System and method for manufacturing a vehicle trim component via concurrent compression forming and injection molding
AssigneeJohnson Controls Technology Company
InventorsBart W. Fox, Jeffrey A. Deyoung, Tony M. Pokorzynski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of manufacturing a vehicle trim component is provided that includes disposing a fiber panel onto a first surface of a mold cavity. The method also includes compressing the fiber panel between the first surface and a second surface of the mold cavity to form the fiber panel into a desired shape. The method further includes injecting resin into the mold cavity to fill at least one void between the first surface and the second surface adjacent to the fiber panel.
Claims13
A mold assembly for manufacturing a vehicle trim component, comprising:
- a first mold element configured to receive a fiber panel;
- a retractable pin assembly comprising a plurality of holding pins configured to penetrate the fiber panel to secure the fiber panel to the first mold element;
- a second mold element configured to compress the fiber panel between a first surface of the first mold element and a second surface of the second mold element to form the fiber panel into a desired shape, wherein the retractable pin assembly is configured to withdraw the plurality of holding pins from the fiber panel prior to or during compression of the fiber panel between the first and second surfaces;
- and
- a fluid pathway configured to inject resin into a void in the fiber panel formed by one of the plurality of holding pins, wherein at least a portion of the fluid pathway is aligned with the void.
A mold assembly for manufacturing a vehicle trim component, comprising:
- a first mold element configured to receive a fiber panel;
- a retractable pin assembly comprising a plurality of holding pins configured to penetrate the fiber panel to secure the fiber panel to the first mold element;
- and
- a second mold element configured to compress the fiber panel between a first surface of the first mold element and a second surface of the second mold element to form the fiber panel into a desired shape, wherein the desired shape substantially corresponds to a first contour of the first surface and a second contour of the second surface, and the desired shape is different than an original shape of the fiber panel;
- wherein the retractable pin assembly is configured to withdraw the plurality of holding pins from the fiber panel prior to or during compression of the fiber panel between the first and second surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.