Twin-sheet thermoforming process and apparatus for insert inclusion
AssigneeLes Produits Plastitel Inc.
InventorsNormand Lucier, Stephane Poirier
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Abstract
A twin-sheet thermoforming process and associated apparatus which enables placement of an insert between upper and lower sheets before the sheets are actually heated and formed is described herein. Since the insert is positioned before molding takes place, the insert does not cause the formed panels to rest and cool down before fusing is finally carried out to capture the insert and seal the panels to each other. Panel fusing may therefore be performed at an optimal temperature.
Claims31
A thermoforming apparatus comprising:
- a thermoforming press station including first and second translatable molds;
- an oven station including heating elements;
- and
- a framing device comprising:
- an upper sheet mounting frame so configured as to releasably hold an upper thermoplastic sheet;
- a lower sheet mounting frame so configured as to releasably hold a lower thermoplastic sheet;
- and
- at least one insert holding assembly so configured as to hold at least one insert between the upper sheet mounting frame and the lower sheet mounting frame.
A twin-sheet thermoforming process comprising the steps of:
- providing upper and lower molds;
- providing a framing device;
- mounting upper and lower sheets of thermoplastic material to the framing device;
- mounting at least one insert to the framing device between the upper and lower sheets of thermoplastic material;
- heating the sheets of thermoplastic material;
- vacuum forming the upper and lower sheets of thermoplastic material respectively in the upper and lower molds to define upper and lower panels provided with respective edges;
- and
- moving the upper and lower molds towards each other to bring the respective edges of the upper and lower panels in contact,\ whereby the upper and lower panels are attached along their respective edges to form a hollow product and the at least one insert is captured in the hollow product between the upper and the lower panels.
A twin-sheet thermoforming framing device comprising:
- an upper sheet mounting frame so configured as to releasably hold an upper thermoplastic sheet;
- a lower sheet mounting frame so configured as to releasably hold a lower thermoplastic sheet;
- and
- at least one insert holding assembly so configured as to hold at least one insert between the upper sheet mounting frame and the lower sheet mounting frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.