Abstract: A cutter head holder for blades of an underwater granulator for granulating pellets from a plastic melt that emerges from a perforated plate into a process chamber of a housing of an underwater granulator.

Abstract: Described herein are extrusion processes to produce hollow pellets. Also disclosed are pelletizer devices that can be used to produce the hollow pellets. The processes and devices make use of an extrusion die having a die orifice and an insert that is placed in the die orifice to produce the hollow pellets.

Abstract: An extrusion and conditioning apparatus, with an extruder in a conveying position, leads into a conveyor housing connected in a sealed manner to a pneumatic supply line and to a pneumatic conveyor line in which extruded material can be removed pneumatically, by means of superheated steam, via the conveyor line. The extruder can be moved from the conveying position into a bypass position, in which the extruder leads to the exterior of the conveyor housing, having a means for sealing the supply and conveyor lines and the conveyor housing from the surroundings when the extruder is in the conveying and bypass positions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spinning bath vat, including a vat for taking up spinning bath liquid, at least one roller arranged within the vat for guiding the spun filaments, and an infeed and discharge system for spinning bath liquid. According to the invention, it is provided that the spinning bath vat (SBW) has a design which is useful both for wet spinning by means of a spinning nozzle (SD) arranged within the spinning bath liquid (SBF) and for dry/wet spinning by means of a spinning nozzle (SD) arranged above the spinning bath liquid (SBF).

Abstract: Provided is a process for making thermoplastic polymer pellets. The process has the following steps: (a) melting a thermoplastic polymer to form a polymer melt; (b) extruding the melt through a die to form a substantially continuous molten polymer extrudate wherein the die has a contact surface bearing a polymer coating having a surface energy of less than 25 mN/m at 20° C.; (c) cooling the extrudate to form a cooled extrudate; and (d) pelletizing the cooled extrudate to form a plurality of polymer pellets. Provided is also a polymer pellet shipping system and a stable thermoplastic polymer pellet.

Abstract: In a resin granulating apparatus of the present invention, a bracket extending in the outward radial direction over an outer peripheral surface of a sleeve is provided for the sleeve for rotatably supporting a cutter shaft of a cutter for shearing a material extruded from a die. Stopper means cooperating with the bracket to regulate movement of the sleeve toward the die and moving a regulation position in the axial direction is provided on the radially outer side over an outer diameter of the sleeve. With such a configuration, installation space is compactified so as to additionally provide the stopper means in the existing facilities, and a position of the cutter relative to a die surface is precisely adjusted so as to stably produce a pellet of a best shape.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for underwater pelletizing and subsequent drying of crystallizing polymers to crystallize the polymer pellets without subsequent heating is shown in FIG. 5. High velocity air or other inert gas is injected into the water and pellet slurry line (120) toward the dryer near the pelletizer exit (102) at a flow rate of from about 100 to about 175 m3/hour, or more. Such high-speed air movement forms a vapor mist with the water and significantly increases the speed of the pellets into and out of the dryer such that the polymer pellets leave the dryer with sufficient latent heat to cause self-crystallization within the pellets. A valve mechanism in the slurry line (150) after the gas injection further regulates the pellet residence time and a vibrating conveyor after the dryer helps the pellets to achieve the desired level of crystallinity and to avoid agglomeration.

Abstract: Problems with incipiently gelling alginate or low-methoxy pectate sols in a bath of an aqueous solution containing calcium ions are reduced by having in the bath a perforated support surface which can be oscillated. The surface is preferably oscillated horizontally and vertically and preferably these oscillations are synchronised. Transport means to remove the product from the bath can be provided at one end of the bath. It is advantageous to ensure that at the beginning of the vertical oscillation the horizontal oscillation is in the direction of such transport means. Portions of the sol can be formed by extrusion either below or above the surface of the bath. The process is particularly useful for sols which have a sugar content greater than 10%. The invention also provides equipment comprising such a perforated support surface.

Abstract: An improved process for the pelletization of polymers is disclosed, using a die in which the die holes incorporate a reverse taper along at least a portion of the length thereof. Conditions for operation of an under melt cutter incorporating this die are also disclosed.

Abstract: Infinitely adjustable calibration sleeve for extruded plastic pipes includes an inlet head and two strap layers that intersect like a lattice grate and that are linked with each other at the crossing points. In that manner, the inlet head and the strap layers are adjustable to the pipe diameter, and the inlet head has radially adjustable overlapping segments in a radial plane distributed over the perimeter of the plastic pipe to be calibrated, and the segments mesh and have slots in their overlapping areas. Further, the faces of the segments are configured to lie on the plastic pipe to be calibrated, and the strap layers are linked to the segments flush with the faces. Such a calibration sleeve effectively seals the vacuum tank from the environment and prevents deformations of the entering, extruded plastic pipe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for granulating thermoplastic materials issuing from orifices, said orifices being provided in a substantially circular arrangement in an orifice plate and being swept by blades rotating about a blade carrier shaft, said blades being held by a blade carrier in an oblique position with respect to the radial direction, the blade carrier shaft extending through the centre of the circular arrangement and a cooling medium being supplied to the orifice plate and to the blades for cooling the granulated plastic materials.

Abstract: A weir assembly is disclosed in which the size and shape of the opening can be easily changed, by utilizing a sizing insert system. In one embodiment, the sizing insert comprises a mechanical iris. The position of the opening is easily adjustable by utilizing at least one positioning stage that is fastened to the sizing insert. Spring plungers are utilized for retention of the transparent weir plate within the vertical channels of a water trough. A center-finder is utilized to approximately position the opening in relation to an extrusion die.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for feeding molten plastic extrudates which emerge from dies to a discharge channel having a cooling water inlet which follows the dies, in which device the dies are arranged in at least two rows, in such a manner that in the discharge direction strands from one row and the other row are guided alternately, next to and at a distance from one another, in which device two collection channels, which are arranged one above the other, are interposed between the dies and the discharge channel, in such a manner that the extrudates emerging from one row of dies are in each case fed to the discharge channel as a group via a collection channel, the individual extrudates of the two groups meeting one another in an intermeshing position alternately and next to one another on the discharge channel and being guided onward by the latter.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus for spinning solutions of cellulose carbamate by extruding the solution through a spinneret into a precipitation bath, coagulating the cellulose carbamate fibers thus formed and drawing off the fibers by mechanical means, where the fibers are enveloped from the outlet of the spinneret to the outlet of the precipitation bath in a stream of precipitating medium flowing in the same direction, where the velocity of flow of the precipitation medium where the fibers exit the spinneret (plane X1) amounts to 0.1 to 0.8 times the draw-off speed of the fibers, and the velocity of flow of the precipitation medium where the fibers exit the precipitation bath (plane X3) amounts to 0.96 to 1.1 times the draw-off speed of the fibers.

Abstract: A spinning device for the production of man-made fibers, in particular of cellulose regenerated fibers, including at least one spinning pump, at least one feed pipe line, at least one spinneret and a bath-like container for the precipitation bath whereby the feed pipe lines can be swivelled around at least one joint at any one time which is characterized in that the joint is movable in substantially horizontal and vertical direction. In one embodiment of the device the joint can be swivelled around one pivot respectively. With the device according to this invention, it is possible to simply swivel the spinnerets out of a deeper container which is required to enable a longer immersion path of the fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing seamless capsules having satisfactory multilayer liquid drops without deformation, wherein a multilayer liquid flow is blown out of a multiple nozzle to form multilayer liquid drops which are brought into contact with hardening liquid for manufacturing seamless capsules, and a nozzle moving device is connected to the multiple nozzle, whereby the multiple nozzle is movably adjustable by this nozzle moving device in a direction intersecting or preferably perpendicular to the flow of the hardening liquid in a flow path of the hardening liquid.

Abstract: A device for coagulating a warp of filaments from a linear spinneret by delivering a transparent, jetted sheet of coagulating liquid equally and uniformly along each side of the warp.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of a collagen tube to be used as a vascular prostheses or nerve suture, including a cylindrical tubular spinneret having a feed end for an aqueous solution of collagen gel and a discharge end and a coagulant tube concentrically disposed in the spinneret with all around circumferential clearance and terminating upstream of the discharge wherein a tube of aqueous acid collagen gel is extruded through the clearance around the coagulant tube. The coagulant tube has its inner wall contacted with a coagulating solution emerging therefrom before the tube of aqueous collagen gel reaches the discharge end of the cylindrical tubular spinneret. The discharge end of the tubular spinneret terminates in a bath of coagulating solution and a bed is disposed in the bath to receive the extruded collagen tube from the end of the tubular spinneret. The tubular spinneret is capable of being displaced with respect to the bath.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming double-side polished sheet of thermoplastic resin has a first cooling roll for forming a sheet of thermoplastic synthetic resin thereon along a contact angle .THETA..sub.1, a second cooling roll having a smaller diameter than the first cooling roll and mounted adjacent the first cooling roll for engaging the outer surface of the sheet formed on the first cooling roll and nipping the sheet between the cooling rolls for receiving the sheet from the first cooling roll onto a part of the surface thereof along a contact angle .THETA..sub.

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

Abstract: 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: A bland texturized monofilament protein product having a texture and mouth feel simulating animal meat is prepared by forming an aqueous slurry of a protein material, injecting high pressure steam into the slurry to propel it through a confined treatment zone, centrifugally spinning the protein material into monofilaments, and recovering the textured monofilaments in a collection zone. Apparatus for performing this process comprises means for injecting steam into a protein slurry, means defining a confined treatment zone wherein the injected steam and protein are contacted, and means for centrifugally spinning the steam-treated protein material into monofilaments.