The present invention relates to a process for devolatilising polymer-containing media such as, in particular, polymer melts, polymer solutions and dispersions and also devolatilisation apparatuses for carrying out the abovementioned process.

A feeding screw machine serves for feeding a processing screw machine. The feeding screw machine comprises a housing with at least one housing bore formed therein. An associated screw conveyor shaft is rotatably disposed in the at least one housing bore to convey material in a conveying direction from a supply opening to a feeding opening. An emptying opening is formed in the housing. The emptying opening enables an easy, fast and reliable emptying and cleaning of the feeding screw machine independently of the processing screw machine.

A hosing cleaning device for cleaning a housing of a screw machine comprises a support unit displaceable relative to the housing, and at least one housing cleaning unit arranged at the support unit for cleaning an inner wall of the housing, wherein the least one housing cleaning unit can be reversibly inserted into the housing. An associated shaft cleaning device for cleaning at least one treatment element shaft of the screw machine comprises a cleaning chamber, in which the at least one treatment element shaft can be arranged, and at least one shaft unit arranged in the cleaning chamber.

A mixing and extrusion machine (10) for the manufacture of rubber mixtures has a mixer with a converging conical twin screw (12) with a fixed frame (14) that supports sleeves (16). Two screws (18), being mounted at an angle, are mounted in the mixer (12) so as to move in translational movement between an opening (22) arranged upstream and an outlet (25) arranged downstream of the sleeves, so that the thread tips of each screw contact tangentially the surfaces of the opposite screw so that the screws remain substantially in contact with each other when the screws rotate at an angle and at a center distance that facilitates self-cleaning. The screw threads maintain tangential contact with the inner surfaces of the sleeves, thus preventing the retention of mixing material on these surfaces.

A planetary roller extruder for homogenizing, dispersing, pasteurizing, and purposefully controlling the temperature of biodegradable materials that are prone to altering their properties during processing, in particular the properties that rule out further use after the materials have been processed, such as food, medicinal products or pharmaceutical products, different regions being present in the planetary roller extruder. The planetary roller extruder includes a flow conduit having various transitions from one region to a next region in an interior and components being statically and movably installed. A seal is installed between statically installed components, by which seal gaps or cavities present are configured to be closed. A slide ring seal provides sealing between moving components, which are led from the flow conduit in the interior outward to a surrounding area, so as to avoid steps and/or notches along flow surfaces in a transition region of the moving components.