HEAT PRESS FORMING APPARATUS AND HEAT PRESS FORMING METHOD

Abstract

To provide a hot press molding apparatus and a hot press molding method capable of improving a productivity of hot press molding.SOLUTION: A molding apparatus 50 includes: a lower mold 10; an upper mold 20 configured to be able to come into contact with and separate from the lower mold 10 in a vertical direction Z; and a nest mold 30 configured to be placed on the lower mold 10. Inside the lower mold 10 and upper mold 20 are cooling circuits 13 and 23, respectively, configured to allow refrigerant to circulate. The nest mold 30 has a lower nest 33 and an upper nest 31 positioned above the lower nest 33. An upper surface of the lower nest 33 has a lower molding surface 34 for molding a workpiece 60, and a lower surface of the upper nest 31 has an upper molding surface 32 for molding the workpiece 60.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hot press molding apparatus and a hot press molding method. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a press molding die for hot pressing a molding material and a press molding method using the same. The molding material is a composite material containing reinforcing fibers, such as woven carbon fibers, and a resin material.

[0003] The press molding die comprises a fixed die, a movable die, and a die insert. The fixed die and the movable die each have a built-in cooling passage. The die insert comprises a first insert provided above the movable die via an elastic body, and a second insert provided below the fixed die via an elastic body. The first insert is provided with a concave transfer molding portion for shaping the molding material. The second insert is provided with a convex transfer molding portion for shaping the molding material. Additionally, the first insert and the second insert each have an electric heater built in.

[0004] In the press molding method disclosed in Patent Document 1, first, the first and second pieces are heated by passing electricity through an electric heater. Then, the molding material is placed between the first and second pieces. This heats the molding material, thereby increasing the fluidity of the resin material that constitutes the molding material. Next, the movable die moves toward the fixed die, and the molding material is pressurized by the first and second pieces. This molds the molding material into a shape that imitates the transfer molding part. Then, a cooling medium is introduced into the cooling passages of the fixed die and the movable die, so that the heat of the die pieces is transferred to each die. This cools the molding material placed between the first and second pieces. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5826243 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Incidentally, in the case of the press molding die and the press molding method using the same described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to both heat and cool the die insert piece in the press molding die. Therefore, when a plurality of molding materials are press molded sequentially using one press molding die, there is a problem that the productivity is low because it takes time to heat and cool the die insert piece. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The hot press molding device for solving the above problem is a device for hot press molding a workpiece containing a resin material, and includes a fixed mold, a movable mold configured to be movable toward and away from the fixed mold in the vertical direction, and a nesting mold configured to be placed on a lower mold located below the fixed mold and the movable mold. The fixed mold and the movable mold each have a cooling circuit configured to allow a refrigerant to flow therethrough, and the nesting mold has a lower nesting member and an upper nesting member disposed above the lower nesting member, and a lower molding surface for molding the workpiece is provided on an upper surface of the lower nesting member, and an upper molding surface for molding the workpiece is provided on a lower surface of the upper nesting member.

[0008] According to this configuration, the workpiece including the nesting die can be preheated and then placed on the lower die. Therefore, compared to the case where only the heated workpiece is moved onto the lower die and pressed, heat dissipation from the workpiece can be suppressed, and the workpiece can be kept at a high temperature when pressed. This increases the fluidity of the resin material that constitutes the workpiece, improving the moldability of the workpiece.

[0009] Furthermore, by circulating the refrigerant in the cooling circuit, the workpiece is cooled via the fixed and movable dies and the nested die, which allows the workpiece to be cooled quickly. According to the above configuration, the nesting die and the workpiece can be preheated in a location other than above the lower die, so there is no need to heat the workpiece above the lower die. Also, since the fixed die and the movable die can be cooled, the fixed die and the movable die can be prevented from becoming too hot due to heat received from the nesting die. This shortens the time required to cool the fixed die and the movable die, so that the time required to hot press mold the next workpiece can be shortened. Therefore, the productivity of hot press molding is improved.

[0010] In the above-mentioned hot press molding apparatus, the insert mold preferably includes a holding portion that holds the upper insert mold at a position above and spaced apart from the lower insert mold when no press load is acting on the insert mold.

[0011] According to this configuration, when no press load is applied to the insert mold, the upper insert mold is held at a position above and away from the lower insert mold by the holding portion, so that a workpiece can be easily placed on the lower molding surface of the lower insert mold.

[0012] In the above-mentioned hot press molding apparatus, it is preferable that the holding portion is a biasing member that biases the upper insert member upward relative to the lower insert member. According to this configuration, when no press load is applied to the nesting die, the upper nesting die is urged upward relative to the lower nesting die by the urging member, so that the upper nesting die can be held at a position above and away from the lower nesting die. Also, when a press load is applied to the nesting die, the urging member is compressed, so that the upper nesting die moves closer to the lower nesting die, and the workpiece is pressed by the lower molding surface and the upper molding surface. Therefore, the holding portion can be realized with a simple configuration.

[0013] In the above-mentioned hot press molding apparatus, it is preferable that the insert mold has a shaft that supports the upper insert mold so that the upper insert mold can move up and down relative to the lower insert mold, and the biasing member is a spring that covers an outer periphery of the shaft.

[0014] According to this configuration, when the insert mold is pressed, the movement of the upper insert mold in the vertical direction relative to the lower insert mold is supported by the shaft, so that the movement of the upper insert mold in the axial direction of the shaft, i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, can be suppressed. Therefore, the lower molding surface and the upper molding surface can be accurately aligned.

[0015] In addition, the spring as the urging member is provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the shaft, which allows the urging member to be arranged compactly in the nested type. In the above-mentioned hot press molding apparatus, it is preferable that the lower mold has a lower mold body, a plurality of pin holes opening on an upper surface of the lower mold body, a plurality of cushion pins inserted into each of the pin holes, and a plurality of biasing members biasing each of the cushion pins upward, wherein when no press load is acting on the cushion pins, the cushion pins protrude from the upper surface and when a press load is acting on the cushion pins, the cushion pins enter inside the pin holes, and the nesting mold is in contact only with each of the cushion pins when no press load is acting on the cushion pins.

[0016] According to this configuration, when the nesting die including the workpiece is placed on the lower die, the nesting die only contacts each of the cushion pins. In other words, the nesting die is in a state of being floating above the lower die body. This suppresses the transfer of heat from the nesting die to the lower die body. This allows the workpiece to be kept at a higher temperature when pressed.

[0017] In addition, when a press load is applied to the cushion pin, the cushion pin enters the pin hole, causing the nesting die to come into contact with the lower die body, which promotes the transfer of heat from the nesting die to the lower die body, allowing the workpiece to be cooled more quickly.

[0018] A hot press molding method for solving the above problems is a method of hot press molding the workpiece using the hot press molding apparatus, and includes a heating step of heating the workpiece and the nesting mold with the workpiece placed on the lower molding surface at a location separate from above the lower mold, a placing step of placing the nesting mold on the lower mold, a mold clamping cooling step of pressing the nesting mold by moving the movable mold closer to the fixed mold and simultaneously transferring heat from the nesting mold to the fixed mold and the movable mold to cool the nesting mold and the workpiece, a mold opening step of moving the movable mold away from the fixed mold, and a removal step of removing the nesting mold from the lower mold.

[0019] According to this method, in a heating step, the workpiece and the nesting die are heated in a location other than above the lower die with the workpiece placed on the lower molding surface. Then, in a placing step, the nesting die is placed on the lower die. Then, in a mold clamping and cooling step, the movable die is moved closer to the fixed die to press the nesting die, and at the same time, the heat of the nesting die is transferred to the fixed die and the movable die to cool the nesting die and the workpiece. Then, in a mold opening step, the movable die is moved away from the fixed die. Then, in a removal step, the nesting die is removed from the lower die.

[0020] According to the above method, the workpiece including the nesting die is heated in advance and then placed on the lower die. Therefore, compared to the case where only the heated workpiece is moved onto the lower die and pressed, heat dissipation from the workpiece can be suppressed, and the workpiece can be kept at a high temperature when pressed. This increases the fluidity of the resin material that constitutes the workpiece, improving the moldability of the workpiece.

[0021] Furthermore, by circulating the refrigerant in the cooling circuit, the workpiece is cooled via the fixed and movable dies and the nested die, which allows the workpiece to be cooled quickly. According to the above method, the nesting die and the workpiece can be preheated in a location other than above the lower die. Also, since the fixed die and the movable die can be cooled, the fixed die and the movable die can be prevented from becoming too hot due to heat received from the nesting die. This shortens the time required to cool the fixed die and the movable die, and therefore shortens the time required to hot press mold the next workpiece. Therefore, the productivity of hot press molding is improved. Effect of the Invention

[0022] According to the present invention, the productivity of hot press molding can be improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a heating step of a hot press molding apparatus and a hot press molding method according to one embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a placing step of the hot press molding method according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a front view showing a mold clamping and cooling step of the hot press molding method according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a mold opening step of the hot press molding method according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Hereinafter, one embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The hot press molding apparatus (hereinafter, molding apparatus 50) is an apparatus that performs hot press molding on a workpiece 60 containing a resin material. The workpiece 60 in this embodiment is a composite material containing a resin material and a carbon material. The molding apparatus 50 in this embodiment is used when manufacturing a separator that constitutes a cell of a fuel cell by hot press molding the workpiece 60.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the molding apparatus 50 includes a lower mold 10, an upper mold 20, a nested mold 30, and a hot plate 40. <Lower mold 10> As shown in FIG. 1, the lower mold 10 is a fixed mold, and includes a base portion 11, a holder 12, a cooling circuit 13, a cushion pin 14, and a spring 15.

[0026] A holder 12 is provided on the upper surface of the base 11. Inside the base 11 and the holder 12, a cooling circuit 13 is provided, through which a refrigerant can flow. A heat exchanger 17 for exchanging heat with the refrigerant circulating through the cooling circuit 13 is connected to the outside of the lower mold 10 .

[0027] A plurality of pin holes 16 are formed in the upper surface of the holder 12. In this embodiment, four pin holes 16 are provided so as to be located at the four corners of an imaginary rectangle on the upper surface of the holder 12.

[0028] A cushion pin 14 is inserted into the pin hole 16. A spring 15 is provided between the bottom surface of the pin hole 16 and the cushion pin 14. Both ends of the spring 15 are fixed to the bottom surface of the pin hole 16 and the cushion pin 14, respectively.

[0029] The base portion 11, the holder 12, the cushion pin 14, and the spring 15 are all made of metal. As shown in FIG. 1, when no press load is applied to the cushion pin 14, the cushion pin 14 protrudes from the upper surface of the holder 12.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, the cushion pin 14 is configured to enter the inside of the pin hole 16 by applying a press load to the cushion pin 14 . <Nested type 30> As shown in FIG. 1, the nested mold 30 includes a lower nested mold 33 , an upper nested mold 31 , a shaft 35 , and a spring 37 .

[0031] The lower insert 33 has a rectangular plate shape. A lower molding surface 34 that is recessed downwardly from the outer periphery of the upper surface of the lower insert 33 is provided on the inner periphery of the upper surface of the lower insert 33. The lower molding surface 34 has a plurality of recesses 34a.

[0032] Shafts 35 extending in the up-down direction Z are provided at the four corners of the upper surface of the lower insert 33. The shafts 35 are fixed to the lower insert 33. An upper insert 31 is provided above the lower insert 33.

[0033] The upper insert 31 is a rectangular plate like the lower insert 33. The four corners of the upper insert 31 are provided with insertion holes 36 that penetrate the upper insert 31 in the vertical direction Z and through which a shaft 35 is inserted. The upper insert 31 is supported by the shaft 35 so as to be movable in the vertical direction Z relative to the lower insert 33.

[0034] The outer periphery of the shaft 35 is covered with a spring 37. The spring 37 is, for example, a coil spring. When no press load is applied to the insert mold 30 , the upper insert 31 is held at a position above and away from the lower insert 33 by the spring 37 .

[0035] An upper molding surface 32 facing the lower molding surface 34 is provided on the lower surface of the upper insert 31. The upper molding surface 32 protrudes downward beyond the outer periphery of the lower surface of the upper insert 31. The upper molding surface 32 has a plurality of protrusions 32a.

[0036] The lower insert 33, the upper insert 31, the shaft 35, and the spring 37 are all made of metal. <Upper mold 20> 1, an upper die 20 is provided above the lower die 10. The upper die 20 is a movable die configured to be movable toward and away from the lower die 10 in the vertical direction Z, and includes a base portion 21, a holder 22, a cooling circuit 23, a cushion pin 24, and a spring 25.

[0037] A holder 22 is provided on the lower surface of the base 21. A cooling circuit 23 configured to allow a refrigerant to flow therethrough is provided inside the base 21 and the holder 22. A heat exchanger 27 is connected to the outside of the upper mold 20 for exchanging heat with the refrigerant circulating through the cooling circuit 23 .

[0038] A plurality of pin holes 26 are formed in the lower surface of the holder 22. In this embodiment, four pin holes 26 are provided at positions corresponding to the four pin holes 16 of the lower mold 10, respectively. A cushion pin 24 is inserted into the pin hole 26. A spring 25 is provided between the bottom surface of the pin hole 26 and the cushion pin 24. Both ends of the spring 25 are fixed to the bottom surface of the pin hole 26 and the cushion pin 24, respectively.

[0039] The holder 22 is provided with a shaft hole 28 for accommodating a shaft 35 that passes through the insertion hole 36 and protrudes from the top surface of the upper insert 31 when the upper die 20 applies a press load to the insert die 30 .

[0040] The base portion 21, the holder 22, the cushion pin 24, and the spring 25 are all made of metal. As shown in FIG. 1, when no press load is applied to the cushion pin 24, the cushion pin 24 protrudes from the lower surface of the holder 22.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 3, the cushion pin 24 is configured to enter the inside of the pin hole 26 by applying a press load to the cushion pin 24. <Hot Plate 40> As shown in FIG. 1, next to the lower die 10, an electrically heated hot plate 40 for heating the workpiece 60 and the nesting die 30 is provided.

[0042] Next, a procedure for manufacturing a carbon separator for a fuel cell using the molding apparatus 50 of this embodiment will be described. 1, the workpiece 60 is placed on the lower molding surface 34 of the lower insert 33. At this time, the upper insert 31 is held at a position above and spaced apart from the lower insert 33 by the spring 37.

[0043] Then, the workpiece 60 together with the nesting die 30 is placed on the hot plate 40 and heated (heating step). 2, the heated nesting mold 30 is transported by a transport device (not shown) and placed on the lower mold 10 (placement process). At this time, the lower nesting mold 33 is in contact only with each of the cushion pins 24 of the lower mold 10. In addition, the upper mold 20 is located above the upper nesting mold 31 and is not in contact with the upper nesting mold 31.

[0044] 3, the upper die 20 is moved downward so as to approach the lower die 10, thereby pressing the nesting die 30. When a press load is applied to the nesting die 30, the cushion pins 14, 24 enter the insides of the pin holes 16, 26, respectively. At the same time that the cushion pins 14, 24 are accommodated in the pin holes 16, 26, the upper surface of the holder 12 of the lower die 10 and the lower surface of the holder 22 of the upper die 20 come into contact with the lower nest 33 and the upper nest 31, respectively. The upper nest 31 moves downward along the shaft 35 by being pressed by the upper die 20. As the upper nest 31 moves downward, the shaft 35 protrudes from the upper surface of the upper nest 31 and is accommodated in the shaft hole 28 of the upper die 20. Furthermore, as the upper nest 31 moves downward, the protrusion 32a of the upper molding surface 32 comes into contact with the workpiece 60. Furthermore, as the upper insert 31 moves downward, the workpiece 60 is pressed and molded so that the protrusions 32a of the upper molding surface 32 fit into the recesses 34a of the lower molding surface 34.

[0045] In addition, since cooling circuits 13, 23 are provided inside the holders 12, 22, the holders 12, 22 have a lower temperature than the heated nesting die 30 and the workpiece 60. Therefore, when the upper surface of the holder 12 and the lower surface of the holder 22 come into contact with the lower nesting die 33 and the upper nesting die 31, respectively, due to the press load, the heat of the nesting die 30 and the workpiece 60 is transferred to the holders 12, 22 (mold clamping and cooling process).

[0046] 4, the upper mold 20 is moved upward so as to move away from the lower mold 10 (mold opening step). At this time, the upper insert 31 is automatically moved upward away from the lower insert 33 by the restoring force of the spring 37.

[0047] Next, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 4, the nesting die 30 is removed from the lower die 10 by a conveying device (not shown) (removal step). The base portion 11 and the holder 12 correspond to the lower die body according to the present invention. The spring 15 corresponds to the urging member according to the present invention, more specifically, the urging member that urges the cushion pin 14 of the lower die 10. The spring 37 corresponds to the holding portion according to the present invention.

[0048] The effects of this embodiment will be described. (1) The molding device 50 includes a lower mold 10 which is a fixed mold, an upper mold 20 which can be moved toward or away from the lower mold 10 in the vertical direction Z, and a nesting mold 30 which can be placed on the lower mold 10. Cooling circuits 13, 23 are provided inside the lower mold 10 and the upper mold 20. The nesting mold 30 has a lower insert 33 and an upper insert 31 which is placed above the lower insert 33. A lower molding surface 34 for molding the workpiece 60 is provided on the upper surface of the lower insert 33, and an upper molding surface 32 for molding the workpiece 60 is provided on the lower surface of the upper insert 31.

[0049] According to this configuration, the workpiece 60 together with the nesting die 30 can be preheated and then placed on the lower die 10. Therefore, compared to the case where only the heated workpiece 60 is moved onto the lower die 10 and pressed, heat radiation from the workpiece 60 can be suppressed, and the workpiece 60 can be kept at a high temperature when pressed. This increases the fluidity of the resin material that constitutes the workpiece 60, improving the moldability of the workpiece 60.

[0050] Furthermore, by circulating the refrigerant in the cooling circuits 13, 23, the workpiece 60 is cooled via the lower die 10, the upper die 20, and the nested die 30. This allows the workpiece 60 to be cooled quickly.

[0051] Here, according to the above configuration, the nesting die 30 and the workpiece 60 can be preheated in a location separate from above the lower die 10. In addition, since the lower die 10 and the upper die 20 can be cooled, it is possible to prevent the lower die 10 and the upper die 20 from becoming too hot due to heat received from the nesting die 30. This shortens the time required to cool the lower die 10 and the upper die 20, and therefore shortens the time required to hot press mold the next workpiece 60. This improves productivity.

[0052] (2) The insert mold 30 has a holding portion that holds the upper insert mold 31 at a position above and away from the lower insert mold 33 when no press load is applied to the insert mold 30 . According to this configuration, when no press load is applied to the insert mold 30, the upper insert mold 31 is held at a position above and away from the lower insert mold 33 by the holding portion. Therefore, the workpiece 60 can be easily placed on the lower molding surface 34 of the lower insert mold 33.

[0053] (3) The above-mentioned holding portion is the spring 37 that biases the upper insert 31 upward relative to the lower insert 33. According to this configuration, when no press load is applied to the nesting die 30, the upper nesting member 31 is urged upward relative to the lower nesting member 33 by the spring 37, so that the upper nesting member 31 can be held at a position above and away from the lower nesting member 33. Furthermore, when a press load is applied to the nesting die 30, the spring 37 is compressed, so that the upper nesting member 31 moves closer to the lower nesting member 33, and the workpiece 60 is pressed by the lower molding surface 34 and the upper molding surface 32. Therefore, the above-mentioned holding portion can be realized with a simple configuration.

[0054] (4) The nesting mold 30 includes a shaft 35 that supports the upper nesting mold 31 so as to be movable in the vertical direction Z relative to the lower nesting mold 33. The outer periphery of the shaft 35 is covered with a spring 37.

[0055] According to this configuration, when the insert mold 30 is pressed, the movement of the upper insert mold 31 in the vertical direction Z relative to the lower insert mold 33 is supported by the shaft 35, so that the upper insert mold 31 can be prevented from moving in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction Z. Therefore, the lower molding surface 34 and the upper molding surface 32 can be accurately aligned.

[0056] In addition, the spring 37 is provided so as to cover the outer periphery of the shaft 35. Therefore, the spring 37 can be arranged compactly in the nesting die 30. (5) The lower die 10 has a base portion 11, a holder 12, four pin holes 16 opening on the upper surface of the holder 12, four cushion pins 14 inserted into each of the pin holes 16, and four springs 15 that urge each of the cushion pins 14 upward. When no press load is applied to the cushion pins 14, the cushion pins 14 protrude from the upper surface of the holder 12, and when a press load is applied to the cushion pins 14, the cushion pins 14 enter the pin holes 16. Moreover, when no press load is applied to the cushion pins 14, the nesting die 30 abuts only against each of the cushion pins 14.

[0057] According to this configuration, when the nesting die 30 including the workpiece 60 is placed on the lower die 10, the nesting die 30 only contacts each of the cushion pins 14. In other words, the nesting die 30 is in a state of being floating above the holder 12. This suppresses the transfer of heat from the nesting die 30 to the holder 12 and the pedestal portion 11. This makes it possible to maintain the workpiece 60 at an even higher temperature when it is pressed.

[0058] Furthermore, when a press load is applied to the cushion pin 14, the cushion pin 14 enters the inside of the pin hole 16, so that the nesting die 30 comes into contact with the holder 12. This promotes the transfer of heat from the nesting die 30 to the holder 12 and the base portion 11, enabling the workpiece 60 to be cooled more quickly.

[0059] (6) A method of hot press molding a workpiece 60 using a molding device 50 includes a heating step in which the workpiece 60 and the nesting mold 30 are heated with a hot plate 40 while the workpiece 60 is placed on the lower molding surface 34 at a location other than above the lower mold 10, a placing step in which the nesting mold 30 is placed on the lower mold 10, a mold clamping and cooling step in which the nesting mold 30 is pressed by moving the upper mold 20 closer to the lower mold 10 and at the same time, the heat of the nesting mold 30 is transferred to the lower mold 10 and the upper mold 20 to cool the nesting mold 30 and the workpiece 60, a mold opening step in which the upper mold 20 is moved away from the lower mold 10, and a removal step in which the nesting mold 30 is removed from the lower mold 10.

[0060] According to this method, the workpiece 60 including the nesting die 30 is heated in advance and then placed on the lower die 10. Therefore, compared to the case where only the heated workpiece 60 is moved onto the lower die 10 and pressed, heat radiation from the workpiece 60 can be suppressed, and the workpiece 60 can be kept at a high temperature when pressed. This increases the fluidity of the resin material that constitutes the workpiece 60, improving the moldability of the workpiece 60.

[0061] Furthermore, by circulating the refrigerant in the cooling circuits 13, 23, the workpiece 60 is cooled via the lower die 10, the upper die 20, and the nested die 30. This allows the workpiece 60 to be cooled quickly.

[0062] Here, according to the above method, the nesting die 30 and the workpiece 60 can be preheated in a location other than above the lower die 10. In addition, since the lower die 10 and the upper die 20 can be cooled, it is possible to prevent the lower die 10 and the upper die 20 from becoming too hot due to heat received from the nesting die 30. This shortens the time required to cool the lower die 10 and the upper die 20, and therefore shortens the time required to hot-press mold the next workpiece 60. Therefore, the productivity of hot-press molding is improved.

[0063] <Example of change> This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that there is no technical contradiction.

[0064] The number of cushion pins 14 can be changed as appropriate. The cushion pins 14, 24, the springs 15, 25, and the pin holes 16, 26 may be omitted.

[0065] The spring 37 is not limited to one that covers the outer periphery of the shaft 35, and may be provided at a position different from the shaft 35. The shaft 35 may be omitted and only the spring 37 may be provided.

[0066] The biasing member is not limited to the metal spring 37, but may be made of heat-resistant rubber or the like. The holding portion is not limited to a biasing member. The holding portion may be anything that holds the upper insert 31 at a position above and away from the lower insert 33 when no press load is applied to the insert die 30, and may be formed of a hinge mechanism or the like.

[0067] The holding portion may be omitted. In this case, when the work 60 is placed on the lower molding surface 34 of the lower insert 33 in the heating step, the upper insert 31 may be held at a position above and away from the lower insert 33 by a device separate from the insert mold 30.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the lower mold 10 is fixed and the upper mold 20 is movable, but the lower mold 10 may be movable and the upper mold 20 may be fixed. The molding device 50 is not limited to one that manufactures separators for fuel cells, but may be one that performs heat press molding on the workpiece 60 that contains a resin material. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 10…Lower mold 11...Pedestal part (lower mold body) 12...Holder (lower die body) 13…Cooling circuit 14…Cushion pin 15...Spring (biasing member) 16…Pin hole 17...Heat exchanger 20…Upper mold 21…Pedestal 22…Holder 23…Cooling circuit 24...Cushion pin 25...Spring (biasing member) 26…Pin hole 27...Heat exchanger 28…Shaft hole 30…Nested type 31…Upper nesting 32…Upper molding surface 32a...projection 33…Lower nesting 34…Lower molding surface 34a…recess 35…Shaft 36...Through hole 37...Spring (retaining part) 40…Hot plate 50…Forming equipment 60…Work

Claims

1. An apparatus for hot press molding a workpiece including a resin material, Fixed type and A movable die configured to be movable toward and away from the fixed die in a vertical direction; a nesting die configured to be placed on a lower die located below the fixed die and the movable die and configured to be transported to a location other than above the lower die, a cooling circuit configured to allow a refrigerant to flow therethrough is provided inside the fixed die and the movable die, The nesting mold has a lower nest and an upper nest arranged above the lower nest, A lower molding surface for molding the workpiece is provided on an upper surface of the lower insert, An upper molding surface for molding the workpiece is provided on the lower surface of the upper insert. Heat press molding equipment.

2. the insert mold includes a holding portion that holds the upper insert mold at a position above and away from the lower insert mold when no press load is applied to the insert mold; The hot press molding apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. The holding portion is a biasing member that biases the upper insert upward relative to the lower insert. The hot press molding apparatus according to claim 2 .

4. the insert mold includes a shaft that supports the upper insert mold so as to be movable up and down relative to the lower insert mold, The biasing member is a spring that covers the outer periphery of the shaft. The hot press molding apparatus according to claim 3.

5. the lower mold has a lower mold body, a plurality of pin holes opening in an upper surface of the lower mold body, a plurality of cushion pins inserted into the respective pin holes, and a plurality of biasing members biasing the respective cushion pins upward, the cushion pin protrudes from the upper surface when no press load is applied to the cushion pin, and the cushion pin advances into the pin hole when a press load is applied to the cushion pin, the nesting die abuts only against each of the cushion pins when no press load is applied to the cushion pins; The hot press molding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A method for hot press molding the workpiece using the hot press molding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, a heating step of heating the workpiece and the nesting die in a state in which the workpiece is placed on the lower molding surface at a location different from above the lower die; a placing step of placing the nesting die on the lower die; a mold clamping cooling process in which the nesting mold is pressed by moving the movable mold so as to approach the fixed mold, and at the same time, the heat of the nesting mold is transferred to the fixed mold and the movable mold to cool the nesting mold and the workpiece; a mold opening step of moving the movable mold away from the fixed mold; a removal step of removing the nesting mold from the lower mold; Equipped with Heat press molding method.

7. An apparatus for hot press molding a workpiece including a resin material, comprising: Fixed type and A movable die configured to be movable toward and away from the fixed die in a vertical direction; a nesting die configured to be placed on a lower die located below the fixed die and the movable die, a cooling circuit configured to allow a refrigerant to flow therethrough is provided inside the fixed die and the movable die, The nesting mold has a lower nest and an upper nest arranged above the lower nest, A lower molding surface for molding the workpiece is provided on an upper surface of the lower insert, An upper molding surface for molding the workpiece is provided on a lower surface of the upper insert, the insert mold includes a holding portion that holds the upper insert mold at a position above and away from the lower insert mold when no press load is applied to the insert mold, the holding portion is a biasing member that biases the upper insert upward relative to the lower insert, the insert mold includes a shaft that supports the upper insert mold so as to be movable up and down relative to the lower insert mold, The biasing member is a spring that covers the outer periphery of the shaft. Heat press molding equipment.

8. An apparatus for hot press molding a workpiece including a resin material, comprising: Fixed type and A movable die configured to be movable toward and away from the fixed die in a vertical direction; a nesting die configured to be placed on a lower die located below the fixed die and the movable die, a cooling circuit configured to allow a refrigerant to flow therethrough is provided inside the fixed die and the movable die, The nesting mold has a lower nest and an upper nest arranged above the lower nest, A lower molding surface for molding the workpiece is provided on an upper surface of the lower insert, An upper molding surface for molding the workpiece is provided on a lower surface of the upper insert, the lower die includes a lower die body, a plurality of pin holes opening in an upper surface of the lower die body, a plurality of cushion pins inserted into the respective pin holes, and a plurality of biasing members biasing the respective cushion pins upward; the cushion pin protrudes from the upper surface when no press load is applied to the cushion pin, and the cushion pin advances into the pin hole when a press load is applied to the cushion pin, the nesting die abuts only against each of the cushion pins when no press load is applied to the cushion pins; Heat press molding equipment.

9. A method for hot press molding a workpiece including a resin material using a hot press molding apparatus, comprising: The hot press molding device is Fixed type and A movable die configured to be movable toward and away from the fixed die in a vertical direction; a nesting die configured to be placed on a lower die located below the fixed die and the movable die, a cooling circuit configured to allow a refrigerant to flow therethrough is provided inside the fixed die and the movable die, The nesting mold has a lower nest and an upper nest arranged above the lower nest, A lower molding surface for molding the workpiece is provided on an upper surface of the lower insert, An upper molding surface for molding the workpiece is provided on a lower surface of the upper insert, a heating step of heating the workpiece and the nesting die in a state in which the workpiece is placed on the lower molding surface at a location different from above the lower die; a placing step of placing the nesting die on the lower die; a mold clamping cooling process in which the nesting mold is pressed by moving the movable mold so as to approach the fixed mold, and at the same time, the heat of the nesting mold is transferred to the fixed mold and the movable mold to cool the nesting mold and the workpiece; a mold opening step of moving the movable mold away from the fixed mold; a removal step of removing the nesting mold from the lower mold; Equipped with Heat press molding method.

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