Abstract: Continuous apparatus for impression molding products containing thermoplastic material and having three-dimensional patterns on one or both surfaces, similar or dissimilar, with or without continuously changing profile or shaped edges. The thermoplastic material to be formed may or not contain foamants, fillers, strata or plys of differing composition to reinforce, decorate or protect, and is heated above its glass transition temperature before introduction between revolving flexible belt molds, which revolve in opposed relationship, being cooled, forming a travelling mold channel, at least one having a flexible three-dimensional pattern form on its front face. Opposed nip rolls press the revolving belt molds against the entering thermoplastic material. At least one belt mold travels partially around the nip roll impressing its three-dimensional pattern form in the heated material in a progressive localized rolling squeezing action in the nip region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for employment in thermoplastic foam extrusion utilizing a direct-injection extrusion process. Thermoplastic foam material is produced which is characterized by having relatively smooth external skin surfaces, and an internal cellular structure, by providing intensive cooling of the foam material immediately upon its issuance from an extrusion die orifice. Means are also provided for controlling the cooling rate utilizing an adjustable device which controls the rate of cooling air flow and air temperature within the extended foam tube.

Abstract: A plastic foamed sheet of excellent quality is produced by using an apparatus comprising a preheating chamber including a conveyor means for continuously conveying a thermoplastic resin sheet containing a heat-decomposable blowing agent in the horizontally supported state and a heating means for heating the sheet to a temperature lower than the decomposition temperature of the blowing agent, and a foaming chamber connected to the preheating chamber and including a heating means for heat-foaming the sheet as it is continuously conveyed while being perpendicularly suspended from the terminal end portion of the conveyor means.

Abstract: A poppet type check valve for controlled feeding of blowing agent into an assembly for the extrusion of thermoplastic polymeric foam material and, in particular, for controlled feeding of a blowing agent such as pentane into the barrel of an extruder assembly for extrusion of polystyrene foam; and an apparatus assembly comprising such a check valve in combination with the barrel of an extruder for extrusion of such foam materials.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to an improved device for the continuous production of foam blocks of rectangular cross-section, comprising an endless conveyor belt with side walls, means for supplying a covering sheet to the upper surface of the upper rim of the conveyor belt and the side walls, a charging device for supplying a foamable reaction mixture to the upstream end of the said upper rim of the conveyor belt, and a plurality of mold covers which are placed along the foaming area and each of which is suspended from a guiding device, the improvement wherein each guiding device comprises first and second links secured to mounting means, a diagonally extending rod pivotally connected at its lower end to the mold cover, a first lever pivotally connected at one end to the first link and pivotally connected at its opposite end to a point on the rod intermediate its ends, and a second lever pivotally connected at one end to the second link downstream of the pivotal connection between the first lever and th

Abstract: The instant invention relates to an apparatus for the continuous production of foam plastic blocks of a rectangular cross-section, in particular based on polyurethane. The apparatus generally comprises an endless conveyor belt whose upper run is provided with side walls, an unwinding device for a bottom and side sheet to cover the upper run of the belt and the side walls, a levelling device in the form of a roller or a doctor, which extends transversely in relation to the conveyor, a mixture application device and an unwinding device for a sheet to cover the mixture applied.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the continuous production of rectangular foam slabs wherein a foamable reaction mixture is foamed on a forwardly moving floor web and lateral confining webs, and in which a cover web is applied during the foaming process to the surface of the rising foam, the improvement which comprises means for supplying said cover web from a supply to the surface under controllable tension, thereby exercising a controllable pressure on the surface of the rising foam, removing the cover web from the foam surface beyond the point at which the rising mixture has substantially reached its maximum height and passing the web rearwardly and then forwardly to serve as the floor web for receiving further foamable mixture.

Abstract: Liquid foam reactants are deposited on an inclined pour plate from whence the reactants flow by gravity onto a single carrier, open top conveyor which carries the resulting foam bun away from the pour plate as it expands. A connecting wall is hingedly attached to the inclined pour plate along the lower edge thereof, which is also the "creamline." An elevator is attached to the pour plate, which, although generally maintained at a constant inclination during operation, may be selectively raised or lowered during operation to substantially alter the bun height adjusting the creamline height relative to the conveyor bed. The lower edge of the connecting wall loosely rests on the conveyor and moves back and forth responsive to adjustment of the creamline height, thereby maintaining support beneath the foaming bun between the pour plate and connector bed.

Abstract: An apparatus forms substantially rectangular cross sections of foamed material by depositing the foaming mixture in a trough lined with flexible material, moving the flexible material along at a predetermined rate, placing a continuous sheet of porous flexible separating material atop the foam and allowing a plurality of articulated members to rest upon the expanding surface. The articulated members are rigid transverse to the surface of the foamable fluid but are freely movable in horizontal and vertical directions. The articulated members have substantially flat bottoms and, as the expanding foam is drawn under them, the weight and shape cause the foam to assume a rectangular cross section. Once expansion is completed, the separating material is perforated to increase the escape of gas and allow a smooth flat top surface to result.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the deposition of hardenable foamable compositions wherein a strip of foamable liquid composition is deposited within a restraining channel and subsequently hardened by means of a centrifugal dispensing head to form a hollow generally tubular strip, improved uniformity is obtained employing a spinning mandrel which projects into the portion of the strip during the foaming and partial curing.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying polymeric foam in-place to a surface comprising a movable framework which is spaced away from the surface and which forms a movable mold relative to the surface wherein a portion of the framework which is substantially parallel with the surface is comprised of a movable continuous belt located about a pressure plate being adjacent to the surface of the belt which forms a cover for the foamed surface. The continuous belt provides a non-blocking surface, i.e., one that does not hinder the movement of the framework as the foamed material rises and presses against the belt and pressure plate, since the continuous belt is rollably mounted.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a trough and fall plate particularly adapted for use in producing continuous buns of polyurethane foam which trough and plate are expansible relative to the transverse axis of the plate for forming buns of variable widths. The trough is comprised of a pair of open ended trough sections and detachable end portions, one of the sections being slidably mounted with the other for varying the length of the defined trough and correspondingly the width of the forming bun.

Abstract: This invention is a single die by which thermoplastic insulating compounds can be co-extruded without any die for the first layer. It makes possible the extrusion of a high-density solid polyethylene skin layer over a cellular polyethylene primary insulation. Such a combination is difficult or impossible to make with a conventional co-extrusion die having a wire guide tip, one combination tip/die and a secondary extrusion die.

Abstract: A method for the continuous production of completely or partly foamed thermosetting polymerizable plastic articles, such as pipe insulation shells or sleeves. One or more sets of justaposed mold-carrying endless conveyors are employed wherein one conveyor of each set supports a series of longitudinally contiguous mold halves complementary with a series of longitudinally contiguous mold halves supported by the other conveyor of the set. The conveyors are advanced simultaneously, and during the juxtaposed portion of travel define a laterally closed, longitudinally extended mold cavity which moves or advances. The cavity thus defined comprises a plurality of zones corresponding to tube segments extending longitudinally in side-by-side, substantially planar disposition, with thin hinge-forming channels interconnecting adjacent segment zones. A thermosetable foam-forming resin mix is distributed on to one of the complementary mold halves prior to closing of the mold cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for in situ preparing and applying foam to a surface, such as a roof, and at the same time applying a membrane onto the surface of the foam, produces a foam-membrane sandwich having an upper surface of controlled smoothness and thickness or pitch, which sandwich is firmly held to the treated surface. The apparatus is normally self-propelled and may be automatically controlled so as to be advanced across the surface to be coated with membrane-covered rigid polymeric foam, preferably of polyurethane foam, as the curing pre-foam and covering membrane are applied. In preferred embodiments of the invention the membrane is a roofing felt or fiberglass web, mat, treated paper or cloth fed from the apparatus from a roll thereon, producing with the roof or other surface to be coated, a form into which a curing pre-foam is deposited as the apparatus is advanced.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the extrusion of temperature sensitive thermoplastics to form structural rib-free semi-finished products in contra-rotating driven screws.

Abstract: A continuous mixing method and system for preparation of syrup employed as a starting material for continuously manufacturing plate products therefrom are disclosed. The syrup is prepared by a method in which at least one additive is incorporated into at least one master batch of methyl methacrylate or a monomer mixture of methyl methacrylate and a copolymerizable unsaturated compound or a syrup of a monomer-polymer mixture thereof and the flow of the resulting liquid mixture is continuously combined with the flow from another batch of a syrup of the monomer-polymer mixture in a proportion such that the master batch is less in amount than said other batch, and the combined flows are continuously blended with each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of a continuous length of polymeric foam from a liquid foam mix comprising an open-topped trough to the bottom of which the liquid foam mix is supplied to expand upwardly therein, until it flows therefrom over a weir structure associated with said trough into an open-topped channel shaped conveyor associated with said weir structure and arranged continuously to convey expanding foam away from the weir structure while it completes its expansion process, the open-topped channel shaped conveyor comprising a bottom wall and separate side walls which join said bottom wall downstream of the weir structure, the apparatus also including means operable to alter the length of the trough, and conveyor width adjustment means operable to alter the width of the bottom wall of the channel shaped conveyor and to move its said walls correspondingly in synchronism with width alterations of said bottom wall and sealing means for maintaining a seal where the side walls meet the bottom wall of the

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for continuous production of a strand of porous thermoplastic material from preferably pre-expanded granules of said material containing an expanding agent. The apparatus comprises an elongated rectangular channel, two opposite sides of which are formed by the horizontal parts facing one another of two superimposed endless belts moving in a closed path between turning rollers. The granules are introduced through the open intake end of said channel and are expanded to final size and sintered together to a porous coherent strand by means of steam fed between the horizontal belt parts facing one another. The steam and the granules are fed into the channel through individual ducts which are separated from one another and connected to the intake end portion of the channel. Usually, a plurality of granule feeding ducts and a plurality of steam supplying ducts are attached to the intake end portion formed as a box of particular shape.

Abstract: An extruder has a single screw with two separate inlet hoppers feeding two separate screw flights to deliver two separate materials to a multiple channel extruder die.

Abstract: Composite panelling of upper and lower metal skins with side configurations for interlocking and a rigid foam core are continuously made by feeding separate upper and lower skin panels secured together by preassembled rigid foam end dams continuously past a foam station having a small height mixing head mounted on cross slides to lay down a zigzag pattern of foam between the skins, with the first and last transverse run of foam being parallel to the ends of the skins. A mixing head is such that valves are located within the head so that the two foamable chemicals do not contact each other until they are fed into the mixing chamber wherein a mechanical mixer mixes them immediately prior to being deposited, which mechanical mixer and valves are of minimum height and fully insertable within the molding space between the skins. A drive motor for the mixer is located in the main body supporting the mixing head, which main body does not enter into the mold cavity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for employment in thermoplastic foam extrusion utilizing a direct-injection extrusion process. Thermoplastic foam material is produced which is characterized by having relatively smooth external skin surfaces, and an internal cellular structure, by providing intensive cooling of the foam material immediately upon its issuance from an extrusion die orifice. Means are also provided for controlling the cooling rate utilizing an adjustable device which controls the rate of cooling air flow and air temperature within the extended foam tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacture of profile-sections of any shape, including complex shapes, of structural foamed thermo-plastic material, having a density of between 0.4 and 0.9 with respect to the corresponding bulk or solid thermo-plastic material, the said method consisting in slowing-down and/or stopping the expansion at the immediate outlet of a conventional extrusion machine, at predetermined zones by blowing or spraying, in a differential manner at the periphery of the extruded product, a fluid at a temperature lower than the softening temperature of the said thermo-plastic material.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a laminated board having a foam plastic core between adhered sheets has limiting means for inhibiting escape of the foam plastic core outwardly of the sheets.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous manufacture of phenolic resin foam in an endless sheet which includes mixing means for expandable liquid phenolic resin with a blowing agent and an acid-containing curing agent, optionally with the addition of additives, and means for processing the mixture in a temperature-controllable double belt press. The apparatus also comprises a device for cooling the phenolic resin to a temperature of from about 8.degree. to about 15.degree. C.

Abstract: A continuous process for the manufacture of cellular ceramic product. Ceramic feed material is transported successively through a preheat kiln section, through a foaming section whereat foaming agent mixed with the ceramic feed material is activated, and into a drawing kiln section. An elongate hollow product can be formed by drawing the foamed ceramic while soft around and past a hollow mandrel to form an elongate hollow cylindrical member.

Abstract: A device for the continuous production of a strand of foamed material comprising a vessel to which a foamable reactant material is continuously supplied and from which said material continuously issues over a weir whose height is adjustable. The material passing over said weir becomes supported on a foaming track whose constituent parts are adjustable as regards length and inclination to suit the foaming characteristics of said material. Said foaming track is adjustable also relative to said weir so as to be kept close thereto and is also adjustable relative to a curing track.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the continuous production of blocks of circular cross section of expanded cellular material. The material is deposited on a flexible liner which is movable sychronously with a flexible mold element through a stationary longitudinal shaping mold which is of circular cross sectional shape at its discharge end. In accordance with the present invention, cellular blocks of completely circular cross section are produced. The invention also provides for the heating of the flexible mold element to reduce the temperature difference between the elements contacting the expanded cellular material so that more uniform density is obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously manufacturing an elongated shaped article reinforced by a multiplicity of continuous and parallel fibers is provided. The apparatus includes a series of means for arranging a multiplicity of advancing continuous and parallel fibers into a sheet-like bundle of fibers, means for impregnating the sheet-like bundle of fibers with a liquid foamable resin, means for receiving and gathering the resin impregnated sheet-like bundle of fibers into a gathered bundle of fibers having the resin dispersed therein, a moveable molding passage of three or more endless belts facing one another in parallel relationship and having a cross-section perpendicular to the direction of movement of the fibers corresponding to the cross-section of the desired shaped article and which contact and move with the resin-impregnated bundle of fibers to form the elongated shaped article and means for extracting the elongated shaped article from the molding passage.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous fabrication of fiber reinforced plastic profile members or sections by impregnating fibrous mats with a settable liquid plastic reaction mixture in a continuous impregnation device. Arranged after the impregnation device is a transport- and forming device for drawing-through, shaping and hardening the impregnated fibrous mats. The continuous impregnation device embodies two superimposed contact- and guide platesarranged in spaced relationship from one another, these plates conjointly forming a continuously tapering inlet zone followed by an outlet zone and at both sides of the plates two edge guiding zones communicating with the free atmosphere, the edge guiding zones serving for the guiding of the side or marginal edges of the throughpassing fibrous mats.

Abstract: The technique uses an extruder for delivering a supply of softened thermoplastic resin material containing a foaming or expanding agent, the resin material being under pressure and therefore unexpanded in the extruder, but being delivered into an unconfined zone of lower pressure for partial expansion. The partially expanded resin material is drawn by a puller mechanism through a chilled shaping or sizing die of a cross sectional dimension smaller than that of the material in the unconfined zone. The material drawn into the sizing die continues its expansion in the interior of the profile with resultant development of porosity in the core of the profile while the surface layer is cooled and hardens as a substantially unexpanded structural shell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the continuous manufacture of longitudinally slit foam pipes using an internal core and two outer mold portions, externally and spacedly surrounding the core, whereby the two outer mold portions are displaced in movement-conforming manner along a path with the formation of a continuous, annular channel open towards a core support and whereby further a sheet is curved in tubular or U-shaped manner, and just before entering the annular channel is supplied with a foam base material which is completely foamed in the annular channel, whereby the foamed hollow profile is formed.

Abstract: The capacitance and diameter-over-dielectric of successive sections of a conductor having a layer of cellular plastic insulation extruded thereon are monitored continuously. The monitoring provides a continuous indication of the capacitance and the diameter with respect to the percent expansion of the cellular plastic insulation and the weight of the insulation per unit length of the conductor. This facilitates the regulation of process variables to maintain the capacitance and diameter-over-dielectric within acceptable ranges of values.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for extruding expandable thermoplastic material having a cellular internal body portion and formed thereon a substantially non-cellular high density skin. The extruded material is contacted by a pair of continuously traveling temperature controlled belts immediately upon leaving the extrusion die which serve to form the high density skin thereon and the spacing of the belts is selectively controlled downstream from the extrusion die with the use of selectively adjustable belt backing members. Selectively controlling the spacing of the belts while the extruded material is undergoing expansion or foaming results in a predetermined internal cellular structure of said extruded material especially with regard to the size and distribution of the cells across a cross-section of the material.

Abstract: Polystyrene foam is extruded upwardly as a tube into a cooling media of boiling water, both the interior and exterior surfaces of the cylindrically shaped extrudate passing through a bath of boiling water of variable depth. The polystyrene foam extrudate produced by such a method has a high density at the interior and exterior surfaces, with the density progressively decreasing from these surfaces toward the center core of the extrudate.

Abstract: Two, endless, perforated steel belts are mounted one above the other to travel about spaced rolls, and between a pair of spaced, parallel, stationary side walls, so that confronting portions of the belts form two sides of an elongate, rectangular channel. Granules of thermoplastic material are continuously fed into one end of the channel in a quantity sufficient to completely fill the channel. The moving belts convey the granules first past a heating zone, where steam is introduced through the perforated belts to cause the granules to expand, and then past a cooling zone, where the granules are sintered to form a solid, rectangular block which is discharged continuously from the opposite end of the channel and onto a surface where it is severed into individual blocks. The diameters of the holes in the belts range from 0.5 to 0.8 mm., and the number of holes ranges from 20,000 to 30,000 per square meter of belt.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are described for improved production of foamed bunstock in continuous length. A generally U-shaped moving mold is utilized within which a thermosetting foam mix is deposited and the bunstock is then formed as a continuous block. This moving mold is configured along a critical portion of its length to conform as closely as practical to the inverted mirror image of the profile defined by the characteristic curve of percent of foam rise as a function of time for any selected foam mix composition. A weir arrangement is employed to control the travel of foam mix while this is still highly liquid. The objective is to maintain a condition of hydrostatic balance throughout the body of developing foam from the point of mix lay down to the point of foam gellation.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous manufacture of phenolic resin foam in an endless sheet which includes means for mixing expandable liquid phenolic resin with a blowing agent and an acid-containing curing agent, optionally with the addition of additives, and means for processing the mixture in a temperature-controllable double belt press. The apparatus also comprises a device for cooling the phenolic resin to a temperature of from about 8 to about 15.degree. C.

Abstract: This invention relates to the production of continuous length of polymeric foam by depositing a foam mix in a moving open topped trough shaped conveyor by which it is conveyed and in which the mix foams freely and in the region when foaming takes place, contacting each side surface of the rising foam with an upwardly moving surface, preferably a system of upwardly moving wires interposed between each side surface of the rising foam and its adjacent side wall of the trough conveyor, the speed and direction of travel of the system of wires being selected so that the foam emerging from the foaming region has a flat upper surface.

Abstract: Preferably for use in the production of continuous lengths of rigid foam, a molding machine employs opposed endless conveyor belts having adjacent linear runs forming therebetween a molding zone. Each of the conveyors is supported for movement toward and away from the other conveyor, and one of the conveyor supports is made up of a plurality of sections hingedly connected together to locally yield to a lump or other discontinuity in the product being produced. Double acting expansible chambers are provided to drivingly interconnect the conveyor supports for separating the conveyors, permitting the conveyors to come together, and for clamping the conveyors together under a pressure sufficient to resist the foaming pressure, with a space between the conveyors being maintained during molding by adjustable spacer blocks.

Abstract: Apparatus, to be movably and releasably secured to an inclined or vertical surface, having a rigid framework having two pairs of axially mounted vertically spaced-apart horizontal wheels horizontally spaced-apart on a framework, an endless track mounted on the wheels having linked track members, with each member having a cavity adapted to press against said surface and be secured thereto by a vacuum in the cavity, an open space within the framework and wheels, a flexible conduit extending from the cavity of each track member into the framework open space and to a vacuum valving means for selectively creating and maintaining a vacuum between the track member and the surface when in contact therewith, and means to drive the wheels to thereby effect crawling of the track as it is held by vacuum on the surface.

Abstract: Foam moldings of olefin polymers are prepared by heating, and pressing together, foamed particles of an olefin polymer, containing crosslinked constituents, in molds, a temperature gradient of from 0.5.degree. to 25.degree. C per cm of loose mass of particles being established in the mold, which has a gas-permeable wall on the lower-temperature side.

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: Apparatus for producing continuous polyurethane blocks is disclosed. The apparatus includes pressure regulating members to prevent a crowning of the upper surface of the foamed material. The pressure regulating members comprise a plurality of surface elements each of which is rigid and fixed with respect to an axis taken along the width of the foam. The plurality of elements is arranged or utilized so that the entire width of the foamed material is superposed. The surface elements may be in the form of shoes or rollers. The width of the foamed material may be adjusted by adjusting the apparatus side walls. In such a case, the plurality of surface elements will be arranged or utilized to superpose the entire width without the necessity of shutting down the process or manually adjusting the width of the elements. The shoes or rollers are pivoted or suspended from a common frame so that they are freely movable along the surface of the foamed material in the forward or reverse direction of foam movement.

Abstract: Urethane plastic foam reinforced with glass fibers is provided, the glass fibers being combined with the plastic foam material prior to foaming. The foaming of the plastic material is physically controlled and restrained to achieve particular desired physical characteristics of the final product. By restricting the extent of foaming, and by using particular layers of fibers, high fiber concentration and more dense skin areas can be obtained in the foam; the fibers can also be initially distributed in a manner to increase their concentration near the surfaces of the foam body. Apparatus is provided for producing reinforced foam in a continuous manner and a method is also provided for combining the fiber reinforcement and the foamable plastic material in a manner such that the plastic material is disposed between two layers of the fiber reinforcement to assure proper distribution of the fibers in the foam.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a foamed thermoplastic resin comprising an extruder including a barrel through which a thermoplastic resin is fed while being melted and a head to extrude said molten resin from said barrel, and gas injector means to inject a gas into said molten resin in said barrel through a gas injecting port in said barrel whereby said foamed thermoplastic resin article is formed by extruding said gas containing molten resin, said gas injector means characterized by comprising a gas metering means or gas flow rate setting means disposed adjacent and connected to said gas injecting port to conduct said gas therethrough while a constant flow rate is maintained, and a volume of a gas passage from said gas flow rate setting means to said gas injecting port in said barrel being sufficiently set for the gas pressure in said gas passage to respond to variation in the pressure of said molten resin in said barrel.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reducing interior surface roughness and improving interior surface gloss in extruded tubular articles made from foamed thermoplastic materials.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of a cellular thermoplastic body, wherein solid thermoplastic material is melted under pressure in an extruder, a gaseous blowing agent is injected into the molten thermoplastic material under pressure and said molten thermoplastic material and gaseous blowing agent is passed to a zone of reduced pressure to effect the cellular expansion of said thermoplastic material by said gaseous blowing agent, and wherein said gaseous blowing agent is metered at sonic velocity at a point upstream of the injection of said gaseous blowing agent into said molten thermoplastic material.

Abstract: Plastic is foamed in a pressure tunnel portion of a molding conveyor formed by opposed endless conveyor runs with side pieces defining the product cross section. One or both employed the endless runs, preferably the bottom conveyor run is laterally split into at least two separate endless shiftable conveyors respectively carrying the side pieces forming the sides of the pressure tunnel, which shiftable conveyors are laterally movable, with respect to the conveying or molding direction, at the tunnel entrance and the tunnel exit for clamping and unclamping respectively, that is for bringing the side pieces horizontally toward each other transverse to the molding direction to form the final configuration for the tunnel cross section and away from each other at the molding tunnel exit to release the sides of the molded product.

Abstract: The invention relates to an equipment for the production of panels from expandable synthetic material on which a foil material is applied to act as a facing.