Systems and methods for making thermoplastic products and compositions
AssigneeEnnis-Flint, Inc.
InventorsNathan Hoover Cross, Alex Cady, Bradley Hepler, Andy Parker, Vince Wilkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Thermoplastic compositions useful for roadway markings may be produced using a continuous systems and process methods that can reduce costs and improve product quality. Systems may comprise a feed system comprising a plurality of feeders and a mixing system comprising a mixer and a smoothing system. Each feeder may be configured to discharge a material at a feed rate according to a selected product formulation The mixing system may be configured to receive, heat, and combine the materials to produce a thermoplastic material, and discharge the thermoplastic material at a determined discharge rate.
Claims15
A system for continuously producing thermoplastic material for roadway markings, the system comprising:
- a feed system comprising a plurality of feeders, each feeder configured to discharge a material at a feed rate according to a selected product formulation;
- a mixing system configured to receive, heat, and combine the materials to produce a thermoplastic material, and discharge the thermoplastic material at a determined discharge rate;
- and
- a control system configured to monitor process performance, product quality parameters, or combinations thereof, and adjust the feed rate of one or more of the feeders based on the discharge rate from the mixing system, the selected product formulation, or combinations thereof,
- wherein the mixing system comprises a mixer and a smoothing system comprising a vibratory conveyer or screw conveyer, and
- wherein the smoothing system is configured to receive the materials from the feed system and feed the materials to the mixer.
A method for continuously producing thermoplastic composition for roadway markings comprising:
- charging a feed system comprising a plurality of feeders with components of the thermoplastic composition;
- discharging the components from the feeders at a determined feed rate;
- feeding the components to a mixing system, wherein the mixing system comprises a mixer and a smoothing system;
- mixing and heating the components in the mixing system;
- blending at least a portion of the components in the smoothing system prior and feeding the blended components to the mixer;
- discharging the thermoplastic composition;
- and
- performing inline quality analysis and adjusting a feed rate of at least one component according to an inline quality analysis result.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.