Counter-Rotating Plastic Preprocessor Auger
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plastic recycling devices face challenges in processing sensitive or strip-shaped materials efficiently, leading to premature melting, clogging, and reduced throughput due to inadequate interface design between the cutter/compactor and conveyor, particularly with materials near their melting point or having low energy content.
Innovation Solution
The design reverses the rotation direction of the mixing and crushing tools relative to the conveyor, creating a counter-rotating system where the auger rotates clockwise, and the conveying direction of the tools is slightly opposite to the conveyor, reducing feeding pressure and preventing overfilling, allowing for gentle and efficient material transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the mixing and crushing tools rotate in the same direction as the conveyor to stuff material into the extruder, then the feeding pressure and material transfer efficiency are improved, but the material melts prematurely and causes clogging in the feed area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by rotating the mixing and crushing tools in the opposite direction to the conveyor rotation. Instead of both rotating in the same direction to push material forward, the tools rotate counter-directionally to gently feed material into the conveyor without applying excessive pressure that would cause melting. This resolves the contradiction by reversing the conventional approach.
2Productivity
If the feeding pressure is increased to improve material intake, then the throughput increases, but the material near melting point softens excessively and clogs the system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rotational direction parameter of the mixing and crushing tools relative to the conveyor. By altering this physical parameter, the feeding mechanism transitions from high-pressure stuffing to gentle counter-rotation feeding, maintaining throughput while preventing the material from softening excessively and clogging the system.
3Productivity
If the extruder intake area is widened to increase filling, then the material intake capacity is improved, but the material distribution becomes uneven and causes localized melting
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor acts as an intermediary between the mixing/crushing tools and the extruder. The counter-rotating tools feed material onto the conveyor, which then uniformly distributes and conveys it into the extruder intake. This intermediary mechanism ensures both high intake capacity and uniform material distribution, preventing localized melting.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances material intake behavior, increases throughput, and maintains high material quality by preventing premature melting and clogging, allowing for longer maintenance intervals and reduced downtime.
Implementation Method 1
The plastic material is comminuted by the revolving mixing and comminuting tools (3) and thereby heated and softened via the introduced mechanical frictional energy
Implementation Method 2
heated and softened via the introduced mechanical frictional energy
Implementation Method 3
the softened plastic material is captured by the auger (6) in the conveying direction (17) and thereby conveyed
Implementation Method 4
a compressing screw (6) is mounted in the housing (16) which conveys the softened plastic material in a conveying direction (17) and thereby melts the material
Implementation Method 5
thereby melts the material through compression and friction during extrusion
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to an apparatus for preprocessing and subsequently conveying or plasticizing plastics, comprising a container (1) with a mixing and/or comminuting tool (3) that can rotate about a rotational axis (10), wherein an opening (8) is formed in a lateral wall (9) through which the plastic material can be discharged and a conveyor (5) is provided with a screw (6) rotating in a housing (16). The invention is characterized in that the imaginary extension of the longitudinal axis (15) of the conveyor (5) passes by the rotational axis (10) counter the conveying direction (17), wherein the longitudinal axis (15) is on the outlet side offset by a distance (18) in relation to the radial (11) that is parallel to the longitudinal axis (15). The screw (6) rotates clockwise when seen from the start of the screw (6) in the direction to the end or discharge opening of the conveyor (5).