A granulating apparatus for processing a foamed material

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of plastic particle processing, and discloses a granulating device for processing foamed materials, which comprises a first support, a die head, a flow uniformizing plate and a pelletizing assembly, the die head is fixedly connected with the first support; the flow uniformizing plate is fixedly connected with the surface of the die head where extrusion holes are located, a plurality of first through holes are formed in the flow uniformizing plate, the first through holes correspond to the extrusion holes of the die head in a one-to-one manner, and the depths of the plurality of first through holes decrease in turn along the radial direction of the flow uniformizing plate; the pelletizing assembly is used for pelletizing the pull strips extruded by the flow uniformizing plate. The first through holes with different depths provide differentiated flow resistance for the melt flow rate at different positions, so that the melt flow rate at the outlets of the first through holes tends to be uniform, that is, the instantaneous extrusion amount tends to be equal, thereby improving the uniformity of the diameters of the pull strips, improving the problem of uneven thickness of the pull strips caused by the extrusion amount deviation of the edge holes and the middle holes, and improving the size consistency of the granulating particles and the product quality.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of plastic granule processing, and more specifically to a granulation device for processing foamed materials. Background Technology

[0002] Granulation of foamed materials is an important process for producing specific granular products from foamed materials, and it has wide applications in many industries such as plastics, rubber, and food. Through granulation, foamed materials can be stored, transported, and processed more easily, which helps to improve production efficiency, reduce costs, and improve product quality and performance.

[0003] Existing foamed material granulation equipment typically extrudes strands directly through a die during strand extrusion, followed by pelletizing. However, the melt flow rate varies significantly at different positions on the die, resulting in noticeable deviations in extrusion volume between edge and center holes, uneven strand thickness, and consequently affecting the dimensional consistency of the granulated particles and product quality. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, this application provides a granulation device for processing foamed materials to solve the problem that the large difference in melt flow rate at different positions of the die head leads to significant deviation in the extrusion amount between the edge holes and the middle holes, uneven strip thickness, and thus affects the size consistency of granulated particles and product quality.

[0005] In a first aspect, this application discloses a granulation device for processing foamed materials, comprising: First support; The mold head is fixedly connected to the first bracket; A flow equalization plate is fixedly connected to the surface of the extrusion hole on the die head, and a plurality of first through holes are provided on it. Each of the first through holes corresponds to one of the extrusion holes on the die head, and the depth of the plurality of first through holes decreases sequentially along the radial direction of the flow equalization plate. The pelletizing assembly is used to pelletize the strands extruded from the flow equalizer.

[0006] Beneficial effects: The depth of the multiple first through holes decreases sequentially along the radial direction of the flow equalization plate; that is, the first through holes closer to the center of the flow equalization plate are deeper, and the first through holes closer to the edge of the flow equalization plate are shallower. The deeper first through holes in the central region exert greater flow resistance on the faster-flowing melt, while the shallower first through holes in the edge region exert less flow resistance on the slower-flowing melt. The different depths of the first through holes provide differentiated flow resistance to the melt flow rate at each location, so that the melt flow rate at the outlet of each first through hole tends to be uniform, that is, the instantaneous extrusion rate tends to be equal, thereby improving the uniformity of the diameter of each strip, improving the problem of uneven strip thickness caused by the extrusion rate deviation between the edge holes and the center holes, and improving the size consistency of the granulated particles and the product quality.

[0007] In one alternative implementation, it further includes: An extruder is connected to the side of the die head away from the flow distribution plate; The feed hopper is connected to the inlet of the extruder.

[0008] Beneficial effects: The extruder heats, plasticizes, melts, and conveys the raw materials, while the feed hopper replenishes the extruder with raw materials. No manual operation is required, reducing the labor intensity of operators.

[0009] In one alternative embodiment, an exhaust fan is also included, with its air inlet located directly above the mold head, and the inlet air of the exhaust fan covering the mold head.

[0010] Beneficial effects: During the extrusion process of foamed materials, decomposition products of the foaming agent, volatile fumes generated from the thermal decomposition of the material, and other harmful gases are continuously emitted from the die head area. The exhaust fan creates a directional suction airflow directly above the die head, drawing these gases away from their source, preventing the accumulation of harmful gases in the operating area, improving the workshop working environment, and protecting the health and safety of operators.

[0011] In one alternative implementation, it further includes: A first open container, the first open container containing a first medium, the flow equalization plate and part of the mold head are located in the first medium; The first heat dissipation component is connected to the side of the first open container away from the mold head via a first pipe; The pump body is connected to the first heat dissipation component and is connected to the side of the first open container near the mold head via a second pipe.

[0012] Beneficial effects: The flow equalization plate and part of the die head are immersed in the first medium. The high-temperature strip extruded from the flow equalization plate enters the first medium and is rapidly cooled, allowing the strip to solidify and take shape from a molten state. This prevents the strip from being excessively stretched and thinned under its own weight and traction tension, or from deforming due to maintaining a plastic state at high temperature for too long. The pump continuously draws out the first medium, which has heated up due to absorbing heat from the strip, from the first open container. After being cooled by the first heat dissipation component, it is returned to the first open container, forming a circulating cooling loop. This maintains the temperature of the first medium in the first open container at a stable level, ensuring continuous and uniform cooling of the strip and enabling stable continuous production over a long period.

[0013] In one optional embodiment, a plurality of rollers are further included, spaced apart along the moving direction of the pull bar, with each roller having its two ends rotatably connected to two inner sidewalls opposite to the first open container, and each roller having a rubber sleeve on its outer periphery.

[0014] Beneficial effects: The rollers within the first open container support and guide the pull strips, preventing the slender strips from drifting or deviating in the cooling water due to buoyancy or fluid flow disturbance. This ensures that multiple pull strips remain orderly and do not become entangled or sticky. The rubber sleeve has good elasticity and moderate friction. On one hand, it applies uniform and gentle contact pressure to the pull strips, preventing the hard roller surface from damaging the soft surface of the pull strips that have not yet fully cooled and solidified. On the other hand, the friction between the rubber sleeve and the pull strips provides a certain traction assistance force, reducing the load on the downstream traction pelletizing mechanism and lowering the risk of the pull strips breaking due to excessive tension.

[0015] In one alternative implementation, it further includes: The second support is located downstream of the first open container; The first block is fixedly connected to the top surface of the second bracket. The first block has a first protrusion and a second protrusion that are arranged opposite to each other. The first protrusion has a plurality of first ventilation holes, which are spaced apart along the width direction of the first block. The second protrusion has a plurality of second ventilation holes, which are spaced apart along the width direction of the first block. The pull bar abuts against the first protrusion and the second protrusion. The first air supply component is connected to the first air duct inside the first block through the third pipe. The first air duct is connected to all the first ventilation holes and all the second ventilation holes.

[0016] Beneficial effects: The first block has a first protrusion and a second protrusion arranged opposite each other. The pull strip is supported by these protrusions as it passes between them. The airflow from the first air supply component, after being distributed through the first air duct, is simultaneously sprayed onto the pull strip from the first ventilation hole on the first protrusion and the second ventilation hole on the second protrusion. The airflow sweeps the pull strip, quickly blowing away the cooling medium film adhering to its surface and accelerating evaporation, thus drying the pull strip's surface before it enters the pelletizing assembly. Drying the pull strip surface prevents residual liquid from splashing during pelletizing, preventing moisture content in the pelletized product from affecting subsequent packaging and use. Simultaneously, the dried pull strip surface improves the cutting effect and lifespan of the pelletizing blades, reducing blade rust and corrosion caused by moisture. The first and second ventilation holes are evenly distributed along the width direction, ensuring that each pull strip receives a uniform airflow in the width direction, guaranteeing consistent drying results.

[0017] In one optional embodiment, the pelletizing assembly includes: The first housing has a slot on it; The first clamping roller has two ends that are rotatably connected to the two inner sidewalls of the first housing, which are respectively disposed opposite to each other. The first driving component is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the first housing. The third bracket is connected to the first driving component; The second clamping roller is spaced apart from the first clamping roller and rotatably connected to the third bracket. The first driving member can drive the second clamping roller to move closer to or away from the first clamping roller. The pull bar extends between the first clamping roller and the second clamping roller after passing through the strip-shaped opening, and the first clamping roller and the second clamping roller clamp the pull bar.

[0018] Beneficial effects: The first and second clamping rollers clamp the strips and continuously transport them to the cutting station through roller surface friction. The first drive unit can move the second clamping roller away from or closer to the first clamping roller, thus flexibly adjusting the gap between the two rollers according to changes in the strip diameter. This ensures moderate clamping force, providing reliable traction without crushing or damaging the strips due to excessive clamping force. Multiple strips enter simultaneously through the same slot and are uniformly clamped and pulled by a pair of clamping rollers. The compact structure and synchronized operation ensure that the traction speed of multiple strips is completely consistent, avoiding uneven tension caused by differences in the traction speed of each strip, which would affect the consistency of the granulated particle length. The first shell provides enclosed protection for the clamping and cutting process, controlling noise and debris splashing generated during pelletizing.

[0019] In one optional embodiment, the pelletizing assembly further includes: A rotary drive component is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the first housing. The hobbing wheel is located inside the first housing and is connected to the rotary drive component, which can drive the hobbing wheel to rotate. The baffle is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the first housing. The pull strip passing through the gap between the first clamping roller and the second clamping roller abuts against the baffle and extends toward the roller cutter wheel, which cuts the extended pull strip into pellets.

[0020] Beneficial effects: After being clamped by the first and second clamping rollers, the strip abuts against the baffle and extends towards the roller cutter wheel under the guidance and support of the baffle. The rotary drive unit drives the roller cutter wheel to rotate continuously, cutting the strip segments overlapping on the cutting path in sequence. This rotary cutting method enables high-speed continuous pelletizing during the continuous conveying of the strip, resulting in high production efficiency. The baffle provides a fixed cutting support reference for the strip, ensuring accurate cutting position each time. The rotary drive unit is installed on the outside of the first housing, physically isolated from the cutting area inside the first housing, reducing the possibility of pellet debris entering the drive unit and extending its service life.

[0021] In one alternative implementation, it further includes: The nozzle sprays air towards the gap between the roller and the baffle. An air supply source is connected to the nozzle.

[0022] Beneficial effects: During pelleting, residual resin or additives in the foamed material melt can adhere and deposit on the cutting edge of the roller cutter due to high temperature and shearing action. If not removed in time, the accumulation of these deposits can lead to a decrease in cutting force, a rough cut surface, and even affect the uniformity of particle length. The air supply source continuously sprays high-pressure airflow through nozzles into the gap between the roller cutter and the baffle, effectively cleaning and removing the adhering residue from the cutting edge in real time. This keeps the cutting edge clean, ensuring long-term stable cutting quality, reducing downtime for maintenance due to tool contamination, and increasing the continuous operating time of the equipment. Simultaneously, the high-pressure airflow also cools the cutting area to a certain extent, delaying thermal fatigue and wear caused by frictional heat accumulation on the cutting edge, and extending the service life of the roller cutter.

[0023] In one alternative implementation, it further includes: A vibrating screen is used to receive the pellets cut by the roller cutter. The second open container is used to receive the material from the first outlet of the vibrating screen; The third open container is used to receive the material from the second outlet of the vibrating screen.

[0024] Beneficial effects: Particles falling directly from the roller cutter enter the vibrating screen, which automatically separates them according to particle size: oversized particles (such as connected or excessively long particles) are discharged from the first outlet and collected in the second open container; qualified particles are discharged from the second outlet and collected as finished products in the third open container. The automatic screening function of the vibrating screen automatically separates qualified and unqualified products, eliminating the need for manual batch inspection and sorting, and ensuring the consistency of particle size in the finished product meets quality requirements. Large, unqualified particles falling into the second open container can be recycled and added back to the extruder for re-granulation, achieving material recycling, reducing raw material loss, and lowering production costs. Attached Figure Description

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the specific embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a granulation device for processing foamed materials provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a granulation device for processing foamed materials, provided as an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a granulation device for processing foamed materials provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of a die head and a flow equalization plate in a granulation device for processing foamed materials, provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a portion of the center circle A; Figure 6 for Figure 3 A magnified view of a portion of circle B in the center.

[0027] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 101. First support; 201. Die head; 202. Flow distribution plate; 2021. First through hole; 301. First open container; 302. First heat dissipation assembly; 303. Pump body; 304. Roller; 305. First pipe; 306. Second pipe; 401. Second bracket; 402. First block; 4021. First protrusion; 4022. Second protrusion; 4023. First ventilation hole; 4024. Second ventilation hole; 403. First air supply component; 501, First housing; 5011, Strip-shaped opening; 502, First clamping roller; 503, Second clamping roller; 504, Third support; 505, Rotary drive component; 506, Hob; 507, Baffle; 601. Nozzle; 602. Air supply source; 701. Vibrating screen; 702. Second open container; 703. Third open container. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0029] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0030] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0031] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of this application described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0032] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The described embodiments are only possible technical implementations of this application, but are not limited thereto. Other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art in conjunction with the embodiments of this application without creative effort are also within the protection scope of this application.

[0033] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, in this embodiment, the granulation equipment for processing foamed materials includes a first support 101, a die head 201, a flow equalization plate 202, and a pelletizing assembly. The die head 201 is fixedly connected to the first support 101, and the flow equalization plate 202 is fixedly connected to the surface of the extrusion holes on the die head 201. Multiple first through holes 2021 are provided on the flow equalization plate 201, and the first through holes 2021 correspond one-to-one with the extrusion holes on the die head 201. The depth of the multiple first through holes 2021 decreases sequentially along the radial direction of the flow equalization plate 202. The pelletizing assembly is used to pelletize the strips extruded from the flow equalization plate 202.

[0034] In this embodiment, the depth of the multiple first through holes 2021 decreases sequentially along the radial direction of the flow equalization plate 202. That is, the first through holes 2021 closer to the center of the flow equalization plate 202 are deeper, and the first through holes 2021 closer to the edge of the flow equalization plate 202 are shallower. The first through holes 2021 with a larger depth in the central region exert greater flow resistance on the melt with a faster flow rate, while the first through holes 2021 with a smaller depth in the edge region exert less flow resistance on the melt with a slower flow rate. The first through holes 2021 with different depths provide differentiated flow resistance to the melt flow rate at each position, so that the melt flow rate at the outlet of each first through hole 2021 tends to be uniform, that is, the instantaneous extrusion amount tends to be equal, thereby improving the uniformity of the diameter of each strip, improving the problem of uneven strip thickness caused by the extrusion amount deviation between the edge holes and the middle holes, and improving the size consistency of the granulated particles and the product quality.

[0035] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the first support 101 is the bearing foundation of the mold head 201, used to support the mold head 201. In one possible implementation, the first support 101 is a solid column fixed to the factory floor. In another alternative embodiment, the first support 101 is a frame structure welded from four angle steels, with its bottom fixed to the factory floor by anchor bolts. Alternatively, the first support 101 can also be a box-shaped support made of square tubing, with the four columns of the box-shaped support connected by crossbeams to form a support platform. The top of the first support 101 has an installation plane, which is milled to ensure that the mold head 201 remains horizontal after installation.

[0036] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the die head 201 is fixedly connected to the side of the first support 101. The die head 201 is used to extrude the foamed material melt fed from the extruder through multiple extrusion holes to form multiple parallel strips. The die head 201 has a row of seven circular extrusion holes, with the center distance between two adjacent holes being a first preset value. The multiple extrusion holes are arranged in a straight line with equal spacing. The fixed connection between the die head 201 and the first support 101 can be achieved by bolting: a flange is provided on the outer sleeve of the die head 201, which is fixedly connected to the first support 101 by bolts, and an asbestos gasket is installed at the connection interface for sealing and heat insulation.

[0037] like Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, the flow equalization plate 202 is fixedly connected to the surface of the extrusion holes on the die head 201 (i.e., the bottom surface of the die head 201). The flow equalization plate 202 has multiple first through holes 2021, each corresponding to one of the extrusion holes on the die head 201. The number and arrangement of the first through holes 2021 are completely consistent with the extrusion holes. The depth of the multiple first through holes 2021 decreases sequentially along the radial direction of the flow equalization plate 202. The radial direction refers to the direction extending from the central region of the flow equalization plate 202 to the edge region. The first through holes 2021 located in the central region of the flow equalization plate 202 have a larger depth, while those located in the edge region have a smaller depth, showing a continuous decrease in depth. Due to the frictional resistance between the melt and the inner wall of the flow channel of the die head 201, the melt flow velocity is faster in the middle part of the flow channel and slower at the edge part. This results in the instantaneous extrusion volume of the central hole being greater than that of the edge hole, leading to uneven thickness of the extruded strand. By setting first through holes 2021 of varying depths, the flow resistance experienced by the fluid flowing through the channels is positively correlated with the channel length. This allows for the application of greater flow resistance to the faster-flowing melt in the central region (due to the deeper holes in the central region) and less flow resistance to the slower-flowing melt at the edges (due to the shallower holes in the edge regions), thereby achieving a balance in melt velocity and extrusion volume at each extrusion orifice outlet. The flow equalization plate 202 is a stepped flow equalization plate 202. The main body of the stepped flow equalization plate 202 is a single piece of circular steel plate. Seven first through holes 2021 are drilled into this steel plate. The first through hole 2021 located at the very center has the greatest depth, and the depth of the first through holes 2021 decreases sequentially from the center outwards. The flow equalization plate 202 and the bottom surface of the die head 201 are fixedly connected by a peripheral sealing weld to ensure that the melt does not leak from the gap between them.

[0038] In this embodiment, the pelletizing assembly is used to cut the strip extruded from the first through hole 2021 of the flow equalization plate 202 into pellets of a specified length. The pelletizing assembly is located downstream of the flow equalization plate 202 on the strip's travel path, and can cut the strip intermittently or continuously.

[0039] The granulation equipment in this embodiment also includes an extruder and a feed hopper. The extruder is connected to the side of the die 201 away from the flow equalization plate 202 (i.e., the top of the die 201). The extruder is a single-screw extruder, heated by an electric heater. The discharge port of the single-screw extruder is connected to the feed port of the die 201 via a flange structure. A steel wire braided reinforced graphite composite gasket is installed between the flanges for sealing to prevent leakage of high-pressure melt. The feed hopper is connected to the inlet (feed port) of the extruder and is used to add the foaming raw material to be granulated to the extruder. The volume of the feed hopper is a preset capacity, which can be selected according to the production scale. The feed hopper is a conical hopper, and the inner wall of the feed hopper is polished to ensure that the material can slide smoothly down by its own weight without bridging or clogging. A weight-type weighing scale is installed between the bottom outlet of the conical hopper and the feed port of the extruder for precise control of the feed amount.

[0040] The granulation equipment in this embodiment also includes an exhaust fan. The air inlet of the exhaust fan is located directly above the die 201, and the suction airflow generated by the exhaust fan covers the entire upper surface area of ​​the die 201. The function of the exhaust fan is to create a negative pressure environment above the die 201, which will promptly draw away volatile gases (such as foaming agent decomposition products, fumes generated by material thermal decomposition, etc.) escaping from the extrusion orifice during the extrusion process, preventing these gases from accumulating and affecting the operating environment or contaminating the surface quality of the foamed material. As one possible implementation, the exhaust fan is a centrifugal fan, connected to a gas collection hood via a flexible hose. The gas collection hood opens downwards and covers the top of the die 201, with a projected area larger than the top surface area of ​​the die 201 to ensure that the suction range completely covers the die 201. The exhaust fan outlet is connected to an external waste gas treatment device (such as an activated carbon adsorption tower or a catalytic combustion device) via a pipe.

[0041] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, the granulation equipment in this embodiment also includes a cooling system, which consists of a first open container 301, a first medium, a first heat dissipation component 302, and a pump body 303. The first open container 301 is a container or tank with an open top, containing the first medium, which is cooling water. The flow equalization plate 202 and part of the die head 201 (i.e., the lower half or bottom end of the die head 201) are immersed below the liquid surface of the first medium. When the melt is extruded from the extrusion hole of the die head 201 and then passes through the first through hole 2021 of the flow equalization plate 202, the strip immediately enters the first medium to be cooled and shaped. Specifically, the first open container 301 is a rectangular water tank, welded from stainless steel plates, and both the inner and outer surfaces of the first open container 301 are pickled and passivated. A fixed seat is provided on each of the top two sides of the water tank for mounting rollers 304. A drain valve is provided at the bottom of the water tank for periodically draining and replacing the first medium. The function of the first medium is to rapidly cool the freshly extruded high-temperature strip. The primary medium is cooling water, which can be directly drawn from the workshop's tap water network. The water level is kept constant by a float valve, and overflowing water flows back to the circulating water tank. Water as a cooling medium has the advantages of high specific heat capacity, low cost, and non-toxicity. The first heat dissipation component 302 is connected to the side of the first open container 301 away from the mold head 201 (i.e., the rear end or far end of the water tank) via the first pipe 305. The pump body 303 is connected to the first heat dissipation component 302, and is also connected to the side of the first open container 301 near the mold head 201 (i.e., the front end or near end of the water tank) via the second pipe 306. The first medium can form a closed loop between the first open container 301, the first pipe 305, the first heat dissipation assembly 302, the pump body 303, and the second pipe 306: the pump body 303 extracts the hot medium from the front end of the first open container 301, pumps it into the first heat dissipation assembly 302 through the second pipe 306 for heat exchange and cooling, and the cooled medium returns to the rear end of the first open container 301 through the first pipe 305, thereby continuously carrying away the heat dissipated by the pull strip and maintaining the temperature stability of the first medium. The first heat dissipation assembly 302 is a finned tube heat exchanger (also called a radiator), which uses forced air cooling for heat exchange. The finned tubes are made of copper, and the fins are made of aluminum. The overall structure is compact and the heat dissipation efficiency is high. The pump body 303 is a horizontal centrifugal pump, which has a simple structure, stable operation, and convenient maintenance.

[0042] like Figure 3As shown, the pelletizing equipment in this embodiment also includes multiple rollers 304. The rollers 304 are spaced apart inside the first open container 301 along the direction of the pulling strip's movement (i.e., from the die head 201 towards the pelletizing assembly). Each roller 304 has two ends rotatably connected to two opposing inner sidewalls of the first open container 301. Each roller 304 is fitted with a rubber sleeve around its outer periphery. The main function of the rollers 304 is to guide and assist in the pulling of the strip while being immersed in the first medium. Simultaneously, the flexibility and friction of the rubber sleeve prevent the strip from being overstretched or broken during cooling due to excessive tension. The number of rollers 304 can be flexibly set according to the length of the first open container 301. The rollers 304 are arranged in a staggered, serpentine pattern: the axis height of the odd-numbered rollers 304 is lower, and the axis height of the even-numbered rollers 304 is higher, causing the strip to advance in a wave-like motion between the rollers 304, extending the soaking time and travel distance of the strip in the water, and enhancing the cooling effect. The main body of roller 304 is a steel roller made of seamless steel pipe, and both ends are fixed to the side wall of the first open container 301 by bearing seats. A rubber sleeve is fitted on the outer circumference of roller 304 and is in direct contact with the pull bar. The rubber sleeve is a cylindrical rubber sleeve made of natural rubber.

[0043] like Figure 3 and Figure 5As shown, the granulation equipment in this embodiment also includes an air-cooled drying system, which consists of a second support 401, a first block 402, and a first air supply component 403. The second support 401 is located downstream of the first open container 301 (i.e., after the pull bar leaves the first open container 301) and is used to support the various components of the air-cooled drying system. The second support 401 may adopt a square tube structure similar to the first support 101, and its height is adapted to the working height of the subsequent pelletizing assembly. The first block 402 is fixedly connected to the top surface of the second support 401. The first block 402 has a first protrusion 4021 and a second protrusion 4022 arranged opposite to each other, forming a gap or channel through which the pull bar can pass. The first protrusion 4021 is provided with a plurality of first ventilation holes 4023, which are spaced apart along the width direction of the first block 402 (i.e., the horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the pull bar). Similarly, a plurality of second ventilation holes 4024 are provided on the second protrusion 4022, and the plurality of second ventilation holes 4024 are also distributed at intervals along the width direction of the first block 402. After the pull bar comes out of the first opening container 301, it abuts (sticks) against the surfaces of the first protrusion 4021 and the second protrusion 4022 in sequence and moves forward. During this process, the surfaces of the first protrusion 4021 and the second protrusion provide support and guidance for the pull bar, and the moisture or cooling medium adhering to the surface of the pull bar is carried away by the airflow blown out of the ventilation holes, achieving the effect of surface drying. The first block 402 is a long strip-shaped air guide block. The first protrusion 4021 and the second protrusion 4022 are two raised shoulders of the air guide block, used to constrain the position of the pull bar and prevent it from deviating. The first ventilation hole 4023 is opened at the top of the first protrusion 4021. The second ventilation hole 4024 is opened at the top of the second protrusion 4022. The first air supply component 403 is connected to the first air duct inside the first block 402 via a third pipe. The first air duct is connected to all the first ventilation holes 4023 and all the second ventilation holes 4024. When the first air supply component 403 is working, the compressed air or airflow generated enters the first air duct through the third pipe and is then ejected at high speed from each ventilation hole, sweeping the surface of the tie rod. The first air supply component 403 is a centrifugal blower. After the blower draws in ambient air, it compresses and pressurizes it and sends it into the first air duct. The airflow is ejected from the ventilation holes at a high speed, using the impact force and evaporation effect of the airflow to blow away the liquid medium on the surface of the tie rod and accelerate its evaporation.

[0044] like Figure 3 and Figure 6As shown, the pelletizing assembly includes a first housing 501, a first clamping roller 502, a first driving component, a third support 504, a second clamping roller 503, a rotary driving component 505, a roller cutter wheel 506, and a baffle 507. The first housing 501 serves as the external enclosure and protection for the pelletizing assembly, and is a box-shaped housing welded from stainless steel sheet metal. A strip-shaped opening 5011 is provided at the upper front end of the first housing 501. The strip-shaped opening 5011 is a feed inlet or feed gap, extending along the width direction of the first housing 501. The feed bar enters the interior of the first housing 501 through the strip-shaped opening 5011. The interior of the first housing 501 forms a semi-enclosed space accommodating the clamping mechanism and the cutting mechanism, used to isolate debris splashing and noise generated during the cutting process. The two ends of the first clamping roller 502 are rotatably connected to two inner sidewalls of the first housing 501, respectively. Specifically, bearing mounting holes are machined on both the left and right side walls of the first housing 501. The journals at both ends of the first clamping roller 502 are supported in these bearing mounting holes by deep groove ball bearings, allowing for free rotation. The first clamping roller 502 is a driven roller. The roller surface of the first clamping roller 502 is a hard metal surface, and the first clamping roller 502 is covered with a rubber layer. The first driving component is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the first housing 501. The first driving component is a pneumatic cylinder, and the cylinder body is fixed to the top inner wall of the first housing 501 by bolts, with the extended end of the cylinder piston rod facing downwards. The third bracket 504 is connected to the movable end (piston rod end) of the first driving component and moves up and down with the extension and retraction of the first driving component. The second clamping roller 503 is rotatably connected to the third bracket 504 (both ends are supported on the third bracket 504 by bearings), so the second clamping roller 503 rises and falls together with the third bracket 504. The second clamping roller 503 is spaced apart from the first clamping roller 502 (the gap size during normal operation is adjusted according to the diameter of the pull strip). When the first driving component drives the second clamping roller 503 to approach the first clamping roller 502, both rollers together clamp the pull strip entering from the strip opening 5011 and pull the pull strip to the cutting station through the friction between the roller surface and the pull strip. During operation, after passing through the strip opening 5011, the pull strip extends into the gap between the first clamping roller 502 and the second clamping roller 503. The first driving component actuates to make the second clamping roller 503 press against the first clamping roller 502. The two rollers clamp the pull strip and rotate synchronously to achieve continuous traction and conveying of the pull strip. The rotary driving component 505 is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the first housing 501. The rotary driving component 505 is a servo motor, and the cutting length can be controlled by adjusting the rotation speed of the rotary driving component 505 (the lower the rotation speed, the fewer cuts per unit time and the longer the particles). The servo motor is mounted on the right outer wall of the first housing 501 via a flange, and its output shaft extends into the interior of the first housing 501 through the housing wall. The hobbing wheel 506 is located inside the first housing 501 and is connected to the output shaft of the rotary drive 505, which can drive the hobbing wheel 506 to rotate around its own axis.The hobbing wheel 506 is a disc-shaped cutter with evenly distributed cutting edges on its circumference. The hobbing wheel 506 is made of cemented carbide. The installation position of the hobbing wheel 506 is such that its outer edge is tangent to the travel path of the pull rod. The baffle 507 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the first housing 501 and is located beside the hobbing wheel 506. The baffle 507 is a flat plate with a ground surface. The installation position of the baffle 507 is such that its working surface is parallel to the rotation plane of the hobbing wheel 506, maintaining a preset gap. The pull rod, after passing through the gap between the first clamping roller 502 and the second clamping roller 503, is pulled forward. Its end abuts against the working surface of the baffle 507. Under the obstruction of the baffle 507, the pull rod is forced to change direction and extend towards the hobbing wheel 506 (i.e., the end of the pull rod, supported by the baffle 507, overlaps the cutting path of the hobbing wheel 506). With each revolution of the high-speed rotating roller wheel 506, its cutting blades sequentially cut the strip segments overlapping its cutting path, slicing them into particles of uniform length. The cut particles fall under the influence of gravity and are collected by the collection device described later.

[0045] like Figure 6 As shown, the granulation equipment in this embodiment also includes a nozzle 601 and an air supply source 602. The nozzle 601 sprays towards the gap area between the hobbing wheel 506 and the baffle 507. The nozzle 601 is used to spray high-pressure airflow to blow away residual material adhering to the cutting edge of the hobbing wheel 506 or embedded in the gap between the baffle 507 and the hobbing wheel 506, preventing the accumulation of residual material from affecting the cutting quality and tool life. The nozzle 601 is a flat slit nozzle 601, and the airflow sprayed by the nozzle 601 is in the form of a thin sheet, covering the effective cutting width of the hobbing wheel 506. The nozzle 601 is made of brass and is fixed to the first housing 501 by a universal joint bracket. The air supply source 602 is connected to the nozzle 601 and provides compressed air to the nozzle 601. The air supply source 602 is a small air compressor, equipped with an air tank and a refrigerated dryer, and the output compressed air is filtered and dried.

[0046] In this embodiment, as Figures 1 to 3As shown, the system also includes a vibrating screen 701, a second open container 702, and a third open container 703. The vibrating screen 701 receives the pellets falling from the roller cutter 506 and sorts them according to particle size. The vibrating screen 701 is a linear vibrating screen with a single-layer screen mesh, vibrating through an eccentric block. The second open container 702 receives the material discharged from the first outlet of the vibrating screen 701. In actual production, the material from the first outlet mainly consists of large, unqualified particles (overly long particles or clumps). This material can be collected in the second open container 702, processed, and then re-added to the extruder for granulation (recycling) to reduce waste. The second open container 702 can be a plastic bucket. The third open container 703 receives the material discharged from the second outlet of the vibrating screen 701. The material from the second outlet is finished pellets that meet specifications, falling directly into the third open container 703 as product collection. The capacity of the third open container 703 can be determined according to the production batch size. The bottom of the third open container 703 can be equipped with a weighing sensor to monitor the weight of the collected finished product in real time, and issue a full-bucket alarm signal to prompt the container to be replaced when the set value is reached.

[0047] The working process of the granulation equipment for processing foamed materials provided in this application is as follows: First, the foaming material raw material (such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and other resin granules, mixed with an appropriate amount of foaming agent and other additives) is fed into the extruder through the feed hopper. The extruder heats, melts, mixes, and plasticizes the raw material, then conveys the melt to the die 201. The melt spreads in the flow channel of the die 201 and is then simultaneously extruded downwards from a row of extrusion holes, forming multiple parallel high-temperature melt strips. The strips continue downwards through the first through-hole 2021 on the flow equalization plate 202. Since the depth of each first through-hole 2021 decreases sequentially from the center to the edge, the deeper channels in the central region exert greater resistance to the faster-flowing melt, while the shallower channels in the edge region exert less resistance to the slower-flowing melt. This compensates for the speed differences caused by friction within the flow channel walls, making the extrusion volume at each hole outlet more consistent, resulting in strips of uniform thickness. After exiting the flow equalization plate 202, the strips enter the first medium (such as cooling water) in the first open container 301, where they are rapidly cooled and shaped. Inside the first open container 301, the pull bar sequentially passes over each roller 304. The rubber sleeves on the rollers 304 provide gentle guidance and traction for the pull bar. The first medium absorbs heat from the pull bar, causing its temperature to rise. The pump body 303 continuously pumps the hot medium into the first heat dissipation assembly 302 for cooling before returning it to the first open container 301, maintaining a stable cooling effect. After exiting the open container, the pull bar enters the air-cooled drying zone of the first block 402. During its movement between the first protrusion 4021 and the second protrusion 4022, the airflow generated by the first air supply component 403 is ejected from the first ventilation hole 4023 and the second ventilation hole 4024, drying the moisture on the surface of the pull bar. The dried pull bar enters the pelletizing assembly through the strip-shaped opening 5011, where it is clamped and pulled by the first clamping roller 502 and the second clamping roller 503, and then, supported by the baffle 507, rests on the cutting path of the hobbing wheel 506. The high-speed rotating roller 506 cuts the strip into particles of a specified length. The nozzle 601 continuously sprays high-pressure airflow into the gap between the roller 506 and the baffle 507 to clean residual material from the blade surface. The cut particles fall into the vibrating screen 701 for sieving and grading: qualified finished particles fall into the third open container 703 for collection; oversized and unqualified particles fall into the second open container 702 for reuse.

[0048] Although embodiments of this application have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of this application, and all such modifications and variations fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A granulation device for processing foamed materials, characterized in that, include: First support (101); The mold head (201) is fixedly connected to the first bracket (101); A flow equalization plate (202) is fixedly connected to the surface of the extrusion hole on the die head (201), and a plurality of first through holes (2021) are provided on it. The first through holes (2021) correspond one-to-one with the extrusion holes on the die head (201), and the depth of the plurality of first through holes (2021) decreases sequentially along the radial direction of the flow equalization plate (202). A pelletizing assembly for pelletizing the strands extruded from the flow equalization plate (202).

2. The granulation equipment for processing foamed materials according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The extruder is connected to the side of the die (201) opposite to the flow distribution plate (202); The feed hopper is connected to the inlet of the extruder.

3. The granulation equipment for processing foamed materials according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes an exhaust fan, the air inlet of which is located directly above the mold head (201), and the inlet air of the exhaust fan covers the mold head (201).

4. The granulation equipment for processing foamed materials according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, Also includes: A first open container (301) contains a first medium, and the flow equalization plate (202) and part of the mold head (201) are located in the first medium; The first heat dissipation component (302) is connected to the side of the first open container (301) away from the mold head (201) via the first pipe (305); The pump body (303) is connected to the first heat dissipation component (302) and is connected to the side of the first open container (301) near the mold head (201) via the second pipe (306).

5. The granulation equipment for processing foamed materials according to claim 4, characterized in that, It also includes multiple rollers (304) that are spaced apart along the moving direction of the pull bar. The two ends of each roller (304) are rotatably connected to the two inner sidewalls of the first open container (301) respectively. Each roller (304) is covered with a rubber sleeve on its outer periphery.

6. The granulation equipment for processing foamed materials according to claim 5, characterized in that, Also includes: The second support (401) is located downstream of the first open container (301); The first block (402) is fixedly connected to the top surface of the second bracket (401). The first block (402) has a first protrusion (4021) and a second protrusion (4022) arranged opposite to each other. The first protrusion (4021) is provided with a plurality of first ventilation holes (4023). The plurality of first ventilation holes (4023) are spaced apart along the width direction of the first block (402). The second protrusion (4022) is provided with a plurality of second ventilation holes (4024). The plurality of second ventilation holes (4024) are spaced apart along the width direction of the first block (402). The pull bar abuts against the first protrusion (4021) and the second protrusion (4022). The first air supply component (403) is connected to the first air duct inside the first block (402) through the third pipe. The first air duct is connected to all the first ventilation holes (4023) and all the second ventilation holes (4024).

7. The granulation equipment for processing foamed materials according to claim 6, characterized in that, The pelletizing assembly includes: The first housing (501) has a strip-shaped opening (5011) thereon; The first clamping roller (502) has two ends that are rotatably connected to the two inner sidewalls of the first housing (501) respectively. The first driving component is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the first housing (501); The third bracket (504) is connected to the first drive component; The second clamping roller (503) is spaced apart from the first clamping roller (502) and rotatably connected to the third bracket (504). The first driving member can drive the second clamping roller (503) to move closer to or away from the first clamping roller (502). After passing through the strip opening (5011), the pull bar extends between the first clamping roller (502) and the second clamping roller (503), and the first clamping roller (502) and the second clamping roller (503) clamp the pull bar.

8. The granulation equipment for processing foamed materials according to claim 7, characterized in that, The pelletizing assembly also includes: A rotary drive component (505) is fixedly connected to the outer wall of the first housing (501); The hobbing wheel (506) is located inside the first housing (501) and connected to the rotary drive (505), which can drive the hobbing wheel (506) to rotate. The baffle (507) is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the first housing (501); The pull strip passing through the gap between the first clamping roller (502) and the second clamping roller (503) abuts against the baffle (507) and extends toward the roller cutter wheel (506), which cuts the extended pull strip into pellets.

9. The granulation equipment for processing foamed materials according to claim 8, characterized in that, Also includes: The nozzle (601) sprays towards the gap between the roller (506) and the baffle (507); An air supply source (602) is connected to the nozzle (601).

10. The granulation equipment for processing foamed materials according to claim 9, characterized in that, Also includes: Vibrating screen (701) is used to receive the pellets cut by the roller cutter (506); The second open container (702) is used to receive the material from the first outlet of the vibrating screen (701); The third open container (703) is used to receive the material from the second outlet of the vibrating screen (701).

Images