WO2016019799A1

WO2016019799A1 - Injection molding apparatus, injection molding method and vehicle window glass

Info

Publication number: WO2016019799A1
Application number: PCT/CN2015/084754
Authority: WO
Inventors: Junjiang JIN; Ce Shi; Xiaohui Guo
Original assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
Priority date: 2014-08-07
Filing date: 2015-07-22
Publication date: 2016-02-11
Also published as: CN105437456A

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an injection molding apparatus, an injection molding method and a vehicle window glass. The injection molding apparatus is used for forming an encapsulation structure, wherein a bright trim included in the injection molding apparatus has a bended end portion. The injection molding apparatus further includes an inner wall of a molding chamber corresponding to the bright trim; an elastic component is disposed between the inner wall and the bright trim. The injection molding method used for forming the encapsulation structure includes: providing a mold, disposing a bright trim into a molding chamber of a mold, disposing an elastic component between a bended end portion and an inner wall corresponding to the bended end portion to seal a gap between the bended end portion and the inner wall, and injecting a molten encapsulation material into the molding chamber. The vehicle window glass includes a glass substrate and the encapsulation structure formed by the aforementioned injection molding method. Accordingly, the bended end portion of the bright trim may not be stained with the encapsulation material, which improves yield of each encapsulation structure formed.

Description

INJECTION MOLDING APPARATUS, INJECTION MOLDING METHOD AND VEHICLE WINDOW GLASS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to Chinese patent application No. 201410385604.2, filed on August 7, 2014, and entitled “INJECTION MOLDING APPARATUS, INJECTION MOLDING METHOD AND VEHICLE WINDOW GLASS” , the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the automobile field, and more particularly, to an injection molding apparatus, an injection molding method and a vehicle window glass.

BACKGROUND

In order that sealing property of vehicle windows is improved to achieve better quality for mounting vehicle windows on vehicles, an encapsulation structure with a sealing function is generally disposed between a vehicle body and a vehicle window.

Further, in order to improve aesthetic appearance of the encapsulation structure, while manufacturing the encapsulation structure, a bright trim is mounted on the encapsulation structure for ornamentation. Thus, a current encapsulation structure generally includes an encapsulation component, which seals a gap between the vehicle body and the vehicle window, and a bright trim, which covers surfaces of the encapsulation component for decoration.

Since the bright trim and the encapsulation component are generally made of different materials, conventionally the bright trim and the encapsulation component are fixed together usually by an injection molding process to form the encapsulation structure. When the bright trim and the encapsulation component are to be formed as an integral structure by injection molding in prior art, the bright trim is disposed in a molding chamber of a mold, where a decorative side of the bright trim is adhered with an inner wall of the molding chamber, and a molten encapsulation material is injected into the molding chamber of the mold, such that after the encapsulation material cools down, the encapsulation component is formed and adhered with a non-decorative side of the bright trim.

Among encapsulation structures formed by injection molding in prior art, a part of the decorative side of a bright trim may be stained with the encapsulation material which may not be removed easily and thereby affects the aesthetic appearance. An encapsulation structure with such a bright trim generally does not meet production standards, so that the production yield of encapsulation structures may be affected.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, an injection molding apparatus, an injection molding method and a vehicle window glass are required so as to avoid that a decorative side of a bright trim is stained with the encapsulation material during an injection molding process, where the injection molding process is performed to form an encapsulation component and the bright trim as an integral structure.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an injection molding apparatus used for forming an encapsulation structure including a bright trim and an encapsulation component formed as an integral structure is provided, wherein the bright trim may have a bended end portion. The injection molding apparatus may include: a mold with a molding chamber into which a molten encapsulation material is to be injected, wherein the molding chamber may have an inner wall corresponding to the bright trim, wherein the bright trim may be disposed in the molding chamber during the injection molding process is performed, and an elastic component may be disposed between the inner wall corresponding to the bended end portion and the bended end portion of the bright trim so that a gap between the bended end portion and the inner wall may be sealed.

Since the elastic component may be disposed between the inner wall corresponding to the bended end portion and the bended end portion of the bright trim in the apparatus, the elastic component may seal the gap between the bended end portion and the inner wall of the molding chamber. The molten encapsulation material may be kept from flowing into the gap between the bended end portion and the inner wall of the molding chamber when the molten encapsulation material is being injected into the molding chamber, and thus it may guarantee that the bended end portion of the bright trim may not be covered by the encapsulation material. Thus, yield of the encapsulation structure formed may be improved.

Further, the elastic component may have a molten temperature higher than or equal to that of the encapsulation material, which may guarantee that the elastic component may not melt due to the influence from the molten encapsulation material during the injection molding process, and further guarantee the sealing property between the bended end portion and the inner wall of the molding chamber.

Further, the elastic component may have a yield strength not lower than a pressure exerted by the bright trim on the elastic component at the molten temperature of the encapsulation material. In this case, after the injection molding process, the elastic component may recover from deformation so as to extend life cycle of the elastic component. Moreover, permanent deformation due to a force exerted on the elastic component being beyond the yield strength of the elastic component may be avoided. The permanent deformation may otherwise cause a seal failure between a second bright trim and the inner wall of the molding chamber in the following injection moldings.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an injection molding method for forming an encapsulation structure with a bright trim and an encapsulation component formed as an integral structure is also provided. The injection molding method may include: providing a mold which may include a molding chamber having an inner wall corresponding to the bright trim； providing the bright trim which may have a bended end portion； disposing the bright trim into the molding chamber and disposing an elastic component between the bended end portion and the inner wall corresponding to the bended end portion, so as to seal a gap between the bended end portion and the molding chamber； and injecting a molten encapsulation material into the molding chamber.

Since the elastic component may be disposed between the inner wall corresponding to the bended end portion and the bended end portion of the bright trim in the apparatus, the elastic component may seal the gap between the bended end portion and the inner wall, and the molten encapsulation material may be kept from flowing into the gap between the bended end portion and the inner wall after injecting the molten encapsulation material into the molding chamber, so as to guarantee the bended end portion of the bright trim may not be covered by the encapsulation material. Thus, yield of the encapsulation structure formed may be improved.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle window glass is further provided. The vehicle window glass may include: a glass substrate； and the encapsulation structure formed by the injection molding method stated hereinbefore.

Since the bended end portion of the bright trim may not be covered by the encapsulation material in the encapsulation structure formed by the injection molding method stated hereinbefore, yield of the encapsulation structure formed may be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGs. 1-4 schematically illustrate structural diagrams presenting an injection molding apparatus according to one embodiment in the present disclosure；

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a structural diagram presenting an injection molding apparatus according to another embodiment in the present disclosure；

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a structural diagram presenting an injection molding apparatus according to another embodiment in the present disclosure；

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a flow diagram of an injection molding method according to one embodiment in the present disclosure； and

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a structure diagram presenting a vehicle window glass according to one embodiment in the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Among encapsulation structures formed by injection molding in prior art, the encapsulation material, with which a decorative side of a bright trim is stained, may not be removed easily. Via analyzing each component of an injection molding apparatus and each step in an injection molding process, it is found that due to a tolerance between a mold of the injection molding apparatus and the bright trim, a gap may be generated between a bended end portion of the bright trim and an inner wall of a molding chamber of the mold； thus, the molten encapsulation material may flow into the gap easily and adhere to the decorative side of the bright trim during the injection molding process.

In order to clarify the objects, characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In order to solve the problem described in the background, the present disclosure provides an injection molding apparatus used for forming an encapsulation structure including a bright trim and an encapsulation component formed as an integral structure. The encapsulation structure may include: the encapsulation component and the bright trim wrapping the encapsulation component.

In prior art, the bright trim may generally be mounted after the encapsulation component is formed, where the bright trim may wrap the encapsulation component. In other words, the encapsulation component may be formed in advance, and fasteners may be provided on both the encapsulation component and the bright trim. Thereafter, the bright trim and the encapsulation component may be mechanically mounted together via the fasteners so as to form the encapsulation structure. However, this way is time consuming, and extra labor works and costs are required to mount the bright trim and the encapsulation component together.

In the encapsulation structure formed using the injection molding apparatus provided in the present disclosure, the encapsulation component and the bright trim may be formed as an integral structure, and the encapsulation material may be kept from adhering to the decorative side of the bended end portion of the bright trim, where the bended end portion may not be easily scratched.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a structural diagram presenting a bright trim used in an injection molding apparatus according to one embodiment. A bright trim 110 may include a bended end portion 111, where the bended end portion 111 may be used to cover an end of an encapsulation component.

Referring to FIGs. 2 and 3, FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a structural diagram presenting a molding chamber 200 of an injection molding apparatus according to one embodiment, and FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a diagram presenting the bright trim 110 and the encapsulation material disposed in the molding chamber 200.

The molding chamber 200 may be used for being injected by the molten encapsulation material, and the molding chamber 200 may include an inner wall of the molding chamber corresponding to the bright trim 110. When an encapsulation structure is to be formed integrally by injection molding, the bright trim 110 may be disposed in the molding chamber 200, and then the molten encapsulation material may be injected into the molding chamber 200. Referring to FIG. 3, the molten encapsulation material is solidified to form an encapsulation component 100.

In this embodiment, an elastic component 70 may be disposed on the inner wall of the molding chamber 200 corresponding to the bended end portion 111 (referring to FIG. 2) . When the bright trim 110 is disposed in the molding chamber 200, the elastic component 70 may be disposed between the inner wall of the molding chamber 200 corresponding to the bended end portion 111 and the bended end portion 111 of the bright trim 110, where the elastic component 70 may be used to seal a gap between the bended end portion 111 and the inner wall of the molding chamber 200 (referring to FIG. 3) .

After injecting the molten encapsulation material into the molding chamber 200, since the elastic component 70 may be disposed between the inner wall of the molding chamber 200 and the bended end portion 111 of the bright trim 110, the molten encapsulation material may be kept from flowing into the gap between the bended end portion 111 of the bright trim 110 and the inner wall of the molding chamber 200 so as to guarantee the bended end portion 111 of the bright trim 110 may not be covered by the encapsulation material. Thus, yield of the encapsulation structure formed may be improved.

In this embodiment, the elastic component 70 may be adhered with the inner wall of the molding chamber 200 corresponding to the bended end portion. When a decorative side of the bright trim covers the inner wall of the molding chamber 200, the elastic component 70 may be compressed so as to guarantee the seal between the bended end portion 111 and the inner wall of the molding chamber 200.

The elastic component 70 may be adhered with the inner wall of the molding chamber 200 in order that the elastic component 70 may be used repeatedly. After each formation of the encapsulation structure, the encapsulation structure formed with the bright trim 110 and the encapsulation component 100 may be taken out form the molding chamber 200, and the elastic component 70 may continuously be used in the following injection moldings, which may save both time and production costs by and larger.

Further, in this embodiment, the elastic component 70 may have a yield strength not lower than a pressure exerted by the bright trim 110 on the elastic component 70 at a molten temperature of the encapsulation material, which may guarantee the elastic component 70 may not deform permanently so as to extend life cycle so that usage duration of the elastic component 70 may be extended as well. After the encapsulation structure is formed by injection molding, the elastic component 70 may be used in the following injection moldings.

In this embodiment, the elastic component 70 may have a shape of sheet. After the bright trim 110 is disposed in the molding chamber 200, the elastic component 70 may cover the bended end portion 111 of the bright trim 110.

In this embodiment, the elastic component 70 may have a molten temperature higher than or equal to that of the encapsulation material. After injecting the molten encapsulation material into the molding chamber 200, the elastic component 70 may not melt due to the influence from the molten encapsulation material so as to preserve an ability for sealing the gap between the bended end portion 111 and the inner wall of the molding chamber 200 and further avoid the elastic component melts and mixes up with the molten encapsulation material injected so that quality of the encapsulation material may be guaranteed.

In this embodiment, the elastic component 70 may be made of polypropylene, acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene copolymer or polyethylene. It should be noted that material of the elastic component 70 is not limited to the above examples, which may be selected correspondingly based on practical situations.

In this embodiment, the encapsulation component 100 may be made of a thermoplastic elastic material. Specifically, the encapsulation component 100 may be made of polyvinyl chloride. Similarly, material of the encapsulation component 100 is not limited to the above example.

In this embodiment, the bright trim may be a metal bright trim so as to achieve better aesthetic appearance. Correspondingly, material of the elastic component 70 selected in the present disclosure may realize better sealing property between the bright trim and the inner wall of the molding chamber. Similarly, material of the bright trim 110 is not limited to the above example.

Referring to FIGs. 4 and 5, FIGs. 4 and 5 schematically illustrate structural diagrams presenting an injection molding apparatus according to another embodiment in the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the content in common with the embodiment stated hereinbefore is not to be repeated in the following. The difference between this embodiment and previous embodiment at least is: an elastic component 71 may be adhered with a bended end portion 121 of a bright trim 120, where, when the bright trim 120 is disposed in a molding chamber (not shown) , the elastic component 71 may be adhered with the bended end portion 121 of the bright trim 120 and between the bended end portion 121 and an inner wall of the molding chamber corresponding to the bended end portion 121, so as to seal a gap between the bended end portion 121 and the inner wall of the molding chamber.

Via forming an encapsulation component 101, the encapsulation component and the bright trim 120 may be fixed together to form the encapsulation structure. After the encapsulation structure is taken out form the molding chamber, the elastic component 71 may be removed from the bended end portion 121. Since the elastic component 71 may cover the bended end portion 121 during integral injection molding, the bended end portion 121 may not easily be stained with the encapsulation material.

Referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a structural diagram presenting an injection molding apparatus according to another embodiment in the present disclosure. The difference between this embodiment and previous embodiment at least is: an elastic component 72 having a shape of ring, which may cover a part of a bended end portion 131. Specifically, the elastic component 72 may cover edges of the bended end portion 131 of a bright trim 130. During the injection molding process, the molten encapsulation material may be kept from flowing into a gap between the bended end portion 131 and the inner wall of the molding chamber so as to realize a sealing function. Furthermore, the elastic component 72 having a shape of ring may require less material and thus, lower costs for material.

The present disclosure also provides an injection molding method for forming an encapsulation structure with a bright trim and an encapsulation component formed as an integral structure. FIG. 7 schematically illustrates a flow diagram of an injection molding method according to one embodiment in the present disclosure. The injection molding method may include steps presented in the following.

S1, providing a mold which may include a molding chamber having an inner wall corresponding to the bright trim； in this embodiment, the molding chamber may refer to the molding chamber 200 shown in FIG. 2.

S2, providing the bright trim which may have a bended end portion； in this embodiment, the bright trim may refer to the bright trim 110 shown in FIG. 1, where the bended end portion 111 of the bright trim 110 may be used to cover an end of the encapsulation component.

Further, in this embodiment, the bright trim 110 may be a metal bright trim, which may achieve better aesthetic appearance.

S3, disposing the bright trim into the molding chamber and disposing an elastic component between the bended end portion and the inner wall corresponding to the bended end portion, so as to seal a gap between the bended end portion and the molding chamber； the elastic component may have a molten temperature higher than or equal to that of the encapsulation material.

Specifically, after providing the bright trim which may have the bended end portion, the elastic component may be adhered with the bended end portion (referring to the bright trim 120 and the elastic component 71 shown in FIG. 4) ； the bright trim, with which the elastic component may be adhered, may be disposed in the molding chamber, where the elastic component may disposed between the bended end portion and the inner wall corresponding to the bended end portion.

After the encapsulation component and the bright trim are fixed together to form the encapsulation structure by integral injection molding, the encapsulation structure may be taken out from the molding chamber, and the elastic component adhered with the bended end portion may be removed.

Since the elastic component may cover the bended end portion of the bright trim during the injection molding process, the bended end portion may not easily be stained with the encapsulation material.

In the present disclosure, the elastic component may be disposed between the bended end portion and the inner wall of the molding chamber corresponding to the bended end portion. Thus in some embodiments, an elastic component may be adhered with the inner wall of the molding chamber corresponding to the bended end portion (referring to the molding chamber 200 and elastic component 70 shown in FIG. 2) , and the bright trim may be disposed in the molding chamber with which the elastic component may be adhered, where the elastic component may be disposed between the bended end portion and the inner wall of the molding chamber corresponding to the bended end portion, so that the elastic component may be used repeatedly that the elastic component disposed on the inner wall of the molding chamber may be used in the following injection moldings after the encapsulation structure formed is taken out.

Further, in this embodiment, the elastic component may have a yield strength not lower than a pressure exerted by the bright trim on the elastic component at the molten temperature of the encapsulation material. In this case, the elastic component may avoid deforming permanently so as to extend life cycle, and after the encapsulation structure is formed and taken out from the molding chamber, the elastic component disposed on the inner wall of the molding chamber may still recover from deformation, which may guarantees the elastic component may be used in the following injection moldings so as to save costs.

S4, injecting a molten encapsulation material into the molding chamber. The elastic component may have a molten temperature higher than or equal to that of the encapsulation material. After injecting the molten encapsulation material into the molding chamber, the elastic component may not melt due to the influence of the molten encapsulation material so as to preserve the ability for sealing the gap between the bended end portion and the inner wall of the molding chamber and avoid the elastic component melts and mixes up with the molten encapsulation material injected, so that quality of the encapsulation material may be guaranteed.

Since the elastic component may be disposed between the inner wall corresponding to the bended end portion and the bended end portion of the bright trim, the elastic component may seal the gap between the bended end portion and the inner wall of the molding chamber. The molten encapsulation material may be kept from flowing into the gap between the bended end portion and the inner wall when the molten encapsulation material is being injected into the molding chamber, and thus, it may guarantee that the bended end portion of the bright trim may not be stained with the encapsulation material. Thus, yield of the encapsulation structure formed may be improved.

Specifically, besides the injection molding apparatus stated in the present disclosure, the injection molding method may be implemented using other injection molding apparatus.

The present disclosure further provides a vehicle window glass. FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a structure diagram presenting a vehicle window glass according to one embodiment in the present disclosure. The vehicle window glass may include a glass substrate 50, and the encapsulation structure formed by the injection molding method stated hereinbefore (including a bright trim 140 and an encapsulation component 102) . Specifically, FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a part of the glass substrate 50 and a part of the encapsulation structure. FIG. 8 is an embodiment, and shape of the glass substrate and shape of the encapsulation structure are not limited to these examples.

Since a bended end portion 141 of the bright trim 140 formed using the injection molding method stated hereinbefore may not be stained with the encapsulation material, yield of the encapsulation structure formed may be improved.

Although the present disclosure has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments disclosed.

Claims

An injection molding apparatus used for forming an encapsulation structure with a bright trim and an encapsulation component formed as an integral structure, wherein the bright trim has a bended end portion, the injection molding apparatus comprising:

a mold with a molding chamber into which a molten encapsulation material is to be injected,

wherein the molding chamber has an inner wall corresponding to the bended end portion of the bright trim,

wherein the bright trim is disposed in the molding chamber during injection molding, and an elastic component is disposed between the inner wall corresponding to the bended end portion and the bended end portion of the bright trim so that a gap between the bended end portion and the inner wall is sealed by the elastic component.
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic component has a molten temperature higher than or equal to that of the encapsulation material.
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic component has a shape of sheet or ring.
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic component is adhered with the bended end portion of the bright trim or adhered with the inner wall of the mold corresponding to the bended end portion.
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic component has a yield strength not lower than a pressure exerted by the bright trim on the elastic component at a molten temperature of the encapsulation material.
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic component comprises polypropylene, acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene copolymer or polyethylene.
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the encapsulation material is a thermoplastic elastic material.
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the encapsulation material is polyvinyl chloride.
The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bright trim is a metal bright trim.
An injection molding method for forming an encapsulation structure with a bright trim and an encapsulation component formed as an integral structure, the method comprising:

S1, providing a mold which comprises a molding chamber having an inner wall corresponding to the bright trim；

S2, providing the bright trim which has a bended end portion；

S3, disposing the bright trim into the molding chamber and disposing an elastic component between the bended end portion and the inner wall corresponding to the bended end portion, so as to seal a gap between the bended end portion and the molding chamber； and

S4, injecting a molten encapsulation material into the molding chamber.
The method according to claim 10, wherein the elastic component has a molten temperature higher than or equal to that of the encapsulation material.
The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of S2 comprises: providing the bright trim whose bended end portion is already adhered with the elastic component； and the step of S3 comprises: disposing the bright trim adhered with the elastic component into the molding chamber, so that the elastic component is disposed between the bended end portion and the inner wall corresponding to the bended end portion.
The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of S1 further comprises: adhering the elastic component onto the inner wall of the molding chamber which corresponds to the bended end portion； and the step of S3 comprises: disposing the bright trim into the molding chamber adhered with the elastic component, so that the elastic component is disposed between the bended end portion and the inner wall corresponding to the bended end portion.
The method according to claim 10, wherein the elastic component has a yield strength not lower than a pressure exerted by the bright trim on the elastic component at a molten temperature of the encapsulation material.
A vehicle window glass, comprising:

a glass substrate； and

the encapsulation structure formed by the method according to any one of claims 10 to 14.