Apparatus and process for two-sided thermoforming
OwnerBenjamin Chesneyinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is a thermoforming device that includes a separate forming mold that can be positioned within a pair of primary mold sections to define a separate mold cavity therein. The separate mold cavity can be used to form details on various sections of a formed part that are not present on the remainder of the formed part due to the separation of the sections of the formed part from the remainder of the part due to the sealed engagement of the separate forming mold with the primary mold sections.
Claims21
A molding device comprising:
- a) a first molding member defining a first mold cavity therein;
- b) a second molding member defining a second mold cavity therein;
- and
- c) at least one third molding member positioned between the first molding member and the second molding member, wherein the second molding member is sealingly engaged with the first molding member to form a first molding zone, and wherein the third molding member is sealingly engaged with the first molding member to form a second molding zone.
A thermoforming apparatus comprising:
- a) a material heating device;
- and
- b) a forming device including a first molding member defining a first mold cavity therein, a second molding member defining a second mold cavity therein, and at least one third molding member positioned between the first molding member and the second molding member, wherein the second molding member is sealingly engaged with the first molding member to form a first molding zone, and wherein the third molding member is sealingly engaged with the first molding member to form a second molding zone.
A method for forming a molded article, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a thermoforming apparatus comprising a material heating device, and a forming device including a first molding member defining a first mold cavity therein, a second molding member defining a second mold cavity therein, and at least one third molding member positioned between the first molding member and the second molding member, wherein the second molding member is sealingly engaged with the first molding member to form a first molding zone, and wherein the third molding member is sealingly engaged with the first molding member to form a second molding zone;
- b) passing a sheet of thermoformable material through the material heating device;
- c) engaging the heated material sheet with the first molding member, second molding member and the third molding member;
- and
- d) directing flows of air through at least one of the first molding member, second molding member or the third molding member to deform a portion of the heated material sheet within at least one of the first molding zone or the second molding zone.
A molding device comprising:
- a) a first molding member defining a first mold cavity therein and having a first lip disposed around the periphery of the first mold cavity, the first lip adapted to sealingly engage a material to be molded to form a first molding zone;
- and
- b) at least one second molding member positioned opposite the first molding member, the at least one second molding member defining a second mold cavity therein and having a second lip disposed around the periphery of the second mold cavity, the second lip adapted to sealingly engage the material to be molded to form a second molding zone.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.