Apparatus for regulating the output of a single or twin screw extruder for processing plastics melts

Claim 1

Apparatus for regulating the output of an extruder for processing plastics melt, said extruder having an extruder cylinder; an extruder screw disposed in said cylinder; a melt intake opening in said cylinder; a melt container disposed at said intake opening; filling level measuring means for said melt container; a polymerisation system to supply melt to said melt container; a discharge opening for said cylinder; a flow restrictor disposed in said cylinder between said melt intake opening and said discharge opening, said flow restrictor being formed by pins which are radially movable through the wall of said cylinder towards said screw; means for moving said pins; and control means operatively connected between said filling level measuring means and said means for moving said pins, whereby the means for moving said pins and thus the depth of plunge of said pins towards said screw is controlled by said control means in response to the filling level of the material in said melt container, said extruder being so dimensioned with regard to its output capacity that when said flow restrictor is fully open at least the maximum output capacity of the polymerisation system can be processed.