US3973890A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable die face pelletizer
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
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Filing: 1975-02-26
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Granted: 1976-08-10
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Expires: 1995-02-26
Abstract
Abstract The cutter used with a cylindrically shaped die plate means on a thermoplastic extruder is rotatable about the axis of the die plate and has a plurality of radially projecting blades that extend longitudinally and sweep across the downstream face of the die plate means as the cutter rotates severing extruded heat-plastified material into pellets. The blades form continuous longitudinal channels within which the pellets collect as the cutter rotates. The cutter is enclosed to permit pellet treatment fluid to flow longitudinally over the cutter and flush the pellets from the channels as soon as the pellets are severed. The die plate means comprises a pair of nested die plates mounted for selective positioning relative to one another. In one relative position, the orifices in the plates are essentially aligned to offer minimum constriction to the extrusion of heat-plastified material through the orifices. Adjusting means is provided to selectively change the relative position of the die plates to maintain a substantially constant pressure of heat-plastified material upstream of the die plate means.
Inventors
- 👤 Carter E. Porter
- 👤 Richmond S. Parsons
- 👤 Paul H. Rossiter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 13:43
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29B; B29B9/00; B29B9/02; B29B9/06; B29B9/065; B29B7/00; B29B7/30; B29B7/58; B29B7/582; B29C; B29C48/00; B29C48/03; B29C48/05; B29C48/25; B29C48/30; B29C48/345; B29C48/36; B29C48/50; B29C48/695; B29C2793/00; B29C2793/0027; B29C2793/009; B29C48/001; B29C48/0022; B29C48/04; B29C48/269; B29C48/78; B29C48/86; B29C48/87
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
In a face-cutting apparatus for making pellets of thermoplastic material comprising an extrusion device, the discharge end of which terminates in a die means, said die means comprising a pair of concentric plates each with a plurality of extrudate-passing orifice holes extending therethrough, at least one plate being rotatably mounted with respect to the other, with the upstream-most or first plate comprising at least a portion of a generally cylindrical configuration, and presenting a convex surface in an upstream direction, with the downstream-most or second plate being generally cylindrical in configuration and being coaxial with the upstream-most plate and in mating nested engagement with a generally concave surface thereof, with said orifice holes in the plates being arranged and spaced similarly for precise alignment therebetween, the improvement which comprises a mounting for said second plate for selective infinitely variable movement relative to said first plate through a narrow range sufficient to vary the orifice openings defined by misaligned counterpart holes in the plates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a face-cutting apparatus for making pellets of thermoplastic material comprising an extrusion device, the discharge end of which terminates in a die means, said die means comprising a pair of concentric plates each with a plurality of extrudate-passing orifice holes extending therethrough, at least one plate being rotatably mounted with respect to the other, with the upstream-most or first plate comprising at least a portion of a generally cylindrical configuration, and presenting a convex surface in an upstream direction, with the downstream-most or second plate being generally cylindrical in configuration and being coaxial with the upstream-most plate and in mating nested engagement with a generally concave surface thereof, with said orifice holes in the plates being arranged and spaced similarly for precise alignment therebetween, the improvement which comprises a mounting for said second plate for selective infinitely variable movement relative to said first plate through a narrow range sufficient to vary the orifice openings defined by misaligned counterpart holes in the plates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second plate is mounted for rotatable movement through an arcuate range.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second plate is mounted for axial movement through a linear range.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the limits of said range are substantially complete alignment of holes in the plates such that the orifices defined by holes in both plates are completely open on the one hand and substantially complete misalignment of holes in the plates, such that the orifices defined by the holes in both plates are completely closed on the other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 4, including adjusting means connected to said second plate for selectively changing the relative positions of the die plates.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said second plate is mounted for rotatable movement through an arcuate range, wherein said adjusting means comprises a lever means attached to said second plate, said lever means having a manually engageable portion for manually changing the angular position of said second plate whereby the constriction produced in the orifices of said plates can be manually adjusted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 6, including indicia means associated with said level means for indicating the degree of adjustment of said orifices.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 5, including means operatively connecting said adjusting means and the interior of said extrusion device for adjusting the relative positions of said first and second plates in response to pressure of the heat-plastified material, immediately upstream of said die means, for automatically changing the relative positions of the plates to maintain substantially constant pressure within said extruder device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second plate is mounted for axial movement through a linear range.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-10 | 1980-02-09 | 1980-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-10 | 1984-02-09 | 1984-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-10 | 1988-02-09 | 1988-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |