# US 2019/0168467 A1 · Press forming method and press forming apparatus for continuous fiber composite sheet > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168467 A1 - Document ID: US20190168467A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/896,087 - Filed: 2018-02-14 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: Swancor Ind. Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Swancor Ind. Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yu-Tsan Tseng; Wen-Pang Chiang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168467A1 ## CPC - B29C 70/46: using matched moulds, e.g. for deforming sheet moulding compounds [SMC] or prepregs - B29C 51/082: {by shaping between complementary mould parts} - B29C 51/105: {Twin sheet thermoforming, i.e. deforming two parallel opposing sheets or foils at the same time by using one common mould cavity and without welding them together during thermoforming (B29C51/267, B29C49/0691 take precedence)} - B29C 51/20: having movable moulds or mould parts - B29C 51/262: {Clamping means for the sheets, e.g. clamping frames} - B29C 51/421: {of preforms, specially adapted for thermoforming (preheating sheets in general B29B13/023; B29C51/427 takes precedence)} - B29C 2791/006: Using vacuum - B29K 2101/12: Thermoplastic materials - B29K 2105/08: of continuous length, e.g. cords, rovings, mats, fabrics, strands or yarns - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS ## Abstract A press forming method for continuous fiber composite sheets including the following steps is provided. Firstly, a plurality of continuous fiber composite sheets are provided. Then, the continuous fiber composite sheets are heated. Then, a mold having a plurality of cavities is provided. After that, the continuous fiber composite sheets are respectively placed into the cavities, and the continuous fiber composite sheets are molded respectively. A press forming apparatus for continuous fiber composite sheet is also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A press forming method for a continuous fiber composite sheet, comprising: providing a plurality of continuous fiber composite sheets; heating the continuous fiber composite sheets; providing a mold having a plurality of cavities; and placing the continuous fiber composite sheets respectively into the cavities, and the continuous fiber composite sheets are molded respectively. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The press forming method for the continuous fiber composite sheet according to claim 1, further comprising: adjusting tension of the continuous fiber composite sheets respectively prior to heating the continuous fiber composite sheets. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The press forming method for the continuous fiber composite sheet according to claim 1, further comprising: adjusting tension of the continuous fiber composite sheets respectively in the process that the continuous fiber composite sheets are heated. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The press forming method for the continuous fiber composite sheet according to claim 1, further comprising: adjusting tension of the continuous fiber composite sheets respectively in the process that the continuous fiber composite sheets are molded respectively. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The press forming method for the continuous fiber composite sheet according to claim 1, wherein the continuous fiber composite sheets are respectively pressed and formed through a molded forming method, a pressure forming method or a vacuum forming method. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The press forming method for the continuous fiber composite sheet according to claim 1, wherein the mold comprises a male mold and a female mold, the male mold has a plurality of protrusions, and the female mold has a plurality of recesses, when the continuous fiber composite sheets are respectively placed into the cavities, each of the continues fiber composite sheets are disposed right above the corresponding recess, and the male mold and the female mold are combined after each of the protrusions and corresponding recess are aligned with each other, such that each of the continuous fiber composite sheets is pressed into one of the cavities constructed by the combined protrusion and recess corresponding to each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The press forming method for the continuous fiber composite sheet according to claim 6, wherein the continuous fiber composite sheets are clamped onto a carrier, the carrier has a plurality of through holes, and one of the continuous fiber composite sheets is clamped right above each of the through holes, when the continuous fiber composite sheets are respectively placed into the cavities, the carrier is moved to be located between the male mold and the female mold, and the male mold and the female mold are combined after the each of the through holes and the corresponding protrusion and the recess are aligned with each other, such that each of the protrusions passes through the corresponding through hole to press the corresponding continuous fiber composite sheet into the corresponding recess. ### Claim 8 A press forming apparatus for a continuous fiber composite sheet, comprising: a plurality of clamping devices, respectively configured to clamp a plurality of continuous fiber composite sheets; a heater, configured to heat the continuous fiber composite sheets; and a mold, disposed at a side of the heater, and having a plurality of cavities, after the heater heats the continuous fiber composite sheets, the continuous fiber composite sheets are moved to a position where the mold is located by using the clamping devices, and the continues fiber composite sheets are respectively placed into the cavities so that the continuous fiber composite sheets are molded respectively. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The press forming apparatus for the continuous fiber composite sheet according to claim 8, wherein the mold comprises a male mold and a female mold, the male mold has a plurality of protrusions and the female mold has a plurality of recesses, when the continuous fiber composite sheets are respectively placed into the cavities through using the clamping devices, each of the continuous fiber composite sheets is disposed right above the corresponding recess, and the male mold and the female mold are combined after each of the protrusions and the corresponding recess are aligned with each other, such that each of the continuous fiber composite sheets is pressed into one of the cavities constructed by the combined protrusion and recess corresponding to each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The press forming apparatus for the continuous fiber composite sheet according to claim 9, further comprising: a carrier, the clamping devices are disposed on the carrier, and the carrier are capable of moving relative to the heater and the mold, the continuous fiber composite sheets are respectively clamped onto the carrier by using the clamping devices, and the clamping devices are configured to adjust tension of the continuous fiber composite sheets respectively. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The press forming apparatus for the continuous fiber composite sheet according to claim 10, wherein the carrier has a plurality of through holes, and a portion of the clamping devices is disposed around each of the through holes for clamping one of the continuous fiber composite sheets to be right above the corresponding through hole, when the continuous fiber composite sheets are respectively placed into the cavities by using the carrier and the clamping devices on the carrier, the carrier is moved to be located between the male mold and the female mold, and the male mold and the female mold are combined after each of the through holes and the corresponding protrusion and the recess are aligned with each other, such that each of the protrusions passes through the corresponding through hole to press the corresponding continuous fiber composite sheet into the corresponding recess. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The press forming apparatus for the continuous fiber composite sheet according to claim 11, wherein a side of the male mold configured with the protrusions or a side of the female mold configured with the recesses has a receiving area for accommodating the carrier and the clamping devices on the carrier between the male mold and the female mold.