Variable flow rate extrusion apparatus for applying a polymer profile to an article

A process for applying an extruded polymer profile circumferentially to a peripheral edge of an article, wherein said process comprises:

• positioning an extrusion die adjacent to a peripheral edge portion of said article, said extrusion die comprising a moving die head adapted so as to circumferentially traverse the entire peripheral edge, said die head including at least one polymer supply channel, said at least one supply channel located proximate to, and providing a flow of polymer into a distributing chamber, said distributing chamber located proximate to, and providing a flow of polymer to a calibrated orifice, said orifice configured and adapted to extrude a polymer profile of a predetermined cross-sectional shape wherein said extrusion die includes a means for modifying said polymer flow through at least one of the said at least one supply channels which allows control of the ratio between polymer extruded from said orifice directed towards an inner portion of said profile to polymer extruded from said orifice directed towards an outer portion of said profile;
• moving said die head along substantially linear and curved sections of said peripheral edge while said die head extrudes profile thereon;
• and
• regulating the flow of polymer through the at least one supply channel as a function of the radius of curvature of the path traversed by the moving die head.

A process for applying a polymer profile directly upon a peripheral edge of an article, said process comprising:

• moving a die head circumferentially along the peripheral edge of said article, said die head including at least one polymer supply channel, and said channel located proximate to a distributing channel;
• providing a flow of polymer into a calibrated orifice, said orifice located proximate to the distributing channel;
• configuring the calibrated orifice to extrude a polymer profile of a predetermined cross-sectional shape;
• and
• modifying the polymer flow through at least one of the at least on supply channels so as to control the ratio between the polymer extruded from the orifice directed towards an inner portion of the profile to the polymer extruded from the orifice directed towards an outer portion of the profile.