A cross-head die assembly for use with an extruder is described. The cross-head die assembly includes: an inlet section having an inlet for communicating flow from the extruder to one or more flow channels formed in a support block; and an outlet, a removably mounted die located at the outlet and in fluid communication with the one or more flow channels; said support block further comprising an interior slot extending from a first side of the support block to an outlet passageway; a removable cassette positioned in the interior slot, wherein the front end of the removable cassette is positioned to seal the outlet passageway of the slot so that the slot is isolated from the flow.

A fluid application device having an applicator head, a slot die assembly and a securing mechanism for securing the slot die assembly to the applicator head is provided. The slot die assembly includes a die extruder comprising one or more fluid input ports configured to receive a fluid from the applicator head, a shim positioned adjacent to the die extruder, and a plate positioned adjacent to the shim on a side of the shim opposite from the die extruder. The securing mechanism includes a securing component at one of the applicator head and the slot die assembly and a corresponding securing component at the other of the applicator head and slot die assembly.

The invention provides a coextrusion feedblock having a flow adjuster, a viscosity compensation device, an actuator, a central extrusion conduit, and a coextrusion conduit. The invention also provides a coextrusion profiling insert assembly constructed to be mounted in a coextrusion feedblock. The insert assembly has a flow adjuster, a viscosity compensation device, and an actuator. The insert assembly when mounted in the feedblock has a coextrusion conduit extending between the flow adjuster and the viscosity compensation device. The actuator is adjustable to apply force to bend the viscosity compensation device and thereby adjust a gap height of the coextrusion conduit. Also provided is a method of operating a feedblock having a viscosity compensation device comprising a flex region, a central extrusion conduit, and a coextrusion conduit. Force is applied to bend the flex region of the viscosity compensation device and thereby adjust a gap height of the coextrusion conduit.

Presented herein are systems and methods directed to cutting an extrudate exiting a cooling die. Embodiments of the system comprise a cooling die with an outlet end, the outlet end containing an outlet for excretion of an extrudate, and one or more plates connected to the outlet end, said plates including a cutting portion which may cut, slash, rip or shape the extrudate that flow through the cutting portion, wherein the one or more plates may be placed in series, and able to be placed in different order configurations and positions. In various embodiments an insert connection device is attached to the outlet end, wherein the one or more plates are connected to the insert connection device, allowing the one or more plates to couple with the outlet end via the insert connection device.

A die assembly (5) including: (i) a die plate (10) having an inlet surface (15) and an opposing discharge surface (35); (ii) an inlet (30) on the inlet surface (15) and a first axis of symmetry (A) extending through the inlet (30) and perpendicular to the inlet surface (15); (iii) a discharge port (45) on the discharge surface (35) and a second axis of symmetry (B) extending through the discharge port (45) and perpendicular to the discharge surface (35). The first and second axes are apart from, and parallel to, one another. The die assembly (5) includes (iv) an extrudate passage (42) fluidly connecting the inlet (30) and the discharge port (45). A third axis of symmetry (C) extends through the extrudate passage (42). The die assembly (5) includes (v) a nozzle (100) mounted in the die plate (10), the nozzle (100) having an injection tip (110) in the extrudate passage (42) at the discharge port (45); and (vi) the third axis of symmetry (C) intersects the first axis of symmetry (A) to form an acute angle.

An adjustment system coupled to a die, and a die including an adjustment system, includes first and second adjustment modules. The first adjustment module includes a first body, a first plurality of studs, and a first actuator. Each of the first plurality of studs is slidably positioned within the first body. The first actuator is coupled to the first plurality of studs and is configured to move each of the first plurality of studs. The second adjustment module includes a second body, a second plurality of studs, and a second actuator. Each of the second plurality of studs is slidably positioned within the second body. The second actuator is coupled to the second plurality of studs and is configured to move each of the second plurality of studs. The number of studs composing the first plurality of studs is different from a number of studs composing the second plurality of studs.

The invention relates to a cooling nozzle which has a product channel of annular cross-section the circumference of which is closed with the exception of at least one recess. Said recess has the effect that compound exiting the product channel spreads uniformly on a substrate if the compound is sufficiently solid after cooling during passage through the cooling nozzle so that it does not deliquesce on a flat substrate.

A printing apparatus for 3D printing of feedstock. The printing apparatus comprises a hollow nozzle having an inlet and an outlet. The nozzle is mounted within a heating body that holds and heats the nozzle whereby the feedstock passing through the nozzle is heated prior to exiting the outlet. The nozzle can be mounted within the heating body such that an exterior surface of a portion of the nozzle locates outside of and extends away from the heating body to be exposed to ambient atmosphere. As a result, the temperature of the nozzle can vary across the nozzle.

A modular disk coextrusion die is formed of a plurality of cells stacked together. Each cell includes a symmetrical arrangement of thin annular disks, including a central routing disk and two distribution disks on both sides of the central routing disk. The distribution disks are oriented so that their respective distribution inlet openings oppose each other by about 180 degrees. The symmetrical arrangement permits each cell to process the melt streams in a manner that provides enhanced layer uniformity and bubble stability. By stacking several cells, blown films having up to several hundred layers can be made using twelve, twenty-four or more polymer melt streams. Complex films made from the modular disk coextrusion die are also provided.

A skin-forming die includes an inlet face; an outlet face; one or more slots, each of the one or more slots comprising one or more slot inlets extending between the one or more slot inlets and the outlet face; a plurality of feedholes extending between the inlet face and the one or more slot inlets; and a central opening configured to receive a matrix die. Extrusion die apparatus and methods of manufacturing honeycomb bodies are also disclosed.