Extrusion of articles

• US 8,121,721 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Silberg, Kevin, Lindquist, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): KASENGE, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US12/816,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20100249983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 700/196, 700/197, 700/200, 700/207, 264/40.1, 264/40.6, 264/165, 264/167, 264/209.4, 264/250, 264/407, 425/113, 425/135, 604/96.01, 604/264, 604/523, 604/525, 604/526, 604/527, 604/915
• US Class Current: 700/196
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/7871 of the extruded preform thickness
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/7873 Extrusion speed; Extruded preform position or length; Extrusion fall speed
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/7874 Preform or article shape, weight, defect or presence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92009 Measured parameter
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92076 Position, e.g. linear or angular
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92085 Velocity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92123 Diameter or circumference
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92209 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92314 Particular value claimed
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92428 Calibration, after-treatment, or cooling zone
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92438 Conveying, transporting or storage of articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92514 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92523 Force; Tension
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/9258 Velocity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/9259 Angular velocity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92609 Dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92619 Diameter or circumference
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92704 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92714 Degree of crosslinking, solidification, crystallinity or homogeneity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92809 Particular value claimed
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92857 : Extrusion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92876 : Feeding, melting, plasticising or pumping zones, e.g. the melt itself
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92885 : Screw or gear
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92923 : Calibration, after-treatment or cooling zone
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92933 : Conveying, transporting or storage of articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2948/92952 : Drive section, e.g. gearbox, motor or drive fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/06 : Rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/07 : Flat, e.g. panels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/08 : flexible, e.g. films
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/09 : Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/10 : flexible, e.g. blown foils
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/12 : Articles with an irregular circumference when viewed in cross-section, e.g. window profiles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/2694 : Intermittent extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/92 : Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/04 : Extrusion blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/42426 : by pressure difference deforming parts of the preform
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/78 : Measuring, controlling or regulating

Abstract

An extrusion control system for use with one or more extruders has a data acquisition module in communication with one or more data acquisition nodes that are associated with an extrusion process. A control module is also in communication with one or more control nodes associated the extrusion process. A synchronization signal to one or more control nodes causes the nodes to adjust to a predetermined setting.

Claims

1. A method of producing an extruded article comprised of a plurality of extruded parts, the method comprising:

defining a part profile;

associating a plurality of control parameters with the part profile, wherein each control parameter has an initial value;

producing a first extruded part using the plurality of control parameters in a closed loop system;

resetting each of the plurality of control parameters to its initial value by sending a synchronization signal to a plurality of control nodes in response to an event marker; and

producing a second extruded part using the plurality of control parameters in a closed-loop control system,

wherein the event marker corresponds to either the beginning or the end of the part profile.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization signal is a pulse.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization signal is transmitted on a dedicated communication path.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization signal is sent after the first extruded part is produced and before the second extruded part is produced.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization signal is transmitted at a substantially repeating period.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the substantially repeating period is a function of a length of one of the plurality of extruded parts.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the event marker corresponds to the beginning of the part profile.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the event marker corresponds to the end of the part profile.