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:
Mar. 16, 2004
Filed:
Oct. 20, 2000
Gary J. Nehring, Grand Blanc, MI (US);
Durakon Industries, Inc., Lapeer, MI (US);
Abstract
A six station rotary thermoforming machine includes a first oading station for first or upper panels, a second loading station for second or lower panels, two adjacent stations for heating the panels, a thermoforming station, an unloading station and a carousel for transferring thermoformable panels between such stations. The carousel includes a rotating circular frame which is driven by a centrally disposed drive assembly. The circular frame carries and supports six carrier assemblies having peripheral clamping members which receive panels of thermoformable material and rotates to sequentially move them from one station to the next. The two heating stations each include upper and lower radiant heaters. The thermoforming station includes a pair of opposed, vertically translatable platens which receive respective molds which engage and form the panels and may include a device for loading performs or inserts. The number of stations and the residence time of the plastic panels to be formed in each optimizes production output of twin sheet thermoformed products.