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 calibration device (1) for calibrating a blown film (6), said device comprising; —a tubular region (55) with at least one inner wall (92), through which region the blown film (6) can be passed; —a liquid reservoir which provides a liquid and which is situated above the tubular region (55); an inlet region, in which the liquid can be introduced into the space between the outer wall of the blown film (6) and the inner wall (92) of the tubular region (55); and —a scraper device (117), situated below the tubular region (55), by means of which scraper device at least part of the liquid can be removed from the outer surface. The distance of the liquid-removing regions of the scraper device (117) from the main axis of the blown film (6) can be altered.

A device and a method for calibrating a blown film are provided, said device comprising: a tubular region with at least one inner wall, through which region the blown film can be passed; a liquid reservoir, which can be used to provide a liquid and which is situated above the tubular region, the liquid being guidable between the inner wall and the blown film; and a suctioning device, situated below the tubular region, for suctioning off at least part of the liquid from the blown film. At least one liquid-permeable element is provided, said element surrounding at least parts of the periphery of the blown film. This device permits the distance of the liquid-permeable element from the main axis of the blown film to be altered.

An extrudate cooling tank having cooling water chambers adapted for running passage of extrudate serially therethrough at a preselected regulated variable pressures with water in the chambers being at different temperatures, and a wheel-servo motor combination hingedly connected to the chamber and being movable with respect thereto between a first position with the wheel engaging running extrudate and a second position with the wheel remote from engagement with the extrudate.

A method of making a flexible medical article or tube, for example, a sheath for a vascular access device, is provided. The method can include extruding a polymer, for example, a polycarbonate-urethane copolymer, to form a tube and annealing the extruded polymer. The method can further include cutting the extruded tube to a desired length before or after annealing, flaring one end of the annealed tube and over-molding the flared portion onto a hub, and forming the other end of the tube into a tip. A sheath formed by such a method is also provided.

A method for the active adjustment of the profile of a film produced with blown extrusion technology, a film obtained with such method and a reel resulting from the winding of the film.

A method of making a flexible medical article or tube, for example, a sheath for a vascular access device, is provided. The method can include extruding a polymer, for example, a polycarbonate-urethane copolymer, to form a tube and annealing the extruded polymer. The method can further include cutting the extruded tube to a desired length before or after annealing, flaring one end of the annealed tube and over-molding the flared portion onto a hub, and forming the other end of the tube into a tip. A sheath formed by such a method is also provided.

A blown film line and process for making blown film, including an annular extrusion or coextrusion die, a plurality of nip rollers at a location remote from the annular die, a blown film bubble extruding from the annular die and traveling toward the nip rollers along a traveling path, an air cooling apparatus in the vicinity of the annular die, and a water cooling apparatus located downstream from the air cooling apparatus along the traveling path. The water cooling apparatus includes a wet porous material in direct contact with the blown film bubble and surrounding an outer circumference of the blown film bubble. The wet porous material continuously wipes the blown film bubble with water as the blown film bubble moves along the traveling path.

A blow film line and a method for operating the same relates to improving the flow rate in conventional blow film lines without compromising the production quality. The inner cooling body shows an air outlet path, with a cooling ring being embodied in a height-adjustable fashion, with a controller positioning the cooling ring in a lower area of the inner cooling body for the start-up of the facility. The cooling ring is positioned in the upper area of the air outlet path of the inner cooling body in order to achieve the steady-state production.

The present invention is directed to a process for manufacturing a biodegradable synthetic polymeric material wherein the process has the steps of binding, pelletizing, extruding; and sealing. Moreover, the invention discloses degrading substances which participate in the first three steps (a, b, c) wherein the degrading substances comprise betaine (C.sub.5H.sub.11NO.sub.2), cassava (yucca) starch (C.sub.6H.sub.10O.sub.5), carrot carotene (C.sub.40H.sub.56), water, carbon monoxide, corn glucose (C.sub.6H.sub.12O.sub.6), and a carboxylic acid of 1 to 6 carbon atoms.