CZ300308B6 - Mask for producing multicolor elastomeric leathers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mask for making multicolor thermoplastic leathers, in which at least one mask portion comprising a section of a mask (1) sealed periphery adjoining functional surface of a mold (2) can be moved between a position at which the mask (1) edge adjoins the mold (2) functional surface and thus following up with the mask (1) sealed periphery, and a position enabling fitting the mask (1) to the mold (2), optionally removing the mask (1) from the mold (2).

Description

Mask for making multicolored elastomer skins

Technical field

The invention relates to the interiors of motor vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

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Thermoplastic artificial leather is part of the interior of a motor vehicle, which is used to cover the outer surfaces of the body panels, such as dashboards, door panels, etc. the article to be coated with the made-up leather, the leather-covered articles may therefore have very complex shapes.

The methods used to make thermoplastic skins to date are based on four different methods of elastomer application:

2o 1. sprinkling the surface of the preheated metal mold with powdered thermoplastic, where it melts and sinters into a thin layer of artificial leather

2. spraying a thermoplastic powder onto the surface of a preheated metal mold, where it melts and sinters into a thin layer of artificial leather

3. Submerging the surface of the preheated metal mold into a powdered thermoplastic elastomer layer, where it melts and sinters into a thin skin layer

4. spraying the liquid reaction mixture of the components onto the surface of the preheated metal mold, wherein the reaction mixture

It is polymerized to a clastomer (e.g. polyurethane, see IJS6071619) to form a layer of elastomeric skin.

Usually the first two methods are used. In these methods, the mold, which is mostly metallic, must be preheated safely above the melting temperature range of the applied thermoplastic powder. Thus, the temperature of the molds must vary within the range of hundreds of degrees Celsius by the process of skin production sc. By masking parts of the mold surface over the thermoplastic powder particles with a mask or multiple masks, thermoplastics of different colors or properties can be successively applied to different parts of the mold to form a skin having different colors and properties in its different parts.

For a mask to perform well, it must be easy to apply to the mold and must be securely sealed around the perimeter so that the covered surface is not contaminated with the wrong thermoplastic powder. However, with a more complex product shape, it is very difficult to achieve this because part of the complex mold with a cavity of greater depth and the proposed location of the skin color interface may interfere with or completely prevent the mask from being applied

4> masked. In this case, it would be necessary to either change the placement of the color interface on the mold or to simplify the shape of the mold, which means changing the appearance and shape of the product. However, this is unacceptable for customers.

This disadvantage is overcome by the object of the invention.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a mask used to mask a mold for producing multicolored elastomeric materials. leather intended for coating the interior panels of motor vehicle body panels.

It is an object of the invention that the mask for making multicolored leathers has at least one sliding part. comprising a section of the overall mask sealing perimeter, the sliding portion being displaceable between a position adjacent to the functional surface of the mold to complement the mask sealing perimeter and a position that allows the mask 11a to be applied or the mask to be swung away from the mold. The sliding part is also sealed on the mask itself so that the applied thermoplastic powder can never penetrate the space below the mask.

That is, the entire mask is not a single piece of material, but at least one portion that would interfere with the application of the mask 11a masked in place of the mold is movably controlled between the two extreme positions. In one extreme position the space under the enclosed mask seals on the mold and in the other extreme position it does not prevent or impede the application of the mask to the masked place and its tilting, ie. prevents the mask from coming into contact with the mold or other surrounding equipment.

The sliding part of the mask can be moved by any suitable device - purely mechanically, pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of a mold (2) with the mask (1) attached. sliding part (11) of the mask (I), peripheral seal (12) and sliding mechanism (14)

FIG. 2 shows a detailed cross-section of a mold part (2) with a mask (I), a sliding part (II). circumferential seal (12), seal (13) and sliding mechanism (14), the sliding portion (II) being moved away from the edge of the mask (1) in a position allowing the mask (I) to be applied to the mold (2)

Fig. 3 shows a detailed cross-section of a mold part (2) with a mask (1), a sliding part (II), a circumferential seal (12), a seal (13) and a sliding mechanism (14); the sliding portion (11) is moved to the edge of the mask (I) until it contacts the mold (1).

An example of a possible embodiment of the invention

The mask 1 according to the invention is intended for the production of two-color artificial leather from vinyl thermoplastic elastomer, intended for coating the outer surface of the dashboard of a passenger car.

The artificial leather production process is based on the application of a powdered thermoplastic elastomer to the hot surface of mold 2 where the powder is melted and sintered into a continuous coating. The mold 2 is made of a 7th nickel alloy, while the mask 1 is made of an aluminum alloy.

The part of the mold 2 on which the elastomer of the first color is not to be applied must first be covered with a niasis. However, the mold cavity 2 at the dashboard chapel location is very space-tight. The shape of the mold 2 at these locations and the location of the interface of the two colors of the skin according to the visual design of the instrument panel cover do not allow the mask to be applied even in one piece without. such a mask would not interfere with the mold 2 even during stoking. Therefore, a portion of the mask is also cut off at these points and the cut portion is replaced by a sliding portion 11. As shown in FIG. 1, a mask with edges

C7. 300308 B6 molded according to the shape of the mold 2 on the line of contact with the mask L is provided with an elastic seal V2 of silicone rubber along its entire circumference including the sliding part 11.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sliding portion 11 is sealed on the mask 1 itself by a seal 13 and is displaced from the edge of the mask 1 to the position where no part of the mold 2 obstructs its tilting.

After tilting the mask 1 onto the mold 2, the sliding portion 11 moves with the sliding device 14 towards the edge of the mask i to its second extreme position, where the sliding portion 11 completely replenishes the cut part of the periphery of the mask 1 and seals the space under the mask 1. Fig. 3.

Thereafter, a powdered thermoplastic elastomer of the first color may be sprayed onto the functional surface of the mold 2. After sintering of this first layer of skin, the sliding part 11 of the mask 1 is moved from the edge of the mask 1 back towards the center of the mask 1 and the mask 1 is then pivoted out of the mold 2 without. would hit any part of Form 2.

The entire mold 2 is then covered with a lid of powdered elastomer of the second color. By repeatedly inverting the thus formed closed container, the hot functional surface of the mold 2 is sprinkled with a thermoplastic elastomer powder and sintered to form a second layer of artificial leather. After cooling of the mold 2, the finished two-color skin can be removed from the mold 2.

The invention eliminates the problems of collision of the mask and the mold when applying the mask to the mold or tilting it off.

Industrial applicability

The invention is intended for the manufacture of interior panels of motor vehicle bodies.

Claims (1)

PATENT CLAIMS A mask for making multicolored elastomer skins, characterized by. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has at least one sliding part (II) comprising a section of the overall sealing circumference of the mask (1). the sliding portion (II) being displaceable between a position of its edge abutting the functional surface of the mold (2), thereby completing the sealing periphery of the mask (1). and a position that allows the mask (1) to be applied to the mold (2) and pivoted.