Method and apparatus for the continuous production of high-molecular polymers

Claim 1

Apparatus for the continuous production and devolatilization of high molecular polymers from a substance, said apparatus comprising a casing, a plurality of parallel feeding shafts, means mounting said shafts for rotation in said casing, each of said shafts having at least one screw shaft section and one kneading section, a plurality of kneading disks in each of said kneading sections, the disks of each plurality of being disposed in tandem along the axis of the associated shaft, said disks having a noncircular outline around the associated shaft axis and being relatively angularly oriented in staggered relationship with reference to the associated shaft axis for feeding said substance, said screw shaft section being disposed downstream of said kneading section, said screw shaft section cooperating with said casing to form an extrusion unit, the kneading disks of adjacent shafts meshing with each other to scrape off the substance to be treated from each other, and a devolatilization chamber within said casing adjacent the kneading sections of said shafts, said devolatilization chamber having an opening for connection to a vacuum source, characterized in that the kneading disks of each of said shafts mesh with the kneading disks of two adjacent shafts to enclose said devolatilization chamber, and that means are provided for coupling said shafts to each other for rotary movement in the same direction.