Patent ID: 7901200

Claim:
A molding apparatus for compacting a powder into a predetermined shape, comprising: a die having a cavity into which the powder is filled; a lower punch arranged to be inserted into the cavity from a lower side of the die; an upper punch arranged to be inserted into the cavity from an upper side of the die to compact the powder filled in the cavity, in cooperation with the lower punch; a feeder for feeding the powder into the cavity; a first cam driving system having a first cam for vertically moving the die relative to the lower punch; a second cam driving system having a second cam for vertically moving the upper punch; a third cam driving system having a third cam for moving the feeder forward or backward relative to the cavity; a contact member indirectly connected to the die and configured to move vertically with the die; a stopper located above or below the contact member and configured to move relative to the contact member to come into contact with the contact member and move away from the contact member, the stopper being arranged to regulate relative vertical movement of the die with respect to the lower punch by being in contact with the contact member; a fourth cam driving system having a fourth cam for vertically moving the stopper so that the stopper comes into contact with and moves away from the contact member; and drive synchronizing means for rotating the first cam, the second cam, the third cam, and the fourth cam in synchronism.