Apparatus for manufacturing dental laminant veneers

Claim 1

Apparatus for use in conjunction with a mold for heat and vacuum induced forming of objects such as dental laminant veneers adapted to be bonded to the teeth of dental patients, said apparatus comprising: a base support structure; a heating chamber having a closed top wall, closed side walls and a bottom wall defining a heating opening; electrically energized heating means for heating said heating chamber; support means establishing substantially fixed interconnection of said heating chamber to said base support structure; a mold support structure being movably interconnected with said base support structure, said mold support structure defining a vacuum chamber and defining a plurality of apertures communicating with said vacuum chamber; a source of vacuum being selectively communicated with said vacuum chamber; means for imparting movement to said mold support structure to transport said mold support structure to a position of juxtaposed relation with said heating opening such that a mold positioned on said mold support structure will be positioned within said heating chamber; a diaphragm adapted to be yieldably moved by said source of vacuum into cooperation with a mold positioned on said mold support structure; diaphragm support means being movably interconnected with said mold support structure and supporting said diaphragm in interposed relation between said mold support structure and said bottom wall of said heating chamber, said diaphragm support element being transported along with said mold support structure; and a resilient diaphragm element being secured in assembly with said diaphragm support means.