Apparatus and method for manufacturing a surface-layered part

Abstract

An apparatus for manufacturing a surface-layered part comprises: a main support that supports a surface layer member to be placed wider a base member; a pulling device arranged at a periphery of the main support, wherein the pulling device includes a pulling member that pulls an edge of the surface layer member outward with respect to the support member; a base member clamping device that fixedly clamps the surface layer member, having been pulled outward by the pulling member, against the main support via the base member placed over the surface layer member; and a relieving device that separates the pulling member from the edge of the surface layer member to allow the edge of the surface layer member to wrap around the edge of the base member by an elastic restoring force of the surface layer member, thereby integrating them.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for manufacturing a surface-layered part using an apparatus for manufacturing a surface-layered part that includes a main support that supports a surface layer member placed under a base member; a pulling device arranged at a periphery of the main support, wherein the pulling device includes a pulling member that pulls an edge of the surface layer member, the edge of the surface layer member being in a position away from an edge of the base member nearest the edge of the surface layer member, outward with respect to the base member; a base member clamping device that fixedly clamps the surface layer member, after having been pulled outward by the pulling member of the pulling device, against the main support via the base member placed over the surface layer member; a relieving device that separates the pulling member from the edge of the surface layer member, the edge of the surface layer member having been moved outward with respect to the base member by the pulling device, to allow the edge of the surface layer member to wrap around the edge of the base member owing to an elastic restoring force of the surface layer member, thereby integrating the surface layer member and the base member; and a control device that drives and controls the base member clamping device, the pulling device, and the relieving device, the method comprising:
 a first step of placing the surface layer member on the main support;   a second step of pulling the edge of the surface layer member, which was placed in the first step, outward with respect to the base member by the pulling member;   a third step of fixedly clamping the surface layer member, which has been pulled outward by the pulling member in the second step, against the main support by the base member clamping device via the base member placed over the surface layer member; and   a fourth step of separating the pulling member from the edge of the surface layer member, which has been fixedly clamped against the main support via the base member in the third step, by the relieving device to allow the edge of the surface layer member to wrap around the edge of the base member owing to the elastic restoring force of the surface layer member, thereby integrating the surface layer member and the base member.