Patent ID: 8926883
Filing Date: 2015-01-06
Classification: B29C,B30B

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a material, said method comprising the steps of a. presenting a formable material to a space between opposing forming surfaces of opposed forming tools from whence said material is carried as said opposing forming surfaces advance in a machine direction, b. pressurising, as said opposing forming surfaces advance, said material between said opposing forming surfaces in a reduced space between said opposing forming surfaces defining at least in part a pressure forming zone, said reduced space between said opposing forming surfaces being maintained constant until a form of at least one of said opposing forming surfaces is profiled into said material and is retainable thereon, and c. releasing the profiled material from between the said opposing forming surfaces, as the space of the pressure forming zone increases between said opposing forming surfaces as the opposing forming surfaces advance, wherein each of said opposing forming surfaces, is provided by one or more forming tool(s) of a set of forming tools being advanced about its own guiding circuit, said set of forming tools being advanced about its own guiding circuit at least in part by driving action on one or more said forming tools by a driving means, and wherein as said forming tools present in a lead-in zone to pressurise or release said material there is no gap between adjacent said forming tools at least where they contact said forming material, and the relative movement between adjacent tools of an upper said set of forming tools over said lead-in zone is only towards the forming tools of said other opposing forming surface comprising a lower said set of forming tools, and adjacent tools of the lower set of forming tools forming a continuous surface over at least the lead-in zone and the pressure forming zone, and wherein at least one of said sets of forming tools and said guiding circuits is moveable relative to the other set of forming tools and guiding circuit so as to effect opening or closing of said forming tools and opposing forming surfaces of said pressure forming zone to at least vary the pressure in said pressure forming zone, and wherein the method further comprises applying the material to be formed to the continuous surface of the lower set of forming tools prior to the pressure forming zone, the material to be formed being carried to the pressure forming zone on the continuous surface of the lower set of forming tools as said opposing forming surfaces advance in the machine direction.