DEVICE FOR APPLYING A RUBBER PROFILE

Abstract

A device for applying a rubber profile to a surface comprises a robot arm moving and guiding a guide head into a position to apply the rubber profile along a defined contour on the surface. A feed device connected to the guide head feeds the rubber profile onto the surface at a defined speed. A guide element on the guide head guides the rubber profile. The feed device includes a motorized drive roller, with a profiled circumferential surface, and a counter-element with a passage for the rubber profile formed between the drive roller and the counter-element, such that the profiled circumferential surface engages the rubber profile A control unit detects the speed of the guide head where the rubber profile is applied to the surface and controls a drive roller such that the rubber profile is advanced on the basis of this speed.

Claims

1. A device for applying a rubber profile to a surface, in particular on a motor vehicle part, comprising a robot, which has at least one robot arm for moving and guiding a guide head to an application position, in order to apply the rubber profile along a defined contour on the surface, wherein a feed device is connected to the guide head to guide the rubber profile onto the surface at a defined speed, wherein the guide head has at least one guide element for guiding the rubber profile, and the feed device has at least one motorized drive roller with a profiled circumferential surface formed on its periphery, and a counter-element, wherein a passage for the rubber profile is formed between the drive roller and the counter-element, such that a plurality of spikes formed on the profiled circumferential surface at least partially engage in the rubber profile, wherein the drive roller is connected to a drive, in particular an electric motor, which is controlled by a control unit in the device, which control unit contains means for detecting the speed of the guide head where the rubber profile is applied to the surface, and controlling the drive roller such that the rubber profile is advanced on the basis of this speed.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the spikes are between 0.5 mm and 2 mm long, and have a diameter of 0.3 mm to 2 mm.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the spikes are conical, and preferably have a circular base.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the spikes protrude radially from the profiled circumferential surface.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the counter-element is formed by a glide plate.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein a non-motorized pressure element, in particular a pressure roller, is located on the guide head, which pressure element is designed to press against the rubber profile placed on the surface in the application position by means of a tensioned spring device.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the guide element is oriented in the application position at an acute angel (α) to the surface, counter to the direction of movement (x) for the guide head.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein the guide head does not have a motorized application roller for pressing the rubber profile against the surface.

9. The device according to claim 1 wherein the drive roller is located directly in front of the application location for the rubber profile on the structure.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein the guide head has a second guide element with a hollow profile, the shape of which corresponds precisely to the outer contour of the rubber profile.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein the guide element is located along with the feed device in a housing.

12. The device according to claim 1 wherein the counter-element is formed by a counter-roller, located opposite the drive roller.

13. The device according to claim 1 wherein the drive roller is a first drive roller and the counter-element is formed by a second drive roller, located opposite the first drive roller.

14. The device according to claim 1 wherein the guide head has a removal device for removing a cover strip from an adhesive surface on the rubber profile.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The invention shall be described below by way of example, in reference to the schematic drawings. Therein:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of the application device, with a guide head for applying the rubber profile moved by a robot;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a side view of an embodiment of the guide head in FIG. 1, with a feed device for applying the rubber profile to a structure;

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a feed device that has a drive roller and a counter-element in a guide head according to FIG. 1 or 2;

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the feed device in FIG. 3; and

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a view of the feed device from FIG. 3 from above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] FIG. 1 shows an application device 10 for applying a rubber profile 12 to a surface, e.g. a circumferential sealing surface 14 on a motor vehicle part 16, a motor vehicle door in this example. The device 10 contains, e.g. a retaining device 20 with a retaining frame 22, comprising a horizontal strut 24 with two vertical struts 26, 28 at a variable distance to one another. The retaining frame 22 can be moved by a movement device, not shown, between a motor vehicle part location, an application position, and a second location for processed motor vehicle parts. A first claw 30 is located on the first vertical strut 26, and two more claws 32, 34, i.e. a second claw 32 and a third claw 34, are located on the second vertical strut 28. The vertical positions of each claw 30, 32, 34 can be adjusted on the vertical struts 26, 28. Each claw 30, 32, 34 is retained by a corresponding arm 36, via a dedicated positioning mechanism, at its distance to the vertical struts 26, 28, such that it can rotate about its longitudinal axis. Each of the three claws 30, 32, 34 is therefore retained at its distance to the respective vertical strut 26, 28 in its vertical position on the vertical strut 26, 28, and can rotate about its longitudinal axis. In addition to the circumferential sealing surface, the motor vehicle part 12 also has a circumferential edge 38 with which it is held by the three claws 30, 32, 34.

[0037] The application device 10 also comprises a robot 40, functioning as a manipulation device, which is located upstream of the retaining frame 22 on the side of the circumferential sealing surface 14 on the motor vehicle part 16. The robot comprise a body 42, on which a first robot arm 44 is pivotally mounted, which has a second pivotal robot arm 46 on its free end, which in turn has a guide head 48 on its free end that can preferably pivot and/or rotate about an axis, which presses a rubber profile 12 onto the circumferential surface 14 on the motor vehicle part 16 in the known manner. The application takes place in the guide head 48, frequently, but not necessarily, via a pressure roller 50. The guide head 48 comprises a drive, e.g. an electric motor 61 which drives a drive roller 62 coating with the rubber profile to move the rubber profile 12 forward. The rubber profile 12 normally has a liner, or cover strip 76, (FIG. 4), which covers a downward facing adhesive surface 74 on the rubber profile 12. The liner 76 is removed prior to application, such that when the rubber profile 12 is pressed onto the sealing surface 14 by the pressure roller 50, the rubber profile 12 is reliably glued onto the sealing surface 14 on the motor vehicle part 16.

[0038] The application device 10 also comprises a control unit 11, located by way of example in the body 42, which controls the robot 40 and thus the movement of the guide head 48 along the sealing surface 14 of the automobile part. This control unit detects the speed of the guide head 48 in relation to the sealing surface 14 and is designed to control the advancement speed of the rubber profile 12 by the feed device 60 described below.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment 48a of a guide head that has a housing 49 in which a feed device 60 (FIGS. 3 to 5) for a rubber profile 12 with an e-shaped cross section is located with a drive, e.g. an electric motor 61 rotating a drive roller 62. The rubber profile 12 is not placed on the sealing surface 12 with a pressure roller 50 with this guide head 48, but instead is fed solely due to the advancement of the rubber profile into a first guide element 51, which is at an acute angle a to the direction of movement x of the guide head 48a in relation to the sealing surface 14. A non-motorized drive roller 50a first presses the rubber profile 12 at a distance d after its application onto the sealing surface 14 by means of a spring device 52, and ensures a reliable adhesion of the rubber profile 12 to the sealing surface 14 by means of its adhesive surface.

[0040] The following FIGS. 3 to 5 show different views of a feed device 60, as it can be used in the guide heads 48, 48a in FIGS. 1 and 2. The feed device 60 for the rubber profile 12 comprises a drive roller 62, which is powered by a drive motor 61 (not shown in FIGS. 3-5). A glide plate 64 is located opposite the drive roller 62, forming a counter-element thereto, such that a passage 66 for the rubber profile is formed between the two, following a second guide element 68, which has a passage for the rubber profile that corresponds precisely to the outer shape of the rubber profile 12. In this manner, the rubber profile 12 is fed precisely into the passage 66 between the drive roller and the glide plate 64. The drive roller 62 has a circumferential surface 70 populated with spikes 72.

[0041] The drive roller 62 is extremely narrow in the axial direction, in the manner of a thin drive wheel. As a result, it is designed to engage in a lower surface of the closed region of the e-shaped rubber profile, and thus hold the vertical section of the e directly beneath the closed portion of the profile, and advance it. This vertical leg of the e (before it transitions to the horizontal part), is held between the drive roller 62 and the glide plate 64, and conveyed forward by the spikes 72 on the circumferential surface 60 of the rotating drive wheel 62 at precisely the speed of the guide head 48 in relation to the sealing surface 14 on the automobile part 16, or somewhat faster. Optionally, the speed can be controlled at specific areas on the surface 14, e.g. where the rubber profile 12 passes through a curve, such that the advancement speed of the feed device 60 is slightly greater than the detected relative speed of the guide head 48 in relation to the sealing surface 14. The rubber profile 12 is thus advanced at these points with a slight compression, which counteracts a detachment due to internal tensions formed in the rubber profile 12 after it has been applied.

[0042] The rubber profile 12 applied to an automobile part, e.g. a door frame or trunk lining in a motor vehicle chassis, is shown in profile in FIG. 4. The e-shaped rubber profile 12 comprises an upper, closed hollow section, and a lower application section, corresponding to the lower part of the e, which first has a vertical section that then transitions into a lower horizontal section of the rubber profile. The adhesive surface 74 is located on the lower surface of this horizontal section of the rubber profile, which is covered by the cover strip 76. The cover strip 76 covers the adhesive surface 74 prior to application on the surface of the automobile part 16, and ensures that the rubber profile 12 does not get stuck in the guide head 48, and is easier to work with on the whole. The guide head 48 therefore preferably contains a removal device, not shown, for removing the cover strip 76 from the adhesive surface 75 of the rubber profile 12, before it is applied to the surface 14 of the automobile part 16. The cover strip 76 is first removed immediately prior to applying the rubber profile 12 to the sealing surface 14 on the motor vehicle part 16.

[0043] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein, but instead can be varied within the scope of protection in the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0044] 10 application device

[0045] 11 control unit for the application device

[0046] 12 rubber profile

[0047] 14 sealing surface on an automobile part, e.g. chassis or door

[0048] 16 motor vehicle part

[0049] 20 retaining device for an automobile part

[0050] 22 retaining frame

[0051] 24 horizontal strut of the retaining frame

[0052] 26 first vertical strut of the retaining frame

[0053] 28 second vertical strut of the retaining frame

[0054] 30 first claw

[0055] 32 second claw

[0056] 34 third claw

[0057] 36 arm for each claw

[0058] 38 circumferential edge of the automobile part

[0059] 40 robot

[0060] 42 body of the robot

[0061] 44 first robot arm

[0062] 46 second robot arm

[0063] 48 guide head mounted on second robot arm

[0064] 49 housing of the guide head

[0065] 50, 50a pressure roller

[0066] 51 first guide element

[0067] 52 spring device for tensioning the pressure roller against the rubber profile

[0068] 60 feed device

[0069] 61 drive—electric motor

[0070] 62 drive roller

[0071] 64 counter-element—glide plate

[0072] 66 passage between the drive roller and the counter element

[0073] 68 second guide element

[0074] 70 circumferential surface of the drive roller

[0075] 72 spikes on the circumference of the drive roller

[0076] 74 adhesive surface on the rubber profile

[0077] 76 cover strip (liner) for covering the adhesive surface until application of the rubber profile

[0078] α angle of inclination

[0079] x direction of movement

[0080] d distance between the application point for the rubber profile and the pressure roller