Patent ID: 8721318

Claim:
A system for manufacturing from heated plastic sheet material a molded siding product having a rough-textured surface, said system comprising: a rotatable backing roll having a first axis of rotation and an elastically deformable rim disposed about said axis of rotation, said rim defining a circumferential surface of said backing roll; an embossing element having a moveable embossing surface in compressive engagement with said backing roll, said embossing surface defining a rough-textured pattern, said circumferential surface of said backing roll and said embossing surface defining a contact patch therebetween that defines a nip point, said rough-textured pattern impressed into said circumferential surface of said backing roll in said contact patch, said rough-textured pattern capable of being impressed into said circumferential surface of said backing roll in said contact patch through heated plastic sheet material moved through said nip point; a supply of cooling liquid provided to said nip point, at least one of said backing roll and said embossing element being cooled by said supply of cooling liquid; wherein said supply of cooling liquid is sufficient to partially set heated plastic sheet material moved through said nip point and retain therein an impression of said rough-textured pattern and retain sufficient pliability for further plastic forming of the material downstream of said nip point; and first and second guide rollers respectively located upstream and downstream of said nip point, said guide rollers each having a circumferentially uppermost portion located higher than said nip point and on which plastic sheet material may be supported as it moves through said system, and wherein said nip point is located in a valley defined by plastic sheet material extending between said circumferentially uppermost portions and said nip point, wherein cooling liquid from said supply of cooling liquid is collected in a puddle on heated plastic material proximate said nip point, whereby said plastic material is cooled by liquid in said puddle.