JPH1178907A - Manufacture of steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering wheel manufacturing method which prevents burr from generating in molding and does not need subsequent treatment after molding, even if a skin covering the surface of a coated layer of a ring part consists of two kinds of W materials of a leather and a decorative film. SOLUTION: Projecting beams are formed on the molding face of a mold so as to b J[ provide recessed grooves 6a, at which both terminals 8a, 9a bite in the parts adjacent to a leather 8 of a coated layer 6 and a decorative film 9, and a gate, through which a molding material is injected into the mold, is placed on the part of a half divided film material 11 on the lower side of the decorative film 9 in the ring part axial direction. Furthermore, when film materials 10 and 11 are arranged, terminals 10b and 11b made of the film material are placed along the projecting beams toward a ring part core 2 side, and when the leather 8 is arranged, it is arranged so as to cut into the recessed groove 6a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a steering wheel to be mounted on a vehicle, and more particularly to a method of manufacturing a steering wheel mounted on a vehicle. A layer and a skin covering the surface of the coating layer,
Further, the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a steering wheel, the outer skin of which is composed of two types of leather and a decorative film arranged along the ring shape of the ring portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when an outer skin such as leather or wood is provided on the surface of a synthetic resin coating layer in a ring portion gripped during steering of a steering wheel,
It was manufactured as follows (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 3-287664 and 8-310407).

That is, a metal core is set on a mold in an open state in which a coating layer is formed, and an axial direction of a ring portion on a mold surface of the mold (an axis of a steering shaft when the steering wheel is mounted on a vehicle). (In a direction parallel to the direction), set the outer skin in a half-split state on each side and mold-clamp the mold, then inject the molding material into the mold to form the coating layer, and then release the mold. After that, the outer rim was trimmed and manufactured.

However, in such a manufacturing method,
It is suitable only when the outer skin is provided on the entire circumference along the ring shape of the ring portion.

[0005] Because, when leather and, for example, a metal-like decorative film are arranged along the ring shape of the ring portion, before the leather is sewn or the like, the decorative film side must be laid in advance. Each of the ring surfaces is set and clamped on an opposing surface along the axial direction of the ring portion on the mold surface of the mold, and then the molding material is injected into the mold to form the coating layer. However, at the time of molding the coating layer, the molding material penetrates into the surface side of the terminal of the decorative film and generates burrs, so that post-processing such as removing burrs at the site after molding is required. It is.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the outer cover for covering the surface of the coating layer of the ring portion is composed of leather and a decorative film arranged along the ring shape of the ring portion.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a steering wheel which can be formed from different types and can suppress generation of burrs at the time of molding and can minimize post-processing after molding.

[0007]

According to a manufacturing method of the present invention, an annular ring portion includes a core, a synthetic resin coating layer for coating the core, and an outer cover for covering the surface of the coating layer. Wherein the outer skin is composed of two types of leather and a decorative film arranged along the ring shape of the ring portion, and when the cover layer is formed, the core is inserted into a mold in an open state. Along with setting gold, a half-split film material of the decorative film is set on each of opposing surfaces along the axial direction of the ring portion on the mold surface of the molding die, and both edges of the film material are separated from each other. After sandwiching and clamping, a molding material is injected into the molding die to form the coating layer, and after releasing, trimming the edges between the film materials, and further arranging the leather to produce Steering wheel manufacturing method Thus, in a portion of the coating layer adjacent to the leather and the decorative film, a ridge is formed on a mold surface of the molding die so as to provide a concave groove for biting a terminal of the leather and the decorative film. And forming a gate for injecting a molding material in the molding die, in a portion of the film material in a half-split state on the lower side in the axial direction of the ring portion, when setting the film material, the film The terminal of the material is arranged along the ridge so as to face the metal core side of the ring portion, and when the leather is arranged, the leather is cut into the groove to be arranged and manufactured. And

In the case where the decorative film is arranged at a plurality of locations along the ring shape of the ring portion, a plurality of gates for injecting a molding material in the mold are provided in correspondence with the location of the decorative film. It is desirable to arrange them.

[0009]

According to the manufacturing method of the present invention, the mold surface of the molding die is formed so that a concave groove for making the terminal of the leather and the decorative film bite is provided in the coating layer adjacent to the leather and the decorative film. Then, forming a ridge, when setting the film material, the terminal of the film material, along the ridge,
The ring is arranged so as to face the metal core side.

A gate for injecting the molding material in the molding die is arranged at a portion of the film material in a half-split state on the lower side in the axial direction of the ring portion.

Therefore, when the molding material is injected from the gate into the cavity of the molding die, the molding material flows in the mode toward the core metal at the terminal portion of the film material and flows toward the leather disposing portion side. Also, a flow that generates burrs on the surface side of the film material is not generated.

At the time of disposing the leather after molding, the leather is further cut into the concave groove and stitched.
The coating layer is not exposed, and the appearance of the ring portion is not degraded.

Further, since the gate position is located below the ring portion, it is difficult to see even if the coating layer is exposed after molding,
Similarly, the appearance of the ring portion is not degraded.

Therefore, in the method of manufacturing a steering wheel according to the present invention, the outer cover covering the surface of the coating layer of the ring portion is composed of two types of leather and a decorative film arranged along the ring shape of the ring portion. In addition, the occurrence of burrs during molding can be suppressed, post-processing after molding can be made as unnecessary as possible, and the appearance of the ring portion can be prevented from deteriorating.

When the decorative film is arranged at a plurality of locations along the ring shape of the ring portion, a plurality of gates for injecting the molding material in the molding die are provided in correspondence with the location of the decorative film. If this is done, the flow of the molding material at the end portion of each decorative film during molding does not become a flow that generates burrs on the surface side of the decorative film, so that deburring work on each decorative film surface is unnecessary. can do.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the steering wheel W manufactured in the embodiment includes an annular ring portion R gripped during steering, a boss portion B disposed at the center, a boss portion B and a ring portion R. And four spokes S connecting the two. A core bar 1 that connects the components to each other is provided, and an airbag device M is disposed above the boss B.

The core metal 1 includes a ring core metal 2 made of a steel pipe disposed on the ring portion R, a boss core metal 3 disposed on the boss portion B, and a spoke disposed on each spoke portion S. And a cover portion 3b wrapping around a steel boss 3a connected to a steering shaft (not shown) of the boss portion core bar 3, and a ring portion core bar 2 connected to the cover portion 3b. The wrapped spoke portion core metal 4 is formed of a die-cast metal such as an aluminum alloy. The core 1 is manufactured by setting the boss 3a and the ring core 2 in a die-casting die, and die-casting the covering portion 3b and the spoke core 4.

The ring portion R includes a ring portion core 2, a ring portion core 2 and a spoke portion core 3 near the ring portion core 2.
And a cover layer 7 made of a synthetic resin for covering the surface of the cover layer 6 and an outer cover 7 covering the surface of the cover layer 6. In the case of the embodiment,
The coating layer 6 is made of urethane. Note that the color of the coating layer 6 is determined by a decorative film 9 (film material 10.
After the trimming of 11), a color similar to that of the decorative film 9 is set in consideration of the case where the coating layer 6 is visible from between the film materials 10 and 11.

The outer skin 7 is composed of two types, a leather 8 and a decorative film 9 which are continuously arranged along the ring shape of the ring portion R. The leather 8 is made of natural leather or synthetic leather, and is disposed on left and right portions of the ring portion R, and the decorative films 9 are disposed before and after the ring portion R. In the case of the embodiment, the decorative film 9 has a thickness of 0.1 mm.
It is formed of a synthetic resin film such as polyester or acrylic which is made to be metallic by evaporating a metal such as aluminum to have a thickness of about 2 mm.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, each decorative film 9 is composed of film materials 10 and 11 which are vertically divided into two parts along the axial direction of the ring portion R. As shown in FIG.
The edges 10a and 11a are formed by trimming.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a molding die 20 for molding the coating layer 6 of the steering wheel W has a ring portion R.
Split mold 21 divided into two in the vertical direction along the axial direction of
The mold surfaces 21a and 22a which can form the cavity 20a for molding the coating layer 6 are formed on each of the split dies 21 and 22. Each mold surface 21a ・ 2
Reference numeral 2a denotes a concave portion having a substantially semicircular cross section, which can form the coating layer 6 in a half-split state.

A gate 20b for injecting the molding material 16 of the covering layer 6 is provided substantially at the center of the arrangement surface of each decorative film 9 (film material 11) on the mold surface 22a of the lower split mold 22. (The two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4
reference). The film material 11 also has an opening 11c corresponding to the gate 20b.

Further, in each of the mold surfaces 21a and 22a, a concave groove for making the terminals 8a and 9a of the leather 8 and the decorative film 9 bite into a portion of the coating layer 6 adjacent to the leather 8 and the decorative film 9. 6a (see FIG. 6),
A ridge 23 is formed. Each ridge 23 is formed in an annular shape in the circumferential direction of the cross section of the ring core 2.

Next, the manufacturing process of the steering wheel W will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 2, the core metal 1 is set on the forming die 20 in the open state, and the mold surfaces 21a of the split dies 21 and 22 are set. .Ring R at 22a
On the opposing surfaces along the axial direction of the decorative film 9.
The film materials 10 and 11 in the half-split state of No. 9 are set.
When the film materials 10 and 11 are set, the terminals 10b and 11 of the film materials 10 and 11 are set as shown in FIG.
b is arranged along the ridge 23 toward the ring core 2.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, both edges 10a and 11a of the film materials 10 and 11 are sandwiched and clamped. Then, as shown in FIG.
To form the coating layer 6.

Thereafter, the mold is opened and released, and as shown in FIG.
6A, the surface of the decorative film 9 is coated with a transparent protective film 25 having a thickness of about 0.5 mm such as a polyester resin and adhered to the exposed portion of the coating layer 6 as shown in FIG. Apply the agent 26 and
If the leather 8 is sewn and disposed around the coating layer 6 while a is cut into the concave groove 6a of the coating layer 6, the steering wheel W can be manufactured. The sewn portion of the leather 8 is the boss 3a in the ring portion R as in the conventional case.
Side, which is the inner peripheral side.

In the manufacture of such a steering wheel W, as shown in FIG.
When injected into the cavity 20a of the mold 20 from
The molding material 16 is a terminal 10b of the film material 10/11.
At the portion 11b, the film material 10 flows toward the leather-arranged portion side in a mode toward the ring core 2 side.
A flow that generates burrs is not generated on the surface side of 11.

At the time of disposing the leather 8 after molding, as shown in FIG. 6, the leather 8 is further cut into the concave groove 6a and sewn, so that the coating layer 6 is not exposed and the ring 8 is not exposed. The appearance design of the portion R is not deteriorated.

Further, since the gate 20b of the molding die 20 is located below the ring portion R, it is difficult to see even if the coating layer 6 is exposed after molding. Do not lower.

Therefore, in the manufacturing method of the steering wheel W of the embodiment, the outer cover 7 covering the surface of the coating layer 6 of the ring portion R is formed by the leather 8 and the decorative film 9 arranged along the ring shape of the ring portion R. Even if it is composed of two types, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of burrs at the time of molding, to eliminate post-processing after molding as much as possible, and to prevent the appearance of the ring portion R from being deteriorated.

Even if the decorative film 9 is arranged at two places along the ring shape of the ring portion R as in the embodiment, the gate 20b for injecting the molding material 16 in the molding die 20 is used as the decorative film. If it is arranged at two locations corresponding to the locations of 9.9, the flow of the molding material 16 at the terminal 9a of each decorative film 9 during molding causes burrs on the surface side of the decorative film 9. Since such a flow does not occur, the deburring work on the surface of each decorative film 9 can be unnecessary.

The decorative films 9 may be arranged not at two places as in the embodiment, but at three or more places if the leather 8 is interposed therebetween. The gate 20b may be arranged at a substantially central portion of the film material 11 below the film material 11.

Further, in the embodiment, the decorative film 9 is exemplified by a metallic film, but other various films such as a woody material can be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a steering wheel manufactured according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a mold opening state of a molding die used in the embodiment, and corresponds to a II-II part in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view showing a closed state of the molding die.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a molding material of the same mold at the time of injection, and corresponds to a section IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state at the time of trimming of the film material of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 2. Ring core bar, 6: coating layer, 6a: groove, 7: outer skin, 8: leather, 8a: terminal, 9: decorative film, 9a, 10b, 11b: terminal, 10.11: film material, 10a 11a: rim, 16: molding material, 20: molding die, 20b: gate, 21a, 22a: mold surface, 23: ridge, W: steering wheel, R: ring part.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An annular ring portion comprising: a metal core; a synthetic resin coating layer that covers the metal core; and a skin that covers the surface of the coating layer. A leather and a decorative film arranged along the ring shape of the portion, and when molding the coating layer, the core metal is set in a mold in an open state, and the mold surface of the mold is formed. After setting the film material in a half-split state of the decorative film on the opposing surfaces along the axial direction of the ring portion, clamping and clamping both edges of the film material, the molding material is removed. A method for manufacturing a steering wheel, wherein the coating layer is formed by injecting the coating layer into a molding die, releasing the mold, trimming edges of the film material, and disposing the leather. With said leather in layers Forming a ridge on the mold surface of the mold so as to provide a concave groove for making the leather and the terminal of the decorative film bite in a portion adjacent to the decorative film, and forming the mold in the mold. A gate for injecting a material is disposed at a portion of the film material in a half-split state on the lower side in the axial direction of the ring portion, and at the time of setting the film material, a terminal of the film material is aligned with the protrusion. A method of manufacturing a steering wheel, comprising: arranging the leather so as to face the metal core of the ring portion; and arranging and arranging the leather in the groove when arranging the leather. 2. The decorative film is arranged at a plurality of positions along a ring shape of the ring portion, and a plurality of gates for injecting a molding material in the molding die are arranged corresponding to the positions of the decorative film. The method for manufacturing a steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the steering wheel is provided.