Abstract: An extruder of plastic material has a flat sheet injection head which extrudes directly between the opposed rolls of a calender which reduces the extruded sheet in thickness. The injection head is divided into two halves of which one is fixed to the calender frame while the other is carried by the extruder which is movable away from the calender for cleaning of the injection head. When the two halves of the injection head are in operative position pressure against one of the two halves is provided by a plurality of pressure elements acting between the half of the injection head carried by the extruder and a transverse supporting member of the calender. The pressure elements may be in the form of hydraulic cylinders, a hydraulic cushion or a plurality of wedges actuated by hydraulic cylinders or by movement of the extruder to closed position.

Abstract: A shell of chilled cast iron has a plurality of passages, parallel to the axis of the shell. Two end structures, also of cast iron, support the two ends of the shell. A plurality of radial passages is provided in the end structures for guiding a heating medium such as steam outwardly to and inwardly from the passages in the shell. The passages are disposed to transfer heat from the heating medium therein to the end structures and to the shell.

Abstract: In front of a hot horizontal calender roll there is provided a system of suction cups held on arms which can rock about a horizontal pivot parallel to the axis of the roll, to set the suction cups down on an edge portion of a hot calendered sheet. The arms are then rocked back to lift the suction cups and thereby the edge portion of the sheet from the roll. The suction cups thereafter deliver the edge of the lifted-off sheet portion to a system of grippers. The grippers, aided by draw-off roller means rotatable about said pivot, then draw the sheet horizontally away from the calender roll to deposit the sheet on a vertically adjustable table.