Chainless mold drive for a corrugator or the like

摘要

A vertical format corrugator or the like tube producing apparatus has two sets of independent mold sections that circulate on respective paths. The mold sections co-operate to define a travelling mold cavity into which a thermoplastic tube may be extruded to be molded. Fixed tracks extend along the forward and return runs of the mold section paths and are engaged by track followers on the mold sections. The track followers support and guide the mold section, thus enabling the elimination of chains linking the mold sections. In preferred embodiments, transfer mechanisms are provided at the ends of the runs to transfer the mold sections individually from one run to the next. The mold sections may include removable mold blocks, means for automatically changing the configuration of the mold cavity and a system for internal cooling of the mold sections.