A system and method to dispense, mix, and inject liquids and force them into a vented investment pattern mold cavity comprises a source of raw materials in fluid communication with an injection unit for metering and delivering the raw materials. A mixing and injection head receives and mixes the metered raw materials. A movable molding cart upon which an investment pattern mold is mounted is disposed adjacent the injection unit and proximate the mixing and injection head. The movable molding cart includes a fill cup that may be engaged by the mixing and injection head. A displaceable gating tray provides fluid communication with the fill cup and a sprue aligned with an investment port on a lower portion of the investment pattern mold. The system also includes a digital computer control by which the injection process may be controlled.

A mixing and extrusion machine (10) for the manufacture of rubber mixtures includes 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) in such a way as to move in translational movement between an opening (22) arranged upstream and an outlet (25) arranged downstream of the sleeves. The screws are mounted in the sleeves with removable doors including sliding shutters (40) installed relative to the outlet (25). The sliding shutters move linearly between a closed position, in which the sliding shutters prevent the mixer from discharging the mixture, and an open position, in which the sliding shutters prevent discharge of the mixture through the sides of two counter-rotating rollers (32) of a roller nose type system located just downstream of the outlet.

The invention refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.

Provided are a granulating device die, a granulating device cutter blade holder, a granulating device cutter blade unit, a resin-cutting device, and a granulating device, in all of which an increase in size is suppressed even when the processing amount is increased. The die (10) includes a bottom surface (10B), an upper surface (10A) having a radius smaller than a radius of the bottom surface (10B), a side surface (10C) that connects an outermost peripheral portion of the bottom surface (10B) and an outermost peripheral portion of the upper surface (10A), and a plurality of die holes (11) that discharge a resin raw material, the die holes being defined in the side surface (10C).

A strand manufacturing apparatus capable of reducing variations among diameters of resin strands without stopping the operation of an extruder is provided. A strand manufacturing apparatus includes a die in which an outflow hole for discharging a resin material contained in an extruder as a string-shaped resin strand is formed, an adjustment valve configured to adjust opening of the outflow hole, an image acquisition unit configured to acquire an image of the resin strand extruded from the outflow hole, a diameter acquisition unit configured to acquire a diameter of the resin strand in the image, and an opening adjustment unit configured to adjust the opening by driving the adjustment valve based on the diameter of the resin strand acquired by the diameter acquisition unit.

Methods and mechanisms for mixing and dispensing multipart materials is provided. The methods and mechanisms may be used for mix on demand operations as well as for encapsulation of electronic components. The methods and mechanisms may incorporate a mixer assembly from which material is substantially directly dispensed. The methods and mechanisms may incorporate mix on demand where first and second material supply sources include pumping arrangements for pumping first and second materials through a mixing arrangement. The pumping forces provided by the pumping arrangements also provide the force to dispense the mixed material where it will ultimately be formed, such as a potting location or a mold.

A device according to various embodiments for preparing wet grain can include at least a first screw configured to receive wet grain. A second screw receives the wet grain from the first screw. At least one of a compressing element and a dehydrating element is included with at least one of the first screw and the second screw to cause a physical property change to the wet grain.

Polymer pellets are formed using laminar gas flow within a downstream gas conduit, as may be implemented consistent with one or more embodiments herein. A gas channel directs gas to an outlet of a polymer extrusion mandrel via which a polymer melt is extruded. A downstream gas conduit extends away from the outlet of the polymer extrusion mandrel, and provides laminar gas flow along the polymer melt extending from the extrusion mandrel, and within the downstream gas conduit. Using this approach, laminar flow can be maintained along an initial portion of the polymer melt, and used to control the subsequent formation of pellets therefrom.

Provided is a resin pelletizer device capable of monitoring cavitation. A resin pelletizer device (100) includes a die (6) including a die surface (61) in which die holes (63) are formed, rotary blades (21) that rotate on the die surface (61) in the water, thereby cutting resin extruded from the die holes (63) in the water into a pellet form, a sensor (150) that detects an elastic wave generated during the rotation of the rotary blades (21) on the die surface (61), and a determination unit (121) that monitors an output value of the sensor (150), and determines that cavitation occurs when the output value of the sensor (150) becomes less than a predetermined threshold.

Valve mechanism for at least one liquid plastic component or liquid plastic, comprising a closure device that includes a needle which can be pressed against a seat in order to close a valve opening in the valve mechanism, said needle and/or seat being designed or mounted in such a way as to be resilient.