Apparatus for making a web-supported membrane

Claim 1

Apparatus for making a reinforced membrane, comprising, (1) a frame, and mounted on said frame, (2) means for guiding at least two continuous webs of film and a continuous web of reinforcing material into face-to-face contact such that proximate surfaces of two of said webs of film contact opposite sides of said web of reinforcing material, (3) two sets of flexible endless belts which cooperate to engage opposite sides of the resulting assembly of said webs at the edge portions thereof and to transport said assembly, each set consisting of two belts, one belt of each set having a series of perforations along its entire length, each set of belts extending beyond an edge of said assembly, and guide means for said belts, (4) vacuum means including two vacuum manifolds, one manifold adjacent each said perforated belt, for removing air from between said films of said assembly at the edge portions thereof through said perforations, (5) two banks of heaters, one bank adjacent each exposed film surface, each bank consisting of a plurality of heaters disposed for heating first the center portion of said assembly and then progressively toward and including the edges thereof as said assembly is transported therebetween, to fuse said assembly into a reinforced membrane, (6) means for guiding said assembly between said banks of heaters, (7) a wind-up for collecting said reinforced membrane, and (8) means for driving said wind-up.