US 5,288,218 A · Extrusion calibrator

Abstract

An extrusion calibrating apparatus connectable to external sources of cooling water and vacuum, and usable to calibrate the exterior profile of a hollow thermal plastic extrusion. The apparatus includes lower and upper cover plates each having a pair of vacuum manifolds therein, the lower cover plate being fixedly attachable to a stationary support. The apparatus further includes lower and upper vacuum plates each having a plurality of vacuum slots extending between a lower and an upper side thereof and in communication with a corresponding vacuum manifold Each of the vacuum plates also has supply and return water channels providing communication between spaced-apart interior supply and return ports on an inward side thereof A heat-conducting calibrating insert is removably positioned within an interior chamber between the vacuum plates with lower and upper sides in face-to-face juxtaposition with corresponding inward sides of the vacuum plates. The insert has a calibrating aperture and a plurality of vacuum slots extending between the lower and upper sides thereof and communicating with the calibrating aperture, and the vacuum slots of the vacuum plates. The lower and upper sides of the insert each have a water channel which communicates with a corresponding pair of the vacuum plate supply and return ports.

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Drawings

Claims19

Dependent claims

An extrusion calibrating apparatus for use on a stationary support and connectable to an external source of cooling water and an external source of vacuum, the apparatus being usable to calibrate the exterior profile of a hollow thermoplastic extrusion upon its exit from an extruding die while the extrusion is still in a heated plastic state, comprising:

a lower cover plate having a lower vacuum manifold formed on an upper side thereof and having a lower vacuum channel providing communication between said lower vacuum manifold and the source of vacuum, said lower cover plate having attachment members fixedly attachable to the stationary support;
an upper cover plate having an upper vacuum manifold formed on a lower side thereof and having an upper vacuum channel providing communication between said upper vacuum manifold and the source of vacuum;
a lower vacuum plate having a plurality of vacuum plate apertures extending between a lower and an upper side thereof with said vacuum plate apertures having openings in said lower side of said lower vacuum plate in communication with said lower vacuum manifold, and openings in said upper side of said lower vacuum plate, said lower vacuum plate further having supply and return lower water channels providing communication between spaced-apart interior supply and return ports in said upper side of said lower vacuum plate and the source of water, said lower side of said lower vacuum plate being in face-to-face juxtaposition with said upper side of said lower cover plate;
an upper vacuum plate having a plurality of vacuum plate apertures extending between a lower and an upper side thereof with said vacuum plate apertures having openings in said upper side of said upper vacuum plate in communication with said upper vacuum manifold, and openings in said lower side of said upper vacuum plate, said upper vacuum plate further having supply and return upper water channels providing communication between spaced-apart interior supply and return ports in said lower side of said upper vacuum plate and the source of water, said upper side of said upper vacuum plate being in face-to-face juxtaposition with said lower side of said upper cover plate;
right and left sidewalls;
front and rear cover plates which, with said lower and upper vacuum plates and said right and left sidewalls, define an interior chamber, said front cover plate having an aperture sized to allow the extrusion to pass unobstructed therethrough on its entry into said interior chamber and said rear cover plate having an aperture sized to allow the extrusion to pass unobstructed therethrough on its exit from said interior chamber, said upper cover plate and upper vacuum plate being selectively movable to provide an access opening to said interior chamber;
and
a heat-conducting calibrating insert sized to pass through said access opening and be removably positioned within said interior chamber with a lower side in face-to-face juxtaposition with said upper side of said lower vacuum plate and an upper side in face-to-face juxtaposition with said lower side of said upper vacuum plate, said insert having forward and rearward faces with a calibrating aperture corresponding to the exterior profile of the extrusion extending lengthwise therebetween, said calibrating aperture having a forward opening in said insert forward face aligned with said front cover plate aperture to permit the unobstructed entry of the extrusion into said calibrating aperture forward opening and a rearward opening in said insert rearward face aligned with said rear cover plate aperture to permit the unobstructed exit of the extrusion out of said calibrating aperture rearward opening, said insert having a plurality of lower vacuum apertures extending between said lower side thereof and said calibrating aperture with said lower vacuum apertures having openings in said insert lower side in communication with said openings in said upper side of said lower vacuum plate, and a plurality of upper vacuum apertures extending between said upper side thereof and said calibrating aperture with said upper vacuum apertures having openings in said insert upper side in communication with said openings in said lower side of said upper vacuum plate, said insert lower side having a lower water channel formed therein extending to communicate between said spaced-apart supply and return ports in said upper side of said lower vacuum plate and said insert upper side having an upper water channel formed therein extending to communicate between said spaced-apart supply and return ports in said lower side of said upper vacuum plate, said upper cover plate and upper vacuum plate being movable while said lower cover plate remains fixedly attached to the stationery support with said lower vacuum plate, right and left sidewalls and front and rear cover plates assembled and attached thereto to permit the removal of said insert from said interior chamber through said access opening while the apparatus remains connected to the external sources of water and vacuum and aligned with the extruding die, and the repositioning of said insert or a replacement therefor within said interior chamber through said access opening.

5 more elements

An extrusion calibrating apparatus for use on a stationary support and connectable to an external source of cooling water and an external source of vacuum, the apparatus being usable to calibrate the exterior profile of a hollow extrusion upon its exit from an extruding die while the extrusion is still in a heated plastic state, comprising:

a lower assembly having a lower vacuum manifold and a lower vacuum channel providing communication between said lower vacuum manifold and the source of vacuum, said lower assembly having a plurality of vacuum assembly apertures extending between said lower vacuum manifold and openings in an upper side thereof, said lower assembly further having supply and return lower water channels providing communication between spaced-apart interior supply and return ports in said upper side of said lower assembly and the source of water, said lower assembly having attachment members fixedly attachable to the stationary support;
an upper assembly having an upper vacuum manifold and an upper vacuum channel providing communication between said upper vacuum manifold and the source of vacuum, said upper assembly having a plurality of vacuum assembly apertures extending between said upper vacuum manifold and openings in a lower side thereof, said upper assembly further having supply and return upper water channels providing communication between spaced-apart interior supply and return ports in said lower side of said upper assembly and the source of water;
and
a heat-conducting calibrating insert removably positioned between said lower and upper assemblies with a lower side in face-to-face juxtaposition with said upper side of said lower assembly and an upper side in face-to-face juxtaposition with said lower side of said upper assembly, said insert having forward and rearward faces with a calibrating aperture corresponding to the exterior profile of the extrusion extending lengthwise therebetween, said calibrating aperture having a forward opening in said insert forward face to permit the entry of the extrusion into said calibrating aperture and a rearward opening in said insert rearward face to permit the exit of the extrusion out of said calibrating aperture, said insert having a plurality of lower vacuum apertures extending between said lower side thereof and said calibrating aperture with said lower vacuum apertures having openings in said insert lower side in communication with said openings in said upper side of said lower assembly, and a plurality of upper vacuum apertures extending between said upper side thereof and said calibrating aperture with said upper vacuum apertures having openings in said insert upper side in communication with said openings in said lower side of said upper assembly, said insert having a lower water channel formed therein toward said lower side thereof and extending to communicate between said spaced-apart supply and return ports in said upper side of said lower assembly, and an upper water channel formed therein toward said upper side thereof and extending to communicate between said spaced-apart supply and return ports in said lower side of said upper assembly.

1 more element

An extrusion calibrating apparatus for use on a stationary support and connectable to an external source of cooling water and an external source of vacuum, the apparatus being usable to calibrate the exterior profile of a hollow extrusion upon its exit from an extruding die while the extrusion is still in a heated plastic state, comprising:

a first assembly having a first vacuum manifold and a first vacuum channel providing communication between said first vacuum manifold and the source of vacuum, said first assembly having a plurality of vacuum assembly apertures extending between said first vacuum manifold and openings in a first side thereof, said first assembly further having supply and return water channels providing communication between spaced-apart interior supply and return ports in said first assembly and the source of water, said first assembly having attachment members fixedly attachable to the stationary support;
a second assembly having a second vacuum manifold and a second vacuum channel providing communication between said second vacuum manifold and the source of vacuum, said second assembly having a plurality of vacuum assembly apertures extending between said second vacuum manifold and openings in a first side thereof, said second assembly further having supply and return water channels providing communication between spaced-apart interior supply and return ports in said second assembly and the source of water;
and
a heat-conducting calibrating insert removably positioned between said first and second assemblies with a first side in face-to-face juxtaposition with said first side of said first assembly and a second side in face-to-face juxtaposition with said first side of said second assembly, said insert having forward and rearward faces with a calibrating aperture corresponding to the exterior profile of the extrusion extending lengthwise therebetween, said calibrating aperture having a forward opening in said insert forward face to permit the entry of the extrusion into said calibrating aperture and a rearward opening in said insert rearward face to permit the exit of the extrusion out of said calibrating aperture, said insert having a plurality of first vacuum apertures extending between said first side thereof and said calibrating aperture with said first vacuum apertures having openings in said insert first side in communication with said openings in said first side of said first assembly, and a plurality of second vacuum apertures extending between said second side thereof and said calibrating aperture with said second vacuum apertures having openings in said insert second side in communication with said openings in said first side of said second assembly, said insert having a first water channel formed therein toward said first side thereof and extending to communicate between said spaced-apart supply and return ports of said first assembly, and a second water channel formed therein toward said second side thereof and extending to communicate between said spaced-apart supply and return ports in said first side of said second assembly.

1 more element

An extrusion calibrating apparatus for use on a stationary support and connectable to an external source of cooling water and an external source of vacuum, the apparatus being usable to calibrate the exterior profile of a hollow extrusion upon its exit from an extruding die while the extrusion is still in a heated plastic state, comprising:

a first assembly having a first vacuum manifold and a first vacuum channel providing communication between said first vacuum manifold and the source of vacuum, said first assembly having a plurality of vacuum assembly apertures extending between said first vacuum manifold and openings in a first side thereof;
a second assembly having a second vacuum manifold and a second vacuum channel providing communication between said second vacuum manifold and the source of vacuum, said second assembly having a plurality of vacuum assembly apertures extending between said second vacuum manifold and openings in a first side thereof, at least one of said first or second assemblies further having supply and return water channels providing communication between spaced-apart interior supply and return ports and the source of water, one of said first or second assemblies having attachment members fixedly attachable to the stationary support;
and
a heat-conducting calibrating insert removably positioned between said first and second assemblies with a first side in face-to-face juxtaposition with said first side of said first assembly and a second side in face-to-face juxtaposition with said first side of said second assembly, said insert having a calibrating aperture corresponding to the exterior profile of the extrusion extending lengthwise therethrough, said calibrating aperture having an entry opening to permit the entry of the extrusion into said calibrating aperture and an exit opening to permit the exit of the extrusion out of said calibrating aperture, said insert having a plurality of first vacuum apertures extending between said first side thereof and said calibrating aperture with said first vacuum apertures having openings in said insert first side in communication with said openings in said first side of said first assembly, and a plurality of second vacuum apertures extending between said second side thereof and said calibrating aperture with said second vacuum apertures having openings in said insert second side in communication with said openings in said first side of said second assembly, said insert having a water channel formed therein and extending to communicate between said spaced-apart supply and return ports.

1 more element

An extrusion calibrating apparatus for use on a stationary support and connectable to an external source of cooling water and an external source of vacuum, the apparatus being usable to calibrate the exterior profile of a hollow extrusion upon its exit from an extruding die while the extrusion is still in a heated plastic state, comprising:

a chamber having an interior cavity and a plurality of vacuum apertures with inward openings communicating with said interior cavity, said chamber having at least one vacuum channel providing communication between said vacuum apertures and the source of vacuum, said chamber further having spaced-apart interior supply and return ports and supply and return water channels providing communication between said supply and return ports and the source of water, said chamber further including an attachment portion fixedly attachable to the stationary support, said chamber having a movable closure member to define a closable access opening to said interior cavity;
and
a heat-conducting calibrating insert sized to pass through said access opening and be removably positioned within said interior cavity, said insert having a calibrating aperture extending lengthwise therethrough which corresponds to the exterior profile of the extrusion, said calibrating aperture having an entry opening to permit the entry of the extrusion into said calibrating aperture and an exit opening to permit the exit of the extrusion out of said calibrating aperture, said insert further having a plurality of vacuum apertures extending between said calibrating aperture and outward openings of said insert, said outward opening of said insert being positioned to be in communication with said inward openings of said chamber when said insert is positioned within said cavity, said insert further having a water channel formed therein, said water channel of said insert extending along said insert between said spaced-apart supply and return ports of said chamber when said insert is positioned within said cavity, said insert being selectively removable from and positionable within said cavity through said access opening.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description8,196 words

Summary2,319 words

#The present invention relates generally to extrusion calibrators, and more particularly, to an extrusion calibrator used to calibrate the exterior profile of a hollow thermoplastic extrusion upon its exit from an extruding die while the extrusion is still in a heated plastic state.

#In the manufacture of hollow extrusions from a thermoplastic material using a continuous extrusion process, such as plastic window and door component extrusions, the extrusion exits an extruding die while still in a heated thermoplastic state. To produce a properly sized extrusion, it is necessary to calibrate the exterior profile of the hollow extrusion using a calibrator. This assures that the final extrusion has the desired exterior size and shape.

#A calibrator is necessary because upon exiting the extruding die the relatively thin walls of the extrusion are soft and cannot support their own weight. Further, upon exit from the extruding die the exterior size of the extrusion sometimes varies from the desired dimension for the finished extrusion. While the extrusion is still in the plastic state, and usually immediately upon exit from the extruding die, the extrusion is passed through one or more calibrators which apply a vacuum to the thin walls of the extrusion to pull them against the interior walls of an elongated calibrating aperture which has the desired size and shape (i.e., the exterior profile) of the finished extrusion. This prevents the relatively thin walls of the extrusion from sagging or otherwise deforming as the extrusion is pulled through the calibrator.

Brief description of the drawings10 figures

#FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an extrusion calibrator embodying the present invention.

#FIG. 1A is an isometric view of the extrusion calibrator of FIG. 1 shown in use connected to external sources of cooling water and vacuum.

#FIG. 2 is a reduced scale exploded view of the extrusion calibrator of FIG. 1.

Detailed description5,634 words

#As shown in the drawings for purpose of illustration, the present invention is embodied in an extrusion calibrator, indicated generally by the reference 10. The calibrator 10 is shown in FIG. 1 fully assembled and in FIG. 2 in exploded view. In FIG. 1A, the calibrator 10 is shown in use fixedly attached to a stationary support surface 12 and connected to an external source of cooling water 14 and an external source of vacuum 16. A continuous length of hollow extrusion 18 made of thermoplastic material is shown being pulled through the calibrator 1 in the direction indicated by arrow 20 immediately upon its exit from an extruding die (not shown) while in a heated plastic sate.

#The calibrator 1 includes a lower cover plate 22 and an upper cover plate 24, shown separate from the calibrator in FIGS. 3A and 3B, respectively. The lower cover plate 22 includes four lugs 26 by which the lower cover plate is fixedly attached to the stationary support 12 by bolts 28, as shown in FIG. 1A. Two o the lugs 26 are attached to and project laterally outward from a left edgewall 30 of the lower cover plate 22, an the other two lugs are attached to and project laterally outward from a right edgewall 32 of the lower cover pate.

#The lower cover plate 22 has an upwardly opening forward vacuum manifold 34 and an upwardly opening rearward vacuum manifold 36 formed in an upper side 38 thereof. Four vacuum channels 40 are provided to communicate vacuum with the forward and rearward vacuum manifolds 34 and 36. The vacuum channels 40 each terminate at one end in a threaded port 42. Two of the vacuum channels 40 have the port 42 positioned at the left edgewall 30 of the lower cover plate 22, and the other two of the vacuum channels have the port 42 positioned at the right edgewall 32 of the lower cover plate. The two forwardmost of the vacuum channels 40 communicate with the forward vacuum manifold 34, and the two rearwardmost vacuum channels communicate with the rearward vacuum manifold 36. As shown in FIG. 1A, when the calibrator 1 is connected for operation, the ports 42 of the vacuum channels 40 are each connected by a hoe 44 (only the left-side hoses being shown) to the external vacuum source 16.

Extrusion calibrator

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Extrusion calibrator

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Abstract

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Claims19

Description8,196 words

Drawings

Classification12 codes

Life of this patent

Description8,196 words