POSITION SPLITTING

Abstract

A method for splitting a semi-finished product includes placement of the semi-finished product on a splitting template, and the splitting template includes at least one elevation. The method includes fixation of the semi-finished product on the splitting template, in which an area of the semi-finished product is arranged on the elevation. The method includes splitting of the semi-finished product, in which material is removed from the semi-finished product during splitting. The material removal in the area that is arranged on the elevation is greater than in an area that is not arranged on the elevation.

Claims

1. A method for splitting a semi-finished product, the method comprising: placing the semi-finished product on a splitting template, the splitting template including at least one elevation; fixing the semi-finished product on the splitting template, with a first area of the semi-finished product arranged on the at least one elevation; and splitting the semi-finished product, with material removed from the semi-finished product during splitting, and the material removal in the first area that is arranged on the at least one elevation is greater than in at least one second area that is not arranged on the at least one elevation.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elevation reproduces an outer contour of the semi-finished product.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one elevation causes the semi-finished product to have a first material thickness after the splitting in the first area which was arranged on the at least one elevation during the splitting, and the first area with the first material thickness is arranged between two of the at least one second area of the semi-finished product having a second material thickness after the splitting, wherein the first material thickness is smaller than the second material thickness.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the semi-finished product and the splitting template are moved relative to a splitting tool in a feed direction during the splitting.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a splitting tool is moved relative to the semi-finished product and the splitting template in a feed direction during splitting.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the splitting template has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein a vertical distance between the first surface and the second surface inside the at least one elevation is greater than a perpendicular distance between the first surface and the second surface outside of the at least one elevation.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the vertical distance between the first surface and the second surface varies inside the at least one elevation, and the semi-finished product has various material thicknesses after splitting in the first area which was arranged on the at least one elevation during splitting.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the semi-finished product is placed onto the first surface of the splitting template during the placing, and the second surface of the splitting template is parallel to an imaginary splitting plane during the splitting.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the semi-finished product and the splitting template are removably fixed to each other via an adhesive.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the semi-finished product comprises leather.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the splitting template comprises silicone.

12. A splitting template for use according to the method of claim 1, wherein the splitting template is composed of silicone.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0026] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a section of a semi-finished product in a schematic plan view which may be split according to a first form of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view along section A-A of the semi-finished product shown in FIG. 1 and placed on a splitting template shortly before splitting according to the first form, and

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a top view of a section of a semi-finished product which has been split according to a second form of the splitting method according to the present disclosure.

[0030] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. The different and exemplary features described above can be combined with one another according to the present disclosure, provided this is technically expedient and suitable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a section of a semi-finished product 1 in a schematic plan view. The semi-finished product 1 may have been cut from a blank. The semi-finished product 1 has obtained the desired outer contour 2 by being cut from the blank. In one form, the blank, and accordingly also the semi-finished product 1, includes leather. The semi-finished product 1, in one example, has a constant thickness.

[0033] The outer contour 2 is defined by the outer edges of the semi-finished product 1. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the outer contour 2 has a contour protrusion 5. The contour protrusion 5 is an irregularity in the course of the outer edge of the semi-finished product 1. The contour protrusion 5 can be, for example, a fixing tab 5, of which the semi-finished product 1 may be attached to another component in its later use.

[0034] The semi-finished product 1 includes an area 4 in which no material should be removed during splitting. No material should also be removed on the contour protrusion 5 during splitting. In contrast thereto, the area designated with reference numeral 3 indicates an area of the semi-finished product 1 in which material 15 should be removed from the semi-finished product 1 during splitting. In one example, the semi-finished product 1 may be skived in the area 3. In one example, area 3 is arranged between two areas 4 of the semi-finished product.

[0035] On the other hand, the areas 3, 4 differ from each other, and less material is removed from the semi-finished product 1 in area 4 than in area 3 during splitting. This means that basically the entire semi-finished product 1 is split, in which the material removal in area 3 is greater than in area 4. This is the case, for example, when the semi-finished product 1 in area 3 should not only be split, but also additionally be skived.

[0036] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the section A-A indicated in FIG. 1, through the semi-finished product 1, after the semi-finished product 1 has been placed on a splitting template 6. The splitting template 6 has an elevation 7, a first surface 8, and a second surface 9. The splitting template 6, in one example, includes or consists of silicone. The semi-finished product 1 and the splitting template 6 are removably connected with each other, in one example, removably adhered to each other via an adhesive.

[0037] The first surface 8 is arranged opposite the second surface 9. The semi-finished product 1 is placed on the first surface 8. In the example shown, the second surface 9 is parallel to an imaginary cutting plane 14.

[0038] The elevation 7 is defined such that a vertical distance 10 between the first surface 8 and the second surface 9 inside the elevation 7 is greater than a vertical distance 11 between the first surface 8 and the second surface 9 outside the elevation 7. The vertical distance 11 is a perpendicular distance between the first surface 8 and the second surface 9 outside the elevation 7. The vertical distance 11 between the first surface 8 and the second surface 9 varies inside the elevation 7. In a plan view that is not shown, the elevation 7 reproduces the outer contour 2. This means that the course of the elevation 7 corresponds to the course of the area 3 shown in FIG. 1. In this case, the contour protrusion 5 is not reproduced by the elevation 7.

[0039] As schematically shown in FIG. 2, the semi-finished product 1 is moved together with the splitting template 6 relative to a splitting tool 13 in the feed direction 12. This causes the area 3 of the semi-finished product 1, which area 3 is arranged on the elevation 7, to move toward the splitting tool 13. In the example shown, the splitting tool 13 is a cutting knife 13 that is arranged in the imaginary cutting plane 14. As soon as the area 3 reaches the tip of the cutting tool 13 and is moved together with the splitting template 6 further in the feed direction 12, material 15 is removed from the semi-finished product 1. This is referred to as splitting.

[0040] Due to the smaller vertical distance 11 outside the elevation 7, the first surface 8 outside the elevation 7 is spaced so far apart from the imaginary cutting plane 14 that no material is removed from the semi-finished product 1 in the area 4 of the semi-finished product 1 and in the contour protrusion 5. The vertical distance between the first surface 8 of the splitting template 6 and the imaginary splitting plane 14 is greater in the area 4 of the semi-finished product 1 than the material thickness of the semi-finished product 1.

[0041] In an alternative, second form that is not shown, the vertical distance between the first surface 8 of the splitting template 6 and the imaginary cutting plane 14 in area 4 of the semi-finished product 1 can be smaller than the material thickness of the semi-finished product 1. This causes the entire semi-finished product 1 to be, in one example, split by the splitting tool 13. Here the elevation 7 is, in one example, configured such that the material thickness of the semi-finished product 1 is smaller in area 3 than the material thickness in area 4 after splitting. In area 3 of the semi-finished product, more material 15 is removed in each example than in area 4. This is due to the area 3 being arranged on the elevation 7 during splitting.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows one form of a semi-finished product 1, which has been split according to the method according to the second form. In one example, the entire semi-finished product 1 has been split. The area 3 of the semi-finished product 1 has additionally been skived. This means that more material has been removed from the semi-finished product 1 in area 3 than in area 4 during splitting, and, in one example, in the contour protrusion 5. After splitting, the semi-finished product 1 has the same material thickness in the contour protrusion 5 as in the area 4. The area 3 extends between the area 4 and the contour protrusion 5.

[0043] Unless otherwise expressly indicated herein, all numerical values indicating mechanical/thermal properties, compositional percentages, dimensions and/or tolerances, or other characteristics are to be understood as modified by the word about or approximately in describing the scope of the present disclosure. This modification is desired for various reasons including industrial practice, material, manufacturing, and assembly tolerances, and testing capability.

[0044] As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.

[0045] The apparatuses and methods described in this application may be partially or fully implemented by a special purpose computer created by configuring a general-purpose computer to execute one or more particular functions embodied in computer programs. The functional blocks, flowchart components, and other elements described above serve as software specifications, which can be translated into the computer programs by the routine work of a skilled technician or programmer.

[0046] The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.