Industrial machine for applying temporary or permanent protective films to planar surfaces acting simultaneously on two faces, having a system for cutting the film and positioning edge-to-edge or with a margin, automatically adapting to suit changes in the parts that are to be treated, using an electrostatic method

Abstract

The invention relates to an industrial machine for vertically applying temporary or permanent protective films on plane surfaces and having an automatic system for cutting the film, positioning it edge-to-edge or with a margin (in particular in the context of film-coating sheets of glass for the purposes of glazing any window frames without damaging the temporary protection; the glass being film-coated while leaving a setback) by acting simultaneously on both faces and adapting automatically to changes in the format of the parts for treatment, using an electrostatic method for holding the film in position on the applicator roller.

Claims

1. An industrial machine for applying temporary or permanent protective films on plane surfaces of a product to be protected, the plane surfaces being perpendicular to a horizontal plane, the industrial machine having an automatic system for cutting the film, positioning the film edge-to-edge or with a margin on the product and acting simultaneously on both front and rear faces of the product and adapting automatically to changes in a format of the product for treatment, using an electrostatic charge method for positioning and holding the film in position on rollers, the industrial machine further comprising: an assembly provided with a system for conveying and positioning the product; two film-coating modules placed on linear guides for moving the two film-coating modules vertically and horizontally, one of the film-coating modules being a front face film-coating module for coating the front face of the product, the other of the two film-coating modules being a rear face film-coating module for coating the rear face of the product; wherein each of the two film-coating modules comprises: a) an applicator roller that coats the film onto the product; b) an electrostatic charge bar (m) connected to a charge generator and positioned at a distance from the applicator roller (l), enabling the film to adhere to the applicator roller (l) while conserving a position thereof accurately; and c) a cutter module (n) for cutting the film in contact with the applicator roller (l) when the product is positioned with a rear edge thereof at a distance vertically from an axis of the applicator roller (l) on a substrate side of the product that is equivalent to a distance between a bottom axis of the applicator roller (l) and a cutting point plus a portion of the product that is to remain without film coating; and a controller having a program for controlling the two film-coating modules as a function of dimensions of the product.

2. The industrial machine according to claim 1, wherein the assembly further comprises: at least one motor-driven introducer roller (a) in a stationary position and at least one free introducer roller (b) that is horizontally movable, being actuated by first actuator (c), the at least one free introducer roller (b) being arranged symmetrically to the at least one motor-driven roller in order to convey and position the product at an inlet of the two film-coating modules; a detector cell (d) after the at least one introducer and free introducer rollers (a and b) for determining a position of the product; at least one motor-driven ejector roller in a stationary position (e) and at least one free and movable ejector roller (f) that moves horizontally and that is actuated by second actuator (g), being arranged symmetrically to the at least one motor-driven introducer roller and the at least one free introducer roller to convey and position the product at an outlet of the two film-coating modules; and two vertical beams with linear guides (h) and two vertical mover assemblies (i) for vertically moving and positioning the two film-coating modules.

3. The industrial machine according to claim 2, wherein the rear face film-coating module is movable on a linkage system (k) having two positions: a retracted position when the rear face film-coating module is not in contact with the product, and an extended position when the rear face film-coating module is positioned at a zero point, the applicator roller (l) being parallel and in line with the at least one motor-driven introducer roller (a) and the at least one motor-driven ejector roller (e) in order to film-coat the product.

4. The industrial machine according to claim 1, wherein each electrostatic charge bar (m) is positioned at a distance lying in a range of 5 mm to 25 mm from each respective applicator roller (l); and wherein each of the two film-coating modules further comprises; a deflector roller (o) serving to conserve an accurate angle between a roll of film and each applicator roller (l); a silicone backing roller (p) that increases contact area between the film and each applicator roller (l) in order to position the film under the electrostatic charge bar and hold the film against the applicator roller (l); and a spindle (q) carrying the roll of film and fitted with an unwinding brake system.

5. The industrial machine according to claim 4, wherein the front face film-coating module (r) is mounted on an actuator with a linear guide (j) to take up a position horizontally at a distance that is necessary as a function of a thickness of the product and to exert appropriate film-coating pressure.

6. A method of applying temporary or permanent protective films using the industrial machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the automatic control of the two film-coating modules and components of the industrial machine operate in the following order: an operator places a piece of glass as the product to be protected and launches a cycle; the glass moves towards the industrial machine, the industrial machine having calculated a number of widths needed for completely covering the glass; the two film-coating modules (r and s) take up positions at a certain height so that a bottom portion of a roll of film is at a height of a bottom edge of the glass plus a height of a margin; the glass moves sideways, introducer rollers (a and b) closing and positioning the glass between the two film-coating modules (r and s), with an edge of the glass at a vertical distance from axes of the applicator rollers (l) beside the product that is equivalent to the margin that is to be left free for future mounting in a framework, an edge of the film being positioned on the axes of the applicator rollers (l); the rear face film-coating module (s) advances to become positioned at a zero point in alignment with the introducer rollers (a and b) and ejector rollers (e and f), in contact with the glass; the front face film-coating module (r) closes, positioning the applicator roller (l) thereof in contact with the glass; the introducer rollers (a and b) move the glass sideways, the film being applied on both front and rear faces of the glass; a cell (d) detects a rear edge of the glass and the ejector rollers (e and f) take over from the introducer rollers (a and b) and position the glass with the rear edge thereof a distance from the axis of the applicator roller (l) that is equivalent to a distance between an axis of the applicator roller and a cutting point plus a portion of the glass as a margin that is to remain without film coating; the cutter module (n) cuts the film; the ejector rollers (e and f) position the glass with the rear edge the at a distance from the axis of the applicator roller (l) that is equivalent to the margin that is to remain without film coating; the two film-coating modules (r and s) open, the glass reverses, and the two film-coating modules take up positions at an appropriate height for a next cycle; and the next cycle begins.

Description

FIGURES

(1) 1/4 view of the structure without the film-coater

(2) 2/4 front view of the film-coating module

(3) 3/4 rear view of the film-coating module

(4) 4/4 assembled machine with introducer and ejector conveyors

GLOSSARY

(5) a) motor-driven introducer roller

(6) b) free introducer roller

(7) c) actuator for introducer roller

(8) d) detector cell

(9) e) stationary position motor-driven ejector roller

(10) f) free and movable ejector roller

(11) g) actuator for ejector roller

(12) h) vertical beams with linear guides

(13) i) vertical mover assemblies

(14) j) linear guide for front film-coating module

(15) k) linkage system for rear film-coating module

(16) l) applicator roller

(17) m) electrostatic charge bar

(18) n) cutter module

(19) o) deflector roller

(20) p) silicone backing roller

(21) q) film roll carrier

(22) r) front film-coating module

(23) s) rear film-coating module