WO2006060970A1 - The method of manufacturing of elastomer skin - Google Patents

The method of manufacturing of elastomer skin Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2006060970A1
WO2006060970A1 PCT/CZ2005/000089 CZ2005000089W WO2006060970A1 WO 2006060970 A1 WO2006060970 A1 WO 2006060970A1 CZ 2005000089 W CZ2005000089 W CZ 2005000089W WO 2006060970 A1 WO2006060970 A1 WO 2006060970A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
elastomer
skin
mould
manufacturing
powder
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/CZ2005/000089
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jaroslav Kozak
Jürgen BAUMKER
Original Assignee
Peguform Bohemia, Ks
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 Peguform Bohemia, Ks filed Critical Peguform Bohemia, Ks
Publication of WO2006060970A1 publication Critical patent/WO2006060970A1/en

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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
    • B29C41/00—Shaping by coating a mould, core or other substrate, i.e. by depositing material and stripping-off the shaped article; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C41/02—Shaping by coating a mould, core or other substrate, i.e. by depositing material and stripping-off the shaped article; Apparatus therefor for making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles
    • B29C41/08—Coating a former, core or other substrate by spraying or fluidisation, e.g. spraying powder

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the method of manufacturing of elastomer skin especially for interiors of motor vehicles.
  • the elastomer skin is a part of the interior of the motor vehicle because it is used for covering (lining) of external surfaces of interior panels of the body, for instance for instrument panel (dashboard) .
  • the skin is made of thermoplastic elastomer materials by distributing of the elastomer onto a negative metallic mould.
  • the shape of this mould corresponds exactly with the product to be covered with the skin.
  • the products to be covered may have whatever shape, i. e. even such a shape which includes external surfaces which cannot be rolled out into a plain.
  • thermoplastic elastomer By strewing of the powder of thermoplastic elastomer onto the surface of a pre-heated metallic mould where the powder is melted down and creates via sintering a thin layer called skin.
  • the first two methods mentioned above enable effective manufacturing of elastomer skin only from one material of one colour.
  • the manufactured skin does have only one colour.
  • These methods are not suitable for manufacturing of multi-colour skins because of too large technological difficulties.
  • the third method mentioned above the spraying of liquid reaction mixture, enables spraying of various materials onto the surface of the mould through special masks.
  • the masks cover - in an exact way - the selected areas of the surface of the mould. Consequently the resulting skin can have - on different places - different colours and/or different properties. Nevertheless this method requires a very precise set-up and keeping of technology parameters as well as a more complex production equipment.
  • the invention refers to the method of manufacturing of elastomer skins which are used for covering (lining) of the surfaces of interior panels of the bodies of motor vehicles.
  • the method of manufacturing of elastomer skins according to the invention consists in throwing of thermoplastic elastomer powder in solid state and at normal temperature through a jet onto the surface of a pre-heated negative mould where the elastomer particles stick, melt down and conjoin via sintering and thus create a coherent, thin layer of the elastomer skin. After cooling down the skin adopts the shape and surface texture of the mould.
  • the mould mentioned above has usually a negative shape and a negative surface texture of the product which shall be covered (lined) with the manufactured skin.
  • the mould must be reliably pre-heated over the interval of melting points of the applied elastomer and it must be treated with a separator.
  • the mould is manufactured of a metal but it can be manufactured from another material too.
  • elastomer powder For throwing of particles of elastomer powder towards the surface of the metallic mould some credible methods of applying of powder polymeric materials can be used, for instance common pneumatic guns possibly supported by electrostatic field.
  • the elastomer powder shall be applied until the required thickness of the skin in particular area is reached. Then the mould with the applied layer shall be left to cool down in order to enable the withdrawal of the manufactured elastomer skin off the mould.
  • the solution according to the invention combines the advantages of the actual methods. It preserves the simplicity and controllability of the manufacturing process and equipment and at the same time preserves the ability to use the masks in order to apply more than one elastomer material for single one skin.
  • the solution according to the invention can be used for all kinds of thermoplastic elastomers.
  • An example of possible method of manufacturing of elastomer skins according to the invention is the process of manufacturing of elastomer skins made from vinyl thermoplastic elastomer and determined for covering (lining) of external surface of the instrument panel of the motor vehicle.
  • the metallic mould made of Aluminium alloy has a negative shape of external surface of the instrument panel carrier and the functional surface of the mould is equipped with a negative decorative texture.
  • the mould Before start of application of elastomer the mould shall be - in an oven - pre-heated at the temperature reliably over the interval of melting points of the vinyl elastomer and onto its surface a separator shall be applied in a common way.
  • a common powder spraying gun operated by pressured air and controlled manually or by a robot shall be used for application of the elastomer powder.
  • the powder elastomer shall be applied until the required thickness of the skin is reached. Then the mould with the applied layer shall be left to cool down to enable the withdrawal of the resulting elastomer skin off the mould. After cooling down the skin shall be removed off the mould. Thus the skin is ready to be implemented onto the finished instrument panel carrier.
  • the invention is determined for manufacturing of interior panels of the bodies of motor vehicles.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Moulding By Coating Moulds (AREA)

Abstract

The method of manufacturing of elastomer skins consists in throwing of thermoplastic elastomer powder in solid state and at normal temperature through a jet onto the surface of a pre-heated negative mould where the elastomer particles stick, melt down and conjoin via sintering and thus create a coherent, thin layer of the elastomer skin. After cooling down the skin adopts the shape and surface texture of the mould.

Description

The method of manufacturing of elastomer skin
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the method of manufacturing of elastomer skin especially for interiors of motor vehicles.
Background of the Invention
The elastomer skin is a part of the interior of the motor vehicle because it is used for covering (lining) of external surfaces of interior panels of the body, for instance for instrument panel (dashboard) . The skin is made of thermoplastic elastomer materials by distributing of the elastomer onto a negative metallic mould. The shape of this mould corresponds exactly with the product to be covered with the skin. Thus the products to be covered may have whatever shape, i. e. even such a shape which includes external surfaces which cannot be rolled out into a plain.
Hitherto, the methods used for manufacturing of elastomer skins are based on three different ways of application of the elastomer:
1. By strewing of the powder of thermoplastic elastomer onto the surface of a pre-heated metallic mould where the powder is melted down and creates via sintering a thin layer called skin.
2. By immersing of the surface of a pre-heated metallic mould into a layer of powder of thermoplastic elastomer where the powder is melted down and creates via sintering a thin layer called skin. 3. By spraying of a liquid reaction mixture of components onto the surface of a pre-heated metallic mould where the reaction mixture becomes - via polymerisation process - thermoplastic elastomer {for instance polyurethane-based, see patent No. US 6071619) and creates the elastomer layer called skin. This method enables manufacturing of multi-colour skins.
The first two methods mentioned above enable effective manufacturing of elastomer skin only from one material of one colour. Thus the manufactured skin does have only one colour. These methods are not suitable for manufacturing of multi-colour skins because of too large technological difficulties.
The third method mentioned above, the spraying of liquid reaction mixture, enables spraying of various materials onto the surface of the mould through special masks. The masks cover - in an exact way - the selected areas of the surface of the mould. Consequently the resulting skin can have - on different places - different colours and/or different properties. Nevertheless this method requires a very precise set-up and keeping of technology parameters as well as a more complex production equipment.
Summary of the Invention
The invention refers to the method of manufacturing of elastomer skins which are used for covering (lining) of the surfaces of interior panels of the bodies of motor vehicles.
The method of manufacturing of elastomer skins according to the invention consists in throwing of thermoplastic elastomer powder in solid state and at normal temperature through a jet onto the surface of a pre-heated negative mould where the elastomer particles stick, melt down and conjoin via sintering and thus create a coherent, thin layer of the elastomer skin. After cooling down the skin adopts the shape and surface texture of the mould.
The mould mentioned above has usually a negative shape and a negative surface texture of the product which shall be covered (lined) with the manufactured skin. The mould must be reliably pre-heated over the interval of melting points of the applied elastomer and it must be treated with a separator. Mostly, the mould is manufactured of a metal but it can be manufactured from another material too.
For throwing of particles of elastomer powder towards the surface of the metallic mould some credible methods of applying of powder polymeric materials can be used, for instance common pneumatic guns possibly supported by electrostatic field. The elastomer powder shall be applied until the required thickness of the skin in particular area is reached. Then the mould with the applied layer shall be left to cool down in order to enable the withdrawal of the manufactured elastomer skin off the mould.
Whatever part of the surface of the mould can be covered or disclosed (protected) with respect to the flying particles of the elastomer powder. Thus not only one material but also some more and various materials can be applied step by step to various places of the mould and consequently a skin can be manufactured which possesses - in different places - different properties, for instance different colours.
The solution according to the invention combines the advantages of the actual methods. It preserves the simplicity and controllability of the manufacturing process and equipment and at the same time preserves the ability to use the masks in order to apply more than one elastomer material for single one skin. The solution according to the invention can be used for all kinds of thermoplastic elastomers.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
An example of possible method of manufacturing of elastomer skins according to the invention is the process of manufacturing of elastomer skins made from vinyl thermoplastic elastomer and determined for covering (lining) of external surface of the instrument panel of the motor vehicle.
The metallic mould made of Aluminium alloy has a negative shape of external surface of the instrument panel carrier and the functional surface of the mould is equipped with a negative decorative texture. Before start of application of elastomer the mould shall be - in an oven - pre-heated at the temperature reliably over the interval of melting points of the vinyl elastomer and onto its surface a separator shall be applied in a common way.
For application of the elastomer powder a common powder spraying gun operated by pressured air and controlled manually or by a robot shall be used. The powder elastomer shall be applied until the required thickness of the skin is reached. Then the mould with the applied layer shall be left to cool down to enable the withdrawal of the resulting elastomer skin off the mould. After cooling down the skin shall be removed off the mould. Thus the skin is ready to be implemented onto the finished instrument panel carrier. Z2005/000089
- 5 -
Field of the Application
The invention is determined for manufacturing of interior panels of the bodies of motor vehicles.

Claims

- G -
P A T E N T C L A I M S
The method of manufacturing of elastomer skins characterized by the fact, that a thermoplastic elastomer powder is in solid state and at normal temperature through a jet thrown onto the surface of a pre-heated negative mould where the elastomer particles stick, melt down and conjoin by sintering and thus create a coherent, thin layer of the elastomer skin, whereas after cooling down the elastomer skin adopts the shape and the surface texture of the mould.
PCT/CZ2005/000089 2004-12-07 2005-11-29 The method of manufacturing of elastomer skin WO2006060970A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CZPV2004-1189 2004-12-07
CZ20041189A CZ20041189A3 (en) 2004-12-07 2004-12-07 Method of making elastomer leather

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2006060970A1 true WO2006060970A1 (en) 2006-06-15

Family

ID=35884052

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/CZ2005/000089 WO2006060970A1 (en) 2004-12-07 2005-11-29 The method of manufacturing of elastomer skin

Country Status (2)

Country Link
CZ (1) CZ20041189A3 (en)
WO (1) WO2006060970A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1772247A1 (en) * 2005-10-05 2007-04-11 Benecke-Kaliko AG Method for manufacturing plastic skins
EP2269794A1 (en) 2009-07-02 2011-01-05 RECTICEL Automobilsysteme GmbH Method of making an elastomeric skin and skin obtained by that method

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3570055A (en) * 1969-01-10 1971-03-16 Continental Can Co High speed sinter molding machine
US4009234A (en) * 1973-02-23 1977-02-22 Continental Can Company, Inc. Method for high speed sinter molding
DE2628627A1 (en) * 1976-06-25 1978-01-05 Kernforschungsanlage Juelich Moulded thermoplastic components - mfd. by applying plastic powder to metal body precoated with adhesion-reducing agent
JPS6429443A (en) * 1987-07-23 1989-01-31 Sumitomo Chemical Co Foamable vinyl chloride resin composition and production of skinned foam
US5013508A (en) * 1988-05-14 1991-05-07 Guenther Troester Method for producing elastomer skins as lining material for plastic molded articles such as automobile dashboards
GB2264719A (en) * 1992-01-31 1993-09-08 Welding Inst Spraying onto rotating substrates; coating internal tubular surfaces using exothermic mixture; centrifugal force
GB2284813A (en) * 1993-12-14 1995-06-21 Gore W L & Ass Uk Porous PTFE having a fibrillated surface
DE4425792A1 (en) * 1994-07-21 1996-02-01 Manfred Keppeler Sheet, films and coatings prodn. with micro-porous, etc. structures
JPH11268054A (en) * 1998-03-19 1999-10-05 Nitto Denko Corp Manufacture of resin tubular body
US20040051211A1 (en) * 2002-09-12 2004-03-18 Xerox Corporation Production of seamless belts and seamless belt products

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3570055A (en) * 1969-01-10 1971-03-16 Continental Can Co High speed sinter molding machine
US4009234A (en) * 1973-02-23 1977-02-22 Continental Can Company, Inc. Method for high speed sinter molding
DE2628627A1 (en) * 1976-06-25 1978-01-05 Kernforschungsanlage Juelich Moulded thermoplastic components - mfd. by applying plastic powder to metal body precoated with adhesion-reducing agent
JPS6429443A (en) * 1987-07-23 1989-01-31 Sumitomo Chemical Co Foamable vinyl chloride resin composition and production of skinned foam
US5013508A (en) * 1988-05-14 1991-05-07 Guenther Troester Method for producing elastomer skins as lining material for plastic molded articles such as automobile dashboards
GB2264719A (en) * 1992-01-31 1993-09-08 Welding Inst Spraying onto rotating substrates; coating internal tubular surfaces using exothermic mixture; centrifugal force
GB2284813A (en) * 1993-12-14 1995-06-21 Gore W L & Ass Uk Porous PTFE having a fibrillated surface
DE4425792A1 (en) * 1994-07-21 1996-02-01 Manfred Keppeler Sheet, films and coatings prodn. with micro-porous, etc. structures
JPH11268054A (en) * 1998-03-19 1999-10-05 Nitto Denko Corp Manufacture of resin tubular body
US20040051211A1 (en) * 2002-09-12 2004-03-18 Xerox Corporation Production of seamless belts and seamless belt products

Non-Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
DATABASE WPI Section Ch Week 198910, Derwent World Patents Index; Class A14, AN 1989-074746, XP002370479 *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 013, no. 211 (C - 597) 17 May 1989 (1989-05-17) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 2000, no. 01 31 January 2000 (2000-01-31) *

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1772247A1 (en) * 2005-10-05 2007-04-11 Benecke-Kaliko AG Method for manufacturing plastic skins
EP2269794A1 (en) 2009-07-02 2011-01-05 RECTICEL Automobilsysteme GmbH Method of making an elastomeric skin and skin obtained by that method
WO2011000957A1 (en) 2009-07-02 2011-01-06 Recticel Automobilsysteme Gmbh Method of making an elastomeric skin and skin obtained by that method

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CZ20041189A3 (en) 2006-07-12

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