Patent ID: 8038432

Claim:
Apparatus for vacuum thermoforming and printing thermoformed plastic articles from a substantially continuous web of thermoformable plastic material comprising: a rotatable vacuum thermoforming drum for receiving said web and having a continuum of contiguous flat surfaces thereon, each such surface being adapted to carry one or more vacuum thermoforming dies defining said articles arranged circumferentially thereon; a vacuum source associated with said drum for drawing said web into contact with said dies; a drive for rotating said drum; at least two printing structures carrying printing devices and being disposed immediately adjacent said drum at respective, circumferentially spaced locations for contacting and imparting ink to plastic articles substantially immediately after said articles are formed in said web over said dies; a displaceable mount for holding said devices in contact with said web in use; and means for operating said printing structures in synchronism with the rotation of said drum.