Apparatus for thermoforming plastic containers

An apparatus for thermoforming plastic containers (2) comprising:

• at least one thermoforming device (3) suitable for thermoforming a flat sheet (4) for making a container (2) equipped with an upper flange (5) projecting outward;
• and
• at least one extracting device (6) associable with the thermoforming device (3) for extracting the thermoformed container (2) from the thermoforming device (3);
• wherein when the extracting device (6) is associated with the thermoforming device (3) for extracting the thermoformed container (2), the extracting device (6) and the thermoforming device (3) define a perimetric mould (7) suitable for hot bending the upper flange (5) of the container (2) before the container (2) is extracted from the thermoforming device (3);
• wherein:
• the thermoforming device (3) comprises a shaped mould (8) and a closing element (9) which are movable relative to each other between a home position in which the shaped mould (8) and the closing element (9) are at a distance from one another, and a forming position in which the shaped mould (8) and the closing element (9) are near each other for, in use, clamping between them the flat sheet (4), and one or more heating elements of the closing element (9) and/or of the shaped mould (8);
• the extracting device (6) is associable with the shaped mould (8);
• the extracting device (6) forms the perimetric mould (7) with the shaped mould (8);
• the perimetric mould (7) comprises a first perimetric die (12) defined by the shaped mould (8) and a second perimetric die (13) defined by the extracting device (6), the first perimetric die (12) and the second perimetric die (13) being shaped to match each other and facing each other when the extracting device (6) and the shaped mould (8) are in a coupling position;
• the extracting device (6) comprises a retaining unit (14) for retaining the container (2) which is equipped with one or more suction elements suitable for retaining the container (2) by suction;
• and
• the retaining unit (14) is movable relative to the second perimetric die (13) between a projecting position and a retracted position;
• and
• when the retaining unit (14) is in the projecting position, the retaining unit (14) projects relative to the second perimetric die (13), towards the shaped mould (8), more than when the retaining unit (14) is in the retracted position.

An apparatus for thermoforming plastic containers (2) comprising:

• at least one thermoforming device (3) suitable for thermoforming a flat sheet (4) for making a container (2) equipped with an upper flange (5) projecting outward;
• and
• at least one extracting device (6) associable with the thermoforming device (3) for extracting the thermoformed container (2) from the thermoforming device (3);
• wherein when the extracting device (6) is associated with the thermoforming device (3) for extracting the thermoformed container (2), the extracting device (6) and the thermoforming device (3) define a perimetric mould (7) suitable for hot bending the upper flange (5) of the container (2) before the container (2) is extracted from the thermoforming device (3);
• wherein:
• the thermoforming device (3) comprises a shaped mould (8) and a closing element (9) which are movable relative to each other between a home position in which the shaped mould (8) and the closing element (9) are at a distance from one another, and a forming position in which the shaped mould (8) and the closing element (9) are near each other for, in use, clamping between them the flat sheet (4), and one or more heating elements of the closing element (9) and/or of the shaped mould (8);
• the extracting device (6) is associable with the shaped mould (8);
• the extracting device (6) forms the perimetric mould (7) with the shaped mould (8);
• with the extracting device (6) in a pick-up position, at least one of either the extracting device (6) or the shaped mould (8) is movable relative to the other between a stand-by position in which the extracting device (6) and the shaped mould (8) are at a distance from each other and a coupling position in which the extracting device (6) and the shaped mould (8) are near each other for, in use, allowing the container (2) to be picked up by the extracting device (6);
• the shifting from the coupling position to the stand-by position, after the container (2) has been picked up by the extracting device (6), causing extraction of the container (2) from the shaped mould (8);
• the perimetric mould (7) comprises a first perimetric die (12) defined by the shaped mould (8) and a second perimetric die (13) defined by the extracting device (6), the first perimetric die (12) and the second perimetric die (13) being shaped to match each other and facing each other when the extracting device (6) and the shaped mould (8) are in the coupling position;
• the extracting device (6) comprises a retaining unit (14) for retaining the container (2);
• the shifting of the extracting device (6) and of the shaped mould (8) relative to one another from the stand-by position to the coupling position causes coupling between the shaped mould (8) and the retaining unit (14) placed in a projecting position;
• and
• a further movement towards each other of the extracting device (6) and of the shaped mould (8), starting from the coupling position, causes shifting of the first perimetric die (12) and of the second perimetric die (13) from a first to a second position.

An apparatus for thermoforming plastic containers (2) comprising:

• at least one thermoforming device (3) configured to thermoform a flat sheet (4) for making a container (2) equipped with an upper flange (5) projecting outward;
• and
• at least one extracting device (6) associable with the thermoforming device (3) for extracting the thermoformed container (2) from the thermoforming device (3);
• wherein when the extracting device (6) is associated with the thermoforming device (3) for extracting the container (2) already thermoformed by the thermoforming device (3), the extracting device (6) and the thermoforming device (3) define a perimetric mould (7) configured to shape the upper flange (5) of the container (2) already thermoformed by the thermoforming device (3) before the thermoformed container (2) is extracted from the thermoforming device (3).