LOCATION OF JOINTED TEXTILES IN A MOULD

Abstract: Accurate and consistent location of jointed textiles within a mould is achieved by inserting the outer surfaces of the joint (12) into the cavity of an elongate, generally U-shaped member (20) and securing the joint to the member, e.g. by sewing (21). The joint/channel member assembly can then be automatically gripped and placed in the desired position in the mould. The method is of particular application to pro­ cesses involving vacuum-moulding.

Description: This invention relates to a method for the location of jointed textiles in a mould and in particular to the location of jointed textiles in a vacuum mould prior to the vacuum-forming process. Vacuum-forming of textile-covered foam articles is well known per se and consists essentially of shaping the textile to the inner surface of the mould by application of a vacuum, filling the textile-lined mould with a foam-forming mixture and closing the mould. (e.g. US-A-4 115 170) This is readily accomplished when the textile consists of a continuous material. However, when the textile consists of two or more pieces of material jointed by means of seams, it is difficult to locate the seams accurately and consistently within the mould. It is known to carry out such location manually, but this gives rise to an increase in the amount of labour involved and consequently to an increase in the production costs of the product. It has now been found that accurate and consistent location of a jointed textile within a mould can be achieved quickly by inserting the outer surfaces of the joint into the cavity of an elongate, generally U-shaped member, thereby facilitating the automatic gripping and placing of the seam in the mould. Accordingly, in a first embodiment, the present invention provides a method for the location of jointed textiles in a mould, in which the outer surfaces of the joint are placed within the cavity of an elongate, generally U-shaped channel member, whereby the said channel member/joint assembly can be gripped externally and placed in a desired position in the mould. In a second embodiment, the present invention provides a method as described in the immediately-preceding paragraph, in which a textile layer including one or more channel member/ joint assemblies is attached across the mouth of a vacuum mould, a positive air-pressure is applied to the mould and then removed, the or each assembly subsequently being pressed into the mould and held in position therein by means of a vacuum. Preferably, the elongate U-shaped channel member is made of a resilient material, e.g. a resilient plastics material. Suitably, the elongate, U-shaped channel member is secured to the joint, e.g. be sewing. It is particularly convenient for the abutting textile surfaces and the elongate, U-shaped channel member to be sewn together along the seam line in a single operation. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be illustrated, merely by way of example, in the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals denote like parts. Figures 1 to 3 show, in transverse section, the application of the elongate, U-shaped channel member to a textile joint. Figures 4 to 8 show, again in transverse section, the sequence of steps in the vacuum-forming process according to the present invention. In Figures 1 and 2, two portions 10 and 11 of a textile material are placed in abutment to form a seam 12. The seam 12 is placed within the cavity of an elongate, U-shaped channel member 20 and secured thereto by sewing as shown at 21. The assembly can then, as shown in Figure 3, be placed in position over divider 31 of mould 30. Referring now to Figures 4 to 8, the sequence of events is as follows: An assembly as shown in Figure 3 is attached across the mouth of a vacuum mould 40 containing a divider 41, as shown in Figure 4. A pair of grippers (shown schematically at 50) moves in the direction of arrows A in Figure 5 and a positive air-pressure is applied to the mould, this being indicated by arrows P. The pressure causes the channel member/joint assembly to assume a position substantially normal to the horizontal plane of the mould, this position being maintained by movement of the grippers in the direction of arrows B in Figure 6. The pressure P is removed and the grippers are then moved in the direction of arrows C in Figure 7 so that the assembly is correctly located in the mould. A vacuum V is applied to the mould to hold the jointed textile in position and the grippers are then released and moved away from the mould in the direction of arrows D in Figure 8.

Claims: 1. A method for locating jointed textiles in a mould, characterised in that the outer surfaces of the joint (12) are located within the cavity of an elongate, generally U-shaped channel member (20) so that the channel member/joint assembly is adapted to be gripped externally by grippers (50) and placed in the desired position in the mould (40). 2. A method according to Claim 1, characterised in that a textile layer including at least one channel member/joint assembly (20) is attached across the mouth of a vacuum mould (40), a positive air-pressure (P) is applied to the mould (40) and then removed, the said assembly (20) is subsequently pressed into the mould (40) by means of the grippers (50) and held in position by means of a vacuum (V). 3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the channel member (20) is made of a resilient material (e.g. a resilient plastics material). 4. A method according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the channel member (20) is secured to the joint (12) (e.g. by sewing (21)).

Inventors: ATKIN, HOWARD STUART, ROGERS, DAVID MICHAEL, WILSON, GEORGE SHEPHERD
Applicants: DUNLOP LIMITED
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B29C69
IPC codes: B29C31, B29C33, B29C51