Patent ID: 7045086
Filing Date: 2006-05-16
Classification: B29C,B29K

Abstract:
1. A twinsheet thermoforming apparatus, comprising: a first station including first and second vertically disposed ovens, said ovens providing simultaneous heating of a first and second sheet of thermoplastic; a second station including a first vacuum mold, a second vacuum mold, and a mold actuation system, said first and second molds facing each other, providing simultaneous forming of said first and second sheets, said molds selectively movable by said mold actuation system from an open position providing a gap between said molds to a closed position wherein portions of said first and second sheets contact each other; and a rack including a plurality of vertically spaced sheet receiving openings to hold and support said first and second thermoplastic sheets, the vertically spaced sheet receiving openings only movable in respective single planes without relative vertical movement therebetween, wherein said rack moves said first and second vertically spaced sheet receiving openings simultaneously only in their respective single planes without relative vertical movement to said first station and said second station, wherein said mold actuation system moves at least one of said vacuum molds at least partially through at least one of said sheet receiving openings, and wherein the sheet receiving openings are vertically spaced such that one of said thermoplastic sheets is released from its sheet receiving opening so that said first and second thermoplastic sheets are brought into contact by said at least one of said vacuum molds without moving said rack and sheet receiving openings vertically or horizontally.