A method of manufacturing a plastic container having a curled rim (320) comprises the steps of providing a sheet of plastic material; drawing a portion thereof into a mould (120) to form a bottom and wall (310′) of the container, leaving a surrounding portion of material to form a rim (320) of the container; cutting the rim loose from a remaining portion of material; and curling the rim. In the curling step, an inner part of the rim is supported by a supporting member while an outer part is pressed by a pressing member (230) moving relative to the supporting member for the rim to be bent around the supporting member.

An apparatus for thermoforming plastic containers comprising a thermoforming device (3) in turn comprising a shaped mould (4) and a closing element (5) movable relative to one another at least between a home position and a forming position, and an extracting device (9) for extracting the thermoformed container (2) from the shaped mould (4), the extracting device comprising at least one gripper element (68) shiftable between a pickup position and a releasing position; in which when the shaped mould (4) and the closing element (5) are in an extracting position, the gripper element (68) in the pickup position can grip a projecting edge (66) of a projecting flange (71) of the container (2) for retaining it, whilst when the gripper element (68) is in the releasing position it can release a thermoformed container (2), retained by it, onto a conveying device (69); and in which the gripper element (68) and the shaped mould (4) are also movable relative to each other, starting from the position in which the gripper element (68) has gripped the edge (66) of the container (2), along an extracting line, for causing the container (2) to come out of the shaped mould (4).

Production process of a composite product (1) comprising a core (2), a first layer (3) comprising a sheet impregnated with a solid polyurethane material, and a polymer-based film (7) applied to the first layer (3), wherein the process comprises: producing a semi-finished product comprising the core (2) and the sheet impregnated by a liquid mixture precursor of the solid polyurethane material; adhering the film (7) to a first half-mould (11) by applying a depression between the film (7) and the half-mould (11); pressing two half-moulds (11, 12) against each other with the semi-finished product interposed between two shaping surfaces (13), so that the film (7) comes into contact with the liquid mixture; with the semi-finished product in the mould, thermosetting the liquid mixture to transform it into the polyurethane solid material so that the film (7) firmly adheres to the first layer (3) and thus producing the composite product (1).

Production process of a composite product (1) comprising a core (2), a first layer (3) comprising a sheet impregnated with a solid polyurethane material, and a polymer-based film (7) applied to the first layer (3), wherein the process comprises: producing a semi-finished product comprising the core (2) and the sheet impregnated by a liquid mixture precursor of the solid polyurethane material; adhering the film (7) to a first half-mould (11) by applying a depression between the film (7) and the half-mould (11); pressing two half-moulds (11, 12) against each other with the semi-finished product interposed between two shaping surfaces (13), so that the film (7) comes into contact with the liquid mixture; with the semi-finished product in the mould, thermosetting the liquid mixture to transform it into the polyurethane solid material so that the film (7) firmly adheres to the first layer (3) and thus producing the composite product (1).

Process of making a plastic component (1), in particular luggage shell, from self-reinforced thermoplastic material, to a plastic component (1) made of self-reinforced thermoplastic material and an apparatus for making such a plastic component, in particular luggage shell (7). The invention provides a new product and process for manufacturing same on the basis of self-reinforced thermoplastic material by means of the step of tensioning said material (lamina), at least partially tensioning said lamina during all follow-up component shaping and/or molding steps up to a release of a component pre-form shape from the remainder lamina, to form the component. The present invention allow the manufacturing of an ultra-light weight luggage shell (7) on the basis of using self-reinforced thermoplastic material, the manufacturing of same can be further enhanced by permanently tensioning said material during all manufacturing steps up to the final finishing of the product.

Process of making a plastic component (1), in particular luggage shell, from self-reinforced thermoplastic material, to a plastic component (1) made of self-reinforced thermoplastic material and an apparatus for making such a plastic component, in particular luggage shell (7). The invention provides a new product and process for manufacturing same on the basis of self-reinforced thermoplastic material by means of the step of tensioning said material (lamina), at least partially tensioning said lamina during all follow-up component shaping and/or molding steps up to a release of a component pre-form shape from the remainder lamina, to form the component. The present invention allow the manufacturing of an ultra-light weight luggage shell (7) on the basis of using self-reinforced thermoplastic material, the manufacturing of same can be further enhanced by permanently tensioning said material during all manufacturing steps up to the final finishing of the product.

The mould comprises a base plate and a plurality of forming areas, wherein each forming area comprises a cavity in the base plate and a forming sleeve placed in the cavity. Each forming area further comprises first heat means for heating or keeping heated the forming sleeve relative to the base plate, such that the temperature of the part of the film which lies against the forming sleeve during cooling remains above a glass temperature of the plastic long enough to obtain a product with an at least partially crystalline structure.

The mould comprises a base plate and a plurality of forming areas, wherein each forming area comprises a cavity in the base plate and a forming sleeve placed in the cavity. Each forming area further comprises first heat means for heating or keeping heated the forming sleeve relative to the base plate, such that the temperature of the part of the film which lies against the forming sleeve during cooling remains above a glass temperature of the plastic long enough to obtain a product with an at least partially crystalline structure.

A method of manufacturing a furniture panel includes placing the frame on a top of a mold, the frame at an outer edge being formed with a protrusion; shaping the plastic blank sheet by vacuum forming such that the plastic blank sheet wraps the frame and the mold; demolding and trimming, so that the trimmed plastic blank sheet wraps the protrusion of the frame and the frame is embedded in the trimmed plastic blank sheet. The method is efficient, implementing the process of wrapping a frame within a plastic panel in a simple fashion, and the panel formed smooth in profile. The panel is resistant to deformation and has a prolonged service life.

Improved separator film compositions, methods and systems for use in producing thermoformed dental appliances are disclosed.