GRIPPER FOR A DRAPING FRAME AND FOR A DEVICE, DRAPING FRAME, DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE FORMING OF AND/OR COVERING USING A FILM ELEMENT, SYSTEM FOR MANUFACTURING A MOULDED PART OR A COVERED COMPONENT, METHOD FOR RETRO-FITTING A DEVICE OF THIS TYPE, METHOD FOR MANUF ACTURING A COVERED COMPONENT

Abstract

A gripper is disclosed for a draping frame having a gripper chassis and at least two opposing mutually movable gripper jaw elements for gripping a film element. The gripper jaw elements are provided on a gripper head part of the gripper. The gripper head part of the gripper is movably mounted, at least with one degree of freedom, relative to the gripper chassis.

Claims

1. A gripper for a device for at least one of forming and laminating a film element, the gripper comprising: a gripper chassis; at least two gripper jaw elements located opposite one another, arranged to be movable with respect to one another and configured for gripping the film element, wherein the gripper jaw elements are arranged on a gripper head part of the gripper, and wherein the gripper head part of the gripper is mounted such that it can move with respect to the gripper chassis in at least with one degree of freedom.

2. The gripper according to claim 1, wherein the gripper head part of the gripper is configured to be movable with respect to at least one spatial axis which is different from spatial axes of the gripper chassis with respect to which the gripper chassis is movable.

3. The gripper according to claim 1, wherein the gripper head part of the gripper is rotatable about an axis of rotation by means of a rotary drive.

4. The gripper according to claim 1, wherein an axis of rotation of the gripper head part is arranged perpendicular to an end face of the gripper.

5. A gripper for a device for at least one of forming and laminating a film element comprising: at least two gripper jaw elements located opposite one another, configured to move with respect to one another, and configured for gripping the film element, wherein the at least one of the at least two gripper jaw elements comprise a temperature-regulating element configured to regulate a temperature of the at least one gripper jaw element.

6. The gripper according to claim 5, wherein the least one of the at least two gripper jaw elements further comprises connection interfaces for the temperature-regulating element.

7. The gripper according to claim 5, wherein the at least one of the at least two gripper jaw elements further comprises an actively temperature-controllable non-stick contact surface.

8. A gripper for a device for at least one of forming and laminating a film element, the gripper comprising: at least two gripper jaw elements located opposite one another, arranged to move with respect to one another and configured for gripping the film element, and bent elements configured for edgefolding a carrier part laminated with the film element.

9. The gripper according to claim 8, wherein the bent elements are arranged on the gripper jaw elements, and wherein the gripper jaw elements comprise at least two gripper jaw elements which are arranged opposite to and movable relative to each other.

10. The gripper according to claim 8, wherein the bent elements are arranged on at least one of a gripper chassis and on a gripper head part.

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96. The gripper according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises a draping frame.

97. The gripper according to claim 3, wherein the rotary actuator comprises a worm gear.

98. The gripper according to claim 4, wherein the axis of rotation of the gripper head is a horizontal axis.

99. The gripper according to claim 5, wherein the device comprises a draping frame.

100. The gripper according to claim 5, wherein the at least one of the at least two gripper jaw elements comprises an actively temperature-controlled non-stick contact surface.

101. The gripper according to claim 6, wherein the at least one of the at least two gripper jaw elements further comprises an actively temperature-controllable non-stick contact surface.

102. The gripper according to claim 101, wherein the at least one of the at least two gripper jaw elements comprises an actively temperature-controlled non-stick contact surface.

103. The gripper according to claim 8, wherein the device comprises a draping frame.

Description

[0256] The drawing shows:

[0257] FIG. 1 schematically shows a top view of a draping frame with a total of ten grippers for gripping a film element, each of the grippers having seven degrees of freedom with respect to its gripper jaw elements relative to the draping frame;

[0258] FIG. 2 schematically shows a perspective view of one of the grippers from FIG. 1;

[0259] FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of a winding of a film element on a carrier part to be laminated;

[0260] FIG. 4 a schematic a view of a first test laminated component with a film elongation of less than 20%;

[0261] FIG. 5 schematically shows a detailed view of the first component from FIG. 4;

[0262] FIG. 6 schematically shows a view of a second test laminated component at a film elongation of less than 20%;

[0263] FIG. 7 schematically shows of a detailed view of the second component of FIG. 6;

[0264] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of a third test laminated component at a film elongation of less than 20%;

[0265] FIG. 9 schematically shows a detailed view of the third component from FIG. 8;

[0266] FIG. 10 schematically shows of a first perspective view of a first device for forming and/or laminating a film element with a draping frame, in which the film element is placed in a loading position on a lower heating device of a travelling heating unit;

[0267] FIG. 11 schematically shows a second perspective view of the first device from FIG. 10 with the heating unit moving along with the film element;

[0268] FIG. 12 schematically shows a third perspective view of the first device from FIGS. 10 and 11 with the retracted heating unit, which is now arranged congruently with the draping frame;

[0269] FIG. 13 schematically shows a fourth perspective view of the first device from FIGS. 10 to 12 with a lower heating device moving upwards for transferring the film element to grippers of the draping frame;

[0270] FIG. 14 schematically shows a fifth perspective view of the first device from FIGS. 10 to 13 with a heating unit moving back into the loading position;

[0271] FIG. 15 schematically shows a sixth perspective view of the first device from FIGS. 10 to 14 with a draping frame lowered in the direction of a lower tool and an upper tool arranged on a robot via the draping frame with a carrier part receptacle, which holds the carrier part;

[0272] FIG. 16 schematically shows a seventh perspective view of the first device from FIGS. 10 to 15 with a carrier part lowered onto the film element by means of the robot;

[0273] FIG. 17 schematically shows an eighth perspective view of the first device from FIGS. 10 to 16 in a laminating position;

[0274] FIG. 18 schematically shows a ninth perspective view of the first device from FIGS. 10 to 17 after the laminating process, wherein the laminated carrier part is transferred by means of the robot to a device for cutting the laminated carrier part;

[0275] FIG. 19 schematically shows a tenth perspective view of the first device from FIGS. 10 to 18 with the heating unit which is heated and which is supported by the film element, in which the robot picks up a new carrier part;

[0276] FIG. 20 schematically shows a perspective view of a first system for producing a molded and/or laminated component with a device for forming and/or laminating a film element onto a carrier part and with a punching and bent station connected inline downstream as well as a discharge station connected inline downstream;

[0277] FIG. 21 schematically shows a perspective view of a second system for producing a molded and/or laminated component with a device for forming and/or laminating a film element onto a carrier part and with an inline downstream punching and bent device;

[0278] FIG. 22 schematically shows a perspective view of a third system for producing a molded and/or laminated component with a device for forming and/or laminating a film element onto a carrier part comprising two heating units for shortening the cycle time, and with a punching and bent device connected inline downstream;

[0279] FIG. 23 schematically shows a perspective view of a double line for manufacturing a molded and/or laminated component with two devices for forming and/or laminating a film element on a carrier part and with punching and bent devices connected inline downstream;

[0280] FIG. 24, schematically shows a top view of the double system shown in FIG. 23;

[0281] FIG. 25 schematically shows a perspective view of a further system for manufacturing a molded and/or laminated component with a device for forming and/or laminating a film element onto a carrier part, with an inline upstream adhesive application station and with an inline downstream punching and bent station; designed as a double system;

[0282] FIG. 26 schematically shows a side view of a device for forming and/or laminating a film element with a draping frame, wherein the device is equipped, for example, with a device for the automated loading of film elements;

[0283] FIG. 27 shows a schematic top view of a prefabricated film element;

[0284] FIG. 28 schematically shows a top view of an optimized cutting pattern of a plurality of film elements;

[0285] FIG. 29 schematically shows a top view of a first combined lamination/bent device with bent slides arranged on a draping frame;

[0286] FIG. 30 shows a schematic top view of a second combined lamination/bent device with bent slides arranged on grippers;

[0287] FIG. 31 shows a schematic top view of a fourth combined lamination/bent device with bent slides arranged at a lamination station;

[0288] FIG. 32 schematically shows a top view of a third combined lamination/bent device with bent slides arranged on a further frame part;

[0289] FIG. 33 schematic supervision of an alternative gripper comprising a gripper chassis and a gripper head part with a rotary drive comprising a worm gear; and

[0290] FIG. 34 schematically a perspective partial view of a device for forming and/or laminating a film element on a carrier part with segmented punching knife segments and sealing slide segments.

[0291] According to FIG. 1, a draping frame 1 of the invention is shown as an example, which carries a plurality of motor-driven grippers 2.

[0292] The draping frame 1 has a frame part 3 which is converted to a housing 8 at least at its four page areas 4, 5, 6 and 7.

[0293] The draping frame 1 is at least partially open at the underside 9 or on the upper side 10.

[0294] More specifically, the housing 8 of the draping frame 1 is open above and below a centrally arranged draping room 15 of the draping frame 1, wherein the upper housing side is disassembled with regard to the representation according to FIG. 1, to allow a view of the frame part 3 and the grippers 2 mounted on it.

[0295] The frame part 3 of the draping frame 1 is characterized by some longitudinal traverses 16 (here only exemplarily quantified) and transverse traverses 17 (only exemplarily quantified), on which the grippers 2 are held within the draping frame 1.

[0296] In any case, the individual grippers 2 are each mounted on the draping frame 1 or in the draping room 15 in such a way that the grippers 2 contain at least seven degrees of freedom as a result of which a film element 20 (see exemplary FIG. 3) can be gripped in an extremely differentiated manner and draped and guided within the draping room 15.

[0297] The draping room 15 can be heated both from the underside 9 and from the upper side 10 by means of heating devices which can be displaced into the draping room 15 (not shown here, see for example from FIG. 10 onwards).

[0298] Such a heating device can basically be introduced into the draping frame 1 or the draping room 15 of each side areas 4, 5, 6 or 7, However, the front side region 6 or the rear side region 7 are preferred for this purpose.

[0299] According to FIG. 2, a gripper 2 of the draping frame 1 is shown as an example, wherein the gripper 2 has a gripper frame 22, on the front side of which a gripper head part 24 is arranged, on which the actual gripper jaw elements 25 and 26 of the gripper 2 are mounted.

[0300] Such a heating device can basically be introduced into the draping frame 1 or the draping room 15 of each side areas 4, 5, 6 or 7, however, the front side area 6 or the rear side area 7 are preferred for this purpose.

[0301] According to FIG. 2, a gripper 2 of the draping frame 1 is shown as an example, wherein the gripper 2 has a gripper chassis 22, on the front side of which a gripper head part 24 is arranged, on which the actual gripper jaw elements 25 and 26 of the gripper 2 are mounted.

[0302] While the gripper chassis 22 is mounted on the draping frame 1 with a total of 6 degrees of freedom, the gripper head part 25 has at least one additional degree of freedom with respect to the gripper chassis 22, so that in particular the gripper jaw elements 26 and 27 have at least 7 degrees of freedom in the draping room 15.

[0303] It is understood that in the given design of the construction, other degrees of freedom combinations between gripper chassis 22 and draping frame 1 are also possible in relation to the gripper head part 25 and the gripper chassis 22.

[0304] At least in this embodiment, the gripper head part 25 of the gripper 2 is three-dimensionally adjustable relative to the gripper chassis 22 of the gripper 2. The degrees of freedom achieved at the gripper head part 25 in this regard are different from the degrees of freedom of the gripper chassis.

[0305] A further special feature of the gripper 2 is that the gripper 2 has temperature-controlled gripper jaw elements 26 and 27, so that these gripper jaw elements 26 and 27 can adapt to special conditions or requirements in terms of temperature with regard to a film element 20 to be gripped by means of temperature-regulating means 28 which can be activated.

[0306] For example, it is extremely advantageous if at least one of the gripper jaw elements 26 or 27 can be cooled.

[0307] A cooled gripper jaw element 26 or 27 is particularly advantageous if the film element 20 is provided with adhesive for lamination on a carrier part 30 (see FIG. 3), since the cooled gripper jaw element 26 or 27 can form a less intensive bond with the adhesive, as a result of which the cooled gripper jaw element 26 or 27 is significantly less contaminated by the adhesive.

[0308] In this embodiment, in particular, the lower gripper jaw element 26 in particular temperature-controllable in the sense of cooling, since only this adhesive-containing side of the film element 20 comes into effective contact when this film element 20 is inserted into the gripper 2.

[0309] Furthermore, the gripper 2 is still equipped with tensile force measuring means 29, which are arranged on the gripper head part 25. Tensile forces acting between the film element 20 and the gripper 2 can be detected and measured by means of the tensile force measuring means 29. According to the invention, the gripper 2 can then be moved in the draping room 15 and in relation to the film element 20 as a function of the determined tensile forces in order to avoid critical film stretching in the sense of the invention.

[0310] According to the illustration in FIG. 3, it is shown, for example, how it is possible with the gripper 2, which is movable multi-axially in room, in particular in areas of the carrier part 30 without undercuts, to unwind the film element 20 merely at the contour 31 of the carrier part 30.

[0311] Preferably, the film element 20 is even completely unwound without tensile force on the contour 31 of the carrier part 30, such that on the one hand the film element 20 can be laminated in a manner that is particularly gentle on the material and the surface. On the other hand, the grippers 2 with their seven degrees of freedom can apply the film element 20 to the carrier part 30 to be laminated almost without stretching or at least with reduced stretching.

[0312] According to the simplified illustration in FIG. 3, in particular the gripper head part 25 of the gripper and in particular the gripper jaw elements 26 and 27 pass through an approach curve 32, to unwind the film element 20 in the simplest case by moving the gripper 2 in the Z- and Y-direction onto the carrier part in the sense of the invention without tensile force.

[0313] It is particularly advantageous if the film element 20 can be brought into operative contact with the carrier part 25 to be laminated, at least by means of some of the grippers 2, bypassing an extension or stretching of the film element 20, so that the film element 20 can stretch only very slightly, if at all, at least when it is applied to the carrier part 30 to be laminated with the grippers 2, so that even after laminating the film element 20 on the carrier part 30 on its visible surface there is hardly any distortion.

[0314] This is particularly advantageous for sensitive, visible surfaces 33 or for surfaces which have a structure, for example.

[0315] For this purpose, according to the illustrations shown in FIGS. 4 to 9, three examples of laminated carrier parts 30 from the automotive sector are shown, on whose visible surfaces 33 an example grid 35 is applied.

[0316] On the basis of the grid 35, it is easy to see that in all automotive components 37, 38 and 39, despite bends and partially existing free-form contours, hardly any distortions of the grid 35 result. Rather, the film expansion is partially limited to 10% to 15%.

[0317] A first embodiment example of an advantageous device 50 for forming and/or laminating a film element 20 onto a carrier part 30 is exemplarily shown according to the illustrations in FIGS. 10 to 19 and explained here, where, on the basis of the individual FIGS. 10 to 19, different method steps on the device 50 are shown as examples.

[0318] The basic concept of the device 50 is also relevant for the further embodiment examples. In this respect, the device 50 is also described by way of example for the further embodiments in order to avoid repetitions overall.

[0319] The device 50 is primarily characterized by a frame part 3 of a laminating tool 51, which in this embodiment comprises a draping frame 1 having a plurality of motor-driven grippers 2.

[0320] The device 50 is further characterized by further components of the laminating tool 51, which substantially comprise a lower tool 52 and an upper tool 53 (see in particular also FIG. 15).

[0321] The draping frame 1 and thus also the grippers 2 are mounted in a frame 56 of the device 50 in a height-adjustable manner by means of a displacement mechanism 55, so that the entire draping frame 1 is mounted on the frame 56 in a height-adjustable manner along a vertical displacement axis 57 of the device 50.

[0322] The lower tool 52 is placed below the draping frame 1 on a base part 58 of the frame 56, wherein the lower tool 52 comprises one or more mold shell parts 59, which in turn are arranged on a base 60 of the base part 58.

[0323] The upper tool 53, on the other hand, comprises a carrier part receptacle 63, by means of which one or more carrier parts 30 to be laminated can be introduced automatically, in particular into the draping frame 1 of the device 50.

[0324] In order to automate the insertion of the respective carrier part 30, a corresponding insertion device 65 is provided on the device 50, which in this embodiment comprises a robot device 70 having a multi-axial movable manipulator 71.

[0325] This robot device 70 with its multi-axial movable manipulator 71 is not only used to introduce the carrier part 30 to be laminated into the device 50, in particular into the draping room 15 of the draping frame 1, but moreover also to remove the finished laminated component 37, 38 or 39 (see FIGS. 4 to 9), so that the robot device 70 immediately also represents a removal device 75 on the device 50.

[0326] Overall, the robot device 70 can be regarded as a common transfer station 78 for the device 50 on the one hand and as a removal device 75 on the other hand due to its dual function as an insertion device 65.

[0327] Furthermore, the device 50 also has a feeding and/or inserting device 80 by means of which one or more film elements 20 can be fed into the draping frame 1, in such a way that the film element 20 can be immediately inserted into opened grippers 2, in particular onto the lower gripper jaw elements 26 of the open gripper 2.

[0328] For this purpose, the feeding and/or inserting device 80 has a feeding and/or inserting section 81 along which the respective film element 20 can be conveyed from a loading position 82 to the draping room 15.

[0329] In this case, the feeding and/or inserting device 80 or its feeding and/or inserting section 81 runs transversely to the vertical displacement axis 57 of the device 50.

[0330] Conversely, this means that the draping frame 1 is arranged such that it can be displaced transversely to said feeding and/or inserting section 81 by means of the displacement mechanism 55.

[0331] In this first embodiment, the feeding and/or inserting device 80 is characterized in particular by at least one movable heating unit 85 for heating the respective film element 20 outside the draping room 15 of the draping frame 1, which has two heating devices 86 and 87.

[0332] Here, the heating unit 85 is integrated into the feeding and/or inserting device 80 in such a way that the heating unit 85 can be continuously moved together with the respective film element 20, which can be continuously moved along the feeding and/or insertion section 81 in the direction of draping room 15 of draping frame 1.

[0333] In this embodiment, the upper heating device 86 and the lower heating device 87 of the heating unit 85 are moved together with the film element 20 along the feeding and/or insertion section 81, so that the respective film element 20 can be heated continuously both from above and from below.

[0334] In particular, the lower heating device 87 is designed in such a way that the respective film element 20 can be transported from the loading position 82 to the draping frame 1 of the device 50 by means of said lower heating device 87.

[0335] According to FIG. 10, a film element 20 is already placed on the lower heating device 87 and is located on the way to the draping frame 1 by means of the movable heating unit 85 from the loading position 82.

[0336] While the film element 20 is now heated on both sides by means of the upper heating device 86 and the lower heating device 87, it is simultaneously transported along the feeding and/or insertion section 81 together with the heating devices 86 and 87.

[0337] The draping frame 1 is located in a feeding position 89 in which the film element 20 transported by means of the feeding and/or inserting device 80 can be transported to the draping room 15.

[0338] Here, the robot device 70 is still in a starting position 90, in which at least one carrier part 30 to be laminated is received in the carrier part receptacle 63, namely from a carrier part magazine 100.

[0339] According to FIG. 11, the heating unit 85 with the film element 20 is located shortly before being fed or inserted into the draping frame 1.

[0340] According to FIG. 12, the heating unit 85, together with the film element 20 heated therewith, is completely retracted into the device 50.

[0341] As shown in FIG. 13, the lower heating device 87 moves upwards towards the draping frame 1, so that in this insertion position 103 the heated film element 20 can be transferred to the gripper 2 of the draping frame 1 or inserted into said grippers 2.

[0342] As soon as an adjustable target temperature is reached at the film element 20 or in the draping room 15, the heating unit 85 and its heating devices 86 and 87 return to the loading position 82 in order to accommodate one or more new film elements 20.

[0343] According to FIG. 15, the draping frame 1 with the film element 20 draped therein now moves downwards towards the lower tool 52, in the meantime, the carrier part 30 located on the carrier part receptacle 63 is positioned above the draping room 15 of the draping frame 1 by means of the manipulator 71 of the robot device 70.

[0344] According to the illustration in FIG. 16, the carrier part 30 to be laminated is now further transferred to the film element 20 by means of the manipulator 71 of the robot device 70, so that according to the representation according to FIG. 17, the actual vacuum laminating process is finally carried out on the device 50.

[0345] After the carrier part 30 has been successfully laminated with the film element 20, the robot device 70 removes the finished laminated component 37, 38 or 39 from the draping frame 1 and places it in a preferably cooled trimming station 104 (indicated only as an example in FIG. 18), wherein the robot device 70 is in a provision position 105 in which it provides the finished laminated component 37, 38 or 39 for further processing or the like on the device 50.

[0346] According to FIG. 19, the manipulator 71 of the robot device 70 approaches the carrier part receptacle 63 again to the carrier part magazine 102 in order to pick up the carrier part 30 to be laminated again.

[0347] At the same time, for a new lamination process, a new film element 20 is transported along the feeding and/or inserting section 81 in the direction of draping frame 1 by means of the feeding and/or inserting device 80, which is simultaneously heated on both sides by means of the heating unit 85.

[0348] According to FIG. 20, a first plant design example with a first system 107 for producing a molded and/or laminated component 37, 38 or 39 is shown, wherein the first system 107 is an alternative, respectively, the second device 108 for forming and/or laminating a film element 20. More precisely, the second device 108 is integrated in the processing line 110 of the first system 107, wherein a punching and bent station 114, which is not shown further, is connected to the second device 108 inline of the processing line 110.

[0349] The processing line 110 runs from an input side 111 of the first system 107 to an output side 112 of the first system 107.

[0350] The second device 108 has substantially the same structure as the previously described device 50 from the FIGS. 10 to 19, and the device 108 comprises the draping frame 1 with the moto-driven grippers 2 movably arranged thereon for gripping the film element 20, the feeding and/or inserting device 80 as well as the removal device 85 with the robot device 70 and the carrier part magazine 100.

[0351] In this first plant embodiment, however, the device 108 comprises two heating units 85 on the feeding and/or inserting device 80 thereof, whereby the cycle times on the alternative device 108 or on the system 107 can be advantageously reduced. For example, the cycle times can be less than 40 seconds.

[0352] In any case, the film elements 20 are inserted alternately from the respective heating unit 85 into the draping frame 1.

[0353] After the respective film element 20 has been laminated onto the carrier part 30, the respective finished laminated component 37, 38 or 39 (see FIGS. 4 to 9) are transferred by the robot device 70 to the inline downstream and bent station 114, where they are stored for further processing.

[0354] Apart from the two heating units 85, the alternative device 108 otherwise has the same structure as the device 50 described in FIGS. 10 to 19, so that reference is made to the description of the device 50 with regard to a more detailed structure and operation of the alternative device 108.

[0355] In the second embodiment shown in FIG. 21, a second System 116 for producing a molded part or laminated part 37, 38 is shown, in relation to 39, with a processing line 110.

[0356] A third device 117 for forming and/or laminating a film element 20 and a punching and bent station 114 connected downstream of said device 117 are arranged in said processing line 110, at which an additional discharge station 119 for discharging finished laminated components 37, 38 and 39 (see FIGS. 4 to 9) with a discharge table 120 is connected inline with processing line 110. The discharge station 119 achieves a higher degree of automation at the second System 116.

[0357] The third device 117 also has essentially the same structure as the previously described device 50 from the FIGS. 10 to 19, and the third device 107 accordingly comprises the draping frame 1 with the arranged motor-driven grippers 2 for gripping the film element 20, the feeding and/or inserting device 80 as well as the removal device 85 with the robot device 70 and the carrier part magazine 100.

[0358] A third system design example shows FIG. 22, in which a third System 123 in its processing line 110 has two feeding and/or inserting devices 80 of a fourth device 124 for forming and/or laminating the film element 20. The fourth device 124 accordingly also has two heating units 85, so that here again an advantageous cycle time reduction can be achieved.

[0359] This fourth device 124 has substantially the same structure as the device 50 from FIGS. 10 to 19 described above. In this respect, the fourth device 124 has the draping frame 1 with the motor-driven grippers 2 which are arranged movably thereon and which grip the film element 20, feeding and/or inserting devices 80 in two forms and the removal device 85 with the robot device 70 as well as the carrier part magazine 100.

[0360] The punching and bent station 114 and the discharge station 119 for discharging finished laminated components 37, 38 and 39 (see FIGS. 4 to 9) are then connected inline downstream of the fourth device 124.

[0361] According to FIG. 23, a fourth example of a system design with regard to a double system 126 for producing a molded part or a laminated component with two processing lines 110, wherein at the double system 126 all machines are duplicated.

[0362] For example, the double system 126 has two fifth devices 127, wherein every fifth device 127 has the draping frame 1 with the motor-driven grippers 2 movably arranged thereon for gripping the film element 20, the feeding and/or inserting device 80 as well as the removal device 85 with the robot device 70 and the carrier part magazine 100.

[0363] Further, two punching and bent stations 114 and two discharge stations 119 are connected in line with the fifth devices 127 of the processing lines 110 at the double system 126, whereby the output rate can be doubled with in the double system 126.

[0364] According to FIGS. 24 and 25, a further double system 130 for producing a molded part or a laminated component 37, 38 or 39 is shown.

[0365] This further double system 130 also has two processing lines 110, but has an adhesive application station 131 in addition to the first double system 126 from FIG. 23 at the input side 111 of the further double system 130.

[0366] Due to the two existing processing lines 110, two adhesive application lines 132 belong to this adhesive application station 131, whereby these two adhesive application lines 132 are operated by a common adhesive application device 133. For this purpose, the adhesive application device 133 is equipped with an adhesive application robot 134 having a corresponding application manipulator 135.

[0367] The adhesive application device 133 with its adhesive application robot 134 is arranged between the two adhesive application lines 132 of the adhesive application station 131, so that both adhesive application lines 132 can be reached unproblematic and operated by the adhesive application manipulator 135.

[0368] Two sixth devices 136 for forming and/or laminating a film element 20 are located downstream of the adhesive application station 131 in accordance with the two-fold processing lines 110. Here, too, the respective sixth device 136 comprises the feeding and/or inserting device 80 for feeding and/or inserting the film element 20 into the draping frame 1, wherein one in six devices 136 is assigned laterally to the carrier part magazine 100. Further, the sixth devices 136 each again comprise the removal device 75 in the form of the robot device 70.

[0369] The punching and bent station 114 is again connected downstream of the respective sixth device 136.

[0370] On the output side of the further double system 130, the discharge station 119 is again located on each processing line.

[0371] According to FIG. 26, a fully automated system 140 for producing a molded part or a laminated component 37, 38 or 39 is shown, comprising a processing line 110 and a seventh device 141 for forming and/or laminating a molded element 20. This seventh device 141 again has substantially the same structure as the previously described device 50 of FIGS. 10 to 19.

[0372] The seventh device 141 accordingly comprises the draping frame 1 with the motor-driven grippers 2 movably arranged thereon for gripping the film element 20, the feeding and/or inserting device 80 as well as the removal device 85 with the robot device 70 and the carrier part magazine 100.

[0373] The fully automated system 140 also has a loading station 142 at its input side 111 for feeding the seventh device 141 for forming and/or laminating the molded element 20.

[0374] The loading station 141 has a gripping device 143 for receiving film elements 20 and depositing these film elements 20 on the feeding and/or inserting section 81.

[0375] By means of this loading station 141, film elements 20 can be transferred to the feeding and/or inserting section 81 of the feeding and/or inserting device 80 of the seventh device 141, as far as possible without operating personnel.

[0376] This allows the fully automated system 140 to operate with an even higher degree of automation.

[0377] It is understood that such a loading station 141 can also be connected upstream of all devices 50, 108, 117, 124, 127 and 136 described above, as well as of systems 111, 116, 123, 126 and 130, in order to save corresponding operating personnel there as well.

[0378] However, this loading station 142 is shown by way of example only with respect to the fully automated system 140.

[0379] According to FIG. 27, a pre-assembled film element 20, as may be used in the present invention, is schematically represented, while referring to FIG. 28, an optimized cutting pattern 150 is shown with a plurality of designated film elements 20.

[0380] These designated film elements 20 can be placed particularly close to each other and insofar with very little residual film grid material 151 in between on the optimized cutting pattern 150, since the film elements 20 cut out from this can only be gripped reliably by the grippers 2 according to the invention or the draping frame 1 according to the invention.

[0381] This is partly due to the fact that the grippers 2 according to the invention can be moved in the draping room 15 with seven degrees of freedom, due to the high degree of multi-axial freedom of movement.

[0382] According to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 29 to 32, the laminating device is respectively provided with a plurality of bent means 160 or bent slides shown, wherein the bent means 160 are provided at a draping room 15 of the device 1.

[0383] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 29, the bent means 160 are located next to the grippers 2 attached to the draping frame 1.

[0384] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 30, the bent means 160 are arranged on the grippers 2.

[0385] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 31, the bent means 160 are arranged on a frame (not numerated separately here) of the laminating device.

[0386] And in the embodiment shown in FIG. 32, the bent means 160 are located on the frame part 3 of the laminating device.

[0387] According to FIG. 33, an alternative gripper 170 is shown, which is substantially the same as the gripper 2 shown in FIG. 2.

[0388] The gripper 170 has a gripper chassis 171, on the front side 172 or end face 173 of which a gripper head part 174 is arranged, on which the actual gripper jaw elements 175 and 176 of the gripper 170 are mounted, whereby in the top view only the upper gripper jaw element 176 is visible here.

[0389] The gripper 170 with its gripper head part 174 faces a draping room 15.

[0390] The gripper head part 174 has a degree of freedom 177 compared to the gripper chassis 171 and a further degree of freedom 178.

[0391] The degree of freedom 177 is provided by the axis of rotation 180 of the rotary actuator 181, wherein the rotary actuator 181 includes a worm gear 182. In this respect, the gripper jaw elements 175 and 176 on the gripper head part 174 can be rotated about the axis of rotation 180 relative to the gripper chassis 171 in a motorized and automated manner. The axis of rotation 180 is perpendicular to the end face 173, so that this is a horizontal axis (not renumbered).

[0392] The further degree of freedom 178 results around the vertical axis 185, around which the gripper jaw elements 175 and 176 can be swiveled manually.

[0393] Also clearly visible are coolant connections 187 on the rear sides 188 of the gripper jaw elements 175 and 176, to which a temperature-regulating means can be connected in order to allow coolant to flow through the gripper jaw elements 175 and 176.

[0394] According to FIG. 34, a further device 190 is provided for forming and/or laminating a film element 20 on a carrier part 30, the device 190 comprising a plurality of grippers 2 and/or 170 not shown herein and as well as a carrier part respectable 63, which is also not shown here and which is attached to a manipulator 71 (not shown, upper tool 53) of a laminating tool 51 (also not shown). The device 190 comprises a draping room 15 or laminating room 15, in which a lower tool 52 is arranged. In this embodiment, the lower tool 52 may include a mold shell part 59 (not shown).

[0395] Advantageously, the further device 190 and/or the lower tool 52 of the latter has both punching knife segments 191 (only numbered here by way of example) of a punching device 192 and sealing slide segments 194 of a sealing device 195 of a pressure difference device which is not shown further.

[0396] The punching knife segments 191 and the sealing slide segments 194 are arranged next to each other, whereby all punching knife segments 191 and sealing slide segments 194 are individually controllable and displaceable, whereby on the one hand punching forces on the other device 190 can be advantageously reduced (punching knife segments 191) and on the other hand a sealing device 195 can be positioned in a more differentiated manner and closer to the carrier part 30, whereby a non-negligible amount of film material can be saved overall.

[0397] At this point, it should be explicitly pointed out that features of the solutions described above or in the claims and/or figures can also be combined, if necessary, in order to be able to implement or achieve the explained features, effects and advantages in a correspondingly cumulative manner.

[0398] It is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are merely first embodiments of the invention. In this respect, the design of the invention is not limited to these embodiments.

[0399] All features disclosed in the application documents are claimed to be essential to the invention, provided that they are new individually or in combination with each other compared to the prior art.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0400] 1 draping frame [0401] 2 motor driven gripper [0402] 3 frame part [0403] 4 left side area [0404] 5 right side area [0405] 6 front side area [0406] 7 rear side area [0407] 8 housing [0408] 9 under side [0409] 10 upper side [0410] 15 draping room and/or laminating room [0411] 16 longitudinal traverses [0412] 17 transverse traverses [0413] 20 film element [0414] 22 gripper chassis/gripper jaw elements [0415] 24 front side [0416] 25 gripper head part [0417] 26 lower gripper jaw elements [0418] 27 upper gripper jaw elements [0419] 28 temperature-regulating [0420] 29 tensile force measuring device [0421] 30 carrier part [0422] 31 contour [0423] 32 approach curve [0424] 33 visible surface [0425] 35 grid [0426] 37 first automotive components and/or laminated components [0427] 38 second automotive components and/or laminated components [0428] 39 third automotive components and/or laminated components [0429] 50 device [0430] 51 laminating tool [0431] 52 lower tool [0432] 53 upper tool [0433] 55 displacement mechanism [0434] 56 frame [0435] 57 vertical displacement axis [0436] 58 base part [0437] 59 shell parts [0438] 60 base [0439] 63 carrier part respectable [0440] 65 insertion device [0441] 70 robot device [0442] 71 manipulator [0443] 75 removable device [0444] 78 transfer station [0445] 80 feeding and/or inserting device [0446] 81 feeding and/or inserting section [0447] 82 loading position [0448] 85 heating unit [0449] 86 upper heating device [0450] 87 lower heating device [0451] 89 feeding position [0452] 90 starting position [0453] 100 carrier part magazine [0454] 103 insertion position [0455] 104 trimming station [0456] 105 provision position [0457] 107 system [0458] 108 second device [0459] 110 processing line [0460] 111 input side [0461] 112 output side [0462] 114 bent station [0463] 116 second system [0464] 117 third device [0465] 119 discharge station [0466] 120 discharge table [0467] 123 third system [0468] 124 forth device [0469] 126 double system [0470] 127 fifth device [0471] 130 further double system [0472] 131 adhesive application station [0473] 132 adhesive application lines [0474] 133 adhesive application device [0475] 134 adhesive application robot [0476] 135 adhesive application manipulator [0477] 136 sixth device [0478] 140 fully automated system [0479] 141 seventh device [0480] 142 loading station [0481] 143 gripping device [0482] 150 cutting pattern [0483] 151 film grit material [0484] 160 bent means and/or bent side [0485] 170 gripper [0486] 171 gripper chassis and/or gripper jaw elements [0487] 172 front side [0488] 173 end face [0489] 174 gripper head part [0490] 175 lower gripper jaw elements [0491] 176 upper gripper jaw elements [0492] 177 degree of freedom [0493] 178 further degree of freedom [0494] 180 axis of rotation and/or horizontal axis [0495] 181 rotary actuator [0496] 182 worm gear [0497] 185 vertical axis [0498] 187 coolant connections [0499] 188 back side [0500] 190 further device [0501] 191 punching knife segments [0502] 192 punching device [0503] 194 sealing slide segments [0504] 195 sealing device