Heat setting a thermoformed PET article utilizing a male plug as a constraint

摘要

A process and apparatus for manufacturing a polyester container having good clarity and dimensional stability and which can be used in hot-fill food package manufacture and/or in making a container for reheating or heating the contents within. In particular, this process and apparatus is a deep stretch-forming technique for preparing biaxially oriented, heat set, sealable containers of high molecular weight polyethylene terephthalate. The process comprises deep drawing a preheated sheet of the polyester into a heated female cavity by means of a male plug. The part is heat set against the female cavity, and cooled against the male plug which is used as a constraint. The part is subsequently removed from the male plug.