Abstract: A vacuum cleaner hose and method and apparatus of making the same are provided, the hose having opposite ends and a plurality of annular corrugations between the opposite ends thereof, the corrugations comprising a plurality of alternating annular crests and annular valleys that are interconnected together by annular sidewalls, each valley and each crest defining a radius at the apex thereof, each valley being narrower than the crests and having a smaller radius than the crests.

Abstract: A machine for making plastic tubing including a plurality of separate carriages for carrying mold blocks about the continuous path. First and second wheel pairs on opposite sides of each carriage ride on first and second tracks respectively through a molding section of the path. An offset wheel is disposed between the wheels of each pair and rides on guide tracks associated with and facing oppositely to the first and second tracks respectively through the molding section. Each mold block is a plurality of sub-blocks secured end to end, with each sub-block having an arcuate face and corrugated with not more than one complete wavelength. Vacuum channels about sub-block end surfaces connect the block face to a vacuum port.

Abstract: A travelling mold has mold blocks formed by opposing mold block sections which open and close relative to one another. The mold sections travel horizontally around a continuous track which is fitted with a plurality of side-by-side mold block carriers on which the mold block sections are releasably supported. The mold block carriers are provided with carrier gears which engage with the main drive gear of the mold so that the mold is driven by engagement of the drive gear with the carriers and not the mold block sections.

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of corrugated pipes of thermoplastic plastics, which has circulating mold segment halves disposed in two opposite rows subsequent to an injection head, includes a wedge element for separating the mold segment halves. This wedge element is displaceable parallel to the direction of production. Further, grab equipments are provided to be displaceable,counter to the direction of production, by which one additional mold segment half at a time can be moved to the downstream end of a molding path, removed from the latter in the direction of production and moved into a parking position.

Abstract: An improved, endless mold tunnel, clamshell-type, thermoplastic tube molding apparatus and method using exteriorly disposed, compressive roller elements and a cooperating keyway/matching lug assembly for maintaining the alignment of the independent mold blocks and mold block half sections substantially orthogonal relative to opposed half sections and relative to the contiguous upstream and downstream mold blocks in said tunnel while allowing for the introduction of cooling fluid or vacuum.

Abstract: A machine for making plastic tubing including a plurality of separate carriages for carrying mold blocks about the continuous path. First and second wheel pairs on opposite sides of each carriage ride on first and second tracks respectively through a molding section of the path. An offset wheel is disposed between the wheels of each pair and rides on guide tracks associated with and facing oppositely to the first and second tracks respectively through the molding section. Each mold block is a plurality of sub-blocks secured end to end, with each sub-block having an arcuate face and corrugated with not more than one complete wavelength. Vacuum channels about sub-block end surfaces connect the block face to a vacuum port. Cooling water channels about sub-block end surfaces connect to water inlet and discharge ports for selectively circulating cooling water through the blocks.

Abstract: A travelling mold has mold block sections which are driven around an endless track. The mold has a drive system including a first drive component which drives the mold block sections in abutting positions with one another to a second component in the drive system which accelerates and separates the mold block sections and which then decelerates and regroups the mold block sections in their abutting positions before the mold block sections are returned to the first drive component. This separation and regrouping of the mold block sections eliminates the necessity of having a complete chain of abutting mold block sections completely around the mold.

Abstract: In a method of forming a hollow product in a molding apparatus having an upstream and a downsteam end a parison of thermoplastic material is extruded in a molten state from a heated extruder at the upstream end and moved through a product shaping region towards the downstream end of the apparatus. The material is cooled by passing a cooling medium internally of the product from the downstream end towards the upstream end of the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of corrugated tubing from thermoplastic synthetic resin including a shaping path following an extrusion head of an extruder and composed of a guide which is arranged in a frame and on which mold halves, fitted together in a pair at an inlet to define annular molds in a compact train as a travelling mold moving with the tube are advanced by at least one drive pinion arranged at an initial part of the shaping path, the pinion being in mesh with racks on the fitted together mold halves. At an exit point following the shaping path, the mold halves are separated from one another and are gripped by gripping arms provided with coupling devices and area shunted back to the inlet of the shaping path. The gripping arms are bearinged by drives in a movable fashion on carriages. The carriages are able to be reciprocated by drives on guides on return paths parallel to the shaping path.

Abstract: An apparatus for making smooth walled tube (20) in a travelling mold tunnel (26) includes corrugations (32) for traction of tube being molded. An extrusion nozzle (16) having an exit angle of 45.degree. or more may provide additional advantage.

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacturing of plastic pipes has half shells of which two at a time combine as a pair to form a mold. It is provided with a temperature-regulating bell. Supply lines are formed as flexible supply hoses of temperature-resistant plastic material. A line conduit accommodating them is provided with a protecting tube, which accommodates the supply hoses and which is provided with a heat insulation towards an injection head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for production of smooth or corrugated small and large diameter thermoplastic tubing and composite tubular structures. The apparatus includes a supporting framework, a plurality of mold carriages mounted on said framework for reciprocal linear travel therealong, at least one mold block mounted on each of said mold carriages, each said mold block comprising a pair of opposed semi-cylindrical segments mounted on a carriage for transverse linear reciprocal travel therealong for closing and opening of said mold block, an actuating mechanism for moving said opposed mold segments towards and away from each other, and a single actuating mechanism for selectively moving said carriages.

Abstract: A machine for making plastic tubing including a plurality of separate carriages for carrying mold blocks about the continuous path. A mold train drive engages a selected number of carriages at the beginning of the mold tunnel to continuously drive the carriages along the mold tunnel. A shuttle drive follows the continuous path through a shuttle area and spaced from the path along a substantial portion of the mold tunnel, and includes first and second carriage engaging sections at substantially opposite points along the drive so that a carriage at the end of the mold tunnel becomes engaged by one shuttle drive engaging section while the other shuttle drive engaging section engages a carriage at the beginning of the mold tunnel.

Abstract: A machine for making plastic tubing including a plurality of separate carriages for carrying mold blocks about the continuous path. First and second wheel pairs on opposite sides of each carriage ride on first and second tracks respectively through a molding section of the path. An offset wheel is disposed between the wheels of each pair and rides on guide tracks associated with and facing oppositely to the first and second tracks respectively through the molding section.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a dental aspirator by extruding a continuous tube with a bellows portion. The tube is angled to form a number of folds, each of which consists of two cup-shaped portions having concave surfaces facing each other. One cup-shaped portion is made smaller than the other, allowing them to be snapped together. The bellows are formed from the tube wall by chilled mold chains. At the same time, the tube is profiled to form an end portion at the suction end of the finished aspirator.

Abstract: For the continuous manufacture of a compound pipe with a spigot which is substantially smooth on its outside, the compound pipe including a smooth internal tube and an external tube provided with transverse grooves and welded together with the internal tube, an external tube and an internal tube are extruded, the latter into the external tube. While the spigot which is substantially smooth on the outside is manufactured, its external wall is pressure-relieved by compensation chambers.

Abstract: A method for producing polymeric tubing which is resistant to permeation by organic material contained therein which has at least one region defined by a plurality of outwardly extending annular ridges. In this method, tubular polymeric material having a first outer diameter and composed of at least three overlying polymeric layers is introduced into a mold device upon exit of the tubular polymeric material from a suitable extrusion device, the surface of the mold device having at least one region defined by an annular depression in an essentially cylindrical surface. Once the tubular material is introduced, it is expanded to a second outer diameter such that the tubular material deformably contacts the mold surface. The corrugated tubular material then exits from the die device after completion of the expansion step.

Abstract: A travelling mold tunnel for the vacuum forming of profiled tube from extruded parison of molten thermoplastic material includes a plurality of parallel mold cavities with a vacuum applied to each of the mold cavities.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the orientation of a plastic pipe, wherein a pipe blank (2) is produced with an extruder and fed into a pipe forming apparatus provided with movable moulds (3), such as a corrugator, the pipe being conveyed forward in the corrugator with said moulds over a mandrel (4), along which the pipe is further conveyed out from the corrugator. In accordance with the invention, the plastic pipe (7) is oriented radially immediately after the corrugator by means of a conically widening mandrel (5) forming an extension of said corrugator. The invention also relates to an oriented ribbed plastic pipe produced by the method.

Abstract: A process for making a length of rubber tubing with axially spaced circumferentially corrugated flexible segments from a sleeve of uncured rubber and the product resulting therefrom. An end length of a sleeve of uncured rubber is placed over an end portion of a forming mandrel and an external form is placed around the sleeve end length. Rudimentary corrugations are then formed in the end length after which the sleeve is moved axially along the forming mandrel so that a new length portion of the sleeve is placed in a forming position. Then using the external form, rudimentary corrugations are formed in the second length portion of the sleeve. These steps are repeated until the desired number of axial length portions in the sleeve are provided with rudimentary corrugations. The resulting product is then cured to form a length of rubber tubing with a plurality of axially spaced circumferentially corrugated flexible segments.

Abstract: A travelling mold tunnel for forming double walled corrugated tube has a first portion for forming corrugated tube and a second belled portion for forming a cuff portion suitable for coupling with another tube. At the upstream end of the belled portion, radial small diameter passages are provided so that a pressure differential may be set up between the inside and the outside of a first parison within the belled portion. Thus, vacuum may be applied through the radial passages to allow an inner parison to laminate with the first parison over its inner surface in the belled portion. The first parison is drawn into the passages in protruding balloons. These may be ruptured. Alternatively, positive pressure may be used. In this case, the balloons may be ruptured inwardly.

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of pipes having transverse profile features has a machine bed, on which half shells, which can be combined to form a mold, are rotatably and displaceably drivable. The half shells are pressed together on a molding path by guide rails, of which one is displaceable at right angles to the direction of production by hydraulically actuatable drives. Interlockings may be provided in addition, a locking member of which engaging with an associated locking recess.

Abstract: Annularly or helically ribbed or corrugated semi-rigid thermoplastic pipe is modified to have a smooth outer wall. The ribbed or corrugated pipe is passed through a heated sleeve to squash and smooth the outer profile of corrugated pipe or bend over ribs of ribbed pipe and mold a smooth outer skin of the pipe. Apparatus for forming the modified pipe includes a travelling mold tunnel for the production of ribbed or corrugated pipe and a smoothing sleeve downstream thereof. The smoothing sleeve has a heater to heat it sufficiently to mold the smoother outer skin.

Abstract: The invention concerns apparatus for molding tube (20) utilizing a travelling mold tunnel. The tunnel is made up of mold blocks (16) each comprising parts (13, 15) which are hinged together to be closeable to form the tunnel and openable to release tube from the tunnel. The opened mold blocks (16) from the downstream end of the tunnel are opened and returned to the upstream end without change in their orientation to reform the tunnel about an extrusion nozzle (18) for thermoplastic extrudate.

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacturing of plastic pipes has an injection head and half shells of which two at a time combine as a pair to form a mold. The injection head has at least one channel issuing in a substantially ring-shaped nozzle, which is delimited by two components one of which being adjustable for modification of the width of the nozzle. A component directly delimiting the nozzle is tiltable in relation to the central longitudinal axis, whereby an adjustment of the width with great sensitivity is attained for such a ring-shaped nozzle.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing from a mouldable material a pipe having ribs on its outer surface and a smooth inner surface has a core including a shaft, a conically widening mandrel located downstream of the shaft in a direction of production and a kernel having an initial zone and an end zone respectively of substantially uniform diameters successively disposed downstream of the mandrel. An extrusion sleeve surrounds the core and forms with the core a nozzle for the material. The extrusion sleeve has a first end face located upstream of the kernel. Moulds encase the extrusion sleeve and the core, the moulds being movable along endless paths and having grooves on inner surfaces for forming the ribs on the pipe. A heater heats the initial zone of the kernel, the initial zone of the kernel being cylindrical. A first cooler cools the end zone of the kernel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a hose for a vacuum cleaner, such hose having anti-whistling characteristics. In a standard blow molding process, a blow pipe is configured with a plurality of printing rollers having arcuate outer surfaces configured and spaced in such a manner as to assure engagement of the entirety of the hose with a printing roller during the manufacturing process. The printing rollers are provided with apertures which, upon engagement with the tacky material of the inner surface of inwardly extending corrugations causes indentations or protrusions in such surface. The roughened interior surface prevents the formation of audible harmonics when air passes through the tube in response to a vacuum source at one end thereof.

Abstract: Annularly or helically ribbed or corrugated semi-rigid thermoplastic pipe is modified to have a smooth outer wall. The ribbed or corrugated pipe is passed through a heated sleeve to squash and smooth the outer profile of corrugated pipe or bend over ribs of ribbed pipe and mold a smooth outer skin of the pipe. Apparatus for forming the modified pipe includes a travelling mold tunnel for the production of ribbed or corrugated pipe and a smoothing sleeve downstream thereof. The smoothing sleeve has a heater to heat it sufficiently to mold the smoother outer skin.

Abstract: For the continuous manufacture of a compound pipe with a pipe socket including a smooth internal tube and an external tube provided with transverse grooves and welded together with the latter, an external tube and an internal tube are extruded, the latter into the external tube. While the normal compound pipe is manufactured, gas is blown at a slight overpressure into the space beteen the external tube and the internal tube. When the pipe socket is produced, this space is vented so that a full-surface bearing of the internal tube against the external tube is achieved, to which end the internal tube is acted upon from its inside by gas under pressure.

Abstract: The invention concerns a cooling plug for sizing the interior surface of thermoplastic extruded pipe. Vacuum and/or pneumatic pressure is applied at the surface of the plug. The pneumatic pressure may cause the inner wall to balloon outwardly to form bells within a mold or within an outer wall, to fit into corrugations of an outer corrugated tube, etc. The vacuum may be used to pull the inner wall back to the surface of the plug after application of pneumatic pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming tubular tile, including an endless trackway having at least two substantially straight portions defining first and second molding sections, a plurality of mold blocks supported for movement about the trackway, and a plurality of mating mold blocks supported for mating with the first mold blocks along each molding section to form a segment of a corrugated molding tunnel. Extruders introduce moldable material at the beginning of each molding section, and the material is conformed to the molding tunnel along the molding sections for forming the tile, with the mold blocks being separated when they move past the end of each molding section. The extruders are mounted for movement toward the beginning of the two molding sections when initiating tile formation therein.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus and process particularly for molding profile thermoplastic tubing and process. The apparatus includes the travelling mold type for molding profile tubing, e.g. corrugated or ribbed, including double walled tubing of various types. A sizing plug for the internal diameter of the pipe is provided with suction applying device which applies suction of diminishing strength in the upstream direction of the plug to the inside diameter of the pipe to provide a smooth inside wall of the pipe and allowing faster pipe formation. Suitably, the plug is a cooling plug and provision may be made for communicating the suction to cooling liquid to draw it to the surface of the plug to provide lubrication for a faster pipe forming process.

Abstract: A production line for manufacturing corrugated pipe also has a calibrating basin for manufacturing smooth-walled pipe arranged between form paths of the corrugator when the paths have been separated. An extruder that normally feeds a molten plastic pipe blank to the corrugator for making corrugated pipe then feeds the pipe blank to the calibrating basin for making smooth-walled pipe, and other down-the-production-line equipment can be the same, too.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing ribbed piping, wherein a formable mass in a plastic state is extruded into a substantially cylindrical forming space of a corrugator, the forming space being delimited by forming molds movable in the production direction of the apparatus and having grooves on the inner surface thereof for forming rib flanges. A stationary kernel portion of a mandrel cools the interior surface of the piping and extends beyond the forming space constituted by the forming molds of the corrugator.

Abstract: Pipe made from thermoplastic polymeric material and including a transversely corrugated outer wall and a smooth inner wall of constant diameter fusion welded to the inner crests of the corrugations of the outer wall is produced by an improved method involving simultaneous extrusion of two tubes, blow molding of the outer wall and fusion of the two walls while the inner wall is supported by an internal shaping and cooling mandrel. Even when the polymeric material is polyvinyl chloride, good fusion welds and lack of brittleness are achieved by the manner in which extrusion is carried out, control of the location at which the fusion welds are established, and the extrusion formulation. The finished pipe is characterized by the fact that, when the fusion welded areas have been cut for inspection, no line of demarcation between the materials of the two walls can be observed.

Abstract: A process is described for precisely controlling the thickness of a thermoplastic extruded profile by varying the output of a continuously operating extrusion die. The process employs an ancillary device preferably taking the form of accumulator means connected to an extrusion die, or to a passageway communicating with the die. The accumulator means functions as a variable volume device, and by action of cylinder-piston structure or the equivalent thereof, is effective to either receive or discharge melted thermoplastic resin as the exemplary working medium. In this manner, the accumulator means receives melt from the stream when the die output needs to be reduced, and delivers melt to the stream when the die output needs to be increased. Various illustrative structural arrangements are disclosed for accomplishing the process concepts of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention concerns apparatus for molding thermoplastic tubing having solid annular ribs. The apparatus is of the type where a tubular mold is defined by cooperatively interengaged mold block of a pair of mold assemblies. An annular extrusion orifice for the tube extends into the mold tunnel and tubing is extruded about a mandrel. The invention provides an accumulator chamber in the region of the extrusion nozzle to provide for pressure differences which build up at that point. Thus, the effective volume of the accumulator chamber can compensate for the varying requirement for the thermoplastic material resulting from the varying radial wall thickness.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the manufacture of plastic tubing exemplified by corrugated plastic tile and parts related thereto, in which molds for shaping an extrudable plastic material are caused to shuttle linearly forwardly and rearwardly with respect to an extruding source of said plastic material. Sequentially related to linear mold movement is opening and closing mold action, which is correlated to the discharge of plastic material from the extruding source thereof. Provision is also made herein during the course of linear mold movement for parking one or more predetermined molds at a location spaced from the extruding source.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the production of ribbed pipes. According to the method a plastic material is fed through an extruder into a pipe molding space (12) defined by an extrusion sleeve (4), a mandrel (9) and chill molds (1, 2) moving in the direction of the central axis of the mandrel. When the pressure of the molding space (12) deviates from a desired value, a gap is formed between the chill molds (1,2), and plastic material is squeezed into the gap, or grooves (13) of the chill molds are filled up incompletely. In order to restore the pressure to the proper value, the pressure of the material contained in the molding space is directly measured by means of a pressure sensor (14) which adjusts the speed of the extruder or the chill molds.

Abstract: In the production of plastic tubes or pipes which are internally smooth-walled but have peripheral ribs externally, in particular from extrudable, more especially thermoplastic plastic such as PVC, a good filling of the cavities in the moving mold which are provided to form the ribs, is achieved in that said cavities are filled with the molten plastic first at a distance from the separating plane of the moving mold and last in the region of said separating plane.

Abstract: Method in extruding a double-walled plastic tube by using plastic materials of different colors for the inner layer and the outer layer, a portion of the material for the inner layer being diverted to form a longitudinal strip of the outer layer on the outside surface of the tube. The invention also relates to an extrusion tool for working the method, wherein an element (21) is provided inside the tool to divert material from a passage (19) for material for the inner layer to a passage (16) for material for the outer layer.

Abstract: Method in manufacturing a heat insulated tube includes a tube (17) for conducting fluid and a sheath (12) enclosing said tube, a heat insulating material (15) being disposed between the fluid tube and the sheath. The sheath is being extruded in an angle extruder die (10) while the fluid tube and the heat insulating material enclosing said tube are being fed axially through the angle extruder die as the sheath is being extruded around the heat insulating material. Then the sheath (12) extruded from the angle extruder die is kept spaced from the heat insulating material (15) enclosing the fluid tube (17), over an initial length of the axial movement thereof up to chains of chill molds (13) for imparting to the sheath a corrugated shape by forming the sheath against the chains of chill molds under the influence of negative pressure. The invention also relates to a device in extruders having an angle extruder die (10) for the manufacture of the heat insulated tube.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the manufacture of plastic tubing exemplified by corrugated plastic tile and parts related thereto, in which molds for shaping an extrudable plastic material are caused to shuttle linearly forwardly and rearwardly with respect to an extruding source of said plastic material. Sequentially related to linear mold movement is opening and closing mold action, which is correlated to the discharge of plastic material from the extruding source thereof. Provision is also made herein during the course of linear mold movement for parking one or more predetermined molds at a location spaced from the extruding source.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a finned tube from synthetic plastics material has a moulding chamber which moves in the direction of production. Molten synthetic plastics charge enters this moulding chamber from which fins are moulded one after another, the fins being in each case formed individually one after another. In order to ensure this procedural measure, there are constructed in the surface of the molten plastics material present in the moulding chamber annular raised portions with conveying surfaces trailing in the direcetion of production. Corresponding conveying grooves are constructed in the half moulds which bound the molding chamber. These measures ensure an accurate contour of the tube which is to be produced, ensuring that a reverse flow of molten plastics charge and its combustion will be prevented.

Abstract: A method of forming a hole in a plastic pipe feeds a plastic layer for the plastic pipe from a nozzle about a mandrel into chill moulds being displaced along an elongated mould cavity about the mandrel formed by the chill moulds. All of the plastic layer is pressed into the chill moulds with a pressure medium between the mandrel and all of an inner surface of the plastic layer for forming the plastic pipe therefrom. Only portions of the plastic layer of the plastic pipe are then subjected to a local pressure difference exceeding the breaking limit of the plastic layer between the inner surface and an opposite, outer surface of the plastic layer at least in part from a flowing medium for forming a hole in the plastic layer of the plastic pipe, the flowing medium being one of a gas and a liquid and flowing from the mandrel at a pressure higher than that of the pressure medium pressing the plastic layer of the plastic pipe.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the production of outwardly ribbed, plastic pipes. The apparatus includes a core around which a plasticized material is pressed from a nozzle. A kernel having an essentially constant diameter is positioned at the terminal end of the core for a smooth inner face of the pipe. The outer face of the pipe is ribbed by grooves of axially displaceable chill moulds. The end zone of the kernel is provided for the cooling of the inner face of the pipe. In known apparatuses the grooves of the chill moulds are often filled incompletely and the inner face of the pipe becomes uneven on account of air bubbles, for instance. These disadvantages are avoided by heating an initial zone of the kernel for heating the inner face of the pipe and by shaping the surface of the initial zone to slightly expand conicallly in the production direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the extrusion of plastic pipes. Today, plastic pipes are provided with a sleeve in such a manner that the end of the pipe is heated, whereafter the end is expanded by means of a mandrel or a pressure medium. This step requires a separate sleeve machine, and it also takes plenty of time and consumes thermal energy. According to the invention a sleeve (22) is formed in connection with the extrusion of a pipe in an apparatus in which a mandrel (8) is surrounded by chill moulds (1, 2) moving in the axial direction of the apparatus. The sleeve is formed by providing some of the chill moulds with a recess (16) the shape of which corresponds to that of the sleeve (22) and by pressing a plasticized plastic hose (11) extruded through a nozzle (10) against the walls of the recess in the area thereof by means of pressure air.

Abstract: Method in extruding a double-walled plastic tube by using plastic materials of different colors for the inner layer and the outer layer, a portion of the material for the inner layer being diverted to form a longitudinal strip of the outer layer on the outside surface of the tube. The invention also relates to an extrusion tool for working the method, wherein an element (21) is provided inside the tool to divert material from a passage (19) for material for the inner layer to a passage (16) for material for the outer layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing helically wound double-walled fused thermoplastic pipes, corrugated outside and smooth inside. The apparatus includes extruder means forming two bands of a thermoplastic material, a former shaping the corrugated configuration of and helically winding the first extruded band, a cooled element pressing the second band to the inside of the corrugations and having passages communicating with the second band and with a vacuum means.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the production of ribbed pipes. The apparatus comprises a core which together with an extrusion sleeve forms a nozzle through which a plastic material is fed into a moulding space defined between a conically-enlarging mandrel and chill moulds moveable with respect to the mandrel. The volume of a moulding space defined between a plane at an end face of the extrusion sleeve, a surface of the mandrel, and a cylindrical plane projection from the surface of a kernel on the mandrel equals the combined volume of the grooves positioned at the mandrel at the mandrel at each particular moment. The method feeds a volume of the plastic material per unit time equal to volume of the pipe wall and ribs produced in that unit time.