A flipper assembly that can be used with a package-producing mold, for instance, a mold that is used during thermoforming procedures. The flipper assembly includes a base mounted to the mold, a flipper arm pivotably connected to the base between a first position where the arm is substantially perpendicular to the height of the base and a second position where the arm is substantially parallel to the height of the base, and a spring mounted to the base and the flipper arm. During the thermoforming process, the flipper arm forms an undercut of finger into the package, which improves the stability and strength of the package. The flipper arm is moved between first and second positions based on linear extension and retraction of the spring.

Molds for forming fiber reinforced insulation and methods of using the molds are described. One exemplary mold may include an upper mold and a lower mold. The upper mold and the lower mold may be coupleable to define a mold cavity for receiving therein a fiber reinforced insulation preform. The upper mold may include a plurality of apertures that may be configured to allow moisture from the fiber reinforced insulation preform to pass through the upper mold while substantially preventing fibers from the fiber reinforced insulation preform from passing through the upper mold such that the fiber reinforced insulation preform dries and cures to form the fiber reinforced insulation product. The plurality of apertures may collectively define an open area of at least 20% of an inner surface area of the upper mold that may contact the fiber reinforced insulation preform.

Molds for forming fiber reinforced insulation and methods of using the molds are described. One exemplary mold may include an upper mold and a lower mold. The upper mold and the lower mold may be coupleable to define a mold cavity for receiving therein a fiber reinforced insulation preform. The upper mold may include a plurality of apertures that may be configured to allow moisture from the fiber reinforced insulation preform to pass through the upper mold while substantially preventing fibers from the fiber reinforced insulation preform from passing through the upper mold such that the fiber reinforced insulation preform dries and cures to form the fiber reinforced insulation product. The plurality of apertures may collectively define an open area of at least 20% of an inner surface area of the upper mold that may contact the fiber reinforced insulation preform.

A device for attaching a mouthpiece to an innerliner of an aircraft water tank is provided. A cylinder portion of an innerliner is thermally deformed to conform to an inner circumferential portion of a cylinder-like portion, and an inner circumferential portion of a dome portion of the innerliner is attached to a skirt portion by an adhesive. A lower mold includes two sections inserted inside the innerliner from the inner side of a mouthpiece in a folded state. The two sections are opened inside the innerliner and a holding member holds the two sections in an open state. The lower mold can be disposed in the innerliner sealed from the inner side of the mouthpiece, and abutment of an outer abutting surface of an upper mold against a first annular surface and abutment of an inner abutting surface of the lower mold against a second annular surface can be performed.

A device for attaching a mouthpiece to an innerliner of an aircraft water tank is provided. A cylinder portion of an innerliner is thermally deformed to conform to an inner circumferential portion of a cylinder-like portion, and an inner circumferential portion of a dome portion of the innerliner is attached to a skirt portion by an adhesive. A lower mold includes two sections inserted inside the innerliner from the inner side of a mouthpiece in a folded state. The two sections are opened inside the innerliner and a holding member holds the two sections in an open state. The lower mold can be disposed in the innerliner sealed from the inner side of the mouthpiece, and abutment of an outer abutting surface of an upper mold against a first annular surface and abutment of an inner abutting surface of the lower mold against a second annular surface can be performed.

A vacuum plastic molding machine includes a heating device, a plurality of upright posts, a carrier assembly, and a demolding mechanism. The carrier assembly includes an upper carrier and a lower carrier. The upper carrier includes an upper frame, multiple upper movement structures, at least one rotation plate, at least one driving member, and at least one linking mechanism. An adjusting space is defined between the at least one rotation plate and the at least one linking mechanism. The lower carrier includes a lower frame, multiple lower movement structures, and at least one locking tenon. The locking tenon is placed into the adjusting space. The at least one driving member is rotated to change the position of the at least one locking tenon in the adjusting space, and to adjust the distance between the upper carrier and the lower carrier.

An apparatus for thermoforming plastic containers (2) comprising at least one thermoforming device (3) suitable for thermoforming a flat sheet (4) for making a container (2) equipped with an upper flange (5) projecting outward and at least one extracting device (6) associable with the thermoforming device (3) for extracting the thermoformed container (2) from it; when the extracting device (6) is associated with the thermoforming device (3) for extracting the already thermoformed container (2), the extracting device (6) and the thermoforming device (3) define a perimetric mould (7) suitable for hot bending the annular flange (5) of the already thermoformed container (2) before it is extracted from the thermoforming device (3).

An apparatus for thermoforming plastic containers (2) comprising at least one thermoforming device (3) suitable for thermoforming a flat sheet (4) for making a container (2) equipped with an upper flange (5) projecting outward and at least one extracting device (6) associable with the thermoforming device (3) for extracting the thermoformed container (2) from it; when the extracting device (6) is associated with the thermoforming device (3) for extracting the already thermoformed container (2), the extracting device (6) and the thermoforming device (3) define a perimetric mould (7) suitable for hot bending the annular flange (5) of the already thermoformed container (2) before it is extracted from the thermoforming device (3).

A thermoforming platen is provided having a tooling support plate and a plurality of discrete load paths. The tooling support plate has a top tooling surface, a bottom surface, and an outer periphery. The plurality of discrete load paths interconnect the bottom surface with one or more external load sources operative to distribute and centralize load deformation of the top plate from forming loads. The load paths are provided laterally inboard of the top tooling surface at one of a plurality of inboard locations to impart minimized tooling surface deformation along the top plate tooling surface. A method is also provided.

A thermoforming platen is provided having a tooling support plate and a plurality of discrete load paths. The tooling support plate has a top tooling surface, a bottom surface, and an outer periphery. The plurality of discrete load paths interconnect the bottom surface with one or more external load sources operative to distribute and centralize load deformation of the top plate from forming loads. The load paths are provided laterally inboard of the top tooling surface at one of a plurality of inboard locations to impart minimized tooling surface deformation along the top plate tooling surface. A method is also provided.