Abstract: The invention relates to a calibrating device with at least one calibrating die (24), which has die faces (66) against which an extruded object fed therethrough is applied, in particular a section having several cavities, a sealing device (60, 62) being provided to seal off a gap (56) in order to form a cavity (59) and, having been formed, this cavity (59) is evacuated to a negative pressure lower than the ambient pressure, means being provided to form the gap (56) before the first end face (53) of the calibrating die (24) and at least one of the terminal edges (67) of the die faces (66) having part end faces (76) to form the gap (56) with a gap width (65) smaller than 1.0 mm.

Abstract: A method for making a multi-layer blow molded container (10), the multi-layer preform (10′) from which the container is blow molded, and the apparatus (53) for making a liner (24) of the preform utilizes thermoforming of a heated sheet (34) of resin. A vacuum is drawn within a vacuum enclosure (54) that is heated between a pair of spaced heaters (52). A first surface of the heated sheet of resin (34) and a male vacuum mold (56) engages the other surface of the heated sheet of resin which has a concave shape to provide the forming in a manner that prevents crystallinity of the lower freestanding base of the multi-layer container that is ultimately blow molded from the preform (10′) made with the thermoformed liner (24).

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: In a preferred embodiment, a thermoforming pressure box, including: a horizontal top plate; first and second vertical end plates extending orthogonally downwardly from a lower surface of the top plate; first and second vertical side plates extending orthogonally downwardly from the lower surface of the top plate; the first and second end plates and the first and second side plates mating such that the top plate, the first and second end plates, and the first and second side plates form a downwardly open rectangular parallelopipidon having first length and width dimensions; the second vertical end plate being repositionable on the lower surface of the top plate in a direction parallel to an index direction; and at least one of the first and second side plates being repositionable on the lower surface of top plate in a direction orthogonal to the index direction.

Abstract: A plastic hollow preform is drawn through a mold passage formed in a closed mold by applying a generally constant suction to a downstream end of a conduit having an upstream end connected to an output end of the mold passage. A flow cross section of the conduit is varied between its upstream and downstream ends so as to vary a rate at which the preform is drawn through the passage by the suction. The flow cross section is varied by displacing a valve element in the conduit between positions in which it differently blocks flow through the conduit.

Abstract: In the method, after the pattern-bearing film is fed to the female mold, the distal end of the film is fixed under a lower portion of the female mold, and at the same time the film is retreated by a force from the film supply portion. Thus, this tightens up the film so that the slacks or wrinkles cannot be formed on the film. Therefore, the film can be fortunately spread around the parting surface of the female mold. In the apparatus, the film suppressing frame is pressed to the female mold through the sliding rod arranged in the female mold, in such a manner that the female mold embraces the frame. Thus, the pressing of the frame is performed by a simple structure, and the film is accurately positioned to the internal surface of the female mold. Also, the film suppressing frame is constituted to advance from and retreat to the female mold. Thus, this causes a space between the both molds and an outside standby position to be useless. A space around the apparatus can be effectively utilized.

Abstract: A sheet of thermoformable plastic material is positioned by air pressure adjacent a planar surface of a heating plate to heat and at least soften the sheet. The softened sheet is draped over a mold by the force of air pressure to form a molded part upon cooling. Registration pins engaging the sheet maintain the sheet in registration with the mold to insure correct positioning of any indicia on the sheet with corresponding elements of the mold. A plurality of sheets may be fused to one another during heating of the sheets.

Abstract: A thermoforming tool employed for wrap-around lamination of a sheet to at least one edge (3) of a molding (2) loosely resting on the tool's lower half. The tool comprises a sheet-stretching frame (4) that is positioned over the molding and lowers a thermally plasticized sheet (5) tensioned therein at its edges into a holding position below the edge of the molding, a device for sealing the sheet off from the lower half of the tool, and a device for applying a suction in the subsequent lamination process. The suction device includes an evacuatable depression (9) in the lower half of the tool and below the edge of the molding. The object is to provide smoother lamination. The lower half (1) of the tool has a sealing lip (8) at the level of a conceptual plane below the edge of the molding. The lip parallels the edge of the molding and demarcates the depression.

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: An apparatus for manufacturing a device having a first elastomeric portion and a second elastomeric portion, the second elastomeric portion being formed into a non-planar shape, i.e., a vaginal discharge collection device that is formed of an elastomeric rim and a flexible film reservoir. The apparatus includes a loading station for loading a rim into a carrier plate, a heat seal station for laying and forming a film over the rim, a preheating station for preheating the rim and film, a forming station for drawing the film into a chamber by creating a vacuum to form the collector, and an unloading station for removing the collector from the carrier plate.

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: A vacuum extrusion line of the horizontal barometric leg type includes a vacuum chamber 10 having an extrusion die 18 at one end and a water baffle immersion cooler 20 at the other end for extracting the extrudate to atmosphere, extrudate shaping and sizing equipment downstream of the die 18, a large diameter fixed bulkhead 16 a the die 18, and first 44 and second 46 large diameter movable sections surrounding the shaping and sizing equipment, a smaller fixed section of the chamber. The first section sealing against the second section and the fixed section and telescoping over the fixed section to form a gap 68 with the second section being movable within the limits of the gap 68. The second section also seals against the large diameter fixed bulkhead 16. In this manner the downstream equipment can be fully exposed by movement of one or both movable sections and adequate volume and spatial working environment is provided for large through-put.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a sheet of material into an article, such as a flower pot cover, is provided. The apparatus includes a female die and a male die. A sheet of material is positioned between the male die and the female die. The male and female dies are shaped such that at least a portion of the male die is receivable in the opening of the female die to form the article. The apparatus further includes means for supplying a stream of air between the female die and the formed article to release the formed article from the female die and means for holding the formed article against the male die as the male die and the female die are positioned from a forming position to a discharge position whereby the formed article is removed from the female die.

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: The inventive method serves for producing open containers from a flat sheeting (4) consisting of a foam material or containing at least one layer of such a material, by drawing the sheeting with the help of a female (2) and a male tool (1) and by expanding the foam material with the help of a pressure reduction. The action sequence of one cycle of the inventive method is e.g.

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: A method of forming a side wall of a cupped cake cup at high speed, including paying off a paper sheet through a plurality of paying off rolls; cutting a blank off the paper sheet with a paper cutter disposed at least one of normal and oblique to a direction in which the paper sheet is fed; immediately before or after the cutting, applying a sealing agent; supplying the blank to a specified roll gap formed between a forming cone roll and a holding cone roll capable of rotating in opposite directions; performing shaping, cutting and sealing works on the blank during one rotation of the forming and holding cone rolls, wherein the blank is made into the side wall of the cupped cake cup; separating the side wall of the cup from the forming cone roll; and guiding the side wall of the cupped cake cup in the axial direction of the forming cone roll.

Abstract: A unitary plastic appliance door is produced by thermoforming an outer door panel and an inner door liner and joining them together in a unitary apparatus. The inner door liner is formed of sheet plastic on a male mold member and is then positioned over a female mold member mounted alongside the male mold member. The outer door panel is formed from a second sheet of plastic in the female mold member and then the inner door liner is registered with the formed outer door panel in the female mold member and is joined thereto to form the appliance door.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lens having a lens body integral with a functional sheet on one side thereof, includes an insert molding process including the steps of: placing the functional sheet as an insert in position in a mold defining a suction hole therein; and while attracting the functional sheet against a molding surface of the mold by a peripheral portion thereof by suction through the suction hole, supplying to the mold a molten plastic material for forming the lens body, to form the lens.

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 mold is disclosed for forming a freezable and thawable bag of uniform thickness, especially useful for cryopreservation of thermolabile substances. The mold features one or more recessed planar surfaces, including radiused peripheral walls about the recesses, a planar top surface, and means for conforming a blank sheet to the mold. Two mold halves combine to form a completed bag. The mold halves may be complimentary.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for expanding polymeric tubing including a bubble of trapped gas within the polymeric tubing. The tubing is expanded by creating a pressure differential between the inside and outside of the tubing such that the pressure inside the tubing is greater than the pressure outside the tubing, thereby causing the tubing to expand. It is possible with the present invention to compensate for loss of gas pressure, thereby increasing the amount of tubing which can be expanded without ceasing production and restarting the process.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming articles in a thermoplastic sheet, severing the articles in the sheet, and stacking the articles in a stacking receiver. The apparatus includes upper and lower molds moveable between closed positions in which the molds engage opposite sides of the sheet to differentially pressure form a part in the thermoplastic sheet. The molds in which the article is formed are moved toward each from the closed positions to article trim positions to sever the article from the sheet. The lower mold is then moved linearly away from the sheet in a vertical direction and then transversely moved in a second linear transverse path of travel to a remote discharge location. Apparatus is provided for reorienting the mold between its orientation in the first linear path of travel and its orientation in the second path of travel.

Abstract: A modular, vacuum formed, unitary vanity which extends from floor to the ceiling, or near the ceiling. Alternatively, the vanity extends upwardly from the counter top level to the ceiling. The vanity is vacuum formed of a single piece of formable material, such as acrylic. The vanity has no joints or seals to deteriorate with use and time or to collect dirt. The modular and unitary vanity fits within a void formed in a wall during construction. The device is substantially maintenance free in ordinary use. The vanity is vacuum formed from a single piece of formable material using a vacuum form mold. The mold is a break apart mold which allows the vanity to be removed from the mold without interference from the sink bowl which is formed in the vanity.

Abstract: An extrusion system utilizes single or tandem extruders and a mixer-cooler to extrude a foamable extrudate through a die in a sealable chamber. The foamable extrudate is shaped and calibrated within the chamber. The die is mounted on the end of a gel tube projecting through a gland seal in a fixed bulkhead forming the upstream end of the chamber. The gel tube and mixer-cooler are mounted on a movable carriage, movement of which may be used to adjust the die with respect to shaping and calibrating equipment inside the chamber. The mixer-cooler achieves a selected narrow range of uniform viscosity of the melt at the die depending on the size of the product and density. The chamber is preferably a vacuum chamber producing low density foams. The product exits the chamber to atmosphere on a continuous basis through a submerged orifice in a water baffle immersion seal.

Abstract: A thermoforming method and apparatus is provided for a flat thin sheet plastic substrate having printed material thereon in the form of a matrix of a plurality of items. The substrate is clamped between a pair of clamp plates providing support for the substrate around the perimeter thereof and also in a matrix support pattern having a plurality of subperimeters providing individual support around the respective perimeter of each item. The assembly is heated, and then thermoformed into a contoured three dimensional workpiece by pushing a matrix of a plurality of tool faces into the substrate at respective items. The matrix support pattern of the clamp plates along the plurality of subperimeters prevents sagging across the substrate during heating, and isolates the items from each other during deformation of the substrate by the tool faces.

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: 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: This invention is an improved thermoforming process and apparatus for the production of rigid plastic containers. The apparatus employs a molten sheet of thermoplastic material that is processed through two extrusion rolls, thermoformed on the periphery of a rotating form tool, mechanically ejected from the form tool, conveyed to a conventional punch press where the formed articles are trimmed from the sheet then packaged for shipment. The operation of the extruder, extrusion rolls, forming wheel, mechanical ejection and trim stations are operated as a continuous, integrated system.

Abstract: Multiple legs elevate a central ring bearing, to which a ring-shaped rotatable plastic sheet support carousel is mounted. The carousel is fitted with a ring gear which engages with a drive system to position the carousel and the thermoplastic sheets supported from it. A multi-post vertical press is positioned with two posts extending upwardly interior to the ring bearing, and two posts extending upwardly exterior to the ring bearing. The ring bearing thus extends through the press, allowing the carousel to supply and remove plastic sheets to and from the press. An upper platen and a lower platen are mounted for vertical displacement to the posts, thereby ensuring a high degree of parallelism between the molds mounted to the platens, and accurate twin-sheet thermoforming.

Abstract: An improved vacuum fusion bonding structure and process for aligned bonding of large area glass plates, patterned with microchannels and access holes and slots, for elevated glass fusion temperatures. Vacuum pumpout of all the components is through the bottom platform which yields an untouched, defect free top surface which greatly improves optical access through this smooth surface. Also, a completely non-adherent interlayer, such as graphite, with alignment and location features is located between the main steel platform and the glass plate pair, which makes large improvements in quality, yield, and ease of use, and enables aligned bonding of very large glass structures.

Abstract: A process for producing deformable acrylic panels with increased resistance to abrasion and scratching preferably for sanitary articles to be produced by the deep-drawing process. Immediately prior to the deep-drawing step, a type of lacquer is applied to an acrylic panel. The lacquer contains dispersed nanoscale particles preferable of an inorganic material. The semifinished acrylic panel is heated and subsequently deep-drawn. The lacquer coating is applied to the semifinished acrylic panel with the help of rollers or a doctor blade. In addition, the lacquer coating can be applied by immersing or flooding the semifinished acrylic panel.

Abstract: A decoration sheet is retained on the cavity periphery by a sheet clamp in such a state that it is projected into a molding cavity of a female die. Then the decoration sheet is heated and softened by a curved hot platen, and thereafter it is drawn through suction ports of the female die to bring the sheet into close fit to the inner periphery of the molding cavity. The deformation amount of the decoration sheet heated and softened is decreased in premolding the sheet into the molding cavity surface of the female die. Therefore, distortion of the decoration sheet, appearance of wrinkles, and breakage thereof become little. Next, the female die and the male die are coupled with each other to effect die clamping, and a molten resin is poured to fill the molding cavity to effect injection molding.

Abstract: A method of thermoforming a thin flexible film comprising a series of steps. A thin flexible film capable of being thermoformed is heated until it is pliable. A mold having first and second surfaces on different planes forms a thermoformed article having a contoured surface. A first portion of the pliable film is contacted with the first surface. A first vacuum is applied through the first surface to draw the first portion against the first surface. After the first portion of the film is drawn against the first surface, a second portion of the film contacts the second surface. A second vacuum is applied through the second surface to draw the second portion of the film against the second surface. Air trapped between the mold and the film is first removed between the first surface and the first portion of the film and then removed from between the second surface and the second portion of said film so that the thermoformed article is substantially defect-free.

Abstract: A mold for shaping a skin sheet has a three-dimensional body including a top surface and side surfaces that work as a shaping surface, respectively. The top surface and the side surfaces have a plurality of small holes communicating with a suction unit for drawing the skin sheet thereon by suction force generated by the suction unit. Each of the side surfaces has a product portion and a non-product portion parted at a trimming line, the portions corresponding to those of the skin sheet that are used as a product and not used as the product, respectively. The body has a plurality of guidance plates, each projecting outside at an edge line of the body. An upper edge of each of the guidance plates forms a ridge line in a shape of a wave. The ridge line descends from a position in the vicinity of an intersection point of the edge line and the trimming line to a direction of the bottom of the body so as to form a valley and thereafter ascends to an opposite direction so as to form a mountain.

Abstract: A vacuum forming apparatus has a first mold and a second mold, the first mold including a forming surface. The first mold has a hollow space defined therein and communicating with the forming surface through holes defined in the first mold. The hollow space is connected to a vacuum pump for developing a vacuum in the hollow space to attract a sheet against the forming surface through the holes. The second mold has a presser including a cylinder which displaces a cutter having a serrated trimming blade of the second mold. The presser has an upper groove which accommodates teeth of the serrated trimming blade. The first mold has a lower groove for receiving the teeth of the serrated trimming blade when it is displaced downwardly by the cylinder.

Abstract: A foil-decorating injection molding method including using a foil-decorating injection molding machine with an injection mold having a male mold and a female mold. The female mold has a cavity surface for forming a cavity, and a parting surface having an outer peripheral section on which to hold a decorative sheet, and an inner peripheral section extending between the inner edge of the outer peripheral section of the parting surface and the edge of the cavity surface in a concavely curved shape to allow the expansion of a peripheral portion of the decorative sheet around a decorating portion of the same during preforming. This reduces local strains in the decorative portion of the sheet and ensures a uniform thickness distribution of the sheet to prevent breaking and creasing of the sheet.

Abstract: A vacuum extrusion line of the horizontal barometric leg type includes a vacuum chamber having an extrusion die at one end and a water baffle immersion cooler at the other end for extracting the extrudate to atmosphere, extrudate shaping and sizing equipment downstream of the die, a large diameter fixed bulkhead at the die, and first and second large diameter movable sections surrounding the shaping and sizing equipment, a smaller fixed section of the chamber. The first section sealing against the second section and the fixed section and telescoping over the fixed section to form a gap with the second section being movable within the limits of the gap. The second section also seals against the large diameter fixed bulkhead. In this manner the downstream equipment can be fully exposed by movement of one or both movable sections and adequate volume and spatial working environment is provided for large through-put. A simplified lock mechanism facilitates the quick opening and closing of the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming thermoplastic containers having a male locking member. The apparatus includes a cavity defining a shape of the container, a stripper movable in a longitudinal direction relative to said cavity, and a retractable lock adjacent to an edge of the cavity. The retractable lock is movable in a transverse direction relative to the cavity between a retracted position and an unretracted position and movable in a longitudinal direction between a first position and a second position. The containers are formed through a process in which the apparatus is sequentially placed in a ready mode, lift mode, disengage mode, and back to the ready mode. In the ready mode, the retractable lock is placed in the unretracted position and first position in order to receive a sheet of plastic material and form a locking member thereon.

Abstract: A thermoforming machine utilizes two clamping frames to advance cut sheets through heating and forming stations, with the clamping frames returned via an overhead path above the oven in the heating station. Pneumatic cylinders arranged about the inner perimeter of the frames are operated to grip the sheet and release the sheets, which are pressurized and released via fluid connections established when the frames are lifted from a transfer bar structure at the loading and forming stations. The clamping frames have pivoted end sections which are engaged by extendible gear posts at the forming station to bend the clamped sheet into greater conformity with the tooling shape prior to forming.

Abstract: Multiple legs elevate a central ring bearing, to which a ring-shaped rotatable plastic sheet support carousel is mounted. The carousel is fitted with a ring gear which engages with a drive system to position the carousel and the thermoplastic sheets supported from it. A multi-post vertical press is positioned with two posts extending upwardly interior to the ring bearing, and two posts extending upwardly exterior to the ring bearing. The ring bearing thus extends through the press, allowing the carousel to supply and remove plastic sheets to and from the press. An upper platen and a lower platen are mounted for vertical displacement to the posts, thereby ensuring a high degree of parallelism between the molds mounted to the platens, and accurate twin-sheet thermoforming.

Abstract: A method of making thin walled covers employing a vacuum mold assembly comprises the steps of effecting a relative movement between a thin sheet of thermoplastic material and the vacuum mold assembly sufficient to form a peripheral seal with a surface area of the sheet and thereafter applying a vacuum to the vacuum mold to draw portions of the sheet about main body forming molding surfaces of molding horns, thin marginal edge molding surfaces of the molding horns, and inturned flange molding surfaces of the molding horns so as to form a plurality of thin walled covers, each with an exterior surface presenting a substantially dimple-free class A surface. The sheet is then separated from the vacuum mold assembly.

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: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the downstream handling of water soluble polysaccharide-containing extruded tobacco smoke filtration material. During conveying of the extrudate from the extruder die of an extruder to a cutter, the extrudate is heated, shaped, and cooled to provide tobacco smoke filtration material of desired dimensions and physical characteristics.

Abstract: A process is described for forming a lighting louver that includes a plurality of louver members. The process includes the steps of providing a sheet of thermoformable material and heating the sheet to a pliable state. A further step includes providing a forming mandrel having a series of mandrel partitions arranged with spaces between the partitions. The heated sheet is positioned over the forming mandrel, and is forced against the forming mandrel to form the heated sheet over the mandrel partitions and thereby produce a formed louver blank including formed louver segments that conform to the mandrel partitions and webbing segments that span the spaces between the partitions on the forming mandrel. In one preferred form the webbing segments are removed. In another preferred form, transparent webbing segments are formed that do not require removal and will transmit light. The webbing segments in the first form are removed from the louver blank to form light transmissive openings through the louver blank.

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 for the manufacture of a screen useful for forming three-dimensional films, the screens and the three-dimensional films produced using those screens are disclosed. In forming a screen, a substrate material is applied to a base. A predetermined amount of portions of the substrate are removed to form a predetermined pattern in the substrate. A screen material is applied to the patterned substrate material. A predetermined amount of portions of the screen material are removed to form a predetermined pattern in the screen material. The predetermined pattern in the screen defines a plurality of first perforations in the screen material. The substrate material is removed from the screen material, such that second perforations are formed in the screen, whereby each first perforation is in communication with an adjacent second perforation.

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: A foil-decorating injection molding method and a foil-decorating injection molding apparatus adjust the tautness of a decorative sheet fed onto a parting surface of a female mold so that tensions T.sub.1, T.sub.2 and T.sub.3 of the decorative sheet during a sheet feed operation of the sheet feed means, at the start of the sheet clamping operation of the clamper for pressing and fixing the decorative sheet and at a moment immediately before the completion of the sheet clamping operation, respectively, meet an inequality: T.sub.1 .gtoreq.T.sub.2 >T.sub.3 to prevent the decorative sheet from breaking or slipping off the clamper when clamping the decorative sheet on the parting surface of the female mold.

Abstract: The invention describes a process for cooling and if necessary calibrating elongated, especially continuously extruded objects (7) made of plastic as well as a cooling and calibrating device (5) for carrying out the process. With this the object (7) during its advancement in the longitudinal direction is exposed in consecutive regions (13 to 18; 86 to 89, 95 to 97) to a higher vacuum in each case and is cooled with respect to the initial temperature to a lower final temperature. The heat to be removed for cooling is extracted by a coolant washing round the object (7).