Patent ID: 7608210

Claim:
A method for adjusting the dimensions of an extruded thermoplastic component exiting from a fixture, the method comprising: a) mounting an adjustment member to the fixture, the adjustment member being comprised of an inner member slidably disposed between two interconnected outer members wherein the inner and outer members are comprised of a substantially flat upper surface and disposed opposite the upper surfaces of the inner and outer members are outwardly extending fingers for urging a feature of the exiting thermoplastic component from a first position to a second position, the outermost extent of the outwardly extending fingers of the inner and outer members comprising a crown for contacting the thermoplastic component; b) performing a forming operation including: feeding a sheet of extruded thermoplastic material into and through the fixture; and, shaping the sheet into a profile in the fixture; and, c) performing a post forming operation including: passing a feature of the profile through the adjustment member; measuring a dimension of the feature of the profile; determining dimensional variation from specification of the feature of the profile; and adjusting the adjustment member to compensate for the dimensional variation from specification of the feature of the profile.