Patent ID: 7572121

Claim:
A system for forming molded items from thermoplastic workpieces, comprising: a workpiece heating mechanism operable to heat a series of thermoplastic workpieces; a workpiece manipulator operable to move each workpiece sequentially from the heating mechanism to a workpiece operation chamber; a plurality of molds, each single mold in the plurality of molds representing a unique shape; a plug in the workpiece operation chamber that is cooperatively engageable with each of the molds; and a mold manipulator operable to sequentially move the plurality of molds to the workpiece operation chamber for engagement with the plug therein; the workpiece manipulator and the mold manipulator being operable to position each workpiece in the workpiece operation chamber between a single mold and the plug so that each workpiece is formed into a uniquely shaped molded item through the cooperative engagement of the single mold and the plug.