Thermoshaping machine

Abstract

A shaping machine has upper and lower shaping tools movable vertically between an open position spaced apart and spacedly flanking a shapable strip passing between them in a generally horizontal travel direction and a closed position gripping the strip and also movable horizontally parallel to the strip between an upstream tool position and a downstream tool position. Upper and lower clamp plates offset horizontally from the shaping tools are also movable vertically between an open and closed positions and movable horizontally between upstream position and downstream clamp positions. Respective drives connected to the tools and plates alternately move the tools and the plates between their open and closed positions. This drive also move the tools and plates downstream in the direction substantially only when in the respective closed positions and moves the tools and plates upstream in the direction substantially only when in the respective open positions.

1 . A shaping machine comprising: 
 upper and lower shaping tools movable vertically between an open position spaced apart and spacedly flanking a shapable strip passing between them in a generally horizontal travel direction and a closed position gripping the strip and also movable horizontally parallel to the strip between an upstream tool position and a downstream tool position;    upper and lower clamp plates offset horizontally from the shaping tools and movable vertically between an open position spaced apart and spacedly flanking the strip and a closed position gripping the strip and also movable horizontally parallel to the strip between an upstream clamp position and a downstream clamp position; and    drive means connected to the tools and plates for alternately moving the tools and the clamp plates between their open and closed positions and for moving the tools and plates downstream in the direction substantially only when in the respective closed positions and for moving the tools and plates upstream in the direction substantially only when in the respective open positions.    
   
   
       2 . The machine defined in  claim 1  wherein the drive means alternately closes and opens the shaping tools and clamp plates so as to advance the strip continuously in the direction.  
   
   
       3 . The machine defined in  claim 1  wherein the drive means shifts the shaping tools and clamping plates into the respective closed positions after some advance downstream from the respective upstream end position and out of the respective closed positions somewhat upstream of the respective downstream end positions, whereby the tools and plates have time to accelerate to a travel speed when starting movement downstream from the respective upstream end positions and have time to decelerate to a stop when moving into the respective downstream end positions.  
   
   
       4 . The machine defined in  claim 1  wherein the shaping tools have a length parallel to the direction and engageable with the strip that is greater than a maximum travel of the tools in the direction between the respective upstream and downstream positions.  
   
   
       5 . The machine defined in  claim 1 , further comprising 
 cooling means connected to the tools.    
   
   
       6 . The machine defined in  claim 1 , further comprising 
 cooling means connected to the plates.    
   
   
       7 . The machine defined in  claim 1  wherein the drive mesas includes variable drives effective in the direction for displacing the plates and tools in the direction.  
   
   
       8 . The machine defined in  claim 1  wherein the drive means includes fluid-powered actuators effective vertically for displacing the plates and tools between the respective open and closed positions.  
   
   
       9 . The machine defined in  claim 1  wherein the transport direction extends at a small acute angle to the horizontal.