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 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 thermoforming machine is provided having at least one frame member and a thermal regulator. The thermal regulator is provided in heat transfer relation with one of the at least one frame member configured to control temperature of the one frame member to mitigate thermal deformation of the frame member. A method is also provided.

A thermoforming apparatus is provided having a frame, a pair of opposed platens, a toggle shaft, a kinematic linkage, a form air manifold, and a pair of articulating bearing assemblies. The pair of opposed platens is carried by the frame each with a die, one die configured to engage an opposed face of another die across a heated sheet of thermoformable material in sealed relation there between. The toggle shaft is carried by the frame for rotation. The kinematic linkage is coupled between the toggle shaft and one of the dies. The form air manifold and a source of differential pressure is coupled with a die face on one of the dies. The pair of articulating bearing assemblies is carried by the frame and configured to support the at least one toggle shaft for translation towards and away from the another die and platen. A method is also provided.

A thermoforming apparatus is provided having a frame, a pair of opposed platens, a toggle shaft, a kinematic linkage, a form air manifold, and a pair of articulating bearing assemblies. The pair of opposed platens is carried by the frame each with a die, one die configured to engage an opposed face of another die across a heated sheet of thermoformable material in sealed relation there between. The toggle shaft is carried by the frame for rotation. The kinematic linkage is coupled between the toggle shaft and one of the dies. The form air manifold and a source of differential pressure is coupled with a die face on one of the dies. The pair of articulating bearing assemblies is carried by the frame and configured to support the at least one toggle shaft for translation towards and away from the another die and platen. A method is also provided.

A thermoforming apparatus is provided having a pair of coacting platens, a load bearing structural member, a force applicator, and a deformation sensor. The pair of coacting platens and respective dies are configured to mate on opposed surfaces of a heated sheet of thermoformable material to form articles. The load bearing structural member is configured to carry the coacting platens and the dies in complementary closed relationship about the sheet during an article forming operation. The force applicator is carried by the structural member and configured to impart a forming load between the pair of opposed dies and platens and across the structural member during a forming operation. The deformation sensor is configured to span a first location and a second location on the structural member to detect deformation indicative of separation between the dies resulting from deformation. A method is also provided.

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 (19, 20), and that the second pre-stretcher is at least partially and moveably arranged in a second mold body (12, 43). A movement relative to the second mold body (12, 43) and towards the same forming cavity of the first pre-stretcher, the second pre-stretcher, and the calibration element (19, 20), can be individually controlled, arid the second pre-stretcher at least partially surrounds the first pre-stretcher and the calibration element (19, 20).

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 (19, 20), and that the second pre-stretcher is at least partially and moveably arranged in a second mold body (12, 43). A movement relative to the second mold body (12, 43) and towards the same forming cavity of the first pre-stretcher, the second pre-stretcher, and the calibration element (19, 20), can be individually controlled, arid the second pre-stretcher at least partially surrounds the first pre-stretcher and the calibration element (19, 20).

A method for producing a grinding liquid mixing tank and the structure thereof, the method includes: using a tank body made of PP or PVDF wherein a bottom thereof has a conical arc-shaped wall having at least one wall hole; using a rotor case made of PP or PVDF and including a bottom case wall, a side wall surrounding the bottom case wall, and a connecting wall connected to a top edge of the side wall; heating to soften the rotor case and placing it into the wall hole; using a jig to contact the rotor case, such that the connecting wall is deformed to be coupled to the wall hole; welding a joint between the connecting wall and the wall hole to form the tank body; and a magnetic levitation stirrer is then installed in the tank body to complete the structure of the grinding liquid mixing tank.

A method for producing a grinding liquid mixing tank and the structure thereof, the method includes: using a tank body made of PP or PVDF wherein a bottom thereof has a conical arc-shaped wall having at least one wall hole; using a rotor case made of PP or PVDF and including a bottom case wall, a side wall surrounding the bottom case wall, and a connecting wall connected to a top edge of the side wall; heating to soften the rotor case and placing it into the wall hole; using a jig to contact the rotor case, such that the connecting wall is deformed to be coupled to the wall hole; welding a joint between the connecting wall and the wall hole to form the tank body; and a magnetic levitation stirrer is then installed in the tank body to complete the structure of the grinding liquid mixing tank.