Dynamic Mixer for Color Effects in Extruded Materials

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for creating color effects in extruded materials, such as plastic, are limited and often require costly and time-consuming post-extrusion treatments like lamination or imprinting.

Innovation Solution

A process involving the combination of two viscous materials of different colors, which are then partially mixed using a dynamic mixer with elements that vary their radial orientation, creating a stream with color patterns that can include undulating bands and gradations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If lamination or imprinting techniques are used to create color effects in extruded material, then visually appealing color effects are achieved, but the process becomes costly and time-consuming due to post-extrusion treatments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing cost and timeVSAvoidcolor effect variety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating color effects directly into the extrusion process itself, rather than applying them afterward. Multiple colored materials are combined and mixed during extrusion to create the desired color patterns, eliminating the need for subsequent lamination or imprinting steps. This resolves the contradiction by making the color effect creation part of the primary manufacturing process, reducing both cost and time while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the color effect creation function with the extrusion process. By combining multiple colored materials and using a mixer within the extrusion system, the patent integrates what were previously separate operations (extrusion and color application) into a single unified process. This resolves the technical contradiction by achieving both cost/time efficiency and color effect versatility through process integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If existing mixing methods are used during extrusion, then some color effects can be produced, but the visual effects remain limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor effect varietyVSAvoidmixer element configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the mixer elements adjustable and reconfigurable. The mixer elements can be positioned at different radial orientations and angles, allowing the same mixing device to create multiple different color patterns and visual effects. This resolves the contradiction by providing versatility through dynamic adjustment rather than requiring multiple fixed configurations, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining color effect variety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes physical parameters of the mixing process, specifically the radial orientation and angular position of mixer elements, to produce different color effects. By varying these parameters, the same mixing apparatus can generate diverse visual patterns. This resolves the technical contradiction by achieving color effect versatility through parameter variation rather than through complex device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method allows for the creation of a wide range of original and visually appealing color effects in extruded materials, enhancing their aesthetic value without the need for post-extrusion treatments.

Implementation Method 1

a dynamic mixer configured for applying a dividing, overturning and combining motion to said stream of combined viscous material to partially mix the first viscous material and the second viscous material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid mixing:

Data Source

PatentUS20250178239A1Process, apparatus and system for creating extruded material having color effects and products made with extruded material created with same

Publication Date: 2025.06.05 PELICAN INTL INC

AI summary

Flows of first and second viscous materials of respective colors are provided and then combined in a predetermined pattern to form a stream of combined viscous material. A dynamic mixer is the then used to apply a predetermined dividing, overturning and combining motion to the stream of combined viscous material to partially mix the first viscous material and the second viscous material, such that upon exiting the dynamic mixer, the first material of the first color and the second material of the second color form a color pattern in the stream of combined viscous material. The dynamic mixer has elements configured for acquiring a specific radial orientation in a range of radial orientations that may be varied during the application of the dividing, overturning and combining motion to the stream of combined viscous material to cause variations in the color pattern in the stream of combined viscous material.