METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING SYNTHETIC RESIN LAMINATE

PURPOSE:To improve the transferability of pattern of the like by a method wherein a pre- heated laminate made of synthetic resin is pinched between a first forming mold and a second forming mold so as to press the synthetic resin laminate by feeding pressurizing air through the one forming mold and, after that, suck the synthetic resin laminate through the other forming mold. CONSTITUTION:Since a clearance C, which is somewhat smaller than the thickness of a synthetic resin laminated sheet 40, is formed between a lower mold 24 and an upper mold 26 when both the molds engage with each other, the synthetic resin laminate sheet 40 abuts against the engaging surfaces of the lower mold 24 and of the upper mold 26 within the predetermined air pressure. In addition, at that case, since the synthetic resin laminated sheet 40 is under the pre-heated state, the synthetic resin laminated sheet is turned to be formed along the engaging surfaces of the forming molds. Next, a pressurizing air supply source is put into actuation so as to supply pressurizing air through a pressure air tank 28 to the lower mold 24 and blast the air through a porous layer 52 in order to press the synthetic resin laminated sheet 40, which is pinched between the lower mold 24 and the upper mold 26, against the embossed pattern face 62 of the porous electroformed body 64 or of the upper mold 26. Next, after the predetermined period of time, a vacuum pump unit is put into actuation so as to evacuate a vacuum tank 29 in order to realize vacuum in the tank, resulting in urging the synthetic resin laminated sheet 40 with nearly uniform pressure on the embossed pattern face 62 under suction.