Patent ID: 7347681

Claim:
A permanent magnet molding apparatus comprising: a mounting base; a plurality of transferable metal die units that are transferable onto and off said mounting base, each metal die unit including: a die having a cavity of a desired cross-sectional shape in which magnet molding material powder is prefillable before being transferred to the mounting base, the cavity extending in groovelike form in a specific direction on a surface of the die; a lid member placed against a facing surface of said die as if covering said cavity; and a pair of punches having the same cross-sectional shape as said cavity, said punches being positioned to fit in said cavity such that said punches close said cavity at both ends thereof, and said punches being made slidable in directions in which said punches go into contact with and become separated from the magnet molding material powder; means for transferring the plurality of metal die units one by one onto and off said mounting base; pressurizing means for holding the plurality of metal die units one by one, which have been transferred to said mounting base, with said magnet molding material powder prefilled in said cavity and for pressurizing said magnet molding material powder by driving said two punches such that said two punches slide in their approaching directions; and magnetic field generating means for magnetizing the magnet molding material powder pressurized in said cavity while applying a magnetic field thereto in a direction perpendicular to a direction of pressurization.