Method of extruding multi-component liquid filaments
View Patent ↗An apparatus for extruding multiple types of liquid materials into multi-component filaments. A pair of outer manifold elements sandwich an intermediate manifold element. Respective channels are formed between opposing sides of the outer manifold elements and the respective opposite sides of the intermediate manifold element. These recesses form channels which diverge or widen away from associated inlets at the top of the manifold assembly. A die tip is coupled to the manifold assembly at a lower side and communicates with the outlets of the channels. The die tip includes a combining member for producing a desired multi-component filament configuration.
1. A method of extruding first and second liquid materials into multi-component filaments, comprising:
feeding the first liquid material into a first liquid inlet located in an intermediate manifold element;
feeding the second liquid material into a second liquid inlet located in the intermediate manifold element;
passing the first liquid material between a first outer surface of the intermediate manifold element and a first opposed surface of a first outer manifold element;
passing the second liquid material between a second outer surface of the intermediate manifold element and a second opposed surface of a second outer manifold element;
directing the first and second liquid materials, respectively, from passages located between the intermediate manifold and the first and second outer manifolds into first and second elongate slots extending along a lengthwise dimension of a die tip; and
discharging multi-component filaments comprised of the first and second liquid materials from the die tip.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein feeding the first and second liquid materials further comprises pumping the first and second liquid materials from first and second pumps respectively coupled to first and second liquid inlets located in the intermediate manifold element.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein passing the first and second liquid materials further comprises:
passing the first liquid material into a recess formed between the first outer surface of the intermediate manifold element and the first opposed surface of the first outer manifold element; and
passing the second liquid material into a recess formed between the second outer surface of the intermediate manifold element and the second opposed surface of the second outer manifold element.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein passing the first and second liquid materials further comprises:
passing the first liquid material into a plurality of recesses formed between the first outer surface of the intermediate manifold element and the first opposed surface of the first outer manifold element; and
passing the second liquid material into a plurality of recesses formed between the second outer surface of the intermediate manifold element and the second opposed surface of the second outer manifold element.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
collecting said multi-component filaments on a collector.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
laying at least one layer of said multi-component filaments on at least one other layer of multi-component filaments.