Sealing strip holder

Abstract

A sealing strip holder for manipulating and transporting a sealing strip preform in an at least partially automated production process, the sealing strip preform preferably having limp properties. To make the manufacturing process faster and less expensive the sealing strip holder comprises at least one clamping jaw which interlockingly and/or frictionally engages at least one surface portion of the sealing strip preform.

Claims

1. A profile holder for handling and transporting a flexible profile seal blank in an at least partially automated manufacturing process, the profile holder comprising: two clamping members having opposed planar clamping surfaces, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the two clamping members includes processing recesses in which the flexible profile seal blank fits, and wherein the opposed planar clamping surfaces engage against opposing sides of at least one partial surface of the flexible profile seal blank in at least one of a form-fitting and a force-fitting manner, wherein the profile holder comprises a frame mounting the two clamping members, wherein the profile holder has opposed longitudinal side edges defining a longitudinal extension direction of the profile holder, wherein the profile holder has opposed end edges arranged substantially perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal extension direction, and wherein the flexible profile seal blank projects over the profile holder on one of the longitudinal side edges and one of the end edges thereof, and wherein at least one of the processing recesses is defined between an outer surface of one of the clamping members and an inner surface of the frame immediately proximate one of the longitudinal side edges of the profile holder.

2. A transport device for transporting a flexible profile seal blank in an at least a partially automated manufacturing process, the transport device comprising: the profile holder according to claim 1; and a receiving device for receiving the profile holder.

3. The transport device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the transport device further comprises a mechanism that moves and/or positions the profile holder and/or processes the flexible profile seal blank.

4. The transport device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a loading station that introduces the flexible profile seal blank into the profile holder, wherein the loading station grips the flexible profile seal blank in a holding manner to either push the flexible profile seal blank into the profile holder or to hold the flexible profile seal blank in a stable position while the profile holder is pushed onto the flexible profile seal blank.

5. The transport device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the loading station further comprising a counter holder having a planar clamping surface that engages one side of another partial surface of the flexible profile seal blank.

6. The transport device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a counter holder having a planar clamping surface that engages one side of another partial surface of the flexible profile seal blank.

7. The transport device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the transport device is adapted to carry the counter holder along with the flexible profile seal blank.

8. A transport device for transporting a flexible profile seal blank in an at least a partially automated manufacturing process, the transport device comprising: the profile holder according to claim 1, wherein the profile holder is integrated with the transport device.

9. The profile holder according to claim 1, wherein the opposed planar clamping surfaces of the two clamping members linearly engage the at least one partial surface of the flexible profile seal blank in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension direction of the flexible profile seal blank.

10. A method for manufacturing a profile seal from a flexible profile seal blank, the method comprising the steps of: providing the flexible profile seal blank; providing a profile holder for handling and transporting the flexible profile seal blank, the profile holder comprising two clamping members having opposed planar clamping surfaces, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the two clamping members includes processing recesses in which the flexible profile seal blank fits, and wherein the opposed planar clamping surfaces engage against opposing sides of at least one partial surface of the flexible profile seal blank in at least one of a form-fitting and a force-fitting manner, wherein the profile holder comprises a frame mounting the two clamping members, wherein the profile holder has opposed longitudinal side edges defining a longitudinal extension direction of the profile holder, wherein the profile holder has opposed end edges arranged substantially perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal extension direction, and wherein the flexible profile seal blank projects over the profile holder on one of the longitudinal side edges and one of the end edges thereof, and wherein at least one of the processing recesses is defined between an outer surface of one of the clamping members and an inner surface of the frame immediately proximate one of the longitudinal side edges of the profile holder; and receiving and holding the flexible profile seal blank in the profile holder by pushing the flexible profile seal blank into the profile holder or by pushing the profile holder onto the flexible profile seal blank.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a step of arranging the profile holder with the flexible profile seal blank received therein in a receiving device of a transport device.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein a counter holder is carried along with the flexible profile seal blank in the transport device.

13. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising at least one of: a step of transporting the profile holder to and/or in the manufacturing process; a step of positioning the profile holder; and a step of processing the flexible profile seal blank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a processing process for a profile seal blank;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the holding and device elements at the time of the transfer of the profile seal blank onto the profile holder; and

(3) FIGS. 3 to 5 show a schematic illustration of a contact pressure operation during the holding and handling of the profile seal blank on the profile holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows the abutment elements required for processing a flexible profile seal blank 2 in a schematic illustration, wherein the profile seal blank 2 is transferred from a magazine 1 for storing profile seal blanks 2 by means of a loading station 3 onto a transport device 4 for further processing.

(5) The profile seal blanks 2 which are mounted next to one another in the magazine 1 are introduced at a dispensing position of the magazine 1 by the loading station 3 into a profile holder 5 arranged on the transport device 4.

(6) The removal of a profile seal blank 2 from the magazine 1 and subsequent transfer onto the profile holder 5 arranged in the transport device 4 can be carried out, for example, by corresponding gripping elements arranged in the loading station 3. For this purpose, a correspondingly designed gripper of the loading station 3 acts at a free end of the profile seal blank 2, wherein the profile seal blank 2 is introduced by a linear movement of the loading station 3 in the axial direction of the profile seal blank 2 into a profile holder 5 arranged in the transport device 4. Instead of a linear movement, the profile seal blank can basically be moved on any conceivable curved shape, for example by a robot.

(7) For improved transfer of the profile seal blank 2 onto the transport device 4, the latter has a mechanism 6, 7, 8 for the movement and positioning, the mechanism bringing the profile holder 5 into position by means of a rotational or pivoting, linear, lifting and/or tilting movement in such a manner that a profile seal blank 2 can be transferred out of the magazine 1 into the profile holder 5 without disruption.

(8) After a profile seal blank 2 is introduced into the profile holder 5, the latter is transported by the transport device 4 by means of a linear movement 15 to a first or a further processing station.

(9) In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, here, the profile holder 5 has a clamping jaw 10 and a clamping bar 11, the cross-sectional profile of which is adapted to the cross section of the profile seal blank 2. As a result, a form-fitting and optionally also force-fitting holding of the profile seal blanks 2 in the profile holder 5 can be carried out. In the present case, the clamping jaw or the clamping bar 11 fills the space between two sealing lips in a form-fitting manner.

(10) In addition, a counter holder 9 arranged in the loading station 3 can be transferred onto the profile holder 5 and carried along by the latter during the entire processing process of the profile seal blank 2. The clamping jaw 10 and clamping bar 11 arranged in the profile holder 5 have corresponding processing recesses in the regions to be processed of the profile seal blank 2, the processing recesses being matched to the respective processing positions of the profile seal blank 2. On account of the processing recesses, a renewed arrangement of a profile seal blank 2 in the profile holder 5 for processing steps with changing positions is not required.

(11) Furthermore, the length size of the profile holder 5 is adapted to the length size of the profile seal blank 2 in such a manner that the end regions of the profile seal blank 2 project over the profile holder 5 for processing in the end regions of the profile seal blank 2.

(12) On account of the mechanism 6, 7, 8 for moving, positioning and processing the profile seal blank 2, the mechanism being arranged in the transport device 4, the position, for example, of the profile seal blank 2 can be moved by a corresponding movement of the profile holder 5 into the respective processing position in a processing station in order to be able to carry out processing of the profile seal blank 2.

(13) In the illustration shown in FIG. 1, after the processing is ended, the processed profile seal blank 2 is transferred onto a magazine 12 for finished parts, wherein the transfer of the of the profile seal blank 2 to the magazine 12 can be carried out manually or in an automated manner by means of a further loading station (not illustrated here).

(14) FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic illustration of a profile holder 5 in cross section, wherein the profile holder 5 comprises a basic frame 13 which is designed for receiving and fastening a clamping bar or a clamping jaw 10.

(15) A clamping jaw 10 and a clamping bar 11 which fix the profile seal blank 2 in the profile holder 5 are fastened to the basic frame 13. In principle, clamping jaws and/or clamping bars can also be integrated in the basic frame.

(16) In the embodiment of the profile holder 5 that is illustrated in FIG. 2, the clamping jaw 10 and the clamping bar 11 are moved linearly within the basic frame 13 of the profile holder 5 by a corresponding drive means 14 A and therefore carry out a clamping operation of the profile seal blank 2 in the profile holder 5. In addition, the basic frame 13 which is illustrated here has, on its inwardly directed inner surface opposite the profile seal blank 2, a surface profile which is adapted to the profile of the profile seal blank 2 and can be used as what is referred to as a stationary clamping jaw. A plurality of drive means can be provided.

(17) For an improved clamping behavior of the profile seal blank 2 in the profile holder 5, the profile seal blank has a counter holder 9 which improves a form-fitting and force-fitting clamping. The counter holder 9 can carry out a manual clamping movement or, by means of an arranged drive means 14B an automated clamping movement.

(18) The counter holder 9 can be designed as a device element of the profile holder 5 or as a device element of the loading station 3. As part of the profile holder, the counter holder 9 can be is transferred from the loading station 3 onto the profile holder 5 for improved transfer of the profile seal blank 2 from the magazine 1 to the profile holder 5 and can be carried along by the profile seal blank during the entire processing cycle of the latter.

(19) In principle, it is conceivable for the clamping jaw to be of form-fitting design and to act on the profile seal blank in such a manner that, because of this geometrical constraint and/or the frictional forces which would act during slipping out of the blank, the profile seal blank cannot slip out. It is also conceivable for the blank to be held, optionally additionally, by an active action of force.

(20) FIGS. 3 to 5 show that an extension of the function of gripping at the profile holder can additionally be undertaken by robot technology since the movements for the contact pressure or rolling up of the profile seal blank against or onto the holder can be undertaken by a robot. The actual clamping function is then integrated in the profile holder. An advantage of this embodiment is that the profile or the profile seal blank, before the latter is introduced into the respective station for processing, can be brought and thus held in the respectively optimum position for this processing step.

(21) With regard to the sequence, after the profile seal blank 2 is clamped via the clamping jaw 10, as is illustrated, for example, in FIG. 2, the profile is, if required, processed in this position. Subsequently, a free limb of the profile seal blank 2 is pressed against with the aid of the contact pressure roller 17. For this purpose, the entire device which obtains/holds the profile seal blank 2 is moved against the contact pressure roller 17. The situation in which the limb is pressed against the profile holder 5 or against the basic frame 13 is illustrated in FIG. 4. The entire profile holder 5 can then be moved together with the profile seal blank 2 and the contact pressure roller 17.

(22) The still remaining partial limb of the profile seal blank is pressed against the basic frame 13 or against the profile holder 5 via a slide of the additional drive means 14A. These steps may be necessary in order to be able to ensure the further processing. The entire profile holder 5 including the contact pressure roller 17 and drive means 14A can in turn be moved.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(23) 1 Magazine (blank) 2 Profile seal blank 3 Loading station 4 Transport device 5 Profile holder 6 Mechanism for moving, positioning, processing 7 Mechanism for moving, positioning, processing 8 Mechanism for moving, positioning, processing 9 Counter holder 10 Clamping jaw 11 Clamping bar 12 Magazine (finished part) 13 Basic frame 14A Drive means of clamping jaw 14B Drive means of counter holder 15 Linear movement 16 Pivoting movement 17 Contact pressure roller