Patent ID: 7052260
Filing Date: 2006-05-30
Classification: B29C,B29K

Abstract:
1. A polymer processing system comprising: an extrusion assembly structured to extrude a quantity of polymeric material into a flowable extruded polymeric material; a decompression chamber positioned and structured to receive the flowable extruded polymeric material, the decompression chamber having an outer wall defining a hollow space having a length and including an entrance zone through which the flowable extruded polymeric material enters the decompression chamber, a generally oppositely located exit zone through which the flowable extruded polymeric material leaves the decompression chamber and a central zone located therebetween, the hollow space having an increased cross-sectional area perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the hollow space at the central zone relative to at at least one of the entrance zone and the exit zone and a substantially continuously varying cross-sectional area perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the hollow space along substantially the entire length of the hollow space; and a die assembly positioned and structured to receive the flowable extruded polymeric material from the decompression chamber and form the flowable extruded polymeric material into a shaped product, the decompression chamber being separate and apart from the die assembly.