Abstract: Plasticized polyvinyl butyral sheet optionally containing a gradient color band is formed by continuously extruding a sheet having a predetermined region across its width formed from melt issuing from a die at an increased mass flow rate in comparison with other portions of the melt forming the rest of the sheet and then forwardly distorting such sheet immediately after forming by preferentially stretching the side containing the predetermined region to form an arcuate shape of substantially uniform thickness. Arcuately shaped sections are then cut from the sheet to form discrete, shaped interlayer blanks having improved thickness uniformity and dimensional stability providing improved performance when used in laminated safety glass.

Abstract: The method for maintaining a constant, predetermined contact pressure on elements for cutting under water in granulator machines or applying to the blades of the cutters a force in the opposite direction to a hydrodynamic thrust force, and the apparatus adapted to utilize a control of a constant pressure by actuator means for applying axial thrusts to the drive shaft carriage and the cutters within a slidable bushing and detecting the hydrodynamic thrust force acting on the cutters and regulating the force supplied to the actuators.

Abstract: An underwater pelletizer driven from a standard foot mounted electric motor having a standard C-flange attachment in which a pelletizer shaft having a hub is keyed to the motor shaft and held in place by a set screw with the key being welded in a slot in the pelletizer shaft hub to facilitate its manufacture. The pelletizer shaft includes a spring loaded cutter hub enabling automatic blade attachment and compensating for misalignment with the spring loaded cutter hub being keyed to the pelletizer shaft by a key that is welded in a slot in the spring loaded cutter hub to simplify its manufacture and provide a positive and dependable drive connection to enable movement of the portion of the spring loaded cutter hub connected with the blade assembly. The die plate is provided with carbide tiles and the blade assembly includes tungsten carbide blades to provide extended die ware and extended blade ware.

Abstract: A pelletizer blade for use with an underwater extruder-pelletizer is disclosed which includes an impeller surface that keeps the water away form the die face when cutting to prevent uneven cooling of the die face and extruded material. The blade includes a solid rectangular body having an impeller surface extending therefrom and normal thereto. The impeller surface is at a slight angle in the direction of rotation and includes a cutting edge on the side mounted adjacent to the die face.

Abstract: A perforated granulating plate construction in which conically tapering inlet channels are connected to several outlet channels, the collective cross-sectional area of the outlet channels being substantially equal to the cross-sectional area at the outlet of the associated inlet channel. The outlet channels form an angle of inclination with respect to the longitudinal axis of the associated inlet channel and the discharge outlets of the outlet channels are arranged in a plane about an axis of symmetry which is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the inlet channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a cheese product uses an extrusion head having a plurality of extrusion apertures. Cheese is formed into a plurality of continuous ropes as the cheese passes through the extrusion apertures. To initially cool the cheese, each rope enters an extension upstream of each extrusion aperture. Each has an inside diameter equal to the diameter of its associated extrusion aperture. The cheese rope exits the extrusion aperture onto a canal table that is downwardly sloped from a feed end to an opposite discharge end. The canal table has a plurality of flumes extending between the ends, and each extruded rope of cheese is received in a flume. A brine solution is added at the feed end of the canal table to assist in cooling the cheese and moving the cheese to the discharge end. Sensors detect the position of the leading end of the cheese rope within each flume and independently activate knives to cut the cheese into the desired lengths.

Abstract: A die assembly for plastic pelletizing apparatus of the type including a cooling bath into which the plastic is extruded. The die assembly includes a heated main body having first and second oppositely disposed exterior faces connected by a plurality of relatively small extrusion passageways. A layer of thermal insulation material overlies the second face, and a cover member having an outer surface adapted to be exposed to the cooling bath is positioned over the thermal insulation material and joined to the main body. Wear resistant insert members formed from a material having a higher coefficient of thermal conductivity than the material from which the cover member is made extend from the outer surface of the cover member through the layer of insulation into the main body. Extrusion outlet orifices are formed through the insert members and define continuations of the extrusion passageways of the main body.

Abstract: A cooling device for plastic granulate which is formed by cutting plastic strands emerging from a nozzle plate of an extruder and is fed to a stream of cooling water which adjoins the nozzle plate in the region of a cutting device. A pipe conducts the stream of cooling water containing the granulate to a granulate-water separator. In order to obtain a well-defined, infinitely adjustable dwell time of the granulate in the stream of cooling water, the pipe is essentially developed as a vertically arranged riser having a larger cross section passage area than that of the pipe itself. The upper outlet end of the riser is connected to the suction side of a feed pump, which serves as a section pump, and to a suction pipe which has an end connected to ambient atmosphere. A regulating valve is connected in the suction pipe. The delivery side of the feed pump communicates with the granulate-water separator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a whirlpool type high speed cooler comprising a cooling cylinder having a bottom drain hole. An upper chamber, a circular channel and a cooling chamber are provided within the cooling cylinder by plurality of plates. The circular channel is capable of forming a column of cooling water about the inner walls of the cooling chamber and has holes and guide plates adjacent to the inner wall cooling cylinder for this purpose. A convex head drum extending laterally at upper portion of the cooling chamber is provided for guiding water into the circular channel through the holes and against the guides in the circular channel thereby creating a whirlpooling column of cooling water about the inner wall of the cooling chamber. A revolving plate located in the cooling cylinder has a plurality of inclined cutter blades at its circumference. A mold is arranged in the upper chamber of the cooling chamber and abuts the revolving plate.

Abstract: A device for granulating strands of thermoplastic materials that are discharged molten from several nozzles side by side, with a cutter roll acting on a counterknife and a feed device filled with cooling water located prior to the cutter roll. The feed device consists of the support face of the counterknife approximately radial to the cutter roll, which essentially completely fills up the space between the nozzle surface and the cutter roll and onto which the cooling water is sprayed.

Abstract: High melt flow rate polymers are pelletized with greater uniformity and less malformed pellets from underwater extrusion process by die orifices having a narrow preland sufficient to evenly distribute the polymer followed by a wide final hole that forms a polymer strand sufficient to avoid deformation by water currents during pelletization.

Abstract: A process for forming discrete, shaped interlayer blanks comprising extruding thermoplastic melt into an endless, distortable straight-sided sheet having a gradient color band along one side, the melt forming the region of the sheet laterally of the color band extruding at a greater thickness than that forming the portion containing the color band, stretching the side of the sheet containing the region formed from the greater thickness melt more than the other side while extrusion continues to shape the sheet into an arcuate form of substantially uniform thickness having different radii along each edge, the edge of greater radius being on the side formed from the greater thickness melt, quenching the sheet to set the polymer, advancing the shaped sheet to a cutting station and cutting shaped quadrilateral sections out of the sheet having the gradient color band along one longitudinal side to form the blanks.

Abstract: A process for preparing composite films comprising at least one layer of a first plastic polymer and a substrate of a second polymer/first plastic polymer composition by intimately mixing about 15 to about 90 wt. % of first plastic polymer and about 10 to 85 wt. % of the second polymer, extruding the mixture through a film die while cooling at least one surface of the die outlet at least about 10.degree. C. below the melting point of the plastic polymer and cooling the film. In a preferred embodiment the first plastic polymer has a semi-crystalline or crystalline melting point which is at least 10.degree. C. above the softening or melting point of the second polymer.A sandwich type laminate comprising two outer skins of first plastic polymer enclosing a core comprising a blend of first plastic polymer and second polymer can be prepared by cooling both die outlet surfaces. Where a blown film die is utilized the inner and outer die layers must be cooled to accomplish this end.

Abstract: A perforated plate construction for the underwater granulating of plastic strands comprising a base member with a melt distribution channel and a plurality of inlet channels connected to the melt distribution channel and to extruder nozzles of a cutting plate. The base plate is heated in the region of the inlet channels. Between the base member and the cutting plate is an insulating layer through which the extruder nozzles extend. In order to permit compensation for thermal expansion in the cutting plate without damage to the cutting plate and the insulating layer, the latter is formed as an air gap which is substantially coextensive with the cutting plate in the transverse direction of the extruder nozzles. The cutting plate is supported on the base plate by a plurality of tubular support elements which are separate from each other and freely extended through the air gap.

Abstract: In a pelletizing operation in which a synthetic thermoplastic polymeric material is reduced to particulate form, automatic startup of the flow of cooling fluid to the cutting chamber associated with the pelletizing operation is provided so as to insure that the flow of the cooling fluid is started at the time required.

Abstract: A die assembly for plastic pelletizing apparatus of the type including a cooling bath into which the plastic is extruded. The die assembly includes a heated main body having first and second oppositely disposed exterior faces connected by a plurality of relatively small extrusion passageways. A layer of thermal insulation material overlies the second face, and a cover member having an outer surface adapted to be exposed to the cooling bath is positioned over the thermal insulation material and joined to the main body. Wear resistant insert members formed from a material having a higher coefficient of thermal conductivity than the material from which the cover member is made extend from the outer surface of the cover member through the layer of insulation into the main body. Extrusion outlet orifices are formed through the insert members and define continuations of the extrusion passageways of the main body.

Abstract: Multi-bladed disc cutter for cutting into pellets thermoplastic material extruded from a die plate of an underwater pelletizer, wherein the blades of the cutter are integrally formed on the periphery of a backplate and radially project therefrom, the sidewalls of the blades being integrally connected by shroud members to provide added strength against bending and twisting of the blades under load. Perforations are provided in the shroud members and backplate to permit passage of water to cool and flush away the cut pellets. Additionally, integrally formed blades may be arranged in concentric circles inwardly of the periphery of the backplate. The integral of the disc cutters avoids weakening and misalignment of the blades, saves space and permits a greater number of cutting edges than is possible in disc cutters wherein the blades are fastened to a hole by bolts. Casting the cutter integrally with its blades permits off-line grinding for final alignment purposes.

Abstract: An underwater pelletizer providing more efficient formation of uniform size pellets including the provision of a taper on the die holes so that polymer will freeze near the exit and form an insulated die hole and a resultant cylindrical die hole for smooth polymer flow, axially movable ball bearing assemblies to support the pelletizer shaft in a housing, a threaded assembly with a thrust bearing to axially adjust the pelletizer shaft for compensating for blade wear, radial clearance for the outer race of the thrust bearing to eliminate preloading of the axially movable ball bearings, a gear coupling between the shaft and driving motor to permit axial movement of the shaft for blade adjustment, and a spring support for the pelletizer, all of which cooperate to form an effective underwater pelletizer which will efficiently produce uniform plastic pellets.

Abstract: An extrusion die assembly for a pelletizing apparatus including a die body, a die insert carried by the die body, the die insert having a die plate with a die plate face and a die plate back surface, there being a plurality of extrusion ports through the die plate face extending from the face to the back surface, the die insert further having a plurality of extrusion port formations such as tubes projecting from the die plate back surface and defining a plurality of extrusion passageways, each of said extrusion ports being in register with a respective one of said passageways, the tubes and the die plate comprising a monolithic structure formed from a unitary piece of material, and a heating jacket formed at least partially by the die body, at least a portion of the tubes being received in the heating jacket.

Abstract: An apparatus for granulating thermoplastics materials comprising a nozzle plate and a cutter device in which the spacing between these integers can be pre-set and accurately maintained. This is achieved by isolating the component parts of the granulation apparatus, particularly a housing for the cutter device, which is subjected to variable thermal expansion, from the components which locate the cutter device in front of the nozzle plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a light transmitting article of synthetic resin in which a monomer Ma is incompletely polymerized to form a network polymer Pa having a refractive index Na, thereby forming a self supporting body material, and subsequently a monomer Mb, which forms a polymer Pb having a refractive index Nb different from the refractive index Na, is diffused into the body material and simultaneously polymerized. The apparatus includes a mold in which the body material is formed, a diffusion chamber in which the monomer Mb is diffused into the body material, and a heat-treating tube for heating the body material so that the distribution of the monomer Mb is fixed in the body material. According to the invention, a light transmitting article of synthetic resin is produced continuously in good quality.

Abstract: Porous shaped bodies are disclosed, and an apparatus and method of their production by extruding a homogeneous, single-phase liquid mixture of polymer and mixing partner liquid at the temperature of mixture preparation through a nozzle downwardly with a linear velocity v.sub.1 into a cooling liquid that dissolves the polymer insubstantially or not at all at the cooling temperature, the cooling liquid being provided from entry of the extruded mixture until at least the point of start of solidification thereof in a substantially vertically arranged tubular zone surrounded by a wall, velocity v.sub.2 of cooling liquid in this zone being less than v.sub.1. The cooling liquid is preferably contained in a U-shaped tube and its level is controllable by dosing at entry and/or exit points.

Abstract: An extrusion die plate for a plastic pelletizing machine having a removable central insert having the plurality of extrusion orifices incorporated therein with the main body of the die plate including an opening receiving the insert with the insert being capable of quick and easy removable for cleaning of plastic material and for replacement of the insert with other inserts having a different number of extrusion orifices or a different size of extrusion orifices. The insert is screw threadedly connected or otherwise quickly detachably connected in an opening in the main body of the die plate to reduce the down time for maintenance and for product changes.

Abstract: The pelletizer comprises a chamber having a first side and a second side coupled to an extruder. A shaft extends through the first side into the chamber, a rotatable cutter assembly is mounted to the end of the shaft in the chamber and a die assembly is mounted at the second side of the chamber and has a die face facing into the chamber. The cutter assembly is positioned for rotation adjacent the die face. A prime mover is coupled to the shaft for rotating the cutter assembly. Plastic material is extruded through holes in the die assembly into the chamber as the cutter assembly is rotated to cut plastic streams coming out of the die assembly into pellets. A position control assembly automatically controls the position of the cutter assembly adjacent the die face. The cutter assembly has a plurality of cutting blades mounted thereon.

Abstract: A manually adjustable blade assembly for an underwater pelletizer to enable radial adjustment and axial adjustment as well as maintaining parallelism of the blade assembly to the die cutting surface through the use of a shaft bearing support for the driven cutter blade assembly which enables accurate and positive adjustment of the rotating cutter blade assembly in relation to the cutting surface of a die in an underwater pelletizer.

Abstract: Apparatus for spinning viscose rayon comprising an acid bath having an enclosure arranged for substantially completely trapping and collecting any gases emanating from said bath, a plurality of fiber-forming jets disposed substantially along beneath the surface of said acid bath, means for forcing aqueous xanthated alkali cellulose in liquid form into said jets and through said jets upwardly into said bath, and take-up means located within said enclosure above said bath for taking up the resulting fibers in an upward direction within said enclosure, and thence through an enclosed secondary hot bath for the purpose of stretching the cellulose-xanthate, regenerating it to cellulose, and for trapping and collecting gases and other chemicals.

Abstract: A process and system for the formation of a polymer foam sheet of comparatively uniform biaxially orientation and comparatively uniform dimensions prepared by extruding polymer foam so that it rides on a fluid bearing film between the point of extrusion and a point of diameter expansion of the extruding tube.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the production of porous tubing. One extrudes a homogeneous mixture of at least two components, one component a meltable polymer and the other component a liquid inert in relation to the polymer, both components forming a binary system which in liquid aggregate state displays a range of complete miscibility and a range with a miscibility gap, at a temperature above the separation temperature, substantially vertically upwardly using a circular slot nozzle and blowing of gas or dosing-in of liquid into the interior of the nozzle, into a bath, which displays a temperature below the separation temperature, allows the tubing to solidify, and extracts or lixiviates the tubing. Preferred embodiments include the use of water at a temperature from 15.degree. to 90.degree. C.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for preparing pasta filata cheese for brining and cutting. The warm mixed cheese is extruded in a continuous ribbon which is discharged into a channel filled with cold brine. The brine and ribbon flow together through the channel, and the ribbon is mechanically removed therefrom on a continuous basis. After removal from the brine channel, the ribbon can be cut into long lengths for brining, and thereafter into the final size for packaging.

Abstract: Uniformity of flow rate through an extrusion or pelleting die is provided through each of a plurality of orifices of substantially equal cross sectional area by providing a die in which the length of a narrowed portion of a downstream passageway associated with each orifice is chosen to provide the desired flow characteristics.

Abstract: Continuous film production from a high pressure feed stream is achieved in a system which provides methods and means for maintaining pressurized gas in an extrusion zone wherein the extrudate may be cooled to form a solid polymeric film. The product film is withdrawn from the extrusion zone continuously through a standing liquid column in fluid communication with the extrusion zone. The film is passed downwardly into a liquid leg below the extrusion zone and upwardly through the liquid column, which has an upper exit end elevated above the pressurized zone thereby exerting super-atmospheric pressure. The product is recovered from the liquid sealing medium, advantageously water, at ambient pressure. Hot aqueous solutions of polyacrylonitrile may be extruded at elevated pressure onto a cooled casting drum in a gaseous environment wherein flashing of the hot solvent is prevented.

Abstract: An apparatus for noodling a gelating dispersion which continuously gels and noodles the gelatin dispersion and supplies noodles of the dispersion into cold water in a washing tank, said apparatus comprising a means for supplying a predetermined quantity of said dispersion to an extruder at a predetermined pressure, said extruder comprising a plurality of supply nozzles that extend from a receiving chamber for said dispersion which are preferably made of a material having higher thermal conductivity than the walls of the chamber, and a washing tank to which cold water has free access, the supply nozzles of said extruder being so arranged as to be immersed in the cold water in said washing tank, to thereby promote gelation of said dispersion flowing down through each of said nozzles and to form firmer and stabler noodles.

Abstract: A conventional underwater plastic pelletizer of the type using a rotatable knife hub is improved by securing to the knife hub a diverter plate for confining the flow of inlet water to the region adjacent the face of the die plate. The cutting knives are mounted on the rotating hub at a rake angle with respect to the hub center and tilted at an angle with respect to the surface of the die plate so as to effectively pull a cut pellet away from an extruded plastic strand, and the die plate is heated by an organic heat exchange fluid. The result is a substantial reduction in orifices frozen off by cooled polymer.

Abstract: A cutter hub for use in an underwater pelletizer such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,207, issued Oct. 31, 1978, which includes a replaceable, double or single edged blade attached to each arm of the hub with a major portion of the length of the blade being attached to and supported by the arm on the hub thereby resulting in less axial deflection with increased cutting pressure, since the rigid hub arm carries the rotational stress without deflection of the critical blade cutting surface. This arrangement produces higher quality pellets, fewer knife adjustments, reduces the radial wear pattern on the pellet die plate, permits the use of thinner, less costly blades and permits the use of single edged or double-edged blade with a useable second side.

Abstract: Granulating apparatus, for plastics melt and other materials comprising an extruder head with a perforated member, a rotating cutter to cut material extruded through the perforated member, a housing surrounding the cutter and forming a granulating chamber with a generally upright axis and liquid supply means to supply cooling liquid to the top edge of the granulating chamber so that the cooling liquid flows in a film over the inner wall of the housing of the granulating chamber to prevent the cut material from sticking to said inner wall and to cool the cut material. The liquid supply means may include a perforated pipe encircling the granulating chamber or a weir at the inner edge of an annular chamber.

Abstract: An improved melt cutter apparatus for producing pellets from a strand of a partly molten thermoplastic resin in cooperation wth an extrusion die is provided. The apparatus comprises a drive shaft, a drive rod rotatably connected thereto, a knife holder connected rotatably to the drive rod, a knife attached thereto and means for advancing the knife toward the extrusion die.

Abstract: An underwater pelletizer and heat exchanger die plate combination for solidifying molten polymer entering the machine at one end and cutting the solidified fibers into small pieces or pellets. A die plate incorporating steam heated tubes allows molten plastic under high pressure to be forced therethrough into a water bath. Two or more rotating knives within the water bath rotating on the face of the die plate sever or cut up the solidified plastic into small pellets. A quick access coupling is provided for the water bath compartment and a floating ball bearing adjustment means for varying the distance between the rotating knives and the die plate is provided to permit very accurate variation of the distance between the knives and the die plate surface. An overall support frame is provided for the entire structure which is movably mounted on rollers which are also adjustable.

Abstract: An apparatus for spinning artificial filaments relates to continuous spinning frames. It comprises a reservoir with spinning solution containin a spinneret and a portion of one cylinder of a pair where complete recovery of the filament takes place. A partition dividing the reservoir into a complete recovery zone and a filament spinning zone is located in the reservoir between the spinneret and that portion of cylinder which is dipped into the spinning solution, said partition filtering the spinning solution flowing from the complete recovery zone to the spinning zone. A collector for feeding the spinning solution is mounted in the complete recovery zone, whereas a collector for discharging the spinning solution is mounted in the spinning zone. This makes it possible to reduce substantially amount of the spinning solution circulating within the apparatus and to separate from the solution elementary sulphur.

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: Apparatus for manufacturing synthetic tow for stretch-cut spinning process. The synthetic tow is produced by changing the coagulation condition after delivery from the spinnerets so the weak points are distributed in individual filaments in a particular condition defined by variation of uneveness of breaking strength. The coagulation condition of each filaments in the two is positively changed according to periodic changes in the filament's passage by contacting a deviation bar disposed in the filament's passage.