The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 10, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 16, 1997
Christian Millauer, Niederuzwil, CH;
Flint Ink Corporation, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to a process where a wetting agent of solids, such as pigments, is to be changed from a first (e.g. aqueous) agent of a lower affinity to the solids to a second (e.g. oily) agent of a higher affinity to the solids. Solids, e.g. pigments, and agents are introduced into an extruder at a predetermined volume rate per time unit. The extruder includes an extruder barrel, with at least one screw which has screw threads over its length, a helical space between adjacent screw threads, and a drive for rotating the screw at a predetermined speed. The supply rate and the discharge speed of the extruder screw are selected in such a manner as to fill only part of the space between adjacent screw threads by solids and by the first and second agents, thereby retaining a free helical space to allow the first agent to segregate. At least one lateral opening is provided in the barrel for the first agent to escape.