Abstract: Sticks of foamable thermoplastic material are provided with grooves in at least one surface. These grooves extend width-wise of the stick. In addition, the grooves are disposed in equi-spaced relation along one surface of the stick, or in spaced-apart series or groups on only one surface, or in series or groups on opposite surfaces and in spaced-apart relation. Upon foaming, the sticks form foamed elements of various shapes, each of which has at least one curvilinear portion such as, for example, a corkscrew shape, an annular shape or shapes with reverse bends.

Abstract: In the manufacture of foamed plastic slab by introducing foamable fluid from a mixing head into a moving conveyor-type mold, the improvement wherein supplemental quantities of the fluid are conducted from the mixing head longitudinally to locations where the main body of the material has foamed to partly expanded condition and friction between the sides of the mold and expanding material has caused the upper longitudinal side edges of the expanding material to assume a rounded shape which curves away from the mold sides leaving a space. The supplemental material is introduced into the spaces while the mold moves and upon expansion substantially fills the spaces and thereby greatly reduces the amount of the slab which must be cropped off prior to cutting it to form saleable articles.

Abstract: A brick making machine in which brick material is extruded through a narrow die into a column which is then cut into bricks. Material handling apparatus then stacks the bricks in vertical columns on a pallet.

Abstract: An extrusion press particularly for forming animal feed pellets is provided with means for detecting slip between the roll and the die and the operating conditions, e.g. feed of material to the nip, are varied when the slip exceeds a predetermined value or the rate of change of slip exceeds or corresponds to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A thermoplastic web of indeterminate length is provided by forming a tubular thermoplastic web having interconnected filaments. The web is rotated about its axis while being advanced along its axis and is slit so as to provide a web having substantially parallel filament alignment at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the web. The web may be formed into a multiply structure having a plurality of webs wherein the filament alignment of at least one of the webs of the structure is at an angle to the filament alignment of at least one of the other webs of the structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an extruded catalyst base or an extruded catalyst. The extrudate is dropped into the first end of a revolving drum having blades attached to its inner surface. The extrudate resting on the blades is lifted and then dropped upon a revolving impacting means which is rotated in the opposite direction than the drum. This produces extrudate particles of a suitable length for the following catalyst manufacturing steps.

Abstract: A mobile forming station is provided which longitudinally orients plant fibers and compresses them into slugs. A plurality of bonding stations each include a plurality of chambers selectively positionable in alignment with an ejector of the forming station to receive slugs of fibers. Once the chambers are filled with slugs, a bonding substance borne by the fibers is cured to unite the fibers. The chambers are defined by spaced platens which are movable as a unit to sequentially align the chambers with the ejector of the forming station. The ejector includes a tubular nose which enters the chamber as the fibers are inserted to ensure that the slugs, after insertion, are of uniform density. The platens are converged to compress the slugs within the chambers. The platens are mounted on a movable carrier which is displaced away from the forming station each time that a slug is inserted into the chamber against a rear compression wall of the chamber.

Abstract: Rolls 9, 10 for a compacting mill 5 by which finely divided agglomerative material 6 is compacted into a sheet 7 produce a pattern of slots 23 in the opposite surfaces of the sheet 7 whereby the sheet is encouraged to fracture into tablet-like bodies 8 of uniform size and shape. The slots 23 are defined by uniformly spaced ridges 21 on the rolls 9, 10, the ridges 21 on one roll 9 or 10 extending transversely to those on the other roll 10 or 9. Preferably the ridges 21 extend circumferentially on one roll 9 and axially on the other roll 10. A form for the ridges 21 is described that enables their easy and complete withdrawal from the slots 23 in the sheet 7 and encourages the sheet 7 to fracture on the medial plane of every slot 23.

Abstract: A multi-component composite meat product such as bacon is formed by preparing a comminuted fat and comminuted lean meat component each component containing optional additives and pumping the separate components through separate manifolds to a forming die. The die includes a plurality of partitions or dividers defining the desired lean and fat configuration of the multi-component composite meat product. Bacon slabs simulating naturally occurring slabs are formed in accordance with the invention by pumping a comminuted fat component through the rear of the forming die and extruding a comminuted lean meat component into the fat component as it passes through the die to provide the multi-component meat. Resultant bacon slabs may thereafter be processed and sliced like the naturally occurring bacon product to produce bacon slices with the desired configuration and size of the lean and fat meat components.

Abstract: This invention refers to a pelletizing and feeding-out device for fodder with varying degree of moisture, so called semi-moist fodder. The device can also take care of fish waste and other waste products, which can be used as fodder. The device comprises a rotatable container for the fodder, at the bottom of which a feeding-out device is arranged comprising a feeding chamber non-rotatably connected to the container and a feed screw extending through the feeding chamber and which does not take part in the rotation of the container and feeding chamber. The feed screw presses the fodder through a number of holes in the feeding chamber, at which the fodder is cut into suitable pellets or pieces. The container is further provided with at least one internal mixing arm constituting a support for the end of the feed screw located inside the container.

Abstract: Cellular lightweight concrete slabs are manufactured by cutting a still plastic block of cellular concrete mass resting on a first support horizontally into slices which are then moved over one by one to a second support and piled in reversed order thereon, at least one of the two broadsides of each body slice being subjected to a treatment before being covered by the next transferred slice. The treatment prevents the body slices from cementing together during the subsequent steam-hardening process and may also improve the quality of the slabs when hardened. An apparatus for each manufacture features a movable suction head for transferring the body slices as well as associated means for cutting and treating said slices.

Abstract: The present apparatus cools and granulates thermoplastic strands. For this purpose two cooling chutes are arranged in mirror symmetric, back to back fashion between the strand ejecting nozzles and the input gap between two feeding rollers which supply the strands to a cutting roller. The upper ends of the chutes receive the strands from two sets of nozzles such as extruder nozzles. The nozzles in one set are arranged in a row staggered relative to the nozzles in the other set so that the strands emerging from one set of nozzles fit into the spaces between the strands emerging from the other set of nozzles when the strands enter into the cutter.

Abstract: An extrusion pelleting apparatus is disclosed wherein the outermost portion of an extrusion orifice is surrounded by a heat reservoir maintained at a temperature significantly higher than the softening temperature range of the polymer being extruded. The high temperature heat reservoir constitutes a heat source from which individual extrusion orifices may be heated above the polymer's softening range to assist in melting frozen plugs of polymer which may block the orifice from time to time.Also disclosed is a heat flow control mechanism, in effect, for slowing the heat release from the reservoir to the individual extrusion orifices for economy of operation while still making available such high temperature source for unfreezing such plugs.

Abstract: A mold provided with cutter means movable relative to the other elements of the mold to sever an extension portion of a hollow article formed in the mold from the remainder thereof while the article is in the mold and without effecting substantial movement of the article relative to the mold.

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: A molding machine is provided which comprises a rotating male mold and a female mold formed of flexible elements running over rollers. The flexible elements forming the female mold along a length of their travel mate a peripherical segment of the male mold and are moved thereby. The laminate to be molded moves in between the male and female molds and is molded in accordance with the shape of the male mold. Means are provided for hardening the plastic laminate after it has been shaped while a cutting device is provided for cutting the moldings to a desired length.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming sheets of foamed synthetic plastics material, comprising a screw extruder, a nozzle head having an extrusion passage therein and a nozzle core positioned in the extrusion passage so as to form an annular nozzle, a cooled calibrating mandrel of a diameter larger than that of the annular nozzle, disposed downstream of the screw extruder having regard to the direction of extrusion and mounted on a stand, blowing means for applying internal pressure to an extruded tube between the annular nozzle and the calibrating mandrel to expand the extruded tube to the diameter of the calibrating mandrel, cutting apparatus for cutting open the increased-diameter cooled foamed plastics tube and apparatus for laying out flat the cut-open tube, wherein the nozzle core is rigidly connected to the stand of the calibrating mandrel and is connected to the inner wall of the extrusion passage by a single web aligned with the cutting apparatus whereby weakened and marked regions of the laid-flat cut-open tube are

Abstract: The invention relates to a material portioning apparatus and a method which provides portions of material of predetermined weight by measuring and portioning an appropriate volume of the material. Although the apparatus is especially useful when the material consists of whole pieces larger than the portioned sizes, such as fillets of fish or meat, it can also be used for portioning granular materials, or materials of sizes smaller than the portioned sizes. It is only necessary that the material, or bulks of the material, be of such a nature that, when it is compressed in one direction, it will expand or be forced to move in a different direction. In accordance with the invention, the apparatus comprises a preforming stage having an adjustable volume, and a weighing stage also having an adjustable volume. Material is fed, through the preforming stage, into the weighing stage and the weighing stage is overfilled to include a volume greater than the desired weight.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for preparing shaped extruded food products are disclosed. The invention comprises providing nozzle extension means on conventional extrusion apparatus which includes an extrusion head adapted for the passage of a slurry of food particles therethrough, a first member positioned with respect to one end of the extrusion head and having a cutter edge which cooperates with the extrusion head to define an extrusion nozzle for the formation of the shaped food product, and a second member having a cutter edge and mounted for relative movement with respect to the extrusion head so as to cut off successive extrusions of the shaped food product formed at the nozzle. The nozzle extension means is positioned at the nozzle and cooperates therewith to receive the shaped extruded product as it is severed and to maintain the product in a predetermined spatial orientation with respect to the extrusion head subsequent to severance.

Abstract: An improved die face cutter is provided which is particularly suited for preparing pellets of synthetic resinous extrudable thermoplastics wherein the strand being extruded is surrounded by cooling water on emergence from the die and prior to encountering the cutter blade.

Abstract: In the manufacture of trains of fastening elements for slide fasteners, flowable synthetic polymer resin is injected into gate or runner channels formed in a cavity wheel and extending beneath one edge of a band enclosing cavities of the cavity wheel such that the flowable synthetic polymer resin flows through the channels into the cavities to form fastening elements.

Abstract: A column of striated soap extruding from a plodder nozzle is subjected to torque for obtaining spiral striations in the final soap bar.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing lengths of rubber hose of curved shape comprises means for feeding a sequence of flexible mandrels in end-to-end relation to and through a first extruder which extrudes a continuous rubber hose onto the string of mandrels. Downstream of the extruder there is means for wrapping reinforcing thread around the hose and a second extruder for extending a second layer of rubber onto the reinforced hose. Downstream of the second extruder the hose is cut at locations between successive mandrels to form separate lengths of hose each with a flexible mandrel therein. Clamping means engages opposite ends of each mandrel with a hose length thereon and forces the ends toward one another to bend the mandrel and hose to curved form. While thus held in curved form, the hose lengths are vulcanized. The mandrels are then removed while evacuating the interior of the mandrel to contract it and forcing pressure fluid between the mandrel and the curved hose length to facilitate the removal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for internally cooling extruded tubular film produced from film-forming polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene and the like.

Abstract: Soft and moist vegetables are kneaded, severed and partially homogenized by a feed screw which rotates in a barrel and are admitted into a mincing unit wherein the partially homogenized material is severed by knives of a rotor which is surrounded by an apertured cylindrical stator. The comminuted material is thereupon caused to pass through the holes of an extruder and is severed behind the extruder to yield discrete crumbs which can be used as animal fodder or dried and ground to yield flour or farina, particularly flour or farina which can be used for the baking of tortillas. Vegetables which are admitted into the barrel are freshly harvested (such vegetables may include banana peels) or cooked. For example, dried grains of maize can be cooked in the presence of water and rinsed prior to admission into the barrel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making ceramic articles, particularly adapted for making roofing tile of S-shaped cross section, wherein a clay extrusion of essentially hollow triangular shape form three sets of tile having severable connections along the apices of the triangular extrusion, each set being S-shaped and supported, as extruded, by a core of corresponding shape; the axial movement of the extrusion being stopped intermittently while serrated blades conforming to the core are pressed radially against the core to score the extrusion and form severable connections dividing each set of tile; the extrusion being severed at selected transverse planes to produce a multiple tile unit for kiln heatment, the tile unit including integral but severable end portions forming kiln furniture for supporting the multiple tile units.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluidizing crushed, pulverized, comminuted powdered or other particulate solids, with or without added liquid, that will not flow readily under gravity, to enable this material to flow through an aperture either as an extrusion or to cause it to conform precisely to the shape of a mold, including inserting the material into the top of a hopper having an aperture at its base through which the material is discharged under gravity to a surface or into a mold, subjecting the material while in the hopper to one or more vibrators arranged to effect vibration of said material in the intended direction of flow through the hopper to cause the material to flow freely through the hopper, and effecting relative movement between the hopper and the surface or mold to effect the withdrawal of the material discharged from the hopper.

Abstract: A method of and machine for forming articles from a temporarily plastic material in which a hollow mould has material in a plastic state placed in it; plungers to form the interior surface of a through pipe operated to displace plastic material in that mould and a further hollow plunger operated to form a further outlet the passageway of which connects with the through passageway.

Abstract: In a process and a machine for moulding ceramic articles, the provision of a substantially moisture impervious foil between the mould surfaces and the clay blank and the disposal of the foil after its use as a waste by-product. A foil exhibiting predominant plasticity rather than elasticity is selected to secure effective operation of the invention. The clay blank is extruded in strand form at a rate of extrusion which is independent of the rate of feeding clay blanks intermittently into the mould and a temporary storage station provides buffer capacity between the extrusion and moulding steps. The machine has structure adapted to achieve this operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing tiles by extrusion of clay or a similar material comprising a die adapted with a number of spaced apart pivotable rigid blades which are arranged such as to equalize the output speeds of several superposed layers of extruded material. Means are also provided substantially in the planes of the blades downstream of the outer ends thereof for projecting a pulverized powder product at right angles to the direction of extrusion into interstices between the layers. Impermeable coatings are added to the outer surfaces of the superposed layers and the assembly is then cut into piles of tiles which can then be delivered into an oven for baking, the heat ensuring removal of the impermeable coating and the separation powder product.

Abstract: A mechanism for controllably driving a plunger in a dough forming apparatus of the type that has a chamber in which the plunger resides to move dough in incremental steps toward one end of the chamber. Spanning the one end of the chamber is a plurality of parallely spaced apart elongate members, the spacing between the elongate members corresponding to the thickness of a french fry shaped piece, e.g. 1/4 inch. The plunger is advanced by increments of a similar distance, the distance corresponding to the width of the french fry piece and when a plurality of dough bodies protrude through the spaces between the elongate members a single wire cutter is reciprocated across the exterior of the elongate members to sever the protruding bodies thus to form french fry shaped pieces.

Abstract: In manufacturing pressed boards, a flowable mixture of thermosetting resinous material and filler is blown through one or more nozzles into a converging throat formed by a pair of relatively inclined perforated conveyor bands in which the mixture is compacted into a continuous, coherent and self-supporting web by the application of heat to preset the resinous material thereof. The web is transversely cut into individually manipulable sections which are fed by a stack conveyor to a platen press, operating in step with the feeding and cutting mechanisms, for final setting of the resin.

Abstract: A bland protein product having a texture and mouth feel simulating animal meat is prepared by forming a dough-like mixture of protein material and water, and extruding a continuous tubular shell of the protein dough, while simultaneously injecting steam into the interior of the tubular shell, whereby the tubular shell of protein is blown into discrete pieces of irregularly shaped protein material by the steam flow. The steam flow then propels the protein pieces into and through a confined treating zone in which further texturization is accomplished. Finally, the protein material is passed through a back pressure maintaining means and recovered in usable form. Apparatus for performing this process comprises an extrusion assembly consisting of a screw feed chamber communicating with an extrusion die assembly which produces a continuous tubular shell of extrudate. The extrusion die is provided with means for injecting steam into the interior of the tubular shell of extrudate formed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the briquetting of metal swarf, pellets and powders on roller presses having briquetting rollers which are provided with moulding depressions on their cylindrical surfaces by which a briquette extrusion is formed having alternating briquette mouldings extending from one or other side of the extrusion and arranged in a chequerred pattern, each briquette moulding having a plane face on the opposite side of the extrusion. The extrusion is separated into individual briquettes by a surface pressure applied to the extrusion substantially at right angles to the plane of the extrusion.

Abstract: In the production of disc records the disc is formed with flash attached around it. A method of trimming the flash from the disc is to place the disc with flash attached on a support no larger than the disc and cut the flash around the edge of the disc to separate a ring of flash. The trimmed disc is held up and the flash falls to be swept away beneath it. The flash is preferably cut through at a web round the disc with a heated knife blade. Apparatus including a turntable and central record clamp is described and the integration of trimming apparatus into an automatic record press to use the transfer sled is also described.

Abstract: A board is formed by accumulating a mass of sugarcane rind fibers in a collection zone ahead of a horizontally reciprocable first-stage plunger that has a sweep face. The first-stage plunger is shifted horizontally toward a fiber compression zone to horizontally compact the sugarcane rind fibers and orient the fibers in vertical planes disposed substantially parallel to the sweep face. A second-stage plunger is shifted vertically downwardly from above the compression zone to push the horizontally compacted sugarcane rind fibers downwardly into a generally vertical passage means while vertically compressing the fibers. Consequently, the fibers are oriented in substantially horizontal planes to define a board segment comprised of sugarcane rind fibers having their axes disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the board segment. The steps of accumulating, horizontally shifting, and vertically shifting are repeated to establish a column of abutting board segments in the extrusion passage.

Abstract: The present granulating apparatus is especially suitable for chopping strands or thermoplastic material into small pieces as the strands emerge from nozzles. For transporting these strands when they are still hot and partially liquid from the nozzles to a cutting apparatus, there is arranged a chute between the nozzles and a pair of feeding rollers just upstream of the cutting apparatus. The feeding rollers exert a slight pull on the strands. The chute has an entrance end or inlet and an exit end or outlet, as well as a chute path interconnecting said ends, said chute path protruding at least at said ends from a common plane defined by the nozzles and by said feeding rollers, whereby the strands are pressed against the chute at least at the chute ends. A housing surrounds the cutting roller. Cooling water supplied to the housing is divided into a main stream and into a water curtain. The water curtain is so located that the cut off granules must first pass through the curtain before contacting the housing.

Abstract: The invention comprises a process and apparatus for applying conductive heat to plastic film tapes in a stabilizing unit containing a plurality of rollers forming sets of rollers. Each roller in the set rotates progressively slower than the preceding adjacent roller. Some rollers have heated surfaces to reheat and heat soften the plastic film. Some rollers have cold surfaces to set the film. The progressively slower rotation of the rollers allows the film to release the stresses imparted to the film during the initial stretching operation. In so doing, the molecules rearrange themselves to provide an increased degree of tensile strength in the tapes. The reheating of the film causes shrinkage. However, the progressively slower rotation of adjacent rollers controls the degree of shrinkage and holds the shrinkage to a minimum.

Abstract: A food dispenser suitable for use in a machine for packaging food products such as coleslaw. The dispenser includes an upstanding dispensing cylinder having an inlet in a side wall thereof and an outlet at the bottom. Connected to the inlet of the dispensing cylinder is the outlet of a horizontal filling cylinder whose inlet is connected to a storage tank. A filling piston is slidable in the filling cylinder and, in use, forces a predetermined quantity of food into the dispensing cylinder. For closing the outlet from the dispensing cylinder a closing cylinder is secured thereto with diametrically opposed apertures in its side wall aligned with the outlet of the dispensing cylinder. A closing piston, slidable with the closing cylinder, has an outlet aperture extending perpendicular to the axis thereof. Food is forced downwardly from the dispensing cylinder by a dispensing piston in that cylinder. A cut-off plate, slidable beneath the closing cylinder, is secured relative to the closing piston.

Abstract: A die cutter for a hay pelleter has a die replaceably mountable on a ring of the pelleter. A sleeve is removably mounted on the die for permitting replacement of the cutting edge of the die cutter without the necessity of dismounting the die from the ring and removing the die to a shop for resharpening. The cutting edge may be replaced by removing the old dull sleeve from the die and mounting on the die a new, sharp sleeve.