Device for vacuum forming, wrapping, and trimming

Device for vacuum forming, wrapping, and trimming

Keywords: Forming technologies, Resins

Applicant: Sintokogio, Ltd, Nagoya, JapanPatent number: US5,746,870Publication date: 5 May 1998Title: Device for simultaneously carrying out vacuum forming, wrapping, and trimming

This invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out vacuum forming,wrapping, and trimming of resin moldings used as an interior material for door trims, etc. of automobiles.

The device includes: a vacuum-forming mold having a base; a holding-down member; and a wrapping head. The apparatus operates in the following manner. First, a skin sheet is shaped by vacuum forming and glued on a base material placed on the vacuum-forming mold while the attaching edge of the base material is afloat from the mold base. The holding-down member is then lowered to hold down the skin sheet on the top of the attaching edge. The wrapping head is advanced to wrap the skin sheet and glue it on the rear surface of the attaching edge. Finally, the trimming edge that is mounted on the wrapping head cuts off the residual skin sheet as the wrapping head advances. Thus the entire operation is completed in one stage, enabling lower production costs and shorter production cycle time.