Sheet line features inline thermoforming

This extrusion line has two single-screw extruders equipped with a central vacuum exhauster for removing the gas from the melt, making expensive predrying of the raw material unnecessary. The three-layer sheet is produced in the coextrusion system and is conveyed to the polishing nip via a sheet extrusion die.

The polishing stack with a special roll arrangement has been developed especially for production of thick PET sheets. The lower polishing roll is positioned at a 45° angle relative to the central roll. As a result, the melt slopes to the polishing nip and is put on a defined spot of the roll. PET sheets more than 1 mm thick can be produced with this line concept.

A standard line is provided with a-c drives for the extruders and melt pumps, individual servodrives for the polishing stack and the take-off unit, a hydraulic roll-closing system, a motor-operated nip adjustment, vertical adjustment and movement in machine direction, a central lubricating system, and a central automation system for control of the complete extrusion line. The thermoforming sheet line is capable of throughputs ranging from 450 to 500 kg/h.

Reifenhauser Inc., Ipswich, MA
(978) 412-9700
www.reifenhauser.com