Patent ID: 7901199
Filing Date: 2011-03-08
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
1. A thermoform tooling system for efficiently forming and trimming a heated sheet of heat deformable material to produce a molded part, said system comprising a lower press platen and an upper press platen disposed above said lower press platen, a lower mold member supported by said lower platen and an upper mold member supported by said upper platen with at least one of said mold members defining a cavity therein, a lower trim frame connected to said lower platen and closely surrounding said lower mold member with said lower mold member supported for sliding movement within said lower trim frame, an upper trim frame connected to said upper platen and closely surrounding said upper mold member with said upper mold member supported for sliding movement within said upper trim frame, said upper trim frame and said lower trim frame being positioned in opposing relation for clamping therebetween a peripheral portion of said heated sheet in response to movement of said lower mold member and said upper mold member from an open position to a closed position, at least one vacuum passage extending to said cavity within said one mold member and adapted to be connected to a vacuum source to vacuum form said heated sheet into said cavity while the mold members are in said closed position to form said molded part, said upper mold member and said lower mold member being movable as a unit within said upper trim frame and said lower trim frame while said mold members are in said closed position to shear the molded part from the peripheral portion of the sheet clamped between the trim frames before the mold members move to said open position to release the molded part, a set of compression springs biasing said upper trim frame downwardly from said upper platen to a clamping position and means for connecting said upper platen to said upper trim frame and permitting downward movement of said upper platen and said upper mold member within said upper trim frame against said springs, and at least one blocking member supported by said upper platen for lateral movement between a blocking position preventing upward movement of said upper trim frame relative to said upper platen and a release position permitting said downward movement of said upper platen and said upper mold member against said compression springs.