A molding method for a resin molded article includes: a step of sandwiching a sheet-shaped resin in a molten state extruded downward by a pair of rollers, and sending out downward the sheet-shaped resin in the molten state by a rotational driving of the rollers so as to allow a first stretching; a step of drawing downward the sheet-shaped resin in the molten state sent out downward so as to allow a second stretching; a step of disposing the sheet-shaped resin in the molten state that is drawn in a side portion of a mold disposed below the pair of rollers; and a step of molding the sheet-shaped resin into a shape conforming to a mold shape by depressurizing a sealed space formed between the sheet-shaped resin in the molten state and the mold and/or pressurizing the sheet-shaped resin toward the mold.

A vehicle running board includes opposing vertical walls extending along a length of a tubular structure and including a carbon-fiber component. Opposing horizontal walls extend between the opposing vertical walls and include a glass component. The opposing vertical and opposing horizontal walls form the tubular structure having a generally rectilinear cross section. A polymer outer covering extends over the opposing vertical and opposing horizontal walls.

A blow molding assembly includes a die, a mandrel, and a die holder. The die defines an inner wall. The mandrel is disposed at least partially inside the inner wall of the die and defines, with the inner wall of the die, an annular gap that shapes a molten resin passed therethrough, forming a parison. The die holder includes a body and three or more spring-loaded fasteners positioned around an inner perimeter of the body. The spring-loaded fasteners apply pressure to respective positions on an outer surface of the die while permitting movement of the die within a plane that is substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the mandrel in response to pressure variations of the molten resin, keeping a thickness of the parison substantially even. Each of the spring-loaded fasteners includes a spring-loaded plunger engaging the respective position on the outer surface of the die.

Ways for simultaneously forming and filling a container with a product are provided that include a mold cavity, a two-stage injection unit, and a blow nozzle. The mold cavity defines an internal surface and is configured to accept a preform. The two-stage injection unit receives and dispenses the product where a first stage includes an extruder and a second stage includes an accumulator. The extruder imparts mechanical energy to the product to reduce a viscosity of the product and transfers the reduced-viscosity product to the accumulator. The accumulator receives the reduced-viscosity product from the extruder and dispenses a charge of the reduced-viscosity product. The blow nozzle transfers the charge of the reduced-viscosity product dispensed from the accumulator into the preform to urge the preform to expand toward the internal surface of the mold cavity and form a resultant container.

Provided is a blow-molding method capable of suppressing generation of blister-like bubbles and producing a high quality hollow molded article when forming a thick hollow molded article by blow-molding. A blow-molding method includes setting a die-slit interval in a die head according to a target wall thickness of a hollow molded article to be molded, extruding a molten resin in an accumulator into a cylindrical shape from the die slit to form a parison, and molding the parison in a mold. The die-slit interval is made smaller than a value set according to the target wall thickness at start of extrusion, and then is increased to match the value set according to the target wall thickness. The value set according to the target wall thickness is preferably corrected considering wall thickness reduction due to drawdown. The wall thickness of the hollow molded article is preferably 3.5 mm or more.

A molding apparatus that adsorbs thermoplastic resin extruded in a sheet form from an extruding machine, onto a cavity of a mold, and shapes the thermoplastic resin into a shape according to the cavity is provided. The molding apparatus may include a frame that is positioned on a periphery of the mold and is movable relative to the mold, wherein a suction part for suctioning the thermoplastic resin is provided in a contact surface of the frame to contact the thermoplastic resin, and the suction part is provided in a linear shape along with a longitudinal direction of the frame positioned on the periphery of the mold.

A blow molding assembly includes a die, a mandrel, and a die holder. The die defines an inner wall. The mandrel is disposed at least partially inside the inner wall of the die and defines, with the inner wall of the die, an annular gap that shapes a molten resin passed therethrough, forming a parison. The die holder includes a body and three or more spring-loaded fasteners positioned around an inner perimeter of the body. The spring-loaded fasteners apply pressure to respective positions on an outer surface of the die while permitting movement of the die within a plane that is substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the mandrel in response to pressure variations of the molten resin, keeping a thickness of the parison substantially even. Each of the spring-loaded fasteners includes a spring-loaded plunger engaging the respective position on the outer surface of the die.

An example extrusion blow molding (EBM) method includes extruding first and second colors of plastic to form a parison that includes an inner layer of the first color of plastic, and an outer layer of the second color of plastic. The parison is placed in a mold, the mold is closed, and the parison is inflated to create a blow molded structure. A portion of an interior of the blow molded structure is formed of the first color of plastic, and a portion of an exterior of the blow molded structure is formed of a blend of the first color of plastic and the second color of plastic.

An example extrusion blow molding (EBM) method includes extruding first and second colors of plastic to form a parison that includes an inner layer of the first color of plastic, and an outer layer of the second color of plastic. The parison is placed in a mold, the mold is closed, and the parison is inflated to create a blow molded structure. A portion of an interior of the blow molded structure is formed of the first color of plastic, and a portion of an exterior of the blow molded structure is formed of a blend of the first color of plastic and the second color of plastic.

A flow head and a method for use with a blow molding apparatus. The flow head includes a flow head housing with a material flow cavity. The flow head housing includes a movable die pin mechanism which is moveable between an open position and a closed position. A main melt pipe is connected to the material flow cavity. The main melt pipe is maintained at a first temperature. A shot chamber mechanism is connected to the material flow cavity. The shot chamber mechanism is maintained at a second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature. Thermoplastic material is formed into a parison for the blow molding apparatus. As the movable die pin mechanism is positioned in the closed position, the thermoplastic material is moved to the shot chamber to prevent degradation of the thermoplastic material.