GB2323319A - Location device for locating preformed components in moulds - Google Patents

Location device for locating preformed components in moulds Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2323319A
GB2323319A GB9705765A GB9705765A GB2323319A GB 2323319 A GB2323319 A GB 2323319A GB 9705765 A GB9705765 A GB 9705765A GB 9705765 A GB9705765 A GB 9705765A GB 2323319 A GB2323319 A GB 2323319A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
location device
shaped
sheet
mould
curable resin
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9705765A
Other versions
GB9705765D0 (en
Inventor
Neil John Pitchford
Simon David Farrall
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MG Rover Group Ltd
Original Assignee
MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MG Rover Group Ltd filed Critical MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority to GB9705765A priority Critical patent/GB2323319A/en
Publication of GB9705765D0 publication Critical patent/GB9705765D0/en
Publication of GB2323319A publication Critical patent/GB2323319A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B29C70/00—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts
    • B29C70/04—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts comprising reinforcements only, e.g. self-reinforcing plastics
    • B29C70/28—Shaping operations therefor
    • B29C70/40—Shaping or impregnating by compression not applied
    • B29C70/42—Shaping or impregnating by compression not applied for producing articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
    • B29C70/46—Shaping or impregnating by compression not applied for producing articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles using matched moulds, e.g. for deforming sheet moulding compounds [SMC] or prepregs
    • 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
    • B29C33/12—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor with incorporated means for positioning inserts, e.g. labels
    • 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
    • B29C70/00—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts
    • B29C70/68—Shaping composites, i.e. plastics material comprising reinforcements, fillers or preformed parts, e.g. inserts by incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. inserts or layers, e.g. foam blocks
    • B29C70/86—Incorporated in coherent impregnated reinforcing layers, e.g. by winding
    • 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
    • B29C33/02—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor with incorporated heating or cooling means

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Composite Materials (AREA)
  • Casting Or Compression Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

A location device for a moulding machine comprises a thin sheet of thermoplastics material formed to have a number of open-topped pockets each shaped to grip an article placed therein. In use of the device, preformed components are loaded in pockets of the device which is placed on the lower die of a mould having heated upper and lower complementary dies, a sheet of curable resin material is then placed over the location device and the mould is closed to compress the resin into the desired shape and incorporate the preformed components.

Description

A location device and a method using same This invention relates to the positioning of inserts and reinforcements during the manufacture of a plastics component from a sheet material compound by compressive moulding.
Sheet moulding compound (SMC) is a composite mouldable material normally formed from polyester resin, thermoplastic resin and various fillers or reinforcements such as glass fibre.
To manufacture a component using SMC a two part mould is made to the desired finished shape and the mould is heated to a predetermined temperature of approximately 150 degrees centigrade. The SMC material is then placed in the mould and the two parts of the mould are brought together to compress the SMC material to the desired shape. The combination of temperature and the pressure applied to the mould parts causes flow and then curing of the SMC material.
It is a problem with such known SMC moulding techniques that because of the temperature to which the mould has to be heated it is difficult to place inserts or reinforcing members in the mould cavity as protective clothing or mechanical manipulators have to be used. In addition the time taken to place such members in the mould will often result in an unacceptably long cycle time for the moulding process.
It is an object of the invention to overcome the problems associated with the prior art.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of making an SMC component comprising the steps of:a/ locating one or more components in a location device comprising a thin sheet of thermoplastics material having a number of open-topped compartments therein each of which is shaped to grip a component placed therein; b/ opening a mould having pre-heated upper and lower dies with opposing moulding surfaces that are shaped to produce a desired shape of part; c/ placing the location device onto the lower die; d/ placing a sheet of curable resin onto the location device; e/ bringing the two dies together to compress the curable resin into the desired shape; t separating the two dies; and g/ removing the shaped part from the mould.
The process may further comprise the step of placing a sheet of curable resin material into the mould before the location device is placed therein so that the location device and the components it supports are sandwiched between two layers of curable resin.
The process may further comprise the step of removing the location device from the finished part.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a location device for a sheet mouldable compound moulding machine, the location device comprising a thin sheet of thermoplastics material having a number of open-topped compartments therein each of which is shaped to grip an article placed therein.
The location device may be made by compression moulding.
The location device may be made by vacuum forming.
The location device may be so shaped so as to support at least one article intended for use as a reinforcing member.
The location device may be so shaped as to support at least one article intended for use as a connector means.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Fig. 1 is a pictorial representation of a location device according to a first aspect of the invention.
With reference to Fig. 1 there is shown a location device 10 made from a thin sheet of thermoplastic material. The location device 10 having a central portion 12 bounded by a rim 11. Two open-topped compartments 13, 14 are formed within the central portion 12 by blow moulding. Each of the compartments 13, 14 is shaped to grip a specific article placed therein so that the articles are accurately located with respect to one another and held in the correct orientation. The articles may be held in position by contact with the side walls of the compartments 13, 14 or as shown on Figure 1 fingers 15, 16 are provided to grip the respective articles.
The articles supported by the compartments 13, 14 may be of a type used as a reinforcing component or may be in the form of a component used as an insert in the finished component to which fastening means can be attached.
The location device 10 can either be manufactured by blow moulding directly onto a number of components of the type to be supported which have been correctly orientated and placed in the correct location or may be blow moulded onto a former representing said components. If the components are particularly light or small it is possible to vacuum form the location device rather than use blow moulding but for larger components blow moulding is required due to the extra thickness of the plastic material used to form the location device 10.
The location device 10 is used in the following manner. Firstly the components that are required to be co-moulded as part of the finished part are positioned in their respective compartments in the location device. A compression moulding machine having upper and lower dies with opposing moulding surfaces that are shaped to produce the desired shape of part is prepared for moulding by heating the upper and lower dies.
When the upper and lower dies have reached the desired moulding temperature of approximately 150 degrees centigrade the upper and lower dies are moved apart thereby opening the mould cavity. The location device is then placed into the mould cavity upon the lower die and a sheet of curable sheet moulding compound is placed upon the location device.
The two dies are then brought together to compress the sheet moulding compound causing both flow and bending of the sheet moulding compound.
The heat and applied pressure is such that the curable resin within the sheet moulding compound is soon cured to a state that the finished part has sufficient rigidity to be removed from the mould. The upper and lower dies are then moved apart thereby opening the mould cavity and the finished part is removed from the mould.
If it is required to embed the reinforcing or attaching components within the finished part itself then this is achieved by placing a piece of sheet moulding compound onto the lower die surface before the location device is placed within the mould cavity. This will result in a finished part in which the reinforcing or attaching components and the location device are sandwiched between two layers of the sheet moulding compound.
If the material from which the location device is made is chosen to be compatible with the sheet moulding compound the location device may be left in situ upon the outer surface of the finished part and can be used to provide a protective or decorative finish to the part.
Alternatively the location device can be pressed or formed from a thin sheet of metal which is coated with a release agent such that after moulding of the finished part the located device can be removed from the surface of the finished part and reused.

Claims (10)

1. A method of making an SMC component comprising the steps of:a/ locating one or more components in a location device comprising a thin sheet of thermoplastics material having a number of open-topped compartments therein each of which is shaped to grip a component placed therein; b/ opening a mould having pre-heated upper and lower dies with opposing moulding surfaces that are shaped to produce a desired shape of part; c/ placing the location device onto the lower die; d/ placing a sheet of curable resin onto the location device; e/ bringing the two dies together to compress the curable resin into the desired shape; , separating the two dies; and g/ removing the shaped part from the mould.
2. A process as claimed in Claim 1 in which the process further comprises the step of placing a sheet of curable resin material into the mould before the location device is placed therein so that the location device and the components it supports are sandwiched between two layers of curable resin.
3. A process as claimed in Claim 1 or in Claim 2 in which the process may further comprise the step of removing the location device from the finished part.
4. A location device for a sheet mouldable compound moulding machine, the location device comprising a thin sheet of thermoplastics material having a number of open-topped compartments therein each of which is shaped to grip an article placed therein.
5. A location device as claimed in Claim 4 in which the location device is made by compression moulding.
6. A location device as claimed in Claim 4 in which the location device is made by vacuum forming.
7. A location device as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6 in which the location device may be so shaped so as to support at least one article intended for use as a reinforcing member.
8. A location device as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6 in which the location device may be so shaped so as to support at least one article intended for use as a connector means.
9. A location device substantially as decribed herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.
10. A method of making an SMC component substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB9705765A 1997-03-20 1997-03-20 Location device for locating preformed components in moulds Withdrawn GB2323319A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9705765A GB2323319A (en) 1997-03-20 1997-03-20 Location device for locating preformed components in moulds

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9705765A GB2323319A (en) 1997-03-20 1997-03-20 Location device for locating preformed components in moulds

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9705765D0 GB9705765D0 (en) 1997-05-07
GB2323319A true GB2323319A (en) 1998-09-23

Family

ID=10809557

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9705765A Withdrawn GB2323319A (en) 1997-03-20 1997-03-20 Location device for locating preformed components in moulds

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2323319A (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB465702A (en) * 1935-09-04 1937-05-13 Daniel Swarovski Method of manufacturing articles of jewellery set with stones
GB554628A (en) * 1942-01-06 1943-07-13 Metalastik Ltd Improvements relating to the moulding of rubber and other articles
GB818246A (en) * 1956-09-01 1959-08-12 Jose Jungbecker Improvements in or relating to upholstery nails
GB1173286A (en) * 1966-11-10 1969-12-03 Banbury Buildings Holdings Ltd Positioning of Inserts in Pre-Cast Concrete Articles

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB465702A (en) * 1935-09-04 1937-05-13 Daniel Swarovski Method of manufacturing articles of jewellery set with stones
GB554628A (en) * 1942-01-06 1943-07-13 Metalastik Ltd Improvements relating to the moulding of rubber and other articles
GB818246A (en) * 1956-09-01 1959-08-12 Jose Jungbecker Improvements in or relating to upholstery nails
GB1173286A (en) * 1966-11-10 1969-12-03 Banbury Buildings Holdings Ltd Positioning of Inserts in Pre-Cast Concrete Articles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9705765D0 (en) 1997-05-07

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Date Code Title Description
732E Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977)
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)