Patent ID: 8152509
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
1. A roll stand for use in the extrusion forming of a sheet product from a flowable material, the roll stand comprising: a main frame; a plurality of rolls including at least first and second rolls between which there is a first gap through which at least one sheet layer passes during sheet product formation, the first and second rolls each having spaced end supports through which the first and second rolls are maintained operatively positioned upon the main frame for movement respectively around first and second substantially parallel and substantially horizontal axes; and a first adjusting mechanism through which the first roll can be moved relative to the second roll so as to vary a dimension of the first gap to accommodate sheet layers of different thickness, the first adjusting mechanism comprising a first element that is movable around a vertically extending operating axis to cause repositioning of one of the end supports on the first roll and a first actuator for causing movement of the first element, the first actuator: a) maintained on the roll stand; b) engageable by a hand of an operator; and c) manually movable through an operator's hand in a first predetermined manner to thereby cause incremental movement of the first element so as to thereby cause repositioning of the one of the end supports on the first roll relative to one of the end supports on the second roll and thereby the first roll relative to the second roll to change the dimension of the first gap, wherein the roll stand has an upstream end, a downstream end and spaced sides and the first actuator comprises a first elongate handle that is graspable by a user's hand and movable around the operating axis for the first element to operate the first actuator, the first elongate handle having a length, wherein the length of the first handle is alignable in a direction extending between the upstream and downstream ends of the roll stand to be stored so as not to project significantly away from the sides of the roll stand.