# US 2019/0315035 A1 · Dual stage flex lip for an extrusion die > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0315035 A1 - Document ID: US20190315035A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/952,624 - Filed: 2018-04-13 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2018-04-13 - Assignees: Nordson Corporation - Applicants: Nordson Corporation - Inventors: Salvatore G. Iuliano; Chris Bergeman; Nathan Rich; Michael Truscott - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190315035A1 ## CPC - B29C 48/30: Extrusion nozzles or dies (extrusion characterised by the shape or cross-section of the extruded article B29C48/03) - B29C 48/08: flexible, e.g. films - B29C 48/21: the layers being joined at their surfaces - B29C 48/307: {specially adapted for bringing together components, e.g. melts within the die} - B29C 48/313: {by positioning the die lips} - B29C 48/35: with rollers - B29C 48/92: Measuring, controlling or regulating - B29C 2948/92152: Thickness - B29C 2948/92447: Moulded article - B29C 2948/92628: Width or height - B29C 2948/92904: Die; Nozzle zone - B29L 2007/002: {Panels; Plates; Sheets} - B29L 2009/00: Layered products - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A die includes an upper body member and an adjustment system. The upper body member has a upper surface, a gap surface, a gap edge positioned between the upper surface and the gap surface, and a gap flange. The adjustment system includes an adjustment body that defines a plurality of channels, and a plurality of adjusters. Each of the plurality of adjusters is slideably positioned within a respective one of the plurality of channels. Each of the plurality of adjusters is configured to couple to the gap flange of the upper body member. When the plurality of adjusters are coupled to the gap flange movement of the plurality of adjusters causes a change in a position of the gap edge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adjustment system adapted for coupling to a die, the die having an upper body member, a center body member positioned adjacent to the upper body member defining a gap channel and gap opening therebetween, and a lower body member positioned adjacent to the upper body member defining a main channel and a main opening therebetween, the gap opening being positioned between the gap channel and the main channel, the adjustment system comprising: an adjustment body defining a plurality of channels, the adjustment body being configured to couple to the upper body member; and a plurality of adjusters, each of the plurality of adjusters being slideably positioned within a respective one of the plurality of channels, each of the plurality of adjusters being configured to couple to a gap flange of the upper body member, wherein when the plurality of adjusters are coupled to the gap flange, movement of the plurality of adjusters causes a change in a size of the gap opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adjustment system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of channels are a first plurality of channels, and wherein the plurality of adjusters are a first plurality of adjusters, the adjustment body further defining a second plurality of channels, and the adjustment system further comprising: a second plurality of adjusters slideably positioned within a respective one of the second plurality of channels, each of the second plurality of adjusters being configured to couple to a lip flange of the upper body member, wherein when the second plurality of adjusters are coupled to the lip flange, movement of the second plurality of adjusters causes a change in a size of the main opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The adjustment system of claim 2, wherein the second plurality of adjusters comprise push-only adjusters. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The adjustment system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of adjusters comprise push-pull adjusters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The adjustment system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of adjusters are aligned linearly along a length of the adjustment system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The adjustment system of claim 1, further comprising: a first plurality of threaded members, each of the first plurality of threaded members being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of adjusters, each of the first plurality of threaded members comprising a first pitch; and a second plurality of threaded members, each of the second plurality of threaded members being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of adjusters, each of the second plurality of threaded members comprising a second pitch, wherein the first pitch is different from the second pitch. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The adjustment system of claim 1, wherein the adjustment body comprises a single body member. ### Claim 8 A die, comprising: an upper body member having a upper surface, a gap surface, a gap edge positioned between the upper surface and the gap surface, and a gap flange; and an adjustment system comprising: an adjustment body defining a plurality of channels, and a plurality of adjusters, each of the plurality of adjusters being slideably positioned within a respective one of the plurality of channels, each of the plurality of adjusters being configured to couple to the gap flange of the upper body member, wherein when the plurality of adjusters are coupled to the gap flange, movement of the plurality of adjusters causes a change in a position of the gap edge. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The die of claim 8, wherein the upper body member and the adjustment system are integrally formed together. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The die of claim 8, wherein the upper body member includes an adjustment portion and an attachment portion connected to the adjustment portion by a flex hinge, the adjustment portion comprising the gap flange, wherein when the plurality of adjusters are coupled to the gap flange, movement of the plurality of adjusters causes the adjustment portion to rotate relative to the attachment portion about the flex hinge. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The die of claim 10, further comprising: a center body member having an upper center surface, a lower center surface, and a center edge positioned between the upper center surface and the lower center surface, the center member being positioned adjacent to the upper body member defining a gap channel between the gap surface and the upper center surface and a gap opening between the gap edge and the center edge, wherein when the plurality of adjusters are coupled to the gap flange, movement of the plurality of adjusters causes a change in a size of the gap opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The die of claim 11, wherein the upper surface of the upper member defines an upper edge, the die further comprising: a lower body member having a lower surface defining a lower edge, the lower body member positioned adjacent to the upper body member defining a main channel between the lower surface of the lower body member and the upper surface of the upper member and a main opening between the lower edge of the lower body member and the upper edge of the upper member, wherein the gap opening is positioned between the gap channel and the main channel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The die of claim 12, wherein the plurality of channels are a first plurality of channels, and wherein the plurality of adjusters are a first plurality of adjusters, the adjustment body further defining a second plurality of channels, the upper body member comprising: a lip flange, the lip flange and the gap flange composing the adjustment portion, and the adjustment system further comprising: a second plurality of adjusters slideably positioned within a respective one of the second plurality of channels, each of the second plurality of adjusters being configured to couple to the lip flange of the upper body member, wherein when the second plurality of adjusters are coupled to the lip flange, movement of the second plurality of adjusters causes a change in a size of the main opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The die of claim 13, wherein the first plurality of adjusters comprise push-pull adjusters, and wherein the second plurality of adjusters comprise push-only adjusters. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The die of claim 13, further comprising: a first plurality of threaded tuning members, each of the first plurality of threaded tuning members being coupled to a respective one of the first plurality of adjusters, each of the first plurality of threaded tuning members comprising a first pitch; and a second plurality of threaded tuning members, each of the second plurality of threaded tuning members being coupled to a respective one of the first plurality of adjusters, each of the second plurality of threaded tuning members comprising a second pitch, wherein the first pitch is different from the second pitch. ### Claim 16 A die, comprising: an upper body member having an upper surface, a gap surface, a gap edge positioned between the upper surface and the gap surface, and a gap flange; a center body member having an upper center surface, a lower center surface, and a center edge positioned between the upper center surface and the lower center surface, the center member being positioned adjacent to the upper body member defining a gap channel between the gap surface and the upper center surface and a gap opening between the gap edge and the center edge; and an adjustment system comprising: an adjustment body defining a plurality of adjuster channels, and a plurality of gap adjusters, each of the plurality of gap adjusters being slideably positioned within a respective one of the plurality of adjuster channels, each of the plurality of gap adjusters being configured to couple to the gap flange of the upper body member, wherein when the plurality of gap adjusters are coupled to the gap flange, movement of the plurality of gap adjusters causes a change in a size of the gap opening. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The die of claim 16, wherein the upper surface of the upper member defines an upper edge, the die further comprising: a lower body member having a lower surface defining a lower edge, the lower body member positioned adjacent to the upper body member defining a main channel between the lower surface of the lower body member and the upper surface of the upper member and a main opening between the lower edge of the lower body member and the upper edge of the upper member, wherein the gap opening is positioned between the gap channel and the main channel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The die of claim 17, wherein the adjustment body further defines a plurality of lip channels, the upper body member comprising: a lip flange, and the adjustment system further comprising: a plurality of lip adjusters slideably positioned within a respective one of the plurality of lip channels, each of the plurality of lip adjusters being configured to couple to the lip flange of the upper body member, wherein when the plurality of lip adjusters are coupled to the lip flange, movement of the plurality of lip adjusters causes a change in a size of the main opening. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The die of claim 18, wherein the center body member is a first center member, and wherein the adjustment system is a first adjustment system, and wherein the lower member has a second gap surface, a second gap edge positioned between the second gap surface and the lower surface, and a second gap flange, the die further comprising: a second center body member having an second upper center surface, a second lower center surface, and a second center edge positioned between the second upper center surface and the second lower center surface, the second center body member being positioned adjacent to the lower body member defining a second gap channel between the second gap surface and the second lower center surface and a second gap opening between the second gap edge and the second center edge; and a second adjustment system comprising: a second adjustment body defining a second plurality of gap channels, and a second plurality of gap adjusters, each of the second plurality of gap adjusters being slideably positioned within a respective one of the second plurality of gap channels, each of the second plurality of gap adjusters being configured to couple to the second gap flange of the lower body member, wherein when the second plurality of gap adjusters are coupled to the second gap flange, movement of the second plurality of gap adjusters causes a change in a size of the second gap opening. ### Claim 20 A method for dispensing fluid through an extrusion die, the extrusion die defining a gap channel, a gap opening, a main channel, a main opening, and a lower channel, the gap opening being positioned between the main channel and the gap channel, the method comprising: providing a first fluid into the main channel through the gap opening via the gap channel; providing a second fluid into the main channel via the lower channel such that the first fluid is combined with the second fluid in the main channel; and adjusting a thickness of the first fluid flowing through the gap opening by adjusting a size of the gap opening. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the extrusion die includes a gap flange and an adjustment system having a plurality of adjusters coupled to the gap flange, wherein adjusting a thickness of the first fluid flowing through the gap opening comprises: adjusting at least one of the plurality of adjusters coupled to the gap flange such that movement of the at least one of the plurality of adjusters causes a change in the size of the gap opening. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising: dispensing the combined first and second fluid through the main opening; and adjusting a thickness of the combined first and second fluid dispensed through the main opening by adjusting a size of the main opening. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the extrusion die includes a lip flange, wherein the plurality of adjusters is a first plurality of adjusters, and wherein the adjustment system further includes a second plurality of adjusters coupled to the lip flange, wherein adjusting the thickness of the combined first and second fluid through the main opening comprises: adjusting at least one of the second plurality of adjusters coupled to the lip flange such that movement of the at least one of the second plurality of adjusters causes a change in the size of the main opening.