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US 7,608,213 B2Granted
Thermoplastic sheet forming apparatus and method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsBryan Bergsma, Tom Courrier, W. Forrest Frantz, John Hennessy
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Abstract
There are provided apparatuses and related methods for forming sheets. The formed sheets can be formed of a thermoplastic material, such as flat sheets of reinforced thermoplastic, which can be lightweight, strong, and perform well in flammability, smoke, and toxicity tests. The apparatus includes a heater for heating the sheet to a processing temperature and a structure for configuring the sheet to a desired shape using one or more rollers, shapers, longitudinal members, and/or support members.
Claims10
A method of forming a thermoplastic sheet, the method comprising:
- disposing the thermoplastic sheet on a first side of an elastically flexible shaper comprising a first edge;
- rotating a longitudinal roller connected to the first edge of the shaper in a first direction and thereby advancing a first edge of the shaper at least partially circumferentially around the roller as a result of a connection of the shaper to the longitudinal roller and rotation of the longitudinal roller, wherein the first side of the shaper is directed toward the roller and the thermoplastic sheet is disposed between the roller and the shaper such that the thermoplastic sheet is bent to a predetermined shape;
- and heating the thermoplastic sheet to a processing temperature less than a glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic sheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.