Apparatus for manufacturing expandable polystyrene (EPS) pellets
AssigneePolysource, Inc.
InventorsErik T. Anderlind, Erik W. Wehtje
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for manufacturing expandable polystyrene (EPS) pellets includes a continuous process extruder, a die, a pelletizer and a hot water annealing quencher assembly. The pelletizer cuts strands of EPS material extruded from the extruder and die into uniform EPS pellets. The annealing quencher assembly includes a quencher tank, a water vortex substantially immersed therein for generating a slurry of water and EPS pellets discharged from the pelletizer, a quenching loop, and a slurry pump for pumping the slurry from the water vortex through the quenching loop to thereby anneal the EPS pellets.
Claims13
An apparatus for manufacturing expandable polystyrene pellets, the apparatus comprising:
- a continuous process extruder having an output port;
- a die, including a die chamber forming a conical distribution channel in fluid communication with the output port of said extruder, and a die plate having a plurality of orifices arranged in an annular configuration complementary with an annular cross section of said distribution channel and in fluid communication therewith;
- tension means for drawing down under tension a plurality of strands of expandable polystyrene material respectively extruded from said plurality of orifices;
- a pelletizer for cutting each of said plurality of strands into a plurality of uniform pellets;
- and
- means for annealing said plurality of pellets by hot water quenching.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.