Thermal presses for forming articles from a web of thermoplastic material

A thermal press for forming a finished article from a web of thermoplastic material, comprising:

• a primary frame;
• a drive shaft rotatably attached to the frame, the drive shaft having a longitudinal axis and a load area spaced apart from the primary frame in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and the drive shaft being rotatable about the longitudinal axis;
• a first arm connected to the drive shaft at the load area to rotate with the drive shaft, the first arm having a connecting point configured to pivotally attach the first arm to a second link that is rotatably attached to a first forming assembly such that rotation of the drive shaft and the first arm moves the first forming assembly along a travel path between an engaged position in which the first forming assembly presses the web against a second forming assembly to shape a portion of the web and a disengaged position in which the first and second forming assemblies are spaced apart from the web, the first forming assembly exerting a load force at the load area in the engaged position;
• and
• a counter-force assembly including a counteracting element projecting from at least one of the first arm or the frame to act against the load area and a support element on the other of the first arm of the frame, the counteracting element rotating in coordination with the drive shaft, and the counteracting element being configured to engage the support element when the first forming assembly is in the engaged position to provide a counteracting force at the load area that opposes the load force.

A thermal press for forming finished articles from a web of thermoplastic material, comprising:

• a primary frame;
• a drive shaft rotatably attached to the primary frame, the drive shaft having a rotational axis;
• a motor attached to the drive shaft to rotate the drive shaft about the rotational axis;
• a linkage assembly including a first link fixedly attached to the drive shaft at a load area along the drive shaft spaced apart from the frame and a second link pivotally attached to the first link, the first link having a first arm projecting outwardly from the load area on one side of the drive shaft and a second arm projecting outwardly from the load area on an opposite side of the drive shaft, the second link having a proximal end pivotally attached to the first end of the first link and a distal end;
• a first forming assembly positioned on one side of the web, the first forming being coupled to the distal end of the second link of the linkage assembly, the first forming assembly including a first press plate having an opening, a first forming member aligned with the opening, and a final-drive assembly operatively coupled to the first forming member to move the first forming member through the opening of the first press plate, wherein the drive shaft rotates the first link in one direction causing the second link to rotate in an opposite direction to move the first forming assembly along a displacement path between an engaged position in which the press plate engages one side of the web and a disengaged position in which the press plate is spaced apart from the one side of the web;
• a second forming assembly positioned on the other side of the web in alignment with the first forming assembly, the second forming assembly including a second press plate configured to engage another side of the web opposing the first press plate and a second forming member aligned with the first forming member, the first and second forming members being configured to mate with one another to shape a portion of the web into the finished article, the first and second forming assemblies exerting a load force at the load area when the first and second press plates press against opposite sides of the web;
• and
• a support surface configured to engage the second arm of the first link when the first forming assembly is in the engaged position such that the support surface and the second arm of the first link generate a counteracting force at the load area of the shaft that opposes the load force.