Method for Producing a Sandwich Component and Sandwich Component

Abstract

A method for producing a sandwich component, in particular an inner trim component for a motor vehicle, is disclosed. The method begins with a core layer made from a foamed plastic and a cover layer which includes reinforcing fibers and plastic fibers. The plastic of the core layer has a first melting temperature which is higher than the second melting temperature of the plastic fibers of the cover layer. By the core layer being arranged on the cover layer, a multilayer composite is created. This multilayer composite can be further processed into a semi-finished product. The multilayer composite or the semi-finished product is then heated in a heating device to a temperature which is lower than the first melting temperature but therefore higher than the second melting temperature. Then the heated multilayer composite or the semi-finished product is formed in a forming tool in order to produce the sandwich component.

Claims

1.-20. (canceled)

21. A method for producing a sandwich component, comprising the steps of: providing a core layer made from a foamed plastic and having a first melting temperature, and a cover layer which includes reinforcing fibers and plastic fibers having a second melting temperature, wherein the first melting temperature is higher than the second melting temperature; disposing the core layer on the cover layer to form a multilayer composite; heating the multilayer composite and/or a semi-finished product produced from the multilayer composite in a heating device of a finishing device to a temperature which is lower than the first melting temperature and higher than the second melting temperature; and forming the heated multilayer composite and/or the semi-finished product in a forming tool of the finishing device to produce the sandwich component.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the core layer has open pores at least on an upper surface of the core layer.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the cover layer is a non-woven material, a fabric, or a woven fabric made from reinforcing fibers and thermoplastic fibers.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the cover layer is an unconsolidated hybrid needle-punched non-woven material wherein the unconsolidated hybrid needle-punched non-woven material is at least partially consolidated by a compression force.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the cover layer includes a melt layer made from a thermoplastic having a third melting temperature which is lower than the first melting temperature and, as a maximum, is as high as the second melting temperature and wherein the melt layer is disposed between the core layer and a fiber portion of the cover layer during forming of the multilayer composite.

26. The method according to claim 21, wherein the plastic fibers of the cover layer are produced substantially from polypropylene and wherein the core layer is produced from polyethylene terephthalate.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the melt layer and the plastic fibers of the cover layer consist of polypropylene.

28. The method according to claim 21, wherein an additional layer having a third melting temperature which is higher than the second melting temperature is disposed on the cover layer to form the multilayer composite.

29. The method according to claim 21, wherein a decorative layer is disposed on the cover layer to form the multilayer composite.

30. The method according to claim 21, wherein the core layer and the cover layer of the multilayer composite are connected at least in regions in the semi-finished product.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the semi-finished product is produced in a form of a continuous material and is arranged in a form of a roll.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the semi-finished product is provided in a form of configured semi-finished product component parts.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein: the semi-finished product is rolled up into at least one semi-finished product roll and/or is configured into several component parts and is stacked, forming at least one component part stack; the semi-finished product is provided to the finishing device by unrolling the at least one semi-finished product roll and distributing the unrolled semi-finished product into several unrolled parts and/or unstacking the several component parts of the at least one component part stack and the semi-finished product is cut directly in the finishing device in a subsequent process step.

34. The method according to claim 30, wherein the core layer and the cover layer of the multilayer composite are connected in a prefabrication device with a heat supply.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein the core layer and the cover layer of the multilayer composite are connected by local melting of the cover layer.

36. The method according to claim 34, wherein the core layer and the cover layer of the multilayer composite are heated conductively and/or convectively and/or via radiation heat.

37. The method according to claim 34, wherein the core layer and the cover layer of the heated multilayer composite are connected to one another discontinuously by a cold pressing tool.

38. The method according to claim 30, wherein: the cover layer is a fibrous web and/or a fibrous non-woven material; and the fibrous web and the core layer are connected by sticking a needle having a barb into the core layer and the fibrous web and then pulling out the needle from the core layer and the fibrous web, wherein, during the sticking into and/or the pulling out of the needle, single or multiple fibers of the fibrous web and/or the fibrous non-woven material are hooked with the barb and are anchored to the core layer mechanically during the sticking into and/or pulling out of the needle.

39. The method according to claim 21, wherein at least one plastic element is connected to the sandwich component by a connection tool of the finishing device.

40. A sandwich component produced by the method of claim 21.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1a is a diagram of a first method sequence for producing a sandwich component in which a multilayer composite made from a foamed layer and a cover layer in a heating device is heated and is formed in a forming tool;

[0038] FIG. 1b is a diagram of an alternative method sequence for producing a sandwich component, in which firstly a semi-finished product is produced from a multilayer composite made from a foamed core layer and a cover layer, said semi-finished product then being heated in a heating device and formed in a forming tool;

[0039] FIG. 2a is a schematic depiction of the method sequence of FIG. 1a;

[0040] FIG. 2b is a schematic depiction of an alternative embodiment of the method sequence of FIG. 1a;

[0041] FIGS. 3a-3d are schematic sectional depictions of different embodiments of the cover layer;

[0042] FIG. 4a is a schematic depiction of a semi-finished product production according to the method sequence of FIG. 1b;

[0043] FIG. 4b is a schematic depiction of an alternative embodiment of the semi-finished product production according to method sequence 1b;

[0044] FIG. 5a is a schematic side sectional view of a semi-finished product which consolidated regions which are partly consolidated more strongly and partly more weakly;

[0045] FIG. 5b is a schematic side sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the semi-finished product;

[0046] FIG. 5c is a schematic top view onto a further alternative embodiment of the semi-finished product;

[0047] FIG. 6a is a schematic depiction of an alternative method sequence for producing a semi-finished product for a sandwich component, wherein the semi-finished product is produced in the form of a continuous material by means of a fibrous web comprising thermoplastic fibers, and reinforcing fibers and by means of a core layer comprising a foamed plastic, as well as a thermoplastic melt layer;

[0048] FIG. 6b is a schematic depiction of an alternative method sequence for producing the semi-finished product in which the semi-finished product produced as a continuous material is configured into semi-finished product component parts;

[0049] FIG. 6c is a schematic depiction of a further alternative method sequence for producing the semi-finished product;

[0050] FIG. 7a is a schematic detailed view of the semi-finished product during the production thereof, wherein a plurality of needles provided with barbs are guided through respective layers of the semi-finished product and are pulled out from this again;

[0051] FIG. 7b is a further schematic detailed view of the semi-finished product, wherein this has a different layer structure to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7a;

[0052] FIG. 8a is a schematic depiction of a method sequence for producing a sandwich component, wherein a heating system to heat the semi-finished product and a tool to produce a sandwich component from the heated semi-finished product are shown; and

[0053] FIG. 8b is a schematic depiction of an alternative method sequence for producing a sandwich component, wherein during the production of the sandwich component, several elements made from plastic are injected onto the semi-finished product.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0055] FIGS. 1a and 2 show a flow diagram or a schematic depiction of a method 100 for producing a sandwich component 10 having a core layer 12 made from a foamed plastic. In a first process step 102, a core layer 12 comprising a foamed plastic, a cover layer 14 as well as an (optional) additional layer 16 is provided in the form of respective continuous materials.

[0056] The core layer 12 serves to increase the inertia of area of the later sandwich component 10. It is produced from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and has an open-pore design at least on its surface.

[0057] The cover layer 14 comprises an unconsolidated fiber-reinforced textile structure 14, for example a non-woven material, a fabric or a woven material. The reinforcing fibers can, for example, be glass, carbon, aramid or natural fibers. The textile structure 14 furthermore has thermoplastic fibers which are produced from polypropylene (PP) in the present exemplary embodiment. The cover layer 14 furthermore comprises a melt layer 13 made from polypropylene (PP) which is provided in the form of a film in the present exemplary embodiment. The optional additional layer 16 is produced from a polyamide (PA).

[0058] The core layer 12 formed from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) therefore has a first melting temperature which is considerably higher at approx. 250 C. than the melting temperature of the melt layer 13 formed from polypropylene (PP) and the thermoplastic fibers of the cover layer 14 formed from polypropylene (PP), because polypropylene has a melting temperature of approx. 160 C. The melting temperature of the additional layer 16 formed from PES or polyamide, however, is higher than the melting temperatures of the thermoplastic melt layer 13 or the thermoplastic fibers of the cover layer 14. Alternatively, it is also possible, instead of the additional layer 16, to arrange a decorative layer 17 on the cover layer 14, in particular together with a further melt layer made from the same thermoplastics as the other melt layer 13.

[0059] In process step 104, the different layers 12, 14, 16 are arranged one on the other, forming a multilayer composite 20. In the present case, the cover layer 14 is laid on both sides of the core layer 12 respectively and in turn, the additional layer 16 is laid on this, also on both sides, whereby, in other words, the core layer 12 is located in the middle of the multilayer composite 20 and the respective outer sides of the multilayer composite 20 are formed by the additional layers 16. The multilayer composite 20 coated in this way is then supplied to cutting equipment (not shown in the figure), in which sections 22 are separated from the continuous material of the multilayer composite 20. These sections 22 are thenas shown in FIG. 2a-supplied to a heating device 52 of a finishing device 50 for sandwich components 10. The heating device 52 can, for example, be a heating press, an infra-red radiation field, etc. Here, in process step 112, the sections 22 of the multilayer composite 20 are heated convectively, conductively and/or by heat radiation above the melting temperatures of the melt layer 13 and the thermoplastic fibers of the cover layer 14 by means of the heating device 52. The temperature control of the heating device 52 is here selected in such a way that the multilayer composite 20 is increased neither above the melting temperature of the additional layer 16, nor above the melting temperature of the core layer 12 produced from PET. Therefore, only the thermoplastic portions of the cover layer 14, so the melt layer 13 and the thermoplastic fibers of the hybrid textile 14, melt in the multilayer composite 20. The core layer 12, however, does not melt and therefore remains approximately stable during processing, but has an improved plastic deformability at the increased temperature compared to room temperature.

[0060] The multilayer composite 20 which is preheated and softened in this way is then supplied in a forming tool 54 into which it is inserted. Potentially, here, further decorative materials can be attached to the multilayer composite 20. In process step 114, the multilayer composite 20 is formed by means of the forming tool 54 in a thermoforming process. The form stability and therefore the counter pressure of the hot foam core layer 12 here lead to a consolidation of the hybrid textile 14 of the cover layer 14. Due to the compression, the melted thermoplastic portions of the multilayer composite 20 furthermore penetrate into the open-pore surface of the core layer 12, such that, after the solidification of the thermoplastic portions, a mechanical connection to the core layer 12 is formed. The molten material of the melt layer 13 is connected either likewise by mechanical anchoring in the fiber non-woven material of the cover layer 14 or chemically to the thermoplastic portion of the hybrid textile 14 of the cover layer 14. Therefore, a fixed composite made from the foamed core layer 12 and the consolidated fiber-reinforced cover layer 14 results.

[0061] Then, the section 22 of the multilayer composite 20 formed in this way is cooled, is optionally cut again, forming the sandwich component 10, and is removed from the tool 54.

[0062] In FIG. 2b, an alternative method sequence for producing the sandwich component 10 is depicted. The multilayer composite section 22 produced in process step 104 by laying the individual layers one on top of the other and cut according to the desired component contour is likewise heated by means of the heating device 52 in such a way that the cover layer 14 is transferred into the plastic state (process step 112). Then, the thus heated section 22 is inserted into a tool 56 which is formed presently as a combined injection-pressing machine.

[0063] The tool 56 has corresponding channels 57 for supplying a plastic material 60. The preheated multilayer composite 20 is in turn firstly formed by means of the tool 56 (process step 114). Then, in process step 116, the plastic material 60 is injected into the tool 56 or injected onto the formed multilayer composite 20 through the channels 57 by means of the tool 56, whereby several plastic elements serving as reinforcement, connection or stiffening elements 18 are produced, forming the sandwich component 10. The stiffening elements 18 and connection elements can, for example, be provided as stiffenings or reinforcements on the sandwich component 10 in the form of ribs or even in the form of partial component regions formed in another way. The fixing of the stiffening elements 18 can, for example, occur by an injection into the so-called KIS technology (KIS: Konsolidierung im Spritzgusswerkzeug (consolidation in the injection molding tool). After the injection of the stiffening elements 18, the completed sandwich component 10 is demolded and removed from the tool 56 together with the stiffening elements 18.

[0064] FIGS. 3a-3d show examples of different embodiments of the cover layer 14. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3a, the cover layer 14 consists of an unconsolidated hybrid textile 14, which contains thermoplastic portions (in particular in the form of thermoplastic fibers) and reinforcing fibers. The hybrid textile 14 can in particular be a non-woven material, a fibrous web, a woven material or a scrim. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3b, the cover layer 14 comprises, besides the hybrid textile 14, a melt layer in the form of a thermoplastic; this embodiment of the cover layer 14 is also depicted in FIGS. 2a and 2b. In the embodiment of FIG. 3c, the melt layer 13 is connected fixedly to, for example is formed to or adhered to, the hybrid textile 14. The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3d, however, shows a cover layer in which the melt layer 13 is formed by thermoplastic fibers which are added to the remaining hybrid textile 14 or are integrated into the hybrid textile 14 in such a way that an enrichment of the thermoplastic portion is present in an outer side of the cover layer 14 (which is adjacent to core layer 12 in the multilayer composite 20).

[0065] FIG. 1b shows a flow diagram of an alternative method course 100 for producing the sandwich component 10 in which firstly a semi-finished product 30 is produced from the foamed core layer 12 and the cover layer 14 (and if necessary further layers), which is then supplied to the finishing device 50 and thereanalogously to the method course of FIG. 1ais heated in the heating device 52 and formed in the forming tool 54.

[0066] The associated partial process of the semi-finished product production is explained in more detail in FIGS. 4a and 4b. These figures show, in schematic depiction respectively, the provision of the at least one core layer 12, at least one cover layer 14 and at least one decorative layer 17 (process step 102), the layering of these individual layers into a multilayer composite 20 (process step 104) and the connection of these individual layers to a component semi-finished product 30 with a first heat supply 42 to a heated roller system 44 of a prefabrication device 40 (step 106). The adhesion of the decorative layer 17 is ensured by the softening of a thermoplastic portion of the cover layer 14 and can optionally be improved by a melt film (not depicted here) between the cover layer 14 and the decorative layer 17. Alternatively, the decorative layer 17 can be dispensed with since, in the case of high value/heat-sensitive decorations such as, for example, leather, the lamination is subsequently applied to the completed component in a classic manner.

[0067] These layers 12, 14, 17 on the one hand are pressed onto one another by means of the heated roller system 44 which can also be formed as a roller press, and on the other hand are connected to one another and partially consolidated with the heat supply 42, so by heating and at least local melting of individual layers. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4a, in connection to the connection of the individual layers to form the semi-finished product 30, the semi-finished product 30 is rolled up into at least one semi-finished product roll 34 in the prefabrication device 40 (process step 108).

[0068] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4b, the semi-finished product 30 is configured by means of a cutting device 45 of the prefabrication device 40 into several component parts 36 of the component semi-finished product 30 and at least one component part stack 38 is formed from these component parts 36 (process step 108).

[0069] During the production of the semi-finished product 30 according to the method depicted in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the connection of the individual layers (connection of the core layer 12, the cover layer 14 and potentially the decorative layer 17) occurs by means of thin melt films, whereby the advantage results that the production of the multilayer composite 20 does not have to be coupled directly to further processing stepsas shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. The individual layers can be processed into the semi-finished product 30 in a preliminary stage (and rolled up or cut into desired lengths and stacked) and later unrolled or unstacked (process step 110) and supplied to the process steps of heating (step 112) and forming (step 114) shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b. The semi-finished product 30 does not differ in its handling from a single-layer material (e.g. from a foam layer or a non-woven material) and has very good forming properties. Therefore, manufacturers of pressed or injected components no longer have to have partly very costly sorting devices in order to be able to produce sandwich components.

[0070] The semi-finished product 30 produced according to FIG. 4a or 4b can also be transferred directly from the prefabrication device 40 into the finishing device 50 of FIG. 2a or 2b, wherein here the individual method steps of the prefabrication device 40 and a finishing device 50 must be coordinated with each other. Here, firstly the component semi-finished product 30 is formed by laying the core layer 12 and the cover layers 14 one on the other, firstly without the decorative layers 17. The component semi-finished product 30 is successively configured into the component parts 36 by means of the cutting tool 45, wherein the component parts 36 are notas shown in FIG. 4b-stacked, but rather successively heated in the finishing device 50 connected to the prefabrication device 40 with a (second) heat supply 52, the respective layers are transferred into a plastic state and then are formed and cut by means of a tool 54 or 56 of the finishing device 50, wherein, for example, (with increased production cost) the decorative layer 17 can be applied. The component cutting here occurs during the closing of the tool after the application of the decorative materials or after the forming or cooling or by integrated cutting edges/pinched edges in the tool 54, 56.

[0071] Alternatively, the production of the sandwich component 10 from the component part 36 or from an unrolled part of the semi-finished product roll 34 which is configured according to need can occur. The component semi-finished product 30 already comprises, in this case, the core layer 12, the two cover layers 14, the two decorative layers 17 and potentially melt layers (not shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b) arranged therebetween (see FIG. 4a or 4b). These individual layers are already connected to one another as a consequence of the (first) heat supply 42 in the prefabrication device 40. The component semi-finished product 30 or the component part 36 thereof therefore already contains all necessary layers, whereby the individual layers are only transferred into the plastic state with the second heat supply 52 by the finishing device 50 and the thus resulting sandwich component 10 is deformed according to need by means of the tool 54 or 56.Alternatively, however, it is also possible to insert the cold decorative layer 17 together with the heated (remaining) semi-finished product into the contoured forming tool 54.

[0072] During connection of the layers 12, 14, 17 of the multilayer composite 20 in the course of the semi-finished product production, both a structural and a surface consolidation of the cover layers 14 can occur. During the structural consolidation, the layer composite 20 is heated locally and the thermoplastic portion is melted.

[0073] In FIG. 5a, by way of example, a cross-sectional view of a structurally consolidated semi-finished product 30 is shown having a core layer 12 and a cover layer 14. The cover layer 14 is only strongly consolidated in the depressions 31; the thermoplastic portion therefore melted. In the region of the elevations 31, the cover layers 14, however, are only consolidated weakly or are almost not consolidated at all. The production of a connection between the cover layers 14 and the foamed core layer 12 therefore occurs substantially by melting the thermoplastic material in the depressions 31. The depicted structure of the semi-finished product 30 is to be understood only by way of example and can additionally also have further different structural embodiments. The structural consolidation has the advantage that the thus produced semi-finished product 30 is still formable and, for example, can be stored in roll form, and therefore can be supplied as continuous material to a production for fiber composite components.

[0074] In the case of a surface consolidation, however, the entire fiber-reinforced thermoplastic cover layer 14 is consolidated evenly, as depicted in the schematic sectional view in FIG. 5b. Here, a consolidation of the cover layers 14 is sought between the unconsolidated and completely consolidated state. Presently, three different regions 33, 33, 33 are marked. The region 33 is completely consolidated, the region 33 is strongly consolidated and the region 33 is unconsolidated. Overall, such a consolidation is to be selected which enables a sufficient connection of the cover layers 14 to the foamed core layer 12, but at the same time does not damage this. Due to the consolidation of the cover layers 14, the thus produced semi-finished product 30 can only be brought into roll form with difficulty, because of which the plate form is suitable as a semi-finished product form 30 in the case of a surface consolidation.

[0075] In FIG. 5c, the semi-finished product 30 is depicted in an already preconfigured formation in a schematic top view. An edge region 32 can here be squeezed such that the individual layers 12, 14 are brought together and connected to one another by so-called pinched edges. In addition to such a closed edge finish or also alternatively to an open cut edge, several structural consolidation surfaces 32 can be introduced. The shape and design of these consolidation surfaces 32 can here be selected substantially in any manner, depending on which mechanical properties the semi-finished product 30 and the fiber composite component to be produced therefrom is to have. The production of the semi-finished product 30 depicted schematically in FIG. 5c can likewise occur continuously or discontinuously.

[0076] Alternatively to the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, in which the connection of the individual layers 12, 14 of the semi-finished product 30 occurs by heat supply 42, so thermally, the individual layers 12, 14 can also be connected to one another mechanically. This is depicted by way of example in FIGS. 6a and 6b by means of the needling of the individual layers 12, 14.

[0077] FIG. 6a shows a schematic side view of a prefabrication device 40 for producing a semi-finished product 30 is shown in FIG. 6. A fiber mixture 70 of thermoplastic fibers and reinforcing fibers is provided on the prefabrication device 40. The fiber mixture 70 is guided through a so-called carding machine 72. The fiber mixture 70 is parallelized and purified by means of the carding machine 72 included in the prefabrication device 40 such that the carding machine 72 outputs a fibrous web 14 in the form of a continuous material which is here used as a cover layer 14.

[0078] A core layer 12 comprising a foamed plastic, preferably PET, as well as a thermoplastic melt layer 13 produced, for example, from polypropylene, are likewise provided in the form of continuous materials. The fibrous web 14, the thermoplastic melt layer 13 and the core layer 20 are arranged one on the other and are further conveyed to a plurality of needles 76. The needles 76 have respective barbs 78. The needles 76 studded with the barbs 78 are guided through or stuck through the multilayer composite 20 formed from the fibrous web 14, the thermoplastic melt layer 13 and the core layer 12. Then the guided-through needles 76 are in turn pulled out from the core layer 12, the fibrous web 14 and the thermoplastic melt layer 13, whereby single or multiple fibers of the fibrous web 14 are hooked with the barbs 78 and are mechanically anchored to the core layer 12 and the thermoplastic melt layer 13 during pulling out of the needles 76.

[0079] In other words, a needling of the fibrous web 14 with the thermoplastic melt layer 13 and the core layer 12 occurs. Then the layers which have been needled to one another and which form the semi-finished product 30 are rolled up in the form of a roll 34, which is able to be transported and stored particularly easily.

[0080] In FIG. 6b, an alternative embodiment of the prefabrication device 40 as well as an alternative method for producing the semi-finished product 30 is shown in a schematic side view. The method shown here differs from the method mentioned in connection to FIG. 6a in that, after the needling of the fibrous web 14 with the melt layer 13 and the core layer 12, a pre-assembly of the semi-finished product 30 into respective semi-finished product component parts 36, for example into plate form, is carried out by means of a cutting tool 45. The semi-finished product component parts 36 can then, for example, be stacked one on the other and brought into interim storage.

[0081] In FIG. 6c, a further alternative sequence of method steps for producing the semi-finished product 30 is shown. The method course shown here differs from the method course shown in FIG. 6b only in that the core layer 12 is provided in the form of preconfigured component parts and not as a continuous product.

[0082] In FIG. 7a, the needling process to form the semi-finished product 30 is depicted again in detail in a schematic detailed view. As can be recognized, the individual needles 76 having their respective barbs 78 are completely immersed through the core layer 12, through the melt layer 13 and the fibrous web 14. Then, the needles 76 are pulled out again in the opposite direction from the individual layers 12, 13, 14, wherein single or also multiple fibers of the fibrous web 14 hook into the respective barbs 78 and, during pulling out of the needles 76, are guided through the thermoplastic melt layer 13 and the core layer 12. The individual fibers are hereby mechanically, i.e. due to a mechanical anchoring, connected to the thermoplastic melt layer 13 and the core layer 12.

[0083] In FIG. 7b, an alternative arrangement of the individual layers 12, 13, 14 is shown during their needling. Here, the entire multilayer composite 20, consisting of the fibrous web layers 14 arranged on the outer side respectively, and the thermoplastic melt layers 13 arranged therebetween, as well as the core layer 12, are connected to one another. The individual needles 76 are here immersed through all layers 12, 13, 14 in turn and are then pulled out again in the opposite direction, wherein, in turn, single or multiple fibers of the fibrous web 14 are hooked with the respective barbs 78 and are mechanically connected to the thermoplastic melt layers 13 and the core layer 12 during pulling out of the needles 76.

[0084] In FIG. 8a, a method sequence for producing a sandwich component 10 from the semi-finished product 30 in a finishing device 50 is depicted. To produce the sandwich component 10analogously to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2aa heating device 52 as well as a forming tool 54 formed as a press is used. The semi-finished product 30 can here optionally be provided to the heating device 52 in the form of the roll 34 or also in the form of the preconfigured semi-finished product component parts 36. Optionally, here an additional layer 16 serving as an upper layer can be attached to the semi-finished product 30. The additional layer 16 can likewise be provided in the form of a non-woven material or a fibrous web. The additional layer 16 here has a higher melting temperature than the thermoplastic fibers of the fibrous web 14.

[0085] The semi-finished product 30 together with the additional layer 16 is heated in the heating device 52 above the melting temperature of the thermoplastic melt layer 13 and/or the thermoplastic portion of the fibrous web 14. The heating can here occur convectively, conductively or by heat radiation. The thus heated semi-finished product 30 is then arranged in the forming tool 54. Here, optionally, further cover layers or also optional melt layers can also be attached to the semi-finished product 30.

[0086] Then the semi-finished product 30 softened by the heating is formed in the tool 54 serving as a thermoforming press, cooled and if necessary cut, wherein here, optionally, further decorative layers 17 can be attached to the semi-finished product 30 before the completed sandwich component 10 is removed from the forming tool 54.

[0087] In FIG. 8b, an alternative method sequence for producing the sandwich component 10 is shown. The semi-finished product 30 is in turn (potentially together with one or several additional layers 16) heated in the heating device 52 before it is supplied to the tool 56. The tool 56 is presently formed as a transfer molding tool and has one or more channels 57 to supply an injection molding material 60. The injection molding material 60 can here contain filler or even reinforcing materials.

[0088] The heated semi-finished product 30 together with the additional layer(s) 16 is formed by means of the tool 56 and then cooled, wherein after the cooling or during the tool closing, a component cutting can optionally occur using integrated cutting edges. During or after the cooling, several rib-like elements 18 or partial component regions are injected onto the sandwich component 10. The elements 18 can, for example, serve as additional stiffenings or as connection elements for connecting the sandwich component 10 to other components. Finally, the completed sandwich component 10 is demolded together with the elements 18 and can be removed from the tool 56.

[0089] The sandwich component 10, 10 can, for example, serve as an inner trim component in a motor vehicle. For example, the sandwich component 10, 10 can be used as a door inner trim part or similar. Due to the sandwich-like construction, the sandwich component 10, 10 has a particularly low specific weight with, at the same time, good mechanical properties.

[0090] Instead of the shown roll-shaped initial materials and/or continuous materials used, alternatively cut-to-length preconfigured material cuttings can be present.