TWIN-SHEET THERMOFORMING OF PLASTIC FUEL TANKS

摘要

A method and a plant for twin-sheet thermoforming of fuel tanks; first andsecond sheets (SA, SB) of thermoformable plastic material, are separately fedalong respective processing lines (10A, 10B). The sheets (SA, SB) are heatedand gripped along their peripheral edges by a pneumatically actuate suctionand vacuum holding device (15A, 15B), for supporting the heated sheets (SA,SB) in a substantially flat condition while they are moved towards arespective thermoforming station (16A, 16B). Both the molds (17A, 17B) aredisposed side by side with their open cavity facing upwards. Afterthermoforming of the plastic sheets (SA, SB), one of the molds (17B) is turnedupside down onto the other mold (17A), to overlap and weld superimposedsealing areas of the two thermoformed shells (GA, GB). Cooling of the moldsand thermoformed tank may be performed on a side of the processing lines (10A,10B).