| 摘要 |
Hollow thermoplastic foam tubes of any desired diameter are easily achieved as well as large sheets or planks of thermoplastic foam material in any width and thickness desired by wrapping and fusing a thermoplastic foam profile (22) having a desired size and shape. By employing a thermoplastic foam extruder (21) to produce a profile (22) having a desired cross-sectional shape or configuration, and advancing the profile onto a rotating support member (30) for being wrapped peripherally surrounding the rotating support and continuously bonding the abutting edges of the profile (22) as it is spirally wound. By employing this unique spiral forming process, a hollow cylindrical thermoplastic foam tube (28) is formed on a continuous basis, with the length thereof being controlled by necessity. In addition, any desired diameter can be formed by employing a rotating support having the desired diameter, with the thickness of the tube being controlled by the thickness of the profile formed by extrusion equipment (21). |
