Dual valve X-flow system 4/6

Description

Our patented Dual Valve X-flow System 4/6 is an instant color change system which allows very fast insulation and striping color changes.

Substantial raw material cost saving can be achieved with this system through color change scrap reduction. The possible production flexibility and no color change downtime assure high productivity with an X-flow system.

An extrusion group with a dual X-flow valve is composed of four auxiliary type extruders, an insulation X-flow valve, a striping X-flow valve and a triple layer crosshead. Two extruders are used for insulation and the other two for striping. The X-flow valves are the key components of this color change system. They are located between the extruders and the crosshead. The triple layer crosshead is used for dual layer extrusion with striping. One insulation extruder builds the outer insulation layer, one striping extruder makes the striping and the flow of both other extruders is mixed and led to the inner layer. A certain time before the next insulation color change, raw material containing the next insulation color is supplied to the insulation extruder that feeds the inner layer. This color in the inner layer will not be visible since the outer insulation hides it.

The function of the insulation X-flow valve is to cross the flow between the two insulation extruders and the striping X-flow valve is to cross the flow of the striping extruders. The insulation X-flow valve is activated when the production length of the current insulation color is reached. The material of the insulation extruder with the next insulation color goes now to the outer insulation layer. The insulation extruder used previously for the outer layer will now supply its material to the hidden inner layer. The insulation will start changing color almost instantly and will have the full new color after 5 to 30 seconds depending on the used colors and insulation thickness.