APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS VACUUM FORMING SHAPED POLYMERIC ARTICLES

摘要

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for manufacturing shaped polymeric articles by substantially continuous vacuum forming. The method includes providing a sheet (10) of hot polymeric material which is disposed onto a rotating belt (18) having a mold impression (11). Vacuum pressure is applied to the polymeric material through the belt (18) so as to draw the ho t polymeric material into intimate contact with the mold impression (11) to fo rm a patterned sheet portion and a remaining sheet portion. This method thereafter cools at least the patterned sheet portion below a heat deflectio n temperature of the polymeric material, forms the remaining sheet portion, an d then cools the remaining sheet portion below the heat deflection temperature so that features other than the central pattern, such as nail and butt edges , can be mechanically worked into the polymeric sheet (10).