Multi-temperature-zone controllable rotary scraping type sealant coating and forming device

Abstract

The invention discloses a multi-temperature-zone controllable rotary scraping type sealant coating and forming device which comprises a cylinder body which is of a cylinder structure with one open end; a scraping module is arranged in the cylinder body; the scraping module, the open end of the cylinder and the end face, stretching into the cylinder, of the to-be-sealed component can jointly define a closed annular glue injection cavity. A temperature adjusting system is integrated in the wall body of the barrel body; the temperature adjusting system can construct at least two different temperature environments for the area where the glue injection cavity is located. The driving mechanism is used for driving the scraping module to rotate around the axis of the scraping module and move in the axial direction of the barrel; and the driving mechanism is configured to drive the scraping module in stages: the first stage executes pure rotary motion, and the second stage executes composite motion of rotation and axial back-off. Through a mechanical structure and thermal management design, the rheological state control and the forming action of the sealant are accurately matched in time and space, and precise forming and controllable curing of the sealant are achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of sealant application technology, and in particular to a multi-temperature zone controllable rotary scraping sealant coating and molding device. Background Technology

[0002] In aerospace, automotive, and high-voltage electrical industries, cylindrical sealing rings are often applied to the end faces of fasteners such as nuts and bolts to achieve functions such as preventing loosening, sealing, and insulation. Traditional manual application of sealant suffers from problems such as irregular shapes, inconsistent dimensions, and uneven curing, affecting the reliability of the seal. While existing automated dispensing equipment can achieve quantitative dispensing, it is difficult to perform three-dimensional plastic shaping of the adhesive, still relying on the natural leveling of the adhesive, and cannot form a sealing structure with precise geometric dimensions and a high-quality surface. In addition, the curing process of the sealant is significantly affected by ambient temperature, resulting in large fluctuations in the surface quality of the final product. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an automated solution that integrates dispensing, precision shaping, and controlled curing. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Purpose of the invention: In order to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology, the present invention provides a multi-temperature zone controllable rotary scraping sealant coating and molding device. Through mechanical structure and thermal management design, the rheological state control of the colloid and the molding action are precisely matched in time and space to achieve precise molding and controllable curing of the sealant.

[0004] Technical Solution: To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a multi-temperature zone controllable rotary scraping sealant coating and molding device, comprising a cylindrical body, which is an open-end cylindrical structure; a scraping module is disposed inside the cylindrical body; the scraping module, the open-end wall of the cylindrical body, and the end face of the component to be sealed extending therein can jointly form a closed annular injection cavity; a temperature regulation system is integrated inside the wall of the cylindrical body; the temperature regulation system can create at least two different temperature environments for the area where the injection cavity is located; and a driving mechanism is also included for driving the scraping module to rotate around its own axis and move along the axial direction of the cylindrical body; the driving mechanism is configured to drive the scraping module in stages: the first stage performs pure rotational motion, and the second stage performs a composite motion of rotation and axial retraction.

[0005] Furthermore, the temperature control system includes: a first temperature zone control module, which forms a cooling zone in the section of the dispensing cavity axially away from the open end, for providing cooling to the dispensing cavity before dispensing and during the scraping stage, thereby creating and maintaining a low-temperature environment that delays the curing of the colloid; and a second temperature zone control module, whose working area is adjacent to the first temperature zone control module, and which forms a heating zone in the section of its axial direction close to the open end, for rapidly heating the formed colloid after scraping to trigger its curing.

[0006] Furthermore, the cylinder wall portion corresponding to the second temperature zone adjustment module is constructed as a thin-walled heat exchange structure, and the inner surface of the thin-walled heat exchange structure is treated with high emissivity; the second temperature zone adjustment module includes an annular contact heater that is tightly attached to the outer wall of the thin-walled heat exchange structure.

[0007] Furthermore, the first temperature zone adjustment module is a microchannel circulating cooling system integrated into the cylinder wall.

[0008] Furthermore, the cylindrical wall portion corresponding to the dispensing cavity integrates a temperature sensing module, which is electrically connected to a control system. The control system is used to coordinate the motion sequence of the drive mechanism with the temperature curve of the temperature regulation system, so that the colloid is in a flowable state during the dispensing stage, in a high-viscosity plastic state during the scraping stage, and immediately enters a rapid curing state after scraping is completed.

[0009] Furthermore, the temperature sensing module includes two thermocouples respectively embedded in the heating zone and the cooling zone.

[0010] Furthermore, the scraping module includes a piston-type base that slides with the inner wall of the cylinder; a plurality of scraping components are fixedly disposed on the end face of the base near the open end, and the plurality of scraping components are evenly distributed circumferentially.

[0011] Furthermore, the working edge of the scraper is made of a flexible or elastic material, or the rigid matrix of the scraper is inlaid or composited with strips of flexible or elastic material at its working edge; the flexible or elastic material is selected from one of fluororubber, filled polytetrafluoroethylene composite material or perfluoroether rubber.

[0012] Furthermore, the driving mechanism includes a rotary drive motor and a linear drive motor. The scraping module is mounted on the output end of the rotary drive motor, and the rotary drive motor is connected to the linear drive motor via a lead screw transmission pair. The driving mechanism is configured to perform the following operations: First, the rotary drive motor independently drives the scraping module to perform rotary scraping to form the initial end face of the cylinder; then, the rotary drive motor and the linear drive motor work together to drive the scraping module to retract axially while maintaining rotation, thereby completing the forming of the side surface of the cylinder.

[0013] Furthermore, an annular overflow groove is provided on the edge of the end face of the base, and a discharge channel corresponding to the position of the annular overflow groove is provided on the inner wall of the cylinder, which is used to centrifugally transport excess glue to a waste collection part when the scraping module rotates.

[0014] Beneficial Effects: This invention provides a multi-temperature-zone controllable rotary scraping sealant coating and molding device that integrates injection, molding, curing, and waste recycling into a single unit, achieving fully enclosed operation. Active temperature zone control, coordinated with the process sequence, proactively adjusts the sealant sequentially to a fluid state suitable for injection, a high-viscosity state suitable for plastic scraping, and a reactive state that triggers rapid curing. This significantly broadens the process window and improves consistency, ensuring the sealant is always in its optimal processing state and is less affected by environmental fluctuations. Staged composite motion eliminates dead zones, ensuring the integrity of the molded body from the end face. The rigid-flexible composite cutting edge design solves the problems of sealant sticking to the blade and uneven micro-adhesion while maintaining molding accuracy. By adjusting the temperature control curve, motion parameters, and scraper shape, it can adapt to the sealing requirements of different types and grades of sealant. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is an axial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the radial cross-sectional structure of the glue injection cavity according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] As attached Figure 1-2 The multi-temperature zone controllable rotary scraping sealant coating molding device includes a cylinder 1 as the main body of the device. When using the device, the cylinder can be held by hand or mounted on a robotic arm.

[0019] like Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the cylinder 1 is placed vertically by manual adjustment or mechanical arm adjustment (in other embodiments, it can also be placed horizontally or at any angle, depending on the orientation of its contact plane). The cylinder is a cylindrical structure with an open bottom and a closed top. From the outside to the inside, it includes an outer shell layer, an insulation layer, and an inner thermally conductive lining.

[0020] The cylinder 1 is equipped with a scraping module 2. The scraping module 2 mainly includes a cylindrical piston-type base 22 that slides with the inner wall of the cylinder 1. The outer cylindrical surface of the base 22 and the inner wall of the cylinder 1 are in micron-level clearance fit, for example, a single-sided clearance of 5-20μm, which can ensure smooth sliding and effectively prevent a large amount of colloid leakage.

[0021] Multiple scraping components 21 are fixedly disposed on the end face (i.e., working end face, lower end face in the figure) of the base 22 near the open end. Typically, 2-4 scraping components 21 are disposed thereon, and they are evenly distributed circumferentially. The lower end face of the base 22 of the scraping module 2, the open end wall of the cylinder 1, and the end face of the component 3 to be sealed therein can together form a sealed annular injection cavity 4, such that the scraping component 21 is located within this annular injection cavity 4, and the end of the scraping component 21 slightly contacts the end face of the component 3 to be sealed. Figure 2 As shown, when the scraping module 2 rotates around its own axis, the area swept by its multiple scraping parts 21 is the annular area 41 surrounding the glue injection cavity 4, and the unswept area constitutes the forming area 42 of the sealing structure.

[0022] Each scraper 21 consists of two parts: a rigid substrate made of hardened stainless steel, and a fluororubber (FKM) insert, 0.5 mm thick, slightly protruding about 0.1 mm from the surface of the rigid substrate, fixed to the cutting edge of the rigid substrate by a high-temperature adhesive. This ensures that only the elastic insert contacts the adhesive during scraping. The rigid substrate guarantees the overall geometry and strength, bearing the main load. The thin-layer elastomer deforms at the microscopic level, perfectly conforming to the adhesive, providing uniform pressure, and achieving excellent anti-sticking and chip removal effects.

[0023] The base 22 has an annular overflow groove 221 on its end face edge. The inner wall of the cylinder 1 has a discharge channel corresponding to the position of the annular overflow groove. The discharge channel is located on the retraction path of the scraping module 2. The discharge channel can be a straight channel in the axial direction or a spiral channel. The entrance of the discharge channel can correspond to the annular overflow groove during the rotation and retraction of the scraping module 2, and is used to guide and transport the excess glue generated by scraping to a waste collection device.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, a rectangular spiral groove is machined on the inner wall of the cylinder 1, corresponding to the upper section of the scraping module 2's travel stroke. This groove is covered with a Teflon cover plate secured by screws, thus forming a closed spiral waste channel. The lower end of this spiral channel aligns with the position of the annular overflow groove of the scraping module 2 during its retraction process, and the upper outlet of the spiral channel is connected to a quickly detachable transparent polycarbonate waste collection box.

[0025] It also includes a drive mechanism for driving the scraping module 2 to rotate about its own axis and move axially along the cylinder 1; the drive mechanism is configured to drive the scraping module 2 in stages: the first stage performs pure rotational motion, and the second stage performs a composite motion of rotation and axial retraction.

[0026] The drive mechanism includes a rotary drive motor and a linear drive motor, both of which are servo motors. The base 22 of the scraping module 2 is directly connected to the output shaft of the rotary drive motor M1 via a coupling. The housing of the rotary drive motor M1 is fixed to the nut of a lead screw transmission mechanism via a mounting plate. The lead screw of this lead screw transmission mechanism is connected to the output shaft of the linear drive motor M2. Thus, the rotary drive motor M1 can drive the scraping module 2 to rotate, while the linear drive motor M2 can drive the entire rotary drive motor M1 and the scraping module 2 to move up and down along the axial direction of the cylinder 1. All movements are coordinated and controlled by a multi-axis motion controller.

[0027] The scraping module 2, the open end of the cylinder 1, and the end face of the component 3 to be sealed therein can together form a closed annular injection cavity 4. A temperature control system is integrated into the wall of the cylinder 1; the temperature control system can create at least two different temperature environments for the area where the injection cavity 4 is located.

[0028] The temperature control system includes:

[0029] The first temperature zone adjustment module 5 forms a cooling zone in the section of the dispensing cavity 4 axially away from the open end, used to provide cooling to the dispensing cavity 4 before dispensing and during the scraping stage, creating and maintaining a low-temperature environment that delays the curing of the adhesive; the first temperature zone adjustment module 5 is a microchannel circulating cooling system integrated into the wall of the cylinder 1. Figure 1 As shown, a spiral microchannel is machined around the upper section of the wall of the cylinder 1. This channel is connected to an external refrigeration unit and a circulating pump through a pipeline, and can be circulated with a temperature-controlled ethylene glycol aqueous solution.

[0030] The second temperature zone adjustment module 6 operates adjacent to the first temperature zone adjustment module, and forms a heating zone in its axial section near the open end. This zone is used to rapidly heat the formed colloid after scraping and molding to trigger its curing. The wall thickness of the cylinder 1 corresponding to the second temperature zone adjustment module 6 is reduced to 2mm, forming a thin-walled heat exchange structure. The inner surface of this thin-walled heat exchange structure undergoes a high emissivity treatment, such as sandblasting and blackening, to improve infrared emissivity. The second temperature zone adjustment module 6 includes an annular contact heater tightly fitted to the outer wall of the thin-walled heat exchange structure, for example, tightly encasing an armored annular resistance heater. Preferably, an aerogel insulation ring is embedded in the cylinder wall between the cooling channel and the thin-walled heating zone to prevent axial temperature conduction between the two temperature zones through the wall.

[0031] In addition, a type K armored thermocouple (temperature sensor) is embedded in the walls of both the heating zone and the cooling zone to monitor the wall temperature in real time and provide feedback to the control system (PLC) for PID closed-loop control. The thermocouple embedded in the cooling zone serves as an auxiliary point for monitoring the overall thermal balance.

[0032] The control system is used to coordinate the motion sequence of the drive mechanism with the temperature curve of the temperature regulation system, so that the colloid is in a flowable state during the dispensing stage, in a high-viscosity plastic state during the scraping stage, and immediately enters a rapid curing state after scraping is completed.

[0033] Taking the example of the vertical placement of cylinder 1, the working process and method are as follows:

[0034] S1. The scraping module 2 is driven by the drive mechanism to descend to the lower stop point (initial position). The robotic arm moves the cylinder 1 close to and covers the nut to be sealed (the part to be sealed 3) until the lower end face of the cylinder 1 is sealed and pressed tightly against the end face of the nut.

[0035] At this time, the lower end face of the base 22 is in slight contact with the upper end face of the bolt (or there is a very small gap). The base 22, the cylinder 1, and the nut to be sealed together form an annular injection cavity 4.

[0036] S2. The temperature control system is activated, and the cooling subsystem lowers the temperature of the injection chamber 4 area (mainly through the cooling sleeve) to 25°C and maintains it stable. Subsequently, the metering pump injects a fixed amount of two-component epoxy sealant into the injection chamber 4 through the injection hole 10 on the side wall of the cylinder 1. The injection volume is about 5% more than the theoretical molding volume.

[0037] S3. After the glue injection is completed, maintain the temperature. The control system starts the first stage program: only the rotary drive motor M1 is working, driving the scraping module 2 to rotate at a speed of 500 rpm for 3 seconds. During this process, multiple scraping parts 21 with elastic cutting edges perform pure rotational shearing on the glue at the bottom of the glue injection cavity 4, forming a clear and flat cylindrical starting end face, completely eliminating the scraping dead zone.

[0038] Subsequently, the motion controller immediately switches to the second stage program: the rotary drive motor M1 maintains a speed of 500 rpm, while the linear drive motor M2 starts, driving the scraping module 2 to retract upwards at a constant speed of 0.2 mm / s. This combined motion causes the cutting edge of the scraper 21 to rise along a spiral trajectory, continuously scraping the colloid into a cylinder of a predetermined diameter.

[0039] Because there is a surplus of adhesive, during the molding process, the excess adhesive is pushed and squeezed into the annular overflow groove at the lower end of the base 22 by the rotating scraper 21. Since the adhesive entering the annular overflow groove is still a plastic body with a certain degree of fluidity, the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the base 22 can centrifugally throw the adhesive into the inlet of the steeply sloped spiral channel (discharge channel) on the inner wall of the cylinder 1, and generate shear force on the adhesive to reduce its apparent viscosity (shear thinning effect), making it easier for it to move along the discharge channel. Driven by the subsequent adhesive, the excess adhesive is rotated and pumped upward in the discharge channel, and finally flows into the waste collection box at the top.

[0040] S4. When the scraping module 2 retracts to the predetermined height (forming height), the rotation stops. At this time, the formed colloidal cylinder is fully exposed in the thin-walled heating zone of the lower section of the cylinder 1. The temperature controller immediately sets the target temperature of the annular heater to 120°C and performs rapid heating based on the feedback from the wall-embedded thermocouple.

[0041] Within 30 seconds, the surface temperature of the colloidal cylinder rises to over 110°C, triggering a rapid curing reaction of the epoxy adhesive. After 90 seconds of continuous heating, the surface layer of the adhesive is essentially cured. Heating is then stopped, and the cooling system can be activated to assist in cooling the heated area.

[0042] S5. The scraping module 2 continues to rise and retract, while the robotic arm drives the cylinder 1 to disengage from the nut 3.

[0043] S6. Proceed to the next work cycle. The operator replaces the waste collection box periodically.

[0044] Example 2 differs from Example 1 in that:

[0045] A scraper ring 23 is fixedly installed at one end of the multiple scraping parts 21 away from the base 22. The scraper ring 23 has a circular hole at its center. The diameter of the circular hole is consistent with the outer diameter of the cylindrical surface of the pre-formed sealing structure. In the initial position, the scraper ring 23 is flush with the port surface of the cylinder 1. When the scraping module 2 performs a combined rotation and retraction motion, the scraper ring can provide additional axial linear scraping force, which can further scrape and shape the outer cylindrical surface of the pre-formed colloid, ensuring the forming accuracy and surface quality of the final sealing structure.

[0046] Based on this newly added scraper ring structure, only the microfluidic cooling channel (cooling subsystem) can be integrated into the wall of the cylinder 1, while the heating subsystem can be integrated into the newly added scraper ring, thus eliminating the need for thin-wall processing at the port of the cylinder 1. Specifically, the heating subsystem can be integrated into the end of the scraper ring 23 away from the scraper 21, and a heat insulation layer is provided between the area where the heating subsystem is installed and the area where it connects with the scraper 21, so that while the formed side colloid is heated and cured, the unformed side colloid remains in a high-viscosity plastic state that is conducive to scraping.

[0047] This allows the heating and curing process to proceed simultaneously with the spiral scraping process (a combined rotation and retraction motion). Furthermore, due to the direct contact heating, the curing efficiency is higher, significantly reducing the processing time of a single work cycle and effectively improving the efficiency of mass production and emergency sealing.

[0048] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the above principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications are also considered to be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-temperature zone controllable rotary scraping sealant coating molding device, characterized in that: Includes a cylindrical body (1), which is a cylindrical structure with one end open; a scraping module (2) is provided inside the cylindrical body (1); the scraping module (2), the open end wall of the cylindrical body (1) and the end face of the component to be sealed (3) extending into it can jointly form a closed annular injection cavity (4). The cylinder (1) has an integrated temperature control system in its wall; the temperature control system is capable of creating at least two different temperature environments for the area where the glue injection cavity (4) is located. It also includes a drive mechanism for driving the scraping module (2) to rotate about its own axis and move axially along the cylinder (1); the drive mechanism is configured to drive the scraping module (2) in stages: the first stage performs pure rotational motion, and the second stage performs a combined rotational and axial retraction motion.

2. The multi-temperature zone controllable rotary scraping sealant coating molding device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The temperature control system includes: The first temperature zone adjustment module (5) forms a cooling zone in the section of the glue injection cavity (4) axially away from the open end, which is used to provide cooling to the glue injection cavity (4) before glue injection and during the scraping stage, thereby creating and maintaining a low temperature environment that delays the curing of the glue. The second temperature zone adjustment module (6) has an operating area adjacent to the first temperature zone adjustment module and forms a heating zone in the section axially close to the open end. It is used to rapidly heat the formed colloid after scraping and molding to trigger its curing.

3. The multi-temperature zone controllable rotary scraping sealant coating molding device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The wall portion of the cylinder (1) corresponding to the second temperature zone adjustment module (6) is constructed as a thin-walled heat exchange structure, and the inner surface of the thin-walled heat exchange structure is treated with high emissivity; the second temperature zone adjustment module (6) includes an annular contact heater that is tightly attached to the outer wall of the thin-walled heat exchange structure.

4. The multi-temperature zone controllable rotary scraping sealant coating molding device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first temperature zone adjustment module (5) is a microchannel circulating cooling system integrated into the wall of the cylinder (1).

5. The multi-temperature zone controllable rotary scraping sealant coating molding device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The wall portion of the cylinder (1) corresponding to the glue injection cavity (4) is equipped with a temperature sensing module, which is electrically connected to a control system. The control system is used to coordinate the motion sequence of the drive mechanism with the temperature curve of the temperature regulation system, so that the colloid is in a flowable state during the dispensing stage, in a high-viscosity plastic state during the scraping stage, and immediately enters a rapid curing state after scraping is completed.

6. The multi-temperature zone controllable rotary scraping sealant coating molding device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The temperature sensing module includes two thermocouples respectively embedded in the heating zone and the cooling zone.

7. A multi-temperature zone controllable rotary scraping sealant coating molding device according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: The scraping module (2) includes a piston-type base (22) that slides with the inner wall of the cylinder (1); a plurality of scraping parts (21) are fixedly arranged on the end face of the base (22) near the open end, and the plurality of scraping parts (21) are evenly distributed circumferentially.

8. The multi-temperature zone controllable rotary scraping sealant coating molding device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The working edge of the scraper (21) is made of a flexible or elastic material, or the rigid base of the scraper (21) is inlaid or composite with strips of flexible or elastic material at its working edge.

9. The multi-temperature zone controllable rotary scraping sealant coating molding device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The drive mechanism includes a rotary drive motor and a linear drive motor. The scraping module (2) is installed at the output end of the rotary drive motor. The rotary drive motor is connected to the linear drive motor through a lead screw transmission pair. The drive mechanism is configured to perform the following operations: First, the rotary drive motor independently drives the scraping module (2) to perform rotary scraping to form the starting end face of the cylinder; then, the rotary drive motor and the linear drive motor work together to drive the scraping module (2) to retract axially while maintaining rotation, so as to complete the forming of the side surface of the cylinder.

10. The multi-temperature zone controllable rotary scraping sealant coating molding device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The base (22) has an annular overflow groove on its end face edge, and the inner wall of the cylinder (1) has a discharge channel corresponding to the position of the annular overflow groove, which is used to centrifugally transport excess glue to a waste collection section when the scraping module (2) rotates.

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