Recycling systems and methods for plastic waste

A recycling system for feed material containing plastic waste, the recycling system comprising:

• a chamber assembly defining a working chamber;
• a shaft;
• the shaft having,
• a first portion extending through the chamber,
• a second portion extending outside of the chamber,
• first and second bearing systems for supporting the shaft for axial rotation;
• a sleeve supported on the shaft for movement in relative to the shaft between an operating position and a maintenance position, where
• the sleeve having a length,
• the entire length of the sleeve is located within the chamber assembly on the first portion of the shaft when the shaft supports the sleeve in the operating position, and
• the entire length of the sleeve is located outside of the chamber assembly on the second portion of the shaft when the shaft supports the sleeve in the maintenance position;
• and
• the first portion of the shaft remaining within the chamber when the sleeve is in the maintenance position,
• a plurality of arms supported by the sleeve such that the arms are arranged in a plurality of offset rows and radially extend from the sleeve;
• a drive system for rotating the shaft;
• whereby
• the drive system rotates the shaft to process the feed material with the sleeve in the operating position, and
• the entire length of the sleeve and each of the plurality of arms may be accessed with the sleeve in the maintenance position.

A compounding system for feed material containing plastic waste, the recycling system comprising:

• a chamber assembly defining a working chamber;
• a shaft;
• the shaft having,
• a first portion extending through the chamber,
• a second portion extending outside of the chamber,
• a sleeve supported on the shaft for movement in relative to the shaft between an operating position on the first portion of the shaft within the chamber and a maintenance position on the second portion of the shaft, where
• the sleeve having a length,
• the entire length of the sleeve is located within the chamber assembly when the shaft supports the sleeve in the operating position, and
• the entire length of the sleeve is located outside of the chamber assembly when the shaft supports the sleeve in the maintenance position;
• and
• the first portion of the shaft remaining within the chamber when the sleeve is in the maintenance position,
• the sleeve defines a plurality of arm cavities each comprising a base portion and a restricted portion;
• a plurality of arms supported by the sleeve such that the arms radially extend from the sleeve, where the arms each define a base plate and a working portion;
• whereby
• the restricted portions receive the working portions of the arms;
• a cross-sectional area of the base plate is greater than a cross-sectional area of the working portion;
• and
• rotation of the shaft causes the arms to process the feed material.

A method of compounding feed material containing plastic waste, the method comprising the steps of:

• supporting a plurality of arms arranged in a plurality of offset rows on a sleeve;
• the sleeve having a length,
• supporting the sleeve on a shaft for movement in relative to the shaft between an operating position and a maintenance position;
• the shaft having,
• a first portion extending through the chamber,
• a second portion extending outside of the chamber,
• supporting the shaft such that the entire length of the sleeve is located within a chamber assembly on the first portion of the shaft when the shaft supports the sleeve in the operating position, and
• the entire length of the sleeve is located outside of the chamber assembly on the second portion of the shaft when the shaft supports the sleeve in a maintenance position;
• and
• the first portion of the shaft remaining within the chamber when the sleeve is in the maintenance position,
• rotating the shaft to process the feed material with the sleeve in the operating position;
• and
• accessing the entire length of the sleeve and each of the plurality of arms with the sleeve in the maintenance position.