FEED DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EXTRUDER

摘要

An extruder such as a reclaim extruder (10) includes a feed section (13) with a throat (15) into which a force feeder (32) is positioned to compact and feed reclaim material at a higher and more productive rate. The force feeder (32) includes three side-by-side augers (64, 65, 66) pointed at the extruder screw axis (17). An AC variable frequency drive motor (41) drives a double sided cog belt (44) in serpentine fashion around respective pulleys or sheaves (43, 46, 50, 52, 55, 57) for the augers (64, 65, 66). Two of the augers (64, 66) are of one hand rotated in one direction (68, 69), and one (65) of opposite hand rotated in the opposite direction (70). The pulleys or sheaves (43, 46, 50, 52, 55, 57) are of different size so that each auger (64, 65, 66) rotates progressively faster moving down stream of the extruder screw (17). Each auger (64, 65, 66) is positioned in a closely fitting compression tube (72, 73, 74) each provided with an inlet opening (80). The force feeder (32) is conveniently angularly positioned through the wall (30) of a collection box (12) between a hopper (11) and the throat (15) of the extruder (10).