Method of utilizing reciprocating clamp apparatus to thermoform plastic containers

摘要

This relates to the forming of containers and like hollow articles from sheets or webs of thermoplastic material. Two webs or sheets are simultaneously acted upon by way of a forming apparatus which includes a reciprocating clamp first cooperable with one outer platen and then the other in sequence wherein, while a first web or sheet is being formed within a plurality of mold cavities to define a plurality of hollow articles such as containers, the other sheet or web may be stripped from its respective mold set and a new sheet or a new portion of a sheet or web may be advanced into position for molding. The forming apparatus may be constructed in a manner wherein the web portions which are to be formed may be billowed away from the mold cavities as an initial step in the stretching and orientation of the thermoplastic material. The thermoplastic material may be heated to the desired forming temperature using seprate sets of rf electrodes so that only those portions of the thermoplastic material which are to be formed need be heated. Two sets of containers of different sizes may be formed from the webs or sheets, and then internested to form double wall containers wherein the walls may be formed of different materials and wherein the outer material may be a barrier material, or wherein the walls of the containers are spaced apart to form an insulated container. This abstract forms no part of the specification of this application and is not to be construed as limiting the claims of the application.