Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for manufacturing polymeric thin-walled tubular members, which are well-suited for use as vascular grafts. The apparatus of the present invention enables extrusion of a tubular member having an extremely thin wall thickness so as to facilitate passage through tortuous vascular passageways. The apparatus achieves uniform wall thickness in a tubular member by establishing and maintaining axial alignment of a ram having a concentrically disposed guide rod therein with a die supported in concentric relation to the guide rod.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously forming thermoplastic adhesive cartridges. A molten thermoplastic adhesive supply provides a supply of molten adhesive to a pump downstream from the molten thermoplastic adhesive supply. The pump then provides a molten thermoplastic adhesive melt stream which passes through a screen filter downstream from the pump to prevent the discharge of impurities in the molten thermoplastic adhesive melt stream from the pump. A temperature-controlled conduit downstream from the pump then lowers the temperature of the molten plastic melt stream to closely above its softening point. A continuous molder located downstream from the melt pump for receives the molten plastic melt stream from the melt pump to form the thermoplastic adhesive cartridge continuously.

Abstract: A foamed thermoplastic resin sheet manufacturing device is provided with (i) an extruder for melting and kneading a thermoplastic resin and a foaming agent to form a melted/kneaded mixture and extruding the melted/kneaded mixture, (ii) a die which is provided at a front end of said extruder and forms the melted/kneaded mixture into a sheet-like foamy thermoplastic resin material, (iii) a vacuum chamber in which the foamy thermoplastic resin material extruded through said die expands under a reduced pressure, and (iv) a facing-wall section composed of a pair of walls of said vacuum chamber which face each other in a thickness direction of the foamy thermoplastic resin material, at least one of the walls in pair being a movable wall provided so as to move in directions in which said walls approach and separate each other. By this arrangement, foamed thermoplastic resin sheets with various thicknesses can be produced.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling and calibrating and extruded plastic profile (2) is described, with a cooling tank (4) which receives a cooling liquid (12) and can be charged with a pressure below atmospheric, and with at least one calibrating device (5) arranged within the cooling tank (4) for the plastic profile (2) pulled through the cooling tank (4), with the calibrating device (5) being composed of individual parts extending in the direction of passage of the plastic profile (2). In order in to provide advantageous construction conditions it is proposed that the parts of the calibrating device (5) form calibrating elements (8) which are distributed over the circumference of the plastic profile (2) by leaving out gaps (15) for the passage of cooling liquid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a draw jet for drawing thermoplastic polymer filaments comprising a drawing slot defined by an entrance member comprising a converging passageway communicating with a continuing passageway, terminating at an outlet portion, a drawing member comprising an inlet portion having a drawing gap width of about 2.0 to about 10 mm communicating with said outlet portion of said entrance member, and at least one air nozzle for directing high speed air onto said filaments in a downstream direction positioned between said outlet portion of said entrance member and said inlet portion of said drawing member, and with a nozzle gap width wherein the gap ratio of said drawing gap width to the combined width of all of said nozzle gaps is from about 1.0 to about 10.

Abstract: In a process and an apparatus for making a plastic sleeve (56), plastic is fed into an extruder die (216). The plastic is extruded from the extruder die (216) as a molten plastic stream into a mold cavity (272) having an inner wall (270) with dimensions greater than the outside dimensions of the molten plastic stream. A first end (274) of the inner wall (270) includes a first projection (282) extending radially inward of the mold cavity (272) and circumferentially completely around the mold cavity (272). The molten plastic stream is vacuum expanded radially against the inner wall (270) and around the projection (282) to form a plastic sleeve (56) with a circumferential rib (74) and a aligned external first groove (92) at one end (60) of the sleeve (56).

Abstract: A plastic product, and method and device for producing such plastic products are disclosed. The present invention produces a plastic product having a completely sealed sidewall defining at least one cavity therein, or a plastic product filled with a filler, such as urethane foam, in the cavity, or a plastic product having both a sidewall with both open end portions and a filler contained in the cavity. The plastic forming process and device of this invention effectively produces a variety of plastic products, such as a variety of panels, pipes, channels, columns, boats, oil tanks, door panels, vehicle door panels, bumpers, vehicle hoods, and small-sized submarines, which are not produced by conventional plastic forming processes or devices.

Abstract: An improved blown film extrusion apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes an annular die for extruding a film tube. At least one tube position transducer is provided and located adjacent to the extruded film tube. The tube position transducer transmits interrogating pulses to the extruded film tube and produces a position signal corresponding to a detected position under the extruded film tube. A bubble position control system is provided for receiving and processing the position signal. A valve is provided for varying a quantity of air within the extruded film tube in response to the bubble position control means. This urges the extruded film tube to a desired position. The apparatus further includes a collapsing frame assembly for receiving the extruded film tube and collapsing it. The collapsing frame assembly includes several frame boards. Typically, two opposing main boards and two opposing side boards are provided.

Abstract: A device for the extrusion of plastic profiles with an extruder for the melting and delivery of a plastic material and with an extrusion die for defining the profile geometry, wherein a profile slot corresponding to the profile to be extruded and being defined by an outer periphery and by at least one arbor is provided in the extrusion die. The profile tuning is made easier by having a means for operational change of the profile slot's thickness provided in at least one predetermined area between the arbor and the outer periphery as well as a means for cooling selected areas of the extruded profile provided at the exit of the die.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for startup of extruded film tubes. A controller member is utilized to provide control signals to a supply blower which supplies air to the extruded film tube in an amount corresponding to a supply control signal, and an exhaust blower which exhausts air from the extruded film tube in an amount corresponding to an exhaust control signal. The controller member executes program instructions which define at least one control routine for automatic and coordinated control of the supply blower and the exhaust blower during starting of the extruded film tube, by directing a series of supply control signals to the supply blower and exhaust control signals to the exhaust blower.

Abstract: The invention describes an apparatus for cooling and calibrating an extruded plastic profile (2) with a cooling tank (4) receiving a cooling liquid, with calibrating elements (5) disposed within the cooling tank (4) for the plastic profile (2) subjected to the cooling liquid, and with a draw-off device (7) which is disposed downstream of the cooling tank (4) in the draw-off direction of the plastic profile (2). In order to provide advantageous constructional conditions it is proposed that at least one damping device (9) is provided between the inlet-sided calibrating element (5) of the cooling tank (4) and the draw-off device (7), which damping device rests at least in sections in the zone of one circumference on the plastic profile (2).

Abstract: An apparatus for the manufacture of corrugated plastic pipes comprises half shells. Each half shell has a base body which consists of a metal of a higher thermal conductivity and a lower specific gravity than steel and which holds a core. Provided in the core is a mold recess in which to form the corrugated pipes.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the processing of a continuous blown film undergoing collapsing in which a plurality of differential elements of the film follow respective streamline paths which are approximately equal in length to the path of the longest streamline thereby substantially equalizing circumferentially varying shape change induced machine direction stresses and reducing the residence time variations within higher thermal energy regions so as to significantly minimize the commonly rather large magnitudes of variations of gauge, energy to break and machine direction lengths of the solidified material. The method and apparatus provide the potential to structure more uniformly the macromolecular arrangements existing within the material and allow the blown film extrusion of higher modulus materials than have heretofore been possible.

Abstract: A blown film extrusion apparatus and method is provided including a tube position transducer transmits interrogating pulses to the extruded film tube and produces a position signal corresponding to a detected position under the extruded film tube. A bubble position control system is provided for receiving and processing the position signal. The apparatus further includes a collapsing frame assembly for receiving the extruded film tube and collapsing it. A position transducer is provided for detecting the position of at least one of the frame boards. At least one board position actuator is provided for adjusting the position of at least one of the boards. A board control system is provided for receiving the board position information from the board position transducer and for providing control signals to the board position actuator to maintain at least one of the boards in a predetermined position.

Abstract: A system for starting up an extruded film tube in a blown film extrusion apparatus includes a subsystem for varying a quantity of air in the extruded film and a subsystem for executing program instructions which control the operation of the subsystem for varying a quantity of air. The subsystem for varying a quantity of air in the extruded film tube includes a supply blower and an exhaust blower. The program instructions include at least one routine for the automatic and coordinated control of the subsystem for varying a quantity of air in the extruded film tube.

Abstract: A take-off apparatus for plastic blown sheet that is collapsed has a deflecting roller rotatably mounted for transporting the blown sheet and an air turning bar for receiving the blown sheet from the deflecting bar along a transport plane defined therebetween. The blown sheet passes around a peripheral portion of the air turning bar thereby defining a support arc region of the at least one air turning bar about which the blown sheet is supported. The air turning bar has air outlet openings disposed in the support arc region through which compressed air is ejected to support the blown sheet. The air turning bar has an arc-shaped axis defining a plane of curvature which is oriented such that the peripheral portion presents a concave surface in which the air outlet openings are disposed and which opposes the blown sheet.

Abstract: A modular apparatus for cooling and sizing extruded plastic profiles includes a base plate and a first side plate which are permanently connected together and perpendicular to each other so as form a pair of reference planes. One or two groups of vacuum sizer die elements having a passageway through which an extruded plastic profile will be advanced forwardly in a longitudinal direction from an extrusion die, are placed onto the reference planes. Each of the vacuum sizer die elements has reference surfaces which mate to the reference planes; and the group or groups of vacuum sizer die elements are secured in place in the apparatus with one or two further side plates and a top plate. Vacuum is provided to the vacuum sizer die elements through vacuum connections arranged in the base plate, and cooling is provided in a cooling water passageway formed generally in the side plate.

Abstract: A foamed thermoplastic resin sheet manufacturing device is provided with (i) an extruder for melting and kneading a thermoplastic resin and a foaming agent to form a melted/kneaded mixture and extruding the melted/kneaded mixture, (ii) a die which is provided at a front end of said extruder and forms the melted/kneaded mixture into a sheet-like foamy thermoplastic resin material, (iii) a vacuum chamber in which the foamy thermoplastic resin material extruded through said die expands under a reduced pressure, and (iv) a facing-wall section composed of a pair of walls of said vacuum chamber which face each other in a thickness direction of the foamy thermoplastic resin material, at least one of the walls in pair being a movable wall provided so as to move in directions in which said walls approach and separate each other. By this arrangement, foamed thermoplastic resin sheets with various thicknesses can be produced.

Abstract: A branched pipe (5) is manufactured by continuous extrusion in such a manner that a manifold (5a) of a branched pipe (5) is manufactured by extruding plastic material into the space defined by moving chill moulds (1, 2) and a mandrel (10) arranged therein with an extruder (4). The manifold (5a) is provided with branch pipes (5b) simultaneously with the extrusion thereof.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing a hollow plastic section by extrusion through a die in a horizontal direction. The die has an inner mandrel which forms the cavity in the section. A first sealing plug and a second sealing plug, which sealing plugs are situated at a distance from one another downstream of the inner mandrel are attached to the inner mandrel. The sealing plugs are designed, during operation of the apparatus, to lie in the hollow section, such that they are sealed against the section, so that the sealing plugs and the section delimit a compartment in the cavity of the section. The compartment is filled with a liquid during operation of the apparatus. Vent means are located in the compartment for receiving and discharging gases or vapor which collects at the highest point of the compartment.

Abstract: A molding machine including a plurality of carriages for carrying mold blocks in an axial direction. The carriages each include wheels on opposite sides which follow a guide track along an endless path including a molding section extending in the axial direction. Two wings are secured to the carriages for pivoting about an axis extending in the axial direction whereby in one pivotal position the mold blocks are together in a molding position and in another pivotal position the mold blocks are separated in a releasing position. Each of the wings is adapted to carry one of the mold blocks and has a flat axially extending surface and guide wheels. A wing guide track engages the wing guide wheels and is adapted to place the wings in the molding position when the carriage is in the molding section. A first set of track rollers along the molding section engages the flat axially extending surface of one of the wings of carriages in the molding section along a first rolling plane extending in the axial direction.

Abstract: A molding apparatus which is used in a continuous molding operation includes an endless looped track, track carriers which are moved around the track to and from a product shaping mold region and a transfer system for replacement of mold block members used in the apparatus. The transfer system, which operates without interrupting the molding operation includes transfer carriers controlled to move synchronized with the track carriers at a transfer location remote from the mold region and actuators which slide the mold block members between the track carriers and the transfer carriers at the transfer location when the transfer carriers are synchronized with the track carriers.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for manufacturing shaped polymeric articles by substantially continuous vacuum forming. The method includes providing a sheet of hot polymeric material which is disposed onto a rotating belt having a mold impression. Vacuum pressure is applied to the polymeric material through the belt so as to draw the hot polymeric material into intimate contact with the mold impression to form a patterned sheet portion and a remaining sheet portion. This method thereafter cools at least the patterned sheet portion below a heat deflection temperature of the polymeric material, forms the remaining sheet portion, and then cools the remaining sheet portion below the heat deflection temperature so that features other than the central pattern, such as nail and butt edges, can be mechanically worked into the polymeric sheet.

Abstract: A sheet of plastics material is continuously extruded onto the upper run of an endless conveyor which carries aluminum vacuum mold plates each defining a cavity with a shingle pattern. The sheet is progressively vacuum-formed into the mold plate cavities, and opposite longitudinal upper and lower portions of the sheet are progressively vacuum-formed, with traveling plug assist in one embodiment, to define shingle panels with hook-shaped lower portions and upper portions defining grooves for receiving the lower portions. The upper portion of the sheet is punched with longitudinally spaced slots to form a nailing flange, and the sheet is then cut laterally at longitudinally spaced intervals to produce elongated siding panels each having integrally connected shingle panels. The shingle panels may have different bottom configurations or profiles and are interchangeable.

Abstract: An apparatus for calibrating hollow chamber sheet extruded lines out of thermoplastic resin includes a vacuum housing and a planar intake area at a first end of the vacuum housing. The planar intake area is configured to receive the extruded line. Support rollers within the vacuum housing are configured to support the extruded line. The extruded line exits the vacuum housing through a planar outlet area located at a second end of the vacuum housing opposite the first end.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for the production of transversely ribbed tubes, having mold jaw halves which bear against each other along a common mold section and form a mold passage. Each mold jaw half has a cooling passage which is produced directly during the operation of casting the respective mold jaw half, for example by means of a so-called false casting core. The cooling passage extends in the corresponding mold jaw half from a first surface to a second surface so that said core can be easily removed from the casting of the mold jaw half. At the one surface, the cooling passage has a cooling agent feed means and, at a spacing therefrom, a cooling agent discharge means. The second surface which is at a distance therefrom is sealed off by means of a guide and slide element which is fixed to the corresponding mold jaw half.

Abstract: A continuous process and apparatus for producing oriented plastic tube comprising the steps of extrusion, temperature conditioning, diametrical expansion and cooling, characterized by the step of inducing axial draw of the tube between first and second haul-off means located upstream of the expansion step.

Abstract: The invention relates to a calibrating device with at least one calibrating die (24), which has die faces (66) against which an extruded object fed therethrough is applied, in particular a section having several cavities, a sealing device (60, 62) being provided to seal off a gap (56) in order to form a cavity (59) and, having been formed, this cavity (59) is evacuated to a negative pressure lower than the ambient pressure, means being provided to form the gap (56) before the first end face (53) of the calibrating die (24) and at least one of the terminal edges (67) of the die faces (66) having part end faces (76) to form the gap (56) with a gap width (65) smaller than 1.0 mm.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for startup of extruded film tubes. A controller member is utilized to provide control signals to a supply blower which supplies air to the extruded film tube in an amount corresponding to a supply control signal, and an exhaust blower which exhausts air from the extruded film tube in an amount corresponding to an exhaust control signal. The controller member executes program instructions which define at least one control routine for automatic and coordinated control of the supply blower and the exhaust blower during starting of the extruded film tube, by directing a series of supply control signals to the supply blower and exhaust control signals to the exhaust blower. When a valve is utilized to control the flow of air from the supply blower to the extruded film tube, the controller is also utilized to adjust the supply blower and the exhaust blower in order to optimize operation of the valve by placing the valve in a substantially linear operating range.

Abstract: The invention describes a forming device (3) for an extrusion plant (1) having at least one calibrating device (9) comprising at least one calibration tool (24 to 27) having a plurality of calibration dies (29 to 37), arranged one after the other in an extrusion direction (7), having at least one calibration orifice (38) with several forming surfaces. The calibration dies (29 to 37) have end faces (43, 44) spaced at a distance apart from one another in the extrusion direction (7). At least one cavity (51) is formed between at least two immediately adjacent calibration dies (29 to 37) extending from the forming surfaces through to a passage and the cavity (51) is open across a predominant part of the periphery of the calibration orifice (38) towards the calibration orifice (38) bounded by the forming surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a plant for performing a process for manufacturing a plastic composite profile of any cross section, having an outer layer or skin made of a first material and at least one inner layer made of a different material suitable for adhering to the skin, according to which process the materials of the profile are coextruded. In a first step, a cylindrical bead of solid cross section is produced using a coextrusion unit, in which bead the skin material forms an outer ring whereas the material of the inner layer forms the core; and, downstream of the coextrusion unit, the cross section of the cylindrical bead is gradually converted in a simple extrusion head, of the kind used for single-material profiles, into the desired section for the profile, in such a way that the skin remains present, with a minimal thickness, at least on all the essential parts of the completed profile.

Abstract: A device for improving the possibilities of process control in blown film manufacture is described. In blown film manufacture, the plastic material is extruded in the form of a tube from a slot die and is pulled off while maintaining an internal pressure in the tube as it cools during chemical formation of the film material. According to the invention, the film tube is flushed on all sides in this cooling area with an air stream that has been conditioned in terms of temperature and air purity, and this flushing air stream, in turn, is shielded against outside influence by a partition surrounding the area. Preferably, the flushing air stream is divided into a number of partial air streams.

Abstract: Provided is a resin guiding device for an inflation molding apparatus, which guides a molten resin extruded and blown into a tubular resin from an inflation molding die, to a pair of take-up rolls, wherein said resin guiding device comprises a pair of guiding members placed between said inflation molding die and said pair of take-up rolls, and said guiding members respectively have curved contact faces which are in contact with the tubular resin where said curved contact faces are mutually outward curved, and each of said curved contact faces has a shape corresponding to a rein shape so as to fold the tubular resin into a flat shape.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing plastic film by extrusion includes a plastic extrusion machine having an extrusion screw, a motor for turning the screw, a die connected to the screw barrel outlet, a manifold having an opening receiving the die, a blower delivering cooling air to the manifold, and an infared emitter and detector for monitoring phase transition of the molten plastic material into solidified plastic film in adjusting operation of the apparatus to maintain plastic material phase transition occurrence in a preselected position downstream of the die by either adjusting speed of the blower or adjusting speed of the motor or both.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cooling and calibrating extruded plastic profiles with a trough which is provided downstream of a dry calibrating device and has a water bath through which the profile is guided, with plates being arranged in the trough between the face walls in order to calibrate the profile under the influence of negative pressure. In order to achieve a high production speed with a low amount of expenditure it is proposed that a sleeve encompassing the profile is provided in a section of the trough, which sleeve guides at least in a zone of the main body of the profile and that the sleeve is provided with a distance to the face walls in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: Take-off equipment for tubular sheets are provided for plastic film produced by an extruder with a stationary blowing head. Collapsing boards collapse the tubular sheet with expanded circular cross section, and stationary conveying equipment transports the collapsed tubular sheet to stationary wind-up equipment. A reversing system with at least one deflecting roller and at least one turning bar is pivotably supported between the collapsing boards and the stationary conveying equipment. The reversing system includes at least two turntables which are at a distance from one another vertically corresponding to the at least one deflecting roller and the at least one turning bar. The turntables lie with their centers in a central vertical axis of the equipment and can be driven in a reversing manner each over a planet wheel to different turning angles. The planet wheels are constructed in each case as open planetary gears with the associated turntable having a sun wheel.

Abstract: Method for treating an extruded plastic section having a hollow space and installation suitable for carrying out such a treatment. The installation includes an extruder which has a core for forming the hollow space in the section and, at a distance downstream from the extruder in the extrusion direction of the section, a closing means having a rigid circumferential wall. The installation also has a first conduit connected to a supply orifice which is provided in the circumferential wall of the closing means, a fluid feeder connected to the first conduit and a second conduit connected to a discharge orifice. The discharge orifice is upstream of the supply orifice to provide a fluid film flowing opposite to the extrusion direction between the circumferential wall of the closing means and the extruded section.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for the production of transversely ribbed tubes, having mold jaw halves which bear against each other along a common mold section with front faces and form therebetween a mold passage. Each mold jaw half has vacuum passages which are in flow communication with the mold passage. Each mold jaw half also has a cooling passage (22). The front faces of the mold jaw halves are formed with vacuum communication channels which, along the common mold section, form vacuum communication passages. The vacuum communication passages are in flow communication with a stationary vacuum rail, along the common mold section of the apparatus. Along the common mold section, the cooling passages of the mold jaw halves are in fluid communication with a stationary cooling agent rail which has a cooling agent feed means and a cooling agent discharge means.

Abstract: An external stabilizer employed in a plastic film blowing apparatus stacks of swing arm members that create an iris aperture for the extruded film bubble. A tubular die, fed with a supply of molten thermoplastic polymer, extrudes a tube of the molten polymer and injects air into the extruded tube to inflate the tube into a bubble. The wall of the tube expands into a film of a desired thickness; and the tube is drawn vertically upward and collapsed and flattened. The external stabilizer has a frame surrounding the extruded tube above the die. A plurality of swing arms arranged on said frame define the iris aperture. Each of the swing arms is an elongated extrusion of a light-weight material having one end mounted pivotally on the frame and a free end. The swing arm has a mushroom-shaped profile that is rounded on a side that faces the extruded tube. Wear resistant material is disposed on the front surface.

Abstract: A molding machine including a plurality of carriages for carrying mold blocks in an axial direction and a track for the carriages including a molding section, the track including spaced apart channels receiving the carriage wheels for guiding the carriages along the track. The carriages each include wheels on opposite sides of the carriage, a first set of oppositely facing and axially extending flat surfaces on one side of the carriage, a second set of oppositely facing and axially extending flat surfaces on the other side of the carriage, and centering rollers having facing rolling surfaces spaced apart a distance X. The track includes first and second sets of track rollers associated with one of the channels, the first and second track roller sets defining a first pair of axially extending, parallel facing rolling planes whereby the first and second roller sets engage the first set of flat surfaces of carriages in the molding section.