FR2837417A1 - Mould for vehicle panels of composition material has upper half-mould able to move vertically and rotate through 180 degrees relative to lower half - Google Patents

Abstract

Mould (10), comprising lower (14i) and upper (14s) halves with surfaces shaped to form the required panel between them, has the upper half able to move vertically relative to the lower one and capable of rotation through 180 degrees so that its molding surface faces upwards. The movement is controlled by two vertical and motorized guide columns (28) with synchronized operation, and the opening of the mould can be assisted by power cylinders.

Description

the head of the sonotrode (14) moves relative to the elements to be bonded.

  "Improved mold for the production of parts made of composite materials, molding lines and molding installation comprising such lines" The present invention relates to the technique of serial molding of laminated and composite elements, and in particular the

  low pressure molding with pressing.

  The invention thus relates in particular to the technology of resin injection molding, known as RTM (Resin Transfer Mouiding) molding, which is for example used for the production of

  o structural panels used in the automotive industry.

  A schematic example of the use of this technology is for example described and represented in the document

EP-A-0.618 857.

  The production of a part requires several molding operations or stages which each require a specific mold. It is thus necessary to have at least one last

  mold for the final molding operation with resin injection.

  It is also generally necessary to have an o other mold for the production of a preform, of shape and dimensions generally similar to those of the final part, which is a reinforcing element or skeleton which, after its production and beforehand in the final molding operation, is

  placed in the final mold, like an insert.

  Each mold, in known manner, comprises a lower half-mold and an upper half-mold which is displaceable relative to the lower half-slit to allow in particular the opening and closing of the mold, each half-mold

  with a hollow and / or raised imprint.

  o Each molding step or operation requires opening the mold in order to carry out different operations such as depositing a coating ("gel coating ,?) on the impressions, placing reinforcing elements such as by example a "mat" of glass fiber fabric or a sheet of prepreg material, etc. and, of course, the extraction of the preform or

  of the final part out of the corresponding mold.

  When the parts to be produced are large, the manipulations of each half-mold, in particular of the upper half slab, are complex and difficult to produce and they result in a large footprint, at least equal to twice the surface area of the lower half-mold which is

generally fixed.

  In addition, turning the upper half-mold 180 ° so that its imprint is turned upwards for a

  improved accessibility is a delicate operation requiring.

hoists or equivalent means.

  In addition, each lower half-mold or upper half-mold is specific to a specific molding operation, which results in a multiplication of the number of molds, and therefore in investments that are all the more important as the number of

  different pieces to be made is great.

  In order to remedy these drawbacks, the invention proposes a mold of the type mentioned above, for the production, zo by resin injection, of large composite parts, in particular of structural panels of a motor vehicle, characterized in that the mold half

  upper is mounted movable vertically with respect to the half

  lower mold, between a closed lower position in which the impressions facing the two half-molds delimit between them a cavity or mold impression, and a high open position in which the impression of the upper half-mold is

  turned downwards and extends generally horizontally

  above the footprint of the lower half-mold, and in that, in its high position, the upper half-mold is capable of pivoting 180 around a horizontal axis to occupy a position

  high back in which in which half footprint

  upper mold is facing up.

  Thus, in accordance with the teachings of the invention, each mold is in the form of a space-saving molding station on which all the interventions are

greatly facilitated.

  According to other characteristics of the mold: - it comprises at least two vertical columns for guiding the displacements of the upper half-mold, means for guiding the vertical sliding of the upper half-mold along the columns, and com m oyers m year of vertical displacements o of the upper half-mold; - Advantageously, each of the guide columns is a motorized column which carries the upper half-mold, and there are provided means for synchronizing the movements of the columns whose motorization is for example electric; - The vertical sliding guide means of the upper half-mold carry elements with respect to which the upper half-mold is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis so as to be able to occupy its two generally horizontally opposite high positions, open and inverted o respectively ; - The upper half-mold is capable of occupying an inverted lower position in which in which it is located near the lower half-mold and in which the imprint of the upper half-mold is turned upwards; - The mold has cylinders to assist in opening the mold; - each half-mold has heating means

  and or cooling the mold half.

  In order to be able to reduce the costs of design, manufacture and use of the molds, in particular by reducing investment, each half-mold has a main part forming a base or base, and a removable functional part which is attached to the base. and one side of which

  external constitutes the trap of the half-mold.

  Each mold is thus of modular design, each base of a half-mold being capable of receiving functional parts of different types, in order to produce a type of mold determined according to the nature of the molding operation to

s realize.

  The transformation of a mold to pass from a molding operation of one type, to a molding operation of another type is particularly easy by being carried out by simple replacement of the functional parts of the half-molds, these o replacements being made very easy at each molding station due to the design according to the invention of each

mold or molding station.

  The bases or bases are standardized elements of which there is a range determined according to the dimensions of the parts to be produced and which can be very rigid by being produced in the form of frames or boxes.

  metallic, for example in aluminum foundry.

  The invention also provides a molding line for the production by grinding by injection of resin of parts made of o large composite materials, in particular of structural panels of a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a series of molds of a same type in accordance with the teachings of the invention, and in that it comprises means for filling the cavity of each mold, or for placing: s elements in the cavity, or for coating impressions, which are mounted longitudinally mobile ie iong de

  the line, to work from mold to mold.

  It is thus possible to produce a production line comprising a series of molding stations of the same type on which the various operations are carried out with great simplicity and thanks to reduced investments insofar as the molds are fixed and in measurement o the operational means to be implemented are mounted movable along the molding line, for example in the form of a structure

rolling on the ground or suspended.

  Said mobile operational means comprise, for example, a mold confinement cabin to the right of which the cabin is located, in particular for deposit operations.

  spray or spray coatings.

  Finally, the invention proposes an installation for the production by injection molding of resin of parts made of large composite materials, in particular of structural panels of the motor vehicle, of the supporting type,

  for the realization of each piece, at least.

  - A first mold for molding a preform, in accordance with the teachings of the invention; - And a last associated mold for molding the part by resin injection, in accordance with the teachings of the invention and between the two half-molds from which a preform has been previously placed; characterized in that, for the production of several pieces, the installation comprises a first longitudinal line of o first molds and a last longitudinal line of last

  molds parallel to the first line.

  A first mold and a last mold for the production of a specific part are preferably aligned transversely to allow the transfer of the preform from a

mold to another.

  The installation may include at least one intermediate line of intermediate molds conforming to

teachings of the invention.

  Each line of molds is produced in accordance with

so teachings of the invention.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will appear on reading the following detailed description for the

  understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which: FIGS. 1A to 1 F are six similar views which represent, each in a different state, a mold or molding station which is represented schematically and in top perspective by three quarters ; - Figure 2 is a schematic view in cross section through a vertical median plane of the molding station of Figure 1B; - Figure 3 is a schematic top view of a molding workshop equipped with a molding installation o comprising parallel molding lines in accordance with

teachings of the invention.

  In the description which follows, we will adopt as

  limiting u vertical orientation V, long itud i nal L and transverse

T as shown in the figures.

  Identical, analogous or similar items will be

  designated by the same reference signs and numbers.

  A mold 12 shown in FIGS. 1A to 1F and in FIG. 2 belongs to a molding station 10 which essentially consists of a mold 12 proper in two parts and by

  o means for guiding the upper part of the mold.

  More specifically, in known manner, the mold 12 comprises a lower part or lower half-mold 14i and an upper part or upper half-mold 1 4s which are complementary so, in the closed position and as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 2, delimit a functional cavity

internal molding 16.

  For this purpose, each lower half-mold 1 4i and each upper half-mold 14s has a lower cavity 18i and upper 1 8s respectively, the two cavities being

  o formed in hollow and / or in relief in a complementary way.

  According to one aspect of the invention, each lower indent 18i and upper 18s is the face or external surface of a molding block, lower 20i and upper 20s respectively, which is a functional piece attached removably and removable on a base or lower base

  22i and higher 22s respectively.

  Each base 22i, 22s is here, by way of example, produced in the form of a hollow parallelepiped box delimited by a side wall 24i, 24s of rectangular outline and by a bottom 26i '26s so as to be able to receive a block of molding 20i, s. Each molding block 20i, 20s is fixed in the corresponding base 22i, 22s by any suitable means, not shown in

e the figures.

  In accordance with the teachings of the invention, each half-mold thus has a modular structure which makes it possible, with the same base, to produce a mold 12 of different types depending on the dimensions, shapes and functional specificities

molding blocks used.

  Each molding station 10 is thus also modular insofar as its mold 12 conforms to the teachings

of the invention.

  As can be seen in FIGS. 1A to 1 F. the lower half-mold o 14i is fixed and it rests generally horizontally on the ground 5 while the upper half-mold 14s is a movable half-mold which died movable in vertical sliding by report

to the lower half-mold 14i.

  To this end, the molding station 10 here comprises two vertical guide columns 28 which are parallel and transversely opposite while being disposed on either side of the mold 12. The two guide columns 28 are each adjacent to a longitudinal face 30i of the base 22i, and they extend so vertically upwards. El carry the dem imou the upper su 14s with the possibility of controlling the vertical displacements of the latter, up and down, relative to the lower half-mold 14i by guiding the upper half-mold 14s so that all of its movements are made above the

lower half-mold 14i.

  To this end, the guide columns 28 are for example two motorized guide columns with electric motorization sold by the company FACOM under the reference PONT AZUR 2 COL. 66444g140B), the motor control being synchronized so that the upper half-mold 1 4s remains generally horizontal during its movements of

go up and down.

  o The invention is not limited to this embodiment, the

  number and type of columns may vary.

  it is for example possible to provide four simple guide columns arranged at the four corners of the mold 12, and drive means independent of the guide columns,

  constituted for example by jacks.

  According to one aspect of the invention, the upper half-mold 1 4s is pivotally mounted, relative to the guide columns 28, about a horizontal and transverse pivot axis AA. o The pivot axis AA is vertically movable with the upper half-mold 14s, that is to say that the upper half-mold 1 4s can pivot, in both directions and at least, when the half-mold upper mold 14s is in its extreme high position (illustrated in FIGS. 1 B to 1 E), and this in order to occupy two opposite angular positions in each of which ie upper half-mold 1 4s is generally horizontal. In a first horizontal position illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1 B. the impression 1 8s of the molding block 20s is oriented downwards opposite the impression 1 8i of the molding block 20i while, in the other opposite horizontal position illustrated in FIGS. 1 E and 1 F. the imprint 1 8s of the half-mold

  upper 14s is oriented upwards.

  The means of articulation of the upper semi-mold 1 4s, with respect to the guide and drive columns 28, are not shown in detail on the figures. They can in particular include two sections 32 of rod or shaft with articulation carried by the columns and around which the peripheral radre

  of the upper half-mold 14s is pivotally mounted.

  Ii is also provided for locking means in position of the upper half-mold 14, around the axis A-A, in one or

  the other of the two opposite horizontal angular positions.

  o Or, may also provide means for motorizing

  pivoting of the upper half-mold 14s around the axis A-A.

  The series of FIGS. 1A to 1. It illustrates an example of use and implementation of the molding station 15 which has just been described.

  s In FIG. 1A, the mold 12 is closed, for example for the.

  molding of a reinforcement preform or for a step of

  final molding with resin injection into the molding cavity.

  From this position, it is possible to open the mold by moving the upper half-mold 1 upwards to reach the position illustrated in FIG. 1B in!

  upper mold 14s is in the upper curerte upper position.

  In order to facilitate opening after a molding step, in addition to the motorized guide columns 2B, the mold 12 can

  include these cylinders, not shown, for opening!

  In the open position as shown in FIG. 1B, it is

  of course possible to empty "or to fill,> the mold 12.

  It is also possible to intervene inside the mold 12, for example to clean and / or to deposit a coating on the external face of the internal imprint 18i. Thanks to the design of the mold according to the invention, similar procedures for the 3rd upper half-mold 14s are made more flexible by modifying the position <:: n cu. cIemi-mold upper 14s, so that [upper imprint 18s solent oriented upwards as iQustrA the nigure 1 E. The change of poshion and odentaBon of the upper half-mold 1 4s by pivoting around the axis AA is progressively Ulustrd by the three successive gu [es 1C 1 E.

  / \ end to further facilitate interventions on the half

  superior mold 14s, is possible, like UlusA Ia ngu F,

  to bring this Lci into the low, turned down position.

  This position is particularly advantageous when Fon wants to modify the mold 12 by changing the block of

  20s top molding to be replaced by another.

  once these 1Minds opArstions, the mold is reestablished in its poshn of Egum 1B in lacquer it is for a

new molding opArstion.

  it is therefore no longer necessary to have complete and separate molds to make two successive stages of molding. This is, for example, the case when the panel has two strains between them which is interposed with a preform in the form of a polyurethane foam core. The invention makes it possible to deposit a modular structure of a muffonchon mold, a first pair of soft blocks of which allows the foam core to be resized, and one of which is made of molding blocks which makes it possible to resolve the breakdown nna1 by iechon. of resin around the foam core

previously rdaNsA.

  Each half-mold can be equipped with heating and / or temperature regulation means, as well as bending or positioning systems, these different means being carried by the base or base and accessories, the C8S Achant, by

  AlAments of assoclAs molding blocks.

  We represent Is ngure 3 a perfechonnde molding instsUstion which is equipped with a molding steNer 40 which comprises, by way of nonlimiting example, t [ols parallel lines of molding

42 ', 42 "e1 42"'.

  Each gene composes a mold soda according to nnveion which is generally aligned according to an LL gene. All the molds in the same line are of the same type, - which allows to erect a 6 m mold

same structure.

  For example, the 1 gold molds of the first gene 42 'allow each to dance a reinforcement skeleton each for the rdaUsa110n of a P1 dA1ermlnde plate, the lOr' molds of the second lntermAdlake 42 "permeMen1 each of rdsUser the foam molding around the skeleton previously installed in the first gene 42 \ e1 the molds 1 1- of 18 1roisiAme line 42 "'allows me to carry out the final molding operation with the lnlechon of su10ur from the core of renfod moussA on Is lne

intermAdisire 42 ".

  Preferably, the first molds necessary for the same piece are sllgnds transversely to facilitate

  zo opArsLons of 1 transfer1 from one gene to the next.

  Each gene comprises a movable equipment 44 \ 44 \ and 44 "'respectively that it is mounted rolling in both directions along the corresponding molding gene without being able to occupy a position of beam at the dm of each station or mold

of the considered molding line.

  Mob # e equipment allows, for example, to deposit a coating layer while preferably

  designed in the form of an Atanche mobUe cabin.

  MOBILE EQUIPMENT WITH AVO, AS IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING TECHNICAL INQUIRIES, MOVE HAVING HEAVY AND BULKY MOULS TO SENSE SUCCESSFULLY RIGHT

  of a fixed equipment, for example dniec110n.

  LateNer can of course have only one type of molding station. La Ugne is then ideal for rdaNser a first campaign of realization of reinforcement skeletons or foam cores. It is then configured by replacing the molding blocks, to carry out a campaign

  molding with resin injection Solon the RTM process.

2837417 '

Claims (15)

  1. Mold (10) for the production, by resin injection, of parts (Pj) of large composite materials, in particular of motor vehicle structural panels, of the type comprising a lower half-mold (14i) and a half upper mold (14s) which is movable relative to the lower half-mold (14i) to allow in particular the opening and closing of the mold (10), each half-mold (14i, 14s) comprising an imprint (1 8i, 1 8s) recessed and / or raised, o characterized in that the upper half-mold (14s) is mounted moviie vertically with respect to the lower half-mold (14i), between a closed low position in which the impressions in vis- opposite (1 8i, 1 8s) of the two half-molds (1 4i, 1 4s) delimit between them a cavity (16) of molding, and a high open position in which the cavity (18s) of the half upper mold (14s) is turned downwards and extends generally horizontally above the cavity (1 8i) of the half - lower mold (14i), and in that, in the high position, the upper half-mold (14s) is capable of pivoting 180 around an axis o horizontal (AA) to occupy an upside-down position in which in which the imprint (18s) of the upper half-mold (14s) is facing up.   2. Mold (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least two vertical columns (28) for guiding the displacements of the upper half-mold (14s), means for guiding the vertical sliding of the half-mold upper (14s) along the columns (28), and means for controlling the vertical displacements of the half-mold upper (14s).   3. Mold (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each of the guide columns is a motorized column which carries the upper half-mold (14s), and in that means are provided for synchronizing the displacement of columns.   4. Mold (10) according to one of claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the means for guiding in vertical sliding of the upper half-mold (14s3 carry elements (32) relative to those which the upper half-mold (14s ) is pivotally mounted around a horizontal axis (AA) so that it can occupy its two generally opposite high positions   horizontal, open and returned respectively.   5. Mold (10) according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the upper half-mold (14s) o is likely to occupy an inverted low position in which in which it is located near the lower half-mold (14i) and in which the imprint (18s ) of the upper half-mold (14s) faces upwards   6. Mold (10) according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that it comprises cylinders to aid opening the mold.   7. Mold (10) according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that each half-mold (14i, 14s) comprises, a main part (22i, 22s) forming a base or base, and a removable functional part (20i, 20s) which is attached to the base and one of which external face constitutes   the imprint (18i, 18s) of the half-mold (14i, 14s).   8. Mold (10) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each base (22i, 22s) of a half-mold (14i, 14s) is capable of receiving functional parts of different types, to produce a type of mold (10) determined   depending on the nature of the molding operation to be performed.   9. Mold (10) according to any one of the claims   above, characterized in that each half-mold comprises,   o heating and cooling means for the half   mold. 10. Molding line (42 ′, 42 ″, 42 ″) for the production by injection molding of resin of parts (Pj) of large composite materials, in particular of structural panels for motor vehicles, characterized in that q u'e l le comprises a series of molds (1 0j ', 1 0j ", 10"') of the same type   according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and in that   that it comprises means (44 ′, 44 ″, 44 ″ ″) for filling the cavity of each mold, or for placing elements in the cavity, or for coating the impressions, which are mounted to move longitudinally long (L ', L ", L"') of the line (42 ', 42 ", 42"'), to work from mold to mold.   11. Molding line (42 ', 42 ", 42"') according to the preceding claim o, characterized in that said mobile means (44 ', 44' ', 44 "') comprise a mold confinement cabin (10 ) at right of which is located the cabin.   12. Installation for the production by injection molding of resin of parts (Pj) of large composite materials, in particular of structural panels of a motor vehicle, of the type comprising, for the production of each part (Pj), at least: - a first mold (1 ûj ') for molding a preform,   according to any one of claims 1 to 9;   o and a last mold (10; "') associated with molding the part by resin injection, in accordance with any one of   claims 1 to 9 and between the two half-molds, one of which   preform has been previously implemented; characterized in that, for the production of several parts, the installation comprises a first longitudinal line (42 ') of first molds (10d') and a last longitudinal line (42 "') of   last molds (10d "'), parallel to the first line (42').   13. Installation according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a first mold (1 0j ') and a last o mold (10j "') for the production of a specific part (Pj) are transversely aligned.   14. Installation according to any one of claims   12 to 13, characterized in that it comprises at least one line 2837417 '   intermAdisire (42 ") of intermedial molds (10J") conforming [any of S. 15. lnstananon salon [any of the claims 12 to 14, characterization in that each line of molds (42 ', 42 ", 42"') is filled according to one of the claims 10