NOZZLE FOR AN EXTRUDER WITH VARIABLE FLOW CONTROL
A nozzle is provided for controlling the flow of extruded material, such as e.g., rubber material, from an extrusion machine. Movable pins are positioned into the path of material flow through an internal cavity. The pins are arranged across the path of flow upstream of the extrusion die. By moving the pins in and out, the flow of material through the cavity can be controlled at different locations across the width of the path of flow to the die. Manual and automatic controls can be provided for determining the position of the pins and thereby controlling the flow.
1 . A nozzle for controlling extruded material flowing from an extrusion machine, comprising:
a main body defining a cavity for the receipt of material flowing into the nozzle;
an inlet connected with the cavity so as to allow extruded material to flow into the cavity;
a plurality of channels connected with the cavity to allow for the flow of extruded material out of the cavity and through each of the channels, the plurality of channels arranged adjacent to each other along a first direction of the nozzle; and
a plurality of pins, each pin associated with at least one channel and movable in and out of the channel such that the flow of material through each channel can be selectively adjusted by controlling the amount of obstruction of the channel with the pin.
2 . The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein each channel defines a direction of material flow through each channel along a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction.
3 . The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels are arranged linearly along the first direction.
4 . The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels are arranged linearly along the first direction, wherein each channel defines a channel outlet, the nozzle further comprising a die plate positioned downstream from the channel outlets to receive material from the channel outlets.
5 . The nozzle of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of apertures positioned along the main body with each aperture in receipt of one of the pins with the pins movable within the apertures, wherein the apertures are connected with the channels.
6 . The nozzle of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of threaded apertures defined by the main body and positioned adjacent to each other along the first direction, wherein the plurality of pins are configured with threads for complementary receipt into the plurality of threaded apertures such that rotation of the pins can be used to control the movement of the pins in and out of the channels and along the apertures.
7 . The nozzle of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of apertures along the main body with each aperture in receipt of one of the pins, wherein each pin is movable in and out of at least one of the apertures along an aperture axis that is orthogonal to a direction of flow of material through the channels.
8 . The nozzle of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of apertures positioned along the main body with each aperture in receipt of one of the pins, wherein the apertures are connected with the channels and are staggered with respect to each other along the first direction.
9 . The nozzle of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of apertures positioned along the main body with each aperture in receipt of one of the pins, wherein the apertures are connected with the channels and are arranged linearly along the first direction.
10 . The nozzle of claim 1 , further comprising a die holder attached to the main body, the die holder positioned downstream of the plurality of channels and configured to receive flow of material from the channels.
11 . The nozzle of claim 10 , wherein the die holder defines a slot, and wherein the nozzle further comprises a die received into the slot of the die holder.
12 . The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels are uniformly spaced along the first direction.
13 . The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pins are uniformly spaced along the first direction.
14 . The nozzle of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting head attached to the main body.
15 . The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein each pin includes a hexagonal head for attachment of a tool to the pin.
16 . The nozzle of claim 1 , further comprising
a die holder attached to the main body, the die holder positioned downstream of the plurality of channels and configured to receive flow of material from the channels; and
a die attached to the die holder and defining a die aperture for the flow of material out of the nozzle.
17 . The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein each pin is movable within the channel along a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction.
18 . The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the position of each pin within its respective channel is adjustable independently of the other pins.