High Specific Mechanical Energy extruder screw assemblies (14, 88, 98) and complete extruders (10, 86, 96) are provided, which include wide-flight intermediate screw sections (104) having axial flight widths greater than the flight widths of the inlet and outlet screw sections (102, 106) on opposite sides of the intermediate sections (104). The intermediate sections (104) provide increased friction and shear serving to enhance the SMEs imparted to comestible food materials during processing thereof.

High Specific Mechanical Energy extruder screw assemblies (14, 88, 98) and complete extruders (10, 86, 96) are provided, which include wide-flight intermediate screw sections (104) having axial flight widths greater than the flight widths of the inlet and outlet screw sections (102, 106) on opposite sides of the intermediate sections (104). The intermediate sections (104) provide increased friction and shear serving to enhance the SMEs imparted to comestible food materials during processing thereof.

A screw for a plasticating apparatus has one or more helical flights. A portion of the screw has a plurality of advancing grooves arranged in a noncontinuous helix cut in the screw. The advancing grooves are dimensioned to receive material therein as the material is conveyed through the barrel. The screw has a plurality of noncontinuous cross-cut grooves traversing one or more of the advancing grooves. The cross-cut grooves have a second helix angle greater than the first helix angle and less than ninety degrees; and/or one or more of the cross-cut grooves have a third helix angle of about ninety degrees.

The invention relates to a mixing device for a twin-screw extruder, in particular a twin-screw extruder rotating in the opposite direction, comprising a first screw and a second screw, for mixing a melt flow in a screw antechamber, wherein the first screw has an extension in the form of a mixing screw tip connected to the first screw in a fixed manner, and a first melt channel, into which the first screw feeds, is arranged in a flow-connected manner via an elongated slot with a second melt channel, into which the second screw feeds.

The invention relates to a mixing device for a twin-screw extruder, in particular a twin-screw extruder rotating in the opposite direction, comprising a first screw and a second screw, for mixing a melt flow in a screw antechamber, wherein the first screw has an extension in the form of a mixing screw tip connected to the first screw in a fixed manner, and a first melt channel, into which the first screw feeds, is arranged in a flow-connected manner via an elongated slot with a second melt channel, into which the second screw feeds.

The present disclosure concerns effervescent compositions and methods of making and using the same. In some embodiments, the disclosed effervescent compositions are formed from an input blend comprising an acid and a base by granulating the input blend in a twin-screw processor. The granules formed from the input blend can be formed by an in situ granulating agent, which can be a portion of the acid that melts during granulation. In some embodiments, the effervescent compositions can be made using a twin-screw processor comprising an intake zone for receiving an input blend comprising an acid and a base; a granulation initiation zone for melting only a portion of the acid to serve as an in situ granulating agent; a granulation completion zone for granulating the input blend; and an outlet for discharging the granules.

A screw for a plasticating apparatus has one or more helical flights. A portion of the screw has a plurality of advancing grooves arranged in a noncontinuous helix cut in the screw. The advancing grooves are dimensioned to receive material therein as the material is conveyed through the barrel. The screw has a plurality of noncontinuous cross-cut grooves traversing one or more of the advancing grooves. The cross-cut grooves have a second helix angle greater than the first helix angle and less than ninety degrees; and/or one or more of the cross-cut grooves have a third helix angle of about ninety degrees.

A screw for a plasticating apparatus has one or more helical flights. A portion of the screw has a plurality of advancing grooves arranged in a noncontinuous helix cut in the screw. The advancing grooves are dimensioned to receive material therein as the material is conveyed through the barrel. The screw has a plurality of noncontinuous cross-cut grooves traversing one or more of the advancing grooves. The cross-cut grooves have a second helix angle greater than the first helix angle and less than ninety degrees; and/or one or more of the cross-cut grooves have a third helix angle of about ninety degrees.

The present disclosure is related to apparatuses, processes, and extrusion screws directed to process solid detergent compositions in shapes like billets, bars, tablets, noodles, and similar shapes produced from extruded synthetic detergents, soaps, and combinations thereof. The present disclosure describes an extrusion screw for processing synthetic detergents, soaps, and combinations thereof. The extrusion screw comprises a feed section, a metering section, and a compression section. Said compression section has a proximal channel depth adjacent to the feed section, and a distal channel depth adjacent to the metering section, and a compression ratio that may be between 2.2, and 4.1, for example, between 2.2, and 2.6. The extrusion screw may have a length to diameter ratio (L/D) that may be between 4.0, and 6.0. The present disclosure also describes an apparatus for processing synthetic detergents, soaps, and combinations thereof. The apparatus comprises a barrel and said extrusion screw. The present disclosure also describes a process for extruding solid synthetic detergents, soaps, and combinations thereof. The process comprises a step of providing a formulation that may be selected from synthetic detergent, and half-synthetic soap to said apparatus, and compressing said formulation at a temperature between 32° C., and 42° C. with a compression section of the extrusion screw. The screw rotation speed of the extrusion screw may be between 4, and 20 RPM. The formulation may be provided prewarmed. The screw rotation speed of the extrusion screw may be between 4, and 35 RPM (e.g., between 4 and 20 RPM).

The present disclosure concerns effervescent compositions and methods of making and using the same. In some embodiments, the disclosed effervescent compositions are formed from an input blend comprising an acid and a base by granulating the input blend in a twin-screw processor. The granules formed from the input blend can be formed by an in situ granulating agent, which can be a portion of the acid that melts during granulation. In some embodiments, the effervescent compositions can be made using a twin-screw processor comprising an intake zone for receiving an input blend comprising an acid and a base; a granulation initiation zone for melting only a portion of the acid to serve as an in situ granulating agent; a granulation completion zone for granulating the input blend; and an outlet for discharging the granules.