Abstract: A method for manufacturing of a multilayer PVC semi-finished product, in particular a multilayer PVC synthetic leather or a multilayer PVC foam sheet, the method comprising the steps of: a. Coating a coated or uncoated carrier web with a PVC plastisol, whereby a carrier web coated with an ungelled plastisol layer is obtained; thereafter b. Gelling the ungelled plastisol layer, whereby a carrier web coated with a gelled plastisol layer is obtained; and thereafter c. Cooling the carrier web coated with the gelled plastisol layer; characterized in that the coating comprises coating the carrier web with at least two PVC plastisols one above the other, simultaneously or in immediate succession. A corresponding apparatus is further described.

Abstract: A gripper arrangement for lifting a flexible semi-finished product from a support, wherein the gripper arrangement comprises a flexible semi-finished product resting on a support and at least one pair of grippers with a suction gripper or needle gripper and with at least one clamping gripper, wherein the suction or needle gripper is pivotable around an axis between a pick-up position for picking up an edge of the flexible semi-finished product and a transfer position for transferring the edge of the flexible semi-finished product to the clamping gripper. Furthermore, a corresponding method is described.

Abstract: A method for the continuous in-register embossing of a stretchable film is provided where a repeating printed image or a laminate may be formed by way of the stretchable film in an embossing station. The embossing station may include a rotating embossing roll having an embossed image and an associated rotating counter-roll. The printed image length of the film may be stretched longitudinally before the embossing contact with the embossing roll to a length greater than or equal to or smaller than or equal to the embossed image length or the circumference of the embossing roll. The maintenance of register of the embossing may be achieved by way of a relative speed between the circumferential speed of the embossing roll and the web speed of the film in the embossing station.

Abstract: A molded component is produced by heating a non-woven material web to bring it into a plastically deformable state, and then plastically deforming the non-woven material under pressure between two mold tools of a molding apparatus. The mold tools define therebetween at least one or preferably several mold cavities that respectively simultaneously form molded products therein. A cut is formed in the plastically deformable non-woven material web, preferably between two adjacent mold cavities, immediately before and/or during the molding step. The cut facilitates a pulling or flowing of the non-woven material away from the cut and toward a respective mold cavity to facilitate the molding deformation thereof while avoiding excessive stretching and thinning of the non-woven material, especially at the transition area between adjacent mold cavities.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for processing an adhesive, wherein the process comprises applying an adhesive precursor product onto an adhesive carrier and activating and crosslinking the adhesive precursor product by treating the adhesive precursor product with water vapor and heat in a reaction chamber, and wherein the process is characterized in that air mixed with reaction gases forming during the activation and crosslinking in the reaction chamber is conducted away from the reaction chamber and recirculated as circulating air into the reaction chamber, wherein a portion of used air of the air recirculated as circulating air is replaced by fresh air. The invention further relates to a corresponding device for processing a pressure sensitive hot-melt adhesive.

Abstract: A one-shot molding apparatus and method press-mold a trim component body between upper and lower molds, and injection-mold a plastic rim onto an edge of the trim component body using an additional edge molding tool, in a single molding apparatus in a single molding cycle. The edge molding tool may have a cutting edge that cooperates with a counter edge on the upper or lower mold to remove excess material and form a precise cut edge of the trim component body before forming the molded rim. The edge molding tool is movable relative to the upper and lower molds in a direction parallel or perpendicular or oblique relative to a motion direction of the upper and lower molds. Additional movable nested tools can be provided on the upper and/or lower mold to achieve greater adaptability of the injection-molding cavity. The rim can be molded onto the cut edge, and molded around the edge onto the back and/or front side of the trim component body.

Abstract: A molding apparatus includes two mold tools that define and bound a mold cavity therebetween, for three-dimensionally press-molding a trim component. To minimize or avoid shrinkage or pull-back recession of the edge of the trim component during the molding process, at least one of the mold tools, on its molding surface bounding an end portion of the mold cavity, includes at least one grip-enhancing structure that provides increased grip on an edge portion of the trim component. The grip-enhancing structure may be or include a rough surface, a geometric configured surface, a geometric gripping edge, a surface coating, or mechanical engagement members. The grip-enhancing structure provides increased grip on the edge portion of the trim component by narrowing the mold cavity space, by increasing the surface friction or adhesion, and/or by mechanically engaging the material of the trim component.

Abstract: An apparatus includes upper and lower pressing tools arranged on platens that move relative to one another in a stroke direction. A slider unit moves in a direction transverse to the stroke direction, coordinated with the relative motion of the platens. In a retracted position the slider unit is displaced laterally from the lower pressing tool. In an active position the slider unit protrudes laterally over an edge portion of the lower pressing tool. Pressure actuators between the lower platen and the lower pressing tool apply an increased active pressing force on the lower pressing tool toward the upper pressing tool. Through the combined motions, the pressing tools press a laminated component including a cover layer on a substrate, and the slider unit folds and presses a protruding margin of the cover layer around an edge and onto a back surface of the substrate to form a folded-back rim.

Abstract: A device for applying a free-flowing medium to a continuously conveyed web, wherein the medium can be transferred to the web by a continuously rotating transfer (gravure) roll. An application head is provided in order to transfer the free-flowing medium to the circumference of the gravure roll. The application head includes a chamber which is open toward the circumference of the gravure roll and has an inlet and an outlet for the medium to be applied. The front outer face, in the direction of rotation, of the chamber is delimited by a front doctor blade and the rear outer face, in the direction of rotation, is delimited by a rear doctor blade. Both doctor blades are seated against the circumference of the gravure roll. The front doctor blade can be pressed against the circumference of the gravure roll by a pressing body with an adjustable pressing force.

Abstract: A fiber filling box divided into compartments by slotted divider walls, preferably comb-like divider fences with vertical tines extending downwardly from a top frame, is lowered onto an air-permeable conveyor over at least one vacuum box in a fiber filling station. A multi-axis controlled nozzle blows fiber material to different depths and/or densities in the individual compartments. The divider fences allow continuous intertwining of fibers between adjacent compartments, but sufficiently contain the fibers to maintain well-defined boundaries between different fiber depths and/or densities in the individual compartments. Hold-down plates are lowered onto the fiber material, the fiber filling box is lifted away, and then the hold-down plates are lifted to release a shaped fiber mass, which is then heated and compacted in a heating station to form a fiber preform. The hot fiber preform is then molded, compressed and cooled in a molding station to produce a molded fiber component.

Abstract: A device for applying a free-flowing medium to a continuously conveyed web, wherein the medium can be transferred to the web by a continuously rotating transfer (gravure) roll. An application head is provided in order to transfer the free-flowing medium to the circumference of the gravure roll. The application head includes a chamber which is open toward the circumference of the gravure roll and has an inlet and an outlet for the medium to be applied. The front outer face, in the direction of rotation, of the chamber is delimited by a front doctor blade and the rear outer face, in the direction of rotation, is delimited by a rear doctor blade. Both doctor blades are seated against the circumference of the gravure roll. The front doctor blade can be pressed against the circumference of the gravure roll by a pressing body with an adjustable pressing force.

Abstract: A fiber filling box divided into compartments by slotted divider walls, preferably comb-like divider fences with vertical tines extending downwardly from a top frame, is lowered onto an air-permeable conveyor over at least one vacuum box in a fiber filling station. A multi-axis controlled nozzle blows fiber material to different depths and/or densities in the individual compartments. The divider fences allow continuous intertwining of fibers between adjacent compartments, but sufficiently contain the fibers to maintain well-defined boundaries between different fiber depths and/or densities in the individual compartments. Hold-down plates are lowered onto the fiber material, the fiber filling box is lifted away, and then the hold-down plates are lifted to release a shaped fiber mass, which is then heated and compacted in a heating station to form a fiber preform. The hot fiber preform is then molded, compressed and cooled in a molding station to produce a molded fiber component.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating web-shaped materials with a coating medium includes a rotating transfer roll that has depressions on its circumferential surface for transferring the coating medium, a coating chamber, and a nozzle carrier with several bored holes before the coating chamber in a motion direction of the transfer roll. Coating medium streams out of these bored holes in a free stream. The apparatus aims to achieve a uniform and reproducible coating of the web for various different application weights.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a heating station, a laminating and transfer-printing station, and a molding station in succession, and a transport arrangement that transports the material being processed among the stations. In the heating station, a substrate is pre-heated and consolidated. In the laminating and transfer-printing station, a decorative cover layer is laminated onto the substrate and simultaneously a surface decoration (design, pattern, image, colors, text, etc.) is transfer-printed by sublimation of inks or dyes from a transfer paper onto an outer surface of the decorative cover layer. The resulting laminated body with a transfer-printed surface decoration is then three-dimensionally deformed and molded to form a three-dimensionally contoured, molded, laminated article with the transfer-printed surface decoration. The article may be a motor vehicle interior trim component.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a molded product from a sheet-form raw material blank has first and second mold tools that each respectively include a respective inner core mold and a respective outer edge mold laterally adjacent thereto. Drive elements drive the outer edge molds relative to a machine frame, and drive the inner core molds relative to the outer edge molds. A molding process involves closing the outer edge molds to hold an edge rim of the material blank while allowing slippage thereof, and then closing the inner core molds to three-dimensionally deform and mold a central portion of the material blank while pulling required additional material by slippage through the outer edge molds. A separate slip frame is not used. The edge rim held by the outer edge molds remains as a permanent mounting rim or flange of the finished molded product. Edge waste is minimized.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a heating station, a laminating and transfer-printing station, and a molding station in succession, and a transport arrangement that transports the material being processed among the stations. In the heating station, a substrate is pre-heated and consolidated. In the laminating and transfer-printing station, a decorative cover layer is laminated onto the substrate and simultaneously a surface decoration (design, pattern, image, colors, text, etc.) is transfer-printed by sublimation of inks or dyes from a transfer paper onto an outer surface of the decorative cover layer. The resulting laminated body with a transfer-printed surface decoration is then three-dimensionally deformed and molded to form a three-dimensionally contoured, molded, laminated article with the transfer-printed surface decoration. The article may be a motor vehicle interior trim component.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for the coating of web-shaped materials with a coating medium. The apparatus (1) comprises a rotating transfer roll (3), which has depressions on its circumferential surface (5) for the transfer of the coating medium, a coating chamber (12), and a nozzle carrier (14) with several bored holes (15, 15?) before the coating chamber (12) in a motion direction of the transfer roll (3). Coating medium streams out of these bored holes (15, 15?) in a free stream. This apparatus (1) ensures a uniform and reproducible coating of the web for various different application weights.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a heating station, a laminating and transfer-printing station, and a molding station in succession, and a transport arrangement that transports the material being processed among the stations. In the heating station, a substrate is pre-heated and consolidated. In the laminating and transfer-printing station, a decorative cover layer is laminated onto the substrate and simultaneously a surface decoration (design, pattern, image, colors, text, etc.) is transfer-printed by sublimation of inks or dyes from a transfer paper onto an outer surface of the decorative cover layer. The resulting laminated body with a transfer-printed surface decoration is then three-dimensionally deformed and molded to form a three-dimensionally contoured, molded, laminated article with the transfer-printed surface decoration. The article may be a motor vehicle interior trim component.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a heating station, a laminating and transfer-printing station, and a molding station in succession, and a transport arrangement that transports the material being processed among the stations. In the heating station, a substrate is pre-heated and consolidated. In the laminating and transfer-printing station, a decorative cover layer is laminated onto the substrate and simultaneously a surface decoration (design, pattern, image, colors, text, etc.) is transfer-printed by sublimation of inks or dyes from a transfer paper onto an outer surface of the decorative cover layer. The resulting laminated body with a transfer-printed surface decoration is then three-dimensionally deformed and molded to form a three-dimensionally contoured, molded, laminated article with the transfer-printed surface decoration. The article may be a motor vehicle interior trim component.