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US 7,070,404 B2Granted
Computer-controlled compounding extrusion blending apparatus and method
OwnerDaniel Joseph MacPhee, Christopher Mark Tannerinventors
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Abstract
An extruder apparatus for compounding thermoplastic resin and reinforcing fibers is disclosed. Molten thermoplastic resin is mixed in intimate contact with long reinforcing fibers of at least one and one quarter inches in length under the control of a sophisticated computer system, resulting in charge ready for molding.
Claims24
A compounding extruding and blending apparatus, comprising:
- a blending system comprising a closed-loop auger feeder, responsive to a computer system;
- wherein said blending system further comprises a vacuum loader and thermoplastic dryer, and includes dual paths which either incorporate or bypass said dryer and the choice of said paths can be made through said computer;
- an extrusion system for forming a charge from the output of said blending system, comprising a screw, barrel, and knife, said extrusion system also responsive to said computer system;
- wherein said extrusion system further comprises a low shear barrier screw inside a heated barrel, said screw being retractable and movable in both horizontal directions within said barrel and responsive to head pressure generated by a melt stream that is conveyed toward one end of said barrel against a knife, wherein said knife acts as a barrier to the flow of materials produced by the natural pumping action of said screw.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.