Abstract: Disclosed is a pelletizer vessel and a prilling head assembly for use in the pelletizer vessel for prilling a hard resid material. The pellitizer vessel has an has an upright pelletizing vessel with an upper prilling zone, a sphere-forming zone below the prilling zone, a cooling zone below the sphere-forming zone, a bath below the cooling zone, and a prilling head in the prilling zone rotatable along a vertical axis and having a plurality of discharge orifices for throwing molten material radially outwardly. A vertical height of the sphere-forming zone is sufficient to allow material discharged from the prilling head to form substantially spherical liquid pellets. Nozzles are provided for spraying water inwardly into the cooling zone to cool and at least partially solidify the liquid pellets to be collected in the bath.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating bichromal elements comprising a separator member having a central rotating point, the separator member having first and second spaced apart, opposed surfaces with an edge region in contact with both of said opposed surfaces. The spacing between the opposed surfaces varies with the distance outwardly from the central rotating point such that the spacing is the largest at the central rotating point and the spacing decreases outwards from the central rotating point and the spacing is a minimum at the edge region. Further each of the opposed surfaces has a substantially annular cup spaced apart from and substantially surrounding the central rotating point.

Abstract: A spinner disc for a rotary fiberization process, includes a base plate and an annular peripheral sidewall extending upward from the base plate which has a plurality of rows of fiberizing holes therein for fiberizing molten thermoplastic fiberizable materials by centrifugal force. The base plate has: a central bore therein on a rotational axis of the spinner disc for mounting the spinner disc on a drive shaft; an outer annular portion for receiving molten thermoplastic fiberizable materials to be fiberized; and an inner annular portion intermediate the central bore and, the outer annular base plate portion.

Abstract: A process for producing atomized powder, such as a metal powder, using a recirculating atomization gas, such as helium, and the apparatus used for producing the atomized powder

Abstract: Fibers of improved quality can be produced with a reduced energy input in a device for producing synthetic fiber materials which has a polymer melt feed leading to a rotating hollow reactor (1), the wall of which can be heated and which widens conically in order to guide a film melt toward an open side that can be closed with a lid (13), and which has ribs (4) for dividing the melt film into fibers that grow rigid after leaving the hollow reactor (1); and said improved quality call be achieved specifically in that the hollow reactor (1) is vertically oriented and exhibits a continuously curved inner wall and at the curved upper side exhibits an opening (3) for introducing the polymer melt, and in that a rotating distributor plate (12) is positioned opposite the opening (3), at a slight distance from the inner wall of the hollow reactor (1).

Abstract: A bi-chromal ball production apparatus and method where the bi-chromal ball material is fed from opposite sides of the disk, reconfiguring the internal geometry of the apparatus, and precisely configuring the bi-chromal ball material feeding slit. The bi-chromal ball production apparatus has a disk that rotates, a first supply structure that supplies a first bi-chromal ball material to the disk from a first direction, a second supply structure tube that supplies a second bi-chromal ball material to the disk from a second direction and a motor that rotates the disk. The bi-chromal ball production apparatus includes a first reservoir and a first slit defined by the disk and a top body, a second reservoir and a second slit defined by the disk and a bottom body. An inner surface of each of the first and second reservoir is parabola shaped.

Abstract: A spinner disc for a rotary fiberization process, includes a base plate and an annular peripheral sidewall extending upward from the base plate which has a plurality of rows of fiberizing holes therein for fiberizing molten thermoplastic fiberizable materials by centrifugal force. The base plate has: a central bore therein on a rotational axis of the spinner disc for mounting the spinner disc on a drive shaft; an outer annular portion for receiving molten thermoplastic fiberizable materials to be fiberized; and an inner annular portion intermediate the central bore and the outer annular base plate portion.

Abstract: A drop former includes a rotary screen forming an internal chamber into which a flowable chemical is introduced, the chamber being kept at atmospheric pressure. The screen has a thickness in the range of 0.05 to 0.4 mm. As the screen moves, the flowable chemical is caused to impinge against a pressure member disposed within the chamber to create a hydrodynamic force which forces the chemical through openings of the screen, thereby forming drops which are transferred onto a transfer surface. The drops harden into particles on the transfer surface and are subsequently removed therefrom and collected. The screen may be formed of a photochemically etched, or laser-drilled, metallic sheet.

Abstract: A method for obtaining urea prills in a prilling tower (1) comprising the step of making a plurality of melt urea droplets to fall from a urea melt distributing device (4) towards an urea prills collecting bottom (6) of the prilling tower, further comprises the step of cooling the collecting bottom (6).

Abstract: An improved cotton candy machine melts sugar by inductively heating a spinning head and preferably a perforated spinner band on the spinner head. An induction heater is disposed in a machine base beneath the rotating spinner head and excites the band to a heat range for melting and spinning elongated molten strands of cotton candy from raw sugar. Electric heater strips, electric conduits, electric terminals, electric slip rings and electric spring-loaded brushes are all eliminated. Methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of addressing a sheet of a rotating element sheet material that has a reduced applied electric field requirement when a gyricon sheet using magnetic trapping is disclosed. A magnetic trapping gyricon sheet comprises a substrate with a plurality of rotatable elements disposed in the substrate. The elements comprise at least two portions, each portion having an associated optical modulation characteristic and the optical modulation characteristics of at least one portion are different from the optical modulation characteristic of at least one other portion. Importantly, one portion is magnetized, and the element also has an anisotropy for providing an electrical dipole moment. The electrical dipole moment renders the element electrically responsive such that when the rotating element is rotatably disposed in an electric field while the electrical dipole moment of the element is provided, the element tends to rotate to an orientation in which the electrical dipole moment aligns with the field.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming magnetized rotating elements for a rotating element display where all the elements are magnetized in the same orientation is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one separator member. Each separator member has a diameter, two opposed surfaces and an edge region in contact with both of the surfaces. Further included is an apparatus for providing at least two liquid flows wherein each one of the liquid flows has an associated separator member and an associated surface on the associated separator member, and each one of the liquid flows is provided across the associated surface of the associated separator members. The liquid flow flows toward the edge region of the associated separator member. The liquid flows are each a flow of hardenable liquid material associated with an optical modulation characteristic, and at least one of the liquid flows containing a magnetic pigment.

Abstract: A fiberizer has a spinning head that is partitioned to create separate extrusion zones for fiber formation. Molten feed stock is allocated between the zones to promote a greater formation of fiber of having a narrow spectrum of fiber diameters.

Abstract: A multi-component fiberizing disk for fiberizing a molten fiberizable material in a rotary fiberization process includes: an annular sidewall having fiberizing holes therein through which a molten fiberizable material passes to fiberize the molten fiberizable material; an upper annular flange; and a base having an annular outer peripheral edge. The annular sidewall, the upper annular flange and the base are made from at least two separate components and, preferably, from three separate components. The separate components are secured to together as the fiberizing disk by fasteners, such as bolt and nut fasteners, that permits the separate components of the fiberizing disk to be disassembled after service. The different components can be made of different metal alloys and a distribution manifold can be incorporated into the fiberizing disk for distributing the molten fiberizable material(s) within the fiberizing disk and to make bi-component fibers.

Abstract: A spinner head provides for the production of melt-spun product. The spinner head includes a base and a cover spaced from the base. A plurality of discrete spaced apart elongate heating elements are positioned between the base and the cover and define a chamber for accommodating feedstock material therein. An elongate generally annular housing having plural circumferentially spaced cylindrical passages extending therethrough is positionable over the heating elements. The housing defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced fins projecting radially inward. Each of the fins have tapered sidewalls which generally converge as the fin extends radially inward. The sidewalls of adjacent fins cooperate to define longitudinal radially-directed slots between the cylindrical passages so as to permit passage of the feedstock material therethrough.

Abstract: A method of integrating organic fibers with mineral fibers includes centrifuging organic fibers from molten organic material, using a rotating organic fiber spinner, directing the organic fibers into a downwardly moving veil of organic fibers and gases, with the veil having an inwardly converging shape as it moves downward, centrifuging mineral fibers from molten mineral material using a rotary mineral fiber spinner positioned concentrically within the downwardly moving veil of organic fibers, directing the mineral fibers into a downwardly moving veil of mineral fibers and gases within the veil of organic fibers, wherein the veil of mineral fibers intersects with the veil of organic fibers to integrate the mineral fibers with the organic fibers, and collecting the integrated mineral fibers and organic fibers as a fibrous pack. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming magnetized rotating elements for a rotating element display where all the elements are magnetized in the same orientation is provided. First, at least two planar streams of hardenable liquids flowing in substantially the same direction are provided. Each stream has an associated optical modulation characteristic and at least one stream has an associated optical modulation characteristic different from at least one other stream. At least one stream includes a magnetic pigment. The streams are then merged to form a reservoir containing side-by-side amounts of each liquid from each stream. A free jet is then formed containing side-by-side amounts of each liquid from the reservoir. Then a portion of the free jet is passed through a magnetic field which is oriented transverse to the direction of the free jet to magnetize the magnetic pigment. The rotating elements formed can be either spherical in shape or cylindrical in shape.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating bichromal balls includes a means for fabricating droplets from electrically conductive hardenable liquids. The liquids have different colors. A forward end of the hardenable liquids becomes unstable and breaks up into the droplets. Each droplet includes hemispheres of different colors. An RF signal generator produces electrical pulses which increase the instability of the forward end of the hardenable liquids. A capacitance in the conductive liquids causes current to flow from the signal generator to the hardenable liquids. A diameter of the droplets is reduced to form substantially spherical balls. Each of the balls includes hemispheres of different colors. The bichromal balls are collected.

Abstract: A method for producing cellulose beads which are high in sphericity and narrow in bead size distribution. Cellulose beads are produced by supplying a cellulose solution into a rotating vessel which is rotated at high speed by a rotary shaft and has outlets such as small holes and nozzles, flying droplets formed under a centrifugal acceleration of 10 to 1000 G through the outlets that have a diameter of 0.1 to 5.0 mm, and capturing the droplets with a coagulating solution to coagulate the droplets.

Abstract: Metallurgical slag is expanded to produce a lightweight solid by forming a stream of molten liquid slag of controlled rate of flow and mixing the stream of slag with a controlled quantity of water and flowing the interacting mixture of slag and water into a receptacle. The interaction between slag and water is allowed to proceed for a predetermined period of time to form an expanded solid without the addition of any additional cooling water which would otherwise quench the material and vitrify it. In the receptacle, a vaned rotor operates to segment the interacting mixture of slag and water and project the segmented mixture through the air for collection into a heap.

Abstract: A bichromal ball includes a first hemisphere. The first hemisphere includes a first pigment having a first color and a first polarity. The first pigment is added to a carrier fluid and polymer mixture during formation of the bichromal ball. A second hemisphere includes a second pigment having a second color and a second polarity. The second pigment is added to the carrier fluid and polymer mixture during formation of the bichromal ball. The carrier fluid and polymer mixture have a lower viscosity than the polymer alone. The carrier fluid is substantially removed after the first and second hemispheres are formed. The polymer is left along with the first and second pigments which form the bichromal ball. A diameter of the bichromal ball is reduced after the carrier fluid is substantially removed.

Abstract: A apparatus of fabricating a multisegmented ball for an electrical twisting ball display device, which is made up of spheroidal balls rotatably disposed in an elastomer substrate. The ball is composed of segments arrayed substantially parallel to one another, each segment being adjacent to at least one other segment and to no more than two other segments, adjacent segments being adjoined to one another at substantially planar interfaces. The apparatus has a plurality of separator members, each separator member having two opposed surfaces and an edge region in contact with both of said surfaces. A liquid flow is associated with each separator member and one of the surfaces on the separator member. Each one of the liquid flows is provided across its associated separator members toward the edge region of the separator member. Each of the liquid flows is of a hardenable liquid material and has an optical modulation characteristic and a flow rate.

Abstract: A spinner head is used for spinning and processing feedstock material. The spinner head includes spaced tubular heating elements which are covered by annular housing that forms a material processing wall. The annular housing contains radially spaced slots which provide a passage way for the material to be expelled from the spinner head. Each slot contains a flow restricting insert removably insertable therein. The inserts include radially extending grooves which channel the feedstock material as it exits the spinner head. The insert further include latches extending therefrom which secure the inserts in the spinner head upon rotation.

Abstract: A spinner head provides for the production of high fat content floss. The spinner head includes a base and a cover spaced from the base. A plurality of discrete spaced apart elongate heating elements are positioned between the base and the cover and define a chamber for accommodating feedstock material therein. The chamber is spun and the feedstock material is heated and is expelled through the spaces between the heating elements. Feedstock engagement surfaces are positioned in alignment with each of the spaces between the heating elements so as to engage the expelled feedstock to alter the direction of travel of the expelled product.

Abstract: A fiber manufacturing apparatus including a spinner, mounted on one end of a rotatable shaft, and a source supplying two streams of at least one molten thermoplastic material to the spinner. The spinner includes a radial extension, a radial wall, and an outer peripheral wall. The radial extension is mounted to and extends radially out from the shaft. The radial wall is mounted to and extends radially out from the radial extension. The radial wall includes an upper surface, a lower surface, and an outer periphery. The peripheral wall is disposed around the outer periphery of the radial wall and has a plurality of orifices for centrifuging fibers from at least one molten thermoplastic material. During the operation of the spinner, the radial extension directs one stream of molten thermoplastic material through at least one flow hole to the lower surface of the radial wall and to orifices of the peripheral wall.

Abstract: A spinner is adapted to be fixed at one end of a rotatable shaft in a fiberizer, the spinner including a radial wall extending radially out from the shaft and having an upper surface, a dam separating the upper surface into an inner portion and an outer portion, a lower surface, at least one first flow hole connecting the upper surface to the lower surface, and at least one second flow hole connecting the inner portion and the outer portion of said upper surface, and an outer peripheral wall connected to the radial wall and having a plurality of orifices therethrough.

Abstract: A hollow drum is rotatable about a horizontal axis and includes openings around its circumference for discharging drops of a free-flowing substance onto a cooling belt in the manufacture of pastilles. A stationary body disposed inside the drum is spaced from the interior surface of a front side of the drum to form therewith a sickle-shaped gap leading to the drop-forming zone. A channeling member rests against an external surface of the front side of the drum to form therewith an upwardly open channel. The supply passage which delivers the freely flowable substance to the drum can be defined by the channel, whereby the substance would be fed into the upwardly open end thereof and would flow into the gap through the drum openings. Alternatively, the supply passage could be defined by a space within the stationary body which communicates with the gap at a location disposed above the drop-forming zone.

Abstract: A spinner head for a cotton candy machine includes an electrically insulative upper head with at least one integral extending spacer sleeve having a bore therethrough. The spinner head also includes a cap, a sugar melting heater, and a perforated band surrounding the heater. A fastener extends through the sleeve securing the cap to the upper head. The upper head preferably includes a depending hub about the head's axis of rotation, having a bore therethrough, and a depending sleeve defining said bore therethrough offset from the axis. The spinner head preferably includes a lower head having a hub oriented about the axis of rotation, an integrally formed flange with a bore therethrough and a depending sleeve with a bore therethrough offset from the axis.

Abstract: A granulator comprises a rotary atomizer on to which the molten material to be granulated is poured in a stream. The rotation of the atomizer causes the molten material to be ejected therefrom in the form of globules. No fluid jets are used to break up the molten material. The globules pass through an enclosure and partially freeze to form granules which are collected in an annular trough. A gas is injected into the trough to induce a circumferential movement of the granules within the trough towards at least one exit from the trough.

Abstract: An apparatus for extruding a mass onto a moving support mechanism. A first cylinder for receiving the mass within its interior has an exit channel through which the mass is forced. A second cylinder is disposed about the first cylinder for relative rotation with respect to the first cylinder. The second cylinder includes a plurality of forming channels which repeatedly aligned with the exit channel of the first cylinder during relative rotation of the cylinders and through which the mass is forced. A plurality of nozzles are formed in the outer surface of the second cylinder and are shaped and arranged for guiding the excess mass away from the exit ends of the forming channels during at least a portion of the rotational movement of said second cylinder and for guiding the excess mass into the extruded mass at the extruding position of the apparatus.

Abstract: In order to form separate particles from a flowable mass, the flowable mass is fed through a pipe and extruded through holes formed along a longitudinal axis thereof. The pipe is oscillated by an agitator in a direction transversely of the longitudinal axis to cause the extruded mass to be sheared-off in the form of particles. Stop members can be positioned adjacent respective sides of the pipes to be contacted by the pipe and thereby define change-of-direction points for the pipe during its oscillation. The agitator may include piezoelectric ceramics attached to the stop members.

Abstract: A rotary fiberizer includes a spinner for centrifuging fibers from molten material along a path generally coplanar with the spinner, and a pair of opposed annular blowers positioned on opposite sides of the path of the centrifuged fibers, with the blowers having an interior face which is oriented toward the path of the centrifuged fibers, and the blowers having an exterior face which is oriented away from the path of the centrifuged fibers. An induced air conduit associated with each of the blowers is adapted to supply air to the path of centrifuged fibers, and the exterior faces of the blowers contain blower openings to discharge attenuation gasses into the induced air conduits to attenuate the centrifuged fibers.

Abstract: A method of producing a fibrous product is disclosed. Molten material is introduced into a rotating spinner which includes a peripheral wall having a plurality of orifices. The molten material is centrifuged through the orifices to create fibers. The fibers are directed generally downwardly and away from the spinner. The fibers are intercepted on a folded conveyor so that the fibers are draped over the folded conveyor. The fibers form first and second suspended portions which are oriented generally vertically. The folded conveyor and intercepted fibers are moved away from the spinner. The first and second portions of the suspended fibers are raised to a generally horizontal orientation by unfolding the conveyor, thereby producing a generally planar fibrous product.

Abstract: In a method for producing hollow mineral fibers such as glass fibers, molten glass is supplied to a rotating glass spinner having a peripheral wall. The spinner rotates so that molten glass is centrifuged through a first tube positioned at least mostly inside the peripheral wall of the spinner in an orifice to form fibers. Gas is introduced into the interior of the molten glass to form hollow glass fibers. A second tube positioned inside the first tube includes an inlet in the wall of the first tube, wherein the orifice and first tube are adapted to allow gas to be introduced through the inlet from outside the peripheral wall. The hollow glass fibers are then collected to form a product such as a mat.

Abstract: A fiber insulation product comprising hollow fibers. Each hollow fiber may be composed of at least two different thermoplastic insulating materials, such as glasses, having differing coefficients of thermal expansion, with each of the hollow fibers being an irregular-shape exhibiting a substantially uniform volume filling nature, and providing improved recovery and thermal conductivity abilities even in the absence of a binder material. An apparatus for making hollow fibers for such a product is also provided.

Abstract: A coating apparatus includes a rotary cup for forming beads and projecting them radially outwardly, and one or more collection basins surrounding the bead forming cup. The cup is adjustably rotatable about its central axis, and the collection basins are independently rotatable and positioned to collect the beads projected from the cup. The coating apparatus further includes an elevation adjustment system for axially adjusting the alignment of the cup with respect to the selected collection basins. The rotational speeds of the cup and the collection basins are selected so as to minimize the impact of the beads against a gelling solution in the collection basins. In use, a supply mixture is introduced into a mixing chamber of the cup. As the cup spins, the coated particles are propelled upwardly by the centrifugal force from the mixing chamber along the inner surface of the cup, and are projected radially outwardly, as beads, into the gelling solution in one of the selected basins.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and apparatus for forming a polyester polymer into particles. More particularly, this invention relates to a process and apparatus for forming crystalline, uniform pellets from an amorphous polyester melt. The polyester pellets have utility, for example, as feedstock for a process for producing higher molecular weight polyesters.

Abstract: Apparatus for making dual component fibers is provided and includes a spinner having a peripheral wall. The spinner includes orifices located on the exterior of the peripheral wall for centrifuging dual component fibers, with the spinner being divided into at least two compartments. The first and second molten thermoplastic materials are supplied to the spinner and directed into alternate ones of the compartments so that adjacent compartments contain different thermoplastic materials. Passages are located in each of the compartments through which the molten thermoplastic materials flow to the orifices on the peripheral wall of the spinner. At least some of the passages have branches which form a common inlet adjacent to the interior of the peripheral wall and which communicate with at least two different orifices on the peripheral wall of the spinner.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for extending the life of spinners by means of reinforcement which includes a plurality of arms secured to the bottom wall of a spinner either individually or via an annular plate from which the arms extend. The reinforcement applies a radially inward force on a flange extending from the top or center of an outer sidewall of the spinner. The arms exert the radial force as the result of offset cams, due to a prestressed condition which is released after the reinforcement is installed in a spinner or otherwise. If the spinner includes both a center flange and an upper flange, the reinforcement may be installed to engage the center flange with gussets interconnecting the center flange and the upper flange at least at locations corresponding to the reinforcement to thereby provide reinforcement for both flanges.

Abstract: A fiber manufacturing apparatus including a spinner, fixed to one end of a rotatable shaft and equipment for supplying at least one molten thermoplastic material to the spinner is provided. The spinner includes a radial wall and an outer peripheral wall. The radial wall extends radially out from the shaft and has an outer periphery. The peripheral wall is disposed around the outer periphery of the radial wall and has a plurality of orifices for centrifuging fibers from at least one molten thermoplastic material. The spinner is operatively adapted to be radially balanced during the centrifuging operation. By being so balanced, the spinner is less likely to exhibit temperature induced deformation that introduces undesirable process variables during the fiber manufacturing process.

Abstract: A granulation water control apparatus for a granulating machine used in a granular fertilizer production process and its granulation water control method. A particle size weight distribution of a semi-fabricated fertilizer discharged from the granulating machine is calculated, and a central particle size of the particle size weight distribution is calculated. The calculated central particle size and a previously set target central particle size are compared, and if they do not agree, a quantity of the granulation water to be charged into the granulating machine is calculated in accordance with a difference between the calculated central particle size and the target central particle size and the past statistical data.

Abstract: A molten substance is consolidated by being deposited onto a cooling belt which conveys the substance through a space formed between the belt and an overhead hood. The formation of exhaust dust from the substance is minimized by controlling heaters in the hood to vary the temperature along the space such that the saturation pressure in the space closely matches the vapor pressure of the substance as the substance travels through the space. Also, the hood is placed close to the cooling belt to minimize the velocity of vapors emitted from the substance within the space.

Abstract: A method for producing mineral wool of a material which is highly fluid at an elevated liquidus temperature in particular above 1,200.degree. C., with a viscosity of less than 5,000 poises at liquidus temperature, is proposed wherein the molten mineral material, after having destroyed all nuclei of crystallization, is supplied into a spinner (1') the peripheral wall (19) of which comprises a multiplicity of orifices with small diameters wherethrough said molten material is centrifuged to form filaments which, in a given case, are subjected to a supplementary attenuating effect of a preferably hot gas flow flowing along said peripheral wall (19) of said spinner (1') and generated by a concentric annular external burner (13). If fiberization of such a material is effected in the traditional way, a great proportion of unfiberized particles in the product will result.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing bismuth and bismuth alloy shot particles by a procedure whereby molten bismuth at a temperature less than about 100.degree. C. above the melting point of the bismuth is used to form drops of molten bismuth which fall through a vessel containing a material more viscous than water with the method having a Reynolds Number less than about 100. Preferred materials are polyethylene glycols having a molecular weight of about 4500 and 8000.

Abstract: In a cotton candy machine for spinning granular sugar into filaments and having a rotatable shaft, a spinner head mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, bearings rotatably supporting the rotatable shaft below the spinner head, an impeller mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith and being disposed between the spinner head and the bearings. The impeller rotates to blow sugar which finds its way down to the level of the impeller away from the bearings. The impeller has a plurality of radially extending fins or vanes on at least one of the upper and lower side, and an O-ring groove in its lower side in which an O-ring is seated which seals against the motor. Radially directed air flow generated by rotation of the impeller with the rotating shaft directs sugar granules away from the bearings, and the O-ring seals the impeller against the motor to provide an additional check against sugar entering the bearings. Sugar is unable to reach the bearings of the motor and motor life is increased.

Abstract: A process for producing fibers by spinning a resin by a centrifugal spinning process comprises supplying a resin solution having a viscosity from 50 to 200 Pa.s at the spinning temperature to a whirler plate and ensuring that the resin solution is under a sufficient pressure to completely fill the nozzles of the whirler plate as the fibers are being spun. The process is particularly suitable for producing fibers based on amino resins. In the apparatus the supply line for the resin is preferably located within the driveshaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for extruding a mass onto a moving support mechanism. A first cylinder for receiving the mass within its interior has an exit channel through which the mass is forced. A second cylinder is disposed about the first cylinder for relative rotation with respect to the first cylinder. The second cylinder includes a plurality of forming channels which repeatedly aligned with the exit channel of the first cylinder during relative rotation of the cylinders and through which the mass is forced. A plurality of nozzles are formed in the outer surface of the second cylinder and are shaped and arranged for guiding the excess mass away from the exit ends of the forming channels during at least a portion of the rotational movement of said second cylinder and for guiding the excess mass into the extruded mass at the extruding position of the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for making dual component fibers is provided and includes a spinner having a peripheral wall. The spinner includes orifices located on the peripheral wall thereof for centrifuging the dual component fibers, with the spinner being divided into a series of compartments by baffles positioned circumferentially around the interior of the peripheral wall. The baffles are positioned at an angle of from about 5.degree. to about 75.degree. from vertical, and most preferably about 45.degree. from vertical. The number of orifices on the spinner peripheral wall can thus be increased to increase the throughput of fibers from the spinner while still maintaining a minimum required spacing between orifices for the structural integrity of the spinner.

Abstract: Apparatus for making dual-component thermoplastic fibers, such as glass fibers, comprises a spinner having an orificed peripheral wall for centrifuging fibers from thermoplastic material, the spinner having vertically aligned compartments with first and second thermoplastic materials in alternate compartments, and a series of elongated orifices in the peripheral wall in communication with each of two adjacent compartments to enable centrifuging of both the first and second thermoplastic materials from a single orifice.

Abstract: Centrifugal spinning apparatus includes an annular, usually cup-shaped, spinning member which has a smooth interior surface extending towards the spinning end thereof which has spinning points formed thereon and grooves which extend across the end from the interior surface to the points to direct material in liquid form thereto.