Adjustable feedblock for encapsulated multilayer extrusion

Claim 2

A feedblock comprising a body defining: a core passage suited to pass a first resinous material therethrough extending from an inlet to a first outlet; a hollow, generally rectilinear shaped coating passage spaced apart from the core passage by a wall section, the coating passage having a feed port adapted to communicate with a second outlet surrounding the first outlet and suited to pass a second resinous material therethrough; and two adjusting means in operative combination with a wall portion of the coating passage adapted to independently alter the crosssectional geometry of two spaced apart, generally opposing transverse portions of the coating passage at least partially adjacent to the second outlet without altering the geometry of the first outlet by generally lateral movement of the wall portion of the coating passage to thereby minimize edge scrap loss of the second resinous material passed through the coating passage.

Claim 3

The feedblock of claim 1 wherein the adjusting means includes a force applicator adapted to move an outer wall block to vary the geometry of the coating passage.

Claim 4

The feedblock of claim 1 wherein the adjusting means includes a force applicator adapted to move an outer wall block to vary the geometry of the coating passage.

Claim 5

The feedblock of claim 3 wherein the force applicator is adapted to move the outer wall block in a direction generally normal to the axis of the core passage.

Claim 6

The feedblock of claim 1 wherein the structural material is a metal.

Claim 7

The feedblock of claim 1 wherein the core and coating passages are adapted to provide a structure wherein the first resinous material is encapsulated by the second resinous material.

Claim 8

The feedblock of claim 1 including a multiplicity of core passages.

Claim 9

The feedblock of claim 1 wherein the adjusting means is adapted to controllably alter the outlet geometry of the coating passage.

Claim 10

The feedblock of claim 1 wherein the adjusting means is adapted to alter only a portion of the coating passage geometry.

Claim 11

The feedblock of claim 1 wherein the adjusting means is adapted to alter only a portion of the coating passage geometry.

Claim 12

The feedblock of claim 1 wherein the adjusting means are adapted to controllably alter the outlet geometry of the coating passage.

Claim 13

The feedblock of claim 1 wherein the core passage is generally rectangular in shape.

Claim 14

In a feedblock for multilayer extrusion of thermoplastic compositions comprising a body defining: a core passage suited to pass a first resinous material therethrough extending from an inlet to a first outlet; and a coating passage spaced apart from the core passage by a wall section, the coating passage having a feed port adapted to communicate with a second outlet surrounding the first outlet and suited to pass a second resinous material therethrough; the improvement comprising two spaced apart adjusting means in operative combination with an outer wall portion of the coating passage adapted to independently alter the cross-sectional geometry of generally opposite transverse portions of the coating passage at least partially adjacent to the second outlet without altering the geometry of the first outlet by generally lateral movement of the wall portion of the coating passage, the adjusting means comprising an outer wall block positioned within a recess in a receiver of the body and a force applicator in operative combination with the outer wall portion to thereby minimize edge scrap loss of the second resinous material passed through the coating passage.

Claim 15

In a feedblock for multilayer extrusion of thermoplastic compositions comprising a body defining: a core passage suited to pass a first resinous material therethrough extending from an inlet to a first outlet; and a coating passage spaced apart from the core passage by a wall section, the coating passage having a feed port adapted to communicate with a second outlet surrounding the first outlet and suited to pass a second resinous material therethrough; the improvement comprising two spaced apart adjusting means in operative combination with an outer wall portion of the coating passage adapted to independently alter the cross-sectional geometry of generally opposite transverse portions of the coating passage at least partially adjacent to the second outlet without altering the geometry of the first outlet by generally lateral movement of the wall portion of the coating passage, the adjusting means comprising an outer wall block positioned within a recess in a receiver of the body and a force applicator in operative combination with the outer wall portion to thereby minimize edge scrap loss of the second resinous material passed through the coating passage.

Claim 16

The improvement of claim 13 wherein the force applicator is adapted to move the outer wall block in a direction generally normal to the axis of the core passage.

Claim 17

The improvement of claim 14 wherein the coating passage has a hollow, generally rectangular configuration generally coaxially positioned around the core passage.

Claim 18

The improvement of claim 15 including two spaced apart adjusting means adapted to alter the cross-sectional geometry of generally opposite portions of the coating passage.

Claim 19

The improvement of claim 13 including a multiplicity of core passages.

Claim 20

In a feedblock for multilayer extrusion of thermoplastic compositions comprising a body defining: a core passage suited to pass a first resinous material therethrough extending from an inlet to a first outlet; and a hollow coating passage of a generally rectangular configuration generally coaxially positioned around the core passage and spaced apart from the core passage by a wall section, the coating passage haviNg a feed port adapted to communicate with a second outlet surrounding the first outlet and suited to pass a second resinous material therethrough; the improvement comprising two spaced apart adjusting means in operative combination with an outer wall portion of the coating passage adapted to selectively alter the cross-sectional geometry of generally opposite portions of the coating passage at least partially adjacent to the second outlet without altering the geometry of the first outlet by generally lateral movement of the wall portion of the coating passage, the adjusting means being further adapted to alter only a portion of the coating passage geometry, the adjusting means comprising an outer wall block positioned within a recess in a receiver of the body and a force applicator in operative combination with the outer wall portion, the force applicator being adapted to move the outer wall block in a direction generally normal to the axis of the core passage.

Claim 21

In a feedblock for multilayer extrusion of thermoplastic compositions comprising a body defining: a core passage suited to pass a first resinous material therethrough extending from an inlet to a first outlet; and a hollow coating passage of a generally rectangular configuration generally coaxially positioned around the core passage and spaced apart from the core passage by a wall section, the coating passage haviNg a feed port adapted to communicate with a second outlet surrounding the first outlet and suited to pass a second resinous material therethrough; the improvement comprising two spaced apart adjusting means in operative combination with an outer wall portion of the coating passage adapted to selectively alter the cross-sectional geometry of generally opposite portions of the coating passage at least partially adjacent to the second outlet without altering the geometry of the first outlet by generally lateral movement of the wall portion of the coating passage, the adjusting means being further adapted to alter only a portion of the coating passage geometry, the adjusting means comprising an outer wall block positioned within a recess in a receiver of the body and a force applicator in operative combination with the outer wall portion, the force applicator being adapted to move the outer wall block in a direction generally normal to the axis of the core passage.

Claim 22

The feedblock of claim 18 wherein the adjusting means are adapted to independently alter the cross-sectional geometry of a transverse portion of the coating passage to thereby minimize edge scrap loss of the second resinous material passed through the coating passage.

Claim 23

In a feedblock for multilayer extrusion of thermoplastic compositions into an encapsulated resinous structure comprising a body defining: a generally rectangular shaped core passage suited to pass a first resinous material therethrough extending from an inlet to a first outlet; and a hollow coating passage of a generally rectangular configuration generally coaxially positioned around the core passage and spaced apart from the core passage by a wall section, the coating passage having a feed port adapted to communicate with a second outlet surrounding the first outlet and suited to pass a second resinous material therethrough; the improvement comprising two spaced apart adjusting means in operative combination with an outer wall portion of the coating passage adapted to individually controllably alter the cross-sectional geometry of generally opposite transverse portions of the coating passage at least partially adjacent to the second outlet without altering the geometry of the first outlet by generally lateral movement of the wall portion of the coating passage, the adjusting means comprising an outer wall block positioned within a recess in a receiver of the body and a force applicator in operative combination with the outer wall portion, the force applicator being adapted to move the outer wall block in a direction generally normal to the axis of the core passage.

Claim 24

In a feedblock for multilayer extrusion of thermoplastic compositions into an encapsulated resinous structure comprising a body defining: a generally rectangular shaped core passage suited to pass a first resinous material therethrough extending from an inlet to a first outlet; and a hollow coating passage of a generally rectangular configuration generally coaxially positioned around the core passage and spaced apart from the core passage by a wall section, the coating passage having a feed port adapted to communicate with a second outlet surrounding the first outlet and suited to pass a second resinous material therethrough; the improvement comprising two spaced apart adjusting means in operative combination with an outer wall portion of the coating passage adapted to individually controllably alter the cross-sectional geometry of generally opposite transverse portions of the coating passage at least partially adjacent to the second outlet without altering the geometry of the first outlet by generally lateral movement of the wall portion of the coating passage, the adjusting means comprising an outer wall block positioned within a recess in a receiver of the body and a force applicator in operative combination with the outer wall portion, the force applicator being adapted to move the outer wall block in a direction generally normal to the axis of the core passage.

Claim 25

The feedblock of claim 20 wherein the adjusting means are adapted to independently alter the cross-sectional geometry of a transverse portion of the coating passage to thereby minimize edge scrap loss of the second resinous material passed through the coating passage.