Patent ID: 8177414
Filing Date: 2012-05-15
Classification: B01F

Abstract:
1. The combination comprising: an elongated preconditioner operable to treat a material to be processed, including a housing having an inlet and an outlet, and a pair of elongated, axially rotatable shafts within the housing and extending along the length thereof, the shafts including a plurality of outwardly extending mixing elements; an extruder positioned below said preconditioner and including an elongated barrel presenting an inlet and a restricted orifice die outlet, with at least one elongated, helically flighted extruder screw within said barrel and operable to convey said material to be processed along the length of the barrel and through said die outlet; an upright feeder screw assembly operably interconnecting the outlet of said preconditioner and the inlet of said extruder, said assembly including a feeder housing, a pair of feeder elements within said feeder housing and each including an upright shaft extending into said preconditioner housing and into said barrel inlet, and a motor operably coupled with said feeder shafts for axial rotation thereof, said shafts respectively supporting helical flighting along the length thereof between said preconditioner housing and said barrel inlet, said feeder screw assembly operable to engage and positively transport said material to be processed between said preconditioner outlet and said barrel inlet and substantially throughout the length of said housing.