# US 2019/0168440 A1 · Thermoforming Machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168440 A1 - Document ID: US20190168440A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/207,705 - Filed: 2018-12-03 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04 - Assignees: Gabler Thermoform GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Gabler Thermoform GmbH & Co. KG - Inventors: Peter Grolla - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168440A1 ## CPC - B29C 51/266: {Auxiliary operations after the thermoforming operation (B29C51/42, B29C51/44, B29C51/46 take precedence)} - B26D 7/06: Arrangements for feeding or delivering work of other than sheet, web, or filamentary form (feeding or discharging sheets, webs, or filaments B65H) - B26D 7/1863: {by suction} - B26D 7/32: for conveying or stacking cut product (means for removing cut-out material or waste B26D7/18) - B26F 1/14: Punching tools; Punching dies - B29C 51/18: Thermoforming apparatus - B29C 51/44: Removing or ejecting moulded articles - B29C 51/22: rotatable about an axis - B29C 51/261: {Handling means, e.g. transfer means, feeding means (B29C51/44 takes precedence)} - B29C 2793/0009: Cutting out - B29C 2793/0018: for making a hole - B29C 2793/009: after shaping - B29K 2101/12: Thermoplastic materials - B29L 2031/7132: {Bowls, Cups, Glasses} - 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) - 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) - B26F: PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING (marking-out, perforating or making buttonholes A41H25/00; shoemaking A43D; surgery A61B; punching metal B21D; drilling metal B23B; cutting of metal by applying heat locally, e.g. flame cutting, B23K; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; details common to machines for severing B26D; drilling wood B27C; drilling 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; of glass C03B; of leather C14B; of textile materials D06H; for light guides G02B6/25; of tickets G07B) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A thermoforming machine for manufacturing articles from a heated thermoplastic film includes a molding station, an extraction device, a hole punch; and a stacking station. The hole punch includes a pivotable lower punching tool which receives punched-out articles from the extraction device while being pivoted into a tilted position facing the extraction device and which pivots into a vertical 0° position to face an upper punching tool for punching operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermoforming machine for manufacturing articles from a heated thermoplastic film, comprising: a molding station with a molding and punching tool having an upper tool and a lower tool, the lower tool being arranged pivotably around a horizontal axis on a tool table which moves in an opening and a closing direction; an extraction device arranged downstream of the molding station in travel direction of the thermoplastic film, the extraction device having suction mandrels which grip punched-out articles from the lower tool while the lower tool is in a tilted position; a hole punch with a lower punching tool that is pivotable around a horizontal axis and an upper punching tool which is driven in a raising and lowering manner, the upper punching tool being fitted with punching dies; and a stacking station arranged downstream of the hole punch, wherein the lower punching tool receives the punched-out articles from the extraction device while being pivoted into a tilted position facing the extraction device and wherein the lower punching tool pivots into a vertical 0° position to face the upper punching tool for punching operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermoforming machine according to claim 1, wherein the lower punching tool is arranged on a pivot table. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The thermoforming machine according to claim 1, wherein the hole punch is arranged in line with the molding station and the stacking station, wherein the lower punching tool can pivot both in and against the travel direction of the thermoplastic film, wherein a linearly movable swivel catching device is arranged between the molding station and the hole punch, and wherein a second swivel catching device is arranged in the stacking station behind the hole punch. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The thermoforming machine according to claim 3, wherein the lower punching tool can pivot by a total of 180°. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The thermoforming machine according to claim 1, wherein the hole punch is arranged offset to one side of a line formed by the molding station and the stacking station, wherein the upper punching tool and the lower punching tool extend orthogonal to the molding and punching tool of the molding station, wherein the lower punching tool is pivotable towards the line, and wherein the extraction device is formed as an article handling unit with linearly adjustable plates that are equipped with suction mandrels, the linearly adjustable plates being arranged on a support frame which is rotatable around a vertical axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The thermoforming machine according to claim 5, wherein the lower punching tool can pivot by 90°. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The thermoforming machine according to claim 5, wherein the article handling unit comprises four plates that are arranged at right angles relative to each other and linearly adjustable independently of each other, and wherein the support frame is rotated in sequence such that one plate faces the molding station, one plate faces the hole punch, one plate faces the stacking station, and one plate occupies a waiting position, the plate facing the molding station and the plate facing the stacking station being arranged on opposite sides of the support frame.