WO2021148891A1

WO2021148891A1 - Splitting device for splitting flow of material

Info

Publication number: WO2021148891A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/050030
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hemant Patel
Original assignee: Hemant Patel
Priority date: 2020-01-22
Filing date: 2021-01-05
Publication date: 2021-07-29

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a splitting device to evenly split a single line of input material into multiple output lines by accurately controlling the volumetric flow of material into each outlet through the use of flow control valves provided for each outlet. The splitting device includes an inlet to receive and facilitate controlled inflow of material in the splitting device, and multiple outlets being connected with the inlet through a passage to facilitate controlled outflow of multiple lines of the same materials. The splitting device includes flow control mechanism such as but not limited to valves, for controlling the inflow and outlflow of the materials. Further, the splitting device is provided with thermal control system at its inlet and multiple outlets in order to maintain the material at a specified temperature such that the material is stiff enough not to break away and plastic enough that it can be deformed.

Description

SPLITTING DEVICE FOR SPLITTING FLOW OF MATERIAL

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a splitting device for splitting the flow of material. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a splitting device with a single inlet for accurately controlling the volumes of flow at least two outlets, thereby varying the flow or equalling the flow across the outlets, by splitting of the flow of material to obtain even flow of the material from outlets of the splitting device.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the present invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

[0003] While the present disclosure is explained from a perspective of splitting a flow of materials involved in the manufacturing of writing or coloring pencil or cosmetic pencil into multiple streams/lines, however, it needs to be appreciated that the present disclosure relates to splitting the flow of materials such as, but not limited to, plastics, metal, rubber, polymers, chocolates, edibles lipsticks, etc, and the materials involved in manufacturing of writing or coloring pencil or cosmetic pencil may be considered as one of the embodiments for the present disclosure.

[0004] Conventionally, the existing process for extrusion plants for manufacturing extruded products involve one plant producing one polymer pencil extrusion. Normally, the process of producing one polymer pencil extrusion includes, but is not limited, to: a) Material extruded from one extruder as core of pencil identified as lead (can be of graphite, color core lead, or cosmetic core); b) Material extruded from another extruder which may or may not be used as coat layer over the lead core; c) Both materials are co-extruded at stage one of extrusion die, which forms lead core, which is air-cooled and fed manually into the second stage of co-extrusion. d) The Material extruded from one extruder each for sheath (pencil body), for sheath coat (body coat) and design coat, along with lead core from first stage enters into second stage of extrusion die, to give a continuous line of one pencil. e) The pencil formed is sized and cooled and by traction of pencil same is cut in coarse length of desired pencil length.

[0005] In an example, a conventional method for continuously manufacturing a writing or coloring pencil, by simultaneous extrusion of thermoplastic materials constituting successively, on the one hand, the lead, and on the other hand the material enveloping the lead, and which is hereinafter called wood material by analogy with the composition of the conventional pencils in which said material is made of wood.

[0006] Extrusion plants for extruding a single line of multi-layer products through a co-extrusion die are widely known and used. Whereas there is certainly nothing wrong with the existing techniques for manufacturing writing or coloring pencil nonetheless, however, it is challenging to design and manufacture extrusion plants which can extrude multiple lines of multi-layer product through multiple co-extrusion dies.

[0007] In an instance of the production of a consumer commodity like pencils, present production processes rely on the extrusion of a component of the pencil such as a lead core or pencil body separately. Further, extrusion of the material happens in a single line, i.e., the material is input into an extruder, and a single extruded component is obtained. This results in limited efficiency of the production process, which translates to slow production, and inadequate utilization of resources such as electricity and labor.

[0008] In addition, the challenges that may be faced by multiple lines of multi-layer products are increased complexity, differences/ inconsistency in the flow rates of the different extrude lines that go into the multiple co-extrusion dies, etc., due to the multiple numbers of lines of material required in the extrusion plant. For example, if an extrusion plant is required to be made to extrude 6 lines of pencils simultaneously and each pencil has 5 concentric layers (e.g, lead core, lead (inter-layer) coating, pencil body, pencil body coating, and striping design on coating) then 30 (6x5) lines of layer materials have to be initially extruded/created by 30 extruders and then divided between 6 Co-Extrusion Dies, thereby requiring more labor, time, electric consumption, leading to increase in overall cost of installation and operation of such extrusion plants.

[0009] There is therefore a need to reduce the number of extruders involved in extrusion plant involving multiple-lines and provide an efficient, effective, and reliable splitting device which is capable of splitting the flow of a single line of material flow into multiple lines of the same materials. OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE

[00010] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are as listed herein below.

[00011] It is an object of the present disclosure to reduce the number of extruders and lines and making it easier to ensure a uniform flow rate of the materials.

[00012] It is an object of the present disclosure to extrude multiple lines of multi-layer product, thereby reducing costs savings in terms of capital, increased production, decease in labor, time and electric consumption, etc

[00013] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a splitting device for splitting a single line of material flow into multiple lines of the same material.

[00014] It is an object of the present disclosure to accurately control the volumes of flow at two or more outlets of the splitting device, thereby varying the flow or equalling the flow across the two or more outlets, by splitting of the flow of material to obtain even flow of the material from outlets of the splitting device.

[00015] It is an object of the present disclosure to maintain the material at a specified temperature such that the material is stiff enough not to break away and plastic enough that it can be deformed

SUMMARY

[00016] The present disclosure relates generally to a splitting device for splitting the flow of material. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a splitting device with a single inlet for accurately controlling the volumes of flow at at least two outlets, thereby varying the flow or equalling the flow across the outlets, by splitting of the flow of material to obtain even flow of the material from outlets of the splitting device.

[00017] The material may not be a liquid, nor dry particles such as sand, and may be deformable/moldable but not free flowing. The material may be semi-solid, molten or viscous, for example: polymer, plastics, glass, lipstick, chocolate, food, and the likes.

[00018] An aspect of the present disclosure pertains to a splitting device (also referred to as splitter device or device, herein) for splitting the flow of materials. The device comprising a housing having cavity, an inlet configured in the housing through which material flows into the cavity, and at least two outlets in the housing, each of which is connected to the inlet through a passage in the cavity. The at least two outlets facilitate the material to flow out of the cavity. The device further includes outlet flow control mechanisms configured to control the outflow of the material from at least one outlet. The device further includes a thermal control system configured in the device to control the temperature of the material in the device.

[00019] In an aspect, the at least one outlet flow control mechanism may include any or a combination of a valve, a screw, a flap, any mechanism that may be used to increase or decrease the flow of the material through any of the outlets by controlling the extent to which the outlets are open.

[00020] In an aspect, each of the at least one outlet flow control mechanism may be individually controlled using any or a combination of a lever, a knob, a handle, a piston, a gear, a control unit, and any other mechanism which helps with control.

[00021] In an aspect the material may include any or a combination of semi-solid, plastic material, molten material, viscous material, molten rubber, molten plastic, molten polymer, molten glass, pencil lead, pencil body material, pencil coating material, paint, lipstick material, and food material, and the likes.

[00022] In an aspect, the thermal control system may be configured to maintain the temperature of the material in a predefined temperature range.

[00023] In an aspect, the thermal control system may include a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the material in the housing, and any or a combination of a heating mechanism, heating elements, cooling mechanism, fan, control unit, and any other mechanism that may help control the temperature around the outlets, to control the temperature of the material in the device.

[00024] In an aspect, the thermal control system may be configured at the at least two outlets to control temperature around the at least one outlet.

[00025] In an aspect, the thermal control system may be configured at predefined positions in the device including any or a combination of the inlet, the at least two outlets, and around the passage of the housing.

[00026] In an aspect, the device may include a control unit operatively coupled to the at least one outlet flow control mechanism, and the thermal control system. The control unit may be configured to transmit a set of first control signals to the at least one outlet flow control mechanism, and correspondingly to control the flow of the material in the device, and transmit a set of second control signals to the thermal control system, and accordingly to control maintaining of the temperature of the material at the predefined temperature.

[00027] In an aspect, the device may be coupled with any or a combination of a driving mechanism adapted to push the material into the inlet of the device, and an extraction mechanism adapted to facilitate extrusion of the material from the corresponding outlets. [00028] In an aspect, the at least one outlet flow control mechanism and the at least one inlet flow control mechanism may be configured to control any or a combination of rate of inflow of the material through the inlet, rate of extrusion of the material from the at least two outlets, volume of the received material, and volume of the material being extruded from the corresponding outlets.

[00029] In an aspect, the thermal control system at the inlet and the at least one outlet may facilitate maintaining the temperature of the material in a predefined temperature range such that the material is stiff enough not to break away and plastic enough that the material is deformable.

[00030] It is to be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that while various embodiments of the present disclosure discloses the proposed splitter device having one inlet, and facilitating splitting of one material. However, the proposed splitter device can have more than one inlet, and can receive and split more than one material, and all such embodiments are also well within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[00031] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. The diagrams are for illustration only, which thus is not a limitation of the present disclosure, and wherein:

[00032] FIG. 1A-1C illustrates exemplary views of a splitting device for splitting flow of material, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00033] FIG. 2A-2B illustrates exemplary views of a splitting device for splitting flow of material, the splitting device having three outlets, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00034] FIG. 3 illustrates an architecture of a control unit of the proposed splitting device for controlling the flow and temperature of the materials in the proposed splitting device, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[00035] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details.

[00036] The present disclosure relates generally to a splitting device for splitting the flow of material. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a splitting device with a single inlet for accurately controlling the volumes of flow at least two outlets, thereby varying the flow or equalling the flow across the outlets, by splitting of the flow of material to obtain even flow of the material from outlets of the splitting device.

[00037] While the present disclosure is explained from a perspective of splitting a flow of materials involved in the manufacturing of writing or coloring pencil or cosmetic pencil into multiple streams/lines, however, it needs to be appreciated that the present disclosure relates to splitting the flow of materials such as, but not limited to, plastics, metal, rubber, polymers, chocolates, edibles lipsticks, etc, and the materials involved in manufacturing of writing or coloring pencil or cosmetic pencil may be considered as one of the embodiments for the present disclosure.

[00038] According to an aspect, the present disclosure elaborates upon a splitting device (also referred to as a splitter device, herein) for splitting the flow of materials. The device including a housing having cavity, an inlet configured in the housing through which material flows into the cavity, and at least two outlets in the housing, each of which is connected to the inlet through a passage in the cavity. The at least two outlets can facilitate the material to flow out of the cavity. The device can further include at least one outlet flow control mechanism configured to control out flow of the material from at least one outlet, and at least one inlet flow control mechanism to control the inflow of material into the cavity. The at least one outlet flow control mechanism and the at least one inlet flow control mechanism can be configured to control any or a combination of the rate of inflow of the material through the inlet, rate of extrusion of the material from the at least one outlets, volume of the received material, and volume of the material being extruded from the corresponding outlets. The device can further include a thermal control system configured in the device to control the temperature of the material in the device. The thermal control system can be configured to maintain the temperature of the material in a predefined temperature range.

[00039] In an embodiment, the at least one outlet flow control mechanism can include any or a combination of a valve, a screw, a flap, and any mechanism that can be used to increase or decrease the flow of the material through any of the outlets by controlling the extent to which the outlets are open. Each of the at least one outlet flow control mechanism can be individually controlled using any or a combination of a lever, a knob, a handle, a piston, a gear, and a control unit, and any other mechanism which helps with control.

[00040] In an embodiment the material can include any or a combination of semi solid, plastic material, molten material, viscous material, molten rubber, molten plastic, molten polymer, molten glass, pencil lead, pencil body material, pencil coating material, paint, lipstick material, food material, and the likes.

[00041] In an embodiment, the thermal control system can include a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the material in the housing, and any or a combination of a heating mechanism, heating elements, cooling mechanism, fan, control unit, and any other mechanism that can help control the temperature around the outlets, to control the temperature of the material in the device.

[00042] In an embodiment, the thermal control system can be configured at the at least one outlet to control the temperature around the at least one outlet. Further, the thermal control system can be configured at predefined positions in the device including any or a combination of the inlet, the at least two outlets, and around the passage of the housing. [00043] In an embodiment, the device can include a control unit operatively coupled to the at least one outlet flow control mechanism, and the thermal control system. The control unit can be configured to transmit a set of first control signals to the at least one outlet flow control mechanism, and correspondingly to control the flow of the material in the device, and transmit a set of second control signals to the thermal control system, and accordingly to control maintaining of the temperature of the material within the predefined temperature range.

[00044] In an embodiment, the device can be coupled with any or a combination of a driving mechanism adapted to push the material into the inlet of the device, and an extraction mechanism adapted to facilitate extrusion of the material from the corresponding outlets. [00045] In an embodiment, the thermal control system at the inlet and the at least one outlet can facilitate maintaining the temperature of the material in a predefined temperature range such that the material is stiff enough not to break away and plastic enough that the material is deformable

[00046] FIG. 1A-1C illustrates exemplary views of a splitting device for splitting the flow of material, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00047] FIG. 2A-2B illustrates exemplary views of a splitting device for splitting the flow of material, the splitting device having three outlets, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. [00048] As illustrated in FIGs. 1A to 2B, the proposed splitting device (100 to 200) (also referred to as splitting device or splitter device or device (100-200), herein) for splitting the flow of materials. The device can include a housing 102 having a cavity, an inlet 104 configured to receive and facilitate the controlled inflow of material into the housing 102, and further including at least two outlets 106-1 to 106-6 (collectively referred to as outlets 106, herein), each connected to the inlet 102 through a passage 110. The device can be configured to split the flow of the received materials into at least two streams of the materials, and enable controlled extrusion of each of the at least two streams of the materials from the corresponding outlets 106. The device can further include one or more flow control units 108-1 to 108-6 (collectively referred to as flow control units 108, herein) configured at first predefined positions inside the device to control flow parameters of the materials in the device.

[00049] The flow control units 108 can include at least one outlet flow control mechanism configured to control the outflow of the materials from the at least two outlets 106, and at least one inlet flow control mechanism to control the inflow of material into the cavity. The outlet flow control mechanism 108 and the inlet flow control mechanism can be configured to control any or a combination of the rate of inflow of the materials through the inlet 104, rate of extrusion of the material from the at least one outlet 106, the volume of the received material, and volume of the material being extruded from the at least one outlet 106. As illustrated in FIG. 1A, outlet flow control mechanism 108-1 and 108-2 can be configured at the outlets 106-1 and 106-2, respectively, to control the outflow of the material from the device.

[00050] In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one outlet flow control mechanism 108 can include any or a combination of a valve, a screw, and a flap, any mechanism that can be used to increase or decrease the flow of the material through any of the outlets by controlling the extent to which the outlets are open, but not limited to the likes. Further, each of the at least one outlet flow control mechanism 108 can be individually controlled using any or a combination of a lever, a knob, a handle, a piston, a gear, and a control unit, and any mechanism that helps with control, but ot limited to the likes.

[00051] In another exemplary embodiment, the material can include any or a combination of semi-solid, plastic material, molten material, viscous material, molten rubber, molten plastic, molten polymer, molten glass, pencil lead, pencil body material, pencil coating material, paint, lipstick material, and food material, but not limited to the likes. The material may not be a liquid, nor dry particles such as sand, and may be deformable/moldable but not free flowing.

[00052] In an embodiment, the housing 102 can be cast in two separate sections, which can be joined together using engaging means or coupling means (collectively designated as 114, herein) to form the housing 102 having the passage 110 inside it. Each of the two sections of the housing 102 can be provided with holes, through which the coupling means 114 can be passed to secure and coupled the two sections to form the housing 102.

[00053] In an embodiment, the material flowing into the device is required to be at an elevated temperature so that it has enough plasticity to be bent for it to move towards any one of the outlets 106 from the inlet 104. It is to be appreciated that the temperature of the material should be such that the material is stiff enough not to break away and plastic enough that it can be deformed. The device can include a thermal control system 112 configured in the device to control the temperature of the materials in the device and maintain the temperature of the materials at a specified temperature.

[00054] In an embodiment, the thermal control system 112 can include a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the materials in the housing 102, and any or a combination of a heating mechanism, heating elements, cooling mechanism, fan, and a control unit, to control the temperature of the materials in the device. In an exemplary embodiment the thermal control system can be positioned at any or a combination of the inlet 104, the outlets 106, and around passage 110 inside the housing 102.

[00055] As illustrated in Figures, in an embodiment, to maintain the elevated temperature, the inlet heaters 112 can be provided at the inlet 104 that enables the input material to be at a specified temperature. Further, outlet heaters 112 can be provided at the outlets 106-1, 106-2 to maintain the temperature of the exiting material. The operation of the inlet heaters 112 and outlet heaters 112 can be controlled through any external means such as a control unit. The temperature sensors can be configured to monitor the temperature of the material inside the device, and accordingly, allow the control unit or user to control the temperature of the material inside the housing 102 within the predefined temperature range. [00056] It would be appreciated that the schematic representation serves as an embodiment of the present disclosure. Persons skilled in the art would appreciate that the invention can be envisioned with one or more inlets and two or more outlets for the material. [00057] In an exemplary implementation, the proposed device can be used to split a stream of materials used for the manufacture of pencils. This can allow multiple output lines for the manufacture of the pencils, making the manufacturing process more efficient, and reducing the number of extruders required in the extrusion plant (manufacturing process). [00058] In an embodiment, the device can include a control unit operatively coupled to the flow control units 108, and the thermal control system 112. The control unit can be configured to transmit a set of first control signals to the flow control units 108, and correspondingly to control the flow of the materials in the device. Further, the control unit can transmit a set of second control signals to the thermal control system 112, and accordingly to control maintaining of the temperature of the material at the predefined temperature.

[00059] In an embodiment, a driving mechanism can be adapted to be coupled with the inlet 104 of the device, and configured to push the materials into the housing 102 or fluidic path 110 of the device. In another embodiment, an extraction mechanism adapted to be coupled with each of the outlets 106 of the device, and configured to facilitate extrusion of the materials from the outlets 106.

[00060] Thus, the present disclosure provides a splitting device to evenly split input material into multiple output lines by accurately controlling the volumetric flow of material into each outlet through the use of flow control valves provided for each outlet. Further, the proposed splitting device can be provided with heaters at its inlet and outlets in order to maintain the material withing the specified temperature range such that the material is stiff enough not to break away and plastic enough that it can be deformed.

[00061] It is to be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that while various embodiments of the present disclosure discloses the proposed splitter device having one inlet, and facilitating splitting of one material. However, the proposed splitter device can have more than one inlet, and can receive and split more than one material, and all such embodiments are also well within the scope of the present invention.

[00062] FIG. 3 illustrates the architecture of a control unit of the proposed splitting device for controlling the flow and temperature of the materials in the proposed splitting device, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[00063] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the architecture of the control unit 300 of the device is illustrated. The control unit 300 can include one or more processor(s) 302. The one or more processor(s) 302 can be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, logic circuitries, and/or any devices that manipulate data based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the one or more processor(s) 302 are configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory 306 of the control unit 300. The memory 306 can store one or more computer-readable instructions or routines, which may be fetched and executed to create or share the data units over a network service. The memory 306 can include any non- transitory storage device including, for example, volatile memory such as RAM, or non volatile memory such as EPROM, flash memory, and the like.

[00064] In an embodiment, the control unit 300 can include a communication unit 304 to communicatively coupled the splitting device with one or more mobile computing devices (also referred to as mobile devices, herein) such as but not limited to laptop, server, and smartphone, to remotely control the operation of the splitting device using the mobile devices. In an exemplary embodiment, the communication unit 304 can be any or a combination of a wired media such as data cable, LAN wire, or a wireless media comprising WiFi, Bluetooth, GSM module, and the likes.

[00065] In an embodiment, the control unit 300 can also include an interface(s) 308. The interface(s) 308 may include a variety of interfaces, for example, interfaces for data input and output devices, referred to as EO devices, storage devices, and the like. The interface(s) 308 may facilitate communication of the control unit 300 with various devices coupled to the splitting device. The interface(s) 308 may also provide a communication pathway for one or more components of the control unit 300. Examples of such components include, but are not limited to, processing engine(s) 310 and a database.

[00066] In an embodiment, the processing engine(s) 310 can be implemented as a combination of hardware and programming (for example, programmable instructions) to implement one or more functionalities of the processing engine(s) 310. In examples described herein, such combinations of hardware and programming may be implemented in several different ways. For example, the programming for the processing engine(s) 310 may be processor-executable instructions stored on a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium and the hardware for the processing engine(s) 310 may include a processing resource (for example, one or more processors), to execute such instructions. In the present examples, the machine-readable storage medium may store instructions that, when executed by the processing resource, implement the processing engine(s) 310. In such examples, the control unit 300 can include the machine-readable storage medium storing the instructions and the processing resource to execute the instructions, or the machine -readable storage medium may be separate but accessible to control unit 300 and the processing resource. In other examples, the processing engine(s) 310 may be implemented by electronic circuitry. The database can include data that is either stored or generated as a result of functionalities implemented by any of the components of the processing engine(s) 310.

[00067] In an embodiment, the processing engine(s) 208 can include a flow control engine 312, and a temperature control engine 314, and other engine(s) 316.

[00068] In an embodiment, the flow control engine 312 of the proposed control unit 300 can enable the control unit 300 to receive a first set of data packets from the mobile device, where the first set of data packets pertains to material flow parameter control operations to be performed by the splitting device. The flow control engine 312 upon receiving the first set of data packets from the mobile devices can transmit a set of first control signals to the flow control units 108 to control any or a combination of rate of inflow of the material through the inlet, rate of extrusion of the material from the at least one outlets, volume of the received material, and volume of the material being extruded from the outlets. [00069] In an embodiment, the temperature control engine 314 of the proposed control unit 300 can enable the control unit 300 to receive a second set of data packets from the mobile device, where the second set of data packets pertains to temperature control operations to be performed by the splitting device. The temperature control engine 314 upon receiving the second set of data packets from the mobile devices can transmit a set of second control signals to the thermal control system 112 to control maintaining the temperature of the materials wihtin the predefined temperature range.

[00070] In an embodiment, the other engines 316 of the proposed control unit 300 can enable the control unit 300 to receive a third set of data packets from the mobile device. The other engine 316 upon receiving the third set of data packets can enable the driving mechanism to push the materials into the housing 102 or passage 110 of the device. In another embodiment, the other engines 316 of the proposed control unit 300 can enable the control unit 300 to receive a fourth set of data packets from the mobile device. The other engine 316 upon receiving the fourth set of data packets can enable the extraction mechanism to facilitate extrusion of the materials from the outlets 106 of the splitting device..

[00071] As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other or in contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously. Within the context of this document terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are also used euphemistically to mean “communicatively coupled with” over a network, where two or more devices are able to exchange data with each other over the network, possibly via one or more intermediary device.

[00072] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention can be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[00073] The proposed invention reduces the number of extruders and lines and making it easier to ensure a uniform flow rate of the materials.

[00074] The proposed invention extrudes multiple lines of multi-layer product, thereby reducing costs savings in terms of capital, increased production, decease in labor, time and electric consumption, etc

[00075] The proposed invention provides a splitting device for splitting a single line of material flow into multiple lines of the same material.

[00076] The proposed invention accurately controls the volumes of flow at two or more outlets of the splitting device, thereby varying the flow or equalling the flow across the two or more outlets, by splitting of the flow of material to obtain even flow of the material from outlets of the splitting device.

[00077] The present invention maintains the material at a specified temperature such that the material is stiff enough not to break away and plastic enough that it can be deformed.

Claims

im:

1. A splitter device for splitting flow of material, the splitter device comprising: a housing having a cavity: an inlet configured in the housing, through which the material flows into the cavity; at least two outlets in the housing, each connected to the inlet through a passage in the cavity, wherein the at least two outlets facilitate the material to flow out of the housing; at least one outlet flow control mechanism configured to control outflow of the material from at least one outlet; and a thermal control system configured in the splitter device to control temperature of the material.

2. The splitter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet flow control mechanism includes any or a combination of a valve, a screw, a flap, and any mechanism that is used to increase or decrease the flow of the material through any of the outlets by controlling the extent to which the outlets are open.

3. The splitter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the at least one outlet flow control mechanism is individually controlled using any or a combination of a lever, a knob, a handle, a piston, a gear, a control unit, any other mechanism which helps with control.

4. The splitter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material includes any or a combination of semi-solid, plastic material, molten material, viscous material, molten rubber, molten plastic, molten polymer, molten glass, pencil lead, pencil body material, pencil coating material, paint, lipstick material, and food material.

5. The splitter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the splitter device includes at least one inlet flow control mechanism to control the flow of the material into the cavity.

6. The splitter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal control system is configured to maintain the temperature of the material in a predefined temperature range.

7. The splitter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal control system includes a temperature sensor to monitor the temperature of the material in the housing, and any or a combination of a heating mechanism, heating elements, cooling mechanism, fan, control unit, and any other mechanism that helps control the temperature around the outlets, to control the temperature of the material in the splitter device.

8. The splitter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal control system is configured at the at least one outlet to control temperature around the at least one outlet.

9. The splitter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal control system is configured in the splitter device at predefined positions including any or a combination of the inlet, the at least two outlets, and around the passage of the housing.

10. The splitter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the splitter device includes a control unit operatively coupled to the at least one outlet flow control mechanism, and the thermal control system, wherein the control unit is configured to: transmit a set of first control signals to the at least one outlet flow control mechanism, and correspondingly to control the flow of the material in the device; and transmit a set of second control signals to the thermal control system, and accordingly to control maintaining the temperature of the material within the predefined temperature range.

11. The splitter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the splitter device is coupled with any or a combination of: a driving mechanism adapted to push the material into the inlet of the device; and an extraction mechanism adapted to facilitate extrusion of the material from the outlets.

12. The splitter device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one flow control mechanism and the at least one inlet flow control mechanism is configured to control any or a combination of rate of inflow of the material through the inlet, rate of extrusion of the material from the at least two outlets, volume of the received material, and volume of the materials being extruded from the corresponding outlets.

13. The splitter device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thermal control system at the inlet and the at least one outlet facilitates maintaining the temperature of the material in a predefined temperature range such that the material is stiff enough not to break away and plastic enough that the material is deformable.