# US 2013/0152660 A1 · Thermoforming station, thermoforming system, method for forming or stamping articles produced > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152660 A1 - Document ID: US20130152660A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/702,764 - Filed: 2011-04-07 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-06-07 - Assignees: KIEFEL GmbH - Inventors: Wolfgang Frey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152660A1 ## CPC - B21D 24/10: Devices controlling or operating blank holders independently, or in conjunction with dies - B21D 22/00: Shaping without cutting, by stamping, spinning, or deep-drawing (otherwise than using rigid devices or tools or yieldable or resilient pads B21D26/00) - B21D 37/16: Heating or cooling - B29C 51/38: Opening, closing or clamping means - B30B 1/14: operated by cams, eccentrics, or cranks - B26D 1/40: and coacting with a rotary member - B26D 5/18: Toggle-link means (B26D5/10 - B26D5/16 take precedence) - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B30B: PRESSES IN GENERAL (producing ultra-high pressure or ultra-high pressure and high temperature to effect modifications of a substance, e.g. for making artificial diamonds B01J3/00 ){(compressing means for refuse receptacles B65F1/1405)} - B26D: CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING (for growing crops or plants A01D, A01G; for fodder or straw A01F; for bulk butter A01J; for dough A21C; slaughtering A22B; for tobacco, cigars or cigarettes A24; marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; manufacturing footwear A43D; brushmaking A46D; surgery A61B; disintegrating, mincing or shredding in general B02C; cutting wire, making pins or nails B21F, B21G; of the kind used formetal B23; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; hand-held cutting tools B26B; perforating, cutting-out, stamping-out or punching, or severing by means other than cutting B26F; for wood B27; for stone B28D; working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29; making boxes, cartons, envelopes or bags, of paper or similarly worked materials, e.g. metal foil, B31B; article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices B65H35/00; for leather or upholstery B68, C14B; for glass C03B; making matches C06F; for peat C10F; for sugar C13B45/00; for textile materials D06H; civil engineering, building, mining, see Section E; for light guides G02B6/25; cutting processed photographic material G03D15/04) ## Abstract The invention relates to a thermoforming station in which motors are oriented so as to rotate in the same sense on the drive of the upper table (33) and of the lower table (32) of the thermoforming station whilst actuating elements (31) are oriented in counterrotating manner. In addition, a wobbling table mounting (37) is proposed. Further disclosed is a table-guiding system which is separate from the upper yoke supports. Spring assemblies (46) for holding overload supports are also mentioned. The thermoforming station (26) operates as a whole more reliably and is very easily maintained. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermoforming station having a forming tool with an upper tool and a lower tool and having a drive for the forming tool for moving into an opening and into a closing direction wherein the drive comprises two drive units, which during operation each have a driving direction of rotation and for moving the forming tool each act on the forming tool via an actuating element, wherein the actuating elements during the operation each have an actuating element direction of rotation, wherein two drive units for the forming tool are arranged with co-rotating driving direction of rotation, via transmissions, for driving the actuating elements with counter-rotating actuating element direction of rotation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station according to claim 1, wherein accelerating and braking moments of the two co-rotating drive units add up with respect to the thermoforming station. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station according to claim 1, wherein the two drive units move the lower tool via two lower actuating elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station according to claim 1, wherein the two drive units move the upper tool via two upper actuating elements. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station according to claim 1, wherein four drive units and four actuating elements are present, in particular exactly four. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station according to claim 1, wherein the drive units have vertical rotary axes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station according to claim 1, wherein two drive units are arranged at the same height on the thermoforming station, in particular two each on two yokes for the lower and for the upper tool. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station according to claim 1, wherein two drive units are arranged diagonally to each other with respect to a stroke axis of the forming tool. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station according to claim 1, wherein the actuating elements have horizontal rotary axes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station according to claim 1, wherein the actuating elements comprise eccentric shafts. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station according to claim 1, wherein the actuating elements comprise toggle levers. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station according to claim 1, wherein the drive units for the upper and/or lower tool are coupled via an electric shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station having a forming tool with an upper and a lower tool and having a drive for the forming tool for moving in an opening and in a closing direction, wherein the drive comprises two drive units, which during the operation each have a driving direction of rotation and for moving the forming tool act on the forming tool via an actuating element each, wherein the actuating elements during the operation each have an actuating element direction of rotation, in particular according to claim 1, wherein a drive unit can be arranged in a plurality of locations along the actuating element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station having a forming tool with an upper and a lower tool and having a drive for the forming tool for moving in an opening and in a closing direction, wherein the drive comprises two drive units, which during the operation each have a driving direction of rotation and for moving the forming tool act on the forming tool via an actuating element each, wherein the actuating elements during the operation each have an actuating element direction of rotation, in particular according to claim 1, wherein the upper and the lower tool comprise identical tables and/or yokes, which are arranged the other way around. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station having a forming tool with an upper and a lower tool and having a drive for the forming tool for moving in an opening and in a closing direction, wherein the drive comprises two drive units, which during the operation each have a driving direction of rotation and for moving the forming tool act on the forming tool via an actuating element each, wherein the actuating elements during the operation each have an actuating element direction of rotation, in particular according to claim 1, wherein the moved upper and/or lower tool is mounted in a wobbling manner, in particular with mounting on a vertical guide permitting an axial rotation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station having a forming tool with an upper and a lower tool, and having a drive for the forming tool for moving in an opening and in a closing direction, wherein the drive comprises two drive units, which during the operation each have a driving direction of rotation and for moving the forming tool act on the forming tool via an actuating element each, wherein the actuating elements during the operation each has an actuating element direction of rotation, wherein an upper yoke for the upper tool and a lower yoke for the lower tool are interconnected via upper yoke supports, in particular according to claim 1, wherein a yoke support comprises an overload device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The thermoforming station according to claim 16, wherein the overload device comprises a spring assembly, a shearing pin and/or a compression sleeve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The thermoforming station according to claim 16, wherein the overload device comprises a switching-off, a recording and/or an acknowledging means, wherein in particular after a switching-off a renewed switching-on can only take place after an authentication. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station having a forming tool with an upper and a lower tool, and having a drive for the forming tool for moving in an opening and in a closing direction, wherein the drive comprises two drive units, which during the operation each have a driving direction of rotation and for moving the forming tool act on the forming tool via an actuating element each, wherein the actuating elements during the operation each has an actuating element direction of rotation, wherein an upper yoke for the upper tool and a lower yoke for the lower tool are interconnected via yoke supports, in particular according to claim 1, wherein a table guide is formed separately from the yoke supports. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station according to claim 1, wherein a drive unit is designed as motor, in particular all drive units are designed as motors. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The thermoforming station according to claim 1, wherein a drive unit is configured passively and via a drive means is connected to an otherwise arranged motor for driving the drive unit. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The thermoforming station according to claim 21, wherein the driving means comprises a belt or chain drive. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The thermoforming station according to claim 21, wherein a motor with a plurality of driving units is connected in a driving manner to a plurality of passive drive units by means of one or a plurality of driving means. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The thermoforming station according to claim 23, wherein the motor and passive drive units driven by it are arranged rotating in the same direction of rotation with respect to their motor or drive unit directions of rotation. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The thermoforming system having a plurality of stations for processing foils or sheets having a thermoforming station according to claim 1. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A method for forming and/or stamping articles of foils or sheets, wherein a thermoforming system according to claim 25 and/or a thermoforming station is used. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) An article produced with a method according to claim 26.