Molding apparatus, molding apparatus unit, and molding method

Abstract

A molding apparatus ( 1 ) includes: a servomotor ( 11 ) for pressing a resin component (W) by moving an upper mold (MU) in a direction in which the upper mold (MU) is made close to a lower mold (ML); servomotors ( 12 a and 13 a ) each of which retains X-coordinate and Y-coordinate positions of the lower mold (ML); and a position detection section ( 41 ) which determines whether or not the resin component which is sandwiched between the upper mold and the lower mold has been cured, the servomotors each terminating the retention of the lower mold when the resin component has been cured. This makes it possible to obtain a molded product while preventing positional displacement caused by a decrease in volume of a resin which is being cured.

1 . A molding apparatus for molding a resin, comprising:
 an upper mold and a lower mold which are paired metal molds and between which the resin is sandwiched while being molded;   a first driving section for pressing the resin by moving the upper mold in a first direction in which the upper mold is made close to the lower mold; and   a second driving section which retains a position of the lower mold that is movable in a second direction which intersects the first direction,   the second driving section terminating the retention of the position of the lower mold before the resin which is sandwiched between the upper mold and the lower mold is mold-released.   
     
     
         2 . A molding apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a curing determination section which determines whether or not the resin which is sandwiched between the upper mold and the lower mold has been cured;   a table on which the lower mold is mounted; and   a motor for moving the table in the second direction,   the curing determination section determining, by detecting a retaining force by which the motor retains the position of the lower mold, and finding that the retaining force has reached a predetermined value after a start of curing of the resin, that the resin which is sandwiched between the upper mold and the lower mold has been cured, and the second driving section terminating the retention of the position of the lower mold.   
     
     
         3 . A molding apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a curing determination section which determines whether or not the resin which is sandwiched between the upper mold and the lower mold has been cured,   the curing determination section determining, by finding that a predetermined time has elapsed from a start of curing of the resin, that the resin which is sandwiched between the upper mold and the lower mold has been cured, and the second driving section terminating the retention of the position of the lower mold.   
     
     
         4 . A molding apparatus unit comprising:
 a molding apparatus recited in  claim 1 ; and   a curing determination section which determines whether or not the resin which is sandwiched between the upper mold and the lower mold has been cured,   the curing determination section determining, by finding that a heating value of the resin which is sandwiched between the upper mold and the lower mold has exceeded a predetermined value, that the resin which is sandwiched between the upper mold and the lower mold has been cured, and the second driving section terminating the retention of the position of the lower mold.   
     
     
         5 . A method for molding a resin, the resin being sandwiched between an upper mold and a lower mold which are paired metal molds,
 said method comprising:   pressing the resin by moving the upper mold in a first direction in which the upper mold is made close to the lower mold;   retaining a position of the lower mold that is movable in a second direction which intersects the first direction; and   terminating the retention of the position of the lower mold before the resin which is sandwiched between the upper mold and the lower mold is mold-released.