PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A SHAPED ARTICLE

摘要

A mold (10) is provided having a mold cavity in the final shape of an article and a hollow article (28) is placed in the mold adjacent the mold cavity (26). The hollow article (28) is preformed into an intermediate shape (30) by closing the mold (10) around the hollow article (28), and then formed into the final shape (42) by introducing fluid pressure into the preformed hollow article (30) to conform the preformed hollow article (30) into the shape of the mold cavity (26). The mold (10) comprises a stationary mold half (12) and a movable mold half (16) moved by motive means (20), whereby tiebar/piston assemblies (37) provide the required clamping force.