FEED SYSTEM FOR BAND-TYPE MATERIAL, AND COATING DEVICE AND METHOD

Abstract

The invention relates to a feed system for a band-type or strip-type material, in particular a coating material for coating a narrow side, or an adhesive strip, and also relates to a coating device. A method is also provided.

Claims

1. A feed system for a band-type or strip-type material , the feed system comprising: a storage means for receiving a plurality of material units; and a transport means for moving a band-type or strip-type material from the storage means, wherein the transport means comprises a joining means for connecting end portions of band-type or strip-type materials.

2. A feed system according to claim 1, wherein thejoining means is designed to couple end portions of band-type or strip-type materials together .

3. A feed system according to claim 1, wherein the joining means comprises as an energy source .

4. A feed system according to claim 1 claims, further comprising a detection means for detecting end portions of band-type or strip-type materials.

5. A feed system according to claim 1, wherein the transport means comprises a first drive mechanism and a second drive mechanism, and wherein the joining means is arranged between the first and second drive mechanism in the transport direction.

6. A feed system accordingto claim 5, wherein the drive mechanisms are individually drivable.

7. A feed system according to claim 5, wherein a roller pair is provided adjacently to the joining means.

8. A feed system according to claim 1, wherein the storage means comprises a receiving means for receiving a plurality of material units, wherein the storage means is designed to feed in the material units along the receiving means.

9. A feed system according to claim 8, wherein the storage means comprises a pressure device configured to feed in the material units along the receiving means.

10. A feed system according to claim 1, wherein the storage means is designed as a movable unit.

11. A feed system according to claim 1, further comprising a device for transferring an end portion of a band-type or strip-type material from a material unit received in the storage means to the transport means , wherein the device is designed to retain the end portion of the band-type or strip-type material and transfer it to the transport means.

12. A coating device for applying a coating material, in particular a strip-type or band-type coating material, to a workpiece, comprising a feed systemaccordingto claim 1, and a pressure device for pressing on the band-type or strip-type material .

13. A coating device according to claim 12, comprising control means configured to transmit control commands to drive mechanisms of the feed system for positioning, in the event of a change of band-type or strip-type materials, the end portions of the materials in the joining means.

14. A method, comprising the steps of: moving a first band-type or strip-type material of a first material unit in a transport direction, wherein, when an end of the first band-type or strip-type material is reached, a second band-type or strip-type material of a second material unit is moved in the transport direction, and wherein the end portions of the band-type or strip-type materials are positioned such that the end portions of the materials can be connected.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the end portions of the band-type or strip-type materials are adhesively bonded, tacked, welded, crimped, or fitted together connected.

16. (canceled)

17. A feed system accordingto claim 1, wherein the joiningmeans glues, staples, presses, or welds the end portions.

18. A feed system according to claim 4, wherein the detection means comprises a light barrier or a camera.

19. A feed system according to claim 8, wherein the receiving means comprises a shaft aligned in a vertical direction so that the material units are pressed against a holder by gravity.

20. A feed system according to claim 9, wherein the pressure device comprises a spring.

21. A feed system accordingto claim 11, wherein the transport means comprises a robot or a handling means.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Further features and advantages of a system, a device, a use and/or a method can be found in the following description of embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In said drawings:

[0039] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0041] The same reference numbers which are used in different figures denote identical, mutually corresponding, or functionally similar elements.

[0042] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment, in order to describe the invention on the basis of an illustrative example.

[0043] The feed system comprises a storage means 10 and a transport means 30. The storage means 10 can be designed as a stationary storage means, or the storage means is arranged so as to be movable. In the case of a movable storage means, this is for example designed as a movable unit having rollers or the like.

[0044] According to the embodiment, the transport means 30 is part of a coating device (not shown), by means of which the coating material is applied to a narrow side of a platelike workpiece W. According to an amendment, however, the transport means 30 can also be provided independently of the coating device, and, if required, be arranged adjacently thereto or attached to the coating device.

[0045] The storage means 10 comprises a receiving means 11 on which a plurality of coating material units R0-R4 (preferably edge tape rolls) can be received, in particular slid on. Although, within the context of the embodiment, material units are described which receive a coating material, according to a further embodiment the material units can also provide adhesive strips.

[0046] Furthermore a spring (pressure device) 12 is provided, which is designed to push the coating material units R0-R4, received on the receiving means 11, in the direction of a retainer 13. In this case, the coating material units R0-R4 each comprise a strip-type or band-type coating material in roll form, which is in particular provided with an activatable or reactivatable adhesive.

[0047] Thus, a coating material B1 is removed from the coating material unit R1 arranged adjacently to the retainer 13, in that the coating material unit R1 is unwound. In this case, the removal of the coating material B1 is achieved by the transport means 30. In particular, the transport means 30 unwinds the coating material B1.

[0048] Further coating material units R2-R4 are provided on the side of the coating material unit R1 facing the spring 12, which also each contain a coating material. On the opposite side to the coating material unit R1, a coating material unit R0 is provided, the coating material of which has already been removed. In a manner similar to the remaining coating material units R1-R4, the coating material unit R0 is still received on the receiving means 11, but on occasion the coating material unit R0 can be taken off the receiving means 11.

[0049] The transport means 30 comprises a first roller pair 31, a second roller pair 33, and a third roller pair 34, wherein the first roller pair 31 is provided closest to the storage means 10, in the transport direction of the coating material B1, and thus serves for introducing the coating material. In this case, a transfer (or insertion) of the coating material B1 from the coating material unit R1 can take place manually or by means of a device, such as a robot.

[0050] A drive roller 32 (first drive mechanism) is provided between the first roller pair 31 and the second roller pair 33, by means of which drive roller the coating material is conveyed in the transport direction. A counter pressure roller (not shown) can optionally be provided opposite the drive roller 32, such that the coating material arrives through a conveying gap formed between the drive roller 32 and the counter pressure roller.

[0051] A joining means 20 is provided between the second roller pair 33 and the third roller pair 34, which joining means is designed to interconnect end portions of successive coating materials. In this case, an “end portion” means a portion at a start or an end of a coating material. The mode of operation and details of the joining means 20 are described in detail later.

[0052] A second drive roller 35 (second drive mechanism) is provided, arranged following the third roller pair 34 in the transport direction, which second drive roller is designed to feed the coating material to a pressure roller 40. A counter pressure roller (not shown) can optionally be provided opposite the second drive roller 35, such that the coating material arrives through a conveying gap formed between the second drive roller 35 and the counter pressure roller.

[0053] The pressure roller 40 is used for pressing the coating material onto a narrow side of the plate-shaped workpiece. In the embodiment, the pressure roller 40 is part of the coating device, but according to further embodiments it can also be part of the transport means 30.

[0054] The first drive roller 32 and the second drive roller 35 are each connected to control means. The drive rollers 32, 35 can be driven synchronously, or individually in each case, for example at different speeds, by the control means.

[0055] The synchronous drive of the drive rollers 32, 35 is suitable in particular for feeding in a coating material which is drawn off a coating material unit (for example coating material unit R1). If a roller change takes place, the drive rollers 32, 35 can thus be driven individually, wherein the second drive roller 35 can optionally be stopped. The joining means 20 comprises means by which end portions of coating materials can be interconnected, in order to thereby create an endless coating material. In this case, the joining means 20 can in particular be designed to adhesively bond, to tack, to crimp, to weld end portions of the coating materials, or to join respective geometries of the endportions of the coating materials to one another by means of a positive fit. The stated measures can also be implemented in combination with one another.

[0056] Connection of a coating material B1 to a following coating material B2 is shown schematically in FIG. 2. In particular, the end portions of the coating materials B1, B2 are arranged in an overlapping manner and subsequently interconnected. However, it is also possible to arrange the coating materials B1, B2, to be connected, edge-to-edge, and to interconnect them in this arrangement. In this case, the arrangement of the end portions of the coating materials B1, B2 is achieved by means of corresponding control commands of the control means to the drive rollers 32, 35.

[0057] A method is described in the following, by means of which coating materials can be interconnected.

[0058] In the storage means 10, a plurality of coating material units R0-R4 are received on the receiving means 11, wherein the coating material B1 is withdrawn from a first coating material unit R1.

[0059] If an end, in particular a roller end, of the coating material unit R1 is reached, then the end of the coating material B1 is conveyed further by the transport means 30. Since the spring 12 pushes the coating material units in the direction of the retainer 13, when an end of the coating material unit R1 is reached said first coating material unit R1 disengages from the retainer 13 and is guided, by means of the spring 12, along the receiving means 11 and into a similar position as the coating material unit R0 is guided. The coating material unit R0 is pushed further by the coating material unit R1. In the course of this, a second coating material unit R2 comes into contact with the retainer 13.

[0060] The coating material B2 provided on the second coating material unit R2 is transferred manually or by means of a device, such as a robot (not shown), to the first roller pair 31, and comes into engagement with the first drive roller 32.

[0061] The first drive roller 32 thus draws the second coating material B2 of the second coating material unit R2 and conveys the second coating material B2 into the region of the joining means 20. Said feeding of the coating material takes place such that the first coating material B1 (or an end portion thereof) is still arranged in the joining means 20, while the second coating material B2 is introduced into the joining means 20.

[0062] The joining means 20 can now carry out connection/joining of the first and second coating material B1, B2, in order to thereby create an endless coating material.

[0063] The joining means 20 is furthermore designed to detect the position of the connection region between the first and second coating material B1, B2, and to pass this information on to the coating device. Thereupon, the coating device adjusts the operation such that the connection region is not used as a coating material for a workpiece, but rather is detached by means of a tripping apparatus.

[0064] It is clear to a person skilled in the art that individual features, described in different embodiments in each case, can also be implemented in a single embodiment, provided that they are not structurally incompatible. Similarly, different features which are described within the context of a single embodiment can also be provided in a plurality of embodiments, individually or in any desired sub-combination.

[0065] Within the context of the embodiment, a pressure device 12 is described, which is designed to push the material units R0-R4, received on the receiving means 11, in the direction of a retainer 13. According to a further embodiment, the receiving means can also be oriented in the vertical direction, such that the material units are pressed against a retainer, on account of gravity.