Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C41/00—Shaping by coating a mould, core or other substrate, i.e. by depositing material and stripping-off the shaped article; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C41/34—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
  • B29C41/38—Moulds, cores or other substrates
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C33/00—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor
  • B29C33/0038—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor with sealing means or the like
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C33/00—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor
  • B29C2033/0094—Means for masking a part of the moulding surface
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
  • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
  • B29L2031/30—Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof
  • B29L2031/3005—Body finishings

Definitions

• the invention relates to a mask for manufacturing of multicolour elastomer skins by the way of spraying of .a powdered thermoplastics onto the surface of a preheated metallic mould where the powder is be melted down and sintered in the way to create a thin layer of an artificial skin intended for interiors of motor vehicles .
• the elastomer skins do create parts of interiors of motor vehicles. These skins are used for facing (lining) of external surfaces of the inner body panels, for instance facing of instrument panels, door panels, etc.
• the skins are mostly manufactured from thermoplastic elastomers by distributing of them onto a negative metallic mould equipped with a negative surface structure. The shape of this mould corresponds exactly with the product to be covered with the manufactured skin. Thus the products covered with such skin may have even a very complex shapes .
• the mould mostly made from a metal
• thermoplastic materials of different colours and/or properties may be distributed step by step onto different places of the mold in the way to create a skin which may provide different colours and/or properties on different parts of the mould.
• the mask must perfectly suit with the mould and it must provide a proof sealing ability along the whole perimeter in order to prevent contaminating of the covered mold surface by powdered thermoplastics of a non-correct colour.
• the dimensions of the mask and mould are larger, or if their shapes are more complex, it is very difficult to achieve the effects described above.
• the different temperature dilatation (elongation) of the mould and mask as well as changes of their shapes caused by the temperature changes in course of the skin manufacturing process do result in different changing of dimensions and shapes of the mould and mask.
• the border of the mask may partially lose the direct contact with the mould and consequently the sealing effect is over.
• the mask must provide an easy and quick extracting/deflecting from the mould whereby in course of the removal process no excessive powdered thermoplastics may penetrate into the space under the mask.
• the objective is achieved by the means ⁇ f the mask for manufacturing of multi-colour elastomer skins by distributing of powdered thermoplastics onto the surface of a preheated metallic mould according to the invention.
• the invention consists in a mask body which is along the perimeter being in a close contact with the functional surface of the mould equipped with a perimeter groove . An elastic sealing is placed in the groove. Furthermore, the body of the mask is equipped with a inlet transfer canal for supply of pressure air into the space under the body of the mask. Thus some air overpressure may be kept under the mask which aids the sealing effect and - in addition - the pressured air will blow away the excessive powdered thermoplastics in course of extracting/deflecting of the mask .
• the invention consists in a sliding/moveable deposition of the elastic sealing in the perimeter groove whereas an elastic hose is deposited under the elastic sealing and filled with an inner media.
• the elastic sealing may be drifted in a controlled way out of the perimeter groove against the mould surface in order to assure an overall constant sealing pressure even on places where the shape of the mask perimeter have been changed because of tension in the mask as well as because of changing of dimensions of mould and mask in consequence of temperature dilatations .
• the temperature tension in the mask and the consequent dilation and change of the shape of the mask may be limited in a significant way by tempering of the mask which ⁇ ; according to the invention ⁇ may be in an advantageous way implemented by the means of single one or more flow canals enabling flowing through of a tempering medium in order to assure the required temperature of the mask as even as possible.
• the thrust may be - according to the invention - after applying of the mask in an advantageous way accelerated by exhausting of the air (vacuum effect) from the space under the mask via separate vacuum transfer canal.
• An elimination of this thrust may be achieved in a very rapid way by the means of inlet transfer canal supplied with pressure air.
• the invention consists in a body of the mask equipped with at least one sliding/moveable element which leads along a part of the whole sealing line of the perimeter of the body of the mask.
• This sliding/moveable element may be moved between the position where its border is directly in contact with the functional surface of th ⁇ mould - in order to support the sealing effect along the perimeter of the mask - and the position which enables deflecting of the mask off the mould.
• the sliding/moveable element is sealed to the mask too in order to prevent any penetrating of the distributed powdered thermoplastics into the space under the mask.
• the sliding element In the one limit position th ⁇ space under the applied mask is sealed, and in th ⁇ other limit position the sliding element does not prevent nor hinder the applying of the mask on the area to be masked as well as deflecting of the mask, i. e. it prevents collision of the mask with the mould or with any- other adjacent equipment.
• the movement of the sliding part of the mask may be initiated by any suitable equipment
• the body of the mask is - additionally
• FIG. 5 detail section through the mask from Fig. 4 in a position enabling application of the mask onto the mould
• the mask according to the first example of implementation of th@ invention as shown on Fig. 1, 2 and 3 is determined for the process of manufacturing of two-colour skin from a vinyl thermoplastic elastomer, a skin determined for facing of an instrument panel of a personal motor vehicle.
• the process is based on distributing of powdered thermoplastic elastomer onto a hot surface of the mould 2 , which is made from a nickel alloy, where the powder is melted down and sintered in the way to create a continuous layer.
• a part of the surface of the mould 2 is covered with the mask, i. e. where the elastomer of the first colour shall not be applied. After it the functional surface of the mould 2 shall be sprayed with powdered elastomer of the first colour.
• the mask After sintering of this first layer the mask shall be extracted and the mould 2 . shall be covered with a cover containing a filling of powdered thermoplastic elastomer of an other (second) colour. Through a repeated overturning of such vessel the powdered thermoplastic elastomer is applied to the rest hot functional surface of the mould 2. and the sintering of the powder takes place.
• the mask contains the body 1 of the mask made from an aluminium alloy. As shown on Fig. 1, the borders of the body 1 of the mask are shaped according to the shape of the mould 2. following the line of connection each other, whereby the whole perimeter of the body 1 of the mask is equipped with an elastic sealing 3. because the mask must provide a reliable sealing effect towards the mould 2. along its whole perimeter.
• the body 1 of the mask is equipped with an inlet transfer canal 4. providing supply of pressure air into the space under the body 1 at the mask as well as with a vacuum transfer canal 5. enabling low pressure (vacuum) in the space under the body 1 of the mask.
• the mask is tempered by water during the whole manufacturing process. Temperature of this water may be adjusted by a special external equipment.
• the water flows through a flow canal 1_ placed over the surface of the body 1 of the mask in ord@r to achieve the most possible even temperature of the mask after applying of the mask onto the mould 2. Thus the dilatation and changes of the borders of the mask towards the mould 2. are limited to a minimum.
• the borders of the body l of the mask are massive along the whole perimeter to provide sufficient rigidity as well as enough space for perimeter groove 3JL as well as for deposition of an elastic sealing 3. with four edges, the protuberant edges are filled out.
• the elastic sealing 3. is made from silicon rubber. Thus it is capable to master the working temperatures of the mould
• Fig. 3 deposited in a perimeter groove 11 in a sliding/moveable way, and an elastic hose J. is deposited on the bottom of the perimeter groove 3JL just under the elastic sealing J_. Both ends of the hose are on a place out of the mask perimeter connected to a pressure air supply.
• the controlled air pressure of about 1 bar is enough to move the sealing 3. even for about 1 ram out of the perimeter groove H and thus to reach a reliable sealing effect along the whole length of the contact of the mask with the mould 2.- Before deflecting of the mask from the mould 2. it is possible to eliminate the overpressure inside the elastic hose 6..
• the hose J. is also made from silicon rubber.
• Th ⁇ mask according to the second example of implementation as shown on Fig. 4 ⁇ and ⁇ is also determined for manufacturing of two-colour skins made of vinyl thermoplastic elastomer for facing of the external surface of the instrument panel of a personal motor vehicle.
• this elastomer skin is more complex as to shape and colour layout.
• the cavity of the mould 2 is on the place of the head of the instrument panel very narrow.
• the shape of the mould 2 in this area as well as the placing of the dividing line between the two skin colours following the graphic design of the facing of the instrument panel do not allow applying of a one ⁇ piece mask because such mask would be in collision with the mould 2. Therefore a part of the body 1 of the mask is cut away and this cut part is replaced by a sliding/m ⁇ veable element 8..
• the body 1 of the mask with its borders shaped according to the shape of the mould 2 along the line of mutual contact along the whole perimeter including of the sliding/moveable element 8. are equipped with an elastic sealing 3 . made from silicon rubber.
• an elastic sealing 3 made from silicon rubber.
• the sliding/moveable element 8. initiated by a moving mechanism j? - moves to the edge of the mask in to its 0 second limit position, where the sliding/moveable element £ fulfils without any rest th@ part of the perimeter cut away in order to seal the space under the mask as shown on Fig. 6.
• the powdered thermoplastic elastomer of the first colour may be sprayed onto the functional 5 surface of the mould 2 .
• the sliding/moveable element ⁇ of the mask moves back from the edge of the body 1 of the mask and after it the mask is deflected from the mould 2 without collision with any part Qf t ⁇ ie mould 2.
• the invention may be used for manufacturing of interior 0 panels of the body of motor vehicles.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Moulding By Coating Moulds (AREA)
• Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=38179943

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

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Family Cites Families (5)

• 2006
  • 2006-12-20 WO PCT/CZ2006/000092 patent/WO2007071207A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2006-12-20 EP EP06828475A patent/EP1968776A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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