Patent ID: 7261533

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 from the heating mechanism to a workpiece operation chamber; a plurality of molds and corresponding plugs, each single mold and corresponding plug representing a unique shape; and a mold and plug manipulator system operable to sequentially move the plurality of molds and plugs to the workpiece operation chamber, the workpiece manipulator and mold and plug manipulator being operable to cause a single workpiece and a single mold and corresponding plug to substantially simultaneously arrive at the workpiece operation chamber to allow the workpiece manipulator to present the single workpiece to the single mold and corresponding plug so that the single workpiece is formed into a uniquely shaped item through the cooperative engagement of the single mold and corresponding plug.