Molding method and apparatus using film as molding

An apparatus for thermally molding a product from a film sheet comprising:

• a pair of metal molds, comprising a first metal mold and a second metal mold at least said second mold being movable between an open position wherein there is a gap between the metal molds and a closed position wherein said film sheet is clamped between the metal molds and thereby molded into said product;
• heating means which heat the metal molds;
• a pair of film pushing rings comprising a first pushing ring disposed adjacent said first metal mold and a second film pushing ring disposed adjacent said second metal mold, said pair of film pushing rings being spaced from one another before said metal molds are clamped and adapted to mate with each other during said clamping of said metal molds;
• ring moving mechanism for moving said first and second rings while said rings are mated with each other so that said first and said second rings together move toward the first metal mold in a mechanical link to the movement of the second metal mold to the closed position, the first film pushing ring being biased toward said second metal mold by an elastic force,
• means for fixing the first film pushing ring at the side of said first metal mold on which the molded product is left when the clamping exercised by said metal molds is released so that the first pushing ring does not exert a picking-up force to peel off the molded film product from said first metal mold;
• and
• a pickup jig having a surface shape matching the surface shape of said molded product for picking up the molded product left on said first metal mold.