MELT SPINNING APPARATUS FOR EXTRUDING A FIRST MELT AND A SECOND MELT

Abstract

A melt spinning apparatus for extruding a first melt and a second melt includes a first heat transfer fluid housing for providing a first heat transfer medium and a second heat transfer fluid housing for providing a second heat transfer medium. A pump carrier with a first pump device for pumping the first melt towards the second heat transfer fluid housing is mounted in the first heat transfer fluid housing. A spinning pump carrier, in which a spinneret pack for extruding the first melt and the second melt and a second pump device for pumping the second melt towards the spinneret pack are mounted, is mounted in the second heat transfer fluid housing. Such a melt spinning apparatus may be disassembled and cleaned via a method.

Claims

1. Melt spinning apparatus for extruding a first melt and a second melt, having a first heat transfer fluid housing for providing a first heat transfer medium and a second heat transfer fluid housing for providing a second heat transfer medium, wherein a pump carrier with a first pump device for pumping the first melt towards the second heat transfer fluid housing is mounted in the first heat transfer fluid housing, and a spinning pump carrier, in which a spinneret pack for extruding the first melt and the second melt and a second pump device for pumping the second melt towards the spinneret pack are mounted, is mounted in the second heat transfer fluid housing.

2. Melt spinning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an exchangeable coupling device for fluid-tight coupling of the second pump device to the spinneret pack is accommodated in the spinning pump carrier, between the second pump device and the spinneret pack.

3. Melt spinning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the coupling device is arranged in the second heat transfer fluid housing in order to couple a first feed line having the first pump device and/or in order to couple a second feed line having the second pump device to the spinneret pack.

4. Melt spinning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the coupling device has a first feed line for feeding the first melt to the spinneret pack and/or a second feed line for feeding the second melt to the spinneret pack and/or a supply line for supplying the second pump device with the second melt.

5. Melt spinning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the spinning pump carrier has a first installation space for accommodating the second pump device and the coupling device, and a second installation space for accommodating the spinneret pack, wherein the first installation space and/or the second installation space are/is accessible via a first through opening and/or a second through opening, thus enabling the second pump device, the coupling device and/or the spinneret pack to be inserted and installed via the respective through opening.

6. Melt spinning apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the spinning pump carrier has an installable and uninstallable first connection component for the first feed line, and/or an installable and uninstallable second connection component for the second feed line, wherein the first connection component and/or the second connection component can be installed and uninstalled with the first feed line and/or the second feed line by means of a first flange component and/or by means of a second flange component, wherein the first connection component and/or the second connection component are/is sealed off fluid-tightly with respect to the heat transfer medium.

7. Melt spinning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first heat transfer fluid housing and/or the second heat transfer fluid housing have/has a heat transfer fluid feed for feeding in and/or discharging the heat transfer medium.

8. Method for disassembling and cleaning a melt spinning apparatus which includes a first heat transfer fluid housing for providing a first heat transfer medium and a second heat transfer fluid housing for providing a second heat transfer medium, wherein a pump carrier with a first pump device for pumping the first melt towards the second heat transfer fluid housing is mounted in the first heat transfer fluid housing, and a spinning pump carrier, in which a spinneret pack for extruding the first melt and the second melt and a second pump device for pumping the second melt towards the spinneret pack are mounted, is mounted in the second heat transfer fluid housing, the method comprising: uninstalling the second pump device from a first installation space of a coupling device, uninstalling a first supply connection from a second connection component, uninstalling a first supply line from the coupling device, uninstalling the spinneret pack from a second installation space of the coupling device, removing the second pump device from the first installation space, removing the spinneret pack from the second installation space.

9. Method according to claim 8, further comprising: uninstalling a second supply connection from the second heat transfer fluid housing, spacing the first heat transfer fluid housing apart from the second heat transfer fluid housing, and uninstalling a second flange component from the coupling device.

10. Method according to claim 8, further comprising: burning out the second pump device, the first supply line and/or the spinneret pack in a burn-out oven, cleaning the second pump device, the first supply line and/or the spinneret pack from burn-out residues.

Description

[0052] The apparatus according to the invention is explained in greater detail below by means of a number of exemplary embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention with reference to the attached figures.

[0053] More specifically:

[0054] FIG. 1 shows schematically a section through a first exemplary embodiment of the melt spinning apparatus according to the invention for extruding a first melt and a second melt,

[0055] FIG. 2 shows schematically a section through a second exemplary embodiment of the melt spinning apparatus according to the invention for extruding a first melt and a second melt,

[0056] FIG. 3 shows schematically a section through a third exemplary embodiment of the melt spinning apparatus according to the invention for extruding a first melt and a second melt,

[0057] FIG. 4 shows schematically a section through a fourth exemplary embodiment of the melt spinning apparatus according to the invention for extruding a first melt and a second melt, and

[0058] FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the method steps for assembling and disassembling the melt spinning apparatus.

[0059] FIG. 1 shows schematically a first exemplary embodiment of the melt spinning apparatus 1 according to the invention for extruding a first melt P1 and a second melt P2.

[0060] The region for PA6.6 is located on the left-hand side of the two-part spinning beam. Here, a first melt P1 is distributed by a second pump device 8. In the event of a breakdown, this can be uninstalled. The region for the second meltable polymer (PA6, PA6.6) is located on the right-hand side.

[0061] The second heat transfer fluid housing 3 and the first heat transfer fluid housing 2 have different heat transfer medium temperatures and they are separated from one another until a point just before the spinneret pack 32.

[0062] The melt spinning apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a first heat transfer fluid housing 2 for providing a first heat transfer medium 4 and a second heat transfer fluid housing 3 for providing a second heat transfer medium 5.

[0063] The heat transfer medium 4, 5 is a heat transfer fluid, in particular Diphyl, which evaporates even at low temperatures. The heat transfer mediums 4 and 5 build up a lower vapour pressure than water, and therefore the heat transfer fluid housings 2 and 3 have to withstand a lower pressure and hence can have a lower wall thickness.

[0064] A pump carrier 20 is provided in the first heat transfer fluid housing 2, the said carrier having a first pump device for pumping a first melt P1.

[0065] The pump device 6 preferably has an external gear pump, which is driven by a first drive shaft 10 and can thus deliver a first melt P1, which is passed to the first pump device 6 via a second supply line 54.

[0066] The first melt P1 is converted to a plastic melt by means of an extruder (not illustrated). The same applies to the second melt P2, which stems, for example, from plastic chips from a different extruder.

[0067] The first melt P1 and the second melt P2 differ, for example, in their plastic composition or in their properties. Particularly plastic melt P2, which is provided in the second heat transfer fluid housing 3, can be PA6 or PA6.6, and this can entail particular difficult cleaning of the components contaminated therewith if this plastic melt sets.

[0068] The second supply line 54 is coupled fluid-tightly to the first heat transfer fluid housing 2 via a third supply connection 57, thus ensuring that no heat transfer medium can leave the heat transfer fluid housing 2. The term coupled is taken, in particular, to entail simple and easy installation and uninstallation.

[0069] The second supply line 54 can either be mounted on the first heat transfer fluid housing 2, or there are coupling components involved, such as a bayonet catch and/or a screwed joint, which can also be operated and opened and closed without a tool. A similar statement also applies to the coupling components and coupling connections of the second heat transfer fluid housing 3.

[0070] For easier installation of the second supply line 54 and of a first feed line 51, a mounting plate 60 is provided on the first pump device 6, at which plate a first feed line 51 for feeding the melt P1 towards the second heat transfer fluid housing 3, and the second supply line 54 can be coupled to the first pump device 6 with little effort.

[0071] The first melt P1 is delivered from the first pump device towards a spinneret pack 32 via a first feed line 51. The spinneret pack 32 is arranged in a spinning pump carrier 30 in a second installation space 34. The second installation space 34 has a second through opening 36. The plastic melt extruded by the spinneret pack can be extruded via the second through opening 36. In addition, the second through opening 36 is made large enough to enable easy insertion of the spinneret pack 32.

[0072] The second installation space 34 also contains the coupling points for the first feed line 51 of the first heat transfer fluid housing 2 and the second feed line 52 of the second heat transfer fluid housing 3. The first feed line 51 and the second feed line 52 are both accommodated in the spinning pump carrier 30. The spinning pump carrier 30 can be made from a material which is suitable for burning out. However, the first feed line and the second feed line 52 may also be formed separately in the spinning pump carrier 30.

[0073] A coupling device 50 is furthermore provided in the spinning pump carrier 30, the said coupling device coupling the second feed line 52 fluid-tightly to a second pump device 8. Like the first pump device 6, the second pump device 8 has a dedicated drive shaft 12. The drive shaft 12 is used to operate the second pump device 8, and is preferably likewise an external gear pump.

[0074] The coupling device 50 is coupled to the second pump device 8 in a manner which allows it to be installed and uninstalled, and additionally has a first supply line 53 for the second melt P2. Via the first supply line 53 the second melt P2 is transported towards the second pump device 8.

[0075] A second connection component 39 is coupled to the coupling device 50. By means of the second connection component 39, the first supply line 53 is brought to a first flange component 40. The first flange component 40 enables coupling to a first supply connection 55.

[0076] Via the first supply connection 55, the melt P2 is transferred from the extruder towards the second pump device 8.

[0077] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the melt spinning apparatus 1, wherein the elements indicated or shown with the same reference signs are identical with the elements in FIG. 1.

[0078] The spinning pump device 1 in FIG. 2 differs essentially in the routing of the first feed line 51 towards the spinneret pack 32 and in an additional first and second flange component 40 and 41, which improves the coupling of the first feed line 51 to the coupling device 50.

[0079] As in the first exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, the first flange component 40 is designed to couple the first supply connection 55 to the second connection component 39, in which the first supply line 53 for supplying the second pump device 8 is provided.

[0080] The connection of the first flange component 40 to the connection component 39 is preferably made by means of assembly bolts 42, which allow reliable and simple installation and uninstallation of the first flange component 40 to/from the first supply connection 55 and the second connection component 39.

[0081] The second flange component 41 is used to connect the second supply connection 56 of the first heat transfer fluid housing 2 to the first connection part 38 of the second heat transfer fluid housing 3.

[0082] Furthermore, the first connection component 38 with the coupling device 50 is coupled releasably to the flange component by means of bolts 42.

[0083] In addition, a first feed line 51 is formed in the coupling device 50, thus enabling the melt P1 of the first heat transfer fluid housing to be fed in via the first pump device 6.

[0084] In addition, a spinneret pack flange 80 is formed in the spinning pump carrier 30, the said flange separating the coupling device 50 and the spinneret pack 32 from one another, thus giving an additional possibility for cleaning.

[0085] The coupling device 50 can also be removed from the spinning pump carrier 30, thus enabling it to be cleaned separately in a burn-out oven.

[0086] This also applies to all the other components.

[0087] In addition, FIG. 2 indicates that the first heat transfer fluid housing 2 and the second heat transfer fluid housing 3 each have installation openings 21 to 27, via which the connection components 38 and 39, the first pump carrier 20 and the spinning pump carrier 30 can be inserted.

[0088] The first installation opening 21 allows the insertion of the spinning pump carrier 30 and, at the same time, access to the second pump device 8.

[0089] Furthermore, the coupling device 50 is configured in such a way that installation and uninstallation of the second pump device 8 and/or of the spinneret pack 32 can be carried out without the need to remove the second heat transfer medium 5 in the second heat transfer fluid housing 3.

[0090] The coupling device 50 shown in FIG. 2 differs from the coupling device 50 shown in FIG. 1 in that the coupling device 50 shown in FIG. 2 has a first supply line 53, which extends towards the second pump device 8, a second feed line 52, which extends from the second pump device towards the spinneret pack 32, and a first feed line 51, which comes from the first heat transfer fluid housing 2.

[0091] It should furthermore be noted that the first heat transfer medium 4 and the second heat transfer medium 5 are separated respectively in the first heat transfer fluid housing 2 and the second heat transfer fluid housing 4, and hence the heat transfer mediums 4, 5 can each provide different temperatures. It is thereby possible to prevent a deterioration of the respective melt because the heat transfer mediums 4, 5 can be set optimally to the respective temperature conditions.

[0092] The exemplary embodiments of the melt spinning apparatus 1 which are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 differ essentially in having an additional heat transfer fluid feed 70, via which the second heat transfer medium 5 can be separately fed into and discharged from the second heat transfer fluid housing 3. This is relevant, in particular, for the second heat transfer medium 5 since, in this case, in particular, the melts fed in require special extra cleaning of the components that come into contact therewith, e.g. the transfer of the components to a separate burn-out oven.

[0093] FIG. 5 shows, in a schematic illustration, the essential method steps for disassembling and cleaning the melt spinning apparatus 1.

[0094] In method step S1, the second pump device 8 is uninstalled from the first installation space 33 of the coupling device 50. For this purpose, suitable coupling points are provided in the coupling device and in the pump device 8.

[0095] In step 2, the first supply connection 55 is uninstalled from the connection structure 39, in particular the supply line 53 present therein, in steps S2 and S3.

[0096] In step S4, the spinneret pack is uninstalled from the second installation space 34 and from the coupling device 15.

[0097] After this, in steps S5 and S6, the pump device 8 and the spinneret pack 32 are removed from the first installation space 33 and the second installation space 34, respectively.

[0098] In step S7, the second supply line 56 is uninstalled from the second heat transfer fluid housing 3 to enable the first heat transfer fluid housing 2 to be spaced apart from the second heat transfer fluid housing 3 in step S8.

[0099] This is necessary so that the lines present in the second supply connection 56 can be removed.

[0100] For this purpose, the second flange component 41 is removed from the coupling device 50 in step S9.

[0101] In step S10, the components contaminated with PA6 or PA6.6, those of the second pump device 8, of the first supply line 53 and/or of the spinneret pack are then burnt out.

[0102] After the burning out of the second pump device 8, of the first supply line 53, and/or of the spinneret pack 32, additional cleaning and removal of the burn-out residues is performed.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0103] 1 melt spinning apparatus [0104] 2 first heat transfer fluid housing [0105] 3 second heat transfer fluid housing [0106] 4 first heat transfer medium [0107] 5 second heat transfer medium [0108] 6 first pump device [0109] 8 second pump device [0110] 10 first drive shaft [0111] 12 second drive shaft [0112] 20 pump carrier [0113] 21 first assembly opening [0114] 22 second assembly opening [0115] 23 third assembly opening [0116] 24 fourth assembly opening [0117] 25 fifth assembly opening [0118] 26 sixth assembly opening [0119] 27 seventh assembly opening [0120] 30 spinning pump carrier [0121] 32 spinneret pack [0122] 33 first installation space [0123] 34 second installation space [0124] 35 first through opening [0125] 36 second through opening [0126] 37 third through opening [0127] 38 first connection component [0128] 39 second connecting component [0129] 40 first flange component [0130] 41 second flange component [0131] 42 assembly bolt [0132] 50 coupling device [0133] 51 first feed line [0134] 52 second feed line [0135] 53 first supply line [0136] 54 second supply line [0137] 55 first supply connection [0138] 56 second supply connection [0139] 57 third supply connection [0140] 60 mounting plate [0141] 70 heat transfer fluid feed [0142] 80 spinneret pack flange [0143] P1 first melt [0144] P2 second melt