Abstract: A thermoforming apparatus is provided having a frame, a pair of platens, and a platen drive assembly. The platens are carried by the frame on opposite sides of a sheet line each configured to carry a respective die. One platen has a proximal die surface adjacent the sheet line and a rear surface distal the sheet line. The platen drive assembly is interposed between the frame and the one platen and has at least one reciprocating kinematic linkage and a drive motor configured to reciprocate the one platen to and fro relative to another platen. The kinematic linkage has a plurality of links interconnected pivotally together with respective rotation joints and interposed between the frame and the one platen. An outboard-most rotation joint is provided proximate one end of the frame and an inboard-most rotation joint intermediate the rear surface and the proximal die surface. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A thermoforming apparatus is provided having a frame, a pair of opposed platens, a toggle shaft, a kinematic linkage, a form air manifold, and a pair of articulating bearing assemblies. The pair of opposed platens is carried by the frame each with a die, one die configured to engage an opposed face of another die across a heated sheet of thermoformable material in sealed relation there between. The toggle shaft is carried by the frame for rotation. The kinematic linkage is coupled between the toggle shaft and one of the dies. The form air manifold and a source of differential pressure is coupled with a die face on one of the dies. The pair of articulating bearing assemblies is carried by the frame and configured to support the at least one toggle shaft for translation towards and away from the another die and platen. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A closure strip guide is provided having a front plate, a back plate and a plate keeper. The back plate is carried proximate and spaced from the front plate to provide a gap thickness configured to guide a strip of clips. The plate keeper is configured to retain together the front plate and the back plate to retain the gap thickness to slidably receive and guide the strip of clips. The plate keeper also expands the gap thickness between the front plate and the back plate responsive to a stack-up jam to accommodate multiple layers of clips in the event the strip of clips dislodges and/or jams. A bag closing apparatus and a method are also provided.

Abstract: A thermoforming apparatus is provided having a pair of coacting platens, a load bearing structural member, a force applicator, and a deformation sensor. The pair of coacting platens and respective dies are configured to mate on opposed surfaces of a heated sheet of thermoformable material to form articles. The load bearing structural member is configured to carry the coacting platens and the dies in complementary closed relationship about the sheet during an article forming operation. The force applicator is carried by the structural member and configured to impart a forming load between the pair of opposed dies and platens and across the structural member during a forming operation. The deformation sensor is configured to span a first location and a second location on the structural member to detect deformation indicative of separation between the dies resulting from deformation. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A thermoformable sheet transfer system is provided having at least one frame, and upstream conveyor, a sheet cutter, and a downstream sheet manipulator. The upstream conveyor is configured to deliver a series of shots of formed articles in a thermoformed sheet from an exit end of an article forming station. The sheet cutter is carried by the at least one frame provided proximate the conveyor downstream of the article forming station and is configured to cut a leading edge of the formed articles and sheet sufficiently formed to index within dies of an article trim press. The downstream sheet manipulator is carried by the at least one frame and is configured to transport the leading edge and the sufficiently formed articles and sheet for delivery in sequential shots from downstream an article forming station to upstream an article trim station. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A thermoforming machine is provided having at least one frame member and a thermal regulator. The thermal regulator is provided in heat transfer relation with one of the at least one frame member configured to control temperature of the one frame member to mitigate thermal deformation of the frame member. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A thermoforming platen is provided having a tooling support plate and a plurality of discrete load paths. The tooling support plate has a top tooling surface, a bottom surface, and an outer periphery. The plurality of discrete load paths interconnect the bottom surface with one or more external load sources operative to distribute and centralize load deformation of the top plate from forming loads. The load paths are provided laterally inboard of the top tooling surface at one of a plurality of inboard locations to impart minimized tooling surface deformation along the top plate tooling surface. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A thermoforming platen is provided having a tooling support plate and a plurality of discrete load paths. The tooling support plate has a top tooling surface, a bottom surface, and an outer periphery. The plurality of discrete load paths interconnect the bottom surface with one or more external load sources operative to distribute and centralize load deformation of the top plate from forming loads. The load paths are provided laterally inboard of the top tooling surface at one of a plurality of inboard locations to impart minimized tooling surface deformation along the top plate tooling surface. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A thermoforming apparatus is provided having a frame, a pair of platens, and a platen drive assembly. The platens are carried by the frame on opposite sides of a sheet line each configured to carry a respective die. One platen has a proximal die surface adjacent the sheet line and a rear surface distal the sheet line. The platen drive assembly is interposed between the frame and the one platen and has at least one reciprocating kinematic linkage and a drive motor configured to reciprocate the one platen to and fro relative to another platen. The kinematic linkage has a plurality of links interconnected pivotally together with respective rotation joints and interposed between the frame and the one platen. An outboard-most rotation joint is provided proximate one end of the frame and an inboard-most rotation joint intermediate the rear surface and the proximal die surface. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A thermoforming machine is provided having at least one frame member and a thermal regulator. The thermal regulator is provided in heat transfer relation with one of the at least one frame member configured to control temperature of the one frame member to mitigate thermal deformation of the frame member. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A thermoforming apparatus is provided having a frame, a pair of opposed platens, a toggle shaft, a kinematic linkage, a form air manifold, and a pair of articulating bearing assemblies. The pair of opposed platens is carried by the frame each with a die, one die configured to engage an opposed face of another die across a heated sheet of thermoformable material in sealed relation there between. The toggle shaft is carried by the frame for rotation. The kinematic linkage is coupled between the toggle shaft and one of the dies. The form air manifold and a source of differential pressure is coupled with a die face on one of the dies. The pair of articulating bearing assemblies is carried by the frame and configured to support the at least one toggle shaft for translation towards and away from the another die and platen. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A thermoforming apparatus is provided having a pair of coacting platens, a load bearing structural member, a force applicator, and a deformation sensor. The pair of coacting platens and respective dies are configured to mate on opposed surfaces of a heated sheet of thermoformable material to form articles. The load bearing structural member is configured to carry the coacting platens and the dies in complementary closed relationship about the sheet during an article forming operation. The force applicator is carried by the structural member and configured to impart a forming load between the pair of opposed dies and platens and across the structural member during a forming operation. The deformation sensor is configured to span a first location and a second location on the structural member to detect deformation indicative of separation between the dies resulting from deformation. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A thermoformable sheet transfer system is provided having at least one frame, and upstream conveyor, a sheet cutter, and a downstream sheet manipulator. The upstream conveyor is configured to deliver a series of shots of formed articles in a thermoformed sheet from an exit end of an article forming station. The sheet cutter is carried by the at least one frame provided proximate the conveyor downstream of the article forming station and is configured to cut a leading edge of the formed articles and sheet sufficiently formed to index within dies of an article trim press. The downstream sheet manipulator is carried by the at least one frame and is configured to transport the leading edge and the sufficiently formed articles and sheet for delivery in sequential shots from downstream an article forming station to upstream an article trim station. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A thermoforming machine is provided having a frame, a first platen, a second platen, a platen load shaft, and a load shaft latch. The first platen supports a first mold. The second platen supports a complementary second mold and is carried by the frame for movement toward and away from the first platen to engage and disengage with the first mold. The platen load shaft has a lock ledge with an engagement surface transverse to the load shaft. The load shaft is supported by the frame and extends between the first platen and the second platen. The load shaft latch has an engagement surface transverse to a central axis of the load shaft and is movable to engage and disengage the lock ledge transverse engagement surface. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A thermoforming machine is provided having a load shaft end adjustment apparatus. The thermoforming machine load shaft end adjustment apparatus includes a load shaft, a backlash nut, a height adjustment nut, a collar, and at least one fastener. The load shaft has a threaded end segment and an axially extending key slot. The backlash nut is threaded onto the end segment. The height adjustment nut is threaded onto the end segment adjacent the backlash nut. The collar is configured to receive the height adjustment nut for rotation, having a key configured to be received within the key slot, and is configured to be mounted onto a platen of the thermoforming machine. At least one fastener extends between the backlash nut and the collar and is configured to secure together the backlash nut and collar with the height adjustment nut interposed there between. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A thermoforming machine is provided having a load shaft end adjustment apparatus. The thermoforming machine load shaft end adjustment apparatus includes a load shaft, a backlash nut, a height adjustment nut, a collar, and at least one fastener. The load shaft has a threaded end segment and an axially extending key slot. The backlash nut is threaded onto the end segment. The height adjustment nut is threaded onto the end segment adjacent the backlash nut. The collar is configured to receive the height adjustment nut for rotation, having a key configured to be received within the key slot, and is configured to be mounted onto a platen of the thermoforming machine. At least one fastener extends between the backlash nut and the collar and is configured to secure together the backlash nut and collar with the height adjustment nut interposed there between. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A plug assist drive assembly is provided for a thermoforming press. The plug assist drive assembly includes a drive platen, a plug assist platen, a first elongated gear rack, a second elongated gear rack, a drive gear, a driven gear, and a drive source. The first elongated gear rack and the second elongated gear rack are carried by the plug assist platen in longitudinally extending and substantially parallel, spaced apart relation with a plurality of rack teeth extending on each gear rack between proximal and distal ends. The drive gear is carried by the drive platen and is operably communicating with the first elongated gear rack. The driven gear is carried by the drive platen and is operably communicating with the second elongated gear rack and the drive gear. The drive source is operably communicating with the drive gear to drive the assist platen in linearly reciprocating motion relative to the drive platen. A thermoforming machine having the plug assist drive assembly is also provided.

Abstract: An improved scraper plate assembly is provided on a comminuting device having compliant rounded edges, sloped walls, and reduced height for placement along recycle flow paths within a comminuting apparatus when circulating subdivided waste material from between a pair of scissor rolls for further delivery to a scissor roll for further movement and subdividing of the subdivided waste material. A comminuting apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A thermoformable web chain rail assembly is provided having a chain and a chain rail. The chain has a series of alternating and interconnected roller links and pin links. The pin links include at least one pin extending through an adjacent one of the roller links and the pin links. A terminal portion of the pin extends beyond the roller link and the pin link with a roller affixed for rotation about the terminal portion of the pin for each of the at least one pins. The chain rail has an upper conveying raceway and a lower return raceway. The upper raceway includes a first linear guide surface provided beneath the first roller of each chain link and a second linear guide surface provided above the second roller of each chain link.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for splicing together old and new thermoformable sheets in order to supply a continuous thermoforming operation. The apparatus is used to join together thermoformable sheets by: providing a first thermoformable sheet with a trailing edge and a second thermoformable sheet with a leading edge; forming a terminal edge portion with a hot element along the trailing edge and a complementary terminal edge portion along the leading edge by severing a scrap sheet from each portion; laterally retracting each scrap portion away from the trailing edge and the leading edge; and joining together the first thermoformable sheet and the second thermoformable sheet by interlocking together the terminal edge portion with the complementary terminal edge portion.