Rotary processor for plastic and polymeric materials providing surge

Abstract

A rotary processor has enclosed processing passages defined by channels in the rotor and a stationary coaxial closure. At least one processing passage is used as a stabilizing passage and another as a metering passage, whose volume and cross section are less than the stabilizing passage. A feed of plastic or polymeric material enters the stabilizing passage and may be subject to fluctuations or disturbances arising in external upstream equipment or within upstream stages of the processor itself. Substantially all material in the stabilizing passage is diverted through a first transfer passage to an entrance into the metering passage. An adjustable metering (throttling) element allows a controlled first flow of material to be carried downstream through an adjustable gap between this metering element and the bottom of the metering passage. This controlled first flow is discharged for providing material having uniform flow or at least a marked reduction in such fluctuations and disturbances. The excess material which does not pass through the adjusted gap forms a recycled second flow which is returned back through a second transfer passage into said stabilizing passage for recycling. A modified embodiment shown as metering pumping apparatus includes pairs of stabilizing and metering passages sharing in handling throughput with adjustable throttling means for each metering passage. Interconnecting transfer passages equalize operation among these pairs. A transfer passage is also shown extending from an upstream processing passage to and past a metering passage to a stabilizing passage.