Patent ID: 7001165
Filing Date: 2006-02-21
Classification: B29C,B29K,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A sizer assembly for shaping a generally flat, extruded sheet of polymeric material having an outer surface into a non-hollow, shaped polymeric article in an extrusion process, comprising a sizer body having a product profile channel corresponding to said shaped polymeric article formed therethrough, said sizer body further comprising a plurality of cooling liquid inlet slots each forming an opening substantially around said product profile channel, said cooling liquid inlet slots being in open communication with said product profile channel, and a plurality of vacuum slots each forming an opening substantially around said product profile channel for removing cooling liquid expelled from said cooling liquid inlet slots, said vacuum slots being interspersed among, and fluidly insulated from said cooling liquid inlet slots, except in said product profile channel, and being coupled to at least one vacuum source, wherein vacuum and cooling liquid levels at said product profile channel are controlled such that a substantial portion of said outer surface of said sheet of polymeric material is maintained away from said sizer body as said sheet of polymeric material passes through said sizer.