Device and method for continuously and non-destructively monitoring variation in the thickness of shaped sections

A device for non-destructively and continuously measuring and monitoring a variation in the thickness of a shaped section made of a thermoplastic material, which comprises:

• a) an extruder means for extruding the thermoplastic material to form the shaped section, said extruder means heating the thermoplastic material to generate a thermal variation within the shaped section moving continuously from the extruder means;
• b) at least one means for detecting and measuring energy radiation emitted by the heated shaped section during movement of said section from the extruder means;
• c) at least one means for causing said radiation detecting and measuring means to move around the shaped section to scan the entire outer surface of the section and to thereby determine variation in the radiation emitted from the surface of the shaped section;
• and
• d) means operatively associated with the radiation detecting and measuring means for determining the thickness of the shaped section based on the variation in the radiation emitted from the surface of the shaped section.