A thermoforming apparatus is provided having a frame, a pair of platens, and a platen drive assembly. The platens are carried by the frame on opposite sides of a sheet line each configured to carry a respective die. One platen has a proximal die surface adjacent the sheet line and a rear surface distal the sheet line. The platen drive assembly is interposed between the frame and the one platen and has at least one reciprocating kinematic linkage and a drive motor configured to reciprocate the one platen to and fro relative to another platen. The kinematic linkage has a plurality of links interconnected pivotally together with respective rotation joints and interposed between the frame and the one platen. An outboard-most rotation joint is provided proximate one end of the frame and an inboard-most rotation joint intermediate the rear surface and the proximal die surface. A method is also provided.

A device for manufacturing a 3D forming film performs molding at a uniform pressure by using a variable volume body, and thus, enables undercut portion molding, prevents thermal corrugation on the curved portion, etc., of the forming film and the distortion of the forming film, reduces a thickness deviation of the forming film and excludes an additional cutting process after molding the forming film, thereby improving the quality of the 3D-molded forming film. The device for manufacturing the 3D forming film includes: a mold for molding a forming film; a press head unit which is positioned to correspond to the mold and has a variable spaced distance from the mold; and a variable volume body which is coupled to the press head unit and has elasticity so that a volume thereof is variable due to gas introduction and discharge by the press head unit.

A device for manufacturing a 3D forming film performs molding at a uniform pressure by using a variable volume body, and thus, enables undercut portion molding, prevents thermal corrugation on the curved portion, etc., of the forming film and the distortion of the forming film, reduces a thickness deviation of the forming film and excludes an additional cutting process after molding the forming film, thereby improving the quality of the 3D-molded forming film. The device for manufacturing the 3D forming film includes: a mold for molding a forming film; a press head unit which is positioned to correspond to the mold and has a variable spaced distance from the mold; and a variable volume body which is coupled to the press head unit and has elasticity so that a volume thereof is variable due to gas introduction and discharge by the press head unit.

A system and method for forming plastic sheet into a three-dimensional shape. The plastic sheet may include one or more sheet-mounted components, such as electronics, that must be shielded from excessive heat, pressure, and/or crushing when the formation of the sheet occurs. A recess will be formed to protect against directly contacting sheet-mounted component. The recess may be aligned along the heating plate and/or the form core and/or along a protective blanket which may be set over (and under) sheet prior to heating/forming. The sheet is registered (with or without a blanket) onto a base plate, and preferably over a form core. The sheet is then raised to contact with a heating plate, and then placed downward over the (optionally heated) form core. Recess(es) align in locations corresponding to mounted component to protect same.

A system and method for forming plastic sheet into a three-dimensional shape. The plastic sheet may include one or more sheet-mounted components, such as electronics, that must be shielded from excessive heat, pressure, and/or crushing when the formation of the sheet occurs. A recess will be formed to protect against directly contacting sheet-mounted component. The recess may be aligned along the heating plate and/or the form core and/or along a protective blanket which may be set over (and under) sheet prior to heating/forming. The sheet is registered (with or without a blanket) onto a base plate, and preferably over a form core. The sheet is then raised to contact with a heating plate, and then placed downward over the (optionally heated) form core. Recess(es) align in locations corresponding to mounted component to protect same.

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.

A frame device for retaining and positioning sheet materials and possible reinforcing materials intended to be thermoformed to obtain objects made of composite material, comprises: a first tubular element defining internally a first vacuum chamber for grasping by aspiration a first sheet material, a second tubular element defining internally a second vacuum chamber, separate from, and independent of the first vacuum chamber and configured for grasping by aspiration a second sheet material, wherein said first tubular element and said second tubular element are fixed together permanently so as to define a grasping frame-structure configured as a single piece; in said grasping frame-structure a third vacuum chamber being defined, separate and independent of said first and second vacuum chambers, and configured for removing air from the zone that is interposed between said first and second sheet materials and which is intended for being possibly occupied by the reinforcing material/s.

A corresponding method is also disclosed.

A frame device for retaining and positioning sheet materials and possible reinforcing materials intended to be thermoformed to obtain objects made of composite material, comprises: a first tubular element defining internally a first vacuum chamber for grasping by aspiration a first sheet material, a second tubular element defining internally a second vacuum chamber, separate from, and independent of the first vacuum chamber and configured for grasping by aspiration a second sheet material, wherein said first tubular element and said second tubular element are fixed together permanently so as to define a grasping frame-structure configured as a single piece; in said grasping frame-structure a third vacuum chamber being defined, separate and independent of said first and second vacuum chambers, and configured for removing air from the zone that is interposed between said first and second sheet materials and which is intended for being possibly occupied by the reinforcing material/s.

A corresponding method is also disclosed.

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.