John Brown Inc.

James R Greiner

Albert W Arends

Roland Karklin

Edward J Russell

Terrance L Brokoff

A differential pressure thermoforming machine has a female mold with a female mold cavity, and an opposing mold, with a mold closing portion cooperable therewith. A foam injection head is perimetrally separated from the mold closing portion and is provided on the opposing mold. When the molds are initially closed, a differential pressure is created in the molds to cause the heated plastic sheet to move into contact with the mold cavity and form a configured pocket in the sheet. Mechanism is provided for releasing the plastic sheet from the carriage in which it has been moved between the molds, after the molding operation, to the cavity in the female mold, after which the molds are restored to spread-apart position. Mechanism is then activated to move the opposing mold to a position in which the foam injection head is now aligned with the female mold, whereupon the molds are again closed to bring the injection head into the pocket, whereupon the foam injection head is operated to charge a settable foam material to the pocket formed.

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Gladwin, MI, United States of America

James R Greiner