Patent ID: 6183232
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: B22F,B29C,B30B

Abstract:
In a press operable in cycles for compacting raw material in a die to produce a product in each cycle, the press being of the type having a table with a horizontal surface and an opening in the horizontal surface for raw material to be delivered to the die, a system for heating raw material and delivering heated raw material to a die comprising:a feed shoe having a central bore, said feed shoe being movable in a direction parallel to the horizontal surface of the table;a vertically-fixed transfer element having top and bottom openings and a passage extending between the openings, the vertically-fixed transfer element being supported independent from the table;wherein said feed shoe is movable on said table to a retracted position and an extended position wherein the central bore is aligned over the die;means for heating said raw material before the raw material reaches said feed shoe; andan enclosure with a bore through which raw material may pass, said enclosure extending between said feed shoe upper surface and said vertically-fixed transfer element so that when said feed shoe is in said retracted position material may pass from said vertically-fixed transfer element bottom opening to said enclosure and from said enclosure to said feed shoe central bore substantially free from exposure to a cross-flow of air;the table being vertically movable and being in a plurality of vertical positions in each cycle, the feed shoe and at least part of the enclosure moving with the vertical movement of the table to be in a plurality of vertical positions in each cycle,the vertically-fixed transfer element maintaining a vertically fixed position with respect to the table throughout the cycle.