EXTRUDER SYSTEM AND CUTTING ASSEMBLY

• US 20100143520A1
• Filed: 01/19/2010
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JMP Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: JMP Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: PINCHOT, JAMES M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,186,991 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 425/142
• CPC Class Codes: A23N 17/005 for shaping by moulding, extrusion, pressing, e.g. pellet-mills processes A23K40/00; presses in general B30B
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 30/20 Extruding
• CPC Class Codes: B21C 35/02 Removing or drawing-off work linear motor pulling devices B21C1/305
• CPC Class Codes: B21C 35/04 Cutting-off or removing waste
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/28 and rotating continuously in one direction during cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/29 with cutting member mounted in the plane of a rotating disc, e.g. for slicing beans
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/00 Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 9/06 in the form of filamentary material, e.g. combined with extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92019 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92095 Angular velocity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92114 Dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/9239 Screw or gear
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92409 Die; Nozzle zone
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92428 Calibration, after-treatment, or cooling zone
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92514 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/9259 Angular velocity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92638 Length
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92885 Screw or gear
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92904 Die; Nozzle zone
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92923 Calibration, after-treatment or cooling zone
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/04 : Particle-shaped making granules B29B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/05 : Filamentary, e.g. strands
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/12 : Articles with an irregular circumference when viewed in cross-section, e.g. window profiles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/345 : Extrusion nozzles comprising two or more adjacently arranged ports, for simultaneously extruding multiple strands, e.g. for pelletising
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/92 : Measuring, controlling or regulating

Abstract

An extruder system for extruding material through a die/extrude insert in an opening in an extruder plate.

Claims

1. A cutting assembly for cutting a material extruded from an extruder plate, the assembly comprising:

a) an extruder plate that includes an inner face and a front face and including a die opening;

b) a die/extruder insert positioned in said die opening, said die/extruder insert having a body that includes a front face, a back face, a side and a continuous opening from said front face to said back face, said die/extruder insert including one or more structures selected from the group consisting of i) a positioning tab positioned at or closely adjacent to said front face and extending outwardly from said side, said positioning tab designed to properly orient said die/extruder insert when said die/extruder insert is positioned in said die opening of said die plate and ii) a friction tab positioned on said side and extending outwardly from said side of said die/extruder insert, said friction tab designed to maintain said die/extruder insert in said die opening of said extruder plate; and

,

c) a feed arrangement designed to feed said material toward said inner face of said extruder plate to cause said material to at least partially pass through said continuous opening while said die/extruder insert is positioned in said die opening of said die plate.

2. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said die/extruder insert includes said friction tab.

3. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said die/extruder insert includes a plurality of friction tabs.

4. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said friction tab is at least partially tapered.

5. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said die/extruder insert includes said positioning tab, said die opening of said die plate including a plate orientation structure designed to at least partially receive said positioning tab when said die/extruder insert is positioned in said die opening.

6. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said die/extruder insert includes said positioning tab, said die opening of said die plate including a plate orientation structure designed to at least partially receive said positioning tab when said die/extruder insert is positioned in said die opening.

7. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said die/extruder insert includes said positioning tab, said die opening of said die plate including a plate orientation structure designed to at least partially receive said positioning tab when said die/extruder insert is positioned in said die opening.

8. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said feed arrangement includes an auger.

9. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 1, including a wiper blade designed to be connect to an auger or a rotating member, said wiper blade designed to be disposed adjacent said extruder plate, said wiper including at least one radially disposed blade, said blade designed to direct material into said die/extruder insert located in said die opening of said die plate.

10. An extruder system comprising of extruder plate and a die/extruder insert, said extruder plate including a front face, a back face and at least one die opening that passes through the extruder plate, said die opening designed to telescopically receive at least a majority of said die/extruder insert, said die/extruder insert including a body having a front face, a back face, a side and a hole that pass through said body, said hole designed to allow material to be extruded through said body, said body having a configuration designed to be at least partially telescopically inserted into said die opening of a extruder plate, said die/extruder insert including one or more structures selected from the group consisting of i) a positioning tab positioned at or closely adjacent to said front face and extending outwardly from said side, said positioning tab designed to properly orient said die/extruder insert when said die/extruder insert is positioned in said die opening of said die plate and ii) a friction tab positioned on said side and extending outwardly from said side of said die/extruder insert, said friction tab designed to maintain said die/extruder insert in said die opening of said extruder plate.

11. The extruder system as defined in claim 10, wherein said die/extruder insert includes said friction tab.

12. The extruder system as defined in claim 11, wherein said die/extruder insert includes a plurality of friction tabs.

13. The extruder system as defined in claim 11, wherein said friction tab is at least partially tapered.

14. The extruder system as defined in claim 10, wherein said die/extruder insert includes said positioning tab, said die opening of said die plate including a plate orientation structure designed to at least partially receive said positioning tab when said die/extruder insert is positioned in said die opening.

15. The extruder system as defined in claim 11, wherein said die/extruder insert includes said positioning tab, said die opening of said die plate including a plate orientation structure designed to at least partially receive said positioning tab when said die/extruder insert is positioned in said die opening.

16. The extruder system as defined in claim 13, wherein said die/extruder insert includes said positioning tab, said die opening of said die plate including a plate orientation structure designed to at least partially receive said positioning tab when said die/extruder insert is positioned in said die opening.

17. The extruder system as defined in claim 14, wherein said orientation structure is positioned on or closely adjacent to only one face of said extruder plate.

18. The extruder system as defined in claim 14, wherein said orientation structure includes a recess that only partially traverses said die plate.

19. The extruder system as defined in claim 10, wherein said die opening has a varying cross-sectional area along a length of said die opening.

20. The extruder system as defined in claim 10, wherein said body of said die/extruder insert includes a plurality of said holes that pass through said body.