Abstract: A hollow upper deck panel for a plastic pallet has a solid top surface and is produced by forming a tubular hot plastic parison and directing the parison between blow mold sections to form upper and lower sheets for the deck panel. The lower sheet is blow molded by pressured air within the parison into a mold section to form spaced inverted U-shaped open ribs projecting upwardly and with top portions fused to the upper sheet. The upper sheet is blow molded by the air around retractable blades to form spaced closed double wall ribs projecting downwardly between the open ribs and have bottom portions fused to the lower sheet. The closed double wall ribs extend transversely to the open ribs and have end portions fused to the open ribs. The support structure for the upper deck panel defines spaces for receiving parallel spaced forks of a forklift truck.

Abstract: A hollow upper deck panel for a plastic pallet has a smooth solid top surface and is made by thermoforming heated upper and lower twin sheets of thermoplastics material. The lower sheet is vacuum-formed into a lower mold section to form parallel spaced inverted U-shaped elongated open ribs projecting upwardly and having top portions fused to the upper sheet. The upper sheet is vacuum-formed into an upper mold section which has extendable and retractable blades to form parallel spaced elongated closed double wall ribs projecting downwardly between the open ribs and have bottom portions fused to the lower sheet. The closed double wall ribs extend transversely or perpendicular to the open ribs, and the ribs reinforce the deck panel in all directions. Support structure for the upper deck panel is also formed of plastics material and defines spaces for receiving parallel spaced forks of a forklift truck.

Abstract: An upper press platen supports an upper mold member slidable vertically within a surrounding upper trim frame. A lower press platen supports a lower trim frame surrounding a lower mold member slidable vertically within the lower trim frame. The lower mold member defines a cavity connected to a vacuum source, and one or two heated sheets of material are positioned between the trim frames and mold members which are then closed to clamp peripheral portions of the sheets between the trim frames. The lower heated sheet is vacuum formed into the cavity and the sheets are fused together with heat and pressure to form a part which is then cooled. The mold members shift downwardly as a unit within the trim frames to shear the peripheral portions of the sheets from the part. The trimmed part and peripheral portions are removed after the trim frames and mold members open.

Abstract: A hollow upper deck panel for a plastic pallet has a solid top surface and is produced by forming a tubular hot plastic parison and directing the parison between blow mold sections to form upper and lower sheets for the deck panel. The lower sheet is blow molded by pressured air within the parison into a mold section to form spaced inverted U-shaped open ribs projecting upwardly and with top portions fused to the upper sheet. The upper sheet is blow molded by the air around retractable blades to form spaced closed double wall ribs projecting downwardly between the open ribs and have bottom portions fused to the lower sheet. The closed double wall ribs extend transversely to the open ribs and have end portions fused to the open ribs. The support structure for the upper deck panel defines spaces for receiving parallel spaced forks of a forklift truck.

Abstract: A hollow upper deck panel for a plastic pallet has a smooth solid top surface and is made by thermoforming heated upper and lower twin sheets of thermoplastics material. The lower sheet is vacuum-formed into a lower mold section to form parallel spaced inverted U-shaped elongated open ribs projecting upwardly and having top portions fused to the upper sheet. The upper sheet is vacuum-formed into an upper mold section which has extendable and retractable blades to form parallel spaced elongated closed double wall ribs projecting downwardly between the open ribs and have bottom portions fused to the lower sheet. The closed double wall ribs extend transversely or perpendicular to the open ribs, and the ribs reinforce the deck panel in all directions. Support structure for the upper deck panel is also formed of plastics material and defines spaces for receiving parallel spaced forks of a forklift truck.

Abstract: An upper press platen supports an upper mold member slidable vertically within a surrounding upper trim frame. A lower press platen supports a lower trim frame surrounding a lower mold member slidable vertically within the lower trim frame. The lower mold member defines a cavity connected to a vacuum source, and one or two heated sheets of material are positioned between the trim frames and mold members which are then closed to clamp peripheral portions of the sheets between the trim frames. The lower heated sheet is vacuum formed into the cavity and the sheets are fused together with heat and pressure to form a part which is then cooled. The mold members shift downwardly as a unit within the trim frames to shear the peripheral portions of the sheets from the part. The trimmed part and peripheral portions are removed after the trim frames and mold members open.

Abstract: A first tooling component is positively secured to a second tooling component by one or more quick change locking couplers each including a cylinder secured to the first tooling component and having peripherally spaced holes supporting balls for radial movement. A stud is secured to the second tooling component and has an enlarged head portion projecting into the cylinder. A cup-shaped piston surrounds the cylinder and has a recess for receiving the balls in a released position, and a housing supports the piston for axial movement between the released position and a locked position forcing the balls to engage the stud. A compression spring moves the piston to the locked position, and air pressure moves the piston to the released position. A proximity sensor is supported by the housing and detects the piston in the locked position to provide an electrical signal to a remote visual and/or audio indicator.

Abstract: An upper press platen supports an upper mold member slidable vertically within a surrounding upper trim frame. A lower press platen supports a lower trim frame surrounding a lower mold member slidable vertically within the lower trim frame. The lower mold member defines a cavity connected to a vacuum source, and one or two heated sheets of material are positioned between the trim frames and mold members which are then closed to clamp peripheral portions of the sheets between the trim frames. The lower heated sheet is vacuum formed into the cavity and the sheets are fused together with heat and pressure to form a part which is then cooled. The mold members shift downwardly as a unit within the trim frames to shear the peripheral portions of the sheets from the part. The trimmed part and peripheral portions are removed after the trim frames and mold members open.

Abstract: An upper press platen supports an upper mold member slidable vertically within a surrounding upper trim frame. A lower press platen supports a lower trim frame surrounding a lower mold member slidable vertically within the lower trim frame. The lower mold member defines a cavity connected to a vacuum source, and one or two heated sheets of material are positioned between the trim frames and mold members which are then closed to clamp peripheral portions of the sheets between the trim frames. The lower heated sheet is vacuum formed into the cavity and the sheets are fused together with heat and pressure to form a part which is then cooled. The mold members shift downwardly as a unit within the trim frames to shear the peripheral portions of the sheets from the part. The trimmed part and peripheral portions are removed after the trim frames and mold members open.

Abstract: A first tooling component is positively secured to a second tooling component by one or more quick change locking couplers each including a cylinder secured to the first tooling component and having peripherally spaced holes supporting balls for radial movement. A stud is secured to the second tooling component and has an enlarged head portion projecting into the cylinder. A cup-shaped piston surrounds the cylinder and has a recess for receiving the balls in a released position, and a housing supports the piston for axial movement between the released position and a locked position forcing the balls to engage the stud. A compression spring moves the piston to the locked position, and air pressure moves the piston to the released position. A proximity sensor is supported by the housing and detects the piston in the locked position to provide an electrical signal to a remote visual and/or audio indicator.

Abstract: A thermoformed mold is supported by a quick change tooling system including a pair of parallel spaced elongated channel members each defining an open bottom cavity for receiving in precision alignment an elongated rail member secured to a supporting press platen. Each channel member is releasably locked to its rail member by a pair of couplers each including a stud projecting downwardly in the channel member and received within a corresponding cylinder within the rail member. The cylinder has locking balls which releasably grip the stud in response to axial movement of a fluid actuated spring biased piston surrounding the cylinder.

Abstract: A vacuum holding fixture for a thermoformed part carries a base attachment plate which is releasably coupled to the top wall of a vacuum support box having a vacuum passage sealed to a vacuum passage within the attachment plate and a vacuum chamber within the holding fixture. The attachment plate is precisely positioned and releasably locked to the vacuum box by a plurality of couplers each including a stud projecting downwardly from the attachment plate and received within a corresponding cylinder recessed within the vacuum box. Each cylinder has locking balls which releasably grip the corresponding stud in response to axial movement of a fluid actuated spring biased piston surrounding the cylinder.

Abstract: A vacuum holding fixture for a thermoformed part carries a base attachment plate which is releasably coupled to the top wall of a vacuum support box having a vacuum passage sealed to a vacuum passage within the attachment plate and a vacuum chamber within the holding fixture. The attachment plate is precisely positioned and releasably locked to the vacuum box by a plurality of couplers each including a stud projecting downwardly from the attachment plate and received within a corresponding cylinder recessed within the vacuum box. Each cylinder has locking balls which releasably grip the corresponding stud in response to axial movement of a fluid actuated spring biased piston surrounding the cylinder.

Abstract: A thermoformed mold is supported by a quick change tooling system including a pair of parallel spaced elongated channel members each defining an open bottom cavity for receiving in precision alignment an elongated rail member secured to a supporting press platen. Each channel member is releasably locked to its rail member by a pair of couplers each including a stud projecting downwardly in the channel member and received within a corresponding cylinder within the rail member. The cylinder has locking balls which releasably grip the stud in response to axial movement of a fluid actuated spring biased piston surrounding the cylinder.