Apparatus and methods for converting resin into colored finished or semi-finished plastic parts include a process machine having a barrel, a rotatable screw inside the barrel, and a color feed conduit assembly extending into the barrel for passage of liquid color through the color feed conduit assembly into proximity with the screw.

A processing system for bulk material comprises a processing device for the bulk material, at least one bulk material storage container for storing the bulk material, a bulk material dosing device connected to the at least one bulk material storage container for dosed discharge of the bulk material from the bulk material storage container, a bulk material downcomer connected to the bulk material dosing device for conveying the bulk material into the processing device, at least one additive feed for feeding an additive, an additive dosing device connected to the at least one additive feed for dosed discharge of the additive from the additive feed, and an additive downcomer connected to the additive dosing device for conveying the additive into the processing device, wherein the bulk material downcomer directly connects the bulk material dosing device to the processing device.

Described is a coextrusion head (1) comprising a plurality of infeeds (11, 12, 13, 14, 15) for fluid products, an inner joining space (16, 17), positioned downstream of said infeeds and communicating with them by means of respective delivery ducts (110, 120, 130, 140, 150) so as to allow flows of products to converge there and an outfeed (18) for the final multi-layer product, positioned downstream of the inner joining space (16, 17). In the head (1) there is a central delivery duct (110), provided for receiving a first flow of product and two lateral delivery ducts (120, 130), designed to receive, respectively, a second flow of product and a third flow of product. The head (1) also comprises adjustable narrowing means (31, 32), acting at least in the central delivery duct (110) and designed to vary a respective opening, to allow adjustment of the relative position of the first flow relative to a composite secondary flow defined by the joining of the first, second and third flow in the joining space (16) .

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.

Provided is a three-dimensional modeling material used for a fused deposition modeling three-dimensional printer. The three-dimensional modeling material has a multilayer structure and contains, in respective different layers, a thermoplastic resin (A) having a shear storage elastic modulus (G′) of 1.00×10.sup.7 Pa or less as measured at 100° C. and 1 Hz and a thermoplastic resin (B) having a shear storage elastic modulus (G′) of more than 1.00×10.sup.7 Pa as measured at 100° C. and 1 Hz.

Described is a system for transferring a dose of polymeric material comprising a head for supplying the polymeric material and at least one conveying device, provided with a conveying wall, which is configured for advancing along a path through the supplying head for transferring to the conveying wall a dose obtained from the polymeric material supplied from the supplying head; and wherein the supplying head comprises a duct which is provided with a straight outfeed region extending along an axis which is configured to supply the polymeric material to a supplying outfeed. The outfeed region comprises at least a first zone and a second zone facing each other, the supplying head having at least one variation configuration in which the first zone and the second zone are asymmetrical to disturb a flow of polymeric material in the outfeed region in such a way as to control the supplying direction of the polymeric material, supplied from the supplying outfeed and to transfer to the conveying wall. A method is also proposed for transferring the dose of polymeric material from the supplying head to the conveying device and a method for supplying the dose.

Provided is a three-dimensional modeling material used for a fused deposition modeling three-dimensional printer. The three-dimensional modeling material has a multilayer structure and contains, in respective different layers, a thermoplastic resin (A) having a shear storage elastic modulus (G′) of 1.00×10.sup.7 Pa or less as measured at 100° C. and 1 Hz and a thermoplastic resin (B) having a shear storage elastic modulus (G′) of more than 1.00×10.sup.7 Pa as measured at 100° C. and 1 Hz.

Apparatus 2 for dosing a liquid colour formulation into polymer includes a weighing platform 4 which is supported on a pair of load cells 6 which are, in turn, supported on a base 8. A reservoir 12 contains liquid colour formulation 14. A pump 16 is arranged to pump liquid formulation, via a tube 20, to an extruder or injection moulding machine. Above inlet 24 is a delivery pack 26 which includes a bag-in-a-box arrangement 28. The delivery pack 26 includes a transfer pump 36 associated with an outlet of the receptacle 32. A transfer pump motor 38 is arranged to be engaged with the transfer pump 36 and operated so that liquid formulation can be pumped from the receptacle 32 into reservoir 12 across an air gap 13 defined between the transfer pump 36 and the inlet 24 of reservoir 12. There is no pipe, tube or other conduit through which liquid formulation passes on travel between delivery pack 26 and reservoir 12.

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.