Abstract: A thermoforming method and apparatus is provided for a flat thin sheet plastic substrate having printed material thereon in the form of a matrix of a plurality of items. The substrate is clamped between a pair of clamp plates providing support for the substrate around the perimeter thereof and also in a matrix support pattern having a plurality of subperimeters providing individual support around the respective perimeter of each item. The assembly is heated, and then thermoformed into a contoured three dimensional workpiece by pushing a matrix of a plurality of tool faces into the substrate at respective items. The matrix support pattern of the clamp plates along the plurality of subperimeters prevents sagging across the substrate during heating, and isolates the items from each other during deformation of the substrate by the tool faces.

Abstract: Multiple legs elevate a central ring bearing, to which a ring-shaped rotatable plastic sheet support carousel is mounted. The carousel is fitted with a ring gear which engages with a drive system to position the carousel and the thermoplastic sheets supported from it. A multi-post vertical press is positioned with two posts extending upwardly interior to the ring bearing, and two posts extending upwardly exterior to the ring bearing. The ring bearing thus extends through the press, allowing the carousel to supply and remove plastic sheets to and from the press. An upper platen and a lower platen are mounted for vertical displacement to the posts, thereby ensuring a high degree of parallelism between the molds mounted to the platens, and accurate twin-sheet thermoforming.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for semi-automatically forming a sheet of material into an article, such as a flower pot cover, is provided. The apparatus includes a male die, a female die, a presence sensing assembly, and a control assembly. The presence sensing assembly is positioned for sensing the presence of an operator in a sheet feeding zone which is located between an operator's station and a zone of operation of the male die and the female die. The control assembly initiates an article forming sequence, wherein the male die and the female die are moved from a discharge position to a forming position to form the article from the sheet of material and subsequently returned to the discharge position, in response to the operator clearing the presence sensing assembly subsequent to the operator breaking the presence sensing assembly while positioning a sheet of material between the male die and the female die via the sheet feeding area.

Abstract: A thermoforming machine utilizes two clamping frames to advance cut sheets through heating and forming stations, with the clamping frames returned via an overhead path above the oven in the heating station. Pneumatic cylinders arranged about the inner perimeter of the frames are operated to grip the sheet and release the sheets, which are pressurized and released via fluid connections established when the frames are lifted from a transfer bar structure at the loading and forming stations. The clamping frames have pivoted end sections which are engaged by extendible gear posts at the forming station to bend the clamped sheet into greater conformity with the tooling shape prior to forming.

Abstract: A combined apparatus for heating and cutting a suture tip formed from a length of unfinished surgical suture material. First and second heating dies are provided for heating the length of unfinished surgical suture material to form the suture tip, and first and second cutting dies are provided for cutting the suture tip. At least one heating die mechanical actuator is provided for moving the first heating die between a retracted and an extended position and for moving the second heating die between a retracted and an extended position, the first and second heating dies occupying a combined heating and cutting space adjacent to the unfinished surgical suture material only when the first and second cutting dies are in their retracted positions.

Abstract: Multiple legs elevate a central ring bearing, to which a ring-shaped rotatable plastic sheet support carousel is mounted. The carousel is fitted with a ring gear which engages with a drive system to position the carousel and the thermoplastic sheets supported from it. A multi-post vertical press is positioned with two posts extending upwardly interior to the ring bearing, and two posts extending upwardly exterior to the ring bearing. The ring bearing thus extends through the press, allowing the carousel to supply and remove plastic sheets to and from the press. An upper platen and a lower platen are mounted for vertical displacement to the posts, thereby ensuring a high degree of parallelism between the molds mounted to the platens, and accurate twin-sheet thermoforming.

Abstract: In manufacturing a photo film cassette, a disk producing apparatus includes a web supplier which conveys the web from a web roll to the web conveyor. The web conveyor includes two chains which convey the web in an intermittent fashion, and which include pointed portions which serially penetrate an edge portion of the web. A heater disposed upstream from the web conveyor heats the edges of the web. At the heating/forming unit, a heating plate is lowered toward the web at the same time as the female mold is raised toward the web, and the web is squeezed between them before the heating and vacuum/air pressure forming takes. Clampers/coolers disposed upstream and downstream from the heating plate and female mold squeeze the web in fixed fashion to prevent wrinkles on the web. A web/sheet cutter device includes an upper punch above the web and a lower die under the web, which squeeze the web, and cut the web into a sheet having a plurality of disk-like portions.

Abstract: A preheater and method of preheating a thermoplastic sheet prior to entry of the sheet into a differential pressure forming machine which forms an article in the sheet. The preheater includes mechanism for initially threading a sheet in a generally horizontal plane, mechanism for concurrently displacing upstream and downstream portions of the sheet in vertically opposite directions relative to the horizontal plane to dispose a portion of the sheet in an upstanding plane. A heater is provided for heating the upstanding portion of the sheet in the upstanding plane. After the sheet has been repositioned with a portion in the upstanding plane, the heater is laterally moved from an inoperative position to a sheet heating position receiving the portion of the sheet at the sheet heating station. Mechanism is provided for selectively moving the sheet downstream after the sheet has been vertically displaced.

Abstract: Flanging or curling apparatus particularly for hollow articles obtained by thermoforming from thermoformable sheet material for use in a thermoforming plant equipped with template or mask conveyor for transfer of the thermoformed objects. The apparatus comprises a support frame which delimits at least one workstation for a sequence of masks supporting hot thermoformed objects carried by the conveyor or at least one head for simultaneous curling of all thermoformed objects in the or each workstation.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing decorative panels with relief decorations on at least one of the broad sides of the panel are described. In a chamber, a hard, at least partly thermoplastic resin foam sheet with an essentially closed cell structure is substantially evenly heated on at least one of its broad sides, such that it becomes soft. Then, by means of a mould, the decorations in raised and/or sunken relief are applied to at least one of the broad sides by pressing.

Abstract: A molding method and apparatus capable of reliably removing a molded product without deformation even if the product has a shape difficult to be removed, such as a shape having a plurality of vertical portions. The method of molding a product by using a film sheet, includes the steps of: adapting to operate a pair of film pushing rings disposed facing upper and lower metal molds of a molding apparatus for thermally molding a product by using a film sheet, independently from the upper and lower metal molds; attracting and attaching a molded product to one of the upper and lower metal molds; fixing the ring on the side of the one metal mold; attracting and attaching a pickup jig to the molded product in tight contact therewith, the pickup jig having a surface shape matching the surface shape of the molded product; releasing the attraction and attachment by the one metal mold and moving the pickup jig to displace the molded product from the one metal mold; and moving the fixed ring to an original position.

Abstract: A tube reforming apparatus provides efficient mass production of reformed tube end portions. In a preferred embodiment, a tube reforming apparatus has a loading station, two heating stations, a forming station, and an unloading station. The loading station permits rapid loading of a series of laterally spaced apart tubes into clamping fixtures, and accurately meters a downwardly extending end portion of each tube. The heating stations permit accurate and evenly distributed heat to be applied to the end portions to make them pliable. The forming station reforms the end portions between a mating die pair, while compensating for any volume variation in the end portions. The unloading station automatically unloads the tubes from the clamping fixtures. Automation features of the apparatus permit these operations to be efficiently accomplished.

Abstract: A method of shaping a layer of settable material such as honeycomb core (24) including placing the core on a flexible support (38); translating the flexible support (38) and core into an oven (28); heating the core to a desired forming temperature in the oven; translating the flexible support (38) and core (24) horizontally from the oven into a forming area (26); lowering a contoured upper die (32) onto the core (24); tensioning the flexible support (38); pressing the core between the tensioned flexible support and the upper die so that the core (24) is forced to conform to the shape of the die (32); cooling the core to set temperature; and raising the die (32) to remove the finished shaped core, is provided.

Abstract: The present invention involves an apparatus for making comestible units. The comestible units made in accordance with the present invention can include active ingredients and are capable of dissolving in the mouth of the consumer within several seconds. They are particularly useful as antacids and as delivery vehicles for biologically active ingredients, especially those which are ideally combined with antacid ingredients.

Abstract: A thermoforming machine for thermoforming thermoplastic sheets wherein molding dies are used to apply pressure to a sheet to be thermoformed. A rectangular carriage carries a frame adapted to clamp the peripheral edge of a thermoforming thermoplastic sheet. One side of the frame that is positioned downstream of the carriage is adapted to open so as to have the carriage pass through the molding dies. The carriage is removed from the sheets so as to be pulled back upstream of the molding dies while the operation of the molding dies is carried out for the sheet. The fully pulled back carriage can be used for the following sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus for compression molding thermoplastic backed carpeting in deep draft molds wherein carpeting is precut into sheets, heated, positioned between the mold parts, clamped at selected locations around its periphery, differentially prestretched by tensioning actuators, compression molded, cooled and removed from the mold. Tensioning actuators draw the sheet material downwardly into the deep draft of the mold and further stretch the material in the region of shallow draft, uniformly thinning the material. Stretching of the material by the mold during the compression molding step is minimized in this method. Prestretching allows sheets to be precut to a smaller size than the mold for more efficient use of material and provides control of product thickness independent of mold draft.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for manufacturing a lampshade from a heat-deformable sheet material. The apparatus includes a first supporting assembly for supporting a hollow body formed from the heat-deformable sheet material, the hollow body having upper and lower peripheral edges. A second supporting assembly is provided for releasably supporting a forming and stiffening ring in peripheral engagement with an interior surface of the hollow body adjacent a peripheral edge of the hollow body so that a marginal edge portion of the hollow body projects beyond the forming and stiffening ring. The second supporting assembly is located adjacent the first supporting assembly and includes a retractable supporting assembly for engaging an underside and an upper side of the forming and stiffening ring.

Abstract: A method of shaping a layer of settable material such as honeycomb core (24) including placing the core on a flexible support (38); translating the flexible support (38) and core into an oven (28); heating the core to a desired forming temperature in the oven; translating the flexible support (38) and core (24) horizontally from the oven into a forming area (26); lowering a contoured upper die (32) onto the core (24); tensioning the flexible support (38); pressing the core between the tensioned flexible support and the upper die so that the core (24) is forced to conform to the shape of the die (32); cooling the core to set temperature; and raising the die (32) to remove the finished shaped core, is provided.

Abstract: A deep ribbed sandwich panel having at least one shaped metal sheet with ribs, and a layer of insulating material consisting of mineral wool fibers, wherein the ribs are filled with at least one mineral fiber strip having a shape complementary to that of the shaped edge of the ribs.

Abstract: Die presses containing removable dies and arranged in a row for operating successively on a workpiece which traverses such row utilize movable die carts which not only are capable of substituting one set of dies for the dies in the presses, but which also effect transfer of workpieces between successive presses.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for press forming a sheet blank (5) of the type including a die formed by a pad (2) composed of an elastic material disposed in a retaining box (1), a lower blank holder (3) which rests on the upper part of the box (1) and on which the sheet blank (5) rests, structure for preforming the sheet blank (5) constituted by an outer slide (6) carrying an upper blank holder (6a), structure for forming the sheet blank (5) constituted by a central slide acting on a plunger (7) and, in the region of heating zones of the elastic pad (2), structure (20) for regulating the temperature of the elastic pad (2) in the course of the press forming of the sheet blank (5).

Abstract: Apparatus for the thermoforming of hollow objects at a base comprises thermoforming of the objects from a sheet of thermoplastics material in a half of a double female mould that can be moved between a forming area against a male die and a discharge area to one or the other side of the forming area. The thermoformed objects are transferred from the discharge area onto a plurality of receiving formers moving sequentially stepwise along a track. One or more processing or handling operations are performed on the objects while the formers are stationary.

Abstract: A molding machine has a mold material supply device, a die setting device, a separating device and a deburring device. The supply device includes a mold material feeding device, an extruding device for receiving a mold material from the mold material feeding device and extruding the mold material so as to form an extruded mold material, a cutting device for cutting the extruded mold material, and a transfer device for receiving the extruded mold material from the cutting device and transferring the same.

Abstract: A portable version of a honeycomb core forming restricter (20) for forming and shaping a workpiece made of stiff honeycomb core material, the apparatus (20) to be used in combination with a press including a male die (70) and a female die (72), the apparatus (20) including: (a) a base plate (62); (b) four support tower assemblies (24a, 24b, 24c, 24d) supported by the base plate (62); (c) two shafts (22a, 22b) supported by the support tower assemblies (24a, 24b, 24c, 24d), the shafts (2a, 22b) being arranged in a generally parallel relationship to each other and to the longitudinal axis of the female die 72; (d) a carrier sheet (74) for supporting the workpiece, the carrier sheet (74) being attached to the two shafts (22a, 22b); (e) four air motors (26a, 26b, 26c, 26d) for applying rotational torque to the shafts ( 22a, 22b); and (f) the support tower assemblies including a double acting air cylinder (36a) for moving the shaft (22a) in a transverse direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the female

Abstract: An apparatus and method for deforming polymeric pipe to have a reduced diameter for insertion into new or damaged pipelines in situ. A further method for converting existing pipelines in situ to dual-containment pipelines. The apparatus includes a plurality of adjustable rollers and conveyor systems in a portable unit which accommodates variable pipe specifications. As a polymeric pipe is conveyed through the apparatus, a deforming means applies a gradually increasing pressure along the length of the pipe to collapse the pipe and form a longitudinal depression therein while preventing rotation of the pipe. The deformed pipe exits the apparatus after being shaped into a cylindrical form with a reduced diameter. When lining pipe, the deformed pipe is inserted into an existing pipeline and returned to its original cylindrical form.

Abstract: A molding machine has a mold material supply device, a die setting device, a separating device and a deburring device. The supply device includes a mold material feeding device, an extruding device for receiving a mold material from the mold material feeding device and extruding the mold material so as to form an extruded mold material, a cutting device for cutting the extruded mold material, and a transfer device for receiving the extruded mold material from the cutting device and transferring the same.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for thermoforming a pouring spout from a sheet of thermoplastic material. The device includes a forming tool for engaging a first side of the thermoplastic sheet and a tube for advancing an outer closure portion or a screw cap to a second side of the thermoplastic sheet. A spacer ring of resiliently yieldable material is positioned on the advancement tube. A neck of the pouring spout is created between and upper side of the package and the outer closure portion or screw cap.

Abstract: A load of plastic material is formed from two sheets cut successively from a roll of strip material. The first sheet is cut to a roughly constant length, weighed and loaded on to a conveyor. The second sheet is cut to the length calculated according to the weight of the first sheet and is loaded on to the conveyor in a predetermined position in relation to the first sheet. Each sheet is positioned by transferring it from the cutting station to a transfer structure moved in relation to a stop structure set each time to a given programmed position.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing three-dimensional parts using sheets of a thermoplastic resin high-performance fiber-reinforced composite material includes the steps of supplying the sheet of the high-performance resin-reinforced composite material which uses as a matrix a thermoplastic resin and in which reinforcing fiber is oriented, clamping an end portion of the sheet by a sheet clamping device, conveying the sheet to a heating/forming zone, heating the sheet to a predetermined temperature, clamping the sheet by upper and lower frames by driving cylinders, forming the three-dimensional part by operating a mold and thereby deep drawing the clamped sheet inwardly according to a stroke of the mold, and repeating the above-described series of steps continuously.

Abstract: A load of plastic material, including two sheets cut successively from a strip, is loaded into the mold of a molding press by way of a loading device including a conveyor having a number of spaced, parallel belts; a number of lifting elements arranged in rows between the belts; and a number of retractable bars insertable between the lifting elements for picking up the load. By way of an operating arm, the bars are moved up to the mold and then withdrawn in relation to a stop cross member so as to drop the load inside the mold.

Abstract: A film molding apparatus wherein a film is immersed in a vessel of a film supply unit, the film containing at least 50 weight % swelling agent relative to a polymer constituting the film, and the vessel being filled with soaking liquid which acts so as not to destroy a swelling condition of the film, and a film piece corresponding to one molded product is supplied from the film supply unit to a mold press.

Abstract: A method of carrying preforms of frictional material, in which a preform 2 of a frictional material is carried so as to be put into a heat middle mold 8b of a heat mold 8 after the frictional material is preformed with a preforming mold 1, the preforming upper mold 1a is moved down so that the preform 2 held in a preforming middle mold 1b is pushed from above into a through storage hole 4a of a carrier 4, and the heat upper mold 8a is moved down after this carrier 4 is carried to above the heat middle mold 8b so that the preform 2 is pushed into the heat middle mold 8b from the lower portion of the storage hole 4a of the carrier 4.

Abstract: A dough cutting and packing apparatus for cutting a sheet of dough into dough pieces and transferring the dough pieces to containers. A cutting unit is defined by a plurality of cutting plates having dough retaining openings. The sheet of dough is partially sheeted into the dough retaining openings by an initial compressor roll which is spaced from an upper surface of the cutting plates. A terminal compressor roll contacts the upper surface of the cutting plates, and acts to sheet a remaining portion of the dough sheet into the dough retaining openings to divide the dough sheet into a plurality of dough pieces retained in the openings. The initial compressor roll is driven at a peripheral rate of speed that exceeds an instantaneous liner rate of speed of the cutting unit. The terminal compressor roll is frictionally driven via contact with the cutting plates such that a peripheral rate of speed of the terminal compressor matches the linear rate of speed of the cutting unit.

Abstract: For molding complex mechanical components from plastic material in sheets, any portions of the material projecting from the mold are folded about the respective edges of the mold. The sheets are transferred to the mold on a number of retractable bars moving in relation to at least one reference bar; and a finger is moved towards the mold by an articulated parallelogram mechanism, and is mounted on a supporting bar located between two adjacent retractable bars and adjustable for so orienting the finger as to fold the projecting portion of sheet material in either one of two opposite directions.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading and unloading a frame bearing a cover material for application to a formed thermoplastic sheet, especially in the production of cover panels for motor vehicles, is associated with a press including two dies for simultaneous moulding of the sheet and application of the cover material thereto, and includes a take-up station disposed outside the press for taking up a frame and a device for automatically transferring the frame from the take-up station to a moulding station between the dies. The device includes a pair of guides supported by one of the dies, the guides extending from the take-up station to the moulding station. The device further includes a frame take-up member mounted for sliding movement along the guides and associated with an actuator for controlling movement of the frame take-up member between the take-up and moulding stations.

Abstract: A machine for molding bonded plastics material, in particular expanded or foamable polystyrene in combination with rigid sheet polystyrene, wherein the rigid material (2) is preformed in a preforming station (1) in a preforming mold (33, 36) while simultaneously separating by a cutter (40) the preformed portion from the rigid sheet of starting material to produce separate preformed pieces, the preformed pieces are moved by a transfer table (27) to a molding station (3) while retained on preforming half-mold (33), foamable material (44) is fed to molding mold (41) and molded and bonded on the preformed pieces with sintering by pulse action of steam (45) and, the final molded articles (P) are discharged at discharge station (6). The half-mold (33) is moved alternately between the preforming station (1) and molding station (3), and cooperates with respective counter-molds (36, 41). The scrap is recovered without being involved in the molding stage.

Abstract: An apparatus for collapsing and folding an upright container to a compact stackable configuration, the container having a bottom wall, peripheral side wall with at least upper, lower and intermediate annular stepped portions in the peripheral side wall, and a top wall having a discharge opening therein, includes tooling for supporting and holding the container in an upright position; a first forming element for engaging and exerting a downward force on the intermediate annular stepped portion of the peripheral side wall and for effecting the formation of a first folded portion in the peripheral side wall; and a second forming element for engaging and exerting a downward force on the top wall for effecting the formation of a second folded portion in the peripheral side wall, substantially concentric with and radially adjacent the first folded portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing three-dimensional parts using sheets of a thermoplastic resin high-performance fiber-reinforced composite material. The apparatus includes a sheet clamping device for clamping an end portion of the sheet and conveying the sheet to a heating/forming zone, a heater for heating the sheet to a predetermined temperature, upper and lower frames driven by cylinders for clamping the sheet and a male mold member for forming the three-dimensional part by deep drawing the clamped sheet inwardly through a stroke of the mold member.

Abstract: A molding machine has a mold material supply, a die setting assembly, separating and de-burring assemblies. The supply includes a mold material feed, an extruder for receiving a mold material from the mold material feed and extruding the mold material so as to form an extruded mold material, a cutter for cutting the extruded mold material, and a transfer assembly for receiving the extruded mold material from the cutter and transferring the same.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sheet-shaped blanks (9) of deep-drawable synthetic plastic material to the receiving station of a deep-drawing machine having a plurality of suction plates (15) wherein a supply roll (2) holding a web (1) of synthetic plastic material which is capable of being intermittently driven by pairs (3, 4, 23) of drive rollers and moved in front of a cutting means (5) having on its downstream side a magazine (8), a movable flap (11) provided with suckers (33) and a first supporting plate (13) being adapted to be brought into engagement with the removal side of the magazine (8), a second movable supporting plate (16) provided with suckers (33) being disposed on the other side, guide means (35) being provided in order to feed the blanks (9) from the movable flap (11) and round onto the opposite side of the suction plate (15) to the second supporting plate (16).

Abstract: An apparatus for press forming products having a desired shape from a web is provided. The apparatus includes a cyclically operating blanking section for cutting the web to produce a single blank for each blanking cycle and a cyclically operating forming section for receiving a plurality of single blanks from the blanking section during a first portion of each forming cycle and for press forming the plurality of single blanks into a plurality of three dimensional press formed paperboard products having the desired shape during a second portion of each forming cycle. The forming section includes a die set having a plurality of forming die cavities wherein each of the forming die cavities receives a single blank. The blanking section operates cyclically at a predetermined rate r and the die set of the forming section includes n forming die cavities, the blanking section operating at n cycles for each forming cycle and the forming section operating cyclically at a rate r/n.

Abstract: A method for the operation of a thermoforming machine in which successive sections of a thermoforming web are formed includes the steps of continuously feeding a thermoformable web of plastics material into the entry of the thermoforming machine from an exit support roll of a substantially horizontal run portion of a conveyor, the exit support roll being movable forwardly in the direction of movement of the web and rearwardly in the opposite direction so as to respectively extend and retract the length of the horizontal run portion of the conveyor with the web flow speed at which the web is deposited initially on the conveyor and with the movement of vertically opposed male and female forming tools which are part of the thermoforming machine and which are able to advance and retract horizontally respectively in and against the web movement direction and to move vertically perpendicular to their horizontal movement.

Abstract: In a first forming stage, the bottom portion of a mono-molded plastic syringe (a type wherein the whole portion, i.e., a main syringe body and a needle portion, is molded unitedly in a cast) is heated and then stretched to a certain length, forming the edge portion like a needle, while the syringe is intermittently moved. Then the sryinge is carried to a second forming stage, where the syringe is moved intermittently and the needle portion is heated, then it is bent at a certain angle and is cut in a certain length, forming a completed syringe.

Abstract: A method of molding a plastic-backed carpet blank to a desired shape uses a minimum of work force and carpet material. The method utilizes a portable frame assembly having an open rack with yieldable holding clamps. The holding clamps are used to suspend a plastic-backed carpet blank in the rack. The frame assembly has a set of wheeled legs which allows it to be readily transported between work stations such as a heating zone and a molding zone. The yieldable holding clamps maintain the carpet under constant tension during the molding zone to result in a high quality molded carpet.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for forming a collapsed and folded thin-walled container. In collapsed and folded form, the container has first and second folded portions concentrically adjacent one another in generally surrounding relationship to tapered shoulder and reduced diameter neck portions of the container. The apparatus includes inner and outer, concentrically arranged and relatively movable pusher members for forming the first and second folded portions, respectively.

Abstract: A process for the production of shaped lined panels, of the type wherein the lining is positioned on a frame including a series of reference and adjusting pivots capable of being reversibly engaged by a pluality of corresponding reference holes provided on the lining. The process positions the pivots on the frame according to an arrangement which is a function of the arrangement of said plurality of holes in the covering and the shaped and correctly lined panel.

Abstract: A bi-functional transfer foot that is structurally configured and operative to provide automated handling of preimpregnated composite materials. The transfer foot includes a valve member having a knock-off stem movably mounted in a housing, a solenoid valve and fluid line interconnection to vacuum and pressure sources, and a control subsystem for regulating the operation of the transfer foot. The transfer foot is bi-functional for "ON" and "OFF" operation. A control signal issued by the control subsystem turns the transfer foot "ON" wherein vacuum forces causes a first displacement of the valve member within the housing to provide a vacuum force for engaging and retaining the tacky surface of preimpregnated composite plies.

Abstract: According to the invention, calibrated rings are obtained by superficially vulcanizing extruded or profiled extrudate at the exit of an extrusion head (T), then by cutting this vulcanized extrudate into portions by means of a conical cutting device (C), subsequently by butting the two ends, in the respective form of a conical tip and a funnel, of each portion (t) together under hot conditions and under a controlled pressure, in order to obtain a ring blank which is then engaged between the half-cavities of a mold (Mo), where it undergoes shaping and vulcanization by the heating of the latter and thereafter deburring as a result of a shearing action produced by a push device (D) causing the half-cavities to slide in the closed position in the frame of the mold, before causing the opening of the latter by means of a device (G) and the release of the calibrated and superficially clean ring obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed that engages a lid to a container by the formation of interlocking waves of lid material and container material. The interlocking waves are geometrically aligned relative to the interior of the container so as to maximize the burst strength of the container, and also to minimize the force required to peel the lid from the container. An unheated clamp head of the apparatus is used to clamp the lid structure immediately adjacent a heated seal head used to form the interlocking wave structure about the inside rim of the container, so as to prevent any melted portions of the container or lid from flowing to or toward the outside rim of the container, so as to prevent the formation of similar interlocking waves about the outside rim of the container.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermoforming a polypropylene band by heating plates located upstream of a pressing station where transverse rows of blisters are made on a band by a die. A striker device is located at the outlet of the pressing station and is operated in phase relationship with the advancement of the band, after every pressing stage. A plurality of pins, which are borne by a movable bar, are moved towards the band to intercept, when the die is closed, a transverse row of blisters of the band, and to prevent any sliding of a portion of the band still to be formed.