Abstract: An internally-cooled blown-film system, for producing plastic tubing, in which the flow rate of the continuous flow of internal cooling air, by non-contacting, energy beam sensor means, is made directly dependent upon the deviation in position of the tube wall.

Abstract: Air ring for cooling a hot extruding tube of plastic film in which a lubricating air bleed port communicates with air from the air ring plenum independent of the cooling air flow path. The bleed port communicates with a bleeded air passage that extends to an annular lubricating air outlet positioned in advance of a guide surface that precedes the cooling air outlet. In an exterior air ring a valve arrangement limits the bleeded flow to the minimum desired.

Abstract: A rotary die assembly for extruding plastic tube, having a plurality of discrete cooling air inlet conduits extending through the male member of the die and connected at their inlet ends to circumferentially spaced apart positions to a wall of an annular inlet plenum so as to receive inlet air through the wall; the plenum is located outside of and generally coaxially with the rotating die members, the remaining walls of the plenum being stationary and connected to receive a supply of cooling air; exhaust air from the interior of the extruding tube similarly passes through a number of discrete conduits to a discharge plenum; the conduits are insulated to limit heat transfer between the heated die elements and the flowing air; a transition assembly enables the inner air to be efficiently distributed and the outlet air to be efficiently divided into the flows mentioned.

Abstract: A bag machine for permitting action on multiple widths of web and capable of high speed operation. A rigidifying beam supports the heat seal bar. The heat seal bar is thermally isolated from the beam and the flange of the beam is protected against heat loss. A belt and sprocket assembly that propels a cutter blade across the web path are aligned in a plane set at an angle to the axis of the beam. The sprockets have diameters comparable to the height of the beam and position the cutter blade adjacent the heat seal bar at the lower edge of the beam. The blade is attached by a plate inserted between teeth of the belt with a corresponding tooth omitted from the sprocket. An insulating heat shield also serves to support a protective curtain and a novel lift arrangement is provided for the entire head assembly and upper nip rolls.

Abstract: Air ring for cooling a hot extruding tube of plastic film in which a lubricating air bleed port communicates with air from the air ring plenum independent of the cooling air flow path. The bleed port communicates with a bleeded air passage that extends to an annular lubricating air outlet positioned in advance of a guide surface that precedes the cooling air outlet. In an exterior air ring a valve arrangement limits the bleeded flow to the minimum desired.

Abstract: A toggle press having a lower platen assembly constructed to provide a convenient working level for the platen in its open position. The fixed axis of the toggle linkage is mounted immediately adjacent to the ground and the actuator for the toggle linkage is inclined in the direction downwardly progressing away from the toggle actuating axis. The press is constructed with a beam which includes a base plate, this base plate having an extension upon which the fixed pivot of the toggle linkage is mounted, below the neutral axis of the beam. Additional structural features enable compensating deflection and self-alignment of the toggle bearing under load.

Abstract: A bag stacker useful for plastic bags having a fence for stopping forwardly projected bags, raisable to permit a completed stack to move forward, a conveyor passing beneath the fence, a clamp moving with the conveyer to draw the completed stacks forward beneath the fence and a bag support arranged to assume, when the clamp engages a completed stack of bags, a position rearward of the fence, to receive and support bags arriving subsequently, this support being movable forward of the fence to disengage from accumulated bags. Preferably fingers extend below the fence and have trailing ends movable between raised and lowered levels and from a rearward position in which the ends extend rearwardly beyond the fence.These fingers move to the forward position prior to raising the fence and to the rearward position when the fence is raised and before the support is drawn forward of the fence, to insert the finger ends into the space between the clamp and support and thereby between completed and newly forming stacks.

Abstract: A winder for plastic film in the absence of a winding core features equalized air lubrication of the wound roll, throughout its axial removal from the arbor. In the preferred embodiment in which a pair of aligned arbors move oppositely for stripping, means are provided for maintaining pressurized air at the roll-engaged support surfaces of both arbors until the arbors disengage the opposite ends of the roll.

Abstract: An apparatus for distributing a beam substantially uniformly over a workpiece comprising a workpiece holder, first means for rotating the holder in a generally circular path about a first axis which is generally perpendicular to the axis of the beam, second means for counter-rotating the holder about a second axis parallel to the first axis at a rate dependent upon the rate of rotation of the holder about the first axis to provide, in cooperation with the first means, a constant orientation of the holder relative to the beam, and third means for producing relative motion between the workpiece and the beam in a direction parallel to the first axis.

Abstract: A machine for discontinuously driving a web moving continuously through the machine, having web pulling means, a web shuttle having the web trained thereabout, shuttle drive means for reciprocating the shuttle to alternately take up and pay out the web, and an endless looped belt drivingly interconnecting the web pulling means and the web shuttle for stopping and starting a portion of the belt associated with the web pulling means and thereby the web pulling means synchronously with the take-up and pay-out movements of the web and web shuttle, in which the web shuttle comprises a pair of shuttle members, a first upstream member and a second downstream member relative to the direction of web movement, each shuttle member being independently mounted in the machine for reciprocation, connected outside the loop of the belt to the shuttle drive means, and secured against the loop of the belt by the drive means for reciprocation of the shuttle members in unison, thereby stopping and starting the portion of the belt

Abstract: A bubble guide of the type employing guide members mounted on elongated, pivoted support arms. Rotation of the guide members, shown in the form of overlapping arcuate segments, results in dependent reverse rotation of the guides relative to the arms, produced by a compensating mechanism, for orientation purposes. Primary crank arms and connecting rods drive all support arms simultaneously and secondary crank arms and connecting rods produce simultaneous compensatory rotation of all guide members. Downward cantilevered mounting of sets of the guide members enables ready access from below and tilting of the sets enables variation in diameter along the assembly. Reaction of one or more guide members to change in the bubble size is employed to regulate cooling air flow into the extruding tube.