Abstract A method for the continuous production of slabs of polymeric foam. Slabs of foam are produced by depositing liquid foam reactants onto an open-topped continuous trough conveyor and a flat top surface on the foam is achieved by introducing guide sheets between the sides of the trough conveyor and the foam and raising and controlling the guide sheets so that they are always in accurate registration with the rising foam. The guide sheets are introduced downwardly into the trough conveyor and then passed around respective straight fold bars the attitudes of which are adjustable. The guide sheets thereafter follow upwardly-inclined paths, corresponding to the rising level of the foam, and are advanced by pull rolls which are also adjustable in attitude. The positions along the trough conveyor of the fold bars and the pull rolls can be adjusted. Preferably, the guide sheets are sheets of thin plastic material, e.g. polyethylene.
The improvement as claimed in claim 1, comprising engaging the upper edge of the guide sheet with pull rolls positioned adjacent the region where foaming is completed and adjusting the attitude of said pull rolls relative to the guide sheet in dependence upon the attitude of said fold bar.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 1, comprising engaging the upper edge of the guide sheet with pull rolls positioned adjacent the region where foaming is completed and adjusting the location along the trough conveyor of said fold bar and said pull rolls to compensate for shifting of the regions where foaming begins and ceases.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 1, comprising sensing deviation of the guide sheet, from its downward path of travel and returning the guide sheet to its original path in response to such sensed deviation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 1, comprising engaging the upper edge of the guide sheet with pull rolls positioned adjacent the region where foaming ceases, sensing deviation of said upper edge from said upwardly inclined path of travel, and returning the guide sheet edge to said upwardly inclined path of travel in response to such sensed deviation by adjusting the angular relationship between said guide sheet edge and the rotational axes of said pull rolls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide sheet is introduced downwardly into the trough at a location downstream of the region where foaming begins.