Thermoformed polymeric foam articles are described herein In some embodiments, the articles are made by a manufacturing method (e.g., a continuous process) which involves the extrusion and subsequent thermoforming of a blowing agent containing thermoplastic sheet. The thermoformed polymeric foam articles may have a lower density than the precursor sheet from which they are formed. In some but not all embodiments, the precursor sheet is a multi-layer sheet which includes at least one foam layer. In such embodiments, the thermoformed articles also include multiple layers and at least one foam layer.

Thermoformed polymeric foam articles are described herein In some embodiments, the articles are made by a manufacturing method (e.g., a continuous process) which involves the extrusion and subsequent thermoforming of a blowing agent containing thermoplastic sheet. The thermoformed polymeric foam articles may have a lower density than the precursor sheet from which they are formed. In some but not all embodiments, the precursor sheet is a multi-layer sheet which includes at least one foam layer. In such embodiments, the thermoformed articles also include multiple layers and at least one foam layer.

The invention relates to a cooling apparatus and a method for cooling a continuous strip, wherein the cooling apparatus comprises a cooling drum and a guiding device for guiding the strip in a plurality of windings around the cooling drum, wherein the guiding device comprises first and second guiding elements, wherein each one of the first guiding elements forms a set with one of the second guiding elements, wherein the first guiding element of the set receives the strip from a first winding in a first winding direction and directs the strip in a first transition direction towards the second guiding element which receives the strip in a second transition direction and directs the strip into a consecutive winding in a second winding direction, wherein the first transition direction is different from the first winding direction and the second transition direction is different from the second winding direction.

An apparatus for starting an extrusion process, including at least a drawing device having a main frame, a platform arranged on the main frame, a cable winch arranged on the platform and having a drum, and a wire cable that can be wound up on the drum of the cable winch and pulls an extruded plastics pipe in an extrusion line by way of deflection rolls until the pipe is taken over by a take-off device, wherein the platform is movable transversely to an extrusion direction.

In a resin film manufacturing device according to an embodiment, a current state and a reward for a previously selected action are determined for each heat bolt based on a control error calculated from a thickness distribution of a resin film acquired from a thickness sensor. Then, control conditions, which are a combination of states and actions, are updated based on the reward, and a most appropriate action corresponding to the current state is selected from the updated control conditions. Then, the heater is controlled based on the most appropriate action.

In a resin film manufacturing device according to an embodiment, a current state and a reward for a previously selected action are determined for each heat bolt based on a control error calculated from a thickness distribution of a resin film acquired from a thickness sensor. Then, control conditions, which are a combination of states and actions, are updated based on the reward, and a most appropriate action corresponding to the current state is selected from the updated control conditions. Then, the heater is controlled based on the most appropriate action.

A method of forming a composite panel in-line is disclosed. The method includes the steps of forming a hot thermal plastic sheet of material and providing the hot thermal plastic sheet of material to a punch having punch members extending outwardly therefrom. The hot thermal plastic sheet of material is advanced through the punch in order to form apertures through the hot thermal plastic sheet of material such that each aperture extends from an outer surface of the hot thermal plastic sheet of material to an inner surface of the hot thermal plastic sheet of material. An outer metal sheet and an inner metal sheet, respectively, are coupled to opposing sides of the hot thermal plastic sheet of material.

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).

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).

A production line for manufacturing extruded plates, comprises a conveyor for conveying a semifinished product, an edge cutting device for cutting off an edge area of the semifinished product to present a plate-shaped endless base profile, and a separating device for separating individual plates from the endless base profile. A distance (D) between the separating device and the edge cutting device in the conveying direction is dimensioned such that, between an average temperature T.sub.1 of the semifinished product during cutting of the edge area in the edge cutting device and an average temperature T.sub.2 of the endless base profile during separation, there is a temperature difference T.sub.1−T.sub.2 of 2 K≤T.sub.1−T.sub.2≤15 K. Due to distance (D) within an optimum temperature range, further processing of the cut off edge areas is essentially neutral in terms of installation space.