Device for cleaning adhesive surfaces using solid carbon dioxide

Abstract

A device for cleaning adhesive surfaces of vehicle components using solid carbon dioxide is provided. The device may be used for automated cleaning in an assembly line with a plurality of work stations. The device includes a chamber-type cleaning area for vehicle components, a blasting device with a jet nozzle for emitting solid carbon dioxide onto the vehicle components, a transport device for transporting the vehicle components through the cleaning chamber, and a charge discharge device for discharging an electrostatic charge from the vehicle components in order to structurally and/or functionally improve the device.

Claims

1. An assembly line comprising: a transport device configured to transport a vehicle roof having a cutout from a painting or coating station through a chamber-type cleaning room to an adhesive applying station, wherein the painting or coating station is configured to at least partially paint or coat the vehicle roof, the chamber-type cleaning room is configured to clean adhesive surfaces of the cutout of the at least partially painted or coated vehicle roof, the chamber-type clearing room comprising a blasting device with a blasting nozzle configured to blast the vehicle roof with a solid carbon dioxide, and a charge dissipation device configured to eliminate an electrostatic charge of the vehicle roof, and the adhesive applying station being configured to apply adhesive to the clean adhesive surfaces.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the chamber-type cleaning room includes, at least in sections, a passive noise protection device.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the chamber-type cleaning room includes a closable entrance and/or a closable exit.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the chamber-type cleaning room includes a closable entrance and/or a closable exit.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the entrance and/or the exit of the chamber-type cleaning room is closable by way of a roller door.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the entrance and/or the exit of the chamber-type cleaning room is closable by way of a roller door.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an industrial robot for an automated guidance of the blasting nozzle.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the industrial robot is capable of collaboration.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a portal-type carrier device through which the vehicle roof for cleaning is capable of being led.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the charge dissipation device includes an ionizer.

11. An assembly line comprising: a transport device configured to transport a vehicle body from a painting or coating station through a chamber-type cleaning room to an adhesive applying station, wherein the painting or coating station is configured to at least partially paint or coat the vehicle body, the chamber-type cleaning room is configured to clean adhesive surfaces of the at least partially painted or coated vehicle body, the chamber-type clearing room comprising a blasting device with a blasting nozzle configured to blast the vehicle body with a solid carbon dioxide, and a charge dissipation device configured to eliminate an electrostatic charge of the vehicle body, and the adhesive applying station being configured to apply adhesive to the clean adhesive surfaces.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the chamber-type cleaning room includes, at least in sections, a passive noise protection device.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the chamber-type cleaning room includes a closable entrance and/or a closable exit.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the chamber-type cleaning room includes a closable entrance and/or a closable exit.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the entrance and/or the exit of the chamber-type cleaning room is closable by way of a roller door.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the entrance and/or the exit of the chamber-type cleaning room is closable by way of a roller door.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: an industrial robot for an automated guidance of the blasting nozzle.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the industrial robot is capable of collaboration.

19. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising: a portal-type carrier device through which the vehicle body for cleaning is capable of being led.

20. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the charge dissipation device includes an ionizer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the figures, schematically and by way of example:

(2) FIG. 1 is a view of an apparatus for the cleaning of adhesive surfaces of vehicle components using solid carbon dioxide, in a plan view;

(3) FIG. 2 is a view of an apparatus for the cleaning of adhesive surfaces of vehicle components using solid carbon dioxide, in a view from the entrance side;

(4) FIG. 3 is an illustration of a specific adaptation of cleaning parameters for adhesive surfaces of vehicle components composed of a metal alloy, such as steel or aluminum alloy; and

(5) FIG. 4 is an illustration of a specific adaptation of cleaning parameters for adhesive surfaces of vehicle components composed of a fiber composite material, such as carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(6) FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 100 for the cleaning of adhesive surfaces of vehicle components 102 using solid carbon dioxide, in a plan view. FIG. 2 shows the apparatus 100 in a view from the entrance side.

(7) The apparatus 100 is part of an assembly line (not illustrated in detail here) with multiple working stations. The apparatus 100 is arranged in the assembly line upstream of a working station in which an adhesive process is performed.

(8) In the present case, the vehicle components 102 are vehicle bodies, which are produced from a metal alloy, such as steel or aluminum alloy, or from a fiber composite material, such as carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, and which are at least partially coated and/or painted. The vehicle bodies have in each case a roof cutout, at the edge of which there are arranged adhesive surfaces for the purposes of adhesively bonding a panoramic roof into the roof cutout.

(9) The apparatus 100 has a chamber-like cleaning room 104 with side walls 106, 108, a ceiling 110, an entrance 112 and an exit 114. The entrance 112 and the exit 114 can each be closed off by way of a high-speed roller door. The cleaning room 104 has a passive noise protection device with mechanisms for sound deadening and/or sound damping, which mechanisms are arranged on the side walls 106, 108 and on the ceiling 110.

(10) The apparatus 100 has a transport device 116 with a conveyor device and with assembly carriers for transporting vehicle components 102 through the cleaning room 104. The transport device 116 serves for transporting the vehicle components 102 through the entrance 112 into the cleaning room 104, through the cleaning room 104, and through the exit 114 out of the cleaning room 104.

(11) The apparatus 100 has a blasting device 118 with a blasting nozzle 120 for blasting the vehicle components 102 with solid carbon dioxide. The blasting device 118 is in the present case a dry-ice blasting device. Dry-ice blasting is a compressed-air blasting method in which solid carbon dioxide, also referred to as dry ice, e.g., at a temperature of −78.9° C. is used as blasting medium. For the cleaning, solid carbon dioxide particles are accelerated by way of compressed air as it flows through the blasting nozzle 120, and strike an adhesive surface for cleaning at a very high speed. The layer to be removed is thereby locally super-cooled and embrittled. Subsequent carbon dioxide particles ingress into brittle cracks and abruptly sublimate upon impact. The carbon dioxide becomes gaseous and, in the process, greatly increases in volume. In the process, it removes dirt from the adhesive surface. The blasting device 118 is arranged on the transport device 116.

(12) The blasting device 118 has a refillable and/or exchangeable accumulator 122 for solid carbon dioxide. The accumulator 122 is exchangeable for the provision of new solid carbon dioxide. The blasting device 118 has connecting hoses for the supply of compressed air and solid carbon dioxide to the blasting nozzle 120.

(13) The apparatus 100 has a portal-like carrier device 124 through which vehicle components 102 can be transported by way of the transport device 116 for cleaning purposes. The carrier device 124 is, in the present case, formed in the manner of a frame from aluminum profiles with a transverse strut.

(14) The apparatus 100 has an industrial robot 126 for the automated guidance of the blasting nozzle 120. The industrial robot 126 has a manipulator and a control device and is programmable for the cleaning of adhesive surfaces of the vehicle components 102. The blasting nozzle 120 is arranged on the manipulator and serves as an effector of the industrial robot 126. The industrial robot 126 is arranged in a suspended manner on the carrier device 124. The industrial robot 126 is suitable for collaboration with a technician.

(15) The apparatus 100 has a charge dissipation device 128 with an ionizer for eliminating an electrostatic charge of the vehicle components 102. The charge dissipation device 128 is, in a transport direction a, arranged downstream of the industrial robot 126 with the blasting nozzle 120, and serves for eliminating an electrostatic charge of the vehicle components 102 that has arisen as a result of the dry-ice blasting process. The ionizer is a regulated ionizer, in the case of which an electrical field is regulated through measurement and targeted readjustment of a high voltage. The charge dissipation device 128 has a blower for blowing ionized air onto the vehicle components 102.

(16) Adhesive surfaces of vehicle components 102 are cleaned in each case with specifically adapted cleaning parameters. The cleaning parameters are adapted in each case with regard to an achievable adhesion force, a process time and/or economy. For the specific adaptation of the cleaning parameters, it is firstly case that, alternately, in each case one cleaning parameter is varied while the other cleaning parameters remain unchanged, in order to respectively determine an optimum parameter value. Subsequently, a combination of cleaning parameters is selected.

(17) FIG. 3 shows a specific adaptation of cleaning parameters for adhesive surfaces of vehicle components composed of a metal alloy, such as steel or aluminum alloy, with regard to a holding force.

(18) In FIG. 3, a respectively achieved holding force is plotted in N/cm. For the determination of a holding force, in the case of varying cleaning parameters, a material strip is adhesively bonded in each case to a cleaned adhesive surface, and is pulled off in a peel test, with the holding force being measured.

(19) Firstly, a spacing 200 of a blasting nozzle from an adhesive surface for cleaning is varied while the other cleaning parameters remain unchanged. Subsequently, a movement speed 202 of a blasting nozzle relative to an adhesive surface for cleaning is varied while the other cleaning parameters remain unchanged. Subsequently, a mass flow 204 of solid carbon dioxide is varied while the other cleaning parameters remain unchanged. Subsequently, a pressure 206 for accelerating solid carbon dioxide is varied while the other cleaning parameters remain unchanged. Subsequently, an angle 208 between a blasting nozzle and an adhesive surface for cleaning is varied while the other cleaning parameters remain unchanged. The individual parameters may also be varied in a different sequence.

(20) A reference line 210 shows a holding force achieved in the case of cleaning of an adhesive surface using isopropanol. It can be seen that, in the case of cleaning using solid carbon dioxide, it is generally the case that higher holding forces can be achieved than in the case of cleaning of an adhesive surface using isopropanol.

(21) FIG. 4 shows a specific adaptation of cleaning parameters for adhesive surfaces of vehicle components composed of a fiber composite material, such as carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, with respect to a holding force.

(22) In FIG. 4, a respectively achieved holding force is plotted in N/cm. For the determination of a holding force, in the case of varying cleaning parameters, a material strip is adhesively bonded in each case to a cleaned adhesive surface, and is pulled off in a peel test, with the holding force being measured.

(23) Firstly, a spacing 300 of a blasting nozzle from an adhesive surface for cleaning is varied while the other cleaning parameters remain unchanged. Subsequently, a movement speed 302 of a blasting nozzle relative to an adhesive surface for cleaning is varied while the other cleaning parameters remain unchanged. Subsequently, a mass flow 304 of solid carbon dioxide is varied while the other cleaning parameters remain unchanged. Subsequently, a pressure 306 for accelerating solid carbon dioxide is varied while the other cleaning parameters remain unchanged. Subsequently, an angle 308 between a blasting nozzle and an adhesive surface for cleaning is varied while the other cleaning parameters remain unchanged. The individual parameters may also be varied in a different sequence.

(24) A reference line 310 shows a holding force achieved in the case of cleaning of an adhesive surface using isopropanol. It can be seen that, in the case of cleaning using solid carbon dioxide, it is generally the case that higher holding forces can be achieved than in the case of cleaning of an adhesive surface using isopropanol.

REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

(25) 100 Apparatus 102 Vehicle component 104 Cleaning room 106 Side wall 108 Side wall 110 Ceiling 112 Entrance 114 Exit 116 Transport device 118 Blasting device 120 Blasting nozzle 122 Accumulator 124 Carrier device 126 Industrial robot 128 Charge dissipation device 200 Spacing 202 Movement speed 204 Mass flow 206 Pressure 208 Angle 210 Reference line 300 Spacing 302 Movement speed 304 Mass flow 306 Pressure 308 Angle 310 Reference line

(26) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.