Abstract
A device according for coating workpieces of wood, wood materials, plastic, aluminium or the like, includes: a feed device for feeding a coating material; a pressing device for pressing the coating material onto a surface of a workpiece; a conveying device for inducing a relative movement between the pressing device and the respective workpiece; and an activation device for activating an adhesive on a coating material fed by the feed device and/or for activating an adhesive on a surface of a workpiece to be coated. The activation device includes at least one supply line for supplying an activation medium as well as a nozzle body having an activation medium inlet duct and an activation medium outlet region. The activation medium outlet region includes at least one outlet opening. The activation device also includes precisely one closure to close the outlet opening of the activation medium outlet region.
Claims
1-23. (canceled)
24. A device for coating workpieces, said device comprising: a feed device for feeding a coating material; a pressing device for pressing the coating material onto a surface of a workpiece; a conveying device for inducing a relative movement between the pressing device and the respective workpiece; and an activation device for activating an adhesive on the coating material fed by the feed device and/or for activating an adhesive on the surface of the workpiece to be coated, wherein the activation device comprises at least one supply line for supplying an activation medium as well as a nozzle body having an activation medium inlet duct and an activation medium outlet region, said activation medium outlet region comprising at least one outlet opening, and wherein the activation device comprises precisely one closure means that is configured to close the outlet opening and/or individual outlet openings at least in parts.
25. The device according to claim 24, wherein the closure means is a slider that is substantially plate shaped and has a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 200 mm inclusive, and which is configured to assume different positions relative to the nozzle body by translational movement parallel to a first direction and/or by rotational movement about an axis of rotation, with different numbers of outlet openings being fluidically connected to the activation medium inlet duct in different positions of the slider.
26. The device according to claim 25, wherein the slider is configured to descend into a first end portion of the nozzle body, said nozzle body comprising, in the region of the first end portion, at least one guide member for guiding the slider which, with respect to the first direction, takes up at least 10% of the length of the slider relative to the first direction.
27. The device according to claim 24, wherein the closure means is arranged upstream of the outlet openings relative to the intended flow direction of the activation medium.
28. The device according to claim 27, wherein the nozzle body comprises an interior space, which is configured to be brought into fluidic connection with both the activation medium inlet duct and the outlet openings, with a guide member for guiding the closure means being formed in at least one section of the interior space.
29. The device according to claim 24, wherein the nozzle body is formed of a plurality of interconnected components, the closure means being slidably arranged between at least two of the plurality of interconnected components.
30. The device according to claim 24, wherein the closure means is arranged downstream of the outlet openings relative to the intended flow direction of the activation medium.
31. The device according to claim 30, wherein a guide member for guiding the closure means is formed on at least one side portion of the activation medium outlet region.
32. The device according to claim 26, wherein the activation medium inlet duct is formed in the first end portion.
33. The device according to claim 26, wherein the activation medium inlet duct is formed in a second end portion that is different from the first end portion, the second end portion being located opposite the first end portion or the activation medium outlet region.
34. The device according to claim 25, wherein the first direction and a main axis of the activation medium inlet duct form an angle of between 5° and 90° inclusive.
35. The device according to claim 24, wherein a first outlet opening has a larger cross-section than a second outlet opening, the first outlet opening being further away from the activation medium inlet duct than the second outlet opening.
36. The device according to claim 24, wherein the closure means comprises closure means openings which are arranged in such a manner that at least one of the closure means openings can be brought into fluidic connection, at least in part, with at least one outlet opening by shifting the closure means, said closure means comprising at least one closure means opening that has a larger opening cross-section than another closure means opening.
37. The device according to claim 36, wherein the closure means comprises a first portion in which a first number of closure means openings per area is provided, and at least one second portion in which a second number of closure means openings per area is provided, the first number per area and the second number per area being different.
38. The device according to claim 24, wherein the nozzle body comprises at least one first portion in which a first number of outlet openings per area is provided, and at least one second portion in which a second number of outlet openings per area is provided, the first number per area and the second number per area being different.
39. The device according to claim 24, further comprising at least one measuring means, said measuring means being a temperature, pressure, and/or flow rate sensor for measuring the temperature, pressure and/or flow rate of the activation medium.
40. The device according to claim 24, wherein the nozzle body comprises at least one interior space, said interior space comprising at least one flow directing member configured to mix and/or direct the activation medium.
41. The device according to claim 40, wherein the interior space comprises at least one flow directing member configured to influence the flow of the activation medium in such a manner that the average outflow velocities of individual outlet openings fluidically connected to the activation medium inlet duct do not deviate from one another by more than 50%.
42. The device according to claim 24, further comprising an adhesive application unit configured to apply the adhesive to the coating material fed by the feed device and/or to the surface of the workpiece to be coated.
43. The device according to claim 24, wherein the device is configured to rotate at least one of the activation device and the pressing device about at least one axis.
44. The device according to claim 24, wherein the closure means comprises a plurality of sectors that differ from one another, said closure means comprising, in a first sector of the plurality of sectors, a first number of closure means openings and/or closure means openings with a first opening cross-section, and said closure means comprising, in a second sector of the plurality of sectors, a second number of closure means openings and/or closure means openings with a second opening cross-section, said device being configured in such a manner that closure means openings of the first sector or closure means openings of the second sector can be brought into fluidic connection with the at least one outlet opening of the nozzle body by rotation and/or translation of the closure means, the first number and the second number being different numbers and the first opening cross-section and the second opening cross-section being different cross-sections.
45. The device according to claim 24, wherein the nozzle body is moved relative to the closure means, said closure means being substantially stationary, and the direction of movement of the nozzle body has a component that is parallel to the direction of gravity.
46. A method for coating and/or activating workpieces with the device according to claim 24, said method comprising: actuating the precisely one closure means such that at least parts of the at least one outlet opening of the nozzle body which are not opposite the coating material and/or the surface of the workpiece to be coated are closed; inducing a relative movement between the pressing device and the respective workpiece by the conveying device; feeding the coating material by the feed device; and applying and/or activating the adhesive on the coating material fed in the feed device and/or the surface of the workpiece to be coated by the device for coating workpieces.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0047] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention;
[0048] FIG. 2a shows an exploded perspective view of the nozzle body of the first embodiment of a device according to the invention;
[0049] FIG. 2b shows an exploded perspective view of the nozzle body of a variant of the first embodiment of a device according to the invention;
[0050] FIG. 3a shows an exploded perspective view of the nozzle body and the closure means of the variant of the first embodiment of a device according to the invention in a first state;
[0051] FIG. 3b shows an exploded perspective view of the nozzle body and the closure means of the variant of the first embodiment of a device according to the invention in a second state;
[0052] FIG. 3c shows an exploded perspective view of the nozzle body and the closure means of the variant of the first embodiment of a device according to the invention in a third state;
[0053] FIG. 4a shows a perspective view of the nozzle body and the closure means of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention in a first state;
[0054] FIG. 4b shows a perspective view of the nozzle body and the closure means of the second embodiment of a device according to the invention in a second state;
[0055] FIG. 4c shows a perspective view of the nozzle body and the closure means of a variant of the second embodiment of a device according to the invention.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
[0056] The preferred embodiments of the present invention described below are merely examples and should not be seen as limiting. Identical reference numbers specified in different figures designate identical, corresponding or functionally similar elements.
[0057] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention. The device comprises a feed device for feeding a coating material 10, a pressing device 20 for pressing the coating material 10 onto a surface 31 of a workpiece 30, a conveying device for inducing a relative movement between the pressing device 20 and the respective workpiece 30, and an activation device 40 for activating an adhesive on a coating material 10 fed by the feed device. In the shown case, the pressing device 20 is configured as a pressure roller 20. The feed device and the conveying device are not shown in FIG. 1. The activation device 40 comprises at least one supply line for supplying an activation medium as well as a nozzle body 50 having an activation medium inlet duct 60 and an activation medium outlet region 80. The activation medium outlet region 80 comprises outlet openings 90. Depending on how it is viewed, it may be stated, for example, that the activation medium outlet region 80 shown in FIG. 1 has two groups of outlet openings or ten groups of outlet openings each lying vertically one underneath the other. The activation device 40 comprises precisely one closure means 110, which is configured to close individual outlet openings 90.
[0058] The closure means 110 of the first embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 is a slider 110 that is substantially plate shaped and has a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 200 mm inclusive, preferably between 0.1 mm and 1 mm inclusive, and particularly preferred between 0.2 mm and 0.5 mm inclusive. The slider 110 shown in FIG. 1 is configured to assume various positions relative to the nozzle body 50 by means of translational movement parallel to a first direction. The first direction may substantially correspond to the direction of gravity. The slider 110 of the first embodiment is configured to close different numbers of outlet openings 90 in different positions relative to the nozzle body 50. The slider 110 is furthermore configured to descend into a first end portion of the nozzle body 50. As shown in FIG. 1, the first end portion may be an upper end portion of the nozzle body 50. In the device of the first embodiment, the slider 110 is arranged upstream of the outlet openings 90 relative to the intended flow direction of the activation medium, i.e. inside the nozzle body 50. The nozzle body 50 of the first embodiment is furthermore formed from a plurality of interconnected components 50a, 50b. The nozzle body 50 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a nozzle block 50a and a perforated plate 50b which are connected to each other and between which the slider 110 is slidably arranged.
[0059] FIGS. 2a and 2b each show an exploded perspective view of the nozzle body of the first embodiment of a device according to the invention; the nozzle body shown in FIG. 2b can be referred to as a variant of the first embodiment, which differs from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 only in the number and arrangement of the outlet openings. It is clear from FIGS. 2a and 2b that the nozzle body 50 comprises precisely one interior space 120 that is fluidically connected to and/or can be brought into fluid connection with both the activation medium inlet duct 60 and the outlet openings 90. The nozzle body 50 comprises a guide member 52 for guiding the slider 110, which takes up about 10% of the length of the slider 110 relative to the first direction. In the present case, the guide member 52 is formed as a surface 52 that is recessed as compared to a separating surface 51 of the nozzle block such that an opening for the slider 110 to descend into the nozzle body 50 is simultaneously provided. Depending on how it is viewed, it may be stated that the perforated plate 50b in FIG. 2a comprises two groups 100a, 100b of outlet openings 90. Alternatively, it may also be stated that the perforated plate 50b comprises ten groups of outlet openings each lying one above other. The slider 110 of the first embodiment is configured to simultaneously close outlet openings 90 of different groups of outlet openings 90. The nozzle body 50 furthermore comprises precisely one interior space 120 that is or can be fluidically connected to both the activation medium inlet duct 60 and the outlet openings 90.
[0060] It is apparent from FIG. 2b that outlet openings 90 of a substantially uniform grid of outlet openings 90 may also be assigned to individual groups 100a, 100b of outlet openings 90. In the case shown in FIG. 2, for example, 13 groups of outlet openings each lying vertically one underneath the other are indicated. For the sake of clarity, only two groups 110a, 100b of these 13 groups have been provided with reference numbers.
[0061] FIGS. 3a to 3c show exploded perspective views of the nozzle body 50 and the closure means 110 of the first embodiment of a device according to the invention in three different states. In the first state shown in FIG. 3a, the closure means 110 is arranged such that none of the outlet openings 90 is closed. In the second state shown in FIG. 3b, the closure means 110 is displaced downward in a vertical direction (more specifically in the direction of gravity) as compared to the first state. The nozzle body 50, more specifically the perforated plate 50b, therefore comprises closed outlet openings 90′ as well as not closed outlet openings 90. The closed outlet openings 90′ have a dark colour in FIGS. 3b and 3c for better visibility. In the third state shown in FIG. 3c, the closure means 110 is displaced further downward in the vertical direction (more specifically in the direction of gravity) as compared to the second state. In the state shown in FIG. 3c, the nozzle body 50, more specifically the perforated plate 50b, only comprises closed outlet openings 90′. The state shown in FIG. 3a can be assumed, for example, if a relatively wide workpiece is to be coated with a coating material. The state shown in FIG. 3b can be assumed, for example, if a narrower workpiece is to be coated with coating material. The state shown in FIG. 3c may, for example, be a stop, maintenance or safety state.
[0062] Shown in FIG. 4a is a perspective view of the nozzle body 50 and the closure means 110 of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention in a first state. In the shown second embodiment, the closure means 110 comprises four sectors, each of which has a different number of closure means openings 111 formed therein. The closure means 110 is substantially circular in shape. By rotating the closure means 110 about an axis 112, closure means openings 111 of a first sector, closure means openings 111 of a second sector, closure means openings 111 of a third sector, or closure means openings 111 of a fourth sector can, for example, be brought into fluidic connection with the outlet opening 90 of the nozzle body. The first sector comprises a first number of closure means openings 111, for example nine closure means openings 111. The second sector comprises a second number of closure means openings 111, for example 21 closure means openings 111. The third sector comprises a third number of closure means openings 111, for example 27 closure means openings 111. The fourth sector comprises a fourth number of closure means openings 111, for example 42 closure means openings 111. The closure means 110 may furthermore comprise at least one sector in which no closure means openings 111 are formed. The outlet opening 90 of the nozzle body 50 may, for example, be a substantially slit-shaped outlet opening 90.
[0063] FIG. 4b shows the nozzle body 50 and the closure means 110 of the second embodiment, which is also shown in FIG. 4a. However, FIG. 4b shows the second embodiment in a second state. Specifically, in the state shown in FIG. 4b, closure means openings 111 of a first sector of the closure means 110 are fluidically connected to the outlet opening 90 of the nozzle body 50, whereas in the state shown in FIG. 4a, closure means openings 111 of a second sector are connected to the outlet opening 90 of the nozzle body. The first sector and the second sector of the closure means 110 each comprise different numbers of closure means openings 111. The first state shown in FIG. 4a can, for example, be converted into the second state (cf. FIG. 4b) by rotating the closure means 110 about an axis 112. A possible direction of rotation is indicated by the reference sign R in FIG. 4a. By means of the device shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, an activation medium can be allowed to flow out of different numbers of closure means openings 111 in each case. A coating method can therefore be performed with this device, in which the flow of an activation medium can be efficiently tailored to different workpiece and/or coating material geometries.
[0064] Shown in FIG. 4c is a perspective view of the nozzle body and the closure means of a variant of the second embodiment. The variant of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4c substantially corresponds to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. However, the different sectors of the closure means 110 of the variant of the second embodiment do not have different numbers of closure means openings 111, but rather closure means openings 111 with different opening cross-sections. For example, the closure means openings 111 of a first sector may be elongated holes having a first length, the closure means openings 111 of a second sector may be elongated holes having a second length, the closure means openings 111 of a third sector may be elongated holes having a third length, and the closure means openings 111 of a fourth sector may be elongated holes having a fourth length.
[0065] By means of the variant of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4c, an activation medium can be allowed to flow out of different opening cross-sections in each case. A coating method can therefore be performed with this device, in which the flow of an activation medium can be efficiently tailored to different workpiece and/or coating material geometries.
[0066] In a further variation of the second embodiment that is not shown, different sectors of a closure means 110 may have different numbers of closure means openings 111 with different opening cross-sections at least in parts.
