초록 ▼

The invention is an extrusion apparatus having a driven feed segment that is rotatably driven about central mandrel or within a housing member. Rotation of the driven feed segment subjects one or more streams of resin introduced onto a surface thereof to transverse shear during radial flow. One of

The invention is an extrusion apparatus having a driven feed segment that is rotatably driven about central mandrel or within a housing member. Rotation of the driven feed segment subjects one or more streams of resin introduced onto a surface thereof to transverse shear during radial flow. One of more driven feed segments can be assembled with other components of conventional extrusion die assemblies. Extrusion die assemblies can include one or more driven feed segments rotated in the same or opposite direction of each other. The number of streams of resin and rotational speed of the driven feed segment can be controlled to produce microlayered film having in excess of 4000 layers.

대표청구항 ▼

That which is claimed: 1. An extrusion apparatus comprising: at least one driven feed segment having an outer circumference, a bore defining an inner circumference, and a first surface extending between the outer circumference and the bore, the first surface of the at least one driven feed segment

That which is claimed: 1. An extrusion apparatus comprising: at least one driven feed segment having an outer circumference, a bore defining an inner circumference, and a first surface extending between the outer circumference and the bore, the first surface of the at least one driven feed segment for receiving molten resin thereon; a support member upon which the at least one driven feed segment is rotatably disposed and wherein said driven feed segment is driven at a rate of rotation that is independent of a flow rate of a molten resin disposed thereon, and wherein the support member includes an inner circumferential wall; a central mandrel about which the driven feed segment is rotatably disposed; an annular gap disposed between the inner circumference of the driven feed segment and the central mandrel, an annular gap disposed between the inner circumferential wall and the outer circumference of the central mandrel, said annular gaps defining an annular fluid pathway through which molten resin flows from the first surface and through the annular gaps, wherein rotation of said driven feed segment causes resin introduced on the first surface to flow in the direction of the annular gaps from where the resin is introduced on the first surface; and a means for preventing molten resin disposed on the first surface from flowing in a direction opposite the annular gap. 2. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inner circumferential wall includes a surface that is substantially coplanar with the first surface of the driven feed segment. 3. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a drive device that is in mechanical communication with said driven feed segment; said drive device configured to rotatably drive said driven feed segment about said support member. 4. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising two or more driven feed segments. 5. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a first driven feed segment and a second driven feed segment, wherein the first driven feed segment is rotated in a first direction and the second driven feed segment is rotated in the same or opposite direction of the first driven feed segment. 6. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a first driven feed segment and a second driven feed segment, wherein the first driven feed segment is rotated at one rotational speed and the second driven feed segment is rotated at the same or different rotational speed of the first driven feed segment. 7. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least two inlet ports that are configured to introduce two different melt streams onto the first surface of the driven feed segment. 8. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one feed port capable of delivering fluid onto the first surface of the driven feed segment, said port in fluid communication with a molten resin source. 9. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of feed ports in fluid communication with an extruder. 10. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising drive means for positively rotating the at least one driven feed segment. 11. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for preventing molten resin disposed on the first surface from flowing in a direction opposite the annular gap includes a slip-ring, seal, gasket, or plurality of grooves to prevent resin from flowing in a direction opposite the annular gap. 12. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driven feed segment comprises an annular-disc having a plate-like geometry. 13. An extrusion assembly comprising: a central mandrel; at least one driven feed segment having a substantially planar first surface for receiving a molten resin thereon and a bore rotatably disposed about said central mandrel and defining an annular gap therebetween; at least one distribution channel disposed upstream of the first surface of the driven feed segment, the distribution channel including a plurality of feed ports through which a plurality of molten streams of resin are introduced onto the first surface, the feed ports disposed opposite the first surface; a drive device cooperating with said at least one driven feed segment for rotatably driving said driven feed segment about said central mandrel, wherein rotation of said driven feed segment causes resin introduced on the first surface to flow in the direction of the annular gap; and an orifice in communication with said annular gap so that resin passing through said annular gap exits said assembly, and wherein the at least one driven feed segment includes a slip-ring, seal, gasket, or plurality of grooves to prevent resin from flowing in a direction opposite the annular gap. 14. The extrusion assembly according to claim 13, wherein rotation of the driven feed segment imparts a transverse shear field across the first surface of the driven feed segment. 15. The extrusion assembly according to claim 13, wherein rotation of the driven feed segment imparts a transverse shear field across an inner circumference of said bore. 16. The extrusion assembly according to claim 13, further comprising an end cap module, said end cap module having an inner surface opposite said first surface to define a radial gap therebetween. 17. The extrusion assembly according to claim 16, further comprising at least one feed port in fluid communication with said radial gap. 18. The extrusion assembly according to claim 13, wherein the drive device comprises a drive gear that is attached to a drive shaft and is in mechanical communication with a ring gear disposed on an outer circumference of the driven feed segment so that rotation of said drive shaft causes rotation of the driven feed segment. 19. The extrusion assembly according to claim 16, wherein the at least one driven feed segment is disposed in a modular support member. 20. An extrusion apparatus comprising: at least one driven feed segment having an outer circumference, a bore defining an inner circumference, and a first surface extending between the outer circumference and the bore, the first surface of the at least one driven feed segment for receiving molten resin thereon; at least one distribution channel disposed upstream of the first surface of the driven feed segment, the distribution channel including a plurality of feed ports through which a plurality of molten streams of resin are introduced onto the first surface, the feed ports disposed opposite the first surface; a support member upon which the at least one driven feed segment is rotatably disposed and wherein said driven feed segment is driven at a rate of rotation that is independent of a flow rate of a molten resin disposed thereon, a central mandrel about which the driven feed segment is rotatably disposed; and an annular gap disposed between the inner circumference of the driven feed segment and the central mandrel, said annular gap defining an annular fluid pathway, wherein rotation of said driven feed segment causes resin introduced on the first surface to flow in the direction of the annular gap. 21. extrusion apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus includes two distribution channels having an annular-like shape and that are disposed towards the outer circumference of the driven feed segment. 22. An extrusion apparatus comprising: at least one driven feed segment having an outer circumference, a bore defining an inner circumference, and a first surface extending between the outer circumference and the bore, the first surface of the at least one driven feed segment for receiving molten resin thereon; at least one distribution channel disposed upstream of the first surface of the driven feed segment, the distribution channel including a plurality of feed ports through which a plurality of molten streams of resin are introduced onto the first surface, the feed ports disposed opposite the first surface; a support member upon which the at least one driven feed segment is rotatably disposed and wherein said driven feed segment is driven at a rate of rotation that is independent of a flow rate of a molten resin disposed thereon; a central mandrel about which the driven feed segment is rotatably disposed; and an annular gap disposed between the inner circumference of the driven feed segment and the central mandrel, said annular gap defining an annular fluid pathway; and wherein the support member includes an inner circumferential wall and the annular gap is disposed between the inner circumferential wall and the outer circumference of the central mandrel, wherein rotation of said driven feed segment causes resin introduced on the first surface to flow in the direction of the annular gap. 23. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the inner circumferential wall includes a surface that is substantially coplanar with the first surface of the driven feed segment. 24. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising a drive device that is in mechanical communication with said driven feed segment; said drive device configured to rotatably drive said driven feed segment about said support member. 25. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising two or more driven feed segments. 26. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 22, comprising a first driven feed segment and a second driven feed segment, wherein the first driven feed segment is rotated in a first direction and the second driven feed segment is rotated in the same or opposite direction of the first driven feed segment. 27. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 22, comprising a first driven feed segment and a second driven feed segment, wherein the first driven feed segment is rotated at one rotational speed and the second driven feed segment is rotated at the same or different rotational speed of the first driven feed segment. 28. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising at least two inlet ports that are configured to introduce two different melt streams onto the first surface of the driven feed segment. 29. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising at least one feed port capable of delivering fluid onto the first surface of the driven feed segment, said port in fluid communication with a molten resin source. 30. The extrusion apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising drive means for positively rotating the at least one driven feed segment.