Patent ID: 11865764
Assignee: IRWIN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, INC.
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 8:
9. A thermoforming apparatus, comprising:
a frame having a first end and a second end opposed from the first end along an article forming axis and configured to receive a thermoformable sheet transverse to the article forming axis along a sheet line between the first end and the second end;
a pair of opposed platens, one of the platens carried by the frame proximate the first end of the frame for movement relative to another of the platens carried proximate the second end of the frame, each platen configured to carry a die to form articles in a thermoformable sheet positioned therebetween;
a platen drive assembly including:
a drive motor;
a kinematic drive linkage coupled with the drive motor having a drive link;
a pair of toggle shaft bearing assemblies provided in each of a pair of opposed sides of the frame proximate a first end of the frame;
a platen toggle drive assembly having a pair of toggle shafts carried for reciprocation in the pair of opposed sides of the frame by the pair of toggle shaft bearing assemblies, the pair of toggle shafts configured to support the one platen relative to the another platen so as to maximize a given die gap between the pair of platens for an existing height of the frame between the first end and the second end, the drive link provided between the pair of toggle shafts proximate the one end of the frame and a sheet line.