DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A ROLLER BLIND WEB

Abstract

A device for producing a roller blind web of a motor vehicle, the device having an application table having a continuously flat support surface for a fabric; and an extruder configured to apply a plastic material to the fabric from above along at least one extrusion track. A tensioner tensions the fabric in the direction of the extrusion track. Moreover, a method for producing a roller blind web is provided.

Claims

1. A device for producing a roller blind web of a motor vehicle, the device comprising: an application table having a flat support surface for a fabric; and an extruder configured to apply a plastic material to the fabric from above along at least one extrusion track, the extruder having a tensioner for tensioning the fabric in a direction following the extrusion track.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the tensioner comprises a tensioning frame which at least partially limits the fabric at its edges.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the tensioning frame comprises a base frame and tensioning elements engaging the fabric in a force-fitting manner.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the tensioning elements are configured to be shifted relative to the base frame so as to tension the fabric.

5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the tensioning elements are disposed in pairs on opposite legs of the base frame.

6. The device according to claim 3, wherein the tensioning elements are in contact with the fabric from above and pull the fabric in the direction of an associated leg of the base frame.

7. The device according to claim 3, wherein the base frame comprises two longitudinal legs and two transverse legs, and the tensioning elements are disposed opposite each other on the two longitudinal legs and opposite each other on the two transverse legs.

8. A method for producing a roller blind web of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: placing a fabric on an application table, the fabric lying flat; tensioning the fabric by a tensioner disposed at the application table; applying a plastic material to the fabric along an extrusion track extending at least essentially in the tensioning direction defined by the tensioner; and releasing the tension of the fabric applied by the tensioner.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the tensioner tensions the fabric in a longitudinal direction and/or in a transverse direction.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the fabric is tensioned in the longitudinal direction and then provided with the plastic material along a first extrusion track, which runs in the longitudinal direction, and the tension running in the longitudinal direction is subsequently released, whereupon the fabric is tensioned in the transverse direction and provided with the plastic material along a second extrusion track, which runs in the transverse direction.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the tensioner comprises a tensioning frame.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein a guide tape for laterally guiding the roller blind web is formed on the fabric by applying the plastic material.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein an edge piping of the roller blind web for connecting a pull bar is formed on the fabric by applying the plastic material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] An exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention is schematically illustrated in the drawing and is explained in more detail in the following description.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of a vehicle roof with a roller blind assembly comprising a roller blind web produced according to the invention;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a device for producing the roller blind web; and

[0029] FIGS. 3a and b are top views of an application table of the device during sequential tensioning of a piece of fabric.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle roof 10 having a roof opening 12 which can be selectively closed or opened by means of a roof opening system comprising a transparent cover element 14 made of glass. For shading the roof opening 12, the vehicle roof 10 comprises a roller blind assembly 16 comprising a roller blind web 18 which can be wound onto a winding shaft 20 disposed at the rear edge of the roof opening 12 and extending in the transverse roof direction. At its edge facing away from the winding shaft 20 and extending in the transverse roof direction, the roller blind web 18 is provided with a pull bar 22, the ends of which are guided in guide rails 24A and 24B, respectively, which are fixed to the roof.

[0031] In order to also be able to keep the roller blind web 18 tensioned in the transverse roof direction when it is unwound from the winding shaft 20, it has guide tapes 26A and 26B, respectively, at its lateral edges, which are guided in corresponding guide tracks of guide rails 24A and 24B, respectively. To form the pull bar 22, the roller blind web 18 has an edge piping 58.

[0032] The roller blind web 18 is produced using a device 30 shown in a highly schematic manner in FIGS. 2 and 3a and 3b. The device 30 comprises an application table 32 which forms a planar support surface for a piece of fabric 34 which thus lies flat on the application table 32 in a defined orientation.

[0033] The device 30 for producing the roller blind web 18 further comprises a portal 36 as a support device, which can be moved on rails 39 in the X-direction, i.e., the longitudinal direction, of the piece of fabric 34 by means of a drive motor 38. An extrusion head 40, by means of which a plastic material can be applied to the upper side of the piece of fabric 34, is attached to the portal 36. The extrusion head 40 is movable on the portal 36 in the Y-direction, i.e., the transverse direction, of the piece of fabric 34. Moreover, the extrusion head 40 can be shifted relative to the portal 36 in the Z-direction, i.e., the vertical direction.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3a and 3b in particular, the device 30 is provided with a tensioning frame 42 disposed at the top of the application table 32 and serving to tension or stretch the piece of fabric 34 in the X-direction and in the Y-direction. The tensioning frame 42 comprises a base frame 44 having two longitudinal legs 46A and 46B, which extend in the X-direction, and two transverse legs 48 and 50, which extend in the Y-direction. In extension to two extrusion tracks 52A and 52B, which define the travel path of the extrusion head 40, according to which the guide tapes 26A and 26B are formed on the piece of fabric 34 by means of the extrusion head 40 by moving the portal 36 in the X-direction, tensioning elements 54 are disposed on each of the transverse legs 48 and 50; the tensioning elements 54 can be brought into engagement with the piece of fabric 34 by coming into full contact with it and are displaceable relative to the base frame 44 in the X-direction. Two tensioning elements 54 are disposed on each of the longitudinal legs 46A and 46B of the base frame 44 in extension to an extrusion track 56, which defines the course of the edge piping 58; the tensioning elements 54 can also be brought into engagement with the piece of fabric 34 and can be displaced in the Y-direction relative to the base frame 44.

[0035] To produce the roller blind web 18, the piece of fabric 34 is first placed on the application table 32 in such a manner that it lies flat. Then the piece of fabric 34 is tensioned in the X-direction by means of the tensioning frame 42. For this purpose, the tensioning elements 54 disposed on the transverse legs 48 and 50 are brought into engagement with the piece of fabric and then shifted outward relative to the base frame 44 and secured. The piece of fabric 34 is thus tensioned or stretched in the X-direction, in particular in the area of the extrusion tracks 52A and 52B (FIG. 3a). The guide tapes 26A and 26B are then formed. For this purpose, the extrusion head 40 is moved along the extrusion tracks 52A and 52B by moving the portal 36 in the X-direction while simultaneously extruding a plastic material, such as a TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) or a polyurethane material, and applying it to the upper side of the piece of fabric 34. After the plastic material has solidified, the piece of fabric 34 is relaxed by shifting the tensioning elements 54 disposed on the transverse legs 48 and 50. Subsequently, the piece of fabric 34 is tensioned or stretched in the Y-direction in the area of the extrusion track 56 by means of the tensioning elements 54 disposed on the longitudinal legs 46A and 46B of the base frame 44, whereupon plastic material is applied to the piece of fabric 34 along the extrusion track 56 by means of the extrusion head 40 (FIG. 3b). This plastic material then forms the edge piping 58, via which the pull bar 22 can be attached to the roller blind web 18. To form the edge piping 58, the extrusion head 40 is moved on the portal 36 in the Y-direction, i.e., the transverse direction. A curvature can be achieved by simultaneously moving the portal 36 in the X-direction. After solidification of the plastic material of the edge piping 58, the tension in the Y-direction is released by shifting the tensioning elements 54 disposed on the longitudinal legs 46A and 46B. The piece of fabric 34 with the guide tapes 26A and 26B formed thereon and the edge piping 58 formed thereon can then be removed from the application table 32 for further use as a roller blind web 18.