Precision control of the thickness of heat-softenable material
AssigneeUSM Corporation
InventorsAnthony T. Greatorex, Joseph Robbins, Ernest A. Toon, David A. Thompson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for precisely controlling the thickness of a heat-softenable sheet material (52) comprising heating the material to bring it to a softened condition, compressing the material while in the softened condition to the desired thickness or somewhat less and then cooling the material to a temperature below its softening point so that it sets while precisely maintained at the desired thickness. The material is cooled by passing it between substantially parallel cooling plate (32,34) rigidly spaced with a separation equal to the desired thickness of the material.
Claims10
A process for precision controlling the thickness of a sheet of a compressable, heat-softenable material which comprises:
- a. heating the material equally on both sides to bring it to a heat-softened condition;
- b. compressing the material while in the heat-softened condition to a thickness less than the desired thickness;
- and
- c. expanding the material to the desired thickness while cooling the material equally on both sides to below its softening point by passing it between parallel cooling plates spaced apart by the desired thickness.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.