Processing apparatus for composite material and processing method for composite material

A processing method for a composite material in which fibers and a thermoplastic resin are compounded, the processing method comprising:

• pressing and heating the composite material by a heating die via a first pallet and a second pallet clamping the composite material;
• pressing and cooling the composite material by a cooling die having a temperature adjustment unit via the first pallet and the second pallet;
• and
• conveying the first pallet and the second pallet clamping the composite material from the heating die to the cooling die,
• wherein
• the cooling die includes a first contact part with which a first region of the composite material comes into contact via the first pallet and a second contact part with which a second region of the composite material comes into contact via the first pallet,
• the first region and the second region are different regions from each other on one surface side of the composite material,
• the temperature adjustment unit is configured to adjust temperatures of the first contact part and the second contact part in accordance with shapes or positions of the first and second regions of the composite material with which the first and second contact parts come into contact, respectively, and
• the processing method further comprises
• setting a temperature of the first contact part lower than a temperature of the second contact part using the temperature adjustment unit, wherein the composite material in the first region has a plate thickness greater than a plate thickness in the second region;
• or
• setting a temperature of the second contact part higher than a temperature of the first contact part using the temperature adjustment unit, wherein the second region is positioned closer to an end of the composite material than the first region.