Preform shaping apparatus, preform shaping method and composite material molding method

A preform shaping apparatus for producing a preform having a web, at least one flange, and a chamfered portion between the web and the at least one flange by pressing a laminated body of fiber sheets with a plurality of molds, the at least one flange being bent in a single side of the web, the chamfered portion being at least one of a round chamfered edge or a flat chamfered edge, the apparatus comprising:

• a first mold having a first surface fitting each of a surface in one side of the web, an inner surface of the chamfered portion and a surface in one side of the at least one flange;
• a second mold having a second surface fitting a surface in an other side of the web;
• a third mold having a third surface fitting each of a surface in an other side of the at least one flange and an outer surface of the chamfered portion;
• and
• a drive mechanism having:
• a first lifting device configured to move at least one of the first mold and the second mold up and down in a vertical direction between a first retreat position where a first distance between the first mold and the second mold becomes longer than a thickness of a portion in the laminated body of fiber sheets corresponding to the web and a first press position where the first distance becomes the thickness of the web;
• and
• a second lifting device configured to move the third mold up and down in a vertical direction between a second retreat position where a second distance between the first mold and the third mold becomes longer than each thickness of portions in the laminated body of fiber sheets corresponding to the at least one flange and the chamfered portion and a second press position where the second distance becomes each thickness of the flange and the chamfered portion, and a slide device configured to move the third mold horizontally in a horizontal direction between the second retreat position and the second press position,
• wherein the drive mechanism is configured so that movement in the horizontal direction by the sliding device and movement in the vertical direction by the second lifting device are performed such that, after pressing by the first mold and the second mold is completed as the first lifting device moves at least one of the first mold and the second mold, pressing of a portion of the laminated body corresponding to the chamfered portion is started after pressing of a portion of the laminated body corresponding to the flange is started by the third mold and the first mold.