AUTOMATED PRIMER APPLICATION SYSTEM

Abstract

An automated primer application system for producing attachment parts for means of transportation is disclosed. The system comprises an output reel, a take-up reel, an application head with a nozzle opening, and a high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven. The high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven is guided from the output reel over the application head to the take-up reel. The high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven is arranged in front of the nozzle opening. A primer liquid can be fed through the nozzle opening such that the primer liquid can be applied to a surface of a part via the polymer-cellulose nonwoven.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. An automated primer application system for producing attachment parts for means of transportation, comprising: an output reel; a take-up reel; an application head with a nozzle opening; and a high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven, wherein the high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven is guided from the output reel over the application head to the take-up reel, wherein the high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven is arranged in front of the nozzle opening, and wherein a primer liquid can be fed through the nozzle opening such that the primer liquid can be applied to a surface of a part via the polymer-cellulose nonwoven.

16. The automated primer application system according to claim 15, wherein the polymer is a polyester.

17. The automated primer application system according to claim 16, wherein the polyester is polyethylene terephthalate.

18. The automated primer application system according to claim 15, wherein the high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven contains 40 wt.-% to 60 wt.-% polyester or 60 wt.-% to 40 wt.-% cellulose.

19. The automated primer application system according to claim 15, further comprising a carrier plate and a guide roller, wherein the output reel for a clean high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven is rotatably arranged on the carrier plate with help of a first bushing, wherein the take-up reel for the used high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven is rotatably arranged on the carrier plate with help of a second bushing, wherein associated with the rotatable output reel is the guide roller, from which the clean high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven is guided to the nozzle opening of the application head, where the clean high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven is soaked with the primer liquid, wherein the high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven is routed from the application head to the take-up reel, and wherein the high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven is wound upon the take-up reel.

20. The automated primer application system according to claim 15, wherein the high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven is guided over the take-up reel, the output reel, the application head with the nozzle opening, and one to three guide rollers.

21. The automated primer application system according to claim 15, wherein the application head further comprises a connector for the primer liquid, the connector being fed via a supply line from a primer reservoir, and wherein the application head further comprises a sealing pin for sealing the nozzle opening when the primer application system goes into a parking position.

22. The automated primer application system according to claim 19, wherein, arranged on the back of the carrier plate, is a mechanism that specifies a pace of a feed for the high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven, the mechanism comprising a timing lever, a lever mounting, a first spring, exerting a variable force on the timing lever, a ratchet wheel associated with the second take-up reel, a locking lever coupled via a second spring with a pawl, and a protective cover for the mechanism.

23. A method for controlled application of primer liquids on surfaces of attachment parts for means of transportation, comprising: providing an output reel, a take-up reel, an application head with a nozzle opening and a high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven; guiding the high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven from the output reel over the application head to the take-up reel; arranging the high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven in front of the nozzle opening; feeding a primer liquid through the nozzle opening; providing an attachment part; placing the application head with a soaked high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven on a surface of the attachment part; applying the primer liquid to the surface of the attachment part via the polymer-cellulose nonwoven; providing contours with the primer liquid; moving the surface of the attachment part or the application head along the contours; and releasing contact between the application head with a soaked high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven and the surface of the part.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising: after releasing contact between the application head and the surface of the part, placing the high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven one position farther, thereby arranging clean polymer-cellulose nonwoven in front of the nozzle opening, bringing the output reel, the take-up reel, the application head with a nozzle opening and the high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven into a parking position, and sealing the nozzle opening with a sealing pin.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the surface of the attachment part is glass, ceramic, or plastic.

26. A method, comprising: providing a high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven soaked with primer liquids; and using the high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven for applying primer liquids during production of an attachment part for means of transportation.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the attachment part for means of transportation is a vehicle window pane, a vehicle roof, a spoiler element, a roof panel, or a trim strip.

28. The method according to claim 26, wherein the polymer is a polyester.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the polyester comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

Description

[0039] The invention is now explained in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments, referring to the accompanying FIGS. 1 through 5. They depict in simplified, not-to-scale representation:

[0040] FIG. 1 a plan view of the front view of the automated primer application system PA;

[0041] FIG. 2 a plan view of a longitudinal section through the automated primer application system PA along its centerline;

[0042] FIG. 3 a plan view of the back view of the automated primer application systems PA without the protection 13;

[0043] FIG. 4 a plan view of the side view of the automated primer application system PA in the parking position;

[0044] FIG. 5 a plan view of the side view of another embodiment of the automated primer application system PA in the parking position.

[0045] FIG. 1 depicts a plan view of the front view of the application system PA according to the invention with a carrier plate 01. Arranged in the upper region of the carrier plate 01 is an output reel 02 for the clean suction web 19 having a width of 1.5 cm and a thickness of 1 mm. This output reel 02 is rotatably mounted with the help of the first bushings 10 and 11. Used according to the invention as the suction web 19 is a high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polyester-cellulose nonwoven, which, based on the nonwoven, consists of 48 wt.-% polyester and 52 wt.-% cellulose. The output reel 02 is arranged above the take-up reel 03 for the used suction web 19. The take-up reel 03 is rotatably arranged on the carrier plate with the help of the second bushing 12. Associated with the rotatable output reel 02 is one guide roller 21, from which the clean high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polyester-cellulose nonwoven 19 is guided to the nozzle opening 20 of the application head 8 made of PTFE. There, it is soaked with the primer 26. From the nozzle opening 20, it is fed to a take-up reel 03 rotatably arranged with the help of the second bushing 12 on the carrier plate 01 and wound up there.

[0046] The application head 8 is guided with a computer-controlled robot (not shown) over the surface, in particular over the glass, ceramic, or plastic surface of a main body of a pane (not shown), by which means the primer 26 is deposited in the desired configuration.

[0047] FIG. 2 depicts the plan view of a longitudinal section along the centerline of the carrier plate 01.

[0048] Visible is the application head 08 with the nozzle opening 20 and with the connector 9 for the primer 26. The entire arrangement except for the application head 8 is protected by a protective cover 13 made of plastic or metal.

[0049] FIG. 3 depicts a plan view of the back view of the application system PA according to the invention without the protective covering 13. Accordingly, arranged on the back of the carrier plate 01 is a mechanism, which specifies the pace of the feed for the high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polyester-cellulose nonwoven and which, preferably, includes the following components functionally associated with one another: [0050] a timing lever 04, [0051] a lever mounting 18, [0052] a first spring 14, which exerts a variable force on the timing lever 04, [0053] a ratchet wheel 06 associated with the take-up reel 03, [0054] locking lever 07, which is coupled via a second spring with [0055] a pawl 05, as well as [0056] a protective cover 13 for the mechanism.

[0057] The pace is specified with the help of a computer-controlled robot.

[0058] FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of the application system PA according to the invention in a side view and a parking position 24. The reservoir 27 for the primer 26 is arranged above the application system PA according to the invention. A feed for compressed air 29 which can be regulated with a compressed air control 28 is situated above the liquid level on the reservoir 27. The reservoir 27 is fluidically connected via the flexible supply line 25 to the connector 9 for primer liquid. The mechanism of FIG. 3 is covered by the protective covering 13. The application head 8 made of PTFE is lowered onto a sealing pin 23, which is mounted on a machine component 22. The sealing pin 23 pierces the suction web 19 and is mounted on a spring such that tolerances of the robot can be compensated thereby. The upper free end of the sealing pin 23 is shaped such that it precisely seals the nozzle opening 20.

[0059] At the time of restarting, the applicator according to the invention is again detached from the sealing pin, the nozzle opening is released again, and the applicator is moved into an application position.

[0060] According to the invention, it is advantageous, when restarting, first, for a forward movement of the high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven 19 or suction webs 19 to occur and for a test application to be carried out on a test strip. The test application can be measured densiometrically or by a scanner. It is thus ensured that the subsequent application of liquid, in particular primer, will proceed successfully.

[0061] FIG. 5 depicts another embodiment of the application system PA according to the invention in a side view and a parking position 24. The application system PA according to the invention corresponds in its features to the application system PA of FIG. 4 according to the invention, except that the primer reservoir 27 is mounted on the protective covering 13 with the help of mounts 30. Here again, the primer reservoir 27 is fluidically connected to the connector 09 via a flexible supply line 25 for the primer 26. In this embodiment, the primer 26 is conveyed from the reservoir 27 via the supply line 25 by gravity to the connector 09 for the primer liquid.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0062] PA primer application system

[0063] 01 carrier plate

[0064] 02 output reel for the clean web of high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven

[0065] 03 take-up reel for the used web of high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven

[0066] 04 timing lever

[0067] 05 pawl

[0068] 06 ratchet wheel

[0069] 07 locking lever

[0070] 08 application head

[0071] 09 connector for primer liquid

[0072] 10 first bushing

[0073] 11 first bushing

[0074] 12 second bushing

[0075] 13 protective covering

[0076] 14 first spring

[0077] 15 second spring

[0078] 16 bolt

[0079] 17 third bushing

[0080] 18 lever mounting

[0081] 19 high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven or suction web

[0082] 20 nozzle opening

[0083] 21 guide roller

[0084] 22 machine component on which the sealing pin 23 is mounted

[0085] 23 sealing pin

[0086] 24 applicator in the parking position

[0087] 25 supply line for the primer liquid 26

[0088] 26 primer liquid or primer

[0089] 27 primer reservoir

[0090] 28 compressed air control

[0091] 29 compressed air supply

[0092] 30 mount for the primer reservoir 27