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Method and apparatus for forming twin sheet hollow plastic articles

  • US 5,658,523 A
  • Filed: 06/06/1995
  • Issued: 08/19/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of forming a twin sheet plastic article comprising:

  • providing first and second side by side clamp frames;

    positioning first and second plastic sheets in the first and second clamp frames;

    heating the sheets;

    providing a hot forming station including a lower first mold and an upper second mold disposed laterally of and above the first mold;

    moving the first and second clamp frames with the first and second sheets positioned therein to the hot forming station to position the sheets at the hot forming station with the first sheet positioned above the first mold and the second sheet positioned beneath the second mold;

    molding the first and second sheets to the first and second molds respectively;

    releasing one of the sheets from its clamp frame while retaining the other sheet in its clamp frame;

    shifting the molds laterally to position the molds in vertically aligned and vertically spaced relation;

    subjecting the molds to relative vertical movement to bring the molds together and fuse selected areas on the first sheet to selected areas on the second sheet and form the twin sheet plastic article while retaining the other sheet in its clamp frame; and

    with the other sheet retained in its clamp frame and the other clamp frame empty, moving the first and second clamp frames away from the hot forming station to convey the twin sheet plastic article to a further processing station.

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