A multiple screw extruder (50) combines application of vacuum to a vacuum vent (62) positioned between material feed locations (70, 72) of the extruder and use of specially configured extruder screws (58) to extract gases, primarily air, out of the extruder to densify the materials introduced into it and to extract unwanted fluid from material introduced for mixture with molten polymeric material flowing through the extruder. The multiple screw extruder is operationally versatile in that it is capable of carrying out the material densification and fluid extraction processes either separately or simultaneously. Implementation of the disclosed vacuum feed technology provides an increase in rate of extrudate throughput as compared with that achievable by implementation of atmospheric venting (16) in a conventionally configured extruder (10a, 10b).

A multiple screw extruder (50) combines application of vacuum to a vacuum vent (62) positioned between material feed locations (70, 72) of the extruder and use of specially configured extruder screws (58) to extract gases, primarily air, out of the extruder to densify the materials introduced into it and to extract unwanted fluid from material introduced for mixture with molten polymeric material flowing through the extruder. The multiple screw extruder is operationally versatile in that it is capable of carrying out the material densification and fluid extraction processes either separately or simultaneously. Implementation of the disclosed vacuum feed technology provides an increase in rate of extrudate throughput as compared with that achievable by implementation of atmospheric venting (16) in a conventionally configured extruder (10a, 10b).

A twin screw extruder (10) for producing a fiber-reinforced resin composition, which is obtained by charging the extruder with a thermoplastic resin and reinforcing fibers in roving form and the reinforcing fibers being fibrillated/cut and being dispersed/kneaded into the thermoplastic resin, comprises: a plate-shaped blade (15), which protrudes from the inner surface of a cylinder (11) and faces a screw (20) and the longitudinal direction of which faces the axial direction of the cylinder; and a height adjustment means (16) for adjusting the gap between the blade (15) and the screw (20).

A heating apparatus for at least one housing section of a screw extruder comprises at least two heating elements which are connected to contact plugs via connection lines. For the purpose of supplying power, the heating apparatus comprises an electrical supply line which is connected to a plug-in contact distributor. The plug-in contact distributor comprises at least two plug-in contacts. The contact plugs are releasably connected to the plug-in contacts. The heating apparatus renders possible simple exchange of a heating element and is therefore easy to service. The modular construction of the heating apparatus renders possible flexible use.

The invention herein pertains to a device and system for controlled mixing of textured material along a linear path by means variable ohmic controls. The device comprising the following components: a dual auger unit wherein two linear augers are held within a single linear casing, each said linear augers having an increased diameter pitch along its length, perforations along the length of said single linear casing, electro-conductive plates attachable to each said perforation. The preferred embodiment of this invention is intended to be used for mixing pasta filata cheese curds to form a singular cheese mass with consistent texture. The device may also be used to mix other types of fluid textured material including food and non-food substances.

A barrel of a plastics extruder or a plasticizing cylinder of an injection-molding machine includes the barrel or cylinder having a wall, at least one spiral recess formed in the wall, and at least one heating element arranged in one spiral recess. The barrel or cylinder has at least one cooling element arranged in another spiral recess and the spiral recesses extend parallel to one another along the surface of the barrel or cylinder. Also, the cooling element is formed as a tube and the tube is or can have a liquid cooling medium flowing therethrough.

A barrel of a plastics extruder or a plasticizing cylinder of an injection-molding machine includes the barrel or cylinder having a wall, at least one spiral recess formed in the wall, and at least one heating element arranged in one spiral recess. The barrel or cylinder has at least one cooling element arranged in another spiral recess and the spiral recesses extend parallel to one another along the surface of the barrel or cylinder. Also, the cooling element is formed as a tube and the tube is or can have a liquid cooling medium flowing therethrough.

An improved extruder apparatus is disclosed and which includes a cylindrical barrel having a feed end and a discharge end, the feed end having an inlet in fluid communication with a hopper. The extruder screw is mounted in the cylindrical barrel, and the screw has an outer surface having one or more helical flights mounted thereon. wherein the inlet end of the cylindrical barrel has a support frame mounted thereto, wherein an upper surface of the support frame is connected to a throat of a hopper, wherein an insert is mounted to the support frame and has a lower end which extends down into the cylindrical barrel, wherein the insert has an internal passageway having a first opening on the lower end and a second opening upstream of the screw for relieving the pressure.

An improved extruder apparatus is disclosed and which includes a cylindrical barrel having a feed end and a discharge end, the feed end having an inlet in fluid communication with a hopper. The extruder screw is mounted in the cylindrical barrel, and the screw has an outer surface having one or more helical flights mounted thereon. wherein the inlet end of the cylindrical barrel has a support frame mounted thereto, wherein an upper surface of the support frame is connected to a throat of a hopper, wherein an insert is mounted to the support frame and has a lower end which extends down into the cylindrical barrel, wherein the insert has an internal passageway having a first opening on the lower end and a second opening upstream of the screw for relieving the pressure.

A polyvinyl acetal poly(vinyl acetal), such as polyvinyl butyral, resin formulation, a method of extruding poly(vinyl acetal) resins, and related materials and products that provide for monolithic poly(vinyl acetal) sheets and glass panes having high Tg of at least 50 C. and high modulus at acceptable rates as indicated by their high melt flow index. This is made possible by a reduction in the amount of plasticizer while using a low molecular weight resin not to exceed 160,000 to obtain a thermoplastic resin having a high melt flow index and high Tg. The articles made with these monolithic interlayer sheets can be used in applications that require good modulus at outdoor temperatures.