CA1041891A - Process for preparing a hollow rib-reinforcing laminated article and the laminated article obtained - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A hollow, rib-reinforced, laminated article and a process for preparing the article are disclosed. The process comprises:
(a) placing two sheets between opposing mold platens, the sheets being aligned such that the sheet surfaces oppose each other, at least one of the sheets being a thermoplastic material heated to its thermoforming temperature and at least one of the sheets being provided with grooves or integral projections which form fluid passageways, and at least one of the mold platens being proveded with a mold cavity to form a shaped article having ribs;
(b) closing the mold platens to contact the sheets; and (c) introducing a fluid into the fluid passageways to distend the thermoplastic sheet into its mold cavity forming a shaped article having ribs, while the sheets maintain contact in the nondistended areas.
The process is particularly useful in the preparation of laminated structures having an intricate design of sealed hollow portions.

Description

~ackground of the Invention Thls invention relates to a process and apparatus for preparing a hollow, rib-reinforced, lamlnated artlcle and to the article prepared thereby.
A general process for making lamlnated artlcles by flrst maklng a lamlnate preform from two thermoplastic sheets, then heating the preform, placlng the heated preform between two mold halves, and blow-forming the article by lntroducing a ~luid between the sheets to expand the sheets lnto thelr respectlve mold cavlties, ls well known in the art.
When the sheets are lamlnated to form a preform, however, they stlck together and are very dlfflcult to ~eparate without tearlng. m ls tendency of the sheets to stlck together creates problems ln lntroduclng the blowlng fluld between the sheets and ln sheet separation as the blowing fluid expands the sheets lnto the mold cavlty.
U.S. Patent 3,281,301 dlscloses a method typlcal of -the prlor art wherein certaln preselected areas of the lnter-faclal sur~ace between two lamlnated thermoplastlc Qheets are 20 treated prlor to lamlnatlon ln such a manner as to make them - -nonadherent to each other. Thls can be accomplished by using - --a partlng membrane such as paper or a layer of talc.
:In addition, a bleeder member, such as a tube, i8 --~
lnserted between the sheets and is used to introduce air - --between the qheets. Air forced ln between the sheets through the bleeder member ~ollows the path progressively through the ' ,, ~ , , , .,' ' ', ,~, ... , .. , , ", . .,., , , , ,". .. . ,, .~ , . . ,:
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nonadherent areas distending the sheets in such areas.
In similar processes, see U.S. Patents 3,271,846;
3,289,281; and 3,394,446 as the process appies particularly to thermoforming metal sheets.
These prior art processes have the disadvantage of requiring the use and placement of a nonadherent masking material on the sheets, which necessitates a separate operation and precludes subsequent sealing of the sheets where the masking material has been placed. Moreover, the laminated sheets must be precisely registered in the mold in order that the nonadherent areas conform with the recessed portions of the mold, and a bleeder member must be properly aligned with and inserted between ` the laminated sheets for the introduction of air.
Other related prior art includes processes wherein two thermoplastic webs are heated and fed either continuously or incrementally between two advancing opposed mold halves which have an opening for the insertion of a blow tube. jThe thermo- -plastic webs, however, are not laminated prior to or during -forming but instead are spaced apart to aid in introducing air between the sheets.
In U.S. Patent 3,537,138, for example, the advancing webs are spaced apart and brought together only at points for~ing the edge of the final article and at all times leaving an opening, such as the mouth of a bottle being formed, where air can be in-troduced between the sheets to blow the~sheets apart and into their respective mold cavities.
; In still another related patent, namely, U.S. Patent 3,099~043~ the advancing webs are spaced apart and brought into ,:, contact with two opposlng and partially opened mold halves. The ....
-~ 30 webs~ respectively, are vacuum drawn into their corresponding ,i -2-. .

lo~i8~1 mold half and thereafter the mold halves each containing half of a formed article are brought together ~using the edge~ of ~he article together forming the whole article while constantly main-taining communication between the atmosphere and the interior of the article being formed.
While many prior art processes are known for thermo-forming plastic materials, there is a continuing need for a process having a convenient method for introducing air between the thermoplastic sheets. The need is especially apparent where the thermoformed article has an intricate design, such as a hollow rib-relnforced lamlnated article, --Summary of the Invention Accordingly, this invention provldes an improved process for preparing a hollow, rib-reinrorced, laminated ~: :
article by: :
. . .(a) placing two sheets between opposlng mold platens, -the sheets belng allgned such that the sheet surfaces ~. ;
oppose each other, at least one of the sheets .
belng a thermoplastic material heated to its :
thermoformlng temperature and at least one of the sheets belng provided with grooves or integral pro~ectlons which form fluid passageways) and at least one of the mold platen-s being provided with a mold cavity to form a shaped artlcle having ribs;
! (b) closing the mold platens to contact the sheets; and (c) lntroducing a fluld into the fluid passageways to di~tend the thermoplastic sheet lnto lts mold cavity forming a shaped article having ribs~ whlle ;
.
'- ' -, ` ~0~1~91 the sheet~ malntain contact in the nondistended areas.
Thi~ lnvention also provides an apparatus for pre-paring a generally hollow, rib-reinforced, lamlnated thermo-plastic article compri~ing:
(a) means for heating a composite thermoplastic preform to the thermoforming temperature of the thermoplastic whereln said preform comprises at least two thermo-plastic sheets and the interfacial ~urface of at least one ~heet is provided with fluid passages;
(b) means for placing the preform between two opposing mold platens wherein the mold is shaped with a rib-forming mold cavlty facing the preform to produce the thermoplastlc artlcle; and (c) mean~ for lntroduclng a fluid into the fluid passages of the preform forclng the preformed sheets apart to distend the sheet~ lnto their respective mold cavities while the ~heets maintain contact in the nondistended :, areas.
This invention further provides a composite thermo-plastic laminated preform whereln sald preform is a lamlnate of i at least two thermoplastlc sheets and the lnterlor sur~ace o~ at least one sheet ls provided wlth fluid passageways.
This invention stlll further provldes a thermoplastic artlcle comprised of: - -(a) at least two laminated thermoplastic sheets wherein the interfaclal surface of at least one sheet is provided with fluld passageways and (b) dlstended and nondistended areas ln the thermoplastlc sheets formed by a fluid lntroduced into the fluid ~.
passageways between the two sheets to ~eparate the ~-~
~heets and force the sheets into a desired configura-tlon wherein the oppo~ing nondistended areas provide contact polnt~ to hold the article together, the dlstended areas provlde the article wlth the deslred .. ... . . . . ..
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~ ~041~91 shape and the comb~nation of distended and nondistended areas provide integral ribs that reinforce and con-tribute to the structural integrity of the artlcle of product claims.
In alternate embodiments, the thermoplastic material can contain a filler; the fluid passageways can be formed by a pattern of interconnected or disconnected pro~ections, grooves, embossed pits, valleys~ or corrugations in one or both of the sheets;
the mold can be of various configurations, such as one mold half having a smooth surface and the other mold half having a rlbbed surface, or both halves can be shaped to a desired con-figuration; and fluid can be forced into the passageways by positlve pres~ure, or drawn into the passageways as the sheet is distended into a ~acuum mold, or by a combination of these methods. mi9 process is particularly useful in the preparatlon of laminated structures having an intricate design of sealed hollow portions.
This invention also provides apparatus ~or carrying out the proce~s.
Brief Description of the Drawlngs Flg. 1 is a schematic drawing showing the preparation of a preform useful ln the present invention.
Flg. 2 shows an embodiment of a preform wherein the interfacial surface of one sheet is emboseed with a pattern of -:
parallel, extendlng, rectilinear-~haped lands and grooves. The fluld passageways are not interconnected.
Flg. 3 shows an alternate embodlment of a preform where- - -in the lnterfacial surface of one sheet is embossed wlth a pattern o~ lsland-llke, rectangular-shaped protuberances formlng ~ --Y 30 lnterconnected fluid passageways. ~
Fig. 4 1~ ~till another alternate embodiment of a pre- -form whereln the interfa¢ial surface of one sheet ls embos3ed wlth a pattern of lsland-like, generally circular-~haped protuberan¢es ~orming interconnected fluid pas~age~.

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,~, ' ,, , ~ ,' ' :,, ,'' ' , 104~891 Figs. 5 through 8 show various stages in the thermo-forming process of the present invention. Fig. 5 shows the pre-form being heated in an oven. Fi~. 6 shows the heated preform placed between two opposing mold cavities. Fig. 7 shows the -- mold halves closed on the prefonm and air under positive pressure forced between the laminated layers forming the preform distend-ing the preform into the mold cavity. Fig. 8 shows the comple-tion of thermoforming process wherein the mold halves are opened and the thermoformed article is released from the mold cavity.
Fig. 9 shows an alternate embodiment of introducing air between the laminated preform by forcing air through the marginal edges of the preform. In addition, the mold incorporated therein is a two-position mold wherein the first position is held to form the product and thereafter the mold is closed an incremental amount to pressure fuse the nondistended areas of the preform.
Flg. 10 shows an alternate embodiment offintroducing ` alr between the laminated preform by drawing a vacuum in the mold cavity which in turn draws air in through the marginal edges of the preform, into the lnterfacial surface between the laminated layers through the fluid passageways provided in the interfacial surfaces, forcing the laminated sheets to separate ~--and conform to the mold cavity. Optionally, the mold can be further closed an incremental amount to pressure use the non- -~ -tistended areas of the prefo~m.
Fig. 11 is a fragmented cross section of the preferred preform taken along the longitudinal axis of the preform. - -:' Pig. 12 is a ragmented plan view of a bobbin tray. -Pig. 13 is a fragmented cross section of the bobbin -tray shown in Pig. 12.
Plg. 14 i8 a cross section of a heater useful in -6_ , ,, , . .

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~04~891 preheating the preform, taken in the vertical plane.
Fig. 15 is a cross section of an embodiment wherein the mold and preform are vertically aligned.
Fig. 16 is a cross section in the horizontal plane of the mold of Fig. 15 in the closed position.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments The invention will now be further described in tenms -of a preferred embodiment wherein two thermoplastic sheets are formed into a composite preform prior to being heated and lQ positioned for molding. Use of preform is preferred for convenience in handling, process control, and to maintain the sheets in proper alignment one with the other.
The thermoplastic composite preforms can be prepared from any sheet-forming thermoplastic that is thermoformable.
While at least two sheets are contemplated to form the composite, three or more sheets can actually be used and each sheet can be mate from~the same or a different thermoplastic. Useful thermo-plastics include polyolefins 2 to 10 carbons such as poly-ethylene and polypropylene, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyamides such as nylon, polysulfones, poly-carbonates, vinyls such as polyvinylchloride and polyvi*yl acetate, polystyrene, and cellulosics such as cel~ulose acetate butyrate ant cellulose propionate. Also contemplated are thermo- ~ -.~ . .
` plastic materials which, after thermoforming, can be thermoset to form articles whlch maintain their shape over wlde temperature ranges.
These thermoplastics csn optionally be filled with ~arlous types of fillers. The particular type and amount of flller chosen for use ls dependent on the end result desired.
Yor example~ asbestos or aluminum oxide can be used to provlde .
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104~891 fire resistance. Fiberglass fillers can be used to provide re-inforced films. Various colored fillers can be used as pigments, such as titanium dioxide. Clays can be used as bulk fillers and many other fillers can be used to reinforce the film to add strength or to modify other properties of the film such as stiff-ness, optical properties, etc.
Useful types of fillers include the following: asbestos, fiberglass, carbon, calcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, kaolin-ite clay, silica, titanium dioxide, bentonite, talc and mica.
The amount of filler-used can vary from about 1 to 70 weight percent based on the weight of the polymer and filler present. It is preferred that the filler be present in the amount of about 1 to 60 weight percent based on the total weight of polymer and filler present. The preferred type filler for use is :, clay and it is preferred that the clay be present in the amount of about 30 to 60 weight percent based on the total weight of the ` poly~er and filler present. -The thermoplastic polymers can be prepared by known methods. When fillers are used, they can be added to the thermo- ~ -plastic polymers during the preparation of the polymers according to the conventional methods.
After the polymer is prepared, it is extruded through an extrusion die into a film that is cast onto a quenching drum.
While being quenched, the surface of the film that will eventually - be an interior interface in the composite preform structure is embossed, grooved or otherwise marked to provide passageways along the surface of the film. Alternatively, the passageways can be provided by extruding the film through a serrated die.
Whlle only one of the contacting surfaces at the interface in the co-posite structor- oecd be provided with paseageway6, It .

' ~041891 is s~metimes desirable that both surfaces at the interface that oppose each other in the interior portion of the composite be embossed or grooved to insure and provide an increased number of interior passageways~ After marking, the film can be mechani-cally stretched to orient the film in order to improve strength properties.
A variety of methods can be employed to form the composite, depending on the thermoplastic material and on the desired degree of bonding. The bonding, however, must be weak enough that the sheets readily separate as they are distended into the mold cavity during thermoforming. Moreover, the method of forming the composite must preserve the fluid passageways.
Ultrasonic spot welding is a convenient method of forming composites of clay-loaded polyethylene sheets since the spot welds readily rupture during distension. Adhesive bonding .:
can be employed for excellent contact bonding or electrostatic ~ ' bonding can be used for loose bonding by providing a high voltage electrical discharge of opposite polarity on the exterior of the sheets. Thermal bonding can also be used by passing the sheets between heated rollers. If the sheets are susceptible to strong thermal bonding, or if strong adhesive bonding is used, the passageways should be formed by pro~ections having a width less than the thickness of the sheet so that the pro~ections, and not the sheets, rupture as the sheets are ~
distended during thermoforming. -A convenient method of making the film composite pre-forms will be discussed in relation to Fig. 1. Referring to Flg.~l~ fil~-forming extrusion devices 1 and 2 each extrudes thermoplastic fllms 3 and 4 that are cast onto quenching drums 30 5 snd 6, respectively. The quenching drums 5 and 6 meet in _9_ ~" , , , " " . ...

10418~1 nip-formin~ relationship wherein the nip 7 is a narrow gap with a space about equal to the combined thickness of the as-cast films 3 and 4. Roll S rotates clockwise and roll 6 rotates counterclockwise so that both films are conveyed into the nip.
An embossing roll 8 is positioned in nip-forming re-lationship with quenching drum 6 at a convenient location between the extrusion die and nip 7. The embossing roll marks that por-tion of film 4 with an appropriate embossing pattern that will form the interior surface of the resulting laminate.
After the films have been cast, and the interior sur-face of at least one film embossed, they pass through the nip formed by the quenching drums where they are lightly pressed together forming a continuous film composite that can be wound onto a mill roll or forwarded to a cutter and chopped into predetermined sheet lengths.
The fluid passageways can be formed by a number of different patterns on the film surface. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are examples of pro~ection patterns found useful in forming the fluid passages. The term ~pro~ection~ as used herein refers to raised portions of the thermoplastic sheet.
Fig. 2 shows a laminated preform. The preform is com-posed of two thermoplastic sheets 9 and 10 laminated together.
The interior surface 11 of sheet 9 is smooth and the opposing Interior surface 12 of sheet 10 is embossed with a pattern which in cross section consists of rectangular-shaped pro-tuberances 13 that extend in a continuous parallel pattern across the width of the sheet. The fluid passages 14 are formed by the open valleys between the protuberances bounded on top by fllms 11. The parallel fluid passageways!are not lnterconnected. Thls pattern is particularly useful when .

relatively thin sheets are involved and intricate molding patterns are required. Where the hollow portions of the mold-ing pattern are not interconnected, however, passageways communicating with each hollow portion must also communicate with the fluid source.
Figs. 3 and 4 show other surface patterns with inter-connected fluid passages that are useful in providing fluid passages between the composite sheets. The patterns shown have interconnected fluid passages. Fig. 3 shows two sheets 15 and 16 as a composite with the interior surface of sheet 16 having a pattern of protruding truncated rectangular projections 17 embossed thereon with fluid passages 18 provided between the projections.
Fig. 4 shows two sheets 19 and 20 laminated together with the interior surface of sheet 20 having a pattern of pro-truding truncated cylindrical-like projections 21 embossed thereon with fluid passages 22 provided between the projections.
Many other useful in patterns, whether regularly or irregularly occurring on the interior surface of at least one sheet, are sufficient if they provide fluid passages between ; ~-the sheets .
Once the film composite is prepared, depending on --its physical properties such as thickness, flexibility and winding characteristics along with its ultimate intended use, it can be wound onto a mandrel or cut into sheets that are stacked for further use. For clarity in definitions, the terD
"preforml', herein, is used to denote a composite of at least two film sheets wherein the interfacial surface of at least one ~heet is provided with fluid passages. -Use of the composite preform to make a hollow, ribbed, ~, .

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shaped article will now be described with particular reference to Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the drawin~s.
The preform is heated to the thermoforming temperature of the thermoplastic. Thermoforming is described as a process of heating a thermoformable material, e.g., thermoplastic, to soften the material, forming the softened material into a desirable article by forcing the material into contact with a shape-forming mold, and quenching the formed material whereupon the material permanently takes on the shape of ~he mold.
The temperature to which the material is heated is called the ~thermoformingl~ temperature and is described as that -~ temperature of the material (usually a temperature range) where-in the material can be shaped to a selected contour and can --permanently retain that shape when cooled and released from the shaping force.
The thermoforming temperature range can be empirically determined for a given material. The following test has been ; -found useful:
The lowest forming temperature is that temperature at which a square box with fairly sharp and distinguishable corners can be drawn fron a sheet of the material without any visual damage to the material. The highest forming temperature is that temperature at which a sheet of the material either gets so soft and fluid that it sags under its own weight (melt sag) or changes ln appearance, scorches or degrades.
Some typical values of thermoforming temperature are as followc: branched polyethylene, 250-375F.; linear polyethyl-ene, 300-395 P.; polypropylene, 300-395F.; unoriented poly-ethylene terephthalate, 350-400F.; oriented polyethylene terephthalate, 380-490P.; and polycarbonate (polybisphenol-A - ~-,, .

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carbonate), 440-475 F.
Many different techniques of heating can be used in-cluding radiant heating, dielectric heating, convection heating or contact heating as between two hot platens. For relatively thin preforms, it has been found desirable to heat the preform between two hot platens. The weight of the platens aids in keeping the thin sheets from curling or warping. Very thin pre-forms may exhibit a tendency to sag during heating. In such cases it may be desirable to hold the preform in the vertical ~` 10 plane to prevent disruption of the passageways during heating and while the preform is in the heated condition.
; Referring to Fig. 5, a preform 23, made up~of two sheets 23 and 24 laminated together, is heated in an oven 26 to the thermoforming temperature of the film. After the preform 23 ` is heated, it is placed between two opposing mold platens 27 and 28-shown-in Fig. 6. The mold platens are provided with cavities shaped to some desired configuration. It is important to note that the portion of the preform to be distended into a cavity of the mold does not touch any portion of the mold prior to blowing.
"'s Therefore, the sheet is not quenched by the mold in such areas and they remain relatively close to the original heating tem-perature resulting in excellent blowing characteristics.
This invention is particularly useful when at least one mold half 28 is shaped to reproduce distended portions 29 in the -.:, .
~l sheet to be blown. In this manner, articles such as automobilehoods and automotile paneling can be made having one side smooth for visual aesthetic effects and one side ribbed to provide im-provet strength properties. ~
The present invention is, however, also useful in making articles havlng shapes on both sides such as a stacking , , _13-,~,~, ., "~ :
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Once the preform is between the mold platens, the mold platens are mated as shown in Fig. 7 and a fluid is introduced into the fluid passageways 30 provided at the interior contact surfaces between two films. The fluid can be a gas such as air, which is the most practical fluid for use, but it can also be other gases such as nitrogen. In addition, the fluid can be a liquid such as water, a molten polymer, a liquid prepolymer, or foam in liquid form. Selection of heated air is preferred to avoid premature chilling of the preform. When the shaped article has thin walls, the heated air should be introduced under pressure to avoid formation of a partial vacuum, and possible wall collapse, as the article cools after molding.
The flùid can be forced into the internal passageway under posltive pressure through one or more ports provided along the perimeter of the laminated sheet structure or the fluid can be drawn into the internal passageways by vacuum. In addition, the combination of vacuum and positive pressure can also be used to introduce the fluid into the fluid passageway. This is par-- ticularly useful in reducing mold cycle time.
When the vacuum technique is used, a practical way to apply the vacuum is to provlde tiny pinholes through the mold plstens, drawing a vacuum from the interior to the exterior of the mold through the~e pinholes. When a positive pressure is ~
used, care must be taken to evacuate or otherwise eliminate the - - -problem of trapplng alr in a mold cavity. This can be done by -known technlques lncludlng the use of a vent ln the bottom of the cavity~ or llning the cavity with a screen, or roughenlng the surface of the molt cavity.

' Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show the use of positive pressure to force air into the fluid passageways between the two films forming the preform. Air from a compressor, not shown, is forced through conduit 31, through passageway 32 in the mold platen, ` through holes 33 in film sheet 24 into the fluid passageways 30 between the two sheets 23 and 24 forcing the films to blow apart Il~U conform to the mold cavity and particularly distending sheet 24 into the hollow sections 29 of the mold. Hollow sections 29 of the mold have a roughened surface. Fig. 8 shows mold halves 27 and 28 parted and the article shaped from sheets 24 and 25 partially removed from the mold.
As fluid enters the internal passageways, it forces the laminated sheets apart at the places where a mold cavity exists forcing the sheet to conform to the mold cavity. Where the mold cavity exists, the sheets distend into the cavity forming a hol-low shaped rib. Nhere a cavi~y does not exist, the sheets remain in contact. These contact points add strength and rigidity to the hollow articles being formed. An important aspect of this invention is the fact that the fluid passages provide im~ediate distrib~tion of fluid between the sheets. This permits rapid .-.t distention of the sheets before any significant quenching affects the sheets, thereby providing excellent mold replication.
If it is desired that structural rigidity of the molded ~- -srticle be improved, adhesion can be established at the inter~
~i faclal contact points of the sheets. Adhesion is conviently -i establl~hed, when the sheets can be thermally bonded, by heat i~ or pre~sure or both. In this case, the mold can be designed with selectlve heating elements at the contact points on the mold and the molt further provitet with two positions, one position to form the artlcle ant one posltlon to seal the article, the article ., : .

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10411~91 being formed with the mold platens slightly apart and subse-quently the sealed areas formed with the mold platens tightly pressed to each other. Alternatively, a temperature activated adhesive can be employed when the two sheets will not bond to-gether by high temperature and pressure alone. When such an adhesive is employed, the article is heated to the activation temperature after being molded.
By the application of sufficient pressure in sealing the article, one can also achieve a hermetic seal if desired.
For example, the ridges shown in Figure 2, or the pro~ection pattern shown in Figure 3, will readily flatten during the sealing operation to brin8 the two sheets into intimate bonded contact.
` Fig. 9 shows in cross section the use of a two-position ~ -mold and a method of introducing air into oblique directed pas-~-` sageways of the preform at the sheet interface along two edges of ;~ the preform. In addition, the preform is made of three f;' thermoplastic sheets laminated together with fluid passages pro-vided only at the interface between sheets 35, 35a and 36. ~ -Optlonally, sheet 36 could also be laminated to still another thermoplastic sheet or sheets 35 and 36 could be coated either ~ -prior to or after thermoforming.
Blow forming takes place in a two-step operation --whereby in the first step theemold halves are first brought to-i gether a predetermined amount indicated as "h" in the drawings - - - -: -.
` ~ust prior to the introduction of the pressurized fluid. As ; shown in Fig, 9, the actual gap "h" separating mold halves 34 - snd 34a is coincident with the combined thickness of the upper 35 plu8 35a (a barrier or gloss layer) and lower 36 preheated film sheets ln the unblown state. This gap distance "h" will vary de-peDdlng on the combined thlckness of the sheets. ~ -'s~ ' ', ': ' : .
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As soon as the mold halves are brought together, the air is introduced through air inlets 37 and 38. The air travels along air passages 39 and 40 into air gap 41 and 42 and into the interface between sheets 35 adn 36 through air passageways 43.
Air in passageways 43 between the film sheets (that were pre-heated to their thermoforming temperature) blows the sheets apart to separate and distend them into the predetermined rib- -forming cavity regions 44 and 45. Mold cavity regions 44 and 45 have a roughened surface. This is followed immediately by an incremental closing of the mold halves 34 and 34a reducing gap height "h" by an amount sufficient to pressure seal or fuse together the existing contact points between sheets 35 and 36 remaining after the blowing step. To aid in sealing the mold chamber and act as a limit stop to keep the mold halves apart, a resilient gasket 46 is disposed along the top of a raised rim portion 47 of mold half 34. The raised rim portion also func-tions as a guide to the mating of the mold halves.
The additional movement compresses the layers tightly -together causing minor deformation of the open grooves and slight ~ -expansion or flattening of the bonded portions of the protuber-ances. The net effect of the final motion is an increase in the bond area and a stronger final product. Thereafter, the mold halves are separated and the finished product removed. ;-~ Fig. 10 shows an alternate method of thermoform~ng - using a vacuum technique to draw air into the interfacial bound-ary between the two sheets constituting the preform.
Réferrin8 to Fig. 10, mold halves 48 and 49 are shown ' in mating relationship havlng a preform 50 sandwiched between the i molds, PrefGn~ 50 i8 comprised of two sheets 51 and 52 and the lnterfaclal surfaces of both sheets are provided with fluid ":

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passages 53 and 54, respectively.
` In operation, a vacuum is drawn on vacuum chambers 55 and 56 which evacuates the mold cavity by drawing air through multiple passages leading from the mold cavity to the vacuu~
chambers wherein the passages are designated by numerals 57 and 58. This in turn draws air from the atmosphere into the mold through ports 59 and 60 and into the interfacial boundary between sheets 51 and 52 through fluid passages 53 and 54 forcing the sheets to distend and conform to their respective mold cavity.
To aid in sealing the-~mold chamber and act as a limit stop~Jto keep the~mold halves slightly apart, resilient gaskets 61 and 62 are disposed along the top of a ralsed rim portion of mold half 49.
Example 1 A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with particular reference to Figs. 11, 12 and 13.
High-density polyethylene, namely, Alathon@~7030 ~ (trademark of E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. for polyethylene 7 resin), having a density of 0.96 and a melt index of 2.8 in the amount of 60 parts by weight is melt blended with 40 parts by weight of kaolinite clay (Harwick GK Clay) and cast into two --~` sheets each 30 mils thick, having dimensions of about 28.5 inches ---in length and 21.5 inches in width.
One side of one sheet is embossed with a regular pat-tern of raised ridges and valleys. The ridges and valleys run parallel to each other traversing the width of the sheet in a line perpendicular to the long axis, i.e., the longitudinal axis, of the sheet.
The ridges and valleys have a general pattern similar to that shown ln Fig. 2 with the exception that the pro~ections , ,'~' ~ ` ,, 1~;)4189~
do-not have squared off corners but instead the pro~ections have a cross section in the shape of a trapezoid.
After the sheets have been cast and the surface of one sheet embossed, the sheets are placed together with the embossed surface in the interface between the two sheets to form a preform.
The sheets are laminated under light pressure, during - the heating step, by placing the sheets between two flat-surfaced platens heated to a temperature of about 270F. The sheets are left between the platens for a time that can vary from abo~lt 3.5 `~ 10 to 4 minutes. Depending on the residence time, the sheets them-selves will be hested to a temperature of about 250 to 270F.
Fig~ 11 is a fragmented cross section of the preform taken perpendlcular to the ridges and valleys. Referring to -^ Fig. 11, the preform is made up of two laminated sheets 63 and 64. Sheet 63 is 30 mils thick and has two smooth surfaces and sheet~ 64 has one embossed and one smooth surface. The embossed surface is at the interface between the two sheets.
~l Sheet 64 has a thickness~ of 29 mils in the areas ~ where there are no pro~ections and a thic~ness of 39 mils in the ;
-~ 20 area of the pro~ections 65. The pro~ections themselves are 10 ?. mi}s high and are spaced apart a distance`of-90 mils center~to- -center. The trapezoidal section itself is 10 mils wide at the ~.
top, 21.6 mils wide at the bottom and has a height of 10 mils.
` The~heated preform is placed in a mold that is designed - --to reprotuce a bobbin tray. The mold is at room temperature~ ----, The mold is closet and a vacuum of about 29 inches of mercury is -~ appliéd to the mold cavity. As the,~mold is evacuated, it draws `yl air into the fluid passages in the preform through the marginal j' edges o the preform. The air in the fluid passages separates the ~heet~ distending them into the recesses of the mold cavity.
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~041891 Vacuum is applied for about 5 to ô seconds, the mold halves are separated, and the finished article removed.
The thermoplastic articles of the present invention are comprised of (a) at least two laminated thermoplastic sheets wherein the interfacial surface of at least one sheet is provided with fluid passageways and (b) distended and nondistended areas in the thermoplastic sheets formed by a fluid introduced into the fluid passageways between the two sheets to separate the sheets and force the sheets into a desired configuration wherein the opposing nondistended areas provide contact points to hold the article together, ehe distended areas provide the article with the desired shape and the combination of distended and nondis-tended areas provide integral ribs that reinforce and contribute to the structural integrity of the article. ~-` Fig. 12 is a fragmented view of a hollow, rib-reinforced, laminated structure in the form of a bobbin tray, representing the preferred embodiment. Fig. 13 is a cross section along line 13-13 of Fig. 12. The circular portions 66 of --~ the tray provide recesses on both sides of the tray to contain ; 20 one end of a bobbin. With a recessed pattern on both sides of , the tray, trays containing bobbins can be stacked on top of each ; other. The pattern of island-like recesses 67 and protuberances -68 form ribs that add to the strength of the tray which is im- -portant during the handling of the trays in use. In general, - ~
; the ribs can be short or elongated~ curved or straight, and - --form a pattern in one or multiple directions. These ribs and ~ ;
significantly to the structural integrity of the article.
Exam~e 2 A second embodiment will now be described with particular reference to Figures 14 through 16.

i ~20-' ', , : "i , , ", ~ , , , ~ -Two sheets of clay-loaded polyethylene, having the composition described in Example 1, are laminated to form a composite by heating the surface of the sheets and bringing them together by means of a nip roll, or by broad area ultra-sonic bonding. Each sheet is 45 mils thick and 31 inches long by 24 inches wide. One sheet has an embossed pattern of ridges having a height of 10 mils, and the composite has the configura-tion shown in Figure 11 except that the ridges are spaced 100 mils center to center.
Referring to Fig. 14, the composite 69 is hung from a clamp-air manifold mechanism 70 with the ridges in the vertical direction, which mechanism in turn is suspended from a conveyor chain (not shown). The clamp-air manifold both holds the composite as it is suspended between two banks of radiant heaters 71 and serves as an air manifold during the subsequent thermoforming operation.
The heaters are inclined at a slight angle such that the top and bottom of the heaters are spaced 12 and ô inches, ~ respectively, from the composite. mis spacing helps compensate; 20 for a chimney effect in which the bottom of the~-composite tends to cool as the heat rises. Heat distribution is also regulated --by a modulating screen 72 of wire screening or perforated sheet metal placed between the heat source and the composite to shield central portions of the lamlnate from excessive heating. A
perforated sheet metal screen having about 50% open area, tri-angular openings which increase heat intensity of the vertical and lower horizontal edges of the composite, and circular ~ ---openings wh~ch increase heat intensity in a selected narrow bsnd at~acent the upper horizontal edge of the composite, has proven effective.
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~0418~1 The composite remains between the radiant heaters for approximately 2 minutes and is heated to about 250 to 280 F.
Referring to Figure 15, the heated composite 69 still gripped by the clamp-air manifold mechanism 70 is placed between two mold halves, 73 and 73a. Mold half 73 is mounted on a stationary mold platen 74 which is firmly anchored to a frame (not shown). Mold half 73a is mounted on a movable ~old platen 74a which is actuated by a hydraulic ram 75. The mold halves are designed to produce the bobbin tray of Figure 12 and are at room temperature.
After the composite has been placed between the two mold halves, a closing pressure of 6,000 to 7,000 pounds is applied to mold half 73a by the hydraulic ram. This closing pressure causes the mold to close to a first position at which there is a gap between the mold halves approximately equai to the thickness of the composite. The gap width is regulated , by control springs 76 disposed along the rim of the stationary - mold platen which engage the moving platen as the mold closes.
Pinch bars 77 are provided on the bottom edge and two --~
vertical edges (not shown) of the mold halves. The pinch bars ~ - -are ad~acent to and extend about 7 mils beyond the face of the mold halves so that they seal the bottom and two vertical edges of the composite as the mold closes to its first position. A -' sealed vertical edge is shown in Figure 16 which is a partial horizontal cross-section taken through the composite and mold j in the first position.
As the mold is closing, a vacuum of about 20 inches mercury i8 applied to the mold cavity through holes provided ~-~
in the mold. me vacuum draws the sheets toward the mold cavity, separating and distendlng the sheets into mold cavity recesses 78, s , G~

104~891 and drawing ai~ into the recesses through the composite fl~id passageways.
After the pinch bars have sealed all edges except the upper horizontal composite edge held by the clamp-air manifold mechanism, warm air under 15 to 20 psi pressure is fed from the air manifold, through the composite fluid passageways, and into the mold ca*~ty recesses. The warm air pressurizes the tray, preventing collapse of hollow portions of the final product when cooled. The pressurized air also assists in achieving mold replication.
A closing pressure in excess of 7,000 pounds is then applied to advance mold half 73a lO mils forward toward mold half 73. During this high pressure stage the two tray halves are permanently welded together, the fluid passageways are elimlnated by flattening of the pro~ections, and the fourth edge of the composite is sealed.
me total time required for both the low and high pressure mold stages i8 2 1/2 to 3 seconds, after which the mold is held closed to allow the formed tray to cool. The mold , 20 halves are then separated and the finished article is removed.
The process of the present invention is particularly adapted for the manufacture of thermoformed articles having a complex pattern of hollow spaces which rib-reinforce the article.
Rapid cycles can be achieved since the fluid passageways pro-vided in the composite preform permit use of a pressure assist to vacuum drawing~ The use of pressurized fluid gives better mold replication than that achieved through vacuum drawing alone, and permits thermoforming of sheets not formable by vacuum alone.
The process obviates the need for using a patterned nonatherent material (stop-weld) on the interfacial surfaces, ?

' ` ~O'.~ gl eliminating the requirement that the preform be precisely - registered with the mold. Moreover, the process avoids the need to insert a fluld supply means at locations of the hollow portions of the thermo~ormed articles, likewise, eliminating registry problems.
-~ While the process has bccn described in detail with respect to use of a sheet which has been extruded through a serrated die, embossed, or otherwise marked to provlde the fluid passageways, the passageways can also be formed by other methods which form integral pro~ections on the sheet, e.g., by melt extruding a contlnuous or discontinuous pattern of polymer onto the sheet, such as patterns shown ln Figs. 2 through 4. By ~-"integral" is meant that the proJections flrmly adhere to the sheet-sothat they are not dislodged before the sheet is thermo- -formed. When melt extruding polymer onto the sheet to form the proJections, a polymer is generally selected whlch will thermally bond to the sheet prior to or during the thermoformlng proces~.
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Claims (41)

CLAIMS:

1. A process for preparing a hollow, rib-reinforced, laminated article consisting essentially of:
(a) placing two sheets between opposing mold platens, the sheets being aligned such that the sheet sur-faces oppose each other, at least one of the sheets being a thermoplastic material heated to its thermo-forming temperature and at least one of the sheets being provided with grooves or integral projections which form fluid passageways, and at least one of the mold platens being provided with a mold cavity to form a shaped article having ribs;
(b) closing the mold platens to contact the sheets; and (c) introducing a fluid into the fluid passageways to distend the thermoplastic sheet into its mold cavity forming a shaped article having ribs, while the sheets maintain contact in the nondistended areas.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein both sheets are a thermoplastic material.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein the thermoplastic material is polyethylene or polypropylene.

4. The process of claim 2 wherein both sheets are distended in step (c).

5. The process of claim 2 wherein fluid is introduced into the fluid passageways under pressure.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein the fluid is heated air.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein a vacuum is drawn in the mold.

8. The process of claim 2 wherein the projections of the sheet are ridges having a width less than the thickness of the sheet.

9. The process of claim 1 wherein, after the disten-sion of step (c), the mold platens are further closed to seal nondistended portions of the sheets.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein both sheets are a thermoplastic material.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein a composite pre-form of two thermoplastic sheets is placed between the mold platens in step (a).

12. The process of claim 11 wherein one of the thermo-plastic sheets has projections and the other thermoplastic sheet is smooth.

13. The process of claim 11 wherein both thermoplastic sheets have projections.

14. The process of claim 11 wherein both sheets are distended in step (c).

15. The process of claim 11 wherein fluid is introduced into the fluid passageways under positive pressure.

16. The process of claim 15 wherein the fluid is heated air.

17. The process of claim 11 wherein the preform is heated by placing the preform between to opposing hot platens.

18. The process of claim 11 wherein the preform is heated by subjecting the preform to radiant heat.

19. The process of claim 11 including the step of heating the mold platens.

20. The process of claim 11 wherein fluid is introduced into the preform passageways through at least one marginal edge.

21. The process of claim 11 wherein the fluid is introduced into the preform passageways by drawing a vacuum in the mold to draw the fluid into the passageways through at least one marginal edge.

22. The process of claim 21 wherein the fluid is introduced under pressure.

23. The process of claim 22 wherein the fluid is heated air.

24. The process of claim 11 wherein the opposing mold platens are closed on the preform with the mold platens spaced apart a distance equivalent to about the thickness of the preform and said mold platens remain in this position until the thermo-plastic article has been formed by introducing a fluid into the fluid passages of the preform whereupon the opposing mold platens are closed an incremental amount sufficient to pressure seal the nondistended areas of the preform.

25. The process of claim 11 wherein the thermoplastic material is polyethylene.

26. The process of claim 11 wherein the thermoplastic material is polypropylene.

27. The process of claim 11 wherein the thermoplastic contains an inert filler material in the amount of about 1 to 70 weight percent based on the total weight of the polymer and filler present.

28. The process of claim 11 wherein the thermoplastic contain a filler material of clay in the amount of about 30 to 60 weight percent based on the weight of the polymer present.

29. The process of claim 11 wherein the fluid passages on an interfacial surface of the preform is made up of a pattern which in cross section consists of trapezoidal-shaped protuberances extending in a continuous parallel pattern across the width of the sheet with trapezoidal valleys between the protuberances.

30. The process of claim 11 wherein the fluid passages in the preform are interconnected.

31. The process of claim 11 wherein the thermoplastic sheets of the preform are adhesively bonded together.

32. The process of claim 11 wherein the projections of the sheet are ridges having a width less than the thickness of the sheet.

33. The process of claim 11 wherein the mold is vertically aligned.

34. A thermoplastic article comprised of:
(a) at least two laminated thermoplastic sheets wherein the interfacial surface of at least one sheet is provided with fluid passageways and (b) distended and nondistended areas in the thermoplastic sheets formed by a fluid introduced into the fluid passageways between the two sheets to separate the sheets and force the sheets into a desired configura-tion wherein the opposing nondistended areas provided contact points to hold the article together, the dis-tended areas provide the article with the desired shape and the combination of distended and nondistended areas provide integral ribs that reinforce and contri-bute to the structural integrity of the article.

35. The thermoplastic article of claim 34 wherein the thermoplastic is a polyolefin.

36. The thermoplastic article of claim 34 wherein the thermoplastic is polyethylene.

37. The thermoplastic article Or claim 34 wherein the thermoplastic is polypropylene.

38. me thermoplastic article of claim 34 wherein the thermoplastic is polyethylene terephthalate.

39. The thermoplastic article of claim 34 wherein the thermoplastic contains a filler material present in an amount of about 1 to 70 weight percent based on the total weight of the thermoplastic and filler material present.

40. The thermoplastic article of claim 39 wherein the filler material is clay.

41. The thermoplastic article of claim 39 wherein the filler material is clay present in the amount of about 30 to 60 weight percent based on the weight of thermoplastic and filler material present.