Apparatus and method for skin application of a thermoformable film to a support

An apparatus for skin application of a thermoformable film (9) to a support (3), comprising:

• a supporting element (4), which defines a working chamber (6) which has an upper opening (7) and which is configured to receive, in use, the support (3);
• and
• a closing element (5), which has a lower heating face (8) configured to heat, in use, the thermoformable film (9) to be applied on the support (3);
• wherein:
• the supporting element (4) and the closing element (5) are movable, at least one relative to the other, between a home position, in which the supporting element (4) and the closing element (5) are uncoupled and spaced apart from each other and the working chamber (6) is open, and a working position, in which the supporting element (4) and the closing element (5) are coupled to each other and in which the upper opening (7) is completely closed by the lower heating face (8);
• the apparatus (1) also comprises means for creating the vacuum (11), which are associated with the supporting element (4) and which are configured to generate the vacuum in the working chamber (6) when the supporting element (4) and the closing element (5) are in the working position and to cause in use adhesion of the thermoformable film (9) to the support (3);
• the supporting element (4) comprises a housing portion (15), which defines a housing (19) configured to receive, in use, the support (3), and a distancing portion (16), which is placed between the housing portion (15) and the upper opening (7) and which defines a distancing space (21) interposed between the housing (19) and the upper opening (7), the housing (19) and the distancing space (21) being part of the working chamber (6);
• the supporting element (4) also comprises cutting means (23) which surround the housing (19), which are surrounded by the distancing portion (16) and which are movable between a lowered position and a raised position, the movement from the lowered position to the raised position of the cutting means (23) causing, in use, cutting of the thermoformable film (9), the cutting means (23) being moved in use from the bottom upwards from the lowered position to the raised position whilst the closing element (5) and the supporting element (4) are kept in the working position.