Apparatus and methods of forming selected portions of integral sheets of material are disclosed. Unformed portions of the sheets may remain undistorted during the forming process, allowing them to contain text, art work, or other desired information without material risk of the information being degraded or becoming unintelligible during the forming process. This result may be accomplished, moreover, with less trim than usually occurs in conventional forming processes.

Apparatus and methods of forming selected portions of integral sheets of material are disclosed. Unformed portions of the sheets may remain undistorted during the forming process, allowing them to contain text, art work, or other desired information without material risk of the information being degraded or becoming unintelligible during the forming process. This result may be accomplished, moreover, with less trim than usually occurs in conventional forming processes.

A thermoforming machine and a thermoforming method are provided, in particular for producing capsules for obtaining beverages. The capsules (C) are produced from a film (F) of thermoformable material by thermoforming one or more predefined portions (X) of the film. The one or more predefined portions (X) of the film of thermoformable material are pre-heated, i.e. they are heated before being subjected to thermoforming so as to minimize the probability that the film of thermoformable material tears or breaks during thermoforming or after thermoforming.

A thermoforming machine and a thermoforming method are provided, in particular for producing capsules for obtaining beverages. The capsules (C) are produced from a film (F) of thermoformable material by thermoforming one or more predefined portions (X) of the film. The one or more predefined portions (X) of the film of thermoformable material are pre-heated, i.e. they are heated before being subjected to thermoforming so as to minimize the probability that the film of thermoformable material tears or breaks during thermoforming or after thermoforming.

An apparatus (100) for manufacturing supports (6) and/or packages (80) comprising a supplying station (1) presenting a roll support (1a) configured to receive a feed roll (2) and to rotate it around a respective unwinding axis (A) to unroll consecutive portions of plastic film (3); and a cutting station (10) configured for carrying out a cutting procedure comprising separating, from an unrolled portion of plastic film (3) coming from the feed roll (2), either a strip (4) or a plurality of distinct film sheets (5) obtained from a same strip shaped portion (400). The strip (4) or the strip shaped portion (400) have a width, measured parallel to the unwinding axis (A), and a length, measured perpendicular to the unwinding axis (A), wherein the width of said strip shaped portion (400) is larger than the length of the same strip shaped portion (400). The apparatus (100) also comprises a thermoforming station (20) receiving and thermoforming the strips (4) or the distinct film sheets (5), and/or a packaging station (30) configured for closing in a package

An apparatus (100) for manufacturing supports (6) and/or packages (80) comprising a supplying station (1) presenting a roll support (1a) configured to receive a feed roll (2) and to rotate it around a respective unwinding axis (A) to unroll consecutive portions of plastic film (3); and a cutting station (10) configured for carrying out a cutting procedure comprising separating, from an unrolled portion of plastic film (3) coming from the feed roll (2), either a strip (4) or a plurality of distinct film sheets (5) obtained from a same strip shaped portion (400). The strip (4) or the strip shaped portion (400) have a width, measured parallel to the unwinding axis (A), and a length, measured perpendicular to the unwinding axis (A), wherein the width of said strip shaped portion (400) is larger than the length of the same strip shaped portion (400). The apparatus (100) also comprises a thermoforming station (20) receiving and thermoforming the strips (4) or the distinct film sheets (5), and/or a packaging station (30) configured for closing in a package

Provided is a film thermoforming device of a blister packaging machine in which molding can be carried out without extreme reduction in a sheet thickness of a top surface portion of a pocket, and without warpage, which allows stacking, and stable molding can be performed at a high rate. This film thermoforming device comprises a compressed air blowing mechanism that is disposed at a forming mold 5A and that has a compressed air blowing pore 53a which is open at an inner bottom portion of a pocket hole 52 of the forming mold 5A, and a compressed air blowing pore 53b which is open around the pocket hole 52 of the forming mold 5A.

Provided is a film thermoforming device of a blister packaging machine in which molding can be carried out without extreme reduction in a sheet thickness of a top surface portion of a pocket, and without warpage, which allows stacking, and stable molding can be performed at a high rate. This film thermoforming device comprises a compressed air blowing mechanism that is disposed at a forming mold 5A and that has a compressed air blowing pore 53a which is open at an inner bottom portion of a pocket hole 52 of the forming mold 5A, and a compressed air blowing pore 53b which is open around the pocket hole 52 of the forming mold 5A.

A blister packing machine includes: a conveyor that conveys a belt-like container film having a pocket portion forming area and an expected mounting part; a preheating device that preheats the container film conveyed by the conveyor; a pocket portion forming device that forms a pocket portion in the container film softened by the preheating device; and a tension applier that applies a tension along a width direction of the container film to at least the pocket portion forming area. The pocket portion forming device forms the pocket portion while the tension applier applies the tension to the container film, the container film has an edge area between an edge in the width direction and the expected mounting part, and the tension applier includes a projection that applies the tension to the container film by pressing the edge area to form a protruding portion in the container film.

A blister packing machine includes: a conveyor that conveys a belt-like container film having a pocket portion forming area and an expected mounting part; a preheating device that preheats the container film conveyed by the conveyor; a pocket portion forming device that forms a pocket portion in the container film softened by the preheating device; and a tension applier that applies a tension along a width direction of the container film to at least the pocket portion forming area. The pocket portion forming device forms the pocket portion while the tension applier applies the tension to the container film, the container film has an edge area between an edge in the width direction and the expected mounting part, and the tension applier includes a projection that applies the tension to the container film by pressing the edge area to form a protruding portion in the container film.