GLUE APPLICATION DEVICE

Abstract

A glue application device is provided for the application of glue to a short side of a plate-shaped workpiece. Such a glue application device can be included in a coating machine.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A glue application device, comprising: an application roller which is rotatable about an axis, a first container for accommodating a glue, and a first dosing mechanism for dosing the glue to be supplied from the first container to the application roller, wherein the first dosing mechanism is configured to change a section of the application roller that is active for the application of glue and to stop the supply of glue by a movement thereof.

17. The glue application device according to claim 16, wherein the first dosing mechanism comprises a seal which, in sections, is in contact with the application roller.

18. The glue application device according to claim 17, wherein the application roller extends from a base element, with the active section of the application roller being formed between the base element and the seal.

19. The glue application device according to claim 16, wherein a channel for supplying the glue to the application roller is formed between a side of the first dosing mechanism and a side of a carrier, the side of the first dosing mechanism and one side of a carrier being inclined at an equal angle to the axis when viewed in cross section.

20. The glue application device according to claim 16, wherein the dosing mechanism is movable along a linear guide.

21. The glue application device according to claim 20, wherein the linear guide is provided on the container.

22. The glue application device according to claim 16, wherein the container is movable together with the dosing mechanism relative to the application roller.

23. The glue application device according to claim 22, wherein the container is movable perpendicular to the axis of the application roller and/or by a pivoting movement in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis.

24. The glue application device according to claim 16, further comprising a second container for accommodating a glue and a second dosing mechanism for dosing the glue to be supplied from the second container to the application roller.

25. The glue application device according to claim 24, wherein the second container is movable together with the dosing mechanism relative to the application roller.

26. The glue application device according to claim 25, wherein the second container is movable perpendicular to the axis of the application roller and/or by a pivoting movement in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis.

27. The glue application device according to claim 24, wherein the first dosing mechanism is configured to limit, by a movement, a section of the application roller that is active for the application of glue when the second dosing mechanism has stopped the supply of glue.

28. The glue application device according to claim 16, wherein the glue application device is configured to operate the application roller in a continuous or alternating manner.

29. A coating machine, comprising: the glue application device according to claim 16; and a coating device for applying a coating material in strip form to a short side of a workpiece.

30. The coating machine according to claim 29, further comprising a sensor for detecting a workpiece to be coated, wherein a control device of the coating machine is configured to rotate the application roller upon detection of the workpiece.

31. A method comprising: dosing a glue to be supplied from a first container to an application roller, wherein a section of the application roller that is active for the application of glue is changed by a movement during dosing.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein after applying the glue to a workpiece, a coating material is applied to the side of the workpiece provided with the glue, the coating material being in strip form.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein after applying the glue to the workpiece, a second glue from a second container is supplied to the application roller.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a first embodiment of the glue application device.

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates the application of glue to a workpiece moving relative to the glue application device.

[0025] FIG. 3a shows a schematic plan view of the glue application device according to FIG. 1 in an operating position.

[0026] FIG. 3b shows a schematic plan view of the glue application device according to FIG. 1 in a resting position.

[0027] FIG. 4 illustrates a first variant for adjusting the glue application device according to FIG. 1.

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a second variant for adjusting the glue application device illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment of a glue application device according to the invention.

[0030] FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the glue application device according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] Preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained below by means of the schematic drawings. Although features of the preferred embodiments are to be understood purely as examples, and not in a restrictive manner, features of the embodiments may also be used individually in order to specify the invention. Features of the embodiments may also be combined with one another to form further embodiments of the invention.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a glue application device according to a first embodiment of the invention. The glue application device comprises a container 1 that is either filled with liquid glue or into which a granulate is inserted, which is heated by a heating device (not shown) of the container 1 and thus converted into a liquid state.

[0033] The glue application device comprises an application roller 2 that is rotatably mounted about an axis A. The axis A is aligned in a vertical direction. The application roller 2 serves to transfer a glue that is applied thereto to a short side of a plate-shaped workpiece. A control device of the glue application device or of a coating machine comprising the glue application device can drive the application roller 2 continuously or, if required, rotationally.

[0034] The glue application device furthermore comprises a dosing mechanism 3 that is provided with a seal 6. The seal 6 provides a seal relative to the rotatable application roller 2. The glue application device is provided with a base element 5 that lies opposite the seal 6 and thus, together with the seal 6, defines the height of glue application. The distance between the seal 6 and the base element 5 varies owing to an adjusting movement of the dosing mechanism 3 and thus of the seal 6, so that the height of glue application can be changed by an adjusting movement of the height adjustment 3. The glue application device can thus be adapted to a workpiece of a different thickness.

[0035] The dosing mechanism 3 is in particular configured such that the glue is always applied to the workpiece only over the specifically requested height (height of the short side of the workpiece). In this regard, the dosing mechanism 3 is moved upwards or downwards in a vertical direction along a guide on the container 1. When the height is reduced, a glue is scraped off the application roller 2 by means of the seal 6 that is provided on the dosing mechanism 3. The application roller 2 is also cleaned in this manner.

[0036] The container 1 is connected to the base element 5 via a carrier element 4. The supply of glue to the application roller is ensured between the carrier element 4 and the dosing mechanism 3. The dosing mechanism 3 comprises, in particular, an inner side 3a that is inclined to the axis A of the application roller 2, as seen in a cross-sectional side view. An inner side 4a of the carrier element 4 lies opposite the inclined inner side 3a of the dosing mechanism 3. The inner side 4a of the carrier element 4 is also inclined to the axis A of the application roller 2, as seen in a cross-sectional side view.

[0037] The inclination angle of the inner side 3a of the dosing mechanism 3 and the inclination angle of the inner side 4a of the carrier element 4, which are each formed relative to the axis A, as seen in a cross-sectional side view, are the same or substantially the same. If the dosing mechanism 3 is moved in the direction of the carrier element 4 in such a manner that the inner side 3a of the dosing mechanism 3 abuts against the inner side 4a of the carrier element 4, the supply of glue to the application roller 2 is interrupted.

[0038] The glue application device is modular so that a unit consisting of the container 1, the carrier element 4, the dosing mechanism 3 and the seal 6 can be moved away from the application roller 2 (indicated by a double arrow in FIG. 1). In contrast, the application roller 2 is fixed to the base element 5 and is driven by a motor (not shown), rotating about the axis A.

[0039] With reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b, an adjusting movement of the glue application device from an operating position (FIG. 3a) to a resting position (FIG. 3b) will be explained below.

[0040] In an operating position (FIG. 3a), there is a gap S between the dosing mechanism 3 as well as the carrier element 4 on the one hand, and the application roller 2 on the other hand. The seal 6 extends in a horizontal direction beyond the application roller 2.

[0041] If the glue application device is put into a resting position, the dosing mechanism as well as the carrier element are moved in a horizontal direction so that the dosing mechanism 3 and the carrier element substantially abut against the application roller 2, and there is thus no gap through which glue may escape.

[0042] In the resting position shown in FIG. 3b, there is no gap between the dosing mechanism 3 as well as the carrier element 4 on the one hand, and the application roller 2 on the other hand. The dosing mechanism 3 and the carrier element 4 were positioned in the direction of the application roller 2 for this purpose. The dosing mechanism 3 and the carrier element 4 can be positioned by means of a movement device, in particular a motor or a pneumatic cylinder, or by manual operation.

[0043] A linear displacement of the dosing mechanism 3 and the carrier element 4 in the horizontal direction is schematically illustrated in FIG. 4. However, according to a further variant (FIG. 5), the dosing mechanism 3 and the carrier element 4 are pivotable about a pivot point P in order to form a gap on one side, relative to the application roller 2, through which the glue may escape.

[0044] According to a further variant that is not shown, the linear displacement (FIG. 4) and the pivotability (FIG. 5) of the dosing mechanism 3 and the carrier element 4 may be combined in order to transfer the glue application device from an operating position to a resting position (and vice versa).

[0045] In FIG. 6, a second embodiment of the invention is shown in a schematic plan view. The second embodiment is characterized in that the glue application device described according to the first embodiment is provided with a further glue container, a further dosing mechanism, a further carrier element, a further base element as well as a further seal. Identical or similar elements of the glue application device are accordingly provided with identical or similar reference numbers. In this regard, reference is additionally made to the explanations relating to the first embodiment.

[0046] The glue application device of the second embodiment in particular comprises a first container 1-1 and a second container 1-2 that are either filled with liquid glue or into which a granulate is introduced, which is heated by a heating device (not shown) of the respective container and thus converted into a liquid state. The containers 1-1, 1-2 may have the same or a different configuration.

[0047] A first dosing mechanism 3-1 is displaceably arranged on the first container 1-1. In accordance therewith, a second dosing mechanism 3-2 is displaceably provided on the second container 1-2. Reference is made to the explanations relating to the first embodiment as regards further elements, the adjustment of the height of glue application between a respective seal and a base element as well as the transition from a resting to an operating position.

[0048] With respect to the axis A of the application roller 2, the containers 1-1, 1-2 are arranged such that they are rotated about an angle of substantially 90°, as seen in the plan view, although another arrangement of the containers 1-1, 1-2 relative to one another is also conceivable.

[0049] The glue application device according to the second embodiment has the advantage that several, possibly different, glues may be applied to the application roller 2 and be accordingly transferred onto workpieces by means of the application roller 2. It is thus possible to switch between two different glues during a manufacturing process. In this regard, the respective system that is not actively working is closed by adjusting the dosing mechanism to a lower position so that glue cannot escape.

[0050] In the example of FIG. 6, the system comprising the second container 1-2 is in an operating position so that a gap S is formed between the second dosing mechanism 3-2 and the application roller 2. The system comprising the container 1-1 is in a resting position in which the first dosing mechanism 3-1 is positioned such that the inner side of the first dosing mechanism 3-1 abuts against an inner side of the carrier element, and the supply of glue to the application roller 2 is thus interrupted.

[0051] The arrows in FIG. 6 indicate that the containers 1-1, 1-2 can be moved linearly in order to correspondingly switch between the respective resting position and the operating position.

[0052] FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the invention which essentially differs from the second embodiment in that, instead of a linear adjusting movement, a pivoting movement of the respective container 1 is provided, whereby the respective system is brought from a resting position into an operating position (and vice versa). Reference is made to that stated with regard to FIG. 5 to explain the pivoting movement.

[0053] The glue application device of the third embodiment in particular comprises a first container 1-1′ and a second container 1-2′ that are either filled with liquid glue or into which a granulate is introduced, which is heated by a heating device (not shown) of the respective container and thus converted into a liquid state. The containers 1-1′, 1-2′ may have the same or a different configuration.

[0054] A first dosing mechanism 3-1′ is displaceably arranged on the first container 1-1′. In accordance therewith, a second dosing mechanism 3-2′, which can be displaced in height, is provided on the second container 1-2′. Reference is made to the explanations relating to the first and second embodiments as regards further elements and the adjustment of the height of glue application between a respective seal and a base element.

[0055] The first container 1-1′, the first dosing mechanism 3-1′ and the carrier element are pivotable about a first pivoting axis P-1 so as to be transferred from an operating position to a resting position (and vice versa). In accordance therewith, the second container 1-2′, the second dosing mechanism 3-2′ and the carrier element are pivotable about a second pivoting axis P-2 so as to be transferred from an operating position to a resting position (and vice versa).

[0056] In FIG. 7, the system comprising the second container 1-2′ is in an operating position so that a gap S is formed between the second dosing mechanism 3-2′ and the application roller 2. The system comprising the first container 1-1′ is in a resting position in which the first dosing mechanism 3-1′ is positioned in such a manner that the inner side of the first dosing mechanism 3-1′ abuts against an inner side of the carrier element, and the supply of glue to the application roller 2 is thus interrupted.