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 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.

Systems and methods of pre-ageing of a metal strip during metal processing include passing the metal strip adjacent a magnetic rotor of a reheater. The systems and methods also include heating the metal strip through the magnetic rotor by rotating the magnetic rotor. Rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal strip such that the metal strip is heated.

Systems and methods of pre-ageing of a metal strip during metal processing include passing the metal strip adjacent a magnetic rotor of a reheater. The systems and methods also include heating the metal strip through the magnetic rotor by rotating the magnetic rotor. Rotating the magnetic rotor induces a magnetic field into the metal strip such that the metal strip is heated.

A foil transfer device which transfers foil onto a sheet is disclosed herein. When a nip/release mechanism moves a first roller and starts causing a foil film to be pressed against a confined surface region on a sheet, located apart from a leading edge of the sheet, a controller executes: a first process of causing a conveyor roller to start conveyance of the sheet, while the first roller is positioned in a separate position; a second process of causing the conveyor roller to stop conveyance of the sheet before a foil transfer area reaches a transfer position; a third process of causing the nip/release mechanism to start moving the first roller from the separate position to a nipping position while the conveyance of the sheet is stopped; and a fourth process of causing the conveyor roller to restart conveyance of the sheet before the first roller reaches the nipping position.

A foil transfer device which transfers foil onto a sheet is disclosed herein. When a nip/release mechanism moves a first roller and starts causing a foil film to be pressed against a confined surface region on a sheet, located apart from a leading edge of the sheet, a controller executes: a first process of causing a conveyor roller to start conveyance of the sheet, while the first roller is positioned in a separate position; a second process of causing the conveyor roller to stop conveyance of the sheet before a foil transfer area reaches a transfer position; a third process of causing the nip/release mechanism to start moving the first roller from the separate position to a nipping position while the conveyance of the sheet is stopped; and a fourth process of causing the conveyor roller to restart conveyance of the sheet before the first roller reaches the nipping position.

The present invention relates to a process for forming a metal component (20), the process comprising the steps of heating a metal blank (20) coated with a protective layer; cooling said metal blank (20) in a confined space (14), said cooling involving cooling by means of a gas, the gas being cooled by heat exchange with a cooling surface of a heat sink (22) inside said confined space (14), wherein a low frequency sound wave is provided into said confined space (14) in order to improve heat exchange both between the gas and a cooling surface of the at least one heat sink (22), and between the gas and the metal component (20), wherein the heated coated blank is cooled to a temperature below the melting point of the protective layer, and forming the coated blank to a component. The invention also relates to a production line for performing the process.

The present disclosure relates to a system for manufacturing a hybrid component including a first thermal supplier configured to heat a steel plate, a rolling roll for undercut configured to pressurize the steel plate heated by the first thermal supplier, and to form an undercut on one surface of the steel plate, a first molding roll configured to pressurize the steel plate formed with the undercut to mold the steel plate in a shape of a component to be manufactured, a composite material feeder configured to supply a composite material tape to be seated on one surface of the steel plate formed with the undercut through the first molding roll, and a composite material pressurization roll configured to pressurize the steel plate on which the composite material tape is seated.

The present disclosure relates to a system for manufacturing a hybrid component including a first thermal supplier configured to heat a steel plate, a rolling roll for undercut configured to pressurize the steel plate heated by the first thermal supplier, and to form an undercut on one surface of the steel plate, a first molding roll configured to pressurize the steel plate formed with the undercut to mold the steel plate in a shape of a component to be manufactured, a composite material feeder configured to supply a composite material tape to be seated on one surface of the steel plate formed with the undercut through the first molding roll, and a composite material pressurization roll configured to pressurize the steel plate on which the composite material tape is seated.

A hot-forming die has a heatable lower die and a heatable upper die. The lower die and the upper die have spacer elements to permit flexing. A plate stack including two plate elements is inside the hot-forming die. The plate stack is on the spacer elements in the lower die. The lower die and the upper die are displaced relative to each other when the hot-forming die is closed. The spacer elements of the upper die come into contact with the plate stack. As the closing movement continues, the spacer elements, are displaced into the lower die and the upper die, respectively, and the plate stack is clamped between the lower die and the upper die. The plate stack is then heated by the lower die and the upper die and an internal pressure is applied to an intermediate space between the plate elements by feeding in an active medium.