US 12,759,195 B2 · Thermoforming apparatus and process

Abstract

Thermoforming apparatus (1) for thermoforming an article (2), preferably a permeable article (2′), comprising: an elastic membrane (3,3′); a mould (4,4′); a hot air source (5) configured to blow a hot airflow (6) towards a zone (7) of the apparatus (1) configured to receive the article (2,2′) to be thermoformed; an actuation system (8) configured to move the mould (4,4′) towards the membrane (3,3′) or vice versa to compress the heated article (2,2′) between the membrane (3,3′) and the mould (4) such that an elastic force of the membrane (3,3′) on the article (2,2′) forces the article (2,2′) to assume the shape of the mould (4).2. Thermoforming apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mould (4′) and/or membrane (3′) are perforated so to permit a transit of the hot airflow (6) from the hot air source (5) to said zone (7). Thermoforming process of an article (2,2′) in a thermoforming apparatus (1) comprising an elastic membrane (3,3′), a mould (4,4′) and a hot air source (5), comprising the steps of: heating the article (2,2′) through a hot airflow (6) blew by the hot air source (5); compressing the heated article (2,2′) between the membrane (3,3′) and/or the mould (4,4′) by uniquely moving the mould (4,4′) and the membrane (3,3′) one toward the other such that an elastic force of the membrane (3,3′) forces the article (2,2′) to assume the shape of the mould (4,4′).

Claims21

Dependent claims

Thermoforming apparatus for thermoforming a permeable article comprising:

a hot air source configured to blow a hot airflow towards a zone of the apparatus configured to receive the article to be thermoformed;
an elastic membrane that is perforated to allow passage of the hot airflow from the hot air source therethrough to said zone;
a mould;
an actuation system configured to move the mould towards the perforated membrane to compress the article between the membrane and the mould with a force applied by the mould on the article and with an elastic force exerted by the perforated membrane on the article.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Thermoforming apparatus and process

Life of this patent

Thermoforming apparatus and process

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21