Striping Die Adapter for Extruded Product Color Coding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing extruded products with stripes are inefficient, requiring separate steps for extruding stripes and jackets/insulative materials, which leads to time loss and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that combine the extrusion of stripes with the extrusion of jackets/insulative materials onto extruded products, using a striping die with extrusion chambers and a striping die adapter that includes a heating element and thermocouple port for temperature control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If separate steps are used for extruding stripes and jackets/insulative materials, then each step can be optimized independently, but production time increases and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextrusion qualityVSAvoidproduction efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the stripe extrusion system and jacket extrusion system into a single integrated extrusion apparatus. The stripe extruder, jacket extruder, and their respective dies are merged into one coordinated system that simultaneously produces both the striped pattern and the insulative jacket in a single continuous operation, eliminating the need for separate extrusion steps while maintaining quality standards

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If separate steps are used for extruding stripes and jackets/insulative materials, then process control is simpler for each individual step, but overall production time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess controlVSAvoidproduction cycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated extrusion system enables continuous simultaneous operation of stripe extrusion and jacket extrusion. Both materials are extruded, formed, and applied to the conductor in an uninterrupted continuous process, eliminating the time losses associated with sequential operations while maintaining independent control capabilities for each material stream

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed extrusion apparatus is modified to add striping capability, then adaptability decreases, but modification costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapparatus flexibilityVSAvoidapparatus configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The extrusion apparatus incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable components that allow dynamic adaptation to different production requirements. The stripe die geometry, extrusion rates, and positioning can be adjusted to produce various stripe patterns and configurations, enabling the same apparatus to handle multiple product specifications without permanent modifications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 approach eliminates the need for separate steps, reducing time and costs, while providing versatility and adaptability to existing extrusion apparatuses, enabling efficient production of extruded products with longitudinal stripes for color coding and identification purposes.

Implementation Method 1

The striping die adapter may also include a heating element for maintaining the viscosity of the striping extrusion material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

The striping die adapter may also include a thermocouple port adapted to a thermostat for monitoring and controlling the temperature of said striping die adapter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermocouple: Thermocouple

Data Source

PatentUS12202188B1Apparatus and method for extruding stripes onto an extruded product

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 ENCORE WIRE CORP

AI summary

An apparatus for extruding a jacket and/or insulative material onto an extruded product with one or more longitudinal stripes incorporated onto the surface of said extruded product comprising a body, a primary feed conduit for conveying a primary extrusion material, a striping die, a secondary feed conduit for conveying a secondary extrusion material, a striping die adapter, a striping feed conduit extending through the striping die adapter for conveying striping extrusion material. The striping die adapter may also include a thermocouple for maintaining the viscosity of the striping extrusion material and a thermocouple for monitoring the temperature of said striping die adapter. The striping die includes one or more striping extrusion outlets for conveying striping extrusion material onto the extruded product. The striping die may also include a wishbone-shaped trough for delivering equal amounts of striping extrusion material to said extrusion outlets for extrusion onto the product.