Extrudate Casing Molding With Synchronized Forming Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for forming shaped parts during the extrusion process face challenges with mold halves being forced apart due to material buildup, leading to process instability and potential misalignment.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a forming unit with a synchronized work cycle that includes positive and negative accelerations, moving linearly along a guide, to form molded parts on extruded material while maintaining control over the forming process, allowing high-speed production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a molding unit is used to form shaped parts from extruded material, then product functionality is improved, but mold halves are forced apart due to material buildup pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct functionalityVSAvoidmold half stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

A counterpressure device is introduced that applies counterpressure to the molding unit in the direction of the extruded material during the forming process. This preliminary counteraction prevents the mold halves from being forced apart by the material buildup pressure, maintaining mold integrity while allowing shaped parts to be formed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Productivity

If extrusion speed is increased for high productivity, then production efficiency is improved, but process control and molding precision become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction efficiencyVSAvoidmolding precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The counterpressure device is designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing the counterpressure to be adapted to different extrusion speeds and material characteristics. This dynamic adjustment enables precise control of the molding process even at high extrusion speeds, maintaining manufacturing precision while maximizing productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor the forming process in real-time and adjust the counterpressure accordingly. This feedback control ensures that molding precision is maintained regardless of variations in extrusion speed, allowing the system to operate at high speeds without sacrificing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Strength

If counterpressure is applied to prevent mold separation, then mold stability is improved, but additional device complexity is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemold stabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The counterpressure device is designed to perform multiple functions: it applies counterpressure to prevent mold separation, maintains consistent molding force across different production conditions, and can be integrated with existing extrusion line control systems. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate devices, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Manufacturing precision

If forming unit is moved linearly with synchronized work cycle, then molding precision is improved, but dynamic loads and pressure management become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemolding precisionVSAvoiddynamic loads
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The forming unit is designed with dynamic movement capabilities along a linear path, synchronized with the extrusion process. The counterpressure device dynamically adjusts to compensate for the dynamic loads generated during linear movement, ensuring that molding precision is maintained throughout the forming cycle despite the complex force variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3541598B1Method and device for producing an extrudate
Publication Date: 2025.07.16 LEONI KABEL GMBH
  • EP3541598B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4A
  • EP3541598B1 patent drawingFigure 4B~6B
  • EP3541598B1 patent drawingFigure 6C~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing an extrudate (2) with a casing (6), in which the casing (6) is extruded with a predetermined wall thickness by means of an extrusion unit (8), wherein, following the extrusion unit (8) in a feeding direction, a part of the still mouldable material is built up with the aid of a moulding unit (10, 12, 14) during a moulding process such that a moulded part (12) forms integrally on the casing (6), wherein the moulding unit (10, 12, 14) is moved according to the following working cycle - the moulding unit (10, 12, 14) is accelerated from a starting position in the feeding direction, - the moulding unit (10, 12, 14) is advanced in the direction of the extrudate (12, 2) and the moulded part (12) is formed, - the moulding unit (10, 12, 14) is withdrawn again from the extrudate (12, 2), - the moulding unit (10, 12, 14) is decelerated and moved from an end position, counter to the feeding direction, back in the direction of the starting position.