A thermoforming system has a composite plate, a loading area in which the plate is placed, a heating area in which the plate is heated, a pressing area in which the plate is formed, and at least one mold which is located in the pressing area that applies heat and pressure to the plate so that the plate is formed. The system also includes a thermoforming area which is formed by the loading area, heating area, and the pressing area and consists of at least two different surfaces located opposite each other. A rail system is located on at least one surface in the thermoforming area and allows the plate to be conveyed within the thermoforming area.

A thermoplastic forming tool includes a wand that includes a handle, a tip, and a conduit coupling the handle to the tip. The tip includes a heating element, a forming shoe, and a forming shoe support. During use, heat from the heating element heats the forming shoe to a temperature at or above the glass transition temperature of a thermoplastic polymer. The thermoplastic forming tool may be used to apply a thermoplastic material to a surface.

Articles of footwear including a thermo-molded upper having a skin composed of one or more low melting point thermoplastic polymers. The skin may include at least one of: a base layer composed of a low melting point thermoplastic polymer and a grid layer including a yarn composed of a low melting point thermoplastic polymer. The uppers may be formed by placing a skin and an inflatable bladder into a mold cavity and heating the mold to a predetermined temperature. The inflatable bladder may be inflated such that the skin is pressed against an interior surface of the heated mold cavity to cause the skin to take on the shape of the internal surface of the mold cavity, thereby forming an upper for an article of footwear.

An optical film includes a plurality of polymeric layers shaped along orthogonal first and second directions. A first curve being an intersection of the optical film with a first plane orthogonal to the second direction and to a reference plane has a best-fit first circular arc subtending a first angle at a center of curvature of the first circular arc of greater than 180 degrees where the optical film has a maximum projected area in the reference plane. A second curve being an intersection of the optical film with a second plane orthogonal to the first direction and to the reference plane has a best-fit second circular arc subtending a second angle at a center of curvature of the second circular arc of at least 30 degrees. Reflectance and transmittance of the optical film are described.

Heating apparatus and methods for forming a part with a non-planar shape include a table formed of a thermally conductive material and defining a table surface. A tool, also formed of a thermally conductive material, has a base surface configured to engage the table surface of the table and a tooling surface opposite the base surface, wherein the tooling surface has a contoured shape that is non-planar. A heating blanket is provided above the table and defines a heating surface. The tooling surface of the tool is configured to engage a first surface of the part and the heating surface of the heating blanket is configured to engage a second surface of the part opposite the first surface of the part. The table and the heating blanket are heated to a processing temperature so that the part at least partially conforms to the tooling surface of the tool.

The invention is directed to a mould configuration (1) suited for use in a thermoforming forming station arranged to form one or more objects comprising a mould (2) made from a polymer material by additive manufacturing and provided a mould volume (6) consisting of a recess (6a) corresponding with the shape of the object as an upper zone (6b). A lower zone is divided from the upper zone by a recess wall (8). The lower zone (7) is provided with one or more open spaces (9) which fluidly connect the lower surface (8a) of the recess wall (8) with one or more openings (10) in the bottom (5) of the mould (2), a heat exchanger module (11) facing the bottom (5) of the mould (2) comprising cooling means (12) and cooling medium displacement means (13) and cooling medium inlet openings (14) and cooling medium outlet openings (15).

The document relates to a device for producing a 3D molded product from a pulp slurry, comprising a pair of cooperating press tools, each having a respective product face. The press tools are movable relative each other between a closed press position, wherein the product faces are sufficiently close to press the pulp product there between, and an open transfer position, wherein the pulp product can be removed from the product face of one of the press tools. At least one of the product faces is porous. The device further comprises a radiation heater, which is adapted to radiate heat towards the product face of the porous press tool, when the porous press tool is in its open position.

A thermoforming system for forming a cushioning pod structure that includes a first and a second thermoforming station with each comprised of a film holder and a thermoforming mold holder. The system implements a thermal source that is moveable between the first thermoforming station and the second thermoforming station such that the film holders are between the thermal source and the respective thermoforming mold holder. The system also relies on intentional application of a vacuum source fluidly coupled to thermoforming stations and a movement mechanism configured to move the thermal source between the first thermoforming station and the second thermoforming station. Additional aspects contemplate the implementation of a positive pressure source to aid in the dislodgment of the formed portion, a cooling system to adjust mold temperatures, and/or a fan to efficiently thermoform the component.

A thermoplastic forming tool includes a wand that includes a handle, a tip, and a conduit coupling the handle to the tip. The tip includes a heating element, a forming shoe, and a forming shoe support. During use, heat from the heating element heats the forming shoe to a temperature at or above the glass transition temperature of a thermoplastic polymer. The thermoplastic forming tool may be used to apply a thermoplastic material to a surface.

A method for forming a three-dimensional curved surface on a laminated substrate is provided. In the method, the laminated substrate is brought into close contact with an elastic sheet. Here, the laminated substrate comprises a support substrate and a conductive layer on the support substrate, and the support substrate comprises a resin substrate comprising a thermoplastic resin. The elastic sheet is deformed while the laminated substrate is in close contact with the elastic sheet. The laminated substrate is brought into close contact with a temperature-controlled mold to soften the resin substrate.