Melting device and method for melting meltable plastic material, method for mixing reactive plastic components

Abstract

A melting device includes a container capable of melting a material supplied in a free-flowing state and storing the material in a liquid state. The container includes a first storage section for storing the material in the free-flowing state, a second storage section for storing the material in the liquid state, and a dividing section provided between the first storage section and the second storage section and configured to hold back the material, when the material is in a non-molten or free-flowing state and to allow passage of the material from the first storage section into the second storage section, when the material is in a molten or liquid state.

1 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A melting device, comprising a container capable of melting a material supplied in a free-flowing state and storing the material in a liquid state, said container comprising:
 a first storage section for storing the material in the free-flowing state,   a second storage section for storing the material in the liquid state, and   a dividing section provided between the first storage section and the second storage section and configured to hold back the material, when the material is in a non-molten or free-flowing state and to allow passage of the material from the first storage section into the second storage section, when the material is in a molten or liquid state.   
     
     
         13 . The melting device of  claim 12 , wherein the first storage section is arranged vertically above the second storage section, said dividing section configured as a grid defined by a mesh size which is smaller than a particle size of the material in the free-flowing state. 
     
     
         14 . The melting device of  claim 12 , wherein the first storage section is arranged vertically above the second storage section, said dividing section configured as a perforated plate defined by a hole diameter which is smaller than a particle size of the material in the free-flowing state. 
     
     
         15 . The melting device of  claim 12 , further comprising a heating device arranged to heat at least one of the first storage section and the dividing section so as to melt the material in the free-flowing state. 
     
     
         16 . The melting device of  claim 15 , wherein the heating device operates continuously. 
     
     
         17 . The melting device of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first supply and dispensing section for measured supply of the material in the free-flowing state to the first storage section; and/or   a second supply and dispensing section for measured discharge of the material from the second storage section.   
     
     
         18 . The melting device of  claim 17 , wherein the first supply and dispensing section operates continuously, and the second supply and dispensing section operates discontinuously. 
     
     
         19 . The melting device of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a heating device arranged to heat at least one of the first storage section and the dividing section so as to melt the material in the free-flowing state;   a fill-level measuring device configured to measure a fill level of the material stored in the liquid state in the second storage section; and   a control device configured to control a supply of the material in the free-flowing state by means of the first supply and dispensing section and/or to control a melting of the material by means of the heating device, in response to the fill level measured by the fill-level measuring device.   
     
     
         20 . The melting device of  claim 19 , wherein the control device controls operation of the first supply and dispensing section and/or the heating device so that a quantity of material in the second storage chamber corresponds to an immediate demand. 
     
     
         21 . The melting device of  claim 20 , wherein the quantity of material in the second storage chamber is limited to a prescribed number of downstream plastics processing operations, in particular 2 to 10, preferably 5, or limited to an amount sufficient for processing within a prescribed time, in particular less than or equal to 30 minutes, preferably less than or equal to 15 minutes. 
     
     
         22 . A mixing arrangement, comprising:
 a mixing chamber capable of mixing reactive plastic components into a reactive mixture;   a first melting device comprising a container capable of melting one of the plastic components supplied in a free-flowing state and storing the one of the plastic components in a liquid state, said container comprising a first storage section for storing the one of the plastic components in the free-flowing state, a second storage section for storing the one of the plastic components in the liquid state, and a dividing section provided between the first storage section and the second storage section and configured to hold back the one of the plastic components, when the one of the plastic components is in a non-molten or free-flowing state and to allow passage of the one of the plastic components from the first storage section into the second storage section, when the one of the plastic components is in a molten or liquid state;   a first supply and dispensing section for measured supply of the one of the plastic components in the free-flowing state to the first storage section; and   a second supply and dispensing section for measured discharge of the one of the plastic components from the second storage section to the mixing chamber,   wherein the first and second supply and dispensing sections are synchronised with one another so that only a prescribed quantity of the one of the plastic components is melted in the melting device, which quantity corresponds to an immediate demand for the one of the plastic components.   
     
     
         23 . The mixing arrangement of  claim 22 , wherein the quantity of the one of the plastic components is limited to a prescribed number of downstream plastics processing operations, in particular 2 to 10, preferably 5, or limited to an amount sufficient for processing within a prescribed time, in particular less than or equal to 30 minutes, preferably less than or equal to 15 minutes. 
     
     
         24 . The mixing arrangement of  claim 22 , further comprising a second melting device comprising a container capable of melting another one of the plastic components supplied in a free-flowing state and storing the other one of the plastic components in a liquid state, said container comprising a first storage section for storing the other one of the plastic components in the free-flowing state, a second storage section for storing the other one of the plastic components in the liquid state, and a dividing section provided between the first storage section and the second storage section and configured to hold back the other one of the plastic components, when the other one of the plastic components is in a non-molten or free-flowing state and to allow passage of the other one of the plastic components from the first storage section into the second storage section, when the one of the plastic components is in a molten or liquid state. 
     
     
         25 . The mixing arrangement of  claim 24 , wherein the one of the plastic components is caprolactam with a first additive, in particular an activator, and wherein the other one of the plastic components is caprolactam with a second additive, in particular a catalyst. 
     
     
         26 . The mixing arrangement of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 a third supply and dispensing device for a measured supply of a first additive, in particular an activator, to the mixing chamber; and   a fourth supply and dispensing device for a measured supply of a second additive, in particular a catalyst, to the mixing chamber,   wherein a supply of the one of the plastic components and the first and second additives by means of the second, third and fourth supply and dispensing devices are synchronised with one another as a function of time and quantity, so that the one of the plastic components and the first and second additives are mixed together in the mixing chamber to form the reactive mixture.   
     
     
         27 . A method for melting meltable plastic material, comprising:
 supplying a meltable material in a free-flowing state to a first storage section of a melting device;   melting the material in the first storage section of the melting device;   storing the molten material in a liquid state in a second storage section of the melting device;   discharging the molten material in the liquid state; and   separating the first storage section and the second storage section such that the material in its non-molten or free-flowing state remains in the first storage section and, in a molten or liquid state, is capable to flow from the first storage section into the second storage section.   
     
     
         28 . A method for mixing reactive plastic components, comprising:
 supplying a measured quantity of the reactive plastic components in a free-flowing state to respective melting devices;   melting the reactive plastic components in the respective melting devices;   supplying a measured quantity of the molten plastic components to a mixing chamber;   mixing the molten plastic components with one another into a reactive mixture in the mixing chamber; and   coordinating the supply of the reactive plastic components to the respective melting devices and the supply of the molten plastic components to the mixing chamber such that only prescribed quantities of the reactive plastic components are melted in the respective melting devices in correspondence to an immediate demand for the plastic components.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the quantities of the plastic components are limited to a prescribed number of downstream plastics processing operations, in particular 2 to 10, preferably 5, or limited to amounts sufficient for processing within a prescribed time, in particular less than or equal to 30 minutes, preferably less than or equal to 15 minutes.