JP2008155521A - Method and apparatus for thermal transfer molding - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus for thermal transfer molding enabling stable transfer by pressing a to-be-worked material uniformly. <P>SOLUTION: The thermal transfer molding method comprises arranging a diaphragm member 50 above a fixed heat plate 21 to partition a chamber 40 into a fixed-side chamber 41 and a movable-side chamber 46, reducing the pressures of the fixed-side chamber 41 and the movable-side chamber 46 and then pressurizing the fixed-side chamber 41 while reducing the pressure of the movable chamber 46 in order to heat and press the to-be-worked material M and a pattern-forming means S uniformly in an integrated way via the diaphragm member 50. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a thermal transfer molding method and a thermal transfer molding apparatus that perform thermal transfer on a workpiece using a pattern forming unit.

  In general, in the case where thermal transfer molding is performed by a pattern forming unit on a workpiece made of a thermoplastic resin or the like, the workpiece is placed on a fixed side member having a fixed hot plate, and the fixed side member is This is performed by advancing a movable side member having a movable hot plate to heat and pressurize the workpiece. As an apparatus for performing such thermal transfer molding, for example, an apparatus configured to form a vacuum chamber when the movable member moves forward, and to heat and press the workpiece while the vacuum chamber is decompressed is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  By the way, in a workpiece made of thermoplastic resin or the like to which thermal transfer is performed, the plate thickness varies depending on the molding lot at the material stage, or the thickness varies within a single resin plate. The accuracy is about ± 5 to 10% of the thickness. Therefore, even if the accuracy of the fixed side member and the movable side member is improved, it is difficult to press the workpiece uniformly.

  In this way, when heat and pressure are applied to the workpiece in a non-uniform pressing state, the movement of heat to the workpiece M is caused by the fixed member 120 and the movable member 130 as shown in FIG. (Refer to the arrow in the figure), and the heat transfer at the point where it is not in contact is worsened. And in order to heat the workpiece M of the part which the fixed side member 120 and the movable side member 130 are not in contact with to the forming temperature, the workpiece M is crushed and gradually deformed by applying excessive pressure. It is necessary to mold while. In FIG. 14, reference numeral S <b> 1 is a first pattern forming unit for thermally transferring and molding a pattern on one surface side of the workpiece M, and S <b> 2 is a second pattern forming unit for thermally transferring and molding a pattern on the other surface side of the workpiece M. is there.

However, in the thermal transfer molding in the non-uniform pressing state as described above, the work material may be deformed more than necessary, so that the quality of the product is deteriorated. On the other hand, if the pressure is adjusted so as not to deform the workpiece, there is a problem that the transfer becomes unstable. In addition, these problems are concerned that the larger the workpiece, the greater the variation in plate thickness.
2006-167788

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a thermal transfer molding method and a thermal transfer molding apparatus capable of performing stable transfer by uniformly pressing a workpiece.

  That is, the invention of claim 1 is provided between the fixed hot plate and the movable hot plate in the chamber formed between the fixed hot plate having the fixed hot plate when the movable hot plate having the movable hot plate moves forward. When a workpiece is arranged together with pattern forming means, the inside of the chamber is depressurized, the workpiece is heated and pressed, and a pattern formed by the pattern forming means is thermally transferred to the surface layer of the diaphragm member on the fixed hot plate The diaphragm is divided into a fixed side chamber and a movable side chamber, and the fixed side chamber and the movable side chamber are depressurized, and then the fixed chamber is pressurized and the movable chamber is depressurized to thereby form the diaphragm. The workpiece and the pattern forming means are integrally and uniformly heated and pressed through a member, and formed. According to the thermal transfer molding method for.

  The invention according to claim 2 includes the steps of pressurizing the stationary chamber before molding to push up the diaphragm member, and lifting the workpiece to heat the fixed hot plate. Concerning.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixed side member having a fixed heat plate, a movable side member having a movable heat plate that moves forward and backward with respect to the fixed side member and is disposed opposite to the fixed heat plate, and the movable side member Formed between the fixed hot plate and the fixed hot plate at the time of advancement, and a chamber in which a workpiece is placed together with the pattern forming means between the fixed hot plate and the movable hot plate, and an upper portion of the fixed hot plate, A diaphragm member partitioned into a fixed side chamber and a movable side chamber, a decompression means and a pressure means provided on the fixed side member for the fixed side chamber, and a movable side member for the movable side chamber The present invention relates to a thermal transfer molding apparatus having a decompression unit provided.

  According to the thermal transfer molding method of the first aspect of the present invention, the fixed heat plate and the movable heat in the chamber formed between the fixed side member having the fixed heat plate when the movable side member having the movable heat plate moves forward. When the workpiece is disposed between the plate and the pattern forming means, the inside of the chamber is decompressed to heat and pressurize the workpiece, and when the pattern formed by the pattern forming means is thermally transferred to the surface layer, the fixed hot plate A diaphragm member is arranged on the top of the chamber to partition the chamber into a fixed chamber and a movable chamber, and after depressurizing the fixed chamber and the movable chamber, pressurize the fixed chamber and depressurize the movable chamber. As a result, the workpiece and the pattern forming means are integrally and uniformly heated and pressed through the diaphragm member. To reason, to prevent deterioration in quality of the product, it is possible to implement transfer against the workpiece accurately and stably.

  According to claim 2, the method according to claim 1 includes the step of pressurizing the fixed-side chamber to press up the diaphragm member before forming and lifting the workpiece to heat the fixed hot plate. Transfer to the material can be performed more accurately and efficiently.

  According to the thermal transfer molding apparatus of the third aspect of the present invention, a fixed side member having a fixed hot plate, and a movable side having a movable heat plate that moves forward and backward with respect to the fixed side member and is arranged to face the fixed hot plate. A chamber formed between the member and the fixed side member when the movable side member advances, and a workpiece is disposed between the fixed hot plate and the movable hot plate together with a pattern forming means; and an upper portion of the fixed hot plate A diaphragm member that divides the chamber into a fixed side chamber and a movable side chamber, a decompression unit and a pressurization unit provided on the fixed side member for the fixed side chamber, and Therefore, since the pressure reducing means provided on the movable side member is provided, the above-described thermal transfer molding method can be effectively and continuously implemented.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a thermal transfer molding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a fixed side member and a movable side member of the thermal transfer molding apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is movable from the state of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a state where the side member is advanced to form a chamber, FIG. 4 is a main part cross-sectional view showing a state where the movable side member is temporarily stopped and the inside of the chamber is decompressed after forming the chamber, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing a state where the workpiece is processed by the member, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the main part showing a state where the stationary chamber is pressurized from the state of FIG. 5, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a time chart showing the steps of thermal transfer molding in the first embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a fixed side member, a movable side member and a workpiece during molding. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing a state in which a chamber is formed by advancing the movable side member from the state of FIG. 10, and FIG. FIG. 13 is a time chart showing the steps of thermal transfer molding in the second embodiment. FIG.

  A thermal transfer molding apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 heats and pressurizes a surface layer of a workpiece M made of a thermoplastic resin or the like to thermally transfer and mold a pattern by the pattern forming means S. In this thermal transfer molding apparatus 10, reference numeral 20 is a fixed side member, 30 is a movable side member, 40 is a chamber, 50 is a diaphragm member, 60 is a pressure reducing means for the fixed side member, 65 is a pressure means for the fixed side member, and 70 is The pressure reduction means of a movable side member is represented.

  As defined in the invention of claim 1, the thermal transfer molding apparatus 10 includes a chamber 40 formed between the movable side member 30 having the movable hot plate 31 and the fixed side member 30 having the fixed hot plate 21 when the movable side member 30 moves forward. The workpiece M is arranged with the pattern forming means S between the fixed hot plate 21 and the movable hot plate 31 in the inside, the inside of the chamber 40 is depressurized, and the workpiece M is heated and pressurized to the surface layer thereof. When performing thermal transfer molding of a pattern by the pattern forming means S, a diaphragm member 50 is disposed on the fixed hot plate 21 to partition the chamber 40 into a fixed chamber 41 and a movable chamber 46, and the fixed chamber 41 -After depressurizing the movable chamber 46, pressurizing the fixed chamber 41 and depressurizing the movable chamber 46, Serial is through the diaphragm member 50 that constitutes the to shape by heating pressed together and uniform workpiece M and the pattern forming means S.

  Further, in the thermal transfer molding apparatus 10, as defined in the invention of claim 2, the fixed chamber 41 is pressurized before molding to push up the diaphragm member 50 and lift the workpiece M to lift the fixed heat. A step of heating the plate 21.

  Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the thermal transfer molding method will be specifically described together with the thermal transfer molding apparatus 10. The illustrated thermal transfer molding apparatus 10 includes a stationary member 20, a movable member 30, a chamber 40, a diaphragm member 50, a decompressing means 60 for a stationary member, a pressing means 65 for a stationary member, and a movable side. Member decompression means 70. In this figure, reference numeral 11 is a machine base, 11A is a lower plate member of the machine base 11, 11B is an upper plate member of the machine base 11, 12 is an operating mechanism for moving the movable member 30 back and forth, and 13 is formed in the operating mechanism 12. 13a, 13b is an inflow / outflow part for the working fluid connected to the working cylinder part 13, 14 is a rod part connecting the lower plate member 11A and the upper plate member 11B, and 15 is a rod part 14. Slide member 80 which is arranged to be able to move forward and backward, 80 is a pump for supplying working fluid to working cylinder section 13, 81 is a tank in which working fluid is stored, 82 is a servo motor for operating pump 80, 83 is inflow / outflow sections 13a and 13b , A pressure sensor 84, 84 is a position detector disposed on the slide member 15 for detecting the position of the movable member 30, and 85 is a pressure sensor 83 and a position detector 84. A controller for controlling the servo motor 82 on the basis, 86 is its servo amplifier.

  The fixed member 20 has a fixed heat plate 21 and is disposed in a lower frame body 25 installed on the lower plate member 11 </ b> A of the machine base 11. In the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, a plurality of temperature control fluid channels 21 a are formed in the fixed heat plate 21, and a heating fluid or a cooling fluid is appropriately circulated to heat or heat the fixed heat plate 21. Configured to cool. In the figure, reference numeral 22 denotes a heat insulating plate, and 23 denotes a temperature sensor disposed on the fixed hot plate 21.

  The movable member 30 has a movable heat plate 31 that moves forward and backward with respect to the fixed member 20 and is disposed to face the fixed heat plate 21. In the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, a plurality of temperature control fluid channels 31 a are formed in the movable heat plate 31, and a heating fluid or a cooling fluid is appropriately circulated to heat or move the movable heat plate 31. Configured to cool. The movable side member 30 is fastened to the slide member 15 and is integrally formed with an operating piston 34 that is fitted into an operating cylinder portion 13 formed in the operating mechanism 12. It is actuated so as to advance and retreat in the upper frame 35 suspended from the slide member 15 via the elastic member 36. In the figure, reference numeral 32 is a heat insulating plate, 33 is a temperature sensor disposed on the movable heat plate 31, and 37 is a seal made of packing or the like provided on the upper frame 35 so as to be in pressure contact with the side surface of the movable member 30. It is a member.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the chamber 40 is formed between the fixed side member 20 and the movable side member 30 when the movable side member 30 moves forward. 30 is formed in pressure contact with the upper frame 35. In the chamber 40, the workpiece M is disposed together with the pattern forming unit S between the fixed hot plate 21 and the movable hot plate 31. The pattern forming means S of the embodiment includes a first pattern forming means S1 disposed between one surface side of the workpiece M and the fixed hot plate 21 of the fixed member 20, and the other surface side of the workpiece M. The second pattern forming unit S2 is disposed between the movable side member 30 and the movable heat plate 31, and is configured to thermally transfer and form a predetermined pattern on both surfaces of the workpiece M. In this figure, reference numeral 26 denotes a seal frame provided at a pressure contact portion between the fixed side member 20 and the movable side member 30, and 38 denotes a sealable portion with the lower frame body 25 when pressed against the seal frame 26 of the fixed side member 20. Thus, a sealing member 39 made of packing or the like provided on the movable side member 39 is a holding member for fixing the second pattern forming means S2 to the movable heat plate 31 of the movable side member 30.

  The diaphragm member 50 is disposed on the fixed hot plate 21 and is configured to partition the chamber 40 into a fixed chamber 41 and a movable chamber 46. As the diaphragm member 50 of the embodiment, a known resin member is used. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the workpiece M is placed on the diaphragm member 50 via the first pattern forming means S1. Is done.

  The pressure reducing means 60 of the fixed side member 20 is provided on the lower frame 25 of the fixed side member 20 for the fixed side chamber 41 as shown in FIGS. It is connected to a vacuum pump (not shown), and is configured to deaerate the inside of the stationary side chamber 41 to perform decompression, release to the atmosphere, stop, and the like. Reference numeral 62 in the figure denotes a vent hole connected to the vacuum pump.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the pressurizing means 65 of the fixed side member 20 is provided on the lower frame 25 of the fixed side member 20 for the fixed side chamber 41, and includes a switching valve 66. And is connected to a compressor (not shown), and is configured to supply and stop pressurized air in the stationary chamber 41. Reference numeral 67 in the figure denotes a vent hole connected to the compressor.

  The pressure reducing means 70 of the movable side member 30 is provided on the upper frame 35 of the movable side member 30 for the movable side chamber 46 as shown in FIGS. It is connected to a vacuum pump (not shown), and is configured to deaerate the movable side chamber 46 and perform decompression, release to the atmosphere, stop, and the like. Reference numeral 72 in the figure is a vent hole connected to the vacuum pump.

  Although not shown, the fixed chamber 41 and the movable chamber 46 of the thermal transfer molding apparatus 10 are provided with pressure sensors for detecting the pressure in the chambers 41 and 46, respectively.

  Next, the thermal transfer molding process by the thermal transfer molding apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 8, the horizontal axis indicates time and process, and the vertical axis indicates the amount of movement of the movable member 30. First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper frame body 35 of the movable side member 30 is arranged in a state of being separated from the lower frame body 25 of the fixed side member 20, and the workpiece M is placed on the diaphragm member 50. It is placed via the pattern forming means S1 (step A). At this time, after the workpiece M is placed outside the thermal transfer molding apparatus 10, the fixed side member 20 is moved to a predetermined position using a known conveying device (not shown) or the like, and It is installed on the lower plate member 11A. In this state, the pressure reducing means 60 of the fixed side member 20 and the pressure reducing means 70 of the movable side member 30 are opened to the atmosphere, and the pressure means 65 of the fixed side member 20 is stopped.

  When the fixed side member 20 is installed on the lower plate member 11A of the machine base 11, the movable side member 30 is advanced together with the slide member 15 toward the fixed side member 20 by the operating cylinder part 13 of the operating mechanism 12. FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower frame body 25 of the fixed side member 20 and the upper frame body 35 of the movable side member 30 are in pressure contact with each other, and the chamber 40 partitioned into the fixed side chamber 41 and the movable side chamber 46 by the diaphragm member 50. Is formed (step B). At that time, the fixed side chamber 41 is depressurized by the depressurizing means 60 of the fixed side member 20 (step C).

  After the formation of the chamber 40, as shown in FIG. 4, the movable side member 30 is temporarily stopped, and the pressure (not shown) indicates that the fixed side chamber 41 being decompressed is decompressed to a predetermined pressure by the decompression means 60 of the fixed side member 20. When confirmed by the sensor, the movable side chamber 46 is decompressed by the decompression means 70 of the movable side member 30 while the decompression of the fixed side chamber 41 is continued (step D).

  Next, when it is confirmed by a pressure sensor (not shown) that the movable side chamber 46 has been depressurized to a predetermined pressure, as shown in FIG. 5, the movable side member 30 is advanced again to be covered by the second pattern forming means S2. When the workpiece M is pressed and the pressure applied to the workpiece M reaches the pressure required for molding, the pressurization by the movable member 30 is maintained (step E).

  When the pressurization by the movable side member 30 is held, as shown in FIG. 6, the decompression of the fixed side chamber 41 by the decompression means 60 of the fixed side member 20 is stopped, and subsequently, the pressurization means of the fixed side member 20 The stationary chamber 41 is pressurized by 65 (Step F). At this time, since the decompression of the movable side chamber 46 by the decompression means 70 of the movable side member 30 is continued, the pressure in the fixed side chamber 41 becomes larger than the pressure in the movable side chamber 46, and due to the pressure difference at that time The diaphragm member 50 that partitions the fixed side chamber 41 and the movable side chamber 46 is pushed up from the fixed side chamber 41 side toward the movable side chamber 46. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the first pattern forming means S <b> 1 interposed between the diaphragm member 50 and the workpiece M is pushed up together with the diaphragm member 50, and the workpiece having a variation in thickness is obtained. It is uniformly pressed against one side of the material M. Further, since the first pattern forming means S1 is uniformly pressed against one surface side of the workpiece M, the second pattern forming means S2 is also uniformly pressed against the other surface side of the workpiece M as shown in the figure.

  As described above, when the workpiece M and the pattern forming means S1 and S2 are pressed together and uniformly through the diaphragm member 50 by the differential pressure between the fixed side chamber 41 and the movable side chamber 46, the fixed side member Steam as a heating fluid flows into the fixed heat plate 21 and the movable heat plate 31 of the movable side member 30 from each of the temperature control fluid flow paths 21a and 31a, and the fixed heat plate 21 and the movable heat plate 31 are The workpiece M is heated to a predetermined temperature at which the workpiece M can be formed, and the workpiece M is uniformly heated from both the fixed hot plate 21 side and the movable hot plate 31 side (step G). At that time, the pressurizing force, heating temperature, and the like on the workpiece M are controlled based on an appropriate control program set in advance, and an optimum overheated state is maintained. Then, heating and pressurization for a certain time are performed, and the pattern by the pattern forming means S1 and S2 is thermally transferred and formed on the surface layer of the workpiece M.

  After thermal transfer molding is performed by uniform heating and pressing on the workpiece M, the temperature control fluid flow paths 21 a and 31 a are respectively connected to the fixed heat plate 21 of the fixed side member 20 and the movable heat plate 31 of the movable side member 30. Cold water as a cooling fluid is introduced, and the fixed hot plate 21 and the movable hot plate 31 are each cooled to a temperature equal to or lower than the thermoforming temperature of the workpiece M (step H).

  Then, when the workpiece M is cooled below the thermoforming temperature, as shown in FIG. 7, the pressurization of the fixed side chamber 41 by the pressurizing means 65 of the fixed side member 20 is stopped, and then the movable side After the decompression of the movable side chamber 46 by the decompression means 70 of the member 30 is stopped, the decompression means 60 of the fixed side member 20 and the decompression means 70 of the movable side member 30 are each opened to the atmosphere (Step I).

  When it is confirmed that the pressures in the fixed side chamber 41 and the movable side chamber 46 have become atmospheric pressure by pressure sensors (not shown) provided on the fixed side member 20 and the movable side member 30, respectively, the operating cylinder portion of the operating mechanism 12 is operated. 13, the movable side member 30 is retracted to the initial position together with the slide member 15 (step J), and then the fixed side member 20 is moved to the outside of the thermal transfer molding apparatus 10 using a known conveyance device (not shown). Then, the workpiece M is taken out (step K), and thereafter, returning to the beginning, the same steps are repeated.

  As described above, in the thermal transfer molding apparatus 10 of the present invention, the fixed side member 20 having the fixed hot plate 21 and the movable hot plate 31 that moves forward and backward with respect to the fixed side member 20 and is disposed to face the fixed hot plate 21. Is formed between the movable side member 30 and the fixed side member 20 when the movable side member 30 moves forward, and the workpiece M is formed between the fixed hot plate 21 and the movable hot plate 31 by the pattern forming means S (S1, S1, S2). S40) and a diaphragm member 50 which is disposed above the fixed hot plate 21 and divides the chamber 40 into a fixed side chamber 41 and a movable side chamber 46, and a fixed side for the fixed side chamber 41. Since the pressure reducing means 60 and the pressure means 65 provided on the member 20 and the pressure reducing means 70 provided on the movable side member 30 for the movable side chamber 46 are provided, the fixed side chamber 41 is provided. After the pressure of the movable chamber 46 is reduced, the fixed chamber 41 is pressurized and the movable chamber 46 is depressurized, whereby the workpiece M and the pattern forming means S are integrally and uniformly heated and pressed through the diaphragm member 50. It becomes possible to mold. Therefore, it is not necessary to apply an excessive pressure to the workpiece M during molding, so that the product quality can be prevented from being deteriorated, and the transfer to the workpiece M can be accurately and stably performed by uniform heating and pressing. Can be implemented. In particular, stable transfer can be suitably performed on a large workpiece with large variations in plate thickness.

  Next, thermal transfer molding according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7 and FIGS. 10 to 13. First, the fixed-side member 20 on which the workpiece M is placed on the diaphragm member 50 via the first pattern forming unit S1 is placed at a predetermined position together with the lower frame body 25 using a known transfer device (not shown) or the like. The diaphragm member 50 is placed on the lower plate member 11A of the machine base 11 and is pressurized by the pressurizing means 65 of the fixed side member 20 as shown in FIG. Slightly pushed up, the workpiece M is lifted, and the fixed hot plate 21 and the movable hot plate 31 are heated to predetermined temperatures at which the workpiece M can be formed (step A1). When the fixed hot plate 21 is heated as described above, a slight gap 42 is formed between the fixed hot plate 21 and the diaphragm member 50, so that the workpiece M is fixed while being heated to a predetermined temperature. There is no influence of heat from the hot plate 21. In this state, the decompression means 60 of the fixed side member 20 is stopped, and the decompression means 70 of the movable side member 30 is open to the atmosphere.

  The movable side member 30 is advanced together with the slide member 15 toward the fixed side member 20 by the operating cylinder portion 13 of the operating mechanism 12 in a state where the pressure of the fixed side chamber 41 is maintained by the pressurizing means 65 of the fixed side member 20. As shown in FIG. 11, the lower frame body 25 of the fixed side member 20 and the upper frame body 35 of the movable side member 30 are in pressure contact with each other, and the diaphragm member 50 partitions the fixed side chamber 41 and the movable side chamber 46. The chamber 40 thus formed is formed (step B1).

  When the chamber 40 is formed, as shown in FIG. 12, the movable side member 30 is temporarily stopped, and further, the pressurization of the fixed side chamber 41 by the pressurizing means 65 of the fixed side member 20 is stopped and fixed. The decompression means 60 of the side member 20 decompresses the fixed side chamber 41 (step C1). Then, when it is confirmed by a pressure sensor (not shown) that the fixed side chamber 41 has been depressurized to a predetermined pressure, the movable side member 30 is kept in a state where the depressurization of the fixed side chamber 41 is continued as shown in FIG. The depressurizing means 70 depressurizes the movable side chamber 46 (step D1).

  Next, when it is confirmed by a pressure sensor (not shown) that the movable side chamber 46 has been depressurized to a predetermined pressure, as shown in FIG. 5, the movable side member 30 is advanced again to be covered by the second pattern forming means S2. When the workpiece M is pressed and the pressure applied to the workpiece M reaches the pressure required for molding, the pressurization by the movable member 30 is maintained (step E1).

  When the pressurization by the movable side member 30 is held, as shown in FIG. 6, the decompression of the fixed side chamber 41 by the decompression means 60 of the fixed side member 20 is stopped, and subsequently, the pressurization means of the fixed side member 20 The fixed side chamber 41 is pressurized by 65, the diaphragm member 50 is pushed up toward the movable side chamber 46, and the first and second pattern forming means S1 and S2 are uniformly pressed against the workpiece M. (Step F1).

  Further, since the fixed heat plate 21 of the fixed side member 20 and the movable heat plate 31 of the movable side member 30 are heated in advance to a predetermined temperature at which the workpiece M can be formed, the first and second as described above. When the pattern forming means S1 and S2 are uniformly pressed against the workpiece M, the workpiece M is immediately heated from both the fixed hot plate 21 and the movable hot plate 31 at a predetermined temperature. Then, heating and pressurization for a certain time are performed, and the pattern formed by the pattern forming means S1 and S2 is thermally transferred and formed on the surface layer of the workpiece M (step G1). At that time, the pressurizing force, the heating temperature, and the like on the workpiece M are controlled based on an appropriate control program set in advance, and the optimum heating state is maintained.

  After the thermal transfer molding, the fixed hot plate 21 and the movable hot plate 31 are each cooled to a temperature below the thermoforming temperature of the workpiece M, the workpiece M is cooled below the thermoforming temperature (step H1), and then As shown in FIG. 7, after the pressurization of the fixed side chamber 41 by the pressurizing means 65 of the fixed side member 20 is stopped, the decompression of the movable side chamber 46 by the decompression means 70 of the movable side member 30 is stopped. Thus, the decompression means 60 of the fixed side member 20 and the decompression means 70 of the movable side member 30 are each opened to the atmosphere (step I1). Then, the movable side member 30 is retracted to the initial position together with the slide member 15 by the actuating cylinder portion 13 of the actuating mechanism 12 (step J1), and then the fixed side member 20 is used using a known transport device (not shown) or the like. The workpiece M is moved out of the thermal transfer molding apparatus 10 (step K1), and then the process returns to the beginning and the same steps are repeated.

  As described above, the second embodiment includes the steps of pressurizing the fixed-side chamber 41 to push up the diaphragm member 50 and lifting the workpiece M to heat the fixed hot plate 21 before molding, When the fixed hot plate 21 is heated to a predetermined temperature, the work material M is not affected by heat, so that temperature unevenness does not occur in the heating of the work material M during molding. Heating at a predetermined molding temperature can be started immediately. Therefore, the transfer to the workpiece M can be performed more accurately and efficiently.

  The thermal transfer molding method and apparatus of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented by appropriately changing a part of the configuration without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in the embodiment, the first and second pattern forming means S1 and S2 are disposed between the workpiece M and the fixed hot plate 21 and between the movable hot plate 31 and on both sides of the workpiece. Although the transfer is performed, the transfer can be performed only on one side of the workpiece M by disposing the pattern forming means only between the workpiece M and the fixed hot plate 21.

  In the second embodiment, after the workpiece M is placed on the diaphragm member 50, the stationary chamber 41 is pressurized to push up the diaphragm member 50 to lift the workpiece M. The workpiece M may be placed after the side chamber 41 is pressurized and the diaphragm member 50 is pushed up.

It is principal part sectional drawing of the thermal transfer molding apparatus which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the stationary-side member and movable side member of the thermal transfer molding apparatus of FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing showing the state which advanced the movable side member from the state of FIG. 2, and formed the chamber. It is principal part sectional drawing showing the state which stops a movable side member temporarily after chamber formation, and decompresses a chamber. It is principal part sectional drawing showing the state which processed the workpiece by the movable side member. It is principal part sectional drawing showing the state which pressurized the stationary side chamber from the state of FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing showing the state which open | released the movable side and fixed side chamber from air | atmosphere from the state of FIG. It is a time chart which shows the process of the thermal transfer molding in a 1st Example. It is the schematic diagram showing the relationship between the to-be-processed material and the fixed side member at the time of shaping | molding, and a movable side member. It is principal part sectional drawing showing the state which pressurized the fixed side chamber and pushed up the diaphragm member. It is principal part sectional drawing showing the state which advanced the movable side member from the state of FIG. 10, and formed the chamber. It is principal part sectional drawing showing the state which decompressed the stationary side chamber from the state of FIG. It is a time chart figure which shows the process of the thermal transfer molding in a 2nd Example. It is the schematic diagram showing the relationship between the fixed side member at the time of shaping | molding in the past, a movable side member, and a workpiece.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Thermal transfer molding apparatus 20 Fixed side member 21 Fixed hot plate 30 Movable side member 31 Movable heat plate 40 Chamber 41 Fixed side chamber 46 Movable side chamber 50 Diaphragm member 60 Depressurizing means of fixed side member 65 Pressurizing means of fixed side member 70 Movable Pressure reducing means for side member M Work material S Pattern forming means

Claims (3)

A workpiece is arranged together with the pattern forming means between the fixed hot plate and the movable hot plate in the chamber formed between the fixed hot plate and the fixed hot plate when the movable hot plate having the movable hot plate moves forward. Then, when the inside of the chamber is depressurized and the workpiece is heated and pressed to thermally transfer mold the pattern by the pattern forming means on the surface layer,
A diaphragm member is disposed on the fixed hot plate to partition the chamber into a fixed chamber and a movable chamber, and after depressurizing the fixed chamber and the movable chamber, pressurize the fixed chamber and move the movable chamber. A thermal transfer molding method characterized in that the workpiece and the pattern forming means are integrally and uniformly heated and pressed through the diaphragm member by reducing the pressure of the chamber.   2. The thermal transfer molding method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of pressurizing the fixed chamber before molding to push up the diaphragm member, lift the workpiece, and heat the fixed hot platen. A fixed side member having a fixed heat plate;
A movable side member having a movable heat plate that moves forward and backward with respect to the fixed side member and is disposed opposite to the fixed heat plate;
A chamber that is formed between the stationary member and the stationary member when the movable member advances, and a workpiece is disposed between the stationary hot plate and the movable member together with a pattern forming unit;
A diaphragm member disposed on an upper portion of the fixed hot plate and dividing the chamber into a fixed side chamber and a movable side chamber;
Decompression means and pressurization means provided in the fixed side member for the fixed side chamber;
And a pressure reducing means provided on the movable side member for the movable side chamber.

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