Method for pre-assembling a lighting arrangement

Abstract

Method for pre-assembling a lighting arrangement (140) for a vehicle (150), comprising at least the steps of: - providing a guide profile (10) for at least one fairing part (30) of the vehicle (150); - pre-adjusting at least one lighting device (20) on the guide profile (10), wherein the lighting device (20) is brought into contact with at least one travel limiting element (80) of the guide profile (10) and thus achieves a pre-adjustment state; - releasably fixing the lighting device (20) in the pre-adjustment state; - providing at least one fairing part (30); - adjusting and fixing the fairing part (30) on the guide profile (10);characterized in that the cladding part (30) has a stop element (110) which, during the adjustment of the cladding part (30), abuts the travel limiting element (80), whereupon the travel limiting element (80) is displaced at least section by section and the contact of the lighting device (20) with the travel limiting element (80) is released.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for pre-assembling a lighting arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1, a system for producing a pre-assembled lighting arrangement according to the preamble of claim 5, furthermore a pre-assembled lighting arrangement according to the preamble of claim 8 and a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 10. Modern industrial production increasingly utilizes interconnected value creation networks. Regarding the vertical integration of the members of these value creation networks, a trend has emerged in recent years indicating that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are increasingly focusing their resources on activities at the end of the value chain. One example of this is the final assembly of vehicles. It is common practice to outsource at least part of the manufacturing and pre-assembly to external suppliers and then complete the final assembly of the vehicle internally. Modern logistics concepts are used, whereby, for example, pre-assembled components from external suppliers or within the company itself are delivered "just in time" to the final assembly area of ​​the vehicle. In particular, components that form part of the vehicle's exterior surface typically require adjustments to their position and orientation during final assembly to ensure they integrate seamlessly into the vehicle's exterior. For example, consider a vehicle's lighting system: lighting devices are often mounted before any trim pieces that complete the exterior are attached. To guarantee the desired gap dimensions in the vehicle's exterior, the lighting devices often need to be detached and readjusted after the trim pieces are installed. This entails increased workload, which in turn increases the cost of the vehicle. EP 1 228 925 A2 describes a mounting device for rear lights of vehicles, comprising a mounting element that interacts with a counterpart associated with the housing of the rear light. The document states that the counterpart should be adjustable relative to the housing of the rear light. DE 10 2013 101 101 A1 further describes a rear assembly of a motor vehicle. The rear assembly comprises attachments and at least two receiving spaces, each for a rear light assembly. Fixing means are provided for securing the rear light assembly. The fixing means are provided to have a screw connection that extends through an opening in the receiving space and further comprise at least one stop element made of a flexible material in one direction transverse to the screw connection. A further stop element made of a flexible material is also provided in another direction transverse to the screw connection and the first stop element. Furthermore, DE 10 2005 006 824 A1 describes a vehicle light. A bistable spring arrangement is mounted on housing parts of the vehicle light in such a way that, in a pre-assembly position, it pushes the housing parts apart against an installation direction and, in a final assembly position, pulls them towards each other in the installation direction. Furthermore, DE 36 05 209 A1 discloses a lamp for a motor vehicle. This lamp has a lamp holder that is held on a housing cover and is detachably connected to a reflector via a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is designed as a rotary fastener, which has a retaining section and a locking section for connecting the lamp holder to the housing cover. This locking section can be screwed into a centering recess provided on the reflector and serves as a centering element for a connector housing and the lamp holder. Finally, WO 2006 / 111 413 A1 describes a vehicle light with a component that can be removed while installed. This component comprises a light housing and a housing locking device that holds the light housing in a body opening. The housing locking device is blocked by a component when it is in a first position and released when the component is in a second position. The light housing can then be removed from the body opening with minimal force. The present invention is based on the objective of providing a lighting arrangement for a vehicle with which, firstly, a simple and safe pre-assembly of the lighting arrangement is possible, wherein, as a result of the pre-assembly, a state of a lighting device is achieved which enables safe and flexible readjustment of the lighting device with little effort. The problem set out is solved by the subject matter of independent claims 1, 5, 8 and 10. Further preferred embodiments of the invention result from the other features mentioned in the dependent claims. A first aspect of the present invention relates to a method for pre-assembling a lighting arrangement for a vehicle, comprising at least the steps of: - providing a guide profile for at least one body panel of the vehicle; - pre-adjusting at least one lighting device on the guide profile, wherein the lighting device is brought into contact with at least one path limiting element of the guide profile and thus achieves a pre-adjustment state; - releasably fixing the lighting device in the pre-adjustment state; - providing at least one body panel; - adjusting and fixing the body panel on the guide profile. According to the invention, the cladding part has a stop element which, during the adjustment of the cladding part, strikes the path limiting element, whereupon the path limiting element is displaced at least section by section and the contact of the lighting device with the path limiting element is released. The guide profile can, for example, belong to or be attached to a structural component of the vehicle. For instance, the guide profile can be a plastic part manufactured using an injection molding process. The trim component can, for example, be a bumper. Alternative guide profiles or trim components are generally known to those skilled in the art. In the context of the present invention, the term "pre-adjustment" encompasses positioning and / or orientation. The lighting device is thus pre-adjusted, at least relative to the guide profile. Between one and six degrees of freedom are possible. Preferably, the pre-adjustment state includes a fixed position for all six degrees of freedom of the lighting device. The lighting device can, for example, be a taillight, a headlight, or other lighting devices.The travel limiting element serves to restrict at least one degree of freedom of the lighting device in its pre-adjustment state. Depending on its design, this travel limiting element can, of course, restrict more than one degree of freedom of the lighting device. The term "releasable fixing" refers, in particular, to fixing by means of positive and / or force-fit connection principles. A screw connection serves as an example. The releasable fixing can be achieved, for example, on the guide profile or other vehicle parts. The stop element of the trim panel can, for example, be a projection that is attached to or machined from the trim panel.The term "displacement of the path limiting element" includes both the displacement of the path limiting element as a whole, and its section-by-section displacement, for example by deformation. The advantage of the invention lies particularly in the fact that by relocating the travel limiting element, the previously restricted degrees of freedom of the lighting device are restored. Thanks to the releasable fixing, the lighting device nevertheless remains securely in its position or pre-adjustment state for the time being. It is now advantageously possible to restore the mobility of the lighting device and move it from its pre-adjustment state to a desired final adjustment state simply by releasing the releasable fixing. Advantageously, other components of the lighting assembly or other vehicle components do not need to be manipulated again for this purpose. Advantageously, the lighting device can be moved to the desired final adjustment state both on the pre-assembled lighting assembly and during the further completion of the entire vehicle. In a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention, it is provided that after the lighting device is removed from the path limiting element, the releasable fixing of the lighting device is released again in its pre-adjustment state and then a readjustment of the lighting device is carried out. This has the advantage that the lighting device can be integrated almost perfectly into the outer surface of the vehicle during readjustment. Although the invention essentially relates to the pre-assembly of a lighting arrangement, the described principle can, in principle, be extended to any assemblies in which individual components are successively installed and an already installed part is to be adjusted again later with regard to its position and / or orientation. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that, during the pre-adjustment of the lighting device on the guide profile, a relative position of the lighting device and the guide profile is defined, at least in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and further in the transverse direction of the vehicle by contacting the path limiting element. The terms longitudinal direction and transverse direction of the vehicle are self-evident when the entire vehicle, together with the pre-assembled lighting arrangement, is already present. Alternatively, the meaning of the terms becomes clear in the context of corresponding mounting interfaces of the pre-assembled lighting arrangement for a vehicle.This predetermines a subsequent relative position and relative orientation between the lighting arrangement and the vehicle, so that the terms longitudinal direction and transverse direction of the vehicle are unambiguous for the person skilled in the art even without the entire vehicle being present. This design of the process offers the advantage that it is particularly well suited for rear lights and headlights of vehicles, for example motor vehicles. In a further preferred embodiment of the method, it is provided that during the pre-adjustment, the lighting device is brought into contact with the path limiting element of the guide profile in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and that the stop element of the fairing part abuts the path limiting element during the adjustment of the fairing part in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. This offers the advantage that the trim panel can be easily mounted to the guide profile, for example by simply clipping or attaching it from the front. This is also possible if the guide profile and lighting device are already installed in the vehicle. The further aspects of the invention described below are based on the same inventive concept as the method just described. The aspects described with regard to the method can therefore be applied analogously to the aspects described below, and vice versa. A second aspect of the present invention relates to a system for manufacturing a pre-assembled lighting arrangement for a vehicle, comprising at least: - a guide profile for at least one fairing part of the vehicle; - a fairing part that is adjustable and fixable on the guide profile; - a lighting device that is pre-adjustable on the guide profile by being able to bring the lighting device into contact with at least one path limiting element of the guide profile in order to achieve a pre-adjustment state and wherein the lighting device is furthermore releasably fixable in the pre-adjustment state. According to the invention, the cladding part has a stop element that abuts the path limiting element when the cladding part is adjusted on the guide profile, and the path limiting element is designed to displace at least section by section as a result of the abutment, so that the contact of the lighting device with the path limiting element is released when it is in its pre-adjustment state during the adjustment of the cladding part. Naturally, the installation of the lighting device on the path boundary element will also be cancelled if it exists without a defined pre-adjustment state. The system of the invention offers the advantage that it allows a method for pre-assembling a lighting arrangement according to the present invention to be carried out. In a preferred embodiment of the system of the invention, it is provided that the path limiting element is plastically and / or elastically displaceable and / or by means of a kinematic mechanism. For example, the travel limiting element can be injection-molded onto the guide profile and feature a film hinge. Such a travel limiting element would be plastically and elastically displaceable. In the case of a kinematic system, a joint with a return spring mechanism could be present. Such a travel limiting element would be elastic and displaceable by means of a kinematic system. The travel limiting element can preferably be manufactured directly on the guide profile. If it is made of plastic, it can, for example, be molded onto it using an injection molding process. The person skilled in the art determines the materials and manufacturing process independently. Preferably, they design the travel limiting element such that a defined force is required for its displacement.This is preferably dimensioned such that the travel limiting element can be moved over the cladding part with an ergonomically acceptable manual effort, while at the same time ensuring sufficient inherent stability of the travel limiting element so that it neither exhibits bending stiffness tendencies nor is prematurely displaced as a result of unintentional force application. The advantage of such a system lies in its particularly simple and safe construction. It is also particularly easy to manufacture such a path-limiting element. In a further preferred embodiment of the system of the invention, it is provided that the path limiting element can be displaced at least section by section in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is stable in position at least in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The term positional stability here implies the term shape stability. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a pre-assembled lighting arrangement for a vehicle, comprising at least: - a guide profile for at least one fairing part of the vehicle; - a fairing part that is adjusted and fixed to the guide profile; - a lighting device that is arranged in the area of ​​at least one path limiting element of the guide profile and is releasably fixed in a pre-adjustment state. According to the invention, the path limiting element is displaced at least section by section from its original state and the cladding part has a stop element that projects section by section along the lighting device and through a spatial area that represents at least partially the original state of the path limiting element. The original state of the path limiting element essentially refers to its state before the trim panel strikes it, for example, the state after its manufacture without further deformation or displacement. After the trim panel strikes it, the path limiting element is displaced, as described above, or rather, displaced by the trim panel's stop element, so that the stop element now protrudes through the space where the path limiting element was previously located in its original state. The advantage of the pre-assembled lighting arrangement of the invention lies in its particularly simple and cost-effective manufacturing, as well as its robustness. The quality of this pre-assembled lighting arrangement is also significantly increased, as very precise readjustment is possible. In particular, the lighting device is especially easy to readjust. In a preferred embodiment of the pre-assembled lighting arrangement of the invention, it is provided that the path limiting element is displaced at least section by section from its original state and that the lighting device is readjusted from its pre-adjustment state. Advantageously, the outer surface of the vehicle in the area of ​​the pre-assembled lighting arrangement is therefore manufactured very precisely and of high quality. Another aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle with at least one pre-assembled lighting arrangement according to the present invention. This significantly reduces the cost of the vehicle while simultaneously increasing its quality. The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a method according to the invention for pre-assembling a lighting arrangement for a vehicle in a preferred embodiment, wherein a system according to the invention for producing the pre-assembled lighting arrangement is transformed into a pre-assembled lighting arrangement according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a continuation of the method from Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a motor vehicle according to the invention with the pre-assembled lighting arrangement in a preferred embodiment. Fig. 1a shows a first process step in which a guide profile 10 and a lighting device 20 are provided. In the present example, the guide profile 10 is a guide profile for a bumper 40. The bumper 40 is a trim part 30 of the vehicle 150, which is not shown here. The trim part 30 is shown, for example, in Fig. 2a. In Fig. 1a, the lighting device 20 is indicated only by its light housing 50. The lighting device 20, which in this case is a rear light 170 of the vehicle 150, is first pre-adjusted on the guide profile 10. Fig. 1a shows the alignment in the longitudinal direction 60 of the vehicle. Furthermore, Fig. 1b, which shows process step 2, illustrates the alignment of the lighting device 20 in the transverse direction 70 of the vehicle. It is clearly visible that the guide profile 10 has a travel limiting element 80. In this embodiment, the travel limiting element 80 is injection-molded onto the guide profile 10 as a plastic flap 90. The plastic flap 90 has a film hinge 100 in its lower region. Figure 1c shows how, in a third process step, the lighting device 20 is brought into contact with the plastic tab 90 of the guide profile 10 in the transverse direction 70 of the vehicle by means of a contact section 105. The contact section 105 can, for example, be directly molded onto the lighting device 20. Thus, with the contact section 105 against the plastic tab 90, the lighting device 20 reaches its pre-adjustment state and is then detachably fastened by means not shown here for detachable fixation. Preferably, screw connections are used for this purpose. Fig. 2a shows a fourth process step, continuing the process from Fig. 1. It illustrates how the bumper 40 is provided as a trim part 30. The bumper 40 is moved towards the guide profile 10 in the longitudinal direction 60 of the vehicle and adjusted on it. It is clearly visible in Fig. 2a that the bumper 40 has a stop element 110. In the present example, the stop element 110 is formed as a plastic nose 120 from the bumper 40, for example, by injection molding. Figure 2b shows, in a fifth process step, how the stop element 110 abuts the travel limiting element 80 of the guide profile 10. As a result of this abutment, the travel limiting element 80 is displaced 130 about an axis running through the film hinge 100. The displaced state of the travel limiting element 80 is indicated by the dashed line. In other words, the travel limiting element 80 is folded backward in the longitudinal direction 60 of the vehicle. This is shown in detail in Figure 2c. Step 6 represents the completion of the adjustment and fixing of the trim panel 30 to the guide profile 10. It is also clearly visible there that the plastic nose 120 of the bumper 40 now extends into a space where previously (compare Fig. 2b) the travel limiting element 80 was located and resting against the lighting device 20. The lighting device 20 shown in Fig. 2c is still fixed in its pre-adjustment state, but the means for releasable fixing can then simply be loosened and the lighting device 20 readjusted relative to the guide profile 10. Let us return systematically to Fig. 2a. This shows for the first time all the essential elements of the system 135 according to the invention: the guide profile 10, the cladding part 30, and the lighting device 20. Furthermore, Fig. 2c shows for the first time the pre-assembled lighting arrangement 140 according to the invention. Figure 3 shows a vehicle 150, which represents a motor vehicle 160 according to the invention. The motor vehicle 160 according to the invention has the pre-assembled lighting arrangement 140 at different installation positions. These are chosen here purely as examples and are arranged, for instance, in the area of ​​a rear light 170 and a front headlight 180. Reference symbol list 10 Guide profile 20 Lighting device 30 Trim panel 40 Bumper 50 Light housing 60 Vehicle longitudinal direction 70 Vehicle transverse direction 80 Path limiting element 90 Plastic tab 100 Film hinge 105 Installation section 110 Stop element 120 Plastic nose 130 Displacement 135 System 140 Lighting arrangement 150 Vehicle 160 Motor vehicle 170 Rear light 180 Headlight

Claims

Method for pre-assembling a lighting arrangement (140) for a vehicle (150), comprising at least the steps of: - providing a guide profile (10) for at least one fairing part (30) of the vehicle (150); - pre-adjusting at least one lighting device (20) on the guide profile (10), wherein the lighting device (20) is brought into contact with at least one travel limiting element (80) of the guide profile (10) and thus achieves a pre-adjustment state; - releasably fixing the lighting device (20) in the pre-adjustment state; - providing at least one fairing part (30); - adjusting and fixing the fairing part (30) on the guide profile (10);characterized in that the cladding part (30) has a stop element (110) which, during the adjustment of the cladding part (30), abuts the travel limiting element (80), whereupon the travel limiting element (80) is displaced at least section by section and the contact of the lighting device (20) with the travel limiting element (80) is released. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that after the lighting device (20) is released from the path limiting element (80), the releasable fixing of the lighting device (20) is released again in its pre-adjustment state and then a readjustment of the lighting device (20) is carried out. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the course of pre-adjusting the lighting device (20) on the guide profile (10), a relative position of the lighting device (20) and the guide profile (10) is defined at least in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (60) and, by placing the lighting device (20) on the path limiting element (80), further in the transverse direction of the vehicle (70). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, during the pre-adjustment, the lighting device (20) is brought into contact with the travel limiting element (80) of the guide profile (10) in the transverse direction of the vehicle (70) and that, during the adjustment of the trim part (30) in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (60), the stop element (110) of the fairing part (30) abuts the travel limiting element (80). System (135) for manufacturing a pre-assembled lighting arrangement (140) for a vehicle (150), comprising at least: - a guide profile (10) for at least one fairing part (30) of the vehicle (150); - a fairing part (30) that is adjustable and fixable on the guide profile (10); - a lighting device (20) that is pre-adjustable on the guide profile (10) by being able to bring the lighting device (20) into contact with at least one travel limiting element (80) of the guide profile (10) in order to achieve a pre-adjustment state and wherein the lighting device (20) is furthermore releasably fixable in the pre-adjustment state;characterized in that the cover part (30) has a stop element (110) which abuts the travel limiting element (80) when the cover part (30) is adjusted on the guide profile (10) and that the travel limiting element (80) is designed to displace at least section by section as a result of the abutment, so that the contact of the lighting device (20) with the travel limiting element (80) is released when it is in its pre-adjustment state during the adjustment of the cover part (30). System (135) for manufacturing a pre-assembled lighting arrangement (140) according to claim 5, characterized in that the path limiting element (80) is plastically and / or elastically displaceable and / or by means of a kinematic mechanism. System (135) for manufacturing a pre-assembled lighting arrangement (140) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the path limiting element (80) is displaceable at least sectionally in the longitudinal direction (60) of the vehicle and is stable in position at least in the transverse direction (70) of the vehicle. Pre-assembled lighting arrangement (140) for a vehicle (150), comprising at least: - a guide profile (10) for at least one trim panel (30) of the vehicle (150); - a trim panel (30) that is adjusted and fixed to the guide profile (10); - a lighting device (20) that is arranged in the area of ​​at least one travel limiting element (80) of the guide profile (10) and is detachably fixed in a pre-adjustment state; characterized in that the travel limiting element (80) is displaced at least section by section from its original state and the trim panel (30) has a stop element (110) that projects section by section along the lighting device (20) and through a spatial area that represents at least partially the original state of the travel limiting element (80). Pre-assembled lighting arrangement (140) according to claim 8, characterized in that the path limiting element (80) is displaced at least section by section from its original state and the lighting device (20) is readjusted from its pre-adjustment state. Motor vehicle (160) with at least one pre-assembled lighting arrangement (140) according to claim 8 or 9 .

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