Abstract: An extrudate cooling tank having cooling water chambers adapted for running passage of extrudate serially therethrough at a preselected regulated variable pressures with water in the chambers being at different temperatures, and a wheel-servo motor combination hingedly connected to the chamber and being movable with respect thereto between a first position with the wheel engaging running extrudate and a second position with the wheel remote from engagement with the extrudate.

Abstract: An extrudate cooling tank having cooling water chambers adapted for running passage of extrudate serially therethrough at a preselected regulated variable pressures with water in the chambers being at different temperatures, and a wheel-servo motor combination hingedly connected to the chamber and being movable with respect thereto between a first position with the wheel engaging running extrudate and a second position with the wheel remote from engagement with the extrudate.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer fixture has an entrance and an exit for tubular extrudate passing therethrough; ultrasonic transducers within a closed chamber in position for passage of the tubular extrudate therebetween; and a vacuum source communicating with the chamber interior for maintaining sub-atmospheric pressure within the chamber. The water level in the chamber is controlled so that the ultrasonic transducers remain immersed in the water.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for pulling polymeric material from an extrusion die as a tubular extrusion uses a pair of mutually-facing endless belts for pulling the extrusion from the extrusion die by frictional contact with the extrusion, the belts being spaced apart from one another for frictional driving passage of the tubular extrusion therebetween, spacing of the belts being continuously adjusted in response to signal from a gauge continuously measuring outer diameter of the tubular extrusion upstream of the belts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extruding, cooling and cutting an extrusion using temperature feedback can include an extruder for producing an extrudate which can be fed through appropriate sizing, support and cooling devices, which can include one or more of a vacuum chamber, cooling chamber, and calibrators having internal cooling passages. The apparatus can also include a cutting blade, a programmable temperature controller for controlling the cooling of the extrudate based upon feedback on the temperature of the extrudate sensed near the cutting blade and/or prior to a device which feeds the extrusion through the system. The method can include sensing the temperature of the extrudate, at a point near the cutting blade and/or prior to the feed device, subsequent to extrusion being passed through the sizing, support and/or cooling devices.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extruding, cooling and cutting can include an extruder for producing an extrudate which can be fed through appropriate sizing, support and cooling devices, which can include a vacuum chamber, cooling chamber, and calibrators, which can have internal cooling passageways. The apparatus can also include a cutting blade, a programmable temperature controller for controlling the temperature of the extrudate prior to being cut by the cutting blade, and a temperature sensor, which can be positioned near the cutting blade and provide feedback to the temperature controller. The method can include sensing the temperature of the extrudate, at a point near the cutting blade, after it is fed through the sizing, support and cooling devices and before being cut. Such feedback can be used to control the temperature of the extrudate such that the extrudate is maintained within a desired range of temperature as it is cut.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using vaporized liquid cryogen to cool articles, particularly extrusions, utilizing dispersion of liquid cryogen into a chamber wherein it is substantially vaporized and then circulated through cooling circuits in a tool for cooling the tool, or an article such as an extrusion which is to be cooled by the tool. Additionally, the tool may itself be disposed in a cooling chamber in which vaporized cryogen is circulated to cool the tool and the article.

Abstract: A rotary knife cutter is provided. The rotary knife cutter has a flywheel to which knife blades are attached at the circumference of the flywheel. The flywheel is directly driven by a gear reducer that is directly connected to a servo-motor. The servo-motor may be operated to rotate the flywheel at a constant speed for cutting or the servo-motor may cause the flywheel to stop after each revolution to regulate the cutting desired. One or more blades may be attached to the flywheel depending upon the desired type of cuts to be made. Cutter bushings varying in size and cross-sectional shape may be utilized to guide a particular cross-sectional size and shape of material to the cutter knives.

Abstract: A clutch-brake device having a housing, a shaft rotationally mounted therethrough, modular coupling units rigidly coupled to the shaft at either side of the housing, and an adapter which allows a single modular unit to be utilized interchangeably in either a clutch or a brake configuration. Each modular unit has a coupling member carrying an annular friction ring. The coupling member is rotationally connected to and spaced apart from a resilient disk defining a vacuum chamber therebetween. The resilient disk is rigidly attached to the modular unit and may be tapered towards the outer edge. The modular unit may also have several shims predisposed between the resilient disk and the coupling member which can be periodically removed to maintain the gap between the resilient disk and the annular friction ring within a preferred range. The device may have a microprocessor controlled high speed switch for controlling electromagnets which regulate engagement of the resilient disks.

Abstract: A vacuum tank for a vacuum sizing apparatus is provided. The vacuum tank is especially suited to control with precision the size and cooling of small sized plastic extrudate. The vacuum tank has coolant tubes between the double walls of the tank so that the coolant is not directly exposed to the extrudate. A water make-up tube having very small holes in it is disposed below the surface of the water in the vacuum tank so that make-up water will enter the tank with a minimum of turbulence being created. Slots provided in a rotatable water over-flow tube permit the level of the water within the vacuum tank to be adjusted and the slots provide a non-turbulent exit of over-flow water from the vacuum tank. A pre-skin block is positioned within the vacuum tank and is designed to minimize turbulence of water at the pre-skinning position within the tank.

Abstract: A vacuum sizing apparatus with a controlled vacuum is provided. The vacuum is precisely controlled by the use of a variable speed motor driven vacuum pump and a step motor controlled vent valve. An electrical circuit containing a microprocessor coordinates the speed of the motor driven vacuum pump with the position of the vent valve to give precise vacuum control within the vacuum chambers of the sizing apparatus. A closed sump tank contains water for the water system of the apparatus and is maintained at the same vacuum level as the vacuum chambers within the sizing apparatus.