Systems and processes for thermoforming an article and for preparing an article for thermoforming are disclosed. The system for thermoforming can include one or more heating stations and a cooling station. The system for thermoforming can further include an article movement mechanism that can couple to an article and rotate the article inside a heating chamber, inside a cooling chamber, or both. The system for preparing an article for thermoforming can include a vessel that comprises a port, and a negative pressure generation system coupled to the port. The system for preparing an article for thermoforming can further include a compression material that forms an interior portion for receiving an article. The negative pressure generation system can cause the compression material to expand to allow for insertion of the article into the interior portion of the compression material.

The invention is characterized by a semifinished composite structure product with the at least two layers, of which the at least one layer, in which the continuous fibers are contained, is heated such that the matrix of thermoplastic material is heated within at least one first surface region to or above a melting temperature that can be assigned to the thermoplastic material, and the matrix of thermoplastic material is kept to a temperature below the melting temperature within a second surface region directly adjoining the first surface region. The semifinished composite structure product is heated in this way so that the moldable thermoplastic, continuous fiber-reinforced composite structure in which the continuous fibers within the first surface region are movable relative to each other and those within the second surface region are spatially fixed relative to each other.

A method for making a container, wherein in a positioning step a tray (2) constituted of a single sheet of material, folded and shaped with wrinkled zones (3) is positioned in a thermoforming mould (7), and wherein in a covering step a sheet of thermoplastic material (1) is thermoformed on the tray (2), the covering step being carried out while preventing the thermoforming mould (7) from making contact with the layer of thermoplastic material (9) at the wrinkled zones (3) of an annular flange (6) of the tray (2). Also claimed is an apparatus (13) which comprises a thermoforming mould (7) in which there are present a first peripheral portion (8) configured to support in use the annular flange (6) of the tray (2) and a second peripheral portion (17) which, in the operating position, is facing the first peripheral portion (8), wherein in the operating position, the second peripheral portion (17) is at a distance from the first peripheral portion (8) in such a way that it does not make contact with the layer of thermoplastic material (9) stuck to the tray (2), at the wrinkled zones (3) of the annular flange (6).

A method for making a container, wherein in a positioning step a tray (2) constituted of a single sheet of material, folded and shaped with wrinkled zones (3) is positioned in a thermoforming mould (7), and wherein in a covering step a sheet of thermoplastic material (1) is thermoformed on the tray (2), the covering step being carried out while preventing the thermoforming mould (7) from making contact with the layer of thermoplastic material (9) at the wrinkled zones (3) of an annular flange (6) of the tray (2). Also claimed is an apparatus (13) which comprises a thermoforming mould (7) in which there are present a first peripheral portion (8) configured to support in use the annular flange (6) of the tray (2) and a second peripheral portion (17) which, in the operating position, is facing the first peripheral portion (8), wherein in the operating position, the second peripheral portion (17) is at a distance from the first peripheral portion (8) in such a way that it does not make contact with the layer of thermoplastic material (9) stuck to the tray (2), at the wrinkled zones (3) of the annular flange (6).

This invention relates to a biodegradable polymer composition which is particularly suitable for use in the manufacture of articles having a high heat deflection temperature (HDT) by injection moulding and thermoforming.

This invention relates to a biodegradable polymer composition which is particularly suitable for use in the manufacture of articles having a high heat deflection temperature (HDT) by injection moulding and thermoforming.

A method and system for thermal forming an object. A mold is provided, a shape of which corresponds to a desired shape of the object. A material is inserted into a heating area, and the material is heated using a plurality of independently controllable heat sources that heat different areas of the material. The heated material is then disposed over or into at least a portion of the mold so as to deform the material. The deformed material may then be trimmed so as to form the object.

Methods for manufacturing thermoformed objects are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes controlling a material transport system to move a material to a first location proximate to one or more heat sources. The method can include controlling the one or more heat sources to heat a first region of the material to a first temperature and heat a second region of the material to a second temperature. The method can also include controlling the material transport system to move the material to a second location proximate to an object forming element, and controlling the object forming element to form a dental appliance from the material.

An apparatus for making a container (2) which comprises an outer skeleton (6), which includes at least one first sheet (8) and one second sheet (9), and a layer of thermoplastic material (7) the apparatus (1) comprising a conveying element (15) which defines a housing (22), which is mounted on a supporting structure (11) and which is movable along a movement path (16) which extends from an infeed station (17) to an outfeed station (18), along the movement path (16) the apparatus (1) having a first feeding station (19), a second feeding station (20), and a thermoforming station (21) placed downstream of the feeding stations, the apparatus also comprising a first feeding device (23) at the first feeding station (19) and configured to insert the first sheet (8) into the housing (22), a second feeding device (24) at the second feeding station (20) and configured to insert the second sheet (9) into the housing (22), and a thermoforming device (31) at the thermoforming station (21) and configured to thermoform a thermoplastic material (10) on the first sheet (8) and on the second sheet (9).

An apparatus for making a container (2) which comprises an outer skeleton (6), which includes at least one first sheet (8) and one second sheet (9), and a layer of thermoplastic material (7) the apparatus (1) comprising a conveying element (15) which defines a housing (22), which is mounted on a supporting structure (11) and which is movable along a movement path (16) which extends from an infeed station (17) to an outfeed station (18), along the movement path (16) the apparatus (1) having a first feeding station (19), a second feeding station (20), and a thermoforming station (21) placed downstream of the feeding stations, the apparatus also comprising a first feeding device (23) at the first feeding station (19) and configured to insert the first sheet (8) into the housing (22), a second feeding device (24) at the second feeding station (20) and configured to insert the second sheet (9) into the housing (22), and a thermoforming device (31) at the thermoforming station (21) and configured to thermoform a thermoplastic material (10) on the first sheet (8) and on the second sheet (9).