A system for producing a homogenous extrudate powder coating composition having predetermined properties, the system comprising a color library database that is configured to store one or more input formulation data objects capable of use in controlling the inputs and operation of an electronically controlled homogenous extrudate mixer.

Thermoplastic compositions useful for roadway markings may be produced using a continuous systems and process methods that can reduce costs and improve product quality. Systems may comprise a feed system comprising a plurality of feeders and a mixing system comprising a mixer and a smoothing system. Each feeder may be configured to discharge a material at a feed rate according to a selected product formulation The mixing system may be configured to receive, heat, and combine the materials to produce a thermoplastic material, and discharge the thermoplastic material at a determined discharge rate.

Methods for startup of an extruder include (a) initiating feed of a polymer resin to the extruder using a volumetric feeder such that, where the melt index of the polymer resin is less than 10 g/10 min (ASTM D1238 at 230° C., 2.16 kg), the volumetric feeder is operated at a first volumetric feeder speed; or (b) initiating feed of a polymer resin to the extruder using the volumetric feeder such that, where the melt index of the polymer resin is 10 g/10 min or greater, the volumetric feeder is operated at a second volumetric feeder speed greater than the first. The first volumetric feeder speed can range from about 20% to about 25% of the volumetric feeder max speed; and the second volumetric feeder speed can range from about 30% to about 35% of the volumetric feeder max speed.

Provided is a production apparatus capable of producing a flexible tube whose hardness is naturally varied along the length direction thereof. This mixing valve includes: a first valve configured to distribute a first resin to a resin supply path and a resin discharge path; and a second valve configured to distribute a second resin to the resin supply path and the resin discharge path. In the mixing valve, the mixing proportion between the first resin and the second resin is increased or decreased in association with molding of the flexible tube, by changing a distribution ratio of the first resin in the first valve and a distribution ratio of the second resin in the second valve while keeping constant the total of the supply mounts of the first resin and the second resin supplied to a die.

The apparatus (100) includes a die head (118) for extruding a main comestible material to form an extrudate body. A plurality of nozzles (160, FIG. 7) is located within the die head for introducing a comestible fluid into the extrudate body to form a plurality of filled capillaries. A control system (182) is capable of selectively connecting at least one of the nozzles to any one of at least two different fluid filling sources (150A, 15 OB). The control system may be capable of connecting each of the nozzles independently to different fluid sources or the nozzles may be arranged into two or more groups of flu idly interconnected nozzles that can each be independently switched between different fluid sources. The apparatus can be used to form products in which the fillings in the capillaries are varied or in which an image is formed in cross section. The apparatus can also be used to switch production between products having different fillings without stopping extrusion.

In at least one embodiment, a molding method for producing a molded article is provided. The method may include introducing polymer and fiber separately into an extruder in a first ratio to produce a first extruded material having a first fiber content and in a second ratio to produce a second extruded material having a second fiber content different from the first fiber content. The method may further include filling a first region of a mold with the first extruded material and a second region of the mold with the second extruded material. The extruded material may be formed as blanks for use in compression molding or may be introduced into an injection chamber for use in injection molding. The method may be used to form molded articles having a plurality of regions having different fiber contents.

The invention relates to a process for the production of articles, exemplarily a plastic article, by means of an extruder (1) to which a first plastic composition of a first main component and at least one associated minor component is supplied from a first group of dosing stations (21, 24). According to the invention, during the production time of a first production order there is prepared a second group of dosing stations (31, 33) at the extruder for a second production order for which a second plastic composition of a second main component and at least one associated minor component that is different from the first plastic composition has to be supplied to the extruder. After completion of the first production order it is reset to the second production order by terminating the supply of the first plastic composition by closing a first shut-off device (8) and starting the supply of the second plastic composition by opening a second shut-off device (8′).

A method and an apparatus manufactures and tests workpieces. The apparatus is mountable on or includes a system for mixing or melting materials. The apparatus includes application units and a replacement system that is designed to automatically replace application units in respect of the position or function thereof.

A method is disclosed for die coating a moving substrate with a high viscosity material such as a polymer. The method includes heating and mixing ingredients to form a homogenous mixture, pumping the mixture around a circulation loop with a first pump, maintaining a predetermined pressure of the mixture within the circulation loop, drawing mixture from the circulation loop with a second pump, delivering the mixture using the second pump to an extrusion die adjacent the moving substrate to coat the substrate, and controlling the second pump as a function of at least the speed of the moving substrate to maintain predetermined characteristics of the coating mixture applied to the moving substrate. An apparatus for carrying out the method also is disclosed.

A weighing apparatus for the preparation of a mixture of granular components that comprise batches of material required by a plurality of processing machines in a plant for the manufacture of plastic products is described. The apparatus comprises a Multi-Channel Gravimetric Batch Blender (MCGBB) configured to weigh predetermined weights of the raw materials and to combine the weighed portions of raw materials into batches according to a predetermined recipe for each processing machine and a computer that controls the operation of all components of the MCGBB. The MCGBB comprises several weighing units arranged in a way that allows material weighed in each of the weighing units to fall through individual chutes via a common funnel into a manifold that distributes the weighed batches to several processing machines via a system of delivery pipes.