Apparatus and method for continuously forming tapered shakes
OwnerRandall V. Schaeninventor
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for forming tapered shakes with varying widths is provided. The apparatus and method include an extruder with a tapered configuration for making a tapered extrusion, a slitter for slitting the extrusion in a generally longitudinal direction, a cutter for cutting the extrusion in a generally transverse direction, and a timer for controlling operation of the cutter. The invention further provides for a continuous apparatus and method for continuously forming plastic tapered shakes that simulate traditional wooden shakes.
Claims12
A method for making tapered shakes, comprising the steps of:
- extruding shingle material through a die with a tapered configuration to form an extrusion having a tapered configuration;
- texturing patterns on a surface of the extrusion;
- slitting the extrusion in a generally longitudinal direction;
- storing a plurality of combinations of cutting dimensions and quantities of shakes in a memory;
- receiving a choice of a first selected combination;
- retrieving information related to the first selected combination from memory;
- calculating cutting signals based upon the retrieved information related to the first selected combination;
- transmitting the cutting signals to the cutting tool and cutting the extrusion based upon the cutting signals;
- receiving a choice of a second selected combination;
- retrieving information related to the second selected combination from memory;
- calculating cutting signals based upon the retrieved information related to the second selected combination;
- transmitting the cutting signals to the cutting tool and cutting the extrusion based upon the cutting signals;
- and
- wherein the first selected combination is different than the second selected combination.
A method for making tapered shakes, comprising the steps of:
- extruding shingle material through a die with a tapered configuration to form an extrusion having a tapered configuration;
- slitting the extrusion in a generally longitudinal direction;
- generating a cutting signal at a first random interval;
- transmitting the cutting signal in order to cut a first shake having a random width;
- generating a cutting signal at a next random interval;
- transmitting the cutting signal in order to cut a next shake having a random width;
- and
- repeating said generating and transmitting steps to provide a plurality of shakes having a plurality of random widths.
A method for making tapered shakes, comprising the steps of:
- extruding shingle material through a die to form an extrusion having a tapered configuration on an upper surface and a lower surface;
- slitting the extrusion in a generally longitudinal direction;
- storing a plurality of combinations of cutting dimensions and quantities of shakes in a memory;
- receiving a choice of a first selected combination;
- retrieving information related to the first selected combination from memory;
- calculating cutting signals based upon the retrieved information related to the first selected combination;
- transmitting the cutting signals to the cutting tool and cutting the extrusion based upon the cutting signals;
- receiving a choice of a second selected combination;
- retrieving information related to the second selected combination from memory;
- calculating cutting signals based upon the retrieved information related to the second selected combination;
- transmitting the cutting signals to the cutting tool and cutting the extrusion based upon the cutting signals;
- and
- wherein the first selected combination is different than the second selected combination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.