The present disclosure concerns a molding apparatus including: a first thermally conductive flange and a second thermally conductive flange, said first and second thermally conductive flanges delimiting a cavity configured to receive thermoplastic pre-impregnated textiles, a mold thermally conductive and thermoregulated by a heat transfer fluidcomprising an upper impression and a lower impression, said upper and lower impressions being configured to receive said first and second thermally conductive flanges.

A thermoforming mold device (1) providing a piece with a thin wall starting with a sheet of thermoplastic material is provided. At least one (3) of two parts of the mold (3, 3) comprises at least one means (4) of local deformation of a sheet (2) in the mold (3, 3) in its closed state, the at least one means (4) comprises a piece of hollow molding with a peripheral edge, which can be connected selectively to a source of suction and can be displaced between a folded position, in which the molding piece is situated in close proximity with the wall of the thermoformed piece, and a deployed position, in which the molding piece is applied under pressure with its peripheral edge against the wall of the thermoformed piece upholding the other part of the mold.

A thermoforming assembly includes a lower mold part (20) and an upper mold part (34). The two mold parts are able to move in a substantially vertical direction between an open position and a closed position. Retaining members (28) are able to hold a sheet of softened thermoplastic (10) in a substantially horizontal mean plane Pm between the two mold parts. The retaining members include a plurality of rods (28) mounted mobile in the lower mold part (20). The rods (28) project out from the lower mold part (20) when the two mold parts (20, 34) are in the open position, to hold the sheet of softened thermoplastic (10) in the substantially horizontal mean plane Pm and accompany it as the mold closes.

A thermoforming mold device (1) providing a piece with a thin wall starting with a sheet of thermoplastic material is provided. At least one (3) of two parts of the mold (3, 3) comprises at least one means (4) of local deformation of a sheet (2) in the mold (3, 3) in its closed state, the at least one means (4) comprises a piece of hollow molding with a peripheral edge, which can be connected selectively to a source of suction and can be displaced between a folded position, in which the molding piece is situated in close proximity with the wall of the thermoformed piece, and a deployed position, in which the molding piece is applied under pressure with its peripheral edge against the wall of the thermoformed piece upholding the other part of the mold.

A thermoforming device is described. It relates to a mold assembly including a first and second mold, and to a mold that can be used in a thermoforming device. It also relates to a method for thermoforming a product. The thermoforming device is characterized in that the thermoforming device comprises a second pre-stretcher, in addition to a first pre-stretcher and a calibration element, and that the second pre-stretcher is at least partially and moveably arranged in a second mold body. A movement relative to the second mold body and towards the same forming cavity of the first pre-stretcher, the second pre-stretcher, and the calibration element, can be individually controlled, and the second pre-stretcher at least partially surrounds the first pre-stretcher and the calibration element.

A system for preforming a sheet of plastic material (MP) including a first element forming a preforming cavity, the system including a second element adapted to be positioned opposite the first element, a set of pressing means sequentially actuated and carried by the second element to apply pressure locally to the sheet of plastic material (MP), so as to press this sheet (MP) against the first element, at least one means for sequential actuation of the pressing means.

A thermoforming apparatus includes a mold with a plurality of sections. Each section is independently movable. The thermoforming apparatus further includes a set of electromechanical actuators. Each electromechanical actuator is attached to a screw that moves each section of the plurality of sections to specific positions. The mold is configured to press against a blank to form a product with a shape corresponding to the specific positions of the plurality of sections.

A covering cap, in particular for placing on a skin analyzer, contains an end wall bounded by a circumferential edge, and a circumferential wall adjoining the circumferential edge of the end wall. At least one part of the covering cap has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the circumferential wall in a portion of the circumferential wall that lies in the region or end of the circumferential wall remote from the end wall. The end wall is of a gas-permeable configuration.

An apparatus and related method of utilizing articulating vacuum plates to manipulate a film or polymeric sheet and form a three dimensional article is provided. The apparatus can be in the form of an articulating vacuum plate system which includes one or more plates or mold parts that are configured to support a sheet, constructed for example, from a polymeric film, in a two dimensional configuration or a three dimensional configuration in a first mode. The apparatus is constructed so that the plates and/or mold parts can articulate or move so as to reconfigure the sheet from a generally planar configuration into a second three dimensional configuration in a second mode for further forming, optionally while the plates and/or mold parts apply vacuum to the sheet while the plates and/or mold parts articulate, so that the plates and/or mold parts bend or otherwise manipulate the configuration and shape of the sheet.

A molding device for thermoforming, comprising a two-part mold that makes it possible to define an open and a closed state of the mold is provided. The first part of the two-part mold comprises a means of suction for pressing the sheet against its working surface. The means of suction includes a main means of suction and at least one secondary means of suction that is designed for and capable of generating suction in a specific limited area of the working surface, at least partially independently relative to the main means of suction. The second part of the mold comprises an added-on hollow shaping part, that is arranged so that it is located, when the mold is closed, directly facing the specific limited area of the working surface of the first part of the mold. The secondary means of suction can be controlled independently of the main means of suction.