Thermoforming apparatus

Abstract

To obtain a highly accurate product by suppressing thermal deformation of the entire product while enabling cooling of a material after molding at a location away from the main body of an apparatus. [Solution] The thermoforming device is detachably attached to the device main body and includes a fixture 3 to which a preform material is fixed. The fixture 3 has a fitting hole 62b into which a downward protrusion formed on a portion of the preform material that does not need to be molded is fitted, and includes a lower member 60 that supports the preform material from below, an upper member 70 that presses the preform material from above to vertically sandwich it together with the lower member 60, and a fastening portion that fastens the upper member 70 to the lower member 60. The portion of the lower member 60 that has the fitting hole 62b is hollow.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to thermoforming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vacuum forming device that forms a heated sheet-like object by bringing molding members into contact with the object. This vacuum forming device includes an upper mold with an inverted concave shape that is placed above the object, a lower mold with a concave shape that is placed below the object, and a pressure reducing device that reduces the pressure in the spaces inside the upper mold and the lower mold. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-24119 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, the vacuum forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a single-heat forming apparatus in which the workpieces are set one by one, heated, formed, and then removed, and a continuous forming apparatus in which the roll sheet is sandwiched at both ends and sent to the heating section and the forming section in that order, and the process continues until removal after forming. In both forming apparatuses, the workpieces to be formed are flat, sheet-like objects.

[0005] In the case of flat sheet-like molded objects, they have a uniform thickness and are trimmed at specified locations after vacuum molding, so deformation due to thermal shrinkage can be suppressed by simply performing the cooling process within the device after thermoforming.

[0006] However, there are cases where a preform material that has already been formed into a three-dimensional shape needs to be thermoformed, separate from flat sheet-like molding objects. Since preform materials that have already been formed into a three-dimensional shape have different thicknesses and shapes depending on the part, deformation due to thermal shrinkage occurs unless the material is cooled in the equipment after thermoforming and also undergoes a long additional cooling process while fixed to the material fixing section. Therefore, when thermoforming preform materials, there is a problem in that the cycle time of the thermoforming equipment is significantly extended.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of such points, and is based on the premise that when thermoforming a preform material that has been previously formed into a three-dimensional shape, the fixing device for the preform material can be separated from the main body of the device, and the cooling process after thermoforming can be carried out at a location away from the main body of the device while suppressing deformation due to thermal shrinkage.

[0008] The purpose of the fixture is to position the preform material in a predetermined position, and to ensure that the necessary heating is applied to the portion of the preform material to be molded, while suppressing thermal deformation in the portion of the preform material that does not need to be molded, thereby obtaining a high-precision product. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present disclosure can be premised on a thermoforming device having an apparatus main body including a heating section that heats a preform material that has been previously formed into a three-dimensional shape, and a forming mold that vacuum-forms the preform material heated by the heating section.

[0010] The thermoforming device further includes a fixture that is detachable from the device body and to which the preform material is fixed.

[0011] The fixture has a fitting hole into which a downward protruding portion formed in the non-molding portion of the preform material is fitted, and includes a lower member that supports the preform material from below, an upper member that presses the preform material from above to hold it together with the lower member in the vertical direction, and a fastening portion that fastens the upper member to the lower member. The portion of the lower member that has the fitting hole is hollow.

[0012] With this configuration, when the preform material is fixed to the fixture, the protrusion formed on the non-molding portion of the preform material is fitted into the fitting hole formed in the lower member of the fixture, thereby temporarily holding the preform material to the lower member. By fastening the upper member to the lower member in this state with the fastening portion, the preform material is sandwiched between the upper and lower members in the vertical direction, and is fixed in a state where it is positioned on the fixture.

[0013] By attaching the fixture to which the preform material is fixed to the device body, it becomes possible to heat the preform material using the heating unit. At this time, because the portion of the lower member having the fitting hole is hollow, heating of the portion of the preform material fitted into the fitting hole, i.e., the downward protruding portion of the preform material, is suppressed. This suppresses thermal deformation of the protruding portion of the preform material, and allows the precision of the protruding portion to be maintained.

[0014] Furthermore, the preform material heated by the heating unit is vacuum-formed by a mold. After vacuum forming, the fixture is detachable from the device main body, so the fixture with the preform material still fixed thereto can be removed from the device main body and moved to another location for a cooling process. Then, another fixture with a different preform material fixed thereto is prepared, and the new fixture is attached to the device main body, allowing the molding process for the new preform material to be performed. This shortens the cycle time.

[0015] Furthermore, during the cooling process after vacuum forming, the protrusions, which are prevented from heating, are fitted into the fitting holes of the fixtures, allowing the formed material to be cooled in a positioned state, thereby suppressing deformation due to thermal contraction and achieving high precision.Furthermore, by fastening the upper member to the lower member with the fastening parts, vacuum leakage during vacuum forming can be suppressed, which also contributes to high-precision forming.

[0016] The lower member of the fixture may be formed by combining a plurality of the hollow members and may have a lower opening that exposes the portion of the preform material to be molded downward, and the upper member of the fixture may be formed by a plate material and may have an upper opening that exposes the portion of the preform material to be molded upward.

[0017] With this configuration, the molded portion of the preform material is exposed from above and below through the upper and lower open portions, allowing the molded portion to be heated efficiently. Meanwhile, the portion into which the downward protruding portion of the preform material is fitted is made of a hollow member and is therefore hollow, making it difficult for heat from the heating portion to be transmitted to the protruding portion, effectively suppressing thermal deformation of the protruding portion.

[0018] Furthermore, because the upper member is made of plate material, it can be made lighter. This makes it easier to move the upper member when positioning the preform material or removing the molded product from the fixture, improving workability. Furthermore, because the weight of the fixture as a whole is reduced, workability is improved when transporting the fixture and attaching and detaching it to the device main body.

[0019] The plurality of hollow members constituting the lower member of the fixture may be fastened together with bolts or screws, thereby making it possible to obtain a lightweight lower member by firmly connecting the plurality of hollow members without requiring specialized skills such as welding.

[0020] One edge of the upper member and one edge of the lower member of the fixing device can be rotatably connected via a hinge. In this case, the other edge located opposite the one edge of the upper member and the other edge located opposite the one edge of the lower member can be fastened together by a fastener that constitutes the fastening portion.

[0021] With this configuration, by releasing the fastening by the fastener, the upper member can be rotated relative to the lower member to separate the two, facilitating the work of setting the preform material. After the preform material has been set, the upper member can be rotated and placed on top of the preform material, and then fastened with the fastener, making it easy to fix the preform material. This also improves the workability when removing the molded product from the fixture.

[0022] The device main body may have a mounting plate on which the fixture is placed. In this case, the lower member of the fixture may be provided with a positioned portion that is positioned by a positioning portion provided on the mounting plate.

[0023] According to this configuration, when the fixture is placed on the mounting plate of the device body, the fixture is easily positioned in an accurate position by the positioning portion and the positioned portion.

[0024] The device main body may have an upper pressing member that presses from above the upper member of the fixture placed on the mounting plate.

[0025] According to this configuration, the preform material is fixed by the fixing device, and then the fixing device can be fixed to the mounting plate by the upper pressing member, thereby suppressing vacuum leakage during vacuum forming and stabilizing formability.

[0026] The apparatus main body may have an air vent opening on the molding surface of the mold and a pneumatic circuit connected to the air vent. The pneumatic circuit may have a suction circuit that draws a vacuum through the air vent, an exhaust circuit that exhausts air from the air vent, and a switching mechanism that switches between a state in which the suction circuit is connected to the air vent and a state in which the exhaust circuit is connected to the air vent.

[0027] That is, the temperature of the mold rises during molding due to thermal conduction of the heated preform material. This causes the heated mold to reach a temperature higher than the predetermined temperature range, which can be a factor in reducing the stability of the vacuum forming process. In this embodiment, the suction circuit of the pneumatic circuit is connected to the vent holes opening on the molding surface of the mold during vacuum forming, enabling vacuum forming. In other processes, the exhaust circuit of the pneumatic circuit is connected to the vent holes opening on the molding surface of the mold, allowing air to be exhausted through the vent holes, and this exhaust allows the temperature of the mold to be reduced to within the predetermined temperature range.

[0028] The device main body may include a non-contact temperature sensor capable of measuring the temperature of the portion of the preform material to be molded in a non-contact manner. In this case, the device main body can start vacuum molding using the mold after a predetermined holding time has elapsed after the temperature measured by the non-contact temperature sensor reaches a predetermined temperature.

[0029] With this configuration, the temperature of the part of the preform material to be molded can be managed based on actual measurement results, making it less likely that poor heating will occur due to the influence of outside air temperature, and improving the stability of vacuum molding.

[0030] Furthermore, the portion of the preform material to be molded can be heated to a predetermined temperature without the need for a heating booth, which eliminates the need for a heating booth that requires a wide-area heat source, improves thermal efficiency, and reduces power consumption. [Effects of the Invention]

[0031] As described above, according to the technology disclosed herein, when a preform material previously formed into a three-dimensional shape is thermoformed, the fixture to which the preform material is fixed can be separated from the main body of the device. This allows the cooling process to be performed at a location away from the main body of the device while suppressing deformation due to thermal contraction, thereby shortening the cycle time. Furthermore, the preform material can be positioned in a predetermined position while being fixed to the fixture. In this state, the required heating is sufficiently applied to the molded portion of the preform material, while suppressing thermal deformation of the portion of the preform material that does not need to be molded. As a result, a high-precision product can be obtained. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a thermoforming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mold and fixture. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the molding section with the components and fixtures separated from one another. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fixture with the preform material fixed thereto, as viewed from above. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fixture from above with the preform material set therein and the upper member open. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the fixture seen from above with the upper member open, showing the state before the preform material is set. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the fixture seen from below with the upper member open, showing the state before the preform material is set. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a front view of the fixture. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. [Figure 11]FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating the heating step of the molding method using a thermoforming device. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the molding process of the above molding method. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps from the cooling step to the removal of the product in the above molding method. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the following description of the preferred embodiment is essentially merely an example and is not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses. For example, the relative size and positional relationship of each component shown in the drawings are for the purpose of explaining one embodiment and do not limit the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a thermoforming device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The thermoforming device 1 is a device that heats a preform material 40 (shown in FIG. 5, etc.) that has been previously formed into a three-dimensional shape, and vacuum forms it at a predetermined temperature. The shape and thickness of the preform material 40 are not particularly limited, and it may have any shape or thickness, but it is not a flat sheet-like shape, but rather has a three-dimensional shape with at least a downwardly protruding shape. Details of the preform material 40 will be described later.

[0035] The thermoforming device 1 comprises an apparatus main body 2 and a fixture 3 that is detachable from the apparatus main body 2 and to which a preform material 40 is fixed. The apparatus main body 2 comprises a heating section 10 that heats the preform material 40, a molding section 20 that includes a molding die 21 that vacuum-forms the preform material 40 heated by the heating section 10, an air pressure circuit 30, and a control unit 50.

[0036] The apparatus main body 2 has a base 4 that is fixed to the floor of a factory or the like, for example. The base 4 is elongated in the left-right direction of the apparatus main body 2. In this embodiment, a heating unit 10 is provided on the left side of the base 4, and a molding unit 20 is provided on the right side of the base 4. The preform material 40 is heated by the heating unit 10 on the left side, and then transported to the right side and molded by the molding unit 20. Therefore, the apparatus main body 2 also has a transport device 5 that transports the preform material 40 while it is fixed to the fixture 3. The transport device 5 is connected to and controlled by a control unit 50.

[0037] The control unit 50 includes, for example, a sequence circuit, a microcomputer, and a storage device. The storage device stores a control program for controlling each part of the thermoforming device 1. The sequence circuit and the microcomputer process detection signals from various sensors and the like according to the control program, and output control signals to the controlled devices. The control unit 50 controls not only the conveying device 5, but also each device and circuit, which will be described later.

[0038] The conveying device 5 conveys the preform material 40 together with the fixture 3 from the left side to the right side of the base 4 and from the right side to the left side. When conveyed to the left side, the preform material 40 is placed in a position (heating position) where it can be heated by the heating unit 10. On the other hand, when conveyed to the right side, the preform material 40 is placed in a position (molding position) where it can be molded by the molding unit 20. The structure of the conveying device 5 is not particularly limited, and may be constituted by, for example, a linear motion device, a conveyor, etc.

[0039] The heating section 10 includes an upper heater 11 and a lower heater 12 disposed downwardly away from the upper heater 11 and facing the upper heater 11. The upper heater 11 and the lower heater 12 are fixed to, for example, a base 4, but the fixing method is not particularly limited. The upper heater 11 and the lower heater 12 are configured, for example, as electric heaters. The upper heater 11 and the lower heater 12 are connected to and controlled by a control unit 50. The upper heater 11 and the lower heater 12 are turned on when the thermoforming apparatus 1 is operating. The control unit 50 may adjust the output of the upper heater 11 and the lower heater 12.

[0040] The heat radiation surface of the upper heater 11 faces downward, and the heat radiation surface of the lower heater 12 faces upward. The distance between the upper heaters 11 and their positions in the height direction are determined so as to enable heating of the preform material 40 transported to the heating position.

[0041] The upper heater 11 is arranged so that its heat radiating surface faces the upper surface of the preform material 40 that has been transported to the heating position, and the lower heater 12 is arranged so that its heat radiating surface faces the lower surface of the preform material 40 that has been transported to the heating position. This makes it possible to heat the preform material 40 from both above and below by the upper heater 11 and the lower heater 12.

[0042] The upper heater 11 and the lower heater 12 are installed so that only the portion 42 to be molded of the preform material 40 is the heating target. In other words, the upper heater 11 and the lower heater 12 are configured with heaters of a size that radiates heat only to the portion 42 to be molded of the preform material 40. This allows the upper heater 11 and the lower heater 12 to be small, improves heating efficiency, and reduces power consumption. Furthermore, because the heating range is limited, there is no need to form an enclosed space like a heating booth, simplifying the equipment.

[0043] The device main body 2 has a non-contact temperature sensor 13 that can measure the temperature of the portion 42 to be molded of the preform material 40 in a non-contact manner. The portion 42 to be molded of the preform material 40 is the portion that is molded by the mold 21 of the molding section 20. Although only a lower mold is shown as the mold 21 in Fig. 1, in reality, an upper mold (upper mold) 27 is also provided as shown in Fig. 12.

[0044] The non-contact temperature sensor 13 is arranged so that its measurement portion faces the portion 42 to be molded of the preform material 40. A conventionally known non-contact temperature sensor 13 can be used as the non-contact temperature sensor 13. As an example, the non-contact temperature sensor 13 absorbs infrared rays emitted from the portion 42 to be molded of the preform material 40, generates an electrical signal corresponding to the absorbed infrared rays, amplifies the generated electrical signal and performs emissivity correction, and outputs temperature information of the portion 42 to be molded of the preform material 40. The non-contact temperature sensor 13 is connected to the control unit 50, and the temperature information output from the non-contact temperature sensor 13 is received by the control unit 50.

[0045] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, in addition to the forming die 21, the forming section 20 is equipped with a mounting plate 22 on which the fixture 3 is placed, and a mold fixing plate 23 to which the forming die 21 is fixed. The mounting plate 22 is approximately horizontal, connected to the conveying device 5, and transported in the left-right direction by the conveying device 5. The mounting plate 22 is provided with a positioning portion 22a for positioning the fixture 3 at a predetermined position, and a mold insertion hole 22b for inserting the forming die 21 in the up-down direction. Note that the preform material 40 fixed to the fixture 3 is omitted in Figure 2. Figure 3 shows the preform material 40 fixed to the fixture 3.

[0046] The mold insertion hole 22b is configured as a through-hole that passes through the mounting plate 22 in the vertical direction (thickness direction). In this embodiment, since the two forming dies 21 are aligned in the left-right direction, the mold insertion hole 22b has a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction.

[0047] The shape of forming die 21 is not particularly limited and may be any shape. The number of forming die 21 is also not particularly limited and may be one or more. Mold insertion hole 22b may be any hole that allows forming die 21 to be inserted, and may be square, circular, elliptical, or the like.

[0048] The positioning portion 22a is configured as a protrusion that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the mounting plate 22. The number of positioning portion 22a may be one or two or more, but in order to determine not only the position of the fixing device 3 but also its orientation about the vertical line, it is preferable that two or more positioning portions 22a are provided horizontally spaced apart from one another. In this embodiment, four positioning portions 22a are provided on edges extending in the longitudinal direction of the mold insertion hole 22b. The multiple positioning portions 22a are provided at intervals from one another in the longitudinal direction of the mold insertion hole 22b.

[0049] The shape of the positioning portion 22a may be, for example, cylindrical, and the shape becomes thinner as it approaches the tip. Such a tapered positioning portion 22a may be called, for example, a tapered pin. The shape of the positioning portion 22a may be, for example, a prismatic, plate-like, or annular shape, and is not particularly limited.

[0050] The mold fixing plate 23 is disposed below the mounting plate 22 and extends approximately horizontally like the mounting plate 22. The forming mold 21 is fixed to the upper surface of the mold fixing plate 23. The lower surface of the mold fixing plate 23 is connected to a mold driving device 24 (shown in FIG. 1). The mold driving device 24 constitutes part of the molding section 20 and is fixed to the base 4. The mold driving device 24 includes an actuator for raising and lowering the mold fixing plate 23. The mold driving device 24 is connected to the control unit 50 and is controlled by the control unit 50.

[0051] When the fixture 3 (including the mounting plate 22) to which the preform material 40 is fixed is moved in the left-right direction, and when the fixture 3 to which the preform material 40 is fixed is positioned in the heating section 10, the mold driving device 24 lowers the mold fixing plate 23 so that the upper end of the forming mold 21 is positioned below the lower surface of the mounting plate 22. As a result, the forming mold 21 does not obstruct the left-right movement of the fixture 3 and the mounting plate 22.

[0052] On the other hand, when the fixture 3 to which the preform material 40 is fixed is located in the molding section 20 and before the preform material 40 is molded, the mold drive device 24 raises the mold fixing plate 23 to press the molding die 21 against the preform material 40 from below. This makes it possible to mold the preform material 40. After a predetermined molding time has elapsed, the mold drive device 24 lowers the mold fixing plate 23 so that the upper end of the molding die 21 is positioned below the lower surface of the mounting plate 22. Such control of the mold drive device 24 is executed by the control unit 50.

[0053] The forming unit 20 has upper presser members 25 that press from above an upper member (described later) of the fixture 3 placed on the mounting plate 22. The upper presser members 25 are formed, for example, from rods extending in the vertical direction, and two are provided spaced apart in the horizontal direction. The left upper presser member 25 is positioned to the left of the left molding die 21 and presses the left side of the upper member of the fixture 3. The right upper presser member 25 is positioned to the right of the right molding die 21 and presses the right side of the upper member of the fixture 3.

[0054] The forming section 20 is provided with a lifting device 26 constituted by an actuator or the like for raising and lowering the upper presser member 25. The lifting device 26 is connected to the control unit 50 and is controlled by the control unit 50.

[0055] When the fixture 3 (including the mounting plate 22) to which the preform material 40 is fixed is moved in the left-right direction, and when the fixture 3 to which the preform material 40 is fixed is positioned in the heating section 10, the lifting device 26 lifts the upper presser member 25. This prevents the upper presser member 25 from interfering with the left-right movement of the fixture 3 and the mounting plate 22.

[0056] On the other hand, when the fixture 3 to which the preform material 40 is fixed is positioned in the molding section 20 and before the preform material 40 is molded, the lifting device 26 lowers the upper presser member 25 to press it against the upper member of the fixture 3 from above. This enables the positioning of the fixture 3 and also the positioning of the preform material 40. The timing at which the lifting device 26 lowers the upper presser member 25 is before the mold driving device 24 raises the mold fixing plate 23 to press the molding die 21 against the preform material 40 from below. In other words, after the upper presser member 25 is pressed against the upper member of the fixture 3 from above, the molding die 21 is pressed against the preform material 40. Thereafter, after a predetermined molding time has elapsed and the mold driving device 24 lowers the mold fixing plate 23, the lifting device 26 raises the upper presser member 25. Such control of the lifting device 26 is executed by the control unit 50.

[0057] When the fixing tool 3 is to be removed from the molding section 20, the lifting device 26 raises the upper holding member 25. This prevents the upper holding member 25 from interfering with the removal of the fixing tool 3.

[0058] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the device main body 2 has vent holes 21a that open to the molding surface of the mold 21. In these figures, the vent holes 21a are shown larger than they actually are for ease of understanding, but in reality, the vent holes 21a are minute holes with a diameter of, for example, 1 mm or less. The positions of the vent holes 21a in the drawings are also shown for ease of understanding; in reality, they are distributed throughout the entire molding surface. This allows the preform material 40 to be evenly sucked into the molding surface, enabling three-dimensional molding without fracture.

[0059] The molding surface of molding die 21 is the surface that is pressed against and comes into close contact with preform material 40. Preform material 40 is molded to have the shape of the molding surface. When molding preform material 40, a vacuum is introduced between the molding surface of molding die 21 and preform material 40. As a means for introducing this vacuum, air vent 21a is opened in the molding surface of molding die 21. There may be only one air vent 21a opened in the molding surface of molding die 21, or there may be multiple air vents 21a opened.

[0060] 1, pneumatic circuit 30 includes suction circuit 31 that draws a vacuum through vent hole 21a that opens into the molding surface of casting mold 21, exhaust circuit 32 that exhausts air through vent hole 21a, and switching mechanism 33 that switches between a state in which suction circuit 31 is connected to vent hole 21a and a state in which exhaust circuit 32 is connected to vent hole 21a. Suction circuit 31 includes vacuum pump 31a and vacuum piping 31b extending from vacuum pump 31a to switching mechanism 33. Exhaust circuit 32 includes feed pump 32a that supplies air and exhaust piping 32b extending from feed pump 32a to switching mechanism 33. Suction circuit 31 and exhaust circuit 32 are controlled by control unit 50.

[0061] Switching mechanism 33 is configured, for example, with an electric valve or the like, and is connected to and controlled by control unit 50. During molding using forming mold 21 (when the molding surface is in contact with preform material 40), switching mechanism 33 performs a flow path switching operation to connect vacuum pipe 31b of suction circuit 31 to vent hole 21a, and to disconnect exhaust pipe 32b of exhaust circuit 32 from vent hole 21a. This introduces a vacuum between the molding surface of forming mold 21 and preform material 40, allowing preform material 40 to be in close contact with the molding surface of forming mold 21.

[0062] On the other hand, when molding is not being performed by forming mold 21 (for example, when preform material 40 is being heated by heating unit 10), switching mechanism 33 performs a flow path switching operation to keep exhaust pipe 32b of exhaust circuit 32 in communication with vent hole 21a and not to connect vacuum pipe 31b of suction circuit 31 to vent hole 21a. This causes air to be exhausted from vent hole 21a of forming mold 21.

[0063] That is, the temperature of the mold 21 rises during molding due to thermal conduction of the heated preform material 40. This can cause the heated mold 21 to reach a temperature higher than the predetermined temperature range, which can reduce the stability of the vacuum forming process. In this embodiment, during vacuum forming, the suction circuit 31 of the air pressure circuit 30 is connected to the vent hole 21a opening on the molding surface of the mold 21, enabling vacuum forming. In other processes, the exhaust circuit 32 of the air pressure circuit 30 is connected to the vent hole 21a opening on the molding surface of the mold 21, allowing air to be exhausted through the vent hole 21a, thereby lowering the temperature of the mold 21 to within the predetermined temperature range. The control unit 50 controls the switching mechanism 33. The time for exhausting air through the vent hole 21a may be a predetermined time, or it may be a time determined based on the temperature of the mold 21 measured. Furthermore, when it can be assumed that the temperature of forming mold 21 is within a predetermined temperature range, it is possible to prevent air from being exhausted from ventilation holes 21a.

[0064] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the fixture 3 in a state in which the preform material 40 is fixed. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the fixture 3 includes a lower member 60 that supports the preform material 40 from below, an upper member 70 that presses the preform material 40 from above and holds it vertically together with the lower member 60, a hinge 80, and a fastener 90.

[0065] First, we will explain the preform material 40 fixed to the fixture 3. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 5, 9, etc., two preform materials 40 are fixed to one fixture 3. The preform material 40 is made of a thermoplastic resin and is obtained by, for example, injection molding the thermoplastic resin.

[0066] As shown in Fig. 5, both left and right edge portions of the preform material 40 are formed as non-molding portions 41. The non-molding portions 41 are portions that do not require vacuum forming, i.e., portions that do not need to be vacuum formed. Since they are portions that do not require vacuum forming, the non-molding portions 41 do not need to be heated by the heating unit 10.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 9, a cross section of the preform material 40 shows that each of the no-molding portions 41 has a protruding portion 41a that protrudes downward. The shape of the protruding portion 41a is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a plate-like, cylindrical, bent, columnar, rod-like, or the like. In the case of a bent shape, the protruding portion 41a may be bent downward or bent in the left-right direction. The number of protruding portions 41a may be one or two or more. In this embodiment, a plurality of protruding portions 41a are formed on each of the no-molding portions 41 on both the left and right sides of the preform material 40.

[0068] The portion of the preform material 40 between the left-hand portion 41 that does not need to be molded and the right-hand portion 41 that does not need to be molded is the portion to be molded 42. The portion to be molded 42 is the portion to be vacuum molded, and the molding surface of the mold 21 is pressed against the underside of the portion to be molded 42. The portion to be molded 42 has, for example, a plate shape before molding, and is stretched by being pressed against the molding surface of the mold 21, becoming thinner than before molding. Therefore, the portion to be molded 42 is molded into a three-dimensional shape having a convex shape, etc.

[0069] The lower member 60 is configured by combining multiple hollow members 61, 62. Specifically, it has a pair of first hollow members 61, 61 extending in the left-right direction and three second hollow members 62, 62, 62 extending in the depth direction. The front first hollow member 61 and the rear first hollow member 61 are arranged at an interval in the front-rear direction and are generally parallel to each other. The three second hollow members 62, 62, 62 are arranged at an interval in the left-right direction and are generally parallel to each other.

[0070] The first hollow member 61 and the second hollow member 62 are made of, for example, a metal square pipe or the like. The square pipes each have a rectangular cross section in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The cross section of the first hollow member 61 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) is a rectangle that is long in the depth direction (also referred to as the front-rear direction). As shown in FIG. 9 , the cross sections of the left and right second hollow members 62 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (depth direction) are nearly square. The cross sections of the second hollow member 62 located in the center in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (depth direction) are a rectangle that is long in the left-right direction. In other words, the left-right dimension of the second hollow member 62 located in the center is longer than the left-right dimensions of the second hollow members 62 located on the left and right sides.

[0071] A joining piece 62a bent in the left-right direction is formed at the rear end of each of the three second hollow members 62. The joining pieces 62a at the rear end of the second hollow members 62 are fastened to the front surface of the rear first hollow member 61 with bolts 63. The joining pieces 62a may be fastened to the first hollow member 61 using screws or the like instead of the bolts 63.

[0072] Similar to the rear ends, the front ends of the three second hollow members 62, 62, 62 each have a joint piece (not shown) bent in the left-right direction. The joint piece at the front ends of the second hollow members 62, 62, 62 is fastened to the rear surface of the front first hollow member 61 with a bolt (not shown). The joint piece at the front end may also be fastened to the first hollow member 61 using a screw or the like instead of the bolt 63. A screw hole (not shown) is formed in the first hollow member 61 at a portion where the bolt, screw, or the like is threadedly engaged.

[0073] In this manner, in this embodiment, the plurality of hollow members 61, 62 constituting the lower member 60 are fastened together by bolts 63 or screws. This makes it possible to obtain a lightweight lower member 60 by firmly connecting the plurality of hollow members 61, 62 without requiring specialized skills such as welding.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 9, fitting holes 62b into which the protruding portions 41a of the preform material 40 are fitted are formed in each of the second hollow members 62, 62, 62. The shape and number of the fitting holes 62b correspond to the shape and number of the protruding portions 41a of the preform material 40. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, a fitting hole 62b that is long in the depth direction is formed in the top surface of the left second hollow member 62, and this fitting hole 62b is formed so as to connect the internal space of the left second hollow member 62 to the outside. Because the left second hollow member 62 is composed of a square pipe, the portion of the lower member 60 having the fitting hole 62b is hollow. The hollow portion is filled with air, and because the protruding portions 41a of the preform material 40 are not in contact with the fastener 3, heat conduction from the square pipe is suppressed, resulting in a portion with high thermal insulation properties.

[0075] Two fitting holes 62b are formed in the upper surface of the right-side second hollow member 62 at a distance from each other in the depth direction, and these fitting holes 62b are formed to connect the internal space of the right-side second hollow member 62 with the outside. Since the right-side second hollow member 62 is made of a square pipe, just like the left-side member, the portion of the lower member 60 having the fitting holes 62b is hollow.

[0076] An insertion hole 62b that is long in the depth direction and an insertion hole 62b that is short in the depth direction are formed in the upper surface of the second central hollow member 62, spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. These insertion holes 62b are formed to connect the internal space of the second central hollow member 62 to the outside. Because the multiple insertion holes 62b are formed at intervals in the left-right direction in this manner, the dimension of the second central hollow member 62 in the left-right direction is long. Because the second central hollow member 62, like the left and right sides, is made of a square pipe, the portion of the lower member 60 where the insertion holes 62b are located is hollow.

[0077] 9, no openings are formed on the bottom surface and both left and right side surface portions of the three second hollow members 62. In other words, the three second hollow members 62 are members that have openings only on their top surface portions.

[0078] The lower member 60 has two lower open sections 64 that expose the molding portions 42 of the two preform materials 40 downward. The lower open sections 64 are formed between the front first hollow member 61 and the rear first hollow member 61, between the left second hollow member 62 and the central second hollow member 62, and between the right second hollow member 62 and the central second hollow member 62. Between the front first hollow member 61 and the rear first hollow member 61, a space is formed where the second hollow member 62 is not present, and this space forms the two lower open sections 64. The two lower open sections 64 are vertically penetrating sections between the front first hollow member 61 and the rear first hollow member 61, allowing free air flow. The lower surface of the molding portion 42 of the left preform material 40 faces the left lower open section 64. The lower surface of the portion 42 to be molded of the right preform material 40 faces the lower open portion 64 on the right side.

[0079] 7, the lower surface of the first hollow member 61 is provided with positioned portions 61a that are positioned by positioning portions 22a provided on the mounting plate 22. In this embodiment, the positioning portions 22a provided on the mounting plate 22 are configured as protrusions, and therefore the positioned portions 61a are configured as holes into which the positioning portions 22a can be inserted. In addition, since four positioning portions 22a are provided, four positioned portions 61a are also provided.

[0080] Specifically, two positioned portions 61a each consisting of a hole penetrating the lower surface are provided at a distance in the left-right direction on the lower surface of the front first hollow member 61. The distance between the two positioned portions 61a of the front first hollow member 61 is the same as the distance between the two positioning portions 22a located on the front side. The inner diameter of each positioned portion 61a is determined so that there is almost no play when the positioning portion 22a is inserted, and is approximately the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the positioning portion 22a.

[0081] Two positioned portions 61a, each consisting of a hole penetrating the lower surface, are also provided on the lower surface of the rear first hollow member 61, spaced apart in the left-right direction. The distance between the two positioned portions 61a of the rear first hollow member 61 is the same as the distance between the two positioning portions 22a located on the rear side. The inner diameter of each of the rear positioned portions 61a is determined to be the same as the inner diameter of each of the front positioned portions 61a.

[0082] 10 shows the state during molding, with the preform material 40 omitted. As shown in this figure, when the fixture 3 is placed on the mounting plate 22, the positioning portion 22a of the mounting plate 22 is inserted into the positioned portion 61a and protrudes into the inside of the first hollow member 61. As a result, the fixture 3 can be easily positioned accurately simply by placing the fixture 3 on the mounting plate 22 of the device main body 2.

[0083] 4 and 5, the upper member 70 is made of a metal plate material. By making the upper member 70 of a plate material, the upper member 70 can be made lighter than the lower member 60.

[0084] The upper member 70 has a generally rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction. The left-right dimension of the upper member 70 is generally the same as the left-right dimension of the first hollow member 61, and the depth dimension of the upper member 70 is generally the same as the dimension from the front end of the front first hollow member 61 to the rear end of the rear first hollow member 61. This makes it possible for the upper member 70 to cover substantially the entire lower member 60 from above.

[0085] The upper member 70 has two upper open portions 71 that expose the moldable portion 42 of the preform material 40 upward. The upper open portions 71 are configured as through holes formed in the upper member 70. The left upper open portion 71 is located directly above the left lower open portion 64, and the upper surface of the moldable portion 42 of the left preform material 40 faces the left upper open portion 71. The right upper open portion 71 is located directly above the right lower open portion 64, and the upper surface of the moldable portion 42 of the right preform material 40 faces the right upper open portion 71.

[0086] Ribs 75 extending upward are provided on each of the four edges of the upper member 70. The ribs 75 provided on the front and rear edges of the upper member 70 extend in the left-right direction and are parallel to each other. The ribs 75 provided on the left and right edges of the upper member 70 extend in the front-rear direction and are parallel to each other.

[0087] The hinge 80 is a member that rotatably connects the rear edge (one edge) of the upper member 70 and the rear edge (one edge) of the lower member 60. That is, one plate member that constitutes the hinge 80 is fastened and fixed to the rear edge of the upper member 70, and the other plate member that constitutes the hinge 80 is fastened and fixed to the rear edge of the lower member 60, and in this state, the rotation axis of the hinge 80 extends in the left-right direction. The upper member 70 rotates relative to the lower member 60 around the rotation axis of the hinge 80. The number of hinges 80 may be one or two or more.

[0088] The fastener 90 is a member that fastens the front edge of the upper member 70 (the other edge located opposite the one edge) to the front edge of the lower member 60 (the other edge located opposite the one edge), and is an example of a fastening part that fastens the upper member 70 to the lower member 60.

[0089] A plurality of fasteners 90 are provided at intervals from one another in the left-right direction of the fixture 3. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which three fasteners 90 are provided at intervals from one another in the left-right direction of the fixture 3, but the number of fasteners 90 is not limited to three, and may be one, two, or four or more.

[0090] The fastener 90 includes an operating lever 91 attached to the front surface of the first hollow member 61 on the front side of the lower member 60 so as to be swingable about an axis extending in the left-right direction, a locking frame 92 connected to the operating lever 91 so as to be rotatable about an axis extending in the left-right direction, and a hook 93 fixed to the rib 75 on the front side of the upper member 70. The hook 93 is shaped so as to be open upward.

[0091] When the upper member 70 is rotated downward, the hook 93 fixed to the upper member 70 approaches the operating lever 91 and the locking frame 92 attached to the lower member 60. In this state, by swinging the operating lever 91 upward, the locking frame 92 can be hooked onto the hook 93 from above. After the locking frame 92 is hooked onto the hook 93, by swinging the operating lever 91 downward, a so-called toggle mechanism applies a downward force to the hook 93. This allows the upper member 70 to be fastened to the lower member 60. To release the fastened state, the operating lever 91 is swung upward and then the locking frame 92 is disengaged from the hook 93.

[0092] Because fasteners 90 are used, after the preform material 40 has been set, the upper member 70 can be rotated and placed on top of the preform material 40, and then fastened with fasteners 90, thereby easily fixing the preform material 40. Furthermore, using fasteners 90 also improves workability when removing the molded product from the fixture 3.

[0093] The structure of the fastening portion that fastens the upper member 70 to the lower member 60 may be a fastening portion that uses a toggle mechanism as described above, or a fastening portion that uses, for example, a screw or a bolt. Also, the upper member 70 may be fastened to the lower member 60 using a flexible member such as a band. With either type of fastening portion, transition from a fastened state to an unclamped state and from an unclamped state to a fastened state can be easily and reliably performed.

[0094] <Forming method using thermoforming device 1> Next, a molding method using the thermoforming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating the heating step of the molding method using the thermoforming apparatus 1, showing a cross section. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the molding step of the molding method, showing a cross section. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating the cooling step of the molding method, showing a cross section. Since FIGS. 11 to 13 show the general shapes of each component, the shapes do not strictly match those of each component shown in FIGS. 2 to 10.

[0095] First, as shown in Fig. 11(A), a three-dimensional preform material 40 is obtained by injection molding or the like. Then, as shown in Fig. 11(B), the preform material 40 is fixed to the fixture 3, and the fixture 3 is then placed on the mounting plate 22 and positioned. When placing the fixture 3 on the mounting plate 22, the mounting plate 22 and the like are transported to the right by the transport device 5 so that the mounting can be done on the right side of the base 4 in Fig. 1, i.e., on the molding section 20 side.

[0096] After the fixture 3 is placed on the mounting plate 22 transported to the right side of the base 4, the transport device 5 transports the fixture 3 together with the preform material 40 to the left and places them at the heating position as shown in Fig. 11(C). At the heating position, the preform material 40 is heated from both above and below by the upper heater 11 and lower heater 12 of the heating unit 10.

[0097] In this heating step, the portion of the lower member 60 of the fixture 3 having the fitting hole 62b is formed by the second hollow member 62 and is hollow, and the protruding portion 41a of the preform material 40 is not in contact with the fixture 3, so that heat conduction from the square pipe can be suppressed, and therefore the second hollow member 62 exhibits a heat insulating effect, and heating of the portion of the preform material 40 fitted into the fitting hole 62b, i.e., the non-molding portion 41 (including the protruding portion 41a) of the preform material 40, is suppressed. As a result, heat from the heating unit 10 is less likely to be transmitted to the protruding portion 41a of the preform material 40, thermal deformation of the protruding portion 41a is suppressed, and the precision of the protruding portion 41a can be maintained.

[0098] Furthermore, the no-molding portion 41 of the preform material 40 is covered by the upper member 70 of the fixture 3, and is therefore shielded from direct radiant heat from the upper heater 11. This also suppresses a temperature rise in the no-molding portion 41, and therefore the precision of the protruding portion 41a can be maintained. Note that, because the upper member 70 is made of metal, heat from the upper member 70 heated by the upper heater 11 is transferred to the no-molding portion 41, but the temperature rise in the no-molding portion 41 is suppressed compared to direct radiant heat from the upper heater 11.

[0099] In the heating process, the temperature of the portion 42 to be molded of the preform material 40 is measured non-contact by the non-contact temperature sensor 13. The control unit 50 determines whether the temperature (surface temperature) of the portion 42 to be molded measured by the non-contact temperature sensor 13 has reached a predetermined temperature. The predetermined temperature is a temperature suitable for vacuum molding, and can vary depending on the shape and material of the product, etc. The predetermined temperature is stored in advance in the control unit 50.

[0100] When the control unit 50 determines that the temperature of the molded portion 42 measured by the non-contact temperature sensor 13 has reached a predetermined temperature, it maintains the heating state by the heating unit 10 until a predetermined time has elapsed from the time the temperature reached the predetermined temperature. The predetermined time may be the time required for the entire molded portion 42, not just the surface of the molded portion 42 of the preform material 40, to reach the predetermined temperature. The predetermined time may also vary depending on the shape and material of the product, etc. The predetermined time is stored in the control unit 50 in advance.

[0101] As the predetermined time approaches, the portion 42 to be molded of the preform material 40 softens and draws down, as shown by the phantom line in Figure 11 (C). Drawdown refers to the sagging of the material. In this embodiment, the surface temperature of the portion 42 to be molded of the preform material 40 is measured by the non-contact temperature sensor 13, so the preform material 40 can be removed from the heating section 10 before the drawdown becomes too deep. This allows the lower heater 12 to be brought closer to the preform material 40, improving heating efficiency and enabling the equipment to be made more compact.

[0102] When the control unit 50 determines that the predetermined time has elapsed, it controls the conveying device 5 to convey the mounting plate 22 on which the fixing device 3 is placed to the right as shown in Fig. 12(A) and place it at the molding position. This positions the preform material 40 at a position where it can be molded by the molding section 20.

[0103] After the preform material 40 is placed at the molding position, the control unit 50 controls the lifting device 26 to lower the upper presser member 25 and press it against the upper member of the fixture 3 from above.

[0104] 1 to raise the lower molding die 21 so that it contacts the molded portion 42 of the drawn-down preform material 40 and deforms it upward, and also lowers the upper mold 27 so that it contacts the molded portion 42 of the preform material 40. The molded portion 42 of the preform material 40 is brought into close contact with the molding surface of the molding die 21. The control unit 50 also controls the switching mechanism 33 of the air pressure circuit 30 to connect the suction circuit 31 to the air vent 21a. This introduces a vacuum between the molding surface of the molding die 21 and the molded portion 42 of the preform material 40, allowing the preform material 40 to be vacuum-molded while being in close contact with the molding surface of the molding die 21.

[0105] At this time, the preform material 40 is fixed in a predetermined position by the fixing device 3, and then the fixing device 3 can be fixed to the mounting plate 22 while being pressed from above by the upper pressing member 25, thereby suppressing vacuum leakage during vacuum forming and stabilizing formability.

[0106] After molding, although not shown, the control unit 50 controls the mold drive device 24 to lower the lower molding mold 21 (shown in FIG. 12(A)) and raise the upper mold 27 (shown in FIG. 12(A)), thereby separating the lower molding mold 21 and the upper mold 27 from the product 400. In this way, the product 400 is molded.

[0107] After the product 400 has been formed, the control unit 50 raises the upper presser member 25. After vacuum forming, the fixture 3 in the forming position is removed from the mounting plate 22. At this time, the product 400 remains fixed to the fixture 3. The fixture 3 removed from the mounting plate 22 is transported together with the product 400 to a cooling location, where they are transferred to the cooling process.

[0108] After product 400 is molded, control unit 50 controls switching mechanism 33 of air pressure circuit 30 to connect exhaust circuit 32 to vent hole 21a, thereby discharging air from vent hole 21a of mold 21, allowing mold 21 to cool.

[0109] After removing fixture 3 from mounting plate 22, another fixture (not shown) holding another preform material is prepared and placed on mounting plate 22. In other words, since the cooling process of previously vacuum-formed product 400 is performed outside thermoforming apparatus 1, it becomes possible to heat and vacuum-form another preform material during the cooling process of previously vacuum-formed product 400, thereby shortening the cycle time.

[0110] The cooling process of the product 400 may be controlled by the cooling time or the temperature of the product 400. During the cooling process, the product 400 remains fixed to the fixture 3, and the protrusions 41a are fitted into the fitting holes 62b to restrain the product 400, thereby suppressing deformation of the product 400 due to thermal contraction. This allows the precision of the product 400 to be improved.

[0111] When the cooling process is completed, the fastening of the fixture 3 by the fasteners 90 is released as shown in Fig. 13(B). Then, the upper member 70 is rotated upward to open it, and the product 400 is removed from the fixture 3 as shown in Fig. 13(C).

[0112] <Effects of the embodiment> As described above, according to this embodiment, when thermoforming a preform material 40 that has been previously formed into a three-dimensional shape, the fixture 3 to which the preform material 40 is fixed can be separated from the apparatus main body 2. As a result, after molding the product 400, the fixture 3 can be transported together with the product 400 to a location away from the apparatus main body 2, and a cooling step can be performed while suppressing deformation of the product 400 due to thermal contraction. During this cooling step, another fixture can be prepared and another preform material can be molded, thereby shortening the cycle time.

[0113] Furthermore, the preform material 40 can be positioned at a predetermined position while being fixed to the fixture 3. In this state, the heating unit 10 can sufficiently heat the portion 42 to be molded in the preform material 40, while suppressing thermal deformation of the portion 41 that does not need to be molded in the preform material 40. As a result, a highly accurate product 400 can be obtained.

[0114] Furthermore, during the cooling process after vacuum molding, the protrusion 41a, which has been prevented from being heated, is fitted into the fitting hole 62b of the fixing device 3, and the molded product 400 can be cooled in a positioned state, thereby preventing deformation due to thermal contraction and achieving high precision.

[0115] The above-described embodiment is merely illustrative in all respects and should not be construed as limiting. Furthermore, all modifications and variations within the scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention. The shapes and sizes of the preform material 40 and the product 400 are merely examples. For example, only one oblong preform material 40 may be fixed to the fixture 3.

[0116] In addition, in this embodiment, the positioning portion 22a is configured as a protrusion and the positioned portion 61a is configured as a hole, but this is not limited to this, and the positioning portion 22a may be configured as a hole and the positioned portion 61a may be configured as a protrusion.

[0117] Furthermore, the positioning structure of fixture 3 relative to mounting plate 22 is not limited to the structure described above. For example, although not shown, a positioned portion may be provided on the side of fixture 3, a positioning tool may be provided on the side of mounting plate 22 on which molding section 20 is provided vertically, and the positioning tool of mounting plate 22 may be fitted horizontally into the positioned portion of fixture 3, thereby enabling fixture 3 to be fixed horizontally. [Industrial Applicability]

[0118] As described above, the thermoforming device according to the present disclosure can be used to heat and vacuum-form a preform material that has been previously formed into a three-dimensional shape. [Explanation of symbols]

[0119] 1 Thermoforming equipment 2. Device main body 3 Fixtures 10 Heating section 13 Non-contact temperature sensor 20 Molding section 21 Molding mold 21a Ventilation hole 22 Loading plate 22a Positioning part 30 Pneumatic circuit 31 Suction circuit 32 Exhaust circuit 33 Switching mechanism 40 Preform material 41 Unnecessary molding part 41a Protrusion 42 Part to be formed 60 Lower part 61a Positioned part 62 Hollow members 62b Insertion hole 63 volts 64 Lower open part 70 Upper member 71 Upper open part 80 hinges 90 Fasteners (fastening parts)

Claims

1. A thermoforming apparatus including a device main body including a heating unit that heats a preform material that has been previously formed into a three-dimensional shape, and a forming mold that vacuum-forms the preform material heated by the heating unit, a fixture that is detachable from the device main body and to which the preform material is fixed; the fixture has a fitting hole into which a downward protruding portion formed in the non-molding portion of the preform material is fitted, and includes a lower member that supports the preform material from below, an upper member that presses the preform material from above to hold it together with the lower member in the vertical direction, and a fastening portion that fastens the upper member to the lower member, A thermoforming apparatus, wherein the portion of the lower member having the fitting hole is hollow.

2. 2. The thermoforming apparatus of claim 1, the lower member of the fixture is configured by combining a plurality of hollow members and has a lower open portion that exposes the portion to be molded of the preform material downward, a thermoforming device, wherein the upper member of the fixture is made of a plate material and has an upper open portion that exposes the portion to be formed of the preform material upward.

3. 3. The thermoforming apparatus of claim 2, A thermoforming device, wherein the plurality of hollow members constituting the lower member of the fixture are fastened together with bolts or screws.

4. 3. The thermoforming apparatus of claim 2, an edge of the upper member of the fixing device and an edge of the lower member of the fixing device are rotatably connected to each other via a hinge; A thermoforming apparatus, wherein the other edge portion of the upper member located opposite the one edge portion and the other edge portion of the lower member located opposite the one edge portion are fastened together by a fastener that constitutes the fastening portion.

5. 2. The thermoforming apparatus of claim 1, the device body has a mounting plate on which the fixing tool is placed, The thermoforming device, wherein the lower member of the fixture is provided with a positioned portion that is positioned by a positioning portion provided on the placing plate.

6. 6. The thermoforming apparatus of claim 5, The thermoforming device, wherein the device main body has an upper pressing member that presses from above the upper member of the fixture placed on the mounting plate.

7. 2. The thermoforming apparatus of claim 1, the device main body has an air vent opening to a molding surface of the mold and an air pressure circuit connected to the air vent; the pneumatic circuit includes a suction circuit that draws a vacuum through the air vent, an exhaust circuit that exhausts air from the air vent, and a switching mechanism that switches from a state in which the suction circuit is connected to the air vent to a state in which the exhaust circuit is connected to the air vent.

8. 2. The thermoforming apparatus of claim 1, The device main body has a non-contact temperature sensor that can measure the temperature of the molded portion of the preform material without contact, and after the temperature measured by the non-contact temperature sensor reaches a predetermined temperature and a predetermined holding time has elapsed, the device starts vacuum molding using the mold.

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