Abstract: Honeycomb extrusion dies for the extrusion of honeycomb ceramics of high cell density and reduced cell wall thickness are machined from fully consolidated powder metallurgy (P/M) stainless steels, providing dies with reduced feed hole roughness, improved feed hole straightness, and superior discharge slot finish, with the result that significantly enhanced extrusion performance and higher quality honeycomb extrusions are realized.

Abstract: A honeycomb extrusion die comprising a die body incorporating an inlet face, a discharge face opposite the inlet face, a plurality of feedholes extending from the inlet face into the body, and an array of intersecting discharge slots extending into the body from the discharge face and interconnecting with the feed holes, the intersecting discharge slots being formed by the side surfaces of a plurality of pins bounded by the slots and extending into the die body from the discharge face, wherein a plurality of the pins include one or more multi-textured side surfaces, each side surface including at least two surface regions differing in surface finish from each other.

Abstract: The method of moulding plastics articles comprises propelling a solid plastics feed material by screw feed means (10) through a melting zone, the screw feed means (10) propelling the resultant molten plastics material to shaping means, shaping the molten plastics material in the shaping means and allowing the material to solidify to retain the shape, and is characterised by varying the composition of the plastics material cyclically before or along the length of the screw feed means (10) so that the molten material (1,2) emerging from the screw feed means (10) varies in composition with time, whereby at least one part of each moulded article (50) is of different composition from the remainder of the article (50).

Abstract: The present invention provides microcellular articles, as well as methods and apparatuses for producing polymeric foams, and, in particular microcellular material. The methods involve forming a gas blanket within a polymer processing die that prevents contact between the polymer melt and surfaces of the die during extrusion. In one set of embodiments, the gas blanket is provided by gas diffusing out of surfaces of the nucleated polymer material. In other embodiments, the gas blanket is formed by introducing a gas from an external source into the polymer flow channel within the die. The dies, according to the invention, are specially configured to generate and to support the gas blanket. The extruded foams are free of surface defects that, typically, arise from contact between the polymer melt and the die surfaces.

Abstract: An adjustable variable flow restriction element and an extruder containing the same are provided for mechanically controlling the bulk density of an extruded material. The adjustable flow restriction element is located in an extruder proximate to the die of the extruder in position to partially block the downstream flow of material through the extruder. The adjustable flow restriction element is structured to be capable of assuming one of a plurality of uniquely flow restrictive positions, where the degree of restriction of flow controls the bulk density of an extruded material. A method of mechanically controlling the bulk density of an extruded material by restricting the flow of the material through an extruder is also provided.

Abstract: Rectangular construction studs are provided with a plastic or polyethylene extrusion resin skin by extruding the plastic onto the manufactured core of the stud through a die which has been constructed to provide a substantially uniform rate of feed of extrusion materials throughout an entire flattened rectangular oblong enveloping prismatic and conforming cavity defined in the die which completely and prismatically circumscribes a rectangular core member, which is being disposed and translated through the die from a feed position in the die to its extrusion exit ports. The uniform volume feed rate is achieved through the use of a plurality of feeding risers communicating between a supply runner and an extrusion channel in the die.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing biodegradable products with a blown foamy structure, wherein a mass comprising at least natural polymers such as starch is passed under pressure into or through a mould and the mass is heated in the mould in a manner such as to give rise to at least cross-linking of natural polymers, while the mass prior to the introduction into the mould has a temperature which is below the gelatinization temperature and in the mould is brought at least to the baking temperature.

Abstract: A flexible membrane is attached to a holder for controlling flow in an extrusion die. The membrane includes a horizontal portion, first and second curved portions adjacent the horizontal portion, first and second offset portions adjacent the first and second curved portions, and first and second edges adjacent the first and second offset portions. The membrane is formed of a single piece of material. The flow control device including the flexible membrane may be produced by fabricating a membrane holder from a material, fabricating a flexible membrane from the same material, joining the flexible membrane to the membrane holder, and hardening the membrane holder and membrane.

Abstract: A honeycomb extrusion die 1 for extruding a honeycomb structural body, having: a plurality of intersecting slits 2 arranged in a front surface thereof, each of the slits 2 being formed by cell blocks 3; a plurality of raw material feeding holes 4 arranged in a back surface thereof, each of the raw material feeding holes 4 being communicated with the slits 2; and a round portion formed in corners 3a of each of the cell blocks 3; is disclosed. In the honeycomb extrusion die 1, each of the cell blocks 3 includes, a cell block body 11, a first coating layer 12 formed by electroless plating on the cell block body 11, and a second coating layer 13 formed by chemical vapor deposition on the first coating layer 12, and a width of each of the slits is 45-120 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A generally flat rectangular pencil blank made from a composite celluosic and resin material or cross-linking agent includes a longitudinal axis, a first surface and a second surface with a repeatable profile transverse to the longitudinal axis on the first surface of the blank, the profile representing an approximate peripheral shape of a repeated series of longitudinal sections of an outside peripheral portion of a series of parallel elongated pencils, and an integral web between each adjacent pair of the series of longitudinal sections and extending to the second surface. In one embodiment, the second surface further includes a series of spaced parallel longitudinal grooves for reception of pencil cores, formed on the second surface and positioned laterally so as to be aligned to an apex of each repeatable profile. Methods of making the pencil blanks including dies and molds for making the pencil blanks are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for designing an extrusion process and extrusion die includes the steps of first determining the optimal extrusion process parameters and then designing an extrusion die based on those optimal parameters. The optimal extrusion process parameters are determined by identifying the geometric characteristics of the selected extrusion profile, determining the physical characteristics of the material to be extruded, determining the physical characteristics for the extrusion processor, and detrmining the extrusion process limitation chart for the selected extrusion profile, selected extrusion material, and the selected extrusion processor. After the extrusion process limitation chart has been determined, a preferred extrusion process window is determined for the extrusion process limitation chart. A series of simulations are then run to determine if the selected temperatures and speeds result in an entire extrusion process falling within the extrusion process window.

Abstract: A packaged cheese product comprises a hermetically sealed container, preferably a pouch, made out of flexible material; a decorator tip or adaptor therefor inside the container, a cheese product inside the container and a cap for closing the decorator tip when the pouch is partially emptied. The cheese product can be extruded after cuffing the corner off of the pouch and seating the decorator tip in the resulting opening. Cheese in decorative shapes can then be easily applied as a garnish on food items and the pouch can then be reclosed by capping the decorator tip. The cap preferably has a bulb member that fits inside the decorator tip and a skirt member that fits around the outside petals of the preferred decorator tip.

Abstract: The invention relates to an extruder apparatus for the extrusion of caoutchouc mixtures and plastics, having a gear extruder consisting of a housing in which a pair of gears that mesh with one another, and two intake rollers, are housed, and there is also provided in the apparatus two intake channels and one extrusion channel. It is the task of the invention, by simple means, and in a simple manner, to improve material intake and to better fill the tooth spaces with the material to be extruded, and by doing so, to reduce inclusions of air that are brought along as well. The invention resides in the fact that one pushes in the material to be processed, as far as possible into the tooth spaces of the gears by means of the intake rollers, which are arranged at a point at which the teeth of the gears constitute, together with the inner wall of the housing, an intake slot, and in so doing, one expels, at least in part, the air that is situated in the tooth spaces.

Abstract: A honeycomb extrusion die comprising a die body incorporating an inlet face, a discharge face opposite the inlet face, a plurality of feedholes extending from the inlet face into the body, and an intersecting array of discharge slots extending into the body from the discharge face to connect with the feed holes, the intersecting array of discharge slots being formed by the side surfaces of a plurality of pins bounded by the slots and extending into the die body from the discharge face, wherein at least some of the side surfaces of the pins incorporate at least one geometrically designed flow-modifying surface discontinuity.

Abstract: In an extrusion die flow channels supply molten plastic to a pair of distribution grooves constructed in the upstream face of the die component adjacent to the die body. The die body becomes more universal and can be used for a variety of applications by replacing the die component with alternate designs of distribution grooves.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an EMI shielding gasket. The gasket is a formed-in-place gasket which is deposited by an extruder. The gasket material is a fluent polymeric material having a conductive particles disposed therein. The fluent polymeric material is supplied to the extruder by a material supply system having several canisters and a mixing chamber. The fluent polymeric material is fed to a chamber in the extruder. Pressure is applied to the fluent polymeric material by a pressure supply system which includes a source of positive pressure and negative pressure, and a control module for selectively supplying positive pressure and negative pressure to the extrusion chamber.

Abstract: A coating process includingproviding a coating composition comprising finely divided photoconductive organic particles dispersed in a solution of a film forming binder, the composition having a predetermined substantially constant liquid yield stress value,flowing the composition along a feed channel,introducing the composition into an elongated manifold cavity comprising a least a first progressively narrowing channel extending away from the feed channel,flowing the coating composition along at least the first progressively narrowing channel,flowing the coating composition out of the manifold cavity into an extrusion passageway extending away from at least the first progressively narrowing channel,shaping the coating composition into a thin ribbon shaped stream in the extrusion passageway,depositing the ribbon shaped stream on a substrate to form a coating, andmaintaining an applied shear stress to the composition that is greater than the yield shear stress value of the coating composition while flowing the

Abstract: The cooling of extruded melt film is improved by passing the film sequentially through two cooling baths one arranged above the other. A cooling roller is rotatably mounted in a first lower bath and passes with its cylindrical wall through a second upper bath communicating with the first bath in such a way that a cooling medium level in the second bath is maintained at a higher elevation than a cooling medium level in the first bath that has a discharge positioned at an elevation for maintaining a desired cooling medium level in the first bath.

Abstract: A spin pot for spinning synthetic polymer fibers has a polymer filter, a spinneret downstream of the polymer filter, and an electroformed perforated screen positioned between the polymer filter and the spinneret. The screen is most preferably electroformed nickel and includes an annular non-perforated region which bounds a perforated central region. The electroformed perforations prevent debris that may become dislodged from the filter unit from blocking the spinneret orifices thereby creating undesired "slow-holes".

Abstract: A composite polymer fiber is produced employing at least two polymer compounds according to a process for producing a composite polymer fiber including the steps of supplying at least two polymer compounds; forming a belt flow by arranging alternately unmixed strips of the polymer compounds supplied; and injecting the belt flow after it is compressed such that the thickness of the belt flow may be longer than the width thereof and that multiple layers of the polymer compounds may be parallel to the longer axis of the fiber. According to this process, there is obtained a fiber having a multilayered structure, in which the thickness of each layer can be controlled with optical accuracy since the multilayered structure is formed in one step, and also having a rectangular cross section in which each layer in the fabric is oriented parallel to the longer axis of the fiber, so that the layers can be easily oriented, when woven into a fabric, in such a direction as to obtain high-intensity coherent beams of light.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming liquid hydrocarbons from solid coal. The coal is pulverized to provide a particulate coal feed, which is then extruded to provide a hollow tube of compressed coal supported inside of a support tube. A clay feed is extruded to provide a hollow tube of compressed clay supported inside of the coal tube and a combustible fuel is burned inside of the clay tube. The temperature of combustion is sufficient to fire the extruded clay and pyrolyze the extruded coal to produce hydrocarbon gases and coal char. The support tube has holes for releasing the hydrocarbon gases, which contain suspended particles formed during combustion. The suspended particles are removed from the hydrocarbon gases to provide clean gases, which are passed through an ionizing chamber to ionize at least a portion thereof. The ionized gases are then passed through a magnetic field to separate them from each other according to their molecular weight.

Abstract: A method for designing an extrusion process and extrusion die includes the steps of first determining the optimal extrusion process parameters and then designing an extrusion die based on those optimal parameters.The optimal extrusion process parameters are determined by determining the geometric characteristics of the selected extrusion profile, determining the physical characteristics of the material to be extruded, determining the physical characteristics for the extrusion processor, and determining the extrusion process limitation chart for the selected extrusion profile, selected extrusion material, and the selected extrusion processor. After the extrusion process limitation chart has been determined, a preferred extrusion process window is determined for the extrusion process limitation chart. A series of simulations are then run to determine if selected temperatures and speeds result in an entire extrusion process falling within the extrusion process window.

Abstract: A coating insert used within a coating assembly for defining at least one edge of coating fluid as it is applied to a substrate moving past the coating assembly is disclosed. The coating assembly includes a trough having first and second transverse ends. At least one coating insert is inserted within the trough to define an edge of coated fluid on a substrate. The coating insert, having one or two edge-defining surfaces, is positioned within the trough. The first end of the edge-defining surface is closer to the adjacent transverse end of the trough than the second end of the edge-defining surface. The top face of the coating insert may also include a second edge-defining surface having first and second ends that may define another edge of coated fluid on a substrate.

Abstract: A single screw extruder of the type having a drive shaft coupled to the screw for rotational movement wherein the improvement comprises coupling the drive shaft to one end of the screw through a plurality of splines on the screw.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a honeycomb structure capable of adjusting a shaping speed of an outer skin of the honeycomb structure, thereby preventing a defect in the skin. The shaping device is constructed by a die (10) having slits (11) for formation of a honeycomb structure and a guide ring (2) arranged downstream of the die (11). The guide ring includes an opening with an inner edge (21) and includes at a location upstream from the edge a pool portion (22) for the formation of a skin of the honeycomb structure. A temperature controller (3) is arranged in the guide ring for controlling a heating on a cooling of a ceramic material held in the pool portion (22).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel arrangement for attaching, by screw threads, one device to another wherein the one device has a greater thermal rate of expansion than the other and the devices are assembled at a temperature which is lower than that at which the two devices are regularly subjected. In particular, the novel arrangement maintains the security of the attachment where the differing thermal rates of expansion would normally cause the screw thread attachment to become loose.

Abstract: A degradation resistant nozzle for a screening, extrusion or similar processes has a tip surface formed by one or more rods of a material having an increased hardness relative to the body portion of the nozzle. The rods are preferably of circular cross-section and formed of tungsten carbide. The rods are removably attached in preferably circular grooves in the tip of the nozzle body. The removability of the rods facilitates reworking of the nozzle when wear occurs since new rods can quickly and inexpensively be substituted. The degradation resistant nozzle also decreases wear and scoring of stencils used in screening processes and thus increases the useful life thereof.

Abstract: An extruding apparatus for producing a honeycomb structure having cell walls and a skin. The apparatus includes a die (10) and a mask (20). The mask (20) is of an annular shape of an inner diameter (D1) and is located on an annular recess formed by a taper surface (19) and an outlet end surface (18b) of the die. The mask (20) has a top surface (21), which is in contact with an outlet end surface (18b) of the die (10), so that the degree of the opening of feed holes (11a), (11b) and (11c) are controlled by the particular shape of the end surface (21). A change of the mask to the one as shown by a phantom line (30) allows the shape of the top surface to be changed from the one shown by (21) to the one shown by (31), which allows the degree of the opening of the feed holes (11a), (11b) and (11c) to be desirably controlled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to spinnerets for the melt extrusion of synthetic polymer to produce industrial filaments. The spinnerets comprise a plate having an assembly of capillaries through which the polymer is melt extruded to form the filaments. Each of the capillaries have an elongated diamond cross section normal to a longitudinal axis of the capillary.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing fibers with optical function includes spinning a thermoplastic polymer by a spinneret having an opening with first slits arranged parallel to each other and a second slit arranged perpendicular thereto, the spinneret being formed to satisfy a predetermined relation between the length of the first slits and the width of the second slit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a die for molding a honeycomb structure, which can be molded without causing bending on a cell grid and which can readily cope with changes of shrinkage percentage of the product. The invention also provides a honeycomb structure, which has no bending on the cell grid and has high strength. The die according to the present invention includes a metal die 1, having a feed hole forming unit 14 provided with feed holes 15 and a slot forming unit 11 provided with slots 12, and a guide ring 2, which has an abutment surface 25 placed face-to-face to a part of the metal die 1 via a clearance sector 22. The slot forming unit includes an outer peripheral slot forming unit 130 and a main-body slot forming unit 160, and there is provided a protruded surface 17 protruded in extruding direction between a main body end surface 16 and an outer peripheral end surface 13.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a rod of hard metal or ceramic with at least one helical inner bore. A plasticized mass of hard metal or ceramic is simultaneously forced through a die and twisted. Either the mass is twisted uniformly over the cross-section of the billet by a spinner immersed in the mass or the spinner is rotated by the mass. The mass emerges either subject to torsion or entirely or mostly without torsion from a smooth downstream channel through the die. A filament-shaped material extends or is injected into the mass to produce the inner bore or bores.

Abstract: A process for forming a specific length of extruded thermoplastics material trim strip for automobiles includes the step of extruding the strip directly onto an endless carrier belt moving at a speed matching the emergence speed of the extrudate. The extrudate, therefore, is less subject to stresses causing unpredictable length changes on cooling. It is therefore possible to predetermine the cooled, matured, final lengths of strip and to provide moulded end portions on-line.

Abstract: A crosshead die for an extrusion system provides a balanced, even flow of molten material around a circumference. The die has a cylindrical body with opposite first and second ends, an outer wall, a horizontal centerline and a vertical centerline. The die further includes a reduced diameter end portion at the second end thereof. The reduced diameter end portion includes an axial bore. The cylindrical body further has a recessed surface in the first end, and a circular groove in the recessed surface. The groove has an inner edge and an outer edge and the outer edge includes two inwardly curved blending wedges which are positioned in opposed relation on the vertical centerline. The inner edge of the groove merges into a frusto-conical inner wall which tapers axially inwardly and merges with the axial bore in the reduced diameter end portion. The inner edge of the groove has a lesser height than the recessed surface.

Abstract: Systems for manufacturing sheets having a highly inorganically filled matrix. Suitable inorganically filled mixtures are prepared by mixing together an organic polymer binder, water, one or more inorganic aggregate materials, fibers, and optional admixtures in the correct proportions in order to form a sheet which has the desired performance criteria. The inorganically filled mixtures are formed into sheets by first extruding the mixtures and the passing the extruded materials between a set of rollers. The rolled sheets are dried in an accelerated manner to form a substantially hardened sheet, such as by heated rollers and/or a drying chamber. The inorganically filled sheets may have properties substantially similar to sheets presently made from traditional materials like paper, cardboard, polystyrene, plastic, or metal. The systems yield sheets can be rolled, pressed, scored, perforated, folded, and glued.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus for extruding viscoelastic polymers. Specifically, the invention is directed to an extrusion die for manufacturing viscoelastic and similar polymers while reducing or eliminating die swell. These polymers typically exhibit Deborah numbers that are in the range of 20 to 30 as compared to 1 to 5 of styrene butadiene, as well as high elasticity or elastic modulus. The method and apparatus can be used to manufacture xerographic toner that has a relatively low melting temperature, which can cause a reduction in the power consumption of a printer or copier, and can increase the life of some of the fuser components contained within the machine. More importantly, use of toner particles created using the present invention can reduce or eliminate the phenomenon known as "vinyl off set," which causes the transfer of a hard copy image onto a vinyl material.

Abstract: In a fabrication machine of sea island type optical fiber having a plurality of wings by spinning, when a sea part polymer is insufficiently supplied into space between the adjacent wings to cause fusion of the adjacent wings, failing in producing an optical fiber having the desired optical characteristics. The present invention solved this problem. A guide member introduces the sea part polymer supplied from sea part polymer inlets into flow paths or slits between projection wings of a partition wall for a flow path control of an island part. A sufficient amount of sea part polymer is supplied to the space between the adjacent wings of an island part of the obtained optical fiber and an optical fiber having the desired optical characteristics can be obtained.

Abstract: Process and device for producing two-colored or multicolored switchboard films, dashboard films or dashboards for motor vehicles produced therefrom using at least one backing film or backing layer, at least one upper film or upper layer which is arranged thereon and contains dyes and/or color pigments. The polymer melts for these films or layers come from two or more extruders and are supplied first to an adapter or a black box having at least one opening or a gap for the backing film or layer and at least one further opening for the upper film or upper layer. According to the invention, an adapter or a black box is used in which a wedge-shaped projection or a projection of triangular cross section is arranged. At least two different-colored polymer compositions in melt form, having identical viscosity or virtually identical viscosity (difference in MFI at 230.degree. C./2.16 kg of 0 to 0.

Abstract: An extruder for the plastification and extrusion of a rubber mixture in the form of two cold material strips through two inlet passages (4, 5) has in a housing (1) two gears (2, 3) meshing with one another in the manner of a gear pump. The inlet passages (4, 5) are provided each in an insert (8, 9) which is held replaceably in the housing (1). In this manner it becomes possible, by exchanging the inserts (8, 9) to adapt to various materials to be worked by the extruder.

Abstract: An extruder and mandrel assembly is used in a plastic pipe forming apparatus. The mandrel itself is formed from a pair of elongated tubes comprising an inner tube and an outer tube separated from the inner tube by a plastic flow path through the mandrel. The inner tube is formed by a pair of sleeves comprising an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve which is held within the mandrel by the inner sleeve. The inner sleeve is secured at its upstream end to the spider of the extruder head and the outer sleeve is secured by a releasable interlock to the inner sleeve with the releasable interlock being accessible from the downstream end of the mandrel. Therefore, the mandrel does not have to be released from the spider of the extruder head in order to remove the outer sleeve of the inner tube of the mandrel.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a ribbed hose which is capable of effectively producing a ribbed hose irrespective of a diameter or size of a hose while preventing the apparatus from being large-sized. A cylinder is formed therein with a hose feed passage and a first drive mechanism is arranged for driving the cylinder. Also, a screw is arranged in parallel to the hose feed passage and driven by a second drive mechanism. The screw is provided on a distal end thereof with a nozzle, which is adapted to revolve around the hose to form a rib on a hose.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extruding a plastic rod having helical slots in its external surface includes the use of a die including a relieved exit end face, resulting in a more uniform drag on the plastic melt. Plastic rods so formed are used in slotted core type optical fiber telecommunication cables. The die includes internal channels which form peripheral ribs on the plastic rod. The channels may follow either a helical or a straight path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for homogenizing a flow stream of plasticized material supplied from an extruder, to reduce viscosity gradients causing defects in extruded products, wherein a flow inverting homogenizer positioned in the flow stream and incorporating a plurality of criss-crossing channels for simultaneously transferring portions of the flow stream from central to peripheral flow stream locations and other portions of the flow stream from peripheral to central flow stream locations.

Abstract: A system for making pasta comprises in combination a dough bin having a bottom, extrusion holes associated with the bin bottom, and a hydrated pasta dough mixture in the bin which extrudes from the extrusion holes. Due to the percentage of fluid ingredients in the dough mixture, the pasta is extruded through the extrusion holes due to the force of gravity.

Abstract: A flash spin pack for a flash-spinning apparatus is provided in which the pack includes a spin mixture inlet, that communicates with a spin mixture passage, that discharges through a spinning orifice that opens into a slot defined by two opposing faces of the body of the spin pack. The slot is 0.25 mm to 7 mm wide proximate the spinning orifice outlet, 0.25 mm to 10 mm at the slot outlet, and the distance from the orifice outlet to the slot outlet is 1.5 mm to 40 mm. The spin pack may have five or more spinning orifices that each discharge into a different slot so configured.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for producing a long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin compositions by initially loosening a continuous fiber bundle by a fiber loosening device so as to form a moving web-like continuous fiber bundle. At least one side of the moving web-like continuous fiber bundle which passes through the die is coated with a thermoplastic resin melt extruded through a slit disposed in the die by an extruder. The slit has substantially the same width as that of the web-like continuous fiber bundle to provide an even supply of the resin melt in the width direction of the web-like continuous fiber bundle. A thermoplastic resin melt is supplied to the slit via a plurality of resin supply paths which are branched successively on the same plane. The resin supply paths are positioned so as to be symmetrically planar with respect to the central axis of the root paths thereof.

Abstract: A novel die member for positioning in a uniformly tapering, frustoconical portion of a through bore in a body member of co-extrusion, cross-head coating apparatus. The die member has an external surface with a first, frustoconical portion dimensioned for mating engagement with the body member bore extending from the front end of the die member and tapering outwardly to terminate in a plane parallel to and intermediate of the planes of the front and rear ends of the member. A second, cylindrical, external surface portion, of smaller diameter than the adjacent, larger end of the first surface portion, extends to the rear end of the die member. An annular groove of substantially semi-circular cross section extends into and 360.degree. about the second surface portion rearwardly adjacent the first surface portion.

Abstract: An extrusion die has a cylindrical body with an outer cylindrical wall, opposite first and second end walls, an axial bore extending therethrough, and bores for mounting the die to the extrusion system. The cylindrical body includes a flow inlet on the outer wall and first and second symmetrical flow channels which extend into the body from the flow inlet and terminate at a pair of opposite openings formed in the second end wall. A tapered end portion is in a concentric fashion with the cylindrical body. The end portion has a circumferential groove formed therein adjacent the juncture of the end portion and the cylindrical body wherein the pair of opposite openings are in fluid communication with the groove. A mating head has a body portion with a bore formed therein with an inner surface tapered to mate with the end portion of the die.

Abstract: An extrusion die (10) includes a die body (30) having an upstream face (32) and a downstream face (34) with an extrusion profile (22) passing through the body (30) from the upstream face (32) to the downstream face (34). The walls of the extrusion profile (22) being the bearing (46) of the die (10). A pocket (40) having tapered sidewalls (70) is formed in the upstream face (32) of the die (10) and surrounds the extrusion profile (22). The configuration of the pocket (40) improves the material flow through the die (10). The configuration of the pocket (40) depends on the configuration of the extrusion profile (22). The width of the pocket (40) is small at the fast areas of the extrusion profile (22) while being large at the slow areas of the extrusion profile (22). The pocket (40) alters the entry angle of material as it enters the die (10) thus reducing friction in the die (10) and allowing increased extrusion speeds.

Abstract: An accumulator head for a blow molding machine uses an electromechanical drive assembly for the purging and programming functions. The purging actuator of the drive assembly includes a ball screw and nut assembly in which the ball screw is rotated by an electric motor to move the ball nut assembly vertically and operate the plunger of the accumulator. A second ball screw and nut assembly is included in the programming actuator of the drive assembly for moving the mandrel vertically, thereby controlling the size of the die outlet opening of the accumulator. Preferably, the ball screws of the programming and purging actuators are axially aligned with the nut assemblies each carried by a yoke that travels on guide rods. Four support rods are provided to maintain alignment and provide stationary mounting for the respective motors. The structure has sufficient rigidity to supply the force required for the purging operation, but uses no hydraulic actuators.