Extrusion die with thermally isolated motor-driven lip profile actuators and associated methods

An extrusion die for use with an extrusion die system, the extrusion die being configured to receive a material therein, the extrusion die comprising:

• a first die body having a first lip;
• a second die body having a second lip;
• and
• a gap defined between the first lip and the second lip, the gap being configured to receive the material therein and to extrude the material therefrom;
• wherein the extrusion die is configured to be operably connected to a lip adjustment assembly for adjusting a thickness of an extruded material, the lip adjustment assembly comprising:
• an engagement member operably connected to one of the first lip and the second lip and being movable in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• an actuator configured to selectively move the engagement member in the first direction and in the second direction;
• and
• a coupler operably connected to both the engagement member and the actuator, such that the coupler is disposed between the engagement member and the actuator,
• wherein when the lip adjustment assembly is connected to the extrusion die and the engagement member of the lip adjustment assembly is moved in the first direction, the one of the first lip and the second lip is moved toward the other of the first lip and the second lip, and when the engagement member is moved in the second direction, the one of the first lip and the second lip is moved away from the other of the first lip and the second lip.

An extrusion die system for forming extrudate from a material, the extrusion die system comprising:

• an extrusion die having:
• a first die body having a first lip;
• a second die body having a second lip;
• and
• a gap defined between the first lip and the second lip, the gap being configured to receive the material therein and to extrude the material therefrom;
• a heater configured to heat the material in the extrusion die;
• a lip adjustment assembly having:
• an engagement member operably connected to one of the first lip and the second lip and being movable in a first direction and in a second direction opposite the first direction;
• an actuator configured to selectively move the engagement member in the first direction and in the second direction;
• and
• a coupler operably connected to both the engagement member and the actuator, such that the coupler is disposed between the engagement member and the actuator,
• wherein when the engagement member is moved in the first direction, the one of the first lip and the second lip is moved toward the other of the first lip and the second lip, and when the engagement member is moved in the second direction, the one of the first lip and the second lip is moved away from the other of the first lip and the second lip;
• and
• a controller configured to control operation of the heater and the lip adjustment assembly.