Patent ID: 7544318
Filing Date: 2009-06-09
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
1. A method of producing a plastic strap, comprising: providing first and second work rollers such that the work rollers rotate in opposite directions and at different lineal surface velocities, and wherein the work rollers are spaced apart with respect to each other so as to define a work roller nip therebetween; deaerating a solid sheet of material by providing a pinch roller operably associated with the first work roller, the pinch roller located approximately upstream of the first work roller, the pinch roller and the first roller defining a deaerating nip therebetween; feeding the solid sheet of material, having a thickness into the deaerating nip such that the solid sheet of material is pinched against the first work roller and moves with rotation of the first work roller to the work roller nip between the first and second work rollers to simultaneously mill and stretch the solid sheet of material substantially at the nip during a single pass of the solid sheet material through the nip as the rollers rotate in opposite directions and at different lineal surface velocities to form a milled and stretched oriented sheet; providing controlled and variable pressure to the solid sheet of material at the nip; and cooling the milled and stretched oriented sheet immediately following exit of the milled and stretched oriented sheet from the second work roller.