The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 09, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 05, 2004
Donald L. Van Erden, Wildwood, IL (US);
James M. Kniola, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Kenneth C. Rinehart, Cary, IL (US);
Otto G. Weber, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Donald L. Van Erden, Wildwood, IL (US);
James M. Kniola, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Kenneth C. Rinehart, Cary, IL (US);
Otto G. Weber, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
A method of producing a plastic sheet-strap includes the steps of providing first and second work rollers such that the work rollers rotate in opposite directions and at different lineal surface velocities. The work rollers are spaced apart with respect to each other so as to define a work roller nip therebetween. A pinch roller is provided that is operably associated with the first work roller. The pinch roller and the first roller defining a deaerating nip therebetween. A solid sheet of material having a thickness is fed into the deaerating nip. The material is pinched against the first work roller and moves with rotation of the first work roller to the work roller nip between the first and second work rollers. The material is simultaneously milled and stretched substantially at the nip during a single pass of the solid sheet material through the nip as the rollers rotate in opposite directions and at different lineal surface velocities to form a milled and stretched oriented sheet. The second roller has a concave profile to work the edges of the sheet more than a central region of the sheet. A chill roller is disposed downstream of the second work roller to cool the milled and stretched oriented sheet.