Abstract: In a continuous-feed thermomolding machine a foil is advanced in a transport direction at a constant travel speed through a heat station where it is exposed to a heat source such that each piece of the foil is exposed for a predetermined residence time. When the machine is stopped, a shield is positioned in the station between the foil and the source so that substantially no heat is imparted to the foil from the source. The machine is started by accelerating the foil to the travel speed while simultaneously and synchronously accelerating the shield opposite to the travel direction such that, as the shield fully retracts from the station, the foil reaches the travel speed and, before the shield has fully retracted from the station, every piece of the foil in the station exposed by the retracting shield is exposed to the source for the residence time.

Abstract: An apparatus for switching a strip feed between supply rolls has first and second supports displaceable in a direction independently parallel to each other between an outer reload position and an inner supply position and respective first and second shafts on the supports extending parallel to the direction and adapted to carry respective rolls of strip. The strip is pulled off one of the rolls in the supply position of the respective support and fed continuously or in steps to a user. Respective cutters on each of the supports cut the respective strip, and respective gluers on each of the supports glue a leading end of the respective strip to a trailing end of the strip of the other roll.

Abstract: A tool assembly for a thermoforming machine has a tool holder having an abutment face and a tool having an abutment part. The tool and holder have a groove and a rail fittable in the groove for fitting the tool to the holder into a working position with the abutment part abutting the abutment face. A part-conical seat centered on a tool axis is formed on the tool. A pin formed with a part-conical head face complementary to the seat and centered on a pin axis is carried on the holder. The seat and head are positioned on the tool and holder such that in the working position the axes are generally parallel but slightly offset from each other and the part-conical head face is axially engageable with the seat.

Abstract: A sealer for bonding a cover foil to a support foil has upper and lower tools having confronting faces between which the foils move in a transport direction, a drive for pressing one of the tools vertically toward the other tool and thereby compressing the foils together between the faces, an intermediate plate between the drive means and the one tool formed with an array of pressurizable chambers. These chambers can be selectively pressurized.

Abstract: A pocket roll centered on and rotatable about a respective axis has an outer surface formed with an array of open pockets separated by directed lands. The pocket-roll outer surface has a predetermined coefficient of friction. A blister foil is fed to the pocket roll with blisters of the blister foil fitting in the pockets. A seal roll rotatable about a respective axis adjacent the pocket roll has an outer surface pressing a cover foil against the blister foil so that the foils are pinched between the rolls. Slip inserts set in at least some of the lands, extend axially of the pocket-roll axis and form in the respective lands axially extending outer-surface regions having coefficients of friction smaller than the coefficient of friction of the pocket-roll outer surface. A position-correcting unit has a sensor and detects and adjusts the positions of the blisters relative to the direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermoshaping a thermoplastic foil has a lower tool carried on the frame and having an upper face formed with an array of upwardly open mold cavities, and an upper beam vertically displaceable above the lower tool. A punch plate fixed on the upper beam is provided with an array of downwardly projecting punches fittable in the cavities. A hold-down plate below the punch plate is limitedly vertically shiftable relative thereto. The hold-down plate is formed with an array of holes through which pass the punches. An actuator downwardly shifts the upper beam when the foil is extending horizontally between the lower tool and the hold-down plate for first pressing the foil with the hold-down plate against the upper face of the lower tool and then pushing the punches through the holes against the foil into the cavities to form pockets in the foil at the cavities.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a thermoplastic film moving along a path has a radiant heater to one side and generally above the path directed at the film so that the heater heats the passing film, a reflector to an opposite side and generally below the path opposite the heater, and a coller connected to the reflector for cooling it to a temperature below a melting point of the film.

Abstract: An apparatus for switching a strip feed between supply rolls has first and second supports displaceable in a direction independently parallel to each other between an outer reload position and an inner supply position and respective first and second shafts on the supports extending parallel to the direction and adapted to carry respective rolls of strip. The strip is pulled off one of the rolls in the supply position of the respective support and fed continuously or in steps to a user. Respective cutters on each of the supports cut the respective strip, and respective gluers on each of the supports glue a leading end of the respective strip to a trailing end of the strip of the other roll.

Abstract: A tool assembly for a thermoforming machine has a tool holder having an abutment face and a tool having an abutment part. The tool and holder have a groove and a rail fittable in the groove for fitting the tool to the holder into a working position with the abutment part abutting the abutment face. A part-conical seat centered on a tool axis is formed on the tool. A pin formed with a part-conical head face complementary to the seat and centered on a pin axis is carried on the holder. The seat and head are positioned on the tool and holder such that in the working position the axes are generally parallel but slightly offset from each other and the part-conical head face is axially engageable with the seat.

Abstract: A press for shaping a workpiece sheet. The press has upper and lower platen holders displaceable vertically toward and away from each other between a closed and an open position, respective upper and lower platens carried on the holders and vertically flanking the workpiece sheet extending horizontally between them, a hold-down plate on one of the platens and having a substantially planar face turned toward the other platen, and a plurality of bars on the other platen having edges directly engageable with the planar face of the hold-down plate.

Abstract: A pocket roll centered on and rotatable about a respective axis has an outer surface formed with an array of open pockets separated by directed lands. The pocket-roll outer surface has a predetermined coefficient of friction. A blister foil is fed to the pocket roll with blisters of the blister foil fitting in the pockets. A seal roll rotatable about a respective axis adjacent the pocket roll has an outer surface pressing a cover foil against the blister foil so that the foils are pinched between the rolls. Slip inserts set in at least some of the lands, extend axially of the pocket-roll axis and form in the respective lands axially extending outer-surface regions having coefficients of friction smaller than the coefficient of friction of the pocket-roll outer surface. A position-correcting unit has a sensor and detects and adjusts the positions of the blisters relative to the direction.

Abstract: A cover foil is sealed to a foil formed with an array of blisters by a drive roller centered on an axis and having a generally cylindrical outer surface formed with an array of outwardly open recesses complementary to the array of blisters. The outer surface is annularly continuous and formed of an at least limitedly elastically deformable material. The roller further is formed inward of the outer surface with at least one pressurizable chamber. The blister foil engages the drive roller with the blisters fitting into the recesses. A sealing roller presses a cover foil radially against the blister foil on the drive roller and thereby seals the cover foil to the blister foil between the blisters. A source of compressed air is connected to the drive roller for pressurizing the chamber and thereby changing a circumference of the drive-roller outer surface and an angular spacing between the recesses.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermoshaping a thermoplastic foil has a lower tool carried on the frame and having an upper face formed with an array of upwardly open mold cavities, and an upper beam vertically displaceable above the lower tool. A punch plate fixed on the upper beam is provided with an array of downwardly projecting punches fittable in the cavities. A hold-down plate below the punch plate is limitedly vertically shiftable relative thereto. The hold-down plate is formed with an array of holes through which pass the punches. An actuator downwardly shifts the upper beam when the foil is extending horizontally between the lower tool and the hold-down plate for first pressing the foil with the hold-down plate against the upper face of the lower tool and then pushing the punches through the holes against the foil into the cavities to form pockets in the foil at the cavities.

Abstract: A sealer for bonding a cover foil to a support foil has upper and lower tools having confronting faces between which the foils move in a transport direction, a drive for pressing one of the tools vertically toward the other tool and thereby compressing the foils together between the faces, an intermediate plate between the drive means and the one tool formed with an array of pressurizable chambers. These chambers can be selectively pressurized.

Abstract: In a continuous-feed thermomolding machine a foil is advanced in a transport direction at a constant travel speed through a heat station where it is exposed to a heat source such that each piece of the foil is exposed for a predetermined residence time. When the machine is stopped, a shield is positioned in the station between the foil and the source so that substantially no heat is imparted to the foil from the source. The machine is started by accelerating the foil to the travel speed while simultaneously and synchronously accelerating the shield opposite to the travel direction such that, as the shield fully retracts from the station, the foil reaches the travel speed and, before the shield has fully retracted from the station, every piece of the foil in the station exposed by the retracting shield is exposed to the source for the residence time.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting and feeding identically shaped small objects has a funnel adapted to hold the objects and having a downwardly open outlet and a housing and a wheel together forming an arcuate passage generally centered on an axis and having an upper inlet end at the outlet and a lower outlet end so that the objects can enter the upper inlet end of the passage and move downward through the passage. The wheel has an outer periphery exposed in the passage and formed with a row of outwardly open pockets of a shape corresponding generally to a shape of the objects. The wheel is rotated such that its periphery moves upward in the passage so that the objects are separated from one another and aligned behind one another in the passage.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting and feeding identically shaped small objects has a funnel adapted to hold the objects and having a downwardly open outlet and a housing and a wheel together forming an arcuate passage generally centered on an axis and having an upper inlet end at the outlet and a lower outlet end so that the objects can enter the upper inlet end of the passage and move downward through the passage. The wheel has an outer periphery exposed in the passage and formed with a row of outwardly open pockets of a shape corresponding generally to a shape of the objects. The wheel is rotated such that its periphery moves upward in the passage so that the objects are separated from one another and aligned behind one another in the passage.