Patent ID: 8293164

Claim:
A molding apparatus comprising: a molding die equipped with a molding cavity and an inner punch descending into the cavity to apply compression molding to a base material pre-fed into the molding cavity, a magnetic die material being used for the molding cavity; a cooling device, including a tubular body, disposed inside the molding cavity, to feed a refrigerant along a molding face; a heating device for heating by high-frequency induction disposed around the cooling device; and a control system which controls the cooling device, the heating device, and the molding die, wherein the control system is configured to coordinate heating and cooling of the molding cavity with movement of a portion of the molding die and the inner punch such that: the refrigerant is fed in the cooling device when the molding cavity is cooled, and the cooling device is in a state substantially empty of the refrigerant when the molding cavity is heated; the heating of the molding cavity by the heating device begins when the base material is inserted into the molding cavity; the heating of the molding cavity stops and the cooling of the molding cavity begins when the inner punch advances in the molding cavity and applies compression molding to the heated base material; and at the same time that a molded product is discharged from the molding cavity, the refrigerant in the cooling device is drained by gas blowing to establish the substantially empty state, and the substantially empty state is maintained at the time of heating.