Press-molding apparatus, press-molding method, and press-molded product

A press-molding apparatus configured to mold a press-molded product by performing press working on a work, the work having a hat-shaped cross-section or a U-shaped cross-section including an upper wall portion and a vertical wall portion with a first thickness, the press-molding apparatus comprising:

• a first support member that supports the work from the inside of the hat-shaped cross-section or the U-shaped cross-section;
• a second support member that supports the work at a lower end portion of the vertical wall portion;
• a punch member that moves downward relative to the second support member, together with the first support member, to execute press working of reducing a height of the vertical wall portion and thickening the vertical wall portion to a second thickness larger than the first thickness;
• a pad member that faces the first support member with the vertical wall portion placed between the pad member and the first support member;
• and
• a position adjustment mechanism that adjusts a position of the pad member in a manner that contact between the pad member and the vertical wall portion is maintained during the press working,
• wherein the position adjustment mechanism includes a distance adjustment mechanism that enlarges a distance between the first support member and the pad member concurrently with downward movement of the punch member during the press working, and
• wherein the distance adjustment mechanism includes an inclined surface that is formed on the pad member and is higher at positions farther from the first support member, and a pressing portion that is formed in the punch member and presses the inclined surface to cause the pad member to move in a direction going away from the first support member during the press working.

A press-molding apparatus configured to mold a press-molded product by performing press working on a work, the work having a hat-shaped cross-section or a U-shaped cross-section including an upper wall portion and a vertical wall portion with a first thickness, the press-molding apparatus comprising:

• a first support member that supports the work from the inside of the hat-shaped cross-section or the U-shaped cross-section;
• a second support member that supports the work at a lower end portion of the vertical wall portion;
• a punch member that moves downward relative to the second support member, together with the first support member, to execute press working of reducing a height of the vertical wall portion and thickening the vertical wall portion to a second thickness larger than the first thickness;
• a pad member that faces the first support member with the vertical wall portion placed between the pad member and the first support member;
• and
• a position adjustment mechanism that adjusts a position of the pad member in a manner that contact between the pad member and the vertical wall portion is maintained during the press working,
• wherein the work has the hat-shaped cross-section or the U-shaped cross-section opening toward a lower end of the vertical wall portion,
• wherein the first support member has a first inclined surface that faces the vertical wall portion,
• wherein the pad member has a second inclined surface that faces the first inclined surface with the vertical wall portion placed between the second inclined surface and the first inclined surface, and
• wherein the distance adjustment mechanism includes a driving mechanism that causes the second inclined surface to proceed toward the vertical wall portion to follow the first inclined surface that recedes from the vertical wall portion owing to downward movement of the first support member during the press working.