A system for depositing a composite filler material into a channel of a composite structure includes an end-effector configured to extrude a bead of the filler material into the channel. The filler material can comprise a first group of relatively long fibers, a second group of relatively short fibers and a resin. A drive system is configured to move the end-effector relative to the channel, and a position sensor is configured to detect the position of the bead relative to the channel. A controller is configured to operate the drive system in response to the detected position and to operate the end-effector to heat and compress the filler material so as to orient the longer fibers in a substantially longitudinal direction relative to the channel and the shorter fibers in substantially random directions relative to the channel when the bead is extruded into the channel.

A system for extrusion of material, for example chopped waste plastic, comprises a treatment device (101) for extruding the material and a feeder device (102) comprising a screw conveyor (103) for supplying the material to the treatment device. A screw element (104) of the screw conveyor has: a) a conical profile so that a diameter of the screw element decreases in a moving direction of the material and/or b) a thread-pitch decreasing in the moving direction of the material and/or c) an axial thickness of a screw thread crest increasing in the moving direction. The conical profile of the screw element and/or the thread-pitch decreasing in the moving direction and/or the axial thickness of the screw thread crest increasing in the moving direction improve the ability of the screw conveyor to compact the material and thereby to supply a sufficiently uniform material flow to the treatment device.

Apparatus and methods for manufacturing compostable, biodegradable drink straws from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) material are disclosed herein. Such apparatus may include a hopper that contains raw PHA material, an extruder that receives the raw PHA material from the hopper and produces extruded PHA material, one or more waters baths that cool the extruded PHA material, a puller that pulls a tubular stream of PHA material through the system, and a cutter that is configured to cut the stream of PHA material into finished straws. The finished straws may be soil-and marine-biodegradable, as well as home-and industrial-compostable.

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.

Methods of transforming an ultra-high molecular weight polymer into a processable material and compositions resulting from those methods. The methods may include a combination of applying a shear force to a polymer and heating the polymer. Also described are methods for using the compositions.

Methods of transforming an ultra-high molecular weight polymer into a processable material and compositions resulting from those methods. The methods may include a combination of applying a shear force to a polymer and heating the polymer. Also described are methods for using the compositions.

A method for preparing at least a first component of a comestible composition includes providing particles of an encapsulating ingredient having an average longest dimension of less than 1000 microns to a mixer. Particles of an active ingredient having an average longest dimension of less than 1000 microns are also provided to said mixer. A composition of said encapsulating ingredient and said active ingredient is formed.

A planetary roller extruder with planetary spindles and stop ring. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading Abstract of the Disclosure. The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.

A thermoplastic composite structure is produced by extruding a bead of composite material to a desired cross sectional shape. An extruder extrudes the polymer bead containing reinforcing fibers, using a low compression first extruder stage where the polymer is mixed and de-gassed, and a high compression second stage where the polymer is consolidated and extruded. The cross sectional profile of the polymer bead may be altered using a variable extruder gate.

A plant and method for making continuous yarns made of silicone material comprises at least an extrusion station, into which the material is introduced in an amorphous condition, and extrusion means which cause the material to exit from the extrusion station along an extrusion axis. The plant also comprises a vulcanization station, located downstream of the extrusion station, at a determinate distance therefrom, in which the continuous yarn is vulcanized in a direction of treatment. The plant also comprises a drawing unit, disposed downstream of the vulcanization station.