A device for separating a deep-drawn jaw-spanning dental apparatus such as an aligner or a bite splint of thermoform film that includes: a separating element for thermally separating the deep-drawn thermoform film and simultaneously refining the separated deep-drawn thermoform film; a heating means for regulating the heating of the separating element so as to increase the temperature of the thermoform film substantially to at least its glass temperature; a support for supporting the deep-drawn thermoform film relatively movable with respect to the separating element; a moving mechanism for moving the separating element along a separation contour of the deep-drawn jaw-spanning dental apparatus relative to the support; and a control unit adapted to control the heating means and the moving mechanism based on the separation contour.

A thermoforming trim tool which comprises a punch side and a die side. The punch side moves to the die side in order to trim molded articles from a heated thermoforming sheet that is disposed therebetween. While the punch side of the tool comprises a plurality of punches, the die side of the tool comprises a plurality of dies, and both the punches and the dies are engaged with upper mount plates. Each of the upper mount plates is engaged with a lower mount plate via one or more location keys. Each of the location keys is configured to provide that the upper mount plates are shifted a pre-determined distance relative to the lower mount plate, thereby providing trim centers which are adjusted to account for pre-determined shrinkage in the sheet.

A forming system includes a trim blade 7 for cutting off a sheet material 2 provided between a lower die 60 and an upper die 66, a first lower plate 81 provided outside a first lower die end 60a in a side view of the lower die 60, and a first upper plate 85 provided outside an upper die end 66a, configured to reciprocatively move together with the upper die 66 and extending toward the first lower plate 81. A cut plane of the blade 7 intersects a first excess edge portion 25 which is a portion of the sheet material 2 outside the lower die end 60a, and at least a portion of the excess edge portion 25 is sandwiched between the first lower plate 81 and the first upper plate 85 in a state in which the lower die 60 and the upper die 66 are clamped.

A method is provided for producing discrete three-dimensional cellulose products from an air-formed cellulose blank structure in a rotary forming mould system. The method includes providing an air-formed cellulose blank structure, wherein the cellulose blank structure is air-formed from cellulose fibres; transporting the air-formed cellulose blank structure to a rotary forming mould system; feeding the air-formed cellulose blank structure to a position between a first mould part and a second mould part, and heating the air-formed cellulose blank structure; forming the three-dimensional cellulose products from the air-formed cellulose blank structure in the rotary forming mould system, by pressing the heated air-formed cellulose blank structure with a forming pressure.

A trim press receiver for receiving an array of products from a trim press includes support elements, a strip away mechanism, and a pusher rake. The support elements are configured to receive arrays of products and support the arrays of products in rows of stacks. The strip away mechanism is configured to form gaps in the stacks of products. The pusher rake is configured to extend into the gaps and press portions of the stacks off the support elements.

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

A method for thermoforming an article includes extruding a sheet of material, conditioning the sheet with a roller, thermoforming the sheet to provide a web, and cutting the web to provide the article.

A thermoforming trim tool which comprises a punch side and a die side. The punch side moves to the die side in order to trim molded articles from a heated thermoforming sheet that is disposed therebetween. While the punch side of the tool comprises a plurality of punches, the die side of the tool comprises a plurality of dies, and both the punches and the dies are engaged with upper mount plates. Each of the upper mount plates is engaged with a lower mount plate via one or more location keys. Each of the location keys is configured to provide that the upper mount plates are shifted a pre-determined distance relative to the lower mount plate, thereby providing trim centers which are adjusted to account for pre-determined shrinkage in the sheet.

A trim press receiver for receiving an array of products from a trim press includes support elements, a strip away mechanism, and a pusher rake. The support elements are configured to receive arrays of products and support the arrays of products in rows of stacks. The strip away mechanism is configured to form gaps in the stacks of products. The pusher rake is configured to extend into the gaps and press portions of the stacks off the support elements.

A transfer device for transferring parallel-arranged rows of stacked molded parts, a transfer station with a transfer device, a thermoforming system with a transfer station, and a method for transferring thermoformed molded parts are described. Thermoformed molded parts are transferred from a stacking basket to a transport unit using a transfer device. Stacked molded parts are transferred row by row from the receiving compartments of the stacking basket to a transfer device for transferring stacked molded parts via a shifting unit. The transfer device has transfer elements arranged parallel relative to one another, which in each case hold a row of stacked molded parts during a transfer to a transport unit. The transport unit has parallel-arranged receptacles for stacked molded parts. The spacing of the transfer elements relative to one another is modified after the receiving of the stacked molded parts and prior to the transfer to the transport unit.