System and method for mounting an insulating element on a structural element

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (20) for mounting insulating elements (16) on structural elements (12, 14) in a motor vehicle, comprising a plurality of insulating elements (16) provided in at least one stack (1). The system (20) further comprises at least one structural element (12, 14) of the motor vehicle and a robot (8). The robot (8) is designed in such a way that it can take out the individual insulating elements (16) from the stack (1) and place them on the structural elements (12, 14), respectively.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a system for mounting an insulating element onto a structural element in a motor vehicle. Furthermore, this invention relates to a method for mounting such an insulating element onto a structural element. Background Technology

[0002] In many cases, components (such as the body and / or frame of vehicles, especially water, land, or air vehicles) have cavitary structures to enable lightweight construction. However, these cavities cause various problems. Depending on the type of cavity, it must be sealed to prevent the ingress of moisture and contaminants that can cause corrosion of the component. It is also often desirable to significantly reinforce the cavity and therefore the component while maintaining a low weight. Stabilization of the cavity and therefore the component is also typically required to reduce noise that would otherwise be transmitted along or through the cavity. Many of these cavities have irregular shapes or narrow dimensions, making them difficult to properly seal, reinforce, and dampen.

[0003] Therefore, baffles are used, especially in automobile manufacturing and aircraft and shipbuilding, to seal and / or acoustically isolate cavities, or reinforcers are used to strengthen cavities.

[0004] exist Figure 1 The diagram schematically shows the body of a car. The body 10 here has several different structures with cavities, such as pillars 14 and beams or supports 12. These cavity structural elements 12, 14 are typically sealed or reinforced with insulating elements 16.

[0005] Typically, this insulating element 16 is manually installed on the structural elements 12, 14. However, the disadvantage of this known manual method is that it requires a great deal of work and carries the risk of installing the insulating element in an unintended position or in the wrong position on the structural element. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide an improved system for mounting insulating elements onto structural components in motor vehicles, a system that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the system should have improved economic efficiency and minimize the risk of incorrect installation.

[0007] The task is first addressed by a system for mounting insulating elements onto structural elements in a motor vehicle, the system comprising: a plurality of insulating elements provided in at least one stack; at least one structural element of the motor vehicle; and a robot; wherein the robot is configured to remove individual insulating elements from the stack and place the insulating elements onto the structural element.

[0008] This solution offers several advantages. First, it provides insulating elements in a stacked configuration. These insulating elements can be stacked for transport and packaged and transported in a stacked state. This results in cost savings in transportation because it allows for more space-efficient packaging of the insulating elements, enabling the transport of more insulating elements within a given volume compared to conventional methods. Furthermore, this stacking of insulating elements offers the advantage of easier identification of confusion between different insulating elements. For example, if a first insulating element is packaged in a container with multiple second insulating elements, this will be immediately apparent because the first insulating element typically cannot be stacked with the second insulating elements. This significantly reduces confusion.

[0009] Furthermore, the system proposed herein offers the advantage that the individual insulating elements are less susceptible to damage due to the stacking arrangement used for transport and storage. If the individual insulating elements are transported loosely in a container as has been the case so far, numerous contacts occur between the insulating elements, sometimes resulting in damage. However, if the insulating elements are transported in a stacked manner, the number of mechanical contacts between the insulating elements is greatly reduced. Moreover, it is possible to construct the insulating elements such that the intended contact areas are made robust or less susceptible to damage, and / or to place the vulnerable areas of the insulating elements in protected locations, such as those covered by adjacent insulating elements during stacking.

[0010] Furthermore, the system proposed herein offers the following advantages: it decisively reduces the workload by automatically installing insulating elements onto structural components. The provision of stacked insulating elements, particularly the ability to load and prepare the entire system, enables it to operate autonomously for extended periods. Since many such insulating elements are typically installed on each vehicle, this translates to significant savings in manual labor.

[0011] Furthermore, the advantage of automating the installation of insulating elements onto structural components is that it reduces the risk of operational errors. For example, insulating elements of similar shapes may sometimes be installed in different locations on a vehicle body. In particular, there are cases where mirrored insulating elements are used on the left and right sides of the vehicle body. In such and similar situations, there is a risk of using the wrong insulating element in a particular location or confusing the left and right insulating elements when installing them manually. Automating the process can largely eliminate such incorrect operations.

[0012] The system proposed here also offers the following advantages in particular: automation can be designed significantly more efficiently and at a lower cost by providing insulating elements in a stacked form. For example, robots can be designed to be less complex than robots that must grasp insulating elements in a disordered state. By providing them in a stacked form, the process of the robot grasping insulating elements can be simplified and made more efficient.

[0013] The term "insulating element" within the scope of this invention includes elements used for isolating and / or sealing and / or enclosing and / or reinforcing and / or insulating structural elements. These different characteristics of such insulating elements can appear individually or in combination with each other.

[0014] The terms "upper side" and "lower side" refer, within the scope of this invention, to the two main surfaces or the two largest sides of an insulating element. Since the insulating element is designed to enclose the cross-section of a structural element, this means that, in use, the upper and lower sides are substantially located in the plane of a cross-section to be insulated. The upper or lower side can also have a stepped shape; that is, the upper or lower side does not necessarily have to be constructed to be completely flat.

[0015] Within the scope of this invention, the term "parallel" in relation to the arrangement of insulating elements in a stack of multiple identical insulating elements means that the corresponding identical surfaces and / or edges of the same insulating elements are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

[0016] In one exemplary embodiment, the insulating element includes: a carrier; and an expandable material disposed on the carrier, the insulating element having an upper side and a lower side that are oriented substantially in the plane of the cross-section of the structural element to be insulated in the use state.

[0017] In one exemplary embodiment, the insulating element has at least one, at least two, or at least three contact positions on its upper and lower sides, respectively, such that when multiple identical insulating elements are stacked, adjacent insulating elements are positioned abutting each other through these contact positions and thus arranged parallel to each other.

[0018] In one exemplary embodiment, the insulating element has exactly three contact positions on its upper and lower sides, which are positioned against each other when adjacent insulating elements are stacked.

[0019] In an alternative extension, the insulating element has exactly four or at least four such contact positions on the upper and lower sides.

[0020] In another alternative embodiment, the insulating element has exactly five or at least five such contact points on the upper and lower sides.

[0021] In one exemplary embodiment, at least one contact position on the upper side and a contact position on the lower side assigned to the contact position are configured such that adjacent insulating elements are fixed in place when stacked in a vertical direction to prevent horizontal movement.

[0022] In one exemplary extension, at least one contact position on the upper side and a contact position on the lower side assigned to the contact position are configured such that a mechanical lock is formed between the respective contact positions during stacking.

[0023] In one exemplary embodiment, a contact position on the upper side is configured as a first coupling element and a contact position on the lower side assigned to the first coupling element is configured as a second coupling element. When stacked, the first coupling element and the second coupling element are interlocked with each other such that temporary fixation of adjacent insulating elements is achieved.

[0024] In one exemplary embodiment, at least one contact location is located in the area of ​​the fixing element.

[0025] Within the scope of this invention, "region of the fixing element" is understood to include the fixing element itself, the base of the fixing element, and the expandable material at the base of the fixing element, the expandable material being used to insulate the opening in the structural element into which the fixing element is inserted.

[0026] In one exemplary embodiment, the fixing element is constructed as a clip.

[0027] In an alternative embodiment, the fixing element is constructed as a tab, a welded tab, a clamp, a hook, or a rivet.

[0028] In one exemplary embodiment, the fixing element is made of plastic, especially polyamide, or metal.

[0029] In one exemplary embodiment, the height of the fixing element along the stacking direction is less than 8 mm, preferably less than 7 mm, and particularly preferably less than 6 mm.

[0030] In one exemplary embodiment, the height of the fixing element substrate along the stacking direction (which includes both the substrate of the fixing element and the expandable material at the fixing element substrate, the expandable material being used to insulate the opening in the structural element into which the fixing element is inserted) is at most 130%, at most 120%, or at most 110% of the height of the fixing element along the stacking direction.

[0031] The advantage of this relatively tall design is that it allows for more space-efficient packaging of insulating components.

[0032] In one exemplary embodiment, at least one contact location is configured as a spacer element, which is used to support and / or position the insulating element on the structural element in the state of use of the insulating element in the structural element.

[0033] In one exemplary extension, the spacer elements are configured to be stackable, and the total height of two nested spacer elements along the stacking direction is at most 170%, 160%, 150%, 140%, or 130% of the height of a single spacer element.

[0034] In one exemplary embodiment, the steps of the carrier form an angle of at least 35° or at least 40° or at least 45° or at least 50° or at least 55° with the stacking direction.

[0035] The advantage of this stepped design is that insulating elements with flatter steps can be stacked better than those with steeper steps. A particular problem exists with steeper steps, where adjacent insulating elements cannot be vertically overlapped without horizontal offset.

[0036] In one exemplary embodiment, at least one contact location is configured as a support element that protrudes from the general surface of the upper or lower side of the insulating element along the stacking direction.

[0037] In one exemplary embodiment, all or some of the contact locations are formed by a carrier.

[0038] In an alternative implementation, all or some of the contact points are formed of an expandable material.

[0039] In another embodiment, at least one contact site is formed by a carrier, and at least one contact site is formed by an expandable material.

[0040] Since carriers can typically be manufactured with smaller tolerances than expandable materials, it is advantageous to form contact points with carriers as much as possible.

[0041] In one exemplary embodiment, the insulating element has at least one limiting element configured such that when the insulating elements are stacked together, the insulating element is fixed by the limiting element of the adjacent insulating element to prevent it from moving laterally in the stacking direction and / or to prevent the insulating element from rotating about the stacking direction.

[0042] In one exemplary embodiment, the limiting element is configured such that when the insulating elements are stacked together, the limiting elements of two adjacent insulating elements overlap in the stacking direction.

[0043] In one exemplary extension scheme, the limiting elements overlap by at least 3 mm, at least 5 mm, or at least 7 mm in the stacking direction.

[0044] In one exemplary embodiment, the limiting element has at least one guide surface configured such that, during stacking, the guide surface guides the insulating elements to be stacked, such that the newly stacked insulating elements are disposed substantially coincidentally on the insulating elements along the stacking direction.

[0045] In one exemplary embodiment, at least one spacer element is configured as a motion-limiting element.

[0046] In one exemplary extension, the spacer element is configured to be substantially Y-shaped. For example, the faces of the legs of this Y-shaped spacer element can be configured as guide faces.

[0047] In an alternative extension, the spacer element is constructed in a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped configuration. The faces of the legs of this U-shaped or V-shaped spacer element can then be configured as guide surfaces.

[0048] In one exemplary embodiment, at least one stepped structure is configured as a motion-limiting element.

[0049] In one exemplary embodiment, at least one region of the fixing element is configured as a motion-limiting element.

[0050] In one exemplary extension, the base of the fixing element is configured as a limiting element. This base can be configured, for example, as substantially U-shaped. The faces of the legs of the U-shaped base of the fixing element can also be configured as guide surfaces.

[0051] In one exemplary embodiment, all or some of the motion-limiting elements are formed by a carrier.

[0052] In an alternative implementation, all or some of the motion-limiting elements are formed of an expandable material.

[0053] In another embodiment, at least one limiting element is formed of a carrier, and at least one limiting element is formed of an expandable material.

[0054] Since carriers can typically be manufactured with smaller tolerances than expandable materials, it is advantageous to form movement limiting elements from carriers as much as possible.

[0055] In principle, expandable materials can be made from various materials that can be foamed. These materials may or may not have reinforcing properties. Typically, expandable materials expand due to heat, humidity, or electromagnetic radiation.

[0056] Such expandable materials typically employ chemical or physical blowing agents. Chemical blowing agents are organic or inorganic compounds that decompose under the influence of temperature, humidity, or electromagnetic radiation, with at least one decomposition product being a gas. Physical blowing agents, for example, can be compounds that transform into a gaseous aggregate state upon increasing temperature. Thus, both chemical and physical blowing agents can create foam structures within polymers.

[0057] The preferred expandable material is thermally foamed, using a chemical blowing agent. Suitable chemical blowing agents include, for example, azodicarbonamide, sulfonyl hydrazine, bicarbonate, or carbonate. Suitable blowing agents are also available from AkzoNobel, Netherlands, under trade names. Or from Chemitura, a US company, under the brand name Commercial purchase. The heat required for foaming can be introduced through an external or internal heat source, such as an exothermic chemical reaction. Foamable materials are preferably foamed at temperatures ≤250°C, especially 100°C to 250°C, preferably 120°C to 240°C, and most preferably 130°C to 230°C.

[0058] Suitable expandable materials are, for example, single-component epoxy resin systems that do not flow at room temperature, particularly those with increased impact toughness and containing thixotropic agents such as aerosols or nanoclays. Such epoxy resin systems, for example, comprise 20 to 50 wt% liquid epoxy resin, 0 to 30 wt% solid epoxy resin, 5 to 30 wt% toughening modifier, 1 to 5 wt% physical or chemical foaming agent, 10 to 40 wt% filler, 1 to 10 wt% thixotropic agent, and 2 to 10 wt% heat-activated curing agent. Suitable toughening modifiers are reactive liquid rubbers based on nitrile rubber or polyether polyol polyurethane derivatives, core-shell polymers, and similar systems known to those skilled in the art.

[0059] Equally suitable expandable materials are one-component polyurethane compositions containing a foaming agent, which are composed of a crystalline polyester containing OH groups, other polyols, preferably polyether polyols, and polyisocyanates with terminal isocyanate groups. The melting point of the crystalline polyester should be ≥50°C. The isocyanate groups of the polyisocyanate can be terminally capped, for example, with nucleophiles such as caprolactam, phenol, or benzoxazolone. Furthermore, terminally capped polyisocyanates, for example, are used in powder coating technology and are available from Degussa GmbH, Germany, for example, under the trade name... 1350 and Commercially available capped polyisocyanates are also suitable. So-called encapsulated or surface-deactivated polyisocyanates, known to those skilled in the art and described, for example, in EP 0 204 970, are also used as isocyanates.

[0060] In addition, two-component epoxy / polyurethane compositions containing a foaming agent, such as those described in WO 2005 / 080524 A1, are also suitable as expandable materials.

[0061] In addition, ethylene vinyl acetate compositions containing foaming agents are also suitable as expandable materials.

[0062] Similarly suitable expandable materials, such as those marketed under the trade name, are also suitable. or Sold by Sika Corporation of the United States and described in US 5,266,133 and US 5,373,027. This expandable material is particularly preferred for the present invention.

[0063] Preferred expandable materials with reinforcing properties, such as those from Sika Corporation of the United States under the trade name... The material for sale. This material is described in US 6,387,470.

[0064] In one exemplary embodiment, the expandable material has an expansion rate of 800% to 5000%, preferably 1000% to 4000%, and more preferably 1500% to 3000%. The advantage of an expandable material with such an expansion rate is that it enables reliable sealing or insulation of structural elements relative to liquids and sound.

[0065] In one exemplary embodiment, the expandable material is configured as a temperature-inducing material.

[0066] This has the following advantages: it allows the use of a furnace to bake the impregnation liquid, causing the expandable material to expand and thereby insulate the cavity. Therefore, no additional working steps are required.

[0067] The carrier can be made of any material. Preferred materials are plastics, especially polyurethane, polyamide, polyester, and polyolefin; preferably high-temperature resistant polymers such as polyphenylene ether, polysulfone, or polyethersulfone, which are also foamed; metals, especially aluminum and steel; or grown organic materials, especially wood or other (pressed) fibrous materials or glassy or ceramic materials; especially such foamed materials; or any combination of these materials. Polyamides, especially polyamide 6, polyamide 6,6, polyamide 11, polyamide 12, or mixtures thereof, are particularly preferred.

[0068] Furthermore, the carrier can be, for example, solid, hollow, foamed, or have a grid-like structure. The surface of the carrier can typically be smooth, rough, or structured.

[0069] In the case of an insulating element where the expandable material is located on a carrier, the manufacturing method varies depending on whether the carrier is made of a material that can be injection molded. If so, a two-component injection molding method is typically used. First, the first component, in this case, the carrier, is injected. After the first component has cured, the cavity in the mold is enlarged or adjusted, or the manufactured injection preform is placed into a new mold, and the second component, in this case, the expandable material, is injected onto the first component using a second injection unit.

[0070] If the carrier is made of a material that cannot be manufactured by injection molding, such as metal, then the carrier is placed in a suitable mold and the expandable material is injected onto the carrier. Of course, there is also the possibility of fixing the expandable material onto the carrier using special fixing devices or methods.

[0071] In addition, carriers can also be manufactured by other methods, such as extrusion.

[0072] The insulating elements have a stacking height that corresponds to the additional height of the stack of insulating elements along the stacking direction, which is increased when another insulating element is stacked on top of the stack.

[0073] In one exemplary embodiment, the stacking height of the insulating elements is at most 80%, preferably at most 70%, preferably at most 60%, preferably at most 50%, preferably at most 40%, and preferably at most 30% of the total height of the individual insulating elements along the stacking direction.

[0074] This has the following advantages: it allows for more space-efficient placement of insulating elements within the stack. Furthermore, the increased stability of the entire stack is achieved through stronger vertical nesting of adjacent insulating elements within the stack.

[0075] In one exemplary embodiment, the stack includes at least 10, at least 15, at least 20, at least 25, or at least 30 stacked insulating elements.

[0076] In another exemplary embodiment, the stack comprises up to 150, up to 120, up to 100, up to 80, or up to 60 stacked insulating elements.

[0077] In one exemplary embodiment, the bottom insulating element of the stack rests flat on the base element.

[0078] The advantage of setting up this basic component is that it allows the stack of insulating components to be placed on a flat surface, and more importantly, the stack will not tip over.

[0079] In one exemplary extension scheme, the base element is configured such that the stack is positioned such that the stacking direction extends substantially vertically.

[0080] In one exemplary extension scheme, the base element includes at least one positioning element for positioning the bottommost insulating element of the stack on the base element.

[0081] The advantage of having at least one such positioning element is that it can improve the support or orientation of the stack on the one hand, and predefine the positioning of the stack on the base element on the other hand.

[0082] For automation processes, it is often important to precisely define the spatial position of the components manipulated by the robot. By appropriately selecting such positioning elements on the base components, this predefined positioning of stacking can be achieved.

[0083] In one exemplary extension scheme, the base element includes multiple positioning elements.

[0084] In one exemplary extension, a first positioning element is configured to accommodate a stack of insulating elements of a first type, and at least one additional positioning element on the same base element is configured to accommodate a stack of insulating elements of the same type.

[0085] In an alternative extension, the base element further includes multiple positioning elements, wherein a first positioning element is configured to accommodate a stack of insulating elements of a first type, and at least one additional positioning element on the same base element is configured to accommodate a stack of insulating elements of a different type.

[0086] Thus, multiple stacks of the same type of insulating elements or different types of insulating elements can be predefined and set on the same base element.

[0087] In one exemplary embodiment, the base element is configured to be concave and convex, wherein each stack has a correspondingly shaped recess formed on the surface of the base element.

[0088] However, this basic component can also be constructed in different ways, for example, by setting a planar substrate on which different support elements, such as pillars or the like, can be set, which will be positioned, oriented and supported in a predefined location.

[0089] In one exemplary embodiment, the base element is made of cardboard.

[0090] In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the base element is configured in the form of a plastic blister pack.

[0091] In an alternative implementation, the base element is made of plastic, particularly constructed as an injection-molded or printed element.

[0092] In addition, other different implementation possibilities for the basic components can be conceived.

[0093] In one exemplary embodiment, the provided insulating elements are stacked in a container.

[0094] The advantage of using such a container is, for example, that the insulating elements can be supplied in a container that is also used to transport the insulating elements. This avoids the need for reassembly or rearrangement of the insulating elements.

[0095] In one exemplary embodiment, the container is constructed as a box, crate, or tray.

[0096] In one exemplary embodiment, at least one basic element is disposed within the container.

[0097] In an alternative implementation, only one basic element is disposed within the container.

[0098] The advantage of using at least one basic component with a box is that the stack can be oriented and positioned for transport, which is often space-saving and material-protecting for insulating components.

[0099] In one exemplary embodiment, the base element substantially covers the bottom of the container.

[0100] In another alternative implementation, multiple basic components are arranged in the container.

[0101] In one exemplary expansion scheme, the plurality of basic elements substantially cover the bottom of the container.

[0102] In an alternative extension scheme, the plurality of basic elements are arranged in an arrangement that overlaps at least partially vertically.

[0103] In one exemplary extension, the plurality of base elements form a partition, such that insulating elements or stacks are arranged in the container in multiple layers separated from each other by the base elements.

[0104] In one exemplary embodiment, the stack is arranged in the container such that when the container is in its predetermined position, the stacking direction extends vertically.

[0105] In an alternative implementation, the stack is oriented such that the stacking direction extends substantially horizontally when the container is in its predetermined position.

[0106] In one exemplary embodiment, multiple stacks are arranged within a container. In an exemplary extended embodiment, the stacks within the container are oriented substantially parallel to each other.

[0107] In one exemplary embodiment, multiple stacks of the same type of insulating elements are arranged in a container.

[0108] In one example implementation, multiple stacks of the same type of insulating elements are arranged on a base element.

[0109] In an alternative implementation, multiple stacks of different types of insulating elements are arranged in a container.

[0110] In an alternative implementation, multiple stacks of different types of insulating elements are arranged on a base element.

[0111] In one exemplary embodiment, the container also includes a non-slip intermediate layer.

[0112] This anti-slip interlayer can be used, for example, to separate multiple stacked layers in a container from each other, without the risk of the layers sliding relative to each other.

[0113] In one exemplary embodiment, the robot includes a multi-jointed robotic arm and a gripper disposed on the robotic arm.

[0114] In one exemplary extension, the robot includes multiple grippers. The robot is configured such that it can individually remove a single insulating element from the stack and place it onto the structural element using each gripper.

[0115] This clamp can be shaped in different ways.

[0116] For example, the gripper can include a suction gripper and / or a parallel gripper and / or an expansion gripper.

[0117] In one exemplary embodiment, the clamp is configured to clamp a variety of different types of insulating elements.

[0118] In one exemplary embodiment, the clamp has at least two interlocking elements configured such that they can engage with corresponding interlocking elements on an insulating element.

[0119] These interlocking elements on insulating components and on robot grippers can be implemented in different ways.

[0120] For example, insert elements on insulating elements can exist in the form of caps or recesses, and corresponding insert elements on clamps can be constructed to complement them.

[0121] Alternatively, the insert elements on the clamp can be configured to have holes or elongated holes of, for example, different sizes, and the insert elements on the insulating element can, for example, have a tapered design.

[0122] Furthermore, the insert elements on the insulating element can be configured as steps, edges, or ribs, for example.

[0123] In one exemplary extension scheme, the at least two interlocking elements of the clamp are shaped differently.

[0124] The advantage of different shapes for the interlocking elements is that they allow for precise determination of the orientation of the insulating element on the gripper, preventing the insulating element from being gripped upside down by 180°. This helps avoid erroneous operation by the robot.

[0125] In one exemplary embodiment, the structural element is a single metal plate or multiple interconnected metal plates, particularly a column or beam or support, or the structural element is a component of the vehicle body, or the structural element is the vehicle body itself.

[0126] In one exemplary embodiment, the structural element has at least one opening, and the insulating element has at least one fixing element, such that the two elements are configured such that the fixing element can snap into the opening.

[0127] In one exemplary embodiment, each additional insulating element will increase the stack height by up to 20 mm, particularly preferably up to 18 mm, particularly preferably up to 16 mm, particularly preferably up to 14 mm, particularly preferably up to 12 mm, and particularly preferably up to 10 mm.

[0128] The advantage of tightly stacking insulating elements is that it allows for more efficient packaging and transportation of the insulating elements.

[0129] Furthermore, the task mentioned at the beginning is solved by a method for installing insulating elements on structural elements in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of insulating elements disposed in at least one stack; removing the individual insulating elements from the stack by a robot; and installing the insulating elements on the structural elements.

[0130] In one exemplary embodiment, the method is implemented using the system described above.

[0131] In one exemplary embodiment, when individual insulating elements are removed from the stack, a robot individually removes multiple insulating elements, and during installation, the multiple individually removed insulating elements are installed on the structural element.

[0132] In one advantageous implementation, the robot has multiple grippers, allowing multiple insulating elements to be individually removed from the stack.

[0133] In an alternative implementation, the robot has only one gripper and can only remove one insulating element at a time from the stack.

[0134] In one exemplary embodiment, the method further includes the steps of: transporting an insulating element in a container and / or on a base element; and providing the insulating element in the same container and / or on the same base element for removal by a robot.

[0135] The advantage of using containers and / or base components to both transport and supply insulating elements for removal by robots is that it can greatly simplify the entire logistics process and make it more efficient.

[0136] In one exemplary embodiment, during installation, a robot grasps the insulating element in a gripping direction and mounts the insulating element onto the structural element in an application direction, the gripping direction and the application direction forming an angle of approximately 90° or 180°.

[0137] In an alternative embodiment, the clamping direction and the application direction form an angle in the range of 90° to 180°.

[0138] The advantage of using this orientation when mounting insulating elements onto structural elements is that it allows for the selection of a smaller clamping force along the clamping direction, since the force applied when mounting the insulating element onto the structural element does not react with the clamping force.

[0139] In one exemplary embodiment, the force applied by the robot in the clamping direction for clamping the insulating element is less than the force applied by the robot in the application direction for mounting the insulating element onto the structural element.

[0140] In one exemplary extension scheme, the force along the application direction is at least two, three, or four times the force along the clamping direction.

[0141] In one exemplary embodiment, the clamp and the insulating element are mechanically engaged in the application direction.

[0142] This has the advantage of allowing for the selection of smaller clamping forces, as the insulating element is fixed to prevent movement along the application direction.

[0143] In one exemplary embodiment, during installation, the retaining element of the insulating element snaps into the opening of the structural element.

[0144] In one exemplary embodiment, when an insulating element is gripped by a robot, at least two interlocking elements of the insulating element engage with at least two corresponding interlocking elements of the gripper, the at least two interlocking elements of the insulating element being configured differently.

[0145] The advantage of using different engagement elements is that it can prevent erroneous operation, especially erroneous operation involving a 180° rotation.

[0146] These interlocking elements on insulating components and on robot grippers can be implemented in different ways.

[0147] For example, insert elements on insulating elements can exist in the form of caps or recesses, and corresponding insert elements on clamps can be constructed to complement them.

[0148] Alternatively, the insert elements on the clamp can be configured to have holes or elongated holes of different sizes, and the insert elements on the insulating element can have, for example, a tapered design.

[0149] Furthermore, the insert elements on the insulating element can be configured as steps, edges, or ribs, for example.

[0150] In one exemplary embodiment, the system is constructed as described above so that the above-described method can be implemented using the system. Attached Figure Description

[0151] The details and advantages of the present invention will now be described with reference to embodiments and illustrative drawings.

[0152] The attached image is as follows:

[0153] Figure 1 An exemplary view of the vehicle body is shown;

[0154] Figures 2a to 2c A schematic diagram showing an exemplary insulating element or a stack having multiple such insulating elements is provided.

[0155] Figures 3a to 6 A schematic diagram showing the container together with the insulating elements disposed therein;

[0156] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of an exemplary basic component is shown;

[0157] Figures 8a to 8c A schematic diagram of an exemplary system is shown;

[0158] Figures 9a to 10d A schematic diagram of an exemplary robot and a matching gripper is shown;

[0159] Figures 11 to 14 A schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary coupling between the robot's gripper and insulating elements is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0160] exist Figure 2aThe image first shows a single insulating element 16. This insulating element 16 has a carrier 11 and an expandable material 13 disposed on the carrier. The insulating element 16 is constructed in a substantially flat shape so as to effectively insulate the cross-section of the structural element in use. However, the insulating element 16 is not completely flat, but has different protrusions and stepped shoulders, especially steep steps 5.

[0161] The insulating element 16 here has an upper side 17 and a lower side 18. In addition, in this embodiment, the insulating element 16 has two fixing elements 3 respectively configured as clips and two spacer elements 4 respectively oriented on different sides.

[0162] In addition, the insulating element 16 has a support element 6, which in this embodiment is disposed on the upper side 17 of the insulating element 16.

[0163] In this embodiment, the insulating element 16 has three contact positions disposed on the upper side 17 and three corresponding contact positions disposed on the lower side 18. Here, two contact positions are respectively disposed in the region of the fixing element 3 and the other contact position is configured as a support element 6 or as a support point on the lower side 18 of the insulating element 16.

[0164] exist Figure 2b The text shows that it has the following characteristics: Figure 2a Multiple stacks 1 of insulating elements 16. These insulating elements 16 are stacked on top of each other in a stacking direction 19. The stacked insulating elements 16 are arranged parallel to each other and abut against each other at contact positions on their upper and lower sides respectively.

[0165] exist Figure 2c The image also shows a stack 1 with stacked insulating elements 16, in which the bottom insulating element 16 of the stack 1 is disposed on the base element 2.

[0166] exist Figures 3a to 6 Different exemplary containers 7 are shown, which have insulating elements 16 or stacks 1 disposed therein.

[0167] exist Figure 3a The image shows a container 7 having an insulating element 16 loosely disposed therein. Figure 3b The same container 7 with stacked insulating elements 16 is shown, the individual stacks 1 being arranged in the container such that when the container 7 is in its predetermined position, the stacking direction is oriented substantially vertically.

[0168] exist Figure 4a and 4b A container 7 is schematically shown again in the diagram. Figure 4aThe insulating element 16 is disordered and loose, and... Figure 4b The insulating elements are stacked into multiple stacks 1. In this embodiment, the stacking direction is chosen such that when the container 7 is in its predetermined position, the stacking direction extends substantially horizontally.

[0169] exist Figure 5 Another container is schematically shown, comprising multiple stacks 1 with insulating elements. Such a container 7 is suitable, for example, both for transporting the stacks 1 of insulating elements and for providing the stacks of insulating elements for removal of individual insulating elements by a robot.

[0170] exist Figure 6 Another exemplary container 7 is schematically shown. In this embodiment, container 7 is constructed as a pallet. This pallet is particularly well-suited for transporting container 7.

[0171] Figure 7 An exemplary base element 2 is schematically shown. In this embodiment, the base element 2 has a plurality of positioning elements 27. Here, in this embodiment, the positioning elements 27 are constructed as recesses in the uneven base element 2, each recess being provided for accommodating a stack 1 of insulating elements. By using this base element 2, the position of the stack 1 can be predefined, so that the robot has fewer or no individual sensing devices to grasp each individual insulating element.

[0172] This basic component 2 can be set at the bottom of the container 7.

[0173] exist Figures 8a to 8c Different embodiments of the system 20 for mounting the insulating element 16 on the structural elements 12 and 14 are illustrated schematically.

[0174] exist Figure 8a The container 7 provides a stack 1 with insulating elements. The robot 8, in addition to its robotic arm and gripper, has a position identification device 28 capable of processing information about the position of each insulating element or stack 7. In this embodiment, the insulating elements are directly mounted on the vehicle body 10. The structural elements of the vehicle body (on which the insulating elements 16 are disposed) are accessible; that is, for example, the pillars and beams of the vehicle body are not enclosed.

[0175] According to Figure 8b In this embodiment, a stack 1 with multiple insulating elements is again provided, but this time without a container 7. A robot 8 mounts the individual insulating elements onto structural elements 12, 14, which in this embodiment are constructed as single metal plates.

[0176] exist Figure 8cAnother exemplary system 20 is schematically illustrated. In this embodiment, a container 7 is provided for providing the stack 1 of insulating elements. (The last sentence appears to be incomplete and possibly refers to a different system.) Figure 8a Unlike other embodiments, in this embodiment, stacks 1 having different types of insulating elements are arranged in container 7. Thus, with this system, multiple different insulating elements can be arranged on the vehicle body 10 from a single container 7 without having to load or otherwise handle system 20.

[0177] exist Figure 9a and 9b The diagram schematically illustrates a robot 8 with an exemplary gripper 9. In this embodiment, the gripper 9 includes a suction gripper 23 capable of holding the insulating element 16 in the gripping direction. To better secure the insulating element 16 to the gripper 9, various interlocking elements 24, 26 are also provided, which interlock with each other and mechanically lock the insulating element 16 and the gripper 9 against lateral movement. In this embodiment, the fixing element 3 of the insulating element is oriented such that the application direction 22 forms a substantially 90° angle with the gripping direction 21.

[0178] Figure 10a Another embodiment of a robot 8 with a gripper 9 is schematically shown. In this embodiment, the gripper 9 is shown as an expandable gripper. The gripper 9 is constructed such that it can pass through the through opening 25 in the insulating element in its unexpanded state, and the insulating element can be secured to the gripper 9 by the expansion of the expandable gripper, as in the embodiment of... Figure 10d As shown in the cross-section.

[0179] Now Figure 11 The illustration exemplarily and schematically shows a robot mounting an insulating element 16 onto structural elements 12 and 14. Here, the robot presses the insulating element 16 against the structural elements 12 and 14 in the application direction 22 such that the fixing element 3 is inserted into and mechanically locked into the opening 15 of the structural elements 12 and 14. In this embodiment, the clamping direction 21 and the application direction 22 also form a substantially 90° angle when the insulating element 16 is mounted onto the structural elements 12 and 14.

[0180] exist Figure 12 The insert elements 26 and 24 are shown schematically and exemplary. In this embodiment, the insulating element 16 has two cylindrical insert elements 26, and the robot's gripper has a plate-shaped insert element 24 having a circular and an elliptical opening and an elongated opening for receiving the cylindrical insert elements 26 of the insulating element 16.

[0181] exist Figure 13Another variation of the gripper 9 for the robot is illustrated schematically and exemplary. In this embodiment, the gripper 9 includes at least two clamp-like, movable gripping elements capable of gripping the insulating element 16 on the edges of the insulating element.

[0182] exist Figure 14 The diagram schematically illustrates another embodiment of mounting the insulating element 16 onto structural elements 12, 14 using a robot. Here, the robot presses the insulating element 16 against the structural elements 12, 14 in the application direction 22 such that the fixing element 3 is inserted into and mechanically locked into the opening 15 of the structural elements 12, 14. In this embodiment, when mounting the insulating element 16 onto the structural elements 12, 14, the clamping direction 21 and the application direction 22—as opposed to… Figure 11 The implementation is different—it essentially forms a 180° angle.

[0183] List of reference numerals

[0184] 1. Stacking

[0185] 2 Basic Components

[0186] 3. Fixing elements

[0187] 4. Spacer element

[0188] 5 steps

[0189] 6 Support elements

[0190] 7 Containers

[0191] 8 robots

[0192] 9. Clamping device

[0193] 10 body

[0194] 11 carriers

[0195] 12 structural components

[0196] 13 Expandable materials

[0197] 14 structural components

[0198] 15 openings

[0199] 16 insulating elements

[0200] 17 Upper side

[0201] 18 Lower side

[0202] 19 Stacking direction

[0203] 20 system

[0204] 21 Clamping direction

[0205] 22 Application direction

[0206] 23 Suction-type gripper

[0207] 24 Sockets

[0208] 25 through the opening

[0209] 26 Embedded Components

[0210] 27 positioning elements

[0211] 28 Location Identification Devices

Claims

1. A system (20) for mounting an insulating element (16) onto structural elements (12, 14) in a motor vehicle, the system (20) comprising: Multiple insulating elements (16) provided in at least one stack (1); At least one structural element (12, 14) of a motor vehicle. and Robot (8); The robot (8) is configured to remove each insulating element (16) from the stack (1) and place the insulating elements on the structural elements (12, 14). The insulating elements (16) respectively include: Carrier (11); and An expandable material (13) is placed on the carrier (11). The insulating element (16) has an upper side (17) and a lower side (18) which are oriented substantially in the plane of the cross section of the structural element (12, 14) to be insulated in the use state.

2. The system (20) according to claim 1, wherein, The stack (1) of the provided insulating elements (16) comprises at least ten insulating elements (16) stacked on top of each other.

3. The system (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The stack (1) is disposed on a base element (2), the base element (2) including at least one positioning element (27) for positioning the bottommost insulating element (16) of the stack (1) on the base element (2).

4. The system (20) according to claim 3, wherein, The base element (2) includes a plurality of positioning elements (27), wherein a first positioning element is configured to accommodate a stack (1) of a first type of insulating element, and at least one additional positioning element on the same base element (2) is configured to accommodate a stack (1) of the same or different types of insulating elements.

5. The system (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The stack (1) of the provided insulating element (16) is arranged in the container (7).

6. The system (20) according to claim 5, wherein, The container (7) contains multiple stacks (1) of the same type of insulating elements or different types of insulating elements.

7. The system (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The robot (8) includes a multi-joint robotic arm and a gripper (9) disposed on the multi-joint robotic arm.

8. The system (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The structural elements (12, 14) are a single metal plate or multiple interconnected metal plates.

9. The system (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, Each additional insulating element (16) will increase the stack (1) by up to 20 mm in the stacking direction (19).

10. The system (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The stacking height of a single insulating element (16) is up to 50% of the total height of the single insulating element (16) along the stacking direction (19).

11. The system (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The structural elements (12, 14) are columns.

12. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The structural elements (12, 14) are beams.

13. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The structural elements (12, 14) are supports.

14. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The structural elements (12, 14) are components of the vehicle body (10).

15. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The structural elements (12, 14) are the vehicle body (10).

16. A method for mounting an insulating element (16) onto structural elements (12, 14) in a motor vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: Provide a plurality of insulating elements (16) disposed in at least one stack (1); The robot (8) removes the individual insulating components (16) from the stack (1); and The insulating element (16) is mounted on the structural elements (12, 14). The insulating elements (16) respectively include: Carrier (11); and An expandable material (13) is placed on the carrier (11). The insulating element (16) has an upper side (17) and a lower side (18) which are oriented substantially in the plane of the cross section of the structural element (12, 14) to be insulated in the use state.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein, The method further includes the following steps: The insulating element (16) is transported in a container (7) and / or on a base element (2); Insulating elements (16) in the same container (7) and / or on the same base element (2) are provided for removal by the robot (8).

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein, During installation, the robot (8) grips the insulating element (16) in the clamping direction (21) and mounts the insulating element on the structural element (12, 14) in the application direction (22), the clamping direction (21) and the application direction (22) forming an angle of approximately 90° or 180°, and / or during installation, the fixing element (3) of the insulating element (16) is snapped into the opening (15) of the structural element (12, 14).

19. The method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein, When the insulating element (16) is held by the robot (8), at least two interlocking elements (24, 26) of the insulating element (16) are engaged in at least two corresponding interlocking elements (24, 26) of the gripper (9), wherein the at least two interlocking elements (24, 26) of the insulating element (16) are constructed differently.

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