In-line compounding and extrusion system
AssigneeCrane Plastics Company LLC
InventorArthur F. Korney, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is a continuous in-line compounding and extrusion system that does not require pre-dried wood flour or pelletized feed stock of cellulosic/polymer composite materials in order to produce net shapes from cellulosic/polymer composite materials. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention utilizes automated loss-in-weight feeders to dispense wood flour and all of the other cellulosic/polymer composite materials into a compounder. The compounder blends the cellulosic/polymer composite materials into a composite melt. The composite melt is continuously devolitalized as it travels through the compounder, a transition chute, and a finish extruder. The composite melt is then forced through a profile die which is fitted to the finish extruder in order to achieve a net shape.
Claims20
A process for producing a net shape, said process comprising:
- providing ingredients of a cellulosic/polymer composite material, said ingredients including a cellulosic material having a moisture content;
- dispensing said ingredients into a first extrusion device independently of a step of pre-drying said cellulosic material immediately in advance of said dispensing step, said first extrusion device having a first extruder screw;
- blending said ingredients into a composite melt in said first extrusion device such that said moisture content of said cellulosic material is reduced;
- transferring said composite melt to a second extrusion device having a second extruder screw, said second extruder screw independent from said first extruder screw of said first extrusion device;
- and
- forcing said composite melt through a shaping device in association with said second extrusion device in order to form said net shape;
- wherein said net shape is substantially free of damage that can be caused by an excessive moisture content of said cellulosic/polymer composite material.
A process for producing a net shape, said process comprising:
- providing a cellulosic material having a moisture content;
- dispensing said cellulosic material into a first extrusion device independently of a step of pre-drying said cellulosic material immediately in advance of said dispensing step, said first extrusion device having a first extruder screw;
- blending said cellulosic material with a polymer in said first extrusion device to form a composite melt such that said moisture content of said cellulosic material is reduced;
- transferring said composite melt to a second extrusion device having a second extruder screw, said second extruder screw independent from said first extruder screw of said first extrusion device;
- and
- forcing said composite melt through a shaping device in association with said second extrusion device in order to form a net shape;
- wherein said net shape is substantially free of damage that can be caused by an excessive moisture content of said cellulosic material.
A process for producing a net shape, said process comprising:
- providing a cellulosic material having a moisture content;
- dispensing said cellulosic material into a first extrusion device having a first extruder screw;
- blending said cellulosic material with a polymer in said first extrusion device to form a composite melt such that said moisture content of said cellulosic material is reduced;
- transferring said composite melt to a second extrusion device having a second extruder screw, said second extruder screw independent from said first extruder screw of said first extrusion device;
- and
- forcing said composite melt through a shaping device in association with said second extrusion device in order to form a net shape at a rate of at least 3,000 pounds per hour;
- wherein said net shape is substantially free of damage that can be caused by an excessive moisture content of said cellulosic material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.