Apparatus for melt mixing synthetic polymers

A system for mixing first and second polymer melt flows and directing a mixed polymer melt flow thereof to one and another downstream locations comprising:

• a control valve having an inlet port for receiving the first polymer melt flow, and a pair of outlet ports;
• a fluidic valve for forming the mixed flow of the first and second polymer melt flows and directing said mixed flow to one of a plurality of downstream locations, said fluidic valve having:
• (1) a primary supply port for receiving said second polymer melt flow,
• (2) a pair of secondary supply ports which are fluid-connected with said primary supply port at a mixing intersection, and
• (3) a plurality of discharge ports extending from said mixing intersection, each said discharge port for directing said mixed flow of said first and second polymer melt flows to a respective downstream location;
• and
• a pair of branch conduits each of which fluid-connects one of said pair of outlet ports of said control valve to a respective one of said secondary supply ports of said fluidic valve;
• wherein
• said control valve includes valve members movable into first and second positions so as to cause said first polymer melt flow to either flow respectively entirely through either a first or second one of said branch conduits such that said first polymer flow merges with said second polymer flow at said mixing intersection to thereby responsively cause said mixed flow of said first and second polymer melt flows to be diverted into a respective one of said plurality of discharge ports thereby directing said mixed flow of said first and second polymer melt flows to a respective one of said downstream locations and wherein
• said control valve members are movable into a third positions so as to cause said first polymer melt flow to flow partially through each of said pair of branch conduits so that said first polymer flow at said mixing intersection merges with said second polymer flow at said mixing intersection to responsively cause said mixed flow of said first and second polymer melt flows to be diverted to another one of said plurality of discharge ports.

A system for melt mixing synthetic polymers and directing mixed flows thereof to one and another downstream locations comprising:

• (a) first and second extruders for forming first and second polymer melt flows, respectively;
• (b) a conduit system having first and second branch conduits;
• (c) a two-way control valve which is fluid-connected to said first extruder and said conduit system, said control valve receiving said first polymer melt flow from said first extruder and directing said first polymer melt flow through at least one of said first and second branch conduits;
• (d) a fluidic valve for forming first and second mixed flows of said first and second polymer melt flows and directing said first and second mixed flows to one and another downstream locations, said fluidic valve having,
• (i) first and second primary supply ports respectively fluid-connected to said first and second branch conduits of said control valve, each said first and second primary supply ports for receiving at least a portion of said first polymer melt flow from said first extruder;
• (ii) a secondary supply port for receiving said second polymer melt flow from said second extruder;
• (iii) a mixing intersection which fluid-connects said primary and secondary supply ports, and
• (iv) at least one and another discharge ports extending from said mixing intersection and respectively fluid-connected to said one and another downstream locations, wherein
• (e) said control valve is selectively movable between at least first and second conditions so as to respectively cause said first polymer melt flow to either flow (i) entirely through said one of said branch conduits such that said first polymer melt flow is directed through said first primary supply port and merges with said second polymer melt flow at said mixing intersection to form a first mixed flow thereof which responsively causes said first mixed flow to be diverted to said one discharge port and be directed thereby to said one downstream location, or (ii) entirely through said another of said branch conduits such that said first polymer melt flow is directed through said second primary supply port and merges with said second polymer melt flow at said mixing intersection to form a second mixed flow thereof which responsively causes said second mixed flow to be diverted to said another discharge port and be directed thereby to said another downstream location.