Canon S.p.a.

Tecnos S.p.a.

Loredano Sbrana

Francesco Fiorentini

Gabriele Binda

Carlo Ortenzi

Davide Mariani

A method and a plant for twin-sheet thermoforming of fuel tanks; first and second sheets (SA, SB) of thermoformable plastic material, are separately fed along respective processing lines (A,B). The sheets (SA, SB) are heated and gripped along their peripheral edges by a pneumatically actuate suction and vacuum holding device (A,B), for supporting the heated sheets (SA, SB) in a substantially flat condition while they are moved towards a respective thermoforming station (A,B). Both the molds (A,B) are disposed side by side with their open cavity facing upwards. After thermoforming of the plastic sheets (SA, SB), one of the molds (B) is turned upside down onto the other mold (A), to overlap and weld superimposed sealing areas of the two thermoformed shells (GA, GB). Cooling of the molds and thermoformed tank may be performed on a side of the processing lines (A,B).

Twin-sheet thermoforming of plastic fuel tanks

A method and an apparatus for applying a cover sheet of plastic material to the surface of a mold, during the molding of panels and/or of plastic pieces. The cover sheet is pneumatically held and stretched by a support frame provided with a sheet clamping groove, which peripherally extends for at least part or the edges of the mold; the support frame is provided with an air suction chamber connected to the sheet clamping groove by at least an air suction slot which opens on the bottom of the groove. The pneumatic support frame for the cover sheet and the mold are movable between each other for pneumatically adhering the cover sheet to the edges and the internal surface of the mold.

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Varese, Italy

Loredano Sbrana