Tool, tool station, thermoforming system and method for operating a thermoforming system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016101560-A1
Application number	US-201414892292-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 21, 2014
Priority date	May 21, 2013
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A tool for moulding a moulded part made of thermoplastic material and to a corresponding system and to a method. The invention relates to, in particular, the production of semi-finished products for refrigerators with a groove for receiving a seal. According to the invention, during demoulding from the undercut groove, a force acting upon the notches is braced and guided towards the residual film grid.

First claim

1 . A tool for forming a formed part of thermoplastic material, in particular from a plastic plate or sheet, wherein the tool is set up for thermoforming the work piece including thermoforming a groove with an undercut and for subsequent demoulding of the work piece with the undercut groove, wherein the tool comprises a male tool and a female tool, which is set up to move away from each other in an opening direction for opening the tool, wherein a demoulding retainer is provided for demoulding the formed part out of the female tool and is set up to hold the formed part away from the female tool, wherein a support means is provided, preferably on the female tool, which acts on the work piece in the opening direction toward the male tool.

2 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the support means is designed to exert a linear force onto the formed part.

3 . The tool according to claim 2 , wherein the support means has a circumferential frame.

4 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the tool is set up to produce the formed part, so that it has notches and is joined with the residual grid.

5 . The tool according to claim 4 , wherein the tool is a strip steel blade forming and punching tool.

6 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein a demoulding pusher is disposed on the female tool, wherein the demoulding pusher is set up to follow the opening movement of the male tool relative to the female tool during opening of the tool, wherein the demoulding pusher is set up to remain engaged with the work piece while the female tool moves away from the formed part while opening in the opening direction.

7 . The tool according to claim 6 , wherein the demoulding pusher is preferably disposed so as to grasp the groove, primarily with an undercut forming edge.

8 . The tool according to claim 6 , wherein the demoulding pusher is disposed so that, with its front side, it grasps an area of the formed part adjacent to the groove, primarily between the groove and the separation line.

9 . The tool according to claim 6 , wherein the demoulding pusher is set up to open relative to the male tool in the opening direction and thereby to demould the undercut at the groove at least on one side, after the female tool has already moved away from the work piece.

10 . The tool according to claim 9 , wherein the demoulding pusher has a drive, which is set up so that, during an opening and demoulding process, it first moves the demoulding pusher relative to the female tool toward the male tool, preferably at the opening speed, and subsequently moves it back to the female tool.

11 . The tool according to claim 6 , wherein a pivotable or otherwise laterally moveable evading element is disposed at the front of the demoulding pusher, wherein the evading element is set up to rest on the groove during demoulding, namely with its evading direction oriented away from the groove, so that a lateral movement of the groove leads to an evasive movement of the evading element.

12 . The tool according to claim 6 , wherein the demoulding pusher preferably has a demoulding pushing direction, the demoulding pushing direction being oriented parallel to the opening direction.

13 . The tool according to claim 6 , wherein the demoulding pusher at the female tool has another support means grasping the formed part, said means being set up to maintain its relative position at the formed part in the opening direction, together with the demoulding pusher.

14 . The tool according to claim 13 , wherein in a projection onto the plane of the material, the demoulding pusher preferably lies between the groove and a separation means.

15 . The tool according to claim 13 , wherein in a projection onto a plane of the material, the additional support means lies beyond the separation means relative to the groove.

16 . A tool station of thermoforming system, more specifically for producing semi-manufactured products for refrigerators with a tool according to claim 1 .

17 . A thermoforming system with a tool station according to claim 16 .

18 . A method for operating a thermoforming system for producing a thermoforming product, more specifically a semi-manufactured product for a refrigerator, by using a support means during demoulding in order to reduce a necessary holding force at holding notches between the work piece and a residual foil grid, primarily by means of a tool according to claim 1 , wherein the following steps are carried out:
a. Thermoforming a formed part with a groove having an undercut; b. Opening the tool with a male tool and a female tool; c. Moving a demoulding pusher forward out of the female tool during opening at the undercut, in order to hold the formed part on the male tool, so that the undercut on the demoulding pusher located on one side of the groove is not demoulded; wherein, in the meantime, a second side of the groove, in particular an undercut located there, is demoulded; d. Subsequently moving the demoulding pusher back to the female tool, so that the undercut on the first side of the groove is demoulded.

Assignees

• Kiefel Gmbh

Inventors

• Knoll Peter
• Feil Juergen

Classifications

• B29C51/34 Primary

  for undercut articles · CPC title

• B29C51/44 Primary

  Removing or ejecting moulded articles · CPC title

• B29L2031/7622

  Refrigerators · CPC title

• B29C2793/0045

  Perforating · CPC title

• B29C2793/0054

  partially cutting through the material · CPC title