Patent ID: 6926513

Claim:
A flex reduction system for use with a drive shaft of a thermoformer platen, the flex reduction system comprising: the thermoformer platen movably mounted within a frame; the drive shaft rotatably mounted within the frame, the drive shaft having a first shaft end and a second shaft end, the first shaft end received into the frame at a first frame bearing, and the second shaft end received into the frame at a second frame bearing; a doubler plate immovably mounted within the frame, the doubler plate having a doubler bearing, and the drive shaft received into the doubler bearing; a linkage, the linkage having a platen end and a drive end, the platen end hingably attached to the thermoformer platen at a platen pivot, and the drive end hingably attached to the drive shaft at a drive pivot, the drive pivot located on the drive shaft between the first frame bearing and the doubler bearing; and the doubler plate reduces the flex of the drive shaft as the linkage moves the thermoforming platen within the frame in a reciprocating motion, the linkage driven by the rotation of the drive shaft.