Feeder

A feeder is a device that ensures stable material supply to the extruder, playing a critical role in maintaining extrusion quality through consistent material input.

①　Gravimetric Feeder

A gravimetric feeder accurately measures the material supply rate while feeding at a consistent speed. It is primarily used when precise material control is required.

②　Volumetric Feeder

A volumetric feeder supplies materials at a consistent volume. With a simpler structure and lower cost, it is suitable for applications where lower supply accuracy is acceptable.

③　Side Feeder

A side feeder supplies materials laterally to the twin-screw extruder. It is mainly used for adding fillers or fibers as secondary additives during processing.

Screen Changer

Materials inside the extruder may contain impurities or foreign matter. A screen changer removes these contaminants from the extruded material. Equipped with screens or filters, it captures foreign matter as the material passes through. Filters can be of continuous exchangeable types or manual replacement types, depending on operational needs.

Gear Pump

A gear pump is used to stabilize material pressure and flow rate during extrusion, resulting in more uniform molding and improved product quality. It is particularly effective for processing high-viscosity materials. By precisely feeding materials, gear pumps enhance molding accuracy at the die head.

Die Head

The die head is a crucial device for shaping extruded materials into the desired form. Dies can be customized based on the product’s shape and purpose, offering various configurations to meet diverse requirements.

Cooling System

Since extruded materials are typically at high temperatures, cooling systems are used to lower and stabilize their temperature. Common cooling methods include:

①　Water Bath

Materials are cooled by immersing them in water. This method is often used for cooling strands or sheets.

②　Air Cooling Conveyor

Air is used to cool the materials, offering better temperature control and suitability for applications requiring drying.

③　Chill Rollers

Chill rollers are used primarily for cooling films or sheets. Materials are passed through rollers to ensure uniform cooling.

Pelletizer

A pelletizer cuts extruded materials into small pellet shapes suitable for injection molding or other manufacturing processes. Types of pelletizers include:

①　Strand Cut Pelletizer

After cooling, extruded strands are cut into small pellets using a cutter. This method is commonly used for solid materials like resins.

②　Hot Cut Pelletizer

Materials are cut directly at the die surface. This type is suitable for high-viscosity materials and high-output applications.

③　Underwater Pelletizer

Materials are cut at the die face and immediately cooled underwater, allowing for highly efficient continuous production.

Vacuum Deaerator

Some resins and other materials generate gases or moisture during the plasticization process. Additionally, when mixing powders or low bulk density materials, air can become entrapped during the kneading process. These gases and moisture can adversely affect the quality of the molded product. By using a vacuum degassing system, moisture and gases can be effectively removed from the molten material, thereby improving the quality of the final product.

A typical degassing system consists of a vacuum pump, vacuum trap, and vacuum piping. It is used by connecting the vacuum piping to the vent section of the extruder barrel.

Liquid Addition Device

This is a device used to feed liquid materials into an extruder. The appropriate type of liquid feeding unit (pump) must be selected based on the viscosity, flow rate, and whether the liquid requires heating. A typical liquid feeding system consists of a liquid feed pump, a tank, and liquid feed piping. It is used by connecting the liquid feed piping to the vent section of the extruder barrel. At this connection point, a dedicated plug for liquid feed piping is used on the barrel vent.

Film Take-up/Winding Device

This is a device that cools and winds sheet-shaped material extruded from the tip of a T-die while drawing it out. The material exiting the T-die first passes through a cooling roll, where it is rapidly cooled and solidified, and is then conveyed by a take-up roll. The conveyed material is then wound into a roll by a winding roll.

The material extruded from the T-die must be cooled under conditions suitable to the characteristics of the resin. To achieve this, a temperature-controlled coolant (such as water or oil) is circulated through the cooling rolls, allowing the roll surface temperature to be precisely regulated.

Twin Screw Extruders by Technovel
– A Dedicated Japanese Extruder Manufacturer

　

As a world-first innovation, we have developed a new type of horizontal multi-screw extruder. Our Quad screw and Octa screw extruders are already being utilized across various industries. Even in the field of conventional twin screw extruders, we offer a wide lineup ranging from ultra-compact models—such as the world’s smallest 6 mm diameter screw and our best-selling 15 mm model—to large-scale production machines.

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