Forming apparatus

A forming apparatus for forming a formable material or materials, said apparatus comprising

• a first forming tool set comprising a plurality of first forming dies or tools,
• a second forming tool set comprising a plurality of second forming dies or tools,
• each forming die or tool of said second forming tool set being adapted to co-act with one or more forming die or tool of said first forming tool set, or vice versa, to form a co-acting forming tool in a pressure forming zone,
• a first forming tool set guide defining a first circuit of travel for the first forming dies or tools through a first alignment zone that includes the pressure forming zone, and a first dis-alignment zone outside of the pressure forming zone,
• a second forming tool set guide defining a second circuit of travel for the second forming dies or tools through a second alignment zone that includes the pressure forming zone, and a second dis-alignment zone outside of the pressure forming zone,
• wherein at least one of the circuits has a length greater than a length of the combined plurality of forming dies or tools, so that the forming dies or tools move faster through the dis-alignment zone than the alignment zone,
• wherein, at a lead-in zone prior to said pressure forming zone, adjacent forming dies or tools of said first forming tool set are movably supported such that an only relative movement is a motion of said adjacent forming dies or tools that is towards the forming dies or tools of said second forming tool set with which they co-act, said forming dies or tools in said first set of forming tools at said lead-in zone present or recede stepwise in an otherwise aligned condition relative to each other, without any forming die or tool forming tool gaps likely to entrap said formable material, and adjacent forming dies or tools of said second forming tool set forming a continuous surface over at least the lead-in zone and the pressure forming zone.

A forming apparatus for forming a formable material or materials, said apparatus comprising

• a first forming tool set comprising a plurality of forming dies or tools, each having a forward runner and a rearward runner,
• a second forming tool set comprising a plurality of forming dies or tools, each having a forward runner and a rearward runner,
• each forming die or tool of said second forming tool set being adapted to co-act with one or more forming die or tool of said first forming tool set, or vice versa, to form a co-acting forming tool in a pressure forming zone, said tool applying pressure to the material or materials,
• a first forming tool set guide having a first track defining over at least a portion of its length a first guide track and a second guide track about which said first forming tool set is moved about a first circuit,
• a second forming tool set guide about which said second forming tool set is moved about a second circuit,
• at least one primary first drive to move, in serial progression said forming dies or tools of said forming tool sets about said guides, in a machine direction,
• wherein, at a lead-in zone prior to said pressure forming zone, adjacent forming dies or tools of said first forming tool set are movably supported by the forward runner in the first guide track and the rearward runner in the second guide track such that an only relative movement is a motion of said adjacent forming dies or tools that is towards the forming dies or tools of the said second forming tool set with which they co-act, said forming dies or tools in said first set of forming tools at said lead-in zone present or recede stepwise in an otherwise aligned condition relative to each other, without any forming die or tool forming tool gaps likely to entrap said formable material and adjacent forming dies or tools of said second forming tool set forming a continuous surface over at least the lead-in zone and the pressure forming zone.