Method and extruding die apparatus for producing a plastic closure strip

Claim 1

A coextrusion apparatus for use with extruder means for forming a plurality of combined interlocking closure strips having profile portions and base portions, comprising, in combination: (a) extruder channels communicating with said extruder means for receiving a plurality of plastic feed materials under pressure from said extruder means. (b) flow diverter means communicating with said extruder channels, and adapted to establish alternate distribution patterns for said plastic feed materials, said flow diverter means comprising at least a first base channel for receiving a first plastic feed material and communicating with a removable first base control bar for forming a first base portion of said closure strips, said flow diverter means further comprising a plurality of channels for receiving a second plastic feed material, one of said plurality of channels comprising a first profile channel communicating with a removable first profile control bar for forming a first profile portion of said closure strips, one of said plurality of channels comprising a second base channel commuicating with a removable second base control bar for forming a second base portion of said closure strips, and one of said plurality of channels comprising a second profile channel communicating with a removable second profile control bar for forming a second profile portion of said closure strips; (c) a removable first base control bar communicating with said first base channel, said first base control bar having a first base portion die opening for extruding a first base portion; (d) a removable first profile control bar communicating with said first profile channel, said first profile control bar having a first profile portion die opening for extruding a first profile portion; (e) a removable second base control bar communicating with said second base channel, said second base control bar having a second base portion die opening for extruding a second base portion; and (f) a removable second profile control bar communicating with said second profile channel, said second profile control bar having a second profile portion die opening for extruding a second profile portion.

Claim 23

A method for coextruding a plurality of combined interlocking closure strips having profile portions and base portions, comprising the steps: (a) extruding a plurality of plastic feed materials under pressure into extruder channels communicating with a flow diverter means; (b) establishing alternate distribution patterns for said plastic feed materials with said flow diverter means whereby the plastic feed materials from one of said extruder channels passes to a first channel communicating with a removable first control bar for forming a first base portion of a first closure strip, and the plastic feed materials from another of said extruder channels passes to a plurality of channels, wherein one of said plurality of channels comprises a second channel communicating with a removable second control bar for forming a first profile portion of said first closure strip, one of said plurality of channels comprises a third channel communicating with a removable third control bar for forming a second base portion of a second closure strip, and one of said plurality of channels comprises a removable fourth channel communicating with a fourth control bar for forming a second profile portion of said second strip; (c) passing said plastic feed material from said first channel to the die opening for said removable first control bar, and extruding a first base portion of a first closure strip therefrom; (d) passing said plastic feed material from said second channel to the die opening of said removable second control bar, and extruding a first profile portion of said first closure strip therefrom; (e) passing said plastic feed material from said third channel to the die opening of said removable third control bar, and extruding a second base portion of a second closure strip therefrom; and (f) passing said plastic feed material from said fourth channel to the die opening of said removable fourth control bar, and extruding a second profile portion of said second closure strip therefrom.

Claim 24

A method for coextruding a plurality of combined interlocking closure strips having profile portions and base portions, comprising the steps: (a) extruding a plurality of plastic feed materials under pressure into extruder channels communicating with a flow diverter means; (b) establishing alternate distribution patterns for said plastic feed materials with said flow diverter means whereby the plastic feed materials from one of said extruder channels passes to a first channel communicating with a removable first control bar for forming a first base portion of a first closure strip, and the plastic feed materials from another of said extruder channels passes to a plurality of channels, wherein one of said plurality of channels comprises a second channel communicating with a removable second control bar for forming a first profile portion of said first closure strip, one of said plurality of channels comprises a third channel communicating with a removable third control bar for forming a second base portion of a second closure strip, and one of said plurality of channels comprises a removable fourth channel communicating with a fourth control bar for forming a second profile portion of said second strip; (c) passing said plastic feed material from said first channel to the die opening for said removable first control bar, and extruding a first base portion of a first closure strip therefrom; (d) passing said plastic feed material from said second channel to the die opening of said removable second control bar, and extruding a first profile portion of said first closure strip therefrom; (e) passing said plastic feed material from said third channel to the die opening of said removable third control bar, and extruding a second base portion of a second closure strip therefrom; and (f) passing said plastic feed material from said fourth channel to the die opening of said removable fourth control bar, and extruding a second profile portion of said second closure strip therefrom.

Claim 33

A method for coextruding a plurality of combined interlocking closure strips having profile portions and base portions, comprising the steps: (a) extruding a plurality of plastic feed materials under pressure into extruder channels communicating with a flow diverter means; (b) establishing alternate distribution patterns for said plastic feed materials with said flow diverter means whereby the plastic feed materials from one of said extruder channels passes to a second base channel communicating with a removable first control bar for forming a second base portion of said closure strips, and the plastic feed materials from another of said extruder channels passes to a plurality of channels wherein one of said plurality of channels comprises a first profile channel communicating with a removable second control bar for forming a first profile portion of said closure strips, one of said plurality of channels comprising a first base channel communicating with a removable third control bar for forming a first base portion of said closure strips, and one of said plurality of channels comprising a second profile channel communicating with a removable fourth control bar for forming a second profile portion of said closure strips; (c) controlling the flow of said plastic feed materials within said channels by control orifice and adjustable valve control means communicating with each of said first base channel, said first profile channel, said second base channel, and said second profile channel; (d) passing said plastic feed materials from said second base channel to the die opening for said removable first control bar, and extruding a second base portion therefrom; (e) passing said plastic feed materials from said first profile channel to the die opening of said removable second control bar, and extruding a first profile portion therefrom; (f) passing said plastic feed materials from said first base channel to the die opening of said removable third control bar, and extruding a first base portion therefrom; and (g) passing said plastic feed materials from said second profile channel to the die opening of said removable fourth control bar, and extruding a second profile portion therefrom.

Claim 34

A method for coextruding a plurality of combined interlocking closure strips having profile portions and base portions, comprising the steps: (a) extruding a plurality of plastic feed materials under pressure into extruder channels communicating with a flow diverter means; (b) establishing alternate distribution patterns for said plastic feed materials with said flow diverter means whereby the plastic feed materials from one of said extruder channels passes to a second base channel communicating with a removable first control bar for forming a second base portion of said closure strips, and the plastic feed materials from another of said extruder channels passes to a plurality of channels wherein one of said plurality of channels comprises a first profile channel communicating with a removable second control bar for forming a first profile portion of said closure strips, one of said plurality of channels comprising a first base channel communicating with a removable third control bar for forming a first base portion of said closure strips, and one of said plurality of channels comprising a second profile channel communicating with a removable fourth control bar for forming a second profile portion of said closure strips; (c) controlling the flow of said plastic feed materials within said channels by control orifice and adjustable valve control means communicating with each of said first base channel, said first profile channel, said second base channel, and said second profile channel; (d) passing said plastic feed materials from said second base channel to the die opening for said removable first control bar, and extruding a second base portion therefrom; (e) passing said plastic feed materials from said first profile channel to the die opening of said removable second control bar, and extruding a first profile portion therefrom; (f) passing said plastic feed materials from said first base channel to the die opening of said removable third control bar, and extruding a first base portion therefrom; and (g) passing said plastic feed materials from said second profile channel to the die opening of said removable fourth control bar, and extruding a second profile portion therefrom.