US3841836A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for the production of condensation polymers
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1972-08-10
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1992-08-10
Abstract
Abstract Method and apparatus for the production of condensation polymers having a predetermined final viscosity which comprises flowing a prepolymer having an initial viscosity over a series of variable sloped surfaces in a descending path under polymerization conditions; determining the viscosity of the polyester; adjusting the slope of said variable sloped surfaces in accordance with said viscosity so as to control the residence time of the polymer flowing over the surfaces; continuously sensing the weight of the polyester flowing over the variable sloped surfaces and continuously adjusting the slope of the variable sloped surfaces so as to increase the slope thereof whenever the weight of the polyester thereon exceeds a predetermined weight and decreasing the slope thereof whenever the weight of the polyester thereon falls below a predetermined weight thereby producing a polyester having a predetermined final viscosity.
Inventors
- 👤 M Lunsford
- 👤 D Bowers
- 👤 S Caldwell
- 👤 L Davis
- 👤 T Roach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:16
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/0006; B01J19/24; C; C08; C08G; C08G63/00; C08G63/78; C08G63/785; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/00049; B01J2219/00051; B01J2219/00074; B01J2219/00087; B01J2219/00094; B01J2219/0015; B01J2219/00153; B01J2219/00162; B01J2219/00164; B01J2219/00166; B01J2219/00168; B01J2219/00184; B01J2219/00761; B01J2219/00763; B01J2219/00765; B01J2219/0077
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CONDENSATION POLYMERS HAVING A PREDETERMINED FINAL VISCOSITY COMPRISING A. HOUSING MEANS HAVING A POLYMER INLET AND POLYMER OUTLET, B. VARIABLE SLOPE MEANS FOR CONDUCTING A FLOW OF POLYMER INA DESCENDING PATH FROM SAID POLYMER INLET TO SAID POLYMER OUTLET, SAID VARIABLE MEANS BEING ADJUSTABLY SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING MEANS, C. ADJUSTMENT MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID VARIABLE SLOPE MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE INITIAL SLOPE THEREOF, D. POLYMER SENSING MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY SENSING THE VISCOSITY OF THE POLYMER AND ADJUSTING THE SLOPE OF SAID VARIABLE SLOPE MEANS IN RESPONSE THERETO SO AS TO MAINTAIN THE RESIDENCE TIME OF THE POLYMER FLOWING OVER SAID VARIABLE SLOPE MEANS FOR PERIOD SUFFICIENTLY LONG TO PREPARE A POLYESTER HAVING A PREDETERMINED FINAL VISCOSITY; AND E. WEIGHT RESPONSIVE MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID VARIABLE SLOPE MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY SENSING THE WEIGHT OF THE POLYMER ON SAID VARIABLE SLOPE MEANS AND INCREASING THE SLOPE THEREOF WHENEVER THE WEIGHT AND DECREASING THEREON EXCEEDS A PREDETERMINED WEIGHT AND DECREASING THE SLOPE THEREOF WHENEVER THE WEIGHTT OF THE POLYMER THEREON FALLS BELOW A PREDETERMINED WEIGHT.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CONDENSATION POLYMERS HAVING A PREDETERMINED FINAL VISCOSITY COMPRISING A. HOUSING MEANS HAVING A POLYMER INLET AND POLYMER OUTLET, B. VARIABLE SLOPE MEANS FOR CONDUCTING A FLOW OF POLYMER INA DESCENDING PATH FROM SAID POLYMER INLET TO SAID POLYMER OUTLET, SAID VARIABLE MEANS BEING ADJUSTABLY SUPPORTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING MEANS, C. ADJUSTMENT MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID VARIABLE SLOPE MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE INITIAL SLOPE THEREOF, D. POLYMER SENSING MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID ADJUSTMENT MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY SENSING THE VISCOSITY OF THE POLYMER AND ADJUSTING THE SLOPE OF SAID VARIABLE SLOPE MEANS IN RESPONSE THERETO SO AS TO MAINTAIN THE RESIDENCE TIME OF THE POLYMER FLOWING OVER SAID VARIABLE SLOPE MEANS FOR PERIOD SUFFICIENTLY LONG TO PREPARE A POLYESTER HAVING A PREDETERMINED FINAL VISCOSITY; AND E. WEIGHT RESPONSIVE MEANS OPERABLY CONNECTED TO SAID VARIABLE SLOPE MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY SENSING THE WEIGHT OF THE POLYMER ON SAID VARIABLE SLOPE MEANS AND INCREASING THE SLOPE THEREOF WHENEVER THE WEIGHT AND DECREASING THEREON EXCEEDS A PREDETERMINED WEIGHT AND DECREASING THE SLOPE THEREOF WHENEVER THE WEIGHTT OF THE POLYMER THEREON FALLS BELOW A PREDETERMINED WEIGHT.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said polymer sensing means is located so as to sense the viscosity of the polymer flowing through the polymer outlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said polymer sensing means is located so as to sense the viscosity of the polymer flowing through said polymer inlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said polymer sensing means is located so as to sense the viscosity of the polymer flowing through said polYmer inlet and said polymer outlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said variable slope means is a plurality of tray means arranged in a vertically stacked configuration, said variable tray means being pivotably mounted at one edge within said housing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said weight responsive means is a spring means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said weight responsive means is a leaf spring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said leaf spring is mounted in a cantilevered manner from said housing means with the free end thereof flexibly supporting said tray means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said leaf spring is mounted substantially vertical, the tray means being flexibly supported by said leaf spring.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |