Process and apparatus for forming compressed crimped metal foil heater ribbon

摘要

A process and apparatus for uniformly compressing pre-crimped electric conductive metal foil ribbon to achieve a high density of crimps per unit length and an increased ratio of crimp depth-to-pitch between successive crimps is disclosed. The apparatus forms an elongated passageway adapted to slidably receive a crimped foil ribbon therein. The bottom portion of a pre-crimped foil ribbon positioned in the passageway is releasably held in place. A probe is inserted through a slot in the cover plate on the apparatus into a crimp in the ribbon and the probe and crimps are moved toward the portion of the ribbon being held in place to compress the moved crimped portion. Release of holding pressure on the bottom portion of the foil ribbon allows the compressed foil to be advanced and the process is repeated until the desired length of compressed crimped foil is produced.