The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling. A liner sheet may be attached to the feedstock sheet prior to, during, or after forming and can be peelable therefrom.

Extruded plastic profiles with integrated insulation, the method for extruding such products, and the windows and doors made with such plastic extrusions. The plastic extrusions may additionally include a low heat build-up capstock system comprising an acrylic cap and pigment system that is substantially IR transparent. The extruded plastic profiles with integrated insulation are recyclable using conventional plastic extrusion process and are fully weldable in conventional window and door manufacturing.

A piece insertion method for a pipe, for example an irrigation pipe, including: ejecting at least one piece, for example a dripper, from an ejection unit, advancing the at least one dripper inside the irrigation pipe by a dripper advancing unit, lifting the dripper towards the inner surface of the irrigation pipe by using a lifting device such that the dripper is parallel or substantially parallel to this inner surface of the irrigation pipe on impact with this inner surface. The method according to the invention allows also coordination between the lifting device, the ejection unit and the dripper advancing unit such that the dripper spacing can be maintained in tight tolerances.

A calibration device for calibrating a film hose produced via a blow-extrusion film device, by which the film hose can be brought into a desired diameter, has at least one film guiding element, by which the film hose can be guided. The film guiding element includes at least one elastically deformable element.

Methods and apparatus for transporting or delivering elastomeric emitters and inserting elastomeric emitters into drip line are disclosed herein, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for manufacturing drip line to form an irrigation assembly or system. In one form, the apparatus comprises a feeder, conveyor, emitter drive mechanism and guide bar for insertion into an extruder to bond the elastomeric emitter to an inner surface of the extruded tube. Friction reducing apparatus and methods are further disclosed as well.

An extrusion system for the production of polymeric tubes and a method of extruding polymeric tubes which reduce or obviate deformation or collapse of the polymeric tube upon egress from a die of an extruder.

The present invention relates to an external cooling system for a molten film tube produced by a blown film tubular extrusion process, comprised of one or more enclosures with one or more respective cavities that directly receive a portion of cooling gas emanating from one or more associated cooling elements. Each enclosure includes a port containing a variable exhaust device and optional flow buffer, acting to maintain a pressure differential between the cavity and an adjacent inside volume of the molten film tube, adjustable to optimize molten film tube stability cooling element efficiency and spaced apart dimension between cooling elements. Additionally, at least one cooling element is provided, comprised of a divergent cooling element with a divergent cooling interface containing a cooling gas deflector spaced adjacent to the molten film tube and providing an expelled cooling gas.

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.