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.

A method for the crystallization of a film made of a thermoplastic film material, in particular a CPET material, to form a product in which a crystallization process is initiated by shaping the thermoplastic film material within a molding tool. A main crystallization of the crystallization process is carried on outside of the molding tool.

Disclosed is a method for producing an automobile sound absorbing member through molding. In the method, a first fiber and a second fiber are bonded to each other and molded at the same time, so that a working process and a process cycle are simplified, thereby improving production speed and reducing investment for equipment and facility. The method includes (a) preparing a first fiber and a second fiber, (b) providing an adhesive member between the first fiber and the second fiber and placing an aggregate of the first fiber, adhesive member, and the second fiber in a molding machine, and (c) pressing an upper mold and a lower mold of the molding machine so that the first fiber and the second fiber are bonded and molded into a molded body.

A molding changing apparatus having a holder, a cooling plate, and a mold set coupled to the cooling plate is disclosed. The cooling plate has at least one connecting pin disposed on the surface which is reverse to the surface where the mold set is disposed, and the holder has at least one pneumatic pin receptacle disposed thereon. The connecting pin of the cooling plate can be inserted into the connecting hole of the pneumatic pin receptacle of the holder, and the connecting pin is fastened by the pneumatic pin receptacle, thereby connecting the mold set and the cooling plate to the holder. Through the use of the connecting pin and the pneumatic pin receptacle, the mold set and the cooling plate on the holder can be changed rapidly and the efficiency of the plastic vacuum forming with mold sets is enhanced.

Apparatus and methods of forming selected portions of integral sheets of material are disclosed. Unformed portions of the sheets may remain undistorted during the forming process, allowing them to contain text, art work, or other desired information without material risk of the information being degraded or becoming unintelligible during the forming process. This result may be accomplished, moreover, with less trim than usually occurs in conventional forming processes.

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 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.

Provided is a process for thermoforming a gas and liquid permeable layer (10) of thermoplastic material having an average thickness of less than 1.0 mm, the process comprising the steps of bringing the layer of thermoplastic material, at a temperature below that required for thermoforming, into contact with a mould (16) at a temperature above that of a thermoforming temperature of the thermoplastic material; pressing the mould into contact with the layer of thermoplastic material, the contact between mould and thermoplastic material causing heat to transfer from the mould to the thermoplastic material and raising the temperature of the thermoplastic material to a thermoformable temperature; such pressing thereby causing thermoforming of the thermoplastic material to conform to the shape of the mould.

Systems and methods for providing heat to a three-dimensional article are disclosed. The method can include inserting at least a portion of the article over a form. The method can further include inserting the form and article at least partially within an article container and moving the form and article into engagement with a flexible membrane where the membrane and the article container form an airtight chamber. The method can further include exposing the airtight chamber to a pressure less than atmospheric pressure to pull the membrane against at least a portion of the article and exposing the membrane to a heated deformable media.

The present invention relates to a mould system for a thermoforming device and to a thermoforming device with such a mould system (1, 2). The invention further relates to a method for thermoforming a product. According to the invention, the mould system is provided with a punching nipple (6) and a cutting plate (5) whereby a product can be at least partially formed and punched in one operating run.