A system includes a wet extrusion process machine configured to receive, mix, and convey a plurality of ingredients to an extrusion die, the plurality of ingredients include a protein powder, an oil, and water. The system includes an electronic process control system (EPCS) configured to control the wet extrusion machine using a plurality of process settings effective to produce an extrusion die mixture which is forced into, passes through, and is output from the extrusion die. The system further includes a supervisory machine intelligence control system (SMICS) operatively coupled with at least one of a direct fibrosity measurement (DFM) subsystem configured to directly measure one or more physical fibrosity parameters of the extrusion die mixture, and an indirect fibrosity measurement (IFM) subsystem configured to measure one or more extrusion process parameters associated with the extrusion die mixture. The SMICS is configured to modify one or more of the plurality process settings in response to at least one of the one or more physical fibrosity parameters, and the one or more extrusion process parameters, effective to modify the extrusion die mixture.

A device for determining the temperature of a tubular strand conveyed out of an extrusion device includes at least one temperature sensor configured to measure a first temperature of an outside of the tubular strand at a first position of the tubular strand. An evaluation apparatus further included and configured to compare the first temperature with a second temperature of the outside of the tubular strand at a second position of the tubular strand and determine at least one of a temperature within the tubular strand or a temperature on the inside of the tubular strand at a position of the tubular strand based on the comparison of the first and second temperature.

The continuity of a functional layer of a web (32, 60, 78) is assessed by forwarding the web, detecting (42, 63) the presence of the functional layer and a discontinuity and/or a thin region in the functional layer, and generating a signal in response to the discontinuity and/or thin region. The functional layer comprises a detectable component (360) in a thermoplastic composition. The detecting is carried out by a machine vision system capable of detecting the detectable component (360) in the functional layer. The detectable component (360) can be active or passive. Also included are systems for carrying out the process.

A formulation includes a polymeric material and can be used to form an insulated container.

A compression moulding machine comprises: an extrusion unit configured to extrude a rod of pasty polymeric material; a cutting element, configured to portion the rod into individual charges; a rotary carousel, including a plurality of moulds, each mould being configured to receive a respective charge and to form a corresponding object from the charge; a feeder, configured to convey each charge to a respective mould at a feed position; an inspecting device, configured to capture inspection data, representing a composition of the rod or of the charges.

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.

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.

Systems and approaches for controlling an injection molding machine having a mold forming a mold cavity and being controlled according to an injection cycle include extruding a molten polymer according to an extrusion profile and measuring at least one variable during the extrusion profile with a first sensor. At least one extrusion operational parameter is adjusted based on the measured variable. The extrusion profile is terminated upon the molten polymer exceeding a first threshold, and the molten polymer is injected into the mold cavity according to an injection profile via a screw that moves from a first position to a second position. Upon completion of the injection profile, a recovery profile commences in which the screw is moved to the first position.

The invention relates to a THz measuring method for measuring a measured object (6), for example, a pipe made of a plastics or rubber, comprising a calibrating step for measuring an empty time of flight of at least one THz transmission beam through an empty path between a first measuring position (MP1) and a second measuring position (MP2) of a measuring region (4) without the measured object (6) and determining the empty path (s0), positioning a measured object (6) in the measuring region (4) between measuring positions (MP1, MP2), carrying out a first THz-measurement from the first measuring position (MP1) using a THz transmission beam (20-1) along a first optical axis (A) while measuring a first exterior time of flight (tL1) up to an exterior surface (6a) of the measured object (6), a first wall time of flight (tR1) through a first wall region of the measured object (6) and an interior time of flight (tL2, tL2_1) through an interior space (6c) of the measured object, carrying out a second THz-measurement from the second measuring position (MP1) along a second optical axis (A) while measuring a second exterior time of flight (tL3) between the second measuring position (MP2) and the exterior surface (6a) of the measured object (6) and a second wall time of flight (tR2) through a second wall region of the measured object (6) determining a total time of flight (tges_R) through the measuring region (4) with the measured object, and determining a first wall thickness (sR1) of the first wall region and a second wall thickness (sR2) of the second wall region from the measured times of flight (St7).

A system includes a wet extrusion process machine configured to receive, mix, and convey a plurality of ingredients to an extrusion die, the plurality of ingredients include a protein powder, an oil, and water. The system includes an electronic process control system (EPCS) configured to control the wet extrusion machine using a plurality of process settings effective to produce an extrusion die mixture which is forced into, passes through, and is output from the extrusion die. The system further includes a supervisory machine intelligence control system (SMICS) operatively coupled with at least one of a direct fibrosity measurement (DFM) subsystem configured to directly measure one or more physical fibrosity parameters of the extrusion die mixture, and an indirect fibrosity measurement (IFM) subsystem configured to measure one or more extrusion process parameters associated with the extrusion die mixture. The SMICS is configured to modify one or more of the plurality process settings in response to at least one of the one or more physical fibrosity parameters, and the one or more extrusion process parameters, effective to modify the extrusion die mixture.