Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
In the method of processing of plastic and polymeric materials which are, or become in the course of processing, viscous liquids including the steps of dragging the material by one wall relative to another for processing and discharge, the improvement which comprises introducing said material at a feed point into a channel between opposed walls moving simultaneously toward a discharge point, retaining said material in said channel by a surface, blocking said channel adjacent said discharge point to restrain the main body of said material from movement with said walls to create relative movement between the main body of said material and said walls, dragging forward viscous liquid portions of said material in contact with said walls and collecting said viscous liquid portions as a pool of viscous liquid against said blocking for processing and discharge, and coordinating the rate of discharge of material from said channel with the surface area and the rate of movement of said opposed walls relative to said main body of material and with the properties of said material to develop pressure in said pool and to effect the desired processing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
In the method of processing of plastic and polymeric materials which are, or become in the course of processing, viscous liquids including the steps of dragging the material by one wall relative to another for processing and discharge, the improvement which comprises introducing said material at a feed point into a channel between opposed walls moving simultaneously toward a discharge point, retaining said material in said channel by a surface, blocking said channel adjacent said discharge point to restrain the main body of said material from movement with said walls to create relative movement between the main body of said material and said walls, dragging forward viscous liquid portions of said material in contact with said walls and collecting said viscous liquid portions as a pool of viscous liquid against said blocking for processing and discharge, and coordinating the rate of discharge of material from said channel with the surface area and the rate of movement of said opposed walls relative to said main body of material and with the properties of said material to develop pressure in said pool and to effect the desired processing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of processing plastic and polymeric materials as defined in claim 1 in which said channel and said material retaining surface are annular and coaxial.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of processing plastic and polymeric materials as defined in claim 2 in which the rate of movement of said walls relative to said main body of material is within the range giving laminar flow to liquid material in said channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of processing plastic and polymeric materials as defined in claim 3 in which a mixing structure is disposed in said channel at a location intermediate said feed point and said discharge point to give additional mixing action.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of processing plastic and polymeric materials as defined in claim 4 in which said mixing structure is a dam projecting across a portion of the cross section of said channel and in which gases and vapors are removed or agents added to material in said channel closely forward of said dam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of processing plastic and polymeric materials as defined in claim 3 in which said blocking allows passage of a portion of the material on said walls for further passage through and processing in said annular channel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of processing plastic and polymeric materials as defined in claim 6 in which discharge of material from said outlet is cut off for batch processing a charge of material in said channel and discharge is resumed when processing of said charge is achieved.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of processing plastic and polymeric materials as defined in claim 3 in which material from the discharge of one processing channel is conducted to the feed point of a further processing channel for further processing and discharge from said further processing channel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of processing plastic and polymeric materials as defined in claim 3 in which said material is in the form of solid particles and is supplied in a manner substantially to fill said annular channel and in which the temperature at which said material is supplied and the temperature of said opposed side walls is controlled to effect melting of portions of said material contacting said side walls.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of processing plastic and polymeric materials as defined in claim 3 in which said material is supplied as a viscous liquid and is fed through said inlet under conditions substantially to fill said annular passage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of processing plastic and polymeric materials as defined in claim 10 in which said material is fed through said inlet to an intake chamber including a surface sloping toward a cylindrical surface at an outer edge of and rotating with said annular channel and is dragged by said cylindrical surface into the nip between said sloping surface and said cylindrical surface for improved feeding of said material into said annular channel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of processing plastic and polymeric material as defined in claim 2 in which said annular channel rotates at a frequency of rotation from about 10 to about 500 r.p.m.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of processing plastic and polymeric materials as defined in claim 2 in which a material or mixture of materials reactive to form a viscous liquid plastic or polymeric material is introduced into said channel and the temperature, pressure, rate of discharge of material from said channel, rate of movement, and surface area of said opposed walls are coordinated to effect processing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of processing plastic and polymeric material as defined in claim 13 in which a component of a mixture of materials reactive to form a viscous liquid plastic or polymeric material is introduced into said channel intermediate said feed point and said discharge point for mixing and interaction with materials in said channel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of processing plastic and polymeric materials as defined in claim 5 in which a material or mixture of materials reactive to form a viscous liquid plastic or polymeric material is fed through said inlet into said channel and the temperature, pressure, rate of discharge of material from said channel, rate of movement, and surface area of said opposed walls are coordinated to effect processing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of processing plastic and polymeric material as defined in claim 15 in which a component of a mixture of materials reactive to form a viscous liquid plastic or polymeric material is introduced into said channel intermediate said feed point and said discharge point for mixing and interaction with materials in said channel.