Method and device for applying a strip-shaped material onto an object

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for applying a strip-shaped material (28) onto a contact area (60) of an object that is limited by at least one second section emanating from the first section, whereby the strip-shaped material is applied in a direction of application (70) onto the contact area by a pressure element (30) and the pressure element emanates from a pivotable pivoting element (20) that is connected to a holder. In order to make a completely automated application of the strip-shaped material onto the object possible, it is suggested that the actively pivotable pivoting element (20) is pivoted during the application of the strip-shaped material (28) onto the contact area (60) in and/or counter to the direction of application (70) and executes a lifting movement during the course of the pivoting movement.

Claims

1. A method for applying a material onto a contact area of an object, the method comprising: providing a holder with a pivoting element directly or indirectly pivotably connected to the holder; providing a drive to directly pivot the pivoting element; providing a pressure element associated with the pivoting element; feeding the material to the pressure element while applying the material, so that the pivoting element is pivoted via the drive in a direction of application of the material onto the contact area, or counter to the direction of application of the material onto the contact area, using the pressure element; pivoting the pivoting element during the applying step; moving the pivoting element relative to the holder; and moving the pivoting element away from the object during the pivoting step to allow the material to contact the object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pivoting element is moved relative to the holder during the lifting step.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the lifting step is carried out by the holder.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing a drive to transport the material to the pressure element; and regulating a transport length of the material using the drive, as a function of the relative movement between the holder and the contact area, and as a function of the pivoting movement during a contact between the pressure element and the contact area.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing a manipulating device; configuring the manipulating device to move at least one of the holder and the object; and regulating the drive by controlling the manipulating device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing a pivoting arm and configuring the pivoting arm to pivot about a first shaft emanating from the holder providing a pivotable connection between the pivoting arm and the pivoting element via a second shaft emanating from the pivoting arm; providing a longitudinal slot in the pivoting element; providing a projection on the holder, and engaging the projection in the slot; and pivoting the pivoting element about the second shaft.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: providing an actuating element; and moving the holder transversely to the contact area using the actuating element.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the actuating element is selected from the group consisting of a cylinder, a spring, and a spindle.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising applying the material in a corner area of the object.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising applying the material in two corner areas of the object.

11. A device for the application of a material onto a contact area of an object, the device comprising: a holder configured to move relative to the object; a shaft emanating from the holder; a pivoting element pivotably connected to the holder via the shaft; a first drive configured to transport the material; a pressure element emanating from the pivoting element and configured to receive the material and to apply the material onto the contact area by pressure loading; wherein the pivoting element is directly pivoted via a second drive about the shaft in a direction of application of the material onto the object, or counter to the direction of application of the material onto the object; and wherein the holder is configured to be moved transversely to the contact area during the application of the material onto the object.

12. The device according to claim 11, further comprising an actuating element configured to move the holder relative to the contact area.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the actuating element is selected form the group consisting of a cylinder, a spring, and a spindle.

14. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a manipulating device configured to adjust at least one of the holder and the object; wherein the first drive is regulated to transport the material, as a function of the relative movement between the object and the holder, and of the pivoting movement of the pivoting element during the application of the material to the object.

15. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a cutting element emanating from the pivoting element.

16. The device according to claim 11, further comprising a second drive emanating from the holder, wherein the second drive pivots the pivoting element.

17. The device according to claim 11, wherein the pivoting element carries out an overlapping of pivoting and linear movements.

18. A device for the application of a material onto a contact area of an object, the device comprising: a holder configured to move relative to the object; a first shaft emanating from the holder; a pivoting arm pivotably connected to the first shaft; a second shaft emanating from the pivoting arm, about which second shaft, a pivoting element pivots; a first drive configured to transport the material; a second drive configured to directly pivot the pivoting arm; a pressure element emanating from the pivoting element and configured to receive the material and to apply the material onto the contact area by pressure loading; a longitudinal slot in the pivoting element; a projection on the holder; wherein the projection is engaged in the slot.

19. The device according to claim 18, further comprising an actuating element configured to move the holder relative to the contact area.

20. The device according to claim 18, wherein the longitudinal slot runs along a connection line between the second shaft and the pressure element.

21. The device according to claim 18, further comprising a manipulating device configured to adjust at least one of the holder and the object; wherein the first drive is regulated to transport the material as a function of the relative movement between the object and the holder, and of the pivoting movement of the pivoting element during the application of the material to the object.

22. The device according to claim 18, wherein the first drive emanates from the pivoting element.

23. The device according to claim 18, further comprising a cutting element emanating from the pivoting element.

24. The device according to claim 18, wherein the second drive emanates from the holder, and wherein the second drive pivots the pivoting element associated with the pivoting arm.

Description

(1) More details, advantages and features of the invention result not only from the claims, the features to be gathered from them by themselves and/or in combination, but also from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments to be gathered from the drawings.

(2) In the figures:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a front view for applying strip-shaped material,

(4) FIG. 2 shows a lateral view of the representation according to FIG. 1 in a basic view with strip-shaped material,

(5) FIG. 3 shows a basic view of an insert of the device for the application of strip-shaped material,

(6) FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention,

(7) FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention and

(8) FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of a device in accordance with the invention.

(9) The figures, in which basically the same reference numbers are used for the same elements, show different embodiments for placing or applying strip-shaped material in a very basic manner that are components of a machine or of an automatic machine.

(10) Furthermore, an object is shown in FIG. 3 in a very basic manner onto which the strip-shaped material is to be placed on or adhered on. In the exemplary embodiment a section of a frame is concerned in whose inner side or in whose fold an adhesive band is to be placed, in particular also in the corner areas, that is, in the sections to be designated as critical areas that can be provided in automatic production systems only with a significant constructive expense and thus in part only insufficiently with an adhesive strip.

(11) The device 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 3 comprises a holder that can also be designated as base plate or carrier plate 12. A pivoting arm 16 emanates from a shaft 14 designated as the third shaft from the plate 12, that can be fastened, e.g., on a manipulator such as a robotic arm, about which shaft the pivoting arm 16 can pivot. This pivoting takes place via a motor 38, that is also designated as the second drive and that is fastened such as flanged on the base plate 12. A shaft 18 designated as the second shaft emanates from the pivoting arm 16, namely, from its area remote from the shaft 14, from which shaft 18 a pivoting element designated as, e.g., pivoting lever 20 emanates that comprises in the exemplary embodiment in the lateral view shown an L-shape with a longitudinal shank 22 and a transverse shank 24. A drive 26 emanates from the transverse shank 24 via which the strip-shaped material shown in FIG. 2 is transported by a transport roller or drive roller 27 which material is an adhesive band 28 with liner 29 in the exemplary embodiment. The liner 29 is grasped by the drive roller 27. To this end the liner 29 is guided between the drive roller 27 and a roller 32 in order to be transported by frictional connection. The strip-shaped material was previously guided around a pressure roller 30 running in the area of the free end of the longitudinal shank 22.

(12) As a result of the fact that the transport roller 27 emanates from the pivoting lever 20, the former is located relatively close to the pressure roller 30 with the consequence that an expansion of the liner 29 between the pressure roller 30 and transport roller 27 does not occur or occurs only in a manner that cannot be noticed with the consequence that the adhesive band 28 can be placed or applied in a reproducible manner onto the object or the contact area.

(13) The pivoting lever 20 is actively pivoted, namely, in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 via the pivoting arm 16 that for its part is actively pivoted by the motor 38.

(14) Furthermore, the pivoting lever 20, i.e., in the exemplary embodiment its longitudinal shank 22, comprises a longitudinal slot 34 through which a pin 36 emanating from the base plate 12 runs. Conditioned by this, the pivoting lever 20 also completes a linear movement upon a pivoting movement about the shaft 18 in addition to the pivoting movement.

(15) The pressure roller 30 performing the function of a pressure element is rotatably arranged in the front end area of the pivoting lever 22, which pressure roller is connected via a holder 40 to the longitudinal shank 22 of the pivoting arm 20. Furthermore, a guide roller 44 emanates from the pivoting arm 22 underneath the pressure roller 30 which guide roller comprises, parallel to the pressure roller 30, a set-back area 46 as guide for the adhesive band 28 with the liner 29 in front of the pressure roller 30 and as guide for the liner 29 after the pressure roller 30viewed in the direction of transport. It furthermore results from the drawings that the strip-shaped material in the form of the adhesive band 28 and of the liner 29 drawn off from a roll (not shown) is guided over deflection rollers 48, 50 and the liner 29 is guided over deflection rollers 52, 54 after the application of the adhesive band 28, whereby the liner 29 is applied to a liner winding device such as a liner winding roller after having left the deflection roller 54.

(16) Furthermore, a cutting device 56 with associated cutting table 58 emanates from the pivoting lever 20 between which the adhesive band 28 with the liner 29 is guided in order to separate the adhesive band 28 as a function of the adhesive band length to be applied without the liner 29 being cut through.

(17) The device 10 in accordance with the invention makes it possible, due to the cooperation of the pivoting arm 16 and of the pivoting lever 20, that the pressure roller 30 is pivoted about the shaft 18 with a simultaneously superposed linear movement, due to the engagement of the pin 36 into the longitudinal hole or the longitudinal slot 34, in such a manner to an area 60 of an object designated as the contact area, that corners or recesses or similar areas that are possibly difficult to access can be readily provided with the adhesive band 28 to the required extent. It is ensured here independently of the pivoting position of the pivoting arm 16 that the pressure roller 30 and therewith the adhesive band 28 is always in contact with the contact area 60, that is shown in FIG. 2 as a straight line. That is, the required pressure loading takes place in order that the adhesive band 28 clings to the contact area 60 and that the liner 29 can be drawn off from the adhesive band 28.

(18) In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3 the carrier plate 12 is moved by a robot (not shown) along the inside 62 of a frame 64 that has corners 66, 68 in which the adhesive band 28 is be applied in an adhesive manner. The direction of application of the adhesive band 28 with the liner 29 is characterized by the arrow 70.

(19) In order to provide the corner 66 with the adhesive band 28, the base plate 12 is adjusted at first in such a manner that the pressure roller 30 is moved along the shank 72, running vertically in FIG. 3, in the direction of the arrow 74. The pressure roller 30 is located relative to the shaft 18 behind the shaft 18 viewed in relation to the direction of application 70. In this position (position A) the pressure roller 30 can be readily guided along the inside of the shank 72 and through the corner 66. Then, the base plate 12 is moved in such a manner that the pressure roller 30 is moved along the inside 62 of the longitudinal shank 76 of the frame 64, during which the adhesive band 28 is applied.

(20) As the doted-line view (position B) illustrates, during the movement of the base plate 12 the pivoting lever 20 is moved in such a manner by pivoting the pivoting arm 16 that this lever is moved in the direction of application 70, that is, counterclockwise in the exemplary embodiment. Regardless of the circular movement of the pressure roller 30 conditioned by this, the baseplate 12 can be moved parallel to the longitudinal shank 76 since the pivoting movement of the pivoting lever 20 is superposed by the linear movement. This is made possible by the engagement of the pin 36 into the longitudinal slot 34. Thus, the pivoting lever 20 can execute a lifting movement relative to the longitudinal shank 22. In the dotted-line view in FIG. 3 (position B) the pressure roller 30 is in a position in which the longitudinal slot 34 runs approximately vertically to the level surface 62 of the longitudinal shank 76 of the frame 64. For the rest, the longitudinal slot 34 runs approximately in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal shank 22, as results from the drawings. The longitudinal slot 34 can also be characterized in its course in that it runs along the connection line between the pivoting shaft 18 of the pivoting lever 20 and between pressure roller 30.

(21) In order that adhesive band 28 can also be applied in the corner 68 of the frame 64, which corner is on the left in the drawings, without a changeover of the baseplate 12, the pivoting lever 20 is rotated further counterclockwise (position C) upon a further movement of the baseplate 12 in the direction of the corner 68 by pivoting the pivoting arm 16 in order to be able to apply the adhesive band 28 in the corner 68 in an unhindered manner and then onto the following longitudinal shank 78. Consequently, the pressure roller 30 is located in front of the shaft 18, viewed in the direction of application 70.

(22) As results from the representation of the drawings, the pressure roller 30, the rollers 50, 44, the drive roller 27 and the other rollers 32, 52, 54 project laterally over the base plate 12 so that even a circumferential frame can be easily provided with an adhesive band 28, since the base plate does not represent a hindrance.

(23) In order to be able to apply the adhesive band 28 without tension or with a desired, given tension onto the objectin the exemplary embodiment onto the frame 64the transport of the adhesive band 28 with the liner with the liner 29 via the control of the robot moving the base plate 12 is regulated in such a manner that the transport stretch per unit of time on the stretch of the base plate traversed in the unit of time to the object and of the pivoting movement of the pivoting lever 20 that took place during this unit of time is taken into consideration. Consequently, if the pivoting lever 20 is pivoted in the direction of application 70 of the adhesive band, that is, from the position B into the position C, the transport roller 27 is driven in such a manner by the motor or the drive 26 that the length of the adhesive band 28 with the liner 29, which length is transported per unit of time, is longer than the stretch that the baseplate 12 traverses relative to the application area of the object in the same unit of time. In addition, the stretch resulting by the relative movement between the baseplate 12 and the pressure roller 30 on account of the pivoting movement in the given unit of time is considered. Inversely, the length of the strip-shaped material to be applied is less than the traversed stretch of the baseplate 12 if a pivoting occurs during the movement of the pivoting lever 20 counter to the direction of application 70, that is, clockwise in the exemplary embodiment.

(24) The application area does not have to run in straight line but rather can also include, e.g., an arc running in a plane.

(25) However, the teaching in accordance with the invention is also not departed from if the pivoting lever exclusively executes a pivoting movement. In this case the connection to a pivoting arm is superfluous but rather the pivoting lever can be pivoted directly about a shaft emanating from a holder. This is to be explained using the FIGS. 4 to 6.

(26) In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, a holder 112 from which a pivoting lever 120 corresponding to the pivoting lever 20 emanates and which can pivot about a shaft 110 emanating from the holder 117 and is designated as the first shaft, can be moved by a cylinder such as a pressure cylinder 122 in order to realize the stroke as it is realized according to the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 by the engagement of the pin 36 emanating from the baseplate 12 into the longitudinal slot 34 of the pivoting lever 20. The pressure cylinder 122, that can emanate from a carrier 124, therefore compensates the change of distance of the pressure roller 130 relative to an object (not shown) which change otherwise results during the pivoting of the pivoting lever 120.

(27) In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5 the holder 112 is pretensioned opposite a carrier 124 by a spring element 126 in such a manner that the holder 112 can deviate when the pivoting lever 120 is pivoted.

(28) The embodiment of FIG. 6 represents another variant for achieving the required stroke in order to make possible the pivoting movement of the pivoting lever 120 without the required, uniform pressure loading of the pressure roller 130 onto a strip-shaped material for the application onto an object being changed or that a pivoting on account of the object would be impossible. Thus, a spindle drive 128 emanates from a carrier 124 that is connected to the holder 112 and therefore the desired and required stroke becomes possible.

(29) In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 4 to 6 the pivoting lever is directly driven in order to be pivoted. This pivoting takes place via a drive that is connected, e.g., to the control of the manipulating device such as a robot by means of which the holder is guided along the object onto which the material is to be applied. The pivoting movement can be preprogrammed if the movement of the robot and the geometry in the area of the object is known onto which the material is to be applied.

(30) In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 an indirect, active activation of the pivoting element 12 from which the pressure roller 30 emanates takes place, namely, via the pivoting arm 16 which for its part is adjusted by the motor 38 such as an electromotor.

(31) Based on the teaching of the invention, recesses or corners of objects can be readily provided in a uniform fashion with a strip-shaped material. Here, not only an adhesive band is concerned that is transported by a carrier band such as a liner. Even a seal comprising a carrier band which seal is introduced, e.g., into a frame or into a groove can be placed based on the teaching in accordance with the invention. However, all these examples are to be understood as non-limiting. The same applies to the concept of carrier band.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(32) 10 device 12 baseplate 14 shaft 16 pivoting arm 18 shaft 20 pivoting lever 22 longitudinal shank 24 transverse shank 26 drive 28 adhesive band 29 liner 30 pressure roller 32 roller 34 longitudinal slot 36 pin 38 drive 40 holder 44 guide roller 46 area 48 deflection roller 50 deflection roller 52 deflection roller 54 deflection roller 56 cutting device 58 cutting table 60 contact area 62 inner side 64 frame 66 corner 68 corner 70 arrow 72 shank 74 arrow 76 longitudinal shank 110 shaft 112 holder 120 pivoting lever 122 cylinder 124 carrier 128 spindle drive 130 pressure roller