Patent ID: 7004739

Claim:
A device for melting polymeric material, comprising: a barrel having an upstream end and a downstream end; a first material source; a second material source; a screw having at least a first plasticizing zone extending along a first length of an exterior portion of the screw for plasticizing material from the first material source to convey a first melt toward the downstream end, and a second plasticizing zone extending along a second length of the exterior portion of the screw for plasticizing material from the second material source to convey a second melt toward the downstream end, such that the first length and the second length are non-overlapping portions of the screw; separation means extending at least along the exterior portion of the screw between the first length and the second length for separating the first melt from the second melt; and an accumulation space for receiving the first melt and the second melt, each melt separately conveyed from the respective plasticizing zone.