APPARATUS FOR THE PREPARATION OF MULTILAYER PLASTIC ARTICLES

• US 3,759,647 A
• Filed: 03/15/1972
• Issued: 09/18/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Douglas S. Chisholm, Kenneth J. Cleereman, Turner Alfrey Jr, Walter J. Schrenk
• Original Assignee: Douglas S. Chisholm, Kenneth J. Cleereman, Turner Alfrey Jr, Walter J. Schrenk
• Inventors: Schrenk, Walter J., Chisholm, Douglas S., Cleereman, Kenneth J., Alfrey, Turner Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Annear, R. Spencer
• Application Number:
  US05/234,978
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 425/131,133,381,462 264/171,173 18/33RR 259/4
• US Class Current: 425/133.5
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/05 Filamentary, e.g. strands
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/06 Rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/08 flexible, e.g. films
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/09 Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/10 flexible, e.g. blown foils
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/17 the components having different colours
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/175 comprising a multi-coloured single component, e.g. striated, marbled or wood-like patterned
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/19 the layers being joined at their edges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/21 the layers being joined at their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/22 with means connecting the layers, e.g. tie layers or undercuts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/304 specially adapted for bringing together components, e.g. melts within the die
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/307 specially adapted for bringing together components, e.g. melts within the die
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/33 with parts rotatable relative to each other
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 48/337 the components merging at a common location
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/20 Inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/3462 Cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/287 comprising at least one layer of organic material

Abstract

Multiple layer films are made by arranging a minimum of two streams into one stream having a plurality of generally parallel layers. By mechanically manipulating the layered stream, an increased number of layers are obtained and the manipulating stream is shaped into a desired configuration having a plurality of layers generally adjacent to a major surface thereof. Under certain conditions, iridescent products are obtained without the use of pigment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the preparation of a composite synthetic resinous sheet-like article comprising in cooperative combination means for providing at least two streams of heat plastified thermoplastic resinous material, means for mechanically arranging the two streams into a composite stream having a plurality of generally parallel layers wherein a portion of one stream encapsulates the composite stream, means for mechanically manipulating the composite stream to provide an increased number of layers in the Mainpulated stream, and means for shaping the manipulated stream into a desired configuration having a plurality of layers generally parallel to a major surface of the desired configuration.

2. An apparatus for the preparation of a multilayer plastic body comprising in cooperative combination a first source of heat plastified thermoplastic resinous material, a second source of heat plastified thermoplastic resinous material, a combining means for receiving heat plastified material from the first and second sources and arrange the heat plastified materials in layered relationship to form a composite stream encapsulated within material from one of said sources, a layer multiplying means in communication with the combining means, the layer multiplying means for physically rearranging the plastified thermoplastic resinous material to provide at least an apparent increase in the number of layers, a shaping die in operative communication with the layer multiplying means, the shaping die so constructed and arranged so as to permit substantially streamlined flow and to shape the stream to a desired configuration having generally opposed major surfaces.

3. An apparatus for the generation of thermoplastic resinous bodies having multiple layers comprising in cooperative combination a housing, the housing defining at least a first polymer inlet, a second polymer inlet, a first plenum and a second plenum in operative communication with the first and second polymer inlets, respectively, a layering chamber in communication with the first and second plenums, a feed block disposed within the layering chamber, the feed block defining a plurality of passageways, each of the passageways communicating with one of the plenums and terminating remote from the plenum in a discharge opening, the feed block defining a plurality of discharge openings in generally side by side relationship, the feed block being means for providing a layered stream encapsulated within material from one of said polymer inlets, a stream shaping housing in communication with the discharge orifices of the feed block, the shaping housing defining an internal passageway having a first end and a second end, the first end of the passageway being generally coextensive with the discharge openings of the feed block, the second end being remotely disposed from the feed block, the passageway of the stream shaping housing permitting streamline flow therein, a stream dividing and re-combining means in communication with the second end of the housing, the stream dividing sand re-combining means being for dividing the stream and re-combining it so as to increase the number of layers in the stream, a housing defining a transition section, the housing having defined therein a passageway adapted to receive a layered stream from the layer multiplying means, the transition section having means of expanding the dimension of the stream in a direction generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the opening of the first end of the first transition piece.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including a sheeting die affixed to the second transition section, the apparatus having means for permitting streamline flow therein without significant rotation of the stream layers.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 including a third polymer inlet and means for combining streams of three diverse thermoplastic resinous materials in an alternating manner.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the distribution block provides means for alternating layers of diverse polymer.

7. An apparatus adapted to transform streams of diverse thermoplastic resinous material into a layered structure having generally spirally disposed layers, the apparatus comprising a housing, the housing defining at least two generally annular polymer distribution chambers, means for introduction of a heat plastified thermoplastic resinous material into the polymer distribution chambers, a generally anNular distribution or feed block means defining a plurality of channels, each of the channels having a discharge orifice, the discharge orifices being generally annularly disposed and in communication with a generally annular passageway defined within the housing, said feed block means arranging the materials so that material from one distribution chamber encapsulates the material from the second distribution chamber within the annular passageway, and the encapsulated material extends toward both inner and outer surfaces of the passageway, each of the channels in the feed block selectively being in communication with the annular polymer distribution chambers, the annular polymer passageway being defined by walls within the housing and at least a portion of the walls of the polymer receiving passage-way being rotatably mounted and having means for rotating said walls relative to each other.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, including means for rotation of said walls simultaneously in opposite directions.