Foam extrusion apparatus having downstream upper and lower hinged shaping means and side restraining means

摘要

An apparatus is provided for forming, shaping and surface finishing a foam extrudate as it expands and passes from an extrusion die to obtain, in particular, foam or cellular bodies having a substantial thickness in relation to their width. The apparatus comprises opposed extrudate shaping members located on opposite sides of the die orifice of the extrusion die and extending immediately downstream therefrom. The upstream end of each shaping member is hingedly supported adjacent and preferably slightly upstream from the die orifice, and the hinged supports at the upstream ends of the shaping members are uniformly adjustable towards and away from the central transversely extending plane of the extrusion die. The downstream end of each shaping member is hinged to a respective conveyor or surface finishing member of a conveyor or surface finishing assembly. The conveyor or surface finishing members each include a moving belt backed by relatively large area plates, and together form therebetween a downstream continuation of the passageway formed between the shaping members. One of the conveyors is air balanced or floated at its upstream and downstream ends by piston-cylinder assemblies and urged against the extrudate at controlled pressure. The other conveyor is adjustably yet fixedly secured at its upstream and downstream ends.