Abstract: A decoration sheet is fed on a mold and then is heated to a temperature above a heat distortion temperature thereof, is conformed to the surface of a cavity of the mold by vacuum drawing. Then the molds are clamped, and a resin is injected to adhere the decoration sheet to the resin. The decoration sheet is preheated to a temperature below the heat distortion temperature by sheet preheating means before fed onto the mold. The decoration sheet preheated by the sheet preheating means is fed to the mold by sheet feeding means.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing expanded thermoformable materials comprising the steps of: conveying a thermoformable assembly by means of a conveyor through a plurality of heating zones, whereby the thermoformable assembly is heated to a temperature at which the thermoformable material adhesively bonds to the first and second mold plates; disposing the thermoformable assembly between an upper press plate and a lower press plate, and heating the thermoformable material to a temperature in the range between about 50° to 300°C. while moving the upper and lower press plates so as to effect an expansion of the cross-section of the thermoformable material; and conveying the expanded thermoformable material through a cooling zone, wherein the expanded thermoformable material is cooled to a temperature sufficient for maintaining its structural integrity.

Abstract: A new plastic tandem extrusion sizer mold and its manufacture method. The mold includes an inlet plate, middle plates and an outlet plate which are connected with each other in series by columniform pin, and then side baffles are added to mount on a base with the aid of bolts. In the manufacture method, a rectangular inlet plate, middle plates and outlet plate, which constitute a cavity of different shape, are placed upright and connected together in sequence and in series. Compared with the conventional sizer mold, the present sizer mold gets over the limitations of cavity parting, machining deep holes, cutting gas slots, trivial design and complex manufacture process, and has a shortened design period and simplified technological process, and can be manufactured rapidly.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for the production of transversely ribbed tubes, having mold jaw halves which bear against each other along a common mold section and form a mold passage. Each mold jaw half has a cooling passage which is produced directly during the operation of casting the respective mold jaw half, for example by means of a so-called false casting core. The cooling passage extends in the corresponding mold jaw half from a first surface to a second surface so that said core can be easily removed from the casting of the mold jaw half. At the one surface, the cooling passage has a cooling agent feed means and, at a spacing therefrom, a cooling agent discharge means. The second surface which is at a distance therefrom is sealed off by means of a guide and slide element which is fixed to the corresponding mold jaw half.

Abstract: The invention describes an extrusion system (1) with a shaping device (3), which has at least one calibrating device (9) comprising in particular a plurality of calibrating tools disposed in succession in the extrusion direction. The calibrating device (9) and/or the calibrating tools (24,31 to 33) are provided with cooling ducts (49) for passage of a heat treatment agent (50). The shaping device (3) has mould surfaces for application against an article (6) to be passed through. Furthermore, at least between an extrusion tool (8) of the shaping device (3) and the immediately succeeding calibrating tool in the extrusion direction and/or between the first calibrating tool (24) and at least one further calibrating tool (31,32,33), a seal device is disposed closing off the article (6) to be passed through in the region of its outer surfaces (48) from the environmental pressure, in order to form a cavity (38 to 41).

Abstract: A method of curing large endless track rubber belts uses a multi-platen mold assembly with a pair of fully supporting indexing wheels, non-preformed lug preparation and a post-forming cavity pressure reduction to provide cured tracks with non-deformed reinforcing members while avoiding the extrusion of rubber compound out of the ends of the molds. Also provided is an apparatus for curing large endless track belts having fully supported indexing wheels.

Abstract: A hydrostatic compression method for producing a fancy log with a decorative and complicated external appearance from a primary wood. In the method, a primary wood having a water content adjusted in the range of 10-80 wt % is brought into a softened state, then the softened wood is compressed with hydrostatic pressure by means of liquid as pressurizing medium. Next, the compressed wood is treated with a fixation means to fix the compressed state. The fixation means can be a shaping jig, a mold, heating in a particular temperature range conducted while constraining the volume relation of compressed wood, cooling down below the softening point of the wood while under pressure, compact-packing together with hard particles into a vessel followed by heating, or a primary wood is chemically treated to form a localized wood-plastics composite before applying hydrostatic compression.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a bend in a thermoplastic tube including a fixture having a former with a bend. A clamp holds the tube in place while an upper form and lower form sandwiches the tube therein. Infrared lights are positioned against the bends of the upper and lower forms. The upper and lower forms are made of a Teflon material to allow the infrared wavelengths to flow therethrough and heat only the bend of the tube. Another embodiment includes a hollow box having a top surface with a groove formed therein to correspond to the desired shape and bend of the tube. Along the bend portion of the groove are slots. The hollow upper box is connected to a solid lower box having air intake holes therethrough to the hollow interior of the upper box. Cold or hot air enters through one of the intake holes and is directed through the slots to the bend portion of the tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cooling and calibrating extruded plastic profiles with a trough which is provided downstream of a dry calibrating device and has a water bath through which the profile is guided, with plates being arranged in the trough between the face walls in order to calibrate the profile under the influence of negative pressure. In order to achieve a high production speed with a low amount of expenditure it is proposed that a sleeve encompassing the profile is provided in a section of the trough, which sleeve guides at least in a zone of the main body of the profile and that the sleeve is provided with a distance to the face walls in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A method of forming blister pack packaging is provided including providing a thermoplastic material and placing the thermoplastic material between a pair of opposed male and female thermoforming dies, while cooling a portion of at least one of the dies. The cooled portion of the die is positioned to contact the area of the thermoplastic material in which it is desired to avoid distortion.

Abstract: An improved on-line thermoforming machine comprises at least a loading station (2) for loading a sheet-like plastic material (in plate or coil form), at least a heating station (3), a thermoforming station (4) and a unloading station (5) for unloading the thermoformed plastic material, the heating station (3) being provided with heating ovens which, in their deactuated condition, do not cause any increase of the side size of the machine with respect to the size necessary for the heating operations. With respect to conventional on-line thermoforming machines, the inventive thermoforming machine has the advantage of a width size which is substantially a half of that of the prior machines, thereby the subject thermoforming machine can be easily transported without the need of disassembling the machine and assembling it again at the working place.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing artificial stone having a curved surface or a deformed shape including the steps of heating a plate-like artificial stone forming body, whose surface has previously been polished or roughened, to a temperature ranging from 120° C. to 200° C. under a pressurized atmosphere equal to or higher than 3 atms so as to soften and deform it to a predetermined curved surface or deformed shape and cooling it to a temperature not higher than 90° C.

Abstract: An apparatus for conferring a cup shape to the terminal junction segment of pipes that are bi-axially oriented longitudinally and circumferentially and hence very sensitive to diameter and length reduction through heat. The apparatus includes a furnace which heats the segment to a differentiated temperature, increasing towards the end of the segment such that the inner diameter of the terminal segment progressively drops down to a controlled value as temperature increases (whilst length is simultaneously reduced, with a corresponding increase in thickness of the wall of the terminal segment). Preferably then, in an appropriate station, an additional heating is executed to a plastic deformation temperature suited to obtain a correct preliminary dilation of the terminal segment upon introducing a rigid element which acts as inner contrast, thereby inhibiting any retraction thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for shaping fibrous elastic bodies. The apparatus includes a preliminary shaping die and a final shaping die. A fiber material, which includes a binder fiber and a matrix fiber, is used to form the elastic bodies. The binder fiber has a lower melting point than the matrix fiber. The fiber material is placed into the preliminary shaping die and half melted to bond the unmelted matrix fiber and thereby form the preliminary shaped item. The preliminary shaped item has a preliminary shape of an objective article to be shaped. The preliminary shaped item is then transferred to the final shaping die, in which it is further heated and clamped to shape the objective article.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for the production of transversely ribbed tubes, having mold jaw halves which bear against each other along a common mold section with front faces and form therebetween a mold passage. Each mold jaw half has vacuum passages which are in flow communication with the mold passage. Each mold jaw half also has a cooling passage (22). The front faces of the mold jaw halves are formed with vacuum communication channels which, along the common mold section, form vacuum communication passages. The vacuum communication passages are in flow communication with a stationary vacuum rail, along the common mold section of the apparatus. Along the common mold section, the cooling passages of the mold jaw halves are in fluid communication with a stationary cooling agent rail which has a cooling agent feed means and a cooling agent discharge means.

Abstract: An extrusion calibrator, to calibrate the exterior profile of a thermoplastic extruded product exiting from an extrusion die, has a modular calibrating cassette of calibrating plates in a surrounding shell. One calibrating cassette is readily interchangeable within the shell for another calibrating cassette of a different extruded product cross-sectional profile. The cassette plates have planar surfaces, free of fluid-conducting pathways, which greatly reduces the time, cost and skill required to establish vacuum and coolant conducting routes through the extrusion calibrator. Fluid conducting routes to conduct vacuum and coolant through the calibrator are established by vacuum and coolant conducting manifolds and channels in the shell interior and by interplate spacings mating with these channels.

Abstract: An external stabilizer employed in a plastic film blowing apparatus stacks of swing arm members that create an iris aperture for the extruded film bubble. A tubular die, fed with a supply of molten thermoplastic polymer, extrudes a tube of the molten polymer and injects air into the extruded tube to inflate the tube into a bubble. The wall of the tube expands into a film of a desired thickness; and the tube is drawn vertically upward and collapsed and flattened. The external stabilizer has a frame surrounding the extruded tube above the die. A plurality of swing arms arranged on said frame define the iris aperture. Each of the swing arms is an elongated extrusion of a light-weight material having one end mounted pivotally on the frame and a free end. The swing arm has a mushroom-shaped profile that is rounded on a side that faces the extruded tube. Wear resistant material is disposed on the front surface.

Abstract: In combination with a mixer/extruder of the type designed to mix, heat and extrude a mixture of shredded plastic material and shredded fibrous material, the heated mixture being extruded in the form of a continuous beam from an extrusion nozzle, the improvement which comprises a first matrix spaced horizontally downstream from the nozzle for receiving the beam therein and a second matrix spaced horizontally downstream from the first matrix for receiving the beam therein, the first matrix having a plurality of moveable walls which reciprocate in a horizontal direction against the outer surface of the beam, the second matrix having a plurality of moveable walls which reciprocate in a horizontal direction against the outer surface of the beam, the second matrix having means for conducting cooling water therethrough for cooling the beam as it passes through the second matrix.

Abstract: A continuous thermoplastic wire is heated and fed into a coil forming apparatus having a rotative drum holding an injection nozzle so that it registers with and be linked in a common rotative movement to a threaded mandrel also supported by the drum. The wire discharged by the nozzle slidably engages the threads of the mandrel into a helical pattern, the mandrel being radially and coaxially surrounded by a cooled sleeve. The wire will thus solidify along the helical thread of the mandrel, to form a continuous plastic coil being discharged at the downstream extremity of the mandrel and sleeve assembly. Due to the fact that the drum, mandrel and nozzle all rotate in a common rotative movement, it is possible to select the direction and speed of rotation of the three last-mentioned elements so that the coil being discharged have an ouput discharge translational speed, while being exempt of any absolute rotational movement about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping a preheated settable material is provided. The apparatus includes an upper die (38) located in a forming area (34), opposed tensioning assemblies (40), (42), a flexible support (54) rotatably connected between the opposed tensioning assemblies for supporting the settable material, and a regulation system operably engaged with the opposed tensioning assemblies for maintaining tension between the opposed tensioning assemblies. During use, the settable material is shaped by the relative pressing between the upper die and one of the flexible support and a lower die. An improvement is provided including a flexible support having a plurality of openings and a cooling system (60). The cooling system directs cool air to the settable material during a cool down period. The cool air is provided in the forming area at a location beneath the flexible support so that cool air passes upward through the plurality of openings in the flexible support and to the settable material.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for molding an endless tractor track from an uncured belt and a plurality of drive lugs wherein the lugs are pressed onto the inner periphery of the belt, the belt and lugs are positioned in a mold to be cured and molded together while treads are formed on the outer periphery of the belt, and the completed belt is cooled and removed from the apparatus.

Abstract: A curling screw adjustment mechanism for changing the radial spacing of the curling screws of a lip curling machine forming a lip on a thermoformed plastic container such as a cup, in which the curling screws are each mounted on separate interlinked pivoted mounting plates which are moved in unison by adjustments of a threaded rod. The curling screws are also cooled by indirect contact with a cooling liquid circulated through separate aluminum arbors on which the stainless steel curling screws are mounted to allow changing the curling screws without spillage of coolant.

Abstract: A pipe molding apparatus for forming double walled plastic pipe comprises an extruder which feeds first and second parisons of flowing plastic material to a moving mold tunnel to make respectively the outer and inner walls of the pipe. The moving mold tunnel includes a cooling plug over which the second parison moves to form the inner pipe wall while the outer wall of the pipe is formed against the interior surface of the mold tunnel. An air assist is provided internally of and helps to move the inner parison onto the cooling plug.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus for the production of transversely ribbed tubes, having mold jaw halves which bear against each other along a common mold section with front faces, and form a mold passage. Each mold jaw half is connected at a surface to a support element. The support elements are guided along a first linear guide device. A guide and slide element is fixed to a second surface of each mold jaw half. The guide and slide elements are guided along a second linear guide device. The support elements and the guide and slide elements comprise the same material. The mold jaw halves comprise a material of relatively low specific weight and a coefficient of thermal expansion (.alpha..sub.B) which is high in comparison with the coefficient of thermal expansion (.alpha..sub.A) of the material for the support elements and the guide and slide elements.

Abstract: A method for bonding a tube into an article, each of which is formed from a thermoplastic polymer, especially an aliphatic polyamide. The article has a plurality of channels into which tubes are placed in sliding engagement. The article is moved towards a heating block having pins, such that a pin is inserted into each tube. The article and heating block are brought into a juxtaposed position such that the polymer of the tubes melts and forms a coating on said article. The method is particularly useful in the formation of tubed heat exchangers, for example with 100-300 or more tubes, in one cycle.

Abstract: A method for forming a socket on a pipe of biaxially oriented polyvinyl chloride including: placing a support in an end section of the pipe, heating the pipe in the region of the end section; deforming the pipe to produce a socket in the region of the heated end section, the heated end section being supported internally while the socket is being formed; cooling the pipe in the region of the end section, the end section being supported internally during the cooling operation; and removing the support from the pipe. For the purpose of heating the internally supported end section of the pipe, the end section is first heated until the end section has reached, substantially homogeneously, the glass transition temperature of polyvinyl chloride and is then further heated until the end section has reached, substantially homogeneously, a temperature near, preferably just above, the orientation temperature of polyvinyl chloride.

Abstract: A thermoforming station in a thermoforming machine for thermoplastic cups, which is equipped with a cyclically operating conveying section which takes over a cup sheet web from an unwinding station, the conveying section running through a heating station, the thermoforming station and further processing stations. The technical problem is a perfect and rapid cooling of the thermoplastic cups in the thermoforming station, in order to keep the cycle time as short as possible, and an adaptation of the thermoforming die to different heights of the thermoplastic cups. The lower die (7) of the thermoforming station (6) is constructed from intermediate plates (32) forming a plate stack, grooves (35) being made in the surface of the intermediate plates (32) for the purpose of forming cooling channels within the plate stack.

Abstract: The present invention is a thermoformer which produces zero scrap during the heating, forming and cutting of a blister package. In one embodiment, the thermoformer comprises a pre-cut roll having a series of adjacent webs connected by a cut area. Each of the webs are defined by an overall length L, a width W, and a radius R. Each of the cut area are defined by a cut depth D1, said cut depth D1 being in the range of about 25% to 90% of the width W of the webs. The thermoformer further comprises a heating station adapted to heat each of the webs. The thermoformer further comprises a forming station adapted to form each of the webs. The thermoformer further comprises a cutting station adapted to separate the webs from each other by making a cut along each of the cut areas connecting the webs.

Abstract: Open-cell plastic foam sheets with smooth, closed surfaces are heated up to a predetermined temperature after extrusion, are thermoformed in a thermoforming unit with the aid of a vacuum on both sides and are thermoset. One of the two closed surface skins of the plastic foam sheet is perforated with the aid of needles 4 arranged movably in a mold block 11. The mold block 11 is a component part of a thermoforming unit 10 and, together with a further mold block 9, forms the mold of this thermoforming unit. The mold block 11 for the inner side 13 of a plastic foam sheet 16 includes a male mold 1, a cooling plate 2, a vacuum plate 3, the movable needles 4, a needle plate 5, springs 6 for the return of the needle plate and also diaphragms 7 and a mounting plate 8, which are held together by screws 30.

Abstract: Method for making flexible, noncarpeted thermoplastic articles, including floor mats. The method includes placing a flat slab of thermoplastic material in a cavity between first and second mold sections with each mold section having a mold surface for contacting a respective surface of the slab. The mold cavity is placed under vacuum and the mold sections are heated under compression to cause the thermoplastic material to heat and flow against the mold surfaces. The process further involves cooling the mold sections under compression and removing the floor mat from the mold sections. Vacuum is maintained in the mold cavity by way of a check valve device during transition from the heated compression apparatus to the cooled compression apparatus and during the cooled compression step. In this general manner, a floor mat formed with a Class A, textured finish and with a variable cross sectional thickness may be manufactured in a short cycle time.

Abstract: A lip rolling machine for thermoformed containers in which the rim heating oven is mounted to be swingable out of its operative position for ready access to the machine components for servicing or set up. The oven is also readily detachable to be removed for convenient servicing of the oven. Guide rod adjustment mechanisms are provided for each end of the guide rods allowing the guide rod spacing at each end to be adjusted by radial in unison movement of the ends by a series of pivoting interlinked arms moved by a handle integral with one arm in each series. A stop arrangement including a threaded rod, and Bridgeport clamps positively secures each handle in an adjusted position. An adjustable transition conveyor is provided at the entrance of the machine with one end raisable by pivoting about a drive pulley axis at the other end to accommodate different sizes of containers.

Abstract: A mold block which is used in a moving mold tunnel comprises first and second mold block sections which meet at their parting faces to close the mold block. Each mold block section has a product shaping interior surface and an air movement passage having an entrance at the base of each mold block section, a first opening to the interior surface and a second opening to the parting face of each mold block section. An air flow controller is provided between the parting face opening and the interior surface opening of the passage in the first mold block section and an air flow controller is provided between the entrance and the interior surface opening in the passage in the second mold block section.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus in which decorative ribbons of varying thickness, width, and material can be automatically curled. The apparatus serves to impart a tendency to curl the strand in a helical formation by drawing the ribbon in a helical path around a curling tube. The tube is divided into two parts, so that the first part heats the ribbon while in a helical configuration and the second part cools the ribbon while still in the helical configuration, thereby setting into the ribbon material a tendency to curl. The helical path on the tube is defined between convolutions of a helically-wound fin on the exterior of the tube. The tube is hollow and has apertures opening into the helical path, so that temperature-controlled air may be blown into the two parts of the path through the hollow interior of the tube.

Abstract: A method and apparatus heats a thin sheet of material prior to subjecting the sheet to a process for forming the sheet into a desired shape, such as by vacuum forming. The sheet is supported in a generally horizontal manner during transport through the apparatus, for example on a pair of conveyor chains or belts which carry and provide support to the longitudinal edges of the sheet by gripping same. The sheet is heated from above and below by heating elements and a diffuser plate is located between the upper and lower heating elements, and beneath the downwardly facing side of the sheet. The diffuser plate permits air flow therethrough from an air source and forms a film of heated air adjacent the downwardly facing side of the sheet to support the sheet and prevent excessive downward sagging thereof during heating thereof.

Abstract: A process for forming a catheter tip is described wherein a mold having an internal surface complimentary to the desired external surface of the catheter tip is formed such that it has two temperature zones. A first higher temperature zone is positioned proximally of the catheter distal tip and a lower temperature zone is positioned distal to the higher temperature zone. A catheter to be tipped is placed upon a mandrel or needle and the mold is heated. Upon insertion of the catheter and mandrel into the mold. The catheter material softens and begins to flow within the mold. The higher temperature portion supplies the heat necessary to soften the catheter material and it flow to the lower temperature zone wherein the lower temperature causes the catheter material to become more viscous or resolidify. Upon becoming more viscous, the catheter material, at the very tip, acts as a dam to prevent further flow of material thus eliminating flash from the mold end.

Abstract: A vacuum pressure forming apparatus which is capable of uniformly heating a sheet member and preventing the occurrence of wrinkles or rain drops in the sheet member. The apparatus is equipped with an endless belt having a number of air holes and is stretched between a heating drum and a cooling drum. After preheating, the sheet member is placed closely into contact with a surface of the endless belt through the use of a pressing roller and the sheet member is clamped between the endless belt and a metal pattern having a plurality of cavities formed therein. The apparatus further includes a pressure difference producing device which supplies pressurized air from a rear surface side of the endless belt toward the sheet member such that pressure on an upper surface of the sheet member becomes higher than pressure on a lower surface thereof. Consequently, the sheet member is formed into configurations corresponding to the configurations of the cavities of the metal pattern.

Abstract: A pipe sealing gasket is shown which is designed to be received within a groove provided within a socket end of a thermoplastic pipe. The gasket has a ring shaped body of an elastomeric material and includes a metal reinforcing ring. The elastomeric body includes a first portion of relatively low durometer rubber and a second portion of a relatively high durometer rubber. The regions of relative hardness and the placement of the reinforcing ring assist in retention of the gasket during the pipe belling process and in field installation.

Abstract: A method for forming a bend in a tube of thermoplastic material by heating a pre-formed bend to a pre-determined temperature and maintaining the temperature substantially constant by the pulsed emission of infra-red radiation from one or more infra-red sources in response to the surface temperature of the tube detected by a remote temperature sensor.

Abstract: A method of producing a tubular container which can efficiently and integrally produce a thinly walled neck section on the tubular container without altering the appearance and profile of the container. The method of producing a tubular container comprises the first step of arranging a thinly walled tube to a tube holder, the second step of softening the inside of the front end of the thinly walled tube, the third step of shrinking the front end of the thinly walled tube, and the fourth step of forming a neck section and a shoulder section to the front end of the thinly walled tube by means of a male mold. After heating the thinly walled tube with hot air, the air is drawn and removed, and the outer wall surface is cooled so as to make the subsequent steps to be conducted smoothly and efficiently. Since hot air is drawn after heating the outer wall surface, a thinly walled tapered shoulder section can be produced without altering the appearance and profile of the tubular container.

Abstract: A combined apparatus for heating and cutting a suture tip formed from a length of unfinished surgical suture material. First and second heating dies are provided for heating the length of unfinished surgical suture material to form the suture tip, and first and second cutting dies are provided for cutting the suture tip. At least one heating die mechanical actuator is provided for moving the first heating die between a retracted and an extended position and for moving the second heating die between a retracted and an extended position, the first and second heating dies occupying a combined heating and cutting space adjacent to the unfinished surgical suture material only when the first and second cutting dies are in their retracted positions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus process a thinly walled tube of thermoplastic resin to produce a tubular container having an inwardly directed flange section in a hole formed at an end of the thinly walled tube. In a first step, the thinly walled tube is secured to a tube holder provided with a male mold for molding the flange section in the hole and forming an opening located inside the flange section. The front end of the thinly walled tube projects by a predetermined distance from the front end of the tube holder. Then, in a second step, hot air is blown to an inner wall surface of the thinly walled tube at and near the front end thereof and the outer wall surface of the thinly walled tube is cooled also at and near the front end thereof. This produces a temperature difference between an inside and an outside of the thinly walled tube, so as to deform the front end of the thinly walled tube into a flange projecting radially.

Abstract: A blow molding apparatus for a chip carrier maker is adapted to form a longitudinal row of spaced-apart recesses in a flat thermoplastic strip and includes a stationary machine frame, a heating device mounted on the frame for heating the strip, a lower mold disposed on the frame and having a mold cavity unit therein, and an upper mold which is disposed on the frame. One of the upper and lower molds can be moved toward the other one so as to clamp the strip between the upper and lower molds, thereby establishing an air-tight seal between the strip and the upper mold. The upper mold has a bottom surface formed with an air chamber, and an air passage unit which is formed therethrough and which is in fluid communication with the air chamber so that compressed air can be introduced into the air chamber via the air passage unit, thereby pressing the strip into the mold cavity unit after the strip is heated and softened by the heating device and subsequently forming the recesses in the strip.

Abstract: A vacuum forming process and related apparatus are disclosed. The vacuum forming process and apparatus can be used for molding a thin sheet of thermoformable plastic into an accurate three-dimensional relief reproduction of an original artwork such that the plastic sheet carries a permanent image of the original work.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for post-forming an acrylic sheet using radiant heat are disclosed. The heating apparatus includes radiant heating tubes mounted to a frame and positioned in a heating plane. A support platform is also mounted to the frame. A heating area is defined between the heating tubes and the support platform. The heating area is substantially exposed to the atmosphere, allowing unheated air to exchange with the heated air in the heating area. To use the apparatus, combustible gas is ignited and passed through the radiant heating tubes, such that heat radiates from the tubes to the heating area. An acrylic sheet is placed on the support surface such that the unfinished side of the sheet faces the radiant heating tubes. The entire sheet is positioned in the heating area for a selected period of time. The heated sheet is then positioned in a mold until almost cool. At that point, the sheet is removed and allowed to cool completely.

Abstract: In manufacturing a photo film cassette, a disk producing apparatus includes a web supplier which conveys the web from a web roll to the web conveyor. The web conveyor includes two chains which convey the web in an intermittent fashion, and which include pointed portions which serially penetrate an edge portion of the web. A heater disposed upstream from the web conveyor heats the edges of the web. At the heating/forming unit, a heating plate is lowered toward the web at the same time as the female mold is raised toward the web, and the web is squeezed between them before the heating and vacuum/air pressure forming takes. Clampers/coolers disposed upstream and downstream from the heating plate and female mold squeeze the web in fixed fashion to prevent wrinkles on the web. A web/sheet cutter device includes an upper punch above the web and a lower die under the web, which squeeze the web, and cut the web into a sheet having a plurality of disk-like portions.

Abstract: An external stabilizer employed in a plastic film blowing apparatus incorporates one or more extruded members that carry a low-friction plastic wear cover. A tubular die, fed with a supply of molten thermoplastic polymer, extrudes a tube of the molten polymer and injects air into said extruded tube to inflate the tube into a bubble. The wall of the tube expands into a film of a desired thickness; and the tube is drawn vertically upward and collapsed and flattened. The external stabilizer is positioned on a frame surrounding the extruded tube above the die to keep the tube aligned on a predetermined path as the tube is drawn upwards. The stabilizer includes at least one extrusion of a light-weight material having a profile that is rounded on a side that faces the extruded tube so that said extrusion has a rounded front surface. The associated wear cover is made of a wear resistant plastic material and is disposed on said rounded front surface of said extrusion.

Abstract: A single-station thermoforming apparatus is provided with at least an oven including a heating panel, formed by two panel portions which can be driven on a plane parallel to the laying plane of a plastics material sheet to be thermoformed and which can be mutually coupled at a common coupling line, thereby providing an even distribution of heat through the overall surface of the plastics material sheet being processed, and preventing any thermal differentials among different regions of the material sheet being processed.

Abstract: A preheater and method of preheating a thermoplastic sheet prior to entry of the sheet into a differential pressure forming machine which forms an article in the sheet. The preheater includes mechanism for initially threading a sheet in a generally horizontal plane, mechanism for concurrently displacing upstream and downstream portions of the sheet in vertically opposite directions relative to the horizontal plane to dispose a portion of the sheet in an upstanding plane. A heater is provided for heating the upstanding portion of the sheet in the upstanding plane. After the sheet has been repositioned with a portion in the upstanding plane, the heater is laterally moved from an inoperative position to a sheet heating position receiving the portion of the sheet at the sheet heating station. Mechanism is provided for selectively moving the sheet downstream after the sheet has been vertically displaced.

Abstract: A high speed plastic-forming process forms a curved wall section with a compound radius along the outer edge of a sheet of plastic foam material. The process includes first die cutting the flat sheet material to a shape having an initial edge curvature, followed by securing the die cut piece to a carousel which passes the curved outer edge section of sheet material past heaters that controllably heat the top and bottom surfaces of the moving curved edge section. The carousel then passes the pre-heated edge section into contact with an elongated stationary curved forming shoe along the outer edge of the carousel to progressively bend the pre-heated section into a curved wall section of compound radius. The carousel then passes the formed wall section into contact with an elongated stationary curved cooling rail extending around most of the outer edge of the carousel downstream from the forming shoe.

Abstract: The invention relates to hard sided luggage shells and other containers manufactured using vacuum forming or pressure forming of thermoplastics. A process for making shells and containers with integrally molded frames is disclosed, and products made by the method. A method of manufacturing differential pressure formed containers with framed openings, but without the need to attach a separate frame element to the molded shell. A process also is disclosed for reducing the undesirable stretching of shell material that occurs during differential pressure forming, particularly the thinning of corner portions of the shell or container. The process of the invention more efficiently utilizes the thermoplastic material by moving material from otherwise offal portions into the molded product. An improved method for severing the offal material from the final product is disclosed.