Method and apparatus for vacuum forming hollow articles

Claim 2

A PROCESS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY PRODUCING A PLURALITY OF HOLLOW ARTICLES FROM THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL WHICH CONPRISES PASING TWO SHEETS OF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL INTO CONTACT WITH A SOFTENING AMOUNT OF HEAT, THEN INTO CONTACT WITH TWO OPPOSING MOLD DIE HALVES EACH CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF MATCHING CAVITIES; EXHAUSTING AIR FROM BENEATH EACH SHEET TO CAUSE THE THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL TO CONFORM TO THE SHAPE OF THE MOLD HALVES; BRINGING THE EDGES OF THE MOLD HALVES TOGETHER TO FORM A PLURALITY OF HOLLOW ARTICLES; MAINTAINING COMMUNICATING BETWEEN THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE INTERIOR OF THE HOLLOW ARTICLES; AND SEPARATING THE MOLD HALVES TO RELEASE A PLURALITY OF MOLDED ARTICLES.

Claim 3

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCNG SIMULTANEOUSLY A PLURALITY OF HOLLOW THERMOPLASTIC ARTICLES COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF MATCHING MOLD SHELL HALVES EACH HAVING CONTAINED IN AND SPACED FROM SAID SHELL MULTIPLE PERFORATED CAVITIES AND A MANIFOLD MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH AN OPENING IN EACH CAVITY AND WITH THE EXTERIOR OF THE MOLD; A PORT MEANS IN EACH OF SAID SHELLS FOR EXHAUSTING AIR THEREFROM; MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY MOVING AND BRINGING INTO JUXAPOSITION SUCCESSIVE PAIRS OF MOLD HALVES; MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY SUPPLYING A PAIR OF SPACED APRAT, SOFTENED THERMOPLASTIC SHEETS TO THE MOLD HALVES SO AS TO COVER THE MOLD CAVITIES AS THE MATCHINH HALVES ARE BROUGHT INTO JUXTAPOSITION; MEANS TO EXHAUST AIR FROM THE SPACE WITHIN THE SHELL OF THE MOLD HALVES; AND MEANS TO MAINTAIN THE MANIFOLD IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERTIOR OF THE HOLLOW ARTCILE AND THE ATMOSPHERE.

Claim 4

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCNG SIMULTANEOUSLY A PLURALITY OF HOLLOW THERMOPLASTIC ARTICLES COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF MATCHING MOLD SHELL HALVES EACH HAVING CONTAINED IN AND SPACED FROM SAID SHELL MULTIPLE PERFORATED CAVITIES AND A MANIFOLD MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH AN OPENING IN EACH CAVITY AND WITH THE EXTERIOR OF THE MOLD; A PORT MEANS IN EACH OF SAID SHELLS FOR EXHAUSTING AIR THEREFROM; MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY MOVING AND BRINGING INTO JUXAPOSITION SUCCESSIVE PAIRS OF MOLD HALVES; MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY SUPPLYING A PAIR OF SPACED APRAT, SOFTENED THERMOPLASTIC SHEETS TO THE MOLD HALVES SO AS TO COVER THE MOLD CAVITIES AS THE MATCHINH HALVES ARE BROUGHT INTO JUXTAPOSITION; MEANS TO EXHAUST AIR FROM THE SPACE WITHIN THE SHELL OF THE MOLD HALVES; AND MEANS TO MAINTAIN THE MANIFOLD IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE INTERTIOR OF THE HOLLOW ARTCILE AND THE ATMOSPHERE.