Apparatus and method for extrusion
AssigneeGenCorp Inc.
InventorsJames F. Stevenson, Thomas E. Codispoti, Richard M. Griffith, Harry L. Hutch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rotatable accumulator roll which may move substantially horizontally or vertically is disposed between the die of an extruder and a take-away conveyor to minimize the effects of output surging of the extrudate from the die of the extruder in order to maintain substantially the dimension of the extrudate as delivered to a constant speed take-away conveyor. Variable force is applied to the roll to maintain tension on the extrudate.
Claims7
An extrusion line having an extruder with a die for extruding a hot rubbery extrudate and a take-away conveyor to receive said extrudate from said die at a constant take-away speed, a controlled counterbalanced movable accumulator roll positioned directy between said die and said take-away conveyor for receiving said extrudate from said die, said accumulator adapted to move in the region between said die and said conveyor in response to variations in output of said extrudate from said die due to surges in said extruder, and to retract or extend said extrudate to compensate for the variable output from said die in order to provide a substantially constant rate of delivery of said extrudate to said conveyor and to maintain the dimensions of said extrudate as measured on said conveyor at nearly constant values, said accumulator roll being mounted on a shaft with linear bearings riding in parallel guide rails for horizontal reciprocation and wherein said bearings are connected to means to counterbalance the long-time-average horizontal component of the tension imparted to the accumulator roll by the extrudate.
The method which comprises extruding a hot rubbery composition from the die of an extruder to provide an extrudate of predetermined thickness, delivering said extrudate to a rotatable counterbalanced accumulator roll movable substantially horizontally in response to surges or short-term variations in the rate of output of said extrudate from said die of said extruder, varying as required the force on said roll in order to change the long-time-averaged tension on said extrudate in response to material property changes and to maintain constant the tension in said extrudate independent of the position of the accumulator roll and delivering said extrudate with substantially constant dimensions to a take-away conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.