| 摘要 |
<p>Apparatus and methods of forming selected portions of integral sheets of material are disclosed. The apparatus (10) comprises a mould (14) from which plugs protrude, means for positioning a plastic material adjacent the mould (14), the plastic material defining integral first and second regions, and means (18) for selectively heating the first region to its forming temperature while maintaining the second region at less than its forming temperature when the plastic material is positioned adjacent the mould (14). The selective heating means (18) include a source of energy and an energy sink that has a depth and at least one cut-out extending through the depth. The mould (14) is evacuated and the selective heating means (18) thermoform the first region but not the second region following evacuation of the mould (14) so that unformed portions of the sheets may remain undistorted during the forming process, allowing them to contain text, art work, or other desired information without material risk of the information being degraded or becoming unintelligible during the forming process.</p> |
