Shape forming system and shape forming method

A shape forming system comprising:

• mold assemblies each configured to retain a to-be-formed material;
• a heating unit configured to heat the mold assemblies to thereby subject the to-be-formed material to a heating treatment;
• a pressing unit configured to apply pressure to the mold assemblies to thereby subject the to-be-formed material to a shape forming treatment;
• a cooling unit configured to cool the mold assemblies after the shape forming treatment to thereby subject a shaped product obtained by subjecting the to-be-formed material to the shape forming treatment to a cooling treatment;
• an isolation chamber configured to accommodate therein the heating unit, the pressing unit, and the cooling unit arranged in series with each other;
• and
• a conveyance unit configured to move the mold assemblies each of which is arranged on a plate provided in each of the heating unit, the pressing unit, and the cooling unit to thereby convey the mold assemblies in sequence,
• wherein
• each of the mold assemblies includes sat least one coupling pin extending along a conveyance path so as to form a coupling section,
• the conveyance unit includes a shoving mechanism configured to shove the coupling section along the conveyance path,
• a plurality of mold assemblies are arranged in such a manner that end parts of adjoining coupling sections abut on each other to be continuous with each other, and are conveyed in a collective manner, and
• the shoving mechanism conveys a dummy mold assembly formed into a shape identical to the mold assembly in place of the mold assembly according to an instruction of a control device at a time of starting or stopping an operation, at a time of maintenance, after completion of shape forming of a required number of shaped products, or at a time of exchange of the mold.