Abstract: A press includes a fixed platen, a vertically movable platen and a double toggle actuating mechanism for raising and lowering the movable platen. A piston cylinder breaks one of the toggle mechanisms, which in turn breaks the second toggle mechanism to raise the platen. A balance mechanism is operatively connected to the movable platen and assists in raising the movable platen and supporting the same in its raised position. A cut piston cylinder is connected to one of the toggle mechanisms.

Abstract: There is disclosed a positive extraction mechanism for use in a textile molding apparatus preferably of the type having a female mold member and a male mold member. The mold members move into molding relationship with a fabric therebetween to form a cup-like article which is retained by one of the members. The positive extraction mechanism moves into intimate contact with the retaining mold member after the other mold member has been retracted. The extraction mechanism includes a plurality of pins which may be actuated by power means into engagement with the molded cup-like article. Each pin is spring biased away from the molded article so that the spring will retract its associated pin within the extraction mechanism upon removal of the power means. Upon retraction the molded article will leave the positive extraction mechanism. This occurs after the molded article has been carried away from the mold member.

Abstract: In differential pressure synthetic plastics thermoforming machinery, mold support assemblies mounted on a frame have relative movement between a mold open and a mold closed position. Power operated mechanism is provided for axially moving at least the female mold support assembly, and the female mold on the assembly which carries a stripper element mounted for relative movement with the mold. Mechanism is provided for automatically latching the stripper element to the frame as the female mold moves toward mold closed position, and abutments are provided on the mold support assembly and latch for automatically unlatching it only after the female mold has withdrawn a predetermined distance in its movement toward mold open position.

Abstract: A vacuum forming machine has a machine frame and a forming station which includes a tensioning device for clamping a thermoplastic sheet blank to be deformed into an article, a bridge and a positive mold carried thereby. The bridge is vertically displaceable together with the positive mold between an inoperative position in which the positive mold is spaced from a location where the blank is clamped by the tensioning device and an operative position in which the positive mold is in an operative, contacting relationship with the blank. The positive mold is vertically displaceable with respect to the bridge between the operative position and a transfer position in which the article formed on the positive mold is transferred therefrom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermoforming plastic foam articles comprising the sequential steps of (a) preheating the plastic foam, usually supplied in the form of a continuous sheet stock, (b) clamping, in a fixed position, that portion of the stock material which is to be thermoformed, (c) initially deforming the preheated foam stock with a portion of a male mold member to form a preform, (d) drawing a vacuum on the interior of the female mold member to assist in completion of the thermoforming operation, and (e) completing formation of the desired article by deformation of the preform between a male and female thermoforming device.

Abstract: An extruder or the like, continuously issues a heated plastics material in the form of an elongated web, which is moved sequentially to molding and article severing stations. The products cut out are moved to lip rolling printing and drying stations. Articles such as containers are formed by the mechanism which includes a turntable assembly for varying the length of the web travel path between an extruder and forming station to thereby control the residual heat in the web at the time of forming, and a molding drum with improved plug assist devices which are air powered and also include air emitting ports to move the web into intimate engagement with the mold cavities as a final forming step under controlled conditions which assure that the pressure is applied at exactly the proper time. The system includes a lip curling system which feeds containers severed from the web in stepwise fashion through forming roll sections and releases them in timed relation to indexible mandrels.

Abstract: An indirect extrusion process making use of an apparatus having a main ram and a container which are adapted to be driven independently of each other, the container being moved during the extrusion at a speed equal to or higher than that of the main ram, so as to produce the extrusion force, characterized in that the movement of the container relative to the main ram is prevented so that the power for moving the container may be added to the extrusion force, so as to effect extrusion without causing change in the relative position between the container and the billet during extrusion, and that the main ram and the container are connected at a desired position in accordance with the length of the billet, making use of the frictional force exerted between the container and said billet, such that extrusion may be effected with respect to container and the billet in connected state of operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a double-thickness bead in a flexible sheet stock article, such as a container or lid constructed from paper stock. The method includes holding a central region of the paper stock blank near its perimetral edge between cooperating dies, forming an axially extending flange in the blank between the held region and the edge, capturing the edge against radial movement in a groove provided in a ring movable relative to the dies, and moving the ring relative to the dies to form the double-thickness region in the blank between the held portion and edge. The apparatus includes the cooperating relatively movable dies, the movable ring and cooperating draw pads adjacent the ring. The draw pads are movable relative to the dies and ring and cooperate with the dies and ring to form a void into which the double-thickness region is formed. The configuration of the void controls the formation and configuration of the bead.

Abstract: A thin sheet having a low rigidity is drawn while being depressed over the radiused corner of a die by elastic force or hydrostatic force to obtain a formed article whose sidewall part and flange part have no wrinkles. The force is applied through an elastic rubber provided around the punch and having an outside diameter larger than the inside diameter of the die cavity, or through an annular rigid body on which elastic pressure or fluid pressure is exerted. The hardness of the rubber is preferably approximately 70 to 85 in accordance with ASTM D 2240 Durometer A. A laminate not more than about 200 .mu.m in thickness and consisting of a thermoplastic resin film, aluminum foil and a heat-sealable resin film is drawn into a formed article or a container which is light in weight and suitable for containing foods, for instance.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing preformed objects or parts from lignocellulose matted fiber fabrics. The apparatus produces the objects in stepwise fashion by tools whose forming surfaces are covered by an elastically deformable intermediate layer. The intermediate layer may be fixed to the tool or alternatively it may be an endless belt or tape which covers the tool forming surfaces.

Abstract: In a method of injection-moulding articles of plastics material onto a preformed web inserted into the mould, the web is held under substantially constant tension during the closing of the mould, between a pair of clamps, the proximal clamp being fixed relative to the mould and the distal clamp free but bearing a load to furnish the desired tension in the web. The load may be imposed by a weight attached to the distal clamp, conveniently by means of an electromagnet.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically loading and unloading a press having vertically movable die halves comprises a frame positioned adjacent the press, a movable carriage mounted in the frame for longitudinal movement toward and away from the press, and a blank holding table mounted in the movable carriage for rotation about a horizontal axis, with a gripping mechanism for holding blanks being mounted on one side of the table and a nesting device for holding finished products being mounted on the other side of the table. The gripping mechanism holds blanks in a position that duplicates the charge placement pattern in the mold. The apparatus is operated by a control mechanism such that after blanks are placed in the gripping mechanism, the gripping mechanism is actuated to hold them to the table and the table is turned upside down. The table is then extended to a position between the separated halves of the die, and the gripping mechanism is released, causing the blanks to be transferred to the lower mold cavity.

Abstract: A method of controlling the reciprocating motion of a mold-carrying platen in a thermoforming apparatus which includes a driven cam disc operatively connected to the platen to move the platen in each cycle of operation upward from a lower, open position to an upper, closed position, to maintain the platen in the upper position, to move the platen downward from the upper position to the lower position and to maintain the platen in the lower position. The method comprises the step of selectively driving the cam within each cycle of operation with a first rpm for determining a maximum speed for the upward motion of the platen and a minimum dwelling period in the lower position and a second rpm for determining a minimum dwelling period in the upper position and a maximum speed for the downward motion of the platen. The second rpm is set as a function of the properties of the article manufactured by the thermoforming apparatus.

Abstract: A thermoforming machine having opposed mold platens includes a linkage system driven in cyclic movement by a single rotary cam to cyclically shift the platens between their open and closed position. The cam is driven by a variable speed motor which is controlled in a manner such that the rotary speed of the cam during different portions of a cam revolution may be set to a speed which is different than the rotary speed of the cam during other portions of each revolution. By adjusting the speed differential or by adjusting the angular extent of that portion of a revolution of the cam over which the different speed is maintained the time duration of any chosen portion of the cycle may be adjusted independently of the time duration of other portions of the cycle. The platens are mounted for reciprocatory movement upon a three-post frame.

Abstract: A deep compartment tray includes compartments separated by dividers which extend to between one-third and substantially the full depth of the tray. The tray is constructed from sheet material, such as polyester coated paper milk carton stock. The pre-forming step and the forming step for the tray are conducted by a first female die defining the tray cavities or compartments, and surrounded by a first draw pad region, and a second male die including bosses or land areas in the compartment regions and recesses where the tray dividers are to be formed. The male die includes a set of cavities, one in each of the tray compartment regions. The cavities slidably receive plungers or inserts which are movably mounted in the cavities and are spring-urged to their fully projected positions in the cavities. A second draw pad surrounds the male die, and is mounted for resistive movement relative to the male die.

Abstract: A hinged carton integrally molded of polystyrene foam and adapted to be locked shut by a flap extending upwardly from the bottom part of the carton inside a side wall of the carton cover and carrying one or more prongs so that the latter will be biased outwardly to snap into a corresponding number of holes provided in said cover side wall, the ruggedness of said carton being materially enhanced over similar cartons of the prior art by the local beefing up of said cover side wall in the immediate areas bordering said holes incidental to the functioning of a novel method of and apparatus for manufacturing said carton. Said apparatus is embodied optionally in a forming tool or in a form-and-trim tool and embraces relatively vertically reciprocable carton shaping matched-molds operating on a heated thermo-plastic web of polystyrene foam to produce one or more entire cartons with each reciprocation.

Abstract: This invention provides a simple and advantageous method for producing plastic moldings with good surface gloss, very excellent transparency and high stiffness from crystalline polypropylene sheets manufactured by a generally employed industrial method without adversely affecting mechanical strength, shape retention at high temperatures and other properties according to a thermoforming process. This invention, more specifically, concerns a method for producing transparent polypropylene molded articles, characterized by heating a polypropylene sheet at a temperature higher than the melting point thereof, stretching it by more than 5%, rapidly cooling it to a temperature of not more than 120.degree. C., and then subjecting the thus treated sheet to thermoforming at a temperature below the melting point of the sheet.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel apparatus for thermoforming a plastic article wherein the male mold assembly and the female mold assembly are disposed on support members which are maintained in fixed relationship to each other during thermoforming operation. The sheet of thermoforming material after initial heating is trapped by clamping devices associated with the assemblies with the male die and female die molds associated with the male and female mold assemblies, respectively, being operated by fluid cylinder assemblies motivated by pressurized fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for preforming and holding a wrapper in a orming mould constituting part of a forming station in a machine for heat-forming receptacles, said device comprising a plurality of applicator fingers movably mounted inside the forming chamber, the bottom wall comprising openings adapted to accommodate each finger, and further comprising finger controlling means which are arranged so as to ensure, on the one hand, the spaced-apart relationship of the fingers with respect to the side wall when the mould is in position of alignment with the wrapper-making device and, on the other hand, the application of said fingers against the side wall in all the other positions of the mould and during the displacement of said fingers along said side wall up to their housing in the bottom wall.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing the cups of a brassiere from a fabric of synthetic material, said apparatus consisting of a frame with members for stretching and/or clamping and/or transporting the fabric between a mould which may be moved up and down, and a supporting rim cooperating with said mould and mounted therebelow, while further means are present to separate the cups, formed by the mould, from the remaining fabric.

Abstract: Apparatus for cold-forming a thermoplastic sheet to provide a circular container part such as a lid or dish comprising opposing concentric die members for engaging a sheet of thermoplastic material, the sheet being drawn around the circular edge of one of the die members to provide a concentric central portion and a concentric annular depending skirt having a proximal edge adjacent the central portion, an intermediate portion, and a distal free edge, providing an annular void in the die members adjacent the skirt. Apparatus is provided for moving the free edge toward the proximal edge while holding the proximal edge to buckle the intermediate portion into the void. The void has a tapered surface inclining radially outwardly and axially toward the proximal edge to hold the free edge radially inwardly, thereby to permit the intermediate portion to buckle outwardly into the void.

Abstract: A method for molding thermoformable synthetic plastic sheet material into a circular lid having a downturned rim with a bead on its inner face. The sheet material is softened by heating and disposed between male and female dies which are moved together to fold the sheet material over the male die to form the downturned rim. The material forming the rim is compressed and sheared between the dies to force material into a bead cavity in the male die to form the bead. The molded lid can fit over the top edge of a container with the bead in sealing engagement with the container.

Abstract: A system for the production of hollow finished objects, formed from a strip of plastic material by heat moulding, utilizing a process comprising the phases of feeding the strip, heating the strip, heat moulding from the strip and cutting therefrom the hollow objects in only one station, extraction of the finished hollow objects with stacking thereof, and arrangement of the remaining strip material from the process, in which the inoperative time of the heat moulding cycle is slightly greater than the cutting time added to the feed time of the strip in the heat moulding station.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for changing and setting a peeled, warm or hot hard-boiled egg into a desired shape, for example a cubic shape. This apparatus comprises a tubular chamber having a required inner cross sectional shape and having a threaded neck portion, a bottom plate for closing one end of the chamber, a pressing member for progressively pressing the boiled egg contained in the chamber, and a threaded cap for progressively threadably pressing the pressing member. By putting an unshelled hot egg soon after being boiled, then inserting the pressing member through an open inlet of the neck of the chamber and progressively pressing this egg thereby, and keeping this pressed state of the egg for some time while leaving it to be cooled, it is possible to obtain a boiled egg which has been changed into a shape defined by the chamber and the pressing member.

Abstract: A tray of molded pulp or the like for packaging meat, poultry or fish in conjunction with an overwrap transparent film and the method and apparatus for making the tray. The tray bottom is formed of a plurality of generally vertical ribs joining or intersecting in two directions and defining open windows therebetween, the height of each rib being on the order of several times the thickness of the remainder of the tray, the side and end walls having double sloped portions, and the total volume of the ribs being approximately equal to the volume of a bottom of an imperforate bottom tray of the same size.

Abstract: A bladder for use in a tire molding and vulcanization press has grooves in its outer face and a circumferential molding flash on its inner face. A process for the manufacture of this membrane by molding uses a press having a ribbed core to produce the grooves and two shells which may have smooth walls.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for producing hollow articles of thermoplastic sheeting material having large L/D ratios are described.

Abstract: A tray-like container of a plastic coated paper blank having a base panel, which has four or more even numbers of side edges, side walls, corner portions, a peripheral portion extending along side walls and corner portions, and a pig-tail like folding line formed in each corner portion of the peripheral portion, of which a flange of the tray-like container is formed. The pig-tail like folding line assists in the outward bending of the peripheral portion so that it forms the outwardly projecting flange of the tray-like container. The outer shape of the tray-like container is forcedly molded by a movable and stationary complementary moulds.

Abstract: Apparatus for hot shaping vehicle floor carpets has a plurality of presses mounted on a slow-moving turntable which carries operators and which can have a central rotary distributor for distributing pressure fluid from a stationary source to actuators on the presses.

Abstract: Oriented articles such as jars and the like having wall sections of exceptional uniformity are thermoformed from sheet by heating the sheet to orientation temperature and stretching it with a plug assist which has a concave surface with a flat face around the periphery thereof terminating in a radius of 1/64 to 1/4-inch. This configuration allows a controlled amount of slippage to occur as the plug advances to stretch the sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for molding a sheet of thermoplastic material in which the sheet is forced into an open chamber formed in a die member by means of a punch member adapted to engage the sheet in a substantially line contact to stretch the sheet into the chamber and against the inner wall of the die member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for molding thermosetting and thermoplastic materials, particularly components of brassiere cups, enabling precise molding with a high degree of flexibility and control in the molding conditions of temperature, pressure and molding time. Two modes of molding are disclosed; a first mode in which the material is first clamped to the mold prior to conforming the medial portion of the mold to the mold blank; and a second mode in which the material is accommodated in the mold blank followed by clamping of the margins of the material.

Abstract: An apparatus for folding a sheet of relatively brittle material in which an articulated frame assembly is mounted relative to a support structure in a manner so that two portions of the frame assembly can pivot relative to each other in an angular direction to fold the sheet about a fold line intermediate the ends of the sheet. Each portion of the frame assembly includes a movable portion which is adapted to fold the outer end portion of the sheet about an additional fold line intermediate the first fold lines and the outer edge portion. The sheet is heated along the fold lines prior to the folding operations.

Abstract: A pair of matched metal dies one of which moves against the other to form a mold to contain, and to apply pressure to a part and to pinch off excess material on the part. The lower die has a recess with all the sides of the recess canted outward in two steps. The upper die when inserted contacts the lower canted sides of the lower die.

Abstract: A scrap free process for rapidly making thermoplastic containers wherein the resultant containers can, if desired, be multilayered for vapor or gas barrier or other reasons, or be oriented for toughness and improved stress crack resistance. The containers can be formed from multilayered or homogeneous plastic sheets wherein a relatively thin thermoplastic blank is provided. This blank is lubricated, heated and forged into a desired shape preform with a predetermined lip configuration. The center portion of each said preform is maintained at a forming temperature while the peripheral portion thereof is rapidly brought below the softening point of the plastic resin. The preform is then immediately thermoformed into a container having a desired shape and size, and cooled. If desired, the preform can be forged, cooled and recovered from a subsequent thermoforming operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for at least partially forming a brassiere having a pair of male molds provided with substantially conical outer surfaces, which molds are movably supported on a first support device so that the spacing between the molds can be selectively varied. A die assembly is spaced opposite the molds and has a pair of circular openings extending therethrough, which openings are aligned with the molds. Clamping devices are provided for supporting a sheet of flexible material adjacent the die assembly so that the material extends across the openings. A driving device, such as a pressure cylinder, causes relative reciprocating movement between the die assembly and the molds, as by being connected to the molds, so that the molds are linearly advanced toward the die assembly so that the molds project through the openings in the die assembly and deform the material into a pair of cups. Heating means are associated with the apparatus for causing heating of the deformed material.

Abstract: Cup-shaped shells suitable for use as hors d'oeuvres, snacks, and the like are made from leavened dough. The shells are cut from a crust of leavened dough and then shaped by dies and heated to form a concave configuration.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming objects of thermoplastic material by deep-drawing in which portions of a foil are cut to a size appropriate for each object, and are then freely supported while heating to the desired temperature. After heating the cut-out portions are tensioned about the edges thereof for the deep-drawing step. Modifications include multiple stations for heating and deep-drawing and means may be provided for deep-drawing the foil into a permeable container so as to line it with the deep-drawn thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating a conical seamless bra pad preform for subsequent molding into a finished pad. The material used is fiberfill or the like and a blank, cut from such a sheet, or from a sandwich of two sheets, is indented by a conical member which has pins spaced over the surface of the cone for engaging the material. Variable thinning of the material is achieved by the action of the pins in engaging the material successively. A second embodiment involves a series of coaxial rings to grasp the blank. Non-uniform displacement of the ringsets causes the desired uneven stretching of the blank. Permeating the fiberfill sheet with cold acrylic resin prior to the curing of the preform in a mold counteracts deterioration of the bonding of the individual fibers which occurs during the intermediate drawing process.

Abstract: Apparatus for rapidly making thermoplastic containers wherein the resultant containers can, if desired, be multilayered for vapor or gas barrier or other reasons, or be oriented for toughness and improved stress crack resistance. The apparatus takes a measured amount of thermoplastic material which is lubricated, heated and forged into a desired shape preform with a predetermined lip configuration. The center portion of each said preform is maintained at a forming temperature while the peripheral portion thereof is clamped and rapidly brought below the softening point of the plastic resin. The preform can then be immediately thermoformed into a container having a desired shape and size, and cooled. If desired, the preform can be forged, cooled and recovered for a subsequent thermoforming operation or can be a finished article itself.

Abstract: A molding apparatus for thermoforming plastic sheet material having upper and lower matching molding blocks, each molding block having a thin rigid shell. The shell has a die cavity therein with the exposed face of the shell defining the die cavity surface. A porous body of metallic filler material is contained within the central portion of each molding block and is in contact with the inner surface of the rigid shell. Inlet and outlet means are provided for circulating a coolant fluid through the central portion of each molding block.