A method and apparatus is presented. A portion is cut from a thermoplastic sheet of a first thermoplastic material based on a three dimensional model. The portion is secured to a mold. The portion and the mold are heated under vacuum to form a structure. The structure may take the form of a protective covering. In some illustrative examples, the mold may be formed of a second thermoplastic material based on the three dimensional model using additive manufacturing.

A method and apparatus is presented. A portion is cut from a thermoplastic sheet of a first thermoplastic material based on a three dimensional model. The portion is secured to a mold. The portion and the mold are heated under vacuum to form a structure. The structure may take the form of a protective covering. In some illustrative examples, the mold may be formed of a second thermoplastic material based on the three dimensional model using additive manufacturing.

The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling.

The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling.

A display for a computer system may be created by generating a three-dimensional image using a rotating helicoid. The helicoid may be formed by deforming a catenoid to form a helicoid. The helicoid may be supported by a pair of structures that do not occlude an image projected onto the helicoid nor occlude the user's ability to view the full extent of the image on the helicoid. The helicoid generated image may be transformed to an aerial floating image by a corner cube reflector array plate. Then depth sensing cameras may sense user interaction with the floating aerial image and may modify the image to make it appear that the user is actually modifying a physical object by manual manipulation.

A vacuum-forming system for deforming a forming blank is disclosed. The system includes a tool and at least one regulator bag disposed adjacent to the tool. The regulator bag includes a sealed bag having an exterior and an interior and a first volume and a defined passage from the interior to the exterior of the regulator bag. The passage is configured such that the regulator bag has a rate of deflation wherein the sealed bag will deflate from the first volume to a second volume over a determined period of time while the exterior of the sealed bag is at a determined reduced pressure. The system also includes a vacuum membrane coupled to the tool, the membrane configured to form a vacuum space enclosing the forming blank and the at least one regulator bag.

A vacuum-forming system for deforming a forming blank is disclosed. The system includes a tool and at least one regulator bag disposed adjacent to the tool. The regulator bag includes a sealed bag having an exterior and an interior and a first volume and a defined passage from the interior to the exterior of the regulator bag. The passage is configured such that the regulator bag has a rate of deflation wherein the sealed bag will deflate from the first volume to a second volume over a determined period of time while the exterior of the sealed bag is at a determined reduced pressure. The system also includes a vacuum membrane coupled to the tool, the membrane configured to form a vacuum space enclosing the forming blank and the at least one regulator bag.

A shaping method and a shaping device are provided which can easily and inexpensively form a curved face in a film including a micropattern. A shaping method is for forming, in a predetermined shaping-target area of a film including a patterned face with a micropattern, and a rear face opposite to the patterned face, a curved face beyond the thickness of the film, and includes a fixing step for fixing an outer edge of the shaping-target area of the film by fixing means, a first heating step for heating the film 20 by heating means 95, and a pressure adjusting step for producing a predetermined pressure difference between both faces of the film by the pressurizing means in such a way that pressure at a side where the film is fixed in the fixing step becomes small to form a pre-curved face.

A shaping method and a shaping device are provided which can easily and inexpensively form a curved face in a film including a micropattern. A shaping method is for forming, in a predetermined shaping-target area of a film including a patterned face with a micropattern, and a rear face opposite to the patterned face, a curved face beyond the thickness of the film, and includes a fixing step for fixing an outer edge of the shaping-target area of the film by fixing means, a first heating step for heating the film 20 by heating means 95, and a pressure adjusting step for producing a predetermined pressure difference between both faces of the film by the pressurizing means in such a way that pressure at a side where the film is fixed in the fixing step becomes small to form a pre-curved face.

This invention provides a PTP sheet for pharmaceutical drug packaging from which a solid pharmaceutical drug is easily taken out and in which a pocket portion is hard to be accidentally damaged. A PTP sheet has a first sheet from which a pocket portion capable of housing a solid pharmaceutical drug protrudes to the side of an upper surface and a second sheet which is stuck to a lower surface of the first sheet and which closes an opening of the pocket portion. The pocket portion has a peripheral wall portion having a peripheral surface continuous with the upper surface and a top portion having a top surface continuous with the peripheral surface of the peripheral wall portion. A wall thickness of the peripheral wall portion is smaller than a wall thickness of the top portion.