Molding device and molding method

Abstract

To provide a molding device and a molding method which suitably mold a fiber sheet having a bent part.SOLUTION: A molding device 10 for molding a fiber sheet into such a shape having a bent part 11c as to extend in a lengthwise direction and be formed by bending the fiber sheet in a width direction perpendicular to the lengthwise direction includes: a mold 11 that is provided on one side of the fiber sheet and is used as a mold material for molding the fiber sheet; a support member that is provided on the other side of the fiber sheet, is provided at a part where the bent part is formed and has higher rigidity than that of the fiber sheet; a covering member covering the fiber sheet; and a pushing device for pushing the fiber sheet to the mold by the covering member, wherein the support member has a plurality of support pieces divided in the width direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a molding apparatus and a molding method. [Background technology]

[0002] A system for minimizing wrinkles that occur during molding of a composite material is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this system, the composite material is placed on a tool so as to cover a stamping rod assembly. The stamping rod assembly has a stamping rod that causes the composite material to have a corrugated shape when a compressive pressure is applied to the composite material, and the stamping rod suppresses the occurrence of wrinkles. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017-0312999 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, when a composite material is molded into the shape of a mold, the composite material is covered with a covering member such as a vacuum bag and then evacuated. When a sheet-shaped composite material is bent using the covering member to mold a composite material having a bent portion such as a corner, wrinkles may occur at the bent portion, resulting in molding defects. In Patent Document 1, although wrinkles in the composite material are smoothed out using an embossing rod, the composite material ends up becoming wavy.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a molding device and a molding method that can suitably mold a fiber sheet having a curved portion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The molding device disclosed herein is a molding device that molds a fiber sheet into a shape that extends in the longitudinal direction and has a bent portion formed by bending it in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and includes a molding die that is provided on one side of the fiber sheet and serves as a mold material for molding the fiber sheet, a support member that is provided on the other side of the fiber sheet and is provided at the location where the bent portion is formed and has higher rigidity than the fiber sheet, a covering member that covers the fiber sheet, and a pressing device that presses the fiber sheet against the molding die using the covering member, and the support member has multiple support pieces divided in the width direction.

[0007] The molding method disclosed herein is a molding method for molding the fiber sheet into a shape having the bent portion using the above-mentioned molding device, and includes the steps of: placing the fiber sheet on the molding mold; before or after the step of placing the fiber sheet, placing the support member on the opposite side of the molding mold across the fiber sheet, corresponding to the location where the bent portion will be formed; placing the covering member to cover the fiber sheet; and pressing the fiber sheet against the molding mold with the covering member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, a fiber sheet having a curved portion can be suitably formed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a molding die of a molding apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the arrangement of the fiber sheet. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the molding method according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a molding die of a molding apparatus according to the second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the arrangement of the fiber sheet. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a molding die of a molding apparatus according to the third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a molding die of a molding apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing the arrangement of the fiber sheet. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the support piece. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a molding die of a molding apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially identical. Furthermore, the components described below can be combined as appropriate, and if there are multiple embodiments, the respective embodiments can also be combined.

[0011] [Embodiment 1] The molding apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment is an apparatus for molding a fiber sheet S having a bent portion D. The fiber sheet S extends in the length direction, with the direction perpendicular to the length direction being the width direction. In the first embodiment, the fiber sheet S is long in the length direction and short in the width direction, but this is not particularly limited and the fiber sheet S may be short in the length direction and long in the width direction. The molding apparatus 10 molds the fiber sheet S into a shape having a bent portion D by bending the fiber sheet S in the width direction. Note that any shape having a bent portion D may be used, and for example, a shape bent in the width direction and deformed in the length direction may be used. In other words, the molded fiber sheet S may have a portion where the bent portion D, which has been deformed two-dimensionally, is deformed three-dimensionally. Note that in the first embodiment, a sheet in which reinforcing fibers are impregnated with a resin is used as the fiber sheet S, such as a prepreg. Although a prepreg is used as the fiber sheet S in the first embodiment, this configuration is not particularly limited, and a dry reinforcing fiber sheet not containing resin may also be used. In addition, in the first embodiment, the fiber sheet S is a laminate of a plurality of layers, but it may be a single layer, and is not particularly limited.

[0012] (molding equipment) Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a molding die of a molding apparatus according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the arrangement of a fiber sheet. Fig. 3 is an explanatory view of a molding method according to embodiment 1. As shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a molding apparatus 10 includes a molding die 11, a support member 12, a covering member 13, a suction device 14, and a holding member 16.

[0013] The forming die 11 is disposed on a base 17 and serves as a mold material for forming the fiber sheet S. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the forming die 11 is a male die that is convex upward and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the longitudinal direction. The forming die 11 has an upper surface 11a, a pair of side surfaces 11b provided on both sides of the upper surface 11a in the width direction, and a pair of bent portions 11c formed between the upper surface 11a and the pair of side surfaces 11b. For example, the bent portions 11c are bent so that the angle formed between the upper surface 11a and each of the side surfaces 11b is a right angle. Note that the angle formed between the upper surface 11a and each of the side surfaces 11b of the bent portions 11c may be an angle other than a right angle.

[0014] The support member 12 is provided on the other side of the mold 11, sandwiching the fiber sheet S. That is, the mold 11 is provided on one side of the fiber sheet S, and the support member 12 is provided on the other side of the fiber sheet S. The support member 12 has higher rigidity than the fiber sheet S, and is made of, for example, a metal material, a film, or an elastic material such as silicone rubber. The support member 12 is provided between the fiber sheet S and the covering member 13, and is provided integrally with the fiber sheet S. Specifically, the support member 12 is integrated by being attached to the fiber sheet S via an adhesive. Note that the adhesive may be omitted, and the support member 12 may be integrated with the fiber sheet S using a resin contained in the fiber sheet S.

[0015] The support members 12 are provided in the areas of the fiber sheet S where the bent portions D are to be formed. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, the support members 12 are provided in areas on both sides of the width of the fiber sheet S that are areas of the fiber sheet S that are remote from the forming mold 11. Note that the support members 12 do not need to be provided over the entire area of ​​the fiber sheet S that is remote from the forming mold 11, as long as they are located on at least a portion of the area.

[0016] 2 and 3, the support member 12 has a plurality of support pieces 15 arranged in the width direction relative to the bent portion D of the fiber sheet S. Specifically, the plurality of support pieces 15 are arranged in the width direction relative to the portions of the fiber sheet S facing the pair of side surface portions 11b. The plurality of support pieces 15 are divided and arranged so as to follow the shape of the side surface portions 11b during molding. Each of the support pieces 15 is arranged to extend in the length direction.

[0017] The cross-sectional shape of the support pieces 15 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is such that they do not come into contact with adjacent support pieces 15 during molding. Specifically, the cross-sectional shape of the support pieces 15 is trapezoidal with the fiber sheet S side as the lower base. The multiple support pieces 15 protrude from the fiber sheet S to the same height. Furthermore, the multiple support pieces 15 are spaced apart at predetermined intervals between adjacent support pieces in the width direction, and may be spaced apart equally or unequally.

[0018] Here, the multiple support pieces 15 may be made of different materials. For example, the multiple support pieces 15 may be made of a material that is harder (higher rigidity) closer to the bend D and softer (lower rigidity) farther from the bend D. Furthermore, the distance between adjacent support pieces 15 may be narrower the closer to the bend D and wider the farther from the bend D.

[0019] As shown in Figure 3, holding members 16 are provided on both sides of mold 11 in the width direction, and hold both sides of covering member 13 in the width direction. Note that Figure 3 shows holding member 16 on one side in the width direction. Holding member 16 is installed on base 17, and has a height that allows covering member 13 to be held at approximately the same height as molding die 11 in the height direction perpendicular to the length and width directions. Note that holding member 16 is preferably at the same height as molding die 11, but is not particularly limited thereto, and may be higher or lower than molding die 11. Furthermore, although holding member 16 is provided in embodiment 1, a configuration in which holding member 16 is omitted may also be used.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 3, the covering member 13 is provided to cover the fiber sheet S. The covering member 13 is a film made of, for example, silicone rubber. The covering member 13 covers the forming mold 11, the fiber sheet S placed on the forming mold 11, and the holding member 16, and a sealing material (not shown) is provided between the covering member 13 and the base 17, thereby airtightly sealing the interior.

[0021] The suction device 14 sucks the atmosphere inside the space between the forming mold 11 and the covering member 13, thereby pressing the fiber sheet S against the forming mold 11 with the covering member 13. The suction device 14 is, for example, a vacuum pump. The suction device 14 vacuums the atmosphere inside the airtightly sealed covering member 13 through a suction port (not shown), thereby molding the fiber sheet S into a shape that matches the forming mold 11. Note that the fiber sheet S is heated by a heating device (not shown) during molding to reduce the viscosity of the resin contained in the fiber sheet S and improve its formability, and after molding, the resin contained in the fiber sheet S is hardened by heating by a heating device (not shown). Note that, although the suction device 14 is used in the first embodiment, any device that presses the fiber sheet S against the forming mold 11 with the covering member 13 may be used.

[0022] (Molding method) Next, a molding method using the molding device 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. In this molding method, a flat fiber sheet S is molded along a molding die 11 into a shape having a bent portion D.

[0023] In the molding method of the first embodiment, first, a plurality of support pieces 15 are arranged on a flat fiber sheet S (step S1). In step S1, the plurality of support pieces 15 are adhered to the fiber sheet S with an adhesive, thereby integrating the fiber sheet S and the plurality of support pieces 15. Also in step S1, the plurality of support pieces 15 are arranged side by side in the width direction at a portion of the fiber sheet S away from the forming mold 11. Next, the fiber sheet S with the plurality of support pieces 15 integrated therewith is placed relative to the forming mold 11 (step S2). In step S2, the forming mold 11 is positioned on one side (lower side) of the fiber sheet S, and the support member 12 is positioned on the other side (upper side) of the fiber sheet S. Then, in step S2, the fiber sheet S is placed relative to the forming mold 11 so that the plurality of support pieces 15 are positioned at a portion of the fiber sheet S where the bent portion D is to be formed.

[0024] Thereafter, in the molding method of embodiment 1, a covering member 13 is placed to cover the fiber sheet S, as shown in FIG. 3 (step S3). In step S3, a support piece 15 is positioned between the covering member 13 and the fiber sheet S. Then, in step S3, the covering member 13 is provided, and the space between the covering member 13 and the forming mold 11 is airtightly sealed. Next, in the molding method of embodiment 1, the atmosphere between the forming mold 11 and the covering member 13 is sucked out by a suction device 14, as shown in FIG. 2 (step S4). In step S4, the atmosphere inside the airtightly sealed covering member 13 is evacuated, and atmospheric pressure causes the fiber sheet S to deform in accordance with the forming mold 11, thereby pressing the fiber sheet S against the forming mold 11 with the covering member 13, and molding the fiber sheet S into a fiber sheet S having a bent portion D.

[0025] 3, when the fiber sheet S deforms in step S4, the portion of the fiber sheet S in contact with the upper surface 11a of the mold 11 does not deform, but the portion of the fiber sheet S corresponding to the side surface 11b of the mold 11 bends and deforms so as to approach the side surface 11b. At this time, because the portion of the fiber sheet S corresponding to the side surface 11b is supported by multiple support pieces 15, the rigidity of the fiber sheet S is maintained during molding, and the fiber sheet S comes into contact with the mold 11 from the base end portion toward the tip end portion, allowing deformation of the fiber sheet S. This prevents excess portions from being formed on the fiber sheet S, thereby suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles.

[0026] In the first embodiment, the molding die 11 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. However, depending on the molding die 11, the height in the height direction may vary along the length. In this case, the multiple support pieces 15 may have different cross-sectional shapes perpendicular to the length direction or different numbers of divisions, depending on the shape of the molding die 11. That is, when the height of the molding die 11 increases from one side to the other in the length direction, the number of divisions of the multiple support pieces 15 along the length direction may be the same, and the cross-sectional shape of each support piece 15 may be varied so that the length in the height direction increases from one side to the other in the length direction. Furthermore, when the height of the molding die 11 increases from one side to the other in the length direction, the cross-sectional shape of each support piece 15 along the length direction may be the same, and the number of divisions of the multiple support pieces 15 may be arranged so that it increases from one side to the other in the length direction.

[0027] [Embodiment 2] Next, a molding device 30 according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4. In the second embodiment, only parts different from the first embodiment will be described to avoid repetition, and parts having the same configuration as the first embodiment will be described using the same reference numerals. Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a molding die of the molding device according to the second embodiment. Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the arrangement of the fiber sheet.

[0028] The molding apparatus 30 of the second embodiment differs from the molding die 11 of the first embodiment in that the molding die 31 has a pair of side surfaces 11b each having a step portion 21, as shown in FIG. 4 . The step portion 21 includes a side surface 11b on one side (the front side) in the depth direction, a side surface 11b on the other side (the back side) in the depth direction, and a sloped surface 11d between the side surfaces 11b. The sloped surface 11d is a slope that widens in the width direction from one side to the other side in the depth direction. In this way, the molding die 11 has the bent portions 11c and the step portions 21, and the bent portions 11c and the step portions 21 form a shape-changing portion, which is a three-dimensionally changed portion, in the fiber sheet S.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 5, the plurality of support pieces 15 are provided at the shape-changing portions of the fiber sheet S. Specifically, each support piece 15 is provided at a position facing a pair of side surface portions 11b of the fiber sheet S. That is, the support pieces 15 are arranged not only in the width direction but also in the length direction. The support pieces 15 arranged in the length direction are divided and arranged so as to follow the shape of the step portion 21 during molding. Specifically, the plurality of support pieces 15 are arranged in the length direction and are arranged to face the side surface portion 11b on one side (front side) in the depth direction, the side surface portion 11b on the other side (rear side) in the depth direction, and the slope portion 11d between the side surface portions 11b on both sides. The positions at which the support pieces 15 are provided are not particularly limited to the positions described above, and may be provided at any position as long as the position is a portion where wrinkles are likely to occur.

[0030] Therefore, in the molding method using the molding apparatus 30 of embodiment 2, in step S1 in embodiment 1, a plurality of support members 12 are placed on the covering member 13 in advance. Subsequently, in step S2, the fiber sheet S is placed on the forming mold 11, and then in step S3, the covering member 13, which is made up of a plurality of support members 12, is placed so as to cover the fiber sheet S. Then, in step S4, the atmosphere between the forming mold 11 and the covering member 13 is sucked out by the suction device 14 (step S4). In step S4, since a plurality of support pieces 15 are also arranged in the longitudinal direction, the fiber sheet S is molded to follow the step portions 21 on the side surface portions 11b of the forming mold 11, thereby forming shape-changing portions in the fiber sheet S.

[0031] [Embodiment 3] Next, a molding apparatus 40 according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 6. In the third embodiment, to avoid redundant description, only the parts different from those of the first and second embodiments will be described, and parts having the same configuration as those of the first and second embodiments will be described with the same reference numerals. Fig. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a molding die of the molding apparatus according to the third embodiment.

[0032] In the molding apparatus 10 of embodiment 1, the multiple support pieces 15 have the same height, but in the molding apparatus 40 of embodiment 3, the multiple support pieces 15 have different heights. Specifically, the multiple support pieces 15 protrude from the fiber sheet S at different heights, with the closer they are to the bend D the higher they are and the farther they are from the bend D the lower they are. In other words, the multiple support pieces 15 have higher heights corresponding to the portions of the fiber sheet S that are to be brought into contact with the molding die 11 at an earlier stage, and the lower they are corresponding to the portions of the fiber sheet S that are to be brought into contact with the molding die 11 at a later stage.

[0033] [Embodiment 4] Next, a molding apparatus 50 according to a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 7 and 8. In the fourth embodiment, to avoid redundant description, only the parts different from the first to third embodiments will be described, and parts having the same configuration as the first to third embodiments will be described with the same reference numerals. Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a molding die of the molding apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of the arrangement of the fiber sheet.

[0034] In the molding apparatus 50 of the fourth embodiment, the molding die 51 has a curved shape in the longitudinal direction. That is, the upper surface portion 11a of the molding die 11 is flat, while one side (the left side) of the pair of side surface portions 11b is a curved surface that is convex outward, and the other side (the right side) is a curved surface that is convex inward.

[0035] Furthermore, the multiple support pieces 15 have a shape that follows the curved surface of each side surface portion 11b. That is, each support piece 15 has a curved shape in the longitudinal direction. Of the multiple support pieces 15, the support piece 15 provided corresponding to the side surface portion 11b on one side (left side) has a curved shape that convex toward the opposite side of the fiber sheet S at the center in the longitudinal direction. Of the multiple support pieces 15, the support piece 15 provided corresponding to the side surface portion 11b on the other side (right side) has a curved shape that convex toward the fiber sheet S at the center in the longitudinal direction.

[0036] Note that when the forming die 51 is curved in the longitudinal direction, a support piece 15 shown in FIG. 9 may be used. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the support piece. The support piece 15 has a laminated structure including a first portion 56 on the side that contacts the fiber sheet S and a second portion 55 that is disposed on the opposite side of the fiber sheet S across the first portion 56. The first portion 56 is capable of accepting the curved shape of the side portion 11b and is made of a softer (less rigid) material than the second portion 55. The second portion 55 is capable of supporting the fiber sheet S and is made of a harder (more rigid) material than the first portion 56. The support piece 15 shown in FIG. 9 accepts the curved shape of the side portion 11b at the first portion 56 and supports the fiber sheet S at the second portion 55.

[0037] [Embodiment 5] Next, a molding apparatus 60 according to a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 10. In the fifth embodiment, to avoid redundant description, only the parts different from the first to fourth embodiments will be described, and parts having the same configuration as the first to fourth embodiments will be denoted by the same reference numerals. Fig. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a molding die of the molding apparatus according to the fifth embodiment.

[0038] The molding device 60 of the fifth embodiment further includes a heating section 61 that heats each of the plurality of support pieces 15 of the first embodiment. The support pieces 15 are, for example, heat transfer bodies, and are heated to a predetermined temperature by the heating section 61. The heating section 61 heats the plurality of support pieces 15 to different temperatures. Specifically, the heating section 61 heats the plurality of support pieces 15 so that the closer they are to the bent portion D, the higher the temperature, and the farther they are from the bent portion D, the lower the temperature.

[0039] Therefore, in the molding method using the molding apparatus 60 of embodiment 5, in step S4 of embodiment 1, the portion of the fiber sheet S near the bend D can be softened by heating, making it easier for the portion of the fiber sheet S near the bend D to conform to the side portion 11b.

[0040] As described above, the molding apparatuses 10, 30, 40, 50, and 60 and molding methods described in the present embodiment can be understood, for example, as follows.

[0041] The molding apparatus 10, 30, 40, 50, 60 of the first embodiment is a molding apparatus 10, 30, 40, 50, 60 that molds a fiber sheet S into a shape having a bent portion D that extends in the longitudinal direction and is formed by bending it in the width direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and is equipped with a molding die 11 that is provided on one side of the fiber sheet S and serves as a mold material for molding the fiber sheet S, a support member 12 that is provided on the other side of the fiber sheet S and is provided at the location where the bent portion D is formed and has higher rigidity than the fiber sheet S, a covering member 13 that covers the fiber sheet S, and a pressing device (suction device 14) that presses the fiber sheet S against the molding die 11 using the covering member 13, and the support member 12 has a plurality of support pieces 15 divided in the width direction.

[0042] According to this configuration, the fiber sheet S is supported by multiple support pieces 15 divided in the width direction, allowing deformation of the fiber sheet S, and by molding a portion of the fiber sheet S to match the molding die 11, a fiber sheet S having a bent portion D can be suitably molded.

[0043] In a second mode, the support pieces 15 have a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the length direction that prevents the adjacent support pieces 15 from contacting each other during molding.

[0044] According to this configuration, when the fiber sheet S is formed, the adjacent support pieces 15 do not come into contact with each other, so that deformation of the fiber sheet S can be suitably permitted.

[0045] As a third aspect, the plurality of support pieces 15 differ in at least one of the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the length direction and the number of divisions, depending on the shape of the forming die 11.

[0046] According to this configuration, a plurality of support pieces 15 can be provided according to the shape of the forming die 11.

[0047] In a fourth aspect, the intervals between the support pieces 15 adjacent to each other in the width direction are different, and the closer to the bent portion D the intervals are narrower, and the farther from the bent portion D the intervals are wider.

[0048] According to this configuration, the portion of the fiber sheet S near the bent portion D can be shaped with high precision.

[0049] In a fifth embodiment, the plurality of support pieces 15 are made of different materials, and the closer to the bent portion D the harder the support pieces 15 are, and the farther from the bent portion D the softer the support pieces 15 are.

[0050] According to this configuration, the portion of the fiber sheet S close to the bent portion D can be supported suitably.

[0051] In a sixth aspect, the plurality of support pieces 15 have different protruding heights from the fiber sheet S, with the protruding heights being higher the closer to the bent portion D and lower the farther from the bent portion D.

[0052] According to this configuration, the portion of the fiber sheet S close to the bent portion D can be brought into contact with the forming mold at an early stage, thereby suppressing the occurrence of wrinkles.

[0053] As a seventh aspect, when the molding surface of the molding die 11 with which the support member 12 comes into contact during molding is a curved surface, the support piece 15 has a curved shape that follows the molding surface.

[0054] According to this configuration, even if the molding surface of the molding die 11 is curved, the support pieces 15 can be made to conform to the curved surface, and the fiber sheet S can be molded in a suitable manner.

[0055] In an eighth aspect, when the molding surface of the mold 11 that the support member 12 contacts during molding becomes a curved surface, the support piece 15 has a laminated structure including a first portion 56 on the side that contacts the fiber sheet S and a second portion 55 that is positioned on the opposite side of the fiber sheet S, sandwiching the first portion 56.

[0056] According to this configuration, the first portion 56 can accommodate the curved surface of the forming die 11, while the second portion 55 can suitably support the fiber sheet S.

[0057] In a ninth aspect, the molding die 11 further includes holding members 16 provided on both sides in the width direction thereof to hold both sides of the covering member 13 in the width direction, and the holding members 16 have a height that allows them to hold the covering member 13 at the height of the molding die 11 in a height direction perpendicular to the length direction and the width direction.

[0058] According to this configuration, the covering member 13 can be held at the height of the forming mold 11 by the holding member 16, so that the weight of the covering member 13 can be prevented from being applied to the fiber sheet S.

[0059] In a tenth aspect, the device further includes a heating section 61 that heats each of the plurality of support pieces 15, and the heating section 61 varies the heating temperature for the plurality of support pieces 15, so that the temperature of the plurality of support pieces 15 is higher the closer they are to the bending portion D and lower the farther they are from the bending portion D.

[0060] According to this configuration, the portion of the fiber sheet S close to the bent portion D can be softened, and therefore, molding can be performed with high precision.

[0061] The molding method of the eleventh aspect is a molding method for molding the fiber sheet into a shape having the bent portion using the above-mentioned molding device, and includes the steps of: placing the fiber sheet on the molding mold; before or after the step of placing the fiber sheet, placing the support member on the opposite side of the molding mold across the fiber sheet, corresponding to the location where the bent portion is to be formed; placing the covering member to cover the fiber sheet; and pressing the fiber sheet against the molding mold with the covering member.

[0062] According to this configuration, the fiber sheet S is supported by multiple support pieces 15 divided in the width direction, allowing deformation of the fiber sheet S, and by molding a portion of the fiber sheet S to match the molding die 11, a fiber sheet S having a bent portion D can be suitably molded. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 10 Molding equipment 11 Molding mold 11a Top part 11b Side part 11c Bend part 11d Slope 12 Support member 13 Covering material 14 Suction device 15 Support piece 16 Retaining member 17 Foundation 21 Step 30 Molding device (embodiment 2) 31 Molding mold 40 Molding device (embodiment 3) 50 Molding device (embodiment 4) 51 Molding mold 55 Part 2 56 Part 1 60 Molding device (embodiment 5) 61 Heating section S Fiber Sheet D Bend part

Claims

1. A molding device for molding a fiber sheet into a shape having a bent portion extending in a length direction and formed by bending the fiber sheet in a width direction perpendicular to the length direction, a forming die provided on one side of the fiber sheet and serving as a mold for forming the fiber sheet; a support member provided on the other side of the fiber sheet at a location where the bent portion is formed, the support member having higher rigidity than the fiber sheet; a covering member that covers the fiber sheet; a pressing device that presses the fiber sheet against the molding die using the covering member, the support member has a plurality of support pieces divided in the width direction, the support piece is adhered to the other side of the fiber sheet by an adhesive; The covering member is a molding device that covers the other side of the fiber sheet formed by the plurality of support pieces.

2. The molding device according to claim 1 , wherein the support pieces have a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction such that they do not come into contact with adjacent support pieces during molding.

3. 3. The molding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of support pieces differ in at least one of the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the length direction and the number of divisions, depending on the shape of the forming mold.

4. The molding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the distances between the support pieces adjacent in the width direction are different, being narrower as they approach the bent portion and wider as they are farther from the bent portion.

5. The molding device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support pieces are made of different materials, the harder the support pieces are closer to the bent portion and the softer the support pieces are farther from the bent portion.

6. The molding device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of support pieces have different protruding heights from the fiber sheet, the protruding heights being higher the closer to the bent portion and lower the farther from the bent portion.

7. When the molding surface of the mold that comes into contact with the support member during molding is a curved surface, The molding device according to claim 1 , wherein the support piece has a curved shape that follows the molding surface.

8. When the molding surface of the mold that comes into contact with the support member during molding is a curved surface, A molding device described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the support piece has a laminated structure including a first portion on the side that contacts the fiber sheet and a second portion that is positioned on the opposite side of the fiber sheet, sandwiching the first portion.

9. A molding device for molding a fiber sheet into a shape having a bent portion extending in a length direction and formed by bending the fiber sheet in a width direction perpendicular to the length direction, a forming die provided on one side of the fiber sheet and serving as a mold for forming the fiber sheet; a support member provided on the other side of the fiber sheet at a location where the bent portion is formed, the support member having higher rigidity than the fiber sheet; a covering member that covers the fiber sheet; a pressing device that presses the fiber sheet against the molding die using the covering member, the support member has a plurality of support pieces divided in the width direction, When the molding surface of the mold that comes into contact with the support member during molding is a curved surface, A molding device in which the support piece has a laminated structure including a first portion on the side that contacts the fiber sheet and a second portion that is positioned on the opposite side of the fiber sheet, sandwiching the first portion.

10. Further provided are holding members provided on both sides in the width direction of the molding die and holding both sides of the covering member in the width direction, The molding device according to claim 1 , wherein the holding member has a height that allows the covering member to be held at the same height as the molding die in a height direction perpendicular to the length direction and the width direction.

11. Further provided is a heating unit that heats each of the plurality of support pieces, the heating unit heats the plurality of support pieces at different temperatures, The molding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature of the plurality of support pieces is higher as they are closer to the bent portion and lower as they are farther from the bent portion.

12. A molding device for molding a fiber sheet into a shape having a bent portion extending in a length direction and formed by bending the fiber sheet in a width direction perpendicular to the length direction, a forming die provided on one side of the fiber sheet and serving as a mold for forming the fiber sheet; a support member provided on the other side of the fiber sheet at a location where the bent portion is formed, the support member having higher rigidity than the fiber sheet; a covering member that covers the fiber sheet; a pressing device that presses the fiber sheet against the molding die using the covering member, the support member has a plurality of support pieces divided in the width direction, Further provided is a heating unit that heats each of the plurality of support pieces, the heating unit heats the plurality of support pieces at different temperatures, A molding device in which the temperature of the plurality of support pieces is higher the closer to the bent portion and lower the farther from the bent portion.

13. A molding method for molding the fiber sheet into a shape having the bent portion using the molding device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising: placing the fiber sheet on the mold; before or after the step of arranging the fiber sheet, a step of arranging the support member on the opposite side of the molding die across the fiber sheet, in a position corresponding to a portion where the bent portion is to be formed; placing the covering member so as to cover the fiber sheet; and pressing the fiber sheet against the mold with the covering member.

Images