Combined positive embossing and thermoforming of thermoplastic films involves heating film, clamping and forming onto positive tool while embossing with punch and die

摘要

A film is heated to 190[deg]C and moved into a forming station where it is pre-stretched with air above a positive thermoforming tool(5). The hot, stretched film is then laid onto a forming surface(F) of the positive thermoforming tool using a clamp system(8) and vacuum. Simultaneously the film is embossed by a positive punch(1) and negative die(2) moving towards each other. The film is then cooled and the punch and die retracted. The distance between the heated punch(1) and die(2) during the embossing stage is set by spacers(10). Embossing is carried out using residual heat in the film from the thermoforming stage. The punch and die can be exchanged if required for other embossing operations. An independent claim is include for the process equipment which includes a thermoforming tool(5) whose lower tool(6) has a embossing punch holder(3) with a positive embossing punch(1).