Method for processing thermoplastic films, thermoforming system, film supply station, film strip, use, and laminated part

Abstract

A thermoforming system for carrying out a method for processing two different thermoplastic films has a thermoforming station for processing the different films, a transport device for transporting the film to the thermoforming station, and a connecting station for connecting successive blank cuts so as to form a film strip. Cuts of the one or the other film are selectively and variably brought on request in a conveyor through the thermoforming system, such that different successive cuts are conveyed by the conveyor to the thermoforming station and processed therein, and two successive cuts are joined into a film strip, either edge to edge or with an overlap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermoforming system, set up for carrying out a method for processing two different thermoplastic films, comprising:
 a thermoforming station for processing the different films;   a transport device for transporting the film to the thermoforming station; and   a connecting station for connecting successive blank cuts so as to form a film strip;   wherein on request, blank cuts are selectively and varying from one film to another one brought in the transport device through the thermoforming system so that different blank cuts are successively transported by the transport device to the thermoforming station and are processed there; and   wherein two successive blank cuts are connected to one another so as to form a film strip.   
     
     
         2 . The thermoforming system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of roll holders for film rolls, in particular with an unwinding device and a separating device for preparing the blank cuts. 
     
     
         3 . The thermoforming system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller that is set up for processing a request for a certain film, and thereupon controls a film so that a blank cut is made therefrom and is connected to an adjacent blank cut so as to form a film strip. 
     
     
         4 . The thermoforming system according to  claim 1 , further comprising at the thermoforming station a clamping frame with a recess for connecting points or for a connecting line. 
     
     
         5 . The thermoforming system according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermoforming system is designed without cooled transverse bars. 
     
     
         6 . The thermoforming station according to  claim 1 , wherein in the machine direction, the blank cuts are firmly connected to one another, either edge to edge or with a slight overlap. 
     
     
         7 . The thermoforming station according to  claim 1  or  claim 2 , wherein in the vertical direction, the blank cuts are connected to one another in a flexible manner. 
     
     
         8 . The thermoforming station according to  claim 1 , wherein the blank cuts are connected to one another with a plurality of connecting points and/or are provided with a connecting line. 
     
     
         9 . The thermoforming station according to  claim 1 , wherein the blank cuts are glued, sewed, welded together or are mechanically connected. 
     
     
         10 . The thermoforming station according to  claim 1 , wherein a forward feed into a first clamping frame position takes place so that a clamping frame closes on a joint of the two blank cuts. 
     
     
         11 . The thermoforming station according to  claim 1 , wherein the blank cuts are provided with the length of a clamping frame so that the clamping frame closes at a first and at a second position on both joints of three blank cuts. 
     
     
         12 . The thermoforming station according to  claim 1 , wherein blank cuts from different materials are fed. 
     
     
         13 . The thermoforming station according to  claim 1 , wherein blank cuts with different colors are fed. 
     
     
         14 . The thermoforming station according to  claim 1 , wherein in dependence of the requested blank cut, a system program is varied, in particular a heat output is varied. 
     
     
         15 . The thermoforming system according to  claim 1 , wherein hot melt is applied onto the film strip. 
     
     
         16 . The thermoforming system according to  claim 1 , wherein the different blank cuts are fed from different film rolls, wherein they are preferably separated into blank cuts at a common separating station. 
     
     
         17 . The thermoforming station according to  claim 1 , wherein the method is used for laminating a contour-formed carrier part or for preforming films, in each case in particular for providing an interior surface part for a motor vehicle, and primarily by means of thermoforming or by means of back-injection of the film. 
     
     
         18 . Use of a film strip afor processing in a thermoforming system for producing laminated parts, using the thermoforming station of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . A thermoforming system according to  claim 1 , wherein a film supply station is provided, with a plurality of roll holders for film rolls, and with a unwind device and a separating device for preparing the blank cuts. 
     
     
         20 . The thermoforming system according to  claim 19 , wherein the connecting station is configured for connecting the blank cuts so as to form a film strip so that the film supply station can be operated as a dependently or independently operated film strip production station or system.