Simultaneous injection molding and patterning apparatus

Abstract

A heating device used for a simultaneous injection molding and patterning method such that: a decorative pattern sheet is disposed between a pair of mutually opposed molds (mold A formed with a vent and mold B formed with an injection gate); the decorative pattern sheet is heated and softened by the heating device; the decorative pattern sheet is brought into tight contact with a cavity surface of mold A on the basis of a pressure difference caused by exhaustion of mold A through the vent; and a molten resin is injected into the molds through the injection gate to mold a product patterned on the basis of the decorative pattern sheet. The heating device includes: a heating body for supplying heat to the decorative pattern sheet; and heating body moving members for moving the heating body between a heating position at which the heating body is confronted with the decorative pattern sheet to heat and soften the decorative pattern sheet and a non-heating position at which the heating body is moved away from a space between a pair of the molds. The heating position of a heating surface of the heating body is not parallel to the non-heating position of the heating surface of the heating body. Since the positional relationship of the heating surface of the heating body is non-parallel at the heating positions, it is possible to markedly reduce the installation space of the apparatus.