Abstract:
An apparatus is provided including an endless conveyor and a plurality of elongated mold elements are mounted from the conveyor and project laterally outwardly of the latter. The apparatus defines coating, heating, and cooling stations through which the mold elements are successively moved and the coating station includes structure whereby the outer end portions of the mold elements may be coated with plastisol. The heating station includes structure by which the mold elements, with the plastisol coating thereon, may be exteriorly and interiorly heated to the cure temperature of the plastisol, the cooling station includes structure for externally and internally cooling the mold elements. The apparatus further includes structure by which the mold elements are rotated about their longitudinal axes during movement of the mold elements through the coating, heating and cooling stations, and structure for rapidly spinning the mold element after they have been coated at the coating station and before they pass through the heating station. Structure also is provided for powder coating the mold elements subsequent to movement thereof through the cooling station while additional structure is provided for automatically removing the coating after being powdered.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application discloses subject matter closely related to the subject matter disclosed in my U.S. application Ser. No. 08/768,629, filed Dec. 18, 1996, for THIN FILM COVER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME now U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,163. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERAL SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a thin film glove and cot-like article constructed of PVC and more specifically to an article which is approximately 0.0015 to 0.006 inches in thickness throughout (plus or minus 0.0005 inches) a major portion of its extent. The article comprising an elongated hollow article which is open at one end and closed at its opposite end. The open end may include a rolled portion defining a reinforcement bead about the open end of the article. The invention also includes an apparatus for making these articles as well as the method of manufacture carried out by the apparatus. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The following prior U.S. Patents disclose articles which are coated through the use of methods which are similar in general construction and which are formed, in some cases, by somewhat similar methods: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 1,773,418 
                 2,009,629 
               
               
                   
                 2,128,827 
                 2,146,293 
               
               
                   
                 2,233,555 
                 2,482,418 
               
               
                   
                 3,146,873 
                 3,278,991 
               
               
                   
                 3,530,825 
                 4,275,864 
               
               
                   
                 4,655,280 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,773,148, dated Aug. 19, 1930, to Yervant H. Kurkjian, discloses rotating a core in a rubber solution. U.S. Pat. No. 2,009,629, dated Jul. 30, 1935, to E. F. Mechlin, discloses dipping an article to be coated and then spinning the coated articles to throw off excess dip material by centrifugal force. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,128,827, dated Aug. 30, 1938, to F. L. Killian, discloses forming rubber goods (finger cots and gloves) by dipping and then rotating and tilting to obtain reasonably constant thickness. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,146,293, dated Feb, 7, 1939, to J. R. Gammiter, discloses forming rubber goods (finger cots) by dip process. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,233,555, dated Mar. 4, 1941, H. Reisinger, discloses forming rubber goods (finger cots) by dip process. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,482,418, dated Sep. 20, 1949, to W. L. Jenkins, discloses using a high-frequency electrostatic field for drying and vulcanizing shaped, hollow rubber goods. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,146,873, dated Sep. 1, 1964, to John R. Johnson, discloses spinning a dipped article after dipping to detear. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,278,991, dated Oct. 18, 1966, W. V. Peterneill et al, discloses a dip conveyor for forming gloves (apparently not providing any means to spin for the purpose of detearing). 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,530,825, dated Sep. 29, 1970, to Peter Antonissen, discloses rotating a coated article about each of two axes angularly displaced at least 30° (preferably 90°) relative to each other. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,864 dated Jun. 30, 1981, to Les W. Richards, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,280, dated Apr. 7, 1987, to Katsuhiko Takahashi, disclose improvements in interior cooling of molds. 
     However, the articles and methods disclosed by the above-noted patents are not equivalent to the article of the instant invention or the method utilized informing the article. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The articles of the instant invention include PVC gloves and PVC finger cots and other cot-like articles. 
     When forming the articles of the instant invention, elongated male molds are carried on an endless conveyor and successively dipped into a vinyl plastisol while the molds are rotated at a slow speed (20-30 RPM) about their longitudinal axes. Thereafter, the molds are removed from the plastisol and rapidly spun (1,000-1,200 RPM) about longitudinal axes thereof to spin off excess plastisol. Then, the molds move through a heating oven or chamber (for generally 45 seconds) while being rotated at slow speed and the exteriors and interiors of the molds are heated by rapid heated air flow and/or infra-red heating in order to rapidly increase the exterior temperature of the molds as well as the plastisol article thereon to approximately 275-400° F. The molds then move from the heating chamber and into a cooling chamber while the molds are being rotated at slow speed and the exteriors and interiors of the molds are subject to rapid flow of cooling air in order to quickly reduce the temperature of the molds and the articles thereon to approximately 120° F. Thereafter, the article molds and articles thereon are moved to the next station at which the open ends of the articles are rolled to form reinforcing beads thereon. Thereafter the artricles are powdered and are removed from the molds and the molds. The molds then continue through the next dipping, spinning, heating and cooling steps. 
     The importance of forming the articles (gloves and finger cots as well as other finger cot-like articles) of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) includes the utilization of a less expensive product in forming the articles, using a material to form the articles which allows excess material spun from the molds to be collected and returned to the vat of material into which the molds are dipped and using a material which may be “cured” more quickly. In addition, the utilization of PVC as opposed to latex rubber enables greater wall thickness control of the finished articles. The use of PVC in forming the articles of the instant invention by the disclosed method allows wall thickness control of approximately plus or minus 0.0005 inches throughout the entire article. Furthermore, although it is generally necessary to heat the coating and the molds to approximately 370° F., depending upon the compound of the plastisol utilized, fusion temperature or cure may be reached between 275° F. and to 400° F. Still further, it is only necessary for the forms to spend between 15 and 45 seconds in the heating chamber and even less time in the cooling chamber. Also, it is pointed out that the air heating of the exterior of the molds could be augmented by radiant heat energy, infra-red energy, or, as an additional option, infra-red energy alone may be utilized to heat the mold exteriors sufficiently to effect a cure of the article thereon, although this type of heating may not be desirable in some instances. If infra-red heating is utilized, inasmuch as the PVC material, in the thin-wall thickness desired, is relatively transparent, not only the article coating on the mold is heated by infra-red energy, but the mold surfaces inside the coating will be heated by infra-red energy. 
     Vinyl plastisols are dispersions of special fine particle size polyvinyl chloride resins in plasticizing liquids. In addition to the resins and plasticizers, heat or light stabilizers, color pigments, flame retardants, blowing agents, or many other additives may be included as determined by the intended product. Plastisols are fused with heat in relatively thick section without concern for solvent or water blistering; they are commonly referred to as 100% solids material. 
     Plastisols are liquid at room temperature. Depending upon the compound, they can be poured pumped or sprayed or cast. As a plastisol is heated, fusion takes place and it is converted in to a tough, homogeneous mass with excellent abrasion, aging, corrosion, and electrical resistance. 
     Fusion requirements vary from compound to compound. Minimum fusion temperature is the temperature at which the ultimate physical properties are obtained. It is necessary to bring the entire mass of plastisol and adjacent surfaces up to that temperature. The minimum fusion temperature of plastisol usually is 350° F., although lower temperature fusion plastisols are available. 
     The main object of this invention is to provide a hollow, thin wall PVC article of substantially constant wall thickness utilizing a method of manufacture which substantially eliminates wastage of the material of which the article is formed and allows the article to be formed in considerably less time that which is required to form similar articles of latex rubber. In this manner, the quality of the product is improved, wastage of material of which the article is formed is eliminated, and the time required to form the article is substantially reduced. This enables many times the number of articles to be formed utilizing a generally similar manufacturing method than similiar articles formed of latex rubber. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a PVC glove or cot-like article to replace similar articles presently being manufactured of latex rubber and to thereby eliminate allergies to latex rubber encountered by some persons whose jobs now require them to come into close bodily contact with such latex rubber articles. 
     A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a PVC article which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be useable in numerous environments, and be resistant to light and abrading as well as being independent of minute particle deterioration and reliable throughout a wide range of usage. 
     These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus including a conveyor system, for carrying out the method of the instant invention for producing thin-walled, tubular PVC articles closed at one end. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view of a portion of the conveyor system illustrating (in side elevation) one of the pivoting and rotating supports, for a first form of a male mold utilized in the invention, portions of the male mold being broken away; 
     FIG. 3 is a reduced scale horizontal sectional view of the support and male mold structure illustrated in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is schematic view illustrating the manner in which the male mold is tilted down into a tank of liquid plastisol and rotated for coating the exterior of the male mold. 
     FIG. 5 a schematic view illustrating the manner in which the male mold is rapidly spun for a short period of time after being removed from the liquid plastisol in order to spin excess plastsol from the mold and allow the excess plastisol spun from the mold to be returned to the tank of liquid plastisol. 
     FIG. 6 is schematic view illustrating the manner in which the male mold is passed through a heating oven or chamber while being rotated and heated from both the exterior and the interior of the male mold; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which the male mold is passed through a cooling chamber while being rotated for the purpose of passing rapid currents of cooling are over the exterior of the mold as well as through the interior of the mold; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which the formed substantially cooled article has a reinforcing bead rolled on the open end thereof; 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which the article formed on the male mold is further cooled and sprayed with powder prior to removal of the article from the male mold; 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating the manner in which the powdered article is rolled from the male mold and vacuumed to a collection point. 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating, specifically, how heating air as well as cooling air may be caused to flow rapidly over the exterior of the male mold and through the interior of the male mold in both the heating and cooling chambers. 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic prospective view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the manner in which a different male mold may be used in the conveyor system in order to form gloves by the method and apparatus of the instant invention. 
     FIG. 13 comprises a schematic view with the male glove mold illustrated in vertical section and illustrating the manner in which both heating and cooling air may be passed through the male mold utilized in the formation of gloves. 
     FIG. 14 is an end view of the male glove mold illustrating the center inlet passage for heating and cooling air for the glove mold as well as the outer peripheral heating and cooling air exit openings of the male glove mold. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral  10  generally designates a machine or apparatus by which the articles disclosed hereinafter may be produced. The apparatus  10  includes a framework  12  from which powered and idle sprockets  14  and  16  are journelled. A conveyor chain  18  is trained over the sprockets  14  and  16  and the sprocket  14  is mounted on a power shaft  20  driven by a gear head motor  22  through a drive chain  24 . The conveyor chain  18  supports a plurality of mounting brackets  26  at points spaced longitudinally therealong and each of the mounting brackets  26  pivotally mounts a mount arm  28  therefrom for oscillation relative thereto about pivot structure  30  extending transversely of one end  32  of the arm  28  defining a pivot axis paralleling that portion of the chain  18  from which the corresponding mounting bracket  26  is supported, a mount  34  being removably supported from each mounting bracket  26  by fasteners  36  and the one end  32  of the mounting arm  28  being pivotally supported from the corresponding mount  34  by its pivot fastener  30 . 
     The other end  38  of each mounting arm  28  rotatably supports a tubular spindle  40  therefrom through the utilization bearings  42  and a removable fastener  44 . The fastener  44  also serves to removably support one end  46  of an elongated male mold  48  as well as a drive disc  50  from the end of the tubular spindle  40  remote from the mount  34 . 
     The other or outer end  52  of the male mold  48  includes diametrically opposite mid-length openings  58  and a outer end central blind bore  66  into which openings  58  open, the bore  66  including a counter bore  67 . In addition, the outer end  52  is shouldered at  65 . One end of an air inlet tube  68  is secured within the counter bore  67  with the other end of the tube  68  projecting outwardly of the outer end  52 . 
     A test tube-shaped mold element  70  includes a diametrically split open end  72  removably clamped over the exterior of the outer end  52  through the utilization of a hose clamp  74 , or the like, and a rounded and closed end  76  loosely enclosing and extending beyond the end of the air inlet tube  68  remote from the shoulder  65 . Also, the tubular mold element  70  includes diametrically opposite radial openings  78  opening thereinto immediately adjacent the outer end  52 . 
     The openings  58  and air inlet tube  68  define air inlet passages for admitting air into the end of the male mold  48  adjacent the drive disc  50  and into the closed rounded end  76  of the mold element  70 . The interior of the mold element  70  externally of the outer end of the air inlet tube  68  and the openings  78  define an outlet passage for air flow from the interior of the closed end  76  of the mold element  70  to the exterior of the male mold  48  in a manner to be hereinafter described further. 
     From the foregoing it will be noted that each male mold  48  may be rotated about its longitudinal axis as well as swung about its pivot axis  30 . 
     The upper reach of chain  18  is supported from beneath by a support bar or bracket  80  stationarily mounted from the frame  12  and extending substantially completely between the upper peripheries of the sprockets  14  and  16 . Additionally, a similar support bar or bracket (not shown) is stationarily supported from the support frame  12  and underlies the lower reach of the chain  18  and extends substantially the entire distance between the lower peripheries of the sprockets  14  and  16 . Further, an upper angle bar  82  is stationarily supported from the frame  12  and extends along the upper support bar  80  in forward spaced relation to the support bar  80 . The upper flange  84  of the angle bracket  82  is slightly lower than the upper surface of the support bar  80  along which the upper reach of the chain  18  is slidingly supported and the lower periphery of the drive disc  50  contacts the upper surface of the flange  84  to impart rotary motion to the male mold  48 . In addition, first and second lower angle brackets  86  and  88  corresponding to the upper angle bracket  82  are stationarily supported from the frame  12  and generally parallel the lower reach of the chain  18 . The angle brackets  86  and  88  are spaced slightly forward, relative to the frame  12 , from the lower reach of the chain  18  and are engagable by the drive discs  50  to impart rotary motion (20-30 RPM) to the corresponding male molds  48  as they move along the angle brackets  86  and  88 . The angle bracket  86  includes a downwardly depressed central portion  90  centrally intermediate its opposite ends which allows the male molds  48 , while being rotated about their longitudinal axes, to swing downwardly at their outer or front ends as they pass in registry with a supply tank  92  of liquid plastisol  94 . In addition, between the adjacent ends of the angle brackets  86  and  88  there is disposed the upper reach  96  of a drive belt  98  driven from a gear head motor  100  and trained about idle pulleys  102  and  104 , the upper reach  96  being substantially aligned with the adjacent ends of the angle brackets  86  and  88 . 
     A slotted and stationarily mounted heating chamber or oven  106  embraces the downstream end of the lower reach of the chain  18  and a slotted cooling chamber  108  embraces the upstream end of the upper reach of the chain  18 . 
     The chambers  106  and  108  are supported in position such that the horizontally disposed and rotating male molds  48  may pass through the chambers  106  and  108  as male molds  48  move along the downstream and upstream ends of the lower and upper reaches of the chain  18 . 
     Mounted stationarily from the frame  12  adjacent the downstream end of the upper reach of the chain  18  is a slotted powdering chamber  110  through which the male molds  48  may also pass and an article catching trough  112  is also stationarily mounted from the frame  12  immediately adjacent the terminal end of the downstream end of the upper reach of the chain  18  for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully set forth. Still further, an inclined fluid excess material return trough  114  is stationarily mounted from the frame  12  and is inclined downwardly into one end of the supply tank  92  and upwardly toward the chamber  106  along side the upper reach  96  of the drive belt  98 . 
     At this point, it is pointed out that all of the components  26  through  114  described above (other than the upper support bar  80  and the companion non-illustrated lower support bar) are related to the forward facing side of the conveyor comprising the chain  18  and that similar components are provided for the rear side of the conveyor chain  18 . Thus, there are (not illustrated) front and rear chambers  106  and  108 , front and rear chambers  110 , front and rear tanks  92 , front and rear drive belts  98 , front and rear angle brackets  82 ,  86  and  88 , front and rear troughs  112  and front and rear mounts  34 , mounting arms  28 , and front and rear mounting molds  48 , etc. 
     FIG. 4 more clearly illustrates the front supply tank  92  and the liquid plastisol  94  therein as well as the corresponding depressed central portion  90  of the first lower angel bracket  86  and the manner in which a rotating male mold  48  may be swung downwardly to a position with the mold element  70  thereof dipped into the plastisol  94 . 
     FIG. 5 clearly illustrates the manner in which the mold element  70  may be rapidly spun (1,000 to 1,200 RPM) over the trough  114  by the upper reach  96  of the drive belt  98  in order to spin off excess plastisol from the mold element  70  after it has been upwardly withdrawn from the tank  92 , an upper baffle  120  being mounted above each trough  114  for catching and gravity returning excess plastisol spun upwardly thereon from a rapidly spinning mold element  70  disposed therebeneath, the excess plastisol caught by the baffle  120  being downwardly returned by gravity to the underlying trough  114  and thereafter downwardly along the trough  114  to the corresponding supply tank  92 . 
     FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate more clearly the manner in which the rotating male molds  48  pass through the heating and cooling chambers  106  and  108 . Further, FIG. 9 illustrates the manner in which the mold elements  70  and the articles  124  formed thereon pass through the powdering chamber  110 . 
     With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 11, a typical heating chamber  106  (or cooling chamber  108 ) is schematically illustrated as including a centrifugal fan  126  whose inlet (not shown) opens into the interior of the chamber  106 . The fan includes an elongated air outlet plenum  128  which extends along the open end of the corresponding slot of the chamber  106  and includes baffle plates  130  which closely embrace the male mold  48  immediately outward of the fitting  54  thereof. The capacity of the centrifugal fan or blower  126  is sufficient to maintain the pressure of air within the plenum  128  appreciably greater than the pressure of air within the chamber  106 outwardly of the plenum  128 . Thus, with attention again invited more specifically to FIG. 2, the conditioned air passes into the mold elements  70  through the openings  58  and the air inlet tubes  68  and then passes outwardly from the interiors of the mold elements  70  through the radial openings  78 . 
     The heating of air within the chamber  106  may be carried out by any conventional means such as by electrical resistance heaters, gas or other fuel powered heaters, and even steam pipes, etc. (not shown). In addition to these heating means, or in lieu thereof, infra-red heaters may be placed within the chambers  106 . If infra-red heaters and/or electrical resistance heaters are used, not only will the air within the chambers  106  be heated, but the radiant energy exteriorly of the mold elements  70  and directed theretoward will pass through the substantially transparent coating of plastisol on exterior of the mold elements  70  and thus also directly heat the exteriors of the mold elements  70 . In any event, the inner and outer surfaces of the mold elements  70  are heated in the chambers  106  as well as the exterior surfaces of the plastisol coating disposed on the mold elements  70 . This assures that the cure temperature of the plastisol coatings on the mold elements  70  will be achieved in the shortest time possible. 
     FIG. 11 also illustrates the manner which cooling air may be rapidly past over the exterior of the mold elements  70  as well as the exterior surfaces of cured plastisol coatings thereon and over the inner surfaces of the mold elements  70  to enable sufficient rapid cooling of the cured plastisol articles prior to removal of thereof from the mold elements  70 . 
     With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 10, it will be seen that the generally mid-length and downstream end portions of the upper reach of the chain  18  have an upper angle bracket  136  operatively associated therewith and stationarily supported from the frame  12 . The lower horizontal flange  138  of the angle bracket  136  closely overlies the upper flange  84  of the underlying portion of the angle bracket  82  with spacing between the flanges  84  and  138  being slightly greater than the diameter of one of the drive discs  50 . An angled friction roller  140  is journalled from the frame  12  and driven adjacent the downstream end of the chain uper reach by a gear head motor  142 . The roller  140  is engaged by each mold element  70  and the article  124  disposed thereon, see FIG.  10 . As the article covered mold element  70  approaches the friction roller  140 , the article  124  engages the friction roller  140  and the outer end of the male mold  48  is slightly upwardly deflected to elevate the corresponding drive disc  50  slightly above the flange  84  and into contact with the overlying flange  138  thereby creating additional frictional contact between the article  124  and the mold element  70 . The contact of the friction roller  140  with the article  124  causes the open end of the article  124  adjacent the openings  78  to be rolled along the mold element  70  toward the closed end  76  thereof as the mold element  70  is reversely rotated by the flange  138 . Continued contact of the article  124  with the friction roller  140  as the mold element  70  moves along the angled roller  140  ultimately causes the partially rolled open end of the article  124  to be completely rolled off the closed end  76  of the mold element  70 , whereupon the rolled article  124 , see FIG. 10, falls from the closed end  76  of the mold element  70  and into the article collection trough  112 . The article collection trough  112  includes a vacuum outlet pipe  148  opening into the lower end of the trough  112  and leading to a vacuum collection chamber for the articles  124 . 
     It is pointed out that the roller  140  is positioned immediately adjacent the downstream terminal end of the upper reach of the chain  18  downstream from the corresponding powdering chamber  110  through which the articles  124  pass immediately prior to contact with the roller  140  for receiving a coating of powder on the exteriors thereof. The powdering chamber  110  is provided with a compressed air and powder outlet nozzle  150  for upwardly directing powder and additional cooling air onto the exterior of the article  124 , the nozzle  150  being supplied air under pressure having powder suspended therein through a supply pipe  152  from any suitable source (not shown) of compressed air and powder. Of course, the jet of air from the nozzle  150  tends to further cool the article. 
     Also provided on the apparatus  10  adjacent the mid-length portion of the upper reach of the chain  18  is a powered roller  160  similar to, but shorter than the roller  140 . The roller  160  is also powered by a gear head motor  142  and engages and slightly upwardly deflects the outer end of the mold element  70  as well as just the open end of the article  124  to roll the open end of the article  124  an amount just sufficient to form a rolled reinforced bead  162  while the article  124  is still sufficiently warm to be “sticky”. In this manner, the bead  162  will remain in place as the article  124  is finally cooled by the jet of air directed thereon in the powdering chamber  110 . Of course, the mold element  70  is elevated slightly by the roller  160  and thus the disc  50  engages the upper flange to be reversely rotated thereby. 
     With attention now directed more specifically, to FIGS. 12-14 there may be seen an apparatus  210  corresponding to the apparatus  10  and which is substantially identical to the latter, except that in lieu of the mold elements  70  the apparatus  210  is provided with hollow mold elements  270  for forming gloves thereon. The numeral  206  indicates a heating chamber corresponding to the heating chambers  106 . The apparatus  210  also includes cooling chambers similar to the cooling chambers  108 , the heating and cooling chambers of the apparatus  210  requiring slightly wider slots at the entrance and exit portions thereof. The mold elements  270  are disposed over air inlet tubes  268  corresponding to the air inlet tubes  68  and longitudinally spaced partitions  272  and  274  support each mold element  270  from the corresponding air inlet tube  268  at points spaced longitudinally therealong, the annular partitions  272  being peripherally apperatured as at  276  to allow the passage heating air and cooling air therethrough. 
     Accordingly, articles comprising gloves may be formed by utilizing the mold elements  270  in lieu of the mold elements  70 . However, the apparatus  210  does not include structure corresponding to the friction rollers  140 , the powdering chambers  110  or article catch troughs  112 , inasmuch as gloves formed on the mold elements  270  will undoubtedly have to be removed therefrom utilizing at least some manual effort. 
     With attention again invited to FIG. 12, it may be seen, however, that a shorter powered roller  260  corresponding to the powered roller  160  is provided. The powered roller  260  engages and partially rolls the open end of the article  224  formed on each mold element  270  in order to form a rolled reinforced cuff on each glove element formed. 
     It is proposed, in addition, that a pressured air jet nozzle may be mounted from the apparatus  210  for movement along the upper reach of the chain  218  as each mold element  270  passes the powered roller  260 . Such a pressurized air jet nozzel could be mechanically or mannually moved in unison with each mold element  270  in order to direct a jet of pressurized air onto each mold element  270  immediately adjacent the rolled cuff of the articles  224  disposed thereon as the mold element  270  is being rotated. In this manner, the jet of air discharged onto the mold element  270  at an angle relative thereto would be sufficient to blow under the rolled element cuff of the article  224  as the cuff is being rotated and such air jet would partially inflate the glove article  224  on the mold element  270  and allow the article  224  to be removed from the mold element  270 . It is pointed out that the glove article  224  could be turned inside out as it is removed from the mold element  270 , inasmuch as the element  224  is made for either a right hand or a left hand and is at least somewhat stretchable, the stretchability of the glove article  224 being determined by the plastisol compound being used. 
     With attention again invited more specifically to FIG. 13, it may be seen that the plenum  228  and baffles  230  corresponding to the plemun  128  and baffles  130  enable air pressure within the plenum  228  adjacent the openings  258  corresponding to the openings  58  to be maintained higher than the air pressure within the chamber  206 , corresponding to the chamber  106 . Accordingly, rapid air flows from the centrifugal fan  226  inwardly through the air inlet tube  268 , about the interior of the mold element  270  and outward of the apperatures  276 . In this manner, heated air supplied to the interior of the chamber  206  is caused to rapidly move over the exterior of the mold element  270  as well as rapidly through the interior thereof. Of course, the heating chamber  206  of the appartus  210  also represents the substantially identical strucutre afforded by the cooling chamber  208  of the apparatus  210 . 
     In operation, the mold elements  70  succussively move along the leading end of the angle bracket  86  and then are inclined downwardly into the plastisol  94  within the supply tank  92  in order to coat the mold element  70 , outward of the openings  78 , with plastisol  94  from the tank  92  as the mold elements  70  are being rotated by engagement of the drive discs  50  with the angle bracket  86 . The mold element  70  are allowed to be inclined downwardly into the plastisol  94  by the downwardly depressed central portion  90  of the angle bracket  86 . Thereafter, the rotating mold elements  70  are lifted upwardly from the plastisol  94  by the downstream end of the angle bracket  86  and the drive discs  50  are engaged by the upper reach  96  of the drive belt  98  whereby the mold elements  70  are spun rapidly to spin excess plastisol therefrom, the excess plastisol being caught by the baffle  120  and falling by gravity down onto the trough  114 , down the latter and back into the supply tank  92 . Thereafter, the mold elements  70  move from the drive belt  98  and pass through the slotted heating chamber  106  whereby (while being rotated) the mold elements  70  and articles  124  thereon are rapidly heated to the cure temperature of the plastisol  94 . 
     During final movement along the lower reach of the chain  18  the mold elements  70  are rotated. The angle brackets  86  and  88  may have remote ends (not shown) which curve upwardly half-way about the sprockets  16  and  14  and the opposite ends of the angle brackets  82  may curve half-way downwardly about the sprockets  14  and  16 . 
     As the mold elements  70  move in registry with the cooling chambers  108  they are being rotated by the upper angle bracket  82  and rotation thereof is continued until they engage and are slightly upwardly deflected by the roller  140 . Thus, during movement along the upper reach of the chain  18  the mold elements  70  are being continuously rotated as they pass through the cooling chamber  108  and the powdering chamber  110 . 
     As the mold elements  70  contact the powered roller  140  the corresponding drive discs are lifted upwardly slightly out of contact with the upper flange  84  of the angle bracket  82  and engage the horizontal flange  138  of the angle bracket  136 , see FIG. 10, in order to oppositely rotate the mold elements  70  as the articles  124  are rolled from the mold element  70 . 
     Operation of the apparatus  210  illustrated in FIGS. 12-14 is substantially identical to the apparatus  10 , with the exceptions previously noted as the slight differences of construction of the apparatus  210 .