Abstract: A sheet-decorating injection molding method using a sheet clamper for fixedly holding a decorative sheet on a parting surface of a movable mold of an injection mold. At least the inner edges of the surfaces facing the movable mold of the sheet clamper are finished in smooth, convexly curved surfaces, respectively, and a groove for receiving the sheet clamper therein is formed in a fixed mold at a position corresponding to the sheet clamper in a depth sufficient to permit the movement of the sheet clamper between a position to hold the decorative sheet fixedly on the parting surface of the movable mold and a position to be separated from the decorative sheet in state where the injection mold is clamped.

Abstract: In a method of producing a transfer film for providing pictures onto a molded product simultaneously with molding of the present invention, a resin which is dispersed in a dispersing medium to form a water-dispersed emulsion is coated on a substrate film made of a water-insoluble thermoplastic resin. Then the substrate film is dried until the coat solidifies to form a release layer. Further, a transfer layer which includes paint or ink diluted with an organic solvent for forming a desirable picture is formed on the release layer. Thereafter, the solvent is evaporated until the transfer layer turns to a solid film. Thus produced transfer film is used in the provision of pictures onto a molded product simultaneously with molding while insuring that the substrate film of the transfer film can be smoothly peeled from the picture or design layer after it is transferred to the shaped part without impairing the molding efficiency.

Abstract: A decorative sheet formed by coating a surface of an acrylic resin sheet having a coefficient of kinetic friction with respect to a flat glass plate in the range of 0.2 to 0.9 and a glass transition temperature of 80.degree. C. or below with a pattern layer is inserted in a female mold and a male mold of an injection mold, the decorative sheet is clamped to the female mold, the female and the male mold are joined together to form a cavity in the injection mold, a fluid resin is injected into the cavity so as to fill up the cavity, the resin filling up the cavity is solidified in a sheet-decorated molding having a surface coated with the decorative sheet, the injection mold is opened and the sheet-decorated molding is ejected from the female mold.

Abstract: A foil-decorating injection molding method and a foil-decorating injection molding apparatus adjust the tautness of a decorative sheet fed onto a parting surface of a female mold so that tensions T.sub.1, T.sub.2 and T.sub.3 of the decorative sheet during a sheet feed operation of the sheet feed means, at the start of the sheet clamping operation of the clamper for pressing and fixing the decorative sheet and at a moment immediately before the completion of the sheet clamping operation, respectively, meet an inequality: T.sub.1 .gtoreq.T.sub.2 >T.sub.3 to prevent the decorative sheet from breaking or slipping off the clamper when clamping the decorative sheet on the parting surface of the female mold.

Abstract: In the method, after the pattern-bearing film is fed to the female mold, the distal end of the film is fixed under a lower portion of the female mold, and at the same time the film is retreated by a force from the film supply portion. Thus, this tightens up the film so that the slacks or wrinkles cannot be formed on the film. Therefore, the film can be fortunately spread around the parting surface of the female mold. In the apparatus, the film suppressing frame is pressed to the female mold through the sliding rod arranged in the female mold, in such a manner that the female mold embraces the frame. Thus, the pressing of the frame is performed by a simple structure, and the film is accurately positioned to the internal surface of the female mold. Also, the film suppressing frame is constituted to advance from and retreat to the female mold. Thus, this causes a space between the both molds and an outside standby position to be useless. A space around the apparatus can be effectively utilized.

Abstract: A foil decorating injection molding machine is provided with an injection mold having a male mold and a female mold. The male mold is provided with a hot runner, a reversing passage connected to the hot runner, and gates connected to the reversing passage and opening into a cavity formed by the male mold and the female mold. The reversing passage has a straight forward feed section connected to the hot runner, a distributing section formed at the downstream end of the forward feed section facing a solid land disposed in the cavity, and reverse feed sections extending from the distributing section to the upstream ends of the gates, respectively, in an obliquely reverse direction at an acute angle to the forward feed section.

Abstract: A pattern-bearing sheet for a simultaneous injection-molding and pattern-forming method, has a sufficient malleability in the following conditions. When the sheet is cut to a 10-mm width and subjected to a tensile load and thus elongated at a rate of 30%/second in an environment at 50.degree. C., the sheet should exhibit a stress value of 0.6 kg or higher at the yield point and after passing through the yield point in the case where the sheet is formed from a material having a yield point, and the sheet should exhibit a stress value of 0.6 kg or higher at an elongation of 10% and higher in the case where the sheet is formed from a material not having a yield point. Desirably, the value when the sheet cut to 10-mm width is elongated at a rate of 7%/second to an elongation of 200% (200% modulus value) at a temperature of 100.degree. C. to 120.degree. C. should be 0.3 kg or lower.

Abstract: A simultaneous injection molding and patterning method, including the steps of providing a first mold and a mutually opposed second mold; interposing a decorative pattern sheet between the molds; moving a heating body from a non-heating position to a heating position so as to heat and soften a portion of the decorative pattern sheet positioned between the opposing molds. The heating position is arranged such that a heating surface of the heating body confronts the decorative pattern sheet while the sheet is positioned between the opposed molds, and the non-heating position is arranged such that the heating surface of the heating body is not parallel to the heating surface of the heating body when in the heating position. The first mold is then evacuated to bring the heated and softened decorative pattern sheet into contact with a cavity of the first mold, the molds are closed, and then molten resin is injected into the mold to form a patterned product including the decorative pattern sheet.

Abstract: In a method of producing a transfer film for providing pictures onto a molded product simultaneously with molding of the present invention, a resin which is dispersed in a dispersing medium to form a water-dispersed emulsion is coated on a substrate film made of a water-insoluble thermoplastic resin. Then the substrate film is dried until the coat solidifies to form a release layer. Further, a transfer layer which includes paint or ink diluted with an organic solvent for forming a desirable picture is formed on the release layer. Thereafter, the solvent is evaporated until the transfer layer turns to a solid film. Thus produced transfer film is used in the provision of pictures onto a molded product simultaneously with molding while insuring that the substrate film of the transfer film can be smoothly peeled from the picture or design layer after it is transferred to the shaped part without impairing the molding efficiency.

Abstract: In a method of producing a transfer film for providing pictures onto a molded product simultaneously with molding of the present invention, a resin which is dispersed in a dispersing medium to form a water-dispersed emulsion is coated on a substrate film made of a water-insoluble thermoplastic resin. Then the substrate film is dried until the coat solidifies to form a release layer. Further, a transfer layer which includes paint or ink diluted with an organic solvent for forming a desirable picture is formed on the release layer. Thereafter, the solvent is evaporated until the transfer layer turns to a solid film. Thus produced transfer film is used in the provision of pictures onto a molded product simultaneously with molding while insuring that the substrate film of the transfer film can be smoothly peeled from the picture or design layer after it is transferred to the shaped part without impairing the molding efficiency.

Abstract: A heating device used for a simultaneous injection molding and patterning method such that: a decorative pattern sheet is disposed between a pair of mutually opposed molds (mold A formed with a vent and mold B formed with an injection gate); the decorative pattern sheet is heated and softened by the heating device; the decorative pattern sheet is brought into tight contact with a cavity surface of mold A on the basis of a pressure difference caused by exhaustion of mold A through the vent; and a molten resin is injected into the molds through the injection gate to mold a product patterned on the basis of the decorative pattern sheet.