The above object is solved by means of a method comprising the features as described herein as well as an extrusion device comprising the features as described herein. Further features and details of the invention follow from the depending claims, the description and the drawings. It goes without saying that features and details, which are described in connection with the method according to the invention, shall thereby also apply in connection with the extrusion device according to the invention and in each case vice versa, so that, with regard to the disclosure, reference is or can always be mutually made, respectively, to the individual invention aspects.

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 material in an extrusion device, predetermining a production stability for a time after the material of at least one supply device has been changed, comparing the predetermined production stability to a threshold value of stability, changing the material in at least one supply device depending on the result of comparison.

The invention relates to a method for automatically regulating the size of a nozzle discharge slot of a nozzle assembly, wherein the nozzle assembly comprises a first and a second nozzle lip and a nozzle discharge slot arranged between the nozzle lips for setting in a controlled manner a thickness profile of a conveyable melt. A plurality of adjusting elements, in particular a plurality of adjusting pins, coupled to a respective thermoelement, is arranged on the first nozzle lip, the thermoelements being controllable by the regulation in such a way that the slot can be adjusted by the action of a mechanical force from the respective adjusting element on the first nozzle lip, as a result of the expansion or contraction of the thermoelements. At an initial operation of the nozzle assembly for conveying the melt, the adjusting elements for subsequent regulation of the slot size are set uniquely free from play as the initial setting. The invention further relates to a control and/or regulation system.

A production system includes an information processing device that carries out the processes of: (i) generating one or more production condition candidates each of which is a candidate for a production condition under which the product is produced; (ii) determining, using a prediction model, a prediction of a production result of a case in which the product is produced under each of the one or more production condition candidates; and (iii) generates, by evaluating a result of the prediction based on a predetermined evaluation standard, an evaluation of each of the one or more production condition candidates. The information processing device repeats the process (ii) while changing between the one or more production condition candidates, and determines a production condition candidate, the evaluation of which in the process (iii) satisfies a predetermined standard, to be the production condition under which the product is produced.

An extrusion device that produces plastic film includes at least two feed units that feed feedstock to an extruder, wherein each feed unit has at least one discharge opening including a discharge closure to open and close the discharge opening, and a container interface that reversibly fastens a discharge container that accommodates feedstock discharged from the respective feed unit.

A method for operating an extruder that has a screw, including the steps: (a) detection of a formulation identifier which is associated with material to be extruded and which encodes at least one operating variable, from which an ideal screw rotational frequency of the screw, which is to be set for the extrusion process, can be determined, (b) time-dependent detection of a throughput parameter, from which a throughput of the extruder can be deduced, (c) detection of a non-conformance point in time, at which the material can no longer be produced with a predefined quality, owing to excessive wear of the extruder, and (d) calculation of a limit throughput parameter from the throughput parameter, linking of the limit throughput parameter to the formulation identifier, and storing of the limit throughput parameter.

A production system includes an information processing device that carries out the processes of: (i) generating one or more production condition candidates each of which is a candidate for a production condition under which the product is produced; (ii) determining, using a prediction model, a prediction of a production result of a case in which the product is produced under each of the one or more production condition candidates; and (iii) generates, by evaluating a result of the prediction based on a predetermined evaluation standard, an evaluation of each of the one or more production condition candidates. The information processing device repeats the process (ii) while changing between the one or more production condition candidates, and determines a production condition candidate, the evaluation of which in the process (iii) satisfies a predetermined standard, to be the production condition under which the product is produced.

A method for polymerizing an open-cell foam including exposing an emulsion comprising a photoinitiator to an Ultraviolet light source, partially polymerizing the top surface of the emulsion, and moving the partially polymerized emulsion to a second polymerization stage.

An additive manufacturing system, which can include a 3D printer, includes in at least one aspect: a build platform; a carriage and a rack configured to hold different manufacturing tools, including an extrusion tool; a heating device associated with the extrusion tool; a 3D motion system configured to move the carriage between the rack and a build space associated with the build platform, and to move the carriage within the build space associated with the build platform; and one or more computers programmed to trigger the heating device to begin pre-heating the extrusion tool at a point before mounting of the extrusion tool to the carriage by the 3D motion system, such that the material in the extrusion tool is melted by a point in the manufacturing process when the extrusion tool will be mounted on the carriage and in position to extrude material in the build space.

Provided is a blow-molding method capable of suppressing generation of blister-like bubbles and producing a high quality hollow molded article when forming a thick hollow molded article by blow-molding. A blow-molding method includes setting a die-slit interval in a die head according to a target wall thickness of a hollow molded article to be molded, extruding a molten resin in an accumulator into a cylindrical shape from the die slit to form a parison, and molding the parison in a mold. The die-slit interval is made smaller than a value set according to the target wall thickness at start of extrusion, and then is increased to match the value set according to the target wall thickness. The value set according to the target wall thickness is preferably corrected considering wall thickness reduction due to drawdown. The wall thickness of the hollow molded article is preferably 3.5 mm or more.