Apparatus for applying a substance and use thereof

Abstract

An application device for pasty and / or flowable materials, comprising at least a housing with a supply region for the material and at least one discharge region for the material, characterized in that at least one mixing region is formed between the supply region for the material and the discharge region for the material; and the at least one mixing region forms at least one mixing device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a device for applying fluid and / or paste-like substances and its use. Background Technology

[0002] Devices for applying energy to flowable and / or paste-like substances are known in principle. Similarly, machines having such devices are also known.

[0003] Machines for processing clay to produce models are known, for example, in automotive research and development. Therefore, DE29720892U1 and DE 102016109816A1 show and describe a machine for preparing / heating clay and conveying the flowable / paste-like clay in a heated tube to the application site.

[0004] The clay is heated and conveyed in the machine shown so that it is eventually conveyed in a heated conveying pipe to an application nozzle, from which it is extruded.

[0005] What has proven to be a drawback here is that the clay is output from the application nozzle in a heterogeneous / demixed manner, which leads to undesirable quality changes and unacceptable surface effects because the individual components of the clay being applied / conveyed demix as they travel along the delivery path. This demixing is also commonly referred to as particle migration and / or phase separation.

[0006] Furthermore, in the plastics industry, application nozzles with integrated mixing inserts are known for mixing two fluid components. These application devices have two supply devices for providing the components, which mix with each other at the processing site, wherein the resulting, particularly liquid, mixture crosslinks and solidifies in a mold. This is disclosed, for example, by WO 2013 / 127534 A1. A disadvantage here is that these devices are unsuitable for processing paste-like substances, such as industrial clay, because this type of substance cannot be processed in this manner at room temperature. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for applying a substance or mass that does not have the above-mentioned disadvantages, and particularly provides high / uniform quality industrial clay at the processing / application site.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus designed to enable the use of high-quality industrial clay in the design process of the automotive industry / automotive R&D.

[0009] The objective is achieved by the features included in claims 1, 6 and 7.

[0010] Advantageous configurations and extensions of the solution of the present invention are included in the other claims.

[0011] Surprisingly, it has been shown that a mixing device integrated into the application equipment can ensure uniform mixing of the components of industrial clay at the application site. This mixing device can exist as a static and / or dynamic mixer.

[0012] Furthermore, it has been proven advantageous to integrate the heating device into the application equipment, thus ensuring the optimal processing temperature of industrial clay at the application site.

[0013] In this case, the processing / application temperature is 60°C to 80°C. Examples of possible heating devices are electric heaters, resistance heaters, belt heaters, silicon heating pads, and / or cylindrical heaters.

[0014] To better understand the invention, examples of industrial clay formulations according to the prior art are provided, which can be processed using the application equipment or a machine equipped with such equipment according to the invention.

[0015] Formulation Example - Industrial Clay (Prior Art)

[0016] 31% (by weight) paraffin and microwax

[0017] 5% (by weight) white oil

[0018] 47% (by weight) of filler

[0019] 15% (by weight) of lightweight filler

[0020] 2% (by weight) of pigment

[0021] This example illustrates that the formulation contains liquid / waxy components (oils and waxes) and solid components (fillers, pigments). In many known clay formulations according to the prior art, the proportion of solid components is between 61% and 70% (by weight), and the proportion of liquid and / or paste-like components is between 30% and 39% (by weight).

[0022] The components of clay are homogeneously mixed in their untreated basic state before being transported. However, during the processing of the application machine, they demix due to the pressure applied during transport and the length of the heated transport pipe. This results in a very noticeable and perceptible streaking / marble effect, caused by the demixing of components on the surface of the applied clay block, the disadvantages of which have been mentioned.

[0023] Due to the shear forces generated, the stripe / marble effect is particularly pronounced on and near the surface of the clay, as the moving / transported clay slows down due to friction on the inner surface of the transport pipe. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This demonstrates the demixing effect;

[0025] Figure 3 and Figure 4 The application device of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0026] Figure 1 and Figure 2 Used to illustrate the demixing effect. Here, Figure 1 The cross-section of the round bar is shown, depicting the bar as it exits the discharge nozzle. Figure 2 The cross-section through the central axis of the round bar is shown. The shading / black gradient can be seen, representing component demixing. This shear-force-based effect becomes more pronounced with increasing feed length, feed pressure, and introduced heating temperature.

[0027] It has been proven that the application equipment, equipped with a mixing device and a heating element, is particularly advantageous. This combination ensures that the clay is at the optimal temperature at the application site at all times and is uniformly mixed. Furthermore, it has been shown that the color characteristics and texture of the processed clay surface are uniform throughout its entire surface and can be considered of high quality.

[0028] Now we will rely on Figure 3 and Figure 4 The application device of the present invention will be described in more detail.

[0029] Figure 3 A cross-section of an embodiment of the application device 1 of the present invention is shown, which essentially includes a housing portion 10 and a mixing device 16 integrated / arranged within the housing portion 10. In this embodiment, the mixing device 16 is configured as a mixing device 16 with a static mixer.

[0030] The housing portion 10 has a material supply area / supply region 13 at one end and a discharge region 11 at the other end, wherein means for connecting to a heated supply pipe / delivery pipe 24 is formed in the supply region 13. A discharge nozzle 12 is installed at the discharge region 11. In this embodiment, the discharge nozzle has a gap-shaped opening, but it can also be a circular or other geometrically shaped opening.

[0031] A so-called mixing zone 15 is formed between the supply zone 13 and the discharge zone 11, in which a mixing device 16 is integrated / formed. The mixing device 16 is a static mixer with a fixed mixing rod 17. In this embodiment, the mixing zone 15 is divided into eight mixing sequences 171, wherein the mixing direction of the sequences 171 alternates between clockwise and counterclockwise directions to ensure that the paste and / or flowable material is optimally and thoroughly mixed due to the change in direction.

[0032] To prevent the industrial clay 3 in the application device 1 from cooling down, for example in the mixing zone 15 with a large contact surface, and to restore it to or maintain it at the optimal processing temperature, a heating device 18 is formed between the supply zone and the discharge zone (13 and 12). In this embodiment, the heating device 18 is configured as a resistance heater. It has been shown here that it is advantageous for the zone 181 heated by the heater 18 to at least partially intersect with the mixing zone 15.

[0033] The handle area 19 of the application device is insulated so as to protect the user from the heat generated by the heating device 18.

[0034] As an alternative to static mixers, dynamic mixers with at least one drivable mixing shaft can also be provided. By using a dynamic mixer, the conveying pressure at the mixing pipe can be reduced, which in turn reduces the demixing of the components of the conveyed clay.

[0035] The application device according to claim 1 of the present invention is used to manufacture design models in automobile research and development, wherein the application device is constructed as part of an application machine, and wherein the application device exists as a handheld device.

[0036] Furthermore, the application device according to claim 1 of the present invention is used to manufacture design models in automobile research and development, wherein the application device is configured as part of an application machine, wherein the application machine is configured as a fully automated application system.

[0037] Figure 4 The diagram shows an application machine 2 for heating and applying a plastic block 3. The machine 2 has at least one heatable conveying station 21 and an extraction station 23 for the plastic block 3 that can be processed. The conveying station has a filling port 25 and a conveying unit / station 21. A heated conveying pipe 24 is connected to the extraction station 23, wherein the application device 1 of the present invention is connected to the end of the conveying pipe 24.

[0038] In principle, the applying machine 2 corresponds to a prior art device, which is known, for example, from DE 29720892U1 and DE102016109816 A1.

[0039] An applicator for applying paste-like and / or flowable materials includes at least a housing having a material supply area and at least one material discharge area, wherein at least one mixing area is constructed between the material supply area and the material discharge area, and wherein the at least one mixing area is configured as at least one mixing device.

[0040] At least one heating device is constructed between the supply area and the discharge area, wherein a heating area is formed by the at least one heating device.

[0041] The at least one mixing device is configured as at least one static mixer and / or at least one dynamic mixer, wherein the at least one static mixer has at least one mixing bar with at least one mixing sequence.

[0042] Here, the heating zone of the heater and the mixing zone exist or form at least partially intersecting.

[0043] The application device described above is used to manufacture design models in automotive research and development, wherein the application device is constructed as part of an application machine and is constructed as a handheld device.

[0044] Furthermore, the aforementioned application device is used to manufacture design models in automotive research and development, wherein the application device is constructed as part of an application machine, and the application machine is constructed as a fully automated application system.

[0045] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0046] 1. Application equipment

[0047] 10. Shell Part

[0048] 11 Discharge Area

[0049] 12 Discharge Nozzles

[0050] 13 Supply Areas

[0051] 14 pipe fittings

[0052] 15 Mixed Zones

[0053] 16 mixing unit

[0054] 17 Hybrid Shaft / Hybrid Rod

[0055] 171 mixed sequence

[0056] 18 heating devices

[0057] 181 heating zone

[0058] 19 Handle Area / Operation Area

[0059] 2 Applying machine

[0060] 21 Conveyor Station

[0061] 23 Extraction Station

[0062] 24 delivery pipe

[0063] 25 filling port

[0064] 3. Plastic blocks / industrial clay.

Claims

1. An applicator for applying paste-like and / or flowable materials, comprising at least a housing having a material supply area and at least one material discharge area, characterized in that, At least one mixing zone is formed between the material supply zone and the material discharge zone; The at least one mixing zone forms at least one mixing device; the at least one mixing device is configured as at least one static mixer; at least one heating device is formed between the supply zone and the discharge zone; and a heating zone is formed through the at least one heating device.

2. The application device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The at least one static mixer has at least one mixing rod with at least one mixing sequence.

3. The application device as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The heating zone of the heater and the mixing zone exist or form at least partially intersecting.

4. The use of the application device as described in claim 1 in the manufacture of design models during automotive research and development. in, The application device is constructed as part of the application machine; and The application device is configured as a handheld device.

5. The use of the application device as described in claim 1 in the manufacture of design models during automotive research and development. in, The application device is constructed as part of the application machine; and The application machine is configured as a fully automated application system.

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