Method and Device for Laminating a Profiled Fibre Moulding

Abstract

Illustrated and described are a method and a device for laminating a profiled fibre moulding with a thermoplastic film. The film is laminated onto a surface of the fibre moulding to be coated by heat and differential pressure. To improve the lamination of the fibre moulding and to achieve uniform lamination thicknesses over the entire fibre moulding, the method includes the following steps: fixing at least an edge of the fed film to a base plate, heating the film, deforming the film via a moulding tool, feeding the fibre moulding, joining the fibre moulding to the pre-formed film, and removing the laminated fibre moulding.

Claims

1.-20. (canceled)

21. A method for laminating a profiled fibre moulding for packaging elements with a thermoplastic film using a heating device and a moulding tool, wherein the film is laminated to a surface of the fibre moulding to be coated by heat and differential pressure, the method comprising the following steps: fixing at least an edge of the fed film to a base plate, heating the film, plastically deforming the film only using the positive moulding tool so that the film adjusts to a profiled shape of an end of the moulding tool, removing the positive moulding tool via a die, feeding the fibre moulding, joining the fibre moulding to the pre-formed film, and removing the laminated fibre moulding.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the film is fixed to the base plate by a vacuum.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the film is mechanically fixed to the base plate.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the film is heated by infrared radiation.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the film is heated by hot air.

26. The method according to claim 21, wherein the film is heated by a heater in the moulding tool.

27. The method according to claim 21, wherein the fibre moulding is heated before lamination.

28. The method according to claim 21, wherein a vacuum is adapted to be applied to the moulding tool.

29. A device for laminating a profiled fibre moulding for packaging elements with a thermoplastic film using a heating device for heating the film and a moulding tool, wherein the film is laminated onto a surface of the fibre moulding to be coated by heat and differential pressure, comprising: a base plate having an opening for fixing at least an edge of the film, only one moulding tool designed as a positive shape for plastic deformation of the film so that the film can be deformed according to a profiled shape of the end of the moulding tool, a die for feeding the fibre moulding and removing the laminated fibre moulding, and a differential pressure unit.

30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the profiled end of the moulding tool comprises a geometry that corresponds to an inner shape of the fibre moulding.

31. The device according to claim 29, wherein the moulding tool and/or the die comprises a heating device.

32. The device according to claim 29, wherein the moulding tool defines at least one vacuum opening at the profiled end.

33. The device according to claim 29, wherein the moulding tool is made at least partly from foamed aluminium.

34. The device according to claim 29, wherein the base plate defines at least one vacuum opening for fixing the film.

35. The device according to claim 29, wherein the base plate is made at least partly from foamed aluminium.

36. The device according to claim 29, wherein the heating device is an infrared heating device.

37. The device according to claim 29, wherein the heating device is a hot air heating device.

38. The device according to claim 29, wherein the die has a plurality of holes which form a channel system and which are adapted to be attached to the differential pressure unit.

39. The device according to claim 29, wherein the differential pressure unit is a vacuum unit.

Description

[0025] The invention will be explained in detail below with reference to a drawing illustrating just one preferred embodiment.

[0026] In the drawing:

[0027] FIG. 1A-1C show the individual steps of the production method in a schematic view, and

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a laminated fibre moulding.

[0029] FIG. 1A shows that to carry out the method according to the invention a film 1 is placed on a base plate 2 which has an opening 3 in the centre.

[0030] The film 1 is then heated from above by means of a heating device 4. The film 1 is fixed by suitable means against slipping at least at its edge to the holding plate 2. A fixing of this kind can occur by means of applied vacuum or mechanically.

[0031] The heated and therefore elastic film 1 is then pre-deformed by raising a moulding tool 5 through the opening 3. For this purpose, the profiled end 6 of the moulding tool 5 has a positive shape which corresponds with the geometry of the inner shape of the fibre moulding 7.

[0032] In FIG. 1B the moulding tool has reached its end position and it can clearly be seen that the thermoplastic film has adapted to the profiled shape of the end 6 of the moulding tool 5 and is therefore denoted here by the reference numeral 1′. The fibre moulding 7 that is yet to be lowered can already be seen above the film 1′, and this is held in a die 8 whose negative shape matches the outer geometry of the fibre moulding 7. Distributed over the surface of this negative shape can be seen a channel system of a wide variety of holes 9 through which a vacuum can be exerted on the negative shape, and therewith the fibre moulding 7 located therein, via a port 10.

[0033] FIG. 1C finally shows that the die 8 has been lowered onto the pre-shaped film 1′, so the actual lamination occurs between the film and the fibre moulding 7 in this position. Before, during or after the lamination process the moulding tool is removed downwards from the fibre moulding 7′. After cooling and opening of the mould, both parts form a laminated fibre moulding 7′ which is shown again separately in FIG. 2.

[0034] It is understood that the illustrated schematic diagram of the inventive method serves only to explain the method steps and should not signify any kind of restriction for the tools and/or moulds used.