Abstract: A gusset board has a retractable nose section that travels along a proximal-distal track and can extend to the tip of the gusset board for production of gusseted film, and can retract below the level of interfering structure and moved away from the extrusion bubble for the production on non-gusseted film. Retraction and extension of the nose portion and rocking of the gusset board can be carried out remotely.

Abstract: A gusset board has a retractable nose section that travels along a proximal-distal track and can extend to the tip of the gusset board for production of gusseted film, and can retract below the level of interfering structure and moved away from the extrusion bubble for the production on non-gusseted film. Retraction and extension of the nose portion and rocking of the gusset board can be carried out remotely.

Abstract: A putter head is positioned to be even with the ball when the shaft is at the vertical plane of the ball. The lie of the shaft can be adjusted relative to the head between limits. An insert in the club head secures the tip of the crook of the shaft. A worm gear permits infinite adjustment of lie within a range. The insert can be of different weights to weight the club for various conditions.

Abstract: A punch arrangement for punching holes in a moving web of a plastic film has a pivoted yoke mounted on a fixed bracket above the plastic film. An air cylinder or other actuator is mounted on the yoke and has a cutting head mounted on the rod of the cylinder. The cutting head is in registered alignment with an aperture on a support plate below the film. The film engages and swings the cutting head out in the film transport direction until the head rises out of contact with the film. Then a spring urges the yoke, actuator and cutting head back to their home position. A punch cycle can be carried out repeatedly on the film while the film is in constant motion.

Abstract: A punch arrangement for punching holes in a moving web of a plastic film has a pivoted yoke mounted on a fixed bracket above the plastic film. An air cylinder or other actuator is mounted on the yoke and has a cutting head mounted on the rod of the cylinder. The cutting head is in registered alignment with an aperture on a support plate below the film. The film engages and swings the cutting head out in the film transport direction until the head rises out of contact with the film. Then a spring urges the yoke, actuator and cutting head back to their home position. A punch cycle can be carried out repeatedly on the film while the film is in constant motion.

Abstract: An external stabilizer employed in a plastic film blowing apparatus stacks of swing arm members that create an iris aperture for the extruded film bubble. A tubular die, fed with a supply of molten thermoplastic polymer, extrudes a tube of the molten polymer and injects air into the extruded tube to inflate the tube into a bubble. The wall of the tube expands into a film of a desired thickness; and the tube is drawn vertically upward and collapsed and flattened. The external stabilizer has a frame surrounding the extruded tube above the die. A plurality of swing arms arranged on said frame define the iris aperture. Each of the swing arms is an elongated extrusion of a light-weight material having one end mounted pivotally on the frame and a free end. The swing arm has a mushroom-shaped profile that is rounded on a side that faces the extruded tube. Wear resistant material is disposed on the front surface.

Abstract: A slitter-and-hole-punch and quick change adapter combination fits a bag machine or the like for punching holes and slits in a web of film material. A hole punch and a slitter blade are unitarily formed on a base member. Left and right resilient arms extend from distal to proximal, and have free ends that project proximally of the base member. The quick adapter can be an extruded block with a T-channel formed on a lower side with a passage or gap to accommodate the hole punch and the slitter blade. The T-channel has inwardly directed flanges that create side recesses to accommodate the resilient arms of the slitter-and-hole-punch. The side recesses have cooperating hollows to receive detents of the associated resilient arm. The slitter-and-hole-punch can be slid in and out of the T-slot, and when slid in, the detents on the resilient arms keep it in position. The slitter-and-hole-punch can be changed out in a few seconds by hand. The slitter-and-hole-punch units can be color coded, e.g., for gap size.

Abstract: A bow spreader bar employed in a plastic film processing arrangement incorporates an extruded member and a low-friction plastic wear cover. The bow spreader bar is positioned in advance of the film take-up roll and presses into the film web to eliminate folds, wrinkles, or creases. The extrusion can be of aluminum or another light-weight material having a T-shaped profile that is rounded on a side that faces the film so that the extrusion has an arcuate front surface. The associated wear cover is made of a wear resistant plastic material and is disposed on the arcuate surface of said extrusion. Preferably, the extrusion is formed with one or more tubular portions and can be fitted for fluid cooling. The arcuate surface of the extrusion can be provided with a low-friction surface treatment.

Abstract: An external stabilizer employed in a plastic film blowing apparatus incorporates one or more extruded members that carry a low-friction plastic wear cover. A tubular die, fed with a supply of molten thermoplastic polymer, extrudes a tube of the molten polymer and injects air into said extruded tube to inflate the tube into a bubble. The wall of the tube expands into a film of a desired thickness; and the tube is drawn vertically upward and collapsed and flattened. The external stabilizer is positioned on a frame surrounding the extruded tube above the die to keep the tube aligned on a predetermined path as the tube is drawn upwards. The stabilizer includes at least one extrusion of a light-weight material having a profile that is rounded on a side that faces the extruded tube so that said extrusion has a rounded front surface. The associated wear cover is made of a wear resistant plastic material and is disposed on said rounded front surface of said extrusion.

Abstract: An external stabilizer employed in a plastic film blowing apparatus incorporates one or more extruded members that carry a low-friction plastic wear cover. A tubular die, fed with a supply of molten thermoplastic polymer, extrudes a tube of the molten polymer and injects air into said extruded tube to inflate the tube into a bubble. The wall of the tube expands into a film of a desired thickness; and the tube is drawn vertically upward and collapsed and flattened. The external stabilizer is positioned on a frame surrounding the extruded tube above the die to keep the tube aligned on a predetermined path as the tube is drawn upwards. The stabilizer includes at least one extrusion of a light-weight material having a profile that is rounded on a side that faces the extruded tube so that said extrusion has a rounded front surface. The associated wear cover is made of a wear resistant plastic material and is disposed on said rounded front surface of said extrusion.

Abstract: A collapsing board employed in the manufacture of polyethylene film is formed as an extruded aluminum member with a back plate that fastens onto the collapsing frame and an arcuate front face that urges the moving polyethylene extrusion to a collapsed condition. A low friction material is applied onto the arcuate front face. In one preferred embodiment, the low-friction material is in the form of an extruded plastic replaceable wear cover. In another embodiment, a ceramic coating is deposited onto the arcuate front face of the metal extrusion. The plastic wear cover can have a co-extruded two-layer front web, with a lubricant filled front layer and a backing layer of a distinct color that is revealed when the front layer becomes worn from use.

Abstract: A rotary vacuum wicketting device has a stationary hub and a rotary hub that has a number of vacuum arms that carry plastic bags or similar work pieces from a first work station to a second work station. Each of the rotary and stationary hubs has a main body portion and a split-disc wear plate, which is formed of a plastic synthetic resin that has been filled with a suitable lubricating agent. The radial arms also each have a removable wear strip carried on a forward surface. The wear plate of the rotating hub has an annular raised surface portion that slidably contacts the facing surface of the stationary hub wear plate.

Abstract: A cover is provided for hardwood collapsing boards of the type employed in the manufacture of polyethylene film. The collapsing board covers are extruded in the form of channels from a flexible, but rigid or semi-rigid plastic synthetic resin material impregnated with graphite or another lubricating agent. The channel has a convex arcuate web to fit the front face of the collapsing board, and upper and lower flanges that overfit edges of the collapsing board. Lip members on the free edges of the upper and lower flanges snap fit behind the board to retain the cover on it. These covers absorb the wear and abrasion from the polyethylene film passing over the collapsing boards.

Abstract: A plastic pneumatic cylinder has a cylinder housing, a piston within the housing, and a rod on which the piston is mounted. The cylinder is molded of a plastic synthetic resin and has a cylindrical bore of a predetermined diameter. The piston is molded in one piece from plastic synthetic resin, such as Delrin, in the form of a generally cylindrical body and a generally cylindrical sealing lip surronding and spaced radially from the body to seal slidably against the bore. The lip is flared out somewhat to have an edge that is of a greater diameter than the bore. The piston can be formed in single-acting or double-acting configurations. A conical return spring can be employed.

Abstract: A rotary vacuum wicketting device has a stationary hub and a rotary hub that has a number of vacuum arms to carry plastic bags or similar workpieces from a first work station to a second work station where they are placed on a wicket. The rotary and stationary hubs are both molded of a plastic synthetic resin which has been filled with a suitable lubricating agent. The radial arms are also formed of the plastic synthetic resin and are molded to have a square cross section from the radially outward end to and including the male portion that fits into a square cross section socket in the peripheral wall of the rotating hub. The tubular arms have a removable end cap to facilitate cleaning debris that may have collected inside the arms. A removable plastic wear plate is carried on the forward-facing surface of each of the arms to absorb wear and abrasion from action of the plastic film workpieces.

Abstract: A self-sharpening perforating punch head for perforating a web of plastic film is formed of one or more plates of a semirigid plastic resin, e.g. acetal homopolymer. The head has a row of tapered and beveled teeth which form a cutting edge at the back plane of the head. The cutting edge renews itself as the material wears by plastic-on-plastic abrasion. There are gaps provided at intervals among the teeth.

Abstract: A self-sharpening hole punch for plastic bags includes a pneumatically operated punching apparatus for punching wicket pin receiving holes in a flexible film or plastic bag. If desired, a tear slit may be simultaneously formed to enable the bag to be quickly and readily torn free from the wicket pin upon which the bag is retained. A pneumatic air cylinder has a cylinder rod with a fitting affixed thereto, the fitting having an internal tapered thread. Interchangeable plastic cutting tools, having a complementary tapered thread, may be interchangeably screwed into the fitting to facilitate replacement as necessary. A resiliently compressible cylinder of foam plastic material is disposed in a circular void at the cutting side of each of the plastic cutting tools to expel the waste film discs that are punched out of the film or plastic bag material.

Abstract: A self-sharpening hole punch for plastic bags includes a pneumatically operated punching apparatus for punching wicket pin receiving holes in a flexible film or plastic bag. If desired, a tear slit may be simultaneously formed to enable the bag to be quickly and readily torn free from the wicket pin upon which the bag is retained. The disclosed embodiment utilizes a pneumatic air cylinder having a free end of the cylinder rod having a fitting secured thereto having an internal tapered bore. Interchangeable plastic cutting tools, having a complementary tapered thread, may be interchangeably threaded into the fitting to facilitate replacement as necessary.