Method and apparatus for measurement and control of cell size in a foam structure
First Claim
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1. A method for monitoring the average cell size of a plastic foam structure continuously emerging from a production extrusion source which comprises:
- presenting a cross-section of an area of said structure of the in-line extruded product to an optical projection means capable of projecting a magnified image of said area;
projecting a magnified image of said area through said means to a photoreceptor device to form thereon a latent image of said area;
developing said image to form a visible image of said area;
determining the average cell size of said area from said visible image by comparison with a known standard representing exceptable cell size limits; and
in response to said size, controlling process parameters to obtain a foam structure at least generally corresponding to said known standard.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring the average cell size of a plastic foam structure continuously emerging from a production extrusion source which include means and process steps for magnifying an image of an area of a cross-section of said foam structure, developing said image and comparing the cell size of the image with a known standard and controlling production process parameters to obtain a foam structure of predetermined average cell size.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring the average cell size of a plastic foam structure continuously emerging from a production extrusion source which comprises:
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presenting a cross-section of an area of said structure of the in-line extruded product to an optical projection means capable of projecting a magnified image of said area; projecting a magnified image of said area through said means to a photoreceptor device to form thereon a latent image of said area; developing said image to form a visible image of said area; determining the average cell size of said area from said visible image by comparison with a known standard representing exceptable cell size limits; and in response to said size, controlling process parameters to obtain a foam structure at least generally corresponding to said known standard. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for controlling the average cell size size of a plastic foam structure continuously emerging from a production extrusion source which comprises:
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an optical projector capable of projecting a magnified image of an area of a cross-section of said foam structure of the in-line extruded product; means for moving a cross-section of said foam structure past said projector; photoreceptor means in association with said projector and capable of receiving a magnified latent image of said area; developer means in association with said photoreceptor means capabale of developing said latent image; measuring means in association with a developed image of said photoreceptor for measuring the average cell size of said area by comparison with a known standard representing exceptable cell size limits; and control means in association with said measuring means responsive to measurement values to control production process parameters to obtain a foam structure at least generally corresponding to said known standard. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification