Patent ID: 6324819
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: B29C,B29K,B29L,B65B,B65D

Abstract:
Apparatus for producing containers from a strip of moldable synthetic plastic film (1) that is transported longitudinally in a given direction (D), comprising:(a) upper (4) and lower (5) mold means arranged above and below the strip, respectively, said lower mold means being sectional and including:(1) a pair of parallel cylinder lower mold sections (23) arranged at an acute angle relative to the transport direction of the film strip;(2) support means supporting said cylinder sections for lateral displacement between adjacent and separated positions relative to each other, respectively, said lower mold sections having adjacent side walls wherein the upper portions of said lower mold sections contain a plurality of recesses that cooperate to define a plurality of lower mold cavities (12) when said lower mold sections are in said adjacent position, said lower mold cavities being arranged in a row that is inclined at said acute angle relative to the transport direction of the film strip, each of said lower mold cavities including an undercut portion (14), said support means including:(a) a support plate (17);(b) parallel spaced guide rails mounted on said support plate, said guide rails being normal to and extending beneath said pair of lower mold sections; and(c) a plurality of guide members connecting each of said lower mold sections for sliding movement with said guide rails, respectively; and(3) control cam means (27) for displacing said lower mold sections between said adjacent and said separated positions, respectively.(b) said upper mold means including:(1) a plurality of displaceable upper plugs (8) opposite said lower mold cavities, respectively, said plugs being displaceable toward said lower mold means to deep-draw the film into the associated mold cavity, respectively; and(2) means (6) for supplying compressed air from said upper mold means into the mold cavities above the portion of the film deep-drawn therein, thereby to form containers (3) in said cavities.