Synchronized temperature contol of plastic processing equipment
AssigneeXaloy, Inc.
InventorsBruce F. Taylor, Robert Kadykowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for processing plastic feed material includes a machine having a barrel and a screw that rotates in a repetitive cycle in the barrel. An induction winding encircles and extends along an outer surface of the barrel. A control system includes a controller that determines a duty cycle referenced to a length of the machine cycle in response to an error between a desired barrel temperature and a current barrel temperature. The controller electrically connects the power supply to the induction winding at least once during each cycle for a period whose length corresponds to the duty cycle.
Claims25
An apparatus for processing plastic feed material comprising:
- a machine that includes a barrel and a screw that rotates in the barrel during repetitive machine cycles;
- an induction winding encircling and extending along an outer surface of the barrel;
- an electric power supply;
- and
- a controller measuring a barrel temperature that synchronizes a heating cycle including having a supply of energy from the electric power supply to the induction winding with each machine cycle, and controls a magnitude of the electric power supplied during one of the machine cycles in response to a barrel temperature error.
A system for processing plastic feed material comprising:
- a machine that includes a barrel and a screw that rotates in the barrel during at least a portion of a repetitive machine cycle;
- an induction winding encircling and extending along an outer surface of the barrel;
- an electric power supply;
- and
- a controller that synchronizes a heating cycle including having a supply of electric energy from the electric power supply to the induction winding with a machine cycle, an initiation of said supply of power being delayed relative to a beginning of the machine cycle, and controls a magnitude of said power supplied during the machine cycle in response to a barrel temperature error.
A method for controlling the application of electric power to an induction winding of a machine for processing plastic feed material that includes a barrel and a screw that rotates in a repetitive machine cycles in the barrel, comprising the steps of:
- determining a barrel temperature error;
- synchronizing a heating cycle including having a supply of electric energy from the electric power supply to the induction winding with each machine cycle;
- and
- reducing the barrel temperature error by controlling a magnitude of said electric energy supplied during one of the machine cycles.
An apparatus for processing plastic feed material comprising:
- a machine that includes a barrel and a screw that rotates in the barrel during repetitive machine cycles;
- a heating element encircling and extending along an outer surface of the barrel;
- an electric power supply;
- and
- a control system operatively connected to the heating element, the power supply and the machine, and including a controller that synchronizes a heating cycle including having a supply of electric energy from the electric power supply to the heating element with a start of each of the machine cycles, and controls a magnitude of said electric energy supplied to the heating element during each machine cycle, said magnitude of electric energy varying with a barrel temperature error.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.