The invention relates to an adjusting device (10) for controlling a discharge thickness (AD) of a nozzle discharge slot (110) of a flat film machine (100), comprising a plurality of adjusting bolts (20) for carrying out an adjusting movement for changing the discharge thickness (AD), wherein the adjusting bolts (20) comprise an adjusting region (SB) between a closing end position (SE) and an opening end position (OE), wherein further starting from the opening end position (OE), the adjusting region (SB) comprises a basic stroke path (BH) for a basic adjustment of the discharge thickness (AD) and, starting from the closing end position (SE), comprises a process stroke path (PH) for process controlling of the discharge thickness (AD).

The invention relates to a method for controlling a thickness profile (DP) of a film track (FB) along a transverse direction (QR) by means of a plurality of adjusting means (120) for adjusting a slot opening (112) of a discharge nozzle (110) of the flat film machine (100), comprising the following steps: acquiring a thickness profile (DP) along the transverse direction (QR) of the film track (FB) transverse to a production direction (PR) of the flat film machine (100), comparing at least a partial section of the acquired thickness profile (DP) with a preset profile (VP), determining at least one local profile deviation (PA) in a deviation section (AA) as a result of the comparison, generating at least one controlling intervention for the adjustment of at least one adjusting means (120) in an intervention section (EA) different from the deviation section (AA).

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 an apparatus for automatically analyzing extruded films, in particular stretched films, wherein a neck-in portion is formed at each of both edges of the film at a specific distance from an extrusion lip of a film extruder along the longitudinal transport direction of the film, and a respective method. The apparatus comprises two edge detectors being arranged along a first line substantially transversal to the longitudinal direction and being spaced from each other by a specific distance, wherein each one edge detector is configured to detect, preferably to continuously detect the lateral position of one respective edge of the neck-in portion of the film, a calculation means for determining the spatial relation between at least one lateral position at the extrusion lip and a respective lateral position at the neck-in portion on the basis of the two lateral positions of the edges of the neck-in portion of the film.

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, which are coupled to a respective thermoelement, is arranged at the first nozzle lip, wherein the thermoelements are controllable by the regulation in such a way that the slot adjustment can be realized by the action of a mechanical force from the respective adjusting element on the first nozzle lip as a result of an expansion or contraction of the thermoelements. An adjustment of the adjusting elements is carried out automatically based on measurement signals of at least one sensor, wherein the sensor is designed and/or arranged at the nozzle assembly in such a way that conclusions can be drawn about the thickness profile of the melt. The right-hand and left-hand edge region of the melt is monitored by means of the sensor and is controlled or regulated in such a way that the respective edge region is set by adjusting the adjusting elements depending on the material, in particular viscosity and/or viscoelasticity, and/or quality criteria and/or a conveying speed. The invention further relates to a control and/or regulation system.

A system for adjusting a gap in a slot die for producing a polymeric web. The system includes a slot die that has a polymer reservoir that extends between a polymer inlet and a melt outlet. The melt outlet has a first edge and a second edge that each extend longitudinally along the melt outlet. The second edge is opposite the first edge. A plurality of actuators move the second edge along a plurality of positions along a length of the second edge. The first edge is spaced apart from the second edge by a gap that has an adjustable profile. A pressure sensor communicates with the reservoir and measures the pressure of the polymer in the reservoir. A control unit with an algorithm correlates the profile of the gap to the pressure in the reservoir. The algorithm is configured to generate control signals to cause the profile of the gap to be uniform.

A method to control die bolts of a flat extrusion die that calibrates a zero-line calibration thickness profile, measures a variation in thickness of a film/sheet 214 by temperature change of at least one lip adjustment bolt 206a, ..., 206n by a processor 122 and records a corresponding die bolt influence area. It further calculates a voltage correction factor of the at least one lip adjustment bolt 206a, ..., 206n based on the die bolt influence area using the measured variation in thickness at the at least one lip adjustment bolt position 206ap, ..., 206np and a variation in thickness at a mean lip adjustment bolt position 206ap, ..., 206np and actuates the at least one lip adjustment bolt 206a, ..., 206n by applying the voltage correction factor and correcting the variation in thickness of the film/sheet 214 to the zero-line calibration thickness.

An extruding unit, a forming roll unit and a thick portion forming mechanism are provided. The extruding unit has an ejecting slit which ejects sheet-shaped molten resin. The ejecting slit includes a standard gap portion and an enlarged gap portion. The standard gap portion is formed as a gap having a constant size. The enlarged gap portion is formed as a gap larger than the standard gap portion in a position corresponding to a thick portion. The thick portion forming mechanism forms one or several thick portions which are thicker than other portion, in the sheet-shaped molten resin continuously in the extrusion direction.

A system for adjusting a gap in a slot die for producing a polymeric web. The system includes a slot die that has a polymer reservoir that extends between a polymer inlet and a melt outlet. The melt outlet has a first edge and a second edge that each extend longitudinally along the melt outlet. The second edge is opposite the first edge. A plurality of actuators move the second edge along a plurality of positions along a length of the second edge. The first edge is spaced apart from the second edge by a gap that has an adjustable profile. A pressure sensor communicates with the reservoir and measures the pressure of the polymer in the reservoir. A control unit with an algorithm correlates the profile of the gap to the pressure in the reservoir. The algorithm is configured to generate control signals to cause the profile of the gap to be uniform.

Thermoformed polymeric foam articles are described herein In some embodiments, the articles are made by a manufacturing method (e.g., a continuous process) which involves the extrusion and subsequent thermoforming of a blowing agent containing thermoplastic sheet. The thermoformed polymeric foam articles may have a lower density than the precursor sheet from which they are formed. In some but not all embodiments, the precursor sheet is a multi-layer sheet which includes at least one foam layer. In such embodiments, the thermoformed articles also include multiple layers and at least one foam layer.