METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND CUTTING A SHAPED ARTICLE FROM A SHEET OF MATERIAL

摘要

An apparatus (100) for forming shaped articles from a sheet of material includes a first mold having a mold surface (16) and a network of gutters (108) formed in the mold surface. The network of gutters has a network gutter profile and defines an array of islands (110) on which an array of bumps is formed. Each of the bumps has a surface with a shaped profile. The apparatus also includes a second mold (118) adapted for positioning on the mold surface. The second mold has a network of protuberances (122) defining a plurality of cavities (124). Each of the cavities is sized to overlap one of the bumps of the first mold. The network of protuberances has a network protuberance profile complementary to the network gutter profile.