Title of Invention	DEVICE FOR TREATMENT OF PLASTIC MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR THE SAME
Abstract	The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the processing of plastic material, with a receptacle or cutter-compactor (1) into which the material to be treated can be introduced, in the lower region of which a discharge opening (10) is provided, through which the processed material can be ejected from the receptacle (1), for example into an extruder (11). According to the invention, the receptacle (1) is divided into at least two chambers (6a, 6b, 6c, . . . ) separated from each other by an intermediate base (2",2",..., wherein at least one mixing or comminution tool (7a,7b,7c,... ) is arranged which acts upon the material in each chamber (6a,6b,6c, . . .) , with which the material can be converted into a softened but permanently lumpy or particle-shaped and not melted state and wherein means (5",5"",... ) are provided which effect or permit an exchange or a transfer of the softened, lumpy, not melted material between each directly adjacent chamber (6a, 6b, 6c, ....).

Title of Invention

DEVICE FOR TREATMENT OF PLASTIC MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR THE SAME

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the processing of plastic material, with a receptacle or cutter-compactor (1) into which the material to be treated can be introduced, in the lower region of which a discharge opening (10) is provided, through which the processed material can be ejected from the receptacle (1), for example into an extruder (11). According to the invention, the receptacle (1) is divided into at least two chambers (6a, 6b, 6c, . . . ) separated from each other by an intermediate base (2",2",..., wherein at least one mixing or comminution tool (7a,7b,7c,... ) is arranged which acts upon the material in each chamber (6a,6b,6c, . . .) , with which the material can be converted into a softened but permanently lumpy or particle-shaped and not melted state and wherein means (5",5"",... ) are provided which effect or permit an exchange or a transfer of the softened, lumpy, not melted material between each directly adjacent chamber (6a, 6b, 6c, ....).

Full Text	Method and apparatus for processing of plastic material The invention relates to an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1 along with a method according to claim 17. Devices for processing and pre-treatment of plastic materials are known, for example, from EP 390 873. Such devices generally operate in satisfactory fashion, but it has been shown that in some cases the plastic material carried off via the worm gear is not sufficiently homogeneous, especially in regard to the obtained extent of drying of such plastic materials which must already be fully dry before plastification, for example polyester, to avoid decomposition processes. Thicker foils in addition require expense in drying that goes up as the thickness increases, owing to which, for such goods, separate drying processes such as with dehydrated air, are necessary in special dryers. These dryers operate in a temperature range for which only crystallized goods are permitted; amorphous goods would become sticky and agglomerate. This means that a crystallization process must precede the drying process. But if the goods to be processed are subjected to lengthy treatment in the container by the tool, then with the device in continuous operation, a danger arises that individual plastic particles are caught very early by the removing worm gear, while other plastic particles are caught very late. The plastic particles caught early may still be relatively cold and therefore may not have been given sufficient pre-treatment, dried, crystallized or softened, possible resulting in inhomogeneities in the material fed through the worm gear to the attached tool, such as an extruder. To solve this problem, mechanisms have been created such as are known from AT 396 900 B. Through such devices, the homogeneity of the material can be improved. Two or more containers are situated in a series and the plastic material to be processed runs through these containers in turn. In the first container, already pre- comminuted, pre-heated, pre-dried and pre-densified, and thus pre-homogenized material is generated, which is fed to the following container. By this means it is ensured that no untreated, i.e. cold, uncompacted, uncomminuted or inhomogeneous material passes directly to the removal worm gear or to the extruder. It is true that such devices with multiple containers are bulky and take up much space. Also, the design expense, especially in the linking of the containers, is considerable. With all of the treatment procedures, it must always be kept in mind that plastic amounts either not treated or inadequately treated form inhomogeneous plastic nests in the worm gear, which is detrimental to the quality of the end product. If therefore one desires to obtain end products, whether they be granulates or items extruded into shapes, with the desired quality retained, then the worm gear that transports the inadequately prepared material out of the receptacle must bring the entirety of the material fed by it at the worm gear outlet to the desired quality and temperature, to be able to extrude the material with the desired homogeneity. This initial temperature must be kept relatively high in order to assure that all the plastic particles are sufficiently plasticized. This in turn entails high energy expense and in addition that thermal damage to the plastic material, such as breakdown of the molecular chain length, is to be feared due to the relatively high initial temperature. In addition, from prior art from AT 407 970 B, a mechanism is known in which the material to be processed is processed continuously in the same receptacle by means of two sets of tools situated one above the other in two successive stages. In the first, by means of the stage carried out of the upper tool set, the material is pre-comminuted and/or preheated and/or pre-dried and/or premixed. In the second stage carried out by means of the lower tool set, the material obtains the same treatment, but less intensively. Material is exchanged between the first and second stage via a permanently open annular gap that is formed between the container wall and a carrier disk. It is true that owing to the friction of the material occurring there between the container wall and carrier disk, the annular gap is not advantageous and not able to be comminuted at will. In addition, the size of the annular gap cannot be altered. With larger containers of this design, the overall open area between the stages is larger than necessary, which leads to an expanded dwell time spectrum of the material.. Thus the task of the invention is improve devices of the type mentioned initially, and to create an energy-efficient device that delivers a material with good, homogeneous quality while not taking up much space. In addition, the task of the invention is to produce an advantageous procedure by which lumpy plastic material can be treated efficiently and in a space-saving manner. These problems are solved by the characterizing features of claims 1 and 17. In advantageous fashion, claim 1 ensures that freshly inserted, insufficiently treated or pretreated material is prevented from getting into the removal worm gear without being sufficiently processed, through which the device and its operation are considerably simplified. This is insured by intermediate bases inserted into the container and subdividing it into chambers, whereby means are provided that cause or permit an exchange of the lumpy softened, unmelted material between the immediately adjacent stages or planes or chambers. Thus the zone where the material is predominantly comminuted or dried or preheated, is separated from the zone where the material is compressed into the worm gear housing. With this, after a brief time of operation, an equilibrium is created between the zones. This contributes to ensuring a sufficient dwell time of the material in the receptacle, especially in its area above the intermediate base. Thus, the temperature of the material inserted into the removal opening of the receptacle is homogenized, since in essence all of the plastic parts found in the receptacle are sufficiently preprocessed. The approximately constant temperature of the material being fed into the worm gear housing brings the result that the inhomogeneous nests of plastic in the extruder worm year are largely eliminated, and thereby the worm gear lengths are kept smaller than with the known designs, since the worm gear needs to apply less work to bring the plastic material with certainty to the same plastifier temperature. The constant entry temperature of the plastic material into the worm gear housing also results in a uniform pre-densification of the material in the worm gear housing, which has a favorable effect on the conditions at the extruder opening, especially in the form of a uniform extruder throughput and a uniform material quality at the extruder output. The curtailed worm gear length results in an energy saving and processing temperature in the extruder than is lower in comparison to the known designs, since the average entry temperature on the entry end of the worm gear is more uniform than with the known designs. Thus with the subject of the invention, the processed plastic material - viewed over the entire processing sequence - can be processed at a temperature that is lower in comparison to other designs, to have the security of a sufficient plastification. This reduction in peak temperatures results in the energy saving mentioned at the outset, and in addition avoids thermal damage to the processed materials. In addition, owing to such a device, the processing of the material can be controlled and adapted in dependence on the type of plastic. Thus it is advantages with PET to achieve an increase in viscosity (iV). With other plastics, for example HDPE or polycarbonate, it is also advantageous to detoxify the plastic material and to free it from volatile components and remove these from the material stream. This in advantageous fashion can be ensured by the invention-specific device. Owing to the fact that the individual stages or levels in essence are partitioned off from each other, movement of volatile components from one level to another cleaner level is minimized. If the volatile components in each plane are stripped out or removed by suction, in this way the material can obtain increased purity. In addition, owing to the intermediate bases used, the material column is lessened in height over the moved tools or mixing devices. By this means, mechanical loading on the tools is reduced and the maintenance intervals for the mixing tools along with their service life are extended. In addition this leads to better control when energy is put into the material, through which one can more easily get up to the highest permissible temperature for the material to be processed. With this the highest permissible temperature is the temperature at which the material is in a softened, doughy state, but has not yet melted on. Adjustment of this temperature is very sensitive, because too high a temperature would lead to melting on and baking together. The temperature is applied through the mixing and stirring tools and is also especially controlled thereby. In addition the mixing and stirring tools perform a mixing through that prevents getting stuck together. Thus it is advantageous to regulate the temperature as quickly and precisely as possible, which can be ensured by subdividing the entire receptacle into individual smaller mixing spaces that are easy to inspect in advantageous fashion. By setting a maximum permissible temperature and the certainty of also being able to maintain this temperature and rapidly adapt it, the diffusion rates of the volatile components to be removed are improved, and the purity is further improved. In summary this means that owing to the intermediate bases employed, material exchange in the flow direction from one level to the next is reduced, by which the passage of the lumpy material through is decelerated and the dwell spectrum is narrowed. The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the invention. Thus it is advantageous if the chambers are situated above each other and the material flows by gravity from top to bottom. In this way, with structurally simple interchange media or even just with openings, without additional feed devices, sufficiency can be found. In addition it can be advantageous if the chambers differ in diameter and/or height. According to a preferred embodiment form, as seen in the direction of flow of the lumpy material, the upper chamber into which the material is inserted has the greatest diameter and if necessary also the smallest height, in comparison to the other chambers that lie below as seen in the flow direction. In this way, processing of the not completely molten material can effectively be influenced. In addition, the receiving capacity in the topmost container is increased. Formation of a topmost chamber with a large diameter also offers an advantage in that in this way, the plastic material can be processed effectively and with adaptation to the particular circumstances, especially comminution and pre-homogenization. A further advantageous configuration relates to formation of mixing and comminution tools. In this regard it is advantageous that these be so configured that by that means the material is moved, placed in rotation, mixed, heated, comminuted and/or brought into a softened state, without the material melting. Thus the mixing and comminution tools must receive the material in a lumpy or particle-forming state and dry and/or precrystallize it if needed. The mixing and comminution tools can be configured differently in the particular chambers and/or be controllable and driven independently of each other via one or more drives, especially at differing r.p.m.s. In this way, by choosing the correct r.p.m. and the correct tool, for example, a great deal of energy can be put quickly into the fresh material. By this means the material is quickly heated and any moisture contained can quickly be removed with the aid of a vacuum or dried inert gas. Thus in the chamber lying below, considerably less energy needs to be put into the material, by which other tool configurations can be used in this chamber, which if necessary operate at different r.p.m. This guarantees the largest possible variability and an optimal procedure in dependence on the material to be treated, and the material can be best kept in a softened, lumpy, non-melted state. In this connection on the one hand it is advantageous to place the mixing and comminution tools on a common rotating shaft, since in many situations this is efficient and ensures sufficient processing. On the other hand, it can be advantageous, especially in view of the variable processing mentioned above, to run the mixing and comminution tools via separate drives. The means that allow exchange of material between the chambers penetrate the particular intermediate bases completely according to one advantageous embodiment form of the invention. In this way, the material can be directed from the chamber that lies upstream in the flow direction and be brought into the next chamber situated downstream. For design reasons it is especially advantageous that material leaving from the topmost chamber is moved directly through the intermediate base. On the one hand, thereby the spatial requirement is lessened, and on the other, such openings in the intermediate bases are completely surrounded by receptacles, ensuring a stable temperature. If for example the materials are passed via external piping into another container or another chamber, then under certain circumstances it may be required that these pipes or feed mechanisms be heated, so as not to impair processing of the material. In this connection it is advantageous if, for example when chambers have the same diameter, the material is brought from the upper chamber through the intermediate base directly into the lower chamber, and in this way it falls, so to speak, from above into the lower chamber. In this embodiment form, the intermediate base represents a horizontal partition between the two chambers that is fully penetrated by the exchange media. Such a connection of the chambers is structurally very simple, space-saving and efficient. Especially with chambers having different diameters in which for example the upper chamber is of a larger diameter than the chambers situated farther downstream, it can also be advantageous that the material exiting from the uppermost chamber is brought not from above but rather laterally while penetrating the side wall of the chamber lying farther below. In this way, a variation can be made in advantageous fashion of whether the delivery is made above or below the material level. The exchange media can in advantageous fashion be configured about the central rotating shaft and/or in the area close to the side wall of the receptacle or in the radial end area of the mixing and comminution tools. The positioning of the means is dependent on the r.p.m. and the intensity of the processing and can in this way be varied in advantageous fashion. To maximize path length and dwell time, it is advantageous if the media in the individual intermediate bases are not placed directly one over the over, but rather on opposite sides at a maximum distance from each other. According to one advantageous embodiment, the means are configured either as openings permitting free passage over their entire width in the clear, which can be implemented very simply in design terms and are easy to maintain. Also, the media can be configured as labyrinths, which additionally increase the dwell time of the material. To make possible control over the dwell time, it is advantageous to provide the means with covers or slides. In this way, control can be implemented regarding when and to what degree material passes from one chamber into the next one. Also, it is possible to configure the means as actual feeding and dosing means, for example, as feeding screws, which understandably are also suitable for dosing. In this way, it is quick and easy to react to differing raw materials. If, for example, thick flakes are inserted into the uppermost chamber, after thin foils have previously been processed, then it may make sense to increase the dwell time of the now more coarse material in the topmost chamber through reduction of the exit opening in the intermediate base, to ensure sufficient handling. Such mechanisms thus permit a more variable carrying out of the procedure. As an alternative to that, it is also possible that the exchange media are configured so that they do not penetrate through the intermediate base, but rather ensure the flow of materials to a chamber lying below while not penetrating through the intermediate base but rather while penetrating the side wall of this chamber. Thus the treated material flows from the topmost chamber through the side wall, and is conducted into a chamber placed downstream either laterally or from above. The exchange media can be configured in the same way as below. In addition, provision can be made in advantageous fashion that preferably in each chamber a suctioning device is provided to remove volatile components and/or a device can be placed for rinsing with inert gas or reactive gases. It can also be advantageous to enable the entire mechanism to be centrally evacuated. Thus for example during treatment it is advantageous to adjust the pressure in the topmost chamber with the highest temperature to be as low as possible, to make possible an optimal increase in viscosity through polycondensation. With this as a rule the topmost chamber is charged with the most moist material, resulting in a larger pressure drop due to the large amounts of humidity which accompany an increase in temperature. If a single vacuum pump is used for the entire receptacle, the pressure in the lowest intermediate base would likewise fall, through which no polycondensation would occur, or only to a reduced extent. Among these aspects it is advantageous if every area or every chamber is able to be evacuated by its own vacuum pump. In principle instead of suction, inert gas rinsing could be done with nitrogen or carbon dioxide, through which not just moisture, but also other volatile components such as smelly substances could be suctioned out. In addition it is advantageous, preferably in each of the chambers, to provide a filling level gauge, which ensures that the flow-through of material is better able to be checked and controlled. Depending on the filling level in the particular chamber, the r.p.m. or adjustment of covers of the exchange medium can be governed. An advantageous mechanism according to claim 15 with an upper chamber having a larger diameter offers an advantage in that in this way, processing of the not fully melted material can be positively influenced. In addition, by this means, using a simple measure, the receiving capacity in the topmost container can be increased. Formation of a topmost chamber with a large or larger diameter also offers an advantage in that in this way the plastic material can be processed more effectively, and adapted to the particular circumstances, especially comminution and pre-homogenizing. The features of claim 16 further amplify these effects. In essence the invention-specific procedure guarantees the advantages named above, especially in that by that means it is possible to process or prepare plastic material effectively. Further advantages and embodiments of the invention can be gleaned from the specification and the appended drawings. The invention is schematically depicted using embodiment examples in the drawings and is described as follows by way of example while referring to the drawings. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment form of an invention-specific mechanism with three chambers of equal diameter, placed one above the other. Figure 2 shows another embodiment with two chambers of differing diameter placed one above the other. Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment form of figure 1. Figure 1 shows an embodiment form of an invention-specific mechanism for treatment of thermoplastic material, especially recycled goods or packaging waste or the like, which comprises a receptacle or cutter-compactor 1. The material can be inserted from above via an insertion opening 12 into receptacle 1 and gets into uppermost chamber 6a. This chamber 6a has a cylindrical shape and is equipped with a mixing and comminution tool 7a. Mixing and comminution tool 7a is connected via a rotating shaft with a drive unit and can be put into rotary motions. Mixing and comminution tool 7a is situated in the base area of topmost chamber 6a and is governed or configured so that it exerts a mixing, heating, and, if necessary grinding effect on the plastic material. The material is put into rotation and a mixing funnel is formed. With this, two arms that are placed normal to the longitudinal axis 14 of the overall device or to rotating shaft 9 can be configured which are equipped with working edges 13 that act on the plastic material. These working edges 13 run so that on the one side they perform a pulling cut on the plastic material situated in the edge area of receptacle 1, and on the other side they feed the ground material as much as possible into a removal opening 5'. Other liquid or solid additional materials or fillers can be added into topmost chamber 6a. They can be added either via the insertion opening 12 or also in an area below the material level in chamber 6a. Directly beneath topmost chamber 6a, another center chamber 6b is placed. Center chamber 6b has the same diameter as topmost chamber 6a. The two chambers, 6a and 6b, are spatially separated from each other by an intermediate base 2', with the intermediate base in the same way forming the lower base of topmost chamber 6a, as well as the upper covering of center chamber 6b. Between chambers 6a and 6b a means 5' is provided, which makes possible a transfer or transport of the softened, lumpy, non-melted material from upper chamber 6a into chamber 6b lying beneath it. The material pretreated in topmost chamber 6a can thus drop by gravity from topmost chamber 6a into further chamber 6b. Additionally in topmost chamber 6a a suction device 15 is provided, through which volatile components such as water vapor or odor-causing compounds that condense from the material can be withdrawn. It is also possible to pass an inert gas stream through the suction device 15 or by means of it, through chamber 6a. In center chamber 6b that is farther below or which is placed downstream, mixing tools 7b are also situated. In the present case these are two mixing devices that lie one atop the other, which are supported on a common rotating shaft 8 and set the material in chamber 6b in motion and process in the same way as in chamber 6a. True, rotating shaft 8 is not connecting with the same drive unit as rotating shaft 9 of upper chamber 6a, but rather with a drive unit that is placed at the opposite end of the device. In this way, the r.p.m. of mixing tool 7b can be set independently of the r.p.m. of mixing tools 7a. Below or downstream of chamber 6b, another chamber 6c is placed. This lowest chamber 6c has the same size and same diameter as the two upper chambers 6a and 6b. Also in the bottom chamber 6c, a mixing tool 7c is provided which operates as described above. Chamber 6b is spatially separated from lowest chamber 6c by intermediate base 2". To ensure a material flow, a means 5" is placed in intermediate base 2", which ensures an exchange of the softened, lumpy material exiting from center chamber 6b into lowest chamber 6c. Thus, the three chambers 6a, 6b, 6c are of equal size, lie directly one atop the other, and form cylindrical receptacle 1. Side walls 4', 4" and 4'" of the chambers, lying one atop the other, form the side wall 4 of receptacle 1. Via the two intermediate bases 2', 2", receptacle 1 is subdivided into the three chambers 6a, 6b, 6c, but nonetheless a single, unitary, space-saving receptacle 1 exists, not several individual containers connected with each other. Through the formation of intermediate bases 2', 2" thus no raw material can flow unhindered and undefined to the extruder. The two means 5' 5" do not lie in alignment one over the other, but are placed radially at opposite ends of the intermediate bases 2', 2". In this way the dwell time spectrum can be increased and the path of the material can be lengthened. The two means 5', 5" lie at the end area of the radii or regions covered by mixing and stirring tools 7a, 7b. Also in chambers 6b and 6c, suction devices 15 are provided, to remove volatile components not yet released in topmost chamber 6a. In this way, the material can be effectively purified. In lowest chamber 6c, a removal opening 10 is placed in the side wall 4'". By means of mixing tool 7c, the plastic material is inserted in troweled fashion into this removal opening 10, which essentially lies at the same level as mixing tool 7c. In a further sequence, an extruder 11, in which the material is compacted and melted, is attached to this removal opening 10. The plastic material thus moves in the following way: the material is inserted via the insertion opening 12 into topmost chamber 6a, and is there processed by mixing tools 7a. Especially the material is ground and also heated by the energy transferred via the mixing tools 7a. Likewise, the material can be dried in topmost chamber 12a, which is of especially great relevance with PET. The material can also be pre-crystallized. With this it is essential that the material in topmost chamber 6a is not melted on at any point, but rather is present in a softened state, especially in the vicinity of the Vicat softening temperature of the polymer to be treated. In advantageous fashion the required temperature can be set and regulated by the mixing tools 7a, especially by their rotational speed and/or the configuring of the cutting edges 13. Due to the chambers being relatively small, temperatures can be regulated and altered quickly. In addition, mixing tools 7a prevent the plastic particles from sticking together and allow the material by that means to flow and be agitated. Then the material is brought via means 5' through intermediate base 2' from chamber 6a into chamber 6b. With this, means 5' is configured in the present embodiment form in the shape of a closable opening or cover. In this way, the material flow can be regulated and the dwell time of the material adjusted in topmost chamber 6a. As an alternative, a feed screw or dosing screw can be provided. In chamber 6b, the material also is now subjected to processing by mixing tools 7b, with no melting of the material occurring here as well. The material is then transferred by means 5" through intermediate base 2" further downstream into the lowest chamber 6c, and there is further processed by mixing tools 7c. Then the material is withdrawn through removal opening 10 from receptacle 1, having undergone a three-stage processing and pre-homogenizing, which in advantageous fashion has prepared the material optimally for the upcoming melting operation in the extruder. Another alternative embodiment form is provided in figure 2. The device comprises a receptacle or cutter-compactor 1, into which material can be brought from above via the insertion opening 12 and which likewise has a removal opening 10, through which, after processing, the material can be extracted in the direction of an extruder 11. In contrast to the device as per figure 1, the device as per figure 2 comprises only two chambers 6a and 6b that lie one above the other. In both chambers 6a and 6b, mixing and comminution tools 7a, 7b are placed. True, the diameter of upper chamber 6a is greater than the diameter of chamber 6b that is lower, lying downstream. Thus, the side wall 4' of upper chamber 6a and the side wall 4" of lower chamber 6b do not form a cylindrical receptacle 1, but rather a receptacle 1 that appropriately is different in shape. Nonetheless, the result is a single unitary receptacle 1, and not two containers spatially separated from each other. This is not impaired by the circumstance that chambers 6a, 6b have differing diameters. The upper chamber 6a is separated from lower chamber 6b by an intermediate base 2', with now a circular ring-shaped area provided in the outer radius of this intermediate base 2', which projects out over the circular surface of the diameter of lower chamber 6b. In intermediate base 2' in this circular ring-shaped outer area, a means 5' or a hole is provided which penetrates intermediate base 2' completely, by which, however, no direct vertical connection is formed between chamber 6a and chamber 6b, as in figure 1, in which the material drops from above into lower chamber 6b. Deviating from the device as per figure 1, means 5' as per figure 2 is so configured that the material first drops vertically from above or is inserted, and then is brought through a turnover section in the form of a tube or a feeding screw through side wall 4" of lower chamber 6b, into this chamber 6b. In this way, it can be varied whether the material is inserted above or beneath the material level in chamber 6b, depending at what level the means 5' empties into chamber 6b. The throughput can also be controlled. In figure 2, the means 5' is just outside the radius of the upper mixing and comminution tool 7a, through which the softened, lumpy, non-molten material simply and efficiently drops or can be inserted into means 5'. Understandably, additionally other means 5' can be provided which are configured to be farther in radially and which, like in the device according to figure 1, fully penetrate intermediate base 2', through which the material, also like figure 1, is able to be brought from upper chamber 6a directly vertically from above into the underlying chamber 6b. The material flows similar to figure 1 from chamber 6a, in which the material can be pretreated, but not melted on, via means 5' in chamber 6b, with the material undergoing a further treatment in chamber 6b. Thus it is not possible for untreated raw material to directly enter into the extruder worm gear 11. Also in figure 2, the two mixing tools 7a, 7b of the different chambers 6a, 6b can be controlled separately from each other via the differing drive units or tube shafts 8, 9, with the drive units here also situated at opposite positions relative to the mechanism. Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention. As in figure 1, the receptacle or cutter-compactor 1 is divided or subdivided into three chambers 6a, 6b, 6c placed one above the other, with the diameter of the individual chambers being equal and the side walls 4', 4", 4'" forming a unitary cylindrical receptacle 1. Differing from figure 1, the mixing devices 7a, 7b, 7c present in each chamber 6a, 6b, 6c are placed on a common rotating shaft 8 and thus can only rotate with common r.p.m. or with the same r.p.m. In a customary manner, chambers 6a, 6b, 6c are separated by intermediate bases 2', 2" and connected with each other in material-flow terms by means 5', 5". It is true that the means 5', 5" are differently configured as compared with figure 1. Between topmost chamber 6a and center chamber 6b, a means 5' is provided, which is placed centrally radially about rotating shaft 8. Besides that, an additional means 5' is provided, which in contrast to the previous means does not penetrate through the intermediate base, but rather only cuts through the side walls 4', 4" of the two chambers 6a, 6b that lie one atop the other. Thus the material can be brought through sidewall 4' of topmost chamber 6a from this chamber 6a and is inserted via means 5', in this case a feeding or dosing screw, while penetrating sidewall 4" of chamber 6b lying below into it. Thus this means 5' lies outside chambers 6a, 6b or outside sidewalls 4', 4". In this case attention is to be paid to the temperature in this means 5' or insulating and/or heating devices for this means 5' may make sense. Intermediate base 2" between center chamber 6b and lowest chamber 6c also has a means 5" which is placed centrally about rotating axle 8. In addition, another means 5" is situated which is configured as an adjustable opening over a slider 21, and which penetrates intermediate base 2". This means 5" is in the outer radial area of mixing tool 7b. Otherwise the device is configured the same as in figure 1. The material is fed via insertion device 12 in advantageous fashion via a regulating or controlling device 20, as for example a bucket wheel lock, a slider system or a screw feed system. In addition, provision can be made that preferably a fill lever meter 16 be provided in each chamber 6a, 6b, 6c, to determine the height of the material in each chamber and the procedure can be adapted at any time to the r.p.m. of mixing tool 7 or by adjusting the opening width or porthole of means 5. The cover of receptacle 1 in addition can be designed to be heated or cooled, for example by heating or cooling hoses or by a dual cover. Thus, each section or each sidewall 4', 4", 4'" of each chamber 6a, 6b, 6c can be cooled or heated separately from the others. The mixing tools 7a, 7b, 7c can also be designed so they can be heated or cooled. In addition, it would be possible to provide each chamber 6a, 6b, 6c with its own removal opening 10, via which the material can be passed to an extruder 11. Figure 4 shows an exemplary mechanism which in essence corresponds to the embodiment form as per figure 2. True, the mixing and comminution tools 7a, 7b are situated on a common rotating shaft 8 and moved via a single drive motor, and thus are coupled or synchronized for identical motion. Patent Claims 1. Device for treatment of plastic material, especially thermoplastic such as polyester or polyethylene, with a receptacle or cutter-compactor (1), into which the material can be brought for processing, in the lower part of which a removal opening (10) is provided, through which the processed material can be removed from the receptacle (1), for example into an extruder (11), with the receptacle (1) being subdivided into at least two chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...) especially cylindrical ones, that are separated from each other by an intermediate base (2', 2"....), with at least one mixing or comminution tool (7a, 7b, 7c,...) being situated in each chamber (6a, 6b, 6c,...) especially able to be turned about a vertical axis (8, 14), by which the material can be brought into a softened but permanently lumpy or particle-shaped and non-molten state, and whereby means (5', 5",...) are provided that cause or allow an exchange or a transfer of the softened, lumpy, non-molten material between the particular directly adjacent chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...), characterized in that the topmost chamber (6a) or the relatively higher placed chamber has a greater diameter than the chambers (6b, 6c,...) that lie below in the direction of material flow. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...) are placed one above the other and the material flow is directed from the topmost chamber (6a), into which the material to be treated can be inserted, especially by gravity, downward into the following chambers (6b, 6c, ...). 3. Device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...) have diameters and/or heights that differ one from another, with the topmost chamber (6a) or the relatively higher placed chamber having a lesser height than the chambers (6b, 6c,...) lying below in the direction of material flow. 4. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the mixing or comminution tools (7a, 7b, 7c,...) are configured or controllable or act on the material so that the material moves, is placed in rotation, or forms a mixing funnel, is mixed, heated or if necessary ground, and is thereby brought into a softened state, but remains permanently lumpy or particle-shaped and does not melt and/or that at least in the upper chamber (6a), the material is dried and/or crystallized. 5. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the mixing or comminution tools (7a, 7b, 7c,...) are differently configured in the particular chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...) and/or if necessary are placed on different rotating shafts (8, 9) and/or can be governed independently of each other via one or more drives, and especially rotate at different r.p.m. 6. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that all of the mixing or comminution tools (7a, 7b, 7c,...) are placed on a common through- running rotary shaft (8), or that the mixing or comminution tools (7a, 7b, 7c,...) are distributed to two or more rotating shafts (8, 9) that each have a separate drive, which, if necessary, project in from opposite sides into the receptacle (1). 7. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the means (5', 5") permitting the exchange or transfer of the material between adjoining chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...) are situated in the base or intermediate base (2', 2", ....) of the topmost chamber (6a) or of each relatively higher chamber or of the chamber with the relatively greater diameter, or extend from this chamber and form a material flow connection while penetrating the particular intermediate base (2', 2",...) of this chamber into the chamber (6b, 6c,...) that is immediately adjacent or following, lying farther below in the direction of material flow. 8. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that especially in chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...) with diameters that are the same in essence, the means (5', 5",...) are situated in the particular intermediate base (2', 2",...) between two chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...) and fully penetrate these intermediate bases (2', 2",...). 9. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that especially in chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...) having differing diameters, the means (5', 5",...) that extend out from the topmost chamber (6a) or the chamber lying relatively higher up, or the chamber with the larger diameter, while penetrating the side wall (4", 4'",...) of the chamber (6b, 6c,...) that follows in the direction of material flow or lies beneath, or the chamber with the smallest diameter, empty into the adjacent or following chamber (6b, 6c,...) that lies farther below. 17 10. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the means (5', 5",...) are configured about the rotating shaft(s) (8, 9) or embrace them and/or are placed in the area close to the side wall (4', 4", 4'",...) of the receptacle (1) or in the radial end area of the mixing or comminution tools (7a, 7b, 7c,...), and/or the means (5', 5",...) are arranged in the individual intermediate bases (2', 2",...) not to be in alignment one over the other, but rather to be at a maximum distance from each other. 11. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the means (5', 5",...) are configured as openings or covers that ensure free penetration over their entire width in the clear, if necessary configured as a labyrinth, if necessary at least partially able to close or to regulate the throughput of material, or as feeding or dosing means, especially as feeding worm gear. 12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the means (5', 5"...) that permit exchange or transfer of the material between adjacent chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...) extend outward from the topmost chamber (6a) or from each chamber that relatively is situated higher, or from the chamber with the relatively greater diameter, and while entirely penetrating the particular side wall (4'), especially in the area that is lower or close to the base, near the intermediate base (2', 2",...) of these chambers as well as while bypassing or without penetrating the intermediate bases (2', 2".....) form a material flow connection into the immediately adjacent chamber (6b, 6c,...) lying farther below in the direction of material flow, with the means (5', 5",...) especially being The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the processing of plastic material, with a receptacle or cutter-compactor (1) into which the material to be treated can be introduced, in the lower region of which a discharge opening (10) is provided, through which the processed material can be ejected from the receptacle (1), for example into an extruder (11). According to the invention, the receptacle (1) is divided into at least two chambers (6a, 6b, 6c, . . . ) separated from each other by an intermediate base (2',2",..., wherein at least one mixing or comminution tool (7a,7b,7c,... ) is arranged which acts upon the material in each chamber (6a,6b,6c, . . .) , with which the material can be converted into a softened but permanently lumpy or particle-shaped and not melted state and wherein means (5',5',... ) are provided which effect or permit an exchange or a transfer of the softened, lumpy, not melted material between each directly adjacent chamber (6a, 6b, 6c, ....).

Full Text

Method and apparatus for processing of plastic material
The invention relates to an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1 along
with a method according to claim 17.
Devices for processing and pre-treatment of plastic materials are known, for
example, from EP 390 873. Such devices generally operate in satisfactory fashion, but
it has been shown that in some cases the plastic material carried off via the worm gear
is not sufficiently homogeneous, especially in regard to the obtained extent of drying of
such plastic materials which must already be fully dry before plastification, for example
polyester, to avoid decomposition processes. Thicker foils in addition require expense in
drying that goes up as the thickness increases, owing to which, for such goods,
separate drying processes such as with dehydrated air, are necessary in special dryers.
These dryers operate in a temperature range for which only crystallized goods are
permitted; amorphous goods would become sticky and agglomerate. This means that a
crystallization process must precede the drying process. But if the goods to be
processed are subjected to lengthy treatment in the container by the tool, then with the
device in continuous operation, a danger arises that individual plastic particles are
caught very early by the removing worm gear, while other plastic particles are caught
very late. The plastic particles caught early may still be relatively cold and therefore may
not have been given sufficient pre-treatment, dried, crystallized or softened, possible
resulting in inhomogeneities in the material fed through the worm gear to the attached
tool, such as an extruder.
To solve this problem, mechanisms have been created such as are known from
AT 396 900 B. Through such devices, the homogeneity of the material can be
improved. Two or more containers are situated in a series and the plastic material to be
processed runs through these containers in turn. In the first container, already pre-
comminuted, pre-heated, pre-dried and pre-densified, and thus pre-homogenized
material is generated, which is fed to the following container. By this means it is
ensured that no untreated, i.e. cold, uncompacted, uncomminuted or inhomogeneous
material passes directly to the removal worm gear or to the extruder. It is true that such
devices with multiple containers are bulky and take up much space. Also, the design
expense, especially in the linking of the containers, is considerable.
With all of the treatment procedures, it must always be kept in mind that plastic
amounts either not treated or inadequately treated form inhomogeneous plastic nests in
the worm gear, which is detrimental to the quality of the end product. If therefore one
desires to obtain end products, whether they be granulates or items extruded into
shapes, with the desired quality retained, then the worm gear that transports the
inadequately prepared material out of the receptacle must bring the entirety of the
material fed by it at the worm gear outlet to the desired quality and temperature, to be
able to extrude the material with the desired homogeneity. This initial temperature must
be kept relatively high in order to assure that all the plastic particles are sufficiently
plasticized. This in turn entails high energy expense and in addition that thermal
damage to the plastic material, such as breakdown of the molecular chain length, is to
be feared due to the relatively high initial temperature.
In addition, from prior art from AT 407 970 B, a mechanism is known in which the
material to be processed is processed continuously in the same receptacle by means of
two sets of tools situated one above the other in two successive stages. In the first, by
means of the stage carried out of the upper tool set, the material is pre-comminuted
and/or preheated and/or pre-dried and/or premixed. In the second stage carried out by
means of the lower tool set, the material obtains the same treatment, but less
intensively. Material is exchanged between the first and second stage via a permanently
open annular gap that is formed between the container wall and a carrier disk. It is true
that owing to the friction of the material occurring there between the container wall and
carrier disk, the annular gap is not advantageous and not able to be comminuted at will.
In addition, the size of the annular gap cannot be altered. With larger containers of this
design, the overall open area between the stages is larger than necessary, which leads
to an expanded dwell time spectrum of the material..
Thus the task of the invention is improve devices of the type mentioned initially,
and to create an energy-efficient device that delivers a material with good,
homogeneous quality while not taking up much space. In addition, the task of the
invention is to produce an advantageous procedure by which lumpy plastic material can
be treated efficiently and in a space-saving manner.
These problems are solved by the characterizing features of claims 1 and 17.
In advantageous fashion, claim 1 ensures that freshly inserted,
insufficiently treated or pretreated material is prevented from getting into the removal
worm gear without being sufficiently processed, through which the device and its
operation are considerably simplified. This is insured by intermediate bases inserted
into the container and subdividing it into chambers, whereby means are provided that
cause or permit an exchange of the lumpy softened, unmelted material between the
immediately adjacent stages or planes or chambers. Thus the zone where the material
is predominantly comminuted or dried or preheated, is separated from the zone where
the material is compressed into the worm gear housing. With this, after a brief time of
operation, an equilibrium is created between the zones. This contributes to ensuring a
sufficient dwell time of the material in the receptacle, especially in its area above the
intermediate base. Thus, the temperature of the material inserted into the removal
opening of the receptacle is homogenized, since in essence all of the plastic parts found
in the receptacle are sufficiently preprocessed. The approximately constant
temperature of the material being fed into the worm gear housing brings the result that
the inhomogeneous nests of plastic in the extruder worm year are largely eliminated,
and thereby the worm gear lengths are kept smaller than with the known designs, since
the worm gear needs to apply less work to bring the plastic material with certainty to the
same plastifier temperature. The constant entry temperature of the plastic material into
the worm gear housing also results in a uniform pre-densification of the material in the
worm gear housing, which has a favorable effect on the conditions at the extruder
opening, especially in the form of a uniform extruder throughput and a uniform material
quality at the extruder output. The curtailed worm gear length results in an energy
saving and processing temperature in the extruder than is lower in comparison to the
known designs, since the average entry temperature on the entry end of the worm gear
is more uniform than with the known designs. Thus with the subject of the invention, the
processed plastic material - viewed over the entire processing sequence - can be
processed at a temperature that is lower in comparison to other designs, to have the
security of a sufficient plastification. This reduction in peak temperatures results in the
energy saving mentioned at the outset, and in addition avoids thermal damage to the
processed materials.
In addition, owing to such a device, the processing of the material can be
controlled and adapted in dependence on the type of plastic. Thus it is
advantages with PET to achieve an increase in viscosity (iV). With other plastics, for
example HDPE or polycarbonate, it is also advantageous to detoxify the plastic material
and to free it from volatile components and remove these from the material stream. This
in advantageous fashion can be ensured by the invention-specific device. Owing to the
fact that the individual stages or levels in essence are partitioned off from each other,
movement of volatile components from one level to another cleaner level is minimized.
If the volatile components in each plane are stripped out or removed by suction, in this
way the material can obtain increased purity.
In addition, owing to the intermediate bases used, the material column is
lessened in height over the moved tools or mixing devices. By this means, mechanical
loading on the tools is reduced and the maintenance intervals for the mixing tools along
with their service life are extended. In addition this leads to better control when energy
is put into the material, through which one can more easily get up to the highest
permissible temperature for the material to be processed. With this the highest
permissible temperature is the temperature at which the material is in a softened,
doughy state, but has not yet melted on. Adjustment of this temperature is very
sensitive, because too high a temperature would lead to melting on and baking
together. The temperature is applied through the mixing and stirring tools and is also
especially controlled thereby. In addition the mixing and stirring tools perform a mixing
through that prevents getting stuck together. Thus it is advantageous to regulate the
temperature as quickly and precisely as possible, which can be ensured by subdividing
the entire receptacle into individual smaller mixing spaces that are easy to inspect in
advantageous fashion. By setting a maximum permissible temperature and the certainty
of also being able to maintain this temperature and rapidly adapt it, the diffusion rates of
the volatile components to be removed are improved, and the purity is further improved.
In summary this means that owing to the intermediate bases employed, material
exchange in the flow direction from one level to the next is reduced, by which the
passage of the lumpy material through is decelerated and the dwell spectrum is
narrowed.
The dependent claims relate to advantageous embodiments of the invention.
Thus it is advantageous if the chambers are situated above each other and the
material flows by gravity from top to bottom. In this way, with structurally simple
interchange media or even just with openings, without additional feed devices,
sufficiency can be found.
In addition it can be advantageous if the chambers differ in diameter and/or
height. According to a preferred embodiment form, as seen in the direction of flow of the
lumpy material, the upper chamber into which the material is inserted has the greatest
diameter and if necessary also the smallest height, in comparison to the other chambers
that lie below as seen in the flow direction. In this way, processing of the not completely
molten material can effectively be influenced. In addition, the receiving capacity in the
topmost container is increased. Formation of a topmost chamber with a large diameter
also offers an advantage in that in this way, the plastic material can be processed
effectively and with adaptation to the particular circumstances, especially comminution
and pre-homogenization.
A further advantageous configuration relates to formation of mixing and
comminution tools. In this regard it is advantageous that these be so configured that by
that means the material is moved, placed in rotation, mixed, heated, comminuted and/or
brought into a softened state, without the material melting. Thus the mixing and
comminution tools must receive the material in a lumpy or particle-forming state and dry
and/or precrystallize it if needed.
The mixing and comminution tools can be configured differently in the particular
chambers and/or be controllable and driven independently of each other via one or
more drives, especially at differing r.p.m.s. In this way, by choosing the correct r.p.m.
and the correct tool, for example, a great deal of energy can be put quickly into the fresh
material. By this means the material is quickly heated and any moisture contained can
quickly be removed with the aid of a vacuum or dried inert gas. Thus in the chamber
lying below, considerably less energy needs to be put into the material, by which other
tool configurations can be used in this chamber, which if necessary operate at different
r.p.m. This guarantees the largest possible variability and an optimal procedure in
dependence on the material to be treated, and the material can be best kept in a
softened, lumpy, non-melted state.
In this connection on the one hand it is advantageous to place the mixing and
comminution tools on a common rotating shaft, since in many situations this is efficient
and ensures sufficient processing. On the other hand, it can be advantageous,
especially in view of the variable processing mentioned above, to run the mixing and
comminution tools via separate drives.
The means that allow exchange of material between the chambers penetrate the
particular intermediate bases completely according to one advantageous embodiment
form of the invention. In this way, the material can be directed from the chamber that
lies upstream in the flow direction and be brought into the next chamber situated
downstream. For design reasons it is especially advantageous that material leaving
from the topmost chamber is moved directly through the intermediate base. On the one
hand, thereby the spatial requirement is lessened, and on the other, such openings in
the intermediate bases are completely surrounded by receptacles, ensuring a stable
temperature. If for example the materials are passed via external piping into another
container or another chamber, then under certain circumstances it may be required that
these pipes or feed mechanisms be heated, so as not to impair processing of the
material.
In this connection it is advantageous if, for example when chambers have the
same diameter, the material is brought from the upper chamber through the
intermediate base directly into the lower chamber, and in this way it falls, so to speak,
from above into the lower chamber. In this embodiment form, the intermediate base
represents a horizontal partition between the two chambers that is fully penetrated by
the exchange media. Such a connection of the chambers is structurally very simple,
space-saving and efficient.
Especially with chambers having different diameters in which for example the
upper chamber is of a larger diameter than the chambers situated farther downstream, it
can also be advantageous that the material exiting from the uppermost chamber is
brought not from above but rather laterally while penetrating the side wall of the
chamber lying farther below. In this way, a variation can be made in advantageous
fashion of whether the delivery is made above or below the material level.
The exchange media can in advantageous fashion be configured about the
central rotating shaft and/or in the area close to the side wall of the receptacle or
in the radial end area of the mixing and comminution tools. The positioning of the
means is dependent on the r.p.m. and the intensity of the processing
and can in this way be varied in advantageous fashion. To maximize path length
and dwell time, it is advantageous if the media in the individual intermediate bases are
not placed directly one over the over, but rather on opposite sides at a maximum
distance from each other.
According to one advantageous embodiment, the means are configured either as
openings permitting free passage over their entire width in the clear, which can be
implemented very simply in design terms and are easy to maintain. Also, the media can
be configured as labyrinths, which additionally increase the dwell time of the material.
To make possible control over the dwell time, it is advantageous to provide the means
with covers or slides. In this way, control can be implemented regarding when and to
what degree material passes from one chamber into the next one. Also, it is possible to
configure the means as actual feeding and dosing means, for example, as feeding
screws, which understandably are also suitable for dosing. In this way, it is quick and
easy to react to differing raw materials. If, for example, thick flakes are inserted into the
uppermost chamber, after thin foils have previously been processed, then it may make
sense to increase the dwell time of the now more coarse material in the topmost
chamber through reduction of the exit opening in the intermediate base, to ensure
sufficient handling. Such mechanisms thus permit a more variable carrying out of the
procedure.
As an alternative to that, it is also possible that the exchange media are
configured so that they do not penetrate through the intermediate base, but rather
ensure the flow of materials to a chamber lying below while not penetrating through the
intermediate base but rather while penetrating the side wall of this chamber. Thus the
treated material flows from the topmost chamber through the side wall, and is
conducted into a chamber placed downstream either laterally or from above. The
exchange media can be configured in the same way as below.
In addition, provision can be made in advantageous fashion that preferably in
each chamber a suctioning device is provided to remove volatile components and/or a
device can be placed for rinsing with inert gas or reactive gases. It can also be
advantageous to enable the entire mechanism to be centrally evacuated. Thus for
example during treatment it is advantageous to adjust the pressure in the topmost
chamber with the highest temperature to be as low as possible, to make possible an
optimal increase in viscosity through polycondensation. With this as a rule the topmost
chamber is charged with the most moist material, resulting in a larger pressure drop due
to the large amounts of humidity which accompany
an increase in temperature. If a single vacuum pump is used for the entire receptacle,
the pressure in the lowest intermediate base would likewise fall, through which no
polycondensation would occur, or only to a reduced extent. Among these aspects it is
advantageous if every area or every chamber is able to be evacuated by its own
vacuum pump. In principle instead of suction, inert gas rinsing could be done with
nitrogen or carbon dioxide, through which not just moisture, but also other volatile
components such as smelly substances could be suctioned out.
In addition it is advantageous, preferably in each of the chambers, to provide a
filling level gauge, which ensures that the flow-through of material is better able to be
checked and controlled. Depending on the filling level in the particular chamber, the
r.p.m. or adjustment of covers of the exchange medium can be governed.
An advantageous mechanism according to claim 15 with an upper chamber
having a larger diameter offers an advantage in that in this way, processing of the not
fully melted material can be positively influenced. In addition, by this means, using a
simple measure, the receiving capacity in the topmost container can be increased.
Formation of a topmost chamber with a large or larger diameter also offers an
advantage in that in this way the plastic material can be processed more effectively, and
adapted to the particular circumstances, especially comminution and pre-homogenizing.
The features of claim 16 further amplify these effects.
In essence the invention-specific procedure guarantees the advantages named
above, especially in that by that means it is possible to process or prepare plastic
material effectively.
Further advantages and embodiments of the invention can be gleaned from the
specification and the appended drawings.
The invention is schematically depicted using embodiment examples in the
drawings and is described as follows by way of example while referring to the drawings.
Figure 1 shows a first embodiment form of an invention-specific mechanism with
three chambers of equal diameter, placed one above the other.
Figure 2 shows another embodiment with two chambers of differing diameter
placed one above the other.
Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment form of figure 1.
Figure 1 shows an embodiment form of an invention-specific mechanism for
treatment of thermoplastic material, especially recycled goods or packaging waste or
the like, which comprises a receptacle or cutter-compactor 1. The material can be
inserted from above via an insertion opening 12 into receptacle 1 and gets into
uppermost chamber 6a. This chamber 6a has a cylindrical shape and is equipped with a
mixing and comminution tool 7a. Mixing and comminution tool 7a is connected via a
rotating shaft with a drive unit and can be put into rotary motions. Mixing and
comminution tool 7a is situated in the base area of topmost chamber 6a and is
governed or configured so that it exerts a mixing, heating, and, if necessary grinding
effect on the plastic material. The material is put into rotation and a mixing funnel is
formed. With this, two arms that are placed normal to the longitudinal axis 14 of the
overall device or to rotating shaft 9 can be configured which are equipped with working
edges 13 that act on the plastic material. These working edges 13 run so that on the
one side they perform a pulling cut on the plastic material situated in the edge area of
receptacle 1, and on the other side they feed the ground material as much as possible
into a removal opening 5'.
Other liquid or solid additional materials or fillers can be added into topmost
chamber 6a. They can be added either via the insertion opening 12 or also in an area
below the material level in chamber 6a.
Directly beneath topmost chamber 6a, another center chamber 6b is placed.
Center chamber 6b has the same diameter as topmost chamber 6a. The two chambers,
6a and 6b, are spatially separated from each other by an intermediate base 2', with the
intermediate base in the same way forming the lower base of topmost chamber 6a, as
well as the upper covering of center chamber 6b. Between chambers 6a and 6b a
means 5' is provided, which makes possible a transfer or transport of the softened,
lumpy, non-melted material from upper chamber 6a into chamber 6b lying beneath it.
The material pretreated in topmost chamber 6a can thus drop by gravity from topmost
chamber 6a into further chamber 6b.
Additionally in topmost chamber 6a a suction device 15 is provided, through
which volatile components such as water vapor or odor-causing compounds that
condense from the material can be withdrawn. It is also
possible to pass an inert gas stream through the suction device 15 or by means of it,
through chamber 6a.
In center chamber 6b that is farther below or which is placed downstream, mixing
tools 7b are also situated. In the present case these are two mixing devices that lie one
atop the other, which are supported on a common rotating shaft 8 and set the material
in chamber 6b in motion and process in the same way as in chamber 6a. True, rotating
shaft 8 is not connecting with the same drive unit as rotating shaft 9 of upper chamber
6a, but rather with a drive unit that is placed at the opposite end of the device. In this
way, the r.p.m. of mixing tool 7b can be set independently of the r.p.m. of mixing tools
7a.
Below or downstream of chamber 6b, another chamber 6c is placed. This lowest
chamber 6c has the same size and same diameter as the two upper chambers 6a and
6b. Also in the bottom chamber 6c, a mixing tool 7c is provided which operates as
described above. Chamber 6b is spatially separated from lowest chamber 6c by
intermediate base 2". To ensure a material flow, a means 5" is placed in intermediate
base 2", which ensures an exchange of the softened, lumpy material exiting from center
chamber 6b into lowest chamber 6c.
Thus, the three chambers 6a, 6b, 6c are of equal size, lie directly one atop the
other, and form cylindrical receptacle 1. Side walls 4', 4" and 4'" of the chambers, lying
one atop the other, form the side wall 4 of receptacle 1. Via the two intermediate bases
2', 2", receptacle 1 is subdivided into the three chambers 6a, 6b, 6c, but nonetheless a
single, unitary, space-saving receptacle 1 exists, not several individual containers
connected with each other.
Through the formation of intermediate bases 2', 2" thus no raw material can flow
unhindered and undefined to the extruder. The two means 5' 5" do not lie in alignment
one over the other, but are placed radially at opposite ends of the intermediate bases 2',
2". In this way the dwell time spectrum can be increased and the path of the material
can be lengthened. The two means 5', 5" lie at the end area of the radii or regions
covered by mixing and stirring tools 7a, 7b.
Also in chambers 6b and 6c, suction devices 15 are provided, to remove volatile
components not yet released in topmost chamber 6a. In this way, the material can be
effectively purified.
In lowest chamber 6c, a removal opening 10 is placed in the side wall 4'". By
means of mixing tool 7c, the
plastic material is inserted in troweled fashion into this removal opening 10, which
essentially lies at the same level as mixing tool 7c. In a further sequence, an extruder
11, in which the material is compacted and melted, is attached to this removal opening
10.
The plastic material thus moves in the following way: the material is inserted via
the insertion opening 12 into topmost chamber 6a, and is there processed by mixing
tools 7a. Especially the material is ground and also heated by the energy transferred via
the mixing tools 7a. Likewise, the material can be dried in topmost chamber 12a, which
is of especially great relevance with PET. The material can also be pre-crystallized.
With this it is essential that the material in topmost chamber 6a is not melted on at any
point, but rather is present in a softened state, especially in the vicinity of the Vicat
softening temperature of the polymer to be treated. In advantageous fashion the
required temperature can be set and regulated by the mixing tools 7a, especially by
their rotational speed and/or the configuring of the cutting edges 13. Due to the
chambers being relatively small, temperatures can be regulated and altered quickly. In
addition, mixing tools 7a prevent the plastic particles from sticking together and allow
the material by that means to flow and be agitated.
Then the material is brought via means 5' through intermediate base 2' from
chamber 6a into chamber 6b. With this, means 5' is configured in the present
embodiment form in the shape of a closable opening or cover. In this way, the material
flow can be regulated and the dwell time of the material adjusted in topmost chamber
6a. As an alternative, a feed screw or dosing screw can be provided. In chamber 6b,
the material also is now subjected to processing by mixing tools 7b, with no melting of
the material occurring here as well.
The material is then transferred by means 5" through intermediate base 2"
further downstream into the lowest chamber 6c, and there is further processed by
mixing tools 7c.
Then the material is withdrawn through removal opening 10 from receptacle 1,
having undergone a three-stage processing and pre-homogenizing, which in
advantageous fashion has prepared the material optimally for the upcoming melting
operation in the extruder.
Another alternative embodiment form is provided in figure 2. The device
comprises a receptacle or cutter-compactor 1, into which material can be brought from
above via the insertion opening 12 and which likewise has a removal opening 10,
through which, after processing, the material can be extracted in the direction of an
extruder 11. In contrast to the device as per figure 1, the device as per figure 2
comprises only two chambers 6a and 6b that lie one above the other. In both chambers
6a and 6b, mixing and comminution tools 7a, 7b are placed. True, the diameter of upper
chamber 6a is greater than the diameter of chamber 6b that is lower, lying downstream.
Thus, the side wall 4' of upper chamber 6a and the side wall 4" of lower chamber 6b do
not form a cylindrical receptacle 1, but rather a receptacle 1 that appropriately is
different in shape. Nonetheless, the result is a single unitary receptacle 1, and not two
containers spatially separated from each other. This is not impaired by the circumstance
that chambers 6a, 6b have differing diameters.
The upper chamber 6a is separated from lower chamber 6b by an intermediate
base 2', with now a circular ring-shaped area provided in the outer radius of this
intermediate base 2', which projects out over the circular surface of the diameter of
lower chamber 6b. In intermediate base 2' in this circular ring-shaped outer area, a
means 5' or a hole is provided which penetrates intermediate base 2' completely, by
which, however, no direct vertical connection is formed between chamber 6a and
chamber 6b, as in figure 1, in which the material drops from above into lower chamber
6b. Deviating from the device as per figure 1, means 5' as per figure 2 is so configured
that the material first drops vertically from above or is inserted, and then is brought
through a turnover section in the form of a tube or a feeding screw through side wall 4"
of lower chamber 6b, into this chamber 6b. In this way, it can be varied whether the
material is inserted above or beneath the material level in chamber 6b, depending at
what level the means 5' empties into chamber 6b. The throughput can also be
controlled.
In figure 2, the means 5' is just outside the radius of the upper mixing and
comminution tool 7a, through which the softened, lumpy, non-molten material simply
and efficiently drops or can be inserted into means 5'.
Understandably, additionally other means 5' can be provided which are
configured to be farther in radially and which, like in the device according to figure 1,
fully penetrate intermediate base 2', through which the material, also like figure 1, is
able to be brought
from upper chamber 6a directly vertically from above into the underlying chamber 6b.
The material flows similar to figure 1 from chamber 6a, in which the material can
be pretreated, but not melted on, via means 5' in chamber 6b, with the material
undergoing a further treatment in chamber 6b. Thus it is not possible for untreated raw
material to directly enter into the extruder worm gear 11.
Also in figure 2, the two mixing tools 7a, 7b of the different chambers 6a, 6b can
be controlled separately from each other via the differing drive units or tube shafts 8, 9,
with the drive units here also situated at opposite positions relative to the mechanism.
Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention. As in figure 1, the
receptacle or cutter-compactor 1 is divided or subdivided into three chambers 6a, 6b, 6c
placed one above the other, with the diameter of the individual chambers being equal
and the side walls 4', 4", 4'" forming a unitary cylindrical receptacle 1. Differing from
figure 1, the mixing devices 7a, 7b, 7c present in each chamber 6a, 6b, 6c are placed
on a common rotating shaft 8 and thus can only rotate with common r.p.m. or with the
same r.p.m.
In a customary manner, chambers 6a, 6b, 6c are separated by intermediate
bases 2', 2" and connected with each other in material-flow terms by means 5', 5". It is
true that the means 5', 5" are differently configured as compared with figure 1. Between
topmost chamber 6a and center chamber 6b, a means 5' is provided, which is placed
centrally radially about rotating shaft 8. Besides that, an additional means 5' is provided,
which in contrast to the previous means does not penetrate through the intermediate
base, but rather only cuts through the side walls 4', 4" of the two chambers 6a, 6b that
lie one atop the other. Thus the material can be brought through sidewall 4' of topmost
chamber 6a from this chamber 6a and is inserted via means 5', in this case a feeding or
dosing screw, while penetrating sidewall 4" of chamber 6b lying below into it. Thus this
means 5' lies outside chambers 6a, 6b or outside sidewalls 4', 4". In this case attention
is to be paid to the temperature in this means 5' or insulating and/or heating devices for
this means 5' may make sense.
Intermediate base 2" between center chamber 6b and lowest chamber 6c also
has a means 5" which is placed centrally about rotating axle 8.
In addition, another means 5" is situated which is configured as an adjustable opening
over a slider 21, and which penetrates intermediate base 2". This means 5" is in the
outer radial area of mixing tool 7b.
Otherwise the device is configured the same as in figure 1.
The material is fed via insertion device 12 in advantageous fashion via a
regulating or controlling device 20, as for example a bucket wheel lock, a slider system
or a screw feed system.
In addition, provision can be made that preferably a fill lever meter 16 be
provided in each chamber 6a, 6b, 6c, to determine the height of the material in each
chamber and the procedure can be adapted at any time to the r.p.m. of mixing tool 7 or
by adjusting the opening width or porthole of means 5.
The cover of receptacle 1 in addition can be designed to be heated or cooled, for
example by heating or cooling hoses or by a dual cover. Thus, each section or each
sidewall 4', 4", 4'" of each chamber 6a, 6b, 6c can be cooled or heated separately from
the others. The mixing tools 7a, 7b, 7c can also be designed so they can be heated or
cooled.
In addition, it would be possible to provide each chamber 6a, 6b, 6c with its own
removal opening 10, via which the material can be passed to an extruder 11.
Figure 4 shows an exemplary mechanism which in essence corresponds to the
embodiment form as per figure 2. True, the mixing and comminution tools 7a, 7b are
situated on a common rotating shaft 8 and moved via a single drive motor, and thus are
coupled or synchronized for identical motion.
Patent Claims
1. Device for treatment of plastic material, especially thermoplastic such as
polyester or polyethylene, with a receptacle or cutter-compactor (1), into which
the material can be brought for processing, in the lower part of which a removal
opening (10) is provided, through which the processed material can be removed
from the receptacle (1), for example into an extruder (11), with the receptacle (1)
being subdivided into at least two chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...) especially cylindrical
ones, that are separated from each other by an intermediate base (2', 2"....), with
at least one mixing or comminution tool (7a, 7b, 7c,...) being situated in each
chamber (6a, 6b, 6c,...) especially able to be turned about a vertical axis (8, 14),
by which the material can be brought into a softened but permanently lumpy or
particle-shaped and non-molten state, and whereby means (5', 5",...) are
provided that cause or allow an exchange or a transfer of the softened, lumpy,
non-molten material between the particular directly adjacent chambers (6a, 6b,
6c,...), characterized in that the topmost chamber (6a) or the relatively higher
placed chamber has a greater diameter than the chambers (6b, 6c,...) that lie
below in the direction of material flow.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...)
are placed one above the other and the material flow is directed from the topmost
chamber (6a), into which the material to be treated can be inserted, especially by
gravity, downward into the following chambers (6b, 6c, ...).
3. Device according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the chambers (6a, 6b,
6c,...) have diameters and/or heights that differ one from another, with the
topmost chamber (6a) or the relatively higher placed chamber having a lesser
height than the chambers (6b, 6c,...) lying below in the direction of material flow.
4. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the mixing
or comminution tools (7a, 7b, 7c,...) are configured or controllable or act on the
material so that the material moves, is placed in rotation, or forms a mixing funnel,
is mixed, heated or if necessary ground, and is thereby brought into a softened
state, but remains permanently lumpy or particle-shaped and does not melt and/or
that at least in the upper chamber (6a), the material is dried and/or crystallized.
5. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the mixing
or comminution tools (7a, 7b, 7c,...) are differently configured in the particular
chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...) and/or if necessary are placed on different rotating shafts
(8, 9) and/or can be governed independently of each other via one or more drives,
and especially rotate at different r.p.m.
6. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that all of the
mixing or comminution tools (7a, 7b, 7c,...) are placed on a common through-
running rotary shaft (8), or that the mixing or comminution tools (7a, 7b, 7c,...)
are distributed to two or more rotating shafts (8, 9) that each have a separate
drive, which, if necessary, project in from opposite sides into the receptacle (1).
7. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the means
(5', 5") permitting the exchange or transfer of the material between adjoining
chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...) are situated in the base or intermediate base (2', 2",
....) of the topmost chamber (6a) or of each relatively higher chamber or of the
chamber with the relatively greater diameter, or extend from this chamber and
form a material flow connection while penetrating the particular intermediate base
(2', 2",...) of this chamber into the chamber (6b, 6c,...) that is immediately
adjacent or following, lying farther below in the direction of material flow.
8. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that especially
in chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...) with diameters that are the same in essence, the
means (5', 5",...) are situated in the particular intermediate base (2', 2",...)
between two chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...) and fully penetrate these intermediate
bases (2', 2",...).
9. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that especially
in chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...) having differing diameters, the means (5', 5",...) that
extend out from the topmost chamber (6a) or the chamber lying relatively higher
up, or the chamber with the larger diameter, while penetrating the side wall (4",
4'",...) of the chamber (6b, 6c,...) that follows in the direction of material flow or
lies beneath, or the chamber with the smallest diameter, empty into the adjacent
or following chamber (6b, 6c,...) that lies farther below. 17
10. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the
means (5', 5",...) are configured about the rotating shaft(s) (8, 9) or embrace
them and/or are placed in the area close to the side wall (4', 4", 4'",...) of the
receptacle (1) or in the radial end area of the mixing or comminution tools (7a,
7b, 7c,...), and/or the means (5', 5",...) are arranged in the individual
intermediate bases (2', 2",...) not to be in alignment one over the other, but rather
to be at a maximum distance from each other.
11. Device according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the means
(5', 5",...) are configured as openings or covers that ensure free penetration over
their entire width in the clear, if necessary configured as a labyrinth, if necessary
at least partially able to close or to regulate the throughput of material, or as
feeding or dosing means, especially as feeding worm gear.
12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the means (5',
5"...) that permit exchange or transfer of the material between adjacent
chambers (6a, 6b, 6c,...) extend outward from the topmost chamber (6a) or from
each chamber that relatively is situated higher, or from the chamber with the
relatively greater diameter, and while entirely penetrating the particular side wall
(4'), especially in the area that is lower or close to the base, near the
intermediate base (2', 2",...) of these chambers as well as while bypassing or
without penetrating the intermediate bases (2', 2".....) form a material flow
connection into the immediately adjacent chamber (6b, 6c,...) lying farther below
in the direction of material flow, with the means (5', 5",...) especially being

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for
the processing of plastic material, with a receptacle
or cutter-compactor (1) into which the material to be
treated can be introduced, in the lower region of which
a discharge opening (10) is provided, through which the
processed material can be ejected from the receptacle
(1), for example into an extruder (11). According to
the invention, the receptacle (1) is divided into at
least two chambers (6a, 6b, 6c, . . . ) separated from each
other by an intermediate base (2',2",..., wherein at
least one mixing or comminution tool (7a,7b,7c,... ) is
arranged which acts upon the material in each chamber
(6a,6b,6c, . . .) , with which the material can be
converted into a softened but permanently lumpy or
particle-shaped and not melted state and wherein means
(5',5',... ) are provided which effect or permit an
exchange or a transfer of the softened, lumpy, not
melted material between each directly adjacent chamber
(6a, 6b, 6c, ....).

Documents:

436-KOLNP-2010-(13-11-2013)-ABSTRACT.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-(13-11-2013)-ANNEXURE TO FORM 3.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-(13-11-2013)-CLAIMS.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-(13-11-2013)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-(13-11-2013)-DESCRIPTION.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-(13-11-2013)-FORM-1.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-(13-11-2013)-FORM-2.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-(13-11-2013)-FORM-3.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-(13-11-2013)-FORM-5.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-(13-11-2013)-OTHERS.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-(13-11-2013)-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

436-kolnp-2010-abstract.pdf

436-kolnp-2010-claims.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-CORRESPONDENCE 1.3.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-CORRESPONDENCE-1.1.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-CORRESPONDENCE-1.2.pdf

436-kolnp-2010-correspondence.pdf

436-kolnp-2010-description (complete).pdf

436-kolnp-2010-drawings.pdf

436-kolnp-2010-form 1.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-FORM 13.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-FORM 18.pdf

436-kolnp-2010-form 2.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-FORM 3 1.1.pdf

436-kolnp-2010-form 3.pdf

436-kolnp-2010-form 5.pdf

436-kolnp-2010-international preliminary examination report.pdf

436-kolnp-2010-international publication.pdf

436-kolnp-2010-international search report.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-PA.pdf

436-kolnp-2010-pct priority document notification.pdf

436-kolnp-2010-pct request form.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-PRIORITY DOCUMENT.pdf

436-kolnp-2010-specification.pdf

436-KOLNP-2010-TRANSLATE COPY OF PRIORITY DOCUMENT.pdf

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Patent Number

263484

Indian Patent Application Number

436/KOLNP/2010

PG Journal Number

44/2014

Publication Date

31-Oct-2014

Grant Date

30-Oct-2014

Date of Filing

03-Feb-2010

Name of Patentee

EREMA ENGINEERING RECYCLING MASCHINEN UND ANLAGEN GESELLSCHAFT M.B.H.

Applicant Address

FREINDORF, UNTERFELDSTRASSE 3 4052 ANSFELDEN AUSTRIA

Inventors:

#	Inventor's Name	Inventor's Address
1	HACKL, MANFRED	BACHLBERGWEG 128 4040 LINZ, AUSTRIA
2	WENDELIN, GERHARD	WALDBOTHENWEG 82 4030 LINZ, AUSTRIA
3	FEICHTINGER, KLAUS	REINDLSTRASSE 5 4040 LINZ, AUSTRIA

PCT International Classification Number

B29B13/10; B29B17/00; B29B13/10

PCT International Application Number

PCT/AT2008/000289

PCT International Filing date

2008-08-14

PCT Conventions:

#	PCT Application Number	Date of Convention	Priority Country
1	A 1276/2007	2007-08-14	Austria