DE102016111741A1 - Method for producing a cladding component made of plastic with at least one opening for receiving an attachment and such a cladding component - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for producing a cladding component (1) made of plastic with at least one opening for receiving an attachment and such a cladding component (1), wherein the opening is enclosed by a urgeformten edge (4) adjacent to a visible surface (2) of the cladding component (1) and a breakthrough forming interface with respect to the visible surface (2) below the edge (4) is arranged.

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing a cladding component made of plastic with at least one breakthrough in which an attachment is to be received, as well as such a cladding component, as generically from the DE 10 2005 048 295 A1 are known.

In vehicle construction, plastic facing components, in particular paneling components produced by injection molding, are widely used. Since most cladding components form visible surfaces (visible surfaces) which are usually surface-coated or intended for painting, particularly high demands are made on their surface finish.

A typical example of a trim component of vehicles is bumpers. At the bumpers of vehicles are often other attachments such. B. distance sensors, headlight cleaning nozzles, position lights or decorative elements added. For a variety of appropriate breakthroughs must be introduced into the bumper, in which the attachments can be mounted later.

One way to introduce these breakthroughs is to produce them during the injection molding process by corresponding recesses are provided in the injection molding tool. The introduction of the breakthroughs with the injection molding tool, however, is an inflexible and expensive solution. In addition, any recess provided in the injection molding tool interferes with the homogeneous distribution of material in the injection mold during injection molding, which is the prerequisite for achieving a high surface quality on the cladding component. This is especially true for particularly large-scale trim components, such. As the bumper, too.

Much more flexible and cost-effective is to introduce the breakthroughs only in a subsequent injection molding or surface coating process step. For subsequent introduction of the breakthroughs are a number of separation methods, such. As stamping, milling, drilling or laser cutting available.

The subsequent introduction of the breakthroughs by means of separation processes leaves at the cutting edge of the openings (edge between the visible surface of the cladding component and the parting surface) usually machining marks, such. B. burrs, which adversely affect the surface quality of the cladding component. If the introduction of the release surface after the surface coating, the base material of the cladding component is visible at least at the cutting edge, after inserting an attachment in the breakthrough. This is usually not desirable, especially since it can often come directly to the cutting edge to damage or detachment of the surface coating.

If the surface coating occurs only after the breakthrough has been made, a burr at the separating edge or a particularly sharp separating edge can prevent the formation of a homogeneous lacquer layer. Devices and methods with which such machining marks can be eliminated have already been described in the prior art.

In the patent DE 10 2005 002 014 B4 a device and a method are described in which openings (here called openings) are introduced into a workpiece made of a plastic material. For introducing the apertures a punching tool is used, which is acted upon during the executed punching movement simultaneously with an ultrasonic vibration. By using the combined ultrasonic and punching tool, a high dimensional accuracy of the apertures and a separation surface is achieved at which the occurrence of punching residues is suppressed. To round off the breakthrough limiting visible cutting edge, the tool has a correspondingly shaped embossing element. The embossing element is placed immediately after the introduction of the breakthrough on the cutting edge, whereby the separating edge is formed into a rounded edge.

One in the published patent application DE 197 48 407 A1 Punching device described is provided for the outer trimming or for the punching out of openings (referred to here as inner regions) in bumpers made of thermoplastic material.

The sharp separating edge between the opening and the surface of the bumper, which is produced during punching, is reshaped with the punching tool. This should be prevented errors in a subsequently applied paint layer. To reshape the cutting edge, a fillet mold corresponding to the surface contour of the bumper extending throat profile is provided, which is placed in one operation with the punching on the breakthrough limiting separating edge. In the area of the throat profile, the punching tool has a heating device, so that the separating edge can be reshaped and rounded by localized hot pressing.

In one in the published patent application DE 10 2004 004 194 A1 described Method are introduced by means of a rotating cutting circular perforations (here holes) in a painted plastic bumper. In a subsequent process step, the separation surface of the opening formed during cutting is reshaped on the painted side. For this purpose, an embossing tool rotating along the parting surface is provided, which touches on the separating edge of the parting surface during rotation with a rolling or sliding embossing element. Under the entry of mechanical energy, the plastic is softened and the separating edge permanently plastically deformed. Depending on the design of the embossing element, the separating edges can be provided with convex or concave radii or chamfers. The existing lacquer layer is reshaped together with the plastic and thus retained.

In the published patent application DE 10 2013 100 420 A1 a method for producing a polymeric automotive component is disclosed. The shell component is initially produced by injection molding. Subsequently, at least one breakthrough in the shell component is produced with any separation process. At the resulting separation edge of the generated breakthrough, a radius is impressed with a stamping tool. For this purpose, the embossing tool is guided under pressure along the cutting edge of the opening, so that at the separating edge forming and smoothing is achieved by flow of the polymeric material. The vehicle component may have already been painted prior to the production of the breakthrough or before the embossing of the separating edge, wherein the lacquer layer is formed during embossing with.

Common to all of the aforementioned prior art documents is that the separating edge formed during the production of an opening and thus a respective adjacent area of the visible surface and the separating surface is finished, so that the separating surface meets the aesthetic requirements in the visible range of the trim component mounted as intended on a vehicle , In this case, the separating edge and thus the adjacent region of the separating surface is formed into a smoothed edge. For cladding components, the already before introducing breakthroughs with a surface coating, eg. As a lacquer layer were provided when forming the cutting edge is always the risk of damage or detachment of the surface coating or a Vorschädigung the surface coating, which can not withstand a subsequent exposure to environmental influences permanently.

In the aforementioned Offenlegungsschrift DE 10 2005 048 295 A1 a method and an apparatus for producing a breakthrough in a surface-coated, in particular painted component made of a polymer material are described. The component is first heated and pre-punched on the side provided with a lacquer layer (visible side), initially only 80% of the area of the opening being produced, so that bearing surfaces for an embossing device are preserved, which are finally removed. Subsequently, the embossing device is placed on the component and a breakthrough limiting component portion formed together with the paint layer to an edge. Finally, the opening of the aperture is finished punched to the final size, which is made after the edge forming the dimensional accuracy of the breakthrough. The dividing surfaces produced during pre-punching and final punching are not directly connected to the reshaped edge enclosing the aperture and are no longer visible after inserting an attachment into the aperture at least from the visible side. The disadvantage is that the cladding component and the paint layer are stretched locally during the edge deformation, which can cause damage. In addition, a large number of individual process steps are required to carry out the process. The fact that two punches are provided for the production of a breakthrough and that all tools and the workpiece are heated, is also expected from an increased device complexity.

The object of the invention is to find a less expensive process for producing a cladding component with at least one breakthrough.

It is also the object of the invention to modify a trim component with at least one breakthrough so that it is suitable for easy retrofitting with attachments.

This object is achieved for a method for producing a cladding component made of plastic with at least one opening for receiving an attachment, wherein the opening is enclosed by a molded edge adjacent to a visible surface of the cladding component. The cladding component is produced in a molding process by prototyping, wherein along an imaginary circumference of the at least one aperture a recess opposite the visible surface is formed depression and wherein the edge outside the imaginary circumferential line, enclosing the recess forms. Subsequently, the cladding component is separated in a separation process along the imaginary circumferential line in the recess, wherein a forming the at least one breakthrough separation surface.

The separation process can take place in all or some of the recesses in the factory before installation on a vehicle or at any time after installation on the vehicle in a workshop. So z. B. no or only a few add-on parts are used in the trim component and additional or even attachments are retrofitted later. The latter presupposes that before the separation process is carried out, which then takes place only after delivery to a dealership or to a customer in the dealership or a workshop, a surface coating of the cladding component takes place.

Advantageously, the recesses are each made as a self-contained groove of constant depth. If the cladding component has a visually identical surface as the attachment, it can not be determined, at least by cursory observation, whether there is only one depression or a breakthrough with an attached attachment.

Alternatively, the depressions can be made as trough-shaped recesses of constant depth.

For a cladding component with at least one opening for receiving an attachment, wherein the cladding component has a visible surface and the at least one opening is formed by a separating surface, the object is achieved in that the separating surface is arranged lowered relative to the visible surface and from one to the visible surface educated urformed edge is enclosed.

The separation surface is based on the visible surface below the edge.

After inserting an attachment in the breakthrough, wherein the attachment terminates in a plane with the visible surface or only slightly below, the parting surface is covered by the attachment. The attachment acts as if framed, which remains unaffected by the separation process. It is therefore equally possible to introduce the breakthroughs or just a portion of the openings before or after the surface coating.

The trim component according to the invention is particularly advantageous for use on vehicles that are to be individually equipped with attachments before selling or after sale to a customer.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments. In the accompanying drawings show:

1 a basic structure of an injection-molded trim component with recesses provided for breakthroughs,

2a a first embodiment of a recess in a sectional view,

2 B a breakthrough, made in a trim component with a recess according to 2a in a sectional view,

3a a second embodiment of a recess in a sectional view and

3b a breakthrough, made in a trim component with a recess according to 3a in a sectional view.

In 1 is a trim component produced in the first process step by prototyping 1 shown in plastic after the prototypes. The prototyping of the panel component 1 is preferably carried out in an injection molding process.

This in 1 The trim component shown is a bumper, as is typically installed on motor vehicles, in a view with a view of a visible surface 2 ,

In the visible area 2 become in the prototypes several opposite the visible surface 2 lowered depressions 3 molded, one of which is shown in an enlarged view.

The wells 3 are, an imaginary circumference line 7 a breakthrough 5 including, in the trim component 1 formed. The course of the imaginary circumference lines 7 each depends on the shape of attachments that later in the breakthroughs 5 should be mountable. In 1 are the imaginary perimeters 7 circular and provided for receiving cylindrical distance sensors. The imaginary circumference lines 7 but can also have any other shapes. They are closed in any case.

The opposite the visible surface 2 lowered depressions 3 form outside the imaginary circumference 7 a border 4 out of the depression 3 encloses. The edge 4 creates a shaped transition between the visible surface 2 and the depression 3 ,

In a subsequent separation process is at least in one of the wells 3 the panel component 1 along the imaginary circumference 7 separated, creating a breakthrough 5 is formed. The separation process can be any known separation process, such as stamping, milling, sawing or cutting. Cutting by means of a laser is particularly advantageous since it is flexible and flexible in the cutting guide. The separation surface resulting from the separation process 6 is how in 2 B shown, preferably perpendicular to the edge 4 adjacent visible surface 2 arranged, so the breakthrough 5 takes a cylindrical shape and the edge 4 as close as possible to a later used attachment adjoins. The interface 6 can also to the visible surface 2 be inclined, as in 3b shown, so the breakthrough 5 assumes a cone-shaped shape, which creates more space for a male attachment.

The depression 3 can be within the imaginary circumference 7 have any depth, down to zero, since in a subsequent separation process along the imaginary perimeter 7 the panel component 1 is separated, that is, within the imaginary circumference 7 lying material of the cladding component 1 is cut out and there is a breakthrough 5 , limited by the separation surface introduced during the separation process 6 ,

An advantageous embodiment for a recess 3 is in 2a and 2 B shown.

The depression 3 here represents a trough-shaped or plate-shaped recess formed by a bottom and the peripheral edge 4 , The imaginary circumference 7 is here at the transition between the ground and the edge 4 so the edge 4 after creating the breakthrough 5 to the then resulting interface 6 borders. The transition between the ground and the surrounding edge 4 does not have to be as sharp as in 2a shown, so also a small paragraph between the interface 6 and the soil is created, as in 3a and 3b shown.

The depression 3 as they are in the 3a and 3b is shown, is a second advantageous embodiment of the recess 3 , It represents here a recess in the form of a closed groove. Nothing changes for the subsequent step of the separation. It could only be for the design of the trim component 1 be of interest. Are z. B. the attachments with a same coating as the trim component 1 later, at least at a glance at the visible surface 2 of the panel component 1 not to realize if only one depression 3 or a breakthrough 5 can be seen with an attached attachment.

A coating of the cladding component 1 can be done before, but also after the separation process. Advantageously, the coating takes place before the separation process, so that the cross-sectional mass of the breakthrough 5 remain unchanged. Because the dividing surfaces 6 are no longer visible after the onset of an attachment, no high demands are made on the surface quality, so they in the last step in the production of the trim component 1 can be created and require no mandatory rework or coating.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

trim component

2

Visible surface (of the trim component 1 )

3

Depression (opposite the visible surface 2 )

4

Edge (the depression 3 circumaural)

5

breakthrough

6

Parting surface (of the breakthrough 5 )

7

imaginary circumference (of the breakthrough 5 )

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102005048295 A1 [0001, 0014]
• DE 102005002014 B4 [0008]
• DE 19748407 A1 [0009]
• DE 102004004194 A1 [0011]
• DE 102013100420 A1 [0012]

Claims (7)

Method for producing a cladding component ( 1 ) made of plastic with at least one breakthrough ( 5 ) for receiving an attachment, wherein the breakthrough ( 5 ) from one to a visible surface ( 2 ) of the cladding component ( 1 ) adjacent shaped edge ( 4 ) is enclosed, characterized in that the cladding component ( 1 ) is produced in a molding process by prototyping, wherein along an imaginary circumference ( 7 ) of the at least one breakthrough ( 5 ) one opposite the visible surface ( 2 ) lowered recess ( 3 ), whereby the edge ( 4 ) outside the imaginary circumference ( 7 ), the deepening ( 3 ), and then the cladding component ( 1 ) in a separation process along the imaginary circumference ( 7 ) in the depression ( 3 ), whereby one of the breakthrough ( 5 ) forming interface ( 6 ) arises. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that prior to performing the separation process, the cladding component ( 1 ) is coated. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that after the production of the trim component ( 1 ) of the attachment in the at least one breakthrough ( 5 ) is used. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the depression ( 3 ) represents a self-contained groove. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the depression ( 3 ) represents a trough-shaped recess. Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the recess ( 3 ) has a constant depth. Cladding component ( 1 ) made of plastic with at least one breakthrough ( 5 ) for receiving an attachment, wherein the cladding component ( 1 ) a visible surface ( 2 ) and the at least one breakthrough ( 5 ) of a separating surface ( 6 ) Is formed, characterized in that the separating surface ( 6 ) opposite the visible surface ( 2 ) is lowered and from one to the visible surface ( 2 ) formed urformed edge ( 4 ) is enclosed.

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