DE102018007862A1 - Window frame element, method and machine for its manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

A window frame element (1), in particular an outer shaft strip for a window of a motor vehicle, comprises a rigid support profile (2), at least one elastic profile (3, 5) connected to the support profile (2) by injection molding, and an attached profile profile (8) high-gloss decorative part (9), the decorative part (9) being an injection molded plastic part connected to the elastic profile (5). An injection molding machine for producing the window frame element comprises a first and a second mold (13, 14) which can be brought into contact to form a first hollow mold for the carrier profile (2); a third and a fourth mold (15, 16) which can be brought into contact to form a second hollow mold for the decorative part (9); wherein the second and the third mold (14, 15) can be brought into contact to form a third hollow shape for the at least one elastic profile (3, 5).

Description

The present invention relates to a window frame element for a window of a motor vehicle, preferably, but not exclusively, to an outer shaft strip, and to a method and a machine for producing the window frame element.

An outer shaft strip traditionally forms a lower leg of a window frame in a vehicle side door together with an inner shaft strip. It comprises a rigid support for fastening in the door and at least one elastic profile which clings tightly to the window pane and to an outside of a door panel adjoining the window.

A visible surface of the profile element between the window pane and the outside of the door panel can be formed by the elastic profile. Such a solution is inexpensive, but is often aesthetically unsatisfactory.

Out US 2014/0212621 such a profile element is known, in which a visible surface between the window pane and the outside of the door panel is formed by a film onto which the elastic profile is molded. The film offers the possibility to vary the color of the visible side, but at the same time contains the risk that the visible side becomes unsightly due to tearing of the film or wrinkling in the film when injected or when the profile element is subsequently deformed. The flexibility of the film favors its subsequent detachment from the underlying elastic profile and makes complex protective measures such as covering the edges of the film necessary. Due to the flexibility of the elastic profile underneath, there is also the risk that the film will be perforated from the outside under mechanical influence.

It is also known to use a decorative profile made of metal instead of the film, which is clipped onto the visible side of the profile element in a form-fitting manner. Although this solution is more durable and, due to the possibility of painting the metal, it can also be adapted to various aesthetic requirements; at the same time, it is also expensive and therefore essentially only economical for cars in the luxury segment. In particular, the realization of a reflective surface is not possible with decorative profiles made of comparatively easy to process aluminum, but requires the use of considerably more complex stainless steel to process. The production of a decorative profile with a black, glossy, reflective surface is very complex using conventional techniques and results in large amounts of rejects.

An object of the present invention is to provide a durable profile element that reproduces the appearance of a painted metallic decorative profile at low cost, and to provide means for its production.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the object is achieved by a window frame element, in particular an outer shaft strip, for a window of a motor vehicle, with a rigid support profile and at least one elastic profile connected to the support profile by injection molding, and with a visible side to which a high-gloss decorative part is attached is, wherein the decorative part is an injection molded plastic part connected to the elastic profile.

In contrast to in US 2014/0212621 used film, which has to be flexible to nestle against the wall when the mold is sprayed out, the decorative part can have a higher wall thickness, so that it can distribute external pressure on the underlying elastic profile and thus unyielding and insensitive to mechanical influences becomes.

The cost of manufacturing the decorative part by injection is low, even if high-quality plastics are used for the decorative part.

A rear side of the decorative part connected to the elastic profile can have projections which engage in the elastic profile and thus contribute to an intimate, durable connection with the elastic profile. In particular, if the projections are shaped as ribs, they can also contribute to the rigidity of the decorative part with little use of material.

If the decorative part is injection molded from colored plastic, scratches in the surface of the decorative part, provided that they are not deep enough to penetrate the decorative part, do not lead to color deviations. In this way, wear and tear remains inconspicuous.

According to an aesthetically preferred variant, the decorative part is colored black. A high-gloss black surface can only be achieved with great effort and high reject rates by painting or other surface treatment of a conventional metallic decorative profile and is accordingly expensive.

The need to snap the conventional metallic decorative profile onto the elastic profile and / or the carrier profile leads to restrictions with regard to the shape of the window frame element and makes it necessary to use corner pieces to extend along the vertical and horizontal window frame elements to connect to each other and to which the decorative profile should extend for aesthetic reasons. These restrictions no longer apply when the decorative part is molded on; it is therefore possible to additionally save costs in that a connector for connecting a second window frame element is formed in one piece on at least one longitudinal end of the carrier profile, and the decorative part overlaps with the connector in the longitudinal direction of the carrier profile.

1. a) Inkontaktbringen eines ersten und eines zweiten Formwerkzeugs, um eine erste Hohlform für das Trägerprofil zu bilden, und Ausspritzen der ersten Hohlform;
2. b) Inkontaktbringen eines dritten und eines vierten Formwerkzeugs, um eine zweite Hohlform für das Dekorteil zu bilden, und Ausspritzen der zweiten Hohlform;
3. c) Öffnen der Formwerkzeuge, wobei das Trägerprofil im zweiten Formwerkzeug und das Dekorteil im dritten Formwerkzeug belassen wird,
4. d) Inkontaktbringen des zweiten und des dritten Formwerkzeugs, um eine wenigstens teilweise von dem Trägerprofil und dem Dekorteil begrenzte dritte Hohlform zu bilden, und Ausspritzen der dritten Hohlform, um das elastische Profil zu bilden.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the object is achieved by a method for producing a window frame element as described above, with the steps

1. a) bringing a first and a second mold into contact to form a first hollow mold for the carrier profile and spraying out the first hollow mold;
2. b) contacting a third and a fourth mold to form a second hollow mold for the decorative part, and spraying out the second hollow mold;
3. c) opening the molds, the carrier profile being left in the second mold and the decorative part in the third mold,
4. d) bringing the second and the third mold into contact to form a third hollow mold, which is at least partially delimited by the carrier profile and the decorative part, and spraying out the third hollow mold to form the elastic profile.

In order to fill out the generally elongated hollow molds without errors, it is preferred that the spraying out is cascaded.

Between the injection of the first and second hollow mold on the one hand and the injection of the third hollow mold on the other hand, the second and / or the third hollow mold can be rotated in order to turn them from the first hollow mold and the third towards or from the fourth hollow mold and towards the second .

According to another embodiment of the invention, the object is achieved by an injection molding machine for producing a window frame element as described above
a first and a second mold which can be brought into contact to form a first hollow shape for the carrier profile;
a third and a fourth mold, which can be brought into contact to form a second hollow mold for the decorative part;
wherein the second and third molds can be brought into contact to form a third hollow mold for the elastic profile.

In order to maintain the high-gloss surface of the decorative part, a surface of the third molded part delimiting the second hollow shape should be at least locally polished.

In order to enable efficient production, the second and / or the third molding tool can be designed as a plate, each with a first and a second main side, recesses being left out on both main sides of the plates, each recess on a main side of the plate having an indentation of the same shape is assigned to the opposite main page. So at the moment e.g. the first main side of the second mold cooperates with the third mold to form the third hollow mold, and the latter is sprayed out, the depressions of the second main side are opposite the first mold, so that they can be used without the intermediate rotation of the second mold to the to form the first hollow shape.

In particular, the first (and / or second) hollow mold can be formed simultaneously with the third, so that while the third hollow mold is being injected, the carrier profile and the decorative part can be injected, to which the elastic profile is injected in the next production cycle .

In order to be able to efficiently produce components of a plurality of window frame elements at the same time, the first to fourth mold tools are also expediently movable between an open configuration in which the mold tools do not touch one another and a closed configuration in which the first main side of the second mold tool touches the first mold tool Main sides of the second and third mold touch each other, and the first main side of the third mold touches the fourth mold so that all three molds are closed and can be filled at the same time.

The first molding tool can expediently have a projection which, in the closed configuration, engages in one of the depressions of the second molding tool and in particular lies tightly against the bottom thereof in order to prevent the depression from being completely sprayed out. In this way, the same depression can be used in a subsequent step to inject the elastic profile without the support profile previously sprayed in the first cavity having to be removed from the mold. The fourth can, of course, accordingly Mold tool have a projection engaging in the recess of the third mold.

For the cascaded injection already mentioned, at least one of the molding tools can have an injection distributor running in the longitudinal direction of a hollow mold delimited by the molding tool and a plurality of branch channels staggered along the injection distributor and extending from the injection distributor into the hollow mold, and a shut-off valve is provided in each of the branch channels to control the times from which material is admitted into the hollow mold via the relevant branch channels.

• 1 eine schematischen Querschnitt eines erfindungsgemäßen Fensterrahmenelements;
• 2 eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Abschnitts eines Dekorteils;
• 3 eine Draufsicht auf eine Stirnfläche eines Fensterrahmenelements;
• 4 einen schematischen Querschnitt durch Teile einer erfindungsgemäßen Spritzgussmaschine in Offenstellung;
• 5 einen zu 4 analogen Schnitt in Geschlossenstellung; und
• 6 einen schematischen Längsschnitt durch eines der Formwerkzeuge der Spritzgussmaschine während eines Einspritzvorgangs.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• 1 a schematic cross section of a window frame element according to the invention;
• 2nd a perspective view of a portion of a decorative part;
• 3rd a plan view of an end face of a window frame element;
• 4th a schematic cross section through parts of an injection molding machine according to the invention in the open position;
• 5 one too 4th analog cut in closed position; and
• 6 a schematic longitudinal section through one of the molds of the injection molding machine during an injection process.

1 shows the basic structure of a window frame element 1 , here an outer shaft strip. A stiff, elongated plate-shaped support profile 2nd made of polypropylene, for example, is intended to be installed inside a motor vehicle door just below the belt line. To the support profile 2nd are two elastic profiles, for example made of TPE, molded on, one of which with 3rd designated, from an upper edge 4th of the carrier profile 2nd extends diagonally upwards in order to be installed on the outside of a (in 1 not shown) to lie on. The other elastic profile 5 extends from the top edge 4th roughly opposite to the profile 3rd to together with the support profile 2nd a groove open at the bottom 6 to build. This groove 6 is intended to accommodate the upper edge of an outer panel of the door when installed, so that the profile 5 covered this upper edge outwards and a thin lip 7 at the distal edge of the profile 5 nestles tightly against this upper edge. An inside of the carrier profile opposite the groove 2nd is intended to be attached to a separately manufactured, in 1 Add a dashed-drawn sealing profile that is below the profile when installed 3rd and hugs it through the window pane.

A visible side exposed on the outer skin of the vehicle 8th of the window frame element 1 is through a decorative part 9 made of a rigid plastic with a high-gloss surface. Raw plastics suitable for producing the decorative part are available under the trade name Grilamid from Grivory or Rotec from Romira. The plastic is colored homogeneously, preferably black. Its wall thickness should be at least 1 mm; around the decorative part 9 To be able to manufacture by injection molding without any problems and, in particular, to be able to guarantee complete filling of the hollow mold used, a wall thickness of 2 mm or more is preferred. For the required rigidity of the decorative part 9 A wall thickness of up to 2.5 mm is generally sufficient.

For an intimate connection between the decorative part 9 and the elastic profile 5 to form is the elastic profile 5 facing inside of the decorative part 9 increased by unevenness. 2nd shows an example of such an uneven inside in a perspective view. The unevenness is formed here by ribs protruding from the inside 10th . Ribs 10th on the one hand increase the contact area to the profile 5 because the material of the profile 5 also on the side surfaces of the ribs 10th can adhere; on the other hand they increase - especially in the 2nd Shown as a cross rib structure - the rigidity and thus the mechanical strength of the decorative part 9 .

The frame of a side window in a vehicle door is generally composed of a plurality of window frame elements each elongated along an approximately horizontal or vertical window edge. In principle, each of these elements can carry a decorative part as described above; in particular if such a decorative part is only provided on the outer shaft strip, then it should extend over the entire width of the window and also overlap in the longitudinal direction of the outer shaft strip with vertical window frame elements which connect to the outer shaft strip. 3rd shows a variant of the outer shaft strip, with a connector at one end 11 is formed for a vertical frame element. The connector is here as one over the top edge 4th of the carrier profile 2nd towering, with the support profile 2nd one-piece pin formed between its flanks and the elastic profiles 3rd , 5 a groove open at the top 12th is kept free, so that a vertical window frame element designed as a hollow profile on the pin in the groove 12th can be inserted in an engaging manner. The groove is seen on the finished vehicle from the outside 12th behind the over the entire length of the window frame element 1 extending decorative part 9 hidden.

4th shows in a simplified cross section substantially plate-shaped first to fourth molds 13-16 one for manufacturing the window frame element 1 used injection molding machine in an open configuration. The molds are in this configuration 13-16 in one of the main surfaces of the molds 13 , 16 vertical direction spaced far enough to rotate the dies 14 , 15 about an axis perpendicular to the cutting plane 17th , 18th allow. The molds are also in the main surfaces of the molds 13 , 16 vertical direction in an in 5 Shown lock configuration shown, in the main pages of the molds 13-16 abut each other in pairs.

The first mold 13 has on its main page 19th a shallow depression 20th that at one to the top edge 4th of the support profile to be formed in it 2nd complementary edge by one over the main surface 19th projecting footbridge 21 is limited. The deepening 20th there is a deepening 22 on a main page 23 of the second mold 14 across from. If the molding tools 13 , 14 touch each other in the closed configuration, form the recesses 20th , 22 a first hollow shape from the carrier profile 2nd complementary shape. The extension of the depression 22 is larger than that of the deepening 20th ; however, the bridge prevents 21 by placing the bottom of the recess in the closed configuration 22 touches that deepening 22 when spraying a carrier profile 2nd is filled in over its entire extent. In the representation of the 4th is the deepening 22 with a carrier profile formed in it 2nd shown. One of the carrier profile 2nd unfilled part of the recess 22 will be used later, as will be explained in more detail below, to create the elastic profile 3rd to spray.

The third mold 15 includes a base plate 24th and at least two relative to the base plate 24th movable slide 25th . In 4th is the slider 25th on the fourth mold 16 facing main page 26 of the mold 15 shown in a retracted position in which a recess 27 of the mold 15 is wide open and a head start 28 on the main page 29 of the mold 16 into the recess 27 can indent. In the closed configuration when the main pages 26 , 29 touch, form the depression 27 and the lead 28 one for the decorative part 9 complementary hollow shape. The deepening 27 has a polished inner surface 37 to the decorative part 9 with a smooth, reflective outer surface.

The molding tools 14 , 15 each have a second main page 30th , 31 with the wells 22 , 27 of the main pages of the same shape 22 , 27 . The wells 22 , 27 are placed in such a way that they are rotated around the axis by 180 ° 17th respectively. 18th merge identically. Such a rotation results in the previously facing sides of the molding tools 14 , 15 molded components, ie the support profile 2nd and the decorative part 9 on mutually facing sides of the molds 14 , 15 to lie and rest when the molding tools 14 , 15 be returned to the closed configuration, on opposite sides of a contiguous cavity. The one between the carrier profile 2nd and the decorative part 9 free space forms another hollow shape from to the elastic profiles 3rd , 5 complementary shape. By spraying it with TPE, the components 2nd , 9 to the complete window frame element 1 connected.

In the closed configuration of the 5 there are three hollow molds at the same time, one between the molds 13 , 14 , the second between the molds 15 , 16 , and the third between the molds 14 , 15 and the support profile 2nd and the decorative part 9 that are in the recesses of the molding tools 14 , 15 are held. Thus, while the injection molding machine is in the closed configuration, all three hollow molds can be injected, so that a carrier profile 2nd and a decorative part 9 be created and a window frame element 1 from one carrier profile generated in the previous injection process 2nd and decorative part 9 is completed. The net result is a complete window frame element in every spraying process 1 (or, if the dies have a plurality n recesses on each major side, n window frame members 1 manufactured. Preferably, n = 2 or 4, and the two or four recesses on each main side correspond to the two or four window frame elements that are usually required on the two or four side doors of a motor vehicle.

To the finished window frame element 1 The molds are used to demold 13-16 brought back into open configuration, and that of the mold 14 facing slider 25th is pulled aside. The now empty recesses are then turned by 180 ° 22 , 27 of the molds 14 , 15 again compared to the molds 13 , 16 to lie so that when you return to the closed configuration again to form a support profile 2nd and a decorative part 9 serve. This enables production with a high cycle rate.

6 shows a section through one of the molds, for. B. 14, in one to the axes 17th , 18th parallel direction. In the longitudinal direction of the depression 22 extends alongside this one Injection distributor 32 , from the branch channels 33a , b , ... going out. Each of these branch channels 33 contains a shut-off valve 34 . In the course of an injection process, these shut-off valves 34 opened in quick succession, starting with the shut-off valve 34 the to a longitudinal end 35 the deepening 22 next neighboring branch channel 33a . This is how the deepening begins 22 from the longitudinal end 35 from filling up with plastic melt. While a front 36a the over the branch channel 33a injected plastic in the recess 22 in the direction of a junction of the next branch channel 33b advances, its shut-off valve 34 opened, and over the branch channel 33b injected plastic lies in front of the front 36a and in turn forms a new front 36b . In this way, the entire hollow shape can be filled homogeneously.

It is understood that the above detailed description and the drawings represent certain exemplary embodiments of the invention, but that they are only intended for the purpose of illustration and should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the invention. Various modifications of the described configurations are possible without leaving the scope of the following claims and their range of equivalents. In particular, this description and the figures also show features of the exemplary embodiments which are not mentioned in the claims. Such features can also occur in combinations other than those specifically disclosed here. The fact that several such features are mentioned in the same sentence or in a different type of textual context does not therefore justify the conclusion that they can only occur in the specifically disclosed combination; instead, it can generally be assumed that several of such features can also be omitted or modified, provided that this does not call into question the functionality of the invention.

Reference list

1

Window frame element

2nd

Beam profile

3rd

elastic profile

4th

Top edge

5

elastic profile

6

Groove

7

lip

8th

Visible side

9

Decorative part

10th

rib

11

Connectors

12th

Groove

13

Molding tool

14

Molding tool

15

Molding tool

16

Molding tool

17th

axis

18th

axis

19th

Main page

20th

deepening

21

web

22

deepening

23

Main page

24th

Base plate

25th

Slider

26

Main page

27

deepening

28

head Start

29

Main page

30th

Main page

31

Main page

32

Injection distributor

33

Branch channel

34

Shut-off valve

35

Longitudinal end

36

front

37

Inner surface

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included 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.

Patent literature cited

• US 2014/0212621 [0004, 0008]

Claims (15)

Window frame element (1), in particular outer shaft strip, for a window of a motor vehicle, with a rigid support profile (2) and at least one elastic profile (3, 5) connected to the support profile (2), and with a visible side (8) a high-gloss decorative part (9) is attached, the decorative part (9) being a plastic injection-molded part connected to the elastic profile (5) by injection molding. Window frame element after Claim 1 , in which a rear side of the decorative part (9) connected to the elastic profile (5) has projections engaging in the elastic profile (5). Window frame element according to one of the preceding claims, in which the decorative part (9) is injection molded from colored plastic. Window frame element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the decorative part (9) is colored black. Window frame element according to one of the preceding claims, in which a connector (11) for connecting a second window frame element is formed in one piece on at least one longitudinal end of the carrier profile (2) and the decorative part (9) in the longitudinal direction of the carrier profile (2) with the connector (11 ) overlaps. Method for manufacturing a window frame element according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps a) bringing a first and a second mold (13, 14) into contact to form a first hollow mold for the carrier profile (2) and spraying out the first hollow mold; b) bringing a third and a fourth mold (15, 16) into contact to form a second hollow mold for the decorative part (9) and spraying out the second hollow mold; c) opening the molds (13-16), the carrier profile (2) being left in the second mold (14) and the decorative part (9) in the third mold (15), d) bringing the second and third molds (14, 15) into contact to form a third hollow mold, which is at least partially delimited by the carrier profile (2) and the decorative part (9), and spraying out the third hollow mold to form the at least one elastic profile ( 3, 5) to form. Procedure according to Claim 6 , in which at least one of the hollow molds is sprayed out cascaded. Procedure according to Claim 6 or 7 , in which the second and / or the third hollow mold (14, 15) are rotated between steps a), b) and step d). Injection molding machine for manufacturing a window frame element according to one of the Claims 1 to 5 , with a first and a second mold (13, 14) which can be brought into contact to form a first hollow shape for the carrier profile (2); a third and a fourth mold (15, 16) which can be brought into contact to form a second hollow mold for the decorative part (9); wherein the second and the third mold (14, 15) can be brought into contact to form a third hollow shape for the at least one elastic profile (3, 5). Injection molding machine after Claim 9 , in which an inner surface (37) of the third molded part (15) delimiting the second hollow shape is at least locally polished. Injection molding machine after Claim 9 or 10th , in which the second and / or the third mold (14, 15) can be pivoted between a position facing one another and a position facing the first or fourth mold (13, 16). Injection molding machine after Claim 11 , in which the second and / or the third molding tool (14, 15) is designed as a plate each having a first and a second main side (23, 30; 26, 31), and that on both main sides (23, 30; 26, 31) of the plates are recesses (22, 27), each recess (22; 27) of a main side (23; 26) of the plate being assigned a recess (22; 27) of the same shape on the opposite main side (30; 31). Injection molding machine after Claim 12 , in which the first to fourth molds (13-16) are movable between an open configuration in which the molds (13-16) do not touch each other and a closed configuration in which the first main side (23) of the second mold (14) touches the first mold (13), the second main sides (30, 31) of the second and third molds (14, 15) touch each other, and the first main side (26) of the third mold (15) touches the fourth mold (16) . Injection molding machine after Claim 13 , in which the first molding tool (13) has a projection (21) which, in the closed configuration, engages in one of the depressions (22) of the second molding tool (14) in order to prevent the depression (22) from being completely ejected. Injection molding machine according to one of the Claims 9 to 14 , in which at least one of the shaping tools (13-16) has one of the injection mold (32), which has a hollow mold bounding the mold, and a plurality of branch ducts (33a, 33b, ...) which are staggered along the injection distributor (32) and extend from the injection distributor (32) into the hollow mold, and in the branch ducts (33a, 33b, ...) a shut-off valve (34) is provided.

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