Ford Motor Company Limited

Jeffrey K Christensen

Zinoviy Chernyak

Dale Paul Moore

A method and apparatus of trimming a thermoformed film comprising the following steps. A Thermoplastic flexible film is placed within a frame. The film and frame are heated sufficiently to make the film pliable. The film and frame are moved to a position adjacent a forming mandrel. The forming mandrel is moved against the film and causes the film to conform to the shape of the mandrel. After the film has fully conformed to the shape of the mandrel, the mandrel and film are moved to a trimming station. Knives on the trimming station contact and cut the film. It is also desirable that the knives be mounted on actuators to move them from extended to retracted positions. A plurality of knives are used to trim around a three-dimensional article.

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Caledonia, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey K Christensen