MOUNTING METHOD AND MOUNTING DEVICE FOR FASTENING A FLEXIBLE OPTICAL FIBER TO A SUPPORT COMPONENT

Abstract

Assembly method and assembly device for fastening at least one flexible optical fiber (1) to a carrier component (2) of a vehicle lamp (11), the assembly method comprising the following steps: a) releasably receiving a flexible optical fiber (1) in a first device (3), the optical fiber (1) being received in the first device (3) along a curved laying path (4); b) releasably receiving a carrier component (2) in a second device (5), which carrier component (2) has a receiving area (6) for the optical fiber (1) that is congruent with the laying path (4); c) applying adhesive (7) to the receiving area (6) at least in sections; d) bringing the first device (3) and the second device (5) together, so that the optical fiber (1) received in the first device (3) covers at least the section(s) applied with adhesive (7).Sections of the receiving area (6) of the carrier component (2) received in the second device (5) are contacted; e) curing the adhesive (7) so that the optical fiber (1) is firmly connected to the carrier component (2) after a predeterminable curing time; f) removing the first device (3) from the second device (5) so that the carrier component (2), together with the optical fiber (1) connected thereto, remains detachably in the first device (3) or detachably in the second device (5).

Description

The invention relates to an assembly method for fastening at least one flexible light fiber to a carrier component of a vehicle light.Such light fibers have a longitudinal extent and can be configured to couple out light coupled into the light fiber at least in sections laterally, i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the light fiber. For this purpose, such light fibers can contain scattering particles and / or scattering structures.On the one hand, such light fibers are widely applicable, since they can be adapted to a wide variety of shapes because of their flexibility. On the other hand, this makes the assembly time-consuming and complicated.DE 10 2018 105 571 A1 discloses a method for producing a lighting device for a motor vehicle.DE 10 2021 117 618 A1 relates to a tail lamp for a motor vehicle.DE 10 2019 125 832 A1 relates to an injection-molded component.DE 10 2020 121 021 A1 relates to a method for fastening a light guide to a component for vehicles.It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an assembling method and an assembling apparatus for shortening the assembling time in attaching flexible light fibers.The object is achieved by the mounting method mentioned at the beginning, wherein the mounting method has the following steps: a) releasably receiving the flexible light fiber in a first device, wherein the light fiber is received in the first device along a curved installation path; b) releasably receiving the carrier component in a second device, which carrier component has a receiving region for the light fiber congruent with the installation path; c) at least in sections applying adhesive to the receiving region; d) bringing together the first device and the second device, so that the light fiber received in the first device contacts at least the section or sections of the receiving region of the carrier component received in the second device applied with adhesive; e) curing the adhesive so that the optical fiber is firmly connected to the carrier component after a predeterminable curing time; f) removing the first device from the second device so that the carrier component, together with the optical fiber connected thereto, remains releasably in the first device or releasably in the second device."Detachable receiving" in connection with the invention means that suitable means are provided for receiving, holding and releasing the at least one optical fiber or the carrier component in the first device or in the second device, respectively. Means suitable for this are shown in the dependent claims and in the description."Curved" in connection with the invention means that the installation path deviates at least in sections from a straight course. In this sense, the installation path preferably has spatial curvatures in at least two dimensions."Congruent" in connection with the invention means that the receiving area follows the installation path at least in sections in its geometry.Steps a), b) and c) can proceed successively in time, simultaneously or in any desired sequence. Preferably, step c) follows step b) in time. Regardless of the sequence, the "detachable receiving" in step a) and step b) includes holding the optical fiber or the carrier component preferably until step f) is complete.In step d), the light fiber preferably makes surface contact with the section or sections of the receiving region applied with adhesive.Preferably, the adhesive is curable by means of ultraviolet light, which ultraviolet light can be emitted by at least one ultraviolet light source in step e) in such a way that the adhesive cures at the portion or portions of the receiving region applied with adhesive in the predeterminable curing time.Uniform and rapid curing of the adhesive can be achieved if the at least one ultraviolet light source is arranged in such a way that the ultraviolet light that can be emitted by the at least one ultraviolet light source can be coupled into the optical fiber at least in step e) in order to cure the adhesive during the predeterminable curing time. For this purpose, the optical fiber can be configured to laterally couple out the coupled-in light at least in sections.In this case, it can advantageously be provided that the at least one ultraviolet light source is arranged in the first device or the second device.A fully automated assembly method can be achieved in that the first device has vacuum nozzles, which vacuum nozzles are configured to receive the light fiber in a detachable manner by means of reduced pressure along the curved laying path.Negative pressure refers to atmospheric pressure.A versatile applicability of the assembly method can be achieved if the first apparatus has a multiplicity of vacuum nozzles which are arranged in such a way that different curved installation paths can be specified in order to releasably receive the optical fiber in step a) in a predeterminable curved installation path.In order to further shorten the assembly time, it can be provided that at least one further flexible optical fiber is fastened simultaneously with the one optical fiber according to steps a) to f) along a further laying path in a further receiving region of the carrier component congruent with the further laying path.The object is furthermore achieved with a mounting device for fastening at least one flexible optical fiber to a carrier component of a vehicle lamp, wherein the mounting device comprises a first device and a second device, wherein the first device has a curved installation contour on a mounting side, which installation contour is formed in such a way that the flexible optical fiber can be received detachably on the installation contour and along a curved installation path formed by the installation contour, wherein the second device is configured to receive detachably on a carrier side the carrier component, which detachably receivable carrier component has a receiving region for the optical fiber congruent with respect to the installation path, wherein the first device and the second device can be combined in such a way that the at least one optical fiber that can be received in the first device can be received on the receiving region congruent with respect to the installation path, the support component which can be detachably received on the second device can be placed thereon.The mounting device is preferably configured to carry out the aforementioned mounting method.To improve the positioning accuracy of the mounting device, it can be provided that the first device has a first centering structure on the mounting side and the second device has a second centering structure on the carrier side corresponding to the first centering structure, wherein the first centering structure and the second centering structure form a mutual guide for the first device and the second device along a setting axis, wherein the first centering structure and the second centering structure furthermore form a mutual stop along the setting axis, by means of which stop a uniform minimum distance can be formed between the installation contour of the first device and the receiving region of the detachably receivable carrier component on the carrier side of the second device.In order to be able to use the mounting device in an automated manner, it can be provided that the first apparatus has vacuum nozzles, which vacuum nozzles are configured to receive the optical fiber in a detachable manner by means of reduced pressure along the curved laying path.In order to expand the field of application of the mounting device, it can be provided that the first device has, on the mounting side, a multiplicity of laying contours with respective vacuum nozzles which are arranged in such a way that different curved laying paths can be specified, along which the at least one optical fiber can be detachably received.The invention further relates to a vehicle light having a carrier component and at least one light fiber bonded to the carrier component by the assembly method or by the assembly device.The invention further relates to a vehicle, preferably a motor vehicle, wherein the vehicle or the motor vehicle has the said vehicle light.Unless otherwise stated, all the device features mentioned in the assembly method can also form parts of the assembly device. In the opposite way, all the device features mentioned in connection with the mounting device can also form parts of the previously described mounting method.The vehicle light can be embodied as both a signal light and a motor vehicle headlight.The invention is illustrated below with reference to exemplary and non-limiting figures. This shows FIG. 1 shows an assembly device, FIG. 2 is a view of the first device; and FIG. 3 shows a vehicle lamp.FIG. 1 shows a mounting device 8, The mounting device 8 comprises a first device 3 and a second device 5. the first device 3 has a curved installation contour 32 on a mounting side 31. The laying contour 32 forms a curved laying path 4.Such flexible light fibers have a longitudinal extent and generally a circular cross section. Light fibers can have a bundle of individual optical fibers. The optical fiber can be configured to couple out light coupled into the optical fiber at least in sections laterally, i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the optical fiber. For this purpose, such light fibers can have scattering particles and / or scattering structures.In order to receive the optical fiber 1 in a detachable manner, the laying contour 32 and thus the first device 3 can have vacuum nozzles 10. These vacuum nozzles 10 are arranged along the laying contour 32 and thus along the curved laying path 4 in such a way that the optical fiber 1 can be picked up at the vacuum nozzles 10 by atmospheric reduced pressure.The vacuum nozzles 10 designate openings which are arranged along the laying contour 32. These openings have an opening diameter which is selected such that the optical fiber 1 can be accommodated at a predetermined negative pressure at the vacuum nozzles 10 and thus at the laying contour 32 of the first device 3. The negative pressure can be controllable in its intensity. The negative pressure can also be controllable in its activation duration. The vacuum nozzles 10 can thus receive the optical fiber 1 along the curved laying path 4 in a detachable manner. The detachable receptacle via the described vacuum nozzles 10 is a preferred variant. It is essential that the optical fiber 1 can be received detachably in a step a) of an assembly method in which the first device 3 along a curved laying path 4. If vacuum nozzles 10 are provided for the detachable reception of the optical fiber 1, the negative pressure can be activated before or during step a).Other types of releasable receiving means are also possible. Structures, for example depressions corresponding to the optical fiber 1, can also be provided on the laying contour 32, which allow releasable reception. The releasability can already exist solely because the light fiber 1 remains in the aforementioned corresponding depression, for example, due to gravity, and can be removed or inserted manually, preferably automatically, via a robot arm. The installation contour 32 can therefore comprise depressions into which the optical fiber 1 can be inserted.The second device 5 has a support side 51. On this carrier side 51, a carrier component 2 can be received detachably. With regard to the detachable reception of the carrier component 2, the same means can be used analogously to the first device 3 and the optical fiber 1 that can be detachably received therewith. It is essential that the carrier component 2 can be received in the second device 5 in a detachable manner in a step b) of the assembly method. The carrier component 2 has a receiving region 6 for the optical fiber 1 congruent with the laying path 4. The geometry of the receiving region 6 thus follows the installation path 4 at least in sections.The first device 3 and the second device 5 can now be combined in such a way that the at least one optical fiber 1 can be placed on the receiving region 6 of the carrier component 2 congruent with the laying path 4.In a further step c) of the assembly method, adhesive 7 is applied at least in sections to the receiving region 6 of the carrier component 2. This can be carried out manually or preferably automatically via a robot arm. The adhesive 7 may preferably be curable by ultraviolet light.The first device 3 and the second device 5 can be moved relative to one another via a mechanical system and brought together. For improved positioning accuracy, the first device 3 on the mounting side 31 can have a first centering structure 35 and the second device 5 on the carrier side 51 can have a second centering structure 52. The second centering structure 52 corresponds to the first centering structure 35 in such a way that the first device 3 and the second device 5 are guided at least in sections along a placement axis X during the joining process.In addition, the first centering structure 35 and the second centering structure 52 can form an opposing stop 33, 53 along the setting axis X. This mutual stop 33, 53 is preferably shaped in such a way that a uniform minimum distance can be formed between the installation contour 32 of the first device 3 and the receiving region 6 of the releasably receivable carrier component 2 on the carrier side 51 of the second device 5. This minimum distance can be, for example, between 0 (zero) mm and the cross section of the optical fiber 1 to be mounted.It is essential that in a step d) of the assembly method, the first device 3 and the second device 5 can be brought together in such a way that the light fiber 1 accommodated in the first device 3 makes contact, preferably in a planar manner, with at least the portion or portions, applied with adhesive 7, of the accommodation region 6 of the carrier component 2 accommodated in the second device 5. The first device 3 and the second device 5 remain in this position until the adhesive 7 is cured in a step e) of the assembly method after a predeterminable curing time between, for example, one second to twenty seconds in such a way that the light fiber 1 is firmly connected to the carrier component 2.The adhesive 7 may be curable by means of ultraviolet light for this purpose. The ultraviolet light can be emittable by at least one ultraviolet light source 9 in step e) of the assembly method. Such an ultraviolet light source 9 may be disposed at an appropriate location in the mounting device 8. For example, the ultraviolet light source 9 is arranged on the first device 3 or on the second device 5.In a final step f) of the assembly method, the first device 3 is now removed from the second device 5, so that the carrier component 2, together with the light fiber 1 connected thereto, remains releasably in the first device 3 or releasably in the second device 5.If vacuum nozzles 10 are provided for the detachable reception of the optical fiber 1, the vacuum can be deactivated directly before, during or after step e). However, it is also possible that the negative pressure remains in the entire step f) and the adhesive connection between the optical fiber 1 and the carrier component 2 is sufficient to remove the first device 3 and the second device 5 from one another, so that the carrier component 5, together with the optical fiber 1 connected thereto, remains releasably in the second device 5. It is likewise possible for the negative pressure to exist in its intensity sufficiently continuously in the entire step f) so that the optical fiber 1 together with the carrier component 5 connected thereto remains releasably in the first device 5.FIG. 2 shows the first device 3 with the light fiber 1 picked up. As shown, the first device 3 can have ultraviolet light sources 9. These ultraviolet light sources 9 can be arranged in such a way that the ultraviolet light that can be emitted by them is coupled into the optical fiber 1. If the optical fiber 1 is now configured to laterally couple out this coupled-in ultraviolet light at least in sections, then during step e) of the assembly method the adhesive 7 can cure during the predefined curing time. It is conceivable that at least one ultraviolet light source 9 is additionally or alternatively arranged in the second device 5 in order to couple ultraviolet light into the optical fiber 1 at least during step e) of the assembly method in the same way.As shown, the first device 3 can have a plurality of laying contours 32, 32 awith respective vacuum nozzles 10 on the mounting side 31. These are arranged in such a way that differently curved installation paths 4, 4 acan be predefined, so that, for example, in step a) of the assembly method, the curved installation path 4, 4 acan be predefined for the detachable reception of the optical fiber 1.Likewise, as shown, a further flexible optical fiber 1 acan be fastened to the carrier component 2 simultaneously with the one optical fiber 1 in the course of the assembly method. For this purpose, the further flexible optical fiber 1 ais fastened simultaneously with the one optical fiber 1 according to steps a) to f) of the assembly method along the further laying path 4 ain a further receiving region 6 aof the carrier component 2 congruent with the further laying path 4 a.FIG. 3 shows a vehicle lamp 11 This vehicle lamp 11 has a support member 2. This support component 2 is bonded to the flexible light fibers 1, 1a.The vehicle lamp 11 may be installed in a motor vehicle, for example, as a tail lamp, fog lamp, signal lamp or grille lighting device.The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is defined by the entire scope of protection of the claims. Individual aspects of the invention or of the embodiments can also be adopted and combined with one another. For example, the device features mentioned with regard to the assembly method can also form parts of the assembly device, unless otherwise stated. In the opposite way, all the device features mentioned in connection with the mounting device can also form part of the mounting method. Any reference signs in the claims are exemplary and are used only for easier readability of the claims, without limiting them.

Claims

Mounting method for fastening at least one flexible optical fibre (1) to a carrier component (2) of a vehicle lamp (11), wherein the mounting method has the following steps: a) releasably receiving the flexible optical fibre (1) in a first device (3), wherein the optical fibre (1) is received in the first device (3) along a curved installation path (4); b) releasably receiving the carrier component (2) in a second device (5), which carrier component (2) has a receiving region (6) for the optical fibre (1) congruent with the installation path (4); c) at least in sections applying adhesive (7) to the receiving region (6); d) bringing the first device (3) and the second device (5) together, so that the optical fiber (1) accommodated in the first device (3) contacts at least the portion or portions of the accommodation region (6) of the carrier component (2) accommodated in the second device (5) applied with adhesive (7); e) curing the adhesive (7) so that the optical fiber (1) is firmly connected to the carrier component (2) after a predeterminable curing time; f) removing the first device (3) from the second device (5) so that the carrier component (2), together with the optical fiber (1) connected thereto, remains releasably in the first device (3) or releasably in the second device (5).Mounting method according to Claim 1, wherein the adhesive (7) is curable by means of ultraviolet light, which ultraviolet light can be emitted by at least one ultraviolet light source (9) in step e) in such a way that the adhesive (7) cures at the portion or portions of the receiving region (6) applied with adhesive (7) within the predeterminable curing time.Mounting method according to Claim 2, wherein the at least one ultraviolet light source (9) is arranged in such a way that the ultraviolet light which can be emitted by the at least one ultraviolet light source (9) can be coupled into the optical fibre (1) at least in step e) in order to cure the adhesive (7) during the predeterminable curing time.The mounting method according to claim 3, wherein the at least one ultraviolet light source (9) is arranged in the first device (3) or the second device (5).Assembly method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first device (3) has vacuum nozzles (10), which vacuum nozzles (10) are configured to receive the optical fibre (1) in a detachable manner by means of reduced pressure along the curved laying path (4).Mounting method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first device (3) has a multiplicity of vacuum nozzles (10) which are arranged in such a way that different curved laying paths (4, 4a) can be predetermined in order to receive the optical fibre (1) in a releasable manner in a predeterminable curved laying path (4, 4a) in step a).Mounting method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one further flexible optical fibre (1a) is fastened simultaneously with the one optical fibre (1) according to steps a) to f) along a further laying path (4a) in a further receiving region (6a) of the carrier component (2) congruent with the further laying path (4a).Mounting device (8) for fastening at least one flexible light fibre (1) to a carrier component (2) of a vehicle light (11), wherein the mounting device (8) comprises a first device (3) and a second device (5), wherein the first device (3) has a curved installation contour (32) on a mounting side (31), which installation contour (32) is shaped in such a way that the flexible light fibre (1) can be received detachably on the installation contour (32) and along a curved installation path (4) formed by the installation contour (32), wherein the second device (5) is configured to receive detachably on a carrier side (51) the carrier component (2), which detachably receivable carrier component (2) has a receiving region (6) for the light fibre (1) congruent with the installation path (4), wherein the first device (3) and the second device (5) can be combined in such a way that the at least one optical fiber (1) receivable in the first device (3) can be placed on the receiving region (6) congruent to the laying path (4) of the carrier component (2) detachably receivable on the second device (5).Mounting device according to claim 8, wherein the first device (3) on the mounting side (31) comprises a first centring structure (35) and the second device (5) on the carrier side (51) comprises a second centring structure (52) corresponding to the first centring structure (35), wherein the first centring structure (35) and the second centring structure (52) form a mutual guide for the first device (3) and the second device (5) along a setting axis (X), wherein the first centring structure (35) and the second centring structure (52) further form a mutual stop (33, 53) along the setting axis (X), by which stop (33, 53), 53 ) a uniform minimum distance can be formed between the installation contour (32) of the first device (3) and the receiving region (6) of the detachably receivable carrier component (2) on the carrier side (51) of the second device (5).Mounting device according to one of claims 8 to 9, wherein the first device (3) has vacuum nozzles (10), which vacuum nozzles (10) are configured to receive the optical fiber (1) in a detachable manner by means of reduced pressure along the curved laying path (4).Mounting device according to claim 10, wherein the first device (3) has on the mounting side (31) a plurality of laying contours (32, 32a) with respective vacuum nozzles (10), which are arranged in such a way that different curved laying paths (4, 4a) can be predefined, along which the at least one optical fibre (1) can be detachably received.Vehicle light (11) comprising a carrier component (2) and at least one optical fibre (1, 1a) bonded to the carrier component (2) by the assembly method according to one of Claims 1 to 7 or by the assembly device according to one of Claims 8 to 11.Vehicle, preferably motor vehicle, wherein the vehicle has the vehicle light (11) according to Claim 12.

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