Method and apparatus for supplying resin material to injection molder, and foamed product

Abstract

This invention has as its object to provide a method of supplying a resin material to an injection molder with which cells can be uniformly dispersed in a molded product. In order to achieve this object, the method includes the absorbing step of placing a resin material in a pressurized inert gas in a pressure vessel and allowing the resin material to absorb the inert gas, and the supplying step of supplying the resin material which has absorbed the inert gas to an injection molder.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of supplying a resin material to an injection molder, comprising: 
 the absorbing step of placing a resin material in a pressurized inert gas in a pressure vessel and allowing the resin material to absorb the inert gas; and    the supplying step of supplying the resin material which has absorbed the inert gas to an injection molder.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of: 
 charging the resin material into the pressure vessel before the absorbing step;    reducing a pressure in the pressure vessel; and    introducing a predetermined amount of alcohol-based solvent into the pressure vessel.    
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of controlling an interior of the pressure vessel to a predetermined temperature before the absorbing step.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the absorbing step, an interior of the pressure vessel is held to a predetermined pressure to allow the resin material to absorb the inert gas.  
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for supplying a resin material to an injection molder, comprising: 
 extracting means for extracting an inert gas from an atmosphere;    pressurizing means for pressurizing the inert gas extracted by said extracting means;    a pressure vessel for storing a resin material and the pressurized inert gas; and    supplying means for supplying the resin material from the pressure vessel to an injection molder.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein a pressure of the inert gas in said pressure vessel falls within a range of 0.5 MPa to 6 MPa.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising temperature controlling means for controlling a temperature of said pressure vessel.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the temperature in said pressure vessel is less than a thermal deformation temperature of the resin material, and the resin is maintained in a solid state.  
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for supplying a resin material to an injection molder, comprising: 
 extracting means for extracting an inert gas from an atmosphere;    pressurizing means for pressurizing the inert gas extracted by said extracting means;    a pressure vessel for storing the resin material and the pressurized inert gas;    introducing means for introducing a liquid to said pressure vessel; and    supplying means for supplying the resin material from the pressure vessel to an injection molder.    
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein a pressure of the inert gas in said pressure vessel falls within a range of 0.5 MPa to 6 MPa.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising temperature controlling means for controlling a temperature of said pressure vessel.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the temperature in said pressure vessel is less than a thermal deformation temperature of the resin material, and the resin is maintained in a solid state.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the liquid is a predetermined solution.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the liquid is an alcohol-based liquid.  
     
     
         15 . A foam molding product molded by using the method of supplying a resin material to an injection molder according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         16 . A foam molding product molded by using the apparatus for supplying a resin material to an injection molder according to claim  5 .