Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of operating an extruder system having: an extruder having a barrel and an extruder worm therein, a source of an additive fluid under pressure, a conduit connected to said source and opening into said barrel, a closable upstream valve in said conduit between said source and said barrel, a closable downstream valve in said conduit between said upstream valve and said barrel, and a pressurizable fluid reservoir in said conduit between said valves, said method comprising the steps of: rotating said extruder in said barrel to plastify a resin therein; alternatively opening and closing said valves, whereby when said upstream valve is open and said downstream valve is closed said additive fluid flows into and pressurizes said reservoir and when said upstream valve is closed and said downstream valve is open the pressurized additive fluid in said reservoir flows into said barrel; detecting the rotation rate of said worm in said barrel; and pressurizing said reservoir at a level generally proportional to the detected worm rotation rate, whereby as said worm rotates rapidly to greatly pressurize a resin therein said reservoir is pressurized correspondingly with great pressure.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of operating an extruder system having: an extruder having a barrel and an extruder worm therein, a source of an additive fluid under pressure, a conduit connected to said source and opening into said barrel, a closable upstream valve in said conduit between said source and said barrel, a closable downstream valve in said conduit between said upstream valve and said barrel, and a pressurizable fluid reservoir in said conduit between said valves, said method comprising the steps of: rotating said extruder in said barrel to plastify a resin therein; alternatively opening and closing said valves, whereby when said upstream valve is open and said downstream valve is closed said additive fluid flows into and pressurizes said reservoir and when said upstream valve is closed and said downstream valve is open the pressurized additive fluid in said reservoir flows into said barrel; detecting the rotation rate of said worm in said barrel; and pressurizing said reservoir at a level generally proportional to the detected worm rotation rate, whereby as said worm rotates rapidly to greatly pressurize a resin therein said reservoir is pressurized correspondingly with great pressure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
172 words
An extruder system comprising: an extruder having a barrel and an extruder worm therein; a source of an additive fluid under pressure; a conduit connected to said source and opening into said barrel, whereby said fluid can flow along said conduit from said source to said barrel; a closable upstream valve in said conduit between said source and said barrel; a closable downstream valve in said conduit between said upstream valve and said barrel; a fluid reservoir in said conduit between said valves; means for alternatively opening and closing said valves, whereby when said upstream valve is open and said downstream valve is closed said additive fluid flows into and pressurizes said reservoir and when said upstream valve is closed and said downstream valve is open the pressurized additive fluid in said reservoir flows into said barrel; drive means for rotating said worm in said barrel; and control means connected to said drive means and to said reservoir for pressuring same at a pressure proportional to the rotation rate of said worm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
172 words
An extruder system comprising: an extruder having a barrel and an extruder worm therein; a source of an additive fluid under pressure; a conduit connected to said source and opening into said barrel, whereby said fluid can flow along said conduit from said source to said barrel; a closable upstream valve in said conduit between said source and said barrel; a closable downstream valve in said conduit between said upstream valve and said barrel; a fluid reservoir in said conduit between said valves; means for alternatively opening and closing said valves, whereby when said upstream valve is open and said downstream valve is closed said additive fluid flows into and pressurizes said reservoir and when said upstream valve is closed and said downstream valve is open the pressurized additive fluid in said reservoir flows into said barrel; drive means for rotating said worm in said barrel; and control means connected to said drive means and to said reservoir for pressuring same at a pressure proportional to the rotation rate of said worm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The extruder system defined in claim 2 wherein said means includes an upstream time-delay relay connected to said upstream valve and closable to close same and a downstream time-delay relay connected to said downstream valve and closable to close same.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The extruder defined in claim 3 wherein said relays have contact means for closing said downstream relay and valve a predetermined time after closing of said upstream relay and for closing of said upstream relay and valve another predetermined time after closing of said downstream relay.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The extruder defined in claim 3 wherein said relays have adjustable time delays.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The extruder defined in claim 2, further comprising pump means in said conduit between said upstream valve and said source for increasing the pressure of said fluid downstream of said pump means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The extruder defined in claim 2 wherein said reservoir includes a chamber having a movable wall, whereby the volume of said chamber can be varied by displacing said wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The extruder defined in claim 7 wherein said reservoir includes actuator means for displacing said wall on opening of said downstream valve for forcing the contents of said chamber through said downstream valve into said barrel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The extruder defined in claim 8 wherein said control means is connected to said drive means and to said actuator means for displacing said wall at a rate proportional to said rotation rate of said worm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The extruder defined in claim 7 wherein said chamber is a cylinder and said wall is a piston therein.