Translucent cladding part and manufacturing method therefor

Abstract

The present invention relates to a translucent covering part and a manufacturing method therefor. The translucent covering part comprises a base layer having an outer surface of the base layer and an inner surface of the base layer; a cover layer arranged on the side of the outer surface of the base layer, having an inner surface of the cover layer and an outer surface of the cover layer, wherein the inner surface of the cover layer at least partially covers the outer surface of the base layer; a character symbol layer having character symbols arranged on the outer surface of the cover layer or the inner surface of the base layer;wherein the material of the base layer comprises a translucent first polymer, and the material of the cover layer comprises a translucent second polymer, and the cover layer and the base layer are directly bonded by injection molding, and the character symbol layer is arranged on the inner surface of the cover layer or the outer surface of the base layer by in-mold insert injection molding (IML) or in-mold decoration (IMD), so that the base layer, the character symbol layer and the cover layer are firmly bonded without adhesive.;

Description

Technical FieldThe present invention relates to a light transmissive trim member and a manufacturing method thereof.BackgroundIn the case of light transmissive trim parts, for example vehicle interior trim parts, for example trims of the center console, instrument panel, door trim and other components, depending on user requirements, the trims of the interior trim parts must have display functions, for example the display of signs or symbols, for example in the center console, signs of different driving modes can be displayed, such as energy saving mode, normal mode and sport mode, then the signs or symbols can respectively correspond to "ECO", "Normal" and "Sport", and for example control instructions for a car air conditioner can be displayed, such as temperature rise, temperature drop and automatic temperature adjustment, then the signs or symbols can be "+", "-" and "AUTO", etc.In a comparative scheme, the structure for realizing the function of the above trim display may be as illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the translucent trim part 1000 includes a first translucent layer 1001 made of translucent polycarbonate (PC) or translucent polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a screen printed sign symbol layer 1002, and a translucent skin layer 1003 made of translucent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyurethane (PU) cascaded from the inside to the outside of the trim, wherein the first translucent layer 1001 and the screen printed sign symbol layer 1002, and the translucent skin layer 1003 and the screen printed sign symbol layer 1002 are bonded with adhesive 1004.However, the inventor found that in the comparative scheme that requires the adhesive bond shown in FIG. 1, it is necessary to ensure that the adhesive does not affect the clarity of the character image display, so that the adhesive needs to be subjected to a relatively complex coating and heating process, which is not only complicated but also results in low yield.Therefore, there is a need for a translucent panel and a manufacturing method thereof in the art to further simplify the processing process of the translucent panel and make the character image displayed by the translucent panel clearer and more accurate.Content of the InventionThe present invention is based on the object of providing a light-transmissive cladding part.The present invention is further based on the object of producing a production method for a light-transmissive cladding part.A light transmissive trim part according to a first aspect of the present invention includes: a base layer having an outer surface of the base layer and an inner surface of the base layer; a cover layer disposed on the outer surface side of the base layer and having an inner surface of the cover layer and an outer surface of the cover layer, the inner surface of the cover layer at least partially covering the outer surface of the base layer; a sign symbol layer having sign symbols disposed on the outer surface of the cover layer or the inner surface of the base layer; wherein the material of the base layer comprises a light transmissive first polymer, and the material of the cover layer comprises a light transmissive second polymer, and the cover layer and the base layer are directly bonded by injection molding, and the sign symbol layer is disposed on the inner surface of the cover layer or the outer surface of the base layer by in-mold insert injection molding (IML) or in-mold decoration (IMD), such that the base layer, the sign symbol layer, and the cover layer are firmly bonded without adhesive; wherein a light transmissive direction of the light transmissive trim member is a direction from the base layer to the cover layer.In the light transmissive trim member presented in the above embodiments, by the structure in which the base layer and the cover layer are directly joined by injection molding and the sign symbol layer is disposed on the inner surface of the cover layer or the outer surface of the base layer by in-mold insert molding or in-mold decoration, an adhesive-free firm joint is realized between the base layer, the sign symbol layer, and the cover layer, which not only simplifies the manufacturing process but also makes the display effect of the sign symbols clearer and more accurate because no adhesive joint is required.In one or more embodiments of the light transmissive trim member, the first polymer and the second polymer contain the same polymerization raw materials.In one or more embodiments of the light transmissive trim part, the material of the cover layer comprises a light transmissive styrene thermoplastic elastomer (TPS); wherein the material of the base layer comprises a light transmissive polypropylene plastic (PP).In one or more embodiments of the light transmissive trim part, the material of the cover layer comprises a light transmissive styrene thermoplastic elastomer (TPS); wherein the material of the base layer comprises a light transmissive polycarbonate (PC) or a light transmissive polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA).In one or more embodiments of the light transmissive trim member, the material of the cover layer is the foamed second polymer, or the thickness of the cover layer is above a critical thickness, wherein the sign symbol layer is disposed on the outer surface of the cover layer.In one or more embodiments of the light transmissive trim member, the material of the cover layer is the non-foamed second polymer, and the thickness of the cover layer is less than a critical thickness, the sign symbol layer disposed on the inner surface of the base layer.In one or more embodiments of the light transmissive trim part, it further includes a light source located on the inner surface side of the base layer, wherein a light transmissive direction of the light beam provided by the light source is to pass first through the base layer and then through the cover layer.In one or more embodiments of the light transmissive trim part, the light transmissive trim part is at least a part of an interior trim part of a vehicle.A manufacturing method for a light transmissive trim part according to a second aspect of the present invention for manufacturing a trim part according to the first aspect, comprising:S1. injection molding one of the base layer or the top layer;S2. injection molding the other of the base layer or the cover layer on the base layer or the cover layer obtained by S1 so that the base layer and the cover layer are firmly bonded without adhesive;S3. arranging the sign symbol layer on the outer surface of the cover layer or the inner surface of the base layer.In one or more embodiments of the manufacturing method, at S 1, S 2, the two-color injection molding is performed with the same injection molding apparatus.The advantageous effect of the manufacturing method described in the above embodiments is that the manufacturing process is relatively simple and the yield is relatively high.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGThese and other features, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments, wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a light transmissive trim part of a comparison scheme. FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a vehicle having a translucent trim part according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a first embodiment of a light transmissive trim part. FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a second embodiment of a light transmissive trim member. FIG. 5 is a schematic flow diagram of a method of manufacturing a translucent trim part according to an embodiment.Name list:100 Interior trim part 101 instrument panel 102 door trim 103 center console 10, 1000 light-transmissive trim part 1001 first light-transmissive layer 1002 screen-printed sign symbol layer 1003 light-transmissive skin layer 1004 adhesive 1 base layer 11 outer surface of the base layer 12 inner surface of the base layer 2 cover layer 21 inner surface of the cover layer 22 outer surface of the cover layer 3 sign symbol layer 31 sign symbol 4 light source.Detailed EmbodimentsThe following examples of the technical solution of the present application will be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art of the present application; the terms used herein are for describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit the present application; and the terms "comprise" and "with", and all variants thereof, in the specification and claims of the present application and in the foregoing description of the drawings are not intended to cover exclusive inclusion.In describing the embodiments of the present application, the technical terms "first", "second", etc. are used only to distinguish different objects and are not to be understood as indicating or implying relative meaning or implicitly indicating the number, specific order or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of the present application, "more than one" means more than two unless expressly and specifically otherwise limited."Embodiment" herein means that certain features, structures, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiments may be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The appearances of the phrase in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor is it an independent or alternative embodiment that excludes other embodiments from one another. The person skilled in the art explicitly and implicitly understands that the exemplary embodiments described here can be combined with other exemplary embodiments.In the description of the embodiments of the present application, the orientation or positional relationships indicated by the technical terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "top", "bottom", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc. are based on the orientation or positional relationships illustrated in the accompanying drawings and serve only to facilitate the description of the embodiments of the present application and simplify the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply, Thus, the device or element to which / is referred must have a particular orientation or be constructed and operated with a particular orientation and should not be taken as a limitation on the embodiments of the present application.In the description of the embodiments of the present application, unless expressly stated and limited otherwise, the technical terms "install", "connect", "connect", "fasten" and the like are to be understood broadly, e.g., it may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection or a one-piece connection; it may also be a mechanical connection, and for a person skilled in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the embodiments of the present application may be understood according to the specific circumstances.It should be understood that the foregoing or following operations are not necessarily performed exactly in order depending on the actual situation. Additional operations may also be added to these processes or one or more steps may be removed from these processes.It should be explained that the light transmittance described in the following examples refers to the ability to transmit light. For the observer, the structure under the layer can be seen through the structure of the layer. For example, terms such as "transparent" (light transmittance of substantially 100%) and "semi-translucent", etc. in the physical sense belong to the definition of "light transmittance" within the scope of the present case.Although the trim members disclosed in the embodiments of the present application are applicable to interior trims of automobiles, which may be, for example, a door side trim, a headliner, an instrument panel (dashboard), or an instrument panel (instrument panel), a center console (center console), and other interior trim members of automobiles, and the shapes of the trim members are in various shapes, they are not limited thereto. For example, they may also be applicable to other applications of vehicles such as railroad trains, ships, and aircraft, as long as the vehicles can apply the translucent trim members disclosed in the embodiments of the present application to meet the needs of human-computer interactions within the vehicles. For example, it may also be used for office desktops, display sites, display device panels, and other scenarios, but is not limited thereto, as long as the transmissive trim part of the present application may be used to achieve the advantages of lower manufacturing costs and / or clearer and more accurate sign icon display that meet the requirements of human-computer interaction, i.e., the transmissive trim part of the case is applicable.The light transmissive trim part 10 described below is illustrated by the trim part 100 illustrated in FIG. 2.As shown in FIG. 2, a vehicle, e.g., a car, includes an interior trim part 100, which may include, for example, an instrument panel 101, a door trim 102, a center console 103, etc. The current instrument panel 101 and the door trim 102 are generally of a split structure, and the instrument panel 101 and the door trim 102 can be visually clearly distinguished, but it is not excluded that the structure of the instrument panel 101 and the door trim 102 is similar, which is a solution for an interior trim system of a vehicle in which the instrument panel 101 and the door trim 102 are visually integrated. As described above, the translucent panel 10 may be at least a portion of the panel 100 that provides indicia symbols for the panel 100 to provide control buttons for the user's human-computer interaction interface, e.g., the center console may display indicia of various driving modes such as power save mode, normal mode, and sport mode, then the indicia or symbols may correspond to "ECO", "Normal", and "Sport", respectively, and for example, control instructions for an automotive air conditioner may be displayed such as temperature increase, temperature decrease, and automatic temperature adjustment, then the indicia or symbols may be "+", "-", and "AUTO", etc.Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in some embodiments, the transmissive trim part 10 includes a base layer 1, a top layer 2, and a sign symbol layer 3.The base layer 1 has an outer surface 11 of the base layer and an inner surface 12 of the base layer.The cover layer 2 is located on the side of the outer surface 11 of the base layer and has an inner surface 21 of the cover layer and an outer surface 22 of the cover layer, wherein the inner surface 21 of the cover layer at least partially covers the outer surface 11 of the base layer.The sign symbol layer 3 arranged on the outer surface 22 of the top layer or the inner surface 12 of the base layer comprises sign symbols, here sign symbols 31 provided for display by the above-described translucent panel 10 to provide the user with the operation keys of the human-computer interaction interface.As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a light transmissive direction of the light transmissive trim part 10 is a direction from the base layer 1 to the cover layer 2.In some embodiments, the light transmissive trim part 10 further includes a light source 4 located on the inner surface 12 side of the base layer, wherein a light transmissive direction of the light beam provided by the light source 4 is to pass first through the base layer 1 and then through the cover layer 2.The light source 4 may generally be an LED light source. It can be understood that the structure shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is only schematic. The light beam that reaches the translucent trim part 10 may be directly emitted from the LED light source. It is also possible that the light beam emitted from the LED light source reaches the inner surface 12 side of the base layer after being transmitted through a light guide such as PC, PMMA or an optical fiber. This means that the light source 4 is to be designed broadly here and can comprise both a single light source element, such as an LED light source, and a combination of light source element and light guide element.The material of the base layer 1 comprises a light transmissive first polymer, and the material of the cover layer 2 comprises a light transmissive second polymer, and the cover layer 2 and the base layer 1 are directly bonded by injection molding, and the sign symbol layer 3 is disposed on the inner surface 21 of the cover layer or the outer surface 11 of the base layer by in-mold insert molding (IML) or in-mold decoration (IMD), so that the base layer 1, the sign symbol layer 3, and the cover layer 2 are firmly bonded without adhesive.The adhesive-free fixed connection here refers to an adhesive-free non-detachable fastening of the two. In order to separate the two, a destructive process is generally required.The definition of in-mold insert injection molding, in-mold decoration is here similar to the usual definition in the prior art, i.e. "in-mold insert injection molding" means that the surface of the sign symbol layer 3 is a cured transparent film, with a print pattern layer in the middle and a plastic layer on the back side. Since the ink is pinched in the middle, the surface of the product can be prevented from being scratched and rubbed, and the color can be long light and not easily faded. "In-mold decoration" means that the sign mark layer 3 is formed by putting a pattern-printed membrane in a mold (e.g., a metal mold), injecting the mold resin into the mold and bonding it to the membrane, so that the pattern-printed membrane and the resin are integrated and cured to the sign mark layer 3.The first polymer, the second polymer here means that the material of the base layer 1, the cover layer 2 is different. but both are light transmissive polymer materials for injection molding compounds. The following is an example of the two-color injection molding. One material flow is the first polymer of the base layer 1 and another material flow is the second polymer of the top layer 2, which may be first injected in an injection molding machine to form the base layer 1 and the top layer 2. For example, the base layer 1 is first formed, then the injection molding of the cover layer 2 based on the formed base layer 1 with the other material flow takes place in the same injection molding machine, whereby an adhesive-free firm connection of the base layer 1 with the cover layer 2 is achieved.Preferably, the first and second polymers may contain the same polymerization raw materials, i.e. the first and second polymers, although they are different polymers, have the same polymerization raw materials, so that both easily harden upon injection molding and are directly connected to each other.The principle is that, for example, the base layer 1 of the first polymer is first molded at a temperature above the softening temperature, and when the cover layer 2 of the second polymer is injected onto the base layer 1, its temperature at this time is also above the softening temperature, so that the base layer 1 and the cover layer 2 are firmly connected to each other by the connection of the same polymer groups.Preferably, the material of the cover layer 2 comprises a translucent styrene thermoplastic elastomer (TPS); wherein the material of the base layer 1 comprises a light-transmissive polypropylene (PP) resin. The specific production process of the light-transmissive TPS can be performed by physical method with PP, white oil, and hydrogenated styrene-butadiene block copolymer (styrene ethylene butylene styrene, SEBS) by a twin-screw extruder, i.e., TPS-SEBS can also be obtained by chemical method using catalysts. It is understood that the material of the cover layer 2 can also be TPS-SIS (styrene-isoprene-styrene), TPS-SBS (styrene block copolymer), TPS-SEPS (styrene-ethylene / propylene-styrene block copolymer). The light transmittance of the light transmissive TPS using the above raw materials can achieve a light transmittance of more than 80% which is much higher than the light transmittance of a general TPE (which is generally below 20%) By the combination of TPS and PP, the adhesive-free firm connection of the base layer 1 and the cover layer 2 can be made more reliable. Although the polymerization raw materials of the polymers of the base layer 1 and the cover layer 2 are different, it is possible to add an adhesive agent to the material flow in injection molding to achieve a denser adhesive-free bonding effect.Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, there are shown embodiments in which the symbol layer 3 is disposed on the outer surface 22 of the top layer and the symbol layer 3 is disposed on the inner surface 12 of the bottom layer, respectively.As shown in FIG. 3, in the first embodiment, the sign symbol layer 3 is disposed on the outer surface 22 of the cover layer so that the material of the cover layer 2 is a foamed second polymer or the thickness of the cover layer 2 is above the critical thickness. That is, in the case of the thicker thickness of the cover layer 2, the foamed second polymer such as foamed TPS, which feels softer, can make the translucent panel 10 feel better, but the foaming and the larger thickness impair the clarity and accuracy of the display of the sign symbols. The inventor found that the character symbol layer 3 is disposed on the outer surface 22 of the cover layer, which can make the display of the character symbols under this structure clearer and more accurate.As shown in FIG. 4, in the second embodiment, the character symbol layer 3 is disposed on the inner surface 12 of the base layer. Accordingly, here, the material of the covering layer 2 is a non-foamed second polymer, and the thickness of the covering layer 2 is smaller than the critical thickness, i.e., the case where the thickness of the covering layer 2 is thinner.The critical thickness can be obtained by side view here, i.e., the thickness does not affect the clarity and accuracy of display of the character symbols within a certain thickness range, and the maximum thickness in this thickness range is the critical thickness.The inventors found that, in the case of the non-foamed and thinner second polymer, the influence on the display effect of character symbols is small with the character symbol layer 3 disposed on the inner surface 12 of the base layer, and the processing process is easier and easy to implement.From the foregoing, it is understood that the advantageous effects of the light transmissive trim member introduced in the above embodiments include, among other things, that by the structure in which the base layer and the top layer are directly joined by injection molding and the sign symbol layer is disposed on the inner surface of the top layer or the outer surface of the base layer by in-mold insert injection molding or in-mold decoration, an adhesive-free firm joint is realized between the base layer, the sign symbol layer and the top layer, which not only simplifies the manufacturing process but also makes the display effect of the sign symbols clearer and more accurate because no adhesive joint is required.Referring to FIG. 5 and as described above, the steps of manufacturing the light transmissive trim part 10 may be as follows:S 1: Injection molding of one of the base layer 1 and the top layer 2;S2. injection molding the other of the base layer 1 or the cover layer 2 on the base layer 1 or the cover layer 2 obtained by S 1 so that the base layer 1 and the cover layer 2 are firmly bonded without adhesive;S3. arranging the sign symbol layer 3 on the outer surface 22 of the top layer or the inner surface 12 of the base layer.For example, in S 1, a base layer 1 is first obtained by injection molding, and in S 2, a cover layer 2 is injected on the basis of the obtained base layer 1 of S 1 in order to achieve an adhesive-free firm connection of the base layer 1 to the cover layer 2.The specific process in S 3 described above can be formed by in-mold insert molding, i.e., the surface of the sign symbol layer 3 is a cured transparent film having a print pattern layer in the center and a resin layer on the back side. Since the ink is pinched at the center, the surface of the product can be prevented from being scratched and rubbed, and the color can be made light for a long time and not easily fading. It may also be molded by in-mold decoration, i.e., the sign mark layer 3 is formed by putting a pattern-printed membrane in a mold (e.g., a metal mold), injecting the molding resin into the mold, and bonding it to the membrane, so that the pattern-printed membrane and the resin are integrated and cured to the sign mark layer 3.In this way, the apparatus and space requirement of the production process can be simplified. This is, however, not limited, but it can also be a process of secondary injection molding of another injection molding device, for example, in some exemplary embodiments at S 1, S 2 the two-color injection molding is carried out using the same injection molding device.In summary, the advantageous effects of the light transmissive trim part introduced in the above embodiments and the manufacturing method thereof include, among other things, realizing, by the structure in which the base layer and the cover layer are directly joined by injection molding and the sign symbol layer is disposed on the inner surface of the cover layer or the outer surface of the base layer by in-mold insert molding or in-mold decoration, an adhesive-free firm connection between the base layer, the sign symbol layer and the cover layer is realized, which not only simplifies the manufacturing process but also makes the display effect of the sign symbols clearer and more accurate because no adhesive connection is required any longer.Although the present invention is disclosed as above in preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and any person skilled in the art can make possible changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all modifications, equivalent changes, and modifications to the above embodiments according to the technical spirit of the present invention that do not depart from the gist of the technical solution of the present invention fall within the scope defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

A translucent trim part comprising: a base layer (1) having an outer surface (11) of the base layer and an inner surface (12) of the base layer; a cover layer (2) disposed on the side of the outer surface (11) of the base layer and having an inner surface (21) of the cover layer and an outer surface (22) of the cover layer, wherein the inner surface (21) of the cover layer at least partially covers the outer surface (11) of the base layer; a sign symbol layer (3) having sign symbols (31) disposed on the outer surface (22) of the cover layer or the inner surface (12) of the base layer; wherein the material of the base layer (1) comprises a light transmissive first polymer, and the material of the cover layer (2) comprises a light transmissive second polymer, and the cover layer (2) and the base layer (1) are directly bonded by injection molding, and the sign symbol layer (3) is disposed on the inner surface (21) of the cover layer or the outer surface (11) of the base layer by in-mold insert injection molding (IML) or in-mold decoration (IMD), such that the base layer (1), the sign symbol layer (3), and the cover layer (2) are firmly bonded without adhesive; wherein a light transmissive direction of the light transmissive trim part (10) is a direction from the base layer (1) to the cover layer (2).The translucent trim part (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first polymer and the second polymer contain the same polymerization raw materials.The translucent trim part (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the material of the cover layer (2) comprises a translucent thermoplastic styrene elastomer (TPS); wherein the material of the base layer (1) comprises a translucent polypropylene plastic (PP).The translucent trim part (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the material of the cover layer (2) comprises a translucent styrene thermoplastic elastomer (TPS); wherein the material of the base layer (1) comprises a translucent polycarbonate (PC) or a translucent polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA).The translucent trim part (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the material of the cover layer (2) is the foamed second polymer, or the thickness of the cover layer (2) is above a critical thickness, wherein the sign symbol layer (3) is arranged on the outer surface (22) of the cover layer.The translucent trim part (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the material of the cover layer (2) is the non-foamed second polymer, and the thickness of the cover layer (2) is less than a critical thickness, wherein the sign symbol layer (3) is arranged on the inner surface (12) of the base layer.The light transmissive trim (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the light transmissive trim further comprises a light source (4) located on the inner surface (12) side of the base layer, wherein a light transmissive direction of the light beam provided by the light source (4) is to pass first through the base layer (1) and then through the cover layer (2).The light-transmissive trim part (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the light-transmissive trim part (10) is at least a part of an interior trim part (100) of a vehicle.A manufacturing method of a light transmissive trim member for manufacturing the light transmissive trim member (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising: S1. Injection molding of one of the base layer (1) or the cover layer (2); S2. Injection molding the other of the base layer (1) or the cover layer (2) on the base layer (1) or the cover layer (2) obtained by S1 so that the base layer (1) and the cover layer (2) are firmly bonded without adhesive; S3. arranging the sign symbol layer (3) on the outer surface (22) of the cover layer or the inner surface (12) of the base layer.Production method according to claim 9, characterised in that at S1, S2 the two-colour injection moulding is carried out with the same injection moulding device.

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