Patent ID: 6334973
Filing Date: 2002-01-01
Classification: B29C,B29K,B29L,C03B

Abstract:
A method of producing a molded article by providing a mold comprising a combination of a first mold member having a concave portion having an inner surface made of a molding surface and a second mold member which is to be opposed to the first mold member and has a molding surface and press-molding a preform under heat in the mold, the method comprising:providing, as said preform, a preform which has (1) a polyhedral form that permits fitting thereof into the concave portion of the first mold member, (2) opposed first and second surfaces having different sizes provided that the second surface is positioned in a region of the first surface when viewed as a plan view, and (3) a side surface communicating with a circumferential edge portion of said first surface and a circumferential portion surrounded by an edge portion of the side surface and a circumferential edge portion of said second surface; setting the preform in the mold such that the second surface faces said second mold member; and press-molding the preform such that the distance between the molding surface of the first mold member and the molding surface of the second mold member is decreased while the preform temperature is equivalent to, or higher than, a temperature at which the preform is deformable, wherein the press-molding is carried out without completely closing the mold.