Method of manufacturing a material strand
A method of manufacturing a material strand ( 100 ), particularly for sealing, trimming or fastening of doors ( 11 ) or windows ( 12 ) of a motor vehicle ( 10 ), comprises the steps of: a) extrusion of an extruded strand ( 200 ); b) testing the extruded strand ( 200 ) after the extrusion, thereby identifying first segments ( 210 ) comprising manufacturing defects ( 211 ) and second segments ( 220 ) being free from manufacturing detects; c) cutting out the first segments ( 210 ) from the extruded strand ( 200 ), thereby causing faces ( 222 ) at the second segments ( 220 ); d) joining cut faces ( 222 ) of second segments ( 220 ) to obtain a joint ( 102 ) and to form a material strand ( 100 ), the joint ( 102 ) having a position within the material strand ( 100 ), wherein a minimum distance (Δd) is maintained between the positions of adjacent joints ( 102 ); e) identifying the position of each joint ( 102 ); and f) forming a transport unit ( 110 ) having a predetermined maximum length by winding the material strand ( 100 ).
1. A method of manufacturing a material strand for sealing, trimming or fastening of doors or windows of a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
a) extrusion of an extruded strand;
b) prior to forming a transport unit, testing the extruded strand after the extrusion, thereby identifying first segments comprising manufacturing defects and second segments being free from manufacturing defects;
c) prior to forming the transport unit, cutting out the first segments from the extruded strand, thereby causing cut faces at the second segments;
d) prior to forming the transport unit, cutting out the second segments from the extruded strand which have a length less than a predetermined minimum distance (Δd), the minimum distance (Δd) being long enough to form a sealing strip or a trim strip;
e) prior to forming the transport unit, joining cut faces of second segments which have a length equal to or longer than the minimum distance (Δd) to obtain a joint and to form a material strand, the joint having a position within the material strand, wherein the minimum distance (Δd) is maintained between the positions of adjacent joints;
f) prior to forming the transport unit, identifying the position of each joint; and
g) forming the transport unit having a predetermined maximum length by winding the material strand.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the extruded strand is conveyed along a conveying direction (C), wherein in step b), the extruded strand is tested at a testing position along the conveying direction (C).
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein in step c), the first segments are cut out at a stamping position, the stamping position being arranged along the conveying direction (C) behind the testing position.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein in step c), the first segments are cut out by stamping, wherein a first stamping is performed prior to a first segment passing the stamping position and a second stamping is performed after the first segment has passed the stamping position.
5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the cut faces to be joined in step e) are formed so as to have complementary shapes.
6. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the minimum distance (Δd) is between about 5 m and about 15 m.
7. The method according to claim 2 , wherein in step g), the transport unit of the material strand is formed by winding the material strand onto a reel.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cut faces to be joined in step e) are formed so as to have complementary shapes.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the cut faces have a stepped shape.
10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein in step e), the second segments are joined by welding or sewing or adhering.
11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein in step f), the position of each joint is identified by storing the position.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in step e), the second segments are joined by welding or sewing or adhering.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in step f), the position of each joint is identified by at least one of:
a metal marker disposed at or near the cut faces of the joint,
a paint applied at or near the cut faces of the joint,
a radiocommunication member disposed at or near the cut faces of the joint, and
a plastic marker disposed at or near the cut faces of the joint or by a metal seam.
14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in step f), the position of each joint is identified by storing the position, and wherein the position is stored on a data storage medium.
15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein in step g), the transport unit of the material strand is formed by winding the material strand onto a reel.
16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the minimum distance (Δd) is between about 5 m and about 15 m.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the minimum distance (Δd) is between about 8 m and about 12 m.
18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the maximum length is between about 800 m and about 2000 m.
19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the maximum length is between about 1000 m and about 1600 m.
20. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the maximum length is about 1400 m.