Conveyance device and conveyance head

A conveyance device that supports a melted and softened molding material containing reinforcement fibers and a thermoplastic resin, conveys the molding material between a pair of molds that have been opened, and places the molding material on one of the pair of molds, comprising:

• a plurality of holding mechanisms;
• one or more pressing mechanisms, wherein:
• the holding mechanisms each include a holder that holds the molding material and a holder movement mechanism that moves the holder, and
• the pressing mechanisms each include a pusher that comes into contact with and pushes the molding material and a pusher movement mechanism that moves the pusher;
• and
• a controller that controls an operation of conveying the molding material and an operation of placing the molding material, wherein the controller:
• controls the holding mechanisms to hold each portion of the molding material by a plurality of the holders and convey the molding material between the pair of molds while supporting the molding material in a state where the pusher does not come into contact with the molding material,
• controls the holding mechanisms and the pressing mechanisms to start preforming for pushing the molding material held by the plurality of holders by the pusher to follow the one of the pair of molds and deforming the molding material into a predetermined shape before the molding material comes into contact with the one of the pair of molds, and
• controls the holding mechanisms to release holding of the molding material, on which the preforming has been performed, by the holders and place the molding material on the one of the pair of molds.