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 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.

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.

A resin fiber formation nozzle 20 of the present invention is a nozzle configured to discharge a molten resin material into a fiber shape. The nozzle 20 includes: the internal flow path 21; an inlet 22 that allows the resin material to flow into the internal flow path 21; and an outlet 23 that allows the resin material to be discharged from the internal flow path 21 to an outside of the nozzle 20. The internal flow path 21 is shaped such that a diameter of the internal flow path 21 decreases continuously, in a section from a position A 5 mm upstream in the internal flow path 21 from the outlet 23 to a position B of the outlet 23, from the position A toward the position B.

A resin fiber formation nozzle 20 of the present invention is a nozzle configured to discharge a molten resin material into a fiber shape. The nozzle 20 includes: the internal flow path 21; an inlet 22 that allows the resin material to flow into the internal flow path 21; and an outlet 23 that allows the resin material to be discharged from the internal flow path 21 to an outside of the nozzle 20. The internal flow path 21 is shaped such that a diameter of the internal flow path 21 decreases continuously, in a section from a position A 5 mm upstream in the internal flow path 21 from the outlet 23 to a position B of the outlet 23, from the position A toward the position B.

An air ring has a main body including a plenum through which pressurized air enters the air ring, the main body including a generally circular interior that is unobstructed vertically above the main body. A generally circular forming-cone assembly is received in the generally circular interior of the main body, and includes at least one annular lip defining a passage through which pressurized air from the plenum exits the air ring for impingement upon the polymer tube. A plurality of fasteners secure the forming-cone assembly in the interior of the main body, the fasteners and forming-cone assembly being unobstructed vertically above the air ring, wherein the fasteners are accessible from vertically above the air ring and the forming-cone assembly is removable from the main body by vertical lifting without removal of other components from the air ring.

An air ring has a main body including a plenum through which pressurized air enters the air ring, the main body including a generally circular interior that is unobstructed vertically above the main body. A generally circular forming-cone assembly is received in the generally circular interior of the main body, and includes at least one annular lip defining a passage through which pressurized air from the plenum exits the air ring for impingement upon the polymer tube. A plurality of fasteners secure the forming-cone assembly in the interior of the main body, the fasteners and forming-cone assembly being unobstructed vertically above the air ring, wherein the fasteners are accessible from vertically above the air ring and the forming-cone assembly is removable from the main body by vertical lifting without removal of other components from the air ring.

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).

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