Twin-sheet thermoforming process
US7157034B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 15, 2004 |
| Grant date | Jan 2, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 15, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/31645
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A twin-sheet thermoforming process for the manufacture of vehicle headliners. In the process a first sheet and second sheet of SuperLite material are mounted onto respective frames. The frames transfer the sheets into an oven, where they are heated to a desired temperature using IR. The first sheet is combined with a cover-stock material using compression molding forming a covered first headliner part. The covered first headliner part is then transferred to a second mold station. The second sheet is heated and then transferred from the oven to the second mold station where it is vacuum-formed on the upper half mold, forming a second headliner part. The upper and lower mold halves are pressed together fusing and sealing the first and second headliner parts into a unified part. The unified part is then unloaded and trimmed as necessary forming a headliner. The SuperLite material used to form the headliner is a sheet of low pressure, thermoformable, thermoplastic composite comprised of polypropylene and long chopped glass fibers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.