Patent ID: 7311513

Claim:
An installation for manufacturing objects such as receptacles by thermoforming pellets of thermoplastic material having top and bottom faces, said installation including conveyor means for conveying the pellets through stations in the installation, including a heating station for heating said pellets, which station includes bottom heater means and top heater means, and a thermoforming station for plastically deforming the heated pellets by stretching said pellets, the conveyor means comprising conveyor elements defining cells which are open upwards and downwards, and each of which is suitable for containing one pellet while the entire top and bottom faces of the pellet remain unobstructed, means for depositing the pellets in the cells, drive means for driving the conveyor elements through the heating station between the bottom heater means and the top heater means, and transfer means for transferring the heated pellets to the thermoforming station, and the bottom heater means co-operating with a support for the pellets while said conveyor elements are being driven through the heating station.