Patent ID: 11890801
Assignee: PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL, LLC
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. A method of processing a flexible sheet, the method comprising the steps of:
forming the flexible sheet through an extrusion process, the sheet having first and second oppositely facing surfaces;
obtaining a sheet processing system comprising at least a first cooling roll having a first peripheral surface for contacting the first sheet surface and movable around a first axis; and
at least a second cooling roll having a second peripheral surface for contacting the second sheet surface and movable around a second axis,
the first and second cooling rolls having an operative relationship wherein the first and second axes are substantially parallel,
the system configured so that the first and second cooling rolls are mounted to be selectively movable in relationship to each other in a manner, including other than by moving one or both of the first and second cooling rolls in a direction towards or away from the flexible sheet, between: a) a first relationship wherein the first sheet surface is caused to engage the first peripheral surface over a first circumferential extent as the flexible sheet is advanced in the processing path; and b) a second relationship wherein the first sheet surface is caused to engage the first peripheral surface over a second circumferential extent that is different than the first circumferential extent as the flexible sheet is advanced in the processing path,
with the flexible sheet not fully set and in a heated state, advancing the flexible sheet in a processing path between an upstream location and a downstream location,
the flexible sheet advancing in the processing path moving directly between the first and second cooling rolls,
wherein the first and second cooling rolls are movable in relationship to each other including by translating one of the first and second cooling rolls relative to the other of the first and second cooling rolls along the processing path,
wherein the at least first cooling roll comprises the first cooling roll and a third cooling roll with a third axis,
wherein the flexible sheet advancing in the processing path moves between the second and third cooling rolls,
wherein the sheet processing system further comprises a carriage to which the first and third cooling rolls are mounted, the carriage movable together with the first and third cooling rolls relative to the second cooling roll to change the first and second cooling rolls between the first and second relationships,
the first and third cooling rolls connected to the carriage so that there is a fixed relationship between the first and third axes that is maintained as the first and second cooling rolls are changed between the first and second relationships.