FEEDING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FEEDING FLUFF AND GRANULES INTO AN EXTRUDER

Abstract

The invention describes a feeding device for feeding fluff and granules into an extruder having a supplying apparatus with an outlet-side pipe piece for the granules, with which the granules can be fed while forming a granule column, wherein the pipe piece is connected to an inlet opening of the extruder, having a funnel with a funnel outlet for supplying fluff, wherein an auger is provided within the funnel for conveying fluff, which projects through the funnel outlet and into the pipe piece, wherein the fluff is conveyable within the granule column.

The auger is configured in order to also convey parts of the granules and/or to compact the fluff.

Claims

1. A feeding device for feeding fluff and granules into an extruder having a supplying apparatus with an outlet-side pipe piece for the granules, with which the granules can be fed while forming a granule column, wherein the pipe piece is connected to an inlet opening of the extruder, having a funnel with a funnel outlet for supplying fluff, wherein an auger is provided within the funnel for conveying fluff, which projects through the funnel outlet and into the pipe piece, wherein the fluff is conveyable within the granule column, characterized in that the auger is configured in order to also convey parts of the granules and/or to compact the fluff with a compacting device.

2. The feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that a part of the end of the auger arranged within the pipe piece is wider than the funnel outlet.

3. The feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that a granule conveying device is arranged above the funnel outlet.

4. The feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that the auger is designed to be at least double-start.

5. The feeding device according to claim 1, characterized in that a dust collecting device is provided for vacuuming dust out of the funnel.

6. A method for feeding fluff and granules into an extruder, in which the granules are fed with a supplying apparatus having an outlet-side pipe piece while forming a granule column, wherein the pipe piece is connected to an inlet opening of the extruder, and in which fluff is supplied with a funnel outlet having a funnel outlet, wherein fluff is conveyed within the funnel with an auger, wherein the auger projects through the funnel outlet and into the pipe piece, wherein the fluff is conveyed within the granule column, characterized in that the auger also conveys parts of the granules and/or compacts the fluff.

Description

[0018] FIG. 1A sectional view of a feeding device according to the prior art

[0019] FIG. 2A first embodiment of the invention

[0020] FIG. 3A further embodiment of the invention

[0021] FIG. 4A further embodiment of the invention

[0022] FIG. 5A further embodiment of the invention

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a feeding device 1 according to the prior art, comprising a funnel 2 that tapers in the direction of the extruder 3 and continues into the funnel outlet 4. Through the funnel 2 and the funnel outlet 4, an auger 5 projects, which, driven by the motor 6, rotates in the direction of the arrow 7. The auger comprises a coil 8, of which individual elements are visible in the sectional view. Fluff can be supplied to the funnel 2 through a supply opening 9 in the direction of the arrow 10. Fluff is not shown.

[0024] The fluff is conveyed through the funnel outlet 4 by the rotation of the auger.

[0025] Furthermore, a granule supplying device 11 is visible, which continues in a pipe piece 12. The auger continues up to this pipe piece 12, so that fluff is also conveyed into the granules. Granules and fluff enter the extruder 3 in the direction of arrow 13, are melted there, and enter a film machine along the arrow 14.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the invention, in which the coil 8 is designed to be wider below the funnel outlet 4 than inside the funnel outlet. As a result, not only fluff but also granules are conveyed by the auger directly below the funnel outlet.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention, in which the auger 5 is designed to be double-start. This means that the auger comprises two coils 8 and 8.

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention, in which granules can also be fed to the funnel 2 in the direction of arrow 15. For example, the granules can enter the funnel via a branch of the granule conveying device, so that the granules can be supplied via two paths. However, it is also possible to supply further granules. Often, a plurality of different granules are supplied to an extruder in order to tailor the properties of a film or a layer within the film.

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which a vacuum is applied to the funnel 2 so that air and/or dust can be sucked out of the funnel. This is indicated by arrow 16.

TABLE-US-00001 List of Reference Numerals 1 Feeding Device 2 Funnel 3 Extruder 4 Funnel Outlet 5 Auger 6 Motor 7 Arrow 8 Coil 9 Supply Opening 10 Arrow 11 Granule Supplying Device 12 Pipe Piece 13 Arrow 14 Arrow 15 Arrow 16 Arrow 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24