Compression molding device

A compression molding device comprising:

• a plurality of molding means each comprising a one-side mold assembly and an opposite-side mold assembly, the one-side mold assembly and the opposite-side mold assembly being free to move toward and away from each other between a closed state where the one-side mold assembly and the opposite-side mold assembly collaboratively compression-mold an article, and an open state where the one-side mold assembly and the opposite-side mold assembly are located apart from each other;
• and
• a rotating support to be rotationally driven, the plurality of molding means being mounted to the rotating support at circumferential intervals,
• wherein, for each the plurality of molding means,
• the one-side mold assembly has one-side mold assembly moving means attached thereto,
• the opposite-side mold assembly has opposite-side mold assembly moving means attached thereto,
• the one-side mold assembly moving means includes a toggle link mechanism including two links, and toggle link mechanism operating means including a cam following link mechanism having a plurality of links,
• the opposite-side mold assembly moving means includes a hydraulic cylinder mechanism, and
• when the one-side mold assembly and the opposite-side mold assembly are to be brought from the open state into the closed state:
• the one-side mold assembly is first moved toward the opposite-side mold assembly by the one-side mold assembly moving means, whereby the one-side mold assembly and the opposite-side mold assembly are brought close to a state proximate to the closed state to establish a nearly closed state, so that the two links of the toggle link mechanism in the one-side mold assembly moving means are located on a straight line;
• and
• the opposite-side mold assembly is then moved toward the one-side mold assembly by the opposite-side mold assembly moving means to establish the closed state, whereupon
• a compression molding force exerted by the opposite-side mold assembly moving means is transmitted to the toggle link mechanism via the opposite-side mold assembly and the one-side mold assembly, but is not transmitted to the toggle link mechanism operating means,
• wherein, in the nearly closed state and the closed state, the plurality of links of the cam following link mechanism are located on a first line, and the two links of the toggle link mechanism are located on a second line, the first and second lines deviating from each other in a diametrical direction.