Device, method and film for attachment to a motor vehicle

Abstract

Device (10) for attaching at least one film (5) to a motor vehicle (8), with a holding device (20) for holding the film (5) and with a positioning device (30), wherein the positioning device (30) comprises at least one insertion aid (31, 32, 33) which is inserted into a gap (34, 35) present on the motor vehicle (8) due to its design, in order to align and position the holding device (20) with the film (5) held thereon exactly on the motor vehicle (8), characterized in that the holding device (20) for holding the film (5) at opposite film ends has two receiving sections (21, 22) each with two holding pins (23, 24;25, 26) which serve for hanging the film (5), wherein at least one of the two receiving sections (21, 22) is movable relative to the other receiving section in order to simplify the hanging of the film (5), wherein the film (5) has two holding sections (1, 2) at the opposite film ends, between which a design section (3) is arranged which is connected to the holding sections (1, 2) via perforation lines (41, 42), wherein the device (10) comprises a support structure (15) with four spacers (11-14) which serve to hold the aligned and positioned holding device (20) with the film (5) held thereon at a desired distance from the motor vehicle (8);

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device and a method for applying at least one film to a motor vehicle, with a holding device for holding the film and with a positioning device.

[0002] European Patent Application EP 3569512 A1 discloses an application aid for positioning flexible stickers on a part of a vehicle, wherein the application aid comprises at least two centering pins that simultaneously serve as a receiving means and an insertion aid. American Patent Application US 5246519 A discloses a method for applying a window adhesive film to a window of a motor vehicle using an application aid that includes a template part with an outer shape that closely conforms to a predetermined shape of the window opening. Chinese Utility Model CN ​​215437119 U discloses a robot-assisted method for applying a sticker to a complex three-dimensional surface.The American patent application US 2016229577 A1 discloses an application aid for a sticker, wherein the application aid comprises a base plate, a floating plate for positioning the sticker, an elastic element and an angle limiting mechanism.The German patent application DE 10 2014 201 706 A1 discloses a device for applying a film to at least one application vehicle part, comprising a frame that can be moved freely in space and has at least one application tool that can be moved in a predeterminable or predetermined movement and at least one coupling element for establishing a connection between the device and at least one coupling element of a vehicle that differs from the application vehicle part, wherein the frame can be positioned relative to the application vehicle part in such a way that the application tool can be moved in a continuous movement over the entire length of the application vehicle part after establishing a connection with the vehicle via the at least one coupling element.German patent application DE 103 11 267 A1 discloses a method and a device for the automated application of paint film, which is integrated into a film composite, to a body part using a robot-guided application tool. German patent application DE 10 2019 200 604 A1 discloses a method for applying an adhesive film comprising an adhesive layer to a surface of a paint-coated motor vehicle body, wherein means for fixing the adhesive film comprise pins that correspond to holes in the adhesive film. European patent application EP 3 116 703 B1 discloses a method for applying a film to a base material having an adhesive surface using a film gripping part.

[0003] The object of the invention is to simplify the attachment of at least one film to a motor vehicle, with a holding device for holding the film and with a positioning device.

[0004] The object is achieved in a device for applying at least one film to a motor vehicle, comprising a holding device for holding the film and a positioning device, in that the positioning device comprises at least one insertion aid which is inserted into a gap present in the motor vehicle due to its design, in order to precisely align and position the holding device with the film held thereon on the motor vehicle. The device with the insertion aid can also be referred to as an application aid. The gap present in the motor vehicle due to its design is preferably a door gap. The door gap can be arranged between a door of the motor vehicle and a fender. A further gap is advantageously arranged between a sill and the door. The insertion aid advantageously comprises an insertion element with a tapered insertion body which is inserted into the gap.This significantly simplifies the alignment and positioning of the holding device with the film held thereon. For this purpose, the film advantageously has two through-holes at each of the opposite end sections. This means that the film, whose end sections rest against the receiving sections of the holding device, can be held securely by the four holding pins and, particularly advantageously, can also be tensioned before the film is attached or applied. The at least one receiving section is advantageously guided so as to be movable in translation. The receiving sections are advantageously directed obliquely away from the motor vehicle when the film held on the holding device is in contact with the motor vehicle. This significantly simplifies the handling of the film and the application of the film held on the holding device. In particular, unwanted damage to the motor vehicle caused by the holding device is avoided.Particularly advantageously, the receiving section of the holding device, which is movable relative to the other receiving section, is spring-loaded. This enables tensioning of the film suspended from the holding device. In the design section, the film is preferably provided with lettering. The lettering can comprise characters, numbers, and graphic symbols. The lettering is advantageously combined with design features. The holding sections advantageously serve only to suspend the film from the holding device, wherein the film is advantageously pre-tensioned by a spring device integrated into the holding device, as described above. When the film is applied to the motor vehicle, for example by squeegeeing with a suitable squeegee device, the design section is advantageously detached from the holding sections at the two perforation lines.The holding sections then remain on the holding device, while the design section of the film is bonded to the vehicle in the desired manner. The support structure with the four spacers, which serve to keep the aligned and positioned holding device with the film held to it at a desired distance from the vehicle, reliably prevents damage to the vehicle. The spacers are advantageously provided with a suitable protective material, such as rubber, at the ends that come into contact with the vehicle.

[0005] A preferred embodiment of the device is characterized in that the positioning device comprises an insertion aid for insertion into a gap between a door and a fender, as well as two insertion aids for insertion into a gap between the door and a sill of the motor vehicle. The three insertion aids can be designed essentially identically. With the three insertion aids inserted into the two gaps, the holding device with the film held thereon can be quickly, easily and precisely aligned and positioned on the door of the motor vehicle before the film held on the holding device is attached to the door. The two insertion aids assigned to the gap between the door and the sill are advantageously arranged at a defined distance from one another.The gap between the door and the sill of the motor vehicle preferably runs essentially in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, also referred to as the x-direction. A transverse direction of the vehicle is analogously referred to as the y-direction. The gap between the door and the fender preferably runs essentially in a vertical direction of the vehicle, also referred to as the z-direction.

[0006] A further preferred embodiment of the device is characterized in that four suction cups are attached to the support structure, with which the support structure and the holding device with the film held thereon can be releasably attached to the motor vehicle. The four suction cups are advantageously arranged in a substantially rectangular manner and are each assigned to suitable locations on the motor vehicle that enable stable attachment of the device with the aid of the suction cups. A vacuum can advantageously be applied to the suction cups in order to hold the device securely to the motor vehicle during application of the film.

[0007] A further preferred embodiment of the device is characterized in that the support structure comprises a support frame with an externally accessible application opening facing the film held by the holding device. Thus, the film can be applied from the outside using a suitable tool, such as the previously described squeegee device, if it is correctly aligned and positioned using the holding device. The application opening is advantageously larger than the design section with the film. The application opening has, for example, the shape of a rectangle bounded by the support frame. Thus, reaching through with a squeegee for applying the film by means of a squeegee application is considerably simplified when the device is mounted in the motor vehicle with the film held by the holding device.

[0008] In a method for applying at least one film to a motor vehicle using a device described above, the above-mentioned object is achieved alternatively or additionally by aligning and positioning the device with a film suspended from the holding device on the motor vehicle before the film is applied to the motor vehicle. The film is preferably applied to the motor vehicle by doctor blades. The claimed method, in combination with the device described above, can significantly reduce the cycle time for applying the film in the industrial production of motor vehicles.

[0009] The invention further relates to a film for attachment to a motor vehicle using a device described above. The film is sold separately.

[0010] A preferred embodiment of the film is characterized in that the film has two holding sections at the opposite ends, between which a design section is arranged, which is connected to the holding sections via perforation lines. This significantly simplifies the application of the film to the motor vehicle.

[0011] The invention may also relate to a motor vehicle having a film which is attached to the motor vehicle according to a method described above using a device described above.

[0012] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which various embodiments are described in detail with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a part of a motor vehicle with a device for applying a film attached thereto; Fig. 2 a similar representation as in Fig. 1 from a different perspective; Fig. 3 a film for attachment to the motor vehicle in a plan view; and the Fig. 4 to 7 different perspective views to illustrate a method for applying the film from Fig. 3 on a motor vehicle.

[0013] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a lower section of a door 9 of a motor vehicle 8 with a device 10 attached thereto for applying a film 5 to the motor vehicle 8. The device 10 comprises a holding device 20 with two receiving sections 21, 22. The holding device 20 is attached to a support structure 15 of the device 10.

[0014] The support structure 15 comprises a support frame 44 with a substantially rectangular application opening 45. The receiving sections 21, 22 are angled obliquely outward from the support frame 44, i.e., away from the door 9 of the motor vehicle 8. The receiving section 22 is fixedly connected to the support structure 15. The receiving section 21 is translationally movable relative to the support frame 44 with the receiving section 22.

[0015] Slide 5 includes a Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 design section 3 visible through the application opening 45. The design section 3 comprises a lettering 4. The lettering 4 comprises, for example, letters and numbers.

[0016] In Fig. 3 shows the film 5 alone in a top view. The design section 3 of the film 5 is arranged between two holding sections 1 and 2. The holding sections 1 and 2 are connected in one piece to the design section 3 with a perforation line 41, 42 interposed between them.

[0017] The perforation lines 41, 42 represent predetermined breaking points along which the design section 3 is separated from the holding sections 1 and 2 when the design section 3 is attached or applied to the door. The holding sections 1 and 2 each include two through holes 46, 47; 48, 49.

[0018] The through holes 46, 47; 48, 49 serve to thread the film 5 with the holding sections 1 and 2 onto holding pins 23, 24; 25, 26, which are attached to the receiving sections 21, 22 of the holding device 20. In Fig. 4, the film 5 is stretched with its holding sections 1 and 2 onto the receiving sections 21, 22 of the holding device 20.

[0019] In Fig. 4 shows that the device 10 has four spacers 11 to 14, which are attached to the support frame 44 of the support structure 15. Furthermore, a total of four suction cups 16 to 19 are attached to the support frame 44 of the support structure 15.

[0020] In Fig. 6 shows that the device 10 further comprises a positioning device 30 with a total of three insertion aids 31, 32, 33. The insertion aids 31, 32, 33 are attached to the support frame 44 of the support structure 15. Each insertion aid 31 to 33 comprises an insertion element that is essentially L-shaped.

[0021] At a free end of the insertion element, the insertion aids 31 to 33 each have a tapered insertion body. The tapered insertion body is essentially triangular in shape, with one tip inserted into a gap 34, 35 to align and position the device 10. A gap 34 is formed between a fender 6 and the door 9. A gap 35 is formed between a sill 7 and the door 9.

[0022] In Fig. 6 shows that the insertion aid 31 is inserted with its tapered end into the gap 34 between the fender 6 and the door 9. The two insertion aids 32 and 33 are inserted into the gap 35 between the sill 7 and the door 9. This allows the device 10 to be precisely aligned and positioned in a simple manner when attached to the door 9 using the three insertion aids 31 to 33.

[0023] The spacers 11 to 14 ensure that the support frame 44 of the device 10 does not come into contact with the motor vehicle 8. Using the suction cups 16 to 19, the device 10, with the film 5 stretched by means of the holding device 20, can be releasably attached to the motor vehicle 8.

[0024] In Fig. Figure 7 shows how the film 5 with its design section 3 is pressed against the door 9, for example, using a suitable squeegee device. In doing so, the design section 3 is firstly adhered to the door 9. Furthermore, the connection between the design section 3 and the holding sections 1, 2 tears open along the perforation lines 41, 42. Particularly advantageously, a single pass with the squeegee is sufficient to apply the film 5 with its design section 3 without bubbles.

[0025] The claimed method can be described as follows. First, the film is suspended with its holding sections 1, 2 on the holding pins 23, 24; 25, 26 of the receiving sections 21, 22 of the holding device 20. Then, the design section 3 of the film 5 is tensioned by a corresponding movement of the receiving section 21. Subsequently, an adhesive liner is peeled off the design section 3 of the film 5.

[0026] The device 10 is then aligned and positioned on the motor vehicle 8 using the three insertion aids 31 to 33. The spacers 11 to 14 ensure that the motor vehicle 8 is not damaged and that the design section 3 does not come into contact with the motor vehicle 8.

[0027] Subsequently, the suction cups 16 to 19 are activated by vacuum to securely hold the device 10 to the motor vehicle 8. The design section 3 with the lettering 4 is then applied with a squeegee. The film 5 tears at the perforation lines 41, 42 as soon as the squeegee approaches the design section 3 and moves the design section 3 against the vehicle door 9. After the design section 3 has been completely applied, the device 10 can be removed. Finally, a protective liner can be removed from the design section 3.

Claims

[1] Device (10) for attaching at least one film (5) to a motor vehicle (8), with a holding device (20) for holding the film (5) and with a positioning device (30), wherein the positioning device (30) comprises at least one insertion aid (31, 32, 33) which is inserted into a gap (34, 35) present on the motor vehicle (8) due to its design in order to align and position the holding device (20) with the film (5) held thereon exactly on the motor vehicle (8), characterized byin that the holding device (20) for holding the film (5) at opposite film ends comprises two receiving sections (21, 22), each with two holding pins (23, 24; 25, 26), which serve to suspend the film (5), wherein at least one of the two receiving sections (21, 22) is movable relative to the other receiving section in order to simplify suspending the film (5), wherein the film (5) has two holding sections (1, 2) at the opposite film ends, between which a design section (3) is arranged, which is connected to the holding sections (1, 2) via perforation lines (41, 42), wherein the device (10) comprises a support structure (15) with four spacers (11-14), which serve to hold the aligned and positioned holding device (20) with the film (5) held thereon at a desired distance from the motor vehicle (8). [2] Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the positioning device (30) comprises an insertion aid (31) for insertion into a gap (34) between a door (9) and a fender (6) and two insertion aids (32, 33) for insertion into a gap (35) between the door (9) and a sill (7) of the motor vehicle (8). [3] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that four suction cups (16-19) are attached to the support structure (15), with which the support structure (15) and the holding device (20) with the film (5) held thereon can be detachably fastened to the motor vehicle (8). [4] Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the support structure (15) comprises a support frame (44) with an externally accessible application opening (45) which faces the film (5) held by the holding device (20). [5] Method for applying at least one film (5) to a motor vehicle (8) using a device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the device (10) is aligned and positioned on the motor vehicle (8) with a film (5) suspended on the holding device (20) before the film (5) is attached to the motor vehicle (8). [6] Film (5) for attachment to a motor vehicle (8) with a device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the film (5) has two holding sections (20) at the opposite film ends, between which a design section (3) is arranged, which is connected to the holding sections (1,2) via perforation lines (41,42).

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