Abstract
In this study, the effect of pushers used in the production of thermoformed products on the form during molding and the design of appropriate pushers were examined through practical applications. Thermoforming operates on the principle of forming a heated sheet at shaping temperature using vacuum or blowing methods. The most critical aspect of thermoformed products is ensuring that the wall thickness is evenly distributed across all parts of the form. To achieve this, the sheet production process must adhere to standards, the sheet must undergo preheating during production, be heated uniformly, the mold's air vent holes must be correctly positioned, the mold and pusher temperatures must be appropriate for the process, and the pusher's design must match the mold's form.
In this study, we aimed to address stacking issues encountered during automatic boxing and alignment of thermoformed cups produced by packaging machines in the beverage industry. Additionally, by ensuring homogeneous forming, it is intended to enable the use of thinner sheets, thereby reducing material costs for the producer. For the experimental study, a fully automatic thermoforming machine for cup filling and sealing, and the necessary production conditions were established. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) sheets with a thickness of 700 microns and polyethylene as the pusher material were used. Standard cup molds were used to shape various forms with different pushers, and the wall thicknesses of the forms were reported and compared based on the pushers used.
Keywords: Thermoforming, Pusher, Blowing, Vacuum, Polyethylene terephthalate
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