Roll with adhesive elements

Abstract

The invention relates to a roll or spool of adhesive element material web comprising a plurality of adhesive elements in at least one row, which are arranged sequentially in a mutually spaced manner, applied on a release material in web form, such that preferably the release material is on the inside of the winding and the adhesive elements are on the outside of the winding, wherein each adhesive element has a carrier layer and an adhesive layer, which comprises an adhesive compound, preferably a pressure-sensitive adhesive compound, which is present on the surface of the carrier layer facing the release material, characterized in that at least one or both edges of the release material have a trapezoidal recess, which is present between two adjacent adhesive elements, respectively, which does not undercut the area of the adhesive elements, the base of the trapezoidal recess forming the supposed edge of the spacer.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to rolls or spools of adhesive element material webs comprising at least one row of a plurality of adhesive elements arranged sequentially at intervals from each other, the adhesive elements being applied to a release material in the form of the web, such that preferably the release material is on the inside of the roll and the adhesive elements are on the outside of the roll, and to a method for producing rolls or spools of adhesive element material webs. Summary of the Invention

[0002] The use of adhesive elements is an important component of many modern manufacturing processes. Such adhesive elements are used not only to mount parts onto a substrate, but also, particularly, to seal openings in the substrate. These openings are often present due to manufacturing processes and represent potential weak points in the final product, through which moisture or contaminants can penetrate. Using suitable, typically single-sided, adhesive elements to seal such openings in the substrate is a simple, time-saving, and cost-effective solution for sealing such openings and preventing the undesirable entry of contaminants; in the prior art, such adhesive elements are frequently used for this purpose today and, due to their manufacturing process, are also known as die-cut parts.

[0003] Especially in the manufacture of more complex structures made of metal sheets and / or plastics, construction requirements inevitably necessitate cutting holes into the sheets or plastics to reach cavities behind them, whether for coating or welding.

[0004] These openings are usually no longer needed after the desired operation is completed, and are often even destructive, as air, moisture, or water can seep into the structure through them, potentially causing processes such as oxidation (rust).

[0005] In principle, the corresponding adhesive elements can be placed manually on the substrate. However, in the pursuit of automation, and given the continued interest in efficient and error-free process systems, automated application devices are being developed for applying adhesive elements to the substrate to be bonded.

[0006] To optimize processing efficiency and avoid complex feeding systems, the application device is designed with an integrated dispenser arrangement for adhesive elements, wherein the supply and application of adhesive elements can be implemented together, for example as part of the end effector of a robot head.

[0007] These adhesive elements are typically supplied in the form of adhesive element rolls or spools. For this purpose, a web of adhesive element material (in which a plurality of adhesive elements arranged in sequence are applied to a release material (also known as a liner) in the form of a web) is wound up to form a roll or spool, specifically such that preferably the liner is on the inside of the roll and the adhesive elements are on the outside of the roll.

[0008] The liner (release paper, release film) is not a component of the tape or adhesive element (label), but merely an auxiliary material used in its production and / or storage or for further processing via die-cutting. Furthermore, unlike the carrier layer in the tape or label, the liner is not firmly bonded to the adhesive layer.

[0009] On the liner, adhesive elements having a carrier layer and an adhesive compound layer are arranged continuously at intervals, such that the free side of the adhesive compound layer is adhered to the liner, and the side of the adhesive compound layer opposite to the liner is covered by the carrier layer, thus completely protecting the adhesive compound.

[0010] Especially in the case of circular adhesive components, it is advantageous, for the sake of saving material, if the web of the pad is not shaped or cut so that the web has an edge that extends straight in the machine direction. If the web has an edge that extends straight in the machine direction, this manufacturing method means that much of the pad material located between the adhesive components is not utilized and is therefore wasted.

[0011] Advantageously, the edges of the gasket have a wavy shape, like a sine curve. The recessed portion of the gasket encapsulates the corresponding adhesive element, while the protruding portion forms a recess between two adjacent adhesive elements, thus saving material.

[0012] Typically, individual adhesive element material webs are cut from wide carrier webs equipped with a large number of adhesive elements, particularly by rotary cutting, for example by a blade that cuts the wide carrier web in the machine direction to form a single narrow web.

[0013] Adhesive elements are arranged in multiple rows side-by-side on a wide carrier web. If a row of adhesive elements is arranged slightly offset from the adjacent row, the distance between the two rows can be reduced because the widest part of each adhesive element can be joined to the area between two consecutive adhesive elements in the adjacent row.

[0014] If a wavy cut is used to separate the rows, the protruding area of ​​one row fills the concave area of ​​the adjacent row, and vice versa.

[0015] By arranging and cutting the adhesive components in this way, the consumption of gaskets is significantly reduced.

[0016] The method for producing webs of adhesive component materials will be discussed in detail later.

[0017] A method for rotary die-cutting of thin film materials is known from DE 10 2019 114 489 A1, in which the full utilization of the material can be significantly improved and the proportion of “waste matrix” can be considerably reduced.

[0018] According to a method for rotary die-cutting of thin film materials, a film arrangement is first provided, the film arrangement comprising a first carrier film and a film layer disposed above the first carrier film. A first die-cut piece is punched out from the film layer such that, after die-cutting, the first die-cut piece is separated from a matrix-like residual film of the film layer surrounding the first die-cut piece. The matrix-like residual film is peeled off from the arrangement comprising the first carrier film and the first die-cut piece remaining on the first carrier film. The matrix-like residual film is disposed above a second carrier film. A second die-cut piece is then punched out from the matrix-like residual film such that, after die-cutting, the second die-cut piece is separated from the remaining portion of the matrix-like residual film. The remaining portion of the matrix-like residual film is peeled off from the arrangement comprising the second carrier film and the second die-cut piece remaining on the second carrier film.

[0019] A variation of the method involves arranging the die-cutting pieces in such a longitudinal direction that straight cuts cannot be made between rows of die-cutting pieces arranged side-by-side in the longitudinal direction; that is, cuts parallel to the longitudinal side of the film cannot be made to separate the rows of die-cutting pieces arranged side-by-side in the longitudinal direction. Such longitudinal cuts would instead have to have a wavy shape, as indicated by the dotted lines. With this implementation of the die-cutting pieces, the material of the film layer can be optimally utilized.

[0020] However, webs of adhesive element material wound into rolls or spools, with the two edges of the pads cut in a wavy shape as described, have considerable drawbacks in automated dispensing operations.

[0021] During the dispensing process, the free end of the adhesive element material web is removed from the roll or spool and guided into the dispensing device until the adhesive element material web is guided past the dispensing edge, such that the adhesive element at the dispensing edge is detached from the pad, or until the adhesive element material web reaches a point where a single adhesive element is removed from the adhesive element material web by a device, such as a suction device, and dispensed at the desired location.

[0022] In dispensing devices, the adhesive element material web frequently undergoes edgewise guidance or deflection. Given the wavy edges of the padding, stable guidance of the adhesive element material web is difficult, as only point-like lateral contact surfaces (at the widest point of the wave) contact the guide of the dispensing device in each case. The adhesive element material web also tends to flip at the contact points, which further reduces the accuracy of guiding the web due to point pressure.

[0023] This invention attempts to remedy this situation.

[0024] The object of the present invention is to specify an adhesive element material web that can be precisely guided in a dispensing device even when guided along the edge, although the surface area of ​​the pad is reduced in the adhesive element material web, as is known for pads with wavy cuts.

[0025] This objective is achieved by a roll or spool of adhesive element material web as described in the main claim. The subject matter of the dependent claims is an advantageous development of the subject matter according to the invention and a method for producing rolls or spools of adhesive element material web.

[0026] Therefore, the present invention relates to a roll or spool of adhesive element material web comprising at least one row of a plurality of adhesive elements arranged sequentially at intervals from each other, the adhesive elements being applied to a release material in the form of a web, such that preferably the release material is on the inside of the roll and the adhesive elements are on the outside of the roll.

[0027] The variant in which the release material is on the inside of the winding and the adhesive element is on the outside of the winding is a preferred embodiment.

[0028] Additionally, it is also possible for the release material to be on the outside of the winding and the adhesive element to be on the inside of the winding.

[0029] Adhesive component material webs are supplied as a continuous product on rolls (Archimedes spirals), i.e., disc-shaped rolls of adhesive component material webs, which are referred to as "pancakes" in technical terms.

[0030] Alternatively, the adhesive element material web can be wound around a core like woven yarn, the length of which is significantly greater than the width of the adhesive element material web. By superimposing the rotational movement of the core and the axial movement of the core or the adhesive element material web guiding component, the adhesive element material web first forms the first radial innermost layer of helical turns. To complete the first layer and move to the second layer, the direction of the axial movement is reversed, while the rotational movement remains constant. To complete the second layer and move to the third layer, the direction of the axial movement is reversed again, returning to the original direction, while the rotational movement remains constant. The tilt angle remains constant between each reversal point. In this way, many layers of turns can be formed, where the turns intersect each other (cross-wound spools).

[0031] Each adhesive element comprises at least one carrier layer and an adhesive layer comprising an adhesive blend, preferably a pressure-sensitive adhesive blend, wherein the adhesive layer is present on the surface of the carrier layer facing the release material.

[0032] Essential to the present invention is that at least one edge, preferably two edges, of the peeling material has a trapezoidal recess, which is present between two adjacent adhesive elements, and the recess does not undercut the area of ​​the adhesive element, with the bottom edge of the trapezoidal recess forming the assumed edge of the pad.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the trapezoidal recess is located in the two edges of the peeling material.

[0034] According to the present invention, a trapezium is a quadrilateral having two opposite and parallel sides, which are called the bases ("a" and "c"), and the longer of the two sides is called the base ("c"). The remaining two sides ("b" and "d") are called the legs. Preferably, the two legs are of the same length.

[0035] Preferably, the concave portion has the shape of an isosceles trapezoid. This occurs when the lengths of the legs b and d are equal. This makes the trapezoid axially symmetric. This means that the trapezoid can be mirrored at the vertical line of its center.

[0036] More preferably, all the recesses have the same trapezoidal shape.

[0037] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, in each case, the four corners forming the trapezoidal recess are not pointed, but all have radii, preferably all four corners have the same radius. More preferably, all corners of the trapezoidal recess have the same radius.

[0038] This means that the pair of edges forming the corner do not extend sharply to each other; instead, the point is rounded. Rounded corners significantly reduce the risk of tearing at the point.

[0039] Typically, the radius is between 2mm and 6mm, with 4mm being preferred.

[0040] exist Figure 1 A particularly advantageous configuration of the adhesive element material web 1 according to the invention is shown.

[0041] Multiple adhesive elements 10 are arranged sequentially at intervals and applied to a stripping material 20 in the form of a web.

[0042] The adhesive element 10 is circular.

[0043] For a circular shape, the width d1 and the height d2 of the adhesive element 10 are the same and correspond to the diameter.

[0044] Typically, in the case of (preferably circular) adhesive element 10, the width d1 and height d2 are each between 10 mm and 50 mm, preferably between 20 mm and 40 mm, and more preferably 35 mm.

[0045] The distance between individual adhesive elements 10 is defined as the gutter height g2.

[0046] The groove height g2 is usually between 1 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 3 mm.

[0047] According to the present invention, trapezoidal recesses 21, 22 are preferably provided at regular intervals in the two edges of the peeling material 20. Each trapezoidal recess 21, 22 has two bases a, c and two equal-length sides b, d. The base c of the trapezoidal recesses 21, 22 forms the assumed edge of the peeling material 20 (indicated by a dashed line).

[0048] Located between recesses 21 and 22 are similar trapezoidal portions 23 and 24, in which the peeling material 20 has its maximum width. The shorter base a' of trapezoidal portions 23 and 24 forms the edge of the peeling material 20. The length of this base a' is defined as length k.

[0049] The length k of the bottom edge a' is crucial for protecting the adhesive element 10 during transport and for handling and guiding it in the automatic dispensing device.

[0050] The length k here needs to satisfy two opposite requirements.

[0051] First, the length k should always be the maximum length to meet the above requirements. Second, the length k should be minimized to minimize waste of the stripping material 20.

[0052] As a result of the trapezoidal recesses 21, 22 provided according to the invention, a straight side edge a' is retained. This side edge a' provides a very large contact surface, allowing the adhesive element material web 1 to be guided more precisely by the automatic dispensing device. As can be observed in the case of a wavy cut of the peeling material 20, the folding of the peeling material 20 is significantly reduced.

[0053] Another benefit is that production costs can be reduced because less stripping material is required, which also reduces CO2 emissions by more than 10%.

[0054] The distance from the bottom edge a' to the adhesive element 10 at its maximum extent (maximum width) is defined as the groove width g1. The groove width g1 is typically between 1 mm and 3 mm, preferably 1.5 mm.

[0055] The length k depends on the width d1, height d2, groove width g1, groove height g2, and radius r of the adhesive element 10.

[0056] If the adhesive element 10 has an elongated shape, such as a typical elliptical racetrack shape, wherein the adhesive element 10 is aligned in the machine direction, then the length k is guided by the length of the adhesive element 10.

[0057] If the radius r, as a guiding parameter characterizing the present invention, satisfies the following conditions, then the embodiment of the present invention is particularly preferred:

[0058] r≥0 and r <d1+g1

[0059] If r makes r = d1 + g1, then there will be no more lateral edges, regardless of the variables (d2, g2).

[0060] According to another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the trapezoidal recesses 21, 22 and the trapezoidal portions 23, 24 are congruent; that is, they have equal surface areas. This variant is particularly advantageous if the adhesive element 10 is circular.

[0061] More preferably, the trapezoidal recesses are located between each adhesive element arranged sequentially in a spaced-apart manner.

[0062] The production of adhesive element material webs wound to form rolls or spools is carried out according to known methods.

[0063] First, an adhesive layer is provided to the wide strip of material used as the carrier layer, and then backed with a release material. This wide strip can be wound into a so-called master roll. In the next step, the master roll is unwound again. The intermediate steps of winding and unwinding are not mandatory.

[0064] In the rotary die-cutting process, adhesive elements are punched out from a carrier layer equipped with an adhesive layer, and the protruding substrate is removed.

[0065] Die-cut adhesive components are typically arranged in multiple parallel rows longitudinally on the release material. The adhesive components are spaced apart in both the longitudinal and transverse directions.

[0066] In the case of products supplied in a single row—that is, in which adhesive elements are arranged side by side in a row in the longitudinal direction of the peeling material—individual webs of peeling material are cut in the longitudinal direction after a die-cutting operation, along with their respective side-by-side adhesive elements.

[0067] Preferred is a single-row adhesive element material web, that is, an adhesive element material web in which the adhesive elements are arranged in a single row in sequence in the longitudinal direction of the peeling material.

[0068] Also according to the invention, two or more rows of adhesive elements are present on the adhesive element material web, wherein the adhesive elements are arranged sequentially in the longitudinal direction of the peeling material in each case. Preferably, these rows are arranged such that individual adhesive elements are located side-by-side on the peeling material in the densest possible stack, so as to utilize as little peeling material as possible. Another advantage of this space-saving arrangement is that the area of ​​the substrate to be removed is also reduced, which means savings in terms of carrier layer and adhesive layer. Essential to the invention, the peeling material has trapezoidal recesses at one or two edges.

[0069] Particularly preferred is the following method for producing rolls or spools of adhesive component material webs, the method comprising the following steps:

[0070] i) Provide an adhesive layer to the wide strip of the carrier layer and line it with a release material.

[0071] ii) Optionally, wind into the master roll

[0072] iii) Optionally, unwind the master roll.

[0073] iv) Rotary die-cutting of adhesive components and removal of raised material

[0074] v) Cut adhesive element material webs from the mother roll webs to have trapezoidal edges of the peel material according to the invention.

[0075] According to the invention, the adhesive element preferably has a basic shape having a closed geometry, typically a circular convex shape, and more particularly selected from: a circle, a partial circle, more particularly a semicircle, an ellipse, or a polygon. Triangular or rectangular shapes are also possible. The adhesive element may also have rounded corners.

[0076] Preferably, the shape is selected from: circular, semi-circular, and elliptical. Circular adhesive elements are particularly preferred.

[0077] The adhesive element preferably comprises a carrier layer and an adhesive layer bonded thereto, wherein the adhesive element is arranged such that the adhesive layer is on the release material.

[0078] Typically, the adhesive element is a pressure-sensitive adhesive element, and / or the adhesive layer comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive formulation, wherein the adhesive layer preferably consists of a pressure-sensitive adhesive formulation.

[0079] The adhesive compound layer is typically applied over the entire area of ​​the carrier layer.

[0080] The adhesive element may also have multiple adhesive layers, which may exist within the carrier layer, for example, as layers used to fix the carrier layer.

[0081] For the adhesive layer of adhesive elements, those skilled in the art can select commonly used adhesive formulations known in the field of adhesive technology, such as poly(meth)acrylate-based and / or rubber-based systems. The corresponding adhesive layer is arranged on a carrier layer, typically formed of plastic, in an industry-standard manner. Although double-sided adhesive elements can theoretically be processed, in practice, single-sided adhesive elements are used first and foremost.

[0082] The carrier layer can be single-layered or multi-layered: for example, different membrane layers can be formed together to form a carrier layer. The carrier layer may contain one or more materials selected from: polyethylene, polypropylene, cyclic olefin copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, ethylene-vinyl alcohol, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyacrylonitrile, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyethersulfone, and polyimide, preferably selected from: polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate, wherein the carrier layer is preferably composed of these materials.

[0083] Adhesive elements are arranged on a release material. The corresponding release material, in web form, is well-known to those skilled in the art of adhesives and is currently referred to as a release material because the adhesive elements arranged thereon can be easily separated from them due to reduced adhesive forces at the surface. The functionality of the release material can be achieved by commonly used release layers known to those skilled in the art, which are applied to the surface of the release material, where they cover a base layer, such as plastic or paper. In other words, in the method according to the invention, typically, the first release material in web form and / or the second release material in web form, preferably all release materials in web form, are pads. In a typical method according to the invention, the first release material in web form and / or the second release material in web form, preferably all release materials in web form, are coated with a release layer, preferably a silicone release layer, on the side facing the adhesive element, wherein the silicone release layer is preferably produced by crosslinking a crosslinkable silicone system comprising one or more polysiloxanes. Attached Figure Description

[0084] remove Figure 1 In addition, the following drawings illustrate the cutting of adhesive element material webs from master roll webs and the rolls of adhesive element material webs, without unnecessarily limiting the invention. The drawings show:

[0085] Figure 1 The particularly advantageous configuration of the adhesive element material web according to the invention,

[0086] Figure 2 Cut adhesive element material webs from the master roll web to have wavy edges with peel material (according to the prior art).

[0087] Figure 3Cut adhesive element material webs from the master roll web to have trapezoidal edges of the peel material according to the invention, and

[0088] Figure 4 A roll of adhesive element material web comprising a plurality of adhesive elements arranged sequentially at intervals between them, the adhesive elements being applied to a release material in the form of a web. Detailed Implementation

[0089] exist Figure 2 The diagram illustrates the cutting of multiple adhesive element material webs 1, 1a, and 1b from a master roll web. For this purpose, a master roll web having adhesive elements 10 located on a release material 20 is cut in the machine direction MD into individual adhesive element material webs 1, 1a, and 1b, such that the release material 20 of the adhesive element material webs 1, 1a, and 1b has a wavy edge.

[0090] This wavy cut is known in the prior art.

[0091] exist Figure 3 Similarly, it is shown that multiple adhesive element material webs 1, 1a, and 1b are cut from a master roll web. For this purpose, a master roll web having adhesive elements 10 located on a release material 20 is cut into individual adhesive element material webs 1, 1a, and 1b in the machine direction MD, such that the release material 20 of the adhesive element material webs 1, 1a, and 1b has trapezoidal edges.

[0092] This trapezoidal cutting technique is unknown in existing technology.

[0093] Figure 4 A roll 30 of the present invention is shown, the roll being composed of an adhesive element material web 1 comprising a plurality of adhesive elements 10 arranged sequentially at intervals between each other, the adhesive elements being applied to a release material 20 in the form of the web such that the release material 20 is on the inside of the roll and the adhesive elements 10 are on the outside of the roll.

[0094] List of reference numerals

[0095] 1. 1a, 1b Adhesive element material web

[0096] 10 Adhesive Components

[0097] 20 stripping materials

[0098] 21, 22 trapezoidal recess

[0099] Trapezoidal parts 23 and 24

[0100] 30 rolls of adhesive component material web

Claims

1. A roll or spool of adhesive element material web comprising at least one row of a plurality of adhesive elements arranged sequentially at intervals between each other, the adhesive elements being applied to a release material in the form of the web, such that preferably the release material is on the inside of the roll and the adhesive elements are on the outside of the roll. Each adhesive element has a carrier layer and an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer comprising an adhesive blend, preferably a pressure-sensitive adhesive blend, the adhesive blend being present on the surface of the carrier layer facing the release material. Its features are, At least one or both edges of the peel material have trapezoidal recesses, which are respectively present between two adjacent adhesive elements. The recesses do not cut into the area of ​​the adhesive elements, and the bottom of the trapezoidal recesses forms the assumed edge of the pad.

2. The roll or spool of the adhesive element material web according to claim 1, Its features are, The trapezoidal concave part has the shape of an isosceles trapezoid.

3. A roll or spool of the adhesive element material web according to claim 1 or 2. Its features are, All the trapezoidal recesses have the same trapezoidal shape.

4. A roll or spool of adhesive element material web according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, Its features are, In each case, the four corners forming the trapezoidal recess have radii; preferably, all four corners have the same radius; more preferably, all corners of the trapezoidal recess have the same radius r.

5. The roll or spool of the adhesive element material web according to claim 1, Its features are, The radius r satisfies the following condition: r≥0 and r <d1+g1。 6. A roll or spool of adhesive element material web according to at least one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The adhesive element has a basic shape, which has a closed geometry, more particularly selected from: a circle, a partial circle, more especially a semicircle, an ellipse or a polygon, and more preferably a circle.

7. A roll or spool of adhesive element material web according to at least one of the preceding claims, Its features are, An adhesive element comprises a carrier layer and an adhesive layer bonded thereto, wherein the adhesive element is arranged such that the adhesive layer is on a release material.

8. A method for producing a roll or spool of adhesive element material web according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the following steps: i) Provide an adhesive layer to the wide section of the carrier layer, and line it with a release material. ii) Optionally, wind into the master roll iii) Optionally, unwind the master roll. iv) Rotary die-cutting of adhesive components and removal of raised material v) Cut adhesive element material webs from the mother roll webs to have trapezoidal edges of the peel material according to the invention.

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