Patent ID: 6099288
Filing Date: 2000-08-08
Classification: B29B,B29C,B30B,Y10S

Abstract:
A pellet-forming apparatus for forming pliable material into elongated rod-shaped elements comprising:an elongated extruding cylinder having an entrance end through which the material is introduced into said cylinder, said cylinder having a cylindrical wall with interior and exterior surfaces, and a longitudinal axis said wall defining a plurality of radially oriented orifices each of which orifices open to respective interior and exterior surfaces of said cylindrical wall and through which orifices the material may be extruded in a radially outward direction, said orifices distributed in a spaced relationship around said cylinder, anda helically-shaped extruding rotor, said rotor having an axis disposed along the axis of said cylinder, wherein said extruding rotor extends axially through said extruding cylinder and is supported for revolution therein about said longitudinal axis of said cylinder, said rotor having a helix face, a pusher face, and a wiper face, said faces occupying substantially the same area along the axis of said rotor, said helix face configured to urge the material axially into said extruding cylinder from said entrance end and radially away from the axis of said rotor so as to position the material in proximity to said pusher face, said pusher face comprising a plurality of pusher bars configured to wipe said material against the interior of said cylinder so as to extrude the material through said passages when said rotor is rotated about its axis, and said wiper face comprising a helix-shape ridge configured to wipe the material from the interior face of said cylinder; anddrive means mechanically coupled with said extruding rotor for effecting revolution thereof.