Patent ID: 7175791

Claim:
A process for producing dish-shaped moldings of thermoplastic material, including the steps of: forming a substantially tubular preform, having a wall thickness and an outer periphery, to a given length by extrusion of thermoplastic material from an extrusion head; axially dividing said preform to form at least one web of said material; providing a manipulator having gripping arms, each arm provided with a plurality of segments; placing said segments in engagement with said outer periphery of said web of material, whereby said plurality of segments embrace said outer periphery of said web of material; removing said web of material from said extrusion head; spreading said web of material from a substantially tubular preform into a substantially straight condition by use of the gripping arms; providing a molding tool; transferring said web of material to said molding tool; and forming said web of material into a dish-shaped molding in said tool.