Flexible lip extruder, and methods of extruding material
An extrusion die or extruder having a flexible lip that is moveable by a geared mechanism. A shaft is operably connected to at least one gear, which in turn is operably connected to a movable lip of the extruder. Rotation of the shaft results in movement of the extruder lip.
1. A method of extruding material, the method comprising:
rotating a geared shaft to turn a worm gear;
rotating the worm gear to drive a pin in an eccentric and continuous path; and
moving a moveable member connected to the pin to adjust a lip gap.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein moving a moveable member to adjust a lip gap comprises:
pushing the moveable member to decrease the lip gap; and
pulling the moveable member to increase the lip gap for the material to flow.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein moving a moveable member comprises:
moving a plurality of moveable members the same amount at the same time across a length of the extruder.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein rotating a geared shaft comprises: keeping the geared shaft laterally stationary while the geared shaft rotates.
5. A method of extruding material with an extruder, the method comprising:
turning a worm gear operably connected to a pin offset from a center point of the worm gear;
driving the pin in an eccentric and continuous path; and
moving a moveable member connected to the pin to adjust a lip gap of the extruder.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising: rotating a geared shaft to turn the worm gear.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein moving a moveable member to adjust a lip gap comprises:
pushing the moveable member to decrease the lip gap; and
pulling the moveable member to increase the lip gap for the material to flow.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein moving a moveable member comprises:
moving a plurality of moveable members the same amount at the same time across a length of the extruder.
9. The method of claim 5 comprising:
rotating a geared shaft to simultaneously turn a plurality of worm gears;
turning the plurality of worm gears each operably connected to a pin offset from a center point of the worm gear;
driving the pins in an eccentric and continuous path; and
moving a plurality of moveable members each connected to a pin to adjust the lip gap of the extruder.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein rotating a geared shaft comprises: rotating a plurality of short shafts.
11. The method of claim 9 wherein rotating a geared shaft comprises: keeping the geared shaft laterally stationary while the geared shaft rotates.