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US 11,298,896 B2Granted
Molding device and molded article manufacturing method
AssigneeToyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsYasuhiro Ueno, Shotaro Ishikawa, Masataka Asai
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pressing member is configured to press a portion-to-be-pressed of a continuous-fiber sheet against a recessed surface of a first mold in a state where the continuous-fiber sheet is placed between the first mold and a second mold. A pulling member is configured to bring the continuous-fiber sheet into close contact with the main surface and the recessed surface by pulling a portion of the continuous-fiber sheet located on an outer peripheral side of the portion-to-be-pressed after the pressing member presses the portion-to-be-pressed against the recessed surface.
Claims8
A molding device comprising:
- a first mold;
- and
- a second mold, wherein:
- the molding device is configured to shape a continuous-fiber sheet configured to be placed between the first mold and the second mold;
- the first mold and the second mold face each other;
- at least one of the first mold and the second mold is configured to be movable in a separating direction, in which the first mold and the second mold are separated relatively farther away from each other, and in an approaching direction, in which the first mold and the second mold are brought relatively closer to each other;
- the first mold includes a placing surface on which the continuous-fiber sheet is configured to be placed between the first mold and the second mold;
- the placing surface includes a main surface and at least one recessed surface that is connected to the main surface and that is located farther away from the second mold than the main surface;
- the second mold includes at least one pressing member configured to press the continuous-fiber sheet which is configured to be placed on the placing surface against the recessed surface, and a pulling member configured to pull the continuous-fiber sheet;
- the pressing member is configured to press a portion-to-be-pressed of the continuous-fiber sheet against the recessed surface in a state where the continuous-fiber sheet is placed between the first mold and the second mold;
- and
- the pulling member includes a contact member having a base and a protrusion extending vertically downward from the base, and is configured to bring the continuous-fiber sheet into close contact with the main surface by pulling a portion of the continuous-fiber sheet located on an outer peripheral side of the portion-to-be-pressed after the pressing member presses the portion-to-be-pressed against the recessed surface,
- wherein the continuous-fiber sheet which is configured to be placed on the placing surface includes an outer peripheral portion that projects outward from an outer peripheral edge portion of the placing surface, and the pulling member is configured to bring the continuous-fiber sheet into close contact with the main surface by pulling the outer peripheral portion.
10 more elements
A molded article manufacturing method comprising:
- preparing a first mold and a second mold placed so as to face each other;
- placing a continuous-fiber sheet between the first mold and the second mold;
- and
- processing the continuous-fiber sheet by the first mold and the second mold, wherein:
- at least one of the first mold and the second mold is configured to be movable in a separating direction, in which the first mold and the second mold are separated relatively farther away from each other, and in an approaching direction, in which the first mold and the second mold are brought relatively closer to each other;
- the first mold includes a placing surface on which the continuous-fiber sheet is configured to be placed between the first mold and the second mold;
- the placing surface includes a main surface and at least one recessed surface that is connected to the main surface and is located farther away from the second mold than the main surface;
- and
- processing the continuous-fiber sheet includes pressing a portion-to-be-pressed of the continuous-fiber sheet against the recessed surface, and after pressing the portion-to-be-pressed against the recessed surface, bringing the continuous-fiber sheet into close contact with the main surface by pulling a portion of the continuous-fiber sheet located on an outer peripheral side of the portion-to-be-pressed,
- wherein the continuous-fiber sheet which is configured to be placed on the placing surface includes an outer peripheral portion that projects outward from an outer peripheral edge portion of the placing surface, and the bringing of the continuous-fiber sheet into close contact with the main surface included in the processing includes bringing the continuous-fiber sheet into close contact with the main surface by pulling the outer peripheral portion with a pulling member including a contact member having a base and a protrusion extending vertically downward from the base.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.