A molding device includes: a lower mold that supports a workpiece containing a thermoplastic resin and that is heated to a first predetermined temperature; an upper mold that is opposed to the lower mold, that presses the workpiece, and that is heated to a second predetermined temperature; a transferer that moves the lower mold and the upper mold relative to each other in a transfer direction of the workpiece; and control circuitry. The lower mold includes temperature-controlled regions adjacent to one another in the transfer direction, the temperature-controlled regions including a first lower mold temperature-controlled region and a second lower mold temperature-controlled region having a temperature lower than a temperature of the first lower mold temperature-controlled region. The control circuitry changes proportions of the first and second lower mold temperature-controlled regions in the lower mold as a function of a relative position between the upper and lower molds.

The present invention provides an imprint apparatus which performs an imprint process of forming a pattern on a substrate by using a mold, the apparatus comprising a heating unit configured to heat a region to be imprinted on the substrate, thereby deforming the region, and a processing unit configured to determine, as a region to be imprinted first, one region out of a first region and second region to be imprinted, and determine the other region as a region to be imprinted subsequently, wherein an influence on the other region in a case where the heating unit deforms the one region is smaller than an influence on the one region in a case where the heating unit deforms the other region.

Aimed at providing a method for molding a thermoplastic resin product and a molding apparatus therefor that enable productivity, transfer quality or the like to be improved. Provided is a method for molding a thermoplastic resin product that includes a heating step, a transfer step, a cooling step and a mold-releasing step, and wherein, in the heating step, a stamper is irradiated with infrared rays in a state where a cooling member is not irradiated with infrared rays, and at least in the final stage of the transfer step, the stamper and the cooling member are brought into contact.

A composite material forming device includes a pressurizing unit, heating unit, a movement mechanism, and a control unit. The device processes a composite material in which reinforced fibers have been impregnated with a thermosetting resin from a softened state or semi-cured state into a cured state while forming the composite material into a prescribed size and prescribed shape. The pressurizing unit applies pressure to a prescribed region of the composite material. The heating unit applies a magnetic field to the prescribed region of the composite material to which pressure has been applied by the pressurizing unit, thereby heating a prescribed region of the composite material. The movement mechanism causes the pressurization region and heating region to synchronously move by simultaneously changing the position of a first member relative to the composite material and the position of the heating unit relative to the composite material.

A forming mold for forming a prism by press molding includes a first mold, a second mold, and a third mold. The second mold includes a surface configured to form a base surface of a non-optical surface and is configured to define, together with the first mold, a space in which a material is disposed. The third mold is slidable with respect to the second mold so as to project toward the space with respect to the second mold and is configured to form a recess portion recessed with respect to the base surface.

Aimed at providing a method for molding a thermoplastic resin product and a molding apparatus therefor that enable productivity, transfer quality or the like to be improved. Provided is a method for molding a thermoplastic resin product that includes a heating step, a transfer step, a cooling step and a mold-releasing step, and wherein, in the heating step, a stamper is irradiated with infrared rays in a state where a cooling member is not irradiated with infrared rays, and at least in the final stage of the transfer step, the stamper and the cooling member are brought into contact.

Aimed at providing a method for molding a thermoplastic resin product and a molding apparatus therefor that enable productivity, transfer quality or the like to be improved. Provided is a method for molding a thermoplastic resin product that includes a heating step, a transfer step, a cooling step and a mold-releasing step, and wherein, in the heating step, a stamper is irradiated with infrared rays in a state where a cooling member is not irradiated with infrared rays, and at least in the final stage of the transfer step, the stamper and the cooling member are brought into contact.

A method and apparatus for a continuous compression molding machine. The continuous compression molding machine comprises a tooling die, extending through a heating zone and a cooling zone, a tooling sleeve, and a biasing system. The tooling sleeve corresponds to the tooling die and is for use in forming a thermoplastic composite part from a thermoplastic composite charge when the tooling sleeve with the thermoplastic composite charge is moved with respect to the tooling die through the heating zone and the cooling zone. The biasing system is configured to hold the thermoplastic charge at a first angle within the heating zone and hold the thermoplastic composite charge at a second angle within the cooling zone, as the tooling sleeve moves through the heating zone and the cooling zone with the thermoplastic composite charge. The first angle is different from the second angle.

A method and apparatus for forming at least one external annular flange (48 or 49) adjacent one end of a fiber reinforced thermoplastic tube (10) in which the tube (10) is mounted on a mandrel (12) and a first end portion of the tube is clamped in a collar (13) having at least one internal annular cavity (18 or 19) for forming a flange, a second end portion of the tube in the region (R1, R2) of the cavity is heated to soften the thermoplastic, and an axial load (L) is applied to the end of the tube by a piston (24) causing the softened tube to flow into the cavity (18, 19) in the collar (13) to form a flange on the tube.

The process includes a die comprising a bottom die (10) and a male part (20) able to close the cavity in such a way as to define a closed forming chamber (F). The bottom die (10) has an upper mouth that delimits the cavity (15), having an open upper surface substantially open in an upwards direction and a lateral surface internal of the cavity of the bottom die and forming an angle with the upper surface. The male part (20) has a central portion (21) able to close the surface of the cavity (15) and a peripheral edge able to adhere to the upper surface of the upper mouth, such as to realize a closing of the forming chamber only by means of contact along the upper surface, the peripheral edge lacking a vertical surface able to slide snugly contactingly with the lateral surface of the upper mouth (11). The process comprises: inserting a batch of non-spongy/foam thermoplastic material having a greater density than 0.9 Kg/dm3, in the solid state and in small pieces, into the cavity of the female component, supplying heat to the parts of the die, up to producing at least a partial melting of the batch located in the cavity of the die, nearing the two parts of the die to one another, by action of a thrust able to deform the batch in the at least partially molten state, the movement leading to a reduction of a distance between the upper mouth and the peripheral edge up to reciprocal contact thereof.