Claims
- 1. An apparatus for producing glass fiber pellets substantially encapsulated in a polymeric shell from chopped segments of multi-filament glass strand comprising:a. an applicator for applying an aqueous hydrating solution to chopped glass segments formed from a multi-filament glass strand; b. a pelletizer for imparting a tumbling action to said chopped strand segments, said pelletizer having a residence time sufficient to ensure that the chopped glass segments become substantially coated with the hydrating fluid; c. a drier; and d. a binder coating applicator.
- 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said binder coating applicator comprises a chamber having spray nozzles mounted therein in flow communication with a reservoir containing a binder coating composition.
- 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said flow inducing apparatus is a positive displacement pump disposed between the reservoir and the spray nozzles.
- 4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a heater disposed between said reservoir and said nozzles.
- 5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said drier comprises an oven.
- 6. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a curing chamber.
- 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said curing chamber comprises a chamber having an opening therein through which ultraviolet radiation of a wavelength suitable for curing the binder composition is introduced; and a radiation source.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a second tumbler, and a conveyor belt disposed between the first tumbler and the second tumbler.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first tumbler comprises a drum rotationally driven about its longitudinal axis, said drum having a first and second end, said first end having an inlet opening for receiving said pellets and said second end having an outlet opening for discharging said pellets, the center of said outlet opening being radially distant from the rotational axis of said drum.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said second tumbler comprises a zig-zag hollow tube rotationally driven about a longitudinal axis, said tube having a first and second open end, said first open end providing an inlet for receiving said pellets and said second open end providing an outlet for discharging said densified pellets.
- 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said second tumbler is connected to the outlet opening of said first tumbler and is in flow communication therewith.
- 12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a densifier.
- 13. An apparatus for producing glass fiber pellets substantially encapsulated in a polymeric shell from chopped segments of multi-filament glass strand comprising:a. a hydrating solution applicator; b. a drum rotationally driven about its longitudinal axis, said drum having a first and second end, said first end having an inlet opening and said second end having an outlet opening, the center of said outlet opening being radially distant from the rotational axis of said drum; c. a zig-zag hollow tube rotationally driven about a longitudinal axis, said tube having a first and second open end, said first open end being attached to said outlet opening of said drum such that material within said drum can pass into said tube upon rotation of said drum and tube, said second open end providing a discharge outlet; d. an oven having an inlet and an outlet; and e. a spray chamber equipped with spray nozzles disposed therein.
- 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said spray chamber comprises a second drum rotationally driven about its longitudinal axis, said second drum having a first and second end, said first end having an inlet opening and said second end having an outlet opening.
- 15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a second zig-zag hollow tube having a first and second open end, said first open end being in flow communication with said outlet opening of said second drum and providing a receiving inlet, and said second open end providing a discharging outlet.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 09/356,354, filed Jul. 16, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,365,090, hereby incorporated by reference.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
WO 9843920 |
Oct 1998 |
WO |