Method and device for producing granulates from intermediate products of thermo-plastic polyesters and copolyesters

US6858167B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Reiter Automatic GmbH · DE

Inventors

• André Matthaei · Kitzingen, DE
• Peter Locker · Großostheim, DE
• Andreas Ecker · Ratingen, DE
• Ralf Müller · Geringswalde, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 12, 2001
• Grant date: Feb 22, 2005
• Expiry date: Sep 26, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B29K2995/0041
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for forming molten drops of precursors of thermoplastic polyesters or copolyesters as molten monomer, oligomer, monomer/glycol mixture or after partial polycondensator [sic] and melting to give a molten precursor, in which the precursor formed into drops is introduced into a gaseous medium, and the gaseous medium, after entry of the precursor formed into drops into the gaseous medium, accelerates the crystallization process by holding the drop-form precursor at a temperature above 100° C. and below its melting point for a limited time until crystallization of the drop at the surface of the precursor is complete. To this end, the apparatus has a fall tower, through which the gaseous medium flows in countercurrent from bottom to top, while the drops fall in the vertical direction from top to bottom into a collecting funnel with a precrystallized surface.