Dripless liquid color feed throat adaptor and method for dripless liquid color delivery

• US 9,796,123 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2013
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen B. Maguire
• Original Assignee: Stephen B. Maguire
• Inventors: Maguire, Stephen B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Soohoo, Tony G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhatia, Anshu
• Application Number:
  US14/105,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20150165662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 366 761, 366 762, 366 763, 366 764, 366 765, 366 766, 366 767, 366 768, 366 769, 366 7691, 366 7692, 366 7693
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 2009/163 Coating, i.e. applying a layer of liquid or solid material on the granule
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/40 with single shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/945 involving coating particles
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 9/16 Auxiliary treatment of granules
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1816 Feeding auxiliary material, e.g. colouring material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/2552 provided in the feeding, melting, plasticising or pumping zone, e.g. screw, barrel, gear-pump or ram
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/2563 Mounting or handling of the hopper or feeder
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/286 Raw material dosing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/29 in liquid form
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/501 Extruder feed section
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/0032 Pigments, colouring agents or opacifiyng agents
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/002 Coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/00 Other particular articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85978 With pump

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for converting granular plastic resin into colored finished or semi-finished plastic parts include a process machine having a barrel with a vertically opening feed throat, a rotatable screw inside the barrel, and a color feed conduit assembly positioned at least partially within the process machine and extending into the barrel for passage of liquid color downwardly through the color feed conduit assembly into proximity with the screw.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting granular plastic resin into colored finished or semi-finished plastic parts, comprising:

a. a process machine comprising;

i. a barrel having a vertically opening feed throat;

ii. a rotatable screw located inside the barrel;

iii. a plate covering the feed throat, having an aperture therethrough and a slot formed therein extending from the aperture to an edge of the plate;

b. a color feed conduit assembly positioned at least partially within the process machine and extending into the barrel for passage of liquid color downwardly through the color feed conduit assembly into proximity with the screw, comprising;

i. a relatively rigid aluminum outer color delivery tube;

ii. a relatively flexible inner color delivery tube telescopically disposed within the outer color delivery tube;

the color feed conduit assembly being positioned at least partially in the slot in the plate extending from the aperture to the edge of the plate and passing downwardly through the aperture with an outlet of the color feed assembly being in proximity with the screw;

c. a color conveying tube;

d. a self-sealing quick release fitting connecting the color conveying tube to the color feed conduit assembly;

e. a pump for pumping liquid color from a supply thereof remote from the process machine through the color conveying tube and the color feed conduit assembly into proximity with the rotatable screw.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner color delivery tube is a fluoropolymer and extends beyond the outer color delivery tube and an outlet end of the color feed conduit assembly.

3. Apparatus of claim 2 wherein the inner color delivery tube extends at least 1 inch beyond the outer color delivery tube at the outlet end of the color feed conduit assembly.

4. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner color delivery tube has a one-quarter inch outer diameter.

5. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner color delivery tube is nylon.

6. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner color delivery tube contacts the screw.

7. An apparatus for feeding liquid color to a process machine for converting granular plastic resin into finished or semi-finished plastic parts by molding or extrusion, the process machine having a rotatable screw located inside a barrel, the barrel having a vertically opening feed throat with a plate covering the feed throat, the plate having an aperture therethrough with a feed tube positioned therein for passage of liquid color downwardly through the tube into proximity with the screw, comprising:

a. a color feed conduit assembly comprising;

i. a rigid aluminum outer color delivery tube;

ii. an inner flexible polymeric color delivery tube telescopically disposed within the outer color delivery tube;

iii. the color feed conduit assembly being positioned at least partially in a slot in the plate extending from the aperture to an edge of the plate and passing downwardly through the aperture, with an outlet of the color feed assembly being in proximity with the screw;

b. a color conveying tube;

c. a self-sealing quick release fitting connecting the color conveying tube to the color feed conduit assembly; and

d. a pneumatically powered pump for pumping liquid color from a supply thereof remote from the process machine through the color conveying tube and the color feed conduit assembly into proximity with the rotatable screw.

8. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein the inner color delivery tube extends beyond the outer color delivery tube and an outlet end of the color feed conduit assembly.

9. Apparatus of claim 8 wherein the inner color delivery tube extends at least 1 inch beyond the outer color delivery tube at the outlet end of the color feed conduit assembly.

10. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein the inner color delivery tube has a one-quarter inch outer diameter.

11. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein the inner color delivery tube is polytetrafluoroethylene.

12. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein the inner color delivery tube is nylon.

13. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein the inner color delivery tube contacts the screw.

14. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein the inner color delivery tube has an inner diameter of about 3/16 inch.

15. Apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a compression fitting securing the inner tube in place relative to the outer tube.

16. An apparatus for converting granular plastic resin into colored finished or semi-finished plastic parts, comprising:

a. a process machine comprising;

i. a barrel having a vertically opening feed throat;

ii. a rotatable screw located inside the barrel;

b. a color feed conduit assembly positioned at least partially within the process machine and extending into the barrel for passage of liquid color downwardly through the color feed conduit assembly into proximity with the screw, comprising;

i. a relatively rigid aluminum outer color delivery tube;

ii. a relatively flexible inner color delivery tube telescopically disposed within the outer color delivery tube;

the color feed conduit assembly passing downwardly through the feed throat with an outlet of the color feed assembly being in proximity with the screw;

c. a color conveying tube;

d. a self-sealing quick release fitting connecting the color conveying tube to the color feed conduit assembly.

17. Apparatus of claim 16 wherein the inner color delivery tube is a fluoropolymer and extends beyond the outer color delivery tube and an outlet end of the color feed conduit assembly.

18. Apparatus of claim 17 wherein the inner color delivery tube extends at least 1 inch beyond the outer color delivery tube at the outlet end of the color feed conduit assembly.

19. Apparatus of claim 16 wherein the inner color delivery tube is one-quarter inch outer diameter.

20. Apparatus of claim 16 wherein the inner color delivery tube is nylon.

21. Apparatus of claim 16 wherein the inner color delivery tube contacts the screw.

22. Apparatus of claim 16 wherein an inner diameter of the color delivery tube is about 3/16 of an inch.

23. An apparatus for feeding liquid color to a process machine for converting granular plastic resin into finished or semi-finished plastic parts by molding or extrusion, the process machine having a rotatable screw located inside a barrel, the barrel having a vertically opening feed throat with a plate covering the feed throat, the plate having an aperture therethrough with a feed tube positioned therein for passage of liquid color downwardly through the tube into proximity with the screw, comprising:

a. a color feed conduit assembly comprising;

i. a rigid aluminum outer color delivery tube;

ii. an inner flexible polymeric color delivery tube telescopically disposed within the outer color delivery tube;

iii. the color feed conduit assembly being positioned at least partially in a slot in the plate extending from the aperture to an edge of the plate and passing downwardly through the aperture, with an outlet of the color feed assembly being in proximity with the screw;

b. a color conveying tube;

c. a self-sealing quick release fitting connecting the color conveying tube to the color feed conduit assembly; and

d. a pneumatically powered diaphragm pump for pumping liquid color from a supply thereof remote from the process machine through the color conveying tube and the color feed conduit assembly into proximity with the rotatable screws;

wherein the inner color delivery tube extends beyond the outer color delivery tube and an outlet end of the color feed conduit assembly;

the inner color delivery tube extends at least 1 inch beyond the outer color delivery tube at the outlet end of the color feed conduit assembly;

the inner color delivery tube has a one-quarter inch outer diameter;

the inner color delivery tube is polytetrafluoroethylene;

the inner color delivery tube is nylon;

the inner color delivery tube contacts the screw;

the inner color delivery tube has an inner diameter of about 3/16 inch; and

further comprising a compression fitting securing the inner tube in place relative to the outer tube.