Method of making frame components for spectacles and a component made by this method
View Patent ↗A method is described for making frame components for spectacles, including: superimposing within a first mold, in the following order, at least a first film of plastic material, at least one semi-finished element pre-impregnated with resin, and at least a second film of plastic material; closing and heating the first mold, the temperature and pressure being applied and maintained until the resin is fully polymerized, in order to produce an intermediate component containing the semi-finished product); opening the first mold and extracting the intermediate component from the first mold. The method also includes: placing the intermediate component in a second mold; closing the second mold and forming a layer of polymer material on the intermediate component, resulting in mutual adhesion; opening the second mold and extracting an article produced by the molding step in the second mold and cutting the article to define the final profile of the component.
1. A method of making frame components for spectacles, the method comprising the following steps:
superimposing within a first planar mold ( 11 ), in the following order, at least a first film ( 12 ) of plastic material, at least one semi-finished element ( 13 ) pre-impregnated with resin, and at least a second film ( 14 ) of plastic material, the semi-finished element ( 13 ) being a textile having flat shape,
closing and heating the first planar mold ( 11 ), the molding temperature and pressure being applied and maintained until the resin is fully polymerized, in order to produce an intermediate component ( 15 ) containing the semi-finished product ( 13 ), said intermediate component ( 15 ) having a reduced overall thickness and comprising opposed main surfaces,
opening the first planar mold ( 11 ) and extracting the intermediate component ( 15 ) from the first planar mold ( 11 ),
placing the intermediate component ( 15 ) in a second planar mold ( 16 ),
closing the second planar mold ( 16 ) and forming a layer ( 17 ) of polymer material on the intermediate component ( 15 ), resulting in mutual adhesion, the layer ( 17 ) of polymer material being applied to one of the opposed main surfaces of the intermediate component ( 15 ) during the step of molding in the second planar mold ( 16 ), to increase significantly the thickness of the intermediate component ( 15 ) and consequently to obtain in the frame component sufficient strength, robustness and dimensional stability,
opening the second planar mold ( 16 ) and extracting a flat article ( 18 ) that has been produced by the molding step in the second planar mold ( 16 ),
cutting the flat article ( 18 ) so as to define the final profile of the frame component.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the semi-finished element ( 13 ) has a thin shape.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the semi-finished element ( 13 ) has a rectangular shape.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the semi-finished element ( 13 ) comprises fibers aggregated in an ordered way.
5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the semi-finished element ( 13 ) is a non-woven textile.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the semi-finished element ( 13 ) comprises fibers aggregated in a disordered way.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the semi-finished element ( 13 ) comprises single-layer and multiple-layer sheets or strips made of natural materials.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the semi-finished element ( 13 ) comprises a decoration created by graphic printing.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the intermediate component ( 15 ) produced by molding in the first mold ( 11 ) has a sheet-like shape.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the molding of the layer ( 17 ) of polymer material on to the intermediate component is carried out by injection molding in the second planar mold ( 16 ).
11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the injection molding comprises the following steps:
placing the intermediate component ( 15 ) in the second planar mold ( 16 ) so as to bear on a surface of one of the two half-mold ( 16 a , 16 b ) that make up the second planar mold ( 16 ),
injecting the molten polymer material into the second planar mold ( 16 ) so that the polymer material fills the cavity of the second mold and, on solidifying, adheres to a free surface of the intermediate component ( 15 ), opposite the surface bearing on the half-mold, and thus becomes fixed to the intermediate component ( 15 ).
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the molding of the layer ( 17 ) of polymer material on to the intermediate component ( 15 ) is carried out by cast molding in the second planar mold ( 16 ).
13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the cast molding comprises the following steps:
placing the intermediate component ( 15 ) in the second planar mold ( 16 ) so as to bear on a surface of one of the two half-molds ( 16 a , 16 b ) that make up the second planar mold ( 16 ),
pouring or sucking the liquid polymer material into the second planar mold ( 16 ) so that the polymer material fills the cavity of the second planar mold and, on solidifying, adheres to the free surface of the intermediate component ( 15 ), opposite the surface bearing on the half-mold, and thus becomes fixed to the intermediate component ( 15 ).
14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the molding of the layer ( 17 ) of polymer material on to the intermediate component ( 15 ) is carried out by compression molding.
15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the compression molding comprises the following steps:
placing the intermediate component ( 15 ) and a semi-finished rubber or pre-formed elastomer product in the second planar mold ( 16 ),
closing the second planar mold ( 16 ) and applying suitable pressure and heat to cause the cross-linking of the semi-finished rubber or pre-formed elastomer product, so that it assumes the shape of the mold and adheres to the intermediate component ( 15 ).