Patent Publication Number: US-2019168467-A1

Title: Press forming method and press forming apparatus for continuous fiber composite sheet

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial no. 106142272, filed on Dec. 1, 2017. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The invention is related to a press forming method and a press forming apparatus, and particular to a press forming method and a press forming apparatus for continuous fiber composite sheet. 
     Description of Related Art 
     In existing manufacturing methods for thermo-plastic carbon fiber products, due to poor ductility of thermo-plastic carbon fiber sheet, most of the molds used for manufacturing thermo-plastic carbon fiber products only have one cavity. Only one piece of thermo-plastic carbon fiber product can be obtained from each molding process, resulting in poor manufacturing efficiency. If a plurality of thermo-plastic carbon fiber products are to be manufactured at the same time, a plurality of molds are required, which leads to high manufacturing cost. 
     Although the design of multi-cavity mold has been proposed, it is mostly suitable for metal stamping, blank stamping or plastic injection molding. Unlike metal and blank which have better ductility, and plastic injection molding which injects molten plastic material into the cavity, the thermo-plastic carbon fiber sheet with lower ductility is likely to cause the yarn to be pulled, crooked or broken during the molding process. Accordingly, the mold used for metal stamping, blank stamping and plastic injection molding is not suitable for manufacturing thermo-plastic carbon fiber product. 
     Taiwan Patent Publication No. TW 201103736 discloses a multi-cavity mold, and a male die thereof includes a first plate, a second plate, a plurality of male cores and a plurality of restricting plates. The first plate has a plurality of male cavities, and the second plate has a plurality of accommodating grooves disposed as corresponding to the cavities. On the other hand, the male cores are respectively disposed in the male cavities, and the restricting plates are respectively disposed in the accommodating grooves, and each male core are restricted to their positions through the corresponding restricting plates. Therefore, when the male core or the male cavity is under repair, the relative position of each male core on the first plate is not changed due to dissembling or assembling of mold, which facilitates to save the time for correcting the male core. 
     Chinese Patent Publication No. CN 101528616 A discloses a molded article, of which a plurality of lower molds are disposed in a lower mold retainer with a degree of freedom of moving horizontally relative to the lower mold retainer. A plurality of cylindrical molds are fixed on an upper mold retainer, and a plurality of upper molds are respectively fixed in the cylindrical molds. In this manner, in the process that each upper mold is combined with a corresponding lower mold, the coaxiality of each upper mold and the corresponding lower mold can be ensured so that each upper mold and the corresponding lower mold can be aligned with the blank located between the upper mold and the lower mold to be accurately pressed and formed. 
     US Patent Publication No. US 20100151069 A1 discloses a multi-cavity mold for manufacturing plastic bottles, which can simultaneously manufacture a plurality of plastic bottles in multiple cavities of the same mold through an injection molding method. 
     The above-mentioned patents are not applied in manufacturing thermo-plastic carbon fiber products, and do not take into consideration of the conditions of pulled yarn, crooked yarn or broken yarn that are likely to be generated when the thermo-plastic carbon fiber sheets are pressed and formed, and thus are not suitable for manufacturing thermo-plastic carbon fiber products. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a press forming method and a press forming apparatus for a continuous fiber composite sheet, which facilitates to improve manufacturing efficiency and quality of products. 
     In the invention, the press forming method for the continuous fiber composite sheet includes the following steps. First of all, a plurality of continuous fiber composite sheets are provided. Next, the continuous fiber composite sheets are heated. Thereafter, a mold having a plurality of cavities is provided. After that, the continuous fiber composite sheets are respectively placed into the cavities so that the continuous fiber composite sheets are molded respectively. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the press forming method for the continuous fiber composite sheets further include a step of adjusting tension of the continuous fiber composite sheets respectively prior to heating the continuous fiber composite sheets. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the press forming method for the continuous fiber composite sheets further includes a step of adjusting tension of the continuous fiber composite sheets respectively in the process that the continuous fiber composite sheets are heated. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the press forming method for the continuous fiber composite sheets further includes a step of adjusting tension of the continuous fiber composite sheets respectively in the process that the continuous fiber composite sheets are molded respectively. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the method of pressing and forming the continuous fiber composite sheets respectively includes molded forming, pressure forming or vacuum forming method. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the mold includes a male mold and a female mold. The male mold has a plurality of protrusions, and the female mold has a plurality of recesses. When the continuous fiber composite sheets are respectively placed into the cavities, each of the continuous fiber composite sheets is disposed right above the corresponding recess, and the male mold and the female mold are combined after each protrusion and the corresponding recess are aligned with each other so that each of the continuous fiber composite sheets is pressed into a cavity constructed by the combined protrusion and recess corresponding to each other. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the continuous fiber composite sheets are clamped onto a carrier. The carrier has a plurality of through holes, and one continuous fiber composite sheet is clamped right above each of the through holes. When the continuous fiber composite sheets are respectively placed into the cavities, the carrier is moved to be located between the male mold and the female mold, and the male mold and the female mold are combined after each of the through holes is aligned with the corresponding protrusion and recess so that each of the protrusions passes through the corresponding through hole to press the corresponding continuous fiber composite sheet into the corresponding recess. 
     In the invention, a press forming apparatus for a continuous fiber composite sheet includes a plurality of clamping devices, a heater and a mold. The clamping devices are respectively configured to clamp a plurality of continuous fiber composite sheets. The heater is configured to heat the continuous fiber composite sheets. The mold is disposed at one side of the heater and has a plurality of cavities. After the heater heats the continuous fiber composite sheets, the clamping devices are utilized to move the continuous fiber composite sheets to the position where the mold is located. Then, the continuous fiber composite sheets are respectively placed into the cavities so that the continuous fiber composite sheets are molded respectively. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the mold includes a male mold and a female mold. The male mold has a plurality of protrusions, and the female mold has a plurality of recesses. When the continuous fiber composite sheets are respectively placed into the cavities through using the clamping devices, each of the continuous fiber composite sheets is disposed right above the corresponding recess, and the male mold and the female mold are combined after each of the protrusions and the corresponding recess are aligned with each other so that each of the continuous fiber composite sheets is pressed into a cavity constructed by the combined protrusion and recess corresponding to each other. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the press forming apparatus further includes a carrier. The clamping devices are disposed on the carrier, and the carrier is capable of moving relative to the heater and the mold. The continuous fiber composite sheets are respectively clamped onto the carrier by the clamping devices, and the clamping devices are configured to adjust the tension of the continuous fiber composite sheets respectively. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the carrier has a plurality of through holes, and a portion of clamping device is disposed around each of the through holes for clamping one continuous fiber composite sheet right above the corresponding through hole. After the continuous fiber composite sheets are respectively placed into the cavities through using the carrier and the clamping devices on the carrier, the carrier is moved to be located between the male mold and the female mold, and the male mold and the female mold are combined together after each of the through holes is aligned with the corresponding protrusion and recess so that each of the protrusions passes through the corresponding through hole to press the corresponding continuous fiber composite sheet into the corresponding recess. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, one side of the male mold configured with the protrusions or one side of the female mold configured with the recesses has a receiving area for accommodating the carrier and the clamping devices on the carrier between the male mold and the female mold. 
     In summary, the press forming apparatus for continuous fiber composite sheets and the corresponding press forming method in the invention can mold a plurality of continuous fiber composite sheets simultaneously in a plurality of cavities of a single mold, so as to avoid the occurrence of pulled-yarn, crooked yarn or broken yarn, which facilitates to improve manufacturing efficiency and quality of products. 
     In order to make the aforementioned features and advantages of the disclosure more comprehensible, embodiments accompanying figures are described in detail below. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a press forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 1C  are schematic cross-sectional views of a mold before/after combination in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 1D  is a schematic top view of a carrier in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  are schematic cross-sectional views of a mold before/after combination in another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIG. 1A  is a schematic cross-sectional view of a press forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 1B  and  FIG. 1C  are schematic cross-sectional views of a mold before/after combination in  FIG. 1A .  FIG. 1D  is a schematic top view of a carrier in  FIG. 1A . Referring to  FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1C , in the embodiment, a press forming apparatus  100  includes a plurality of clamping devices  110 , a heater  120  and a mold  130 , wherein the clamping devices  110  are respectively configured to clamp a plurality of continuous fiber composite sheets  10  and move the continuous fiber composite sheets  10  respectively to the position where the heater  120  or the mold  130  is located depending on the manufacturing step to conduct the heating and softening as well as molding steps respectively. 
     The heater  120  is disposed at one side of the mold  130  and configured to heat the continuous fiber composite sheets  10  prior to the molding step. The heater  120  may be an infrared heater; however, the invention provides no limitation to the types of heater. The mold  130  has a plurality of cavities  131 . After the heater  120  heats the continuous fiber composite sheets  10  and make the continuous fiber composite sheets  10  become softened, the clamping devices  110  respectively move the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheets  10  to the position where the mold  130  is located. Specifically, the mold  130  includes a male mold  132  and a female mold  133 . In the process that the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheets  10  are moved to the position where the mold  130  is located, the male mold  132  and the female mold  133  are separated from each other (i.e., the mold  130  is in a separated state) so that the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheets  10  are moved to be located between the male mold  132  and the female mold  133  and respectively aligned with the cavities  131 . Thereafter, the male mold  132  and the female mold  133  are combined (i.e., the mold  130  is switched to a combined state) so that the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheets  10  are respectively placed into the cavities  131  to carry out the molding step. 
     After the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheets  10  are molded into a plurality of articles  11 , the male mold  132  and the female mold  133  are separated from each other (i.e., the mold  130  is switched to the separated state), and the articles  11  are respectively moved out of the cavities  131  using the clamping devices  110 . Thereafter, the articles  11  are respectively removed from the clamping devices  110 , and the articles  11  are cut or treated via other subsequent steps depending on the circumstances. In other words, by using the press forming apparatus  100  and the corresponding press forming method, the plurality of articles  11  can be acquired simultaneously from a single mold  130  in one time of molding, which facilitates to improve manufacturing efficiency. It should be pointed out that one time of molding refers to the process of combining, molding and separating the mold. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1B  to  FIG. 1D , one of the continuous fiber composite sheets  10  is described for exemplary purpose. A number of clamping devices  110  are, for example, uniformly distributed around the continuous fiber composite sheet  10 . By using the clamping devices  110  to clamp the continuous fiber composite sheet  10 , the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  can be spread smoothly. More specifically, the clamping devices  110  may be configured in pairs. In other words, one of the pair of clamping devices  110  and the other one of the pair of clamping devices  110  are respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  to apply an appropriate degree of tension on the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  to prevent the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  from falling or generating corrugation in the moving, heating or molding process. 
     In the embodiment, the press forming apparatus  100  further includes a carrier  140  configured to carry the clamping devices  110 , wherein the carrier late  140  has a plurality of through holes  141 , and the through holes  141  are arranged in matrix. Take one of the through holes  141  as an example; a number of clamping devices  110  are, for example, distributed uniformly around the through hole  141 , and the clamping devices  110  are configured to clamp one continuous fiber composite sheet  10  to be located above the through hole  141 . Specifically, the clamping devices  110  may be configured in pairs. In other words, one of the pair of clamping devices  110  and the other one of the pair of the clamping devices  110  are respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the through hole  141  to apply an appropriate degree of tension on the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  to prevent the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  from falling or generating corrugation in the moving, heating or molding process. For example, the through hole  141  may be a quadrangle-shaped hole, which should not be construed as a limitation to the invention. In another embodiment, the through hole may be a circular hole, an oval-shaped hole or other polygon-shaped hole. 
     On the other hand, the male mold  132  has a first joint surface  132   a  and a plurality of protrusions  132   b , wherein the protrusions  132   b  are protruded from the first joint surface  132   a  and arranged in matrix. The female mold  133  has a second joint surface  133   a  and a plurality of recesses  133   b , wherein the second joint surface  133   a  cooperates with the first joint surface  132   a , and the recesses  133   b  are concaved inward the second joint surface  133   a  and arranged in matrix. The number of the protrusions  132   b  is equal to the number of the recesses  133   b , and the geometric contour of each of the protrusions  132   b  is complementary to the geometric contour of the corresponding recess  133   b . In the condition that the mold  130  is in the separated state, the protrusions  132   b  are respectively aligned with the recesses  133   b.    
     The number of the through holes  141  on the carrier  140 , the number of the protrusions  132   b  and the number of the recesses  133   b  are equal to one another. After the continuous fiber composite sheets  10  are respectively clamped by the clamping devices  130  to be located right above the through holes  141 , the carrier  140  is moved to be located between the male mold  132  and the female mold  133  separated from each other (i.e., the mold  130  is in the separated state). After it is ensured that the protrusions  132   b  are respectively aligned with the recesses  133   b , the through holes  141  are respectively aligned with the protrusions  132   b , and respectively aligned with the recesses  133   b . In the meantime, the continuous fiber composite sheets  10  are also respectively aligned with the protrusions  132   b  and respectively aligned with the recesses  133   b , wherein the continuous fiber composite sheets  10  are, for example, respectively located right beneath the protrusions  132   b  and respectively located right above the recesses  133   b . In another embodiment, the upper and lower positions of the male mold and female mold may be switched. After the continuous fiber composite sheets are respectively aligned with the protrusions of the male mold and respectively aligned with the recesses of the female mold, the continuous fiber composite sheets are, for example, respectively located right above the protrusions of the male mold and respectively located right beneath the recesses of the female mold. 
     After it is ensured that the protrusions  132   b , the recesses  133   b  and the through holes  141  are respectively aligned with each other, the male mold  132  and the female mold  133  are combined together (i.e., the mold  130  is switched to the combined state) so that each of the protrusions  132   b  passes through the corresponding through hole  141  to press the corresponding continuous fiber composite sheet  10  into the corresponding recess  133   b , that is, to press each of the continuous fiber composite sheets  10  into the cavity  131  constructed by the combined protrusion  132   b  and the recess  133   b  corresponding to each other. During the combining process, since the carrier  140  and the clamping devices  110  disposed thereon are located between the first joint surface  132   a  of the male mold  132  and the second joint surface  133   a  of the female mold  133 , in order to avoid that the carrier  140  and the clamping devices  110  disposed thereon hinder the combination of the male mold  132  and the female mold  133 , or that the first joint surface  132   a  of the male mold  132  and the second joint surface  133   a  of the female mold  133  cause damage to the clamping devices  110 , the male mold  132  further has a receiving area  132   c , which is, for example, a receiving groove concaved inward the first joint surface  132   a , and is configured to accommodate the carrier  140  and the clamping devices  110  disposed thereon during the combining process. On the other hand, it is required that the geometric contour of the receiving groove concaved inward the first joint surface  132   a  be complementary to the geometric contour of the carrier  110  in FIG. ID, and the size of the receiving groove concaved inward the first joint surface  132   a  needs to be slightly larger than the size of the carrier  110  so as to accommodate the carrier  140  and the clamping devices  110  disposed thereon in the combining process. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1D , in the embodiment, the continuous fiber composite sheets  10  may be a combination of at least one of polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers (ABS), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyamide (PA) and polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) and at least one of carbon fiber, glass fiber, basalt fiber, Kevlar fiber, polyester and linen fiber, wherein polypropylene (PP), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers (ABS), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyamide (PA) and polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) may serve as a base, and the carbon fiber, glass fiber, basalt fiber, Kevlar fiber, polyester and linen fiber may serve as reinforcement material. 
     For example, after the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is clamped by the two opposite clamping devices  110 , by changing the distance between the two opposite clamping devices  110 , for example, the distance between a clamping portion (not shown) of one of the two opposite clamping devices  110  for clamping the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  and a clamping portion (not shown) of the other one of the two opposite clamping devices  110  for clamping the continuous fiber composite sheet  10 , the tension applied on the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  can be adjusted. If the distance between the clamping portion (not shown) of one of the two opposite clamping devices  110  for clamping the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  and the clamping portion (not shown) of the other one of the two opposite clamping devices  110  for clamping the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is enlarged, the tension applied on the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is also increased so that a partial region of the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is tensioned. On the contrary, if the distance between the clamping portion (not shown) of one of the two opposite clamping devices  110  for clamping the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  and the clamping portion (not shown) of the other one of the two opposite clamping devices  110  for clamping the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is reduced, the tension applied on the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is also decreased so that the partial region of the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is loosened. 
     After any one of the continuous fiber composite sheets  10  is clamped by the plurality of corresponding clamping devices  110 , the timing for adjusting the tension applied on one of the continuous fiber composite sheets  10  is described below. 
     After the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is clamped onto the carrier  140  by the plurality of corresponding clamping devices  110  and disposed right above the corresponding through hole  141 , the tension applied on the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  or the degree of tightness in the partial region of the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  can be adjusted by the two opposite clamping devices  110  to allow the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  to be spread smoothly, thereby avoiding that the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is brought into contact with the carrier  140  or the machine or component in the press forming apparatus  100 . In other words, before the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is heated, it is required to use any two opposite clamping devices  110  to adjust the tension applied on the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  to prevent the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  from falling or generating corrugation. In this manner, the quality of the article  11  obtained in the subsequent manufacturing process can be improved. 
     After the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is heated and softened, the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is likely to fall or generate corrugation due to effect of gravity. At this time, at least any two opposite clamping devices  110  may be used to adjust the tension applied on the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  or the degree of tightness in the partial region of the continuous fiber composite sheet  10 , such that the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  can be tensioned without being brought into contact with the carrier  140  or the machine or component in the press forming apparatus  100 . In other words, in the process that the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is heated, the tension of the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is adjusted, which facilitates to improve the quality of the article  11  obtained in the subsequent manufacturing process. 
     For example, the heater  120  may be configured with a sensor (not shown) configured to sense the degree of softness of the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10 . The sensor (not shown) may be a temperature sensor (e.g., infrared temperature sensor) or a distance sensor (e.g., infrared distance sensor). Take the temperature sensor as an example. The temperature sensor may be used to sense the temperature in different areas of the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10 , and transmit the obtained temperature data to a controller (not shown) signally coupled to the temperature sensor so that the controller (not shown) can calculate the degree of softness of the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10  according to the material of the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  and the received temperature data, and transmit a control signal to the clamping device  110  signally coupled to the controller (not shown), thereby adjusting the tension applied on the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10  or the degree of tightness in partial region of the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10 . Take the distance sensor as an example. The distance sensor may be used to sense the degree of softness (or degree of sagging) in different areas of the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10 , and transmit the obtained data regarding degree of softness to a controller (not shown) signally coupled to the distance sensor so that the controller (not shown) can transmit a control signal to the clamping device  110  signally coupled to the controller (not shown) according to the received data regarding degree of softness, thereby adjusting the tension applied on the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10  or the degree of tightness in partial region of the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10 . 
     In the process that the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is pressed into the cavity  131 , the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  may be deformed due to being subjected to force. At this time, by adjusting the tension applied on the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  or the degree of tightness in partial region of the continuous fiber composite sheet  10  through using at least two opposite clamping devices  110 , the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10  can be tensioned. Thereafter, the mold  130  may be subjected to a molded forming process, a pressure forming process or a vacuum forming process to form the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10  into the article  11 . 
     Specifically, in the process that the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is molded, it is required to combine the male mold  132  and the female mold  133  first so the protrusion  132   b  of the male mold  132  and the recess  133   b  of the female mold  133  are respectively brought into contact with the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10 . Since the protrusion  132   b  of the male mold  132  are in contact with the area of different regions of the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10  at different timing and positions, it is required to use the clamping device  110  to adjust the tension applied on the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10  or the degree of tightness in the partial region of the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10 , thereby avoiding that the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is cracked or generate corrugation. 
     Similarly, since the recess  133   b  of the female mold  133  are in contact with the area of different regions of the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10  at different timing and positions, it is required to use the clamping device  110  to adjust the tension applied on the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10  or the degree of tightness in the partial region of the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10 , thereby avoiding that the heated and softened continuous fiber composite sheet  10  is cracked or generate corrugation. 
     In brief, the mold  130  in the embodiment is a multi-cavity mold that is designed to simultaneously mold a plurality of continuous fiber composite sheets  10  into a plurality of articles  11  in one time of molding process and improve the quality of the articles  11 . The tension applied on each of the continuous fiber composite sheets  10  is adjusted respectively by using the plurality of corresponding clamping devices  110 . In other words, in the same molding process, the tension applied on each of the continuous fiber composite sheets  10  is adjusted separately without intervening each other. As compared with this, if a single large-size continuous fiber composite sheet is molded in a multi-cavity mold, in the combining process, the large-size continuous fiber composite sheet would be pulled and dragged by each cavity, which would cause the thickness of partial region of the large-size continuous fiber composite sheet to be over thin or cause skewness or cracks. 
       FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  are schematic cross-sectional views of a mold before/after combination in another embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , different from the mold  130  described in the previous embodiment, a receiving area  133   c  in a mold  130   a  of the embodiment is disposed at a female mold  1331 . Furthermore, in order to avoid that the carrier  140  and the clamping devices  110  disposed thereon hinder the combination of a male mold  1321  and the female mold  1331 , or that a first joint surface  1321   a  of the male mold  1321  and a second joint surface  1331   a  of the female mold  1331  cause damage to the clamping devices  110 , the female mold  1331  further has the receiving area  133   c , which is, for example, a receiving groove concaved inward the second joint surface  1331   a  configured to accommodate the carrier  140  and the clamping devices  110  disposed thereon in the combining process. 
     In summary, according to the invention, the press forming apparatus for the continuous fiber composite sheet and the corresponding press forming method thereof adopt a multi-cavity mold in order to simultaneously mold a plurality of continuous fiber composite sheets into a plurality of articles in one time of molding process and improve the quality of the articles. The tension applied on each of the continuous fiber composite sheets is adjusted respectively through using the plurality of corresponding clamping devices. In other words, in the same molding process, the tension applied on each of the continuous fiber composite sheets is adjusted separately without intervening each other, so that the occurrence of pulled-yarn, crooked yarn or broken yarn can be avoided. Accordingly, the press forming apparatus for continuous fiber composite sheet and the corresponding press forming method thereof not only facilitate to improve manufacturing efficiency but also helps to improve the quality of article. 
     Although the invention has been disclosed by the above embodiments, the embodiments are not intended to limit the invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Therefore, the protecting range of the invention falls in the appended claims.