Forming device (10) for a method for forming a flexible, rod-shaped blank (1) made of
fiber-reinforced
thermoplastic, the forming device (10) comprising: - a die (14) for receiving and forming the blank (1), with a forming area (14.1, 14.2) comprising a forming base area (14.2) against which the blank (1) is pressed in a forward direction (20.3), and a forming lateral area (14.1) against which the blank (1) is pressed in a first lateral direction (20.1) lateral to the forward direction (20.3), - a lateral punch (16) which is displaceable in the first lateral direction (20.1) for pressing the blank (1) against the forming lateral area (14.1) of the die (14), and - a forward punch (12, 16.2) for pressing the blank (1) against the mold base area (14.2) of the die (14), wherein the forward punch is designed i) in a separate embodiment as a forward-directed (20.3) a movable element separate from the lateral punch (16), or ii) in a unit design as a projection (16.2) of the lateral punch (16) extending in the first lateral direction (20.1); a clamping slide (14.3) designed as a rod, projecting from an opening in the lateral area (14.1) of the die (14); an elastic element (14.3) for resiliently supporting the clamping slide (14.3) against the base of the opening; a gripping device (17) for gripping the blank (1) at its ends; two press jaws for pressing the blank (1) at its ends; ejector pins extendable from the base area (14.2) of the die (14) for ejecting a product obtained from the blank (1) by forming; wherein a coordinate
system is defined by three directions: i) the first lateral direction (20.1), ii) a second lateral direction (20.2) which relates to the forward direction (20.3) and to the first lateral direction (20.1) is perpendicular and along which a lateral coordinate runs, and iii) the forward direction (20.3),- wherein a first plane is defined by the first and second lateral directions (20.1, 20.1), and a second plane is defined by the second lateral direction (20.2) and the forward direction (20.3),- the forming device (10) comprising at least one of the following features:- the forming lateral area (14.1) of the die (14) extends in the first plane along a lateral contour and is preferably strip-shaped;- the lateral punch (16) has an end face (16.1) facing the forming lateral area (14.1) of the die (14), which preferably extends in the first plane along the lateral contour and is particularly strip-shaped, wherein preferably the forming lateral area (14.1) of the die (14) and the end face (16.1) of the lateral punch (16) are adapted to each other;- the Molded floor area (14.2) the die (14) extends along a height contour in the second plane and is preferably strip-shaped; - the forward punch (12, 16.2) has an end face (12.1) facing the mold base area (14.2) of the die (14), which preferably extends along the height contour in the second plane and is particularly strip-shaped, wherein preferably the mold base area (14.2) of the die (14) and the end face (12.1) of the forward punch (12, 16.2) are adapted to each other; - the projection (16.2) of the lateral punch (16) is, in the unit embodiment, funnel-shaped in a region facing the mold base area (14.2) of the die (14) in the first lateral direction (20.1); - the clamping slide (14.3) is slidably guided in the opening of the die (14) and through the elastic element (14.4) supported such that the blank (1) is between the lateral punch (16) and the clamping slide (14.3) is spring-loaded and clampable;- the gripping device (17) is designed to grip the blank (1) at its ends, whereby the blank (1) is displaceable with respect to the forming area (14.1, 14.2) of the die (14);- the press jaws are displaceable to each other along the second lateral direction (20.2) for pressing the blank (1) in the second lateral direction (20.2).