Apparatus for extrusion of thermoplastic handrail

A die assembly for extruding an article comprising thermoplastic material and a stretch inhibitor, the die assembly comprising:

• a first inlet for a thermoplastic material;
• an entrance for the stretch inhibitor;
• a combining zone wherein the stretch inhibitor is embedded in the thermoplastic material;
• an inlet slot for an elongate web of fabric;
• and
• an element of the die assembly that contacts the fabric during passage through the die assembly and that comprises at least one of ducts for a cooling fluid for cooling for the element, and thermal insulation from other elements of the die assembly to reduce heat transfer to the fabric,
• wherein the element comprises an extrudate support block, the die assembly being configured so that the fabric passes over the extrudate support block and supports the extrudate, and
• wherein the extrudate support block comprises at least one inlet and at least one outlet for cooling fluid.

A die assembly for extruding an article comprising thermoplastic material and a cable array for inhibiting stretch, the die assembly comprising:

• a cable mandrel for supplying cables, the cables extending in a plane;
• at least one first runner plate secured to the cable mandrel, the at least one first runner plate connected to a first inlet for receiving a supply of a first thermoplastic material, the at least one first runner plate comprising channels for directing flow of the first thermoplastic material to both sides of the plane of the cables, to embed the cables supplied by the cable mandrel;
• at least one second runner plate secured to the at least one first runner plate, the at least one second runner plate connected to a second inlet for receiving a supply of a second and different thermoplastic material, the at least one second runner plate comprising channels for directing flow of the second thermoplastic material onto the first thermolplastic material;
• a comb plate located between the at least one first runner plate and the at least one second runner plate, the comb plate comprising slots of reduced flow cross-section to create a back pressure in flow of the first thermoplastic material;
• an inlet slot for drawing an elongate web of slider fabric up under the extrudate for bonding to the first thermoplastic material;
• and
• an extrudate support block, the die assembly being configured so that the slider fabric passes over the extrudate support block and supports the extrudate, the extrudate support block comprising at least one inlet and at least one outlet for cooling fluid.