Importance

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Abstract

A method of continuously forming articles having a predetermined, varying cross sectional geometry which comprises continuously introducing molten thermoplastic material from a die opening into a nip formed by opposing rotating rolls with at least one roll having a cooled, arcuate mold cavity in its surface contoured to correspond to each article cross sectional geometry thereby providing varying clearances in the nip, progressively successively arcuately forcing the mold cavity into shaping engagement with the molten thermoplastic material to mold the articles therefrom, maintaining the thermoplastic material containing the articles in contact with one of the rolls after exiting the nip thereby forming a first, curved intermediate shape wherein the thermoplastic material is partially set, immediately passing such shape over a cooled cylindrical surface to further yet not completely set the thermoplastic material and transpose the first shape into a second shape reversely configured from the first shape, discharging the second, shape from the cylindrical surface in a substantially planar direction to straighten such shape and transpose the articles into a substantially flat condition while continuing to set the thermoplastic material, and thereafter separating the articles from the remainder of the thermoplastic material.

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First Claim