Method for attaching a light guide to a vehicle component

Abstract

Method for attaching a light guide (20) to a component (11) for vehicles, wherein the component (11) has a first surface (13), a second surface (14) and an edge (12) adjacent to the two surfaces (13, 14), wherein the light guide (20) is to be attached along or near the edge (12) of the component (11), characterized by the following steps: a) Providing the data set of the model (10) of the component (11), in particular the coordinates of the first surface (13) and the second surface (14) of the model (10) of the component along the edge (12), b) Providing a mounting device (30) which includes means (31) for supplying the light guide (20) and a movable pressure roller (50) with a first roller surface (51) and a second roller surface (52) and at least two pressure sensors S1 and S2 for measuring the pressures P1 mess with the sensor S1 on the first roller surface (51) and P2 messwith the sensor S2 on the second roller surface (52), c) Feeding the optical fiber (20) with the feeding means (31) between the first roller surface (51) of the pressure roller (50) and the first side (13) of the component (11) and positioning the pressure roller (50) on the basis of the data set of the component model (10) with the first roller surface (51) on the first surface (13) of the component (11) and with the second roller surface (52) on the second surface (14) of the component (11) and pressing the optical fiber (20) onto the first surface (13) of the component with the first roller surface (51) of the pressure roller (50), d) where, simultaneously with step c), the pressure P1 mess between the first roller surface (51) and the first surface (13) of the component (11) with the sensor S1 and the pressure P2 mess between the second roller surface (52) and the second surface (14) of the component (11) is measured with the sensor S2, e) the measured values ​​P1 messand P2 mess with the pressure values ​​P1 calculated for the component model (10) theo and P2 theo compared and f) in case of deviation of the theoretical pressures P1 theo and / or P2 theo of the measured pressures P1 mess and / or P2 mess the position of the first and / or second roller surface (51, 52) of the pressure roller (50) relative to the first (13) and / or second (14) surface of the component (11) is corrected.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for attaching a light guide to a vehicle component.

[0002] Vehicle components such as interior components or trim parts are increasingly being illuminated, particularly with perimeter lighting. For this purpose, light guides, particularly Paspol light guides, are generally attached to the edge of the three-dimensional components.

[0003] Paspol light guides consist of a light guide and a Paspol sleeve that surrounds the light guide at the sides and is at least partially translucent. The Paspol sleeve is arranged in such a way that part of the Paspol sleeve forms a flag, which serves to secure the Paspol light guide to the component.

[0004] DE 10 2015 220 557 B4 discloses a method for attaching Paspol light guides to a vehicle component. This document teaches an ultrasonically weldable sheath for the Paspol light guide. The Paspol flag is welded to the vehicle component, at least in sections, using a mounting device in which the vehicle component is positioned in a first positioning area of ​​the mounting device, and the Paspol light guide is positioned and suctioned onto a second positioning area of ​​the mounting device, with its flag at least partially covering the vehicle component, and the area of ​​the flag covering the vehicle component being ultrasonically welded to the vehicle component.In the mounting device, the second positioning area is arranged with respect to the first positioning area such that a flag of a Paspol light guide positioned therein rests at least partially on the vehicle component.

[0005] According to DE 10 2015 220 557 B4, the assembly device should enable the component and Paspol light guide to be positioned precisely relative to one another using simple means.

[0006] However, exact positioning cannot be achieved in practice because there are manufacturing tolerances in the vehicle components, for example when they are injection-molded, so that exact positioning of the Paspol light guide on the component is not possible using the known method.

[0007] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method by means of which light guides can also be attached to a component for vehicles which has a first surface, a second surface and an edge which is adjacent to the two surfaces, by means of which the light guide can be attached exactly along or near the edge of the component even if the components have manufacturing tolerances.

[0008] This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1. The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: a) Providing the data set of the model of the component, in particular the coordinates of the first surface and the second surface of the model of the component along the edge, b) Providing a mounting device comprising means for feeding the optical fiber and a movable pressure roller with a first roller surface and a second roller surface and at least two pressure sensors S1 and S2 for measuring the pressures P1 mess with the sensor S1 on the first roller surface and P2 mess with the sensor S2 on the second roller surface, c) feeding the optical fiber with the feeding means between the first roller surface of the pressure roller and the first surface of the component and positioning the pressure roller on the basis of the data set of the component model with the first roller surface on the first surface of the component and with the second roller surface on the second surface of the component and pressing the optical fiber onto the first surface with the roller surface of the pressure roller, d) whereby simultaneously with step c) the pressure P1 messbetween the first roller surface and the first surface of the component with the sensor S1 and the pressure P2 mess between the second roller surface and the second surface of the component is measured with the sensor S2, e) the measured values ​​P1 mess and P2 mess with the pressure values ​​P1 calculated for the component model theo and P2 theo compared and f) in case of deviation of the theoretical pressures P1 theo and / or P2 theo from the measured pressures P1 mess and / or P2 mess the position of the first and / or second roller surface of the pressure roller is corrected relative to the first and / or second surface of the component.

[0009] The method according to the invention is based on the data from the component model. Since the light guide is to be positioned along or near the edge of the component, the theoretical data from the component model, which determines the three-dimensional shape of the edge and the two surfaces adjacent to the edge, are particularly important. Based on the component model, a theoretical path along which the movable pressure roller, described in detail later, must be moved can thus be calculated. These files are generally already stored in a data processing system.

[0010] Furthermore, a mounting device is provided for attaching the optical fiber to the component, particularly in its edge region. The mounting device comprises a pressure roller with a first and a second roller surface. The roller surface of the pressure roller is oriented in an L-shaped cross-section and has a first roller surface and a second roller surface, which are preferably arranged perpendicular to one another.

[0011] With this first roller surface, the light guide can be pressed against the first surface of the component and with the second roller surface against the second surface of the component near the edge.

[0012] The first and second surfaces of the component do not have to be flat. It is sufficient if the first surface of the component has a flat area against which the first roller surface of the pressure roller can be pressed and the second roller surface can be in contact with the second surface of the component. The contact areas on the first and second surfaces of the component are preferably arranged at right angles to each other.

[0013] Furthermore, the assembly device has two pressure sensors S1 and S2, wherein the first sensor S1 measures the contact pressure of the first roller surface on the first surface near the edge of the component, and the second sensor S2 measures the pressure on the second surface of the component near the edge of the component. The obtained pressure values ​​P1 mess and P2 mess the sensors S1 and S2 are compared with the theoretical pressure values ​​P1 calculated from the component model and the respective position of the two roller surfaces of the movable pressure rollertheo and P2 theo If there is a deviation of the measured pressure value(s) P1 mess , P2 mess from the theoretical pressure values ​​P1 theo , P2 theo the position of the pressure roller is corrected. If the measured pressure P1 mess or P2 mess lower than the calculated pressure P1 theo , P2 theo , then the roller surface in question must be moved toward the first or second surface of the component to increase the pressure. The new position to which the roller surface is moved based on the measured pressure differences is also calculated taking into account the data from the component model.

[0014] Preferably, the pressure roller is moved along the calculated path along the edge of the component simultaneously with the correction of the position of the first and / or second roller surface.

[0015] Measuring the pressures P1 mess and P2 mess, the comparison with the theoretical values ​​P1 theo and P2 theo and the possible corrective movement are superimposed on the movement of the pressure roller on the path along the edge of the component, ie, if a deviating pressure is measured in one position, the pressure roller moves further along the path along the edge of the component and at the same time the position of one or both roller surfaces of the pressure roller is corrected with respect to the measured pressure difference to be corrected.

[0016] The first roller surface continuously presses the light guide against the first surface of the component along the path.

[0017] After a certain distance along the track (control distance), another pressure measurement P1 is taken mess , P2 mess with sensors S1 and S2 with subsequent correction if necessary and so on.

[0018] Preferably, following step f), the method from step c) is repeated, wherein the new position of the pressure roller in step c) is calculated starting from the last position of the pressure roller and on the basis of the component model.

[0019] Thus, since the pressure roller is movable and measures the contact pressure against the first surface of the component and the pressure against the second surface of the component via the pressure sensors S1 and S2, the assembly device detects whether the real component corresponds to the geometry of the underlying theoretical component or whether the component has manufacturing tolerances and, in this case, changes the position of the first and / or second roller surface of the pressure roller in relation to the first and / or second surface of the component so that it rests on the desired surface with the desired contact pressure even in the case of a thinner component, for example.

[0020] Thus, manufacturing tolerances of the component can be corrected via the pressure measurements by means of the sensors S1 and S2 and the subsequent possibility of controlling the position of the pressure roller of the assembly device with respect to the position of the first and / or the second side of the component.

[0021] The pressure roller can be moved both on the path along the edge of the component and in relation to the first and second surface of the component, thus in the three spatial directions.

[0022] The component is rigid and has an upward-facing surface and a side surface that abut one another or merge into one another to form an edge. The first and second surfaces can be flat, rounded, or curved. In any case, the first and second surfaces should have a flat area for supporting the first and second roller surfaces. The flat areas of the first and second surfaces of the component should be arranged at right angles to one another. The edge can be square or rounded. The light guide can be pressed along the edge of the component, but can also have a recess or groove close to and at a distance from the edge, into which the light guide bead can be inserted and then fastened to the top of the component using the tab.

[0023] Preferably, the two sensors S1, S2 measure the pressures on mutually perpendicular surfaces, namely in the direction of the pressure of the first roller surface and perpendicular to this in the direction of the second roller surface. The sensors S1 and S2 are preferably arranged in the mounting device in which the roller is mounted.

[0024] The pressure measurements by sensors S1 and S2 should preferably be performed simultaneously. Pressure sensors S1 and S2 measure the pressure of the respective roller surface of the pressure roller against the first and second surfaces of the component, respectively, near the edge of the component.

[0025] In order to determine the actual contours of the first and second surfaces of the real component as accurately as possible, pressure measurements should be taken using the sensors at least every 50 millimeters, preferably at least every 30 millimeters, and most preferably at least every 20 millimeters. This control interval is preferably shortened further.

[0026] The assembly device also has means for storing the optical fiber and feeding it to the pressure roller, where it is pressed onto one side of the component. For this purpose, the optical fiber is preferably wound, for example, on a spool attached to the assembly device, so that it can be gradually unwound and fed to the pressure roller.

[0027] The light guide is designed to radiate light incident on the end face over its side surface. The Paspol material can be, for example, a textile or a film, in particular made of plastic. A Paspol light guide is preferably used to apply the light guide to the component. The Paspol light guide, which can also be referred to as a piping light guide, has a light-permeable, i.e. transparent or translucent Paspol material around the actual light guide, which is preferably a light guide made of glass, silicone or plastic fiber. The area of ​​the Paspol light guide which contains the actual light guide or the optical fiber and the Paspol material surrounding it can also be referred to as a Paspol bead. The Paspol light guide also has a flag by means of which it can be attached to the component. For this purpose, the flag is preferably provided with an adhesive coating on the underside.

[0028] The Paspol light guide, which is provided with the adhesive coating, particularly in the area of ​​the underside of the flag of the Paspol light guide, is fed between the pressure roller and the component, measuring the contact pressure of the first roller surface of the pressure roller on the first side and the pressure measurement of the second roller surface on the second side of the component, and is pressed with the pressure roller. As soon as the sensors S1 and S2 detect a deviation from the theoretical pressure P1 theo and P2 theo detect, the position of the pressure roller is corrected so that the next section of the Paspol light guide can then be pressed again at the correct position and with the correct contact pressure of the roller.

[0029] This means that even with manufacturing tolerances, an almost exact application of the Paspol light guide can be achieved at or near the edge of the component.

[0030] The adhesive coating on the Paspol light guide, especially on the underside of its flag, ensures a (first) fixation of the Paspol light guide on the component.

[0031] In order to achieve a final fixation of the Paspol light guide on the component, the Paspol light guide is then finally fixed to the component, for example by tacking with a compressed air tacker or by ultrasonic welding.

[0032] In the method according to the invention, the pressure roller of the assembly device is moved into the position calculated from the geometry of the theoretical component. A section of the optical fiber can already have been unwound and secured in a stationary holding device. Alternatively, the end of the optical fiber is fastened to the component above the pressure roller. The pressure roller of the assembly device then moves around the component or its edge, with the optical fiber being continuously unwound and pressed by the pressure roller. At the same time, the sensors S1 and S2 measure the respective contact pressure of the first roller surface of the pressure roller and the pressure of the other roller surface, which is oriented perpendicular to the first roller surface of the pressure roller, and if necessary, the position of the pressure roller or the other roller plane relative to the component is corrected.

[0033] Because the application of the light guide to the component is not carried out in a static device, as is known from the prior art, but rather the pressure roller of the assembly device moves around the component and the assembly device regulates the respective position in relation to the component during the pressing of the light guide, an exact fastening of the light guide along the edge or parallel to it can be achieved even in components subject to manufacturing tolerances.

[0034] The method according to the invention can be carried out with a component or a component laminated, for example, with a decorative material. In the method according to the invention, the thickness of the lamination ultimately acts as an oversize of the component and is compensated for by the method according to the invention in the same way as a manufacturing tolerance.

[0035] The optical fiber supplied between the first surface of the component and the first roller surface of the pressure roller in the method according to the invention also causes the pressure measurement P1 mess with the sensor S1, that a higher pressure is measured due to the higher layer thickness, which is then compensated by a displacement of the first roller surface away from the first surface of the component.

[0036] The invention is described in more detail below using exemplary embodiments.

[0037] It shows: Fig. 1: a section through a section of a component Fig. 2: a schematic representation of a Paspol light guide Fig. 3: a section through the component according to Fig. 1 with fixed light guide Fig. 4: a section through the component with manufacturing tolerances, light guide, pressure measurement and the movable pressure roller Fig. 5: a schematic view of the assembly device

[0038] In Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a detail of a three-dimensional component 11. The component 11 has two surfaces 13, 14, namely a first, here upward-facing surface 13 and a second, here lateral surface 14, and an edge 12 at which the upward-facing surface 13 and the second surface 14, namely the lateral surface, abut one another. Near the edge 12, the component 11 can have a recess 15, which serves to accommodate the light guide 21 or the bead 24 of the Paspol light guide 20. The two surfaces 13, 14 each have flat regions 18, 19, which are arranged perpendicular to one another and serve to support the roller surfaces 51, 52.

[0039] The component 11 is preferably made of plastic and can be covered with a decorative material such as leather, synthetic leather, or a textile (not shown). The component 11 covered with the decorative material also has an edge 12', a first side 13' and a second side 14', and a recess 15'. If the component 11 is covered with a decorative material, the explanations for the component 11 also refer accordingly to the component 11 covered with a decorative material, and the first surface 13 refers to the surface of the component covered with the decorative material, etc.

[0040] The Paspol light guide 20 in Fig. 2 comprises a light guide 21 made of glass or plastic and a piping sleeve 22 surrounding the light guide 21 and forming a flag 23 for attachment. The piping sleeve 22 is transparent or translucent.

[0041] The flag 23 is coated on its underside 25 with an adhesive 26. The adhesive 26 is sufficiently sticky to at least pre-fix the Paspol light guide 20 to the component 11. The area of ​​the light guide 21 directly surrounded by the Paspol sheath is referred to as the bead 24.

[0042] Fig. 3 now shows the component from Fig. 1, wherein the flag 23 of the Paspol light guide 20 is bonded to the first surface 13 of the component 11, which faces upwards here, using the adhesive layer 26. The bead 24 of the Paspol light guide 20 lies in the recess 15 near the edge 12 of the component. The light guide 20 thus enables perimeter illumination.

[0043] Fig. 4 shows the component 11 and the light guide 20, 21 from Fig. 3 with a part of the pressure roller 50 of the assembly device 30.

[0044] The pressure roller 50 is rotatably mounted about the roller axis 54 and presses with the first roller surface 51 at a pressure P1 in the direction of the upward-facing surface 13 of the component 11. The Paspol light guide 20, which has an adhesive coating 26 on the tab 23, is fed between the first roller surface 51 of the pressure roller 50 and the upward-facing surface 13. The first roller surface 51 of the pressure roller 50 presses the tab 22 of the Paspol light guide 20 onto the first surface 13 of the component, here the upward-facing side. Due to the adhesive coating 26 of the tab 22, the Paspol light guide 20 is thus varied on the upward-facing surface 13 of the component 11.

[0045] A sensor S1 measures the pressure P1 with which the first roller surface 51 of the pressure roller 50 presses against the component 11. If the measured pressure P1 mess under the expected pressure P1 theothe first roller surface 51 of the pressure roller 50 is moved towards the upward-facing side 13 of the component in the direction of the double arrow B1 until the pressure measurement P1 mess of the sensor S1 the expected pressure P1 theo displays.

[0046] The measured pressure p1 mess , p2 mess is then below the expected pressure P1 theo , P2 theo , if the component 11 has a shrinkage which, in relation to the component in Fig. 4 is indicated by the double arrows A and B. This shrinkage is compensated by the movement of the pressure roller according to the double arrows A1 and B1, so that the light guide is pressed into the desired position with constant pressure.

[0047] The pressure measurement is also carried out on the lateral surface 14 of the component in order to compensate for shrinkage according to double arrow A. If the pressure measurement P2 messon the second roller surface 52, which is perpendicular to the plane of the first roller surface 51 of the pressure roller 50, does not reach the calculated pressure P2 theo , the pressure roller 50 is displaced toward the side surface 14 according to the double arrow A1 until the pressure measured with the sensor S2 again matches the theoretically calculated pressure at the next measurement. Here, too, the shrinkage A of the component on its side surface 14 is compensated for by the movement of the pressure roller according to arrow A1.

[0048] If excessive pressure is measured with sensors S1 or S2, the pressure roller 50 is moved in the opposite direction.

[0049] A roll 27 with the Paspol light guide 20 is provided in the assembly device 30. During the movement of the assembly device 30 along the calculated path 60, the Paspol light guide 20 is unwound and pressed onto the upward-facing side 13 of the component along the edge 12 by means of the pressure roller 50.

[0050] However, since the components 11 have manufacturing tolerances, the calculated path 60 does not necessarily correspond to the actual course of the edge 12 and the surfaces 13, 14 surrounding the edge 12 of an individual component 11, with the result that if the Paspol light guide 20 were pressed on solely on the basis of the calculated idealized path 60, the light guide would not exactly follow the course of the edge 12.

[0051] Thus, the path of the pressure roller 50 around the component 11 is continuously checked by the pressure measurement and corrected if necessary.

[0052] In Fig.Figure 5 schematically shows the assembly device 30. The assembly device can be moved in all three spatial directions and thus compensates for manufacturing tolerances according to arrows A and B and also follows the contour of the edge of the component in direction C.

[0053] The assembly device 30 comprises the pressure roller 50 rotatably mounted on the rotation axis 54 with the two roller surfaces 51 and 52, a roller 27 with the Paspol light guide 20 and means 31 for feeding the Paspol light guide 20 to the area below the first roller surface 51.

[0054] The mounting device 30 is movable relative to the stationary mounting system 36 via a pivoting device 32. The mounting device 30 also includes the sensors S1 and S2.

Claims

[1] A method for attaching a light guide (20) to a component (11) for vehicles, the component (11) having a first surface (13), a second surface (14) and an edge (12) adjacent to the two surfaces (13, 14), the light guide (20) being to be attached along or near the edge (12) of the component (11), characterized by the following steps: a) providing the data set of the model (10) of the component (11), in particular the coordinates of the first surface (13) and the second surface (14) of the model (10) of the component along the edge (12), b) providing a mounting device (30) comprising means (31) for feeding the optical fiber (20) and a movable pressure roller (50) with a first roller surface (51) and a second roller surface (52) and at least two pressure sensors S1 and S2 for measuring the pressures P1 mess with the sensor S1 on the first roller surface (51) and P2 messwith the sensor S2 on the second roller surface (52), c) feeding the light guide (20) with the feeding means (31) between the first roller surface (51) of the pressure roller (50) and the first side (13) of the component (11) and positioning the pressure roller (50) on the basis of the data set of the component model (10) with the first roller surface (51) on the first surface (13) of the component (11) and with the second roller surface (52) on the second surface (14) of the component (11) and pressing the light guide (20) onto the first surface (13) of the component with the first roller surface (51) of the pressure roller (50), d) whereby simultaneously with step c) the pressure P1 mess between the first roller surface (51) and the first surface (13) of the component (11) with the sensor S1 and the pressure P2 mess between the second roller surface (52) and the second surface (14) of the component (11) is measured with the sensor S2, e) the measured values ​​P1 mess and P2mess with the pressure values ​​P1 calculated for the component model (10) theo and P2 theo compared and f) in case of deviation of the theoretical pressures P1 theo and / or P2 theo from the measured pressures P1 mess and / or P2 mess the position of the first and / or second roller surface (51, 52) of the pressure roller (50) is corrected relative to the first (13) and / or second (14) surface of the component (11). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the pressure roller (50) is moved along the calculated path (60) along the edge (12) of the component (11) simultaneously with the correction of the position of the first and / or second roller surface. [3] Method according to claim 2, characterized bythat following step f) the method from step c) is repeated, wherein the new position of the pressure roller (50) in step c) is calculated starting from the last position of the pressure roller (50) and on the basis of the component model. [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the component (11) is a component (11) laminated with a decorative material (17). [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the first (13) and / or second surface (14) of the component (11) each have a flat region (18, 19) which are preferably arranged at right angles to one another and / or the component (11) has a groove or a recess in the edge region in which the light guide (20) can be received. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the first roller surface (51) and the second roller surface (52) are aligned perpendicular to each other in section. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the pressure measurement by means of the sensors S1, S2 along the edge (12) of the component (11) is carried out at least every 50 millimeters, preferably at least every 30 millimeters and particularly preferably at least every 20 millimeters. [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sensors S1 and S2 measure the pressures P1 mess and P2 mess on mutually perpendicular surfaces (13, 31), (14, 32) and / or the measurement is carried out by the sensors S1 and S2 simultaneously. [9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the light guide (20) is a Paspol light guide (21) with a (22) and a flag (23) which is coated on its underside (25) with an adhesive (26) and / or the light guide (20) is rolled up on a roll (27) and stored in the mounting device (30). [10] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the light guide (20, 21) glued onto the component (11) is then finally fastened by means of tackers.

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