APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRESS MOLDING

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus and method for press molding that can prevent a crease from being produced without deteriorating the yield of a material.SOLUTION: The press molding apparatus 1 includes: a mold 3 with a die 3a and punch 3b; and a blank holder 4 for pressing a blank 2 between the die 3a and the blank holder 4. The blank holder 4 is divided into at least two parts including: a first blank holder 4a where the depth of drawing of the die 3a corresponds to the deepest part; and a second blank holder 4b where the depth of drawing of the die 3a corresponds to the shallowest part. When a distance between a pressing surface 3c and a crease pressing surface 4e reaches a distance where the die 3a and the first blank holder 4a can hold the blank 2 with a predetermined binding force, a crease pressing surface 4h is spaced apart from a pressing surface 3d at a predetermined distance Z larger than the thickness of the blank 2.