7) in order to define the profile of the product, the extrusion head (3) comprising a coating device (15) which puts a material based on a rubber compound into the accumulation chamber (4) directly between the inlet passage (41) and the extrusion orifice (6) and distributes it on the surface of the roller (7) in order to superpose, from above, the product issuing from the inlet passage (41). The "coating" material may consist of the strands of flash coming from deflashing the edges of the extruded product, the coating device therefore constituting a flash recycling device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to an apparatus for the sequential assembly of a sandwich-type comestible product, such as an ice cream sandwich, and comprises an essentially horizontal conveyor, sequentially placed wafer dispensing assemblies and an extrusion assembly for the dispensing of a regulated amount of a comestible material. Wafer dispensing is controlled by a screw drive. Extrusion is accomplished by a front-loadable rotary head extruder. The wafer dispensing assemblies and the extruder are mounted in cantilevered fashion on a vertical wall, thereby facilitating the ease of repair, removal for retrofitting and cleaning. In addition, the extruder and the wafer dispensing assemblies are individually removable and may be replaced with like components of differing internal diameter, to accommodate the preparation of sandwich-type comestible products of differing size and shape.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for ultrasonically energized slitting of a slab of confectionery material wherein a slitting tool incorporates a plurality of slitting knives spaced apart in accordance with the desired width of the product, which strips are further processed by transverse cutting and/or molding or other processing steps such as chocolate enrobing to provide improved confectionery products.

Abstract: A method of making processed mozzarella cheese that does not require any aging or refrigeration during storage is disclosed herein. This is accomplished by dicing cheese curd, adding emulsifier, and thermomechanically treating in an extruder to stretch and cook the curd. Fresh processed mozzarella cheese having functionality similar to the aged mozzarella cheese is achieved by addition of emulsifier to soften casein and inputting sufficient mechanical energy to establish the appropriate fibrous structure. Longer shelf-life and storage without refrigeration is achieved by application of suitable time-temperature combination to inactivate proteolytic enzymes and microorganisms.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for processing of material such as organic waste material by compressing and extruding the material, with subsequent optional pelletization. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a container having inlet and outlet ends. There is a first plate (70) at the outlet end and rotatable about an axis extending between the ends. There is a second plate (28, 46) axially spaced apart from the first plate having a leading radial edge and a surface facing toward the outlet end angled from the leading edge toward the outlet end for forcing material in contact therewith axially toward the outlet end so as to compress material between the first and second plates as the second plate rotates about the axis. The first plate has apertures for extrusion of material. A second embodiment apparatus includes a compression zone at the outlet end including means for exerting compressive forces on material in the zone in an axial direction toward the outlet end so as to compress the material.

Abstract: A simple method and apparatus is provided for manufacturing raised-brim products in which the end of a continuous bar-shaped dough body is fed into an opening surrounded by a plurality of movable cutting members. The bar-shaped dough body includes a filling material enclosed within a cylindrical dough sheet. Each of the cutting members includes a slanted inner surface and a lower surface which meet at an acute angle to form an edge, and the lower surface includes a concave groove located adjacent to and extending along the edge. The cutting members are cooperatively moved such that the edges of the plurality of cutting members cut the bar-shaped dough body to form a separated portion which includes filling material exposed on an upper surface thereof, and such that the slanted inner surface pulls the dough sheet to close the cut end of the bar-shaped dough body.

Abstract: A mold frame of a boiled rice-shaping apparatus is installed to a chamber-forming member, and vinegared rice is charged in a chamber which is formed by a bottom section, end surface sections, and side surface sections. The mold frame is removed, and a handle is grasped so that a first rotatable plate is rotated in a direction of the arrow A, and a second rotatable plate is rotated in a direction of the arrow B. Thus, the vinegared rice is pressed and compressed in a widthwise direction. Further, a lid member is displaced in a direction to make approach to the bottom section. Thus, the vinegared rice is pressed and compressed in a vertical direction to be shaped to have a predetermined shape.

Abstract: A multiple-orifice co-extrusion manifold is disclosed for use in high-volume, cost-efficient extrusion of multi-layered products, such as center-filled food products. A flow path is provided for each substance to be extruded. For each extrudable substance, the flow path between its extruder and each of a plurality of extrusion orifices is sufficiently equal to the other flow paths for that substance, that a substantially uniform distribution and volumetric flow is obtained at each orifice without the need for individual adjustment apparatus. Within the manifold, the flow paths preferably comprise a generally symmetrical chamber for flowing a first extrudate and a plurality of tubes, for flowing a second substance. The tubes extend through the chamber in a generally symmetrical relationship to each other and to the chamber. Each flow path is thus generally equal and symmetrical to the other flow paths.

Abstract: An extrusion apparatus for processing, mixing and extruding thermoplastic and rubber materials includes a feed hopper feeding two barrier type extruders. Extrusion rotors include diagonal grooves with a barrier that has a restrictive clearance or gap relative to the extruder barrel bore. Fine material can pass through this gap, but larger material is led to a downstream end of the grooves. An abrasive barrel surface opposite the downstream end of the grooves grinds this larger material until it can pass or lead off through the smaller gap. Stationary knives located downstream of the abrasive section cut the exiting material into flakes. The barrel and barrier sections are conical and the size of the gap can be changed by relative movement between the barrel and the barriers. The extruders can operate adiabatically so that there is no change in extrusion temperature with speed and the volume of process flow.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing an elongated enveloped food product is disclosed. A rotary duct for feeding a filling is located in a ring form assembly of elongated rotary rollers for feeding a viscous casing material in a coaxial relationship so as to form the elongated product in which the casing material envelops the filling material. During the feeding of the casing material and the filling material, the rotary duct rotates within the cavity formed by the elongated rollers, while its outer surface is exposed to the viscous casing material. The duct has a scraper that rotates relative to the outer surface of the duct to scrape the viscous casing material from its outer surface to prevent the viscous casing material from sticking to the surface of the duct.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for extruding viscoelastic polymers. Specifically, the invention is directed to an extrusion die for manufacturing viscoelastic and similar polymers while reducing or eliminating die swell. These polymers typically exhibit Deborah numbers that are in the range of 20 to 30 as compared to 1 to 5 of styrene butadiene, as well as high elasticity or elastic modulus. The method and apparatus can be used to manufacture xerographic toner that has a relatively low melting temperature, which can cause a reduction in the power consumption of a printer or copier, and can increase the life of some of the fuser components contained within the machine. More importantly, use of toner particles created using the present invention can reduce or eliminate the phenomenon known as "vinyl off set," which causes the transfer of a hard copy image onto a vinyl material.

Abstract: There is described dough manipulation apparatus for use with a biscuit cutting machine, wherein the apparatus is operable to form and then manipulate dough sheets before output of the sheets to the biscuit cutting machine. A sheet forming unit and a sheet laminating unit, and means for controlled bypass of the sheet laminating unit whereby output of sheets produced by the sheet forming unit can be passed to the biscuit cutting machine, without lamination, make up the dough manipulation apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a continuous dough extrudate into pieces of uniform weight and accurately positioning the pieces on a moving belt includes a knife blade having a flat upper surface bounded in part by two opposed cutting edges, and a bottom surface having a double taper formed by flat facets downwardly angled from the cutting edges and meeting in an apex. An elongated dough positioning guide is downwardly directed from the bottom surface. The knife blade is caused to undergo reciprocating motion at a frequency dependent upon the velocity of the extrudate and the speed of the moving belt.

Abstract: The present invention provide a device for making rolled sushi to make effectively not only traditional rolled sushi but also the so called "California-style" rolled sushi of which laver and ingredients are rolled with vinegared rice.

Abstract: Pre-stressed concrete railroad ties are manufacture by the slip form process in the absence of mold members, other than the slip form itself. Tie casting occurs on a portable casting soffits between portable soffit anchored deadmen supporting the pre-stressed tie tensile members immediately overlying the casting soffit. Tie formation occurs with the slip form passing around and over the pre-stressed tension members. Track fastening hardware is vibrationally inserted through windows of the slip form to place the track fastening hardware to precise measured dimension along the route of slip form movement and to configure that portion of the tie adjacent the track fastening hardware. End of tie locations as well as tie batch identification are likewise marked during the slip form process. Upon cure, the ties are cut at their marked end location.

Abstract: A roof tile making machine and its method of operation. The reinforcement ribs on the underside of a concrete roofing tile are formed during their manufacture by directing mortar into recesses in a pallet on which the tile is made, with a compactor means in the form of multi-tined wheels compacting the mortar in the recesses, and providing thereafter a secondary layer of mortar over the compacted reinforcement ribs, to complete the tile in a conventional manner. A tile provided by the apparatus of the invention has reinforcement ribs which are compacted to the same degree as the remainder of the tile, thereby ensuring that the finished product, when cured, has a uniform, or substantially uniform, strength.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a plastic bar-shaped food which is continuously extruded from an extruding mechanism into a bar shape having a core material, the food material efficiently cut off into a globular shape without exposing the core food material to the outside and leaving any burr on the cut end portion. The bar-shaped food material has a core material which is formed into a globular food product with an inner core food material covered with an outer skin food material. A cutting mechanism is provided below a nozzle of the extruding mechanism, the cutting mechanism having at least three shutters in which an arc cutter side having chamfer portions on its upper and lower surfaces is formed on the side portion of each shutter. A cutting tip for cutting the bar-shaped food material is formed on the free end portion of each shutter while each shutter is pivotally mounted so that each cutting tip side faces one another.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing aspirator tubes (10) for medical and dental use which are provided with two opposite air apertures (13) adjacent at least one end thereof. The air apertures are made in a tube length which is moving axially and is cut to individual aspirators tubes. The apertures are made and the tube length is cut by means of continuously rotating cutters (17, 18, 22, 23) which are cuttingly engaged with the tube length at predetermined revolutions only while said cutters are brought to idle therebetween, withdrawn from the tube length.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel kind of aluminum laminally filled plastic pellets and a process and apparatus for manufacturing the plastic pellets. The process includes coating the upper and lower surfaces of each of the substantially parallel lined aluminum foil layers with a coupling agent; drying the aluminum foil layers; introducing a molten plastic matrix to the space between each two aluminum foil layers and the outer surfaces of the most outside two aluminum foil layers to moisturize and bind the aluminum foil layers; reducing the thickness of the aluminum foil layers to form a continuous laminally filled plastic composite plate; and cooling and cutting the composite plate into aluminum laminally filled plastic pellets of a predetermined size.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing shredded food products, such as cheese, is disclosed. The method and apparatus permits the production of cheese shreds to be accomplished in a unified operation wherein a sheet of cheese is produced and that sheet of cheese is cut to desired dimensions directly from the casting line. An arrangement of the invention may comprise a sheet former, a casting line, and a shredding assembly, all of which function as a single unit. The shredding assembly, itself a unique arrangement, first slices the incoming sheet of cheese into ribbons, and then cuts each of these ribbons to length. The sheet of cheese may be sliced into ribbons by passing the cheese through a pair of rollers having grooves or slots machined into their surfaces, the width of the slots corresponding to the desired width of the cheese ribbons. The cheese ribbons are presented to a plurality of transversely mounted elongate blades, each of which revolves about a common axis.

Abstract: An installation for the preparation of bread dough portions includes a pre-fermentation chamber and a bread stick forming machine disposed on the chamber. The chamber and machine are joined by a conveyance mechanism that includes a lifting device, a lower conveyor that moves the bread dough portions from the outlet of the chamber to the start of the lifting device and an upper conveyor that starts at the end of the lifting device and moves the bread dough portions to the inlet opening of the machine. The lifting device can be made of conveyor belts or a scoop chain.

Abstract: A die for the preparation of a toner resin in an extruder having a housing defining a housing aperture therein and a conveyor for conveying the resin through the housing aperture to form a stream of resin is provided. The die includes a member connected to a first end of the housing. The member defines an opening therethrough. The member includes a splitter disposed adjacent the opening for splitting a stream of resin passing through the opening in a first direction into two separate streams of resin.

Abstract: A method for increasing efficiency in a co-extrusion process for producing filled food products. The prior art co-extrusion process included a co-extrusion die for extruding an elongated cylindrical filled food shell which contains a filler material. A conveyor was used to advance the extruded filled food shell from the co-extruder along a predetermined path. A rotary stamping disk partitioned the cylindrical filled food shell into filled food segments. The present method includes providing multiple co-extrusion dies with parallel aligned outlets extruding a plurality of parallel elongated cylindrical filled food shells containing a filler material along the predetermined path. The rotary stamping disk has at least one circumferential row of stamping dies for each of the plurality of cylindrical filled food shells, such that the circumferential rows of stamping dies on the rotary stamping disk partition the plurality of cylindrical filled food shells into a plurality of rows of filled food segments.

Abstract: Improvements in a machine for shaping hamburgers, which include a table-frame with a horizontally displaceable mold into which mold the ground meat enters directly and which has an element for detecting the pressure of the meat. The element, when it is drawn back, produces a signal for starting up the machine. A device is provided for expelling the freshly shaped hamburger, which device has structure for preventing the hamburger from sticking. This structure includes a chamber inside the expelling device, through whose periphery atmospheric air escapes, a knife provided on its base with a conduit with openings, through which air escapes in order to detach the edges of flexible sheets enveloping the hamburger, and upper and lower rolls for supplying flexible sheet, which rolls have inertia brakes including a pair of motorized rollers, above which rests the respective coil.

Abstract: The invention provides and apparatus for scaling and molding dough which comprises a hopper for the dough and a scaling and molding station which is in flow communication with the hopper so that a portion of the dough can be moved from the hopper to the scaling and molding station. The scaling and molding station has at least one aperture forming assembly at its exit which operates to mold the dough portion by rolling it along its internal walls and to pinch off and eject a dough piece from the apparatus. Preferably, the scaling and molding station has a plurality of stacked aperture forming assemblies which function sequentially. The apparatus may be configured to produce several molded dough pieces simultaneously.

Abstract: The single tapered die mount employs a radially inner surface at an angle to the axis of rotation of the die mount, die and die holder. The radially inner surface of the die mount acts on an annular shoulder of the die to support and position the die in the die holder. The die mount of the invention is located between the radially outer surface of the die and the extended lip of the die housing. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the radially inner surface of the die mount in contact with the radially outer surface of the die shoulder has an angle of a modified Morse taper. The radially outer surface of the die shoulder is machined to a matching angle.

Abstract: A loose admixture of polymer pellets and carbon black primary aggregate (together with any other desired fillers) is subjected to a first shear and smear action to incorporate the filler(s) into the polymer and subsequently to additional shear and smear actions to deagglomerate and blend the mixture, all of these actions being carried out at temperatures well below the plasticizing temperature of the polymer so that smearing of the filler(s) into the polymer is facilitated. Each shear and smear assembly is made of similar hammer and anvil components comprising a milling tool acting as a hammer by rotating adjacent an array of stationary pegs acting as anvils. The end face of a milling tool presented to the pegs has oblique surfaces at the downstream ends of its channels and these smear the mixture against the confronting corners of the pegs.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to apparatus for compounding and pelletizing of chemical foaming agents in a high melt resin carrier and producing unique, uniform encapsulated and pelletized chemical foaming concentrates. More specifically, the present invention is directed to the compounding, encapsulating and pelletizing in a high melt resin carrier a highly loaded concentration (5 to 70 wt %) of foaming agents which include an endothermic foaming agent, an exothermic foaming agent or hybrid combinations of these two such that when incorporated into a thermoplastic resin to produce a foamed product will chemically react to form carbon dioxide, nitrogen or hydrogen or mixtures thereof as the active foaming gas.

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of plastic pellets including an extruder, a chiller positioned to receive and solidify extruded strands from the extruder and, a pelletizer for converting such strands to pellets. The apparatus includes a quality testing device having a valve connected to the extruder, an injector having a sample receiving position operably connected to the valve, and a sample mold for forming solidified test samples of the material for analysis. The injector also has an ejection position operably connected to a mold inlet for injecting such samples into the mold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a granulation apparatus for strand material having pull-in apparatus for gripping the strand material and transporting it to a counter knife, a knife roll cooperating with the counter knife for cutting the strand material into granulate, and a housing accomodating the pull-in apparatus, the counter knife and the knife roll, wherein a motor driving the knife roll and the pull-in apparatus is arranged beside the housing and is connected by means of a drive axle to the rotating components contained in the housing, and wherein the motor and the housing are mounted on a common support.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for cutting bar-shaped food and its bar-shaped food apparatus, capable of cutting completely food materials mass-produced and pushed out sequentially in a bar shape without leaving any protrusion on its cutting surface and simultaneously making its cutting surface round. According to the present invention, even if it is bar-shaped food having core including not less than two kinds of food materials, such food can be cut off neatly without exposing its core material to the surface of the outer covering material.

Abstract: A method for making plastic case blanks is disclosed. A molten plastic material is passed through a nip of a first, preforming pair of molding cylinders to form a semi-solidified sheet having a first thickness, The semi-solidified sheet is then molded to form a final sheet having a second, uniform thickness less than the first thickness and the final sheet is scored to form folding scores and cut to form a plurality of the blanks. The molding, scoring and cutting are simultaneously performed by passing the semi-solidified sheet through a nip of a second pair of cylinders. One of the second pair of cylinders has scoring means for forming the folding scores in the final sheet and cutting means for cutting the final sheet to form the plurality of the blanks and the other of the second pair of cylinders has recess means complementary to the cutting means for receiving the cutting means and effectuating the cutting.

Abstract: A rotary stamper disk includes a disk having a first side, a second side, a rotational axis and a circumferential exterior mounting surface. A first circular plate is positioned on the first side of the disk. The first circular plate has a radius greater than the disk, thereby defining a first mounting flange that protrudes beyond the circumferential exterior mounting surface of the disk. A second circular plate is positioned on the second side of the disk. The second circular plate has a radius greater than the disk, thereby defining a second mounting flange that protrudes beyond the circumferential exterior mounting surface of the disk. A plurality of spacer members are positioned transversely at spaced intervals along the circumferential exterior mounting surface of the disk. Each of the spacer members has a first end and a second end. The first end of each of the plurality of spacer members is removably secured to the first mounting flange of the first circular plate.

Abstract: An assembly for cutting and shaping a bar-shaped dough body including a plurality of polyhedral cutting members disposed around an opening through which the bar-shaped dough body is extruded. The polyhedral members are rotatably mounted around the opening and are formed to cooperatively close the opening, thereby cutting the bar-shaped dough body, multiple times during each revolution of the polyhedral members. Each polyhedral member includes curved sides meeting at one or more tip edges, the tip edges of each of the polyhedral members meeting at a center of the opening when the bar-shaped dough body is cut.

Abstract: A process for making a polyvinyl chloride and wood composite pellet by extrusion. The polyvinyl chloride and wood fiber are introduced into the extruder at a ratio of approximately 6:4 by weight, respectively. The polyvinyl chloride is melted and blended with the wood fiber so that the interstitial voids of the wood fiber are filled with polyvinyl chloride. After being extruded through a die, the molten material is cut into pellets having a bulk density of preferably between 0.7 to 0.8 gm/mm.sup.3.

Abstract: A pellet mill for pelleting feed product, has a pelleting die with a plurality of extrusion holes for extruding the feed product; rollers, rotatable relative to the pelleting die, for forcing feed product through the extrusion holes; provision for intensively mixing and shearing the feed product before introducing the feed product to the pelleting die; and a device for positively conveying the feed product into the provision for intensively mixing and shearing.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a hydraulic ram operated extruder (10, 11, 13, 14) having an extrusion die (12) from which an extrudate is delivered and a motor driven cutter (48, 49) at the die to sever the extrudate repeatedly to produce individual pieces of extrudate. A hydraulic fluid circuit includes a pump (16) and control valves (19, 22, 23) delivers hydraulic fluid to the ram of the extruder at a substantially constant volume flow-rate and a control device responsive to the speed of advance of the ram in the extruder controls the motor device of the cutter to produce blanks of substantially equal volume.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an optical recording medium or an optical recording medium substrate sheet forms an photo-curable resin layer on at least one of a substrate sheet and a stamper which undergoes elastic deformation. The stamper bears a pattern corresponding with preformatting information and is brought into close contact with the substrate sheet wherein the photo-curable resin layer is interposed between them and cured.

Abstract: A device for cooling, granulating and drying molten strands of synthetic thermoplastic material emerging from dies includes a cooling unit for applying a cooling liquid to the strands and a granulator housing with a cutting roll for granulating the strands. The granulator housing is connected to an outlet duct with a sieve to separate the thermoplastic material from the cooling liquid. The sieve is arranged so that the granules separated from the strands by the cutting roll impinge directly on the sieve at basically the same speed as that imparted to the granules by the cutting roll.

Abstract: An improved die, containing one or more orifices, for the extrusion of polymers is disclosed wherein the orifices are flared at the polymer discharge end, and the orifices have certain relative dimensions and configurations. The dies are useful for producing items such as films, shaped profiles, sheets, fibers, strands, etc. Also disclosed are a process for using the die, and an extrusion apparatus containing such a die.

Abstract: A device for cooling and granulating molten thermoplastic strands (1) emerging from dies (2) which either drop along the falling line starting at the dies or are guided in an operating position through a coolant bath (9), freely stressed between guide rollers fitted in the bath and then taken into a granulator (4). In the region between the dies and the coolant bath there is a precooling device (5) which carries the plastic strands emerging from the dies and takes them to the coolant bath. Behind the precooling device there is a gripping device (21 ) with opposed clamping rollers (41, 42) which can open and shut and move along a guiding rail to grip the forward ends of the plastic strands after they have been separated by a separator (22) movable through the falling line of the strands. The rollers with the forward ends of the strands are moved along the guiding rail running through the region of the coolant bath as far as the granulator, where they release the strands thereinto.

Abstract: A tubular extruder for extruding an elastomeric material mixed with short fibers into a tubular form, with the short fibers circumferentially oriented, a cutter for axially cutting the tubular elastomer, and a development unit for developing the tubular elastomer with a longitudinal slit into a flat form are provided. Arranged between the extruder and the cutter is a guide unit used to guide the tubular elastomer with the help of its tubular section. Air is blown off from the tubular section of the guide unit whereby the tubular elastomer is cooled while at the same time its shrinkage in the circumferential direction is suppressed. The ununiformity of shrinkage is avoidable and the disorientation of short fibers is prevented.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for pressing and drying long pasta, an alternative to hanging is provided wherein the dough strands are first introduced into a drying climate immediately after the goods are discharged from the die. The dough strands are guided directly into the drying means from the extrusion die as long "strings" in a continuous manner and are then cut to packaging length. It is possible for only the initial drying to be operated in this way, particularly to heat up the goods and, e.g., hang them on rods while hot, and then to carry out the final drying in a manner known per se, e.g. by portions. The goods can be dried intensively at previously unaccustomed temperatures of 90.degree. C. to 120.degree. C., particularly during final drying, to a moisture content of 15% to less than 13%.

Abstract: After extrusion, cutting, and tilting 90.degree. alternate green bricks are rotated 180.degree. about a vertical axis to form brick pairs with the back (unfinished) sides of both bricks facing each other. These reoriented brick pairs are then gripped and stacked. Conventional grippers, such as a vacuum gripper, may be used to grip only the backs of each brick in the pair. In this way, all of the finished faces of the stacked bricks avoid damage while simultaneously being more uniformly exposed to the kiln drying and firing atmosphere and thus may achieve a more uniform appearance. No special tools are required to handle irregular or specially designed brick faces because the gripper grips only the back of each brick pair.