Thermoforming apparatus (1) for thermoforming an article (2), preferably a permeable article (2′), comprising: an elastic membrane (3,3′); a mould (4,4′); a hot air source (5) configured to blow a hot airflow (6) towards a zone (7) of the apparatus (1) configured to receive the article (2,2′) to be thermoformed; an actuation system (8) configured to move the mould (4,4′) towards the membrane (3,3′) or vice versa to compress the heated article (2,2′) between the membrane (3,3′) and the mould (4) such that an elastic force of the membrane (3,3′) on the article (2,2′) forces the article (2,2′) to assume the shape of the mould (4).2. Thermoforming apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the mould (4′) and/or membrane (3′) are perforated so to permit a transit of the hot airflow (6) from the hot air source (5) to said zone (7). Thermoforming process of an article (2,2′) in a thermoforming apparatus (1) comprising an elastic membrane (3,3′), a mould (4,4′) and a hot air source (5), comprising the steps of: heating the article (2,2′) through a hot airflow (6) blew by the hot air source (5); compressing the heated article (2,2′) between the membrane (3,3′) and/or the mould (4,4′) by uniquely moving the mould (4,4′) and the membrane (3,3′) one toward the other such that an elastic force of the membrane (3,3′) forces the article (2,2′) to assume the shape of the mould (4,4′).

Three-dimensional decorative articles are produced from blanks of heat-shrinkable plastic sheet material, using a mold base having an outer surface with a recess over which a blank is placed, and a convex mold insert that moves into the recess by gravity as the blank softens and cooperates with the interior wall of the recess to shape the sheet material into a three-dimensional decorative article. A guide peg extends outward from the bottom of the recess past the outer surface of the mold base and extends through a hole formed in the blank, and through a guide hole in the mold insert to support the mold insert before heating and to guide the mold insert as it moves into the recess of the mold base.

A flexible punch and die are used to form a flat composite laminate charge into a stiffener having a desired cross sectional shape. A desired contour is formed in the stiffener by bending the punch and die. Ply wrinkling is avoided during contouring by maintaining those portions of the stiffener subject to wrinkling in tension as the contouring is being performed. Bridging of the plies during the contouring process is avoided by first contouring those sections of the stiffener that are subject to wrinkling, and then contouring the remaining sections of the stiffener.

Process of making a plastic component (1), in particular luggage shell, from self-reinforced thermoplastic material, to a plastic component (1) made of self-reinforced thermoplastic material and an apparatus for making such a plastic component, in particular luggage shell (7). The invention provides a new product and process for manufacturing same on the basis of self-reinforced thermoplastic material by means of the step of tensioning said material (lamina), at least partially tensioning said lamina during all follow-up component shaping and/or molding steps up to a release of a component pre-form shape from the remainder lamina, to form the component. The present invention allow the manufacturing of an ultra-light weight luggage shell (7) on the basis of using self-reinforced thermoplastic material, the manufacturing of same can be further enhanced by permanently tensioning said material during all manufacturing steps up to the final finishing of the product.

Process of making a plastic component (1), in particular luggage shell, from self-reinforced thermoplastic material, to a plastic component (1) made of self-reinforced thermoplastic material and an apparatus for making such a plastic component, in particular luggage shell (7). The invention provides a new product and process for manufacturing same on the basis of self-reinforced thermoplastic material by means of the step of tensioning said material (lamina), at least partially tensioning said lamina during all follow-up component shaping and/or molding steps up to a release of a component pre-form shape from the remainder lamina, to form the component. The present invention allow the manufacturing of an ultra-light weight luggage shell (7) on the basis of using self-reinforced thermoplastic material, the manufacturing of same can be further enhanced by permanently tensioning said material during all manufacturing steps up to the final finishing of the product.

A method for producing a three-dimensional fiber-reinforced resin molded body by press-molding a heated and softened plate-like molding matrix using a mold, the method sequentially including: setting the matrix on a lower mold including a pad and mold main bodies by mounting a central portion of the matrix on the pad and supporting at least one end side of the matrix by at least one support protruding upward from a molding surface of at least one of the mold main bodies; bringing an upper mold and the lower mold close together to sandwich the central portion of the matrix by the pad and the upper mold; bringing the upper and lower molds still closer together to reduce the protrusion amount of the at least one support; and pressing the matrix by using the lower and upper molds to form the molded body.

A flexible punch and die are used to form a flat composite laminate charge into a stiffener having a desired cross sectional shape. A desired contour is formed in the stiffener by bending the punch and die. Ply wrinkling is avoided during contouring by maintaining those portions of the stiffener subject to wrinkling in tension as the contouring is being performed. Bridging of the plies during the contouring process is avoided by first contouring those sections of the stiffener that are subject to wrinkling, and then contouring the remaining sections of the stiffener.

Three-dimensional decorative articles are produced from blanks of heat-shrinkable plastic sheet material, using a mold base having an outer surface with a recess over which a blank is placed, and a convex mold insert that moves into the recess by gravity as the blank softens and cooperates with the interior wall of the recess to shape the sheet material into a three-dimensional decorative article. A guide peg extends outward from the bottom of the recess past the outer surface of the mold base and extends through a hole formed in the blank, and through a guide hole in the mold insert to support the mold insert before heating and to guide the mold insert as it moves into the recess of the mold base.

A flexible punch and die are used to form a flat composite laminate charge into a stiffener having a desired cross sectional shape. A desired contour is formed in the stiffener by bending the punch and die. Ply wrinkling is avoided during contouring by maintaining those portions of the stiffener subject to wrinkling in tension as the contouring is being performed. Bridging of the plies during the contouring process is avoided by first contouring those sections of the stiffener that are subject to wrinkling, and then contouring the remaining sections of the stiffener.

A flexible-die forming apparatus includes a piston, a coil, an upper die, a magnetorheological elastomer, and a lower die having a cavity formed thereon. The upper die is arranged to be overlappedly rested on top of the lower die. The piston is movably received in the receiving cavity of the upper die. The magnetorheological elastomer is mounted at a lower portion of the piston, and is received in the receiving cavity of the upper die. The coil is provided and wounded on an exterior surface of the upper die and the lower die.