Abstract: In a film blowing plant comprising an extruder for the melt, a film blowhead, calibrating means for the blown tubular film, oscillatory take-off means for the film and a coiler for the flattened film, the output of the plant is set to an optimum figure by a process computer controlling the width and thickness of the film. The height of the line of solidification of the film above the blowhead is measured and, in response to a departure of this height from a given desired value, the output of the extruder is increased or reduced as the case may be.

Abstract: There are disclosed an apparatus and a method for continuously embossing synthetic plastic sheet material with precisely formed embossments in patterns repeating along the length thereof. The apparatus includes a movable polished belt upon which the sheet material is carried, and a series of molds are placed on the sheet material. As the sheet material and molds are advanced in steps through the apparatus, presses clamp the molds and belt against opposite surfaces of the sheet material and raise the temperature of the assembly to embossing temperature for the resin to cause the resin to flow into the mold cavities, and volatiles at the interface are dissolved in the resin. After the embossing step, the clamping pressure is released and this permits limited shrinkage of the mold and sheet material.

Abstract: A roll of controllable flexure having a cylindrical inner part and a tubular outer part surrounding the inner part and mounted rotatably at both its ends on the inner part. A heating strip is disposed along a generatrix on the inner part. At least one electrical temperature sensor is disposed in the inner part in the immediate vicinity of the heating strip and at least one additional electrical temperature sensor is disposed on the opposite side of the inner part. The two temperature sensors are connected to a temperature difference measuring apparatus and control an electrical regulating circuit to which a power circuit containing the heating strip is connected. The power delivered to the heating strip is so regulated that a preset temperature difference between the heated and unheated sides of the inner part is maintained. The different thermal elongation of the unheated and heated sides of the inner part produces an arching of the inner part which is transmitted to the outer part.

Abstract: In orientation-blow molding equipment, improved heating equipment is used for evenly and uniformly heating an injection molded piece under optimum temperature conditions for the succeeding biaxial orientation, with the aid of an improved jig which contributes to an efficient reheating and molding of the piece.

Abstract: The wrapped insulation of coils of large electric machines--motors or generators--is set by heat and pressure in a press that extends the length of both wrapped legs of the coil and supports the coil so that it is substantially free from stress. The coil may be supported with its wrapped legs level and horizontal, and the press can be adjustable for different coil sizes and configurations. The heat and pressure cycle is operable automatically to suit the requirements of the insulating material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an installation or plant for making sintered brick blanks, which includes a material preparation plant, a press and molding device, a drying and sintering device, a discharge device and feeding means, as well as a central power source, and control and monitoring devices. The material consisting, for example, of clay, loam, clay marl with aluminum oxide and liquid medium, is prepared in the material preparation device and is formed into a strand by means of an extruder in the form molding device. The strand is then cut into brick blanks by means of a strand cutter and a wire cutter. The brick blanks are transferred with suitable transfer means and a displacement device in a defined, spaced-apart relationship, onto a transfer truck and from there onto a drying and sintering truck. A plurality of drying and sintering trucks run in a closed series through a tunnel dryer at an optimum speed for the drying process.

Abstract: A control system for a plastic extruder which automatically controls both the melt pressure and the melt temperature of the plastic material at the outlet of the extruder barrel. The extruder barrel is divided into a plurality of heating zones and a zone temperature control means individually controls the temperature of each zone in accordance with predetermined zone temperature set points. A melt temperature control means automatically adjusts certain zone temperature set points such that the actual melt temperature is maintained at its desired value. The speed of a rotatable extruder screw is controlled by a melt pressure control means such that the actual melt pressure is maintained at its desired value. In accordance with the present invention, a separate feedforward controller and separate feedback controller are provided in the melt temperature control loop and in each zone temperature control loop such that independent specification of set point and disturbance responses can be achieved.

Abstract: Machine for imprinting indicia on thermoplastic corrugated tubing comprises framework with structure connected thereto for guiding tubing along predetermined path of travel. Motivator on framework moves tubing along its path of travel, and imprinting structure mounted adjacent path of travel of tubing functions to selectively move into and out of engagement with exterior surface of tubing. Imprinting structure includes print wheel with spaced apart teeth at periphery thereof arranged to mesh with corrugated tubing when imprinting structure is in engagement therewith. Conductive print type are releasably secured to print wheel at periphery thereof, and heater cartridges function to heat print type. Print wheel is selectively shifted into engagement with exterior surface of corrugated tubing as it moves along its path of travel so that heated print type softens thermoplastic to thereby heat stamp indicia of type onto corrugated tubing.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming an integrally formed thermoplastic conduit and washer for being connected with a second conduit by way of conventional fitting, characterized by means for of inserting a guide pin within the tubing so as to maintain a predetermined internal diameter within the tubing and washer; emplacing a mold about the guide pin and tubing to hold the tubing, the mold having a washer cavity to define the exterior dimensions and form of the washer with the tubing extending about the guide pins and into the washer cavity; means for heating at least the outer most portion of the wall of the tubing that is within the washer cavity to its softening temperature and means for compressing the softened tubing walls longitudinally of the pin to accordion pleat the walls into a washer having an exterior film thereabout and having the accordion pleated walls therewithin to have an inherent springiness that readily effects sealing interconnection with another conduit shape and that frictionally holds a tightened f

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a continuously extruded running length of construction paneling from continuous flow sources of thermoplastic material bits and a mixture thereof with cellulose fiber bits, by successively fusing and pressure rolling even-distribution layers of thermoplastic bits, a mixture of thermoplastic and cellulose fiber bits, and, again thermoplastic bits, in respective ones of three cascaded oven chambers through which a material carrying conveyor is selectively advanced. Raw material distribution operates in concert with intermittent conveyor advance motions to provide even layer material distribution from the continuous flow sources, with each distributed layer being exposed to an oven environment to facilitate thermoplastic fusion during the time between intermittent conveyor advances and prior to subsequent pressure rolling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed whereby a laminating press is controlled using the relative cure of a resinous material as the primary factor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming lenses from a polymerizable monomeric liquid. In accordance with the method of the invention, the activated monomer is encapsulated within lens molds of unique design and is exposed to a precisely controlled atmosphere within the apparatus of the invention. More particularly, during the entire curing cycle of the monomer the molds are uniformly exposed to collimated streams of air maintained at closely controlled temperatures. The streams of air serve to precisely control the temperature of the monomer within the molds and to continuously remove the heat of exotherm from each individual mold.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a structural panel of prestressed and reinforced cementitious material includes a hinged box form or, alternatively, a reusable adjustable metal form having telescopic, slidably adjustable brace members, said forms also having stackable modules to provide selectively variable heights of the form walls, a resilient mold, side form members dividing the adjustable forms into a plurality of individual panel forms, a header for dividing each individual panel form into a shallow and a deep portion and which serves as a nailing strip in the finished panel, and steam curing apparatus.

Abstract: A briquetting plant for hot briquetting particulate matter, such as mill waste containing a material that softens when heated, such as iron oxide, which includes a low temperature tumbler type heat exchanger, an intermediate temperature tumbler type heat exchanger, a fluid bed furnace and a compactor, with the feed material being fed therethrough in succession. The briquettes produced by the compactor are first fed from the outlet of the compactor into the intermediate temperature heat exchanger, for liberation of heat therein, separated from the feed material by a screen at the outlet of the intermediate temperature heat exchanger and from such screen transported into the low temperature heat exchanger for further imparting of heat to the feed material. A second screen is provided at the outlet of the low temperature heat exchanger for separating and discharging the briquettes in relatively cooled form.

Abstract: Apparatus for rapid cooling of blown tubular polymer films including a cryogenic flash chamber having a spray manifold from which a cryogenic fluid is sprayed toward molten polymer exiting from an annular die of an extruder. The sprayed cryogenic fluid quickly vaporizes and impacts the molten polymer to cool and solidify the polymer into a tube or bubble. A gas recirculating system driven by a blower is also utilized with an "air" ring at the base of the cryogenic flash chamber to initiate the cooling process. The cryogenic flash chamber is divided into two zones with independent temperature controls to produce films of different clarity and strength characteristics.

Abstract: A blown film process wherein: the temperature of the film is continually monitored in a select control or target area that is remote from the film frost line; a control of "target temperature" is determined based empirically or otherwise on a given set of companion operating conditions; and a variable film cooling source or supply is regulated to establish the control temperature as an essentially constant or non-variable operating condition. The process is characterized by an essentially stable frost line position and to the extent movement of the frost line can be optically or otherwise observed or sensed, and an appropriate signal derived therefrom, the process can be alternately practiced based on monitoring the position of the frost line, defining a control or "target" frost line position, and regulating a film cooling source responsive to deviances or movement from the control position.

Abstract: A method for forming elongated and involute thermoplastic articles is disclosed. Means are provided for controllably heating a sheet of thermoplastic material to form preselected temperature gradients throughout the sheet of thermoplastic material. Means are further provided for planarly supporting the heated sheet of thermoplastic material allowing for transverse motion of the heated sheet of thermoplastic material at the center thereof and further allowing for controlled slippage of the heated sheet of thermoplastic material toward said center thereof relative to the planar support means. Means are also provided for transversely forming a heated sheet of thermoplastic material into the shape of an elongated or involute plastic article. A plug is used to extend the heated sheet of thermoplastic material into an elongated conical shaped piece.

Abstract: The relative crushing strength of porous sulfur particles formed by quenching molten sulfur in a highly turbulent zone created by the intersection of the molten sulfur stream and a high velocity water stream is controlled by controlling the temperature of the molten sulfur introduced into the turbulent zone. The hardness of the porous particles increases as sulfur temperature is increased.

Abstract: The specific embodiments provide for pelletizing plastic material in a system including a device for compacting the plastic material through a plurality of orifices. Air is vented from the compacting device by a conduit, and a pressurized gaseous stream is supplied in the conduit in a direction away from the compacting device. A signal is generated indicative of the temperature of a portion of the compacting device, and the flow rate of gaseous stream is controlled in response to the signal.

Abstract: Air-cooling apparatus for a heat-exchange jacket which surrounds the outside of a vertical extruder barrel. The apparatus comprises a hood which surrounds the jacket and includes a plenum chamber at one side of the jacket, an outlet opening at the opposite side of the jacket and a restricted inlet opening between the jacket and plenum chamber wherein the hood provides a through-passage between the inlet and outlet openings. Means are provided for forcing air into the plenum chamber to create a super-atmospheric pressure therein and provide an air flow through the through-passage. The hood also includes an outlet chamber adjacent the outlet opening which has the same vertical cross-sectional configuration as the plenum chamber to provide a balanced air draft condition on opposite sides of the heat-exchange jacket.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for prilling pharmaceuticals and the like. A mixture supply device provides a melted mixture of a pharmaceutical and a vehicle at a preselected pressure and at a temperature less than the decomposition temperature of the pharmaceutical, such vehicle being solid at normal room temperature. One or more guns receive the melted mixture. A pulse generator provides a train of pulses of preselected frequency and width which through a transducer causes a valve in each gun to periodically open at a frequency and for a duration controlled by the pulse frequency and width. Each gun has a nozzle supplying melted material upon opening of the corresponding valve and from which is ejected a series of spaced droplets of melt mixture at the pulse frequency, which droplets are of size controlled by the pulse width.

Abstract: A system and method for forming elongated and involute thermoplastic articles is disclosed. Means are provided for controllably heating a sheet of thermoplastic material to form preselected temperature gradients throughout the sheet of thermoplastic material. Means are further provided for planarly supporting the heated sheet of thermoplastic material allowing for transverse motion of the heated sheet of thermoplastic material at the center thereof and further allowing for controlled slippage of the heated sheet of thermoplastic material toward said center thereof relative to the planar support means. Means are also provided for transversely forming a heated sheet of thermoplastic material into the shape of an elongated or involute plastic article. A plug is used to extend the heated sheet of thermoplastic material into an elongated conical shaped piece.

Abstract: A hot plastic injection bushing for delivering molten plastic molding material from an injection molding machine to a cavity mold in which the bushing comprises a smooth bore tubular member, the bore of which is adapted to pass the molten plastic from the molding machine to one or more parts of the mold. The tubular member is heated by means of a heat pipe surrounding the tubular member. The heat pipe comprises an evacuated chamber partially filled with a vaporizable liquid and is heated by means of an external electrical heater automatically controlled to maintain the temperature of the heat pipe at a desired value. The heat pipe is provided with internal wicking along a localized portion and the heater is located adjacent the wicking. The heat pipe operates to maintain all parts of the tubular bore at the same temperature and the bushing maintains the plastic material in the bore in its molten state between successive molding injections except for a small plug in an output area.

Abstract: Apparatus for uniting at least two concentrically extruded tubular films of thermoplastic synthetic resin includes a mandrel located in the innermost of the films and having a leading conical portion and a trailing cylindrical portion to expand the innermost film in transverse direction substantially to the diameter of the outermost film. The mandrel is heated by electromagnetic waves produced by a high-frequency transmitter connected to a high-frequency coil surrounding the tubular films in the region of the mandrel. A temperature sensor connected to the mandrel senses the temperature of the latter and the sensed temperature is transmitted by an ultra shortwave transmitter connected to the sensor and ultra shortwave receiver connected to the high-frequency transmitter to control the latter and to maintain the temperature of the mandrel at a desired constant temperature.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously shaping a heated thermoplastic synthetic resin sheet into a desired configuration followed by any desired processing, wherein the synthetic resin sheet extruded from a forming die is drawn by suction onto a shaping surface of the apparatus main body which is provided therein with a heat transfer medium accommodating chamber to constantly maintain the shaping surface of the main body at an appropriate temperature by quickly heating the shaping surface to an appropriate temperature prior to commencement of operation of the shaping apparatus, and by cooling the shaping surface to prevent the same from temperature rise due to contact with the heated synthetic resin sheet after the shaping apparatus starts operation. The apparatus is further provided with a heat transfer medium feeding means to automatically feed the heat transfer medium at a desired temperature into the heat transfer medium accommodating chamber.

Abstract: A three-compartment, heated-environment conveyor structure equipped with individual compartment material-lay-down delivery systems, processing a three-layer building panel material product, continuously, by compartment-to-compartment material laydown, as the product buildup is conveyor-advanced through the machine. The apparatus and process is for manufacturing a continuously extruded running length of construction paneling from continuous flow sources of thermoplastic material bits and a mixture thereof with cellulose fiber bits, by successively fusing and pressure rolling even-distribution layers of thermoplastic bits, a mixture of thermoplastic and cellulose fiber bits, and, again, thermoplastic bits, in respective ones of three cascaded oven chambers through which a material carrying conveyor is selectively advanced.

Abstract: Liquid slag passes from an overflow in a pressure vessel into an underlying collecting vessel where the liquid slag is transformed into solid granular material by quenching in a liquid coolant. A desired coolant level is maintained within the collecting vessel by control valves under a pressure above atmospheric pressure. Two slide valves in the bottom of the collecting vessel are opened to discharge the granular material after accumulating to a predetermined measured level which is below the liquid coolant in the collecting vessel. A discharge vessel, beneath the collecting vessel, receives the discharged granular material. The discharge vessel is filled with a liquid coolant under either atmospheric pressure or under the same elevated pressure as the pressure within the collecting vessel.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a stationary hollow mandrel supported at one end, a pair of forming shoes over which strips of material are respectively pulled longitudinally of the mandrel to provide a cylindrical inner liner surrounding the mandrel and a cylindrical outer jacket surrounding the inner liner in spaced relationship thereto, a conduit having an outlet end portion disposed within the outer jacket above the inner liner, supply means for supplying foamable hardenable liquid material to an inlet end portion of the conduit, additional supply means for separately supplying a fast acting catalyst to the foamable material in the conduit, means for reciprocating the outlet end portion of the conduit transversely over the inner liner, conveyor-mold means confining the outer jacket as the foamable material foams and cures, rotatable tire means for pulling the insulation formed by the outer jacket, the cured foam, and the inner liner off the mandrel longitudinally thereof, a traveling saw for cutting the insulation

Abstract: A continuously operable press utilizing facing endless linked together platen belts for compressing chip materials into chipboards, fiberboards, and the like. A plurality of pressure rollers are provided along the belts for pressing the same towards one another along the portion of their travel paths where they are in facing relationship. With the belts travelling horizontally at the position of their facing runs, these pressure rollers are biased by piston-cylinder apparatus or the like in a vertical direction. For accommodating adjustment of the position of the pressure rollers in the horizontal direction, without necessitating stoppage of the press, needle bearings are provided between supports for the bearings of the pressure rollers and the fixed press frame. Adjusting means in the form of piston-cylinder apparatus are provided for effecting the horizontal adjustment of the bearing supports for the pressure rollers.

Abstract: The angular position of a wrap control roll about a paper web preheating roll is remotely adjusted to any one of a plurality of predetermined set positions by an index control over the adjustment power train. The index conrol comprises a remote positioned, console mounted rotary switch having contact positions corresponding to the predetermined wrap control roll set positions. Cooperative switches mounted in an adjustment drive follower mechanism continue the circuit continuity to a solenoid activated drive motor reversing switch. A breaker unit within the follower mechanism is directly driven by the adjustment power train to open the motor switch when the breaker unit is correctly aligned with the desired set position.

Abstract: A continuously operating press utilizing facing endless belts for compressing chip material into chipboards, fibreboards and the like. Each of the belts is constructed as an endless belt formed of a plurality of heatable planar chain links. For conveying and directly engaging the chip material, corresponding endless steel bands envelope the chain belts. Gas flame burners are arranged in casings for directly heating a portion of the chain run at a position spaced from the engagement with the chip material. Each of the casings also include burner exhaust gas conducting channels for conducting the hot exhaust gases adjacent portions of the chain which are not impinged upon by the flame at a particular given time. Also, conduit means for the flame burner exhaust gases are provided for conducting the exhaust gases to heat the endless steel bands by way of Z-shaped channeled housings arranged at a position spaced from the casings for the flame burners and immediately adjacent the steel bands.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a fabricless surface covering from particles of synthetic resin utilizes an oven assembly having a plurality of heating units which are automatically and/or manually adjustable for establishing and maintaining a preselected across the several successive heating zones progressively increasing temperature within the oven assembly. The particles of synthetic resin are deposited from a hopper onto a conveyer means which transports them through a leveler assembly and a compactor before reaching the oven assembly. After being fused by the application thereto of heat as it passes through an oven assembly, the synthetic resin is fed through an embossing unit, around a cooling drum and to a trimmer. Then after being trimmed, the fused synthetic resin passes through a coater assembly which applies a coating to a fused resin before the latter leaves the apparatus.

Abstract: A die having a controllable lip opening, through which flowable material is forced to form a sheet, film or tube. Lip opening control means including an elongated member which expands and contracts thermally and adjusts the lip opening to control the product thickness, and heating means is provided for controlling this expansion and contraction.