초록

An extruder system and a cutting assembly for cutting a material extruded from an extruder plate.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A cutting assembly for cutting a material extruded from an extruder plate, the assembly comprising: an extruder plate that includes an inner face and a front face and at least one die opening; a feed arrangement designed to feed said material toward said inner face of said extruder plat

I claim: 1. A cutting assembly for cutting a material extruded from an extruder plate, the assembly comprising: an extruder plate that includes an inner face and a front face and at least one die opening; a feed arrangement designed to feed said material toward said inner face of said extruder plate to cause said material to at least partially pass through said at least one die opening, said feed arrangement including a feed housing, said extruder plate removably connected or interconnected to said housing; a cutter assembly that includes, a motor, a cutter plate, and a plurality of cutter blades, said motor designed to cause said cutter plate to rotate about an axis, said cutter plate including said plurality of cutter blades, said cutter assembly designed to cause said cutter plate to rotate about said axis to thereby cause said plurality of cutter blades to move so as to at least partially cut said material passing through said at least one die opening in said extruder plate, said plurality of cutter blades positioned at least closely adjacent to said front face of said extruder plate, said cutter assembly removably connected or interconnected to said feed housing; and, a cutter control system designed to at least partially control a rate of cutting of said material by said plurality of cutter blades, said cutter control system including a controller designed to process at least one type of detected information from at least one type of detector and to use such detected information to at least partially control a rate of cutting of said material by said plurality of cutter blades, said detected information including one or more types of information selected from the group consisting of pressure of said material prior to entering said at least one die opening, pressure of said material in said at least one die opening, temperature of said material entering said at least one die opening, temperature of said material in said at least one die opening, velocity of said material entering said at least one die opening, velocity of said material in said at least one die opening, velocity of said material exiting said at least one die opening, change of velocity of said material entering said at least one die opening, change of velocity of said material in said at least one die opening, change of velocity of said material exiting said at least one die opening, length of said material being cut, temperature of said material, temperature of said extruder plate, temperature of an auger blade, temperature of a wiper blade, temperature of said at least one of said plurality of cutter blades, composition of said material, density of said material, time period required for said material to move through said at least one die opening, time period for said material to move to said extruder plate, rate of cutting by said plurality cutter blades, plugging or clogging of said at least one die opening, amount of vibration of said extruder plate, amount of vibration of said said plurality of cutter blades, cavitation of said material moving toward said extruder plate, and an auger blade rotation speed. 2. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 1, including a data storage arrangement to store information regarding one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of process parameters of the cut material, and parameters of the cut material, said information including one or more types of information selected from the group consisting of pressure of said material prior to entering said at least one die opening, pressure of said material in said at least one die opening, temperature of said material entering said at least one die opening, temperature of said material in said at least one die opening, velocity of said material entering said at least one die opening, velocity of said material in said at least one die opening, velocity of said material exiting said at least one die opening, change of velocity of said material entering said at least one die opening, change of velocity of said material in said at least one die opening, change of velocity of said material exiting said at least one die opening, length of said material being cut, temperature of said extruder plate, temperature of an auger blade, temperature of a wiper blade, temperature of at least one of said plurality of cutter blades, composition of said material, density of said material, time period said material moves through said at least one die opening, time period for said material to move to said extruder plate, rate of cutting by said plurality of cutter blades, plugging or clogging of said at least one die opening, amount of vibration of said extruder plate, amount of vibration of said plurality of cutter blades, cavitation of said material moving toward said extruder plate, an auger blade rotation speed, current weather conditions, type of a extruder, a extruder configuration, type of a feeder for a extruder, type of a liner, material of a liner, shape of a liner, size of said extruder plate, a die opening configuration of said extruder plate, opening size of said at least one die opening, material of said extruder plate, thickness of said extruder plate, a die/extruder insert size, a die/extruder insert shape, a die/extruder insert shape, a die/extruder insert thickness, a die/extruder insert material, a die/extruder insert hole profile, a number of die/extruder inserts on said extruder plate, type of an auger blade, material of an auger blade, shape of an auger blade, size of an auger blade, type of said plurality of cutter blades, number of said plurality of cutter blades, material of said plurality of cutter blades, number of blades on a wiper blade, type of a wiper blade, spacing of a wiper blade from extruder plate, spacing of a wiper blade from a die/extruder insert, a wiper blade material, calculated and/or detected wear rate of at least of said extruder plate, calculated and/or detected wear rate of at least one component of said cutter assembly, time extruder components have extruded material, and time period cutter assembly has cut product. 3. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said extruder plate includes at least one die insert opening designed to at least partially receive a die/extruder insert, said die/extruder insert designed to be removably received in said at least one die insert opening. 4. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 1, including a wiper that includes at least on wiper blade, said wiper designed to be connect to an auger or a rotating member, said wiper designed to be disposed adjacent said inner face of said extruder plate, said at least one wiper blade on said wiper being a radially disposed blade, said at least one wiper blade designed to direct material into said at least one die opening for extrusion of said material through said at least one die opening when said wiper is rotated. 5. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said a feed arrangement includes an auger. 6. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said wiper includes a plurality of wiper blades. 7. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein at least one of said wiper blades on said wiper having a length that is at least a longer as a maximum width of said at least one die opening on said first side of said extruder plate. 8. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said length of said material is at least partially detected by a length detector, said length detector including a detector selected from a camera, a light sensor, a radio frequency sensor, or a sound wave sensor. 9. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said detected information includes said detected pressure of said material, said detected pressure of said material at least partially detected by a pressure sensor located in one or more positions selected from the group consisting of at least partially in said extruder plate, and space inwardly from the first side of said extruder plate. 10. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein a speed of rotation of the auger or rotating member is at least partially controlled by one or more detected parameters selected from the group consisting of a detected pressure of material prior to being extruded through said extruder plate, and a detected pressure of said material as said material is being extruded through said extruder plate. 11. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said at least one wiper blade on said wiper includes an inclined leading edge and a trailing edge, said leading edge being at least partially inclined to encourage the movement of said material into said at least one die opening so as to reduce pressure vibrations of said material being directed toward said at least one die opening. 12. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said cutter control system includes a pulse width modulated control system. 13. A cutting assembly for cutting a material extruded from an extruder plate, said cutting assembly comprising: a cutter assembly that includes a motor, a cutter plate, and a plurality of cutter blades, said motor designed to cause said cutter plate to rotate about an axis, said cutter plate including said plurality of cutter blades, said cutter assembly designed to cause said cutter plate to rotate about said axis to thereby cause said plurality of cutter blades to move so as to at least partially cut said material passing through a die opening in an extruder plate, said plurality of cutting blades positioned at least closely adjacent to a front face of the extruder plate; and, a cutter control system designed to at least partially control a rate of cutting of said material by plurality of cutter blades, said cutter control system including a controller designed to process one or more types of detected information from at least one type of detector and to use such detected information to at least partially control a rate of cutting of said material by said plurality of cutting blades, said detected information including one or more types of information selected from the group consisting of pressure of said material spaced from the die opening, pressure of said material entering the die opening, pressure of said material in the die opening, temperature of said materially spaced from the die opening, temperature of said material entering the die opening, temperature of said material in the die opening, velocity of said material spaced from the die opening, velocity of said material entering the die opening, velocity of said material in the die opening, velocity of said material exiting the die opening, change of velocity of said material spaced from the die opening, change of velocity of said material entering the die opening, change of velocity of said material in the die opening, change of velocity of said material exiting the die opening, length of said material being cut, temperature of said material, temperature of the extruder plate, temperature of an auger blade, temperature of a wiper blade, temperature of at least one of said plurality of cutter blades, composition of said material, density of said material, time period required for said material to move through the die opening, time period for said material to move to the extruder plate, rate of cutting by said plurality of cutting blades, plugging or clogging of the die opening, amount of vibration of the extruder plate, amount of vibration of said at least one of said plurality of cutter blades, cavitation of said material moving toward the extruder plate, current weather conditions, type of a extruder, a extruder configuration, type of feeder for a extruder, type of a liner, material of a liner, shape of a liner, plate size of the extruder plate, opening configuration of the extruder plate, number of the die openings in the extruder plate, opening size of the die opening, material of the extruder plate, thickness of the extruder plate, a die/extruder insert size, a die/extruder insert shape, a die/extruder insert thickness, a die/extruder insert material, a die/extruder insert hole profile, a number of die/extruder inserts on the extruder plate, a type of an auger blade, material of an auger blade, shape of an auger blade, size of an auger blade, type of said plurality of cutter blades, number of said plurality of cutting blades, material of said plurality of cutting blades, number of blades on a wiper blade, type of a wiper blade, spacing of a wiper blade from the extruder plate, spacing of a wiper blade from a die/extruder insert, a wiper blade material, calculated wear rates of at least one component said cutter assembly, detected wear rates of at least one component said cutter assembly, calculated wear rates of at least one component the extruder plate, detected wear rates of at lease one component the extruder plate, calculated wear rates of a die/extruder insert, detected wear rates of a die/extruder insert, calculated wear rates of an auger, detected wear rates of an auger, calculated wear rates of a liner, detected wear rates of a liner, calculated wear rates of a wiper, detected wear rates of a wiper, time period said cutter assembly has cut product, time period material has extruded through the extruder plate, and time period material has extruded through a die/extruder insert. 14. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 13, including a data storage arrangement to store information regarding one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of process parameters of the cut material, and parameters of the cut material, said information including one or more types of information selected from the group consisting of pressure of said material spaced from the die opening, pressure of said material entering the die opening, pressure of said material in the die opening, temperature of said material spaced from the die opening, temperature of said material entering the die opening, temperature of said material in the die opening, velocity of said material spaced from the die opening, velocity of said material entering the die opening, velocity of said material in the die opening, velocity of said material exiting the die opening, change of velocity of said material spaced from the die opening, change of velocity of said material entering the die opening, change of velocity of said material in the die opening, change of velocity of said material exiting the die opening, length of said material being cut, temperature of said material, temperature of the extruder plate, temperature of an auger blade, temperature of a wiper blade, temperature of at least one of said plurality of cutter blades, composition of said material, density of said material, time period required for said material to move through the die opening, time period for said material to move to the extruder plate, rate of cutting by said plurality of cutter blades, plugging or clogging of the die opening, amount of vibration of the extruder plate, amount of vibration of said at least one of said plurality of cutter blades, cavitation of said material moving toward the extruder plate, current weather conditions, type of a extruder, a extruder configuration, type of feeder for a extruder, type of a liner, material of a liner, shape of a liner, plate size of the extruder plate, opening configuration of the extruder plate, number of the die openings in the extruder plate, opening size of the die opening, material of the extruder plate, thickness of the extruder plate, a die/extruder insert size, a die/extruder insert shape, a die/extruder insert thickness, a die/extruder insert material, a die/extruder insert hole profile, a number of die/extruder inserts on the extruder plate, a type of an auger blade, material of an auger blade, shape of an auger blade, size of an auger blade, type of said plurality of cutter blades, number of said plurality of cutting blades, material of said plurality of cutting blades, number of blades on a wiper blade, type of a wiper blade, spacing of a wiper blade from the extruder plate, spacing of a wiper blade from a die/extruder insert, a wiper blade material, calculated wear rates of at least one component said cutter assembly, detected wear rates of at least one component said cutter assembly, calculated wear rates of at least one component the extruder plate, detected wear rates of at least one component the extruder plate, calculated wear rates of a die/extruder insert, detected wear rates of a die/extruder insert, calculated wear rates of an auger, detected wear rates of an auger, calculated wear rates of a liner, detected wear rates of a liner, calculated wear rates of a wiper, detected wear rates of a wiper, time period said cutter assembly has cut product, time period material has extruded through the extruder plate, and time period material has extruded through a die/extruder insert. 15. An extruder plate and die/extruder insert assembly comprising an extruder plate and a die/extruder insert, said extruder plate including a front face, a back face and a die opening that passes through the extruder plate so as to enable a material to move from said front face, through said die plate and then exit said back face, said die opening designed to telescopically receive at least a majority of said die/extruder insert, said die insert designed to be inserted in said die opening on said front face, said die opening including a plate orientation structure, said die/extruder insert including an insert orientation structure, said insert orientation structure designed to engage said plate orientation structure to thereby limit a direction said die/extruder insert can be inserted into said die opening on said front face so as to facilitate in a proper orientation and insertion of said die/extruder insert into said die opening. 16. The extruder plate and die/extruder insert assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein said plate orientation structure is positioned at least partially on said front face of said extruder plate and adjacent said die opening, said plate orientation structure designed to receive at least a portion of said insert orientation structure when said die/extruder insert is properly and fully inserted into said die opening. 17. The extruder plate and die/extruder insert assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein said insert orientation structure is positioned at least partially on one end of said die/extruder insert. 18. The extruder plate and die/extruder insert assembly as defined in claim 16, wherein said insert orientation structure is positioned at least partially on one end of said die/extruder insert, said insert orientation structure designed to be at least partially inserted said plate orientation structure when said die/extruder insert is properly and fully inserted into said die opening. 19. The extruder plate and die/extruder insert assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein said die/extruder insert including a body having a plurality of holes spaced from a peripheral edge of said body, said plurality of holes completely passing through said body along a longitudinal axis of said body, at least two of said holes having substantially the said shape, said plurality of holes designed to allow material to be extruded through said body. 20. The extruder plate and die/extruder insert assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein said die/extruder insert including a body having a plurality of holes spaced from a peripheral edge of said body, said plurality of holes completely passing through said body along a longitudinal axis of said body, at least two of said holes having substantially the said shape, said plurality of holes designed to allow material to be extruded through said body. 21. The extruder plate and die/extruder insert assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein said pate includes a recess portion in said die opening that only partially traverses a longitudinal length of said die opening. 22. The extruder plate and die/extruder insert assembly as defined in claim 20, wherein said plate includes a recess portion in said die opening that only partially traverses a longitudinal length of said die opening. 23. The extruder plate and die/extruder insert assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein said die/extruder insert having a varying cross-sectional area along a longitudinal axis of said die/extruder insert. 24. The extruder plate and die/extruder insert assembly as defined in claim 22, wherein said die/extruder insert having a varying cross-sectional area along said longitudinal axis of said die/extruder insert. 25. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said extruder plate includes at least one die insert opening designed to at least partially receive a die/extruder insert, said die/extruder insert designed to be removably received in said at least one die insert opening. 26. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 25, including a wiper that includes at least one wiper blade, said wiper designed to be connected to an auger or a rotating member, said wiper designed to be disposed adjacent said inner face of said extruder plate, said at least one wiper blade on said wiper being a radially disposed blade, said at least one wiper blade designed to direct material into said at least one die opening for extrusion of said material through said at least one die opening when said wiper is rotated. 27. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 26, wherein at least one of said wiper blades on said wiper having a length that is at least a longer as a maximum width of said at least one die opening on said first side of said extruder plate, said at least one wiper blade on said wiper including an inclined leading edge and a trailing edge, said leading edge being at least partially inclined to encourage the movement of said material into said at least one die opening so as to reduce pressure variations of said material being directed toward said at least one die opening. 28. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein detected information includes said detected pressure of said material, said detected pressure of said material at least partially detected by a pressure sensor located in one or more positions selected from the group consisting of at least partially in said extruder plate, and spaced inwardly from the first side of said extruder plate. 29. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 28, wherein said cutter control system includes a pulse width modulator control system. 30. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 29, wherein said length of said material is at least partially detected by a length detector, said length detector including a detector selected from a camera, a light sensor, a radio frequency sensor, or a sound wave sensor. 31. The cutting assembly as defined in claim 29, wherein a speed of rotation of the auger or rotating member is at least partially controlled by one or more detected parameters selected from the group consisting of a detected pressure of material prior to being extruded through said extruder plate, and a detected pressure of said material as said material is being extruded through said extruder plate. 32. The extruder plate and die/extruder insert assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein said die/extruder insert is removably positioned in said die opening, said die/extruder insert formed of a different material than said material of said die plate. 33. The extruder plate and die/extruder insert assembly as defined in claim 24, wherein said die/extruder insert is removably positioned in said die opening, said die/extruder insert formed of a different material than said material of said die plate.