US 11,833,727 B2
Extruder including rotating outlet and method of using the same
James N. Valentine, Rives Junction, MI (US)
Assigned to CertainTeed LLC, Malvern, PA (US)
Filed by CertainTeed LLC, Malvern, PA (US)
Filed on Mar. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/695,281.
Application 17/695,281 is a division of application No. 16/158,935, filed on Oct. 12, 2018, granted, now 11,273,588.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/572,315, filed on Oct. 13, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0203594 A1, Jun. 30, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 48/285 (2019.01); B29C 48/03 (2019.01); B29C 48/00 (2019.01); B29C 48/30 (2019.01); B29C 48/33 (2019.01); B29K 105/16 (2006.01); B29K 105/12 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 48/2886 (2019.02) [B29C 48/022 (2019.02); B29C 48/03 (2019.02); B29C 48/301 (2019.02); B29C 48/33 (2019.02); B29C 48/0022 (2019.02); B29K 2105/12 (2013.01); B29K 2105/16 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for producing a formed article, the system comprising:
an extruder comprising:
an extruder body comprising one or more material inlets each configured for the introduction of a material component of an extrudate comprising a polyurethane into the extruder body, a first one of the material inlets being coupled to a source of a polyol and a second one of the material inlets being coupled to a source of an isocyanate, and an exit opening, the extruder body being configured to mix the one or more material components of the extrudate, and to convey the mixture so formed to the exit opening, wherein the mixing and conveying includes allowing the polyol and the isocyanate to react to form the polyurethane;
a rotatable outlet coupled to the exit opening of the extruder body, the rotatable outlet being configured to allow an extrudate to continue rotating as it leaves the rotatable outlet; and
a drive mechanism coupled to the outlet and configured to impart rotation to the rotatable outlet,
a receiving surface configured to receive the extrudate after it leaves the outlet, after having been rotated through a predetermined amount of rotation; and
a shaping machine configured to receive the extrudate from the receiving surface and to shape the received extrudate into the formed article.