The Conair Group, Inc.

Robert H Bessemer

David H Czarnik

William T Jones

Robert L Pader

Michael R Thomas

Ernest J Preiato

Marion M Meetze

Hoopes, Mark S

Stanley J Yeoman

Robert J Daily

Steve Lyons

Glen A Morris

Larry E Dismang

Mark S Hoopes

An apparatus and method for extruding, cooling and cutting an extrusion using temperature feedback can include an extruder for producing an extrudate which can be fed through appropriate sizing, support and cooling devices, which can include one or more of a vacuum chamber, cooling chamber, and calibrators having internal cooling passages. The apparatus can also include a cutting blade, a programmable temperature controller for controlling the cooling of the extrudate based upon feedback on the temperature of the extrudate sensed near the cutting blade and/or prior to a device which feeds the extrusion through the system. The method can include sensing the temperature of the extrudate, at a point near the cutting blade and/or prior to the feed device, subsequent to extrusion being passed through the sizing, support and/or cooling devices. Such feedback can be used to control the cooling of the extrudate such that the extrudate is maintained within a desired range of temperature as it is cut and/or engaged by the feeding device. Where calibrators are used the apparatus can include additional temperature sensors at different sides the calibrators and/or different sides of a multi-sided extrudate. Such additional temperature feedback can be used by the temperature controller to adjust the temperature of the extrudate, including at different surfaces of a multi-sided extrudate.

Apparatus and method for producing and cutting extruded material using temperature feedback

An apparatus and method for extruding, cooling and cutting can include an extruder for producing an extrudate which can be fed through appropriate sizing, support and cooling devices, which can include a vacuum chamber, cooling chamber, and calibrators, which can have internal cooling passageways. The apparatus can also include a cutting blade, a programmable temperature controller for controlling the temperature of the extrudate prior to being cut by the cutting blade, and a temperature sensor, which can be positioned near the cutting blade and provide feedback to the temperature controller. The method can include sensing the temperature of the extrudate, at a point near the cutting blade, after it is fed through the sizing, support and cooling devices and before being cut. Such feedback can be used to control the temperature of the extrudate such that the extrudate is maintained within a desired range of temperature as it is cut. The temperature controller can automatically cool and maintain the extrudate within a desired range of temperatures using the temperature feedback at the point near the cutting blade. Where calibrators are used the apparatus can include additional temperature sensors at different sides of a multi-sided extrudate at a point near where the extrudate exits the calibrator. Such additional temperature feedback can be used by a temperature controller to adjust the temperature of the extrudate, and also at different surfaces of a multi-sided extrudate.

A method and apparatus for using vaporized liquid cryogen to cool articles, particularly extrusions, utilizing dispersion of liquid cryogen into a chamber wherein it is substantially vaporized and then circulated through cooling circuits in a tool for cooling the tool, or an article such as an extrusion which is to be cooled by the tool. Additionally, the tool may itself be disposed in a cooling chamber in which vaporized cryogen is circulated to cool the tool and the article.

Method and apparatus for cryogenic cooling

A rotary knife cutter is provided. The rotary knife cutter has a flywheel to which knife blades are attached at the circumference of the flywheel. The flywheel is directly driven by a gear reducer that is directly connected to a servo-motor. The servo-motor may be operated to rotate the flywheel at a constant speed for cutting or the servo-motor may cause the flywheel to stop after each revolution to regulate the cutting desired. One or more blades may be attached to the flywheel depending upon the desired type of cuts to be made. Cutter bushings varying in size and cross-sectional shape may be utilized to guide a particular cross-sectional size and shape of material to the cutter knives.

Rotary knife cutter

A clutch-brake device having a housing, a shaft rotationally mounted therethrough, modular coupling units rigidly coupled to the shaft at either side of the housing, and an adapter which allows a single modular unit to be utilized interchangeably in either a clutch or a brake configuration. Each modular unit has a coupling member carrying an annular friction ring. The coupling member is rotationally connected to and spaced apart from a resilient disk defining a vacuum chamber therebetween. The resilient disk is rigidly attached to the modular unit and may be tapered towards the outer edge. The modular unit may also have several shims predisposed between the resilient disk and the coupling member which can be periodically removed to maintain the gap between the resilient disk and the annular friction ring within a preferred range. The device may have a microprocessor controlled high speed switch for controlling electromagnets which regulate engagement of the resilient disks. The microprocessor may utilize current controlled pulse width modulation and may regulate the energy applied to the electromagnets at a first energizing threshold power level and a second holding threshold power level. Additionally, the microprocessor may briefly reverse the polarity of the electromagnets to repel vacuum blocking discs associated with therewith. The microprocessor may also provide a coast time during which both the brake and the clutch are contemporaneously disengaged. The vacuum blocking discs which are typically round may have four straight edges machined slightly therein to form a square with rounded corners.

Fluid operated modular clutch-brake device

A guide roller assembly is provided for use with a vacuum sizing apparatus having an elongated vacuum cooling tank containing a water bath through which plastic extrudate passes longitudinally. The guide roller assembly has a plurality of guide rollers each individually mounted on its own roller axle. A roller assembly pivot shaft is removably and pivotally secured within the elongated vacuum tank and supports the axles of the respective guide rollers. The guide rollers may be pivotally rotated between a working position where the axles are horizontal and the guide rollers bear down upon the extrudate passing through the vacuum cooling tank and a nonworking position where the guide rollers are raised above the water surface of the vacuum cooling tank and to one side of the tank. The entire guide roller assembly may be removed from the vacuum tank by retracting the telescoping pivot shaft and removing the ends of the pivot shaft from recesses formed in the end walls of the vacuum cooling tank.

Guide roller assembly for a vacuum sizing tank

A vacuum tank for a vacuum sizing apparatus is provided. The vacuum tank is especially suited to control with precision the size and cooling of small sized plastic extrudate. The vacuum tank has coolant tubes between the double walls of the tank so that the coolant is not directly exposed to the extrudate. A water make-up tube having very small holes in it is disposed below the surface of the water in the vacuum tank so that make-up water will enter the tank with a minimum of turbulence being created. Slots provided in a rotatable water over-flow tube permit the level of the water within the vacuum tank to be adjusted and the slots provide a non-turbulent exit of over-flow water from the vacuum tank. A pre-skin block is positioned within the vacuum tank and is designed to minimize turbulence of water at the pre-skinning position within the tank.

Vacuum tank for vacuum sizing apparatus

A vacuum sizing apparatus with a controlled vacuum is provided. The vacuum is precisely controlled by the use of a variable speed motor driven vacuum pump and a step motor controlled vent valve. An electrical circuit containing a microprocessor coordinates the speed of the motor driven vacuum pump with the position of the vent valve to give precise vacuum control within the vacuum chambers of the sizing apparatus. A closed sump tank contains water for the water system of the apparatus and is maintained at the same vacuum level as the vacuum chambers within the sizing apparatus.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Robert H Bessemer