Abstract: An extrusion system utilizes single or tandem extruders and a mixer-cooler to extrude a foamable extrudate through a die in a sealable chamber. The foamable extrudate is shaped and calibrated within the chamber. The die is mounted on the end of a gel tube projecting through a gland seal in a fixed bulkhead forming the upstream end of the chamber. The gel tube and mixer-cooler are mounted on a movable carriage, movement of which may be used to adjust the die with respect to shaping and calibrating equipment inside the chamber. The mixer-cooler achieves a selected narrow range of uniform viscosity of the melt at the die depending on the size of the product and density. The chamber is preferably a vacuum chamber producing low density foams. The product exits the chamber to atmosphere on a continuous basis through a submerged orifice in a water baffle immersion seal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cutting a travelling paper winding on a spool and transferring the web onto an empty spool including a cutting tape passing through an elongated guideway from a near end to a far end; the apparatus and method characterized by attaching a releasable mechanical fastener element to the forward end of the cutting tape and another cooperating releasable mechanical fastener element to the far end of an empty spool and directing the fastener onto the cutting tape to the far end of the empty spool for engagement with -the fastener element on the spool to attach the cutting tape to the empty spool.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cutting a travelling paper winding on a spool and transferring the web onto an empty spool including a cutting tape passing through an elongated guideway from a near end to a far end; the apparatus and method characterized by attaching a releasable mechanical fastener element to the forward end of the cutting tape and a plurality of other cooperating releasable mechanical fastener element to the far end of an empty spool into grooves forward in the shaft surface and directing the fastener onto the cutting tape to the far end of the empty spool for engagement with the fastener element on the spool to attach the cutting tape to the empty spool. The plurality of fasteners may be employed with both pneumatically-expandable spool shafts and non-expandable shafts having either a steel or rubber surface.

Abstract: A horizontal vacuum extrusion line includes a fixed bulkhead, a die inside the bulkhead, a telescoping vacuum chamber section and a fixed chamber section. A dam in the fixed section forms a pond for immersion cooling of the extrudate. A truss extends from the dam to the bulkhead supporting, shaping and calibration equipment and extends through the telescoping section. Fluid pressurizable seals at each end of the telescoping section are operable after the telescoping section is closed against the bulkhead and the telescoping and fixed sections are locked together. The telescoping section provide a more compact line and easier access to the complex equipment downstream of the die. The extrudate from the die passes down into the pond and then through an orifice in a hood projecting from the chamber into a lower level portion of the pond exposed to atmosphere. The hood also includes a tractor drive to push the extrudate through the underwater orifice.