US 9,808,980 B2 · Coextrusion feedblock, coextrusion profiling insert assembly, and methods of operation

Abstract

The invention provides a coextrusion feedblock having a flow adjuster, a viscosity compensation device, an actuator, a central extrusion conduit, and a coextrusion conduit. The invention also provides a coextrusion profiling insert assembly constructed to be mounted in a coextrusion feedblock. The insert assembly has a flow adjuster, a viscosity compensation device, and an actuator. The insert assembly when mounted in the feedblock has a coextrusion conduit extending between the flow adjuster and the viscosity compensation device. The actuator is adjustable to apply force to bend the viscosity compensation device and thereby adjust a gap height of the coextrusion conduit. Also provided is a method of operating a feedblock having a viscosity compensation device comprising a flex region, a central extrusion conduit, and a coextrusion conduit. Force is applied to bend the flex region of the viscosity compensation device and thereby adjust a gap height of the coextrusion conduit.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A coextrusion feedblock for producing an extrudate, said coextrusion feedblock comprising:

an adjuster,
a viscosity compensation device having a flex region,
an actuator in contact with said viscosity compensation device,
a central extrusion conduit having a height, and
a coextrusion conduit extending between said adjuster and said viscosity compensation device, said coextrusion conduit having a gap height, a width, and a length,
wherein said coextrusion conduit opens into said central extrusion conduit, wherein said adjuster is adjustable to simultaneously change said gap height of said coextrusion conduit and said height of said central extrusion conduit, and wherein said actuator is adjustable to apply a force to bend said flex region and thereby adjust said gap height of said coextrusion conduit without changing said height of said central extrusion conduit.

3 more elements

A coextrusion profiling insert assembly constructed to be mounted in a coextrusion feedblock having a central extrusion conduit with a height, said coextrusion profiling insert assembly comprising:

a adjuster,
a viscosity compensation device comprising a flex region, and
an actuator,
wherein, when said coextrusion profiling insert assembly is mounted in the coextrusion feedblock having a coextrusion conduit with a gap height extending between said adjuster and said viscosity compensation device, said actuator is adjustable to apply a force to bend said flex region and thereby adjust said gap height of said coextrusion conduit without changing said height of said central extrusion conduit,
wherein said coextrusion conduit opens into said central extrusion conduit, and
wherein said adjuster is adjustable to simultaneously change said gap height of said coextrusion conduit and said height of said central extrusion conduit.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Coextrusion feedblock, coextrusion profiling insert assembly, and methods of operation

Life of this patent

Coextrusion feedblock, coextrusion profiling insert assembly, and methods of operation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15