Patent ID: 8087815
Filing Date: 2012-01-03
Classification: B29B,B29C

Abstract:
1. A kneader comprising: a pair of screws disposed in parallel with each other; a barrel having a kneading space for accommodating said pair of screws in the interior thereof; and a drive unit for rotating said pair of screws about respective axes thereof, the kneader kneading a material to be kneaded introduced into said kneading space by rotating said screws about the respective axes thereof, wherein each of said screws has a shape generating deflection in a specific direction orthogonal to the axis thereof during kneading of the material to be kneaded; and said kneading space has a shape such that a pair of accommodating spaces for accommodating said screws respectively are connected together so as to overlap each other partially in a radial direction, each of said accommodating spaces having a larger-diameter portion in at least a portion in the axial direction of said screws, said larger-diameter portion of being formed in such a manner that a diameter thereof in said specific direction is larger than in any other direction and said barrel having an inner wall surface which surrounds said larger-diameter portion has a plane portion extending in said predetermined direction in which each of said screws generates deflection, and a ratio L/C is greater than 1, wherein L is the length of said plane portion in said predetermined direction, C is a clearance between the outermost periphery portion of said screws and said plane portion of the inner wall surface of said barrel which surrounds said larger-diameter portion with said screws accommodated therein.