Direct melt processing of resins

• US 20070031556A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T F H Publications Incorporated
• Original Assignee: T F H Publications Incorporated
• Inventors: Gajria, Ajay, Axelrod, Glen
• Granted Patent: US 8,227,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/516
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/026 Chewable toys, e.g. for dental care of pets
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/10 Organic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 20/163 Sugars; Polysaccharides
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 40/20 by moulding, e.g. making cakes or briquettes
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/40 for carnivorous animals, e.g. cats or dogs
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/42 Dry feed
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 30/10 Moulding
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 30/20 Extruding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 426/805 Pet food for dog, cat, bird, or fish

Abstract

The present invention relates to an animal chew including a resin and a method of direct injection molding the animal chew using a modified screw. The screw may incorporate, for example, additional flights or a larger transition zone. Additionally, the particle size of the resin may be less than 2000 microns.

Claims

1. A method for direct injection molding an animal chew comprising:

introducing resin into an injection molding machine including a modified screw, said modified screw comprising a transition zone having a first length L1 and a feed zone having a second length L2, wherein L1>

0.5*L2; and

forming said resin into an animal chew.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said modified screw further comprises a metering zone having a third length L3, wherein L3>

0.5*L2.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said feed zone has a first channel depth CD1 and said metering zone has a second channel depth CD2, wherein CD1>

2.0*CD2.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said resin comprises starch.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said resin comprises wheat gluten.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said resin comprises a material derived from an animal source.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said resin comprises a thermoplastic material.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said resin comprises a rubber material.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said resin comprises plant matter.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said resin comprises particles having particle size of less than 2000 microns.

11. A method for direct injection molding an animal chew comprising:

introducing resin into an injection molding machine including a modified screw and/or barrel, said modified screw and/or barrel has a surface finish Ra value of 5 micro-inches; and

forming said resin into an animal chew.

12. A method for direct injection molding an animal chew comprising:

introducing resin into an injection molding machine including a modified screw, said modified screw comprises a first flight and a second barrier flight; and

forming said resin into an animal chew.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said modified screw has a length and said second barrier flight extends along a portion of said length.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said first flight has a first pitch P1 and said second flight has a second pitch P2 wherein P2≧

1.01*P1.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said first flight has an outer diameter OD1 and said second barrier flight has an outer diameter OD2, wherein OD2=f*OD1 and f=0.5 to 1.0.

16. A method for direct injection molding an animal chew comprising:

introducing resin into an injection molding machine wherein said resin has a particle size of less than about 2000 microns; and

forming said resin into an animal chew.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said resin has a particle size distribution wherein greater than approximately 60% of the particles are less than 44 microns.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said resin has a particle size distribution wherein greater than approximately 75% of the particles are less than 149 microns.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said step of introducing resin further comprises introducing an additive.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said resin comprises moisture between 1-60% by weight.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein said resin comprises starch.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein said resin comprises wheat gluten.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein said resin comprises a material derived from an animal source.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein said resin comprises a thermoplastic material.

25. The method of claim 16 wherein said resin comprises a rubber material.

26. The method of claim 16 wherein said resin comprises plant matter.