Abstract: The invention relates to a picking-up device and assembly for making a part made of a reinforced plastics material in a mold. The picking-up device includes at least one presser having a shaped front face and first needles mounted to have end portions that project beyond the front face in one position and retract so as to be set back from the front face in a second position. The picking-up device may have a base mounted to move relative to the picking-up device. A production line may be formed from use of two picking-up devices.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a part out of reinforced plastics material, the method comprising the following steps: superposing at least one sheet and at least one item of local reinforcement in a mold before the mold is closed, at least one of the sheet and the local reinforcement being constituted by reinforcing fibers and thermoplastic material, the mold having a setback adjacent to the local reinforcement and of width greater than the local reinforcement; and introducing thermoplastic material into the setback in such as a manner as to compact the local reinforcement and an underlying region of the sheet, the mold being shaped so as to compress the sheet on either side of the local reinforcement during closure of the mold.

Abstract: A mold to make a plastics material piece includes two parts defining a cavity corresponding to the piece to be made, each part has a peripheral zone for coming into contact with the other part's peripheral zone to define the mold's joint face. One part is made up of two blocks, namely a central block and a peripheral block, the two blocks suitable for sliding relative to each other in the mold closure direction, and the peripheral block capable of movement so as to move the peripheral zone away from the edges of the sheet. A method of making a plastics material piece includes placing a sheet in a part of a mold, moving a peripheral block, closing the mold, and moving the peripheral block to a molding position while keeping the first and second peripheral zones in contact.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a reinforced plastics material part from a drapable sheet (6) by means of a mold (1) comprising a first portion (2) and a second portion (3) that are movable relative to each other. The method comprises the following steps: placing the sheet on the first portion (2) of the open mold; pressing the sheet (6) against said first portion (2) at one or more locations by means of one or more pushers (8) mounted on the second portion (3) of the mold and movable relative to said second portion; closing the mold (1) and compacting the sheet (6); and trimming the portion of the sheet that projects from the join plane (15) after the mold (1) has been closed, and unmolding the part.

Abstract: The invention relates to a picking-up device and assembly for making a part made of a reinforced plastics material in a mold. The picking-up device includes at least one presser having a shaped front face and first needles mounted to have end portions that project beyond the front face in one position and retract so as to be set back from the front face in a second position. The picking-up device may have a base mounted to move relative to the picking-up device. A production line may be formed from use of two picking-up devices.

Abstract: A method of making a part made of a reinforced plastics material in a mold including at least two portions and from a reinforced sheet or from a lay-up of reinforced sheets including at least one reinforced sheet, in which method the reinforced sheet (4) is pre-heated. The reinforced sheet or the lay-up of reinforced sheets is presented to a first portion (1) of the open mold by a picking-up device including pressers (6a; 6b; 7), at least a region of the reinforced sheet or of the lay-up is applied against a corresponding region of the first mold portion by pressers on the picking-up device, the remainder of its surface is applied against the first mold portion while holding stationary the region of the reinforced sheet or of the lay-up, the mold is closed, and the resulting part is removed from the mold.

Abstract: Mold to make a plastics material piece, this mold comprises two parts defining between them a cavity corresponding to the piece to be made, each mold part has a peripheral zone for coming into contact with the peripheral zone of the other mold part, and the two zones, when united in this way, define the joint face of the mold. One of the mold parts is made up of two blocks, namely a central block substantially defining the mold cavity and a peripheral block supporting the peripheral zone, the two blocks being suitable for sliding relative to each other in the mold closure direction, and the peripheral block being capable of being moved so as to move the peripheral zone of said peripheral block away from the edges of the sheet.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a reinforced plastics material part from a drapable sheet (6) by means of a mold (1) comprising a first portion (2) and a second portion (3) that are movable relative to each other.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of manufacturing a part out of reinforced plastics material, the method comprising the following steps: