Method of coloring thermoplastics

Claim 1

IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THERMOPLASTIC POLYMERS, A METHOD OF MEASURING AND TRANSFERRING A MASTERBATCH COMPOSITION FROM AN ATMOSPHERIC ZONE INTO AN ALWAYS SEALED PROCESS ZONE WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF (A) FEEDING SAID MASTERBATCH DOWNWARDLY THROUGH A VERTICALLY EXTENDED CONDUIT HAVING AN UPPER AND LOWER PORTION SEPARATED BY A BALL-SHAPED VALVE MEMBER HAVING A HOUSING INTO A CHAMBER OF SAID BALLSHAPED VALVE MEMBER, (B) CONTINUALLY ROTATING SAID BAL-SHAPED VALVE MEMBER AT A R.P.M. AT LEAST GREAT ENOUGH TO PRODUCE A PRODUCT CONTAINING UNIFORM DISPERSION OF SAID MASTERBATCH, SAID ROTATION BEING FIRST THROUGH 180* THEREBY DISCHARGING SAID MASTERBATCH FROM SAID CHAMBER INTO SAID LOWER PORTION OF SAID CONDUIT AND THEN THROUGH ANOTHER 180* WHEREIN SAID CHAMBER IS AGAIN IN CONTACT WITH SAID UPPER PORTION OF SAID CONDUIT AND IS AGAIN CHARGED WITH MASTERBATCH, SAID ROTATION OF SAID BALL-SHAPED VALVE MEMBER INCLUDING PASSING SAID COMPOSITION THROUGH A ZONE WHIC IS OUT OF CONTACT WITH SAID ATMOSPHERIC ZONE AND SAID PROCESS ZONE, AND (C) PASSING SAID MASTERBATCH DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID LOWER PORTION OF SAID CONDUIT INTO THE MOLTEN THERMOPLASTIC POLYMER STREAM CONTAINED IN THE EXTRUDER OF SAID PROCESS.