Extruder

Abstract

An extruder has a barrel extending from a feed inlet end to an extruder outlet end. The barrel has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a wall thickness between the inner and outer surfaces. The extruder also has at least one heating member positioned provided on the barrel; a screw drive motor drivingly connected to a rotatably mounted screw positioned within the barrel, whereby the screw is rotatable at various revolutions per minute (RPM); and a controller is operably connected to the screw drive motor to adjust the RPM of the screw based upon a temperature of material passing through and / or being extruded from the barrel. Methods for operating an extruder filling a mold are also provided.

Description

technical field [0001] The present disclosure relates generally to extruders, and more particularly to extruders for extruding plastic or thermoplastic materials. The present disclosure also relates to methods of producing extruded or molded plastic parts using one or more extruders. Background technique [0002] Extruders are typically used to heat and melt a solid input material (such as plastic, or thermoplastic material) and extrude the material in a flowable or molten state. The extruded or output material may be directed through the form or die as it cools and solidifies to form an elongated plastic component having a cross-sectional profile defined by the form or die. Alternatively, the output material may be directed into a mold, subsequently cooled and solidified to form a molded component having a shape defined by the mold. [0003] One of the sources of heat provided to increase the temperature of the conveyed plastic material as it passes through the extruder o...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

[0004] Although shear heating is effective in increasing the temperature of plastic materials, one or more defects may exist

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