Crane Plastics Company LLC

Crane Plastics, Inc.

Herbert L Hutchison

Jeffrey R Brandt

Matthew F Kollar

Byron W Rose

Robert White, Jr

The present invention relates to a system and a method for cooling extruded and molded materials. The present invention is especially useful to thoroughly cool an extrudate by directing a cooling fluid toward a surface of the extrudate (e.g., an interior surface that defines a hollow portion of an extrudate). Hollows may be created in order to reduce material, weight, and/or processing time. A cooling fluid is diverted toward the surface of the extrudate so as to cool the material and assist in solidification. A baffle may serve to divert the cooling fluid in the desired direction. In another example, the extrudate may be partially or totally immersed in a liquid cryogenic fluid. Increases in production line throughput may result by rapidly cooling the molded material. In addition, the more efficient cooling may be achieved with a lesser amount of the cooling fluid, and the velocity and temperature of the cooling fluid may be reduced. Other uses for the present invention include injection molding, compression molding, gas assist molding, and co-extrusion.

Cooling of extruded and compression molded materials

The present invention relates to a system and a method for cooling extruded and molded materials. The present invention is especially useful to thoroughly cool an extrudate by releasing a cooling fluid in a hollow portion of the extrudate. Hollows may be created in order to reduce material, weight, and/or processing time. A fluid below about 80 degrees Fahrenheit is released into the hollow so as to cool the material and to assist in solidification. Increases in production line throughput may result by rapidly cooling the molded material. Other uses for the present invention include injection molding, compression molding, gas assist molding, and co-extrusion.

The present invention relates to a system and a method for cooling extruded and molded materials. The present invention is especially useful to thoroughly cool an extrudate by directing a cooling fluid toward a surface of the extrudate (e.g., an interior surface that defines a hollow portion of an extrudate). Hollows may be created in order to reduce material, weight, and/or processing time. A cooling fluid is diverted toward the surface of the extrudate so as to cool the material and assist in solidification. A baffle may serve to divert the cooling fluid in the desired direction. Increases in production line throughput may result by rapidly cooling the molded material. In addition, the more efficient cooling may be achieved with a lesser amount of the cooling fluid, and the velocity and temperature of the cooling fluid may be reduced. Other uses for the present invention include injection molding, compression molding, gas assist molding, and co-extrusion.

A cellulose/polyolefin pellet comprising polyolefin material and cellulosic material. The pellet may be concentrated such that it contains less than about 20% by weight of the polyolefin material and at least about 55% by weight of the cellulosic material. The pellet may be shipped to a remote manufacturing location where it may be blended with additional polyolefin material to make a synthetic wood component.

Cellulose/polyolefin composite pellet

The present invention includes an extrusion line system capable of simultaneous running and retooling. The invention utilizes a turret device having an upper surface adapted to rotate about a central point. The turret device has on its upper surface a first and second production line portion. The production line portions are positioned on the upper surface such that when the turret device is in one position the first production portion may be used with an extrusion device. When the turret device is in a second position, the second production portion may be used. This approach allows retooling of one of the production portions while the other production portion is running on the line.

Turret loading device for extrusion line

The present invention relates to a system and a method for cooling extruded and molded materials. The present invention is especially useful to cool the hollows found in many extrudates. Hollows may be created in order to reduce material, weight and/or processing time. A fluid below about 40 degrees Fahrenheit is released into the hollow so as to cool the material and to assist in solidification. Additionally, the exterior of the molded material may be subjected to the cooling fluid so as to cool the material and to assist in solidification. Cooling may be further augmented by conventional methods such as a water bath. Increases in production line throughput may result by rapidly cooling the molded material. Other uses for the present invention include injection molding, compression molding, gas assist molding, and co-extrusion.

Cryogenic cooling of extruded and compression molded materials

A dual-durometer integral synthetic resin hinge joins two relatively rigid synthetic resin sections. The hinge comprises a first ply of the same composition and hardness as the rigid panels and an overlying second ply of relatively softer synthetic resin material. The first ply of the hinge is scored to provide a fracture line adjacent the hinge axis.

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Blacklick, OH, United States of America

Herbert L Hutchison