Abstract: Downstream of the welding and cutting bars (14, 16), a crosspiece (18) interacts with two pressure elements (20, 34) which act alternately in order to retain the manufactured articles on said crosspiece, engaging in each cycle the new manufactured article to be accumulated; downstream of said welding bars and said crosspiece, a transporter element (60A), endowed with a movement which corresponds to that of the manufactured article under formation, moves with an active trajectory above the stack under formation (PO) and assists it to extend above the stack under formation; said transporter element (60A) removes itself from below said manufactured article when the latter is engaged by the first pressure element (20).

Abstract: Apparatus for processing continuously-fed plastics material in strip form comprises a cyclically operated working tool for example for welding and/or shearing the material. During operation of the tool, the material is stopped adjacent the working zone of the tool and a material storage loop is formed by the continuously incoming material. Subsequent to operation of the tool, the material is drawn from the loop at a higher speed than the infeed speed until the loop has been fully taken up and the material is stretched.