A stretching and bending mechanism 3, fixes a resin sheet material 2 by a first fixed clamp and a second fixed clamp at both sides of a center of a transverse direction of the resin sheet material 2 at each end in a longitudinal direction of the resin sheet material 2, and when transverse guides 13 are bent between the first and second fixed clamps 9a, 9b, at least one of the longitudinal guides 15 is guided by the bending guide 16 so as to move toward the center side in the transverse direction.

A stretching and bending mechanism 3, fixes a resin sheet material 2 by a first fixed clamp and a second fixed clamp at both sides of a center of a transverse direction of the resin sheet material 2 at each end in a longitudinal direction of the resin sheet material 2, and when transverse guides 13 are bent between the first and second fixed clamps 9a, 9b, at least one of the longitudinal guides 15 is guided by the bending guide 16 so as to move toward the center side in the transverse direction.

The device includes a mold block having at least one thermoforming chamber (28) having an inside surface (29), an axial opening (28A) through which a decorative wrap-around label (38) can be inserted into the chamber, and a moving end-wall (40) opposite from the opening. The end-wall is suitable for moving in an end segment (28A) of the chamber (28) between a positioning high level and at least one thermoforming low level, and the device has at least one tongue-and-groove set comprising a fin (42) on the end-wall (40) that is engaged in a notch (44) in the inside surface of the end segment (28B).

A method for blow molding a container includes heating a central region of a preformed puck to a first temperature, and heating an annular region surrounding the central region of the preformed puck to a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature. The heated preformed puck is arranged at an upper end of a mold cavity of a mold that defines an outer shape of the container. The heated preformed puck is secured to the upper end of the mold cavity. The heated reformed puck is stretched by pressing a plunger into the heated preformed puck and into the mold cavity in a longitudinal direction of the mold cavity toward a lower end of the mold cavity. Pressurized air is then applied to the mold cavity so that the heated preformed puck stretches to conform to the shape of the inner wall of the mold cavity.

The aim of the invention is to further develop conventional devices for stretching and/or shaping and/or applying a lamination of a film element. This aim is achieved, according to the invention, by a device for stretching and/or shaping and/or applying a lamination of a film element, which device comprises a support frame for gripping the film element relative to a shaping tool or to a component to be laminated, and having grippers for gripping the film element, which are mounted so as to be movable relative to the support frame, said device being characterized in that grippers are arranged in a multi-axially adjustable manner relative to the support frame in order to adapt the film element more precisely to a contour of the shaping tool or of the component to be laminated.

The aim of the invention is to further develop conventional devices for stretching and/or shaping and/or applying a lamination of a film element. This aim is achieved, according to the invention, by a device for stretching and/or shaping and/or applying a lamination of a film element, which device comprises a support frame for gripping the film element relative to a shaping tool or to a component to be laminated, and having grippers for gripping the film element, which are mounted so as to be movable relative to the support frame, said device being characterized in that grippers are arranged in a multi-axially adjustable manner relative to the support frame in order to adapt the film element more precisely to a contour of the shaping tool or of the component to be laminated.

Composite structures and methods of forming composite structures are provided. The composite structures can include one or more composite structure components. Each composite structure component is formed from a composite panel that includes one or more sheets of material. The sheets of material include a thermoplastic material and a plurality of reinforcing fibers. A composite panel can be formed in three dimensions to form a composite structure component. Multiple composite structure components can be fused to one another to form a composite structure. In addition, each composite structure component and the composite structure formed therefrom can include an aperture. An interior volume can be formed between adjacent composite structure components. Methods for forming a composite structure can include a step of simultaneously molding and fusing composite structure components.

A forming station for a thermoform packaging machine comprising a forming tool upper part with a die lid and a tool lower part. The forming tool upper part may comprises a male die part holding plate that has at least one male die part fixed thereto and which is displaceable along at least one rail provided on or in the die lid. The forming station may comprise a male die part drive drivingly connected to the male die part holding plate for generating a stroke movement of the male die part holding plate relative to the die lid. A guide element may be provided on the male die part holding plate, the guide element being movable relative to the male die part holding plate between an engagement position for engagement with an associated rail and a retracted position in which the guide element is disengaged from the rail.

A forming station for a thermoform packaging machine comprising a forming tool upper part with a die lid and a tool lower part. The forming tool upper part may comprises a male die part holding plate that has at least one male die part fixed thereto and which is displaceable along at least one rail provided on or in the die lid. The forming station may comprise a male die part drive drivingly connected to the male die part holding plate for generating a stroke movement of the male die part holding plate relative to the die lid. A guide element may be provided on the male die part holding plate, the guide element being movable relative to the male die part holding plate between an engagement position for engagement with an associated rail and a retracted position in which the guide element is disengaged from the rail.

Composite structures and methods of forming composite structures are provided. The composite structures can include one or more composite structure components. Each composite structure component is formed from a composite panel that includes one or more sheets of material. The sheets of material include a thermoplastic material and a plurality of reinforcing fibers. A composite panel can be formed in three dimensions to form a composite structure component. Multiple composite structure components can be fused to one another to form a composite structure. In addition, each composite structure component and the composite structure formed therefrom can include an aperture. An interior volume can be formed between adjacent composite structure components. Methods for forming a composite structure can include a step of simultaneously molding and fusing composite structure components.