Aspects of the disclosure relate to manufacturing a balloon envelope for use in a stratospheric balloon system. For instance, a stream of polyethylene mixture us extruded through an extruder in order to orient molecules of polymer chains of polyethylene and to provide an oriented film. The oriented film is passed through an electron beam and thereby crosslinking the polymer chains to provide a cross-linked film. The cross-linked film is heat sealed to form the balloon envelope.

An air ring comprises a circular plenum in fluid communication with a source of pressurized air. An upper and lower annular lips are in fluid communication with the plenum through upper and lower channels and are arranged to supply air to the blown film bubble. A plurality of vanes are disposed in the upper channel and extend radially inwardly from the plenum to the upper annular lip. The vanes divide the upper channel into a plurality of radially extending channel segments. Each vane has a selected length and a distal end proximal the upper annular lip, the distal end being spaced from the upper annular lip no greater than about 20% of the length of the vanes. A powered plunger extends between the vanes of each of the channel segments to vary the cross-sectional area of the channel segments.

Disclosed is an apparatus for the production of a blown tubular film (FT). The apparatus includes an independent device for the localized thickness adjustment at the strips adjacent to the folding edges resulting from the flattening of the tubular film (FT) by means of adjustment elements formed in angular sectors of limited extension symmetrically arranged 180° apart. The independent device for the localized thickness adjustment being a volumetric type device having a rotating ring that performs a rotating adjustment of the flow rate of a cooling air stream which takes into account the angular offset resulting from the operational parameters of the apparatus.

Disclosed is an apparatus for the production of a blown tubular film (FT). The apparatus includes an independent device for the localized thickness adjustment at the strips adjacent to the folding edges resulting from the flattening of the tubular film (FT) by means of adjustment elements formed in angular sectors of limited extension symmetrically arranged 180° apart. The independent device for the localized thickness adjustment being a volumetric type device having a rotating ring that performs a rotating adjustment of the flow rate of a cooling air stream which takes into account the angular offset resulting from the operational parameters of the apparatus.

The invention relates to a stretching device for stretching a plastic film in the transport direction thereof, having a first roll, which can be driven by a first drive and can be rotated at a first rotational speed, and having a second roll, which can be driven by a second drive and can be rotated at a second rotational speed, wherein the second rotational speed is greater than the first rotational speed, and the second roll is arranged downstream of the first roll in the transport path of the plastic film, wherein at least one of the rolls is a roll through which air can flow inwards from the outside. According to the invention at least one roll through which air can flow can be continuously cleaned.

The invention relates to a stretching device for stretching a plastic film in the transport direction thereof, having a first roll, which can be driven by a first drive and can be rotated at a first rotational speed, and having a second roll, which can be driven by a second drive and can be rotated at a second rotational speed, wherein the second rotational speed is greater than the first rotational speed, and the second roll is arranged downstream of the first roll in the transport path of the plastic film, wherein at least one of the rolls is a roll through which air can flow inwards from the outside. According to the invention at least one roll through which air can flow can be continuously cleaned.

A device for guiding a film tube emerging from a film blowing head and drawn off in a production direction, including a frame (48) through which the film tube (16) can be passed in the production direction (P), and a plurality of adjusting units (59, 60) distributed over the circumference for adjusting film guide elements (47) transversely to the production direction (P), the adjusting units (59, 60) each having: a pivot arm (50), pivotally attached to the frame (48), a carrier (51) for at least one of the film guide elements (47), the carrier (51) being pivotally connected to the pivot arm (50), and a coupling rod (52) pivotably connected to the carrier (51). At least one first adjusting unit (59) has an actuating mechanism (53, 54) through which the coupling rod (52) the adjusting unit (59) is connected in an articulating manner to the frame (48).

The invention is related to film comprising a polypropylene composition showing improved coefficiency of friction as well as optical properties.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cooling. An apparatus includes an annular cooling ring operable for receiving a flow of a molten film bubble and expelling a flow of cooling gas, the annular cooling ring comprising a middle lip and an adjacent radially spaced apart outer lip, the middle lip having an extended length longer than the outer lip, a radially inner surface of the outer lip and a radially outer surface of the middle lip define a channel operable to allow the flow of cooling gas along the radially outer surface of the middle lip, wherein the middle lip is located radially intermediate the channel and the molten film bubble, and wherein the middle lip isolates the molten film bubble from the flow of cooling gas until the flow of cooling gas passes beyond the extended length of the middle lip

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cooling. An apparatus includes an annular cooling ring operable for receiving a flow of a molten film bubble and expelling a flow of cooling gas, the annular cooling ring comprising a middle lip and an adjacent radially spaced apart outer lip, the middle lip having an extended length longer than the outer lip, a radially inner surface of the outer lip and a radially outer surface of the middle lip define a channel operable to allow the flow of cooling gas along the radially outer surface of the middle lip, wherein the middle lip is located radially intermediate the channel and the molten film bubble, and wherein the middle lip isolates the molten film bubble from the flow of cooling gas until the flow of cooling gas passes beyond the extended length of the middle lip