US 12,128,598 B2
Method and apparatus for forming a geomembrane with bent spikes
Michael Lee Mondo, Georgetown, SC (US); and Drew Sherman, Murrells Inlet, SC (US)
Filed by AGRU/AMERICA, Inc., Georgetown, SC (US)
Filed on Dec. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/079,705.
Prior Publication US 2024/0190059 A1, Jun. 13, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 48/00 (2019.01); B29C 48/08 (2019.01); B29C 48/88 (2019.01)
CPC B29C 48/0022 (2019.02) [B29C 48/08 (2019.02); B29C 48/914 (2019.02)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for a geomembrane, comprising:
an extrusion station having a flat extrusion die for extruding a resin sheet having opposite first and second flat surfaces;
a spike forming station having first and second chill rollers forming a nip therebetween and disposed so that the first chill roller rolls against the first surface of the sheet and the second chill roller rolls against the second surface of the sheet, the second chill roller having recesses formed therein, the recesses being configured to cause the resin at the second surface of the resin sheet to flow into the recesses and to form spikes on the first surface of the resin sheet as the resin sheet separates from the first and second chill rollers; and
a spike bending station having a convexly curved support disposed for contacting the spikes and bending the spikes toward the spike forming station as the resin sheet moves away from the spike forming station.