Steve Maguire, founder and owner of Maguire Products Inc., Aston, Pa., has developed a new type of airflow limiter that he says prevents damage to plastic pellets and also cuts costs in central conveying systems.

The mechanical device, which operates using gravity, is now available for sale. A thin piece of metal called a sail shuts a valve when airflow exceeds a certain limit, such as 100 cubic feet per minute (CFM). A separate patent application includes use of a detector that can signal a central vacuum pump to slow or shut down when a stipulated airflow is reached.

"It allows a central system to be designed with completely different parameters," Maguire said. "You could have a very high output vacuum pump on a central system without the fear of conveying the material too fast. Now processors often use multiple [smaller] pumps so an individual receiver is not overwhelmed. My idea is to put one of the CFM limiters on the vacuum line of each receiver, and then that receiver will never exceed a stipulated CFM."

Strings of angel hair are created when central systems create too much air pressure. The angel hair, which is melted resin, accumulates on the wall of the conveying conduit, effectively reducing its diameter and causing clogging. The quality of the plastic pellets is often affected, creating problems during processing.

Basic airflow limiters are now available from Maguire Products for less than $200 each. They are also available through sister company Novatec, which specializes in conveying systems and other auxiliary equipment. Maguire is a majority owner of Novatec, Baltimore.

     Patent Application 20170107064; published April 20

In other patent news:

Sorting system. A new automated system sorts parts from several injection molding machines, reducing robot costs and floor space. Typically, each injection molding machine has a dedicated robot for parts packaging. In an approach patented by Fanuc Corp., Oshino, Japan, parts are carried from several machines on a single conveyor, and are automatically separated based on images associated with machine operating parameters. A sorting device stores the images and can also provide quality control. The system includes a central control that sets operating conditions in the injection molding machines.

     Patent 9,623,596; issued April 18

Temperature control. A new system to improve temperature control in injection molds involves use of closed-loop thermoelectric control and ceramic inserts. The invention addresses the high cost and poor efficiency of currently used temperature-control systems, according to the patent application filed by Sabic Global Technologies B.V., Bergen op Zoom, Netherlands.

     Patent Application 20170113388; published April 27

Blow molding. An invention from Milacron LLC, Batavia, Ohio, seeks to reduce the time required to replace neck inserts in blow molds. Currently, fasteners retain replaceable neck inserts in the mold assemblies. Production time is lost when changes in neck type are required. The new approach uses retention devices with mating mold components to more easily release neck inserts. The retention devices have a clamp mechanism with a clamp arm that can be rotated.

     Patent Application 20170095964; published April 6

Patents and patent applications can be viewed at www.uspto.gov

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