Foam sheet, method and apparatus for widening foam sheet

Abstract

An apparatus 1 for widening a foam sheet S obtained immediately after heating and foaming a foam sheet which has not been yet widened, while the foam sheet S is continuously received or supplied. The sheet widening apparatus 1 comprises: a pair of chains 2 constructed in the form of endless chains composed of links 22 having pin parts 21 and a driving device 3 meshing with these chains 2 and driving the chains 2 along such loci as to widen the space between the chains 2 from sheet receiving start points to sheet receving end points. A method for widening a foam sheet by the sheet widening apparatus 1 comprises the steps of piercing both the side parts of the foam sheet S with the pins 21 at the sheet receiving start points; widening the space of width between the pins 21 along gently curved loci by drying the chains 2 while the pins 21 penetrating the foam sheet; and receiving the foam sheet S from the sheet receiving start points to the sheet receiving end points while the foam sheet is widened. The foam sheet S obtained after the widening step in accordance with the sheet widening method.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.