DEVICE FOR APPLYING A VISCOUS MATERIAL

Abstract

A device for applying a viscous material includes an application tube which has a material inlet opening on a first end and a material outlet opening on a second end, which defines an application channel, and which is flexible at least over one portion of its length, and a housing which accommodates the application tube, and which has a material supply connection for the viscous material to the application tube, wherein the application tube is connected to the housing in an initial region coming from the material inlet opening, and is arranged at a distance to the housing in an end region extending to the material outlet opening, and wherein a bearing section of the end region is mounted near to the material outlet opening in a motor-driven eccentric that can rotate about the longitudinal central axis. An adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting the distance of the bearing section to the longitudinal central axis.

Claims

1: Apparatus for application of a viscous material, having an application tube (16) that has a material inlet opening (18) at a first end (20) and a material outlet opening (24) at a second end (26), delimits an application channel (14), and is flexible at least over a part of its length, having a housing (12) that accommodates the application tube (16) and has a material feed connector (28) for the viscous material to the application tube (16), wherein the application tube (16) is connected with the housing (12) in an initial region (30) that proceeds from the material inlet opening (18) and is disposed at a distance from the housing (12) in an end region (32) that extends to the material outlet opening (24), and wherein a mounting section (48) of the end region (32) is mounted close to the material outlet opening (24), in a motor-driven eccentric (50) that can rotate about a longitudinal center axis (46), comprising an adjustment mechanism for adjustment of the distance of the mounting section (48) from the longitudinal center axis (46), wherein the eccentric (50) has an outer body (52) that can rotate about the longitudinal center axis (46) and an inner body (54) accommodated in the outer body (52), in which the mounting section (48) is mounted by means of a pivot bearing (56), and wherein the inner body (54) can be moved with reference to the outer body (52).

2: (canceled)

3: Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inner body (54) can be moved between two end positions with reference to the outer body (52), which positions define a minimally and a maximally eccentric position of the mounting section (48) with reference to the longitudinal center axis (46).

4: Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inner body (54) is accommodated in the outer body (52) outside of its center and can rotate with reference to the outer body (52).

5: Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the eccentric (50) has a rotation mechanism for rotation of the inner body (54) with reference to the outer body (52), which mechanism has a journal (66) that is guided in a guide motion link (68) and projects radially, wherein the guide motion link (68) essentially has the form of a spiral section.

6: Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the journal (66) is firmly connected with the inner body (54) and wherein the guide motion link (68) is disposed in the outer body (52).

7: Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the inner body (54) can be rotated relative to the outer body (52) about an axis of rotation having a distance from the longitudinal center axis (46) that is equal to its distance from the center axis of the mounting section (48).

8: Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inner body (54) can be linearly displaced relative to the outer body 52 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal center axis (46).

9: Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the outer body (52) has a guide channel (86) inclined at an acute angle (β) relative to the longitudinal center axis (46), in which channel the inner body (54) is accommodated.

10: Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the eccentric (50) has a displacement mechanism for displacement of the inner body (54) with reference to the outer body (52), which mechanism has a journal that is guided in a guide motion link and extends radially, wherein the guide motion link is inclined at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal center axis (46).

11: Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the application tube (16) is accommodated in the inner body (54) so as to be axially non-displaceable and in the housing (12) with limited axial displaceability.

12: Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a ring groove (72) that runs around the application tube (16) and extends for a certain distance in the longitudinal direction of the application tube (16), which groove opens into a transverse bore (74) that leads to the application channel (14) and into which groove the material feed connector (28) empties.

13: Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the ring groove (72) extends over a length of the application tube (16) that is greater than the displacement path by which the application tube (16) is displaceable.

14: Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the guide motion link (68) or the journal (66) is disposed in a slide that can be displaced parallel to the longitudinal center axis (46).

15: Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pivot bearing (56) is a ball bearing.

16: Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the pivot bearing (56) has an inner ring (58) firmly connected with the application tube (16) and an outer ring (60) firmly connected with the inner body (54), between which rings balls (62) are disposed.

17: Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the initial region (30) of the application tube (16) is accommodated in a guide sleeve (42) accommodated in the housing (12) in torque-proof manner and connected with this sleeve.

18: Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the guide sleeve (42) extends at least a certain distance along the end region (32) and is disposed radially at a distance from this region.

19: Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the inside diameter of the guide sleeve (42) increases continuously in a transition region (44) between the initial region (30) and the end region (32).

Description

[0012] In the following, the invention will be explained in greater detail using the exemplary embodiments shown schematically in the drawing. The figures show:

[0013] FIG. 1 an apparatus for application of a viscous material, in longitudinal section, with a minimally eccentric position of the mounting section;

[0014] FIG. 2a, 2b detail representations of the apparatus according to FIG. 1, from two viewing directions perpendicular to one another, with a minimally eccentric position of the mounting section;

[0015] FIG. 3a, 3b detail representations of the apparatus according to FIG. 1, from two viewing directions perpendicular to one-another, with a maximally eccentric position of the mounting section;

[0016] FIG. 4 to 6 detail representations of an application apparatus according to a second, a third, and a fourth exemplary embodiment.

[0017] The apparatus 10 shown in the drawing serves for application of a viscous material, for example an adhesive, to a workpiece. It has a housing 12 in which an application tube 16 that encloses an application channel 14 for the viscous material all around is accommodated. The application tube 16 is configured in multiple parts and extends from a first end 20 having a material inlet opening 18 all the way to a second end 26 formed by an application nozzle 22 having a material outlet opening 24. The viscous material is supplied to the material inlet opening 18 by way of a material feed connector 28 in the housing 12. The application tube 16 has an initial region 30 that proceeds from the first end 20, which region is connected with the housing 12, as well as an end region 32 that extends to the second end 26, which region is disposed at a distance from the housing 12 and is enclosed by a ring gap 34 over the major portion of its length. The initial region 30 is partially formed by a first tube section 36, which is followed by an extension 38 that projects out of the housing 12. In the other direction, the first tube section 36 is followed by an elastically flexible steel tube 40, which carries the application nozzle 22 at its end. In its section that belongs to the initial region 30, the steel tube 40 is accommodated in a guide sleeve 42 that is accommodated in the housing 12 in torque-proof manner. In a transition region 44 disposed between the initial region 30 and the end region 32, the distance between the guide sleeve 42 and the steel tube 40 increases continuously, until the ring gap 34 has reached its full width. The initial region 30 furthermore defines a longitudinal center axis 46 that runs centrally through it.

[0018] The application tube 16, in its end region 32, has a mounting section 48 that is mounted in an eccentric 50 that is disposed in the housing 12 so as to rotate about the longitudinal center axis 46 and can be driven by a motor. The eccentric 50 has an outer body 52 in which an inner body 54 is accommodated outside of the center, in which inner body, in turn, the mounting section 48 is mounted by means of a pivot bearing 56 configured as a ball bearing. The ball bearing 56 has an inner ring 58 that is firmly connected with the mounting section 48, an outer ring 60 that is firmly connected with the inner body 54, and balls 62 disposed between the inner ring 58 and the outer ring 60.

[0019] The mounting section 48 is moved between a minimally eccentric position shown in FIG. 1, 2a, 2b and a maximally eccentric position shown in FIG. 3a, 3b by means of rotation of the inner body 54 relative to the outer body 52, wherein the steel tube 40 is bent. In the minimally eccentric position, the mounting section 48 has an eccentricity of zero in the exemplary embodiment shown here, so that the longitudinal center axis 46 also forms the center axis of the end region 32. The greater the resulting eccentricity predetermined by the outer body 52 and the inner body 54, the greater the bending of the center axis of the end region 32. The greatest deviation from the longitudinal center axis 46 is situated at the material outlet opening 24. Rotation of the eccentric 50 about the longitudinal center axis 46 by application of an electric motor 64 to the outer body 52, at a typical speed of rotation of several thousand revolutions per minute, leads to movement of the material outlet opening 24 on a circular path, as a function of the eccentricity of the mounting section 48 that has been set, so that the viscous material exiting from the opening is swirled up on the basis of centrifugal forces and distributed over a significantly greater width than would be the case without rotation of the eccentric 50 or at an eccentricity of the mounting section 48 of zero. The greater the resulting eccentricity of the mounting section 48, the greater the circular movement of the viscous material and thereby the application width.

[0020] For adjustment of the eccentricity, the inner body 54 is provided with a radially projecting journal 66 that engages into a spiral-shaped guide motion link 68 in the outer body 52. The application tube 16 is furthermore disposed in the housing 12 so as to be longitudinally displaceable in the direction of the longitudinal center axis 46, for one thing, and for another, it is accommodated in the inner body 54 so as to be non-displaceable in the axis direction. Displacement of the application tube 16 in the housing 12, which is achieved, in the present exemplary embodiment, by means of rotation at the extension 38 on the basis of a worm gear mechanism 70, carries the inner body 54 along in the axial direction, wherein furthermore, rotation of the inner body 54 relative to the outer body 52 takes place on the basis of guidance of the journal 66 in the guide motion link 68. In this manner, the resulting eccentricity of the mounting section 48 can be easily adjusted manually. It is understood that such an adjustment can also take place by means of a motor drive.

[0021] In order to be able to reliably introduce the viscous material into the application channel 14 by way of the material feed connector 28, the application tube 16 is provided with a circumferential ring groove 72 in the region of the material feed connector 28, which groove extends a certain distance in the axial direction. The ring groove 72 opens into a transverse bore 74 that leads to the material inlet opening 18.

[0022] The application apparatuses according to the second, third, and fourth exemplary embodiment are shown in FIG. 4 to 6 merely in a detail representation and represented even more schematically than the application apparatus 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment. The same characteristics are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0023] The second exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4 differs from the first exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 to 3 essentially in that the inner body 54 is disposed so as to be axially non-displaceable, while the outer body 52 is disposed to be displaceable in the axial direction. A journal 66 projects radially away from the inner body 54, which journal is accommodated in a guide motion link 68 in the outer body 52, which link runs in spiral shape. In the second exemplary embodiment, axial displacement of the outer body 52 therefore leads to rotation of the inner body 54 accommodated outside of its center, in which inner body the mounting section 48 of the application tube 16, which once again is not shown in detail in FIG. 4, is accommodated. Rotation of the eccentric 50 is transferred by means of a rotor shaft 80 that encloses the outer body 52 all around, in certain sections, which shaft is connected with an inner shaft 82 on which the inner body 54 rests on a step 84.

[0024] In the third exemplary embodiment (FIG. 5), the inner body 54 cannot be rotated relative to the outer body 52, but rather can be displaced in the radial direction. In the third exemplary embodiment, as well, the outer body 52 is configured as a slide that can be displaced in the axial direction and has two journals that lie diametrically opposite one another and project radially inward, and are not shown in detail in FIG. 5, which journals engage into guide motion links in the inner body 54. The guide motion links are disposed at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal center axis 46, so that displacement of the journals in the axial direction brings about displacement of the inner body 54. As was already true for the second exemplary embodiment, the rotational movement is transferred to the eccentric by way of a rotor shaft 80 that accommodates the outer body 52, which shaft is connected with an inner shaft 82. The inner body 54 rests on a step 84 of the inner shaft 82.

[0025] In the fourth exemplary embodiment (FIG. 6), as well, the inner body 54 is displaceable relative to the outer body 52. The outer body 52, which simultaneously represents the rotor shaft 80, is provided with a guide channel 86, the center axis 88 of which is inclined about an acute angle β relative to the longitudinal center axis 46. The guide channel 86 runs at a slant from the top right to the bottom left in FIG. 5. The inner body 54 is accommodated in the channel, which body in turn is connected with the application tube 16 in displacement-proof manner. A movement of the application tube 16 in the axial direction therefore results in a movement of the inner body 54 in the axial direction and in a displacement of the inner body 54 in the guide channel 86, on the inner wall 90 of which channel the inner body 54 lies with a spherical contact surface 92.

[0026] In summary, the following should be stated: The invention relates to an apparatus 10 for application of a viscous material, having an application tube 16 that has a material inlet opening 18 at a first end 20 and a material outlet opening 24 at a second end 26, delimits an application channel 14, and is flexible at least over a part of its length, having a housing 12 that accommodates the application tube 16 and has a material feed connector 28 for the viscous material to the application tube 16, wherein the application tube 16 is connected with the housing 12 in an initial region 30 that proceeds from the material inlet opening 18 and is disposed at a distance from the housing 12 in an end region 32 that extends to the material outlet opening 24, and wherein a mounting section 48 of the end region 32 is mounted close to the material outlet opening 24, in a motor-driven eccentric 50 that can rotate about the longitudinal center axis 46. According to the invention, an adjustment mechanism for adjustment of the distance of the mounting section 48 from the longitudinal center axis 46 is provided.