Overmoulded Glass Insert Positioning via Mold Pins

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for overmolding gasket portions on curved glazed elements face challenges such as complex molds with movable blocks, incorrect positioning of inserts, stress on the glass leading to breakage, imperfect tightness of seals, and high costs due to complex mold designs.

Innovation Solution

The process involves using bearing tabs and indexing means like indentations or cutouts on the glass for precise positioning, eliminating movable blocks, ensuring the insert's base is not covered by plastic, and using pins for absolute positioning, allowing the insert to be anchored securely without stress on the glass, and ensuring tightness between the insert's shoulder and mold parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex molds with movable blocks are used to accommodate protruding inserts on curved glazed elements, then the inserts can be held in place during injection and demolding, but the mold design becomes complicated and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsert positioning stabilityVSAvoidmold design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insert is divided into distinct functional parts: a sole portion that interfaces with the glazed element, a protruding portion for fixing, and positioning means (indentations or cutouts) that segment the positioning function. This segmentation allows the insert to be positioned accurately without requiring complex movable blocks in the mold.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Positioning pins in the mold cooperate with positioning means (indentations or cutouts) on the insert to provide absolute positioning. This intermediary positioning mechanism eliminates the need for complex movable blocks while ensuring the insert remains stable during injection and demolding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Shape

If the base of the insert is covered with plastic material forming the seal, then the seal appears continuous, but the insert cannot be properly positioned and anchored

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal continuityVSAvoidinsert positioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The base of the insert has a localized free face that remains uncovered by plastic material, creating a specific zone with different properties from the rest of the seal. This local quality difference allows the positioning means to engage with the mold pins while the rest of the seal maintains its continuous appearance and sealing function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the axis of the protruding part is parallel to the stripping axis (as in flat glazing), then the demolding is simple, but curved glazed elements cannot be properly positioned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedemolding simplicityVSAvoidcurved glazing positioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning means (indentations or cutouts) are designed to accommodate pins that can position the insert at various orientations relative to the stripping axis. This adds a dimensional degree of freedom, allowing the protruding part axis to be oriented differently from the stripping axis while maintaining simple demolding procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Reliability

If the insert is positioned using a rubber ring with controlled elasticity, then the insert can be held in the mold, but it is difficult to control the elasticity over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsert holding capabilityVSAvoidelasticity control consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic rubber ring holding mechanism is replaced with a mechanical positioning system using pins and positioning means (indentations or cutouts). This substitution eliminates the need to control elastic properties over time, providing consistent and reliable positioning without the variability associated with elastic material degradation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2155462B1Method and device for overmoulding a glass element using a seam portion including an insert and glass panel

Publication Date: 2014.10.15 SAINT GOBAIN VITRAGE SA

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AI summary

The invention relates to a method for overmoulding at least one seam portion (J) onto a peripheral part of a glass element (V), said seam including at least one insert (1) having an overmoulded portion comprising a sole plate (2) and a projecting portion (4) oriented along an axis (A) for pre-positioning, positioning and securing the glass element (V) in a bay to be seamed. The method is characterised in that, during injection, the insert is positioned in the moulding cavity using a pin (11) co-operating with a positioning means (5), both of which are located on the overmoulded part such that the face of the sole plate (2) turned towards the glass element includes at least one support foot (6) extending in the direction of the glass element and coming into contact therewith and the opposite face of the sole plate includes a base (3) having a free face which supports the above-mentioned projecting part (4) and which is not covered with the plastic material forming the seam. The invention is also characterised in that, during stripping, the mould is opened and the overmoulded glass panel is removed without the projecting part (4) of the insert (1) coming into contact with the wall of the housing (10).