1. A method of controlling a system for simultaneously producing a plurality of different product kinds of confectioneries in a plurality of product lines, said method comprising the steps of:
dividing a base mass into a plurality of partial masses, the base mass being a common mass for all product kinds and all product lines;
mixing the partial masses with different aggregates to produce a plurality of different product masses, the aggregates varying depending on the respective product kind;
further processing the product masses as reservoir masses;
observing the consumption of the reservoir masses during further processing;
refilling the reservoir masses with the respective product mass in response to the result of the observation of the consumption of the reservoir masses, wherein
refilling takes place in each of the product lines in batches of product mass,
refilling takes place in the product lines at different points in time, and
the batches of product masses have approximately identical batch sizes, the batch size of a product masses being the amount of the product mass; and
following to a production ending signal, changing the batch sizes and batch times of at least one product mass in a way that the reservoir masses of all product lines are exhausted at the same time.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of mixing, further processing, observing and refilling are conducted for a plurality of times in cycles before the step of changing.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:
determining a first product mass of the plurality of product masses,
the first product mass having a first batch size and a first batch time before the production ending signal,
the first product mass having a second batch size and a second batch time after the production ending signal,
the first and second batch sizes being approximately identical, and the first and second batch times being approximately identical,
determining the remaining product masses as all product masses with the exception of the first product mass,
the remaining product masses each having a first batch size and a first batch time before the production ending signal,
the remaining product masses each having a second batch size and a second batch time after the production ending signal,
the first and second batch sizes of the remaining product masses not being identical, and the first and second batch times of the remaining product masses not being identical, the second batch sizes and the seond batch times being changed such that the reservoir masses of all product lines are exhausted at the same time.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:
determining the time differences between two steps of refilling of two cycles for each product line; and
changing the second batch sizes and second batch times of the remaining product masses in response to the result of the step of determining such that the time differences between two steps of refilling of two cycles simultaneously disappear for all product lines.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the steps of mixing, further processing, observing and refilling are conducted for a plurality of times in cycles after the step of changing, the step of changing being realized for each of the remaining product lines in a way that the respective product mass has a plurality of approximately identical second batch sizes.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second batch sizes of the remaining product masses are changed to be smaller than the first batch sizes of the remaining product masses, the reduced second batch size of each product mass being proportional to the time difference between the point in time of refilling with the respective remaining product mass and refilling with the first product mass.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second batch sizes of the remaining product masses are changed according to the following equation
mn=ms\u2212(tn(ts\xb7c))\xb7ms
wherein the following applies:
ms kg=predetermined first batch size of all product masses,
mn kg=reduced second batch size of the remaining product masses,
n=product lines (n=1, 2, 3, 4 and so forth),
tn=time difference between refilling with the product masses,
te=0=point in time of refilling with the first product mass,
ts=predetermined batch time all product masses,
c=number of cycles until the production ending.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the second batch sizes of the remaining product masses are changed to be greater than the first batch sizes of the remaining product masses, the increased second batch size of each product mass being proportional to the time difference between the point in time of refilling with the respective remaining product mass and refilling with a last product mass.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second batch sizes of the remaining product masses are changed according to the following equation
mn=ms+((tl\u2212tn)(ts\xb7c))\xb7ms
wherein the following applies:
ms kg=predetermined first batch size of all product masses,
mn kg=increased second batch size of the remaining product masses,
n=the product lines (n=1, 2, 3, 4 and so forth),
tn=time difference between refilling with the product masses,
tl=time difference between refilling with the last product mass and the first product mass,
ts=predetermined batch time all product masses,
c=number of cycles until the production ending.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:
determining a first product mass of the plurality of product masses,
the first product mass having a first batch size and a first batch time before the production ending signal,
the first product mass having a second batch size and a second batch time after the production ending signal,
the first and second batch sizes being approximately identical, and the first and second batch times being approximately identical,
determining the remaining product masses as all product masses with the exception of the first product mass,
the remaining product masses each having a first batch size and a first batch time before the production ending signal,
the remaining product masses each having a second batch size and a second batch time after the production ending signal,
the first and second batch sizes of the remaining product masses not being identical, and the first and second batch times of the remaining product masses not being identical, the second batch sizes and the seond batch times being changed such that the reservoir masses of all product lines are exhausted at the same time.
11. An apparatus for simultaneously producing a plurality of different product kinds of confectioneries in a plurality of product lines, comprising:
a base container, said base container being designed and arranged to contain a common base mass for all product kinds;
a plurality of product containers, each of said product containers being associated with one of the product kinds, said product containers being designed and arranged to produce batches of different product masses in the product lines;
a plurality of aggregate containers, each of said aggregate containers being designed and arranged to contain aggregates associated with one of the product lines;
a plurality of reservoir containers,
each of said reservoir containers being designed and arranged to contain a reservoir mass associated with one of the product lines,
each of said reservoir containers being designed and arranged to allow for further processing of the respective reservoir mass,
each of said reservoir containers including a sensor, said sensor being designed and arranged to sense a change of the amount of reservoir mass contained in said reservoir container and to produce a signal which is proportional to the change of the amount of reservoir mass contained in said reservoir container; and
a common control unit, said common control unit including a processor, said common control unit being designed and arranged to receive the signals of said sensors and to determine and control a modified batch size and batch time of at least one product mass in a way that the reservoir masses of all product lines are exhausted at the same time.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of conduits and valves, said conduits being designed and arranged to connect said containers, said valves being arranged in said conduits,
said base container, said product containers and said aggregate containers including weighing cells,
said common control unit being designed and arranged to control said valves and said weighing cells in a way that the reservoir masses of all product lines are exhausted at the same time.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said weighing cells of said product containers and said aggregate containers are designed and arranged to determine the mixture of a batch of product mass, said weighing cells being connected to said common control unit.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said common control unit includes a plurality of control blocks each being associated with one the product lines.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A composition comprising:
a polycarbonate comprising units derived from a bisphenol cyclohexylidene of the formula:
wherein Rc1 and Rd1 are each independently C1-12 alkyl, Rc2 and Rd2 are each independently hydrogen or C1-12 alkyl, Rg is C1-12 alkyl or halogen, and t is 0 to 10; and
a poly(ether-ester) copolymer comprising
40 to 60 wt % of polyester hard block units derived from a C6-C24 aromatic dicarboxylic acid or a C6-C24 alicyclic dicarboxylic acid and at least one glycol component, wherein when the C6-C24 aromatic dicarboxylic acid comprises terephthalic acid, isophthalic acid groups are present in an amount from 0 to 30 mole %, based on the total moles of isophthalic acid groups and terephthalic acid groups in the hard block units, and
40 to 60 wt % of polyether soft block units derived from poly(oxytetramethylene) glycol, wherein the molecular weight of the poly(oxytetramethylene) glycol groups is from 300 to 1800 Daltons;
wherein
the composition has at least 20% ductility as determined using molded 3.2 mm thick bars according to ASTM D256-02 and measured at 23\xb0 C.; and
the composition has less than or equal to 20% haze as determined using a molded sample having a thickness of 3.18\xb10.12 mm according to ASTM D1003-00.
2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the polycarbonate comprises from 45 to 55 mole % of units derived from 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)cyclohexane.
3. The composition of claim 1, comprising from more than 0 to 50 wt % of the polycarbonate of formula (1).
4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the weight percent of the polycarbonate in the composition to the weight percent of the poly(ether-ester) copolymer in the composition is greater than 0.67 and less than 1.5.
5. The composition of claim 1, wherein the poly(ether-ester) copolymer comprises 40 to 50 wt %, based on the weight of the poly(ether-ester), of units derived from poly(oxytetramethylene)glycol.
6. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises an aliphatic polyester having a intrinsic viscosity of more than 0.85 dLg.
7. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a polycarbonate that is different from the polycarbonate copolymer comprising the units derived from the bisphenol cyclohexylidene.
8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the polycarbonate that is different from the polycarbonate copolymer comprising the units derived from the bisphenol cyclohexylidene is a homopolymer comprising units derived from bisphenol A.
9. The composition of claim 1, further comprising an impact modifier present in an amount of 2 to 30 wt % of the total weight of the composition.
10. The composition of claim 9, wherein the impact modifier is an ethylene-glycidyl methacrylate-methacrylate copolymer.
11. The composition of claim 1, further comprising a photochromic dye, thermochromic dye, thermochromic pigment, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.
12. An article comprising the composition of claim 1.
13. The article of claim 12, wherein article is in the form of a film, sheet, molded object, or fiber.
14. The article of claim 13, wherein the article is in the form of a film or sheet.
15. The article of claim 14, wherein the film or sheet is window glazing.
16. The article of claim 15, wherein the article is a solvent cast film for an overmolded article.
17. The article of claim 12, wherein the composition of claim 1 comprises a photochromic dye, thermochromic dye, thermochromic pigment, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.
18. The article of claim 17, wherein when the article is exposed to ultraviolet light for 30 seconds, the article exhibits a reversible decrease in visible light transmission of more than \u0394Y=17.
19. The article of claim 17, wherein when the article is exposed to ultraviolet light for 5 minutes, the article exhibits a reversible decrease in visible light transmission of more than \u0394=25.
20. A method of forming an article, comprising injection molding the composition of claim 1 at a temperature that is more than 0\xb0 C. and less than 300\xb0 C., wherein the composition comprises a photochromic dye, thermochromic dye, thermochromic pigment, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.
21. The composition of claim 1, comprising:
50 to 90 wt % of the polycarbonate copolymer of formula (1), wherein the copolymer comprises 45 to 55 mole % of units derived from 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)cyclohexane and 45 to 55 mol % of units derived from bisphenol A; and
10 to 40 wt % of the poly(ether-ester) copolymer comprising
40 to 60 wt % of polyester hard block units derived from butane diol and, based on the moles of hard block units, 70 to 100 mole % of terephthalic acid and 0 to 30 mole % of isophthalic acid, and
40 to 60 wt % of polyether soft block units derived from poly(oxytetramethylene)glycol, wherein the molecular weight of the poly(oxytetramethylene)glycol-derived units is in the range of 900 to 1600 Daltons;
wherein
the composition has at least 20% ductility as determined on molded 3.2 mm thick bars according to ASTM D256-02 measured at 23\xb0 C.; and
the composition has less than or equal to 20% haze as determined using a molded sample having a thickness of 3.18\xb10.12 mm according to ASTM D1003-00.
22. The composition of claim 1, comprising:
10 to 35 wt % of the polycarbonate copolymer of formula (1), wherein the polycarbonate copolymer comprises 45 to 55 mole % of units derived from 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)cyclohexane and 45 to 55 mole % of units derived from bisphenol A; and
15 to 25 wt % of the poly(ether-ester) copolymer comprising
40 to 60 wt % of polyester hard block units derived from butane diol and, based on the moles of hard block units, 70 to 100 mole % of terephthalic acid and 0 to 30 mole % of isophthalic acid, and
40 to 60 wt % of polyether soft block units derived from poly(oxytetramethylene)glycol, wherein the molecular weight of the poly(oxytetramethylene)glycol-derived units is in the range of 900 to 1600 Daltons; and
45 to 65 wt % of an aliphatic polyester having an intrinsic viscosity of greater than 0.85 dLg;
wherein
the composition has at least 20% ductility as determined on 3.2 mm thick bars according to ASTM D256-02 measured at 23\xb0 C.; and
the composition has less than or equal to 20% haze as determined using a molded sample having a thickness of 3.18\xb10.12 mm according to ASTM D1003-00.
23. The composition of claim 1 comprising, based on the total weight of the composition:
20 to 40 wt % of the polycarbonate copolymer of formula (1), wherein the polycarbonate copolymer comprises comprising 45 to 55 mole % of units derived from 1,1-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)cyclohexane and 45 to 55 mol % of units derived from bisphenol A; and
10 to 40 wt % of the poly(ether-ester) copolymer comprising
40 to 60 wt % of polyester hard block units derived from butane diol and, based on the moles of hard block units, 70 to 100 mole % of terephthalic acid and 0 to 30 mole % of isophthalic acid, and
40 to 60 wt % of polyether soft block units derived from poly(oxytetramethylene)glycol, wherein the molecular weight of the poly(oxytetramethylene)glycol-derived units is in the range of 900 to 1600 Daltons; and
10 to 30 wt % of a polycarbonate that is not the same as the polycarbonate copolymer,
wherein
the composition has at least 20% ductility as determined on 3.2 mm thick bars according to ASTM D256-02, measured at 23\xb0 C.; and
the composition has less than or equal to 20% haze as determined using a molded sample having a thickness of 3.18\xb10.12 mm according to ASTM D1003-00.