Abstract: An apparatus for forming depressions in thermoplastic film. The apparatus uses rotating dies to first frictionally heat and soften the film, and to then urge the film into bores in a mold, thereby forming the depressions. The plastic films thus produced are useful in the production of packaging.

Abstract: A continuous, non-hesitant apparatus and process for producing a molded body of plastics material and for simultaneously securing the molded body to a tubular body by means of a plurality of heading units mounted in series on a continuous conveyor, each heading unit having a mold cavity associated with the mold arm slidably positionable with respect to a mandrel arm having a mandrel, press rod and mold core secured thereto, the mold core and press rod in coaxial alignment with the mold cavity, each of which responsive to a camming surface, the tubular body positioned on the mandrel and brought in registration with a continuous web of hot plastics material which is positioned at one end of the tubular body, the tubular body and mold core then positioned within the mold cavity responsive to the camming surfaces for a time sufficient to form the molded body and secure the molded body to the tubular body, the molded body and tubular body then released from the heading unit, the heading unit recirculating to obtai

Abstract: Apparatus for differential pressure forming an article in a sheet of thermoplastic material having a pair of opposed differential pressure molds at a forming and trimming station moveable between open positions and closed positions engaging opposite sides of the sheet of thermoplastic material for differentially pressure forming an article in the sheet. Mechanism is provided for severing the article from the sheet and includes a pair of opposed trim dies mounted on the molds for movement therewith between spaced apart positions and sheet engaging positions when the molds are moved between open and closed positions. After the part is formed, wedge mechanism is moved transversely of the relative path of travel of the dies for incrementally indexing one of the dies toward the other of the dies to sever the article at the forming and trimming stations.

Abstract: This invention relates to an article supplying tape formed with recess for containing articles therein in a tape-like or plate-like member, and supplying the articles to an automatic assembling machine or a working machine by the tape member, and the specification discloses a mold apparatus for forming the article containing recess in the tape, and particularly a mold apparatus for forming the shape of the recess variably in conformity with the shapes of the articles to be contained therein.

Abstract: This invention relates to an injection moulding process for the manufacture of multi-layered articles, especially articles having barrier properties. The process includes clamping a thermoplastic film over the cavity of a mould of an injection moulding process, the film being capable of being stretched. The film is then stretched within the mould by inserting the core of the mould, preferably using a core in which a central part enters the mould and partially stretches the film prior to the remainder of the core entering the mould. The mould is then closed, excess film is trimmed off and polymer is injected into the mould cavity. The resultant article is a multi-layered injection moulded article which, depending on the characteristics of the film and injected polymer, may have barrier properties to oxygen, liquids or the like that are superior to articles moulded from only the polymer. The process is particularly useful in the moulding of containers having a depth:width ratio of at least 0.5.

Abstract: A press for making pizza beds includes a mold plug having a plurality of pressure rings fitting telescopically and being guided within one another. Double-acting cylinders sequentially actuate the rings from the innermost one to the outermost one to act on the dough such as to stretch it from its center radially outwardly.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of panels, wherein a superficial covering including at least one fabric portion is surrounded by an adjacent portion of plastic material, wherein the covering is coupled by molding to a plate of heated thermoplastic material, simultaneously with the shaping of the plate. The process brings a considerable area of the fabric portion into contact with the heated plate before coupling of the whole covering by utilizing at least one pressing element such as a dandy roll, or similar movable piece of the die, positioned in correspondence with the corresponding fabric portion.

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.

Abstract: A preform assembly for use with a resin transfer molding apparatus. The preform assembly comprises an upper liner formed to the shape of a first mold half, the upper liner having a peripheral portion, a dry fabric preform, and a lower liner formed to the shape of a second mold half, the lower liner having a peripheral portion. The preform is sandwiched between the upper liner and lower liner to form the preform assembly having peripheral portions which extend beyond the preform to form a sealing area. The upper liner is sealed to the lower liner at the sealing area. The preform assembly facilitates the loading of the preform into a molding apparatus as well as facilitating the handling and storage of the preform prior to and subsequent to molding. Methods of making the preform assembly, as well as a composite article, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming finished cups of expanded resin comprising a transfer mold capable of transferring a preformed article obtained through a preforming process to a finish-forming mold, and simultaneously collecting from the finish-forming mold a finished article obtained through compression forming and discharging the finished article after inspection, the transfer mold for transferring having a core section for collecting the preformed article and transferring the preformed article to the finish-forming mold and a cavity section for collecting and discharging the finished article and apparatus for moving the transfer mold.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming the edge of containers of synthetic thermoplastic material which are open at the top and terminate in an outer flange which is arched upwards from the top and then extends downwards. The apparatus includes an edge moulding unit having four groups of three female moulds and the same number of male moulds, a rotating plate for the female moulds designed to rotate step-by-step to cyclically carry each group of moulds from a charging position, through a moulding position to a discharge position and a cooling position. A feed device having one or more groups of parallel heated screw-threaded rotating rollers are provided, each engaging a portion of the flanges of a sequence of containers in order to heat them and transfer the same from a stock of containers to the charging position. Compressed-air-nozzles are arranged to cause the container to move from the feed device to a female mould.

Abstract: A paper tray forming machine with an improved blank centering device which consists of at least one finger which is moved upward and toward two passive stops. The finger may be shaped similarly to the blank's edge so that precise positioning occurs during the motion of the fingers.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating the release of an ingredient of a plastic or elastic sample of a pharmaceutical or confectionery material while the sample is in contact with a liquid medium which includes a base, a fixed lower jaw, a movable upper jaw and a member for moving the upper jaw toward and away from the lower jaw, a support for mounting and supporting a sample in the space between the upper surface of the lower jaw and the lower surface of the upper jaw, and a container surrounding both the jaws and sample so as to confine a liquid medium to the area surrounding the sample.

Abstract: A press for making rigid bodies out of fluent particles has, a cylinder block formed with a plurality of parallel cylinder bores opening into the chamber, respective pistons axially displaceable in the bores of the block, and respective little piston plungers fixed releasably to and projecting outward from the pistons. Respective little dies form little cavities in which the plungers are complementarily engageable. A holder positions workpieces of the particles in partially compacted condition in line with the cavities of the little dies so that respective little pushout plungers can push the workpieces out of the holders into the respective dies. A counter piston is displaceable hydraulically against the cavities after the workpieces have been pushed thereinto. The cylinders of the block are then pressurized to push the little piston plungers into the cavities and compress the workpieces therein.

Abstract: The deep-drawing of plastic foils for producing receptacles uses a drawing punch intermittently movable into a drawing mold and several expansion elements (jaws) radially movable on the drawing punch. The movement of the jaws and the punch is mutually effected to discontinuously move the drawing punch during its inward movement and to stop it for a respective predetermined dwell time. This can be combined with a continuous or discontinuous movement of the expansion jaw elements.

Abstract: A dough forming die assembly for the manufacture of machine-made pizza crusts in cooperation with a pizza pan having a generally circular central portion surrounded by upwardly sloping walls joining a horizontal rim. The dough forming die is mounted to a vertically movable base and provided with a generally planar face portion having a surrounding recessed rim. The outer wall of said rim is provided with a downwardly extending thin lip adapted to engage the upper portion of said sloping walls of said pan. A cylindrical, ring-shaped sealing member is mounted to the base for limited slidable movement relative to said die between a raised position and a lowered position engaging said pan and slideably engages the outer wall of said rim.

Abstract: A mirror having optical quality reflective faces is prepared by pressing of metallurgical powders. An optical quality surface, free of scratches and irregularities, is formed by pressing the faces with an optical quality tool face, applied to the face at an acute angle to achieve a degree of metal flow. The mirror is progressively formed, by first pressing an assembly of powder to a "green" powder mirror, sintering the pressed powder, and then repressing the sintered mirror using a tool having optical quality surfaces on the faces contacting the mirror faces. The mirror is annealed, repressed with the tool having optical quality surfaces, and coated on the reflective surfaces with a thin metallic coating. This technique is particularly effective for preparing large numbers of mirrors with multiple facets requiring precise facet intersections, as the pressing tool can be adjusted to produce highly exact facet intersections which are then reproduced exactly in subsequent mirrors.

Abstract: Apparatus for shaping a tubular preform into a hollow body in which an axially directed wall of the preform primarily comprises oriented and/or crystallized plastic material. The tubular preform (10d) is fixed in a circumferential region (13d) in the vicinity of the mouth edge (14d) of the preform between mechanical forming devices (30,40), after which the devices, during continued clamping of the circumferential region, are displaced in the axial direction of the preform relative to a mandrel (50). Thus, the mandrel is displaced into the preform during simultaneous expansion thereof and the material is oriented and/or crystallized. In a preferred embodiment, there is compensation of the stretching forces, which arise in the material when inserting the mandrel, by applying a force to the bottom of the preform by a bottom support (75).

Abstract: A female die part has an upwardly opening die cavity for receiving a male die plunger, a supporting surface around the cavity for a porous batt of fibrous reinforcing material overlying the cavity, and a first shearing edge defining the periphery of the opening for the cavity. Peripheral portions of the batt are clamped to the supporting surface, whereupon the die plunger presses portions of the batt into a mold formed between the male plunger and the sidewalls of the cavity to completely fill the mold. A cutter having a second shearing edge cooperates with the first shearing edge to shear peripheral portions of the batt from the portions overlying the die cavity. The shearing edges in cooperation with the die plunger seal the mold to enable injection of reactive chemicals that impregnate the porous batt within the mold.

Abstract: A pair of male and female mold parts for forming orifices during the thermal formation of a structure.

Abstract: A device for producing plastic trays (1) in which two parallel opposed walls (6, 7) are slanted in respect to a plane perpendicular to the sealing plane thereof. The two molding or thermoforming tools (12, 13) in this device are respectively carried by two movable supports (14, 15) capable of moving the tools along an axis (Z--Z') parallel to slanted walls of the tools which correspond to the slanted walls (6, 7) of the tray (1) to be produced. This slanted axis (Z--Z') makes it possible to use simple molding tools, namely an external female tool (12) and an internal punch (14). The packaging plant comprises a tray-forming device (8) as above-described, followed by a welding station (17) for welding a sealing film (18) onto the salient peripheral rim (3) of each plastic tray (1). In this station (17), a movable support member (22) for the tray (1) is movable along an axis (W--W') having the same slant as the sidewalls (6, 7) of the tray.

Abstract: Apparatus for vertically adjusting the position of a lower mold relative to an upper mold to control the shut height or spacing between the upper and lower molds when they are moved between vertically spaced apart, open positions, and closed positions engaging opposite sides of a thermoplastic sheet of material to form an object therein.A plurality of toggle links are pivotally coupled to each other and to the mold and frame for determining the final position of the mold and the closed position.The toggle link mechanism for the lower mold is mounted on the frame via a horizontally adjustable wedge mechanism which vertically adjusts another cooperating wedge mounting one pivotal end of the lower toggle links.

Abstract: A method and a device for introducing reinforcing strands into a vertical mold through the open upper end thereof. An array of strand material is positioned to extend across the open end of a mold and an insertion device is lowered into the mold. The insertion device engages the strand material during its downward motion and draws an appropriate amount of such material from a continuous supply thereof to give a strand reinforcement of elongate U-shape within the mold. A reciprocable carriage is provided whereby the leading end of the strand is presented to a clamp at a remote side of the mold opening, the carriage having a selectively operable clamp thereon for engagement with the strand during movement of the carriage toward the clamp.

Abstract: A system for forming an I-section workpiece includes a transporter having a pair of mandrels onto which two unformed changes are placed. The transporter carries the mandrels to a forming station which includes a pair of forming enclosures which contain heating elements and compliant material therein. By insertion of the mandrels into the compliant material, the charges are caused to bend around the mandrels thereby generating a pair of formed elements having channel shaped cross-sections. The elements are then carried by the transporter to a cure station where they are joined together by heated mandrels so that a one piece I-section workpiece is formed.

Abstract: A differential pressure machine for differentially pressure forming an article in a sheet of thermoplastic material including a frame, upper and lower platens movable on the frame between spread and less spread positions. Mechanism is provided for moving the platens between the spread and less spread positions for releasably locking the platens in the less spread positions. Upper and lower, opposed differential pressure molds mounted on the upper and lower platens, respectively, for movement therewith between open positions and closed positions for engaging opposite sides of a thermoplastic sheet of material and differentially pressure forming an article therein.

Abstract: In an installation for deep-drawing and back-foaming of upholstery covers, the deep-drawing molds are disposed on a round table. Besides the round table for the deep-drawing molds, a stationary stretch piston station is provided, serving all deep-drawing molds on the round table passing the stretch piston station.

Abstract: A shaping apparatus for the production of fiber reinforced articles is disclosed. The shaping means includes a first screen having a surface defining the contoured shape of the article; a second screen having a complementary surface defining the reverse contoured shape of the article; and, at least one resilient presser rod operatively attached to the first screen or the second screen. The presser rod engages the fiber matting and presses the fiber matting into either a portion of the first screen or the second screen as the screens are closed together. The shaping apparatus is particularly suitable for the manufacture of glass fiber-reinforced automobile bumpers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing compression molded articles from a thermoplastic material blank comprising heating the material, and compression molding the blank by means of a die. The material forming the blank is deposited on the surface of an intermediate support which forms a part of the compression molding mold and extends under and is separated from the die. The blank is separated from the die, which may be accomplished using a heated stream of gas surrounding the die and directed at the point of separation. The blank is introduced into the mold which is closed as the intermediate support is lowered, followed by compression molding the blank by the application of compression molding pressure, and cooling the molded article at least partly under pressure.

Abstract: A machine is provided for continuously packing products, in particular food or pharmaceutical products, in plastic material containers, comprising a thermoforming station in which a horizontal platen receives two identical mold parts and is mounted for rotation about an axis between a position for thermoforming the containers and a position for receiving decorative elements for the containers.

Abstract: In an installation for producing packaging containers such as tubes, from prefabricated tube bodies and end portions of thermoplastic material, which are connected to the tube bodies, a plurality of moulds which are moved on a circulatory path each include an upwardly directed female mould portion and a mandrel which is pivotable about a horizontal axis between a downwardly directed working position and a loading position. A tube body loading station, a material feed station having a nozzle, and a container unloading station are arranged at spacings from each other along the circulatory path, while the female mould portion and the mandrel of each mould are displaced relative to each other on a common working axis. In a plurality of working units including support frames which are moved on the circulatory path, each support frame supports at least the female mould portion and the mandrel of a mould and the actuating mechanism thereof.

Abstract: A method of compression molding of a synthetic resin material in the heat-melted state by the cooperative action of a male mold assembly and a female mold assembly. The female mold assembly includes an outside member having a central opening and an inside member movable relative to the outside member through the central opening. A pre-mold-closing step of moving the outside member to a predetermined closed position is carried out, and thereafter, a compression molding step of moving the inside member to a predetermined closed position and compressing the synthetic resin material is carried out. Also provided is a synthetic resin feeding apparatus including an extruder having an extrusion plate with an extrusion opening formed therein and a cutting tool for cutting the synthetic resin in the heat-melted state extruded from the extrusion opening. A tapered portion is formed in the extrusion plate, and the extrusion opening is opened to the front end surface of the tapered portion.

Abstract: A present invention is directed to an apparatus for PTP Pocket forming on a sheet which requires delicate care for handling. Combination of local and discriminate preparative heating of the pocket-regions of freshly unrolled sheets while leaving the rest of the sheet in a cooled state in a lattice structure, preliminarily expanding said regions up to about 70% of the volume of the recesses of the female die by pressing heated plugs to the region and supplying compressed-air to the expanded region. Details of the temperature control on various steps parts of the apparatus as well as a means for attaining virtually complete thermal equilibrium over the preparative heating station are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a process for producing hollow bodies of oriented thermoplastic material, a hollow blank having a bottom portion and a substantially cylindrical wall portion with an opening at its end remote from its bottom portion is subjected to pre-expansion in the region of the opening and then thermofixing in a subsequent treatment step. The thermofixing operation may be preceded by a mechanical expansion operation for orienting the plastic material forming the wall portion of the blank.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing thermoformable parts includes an extruder for extruding a hot synthetic material to form a horizontal strip, a rolling device for rolling the strip, a chain device for drawing the strip along horizontally by its edges and with a continuous movement immediately upstream of a thermoforming station, a heating device for heating the strip upstream of the thermoforming station to a temperature compatible with thermoforming it over a part of its length substantially equal to that needed for the thermoforming operation, a cooling section between the heated part and the area in which the strip is rolled, and a thermoforming station for bringing the heated part into face-to-face relationship with a mold and for moving the mold in the same direction as the strip and at the same speed, so that the strip is simultaneously thermoformed and cut to yield a piece comprising the thermoformed part and a skin retaining the edge portions during continuous movement thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making cupped articles from thermoplastic sheet or billets wherein the articles are formed with a bellows bottom which will displace inwardly when the internal pressure within the cup decreases. The invention specifically relates to an improvement upon the forming process which involves clamping a heated sheet or billet of a thermoplastic material in the solid phase state between a forming plug and a hollow mold having an end opening, moving the forming plug into the opening to carry the sheet into the mold, and introducing pressure fluid into the stressed portion of the sheet to form the article by making the sheet conformed to the shape of the hollow mold. The closed end of the hollow mold is improved by forming it with a flat central portion which has a tapered portion extending outwardly therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermoforming articles out of a sheet plastic material includes a female mold having one or more cavities and a male mold including one or more plug assists in one to one correspondence with the female mold cavities. Each cavity of the female mold communicates with a first passageway. A vacuum source communicates with each first passageway, and includes a vacuum switch. Each plug assist is provided with one or more inlets extending through the plug assist and one or more second passageways, the second passageways and inlets each communicating with the respective cavities when the mold is in a closed position. A first air source communicates with the inlet and includes a first heating means and a switch to selectively apply heated air through the inlet into the cavity under pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming frangible score lines in rigid plastic sheet material. The apparatus utilizes a flat surface having a serrated edge having points and notches. The rigid plastic sheet material is laid on the flat surface. A scoring means is positioned to strike downwardly on the sheet material whereby the points of the serrated edge of the flat surface will extend into the sheet material a distance further than the notches of the serrated edge to thus form a corrugated fracturable score line in the plastic sheet material. The apparatus is useful for forming score lines in lids for drink cups intended for fast food service.

Abstract: A molding process of a molding compound containing an ingredient such as a binder, e.g., pitch or a thermosetting resin which generate gas before being set, is disclosed, wherein the molding compound is heated and molded under pressure according to a special temperature pattern. First, the molding compound may be preheated substantially uniformly to a temperature at which the binder melts and generates reaction gas. Next, temperature gradient in the direction of thickness of the molding is created while raising the temperature of the molding to an upper limit temperature so that the setting of the molding progressively advances from the higher temperature to the lower temperature side of the molding.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for forming a flange on the wall portion of a hollow body of thermoplastic material with an opening at one end provides that the end part of the wall portion which defines the opening is heated and contracted by means of a force acting on the end portion from the outside thereof over the periphery thereof, whereupon the contracted end part is subjected to a pressing operation to form a flange extending around the contracted end part.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously folding the edges of a sheet of material, particularly the rigid plastic sheets of material having concave sections therein which are used as covers in "blister" packages. It utilizes a die having walls on the sides and a shelf inside the walls, a compressible layer which rests on top of the shelf over which the sheet of material is placed, and a heating plate which presses down on the sheet of material causing the edges of the sheet to become pliable and to bend upward against the walls of the die, and then folding the upright edges over a plate.

Abstract: A tube container molding apparatus in which a cylindrical tube is inserted into a split mold in its closed state so that the end section of the tube comes into contact with a cavity face of the split mold. A core is then advanced to fit into the tube from its rear end, and finally a resin melt is introduced into the cavity formed by the cavity face of the split mold and the end face of the core.When the resin melt is injected into the cavity, a tube holding piece pushes the tube against the core to prevent the tube from being drawn out of the cavity.Midway during the advance of the core into the tube, the tube is held by the tube holding piece and the further advance of the tube is made together with the core. Thus, the forward end section of the tube is bent inward to a prescribed width.

Abstract: A molding device for molding or shaping a plastically moldable sheet includes a lower mold having a recess which extends along an inner wall of the lower mold, an upper mold having a raised portion which is neatly received in the recess of the lower mold when the upper mold is properly seated on the lower mold to press the sheet, and a sheet mover including a rotatable member which is rotatably arranged on the outer wall of the lower mold and partially exposed to the recess of the lower mold.

Abstract: In the production of hollow bodies from oriented thermoplastic material, a cylindrical portion of a heated hollow preform is stretched, with a simultaneous reduction in the wall thickness thereof, at a starting temperature below the vitreous transition temperature of the material. A mandrel is positioned in the preform to support it during stretching, the outside diameter of the mandrel corresponding to the inside diameter of the preform. Directly before the mandrel is inserted into the preform the preform is subjected to re-alignment to adapt at least the cross-sectional shape of the mouth opening of the preform to the cross-section of the mandrel. The re-aligning operation is effected by inserting the preform into a sleeve adjoining a drawing ring for carrying out the stretching operation.

Abstract: A method for making an article, such as a plastic food container lid having frangible score lines. The article is formed of a sheet of plastic material having substantially constant thickness with score lines defining an offset portion thereof which is connected to the remaining sheet material by a segment that is thinner than the sheet material and being rupturable for the removal of the offset portion. The periphery of the inwardly directed portion of the offset portion overlaps the periphery of the outwardly directed portion of the offset portion on the opposite side of the sheet material. The fracturable score lines are corrugated along their length by a plurality of successive grooves and ridges with the grooves extending deeper into the material than the ridges.

Abstract: The invention relates to a deep-drawing machine for manufacturing containers out of thermoplastic foil by means of a cutting device which includes a banderole arrangement for manufacturing banderoles, labels or the like and includes inserting such into hollow molds of a forming arrangement. For the purpose of simultaneously inserting a large number of banderoles, labels or the like into the hollow molds and for the additional purpose of an easy access to the banderole arrangement and the forming arrangement, and for the purpose of independently driving these two arrangements, the banderole arrangement together with the cutting device is constructed separately from the forming arrangement and there is provided a transfer arrangement between the forming arrangement and the banderole arrangement in the form of a rotatable dish whose axis of rotation is essentially parallel to the longitudinal axes of the hollow molds.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a dry-pressed molding from a particulate or granular molding material such as a ceramic molding composition in which the composition is initially drawn into a loading cavity by applying a vacuum thereto. The loading cavity is formed by a first mold half and a shooting head having a molding surface the shape of which determines the shape of a premolding which is formed upon entry of the composition into the loading cavity and sufficiently compressed to retain its shape after the shooting head has been removed to allow a second mold half to be positioned over the first mold half.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for progressively converting each blank of sheet material in a stream of moving blanks into a clamshell assembly having interconnected lid and bottom portions. The apparatus includes a female die assembly having first and second mold cavities, an upstream control system for aligning one portion of each blank at a lid-pressing station defined by the first mold cavity, and a downstream control system for aligning a remaining portion of each blank at a bottom-pressing station defined by the second mold cavity. A male die assembly is provided for simultaneously forming a lid portion in one blank of sheet material and a bottom portion in an adjacent blank of sheet material. In particular, during each pressing cycle, the male die assembly simultaneously presses an initial blank at the bottom-pressing station and a succeeding blank at the lid-pressing station to produce the equivalent of a whole clamshell assembly on a single stroke of the male die assembly.

Abstract: In a conventional multiplunger transfer molding die apparatus having plungers for pressurizing molding material put in plural material supply pots formed in each mated surface of upper and lower chase blocks, when the pitch of the material supply pots is required to change, the whole die apparatus has been exchanged, thus a complicated adjustment work of the plunger pitch, a broad die storage space, an uneconomical die apparatus preparation being required. To overcome these problems, only the upper and lower chase blocks are exchanged and the pitch of plungers is adjusted according to the replaced chase blocks by means of locating means.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for regulating the heating of a thermoplastic band used in a station for thermoforming upwardly open containers, the apparatus being characterized in that, in a zone of the softened thermoplastic band, zone surrounded by a mesh of rigidified matter, the degree of deformation of this zone under the action of a predetermined mass is measured, the measured value of the degree of deformation is compared with a predetermined reference value corresponding to a good aptitude to thermoforming, and the heating of the band is regulated as a function of the value of deformation measured so that the deformation corresponds to the reference value.

Abstract: Forming method of producing thin-walled finished articles such as cups of expanded resin including steps of: heating beads of expandable thermoplastic resin in a mold cavity of a preforming mold, causing the beads to be expanded and fused together to produce a preformed article; transferring the preformed article as pressurized in an atmosphere under pressure to a finish-forming mold; and compressively forming the preformed article with the finish-forming mold.