Device for the automatic supply of a press for moulding thermoplastic material sheets

An apparatus for automatically supplying thermoplastic material sheets and cover material to a press for moulding, said press having two dies defining a moulding station for simultaneously moulding said thermoplastic sheet and applying said cover material thereto, the apparatus comprising;

• a frame bearing a sheet of said cover material for application to said thermoplastic sheet;
• a take-up station disposed outside the press for receiving said frame;
• a first pair of guides supported by one of said dies and extending from said take-up station to said moulding station, said guides being movable between a loading position and an unloading position;
• a frame take-up member mounted for sliding movement along said first pair of guides for moving said frame from said take-up station to said moulding station;
• first actuator means for controlling movement of the frame take-up member between said take-up and moulding stations;
• and
• second actuator means for controlling displacement of said first pair of guides between said loading position and unloading position, wherein said first pair of guides are articulated about a transverse axis, said second actuator means being operative to pivot said first pair of guides about said axis between said loading position and an inclined unloading position.

An apparatus for automatically supplying thermoplastic material sheets and cover material to a press for moulding, said press having two dies defining a moulding station for simultaneously moulding said thermoplastic sheet and applying said cover material thereto, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame bearing a sheet of said cover material for application to said thermoplastic sheet;
• a take-up station disposed outside the press for receiving said frame;
• a first pair of guides supported by one of said dies and extending from said take-up station to said moulding station, said guides being movable between a loading position and an unloading position;
• a flame take-up member mounted for sliding movement along said fast pair of guides for moving said frame from said take-up station to said moulding station, said frame take-up member having a generally U-shaped configuration with two limbs which are parallel to each other and disposed outside the frame;
• grasping means carried by said frame take-up member for grasping respective projecting pans of said frame, said grasping means including a stop element which is fixed relative to said take-up member, and a latch element which slides relative to said take-up member and presses said projecting part of the frame against said stop element;
• first actuator means for controlling movement of the frame take-up member between said take-up and moulding stations;
• and
• second actuator means for controlling displacement of said fast pair of guides between said loading position and unloading position.