Abstract: Synthetic pulp having a peculiar structure is prepared by making a composition consisting of 50 to 90 parts by weight of polypropylene having a melt flow rate of 30 to 150 and 50 to 10 parts by weight of low density polyethylene having a melt index of 0.5 to 10 into a film having a thickness of 70 .mu. or less, uniaxially stretching the film, cutting the stretched film to a predetermined length of 5 mm or less, and fibrillating the cut film by a crumpling and disintergrating action mainly by blows and air whirling stream. A suitable apparatus for such fibrillation is presented. Synthetic pulp thus prepared provides a paper-like material having superior properties by blending it with e.g. wood pulp.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing heat shrinkable tubing having one portion thereof in the form of a single tube and the remaining portion thereof in the form of plural tubes. The heat shrinkable tubing is manufactured by extruding a thermoplastic tube and then longitudinally sealing the tube periodically with applied pressure while the tube is heated to form predetermined plural tube lengths. The tube is then subjected to irradiation, heated to at least the softening temperature of the material of the tube and it is then partially inflated and thermoset by cooling to impart heat shrinkable properties to the tube. The heat shrinkable tube so formed is then periodically cut to form a plurality of heat shrinkable tube sections which each consist of a single tube portion and a remaining plural tube portion.

Abstract: Corrugated plastic tubes simultaneously feeding from a plurality of sources are doffed, stacked in nesting relation and formed into bundles of a predetermined number of tubes in accordance with the present invention. The corrugated plastic tubes are produced in continuous length in separate production lines, cut to predetermined lengths, and fed along predetermined paths to respective doffing stations where the tubes are doffed into a common hopper positioned adjacent the doffing stations. Upon a predetermined number of the tubes being doffed into the hopper and accumulated in stacked and nested relation, the tubes are advanced to a bundling station where strapping machines secure pliable strapping elements around the stacked and nested tubes to form the same into compact bundles. The bundles are then removed from the bundling station ready for shipment or storage.

Abstract: The method for blow molding foam walled plastic using a quadrisectional mold. A parison of foamed plastic may be blow molded to assume the contour of the closed mold, after which the molded shape is severed into two portions and ejected. Desirably, cellular plastic is blow molded to form hot drink cups.

Abstract: Pen nibs are made by extruding rods from fused thermoplastic material, with a cavity in the rod of star-shaped cross-sectional configuration. The extruded rod is then cooled and mechanically drawn to reduce its diameter about 50%, which closes the inner ends of the arms of the star and brings them together at the center of the rod, while leaving the outer ends of the arms relatively large. The resulting product is then sharpened at both ends for use as a pen nib.

Abstract: Generally linear foamable strandular particles which are asymmetrical about a plane generally containing the longitudinal axis provide a desired curled dunnage material when heated to cause foaming. A wide variety of methods may be used to introduce the desired asymmetry.

Abstract: Plastic is cleanly severed between closely adjacent inner sections of radially operable blow molds in a rotary molding machine during mold opening by means of a wiper blade on the trailing face of the inner section of one mold angularly projecting toward and having its rear edge engaging the forward face of the next succeeding inner mold section, each such inner section being spring mounted and arranged because of the mold-opening cam configuration, to spring outwardly such that the rear edge of the blade slides along the forward face of the succeeding mold to consistently shear the plastic between such edge and such forward face.