The invention relates to a heating module and a primary reflector for a heating module of a heating duct of a molding machine for producing containers from preforms, in which preforms made of thermoplastic are heated, which is provided between tubular heating units arranged in parallel and one over another on a side wall of the heating module and the side wall and consists of ceramic material, and is characterized in that the primary reflector is connected via a dovetail connection to the side wall, wherein a connecting region in the form of a dovetail is formed in each case on the reflector, which is fixable in each case with a clip made of steel, in particular spring steel, fastened on the side wall, having dimensions adapted to the dovetail.

The invention relates to a heating module and a primary reflector for a heating module of a heating duct of a molding machine for producing containers from preforms, in which preforms made of thermoplastic are heated, which is provided between tubular heating units arranged in parallel and one over another on a side wall of the heating module and the side wall and consists of ceramic material, and is characterized in that the primary reflector is connected via a dovetail connection to the side wall, wherein a connecting region in the form of a dovetail is formed in each case on the reflector, which is fixable in each case with a clip made of steel, in particular spring steel, fastened on the side wall, having dimensions adapted to the dovetail.

An inspection device includes: an illumination device that irradiates standard and inspection objects with near-infrared light; a spectroscope that disperses reflected light; an imaging device that takes images of first and second optical spectrums of the reflected light dispersed by the spectroscope to obtain standard spectroscopic image data and inspection spectroscopic image data; and a processor. The processor executes a predetermined arithmetic operation with regard to at least one of (i) each pixel row of the standard spectroscopic image data perpendicular to a wavelength dispersion direction and (ii) each pixel column of the standard spectroscopic image data parallel to the wavelength dispersion direction. The processor, based on luminance values of pixels belonging to the pixel row or column, determines a characteristic of the pixel row and grasps a wavelength sensitivity characteristic of the imaging element under the near-infrared light emitted from the illumination device.

A forming tool is used, which has a tool trough arranged in a stationary manner and a pressure bell, which can be lowered onto and lifted away from the tool trough. An arrangement is created in which a single- or multi-layer, initially flat, flexible laminate separates the trough interior from the pressure-bell interior in a pressure tight manner. A table, on which the 3-D substrate to be coated is located, assumes a lowered position within the trough interior; there is a considerable, free intermediate space (between the laminate and the 3-D substrate. A radiant-heater assembly is inserted into said intermediate space. The radiant-heater assembly has a carrier, on the top side of which radiant heaters that can be activated are attached and on the bottom side of which radiant heaters that can be activated are attached.

A forming tool is used, which has a tool trough arranged in a stationary manner and a pressure bell, which can be lowered onto and lifted away from the tool trough. An arrangement is created in which a single- or multi-layer, initially flat, flexible laminate separates the trough interior from the pressure-bell interior in a pressure tight manner. A table, on which the 3-D substrate to be coated is located, assumes a lowered position within the trough interior; there is a considerable, free intermediate space (between the laminate and the 3-D substrate. A radiant-heater assembly is inserted into said intermediate space. The radiant-heater assembly has a carrier, on the top side of which radiant heaters that can be activated are attached and on the bottom side of which radiant heaters that can be activated are attached.

The invention relates to a method for forming a dimensionally stable three-dimensional shape into a sheet-like substrate (3) of thermoplastic material comprising the steps of: a.) providing a mould including a first die (1) with a first template surface (11) for contacting an upper surface (31) of the substrate (3) and a second die (2) with a second template surface (21) for contacting a lower surface (32) of the substrate (3) opposite the upper surface (31) of the substrate (3); each template surface (11, 21) having an inverse of a desired shape to be transformed to the upper and lower surfaces (31, 32) of the substrate (3); and at least one of the first die (1) and the second die (2) being transparent to electromagnetic waves of a predetermined wavelength; b.) providing at least one absorption layer (5, 5) being able to be heated by absorption of an electromagnetic irradiation (4, 4) of the predetermined wavelength and thereby heating the thermoplastic substrate (3) to or above its glass transition temperature; c.) placing the substrate (3) between the first and the second die (1, 2) of the mould and closing the mould; d.) irradiating the absorption layer (5, 5) with the electromagnetic irradiation (4, 4) in order to heat the thermoplastic substrate (3) to or above its glass transition temperature during a sufficient time to transform the thermoplastic substrate into the three-dimensional shape.

Embodiments relate to thermoforming multiple aligners simultaneously. In one embodiment, an aligner manufacturing system includes a plate, a heating section, and a thermoforming chamber. The plate is configured to secure a first mold of a first dental arch and a second mold of a second dental arch. The heating section is configured to heat a sheet of plastic to generate a heated sheet. The thermoforming chamber is configured to simultaneously thermoform the heated sheet over the first mold of the first dental arch and the second mold of the second dental arch to form a first aligner shaped to fit the first dental arch and a second aligner shaped to fit the second dental arch.

A forming tool is used, which has a tool trough arranged in a stationary manner and a pressure bell, which can be lowered onto and lifted away from the tool trough. An arrangement is created in which a single- or multi-layer, initially flat, flexible laminate separates the trough interior from the pressure-bell interior in a pressure tight manner. A table, on which the 3-D substrate to be coated is located, assumes a lowered position within the trough interior; there is a considerable, free intermediate space (between the laminate and the 3-D substrate. A radiant-heater assembly is inserted into said intermediate space. The radiant-heater assembly has a carrier, on the top side of which radiant heaters that can be activated are attached and on the bottom side of which radiant heaters that can be activated are attached.

A vacuum thermoforming apparatus including: a molding machine on which a window base material is mounted; and a pressure supply machine coupled to the molding machine and configured to supply a pneumatic pressure toward the molding machine. The molding machine includes a mounting part having a curved surface-shaped mounting surface, and a coupling part having a structure for coupling with the pressure supply machine and a curved portion along the shape of the mounting part. The pressure supply machine includes: a cover part facing the mounting surface; and a side wall extending from the cover part to define an inner space in the pressure supply machine, the side wall having a curved upper surface so as to engage with the coupling part.

A vacuum thermoforming apparatus including: a molding machine on which a window base material is mounted; and a pressure supply machine coupled to the molding machine and configured to supply a pneumatic pressure toward the molding machine. The molding machine includes a mounting part having a curved surface-shaped mounting surface, and a coupling part having a structure for coupling with the pressure supply machine and a curved portion along the shape of the mounting part. The pressure supply machine includes: a cover part facing the mounting surface; and a side wall extending from the cover part to define an inner space in the pressure supply machine, the side wall having a curved upper surface so as to engage with the coupling part.