CNC Corrugator Design:
(patent summary)
A corrugator and mold management apparatus
and methods for continuously forming transverse corrugations and other
shapes in a tubular polymer melt parison formed by an extrusion die employs
a plurality of molds that interlock when mated.
Each mold has common outside dimensions and a pair of open linear
bearings that provide the mold axis and maintain alignment of the molds
parallel to and in the same horizontal plane as the axis of the extrusion
die. The molds are moved axially along supported rails by bi-directional
linear actuating modules and between the pairs of supported rails by lateral
transport units. Inner supported rails define the mold tunnel and outer
supported rails provide an outer path to move molds upstream back toward the
extrusion die. The lateral transport units include extensible rails that
facilitate the transfer of molds to and from the mold tunnel and the outer
return paths. Delivery units remove
from and introduce molds from a plurality of parking stations.
The apparatus also has the capability of identifying, locating and
tracking molds by continually scanning molds as they are transported or on
demand. Automated “on the fly” mold
changes automatically introduce molds to and remove molds from the
corrugator from and to parking stations simultaneously without interrupting
the normal operation of the apparatus and the molds may be rapidly purged
and loaded.
Extrusion Die Design:
(patent application summary)
Extrusion dies and methods for forming dual
wall corrugated plastic pipe and dual wall plastic pipe having a foam
annular core that provides homogenous melt flow to each axially displaced
orifice by means of an individual concentric spiral mandrel are disclosed.
Spiral mandrels transport the melt from the extruders initially in spiral
paths and then to spiral paths having diminishing depths so that the melt
from adjacent spiral paths mix axially resulting in an annular path of
homogenous melt. Extrusion die and
methods for real time, continuous and remote control of the openings of the
axially displaced orifices by moving the die lip closest and furthest from
the extruder in a precise manner are also disclosed.
A means for controlling separation of the die lips for both the inner
and outer wall walls of the pipe gives the pipe manufacturer the benefit of
better controlling quality in real time and changing grades on the fly by
controlling wall thickness.
Mold Block Design:
(patent summary)
Mold blocks and methods for thermoforming
corrugated plastic pipe that provide a uniform vacuum on the internal
lateral surface and optimize forced convective cooling on exterior surface
is disclosed. Mating mold blocks
have an interior surface with transverse corrugations and an exterior
lateral surface having transverse channels containing radial slots that
intersect circular slits formed in the interior mold surface.
The channels are fitted with a dual cover arrangement that serves to
provide (1) a low-resistance vacuum path to the slits located on the
interior surface and (2) a forced convective heat transfer path to cool the
mold blocks. The cover arrangement
is removable, providing a convenient means of inspecting, maintaining and
modifying the mold blocks.
License of Equipment Technology:
Non exclusive and exclusive licenses can be purchased for the United States or one of 120
countries around the world. Design and Engineering Service contract required.
Please contact us or submit request for quotation.
  
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