Adhesive tape, especially wrapping tape, for bandaging elongated objects such as cable bundles in automobiles.

Abstract

Adhesive tape, in particular wrapping tape for bandaging elongated objects such as cable bundles in automobiles, comprising a textile carrier (1), further comprising an adhesive coating (2) applied to one or both sides of the carrier (1), and comprising at least one marking thread (3) incorporated into the textile carrier (1) during the manufacturing process, characterized in that the textile carrier (1) is designed as a nonwoven fabric carrier (1) with several sewing threads (3), wherein at least one sewing thread (3) is designed as a marking thread and consequently a marking sewing thread (3a, 3b, 3c) in addition to its strengthening function.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an adhesive tape, in particular a wrapping tape for bandaging elongated objects such as cable bundles in automobiles, with a textile carrier, further with an adhesive coating applied to one or both sides of the carrier, and with at least one marking thread incorporated into the textile carrier during the manufacturing process.

[0002] Marking threads in conjunction with adhesive tapes are already described in the prior art. For example, in WO 2016 / 113132 A1, which originates from the applicant, the marking thread serves as a positioning aid during bandaging, specifically in such a way that a subsequent roll is glued onto a preceding roll adhered to the object with an overlap predetermined by the positioning aid.

[0003] Furthermore, such marking threads are used, among other things, to perform an indication function within the scope of the generic teaching according to WO 2020 / 011409 A1. For example, this makes it possible for the marking thread to have a code. The code can be used to indicate a specific property of the adhesive tape, such as its temperature resistance. In principle, other properties of the adhesive tape can also be identified and made visible using the code, so that when inspecting a cable harness wrapped with it, it can be quickly and easily determined whether, for example, the adhesive tape suitable for the specific requirements has been used as the wrapping tape. This applies, for example, with regard to the abrasion classes documented with it.

[0004] The previously described, well-known, and generic teaching has proven fundamentally successful, but requires the marking threads in question to be used in conjunction with a fabric backing. This means that the respective marking thread is designed as a warp and / or weft thread. This has proven successful, but reaches its limits when not only mechanical stability of the textile backing is required, but also additional properties such as a certain level of noise dampening. Furthermore, marking threads incorporated into a fabric have the disadvantage that they extend virtually in the plane of the textile backing and thus become, or can become, illegible relatively quickly due to, for example, soiling.

[0005] Notwithstanding this, DE 10 2015 121 562 A1 discloses a high-temperature-resistant colored, particularly orange, adhesive tape. In this context, paragraph

[0037] of the same document also describes the possibility of creating multicolored textile carriers, for example, using different colored threads to create a multicolored fabric.

[0006] A colored adhesive tape with a fabric backing is also the subject of JP 20050002181 A. This allows for the implementation of different colored structures, such as letters. In this case, too, the fundamental problem with a correspondingly designed fabric backing is that, due to the marking thread being virtually in the same plane as the backing, contamination of the fabric backing can render the marking thread in question illegible or at least make it difficult to observe, so that any coding associated with it cannot be clearly identified. This is where the invention comes in.

[0007] The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such an adhesive tape and in particular wrapping tape for bandaging elongated objects such as cable bundles in automobiles in such a way that the marking can be recognized as permanently as possible and, moreover, increased requirements for the sound insulation achieved with the adhesive tape are also met.

[0008] To solve this technical problem, the invention proposes, in a generic adhesive tape and in particular wrapping tape for bandaging elongated objects such as cable bundles in automobiles, that the textile carrier is designed as a stitch-bonded nonwoven carrier with several sewing threads, wherein at least one sewing thread is designed as a marking thread and consequently a marking sewing thread in addition to its strengthening function.

[0009] According to the invention, at least one sewing thread or several sewing threads of the nonwoven backing, oversewn with the sewing threads, perform a dual function. First, the sewing threads ensure, as usual, that the nonwoven backing is mechanically strengthened in this way. In addition, at least one of these sewing threads also functions as a marking thread and is therefore designed as a marking sewing thread. In principle, several such sewing threads can also be designed as marking sewing threads.

[0010] The general procedure is to insert the sewing threads longitudinally into the nonwoven backing by overstitching or stitching, as is the case with conventional stitch-bonding processes, such as the Maliwatt process. In principle, it is also conceivable in this context to incorporate cross-threads in addition to the longitudinal sewing threads, which can also serve as cross-marking threads. Such cross-marking threads can, for example, be placed as weft threads in the stitches of the nonwoven backing. This is regularly recommended in conjunction with spunbonded nonwovens as a raw nonwoven.

[0011] In general, however, the adhesive tape according to the invention is equipped with a stitch-bonded nonwoven backing, which only has sewing threads that reinforce the textile backing in its longitudinal direction and are sewn to the nonwoven. At least one of these sewing threads, or even several of them, can then be designed as marking sewing threads according to the invention. This allows the marking sewing threads in question to be directly integrated into the manufacturing process, for example, by designing individual sewing threads as marking sewing threads in the Maliwatt process.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment, the respective marking sewing thread has a contrasting color and / or surface finish compared to the other sewing threads and / or the nonwoven fabric. For example, if the nonwoven fabric and the other sewing threads are black, the marking sewing thread can have a different color, such as red, orange, yellow, white, or another signal color. Of course, other colors such as green or blue are also conceivable. However, to ensure that the marking sewing thread is particularly easy to detect, it is generally provided with a signal color.

[0013] The marking sewing thread can be dyed during its production, for example by spinneret dyeing. In this context, the marking sewing thread is produced in an extruder, with a dye being added to the plastic granulate processed at this point in the extruder in order to be able to spin the marking sewing thread. Alternatively or additionally, it is also within the scope of the invention for the marking sewing thread to be dyed after its production. This can be achieved, for example, by dip dyeing. In this context, the marking sewing thread in question is immersed in a dye bath or dye solution, and in this way, color particles present in the bath or solution penetrate into the interior of the marking sewing thread.

[0014] The respective marking thread can not only have a color that contrasts with the other sewing threads and / or the nonwoven fabric. Alternatively or additionally, it is also conceivable for the marking thread to have a surface texture that differs from the other sewing threads. This can, for example, be achieved by the marking thread being additionally textured or twisted. This different surface texture and / or contrasting color can now be particularly easily detected within the scope of the invention.

[0015] This is due to the fact that such markings are formed from the nonwoven material with the multitude of parallel sewn-in sewing threads, and consequently from one or more sewing marker threads. This creates valleys and elevations on the surface of the nonwoven backing from seam to seam. Furthermore, the sewing threads, and consequently also the marking sewing thread, occupy an exposed position on the nonwoven and, unlike the fabric, are not embedded in the textile backing. This means that the marking sewing thread can not only be easily seen by a person, but can also be felt due to its potentially different surface texture.

[0016] Both options result in the marking thread being able to be read in terms of its color or surface texture even if the adhesive tape or nonwoven fabric according to the invention is otherwise dirty or, for example, has a layer of dust or dirt. Even in such a case, it can be expected that, for example, a marking thread in a signal color (including red, yellow, white, and orange) can be detected. The same applies to a special surface design, for example, if the marking thread is textured or twisted.

[0017] In this way, the adhesive tape according to the invention provides flawless information, even when dirty or under difficult installation conditions, regarding the adhesive tape's exemplary properties. This is because the color, surface design, and associated coding allow virtually any number of adhesive tape properties to be visualized or, in the case of the specific surface properties of the marking thread, easily detected by touch. This means that the marking thread and / or multiple marking threads together define a coding of the adhesive tape's properties.

[0018] The properties of the adhesive tape identified in this way can include, for example, its temperature resistance. In fact, such adhesive tapes are characterized, among other things, by the fact that at a certain temperature, taking into account a treatment time of typically up to 3,000 hours, no significant discoloration of the textile carrier occurs. This is described in detail in the LV 312 (2009) standard. In this context, a distinction is made in practice between temperature classes T1 to T5.

[0019] Compliance with temperature class T3, for example, corresponds to no discoloration being observed up to a temperature of 125°C within the specified time. Temperature class T4 corresponds to resistance up to 150°C, and temperature class T5 even corresponds to resistance up to 175°C.

[0020] In addition to the aforementioned temperature classes T1 to T5, the abrasion resistance achieved with the adhesive tape according to the invention can also be indicated with the aid of the marking thread(s). In fact, the abrasion resistance can be divided into abrasion classes similar to the previously discussed temperature classes T1 to T5. These are classified into abrasion classes A to G according to standard LV 312 "Adhesive Tapes for Cable Harnesses in Motor Vehicles" (10 / 2009), a joint test guideline of Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and VW. In this context, the abrasion resistance test involves using a mandrel with a diameter of 5 mm and equipped with the adhesive tape to be tested. The adhesive tape is then scraped with a scraper of a specified force with a measured number of strokes until it is scraped through. The number of strokes represents a criterion for the abrasion class.

[0021] In any case, the adhesive tape can also be equipped with a visual or haptic indicator via the one or more marking sewing threads, which provides information about the achieved abrasion class from A to G. A similar situation applies to the previously mentioned temperature classes T1 to T5. Since, according to the invention, a stitch-bonded nonwoven backing is used as the textile backing, particularly good noise dampening is also observed. In fact, the noise dampening is reflected in noise dampening classes A to E according to the classification of noise-damping properties according to LV 312 (10 / 2009). The different noise dampening classes, together with the abrasion class for such stitch-bonded nonwoven backings, are summarized, for example, in DE 10 2019 119 521 B4, which is referred to as a reference in this context.

[0022] This means that the adhesive tape according to the invention with the stitch-bonded nonwoven backing has the advantage over the closest prior art according to WO 2020 / 011409 A1 not only that the respective marking sewing thread can be used to identify the adhesive tape even if the adhesive tape is significantly soiled, but also that the adhesive tape also has significant noise attenuation. In fact, high noise attenuation levels of noise attenuation class D are generally observed in this context. At the same time, such stitch-bonded nonwoven backings are characterized by high abrasion resistance achieved as a result of mechanical bonding, which corresponds to high abrasion protection of at least class D.The combination of high noise dampening and high abrasion resistance is characteristic of such stitch-bonded backings and is also achieved according to the invention with the further advantage that the adhesive tape is additionally equipped with a "label" added during the manufacturing process, which enhances its properties. These are the key advantages.

[0023] If multiple marking threads are used, they can collectively describe a geometric pattern as a code. This also applies if only one marking thread is used. In this case, the marking thread can, for example, have a color or a color pattern at specific intervals. Similarly, coding can be achieved by having the multiple marking threads spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the textile carrier and also, for example, equipped with a color pattern. In addition, the procedure is usually such that the multiple marking threads are arranged at equal distances from one another.

[0024] Because the individual marking thread or the multiple marking threads can have a consistently identical color and / or color pattern along their length, virtually any number of combinations are conceivable for implementing the desired coding using the geometric pattern created in this way. Another possibility exists if the multiple marking threads each have a consistently identical color along their length, which changes from one marking thread to the adjacent marking thread. Furthermore, the multiple marking threads can each have the same color with different interruptions in the lengthwise direction. In fact, in this context, it is conceivable to insert or apply the color of the marking thread in the manner of Morse code, in the sense of a sequence of dots and dashes.In any case, the several marking sewing threads can be combined together to form a pattern that acts as a code and describes such a code.

[0025] In this context, it has proven advantageous for the sewing threads to have a thread thickness between 80 dtex and 200 dtex. Furthermore, the usual procedure is to sew the sewing threads with a gauge of F14 to F22. The gauge F is given in units of n / 25 mm and is a measure of the stitch density, where n is the number of stitch-forming needles. This means that in the case of gauge F22, 22 needles per 25 mm of nonwoven width are used for the sewing process, as described in detail, for example, in the book "Vliesstoffe" by Lünenschloss and Albrecht, Georg Thieme Verlag, 1982, pages 170 to 173.

[0026] It is recommended that the fibers of the stitch-bonded nonwoven be made entirely or partially from polyester, particularly PET (polyethylene terephthalate). In addition, staple fibers, spunbond fibers, or spunbonded nonwovens can generally be used as the raw nonwoven. In contrast, it has proven advantageous for the sewing threads to be made entirely or partially from polyamide (PA) if hand tearability is not important or only marginally important. If the adhesive tape is to be hand-tearable, the sewing threads are usually also made from polyester, particularly PET. In this case, an abrasion resistance of at least class D according to the LV 312 standard is observed. At the same time, the stitch-bonded nonwoven of the adhesive tape according to the invention has an elongation at break in the range of 20% to 60%, which was again measured according to the LV 312 standard. The breaking strength may also be in the range of 45 N / cm to 120 N / cm according to the LV 312 standard.

[0027] For noise reduction, at least class D according to standard LV 312 is observed and the temperature resistance meets at least class T3, so that the adhesive tape according to the invention is characterized by a particularly advantageous combination of high abrasion resistance and high noise reduction as well as temperature resistance with the additional possibility that the essential properties or all properties of the adhesive tape are available as a "label" incorporated during production, as it were, through the at least one marking sewing thread.

[0028] The same properties and effects are observed when the one or more marker sewing threads are combined with one or more cross-marking threads, for example, weft threads inserted into the stitches. This means that the cross-marking threads can be constructed in the same way as the marker sewing threads and combined with them. This represents the key advantages.

[0029] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing which merely represents an exemplary embodiment; in the drawings: Fig. 1 the adhesive tape according to the invention schematically in section, Fig. 2 a top view of the adhesive tape after Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 a plan view of another design of the adhesive tape according to the Fig. 2.

[0030] In the Fig. 1 shows an adhesive tape which is particularly suitable and designed as a wrapping tape for bandaging elongated objects such as cable bundles in automobiles. For this purpose, the adhesive tape has a textile carrier 1 and an adhesive coating 2 applied to one or both sides of the textile carrier 1. In the sectional view according to Fig. 1 shows that the adhesive coating 2 is arranged only on one side of the carrier 1. In this embodiment, the textile carrier 1 is a stitch-bonded nonwoven carrier 1.

[0031] The stitchbond carrier 1 in this context consists of a raw nonwoven 1a and sewing threads 3. The raw nonwoven 1a is schematically indicated by individual fibers of the nonwoven. The fibers can be staple fibers or spunbonded fibers. The raw nonwoven 1a is therefore designed as a staple fiber nonwoven or spunbonded nonwoven. The sewing threads 3 run in the longitudinal direction of the adhesive tape and are integrated into the adhesive tape, taking into account a Fig. 1 indicated stitch length S. It can be seen that the textile carrier 1 or the stitching fleece 1 has a thickness D1, whereas the adhesive coating has a thickness D2 of 0.3 to 1 mm.

[0032] In the exemplary embodiment, the thickness D1 of the textile carrier 1 or stitch-bonded nonwoven carrier is approximately 1 mm to 2 mm, preferably 1.5 mm to 1.8 mm. The basis weight of the textile carrier or stitch-bonded nonwoven carrier 1 is in the range of 100 g / m 2 up to 400 g / m 2preferably a range between 200 g / m 2 up to 300 g / m 2 For the adhesive coating 2, a basis weight applies, which is generally between 100 g / m 2 up to 200 g / m 2 The adhesive used is usually a UV-based acrylic adhesive. In principle, a synthetic rubber-based adhesive can also be used.

[0033] Based on the Fig. 2, one can now see how the individual sewing threads 3 run in the longitudinal direction of the textile carrier 1 and are sewn into the raw fleece 1a. In fact, one can see in the Fig. 2 shows, by way of example and not by way of limitation, three sewing threads 3, which in the context of the exemplary embodiment are each designed as marking sewing threads 3a, 3b, and 3c. The individual marking sewing threads 3a, 3b, and 3c can be distinguished from one another in this context by the fact that they not only have a color that contrasts with the other sewing threads 3 and / or the nonwoven or raw nonwoven 1a, in the exemplary embodiment the signal color red, but also that the respective marking sewing thread 3a, 3b, 3c is provided with a respective color pattern along its longitudinal extent.

[0034] It can be seen, for example, that the marking thread 3a is provided with short, spaced-apart lines in red, whereas the adjacent marking thread 3b, in contrast, has longer, spaced-apart lines in the red signal color. In contrast, the further marking thread 3c is provided with spaced-apart dots, again in red signal color. In principle, the individual marking threads can also have different colors. This allows each individual marking thread 3a, 3b, and 3c to be assigned its own information content. For example, the temperature class achieved by the adhesive tape according to the invention, in the sense of temperature class T3, can be represented by the color pattern of the marking thread 3a.In contrast, the color pattern of the marking thread 3b corresponds to the achieved abrasion class D and finally the further marking thread 3c provides information about the achieved noise reduction class D. This is of course only an example and is by no means mandatory.

[0035] In addition to this individual information about the respective marking sewing threads 3a, 3b and 3c, it is also conceivable that in this way, by using several marking sewing threads 3a, 3b, 3c, geometric patterns are created which are within the scope of the Fig.3 can be implemented by a different coloring of the respective marking threads 3. In fact, in this way, an elongated rectangle 4 between two edge rectangles 5 can be identified, for example. This means that the coding in this context is represented as a geometric pattern combining the rectangle 4 with the rectangles 5 on both sides. This coding can again correspond to a desired property. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 2016 / 113132 A1

[0002] WO 2020 / 011409 A1 [0003, 0022] DE 10 2015 121 562 A1

[0005] JP 20050002181

[0006] DE 10 2019 119 521 B4

[0021] Cited non-patent literature

[0000] Nonwovens” by the authors Lünenschloss and Albrecht, Georg Thieme Verlag, 1982, pages 170 to 173

[0025]

Claims

[1] Adhesive tape, in particular wrapping tape for bandaging elongated objects such as cable bundles in automobiles, with a textile carrier (1), further with an adhesive coating (2) applied to one or both sides of the carrier (1), and with at least one marking thread (3) incorporated into the textile carrier (1) during the manufacturing process, characterized by that the textile carrier (1) is designed as a stitch-bonded nonwoven carrier (1) with a plurality of sewing threads (3), wherein at least one sewing thread (3) is designed as a marking thread and consequently a marking sewing thread (3a, 3b, 3c) in addition to its strengthening function. [2] Adhesive tape according to claim 1, characterized by that the marking sewing thread (3a, 3b, 3c) has a contrasting colour and / or surface texture compared to the other sewing threads (3) and / or the fleece (1a). [3] Adhesive tape according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the marking sewing thread (3a, 3b, 3c) is dyed during its production, for example by spinneret dyeing. [4] Adhesive tape according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the marking sewing thread (3a, 3b, 3c) is dyed after its production, for example by dip dyeing. [5] Adhesive tape according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the marking sewing thread (3a, 3b, 3c) is provided with several different colours and / or varying surface finishes. [6] Adhesive tape according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the plurality of marking sewing threads (3a, 3b, 3c) run at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the textile carrier (1). [7] Adhesive tape according to claim 6, characterized by that the plurality of marking sewing threads (3a, 3b, 3c) are arranged at equal distances from one another. [8] Adhesive tape according to claim 6 or 7, characterized bythat the plurality of marking sewing threads (3a, 3b, 3c) have a consistently identical color and / or color pattern in their longitudinal extension. [9] Adhesive tape according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized by that the plurality of marking sewing threads (3a, 3b, 3c) each have a consistently identical color in their longitudinal extension, which changes from marking sewing thread (3a, 3b, 3c) to the adjacent marking sewing thread (3a, 3b, 3c). [10] Adhesive tape according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized by that the respective marking sewing thread (3) has the same color with different interruptions in the longitudinal direction. [11] Adhesive tape according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the marking sewing thread (3) and / or the plurality of marking sewing threads (3a, 3b, 3c) taken together define a coding of the properties of the adhesive tape. [12] Adhesive tape according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized bythat the plurality of marking sewing threads (3a, 3b, 3c) taken together describe a geometric pattern as a code. [13] Adhesive tape according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by that the sewing threads (3) of the stitched nonwoven carrier (1) run in the longitudinal direction. [14] Adhesive tape according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by that the sewing threads (3) have a thread thickness between 50 dtex and 200 dtex and are preferably sewn with a fineness F14 to F22. [15] Adhesive tape according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by that the fibers of the stitch-bonded nonwoven fabric (1) consist entirely or partly of polyester, in particular PET, and the sewing threads consist entirely or partly of polyester, in particular PET.

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