An apparatus (1) for optical inspection of a mass of polymeric material (2) passing through an extruder (3) having a hollow extrusion cylinder (4) extending elongately in a longitudinal direction comprises an optical sensor (8) which can be operatively coupled to the extrusion cylinder (4) and having an infrared light emitter (8a) and a receiver (8b) configured to measure a measurement parameter representing an optical property of the polymeric material (2) inside the extrusion cylinder (4) and is characterized in that it comprises a plurality of the optical sensors (8) which can be operatively coupled to the extrusion cylinder (4) in a plurality of measurement sites located in succession and spaced from each other along the longitudinal direction and a processor (9) programmed to acquire a plurality of measurement signals containing the measurement parameters measured by the corresponding optical sensors (8) and programmed to process the plurality of measurement signals in order to calculate a corresponding plurality of values of a control parameter indicating a physical state of the polymeric material (2) as a function of a longitudinal position.

A method of manufacturing a polymer film includes melting a resin, extruding the melted resin through a die to produce a polymer film, shaping the polymer film, cooling the polymer film, capturing an image of a test pattern through the polymer film, calculating a modulation transfer function value from the image, and adjusting a process parameter of the melting, the extruding, the shaping, or the cooling based on the calculated modulation transfer function value.

A device for controlling a production system for planar or strand-shaped bodies comprises a measurement region and a conveying apparatus configured to convey the body through the measurement region. A transmission apparatus is configured to irradiate the body with measurement radiation in the measurement region. A detection apparatus is configured to detect the measurement radiation reflected by the body. An evaluation apparatus is configured to use the measurement radiation detected by the detection apparatus to determine at least one of: (1) a refractive index of the body; and (2) an absorption of the measurement radiation by the body. A control apparatus is configured to control at least one production parameter of a production system based on the at least one of: (1) the refractive index of the body; and (2) the absorption of the measurement radiation by the body.

It is provided an extrusion device for a plastic profile, in particular a hollow chamber profile, with an extruder, an extrusion nozzle arranged at the exit of the extruder for forming the plastic profile the plastic profile subsequently being guided through a calibration device, a downstream removal device for the plastic profile, a cutting device for cutting off parts of the extruded plastic profile and a weighing device for measuring the profile weight. A profile monitoring device is provided for detecting at least one profile parameter of the plastic profile in the extrusion direction after it has emerged from the extrusion nozzle and/or a process monitoring device is provided for detecting at least one process parameter in and/or before of the extruder, the extrusion nozzle, the calibration device, the removal device and/or the cutting device.

It is provided an extrusion device for a plastic profile, in particular a hollow chamber profile, with an extruder, an extrusion nozzle arranged at the exit of the extruder for forming the plastic profile the plastic profile subsequently being guided through a calibration device, a downstream removal device for the plastic profile, a cutting device for cutting off parts of the extruded plastic profile and a weighing device for measuring the profile weight. A profile monitoring device is provided for detecting at least one profile parameter of the plastic profile in the extrusion direction after it has emerged from the extrusion nozzle and/or a process monitoring device is provided for detecting at least one process parameter in and/or before of the extruder, the extrusion nozzle, the calibration device, the removal device and/or the cutting device.

The invention relates to various aspects in the production of extrusion products. The properties of extruded articles are dependent significantly, in addition to their formulation, also on the setting variables and in particular on the thus resulting process variables. The setting variables and in particular the process variables thus represent a state of the extrusion process characterized as fingerprint. The thus claimed invention takes into account these facts and supports the operator of a production plant to detect earlier changes in quality and to systematically counteract a deterioration in the quality.

It is provided an extrusion device for a plastic profile, in particular a hollow chamber profile, with an extruder, an extrusion nozzle arranged at the exit of the extruder for forming the plastic profile the plastic profile subsequently being guided through a calibration device, a downstream removal device for the plastic profile, a cutting device for cutting off parts of the extruded plastic profile and a weighing device for measuring the profile weight. A profile monitoring device is provided for detecting at least one profile parameter of the plastic profile in the extrusion direction after it has emerged from the extrusion nozzle and/or a process monitoring device is provided for detecting at least one process parameter in and/or before of the extruder, the extrusion nozzle, the calibration device, the removal device and/or the cutting device.

A method is disclosed for determining at least one geometric parameter of an object comprising a molten component. The method includes determining a relationship between a refractive index of the object and a shrinkage occurring during a solidification of the object. The refractive index and at least one geometric parameter of the object comprising the molten component is determined using a measuring apparatus. At least one geometric parameter of the solidified object from the refractive index and the at least one geometric parameter of the object comprising the molten component is determined using the measuring apparatus and taking into account the determined relationship between the refractive index of the object and the shrinkage occurring during the solidification of the object.

Measuring a tubular measured object, in particular, following its extrusion, may include (1) guiding the tubular measured object in an object adjusting direction through a measuring space between a radar transceiver and a reflector, (2) emitting a radar transmitting beam from the radar transceiver along its optical axis in a transverse direction through the measuring space towards a reflector and back towards the radar transceiver, while determining an empty time of flight, (3) adjusting the radar transceiver in an adjusting direction (y) which preferably runs perpendicular to the transverse direction (x), and emitting and receiving the radar transmitting beams at various adjustment positions, (4) upon detecting a measurement signal (a) measuring the adjustment position (ys) and the time-of-flight shift, (b) measuring an external radius (r) of the tubular measured object, and, (c) determining the refractive index (n) of the tubular measured object from the values recorded.

A method of manufacturing a polymer film includes melting a resin, extruding the melted resin through a die to produce a polymer film, shaping the polymer film, cooling the polymer film, illuminating a surface with a light source, capturing an image of a shadow cast by the polymer film on the surface while the polymer film is between the light source and the surface, calculating a frequency spectrum of at least a portion of the captured image, and adjusting a process parameter of the melting, the extruding, the shaping, or the cooling based on the frequency spectrum.