Filter apparatus for extrusion presses

Claim 2

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING PLASTIC MATERIAL, AND COMPRISING: A. A HOUSING HAVING AN AXIAL BORE OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH AND A TRANVERSE BORE, EXTENDING THROUGH SAID AXIAL BORE, FOR CONNECTION TO A SOURCE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL, B. FILTERING MEANS MONTED IN SAID AXIAL BORE FOR MOVEMENT AXIALLY THEREIN, AND INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SCREEN CHAMBERS SPACED THEREALONG AND HAVING THROUGH BORES ADAPTED FOR ALIGMENT WITH SAID TRANVERSE BORE, AND C. POWER FOR ADVANCING SAID FILTERING MEANS THROUGH SAID AXIAL BORE TO BRING SAID THROGH BORES SUCCESSIVELY INTO ALIGMENT WITH SAID TRANSVERSE BORE, IN WHICH APPARATUS SAID FILTERING MEANS COMPRISES A PLURALITY OF ADJACENT, INDIVIDUAL SCREEN SUPPORTING CYLINDERS SHORTER THAN SAID AXIAL BORE, EACH INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID SCREEN CHAMBERS AND EACH HAVING COMPLIMENTARY COUPLING MEANS

Claim 3

Appratus for processing plastic material, and comprising: a. a housing having an axial bore of predetermined length and a transverse bore, extending through said axial bore, for connection to a source of plastic material; b. filtering means mounted in said axial bore for movement axially therein, and including a plurality of screen chambers spaced therealong and having through bores adapted for alignment with said transverse bore, and c. power means for advancing said filtering means through said axial bore to bring said through bores successively into alignment with said transverse bore, in which apparatus said filtering means comprises a plurality of adjacent, individual, mutually abuting screen supporting cylinders shorter than said axial bore, each including at least one of said screen chambers and each having complimentary coupling means extending transversely across its ends for form-locking connection with adjacent cylinders to prevent rotation and axial separation therebetween, wherein said power means includes: d. a plunger arranged for linear movement and having a free end; e. a sleeve connected to said free end of said plunger and having a transverse internal dimension generally corresponding to the transverse external dimension of said screen supporting cylinders; f. aligned diametrically disposed passages in said sleeve for alignment with one coupling means of a screen supporting cylinder positioned in said sleeve; and g. a connecting bar receivable through said aligned bores and coupling means to detachably secure said screen supporting cylinder to said sleeve and power means, said sleeve having internal means for providing axial adjustment of said filtering means relative to said plunger, and external means for preventing rotation thereof with respect to said housing.

Claim 4

Appratus for processing plastic material, and comprising: a. a housing having an axial bore of predetermined length and a transverse bore, extending through said axial bore, for connection to a source of plastic material; b. filtering means mounted in said axial bore for movement axially therein, and including a plurality of screen chambers spaced therealong and having through bores adapted for alignment with said transverse bore, and c. power means for advancing said filtering means through said axial bore to bring said through bores successively into alignment with said transverse bore, in which apparatus said filtering means comprises a plurality of adjacent, individual, mutually abuting screen supporting cylinders shorter than said axial bore, each including at least one of said screen chambers and each having complimentary coupling means extending transversely across its ends for form-locking connection with adjacent cylinders to prevent rotation and axial separation therebetween, wherein said power means includes: d. a plunger arranged for linear movement and having a free end; e. a sleeve connected to said free end of said plunger and having a transverse internal dimension generally corresponding to the transverse external dimension of said screen supporting cylinders; f. aligned diametrically disposed passages in said sleeve for alignment with one coupling means of a screen supporting cylinder positioned in said sleeve; and g. a connecting bar receivable through said aligned bores and coupling means to detachably secure said screen supporting cylinder to said sleeve and power means, said sleeve having internal means for providing axial adjustment of said filtering means relative to said plunger, and external means for preventing rotation thereof with respect to said housing.

Claim 5

An improved filter apparatus for extrusion presses and injection molding machines which continuously process thermoplastic substances, the extrusion presses and injection molding machines having: a. a housing including an axial bore and a transverse bore formed therein, the transverse bore extending through said axial bore and being connected to a source of plastic material under pressure; b. a main screen cylinder mounted in said axial bore for movement axially thereof, main screen chambers formed therein and a through bore extending through each of said screen chambers for successive presentation to said transverse bore to receive plastic material for passage therethrough; c. a plurality of screen filter sets mounted one set in each screen chamber, said improved filter apparatus comprising: i. said main screen cylinder including a plurality of separate screen supporting cylinders, each including at least one of said successive screen chambers and respective through bores; and ii. means for detachably securing said plurality of said screen supporting cylinders to each other whereby a used screen supporting cylinder at one end of the main screen cylinder may be detached from and, subsequent to cleaning of the used screen filter set, re-attached to the other end of said main screen cylinder, without appreciable interruption of the flow of plastic material through said transverse bore, wherein each of said screen supporting cylinders includes a screen centering element formed as a chord to said cylindrical shape, which screen centering elements are removable to gain access to respective screen chambers, and wherein centering means aliGns said screen centering element and respective screen supporting cylinder attached to said main screen cylinder externally of said housing for subsequent entry of said external screen supporting cylinder into said axial bore.

Claim 6

An improved filter apparatus for extrusion presses and injection molding machines which continuously process thermoplastic substances, the extrusion presses and injection molding machines having: a. a housing including an axial bore and a transverse bore formed therein, the transverse bore extending through said axial bore and being connected to a source of plastic material under pressure; b. a main screen cylinder mounted in said axial bore for movement axially thereof, main screen chambers formed therein and a through bore extending through each of said screen chambers for successive presentation to said transverse bore to receive plastic material for passage therethrough; c. a plurality of screen filter sets mounted one set in each screen chamber, said improved filter apparatus comprising: i. said main screen cylinder including a plurality of separate screen supporting cylinders, each including at least one of said successive screen chambers and respective through bores; and ii. means for detachably securing said plurality of said screen supporting cylinders to each other whereby a used screen supporting cylinder at one end of the main screen cylinder may be detached from and, subsequent to cleaning of the used screen filter set, re-attached to the other end of said main screen cylinder, without appreciable interruption of the flow of plastic material through said transverse bore, wherein each of said screen supporting cylinders includes a screen centering element formed as a chord to said cylindrical shape, which screen centering elements are removable to gain access to respective screen chambers, and wherein centering means aliGns said screen centering element and respective screen supporting cylinder attached to said main screen cylinder externally of said housing for subsequent entry of said external screen supporting cylinder into said axial bore.

Claim 7

The structure of claim 3 wherein said centering means is a centering ring which encircles the detachable connections of said exterior screen supporting cylinder, a preceding screen supporting cylinder and at least a portion of said screen centering element on said exterior screen supporting cylinder.