Apparatus for creating a substantially uniform temperature across a plastic sheet for delivery to an appliance liner thermoforming device
AssigneeMaytag Corporation
InventorsRonald K. Anderson, Xiaoyong Fu, Sheldon Wayne Mandel, Steven G. Tirrell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sheet of plastic to be thermoformed into an appliance liner is brought to a substantially uniform temperature, preferably to a temperature differential of less than 5° F. throughout, by directing a fluid medium upon opposing side surfaces of the sheet. In the most preferred form of the invention, the fluid medium is constituted by air which is heated, impinged upon the opposing surfaces and recirculated, with the temperature and flow rate of the air being controlled based on sensed operating parameters.
Claims17
An apparatus for creating a substantially uniform temperature across a sheet of plastic prior to delivery of the sheet to an appliance liner thermoforming device comprising:
- a conveying mechanism for transporting a plastic sheet into a position wherein a fluid medium having a temperature is placed in contact with opposing surface portions of the plastic sheet;
- and
- at least one temperature control unit for regulating the temperature of the fluid medium so that the plastic sheet is brought to a substantially uniform temperature prior to delivery to the appliance liner thermoformed device.
In an appliance liner forming system wherein a sheet of plastic is thermoformed in an appliance liner thermoforming device into an appliance liner, an apparatus for creating a substantially uniform temperature across the sheet of plastic prior to delivery of the sheet to the appliance liner thermoforming device comprising:
- a conveying mechanism for transporting the plastic sheet into a position wherein a fluid medium, having a temperature, is placed in contact with opposing surface portions of the plastic sheet;
- and
- control means for regulating the temperature of the fluid medium such that the plastic sheet is brought to a substantially uniform temperature prior to delivery to the appliance liner thermoforming device.
In an appliance liner forming system incorporating a thermoforming device including means for thermoforming a sheet of plastic into an appliance liner, an apparatus for creating a substantially uniform temperature across the sheet of plastic prior to delivery of the sheet to the thermoforming device comprising:
- a conveying mechanism for transporting the plastic sheet;
- means for directing a fluid medium, having a temperature, into contact with opposing surface portions of the plastic sheet;
- and
- control means for regulating the temperature of the fluid medium to establish a substantially uniform temperature for the sheet prior to delivery of the sheet to the appliance liner thermoforming device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.