APPLICATION SYSTEM COMPONENT WITH TRANSPONDER AND/OR WEAR DETECTION DEVICE

Abstract

An application system component is provided in the form of a changeable application member such as a nozzle or a bell cup. The application system component includes a transponder for storing component data, from which the component data is readable, and a wear detection device for monitoring of the application system component. The wear detection device includes a wear mark and an optical detector.

Claims

1.-30. (canceled).

31. A component for an application system, the component being an application member of the application system, the component comprising: a transponder configured for storing component data, the component data being configured to be readable; and a wear detection device configured to identify wear of the component, the wear detection device including at least one wear mark at a wear portion of the component and an optical detector.

32. The component of claim 1, wherein the transponder is writable with component data.

33. The component of claim 1, wherein the transponder is not writable.

34. The component of claim 1, wherein the component data includes a least component identification data for the component.

35. The component of claim 1, wherein the component data includes at least component data for authentication of the component.

36. The component of claim 1, wherein the transponder is in communication with a separate device configured to at least one of read component data from the transponder and write component data to the transponder (2).

37. The component of claim 1, wherein the transponder is an RFID transponder.

38. The component of claim 1, wherein the transponder is mounted to the application system component.

39. The component of claim 1, wherein the application system component has a clearance and the transponder is integrated into the clearance at least flush with an outer surface of the application system component.

40. The component of claim 1,wherein the wear detection device includes at least one recessed wear mark next to the wear portion the component.

41. The component of claim 1, wherein the wear detection device includes at least one wear mark filled with filling material to the wear portion of the component, the filling material configured to escape with a predetermined amount of wear.

42. The component of claim 42, wherein the filling material is a different color than the component.

43. A system for application of a material on workpieces, the system comprising: at least one application system component having a transponder configured for storing component data, the component data being configured to be readable; a wear detection device configured to identify wear of the component, the wear detection device including at least one wear mark at a wear portion of the component and an optical detector; a communication device coupled to the transponder and configured to at least one of read and write the component data on the transponder; and a control system communicatively coupled with the transponder by the communication device.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the component data includes at least one of a start time of an operating process of the application system component, an end time of the operating process, a duration of the operating process, and a quantity of application material processed with the application system component.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the control system is configured to at least one of generate a warning message and initiate an application system component changeover process if excessive wear of the application system component is detected.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein the control system is configured to at least one of generate a warning message and stop an operating process if an incorrect application system component is detected.

47. The system of claim 43, further comprising a manipulator bearing the application system component, the manipulator being configured to position the component with the transponder for access by the communication device.

48. The system of claim 43, further comprising a manipulator configured to position the reading and/or writing device for reading and/or writing in front of the transponder.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0048] The present disclosure is described herein with reference to the figures, in which:

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a side view of an application system component according to one implementation of the present disclosure,

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a side view of an application system component according to a different implementation of the present disclosure,

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a top view of an application system component according to a different implementation of the present disclosure,

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a top view of a partial section of an application system component according to an in turn different implementation of the present disclosure and

[0053] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of an application system according to one implementation of the present disclosure.

[0054] The implementations shown in the figures partially correspond, wherein similar or identical parts are provided with the same reference numbers and for the explanation of which reference is also made to the description of the other implementations in order to avoid repetition.

DESCRIPTION

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a side view of an application system component 1 according to one implementation of the present disclosure.

[0056] Application system component 1 is a changeable nozzle for production of e.g. seam seals on motor vehicle bodies and is normally mounted on an application head of a lance which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis.

[0057] Nozzle 1 is a slotted nozzle (flatstream nozzle) with slot-shaped nozzle outlet opening S. Alternatively, nozzle 1 can be configured e.g. as a round nozzle with a round nozzle outlet opening.

[0058] Nozzle 1 is fitted with a transponder 2 on which in particular at least component identification data are stored and can be read in a contactless manner and to which component data can optionally be written in a contactless manner.

[0059] Transponder 2 is mounted in a receiving opening of nozzle 1 so that the compactness of nozzle 1 is not impaired by transponder 2. Transponder 2 is described in greater detail further below with reference to FIG. 5.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows a nozzle 1 according to a different implementation of the present disclosure.

[0061] One particular feature of nozzle 1 shown in FIG. 2 is that it has a relatively large clearance in comparison to FIG. 1 for integration of transponder 2. It is particularly advantageous therein that the reading and/or writing of transponder 2 is hindered to a lesser extent by the usually metallic nozzle body. Transponder 2 of FIG. 2 is thus axially and laterally readable and optionally writable, while transponder 2 of FIG. 1 is only laterally readable.

[0062] FIG. 3 shows a top view of an application system component 1 according to a different implementation of the present disclosure.

[0063] Application system component 1 is again a slotted nozzle as in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0064] However, nozzle 1 of FIG. 3 comprises a mechanical wear detection device 3 for detecting wear of nozzle 1, in particular of the slot-shaped nozzle outlet opening S.

[0065] Wear detection device 3 comprises a plurality of recessed wear marks (for the purpose of illustration, only four are provided with reference number 3 in FIG. 3) next to the wear portion of nozzle 1, i.e. next to slot-shaped nozzle outlet opening S.

[0066] If slot-shaped nozzle outlet opening S is widened by wear to such an extent that it reaches at least one of wear marks 3, a sudden, disproportionate rise in material consumption and/or a falling application pressure arise(s). It can be ascertained from this that nozzle 1 has reached a degree of wear in order to be replaced.

[0067] It is optionally possible to fill recessed wear marks 3 with filling material. The filling material escapes if it comes into contact with wear portion S widened by wear. The filling material can be liquid, in powder form or paste-like, is, however, in some implementations, liquid plastic. The filling material can furthermore be of a different colour to the colour of nozzle 1 and/or to the colour of the application material so that reaching of maximum admissible wear can be detected not only at nozzle 1 itself, but also e.g. on the workpiece to be processed, i.e. generally a motor vehicle body, and nozzle 1 itself.

[0068] FIG. 4 shows a partial portion of a nozzle 1 according to a different implementation of the present disclosure.

[0069] One particular feature of nozzle 1 shown in FIG. 4 is that it has, in addition to slot-shaped nozzle outlet opening S, wear marks 3 which are eroded into the nozzle body, in particular laser-engraved, linear wear marks 3 which serve the purpose of visual or optical inspection of wear. Individual wear marks 3 characterise different wear stages so that e.g. when the first wear stage is reached there is still no immediate need for replacement, but nozzle 1 is characterised as ready for replacement in the near future. The next wear stage can then characterise nozzle 1 as ready for replacement.

[0070] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of an application systems 100 according to one implementation of the present disclosure.

[0071] Application system 100 comprises a robot (manipulator) 101 which bears a lance 102 which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. An application head 10 with three changeable nozzles 1 oriented in different application directions is mounted on lance 102, of which only two can be seen in FIG. 5.

[0072] Nozzles 1 serve e.g. to produce seam seals on motor vehicle bodies 104 and are subject to wear as a result of the application agent and the associated abrasiveness.

[0073] Nozzles 1 are fitted with transponders 2 on which nozzle identification data are stored so that the individual nozzles 1 can be clearly identified and consequently differentiated from one another. In the case of the implementation shown in FIG. 5, transponders 2 are only readable and not writable.

[0074] Application system 100 further comprises a reading device 4 for reading nozzle identification data from the transponders 2 of the individual nozzles 1. Reading device 4 serves the purpose of data communication with a control system 5 for controlling the application processes of nozzles 1 and of robot 101.

[0075] In the case of the exemplary implementation under consideration, robot 101 is configured so that it moves application head 10 in front of reading device 4 at predefined intervals (e.g. before and/or after a motor vehicle body) and reorientates itself so that the nozzle identification data of the individual transponders 2 can be read and transmitted to control system 5.

[0076] A check can e.g. be performed thereupon in control system 5 as to whether correct nozzles 1 are mounted on application head 10 for the upcoming application process.

[0077] In control system 5, additional nozzle data, e.g. the start time and the end time of the application processes of the individual nozzles 1, the period of operation of the individual nozzles 1, the quantity applied with the individual nozzles 1 (e.g. throughput) of application agent, etc., can furthermore be assigned to the individual nozzles 1 which are clearly identifiable as a result of the nozzle identification data. Conclusions as to the wear of the individual nozzles 1 can then be drawn quasi indirectly from the latter nozzle data. If a specific nozzle 1 has applied e.g. a predefined application agent quantity or there has been operation for a predefined period of operation, control system 5 can issue a warning message and/or initiate a , in some implementations, automatic nozzle changeover process.

[0078] Transponders 2 thus lead in two ways to an improvement in process and product reliability. On one hand, because changeable application system components 1 can be clearly identified and thus checked for correctness in relation to the upcoming processing process. On the other hand, because component data can be assigned concretely to clearly identifiable application system components, from which e.g. conclusions can be drawn as to the wear and the history thereof.

[0079] Application system 100 can furthermore have an optional nozzle changing station 103 with a plurality of nozzles 1. Robot 101 can in this case be configured so that it guides application body 10 for automatic changeover of nozzles 1 to nozzle changing station 103, where the nozzle changeover takes place automatically. The nozzle changeover of nozzles D1 is therefore not carried out manually, but rather automatically via robot 101 and nozzle changing station 103. If application system 100 has a nozzle changing station 103, reading device 4 can be mounted at nozzle changing station 103 or at least adjacent thereto.

[0080] Reading device 4 can also be configured as a reading and writing device in order to write component data to the individual transponders 2.

[0081] The application system component is indeed , in some implementations, a nozzle 1, but can also comprise other application members, e.g. bell cups, and other components which are commonplace in application systems and are subject to wear.

[0082] As mentioned above, in the case of the described exemplary implementation, reading and/or writing device 4 can be arranged at or in the vicinity of a nozzle changing station 103, i.e. generally in a stationary manner at one point of an application system which application robot 101 must in any case approach on a regular basis so that the , in some implementations, automatic reading or writing of the component data can be carried out without particular movement and time outlay. Another such point of the application system would be, for example, also a cleaning station for regular automatic cleaning of the application members.

[0083] Exemplary implementations of the present disclosure are also include implementations in which the reading and/or writing device does not have to be arranged in a stationary manner, but rather can be moved in order to be positioned in front of the transponder of an application robot.

[0084] For example, the reading and/or writing device are moved in such implementations with the aid of a separate handling robot or in special cases also manually.

[0085] In other implementations, instead of a separate handling robot for the reading and/or writing device, the respective reading and/or writing devices are respectively arranged on at least one or several or all application robots e.g. of a typical coating system for serial coating of motor vehicle bodies themselves. Each of a plurality of application robots can then initiate the desired reading or writing process by moving its transponder near to the reading and/or writing device of a different application robot or by moving its reading and/or writing device near to the transponder of a different application robot. The application robots can, in the case of this example, therefore supply one another with the desired component data, wherein it would, for example, also be possible that a given application robot reads the component data of a second robot and transfers its own data to a third robot. The data transfer can then be carried out expediently in each case if the relevant robots move close to another in any event as programmed during application operation. The reading or writing processes and the robot movements can also be controlled in all the stated cases by the mentioned control system.

[0086] The present disclosure is not restricted to the preferred implementations described above. On the contrary, a plurality of variants and modifications are possible which also make use of the principles of the present disclosure.