Kneading method and apparatus
A method and apparatus for a reciprocating kneader. A primary rotational gear is attached to a gear box primary shaft and rotates in concert therewith and engages a secondary rotational gear. The primary rotational gear drive provides a primary source of rotation for a kneading screw and for the secondary gear as a secondary source of rotation. An adjustable eccentric is coupled to the secondary oscillation gear and rotates in concert therewith for reciprocation motion.
1. A reciprocating kneader comprising:
a cylindrical casing;
a screw extending into an interior of said cylindrical casing;
pins extending from said interior of said cylindrical toward said screw wherein said screw comprises flights;
a primary shaft adapted for coupling to a motor;
a primary rotational gear attached to said primary shaft for rotation in concert with said primary shaft and imparting rotational movement to said screw;
a secondary rotational gear engaged with said primary rotational gear for rotation in concert with said primary rotational gear;
a secondary shaft attached to said secondary rotational gear for rotation which in concert with said secondary rotational gear;
a primary oscillation gear attached to said primary shaft for rotation in concert with said primary shaft;
a secondary oscillation gear engaged with said primary oscillation gear for rotation in concert with said primary oscillation gear wherein said secondary oscillation gear rotates on said secondary shaft; and
wherein said secondary shaft is coupled to said secondary oscillation gear to impart oscillation movement to said screw, said rotational movement and said oscillation movement having a stroke ratio defined by the number of oscillation divided by the number of rotations per unit of time.
2. The reciprocating kneader of claim 1 wherein said secondary shaft and said primary shaft are parallel.
3. The reciprocating kneader of claim 1 wherein said primary rotational gear and said secondary rotation gear have a first gear ratio.
4. The reciprocating kneader of claim 3 wherein said primary oscillation gear and said secondary oscillation gear have a second gear ratio.
5. The reciprocating kneader of claim 4 wherein said first gear ratio and said second gear ratio are independent.
6. The reciprocating kneader of claim 1 wherein said stroke ratio is invariant with primary shaft rotation rate.
7. The reciprocating kneader of claim 1 further comprising an extrusion die.
8. The reciprocating kneader of claim 1 further comprising:
an adjustable eccentric coupled to said secondary oscillation gear wherein said adjustable eccentric rotates in concert with said secondary oscillation gear;
a yoke engaged with said adjustable eccentric wherein said yoke oscillates on an axis perpendicular to said secondary shaft in response to contact with said adjustable eccentric during a rotation and said gear box secondary shaft moves along a secondary shaft axis in concert with yoke oscillation;
a housing pivotally attached to said yoke at a yoke pivot axis and pivotally attached to said casing at a casing pivot axis, said yoke pivot axis and said casing pivot axis being non-parallel so as to impart said oscillation movement to said screw.