Belt molding manufacturing method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12583187-B2
Application number	US-202218723068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2022
Priority date	Dec 21, 2021
Publication date	Mar 24, 2026
Grant date	Mar 24, 2026

Abstract

A belt molding manufacturing method includes inserting an end cap into a molding body, performing an ultrasonic vibration processing, and performing a non-vibration pressing. The ultrasonic vibration pressing includes pushing an ultrasonic horn in an ultrasonic vibration state against at least one of the molding body and the end cap from a vehicle interior side toward a vehicle exterior side, such that a pressed portion pressed by the ultrasonic horn is melted and deformed to form a hole portion recessed on a pressing surface of the pressed portion and a protruding portion protruding on a surface opposite to the pressing surface. The non-vibration pressing includes stopping an ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic horn and further moving the ultrasonic horn in a vibration stopped state from the vehicle interior side toward the vehicle exterior side at the pressed portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A belt molding manufacturing method which is a method for manufacturing a belt molding configured to be attached along an upper edge of a door panel of a door for a vehicle, the belt molding comprising a molding body extending in a longitudinal direction and an end cap attached to one end portion of the molding body in the longitudinal direction, at least one of the molding body and the end cap being made of a thermoplastic resin, the method comprising:
preparing the molding body, the molding body comprising a vehicle exterior side wall portion, a vehicle interior side wall portion facing the vehicle exterior side wall portion, and a top wall portion integrally connecting the vehicle exterior side wall portion and the vehicle interior side wall portion, the molding body having an opening end in the longitudinal direction; preparing the end cap, the end cap comprising a lid portion configured to close the opening end of the molding body, and an insertion portion extending from the lid portion and configured to be inserted between the vehicle exterior side wall portion of the molding body and the vehicle interior side wall portion of the molding body; inserting the insertion portion of the end cap into the molding body such that the insertion portion of the end cap is disposed to face a facing portion of the molding body, the facing portion being a part of the molding body; performing an ultrasonic vibration pressing, the ultrasonic vibration pressing comprising pressing an ultrasonic horn in an ultrasonic vibration state against at least one of the facing portion of the molding body and the insertion portion of the end cap, and pushing the ultrasonic horn from a vehicle interior side toward a vehicle exterior side, such that a pressed portion pressed by the ultrasonic horn is melted and deformed to form a hole portion recessed on a pressing surface of the pressed portion and a protruding portion protruding on a surface opposite to the pressing surface; performing a non-vibration pressing, the non-vibration pressing comprising stopping an ultrasonic vibration of the ultrasonic horn and further moving the ultrasonic horn in a vibration stopped state from the vehicle interior side toward the vehicle exterior side at the pressed portion; and removing the ultrasonic horn from the pressed portion.

2 . The belt molding manufacturing method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the insertion portion of the end cap comprises a catch surface provided to intersect with an insertion direction of the end cap, and the facing portion of the molding body is positioned on the vehicle interior side relative to the insertion portion of the end cap, and wherein in the ultrasonic vibration pressing, the protruding portion protruding from the vehicle interior side toward the vehicle exterior side is formed in the molding body by melting and deforming a portion of the facing portion of the molding body on a lid portion side of the end cap relative to the catch surface.

3 . The belt molding manufacturing method according to claim 1 ,
wherein a push-in movement amount of the ultrasonic horn in the ultrasonic vibration pressing is larger than a movement amount of the ultrasonic horn in the non-vibration pressing.

4 . The belt molding manufacturing method according to claim 1 ,
wherein the ultrasonic horn comprises a tip projecting portion formed at a tip of the ultrasonic horn, an annular recessed portion formed on an outer periphery of the tip projecting portion, and an annular protrusion formed on an outer peripheral edge of the annular recessed portion.

5 . The belt molding manufacturing method according to claim 4 ,
wherein in the ultrasonic vibration pressing, the tip projecting portion of the ultrasonic horn ultrasonically vibrates.

Assignees

• Tokai Kogyo Co Ltd

Inventors

• Funada Kazuhiro
• Nukaya Yoshiki

Classifications

• B29L2031/3014

  Door linings · CPC title

• B29C65/56

  using mechanical means {or mechanical connections, e.g. form-fits} · CPC title

• B29C65/72

  by combined operations {or combined techniques}, e.g. welding and stitching · CPC title

• B29C66/322

  Providing cavities in the joined article to collect the burr · CPC title

• B29C66/21

  said joint lines being formed by a single dot or dash or by several dots or dashes, i.e. spot joining or spot welding · CPC title