EP1940259A1

EP1940259A1 - Method of, and arrangement for, producing a fixing means

Info

Publication number: EP1940259A1
Application number: EP06776171A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Axel Schulte
Original assignee: Gottlieb Binder GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Gottlieb Binder GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2005-09-29
Filing date: 2006-07-11
Publication date: 2008-07-09
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-11
Also published as: DE502006003034D1; EP1940259B1; PT1940259E; PL1940259T3; DE102005048215A1; WO2007036252A1; ATE424126T1; US20090077776A1; US8685192B2

Abstract

The method involves forming a carrier structure (10), which is provided with a stem-shaped fixing units (12) which are connected to one another in pairs via an intermediate unit (14) under formation of a cramp-shaped and U-shaped fixing part (16). The stem-shaped fixing units are engaged through the carrier structure. The intermediate unit which extends between the fixing units (12) are arranged on the carrier structure. The fixing part (16) is inserted as a whole into the carrier structure (10), which is designed in the form of a U-shape before insertion. An independent claim is also included for a device for implementing the method for manufacturing a fixing unit in the form of an adhesive closure part.

Description

August 31, 2005 Gottlieb Binder GmbH & Co. KG, Bahnhofstr. 19, 71088 Holzgerlingen

Method and device for producing a fixing object

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a fixed object, for example in the form of an adhesive closure part, comprising forming a support structure which is provided with handle-like fixing elements, at least in pairs via an intermediate element to form a cramped, in particular U-shaped fixing part, connected to each other, wherein the handle-like fixing elements pass through the support structure and protrude beyond this and the intermediate element extending between these fixing elements is arranged on the support structure.

EP 1 047 539 B1 discloses a molding method for producing fastening objects together with a device for carrying out the method. In the known solution, in a first step, a preform member is formed as a support structure in a mold cavity of an injection molding machine defined by first and second parts of a mold. In the pertinent molding process, on one side of the support structure in a variety of handle-like fixing elements are formed and on the opposite back of the support structure is at least formed a connecting means with which the later finished preform member can be defined on other components.

In a further manufacturing step, the first part of the mold is then removed in order to expose an arrangement of the handle-like fixing elements as so-called mold elements, while otherwise the preform member remains as a carrier structure in the second part of the mold. Subsequently, in a subsequent molding process, a permanent deformation of the handle-like fixing elements is caused, for example by using heat and pressure, to generate at the free ends of the handle-like fixing elements head-like closure elements in the manner of a mushroom closure. The number of fixing elements to be mounted on the support structure finds its limits in the known solution where the mold has its corresponding wall boundaries with its mold cavities to be provided for the handle-like fixing elements.

US Pat. No. 4,290,174 discloses a generic method and device for producing a fixed object. In the manufacturing method shown in Fig. 6 of the US patent, two belt-like support structures are unwound opposite to storage rolls and fed to a carrier with two opposite drivable carrier belts with upper and lower run. By means of a yarn feeding device with a plurality of channels, a corresponding multiplicity of monofilament threads are fed to said conveying and transporting device and connected alternately by means of two stapling devices of the thread to the warmed film-like carrier structures, in that case the monofilament threads run alternately between the two carrier film webs the pertinent web material is pressed. Within the conveying and transporting device, the film webs are then guided opposite to each other along the upper and lower run as a carrier structure, which have the laid monofilament thread between them and are held together in such a way. After passing through the conveyor and

Transport device is a longitudinal cutting device to cut approximately centrally the strained between the carrier structures respective monofilament approximately centrally, so that then there are two separate support structure webs, which are aufwickelbar for further processing on removal rollers. The respective web-like support structure is then characterized in that cramping, in particular U-shaped fixing parts are circumferentially fixed in the structure with surrounding material proportions, so that only the stem-like fixing elements protrude from the support structure, which in the rest after the cutting process and before winding by means a Anlämmeinrichtung be brought into the entangled head shape. However, the alternating pressing or molding of the monofilament at the entrance of the conveyor and transport device leads to problems of process safety, so that overall the pertinent manufacturing process should be difficult to control.

The known Festlegegegenstände serve in particular to form a releasable adhesive closure in conjunction with a further fixing part, which is provided for example on its upper side with a loop-shaped structure by the hook elements engage under the head parts of the stielarti- gene fixing elements, to such a variety of Öff - Allowing and closing operations. These locking elements are regularly used in the clothing and diaper industry; However, there are also increasing technical applications, be it in the field of cable connectors, be it in the automotive or other gen vehicle industry in order to be able to specify appropriate components on vehicle structures.

Based on this prior art, the invention has the object, a method and an associated apparatus for producing a Festlegegegenstandes such that high process reliability with high production quality for the product achieved and a high level of production speed is ensured to the manufacturing costs to lower. A related object solves a method for producing a Festungsgegenstandes with the features of claim 1 in its entirety and an apparatus for performing the method with the features of claim 8.

The invention is characterized by the introduction of the respective fixing part as a whole in the support structure, which is cramped thereto as a molded part prior to introduction, in particular U-shaped, with a kind of shooting device with very high production speeds the respective fixing part with the support structure in Connection brings. Despite the surprisingly high production speeds to that effect, it is surprising to one of ordinary skill in the art of making fastener fasteners that it obtains very high product quality with negligible reject rate.

If the support structure to be provided with the cramped, in particular U-shaped fixing parts is still soft, that is to say insofar at least in the partially plasticized or doughy state, it is possible for the fixing parts to be formed in the closed basic structure of the support, preferably from corresponding plastic material. to shoot in order to achieve such a nearly one-piece determination. Preferably, however, it is provided that a support structure which is inherently fixed for the passage of the stalk Tert holding elements is provided with recesses between which at least partially transverse recesses extend to receive the respective intermediate element, which open to the support structure to the outside. In the pertinent embodiment then the support structure is already finished extruded or sprayed with their mentioned recesses and the fixing parts are then introduced as a finished component shot-like in the support structure. In that regard, it would also be possible to introduce the fixing parts still partially plasticized in the support structure and only finally cure there. In the case of the pertinent method, the carrier structure is then provided on its one front side with a plurality of fixing elements in the manner of an "I" structure and insofar the product produced in this way can be used as an intermediate product for any further manufacturing methods, but it is preferably provided under heat or pressure to provide the free stem ends of each locating member with a head or hook structure so as to produce a mushroom-shaped fastener member forming a fastener member with a corresponding loop material or fleece of a corresponding fastener element in that regard, then also the possibility to let them interact with a corresponding mushroom closure material in which the fungi of the one closure part in the interstices of the fungal material of the other Closes eils to close the closure releasably engage.

In the apparatus according to the invention for carrying out said method, the latter is provided with an infeed part which feeds the cramped, in particular U-shaped fixing parts as a whole to the carrier plate in a forward feed position and can be provided with a further securing part in a rear magazine position. Similar to nem weft apparatus then the cramp-shaped fixing part is brought from the magazine position to the feed position and thus injected the fixing part to the respective intended position in the support structure.

Further advantageous embodiments of the solution according to the invention are the subject of the other dependent claims.

In the following, the method according to the invention and a device for carrying out the method will be explained in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment according to the drawing. This show in principle and not to scale representation of the

1 shows the basic structure of the manufacturing device,

Figures 2 and 3 in a perspective front view of a plate-like support structure; once without, once with stick-like fixing elements,

4 shows a section along the line I - I in Figure 1; shown for a recess of the support structure,

5 shows a side view of a U-shaped fixing element,

6 shows a section along the line II-II in FIG. 7 with a connection means arranged at the rear, FIG.

7 shows the rear perspective view of a closure plate, viewed in the direction B on the object of Figure 6; but without a pin-like connection means. The method according to the invention is used to produce a fixing object, as it is not shown completely completed by way of example in FIG. A pertinent fixed object may, for example, be embodied as an adhesive fastener part of an adhesive fastener, as it has become widely known under the brand name "burdock." The method according to the invention first requires the formation of a support structure 10 which is provided with handle-like fastening elements 12 (see FIG. 5 and 5, the peg-like fixing elements 12 are connected in pairs to one another at their base via a transversely extending intermediate element 14. In this way, a cramped, in particular U-shaped fixing part 16 is formed Whole, wherein the reason (not shown in detail) a fixing part 16 could also have more than two handle-like fixing elements 12 in the manner of a multi-toothed body, in which the respective further fixing element transversely to the image plane of Figure 5 to the intermediate element 14, for example, with another Zwischenele ment that emerges from the drawing plane would be to be connected. In the following, however, the solution according to the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the two-bar structure according to FIG.

The respective fixing part 16 may be formed according to the illustration of Figure 1 is rather U-shaped, but also V-shaped; However, preference is given to an embodiment according to the illustration according to FIG. 5, in which the two projecting, stick-like fixing elements 12 pass at right angles into the intermediate element 14. Also, in the initial state of product production, the free ends 18 of the fixing elements 12 have not yet been formed, so that overall the fixing elements 12 form cylindrical extensions. As the device representation of Figure 1 shows, the pertinent locking members 16 are stored in superimposed magazines in a magazine position 20, wherein the simpler representation because of the stacking arrangement seen only in the direction of the Fig.1 is reproduced for the stack of fixing parts 16 shown above. From the lower magazine position 20, a clamping, in particular U-shaped, fixing part 16 can be removed by means of a tongue-shaped feed part 22 and directed onto the carrier plate 10 along the axial direction X into a feed position (not shown). When reset delivery part 22 in the magazine position 20 as shown in FIG. 1, then a magazine-mounted fixing part 16 can then slip and reaches a position according to the illustration of Figure 1, in which again a supply to the support plate 10 is possible. In this way, the feed member 22 moves back and forth for a production process according to the arrow A in Figure 1.

The plate-like support structure 10 is provided for the passage of the handle-like fixing elements 12 with recesses 24 in a double-hole arrangement (see Section 4), between which extends in pairs to receive the intermediate element 14 of the fixing part 16, a transverse recess 26 which on the free back of the support structure 10 opens into the open. As illustrated in particular in FIG. 4, the transverse recess 26 is perpendicular to the two spaced-apart recesses 24. In order to achieve a good introduction of the cramp-like fixing parts 16 coming from the back 28 of the support structure 10, the transverse recess 26 widens by means of conically extending boundary walls 30, which leads less steeply in the sense of a guide into a conical intermediate wall region 32 of the longitudinal recesses 24, which in turn its free end, which opens at the front 34 of the support structure 10, a cylindrical, stabilizing paragraph for the free end region of the two fixing elements 12 has. In this way, with the recesses 24, 26 referred to, the "threading" of the fixing elements 12 into the support structure 10 is achieved and the Further, after fixing the fixing part 16 is securely pre-positioned on the support structure 10.

In order that the feed device (infeed part 22) can provide all the recesses 24,26 in the support structure 10 with assignable cramp-like fixing parts 16, activation of the support structure 10 is necessary such that it is displaceable in mutually perpendicular directions in accordance with the double-arrow representations Y and Z such as to achieve the supply via the line X to the respective opening in the support structure 10. It would also be possible to move the feeding device when the plate is stationary or to ensure both the carrier structure and the feeding device for the equipment of the carrier structure 10 with fixing parts 16. The feeding device with feed part 22 shown in FIG. 1 can provide the carrier structure 10 with fixing parts 16 in a weft-like sequence, with high aiming precision, so that not only a very fast production process can be realized, but also process errors and reject rates are reduced. Thus, the described manufacturing process can be operated very inexpensively. Also, a plurality of shooting apparatuses, not shown, for one or more support structures 10 may be used in juxtaposition.

Are all fixing parts 16 introduced into the support plate as a support structure 10, the free handle ends 18 as shown in FIG 3 before, on the front side 34 of the support structure 10. This front can, according to the illustration of Figures 2 and 3 be provided with a rectangular, in particular square placement field; However, other geometrical configurations are also conceivable here. In particular, the carrier structure 10 could also be designed in the manner of a foil-like band or the like. If the handle-like fixing elements according to FIG. 3 are provided at the end with a hooking element, such as For example, if a hooking mushroom 36 (cf., Fig. 5) is provided, it suffices to heat up or start the free ends 18 of the stems 12, and because of the surface tension of the plastic material, these then form a head structure according to the hooking mushrooms 36 according to FIG. Additionally or alternatively, an independent mold device (not shown) may be provided, which causes the shaping of the free ends 18 of the stems 12, so that in addition to mushroom-like structures, the formation of conventional closure hooks. Like. Possible would be possible. Since the pertinent production process steps are known, for example, by FIGS. 3 and 4 of EP 1 047 539 B1 together with the associated text passages, this will not be discussed further here. In principle, however, it is also possible to deliver the closure article according to FIG. 3 without interlocking elements in the manner of an intermediate product to the processing industry for all-purpose further use.

So that the mentioned fixing parts 16 do not unintentionally leave the support structure 10 with its recesses 24, 26, for example due to falling out, they are adhesively bonded to the support plate 10 by means of a suitable adhesive material. But it is also possible, as shown in Figures 6 and 7 by means of a closure plate 38 via clip connection means 40 with clip connections 42, the edge opposite in the wall region of the support structure 10 (see Fig .. 2 and 3) are attached to verclippen. Preferably, it is provided to glue the fixing parts 16 both in the support structure 10 and in addition, in particular in order to create a clean seal to the outside, put on the end plate 38. The pertinent carrier plate 38 can, as shown in particular in FIG. 6, be provided rearwardly with at least one connection means 44 which enables latching of the composite of closure plate 38 with support structure 10 to third parts, for example to vehicle parts, with at least two opposing latching parts 46 , In such a way, the fixed objects, for example on a roof area of a motor vehicle, could be applied in an island, to which the headliner would then be securely fixed in place by means of corresponding fixing elements, for example in the form of loops, attached to the headliner, to form an adhesive closure part.

It is still within the scope of the invention, the support structure 10 teilplastifiziert without recesses 24,26 form, then in the manner of Schusskrampen the Festlegeteile 16 permanently in the structure of the support plate einzuschießen. It is also possible to produce double-acting fastener parts, provided that, not shown, from both sides into assignable recesses, the fixing parts 16 einschießt so that they project with their free end portions 18 on both the front 34 and on the back 28 can.

Instead of the device according to FIG. 1, it may further be provided to obtain the respective fixing part 16 from a plastic monofilament element, which is fed in line or filament form from a storage device (not shown) to a shaping zone of the feed device, which first then applies the monofilament wire transformed into the cramp-shaped fixing part 16, in order then to enable the introduction of the fixing part in the support structure 10 in the next step. Even with the pertinent configuration could be achieved very high production speeds. It goes without saying that when a support structure 10 is equipped with the fixing parts 16, this is the loading device leaves and a new carrier plate is supplied as a support structure 10 of the feed with the fixing parts 16. In that regard, the use of a Magaziniereinrichtung is then not necessary.

With the device according to the invention and the associated method can be preferably thermoplastic materials process well, the plate-like support structure 10 preferably consists of a good injection-moldable material. In principle, however, it is also possible to provide a metal mold of raw material with cramp-like fixing parts 16, consisting of a readily processable plastic, such as, for example, polypropylene or polyamide, or of a readily malleable metal material.

Claims

Patent claims

Anspruch [en] A method of making a fastener article, for example in the form of a fastener fastener, comprising: forming a support structure (10) provided with stick-like fastener elements (12) which at least in pairs via an intermediate element (14) to form a cramp, in particular U-shaped fixing part (16) are interconnected, wherein the handle-like fixing elements (12) pass through the support structure (10) and protrude beyond this and between these fixing elements (12) extending intermediate element (14) on the support structure (10) is arranged , characterized by the introduction of the respective fixing part (16) as a whole into the carrier structure (10), which for this purpose is formed as a molded part prior to insertion, in particular U-shaped.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the support structure (16) for the passage of the handle-like fixing elements (12) with recesses (24) is provided between which extend to receive the respective intermediate element (14) transverse recesses (26), which lead to the support structure (10) to the outside.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least partially the free ends (18) of the handle-like fixing elements

(12) are heat treated and / or mechanically deformed to form headed or hooked closure elements (36).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cramped, in particular U-shaped fixing parts (16) with the Carrier structure (10) to produce a composite fused, glued and / or clipped.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support structure (10) formed plate-like and provided with a closure plate (38) is in particular verclipt.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the end plate (38) at least on its side facing away from the support structure (10) side is provided with at least one connecting means (44).

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in particular for the support structure (10) a thermoplastic plastic material is used, which is processable by injection molding bar and that the respective fixing part (16) made of a plastic

Monofilament, preferably formed from a polyamide or polypropylene thread.

8. A device for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a feed part (22), the cramping, in particular U-shaped fixing parts (16) as a whole of the support structure (10) in feeds a forward feed position and which is providable in a rear Magazinierposition (20) with a further fixing part (12).

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that it is provided with a shaping device which consists of a straight plastic monofilament, the cramping, in particular U-shaped fixing part (16), which then by means of the Zustellteils (22) of the support structure (10) can be fed.