Method of manufacturing a vehicle interior trim
By forming and removing the plating layer on the surface of the injection molded product and printing symbol parts thereon, the problem of decolorization or peeling of the light barrier layer during long-term use is solved, and the effect of improving visibility while reducing production costs is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202311774406.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-08-24
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-21
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-25
AI Technical Summary
When used for a long time, the existing light emitting control buttons are friction caused by direct contact between the light barrier layer and the user's fingers, causing the light barrier layer to be decolorized or peeled off. At the same time, the existing light emitting control buttons are made of a single color, which cannot meet various user design preferences.
By electroless plating on the surface of the injection molded product, and printing a symbol portion thereon, the first plating layer is partially removed to form a light emitting display window, and a second plating layer is formed on the surface other than the symbol portion, allowing light to be emitted to the outside through the area where the symbol portion is removed.
It realizes the visibility of symbol parts in text or symbol form while constantly opening, reduces the production cost of manufacturing vehicle interior parts, and avoids the problem of decolorization or peeling of the light barrier layer, while supporting multiple colors designs.
Smart Images
Figure CN119506879A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing a vehicle interior part, and more particularly, to a method for manufacturing a vehicle interior part that can increase visibility and reduce production costs of manufacturing a vehicle interior part such as a switch, so that light is emitted to the outside through a symbol part in the form of text or symbols. Background Art
[0002] Typically, knobs or buttons are used in a variety of ways in vehicles or electronic products, such as display-type control knobs (such as a shift knob on a gearshift), push-type control knobs (such as a vehicle start button), and rotary control knobs (such as an audio volume control dial).
[0003] These control knobs are generally made of synthetic resin. However, recently, a light-emitting control knob is receiving attention, which provides an elegant and luxurious design and emits light provided by a light-emitting device to the outside through a light-emitting display window in the form of text or symbols to increase visibility.
[0004] The existing luminous control knob includes a luminous display window in the form of text or symbols formed on the upper surface of the knob body made of synthetic resin. In addition, the existing luminous control knob includes a light blocking layer formed on the remaining portion except the luminous display window by spraying and deposition, that is, covering or blocking the remaining portion except the luminous display window.
[0005] However, when the conventional luminous control button is used for a long time, the light blocking layer may be discolored or peeled off due to friction caused by direct contact between the light blocking layer and the user's fingers.
[0006] Furthermore, the existing illuminated control knobs are made of a single color, resulting in a problem of failing to satisfy various user design preferences. Summary of the invention
[0007] The present disclosure has been made in an effort to solve the above-mentioned problems associated with the prior art.
[0008] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a vehicle interior part, which is capable of realizing a symbol portion in the form of text or symbols without being disconnected to improve visibility. This is achieved by removing the symbol portion in a state where a first plating layer is formed on the surface of an injection molded product by electroless plating. The symbol portion in the form of text or symbols is printed on the injection molded product formed with the first plating layer. A second plating layer is formed on the other surfaces of the injection molded product except the symbol portion by electroplating. Therefore, this configuration allows light to be emitted to the outside of the interior part through the area where the symbol portion is removed.
[0009] The purpose of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned purpose. The purpose of the present disclosure should become more obvious from the following description, and should be achieved by the methods and combinations described in the appended claims.
[0010] In one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method for manufacturing a vehicle interior trim. The method includes forming a first plating layer on a surface of an injection molded product by electroless plating and printing a symbol portion on the first plating layer. The method also includes partially removing the first plating layer from a rear surface of the injection molded product, the size of the removed first plating layer corresponding to the symbol portion, and including forming a second plating layer on the first plating layer. In addition, the method includes removing the symbol portion and the first plating layer from the surface of the injection molded product on which the second plating layer is formed.
[0011] When the symbol portion is removed, the symbol portion and the first plating layer may be removed from the surface of the injection molded product by laser processing.
[0012] Furthermore, when the symbol portion is removed, the symbol portion and the first plating layer may be removed from the surface of the injection molded product in sequence.
[0013] Removing the symbol portion may include removing the symbol portion from the surface of the injection molded product by chemical cleaning, and may include removing the first plating layer by chemical cleaning.
[0014] When the symbol part is printed, the symbol part may be printed on the first plating layer so that the first plating layer on which the symbol part is printed may be electrically disconnected.
[0015] Furthermore, when the first plating layer is partially removed, the first plating layer may be partially removed by laser processing so that a portion of the rear surface of the injection molded product corresponding to the removal size may be electrically disconnected.
[0016] In addition, when the first plating layer is partially removed, the injection molded product can be made of a light-transmitting material. Therefore, the rear surface of the injection molded product can be exposed by partially removing the first plating layer, thereby forming a light-emitting display window facing the symbol part.
[0017] Furthermore, when the second plating layer is formed, the second plating layer may be formed by electroplating on the first plating layer on the remaining surface of the injection molded product except for the symbol portion and the rear surface of the injection molded product.
[0018] Other aspects of the disclosure are discussed below.
[0019] It should be understood that the term "vehicle" or "vehicle-like" or other similar terms as used herein generally include motor vehicles. Such motor vehicles may include passenger cars including sport utility vehicles (SUVs), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including various ships and boats, aircraft, etc. Such motor vehicles also include hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles, and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As mentioned herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle having two or more power sources, for example, a vehicle driven by both gasoline and electricity.
[0020] The above features and other features of the present disclosure are discussed below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The above-mentioned and other features of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to certain embodiments of the present disclosure shown in the accompanying drawings, which are given hereinafter by way of illustration only and therefore do not limit the present disclosure, and in which:
[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram sequentially showing a method for manufacturing a vehicle interior trim component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0023] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a printed symbol portion in a method for manufacturing a vehicle interior trim component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0024] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing removal of a first plating layer in a method for manufacturing a vehicle interior component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0025] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing the formation of a second plating layer in a method for manufacturing a vehicle interior component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0026] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of removing a symbol portion in a method of manufacturing a vehicle interior component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0027] Fig. 6A and Figure 6B is a schematic diagram showing another example of removing a symbol portion in the method of manufacturing a vehicle interior component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0028] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing a completed state of an interior trim component using the method of manufacturing a vehicle interior trim component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0029] Fig. 8A and Figure 8Bis a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a conventional vehicle interior component.
[0030] It should be understood that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and that they present a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features illustrating the basic principles of the present disclosure. The specific design features of the present disclosure as disclosed herein (including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations, and shapes) will be determined in part by the specific intended application and use environment.
[0031] In the drawings, reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present disclosure throughout the several figures of the drawing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0033] Advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods for achieving the advantages and features will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0034] However, the present disclosure can be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. In addition, these embodiments are provided to make the present disclosure comprehensive and complete, and the scope of the present disclosure should be fully conveyed to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs. In addition, the present disclosure is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
[0035] When a component, device, element, etc. of the present disclosure is described as having a purpose or performing an operation, function, etc., the component, device or element should be considered herein as being "configured to" satisfy the purpose or perform the operation or function.
[0036] Furthermore, in the following description of the present disclosure, in the case where a detailed description of a known related art is determined to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed description thereof is omitted herein.
[0037] Figure 1 1 is a schematic diagram sequentially illustrating a method of manufacturing a vehicle interior component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing a printed symbol portion in a method of manufacturing a vehicle interior component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0038] also, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating removal of a first plating layer in the method of manufacturing a vehicle interior component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating forming a second plating layer in the method of manufacturing a vehicle interior component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0039] also, Figure 5: is a schematic diagram showing an example of removing a symbol portion in the method of manufacturing a vehicle interior part according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 6A and Figure 6B 2 is a schematic diagram showing another example of removing a symbol portion in the method of manufacturing a vehicle interior component according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing a completed state of an interior part using the method of manufacturing a vehicle interior part according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0040] Conventionally, in order to manufacture a vehicle interior part such as a switch that emits light through a symbol portion such as text or an image, it is inevitable to manufacture an expensive mold for dual injection of a first injection molded product and a second injection molded product.
[0041] In other words, if Fig. 8A As shown, according to the related art, a first mold is required to injection mold a first injection molded product 1 made of polycarbonate (PC) to form a light-transmitting symbol portion. In addition, a second mold is required to injection mold a second injection molded product 2 made of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) to form a plating area on a vehicle interior. Since the first mold for injection molding the first injection molded product 1 needs to be remanufactured for a symbol portion having a different shape, the cost is bound to rise.
[0042] Furthermore, when plating is performed in the plating area of the second injection molded product 2, it is assumed that the first injection molded product 1 is in a closed state, for example, as shown in FIG. Figure 8B As shown, the first injection molded product 1 is formed with the word "BACK". This is done to perform electroplating inside the first injection molded product 1. However, since the island A must be implemented to expose the inside of the words "B" and "A", in order to implement such an island A, the visibility of the symbol part is inevitably reduced.
[0043] In order to solve the above problems, Figure 1 As shown, a method of manufacturing a vehicle interior component according to the present embodiment is proposed and will be sequentially described as follows.
[0044] First, a first plating layer 100 , which is a base plating layer using nickel (Ni), is formed on a surface of an injection molded product 10 made of PC and ABS using electroless plating ( S100 ).
[0045] Then, if Figure 2 As shown, a symbol portion 20 consisting of text or an image having a predetermined thickness is printed on the first plating layer 100 using a pad printing method (S200).
[0046] When the symbol part 20 is printed on the first plating layer 100 , the first plating layer 100 printed with the symbol part 20 is masked so that the corresponding area is electrically disconnected.
[0047] Next, if Figure 3 As shown, the first plating layer 100 is partially removed from the rear surface of the injection molded product 10 , and the size (eg, area) of the removed first plating layer corresponds to the symbol portion 20 ( S300 ).
[0048] This is because the injection molded product 10 is made of a light-transmitting material including PC. The purpose is to expose the rear surface of the injection molded product 10 to the outside, that is, the light source 30, by partially removing the first plating layer 100. Thus, a light-emitting display window 12 is formed on the rear side of the injection molded product 10.
[0049] Furthermore, since the first plating layer 100 is partially removed by fiber laser processing or ultraviolet (UV) laser processing, the light emitting display window 12 is also electrically disconnected like the area of the first plating layer 100 where the symbol portion 20 is printed.
[0050] Next, if Figure 4 As shown, the second plating layer 200 formed by triple electroplating of copper (Cu)-nickel (Ni)-chromium (Cr) is formed on the first plating layer 100 (S400).
[0051] Preferably, the second plating layer 200 is formed by electroplating on the first plating layer 100 including the symbol portion 20 and the rear surface of the injection molded product 10. In other words, the second plating layer 200 is formed by electroplating on the remaining surface of the injection molded product 10 except the light emitting display window 12 through operation S400.
[0052] In one example, as described above, since the symbol portion 20 and the light emitting display window 12 are electrically disconnected, when the second plating layer 200 is formed by electroplating, the corresponding region is masked so that the second plating layer 200 is not formed.
[0053] The second plating layer 200 may be formed with a predetermined thickness, more specifically, the thickness corresponding to the printing thickness of the symbol portion 20 .
[0054] Thereafter, the symbol portion 20 and the first plating layer 100 below the symbol portion 20 are removed from the surface of the injection molded product 10 on which the second plating layer 200 is formed ( S500 ).
[0055] like Figure 5 As shown, in operation S500, the carbon dioxide (CO 2) laser processing or ultraviolet (UV) laser processing) removes the symbol portion 20 and the first plating layer 100 below the symbol portion 20 from the surface of the injection molded product 10.
[0056] As another embodiment, Fig. 6A and Figure 6B As shown, the symbol portion 20 and the first plating layer 100 may be removed from the surface of the injection molded product 10 in sequence.
[0057] In other words, if Fig. 6A As shown, first, the symbol portion 20 is removed from the surface of the injection molded product 10 by chemical cleaning. Figure 6B As shown, the first plating layer 100 is removed by chemical cleaning.
[0058] In one example, a polymer etchant is used to remove the symbol portion 20 , and a nitric acid-based nickel stripper is used to remove the first plating layer 100 .
[0059] As described above, when the symbol portion 20 and the first plating layer 100 are removed by laser processing or chemical cleaning, the vehicle interior part is completed. Figure 7 Furthermore, when light from the light source 30 passes through the injection molded product 10 through the light emitting display window 12 to be emitted to the symbol area B where the symbol portion 20 and the first plating layer 100 are removed, a symbol portion having improved visibility can be provided compared to the related art.
[0060] Furthermore, when different symbol parts 20 are printed on a plurality of injection molded products 10 according to different characters or shapes, vehicle interior parts can be produced, so there is no need to manufacture a mold for double injection molding as in the related art, thereby reducing production costs.
[0061] Furthermore, since a method of realizing the symbol area B on the surface of the injection molded product 10 by removing the printed symbol portion 20 in a state where the second plating layer 200 is formed is adopted, the island A can be prevented from appearing (see Figure 8B ). Therefore, the recognition of symbol shapes can be improved compared to the prior art.
[0062] According to the present disclosure, the effect of the method for manufacturing a vehicle interior part is that a symbol part in the form of text or symbols can be realized without being disconnected to improve visibility. This is achieved by removing the symbol part in a state where a first plating layer is formed on the surface of an injection molded product by electroless plating. The symbol part in the form of text or symbols is printed on the injection molded product formed with the first plating layer. A second plating layer is formed on the surface of the injection molded product other than the symbol part by electroplating. Therefore, light is allowed to be emitted to the outside of the interior part through the area where the symbol part is removed.
[0063] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, since it is not necessary to manufacture an expensive mold for dual injection molding of a polycarbonate (PC) material for forming a light-transmitting symbol portion and an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) material for forming a plating area, it is possible to achieve a reduction in production cost.
[0064] Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, this is merely illustrative. Those skilled in the art may make various modifications therefrom. In addition, it should be understood that all or part of the above-mentioned embodiments may be optionally combined and configured. Therefore, the precise technical scope of the present disclosure should be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A method for manufacturing a vehicle interior trim part, the method comprising: forming a first plating layer on a surface of the injection molded product by electroless plating; Printing a symbol portion on the first plating layer; partially removing the first plating layer from the rear surface of the injection molded product, the size of the removed first plating layer corresponding to the symbol portion; forming a second plating layer on the first plating layer; as well as The symbol portion and the first plating layer are removed from a surface of the injection molded product on which the second plating layer is formed.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: When removing the symbol portion, the symbol portion and the first plating layer are removed from the surface of the injection molded product by laser processing.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: When removing the symbol portion, the symbol portion and the first plating layer are sequentially removed from the surface of the injection molded product.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: Removing the symbol part includes: removing the symbol portion from the surface of the injection molded product by chemical cleaning; and The first plating layer is removed by chemical cleaning.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: When printing the symbol portion, the symbol portion is printed on the first plating layer so that the first plating layer on which the symbol portion is printed is electrically disconnected.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein: When the first plating layer is partially removed, the first plating layer is partially removed by laser processing so that a portion of the rear surface of the injection molded product corresponding to the removed size is electrically disconnected.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein: When the first plating layer is partially removed, the injection molded product is made of a light-transmitting material, and the rear surface of the injection molded product is exposed by partially removing the first plating layer, thereby forming a light-emitting display window facing the symbol portion.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein: When forming the second plating layer, the second plating layer is formed by electroplating on the first plating layer on the remaining surface of the injection molded product except the symbol portion and the rear surface of the injection molded product.