Method and apparatus for deep draw molding

Claim 1

THE METHOD OF FORMING RELATIVELY DEEP THIN-WALL CONTAINERS FROM A SHEET OF HEATED THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL COMPRISING: (A) SUPPORTING THE HEATED THERMOPLASTIC SHEET IN ALIGNMENT WITH AND BETWEEN A COOPERATING MANDREL AND FEMALE MOLD, (B) CLAMPING OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SHEET IN A CIRCUMFERENTIAL MANNER OUTSIDE THE MANDREL AND MOLD PERIPHERY, (C) RELATIVELY MOVING THE MANDREL AND FEMALE MOLD TOWARD EACH OTHER TO MECHANICALLY DRAW PREDETERMINED AREAS FROM THE THERMOPLASTIC SHEET, (D) SEALING OFF THE CLAMPED AND DRAWN AREAS FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE THERMOPLASTIC SHEET DURING THE RELATIVE CLOSING MOVEMENT OF THE MANDREL AND FEMALE MOLD, (E) ESTABLISING A VACUUM THROUGH THE MANDREL FOR MAINTAINING THE PREDETERMINED DRAWN AREAS SEALED OFF FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE SHEET IN CLOSE CONFORMING RELATIONSHIP TO THE MANDREL DURING THE PREFORMING OPERATION, (F) RELEASING THE VACUUM WHEN THE MANDREL AND FE MALE MOLD HAVE COMPLETED THEIR MOVEMENT TOWARD EACH OTHER, (G) INTRODUCING A POSITIVE FLUID PRESSURE THROUGH THE MANDREL WITHIN THE PREDETERMINED DRAWN AREAS TO EXPAND THEM AGAINST THE INNER PERIPHERY OF THE FEMALE MOLD AND FORM THE FINAL CONTAINER SHAPE, AND (H) SEVERING THE CONTAINER FROM THE SHEET WHILE THE SAME IS IN DEFORMING POSITION.

Claim 2

THE METHOD OF FORMING RELATIVELY DEEP THIN-WALL CONTAINERS FROM A SHEET OF HEATED THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL COMPRISING: (A) SUPPORTING THE HEATED THERMOPLASTIC SHEET IN ALIGNMENT WITH AND BETWEEN A COOPERATING MANDREL AND FEMALE MOLD, (B) CLAMPING OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SHEET IN A CIRCUMFERENTIAL MANNER OUTSIDE THE MANDREL AND MOLD PERIPHERY, (C) RELATIVELY MOVING THE MANDREL AND FEMALE MOLD TOWARD EACH OTHER TO MECHANICALLY DRAW PREDETERMINED AREAS FROM THE THERMOPLASTIC SHEET, (D) SEALING OFF THE CLAMPED AND DRAWN AREAS FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE THERMOPLASTIC SHEET DURING THE RELATIVE CLOSING MOVEMENT OF THE MANDREL AND FEMALE MOLD, (E) ESTABLISING A VACUUM THROUGH THE MANDREL FOR MAINTAINING THE PREDETERMINED DRAWN AREAS SEALED OFF FROM THE REMAINDER OF THE SHEET IN CLOSE CONFORMING RELATIONSHIP TO THE MANDREL DURING THE PREFORMING OPERATION, (F) RELEASING THE VACUUM WHEN THE MANDREL AND FE MALE MOLD HAVE COMPLETED THEIR MOVEMENT TOWARD EACH OTHER, (G) INTRODUCING A POSITIVE FLUID PRESSURE THROUGH THE MANDREL WITHIN THE PREDETERMINED DRAWN AREAS TO EXPAND THEM AGAINST THE INNER PERIPHERY OF THE FEMALE MOLD AND FORM THE FINAL CONTAINER SHAPE, AND (H) SEVERING THE CONTAINER FROM THE SHEET WHILE THE SAME IS IN DEFORMING POSITION.