Patent USRE20971E successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4559000A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4559000A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for the production of granulates
Assignee: Santrade Ltd
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Filing: 1984-06-19
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Granted: 1985-12-17
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Expires: 2004-06-19
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus forms granulates from a flowable viscous mass. The mass is delivered to a tubular body and flows downwardly from a lower slit thereof in the form of drops. An endlessly revolving belt travels across the slit in tight engagement therewith. The belt has orifices therein which intermittently open the slit to admit the passage of the drops. The drops fall onto a conveyor which travels below the belt in the same direction and at the same speed as the belt.
Inventors
- 👤 Reinhard Froeschke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:33
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J2/00; B01J2/02; B01J2/20; A; A61; A61K; A61K9/00; A61K9/20; B29; B29B; B29B9/00; B29B9/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for the formation of grantulates from a flowable, viscous mass, comprising: a tubular body having a plurality of apertures which lead into a generally downwardly facing, horizontally continuous slit, means for conducting the flowable viscous mass under pressure into said body and outwardly through said apertures and said slit, a pair of rotatable drums spaced apart horizontally and rotatable about horizontal axes, a belt extending around said drums to define upper and lower belt flights, said belt having orifices therein and being arranged so that said lower flight is horizontal and arranged in contacting engagement with a surface portion of said tubular body containing said slit, means for driving at least one of said drums for moving said lower flight across said portion of said tubular body so that said orifices intermittently uncover said slit for the passage of drops of mass therethrough, said tubular body being positioned so that said slit is located closer to the one of said drums which is upstream relative to the direction of travel of said lower flight, a conveyor located beneath said lower flight and arranged for movement in the same direction as said lower flight, so that the drops fall onto said conveyor, and means for moving said conveyor at the same speed as said lower flight.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for the formation of grantulates from a flowable, viscous mass, comprising: a tubular body having a plurality of apertures which lead into a generally downwardly facing, horizontally continuous slit, means for conducting the flowable viscous mass under pressure into said body and outwardly through said apertures and said slit, a pair of rotatable drums spaced apart horizontally and rotatable about horizontal axes, a belt extending around said drums to define upper and lower belt flights, said belt having orifices therein and being arranged so that said lower flight is horizontal and arranged in contacting engagement with a surface portion of said tubular body containing said slit, means for driving at least one of said drums for moving said lower flight across said portion of said tubular body so that said orifices intermittently uncover said slit for the passage of drops of mass therethrough, said tubular body being positioned so that said slit is located closer to the one of said drums which is upstream relative to the direction of travel of said lower flight, a conveyor located beneath said lower flight and arranged for movement in the same direction as said lower flight, so that the drops fall onto said conveyor, and means for moving said conveyor at the same speed as said lower flight.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for adjusting said belt, said surface of said belt extending beyond a plane disposed tangently to said drums.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there are provided a plurality of said tubular bodies in contact with said belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said belt is formed of synthetic plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said plastic comprises reinforced PVC.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said surface portion comprises part of a surface the remaining parts of which project away from said belt on opposite sides of said slit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tubular body comprises an internal guide channel for receiving the mass to be formed into drops, said apertures comprising a plurality of transverse bores extending downwardly from said channel and communicating with said slit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of flow channels extend parallel to said guide channel and contain a heated medium for controlling the temperature of the mass within said tubular body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said tubular body includes guides at opposite ends thereof to confine the exiting mass against flowing laterally off said belt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including a housing containing said belt and said tubular body, the inside of said housing being temperature controlled.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including thermal radiators disposed for heating an upper flight of said belt and the one of said drums located at a downstream end of said upper flight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim, 1, wherein a heated medium is conducted through both of said drums.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a transverse wall is positioned against an outer side of an upper flight of said belt to force material still adhering to such outer side of the belt through said orifices.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said wall is funnel-shaped, with a wide end thereof facing opposite the direction of belt travel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said wall includes a pair of legs forming an angle therebetween to define the funnel-shape.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
10 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said angle is obtuse.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said legs form an apex located over the center line of said belt, both said legs being symmetrical relative to such center line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said legs are inclined at an acute angle relative to the plane of said belt, said angle opening in a direction opposite the direction of belt travel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said legs are each planar.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said wall is arranged closer to the one of said drums located at an upstream end of said upper flight.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a scraper edge is situated adjacent the one of said drums located at a downstream end of said upper flight, said scraper edge acting on an inner side of said upper flight and extending transversely to the direction of belt travel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said scraper edge comprises the upper edge of a drip wall which is located upstream of said tubular body.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said drip wall includes at its lower edge a collecting gutter for collecting material running down said drip wall.
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) | 1988-12-16 | 1989-06-17 | 1989-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-16 | 1993-06-17 | 1993-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-16 | 1997-06-17 | 1997-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |