Method and device for attaching sealing profiles

• US 8,398,808 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2008
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tesla Grohmann Automation GmbH (Tesla Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Grohmann Engineering GmbH (Tesla Inc.)
• Inventors: Grohmann, Klaus, Thommes, Lothar, Weinandy, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): GOFF II, JOHN L
• Application Number:
  US12/311,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20100024976A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 Days
• Field of Search: 156/157, 156/159, 156/502, 156/504, 156/574, 156/575, 156/577, 156/546, 156/578, 156/166, 156/199, 156/160, 156/324, 156/308.2, 156/247, 156/249, 156/391, 156/486, 156/494, 156/582, 156/543, 294/50, 294/51, 292/35
• US Class Current: 156/308.2
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/047 for flexible profiles, e.g. sealing or decorating strips in grooves or on other profiles by devices moving along the flexible profile hand tools therefor B25B27/0092
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/45 Assembling sealing arrangements with vehicle parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1317 Means feeding plural workpieces to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1712 Indefinite or running length work
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1761 Stacked serially
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1788 Work traversing type and/or means applying work to wall or static structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1795 Implement carried web supply

Abstract

A method for attaching a sealing profile to a vehicle body part includes the steps of pulling the sealing profile from a storage unit; passing the sealing profile through a first buffer which compensates for differences between incoming and outgoing speeds of the sealing profile; attaching an adhesive strip to the sealing profile continuously, the adhesive strip having a first adhesive layer facing the sealing profile and a second adhesive layer facing away from the sealing profile; passing the sealing profile with the attached adhesive strip through a second buffer which compensates for differences between incoming and outgoing speeds of the sealing profile; and rolling the second adhesive layer onto the vehicle body part. The adhesive strip is attached to the sealing strip in an assembly unit which heats the first adhesive layer as it moves around a press roller.

Claims

1. A method for attaching a sealing profile to a vehicle body part, the method comprising the following serial steps:

pulling the sealing profile from a storage unit;

passing the sealing profile through a first buffer which compensates for differences between incoming and outgoing speeds of the sealing profile;

attaching, in an assembly unit, an adhesive strip to the sealing profile continuously after the sealing profile exits the first buffer, the adhesive strip having an adhesive layer;

passing the sealing profile with the attached adhesive strip through a second buffer which compensates for differences between incoming and outgoing speeds of the sealing profile; and

attaching, in an application unit, the sealing profile to the vehicle body part by rolling the adhesive layer onto the vehicle body part along a line provided for attaching the sealing profile,

wherein the sealing profile runs from the storage unit to the application unit in one continuous run, whereby both the attaching of the adhesive strip to the sealing profile and the attaching of the sealing profile to a vehicle part occur in the one continuous run of the sealing profile.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the adhesive strip has opposing first and second adhesive layers, the second adhesive layer being rolled onto the vehicle body part, the attaching of the adhesive strip to the sealing profile comprising:

pulling the adhesive strip from a storage unit; and

rolling the first adhesive layer against the sealing profile.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising, after pulling the adhesive strip from a storage unit and before rolling the first adhesive layer against the sealing profile, passing the adhesive strip through a buffer which compensates for differences in incoming and outgoing speeds of the adhesive strip.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first adhesive layer comprises a heat activated adhesive, the method further comprising, after passing the adhesive strip through a buffer, heating the first adhesive layer.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after attaching the adhesive strip to the sealing profile, guiding the sealing profile by means of at least one of drive elements and guide elements which do not contact the second adhesive layer.

6. An apparatus for attaching a sealing profile to a vehicle body part, the apparatus comprising:

a storage unit for storing the sealing profile;

means for pulling the sealing profile from the storage unit in a downstream direction;

a first buffer downstream of the storage unit, the first buffer compensating for differences between incoming and outgoing speeds of the sealing profile;

an assembly unit for attaching an adhesive strip to the sealing profile downstream of the first buffer;

a second buffer downstream of the assembly unit, the second buffer compensating for differences between incoming and outgoing speeds of the sealing profile; and

an application unit for attaching the sealing profile to the vehicle body part comprising press rollers to press the sealing profile continuously along a surface of the vehicle body parts following a predefined installation line,

wherein the apparatus is arranged so that the sealing profile runs from the storage unit, through the first buffer, the assembly unit, and the second buffer, to the application unit in one continuous run, whereby both the attaching of the adhesive strip to the sealing profile and the attaching of the sealing profile to a vehicle part occur in the one continuous run of the sealing profile.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the assembly unit comprises:

a storage unit for the adhesive strip, the adhesive strip having a first adhesive layer;

means for pulling the adhesive strip from the storage unit; and

a press roller which presses the first adhesive layer onto the sealing profile.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the storage unit comprises two spools from which matching adhesive strips can be pulled in alternation, the fabrication unit further comprising:

an adhesive strip connector for connecting the matching adhesive strips from respective said spools; and

a buffer installed between the adhesive strip connector and the press roller, the buffer compensating for differences between incoming and outgoing speeds of the adhesive strip.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising heating means for heating the first adhesive layer before the first adhesive layer is pressed onto the sealing profile.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the heating means is arranged to heat the first adhesive layer as the adhesive strip moves around the press roller.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the press roller is mounted in a position which is adjustable with respect to the sealing profile.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of said buffers comprises:

a plurality of pulleys over which the sealing profile is guided, the pulleys being separated by a distance; and

an adjusting drive for changing the distance between the pulleys.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the application unit is mounted on the arm of a robot.

14. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the application unit comprises a device for cutting the sealing profile.

15. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first buffer, the assembly unit, and the second buffer are located in a climate-controlled chamber.

16. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the buffer installed between the adhesive strip connector and the press roller comprises:

a plurality of pulleys over which the adhesive strip is guided, the pulleys being separated by a distance; and

an adjusting drive for changing the distance between the pulleys.