The invention provides devices that are attached to an extruder making the operation thereof more efficient and convenient and allowing for a quick change over of parts used to make various products prepared in the extrusion process. A high pressure relief assembly is attached to the extruder that allows for the rapid release of pressure from the extruder at the end of the process by venting product under pressure from the extruder and the extruder also has attached thereto a quick assembly locking device that allows for the exchange of assemblies, such as a density control assembly and other assembles, without the removal of nuts, bolts, and clamps by attaching the assembly to an arm that can be moved in and out of place in front of the extruder and wherein the device has a locking mechanism that seals and releases the assembly from the extruder.

The invention relates to a distribution block for extrusion melt and a method for coextruding films with the aid of a distribution block for extrusion melt, wherein the distribution block comprises a movable sleeve.

A die has an inner die that has a straight portion of circular columnar outer shape and a convergent tapered portion provided closer to an extrusion port side than the straight portion and an outer die that houses the inner die. A first supply passage connecting a first valve and a flow passage, a second supply passage connecting a second valve and the flow passage, and a third supply passage connecting a third valve and the flow passage are provided inside the die. Downstream side end portions of the first supply passage and the second supply passage are connected to a portion of the flow passage formed between the straight portion and the outer die and a downstream side end portion of the third supply passage is connected to a portion of the flow passage formed between the tapered portion and the outer die.

The present invention relates to a method for changing material in an extrusion device comprising at least two supply devices for supplying feedstock for an extruder, comprising the following steps: identifying a change request for changing the material in the extrusion device, preparing the supply devices for changing the material, separating at least two supply devices from the feed of feedstock to the extruder, discharging feedstock from the separated supply devices, filling subsequent material into the empty supply devices.

An assembly for performing an additive manufacturing process includes a first material feed for dispensing a first material, a second material feed for dispensing a second material, a material combiner chamber, a first entry channel fluidly connecting the first material feed and the material combiner chamber, and a second entry channel fluidly connecting the second material feed and the material combiner chamber. The assembly further includes a pen tip for dispensing a material in the additive manufacturing process, the material comprising the first material and the second material, a valve having a rod, a first seal between the material combiner and the pen tip, and a first actuator for moving the rod back and forth along a longitudinal axis to open and close the first seal.

Disclosed is a system and a method for marking a continuously produced sheet of elastomeric material to identify sheet batches associated with a respective stock of raw extrusion material in a longitudinal direction of the continuously produced sheet. The apparatus includes one or more marking tools for providing the continuously produced sheet with a series of batch markings which are indicative of the respective sheet batch and for providing a start or end marking indicating the start or end, respectively, of a respective sheet batch.

The invention relates to a process for the production of articles, exemplarily a plastic article, by means of an extruder (1) to which a first plastic composition of a first main component and at least one associated minor component is supplied from a first group of dosing stations (21, 24). According to the invention, during the production time of a first production order there is prepared a second group of dosing stations (31, 33) at the extruder for a second production order for which a second plastic composition of a second main component and at least one associated minor component that is different from the first plastic composition has to be supplied to the extruder. After completion of the first production order it is reset to the second production order by terminating the supply of the first plastic composition by closing a first shut-off device (8) and starting the supply of the second plastic composition by opening a second shut-off device (8′).

A device for producing a dyed plastic melt and an undyed plastic melt includes a multi-shaft screw extruder, a first metering installation, a second metering installation, and a control installation for selecting between a first operating mode for producing the dyed plastic melt and a second operating mode for producing the undyed plastic melt. The first metering installation serves for feeding an undyed plastic material through a first infeed opening into a housing of the multi-shaft screw extruder, and the second metering installation serves for feeding at least one color granulate through a second infeed opening into the housing. The plastic material is fed exclusively by way of the first infeed opening such that residual color granulate or dyeing agent contained therein, respectively, which is still located in the second metering installation or in the region of the second infeed opening does not contaminate the undyed plastic melt.

The present invention relates to a method for the step-by-step guidance of a machine operator of an extrusion device for a film machine when changing from an application formula to a subsequent formula, comprising the following steps: identifying a formula change request, displaying the formula change request for the machine operator, displaying at least one concluding step to be performed for the application formula, identifying a confirmation of the machine operator for the at least one concluding step, displaying at least one preparatory step to be performed for the subsequent formula, identifying a confirmation of the machine operator for the at least one preparatory step, and concluding the change from the application formula to the subsequent formula.

An extrusion device that produces plastic film includes at least two feed units that feed feedstock for an extruder, wherein, in each feed unit an automatic cleaning device is arranged for a removal of feedstock from the feed unit when changing material in the extrusion device.