Method and apparatus for the simultaneous production of differently characterized extrudates

An assembly for incorporation of additives into individual streams of material passing through the outlet of an upstream processing assembly, said additive incorporation assembly comprising:

• a flow divider adapted for operative connection with said processing assembly outlet, said divider including a plurality of separate outputs and operable to separate said material passing through said processing assembly outlet into a plurality of separate material streams, each stream passing through a corresponding output;
• a plurality of individual mixing chambers each including a tubular housing presenting a housing input and a housing output, and an elongated, axially rotatable mixing element within the housing, said mixing chambers being in substantial axial alignment with each other,
• each of said flow divider outputs operably coupled with an input of one of said mixing chamber housings so that each of said separate material streams is directed to a respective mixing chamber;
• and
• a plurality of additive injectors for the addition of respective additives to each of said separate material streams.

A material processing method, comprising the steps of:

• generating a flow of material;
• dividing said material flow into a plurality of separate material streams;
• directing each of said streams to an individual mixing chamber including a tubular housing having an input and an output, and an elongated, axially rotatable mixing element within the housing;
• and
• adding a respective additive to each of said streams upstream of each housing outlet and upstream of the associated mixing chamber, and mixing each additive with the corresponding material stream by rotation of said elements.

Material processing apparatus comprising:

• an elongated barrel having a barrel outlet, and an elongated, flighted axially rotatable screw within the barrel in order to move material toward and through the barrel outlet;
• and
• an additive incorporation assembly coupled with said barrel outlet and including—
• a flow divider having a plurality of separate outputs and operable to separate said material passing through the barrel outlet into a plurality of separate material streams, each stream passing through a corresponding output;
• a plurality of individual mixing chambers each including a tubular housing presenting a housing input and a housing output, and an elongated, axially rotatable mixing element within the housing, at least one of said mixing chambers being in substantial axial alignment with said barrel,
• each of said flow divider outputs operably coupled with an input of one of said mixing chamber housings so that each of said separate material streams is directed to a respective mixing chamber;
• and
• a plurality of additive injectors for the addition of respective additives to each of said separate material streams.

Material processing apparatus comprising:

• an elongated barrel having a barrel outlet, and an elongated, flighted axially rotatable screw within the barrel in order to move material toward and through the barrel outlet;
• and
• an additive incorporation assembly coupled with said barrel outlet and including—
• a flow divider having a plurality of separate outputs and operable to separate said material passing through the barrel outlet into a plurality of separate material streams, each stream passing through a corresponding output;
• a plurality of individual mixing chambers each including a tubular housing presenting a housing input and a housing output, and an elongated, axially rotatable mixing element within the housing, there being a drive coupling between said screw and said mixing elements such that rotation of the screw effects rotation of said elements,
• each of said flow divider outputs operably coupled with an input of one of said mixing chamber housings so that each of said separate material streams is directed to a respective mixing chamber;
• and
• a plurality of additive injectors for the addition of respective additives to each of said separate material streams.

Material processing apparatus comprising:

• an elongated barrel having a barrel outlet, and an elongated, flighted axially rotatable screw within the barrel in order to move material toward and through the barrel outlet;
• and
• an additive incorporation assembly coupled with said barrel outlet and including—
• a flow divider having a plurality of separate outputs and operable to separate said material passing through the barrel outlet into a plurality of separate material streams, each stream passing through a corresponding output;
• a plurality of individual mixing chambers each including a tubular housing presenting a housing input and a housing output, and an elongated, axially rotatable mixing element within the housing, there being a common elongated shaft supporting each of said mixing elements,
• each of said flow divider outputs operably coupled with an input of one of said mixing chamber housings so that each of said separate material streams is directed to a respective mixing chamber;
• and
• a plurality of additive injectors for the addition of respective additives to each of said separate material streams.

An assembly for incorporation of additives into individual streams of material passing through the outlet of an upstream processing assembly, said additive incorporation assembly comprising:

• a flow divider adapted for operative connection with said processing assembly outlet, said divider including a plurality of separate outputs and operable to separate said material passing through said processing assembly outlet into a plurality of separate material streams, each stream passing through a corresponding output;
• a plurality of individual mixing chambers each including a tubular housing presenting a housing input and a housing output, and an elongated, axially rotatable mixing element within the housing, there being a common elongated shaft supporting each of said mixing elements,
• each of said flow divider outputs operably coupled with an input of one of said mixing chamber housings so that each of said separate material streams is directed to a respective mixing chamber;
• and
• a plurality of additive injectors for the addition of respective additives to each of said separate material streams.

A material processing method, comprising the steps of:

• generating a flow of material;
• dividing said material flow into a plurality of separate material streams;
• directing each of said streams to an individual mixing chamber including a tubular housing having an input and an output, and an elongated, axially rotatable mixing element within the housing, said chambers being in substantial axial alignment;
• and
• adding a respective additive to each of said streams upstream of each housing outlet and mixing each additive with the corresponding material stream by rotation of said elements.