The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 18, 1981
Filed:
Jul. 14, 1980
Christopher P Thissen, Austin, MN (US);
Jerry J Ferwerda, Austin, MN (US);
Milford J Tweet, Austin, MN (US);
Ronald D Hatfield, Austin, MN (US);
Walker Process Corporation, Aurora, IL (US);
Abstract
Apparatus for vacuum molding a plurality of three dimensional geometrical shapes in a thermoplastic polymeric sheet having a molding plate, the surface of which has a plurality of three dimensional geometrical shapes, with said molding plate having an enclosing border, a molding face and a non-molding face; a gas orifice extending through the molding plate so that a gas can flow from one face of the molding plate to the other face; a mechanism to move the molding plate along a predetermined path; a mechanism to maintain a thermoplastic polymeric sheet, heated to a plastic condition, adjoining the moving molding plate molding face; a mechanism to releasably seal the heated polymeric sheet to and all around the molding plate border; a vacuum source to remove gas, from between the heated polymeric sheet and the molding face of the molding plate, through the gas orifice whereby exterior pressure can force the heated sheet against the molding face surface; and a mechanism for removing the molded sheet, after it cools to a non-plastic condition, from contact with the moving molding plate face.