Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.

Kazunari Tajiri

Soji Nimura

A method for manufacturing an injection molded steering wheel pad having a cover and a pocket formed between a first projection and a second hook-spaced projection, that together hold an arm of an airbag device. The pad includes a pad body and at least one pair of holding portions extending from the pad body. The holding portions have an L-shaped first recess and the steering wheel pad has a second recess located between the pad body and the holding portion. A mold includes a pair of first and second molds. The method comprises injecting a molten resin into a mold cavity defined upon closing contact between the first and second molds, curing the molten resin to form the steering wheel pad, separating the first and second molds and holding the steering wheel pad in either one of the first and second molds, extending the first and second core members from the main body of one of the first and second molds together with the steering wheel pad, sliding the first core member in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction and resiliently deforming the holding portion to remove the first core member from the first recess while holding the pad with the second core member, and removing the pad from the second core member.

Method for manufacturing a steering wheel pad

An apparatus for manufacturing an injection molded steering wheel pad having a cover and a pocket formed between a first projection and a second hook-shaped projection, that together hold an arm of an air bag device. The apparatus includes fixed and movable mold members opposed to one another. The movable mold member moves along a predetermined moving path to selectively contact and separate from the fixed mold member. Core members are provided in one of the mold members for forming the first and second projections in the pad. The core members are movable between retracted and extended positions with respect to one of the movable and fixed mold members so that the formed pad projections can be separated from the mold by varying movements of the core members, relative to each other and the mold in which they operate.

Apparatus for manufacturing a steering wheel pad

A manufacturing method for an injection molded steering wheel pad having a cover and a pocket formed between a first projection and a second hook-shaped projection, that together hold an arm of an air bag device. The method includes use of fixed and movable mold members opposed to one another. The movable mold member moves along a predetermined moving path to selectively contact and separate from the fixed mold member. Core members are provided in one of the mold members for forming the first and second projections in the pad. To permit the removal of the molded pad core members are movable between retracted and extended positions with respect to one of the movable and fixed mold members so that the formed pad projections can be separated from the mold by varying movements of the core members, relative to each other and the mold in which they operate.

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Aichi-ken, Japan

Kazunari Tajiri