Patent ID: 6991445

Claim:
A cooling apparatus for receiving a heated polymer strip and immersing the strip in a water bath to lower the temperature of the strip to reduce pliability of the strip and comprising: a. a water bath tank; b. entry and exit roller for said strip mounted above the level of water in said water bath tank; c. an immersion roller positioned between said entry and exit rollers and selectively extendable in depth into said water bath so as to selectively extend said strip deeper into said wafer bath and thereby vary the dwell time of said strip in said water bath to lower the temperature of said strip and reduce pliability of said strip; d. a drive roller mounted above said water bath tank and in the line of strip travel between said immersion roller and said exit roller, said drive roller capable of driving said strip through said cooling apparatus and being positioned above said immersion roller so that said strip travels substantially vertically therebetween; and e. air blower units mounted between said immersion roller and said drive roller so as to blow off water clinging to said strip as it exits the water bath.