Faygo Plast

Pressurized air is forced though the mandrel structure as a means of keeping the plastic from collapsing as it moves through the die. As the plastic leaves the die, it will enter into a vacuum environment. Inside the vacuum, there are sizing rings meant to keep the plastic in the desired shape. The vacuum environment also will be filled with water as a means of cooling the extruded plastic. After the extruded plastic has passed through the water-filled vacuum environment it can be cut or spooled as appropriate.
These and other objects are accomplished in plastic twin screw extruder line apparatus which includes a hollow cylinder having an inlet for containing a bed of solid plastic, a rotatable screw within the cylinder defining with the cylinder a helical channel for the plastic comprising in series, a feed zone beneath the inlet and a melting zone, by providing the improvement which comprises a solids decompression zone between the feed zone and the melting zone having increased free volume relative to the feed zone whereby before significant melting occurs the bed of solid plastic is decompressed to the extent that the channel in the solids decompression zone is partially filled. Once the plastic has entered into metering section of the barrel, it is ready to be extruded into a die. The die is attached to the barrel and it represents the final shape or profile that the plastic is intended to take. The plastic is forced into the die. As the plastic moves forward into the die, it will be separated by a mandrel, which is centered in the extrusion channel.
The single screw extruder process starts with what are called thermoplastic resins. Thermoplastic resins are a type of plastic which can be melted, processed, and then re-melted to be used again. These resins are generally delivered in a pellet or bead form to be used in the plastic extrusion machinery .
The pellets or beads can come in several different forms. There are plastic resin beads, which come in what is referred to as a virgin form. These are beads which have never been processed before and generally come with certifications of purity. The beads are also available in grades of quality that can be purchased for specific uses. Waste plastic from the extrusion process can be reprocessed into beads that may be used again, which reduces the overall waste generated in the process.
This invention relates to extrusion apparatus for melting solid plastic and generating hydrostatic pressure to force the melt through a die, and more particularly to an improved screw for use in such apparatus.