Thermoforming Apparatus And Method

摘要

Method and apparatus are provided for thermoforming articles. The apparatus includes an in line series of processing stations including heating, forming, cutting and separating stations. A stacker is provided to receive formed articles and form an x-y array of stacks of formed articles. A stack picker is provided that is operable to pick up the stacks of articles during a sheet pause cycle portion and move the picked stacks from a storage magazine to a deposit area. The movement of the stacks for depositing and the picker assembly back to the stacker can occur while the apparatus is producing and stacking additionally formed articles.