Abstract: A thermoforming machine for manufacturing articles from a heated thermoplastic film includes a molding station, an extraction device, a hole punch; and a stacking station. The hole punch includes a pivotable lower punching tool which receives punched-out articles from the extraction device while being pivoted into a tilted position facing the extraction device and which pivots into a vertical 0° position to face an upper punching tool for punching operation.

Abstract: A thermoshaping machine has a movable die operated by a linkage and an actuator having a transmission fixed on the machine, operatively connected to the linkage, and having a transmission flange. A motor has a motor flange spaced along an axis from the transmission flange. The flanges are each formed centered on the axis with a respective circular array of holes, and each hole of the transmission flange is aligned axially with a respective hole of the transmission flange. Respective guide rods have outer ends fixed in the holes of one of the flanges and inner ends extending axially through the holes of the other flange. Respective elastically compressible biasing elements are braced axially between each of the inner ends and the other flange.

Abstract: A press has a frame including guides extending in a predetermined direction and a pair of tool-halves mounted on the frame and are movable on the guides in the direction toward and away from each other. Two knee-lever linkages symmetrically spacedly flanking each tool half with respect to a center plane substantially parallel to the direction, each coupled to the respective tool half and to the frame, and operable to shift the tool halves in the direction. Respective reversible, rotary drives each carry an eccentric output connected to respective drive links extending to the linkages. A controller connected to the drives rotates the eccentrics oppositely in respective first senses to press the one half in the direction against the other half and thereafter to pull the one half in the direction away from the other half with the two linkages never extending into a central region of the machine.