Dual stage flex lip for an extrusion die

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11045991-B2
Application number	US-201815952624-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2018
Priority date	Apr 13, 2018
Publication date	Jun 29, 2021
Grant date	Jun 29, 2021

Abstract

A die includes an upper body member and an adjustment system. The upper body member has a upper surface, a gap surface, a gap edge positioned between the upper surface and the gap surface, and a gap flange. The adjustment system includes an adjustment body that defines a plurality of channels, and a plurality of adjusters. Each of the plurality of adjusters is slideably positioned within a respective one of the plurality of channels. Each of the plurality of adjusters is configured to couple to the gap flange of the upper body member. When the plurality of adjusters are coupled to the gap flange movement of the plurality of adjusters causes a change in a position of the gap edge.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adjustment system adapted for coupling to a die, the die having an upper body member, a center body member positioned adjacent to the upper body member defining a gap channel and gap opening therebetween, and a lower body member positioned adjacent to the upper body member defining a main channel and a main opening therebetween, the gap opening being positioned between the gap channel and the main channel, the adjustment system comprising:
an adjustment body defining a plurality of channels, the adjustment body being configured to couple to the upper body member; and
a plurality of adjusters, each of the plurality of adjusters being slideably positioned within a respective one of the plurality of channels, each of the plurality of adjusters being configured to couple to a gap flange of the upper body member,
wherein when the plurality of adjusters are coupled to the gap flange, movement of the plurality of adjusters causes a change in a size of the gap opening,
wherein each of the adjusters include a knob member, at a first end, and a gap connector, at a second end, that is configured to engage a notch of the gap flange, the knob member being configured to rotate relative to the gap connector.

2. The adjustment system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels are a first plurality of channels, and wherein the plurality of adjusters are a first plurality of adjusters, the adjustment body further defining a second plurality of channels, and the adjustment system further comprising:
a second plurality of adjusters slideably positioned within a respective one of the second plurality of channels, each of the second plurality of adjusters being configured to couple to a lip flange of the upper body member,
wherein when the second plurality of adjusters are coupled to the lip flange, movement of the second plurality of adjusters causes a change in a size of the main opening.

3. The adjustment system of claim 2 , wherein the second plurality of adjusters comprise push-only adjusters.

4. The adjustment system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of adjusters comprise push-pull adjusters.

5. The adjustment system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of adjusters are aligned linearly along a length of the adjustment system.

6. The adjustment system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first plurality of threaded members, each of the first plurality of threaded members being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of adjusters, each of the first plurality of threaded members comprising a first pitch; and
a second plurality of threaded members, each of the second plurality of threaded members being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of adjusters, each of the second plurality of threaded members comprising a second pitch,
wherein the first pitch is different from the second pitch.

7. The adjustment system of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment body comprises a single body member.

8. A die, comprising:
an upper body member having an upper surface, a gap surface, a gap edge positioned between the upper surface and the gap surface, and a gap flange, an upper lip edge spaced from the gap edge in a direction, and a lip flange that is spaced from the gap flange in the direction, wherein the upper surface extends along the direction away from the gap edge to the upper lip edge; and
an adjustment system comprising:
an adjustment body defining a first plurality of channels and a second plurality of channels,
a first plurality of adjusters, each of the first plurality of adjusters being slideably positioned within a respective one of the first plurality of channels, each of the first plurality of adjusters being configured to couple to the gap flange of the upper body member, wherein when the first plurality of adjusters are coupled to the gap flange, movement of the first plurality of adjusters causes a change in a position of the gap edge, and
a second plurality of adjusters, each of the second plurality of adjusters being slideably positioned within a respective one of the second plurality of channels, each of the second plurality of adjusters being configured to couple to the lip flange of the upper body member, wherein when the second plurality of adjusters are coupled to the lip flange, movement of the second plurality of adjusters causes a change in a position of the upper lip edge.

9. The die of claim 8 , wherein the upper body member and the adjustment system are integrally formed together.

10. The die of claim 8 , wherein the upper surface extends in the direction beyond the gap flange.

11. The die of claim 8 , wherein the lip flange is connected to the gap flange by a lip flex hinge that extends away from the gap flange in the direction, whereby when the second plurality of adjusters are coupled to the lip flange, movement of the second plurality of adjusters causes the lip flange to move about the lip flex hinge thereby causing flexing of the lip flex hinge.

12. The die of claim 8 , wherein the upper body member has a gap flex hinge, the gap flange is configured to move about the gap flex hinge, and when the first plurality of adjusters are coupled to the gap flange, movement of the first plurality of adjusters causes the gap flange to move about the gap flex hinge thereby causing flexing of the gap flex hinge.

13. A die, comprising:
an upper body member having an upper surface, a gap surface, a gap edge positioned between the upper surface and the gap surface, and a gap flange; and
an adjustment system comprising:
an adjustment body defining a plurality of channels, and
a plurality of adjusters, each of the plurality of adjusters being slideably positioned within a respective one of the plurality of channels, each of the plurality of adjusters being configured to couple to the gap flange of the upper body member, wherein when the plurality of adjusters are coupled to the gap flange, movement of the plurality of adjusters causes a change in a position of the gap edge,

wherein the upper body member includes an adjustment portion and an attachment portion connected to the adjustment portion by a flex hinge, the adjustment portion comprising the gap flange, wherein when the plurality of adjusters are coupled to the gap flange, movement of the plurality of adjusters causes the adjustment portion to rotate relative to the attachment portion about the flex hinge.

14. The die of claim 13 , further comprising:
a center body member having an upper center surface, a lower center surface, and a center edge positioned between the upper center surface and the lower center surface, the center member being positioned adjacent to the upper body member defining a gap channel between the gap surface and the upper center surface and a gap opening between the gap edge and the center edge,
wherein when the plurality of adjusters are coupled to the gap flange, movement of the plurality of adjusters causes a change in a size of the gap opening.

15. The die of claim 14 , wherein the upper surface of the upper member defines an upper edge, the die further comprising:
a lower body member having a lower surface defining a lower edge, the lower body member positioned adjacent to the upper body member defining a main channel between the lower surface of the lower body member and the upper surface of the upper member and a main opening between the lower edge of the lower body member and the upper edge of the upper member,
wherein the gap opening is positioned between the gap channel and the main channel.

16. The die of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of channels are a first plu

Assignees

• Nordson Corp

Inventors

• Iuliano Salvatore G
• Bergeman Chris
• Rich Nathan
• Truscott Michael

Classifications

• B29C2948/92628

  Width or height · CPC title

• B29C2948/92447

  Moulded article · CPC title

• B29C48/30 Primary

  Extrusion nozzles or dies (extrusion characterised by the shape or cross-section of the extruded article B29C48/03) · CPC title

• B29C48/35

  with rollers · CPC title

• B29C48/92

  Measuring, controlling or regulating · CPC title