US2169798A

US2169798A - Die

Info

Publication number: US2169798A
Application number: US114350A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred H Haberstump; Andrew J Jarosik
Original assignee: Murray Corp
Current assignee: Murray Corp; Murray Corp of America
Priority date: 1936-12-05
Filing date: 1936-12-05
Publication date: 1939-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1956-08-15

Description

Aug. 15, 1939. .A HAB R 5, 2,169,798

DIE

Filed Dec. 5, 1936 l/ v /6 /Z 2? Z 45 v E E -4 INVENTOR I a i f ziaififr Z552? ATT NEYS.

Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES DIE.

Alfred H. Haberstump and Andrew J. Jarosik,

Detroit, Mich., assignors to The Murray Corporation of America, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application December 5,

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to die structures. More particularly it relates to a novel and improved form of die structureprimarily adapted for the purpose of forming fabric material to a predetermined conformation with respect to a padded backing sheet in order to make up a novel and improved form of inner trim panel construction for automotive vehicle bodies.

In the manufacture of inner trim panels for automotive vehicle bodies it is desired in many instances to produce a novel and attractive decorative surface on said panels in order to materially enhance the appearance thereof. Trim panels of this general character while they may be manufactured by many and various methods generally comprise a backing sheet formed of cardboard or other suitable stiff material to which is adhesively secured a relatively thick non-woven layer of fibrous padding material such, for example, as jute fiber. The padded backing sheet is placed in a press and has the surface thereof cut to provide a plurality of grooves or channels in the surface thereof which channels are generally arranged in a plurality of substantially parallel rows and form therebetween beads or tufts which materially enhance the decorative appearance of the panel as a whole. Trim panels of this general character are generally covered by a layer of Woven fabric finish material which is stretched over the padded surface of the backing sheet and has its marginal edges adhesively secured to the reverse side of the backing sheet in order to provide a neat and attractive article. It is essential that some easy and convenient means be provided for urging this fabric finish material into the grooves formed in the padding material by the cutting knives, and form this padding material to predetermined conformation. The improved die structure of the present invention,

while susceptible for use in many and various other fields is primarily directed to this specific application and is primarily utilized for the purpose of not only forming the fabric finish material to the conformation of the preformed backing sheet but is also utilized for the purpose of applying a certain highly desirable final tension to the fabric finish material as will hereinafter become clear.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a die structure of the character described above in which a plurality of blade members are mounted which blade members serve to engage fabric finish material and urge said fabric finish material downwardly into grooves formed in the padded backing sheet upon which the die operates.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a die structure of the general character in which certain of the blades of the die structure normally project a substantial dis-' 1936, Serial No. 114,350

tance beyond certain of the other blades thereof in order that as the ram of the press descends, a. progressive tensioning of the fabric finish material being operated upon will be obtained.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a die structure having a plurality of blades mounted therein which blades are adapted to engage the work to be operated upon.

The present invention further contemplates the provision of resilient means adapted to engage the rear side of certain of said blades in order to resiliently urge these blades to a position extending substantially beyond the position occupied by the remainder of the blades whereby certain of the blades will engage the Work to be operated upon prior to the engagement of the other blades and after their work has been completed, the resilient means urging these blades forward will be compressed and they will be restored to a position in which their operating edges are substantially in the same plane as the stationary blades of the die.

Many other and further objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become more clearly apparent from the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a die structure embodying the improvements of the present invention and primarily adapted for use in the formation of trim panels for automotive vehicles;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken subsantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1 illustrating the cross-sectional configuration of the die structure and the manner in which the work engaging blades are mounted therein;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through a die press illustrating the improved die structure mounted therein and the manner in which this die engages the work being operated upon;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Fig. 3 illustrating in detail the operation of the die when the ram of the press has completely descended to the bottom of its stroke.

While it will be readily appreciated from the following description of the relatively specific dis closure of the invention as shown in the drawing that the broad inventive concepts presented in this application. are susceptible of substantial modification, and will find broad and practical utility in many and various different fields the specific embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing illustrates a die structure primarily adapted for operating upon inner trim panels.

In the specific form of the invention illustrated in the drawing, a die is shown which is primarily adapted for tensioning fabric finish material over the surface of a preformed em- .surface 8 secured thereto.

bossed backing sheet. While the particular die structure shown may be formed various different ways, the specific form shown includes a rectangular framework 5 made of metal or other suitable material. This framework is retained in assembled relation by means of a sheet metal plate 6 which is of a configuration substantially the same as the framework and is secured thereto. The framework serves to mount a die member l which is preferably of composite construction including a wood body portion and a sheet metal This die member 1 is adapted to seat upon the backing plate 6 and when so seated it will be seen that the surface of the metallic face plate 8 lies substantially even with the surface of the frame member 5.

The frame member 5 has the opposite lateral side thereof rabbeted to provide a projecting flange 9 which is adapted to be engaged by a shouldered retaining strip [U which serves to retain the die structure as a whole in position upon a ram l2 of a press with which it is associated. The strips l may conveniently be secured into position by means of screws or bolts H passing upwardly therethrough and locking the strips to the ram of the press.

The actual forming portions of the die comprise a plurality of stationary blades l l formed of strips of sheet metal which blades are preferably seated in slots in the die member l, and in the form of the invention shown, these blades are disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation. In the specific construction shown, a movably mounted blade is located intermediate the blades I 4 and in substantially parallel relation with respect thereto. At suitable intervals along blade recesses are provided in the body of the die member which recesses serve to house compression coil springs l6 which are confined between the base of the blade l5 and the backing plate 6 consequently urging the blade l5 into an outward position whereby it will normally extend from the die body a substantially greater distance than the stationary blades I4. The blade 15 may be provided adjacent its base portion with suitable transversely extending members l8 which serve to limit the outward movement of the blade l5 within a predetermined range. The movable blade I5 is preferably so constructed and arranged that when the spring [6 is compressed a maximum amount, the outer edge of the blade I5 will lie in substantially the same plane as the outer edges of the blades [4 which are mounted on either side thereof.

The die member is adapted to cooperate with a press having a flat or plane surface bed upon which the work to be operated upon is placed in predetermined position. In the particular construction shown in the drawing, the die member is adapted for tensioning fabric finish material over the surface of a padded backing sheet and conforming the fabric finish material to the configuration of the fabric backing sheet with which it is associated to provide an ornamentally surfaced inner trim panel for use in automotive vehicles. This trim panel includes a relatively stiff cardboard backing sheet to the upper surface of which has been secured a relatively thick layer of loosely felted non-woven fibrous padding material 26. This padding material has been cut or embossed along predetermined lines to provide channels or recesses 21 therein which channels or recesses lie in a configuration sub.-

stantially the same as the configuration of the blades l4 and I5 of the die structure of the present invention. A section of woven fabric finish material 28 is stretched across the surface of the padded backing sheet and has its marginal edges secured to the reverse side thereof. Preferably prior to the mounting of the fabric finish material upon the padded backing sheet, liquid adhesive material, such, for example, as latex, is sprayed into the bases of the channels 21 in order that when the structure as a whole is operated upon by the improved die member the fabric finish material will be secured in the bases of these channels.

The trim panel is then placed in position upon the bed 20 of the press and as the ram of the press descends, the projecting blade IE will first urge the fabric finish material into the central of the three channels thus tensioning the fabric finish material throughout the surface of the trim panel and the parts will then appear in substantially the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing. As the ram of the press descends to the bottom of its stroke, the blade I5 will serve to compress the spring i6 and blades I4 will engage the fabric finish material and urge the same into the bases of the channels 2'! thus securing a neat and uniform tensioning of the fabric finish material throughout the entire surface of the trim panel.

This construction has been found to be particularly satisfactory inasmuch as the progressive action of the blades serves to eliminate wrinkles and at the same time insures a substantially uniform tensioning of the fabric finish material throughout the entire surface of the sheet.

While but one specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, many other and further modifications thereof falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims will become clearly apparent to those skilled in the art- What is claimed is:

l. A die member for forming inner trim panels including a support member, three like blades disposed in substantially parallel relation. extending from said support member, the central of said three blades being movably mounted with respect to said support member and adapted to project therefrom a distance greater than the remaining blades, the remaining blades being rigidly mounted with respect to said support member, and resilient means for urging said central blade into projecting position but permitting it to be retracted relative tosaid other blades to have like pressure applied by said blades in a common plane.

2. A die member comprising a pair of relatively widely spaced substantially parallel metallic forming blades, a movably mounted like blade disposed between said first mentioned blades in parallel relation with respect thereto but spaced therefrom, resilient means for urging said central movably mounted blade to a position projecting beyond said first mentioned blades, and means for limiting the degree of movement of said movably mounted blade to regulate the degree of projection below said other blades, said blade being retractible as the other blades are advanced to have like pressure applied by all of said blades in a common plane.

ALFRED H. HABERSTUMP. ANDREW J. JAROSIK.