Apparatus for forming plastic articles
OwnerCurtis D. Wagnerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatus for forming plastic articles by a thermoform process. A plastic sheet to be formed is die cut to a predetermined shape, heated, and draped over a male mold extending vertically upward. A vacuum is drawn internally of the male mold forming an imprint in the sheet from a die carried on the outer uppermost surface of the mold. A mating female mold is then lowered about the male mold to press the sheet about the conforms of the outer surface of the male mold until the plastic sets, thereby forming the desired object.
Claims6
Apparatus for thermoforming a plastic sheet into an article, comprising:
- a first mold means;
- platten assembly means for disposing said sheet adjacent said first mold including
- means for providing relative motion between said platten assembly and said mold;
- and
- a platform disposable about said mold;
- heating means for heating said sheet in an amount sufficient to cause at least a portion of said sheet to conform to said mold;
- wherein
- said means for providing relative motion moves said platform between locations generally upwards of and downward relative to said mold;
- and
- a second mold means removably disposable about said first mold means;
- wherein said platform defines a pattern of plural radially extending apertures at which said sheet is free of subjacent support, said apertures providing droop locations for a heated said sheet.
Apparatus for thermoforming a plastic sheet into an article, comprising:
- support means for carrying said sheet and defining a pattern of radially extending through apertures;
- first mold means;
- heating means for concentrating heat on said sheet, when carried on said support means, along a plurality of heated locations extending radially outwards from the center of said sheet and adjacent said apertures;
- and
- support moving means for vertically positioning said support means relative to said first mold means between
- a first position wherein said support means is above said first mold means, and
- a second position wherein at least a portion of said first mold means extends upward through said hole pattern of said support means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.