Patent ID: 8007269

Claim:
A rotary forming drum for forming thermoplastic materials comprising in combination: a vacuum distribution and control system, a plurality of pivoting trays connecting two spaced-apart drums; said vacuum distribution and control system comprising a vacuum zone, said vacuum zone comprising a vacuum induction plate, a vacuum zone plate and a vacuum adaptor plate; said vacuum induction plate being mounted to said forming drum and containing a plurality of arcuately spaced openings therethrough; said vacuum zone plate surmounting said induction plate and having an arcuate slot selectively communicating with each of the plurality of openings through said induction plate; said adaptor plate being surmounted on said vacuum zone plate with an opening there through permit vacuum flow there through said opening in said vacuum zone plate being in communication with said arcuate slot; vacuum hoses connecting said vacuum distribution and control system to said trays; each said pivoting tray being pivotably mounted between said drums and pivotable into and out of communication with at least one of said vacuum hoses, said pivoting being controlled by a drive mechanism and at least one return springs, wherein each pivoting tray is capable of outward movement away from the rotary forming drum, effected by the drive mechanism.