Patent ID: 8671647
Filing Date: 2014-03-18
Classification: B29B,F26B

Abstract:
1. A system for continuously bagging tacky materials, the system comprising: a feeding section configured to receive a material, wherein the feeding section is optionally thermally controlled; a mixing section configured to receive the material from the feeding section and mix, melt, and/or blend the material, wherein the mixing section comprises a die comprising a removable insert with a taper angle that is less than or equal to about 25 degrees; a pelletizing section configured to receive the material from the mixing section and pelletize the material, wherein the pelletizing section comprises: a system of non-linear transport piping downstream of the transport fluid box, wherein the non-linear transport piping comprises long-radius angles; an agglomerate catcher downstream of the pelletizing section, wherein the agglomerate catcher comprises an angled agglomerate removal grid, wherein an angle of inclination of the agglomerate removal grid is at least about 0 degrees, and wherein the non-linear transport piping is configured to allow transport of the material from the pelletizing section to the agglomerate catcher; a defluidizing section downstream of the agglomerate catcher, wherein the defluidizing section comprises a pellet feed chute that is partially blocked to prevent filtration of the transport fluid from the material, wherein the defluidizing section comprises no obstructive baffles; a drying section configured to receive the material from the defluidizing section and dry the pelletized material, wherein the drying section comprises a dryer comprising: a pellet diverter valve downstream of the drying section, wherein the pellet diverter valve comprises: at least a first and second bagging assembly in communication with at least the first and second outlets of the pellet diverter valve, respectively, wherein the at least the first and second bagging assemblies are configured to alternatingly receive a specific quantity of pellets from the pellet diverter valve to allow continuous bagging of the pellets; and a surface treatment applied to at least a portion of a surface of a component of the feeding section, mixing section, pelletizing section, transport piping, agglomerate catcher, defluidizing section, drying section, pellet diverter valve, and/or bagging assemblies to reduce abrasion, erosion, corrosion, wear, and undesirable adhesion and stricture, wherein the surface treatment comprises at least two layers such that the surface formed following treatment is three-dimensionally textured, wherein the at least two layers comprise at least one layer of a wear-resistant material that is uniformly overcoated with a non-stick polymer that only partially fills the three-dimensional surface texture of the at least one layer of wear-resistant material.