A method for starting up a production line for manufacturing extruded plates, wherein an extruded semi-finished product comprising a free end is pressed towards a conveying device, wherein the conveying device is configured to pull the semi-finished product to a separating device, wherein a conveyor belt extending in the conveying direction is placed on the conveying device, the free end of the semi-finished product is pressed onto the conveyor belt, the conveyor belt is pulled together with the semi-finished product towards the separating device, and the free end of the semi-finished product arriving at the separating device is introduced into the separating device, while the conveyor belt is pulled away from the semi-finished product upstream of the separating device. This enables a cost-effective production of panels made from the plates.

A starting-valve throttle device has a housing having a housing recess which is configured therein and in which a switching member is repositionable between an evacuation position and a delivery position. The switching member in the evacuation position configures an evacuation duct which connects an entry duct to an evacuation opening. The switching member in the delivery position configures a passage duct which connects the entry duct to a delivery duct. A throttle member is disposed in the passage duct so as to be repositionable relative to the switching member. On account thereof, a melt flowing through the passage duct is capable of being throttled in a desired manner. The starting-valve throttle device is constructed so as to be simple, compact and reliable. The operation of the starting-valve throttle device and an associated screw extruder is simple and energy-efficient.

A method for producing a biaxially oriented tube from thermoplastic material, wherein a tube in preform condition is extruded from thermoplastic material and is subjected to a temperature conditioning. Use is made of an expansion device and of a drawing device which is arranged downstream of the expansion device. The expansion device includes a non-deformable expansion part and a run-on part located upstream of the expansion part and having an upstream sealing member. The expansion device further includes a first gas discharge duct having one or more first inlet ports in the exterior surface of the expansion device, a first inlet port being open or closed or partly closed dependent on whether or not the first inlet port is covered and closed, or partly closed, by the tube.

A mouthpiece (10) for extruding a molding compound into a formed body which has internal channels, comprises: a mouthpiece frame (14) with a frame opening (16); a first core retaining plate (22) which is fastened in the area of an upstream end of the frame opening (16) when viewed in the flow direction (15) of the molding compound; and a plurality of longitudinal cores (28) which are axially and laterally held by an upstream end section (26) on the first core retaining plate (22). It is proposed that, furthermore, it comprises a second core retaining plate (36) which is loosely arranged downstream of the first core retaining plate (22) relative to the mouthpiece frame (14) in the flow direction (15), and in which the areas (32) of the cores (28) farther from the upstream end section (26) are arranged to be radially fixed but axially loose.

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 mouthpiece (10) for extruding a molding compound into a formed body which has internal channels, comprises: a mouthpiece frame (14) with a frame opening (16); a first core retaining plate (22) which is fastened in the area of an upstream end of the frame opening (16) when viewed in the flow direction (15) of the molding compound; and a plurality of longitudinal cores (28) which are axially and laterally held by an upstream end section (26) on the first core retaining plate (22). It is proposed that, furthermore, it comprises a second core retaining plate (36) which is loosely arranged downstream of the first core retaining plate (22) relative to the mouthpiece frame (14) in the flow direction (15), and in which the areas (32) of the cores (28) farther from the upstream end section (26) are arranged to be radially fixed but axially loose.

A single screw extruder (E) for the extrusion of food or feed, comprising in the direction of flow of a product to be extruded: i) a processing section (8); ii) a bypass outlet (B); iii) a valve plate (V); iv) a die plate (D); and iv) a cutter (6). The flow of product can be directed through the valve plate, under normal operating conditions of the extruder (E), and through the bypass outlet (B), during start-up of the extruder (E) or for maintenance purposes, downstream of the valve plate (V). The valve plate (V) is arranged on or in a mounting plate (M). The cutter (6) and the mounting plate (M) are provided with interacting guiding mechanism that prevent rotation of the cutter (6), vis--vis the mounting plate (M); and the cutter (6) and the mounting plate (M) are mechanically fastened to each other with rotational locking mechanism.

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. At least one clamping blade is respectively arranged in a right-hand and left-hand edge region of the nozzle assembly, wherein the width of the nozzle discharge slot can be variably set. The method comprises the following steps, which are carried out automatically for adjusting the width of the nozzle discharge slot and for clamping the adjusting elements: unclamping the clamping blade within the nozzle discharge slot; displacing the clamping blade within the nozzle discharge slot; clamping the clamping blade within the nozzle discharge slot for fixing individual adjusting elements.
Furthermore, the invention relates to a control and/or regulation system.

An interchangeable unit adapted to couple to a computer numerical control (CNC) machine is disclosed comprising a holder that couples to a spindle of the CNC machine, a controller, wherein said controller is configured to receive the rotational speed of the spindle as an input, and a material processing unit, wherein said material processing unit executes a first function in response to a first rotational speed range of the spindle and executes a second function in response to a second rotational speed range of the spindle.

Circuit and to a process for managing transients and process and product anomalies in a plant for production of granulated expandable polymers EPS or extruded polymers XPS, said circuit being placed e.g. in a granulation plant along which are positioned: a mixing device suitable for mixing additives and expanding agent within a stream of molten polymer; a granulator or an extrusion device positioned downstream of said mixing device; a deviation valve suitable for molten polymers placed along the line connecting said mixing device to said granulator or to said extrusion device upstream of said granulator or extruder, said deviation valve being provided with at least one inlet (A), a Stand-by position (A.fwdarw.C) and a Run position (A.fwdarw.B), said circuit further comprising a heating device downstream of said valve, a separation device downstream of said heating device suitable for physically separating the blowing agent from the polymer and any additives present therein, and a cooling device positioned between said separation device and said mixing device.