Method for heating and molding platelike parts

A method for heating and transferring a workpiece made of a deep-drawable plastic material comprising the steps of:

• providing a workpiece made of a deep-drawable plastic material;
• positioning said workpiece between first and second opposing carrier plates such that a gas-tight seal may be formed by one of said carrier plates about a portion of said workpiece;
• supplying hot gases through a gas distribution conduit associated with said first carrier plate while withdrawing hot gases through a gas distribution conduit associated with said second carrier plate such that said workpiece is heated and transferred to said second carrier plate;
• and
• transferring said workpiece from said second carrier plate to a deep-drawing device, and deep-drawing a shell from said workpiece.

A method of deep-drawing a shell from a workpiece made of a deep-drawable plastic material comprising the steps of:

• providing a workpiece made of a deep-drawable plastic material having an outer periphery and a thickness;
• positioning said workpiece between first and second opposing carrier plates such that a gas-tight seal may be formed by one of said carrier plates about a portion of said workpiece;
• supplying hot gases through a gas distribution conduit associated with said first carrier plate while withdrawing hot gases through a gas distribution conduit associated with said second carrier plate such that said workpiece is heated and transferred to said second carrier plate;
• transferring said workpiece from said second carrier plate to a deep-drawing device;
• and
• deep-drawing a shell from said workpiece.

A method of forming a closed pack comprising the steps of:

• providing a workpiece made of a deep-drawable plastic material having an outer periphery and a thickness;
• positioning said workpiece between first and second opposing carrier plates such that a gas-tight seal may be formed by one of said carrier plates about a portion of said workpiece;
• supplying hot gases through a gas distribution conduit associated with said first carrier plate while withdrawing hot gases through a gas distribution conduit associated with said second carrier plate such that said workpiece is heated and transferred to said second carrier plate;
• transferring said workpiece from said second carrier plate to a deep-drawing device;
• deep-drawing a first shell from said workpiece;
• provided a second deep-drawn shell;
• and
• joining said first and second shells to form a closed pack.