APPLICATION DEVICE WITH A SCREEN DOSER PUMP AND ASSOCIATED OPERATING PROCEDURE

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to an application device with a spindle metering pump (e.g. screw spindle pump) for metering an application agent (e.g. adhesive, insulating material, sealant, PVC plastisols) onto a component (e.g. motor vehicle body component). Background of the invention

[0002] For dispensing highly viscous application materials (e.g., adhesives, insulating materials, sealants, PVC plastisols), various types of metering pumps are used in the prior art, such as piston metering pumps (single or double), gear metering pumps, or spindle metering pumps, which can be designed, for example, as screw spindle pumps, as known from EP 2 961 988 B1. Screw spindle pumps offer the advantage over piston metering pumps that continuous metering is possible; that is, unlike with a piston metering pump, the metering process does not need to be interrupted to refill the piston metering pump. In practice, spindle metering pumps have therefore proven to be the best choice for dispensing highly viscous application materials.

[0003] The following described Figures 1A and 1BFigure 1 shows a conventional application device with a spindle metering pump 1 for dispensing a highly viscous application material, such as adhesive, insulating material, or sealant. The spindle metering pump 1 is driven by a servo drive 2, so that the rotational position of the spindle metering pump 1 is known from the control signal of the servo drive 2 and can therefore be used for controlling the spindle metering pump 1. The spindle metering pump 1 receives the application material to be conveyed via a material inlet 3 and then discharges it via a material outlet 4. The material inlet 3 of the spindle metering pump 1 is connected via a pipe 4 to a material pressure regulator 6, which regulates the pump inlet pressure at the material inlet 3 of the spindle metering pump 1 to a predetermined setpoint. Furthermore, the spindle metering pump 1 has a flanged heating module 7 to heat the application material.The material outlet 4 of the spindle metering pump 1 is connected via a hose 8 to an applicator 9, which is mounted on a mounting flange 10 of an application robot 11. The application robot 11 has two swiveling robot arms 12, 13 and a robot hand axis 14, as is well known from the prior art. The spindle metering pump 1 is attached to the distal robot arm 13 ("Arm 2"), i.e., away from the applicator 9 on the mounting flange 10 of the application robot 11. This structural separation of the applicator 9 on the one hand and the spindle metering pump 1 on the other hand is associated with several disadvantages, which are briefly described below.

[0004] A disadvantage of this known arrangement is the relatively long reaction time when switching on the spindle metering pump 1 or, more generally, when changing the volume flow rate of the application material delivered by the spindle metering pump 1. This leads to application errors, such as a so-called hammerhead or a so-called constriction, particularly when applying a bead of sealant at the beginning of the bead.

[0005] Furthermore, due to the relatively long reaction times, it is hardly possible to dynamically change the conveyed volume flow during a so-called brush (e.g. during the application of a sealant bead).

[0006] In this context, it should also be mentioned that the hose line 8 between the material outlet 4 of the spindle metering pump 1 and the applicator 9 has an unavoidable hose breathing, so that a change in the volume flow delivered by the spindle metering pump 1 only arrives at the applicator 9 with a time delay.

[0007] For the technical background of the invention, reference should also be made to DE 10 2019 112 792 A1, DE 10 2007 053 073 A1, EP 3 450 024 A1, EP 3 739 212 A1, WO 2014 / 087052 A1, CN 112 403 396 A, WO 2009 / 059753 A1, US 5 046 666 A, CN 106 140 558 A and DE 10 2005 044 796 A1.

[0008] Finally, EP 3 347 186 A1 discloses an application device according to the preamble of claim 1. However, this known application device is not yet fully satisfactory. Description of the invention

[0009] The invention is therefore based on the objective of creating a correspondingly improved application device with a spindle metering pump.

[0010] This problem is solved by an application device according to the invention as defined in the main claim.

[0011] The invention is based on the technical finding that the disruptive physical separation between the applicator and the spindle metering pump is inherent in the design of known spindle metering pumps and is virtually unavoidable. This is because the material inlet of the spindle metering pump is located at the free end of the pump, preventing direct mounting of the applicator there. Conversely, the material outlet of the spindle metering pump is located at the drive end of the pump in known designs, where mounting the applicator is also not possible. Therefore, in the known spindle metering pump design, a line (e.g., a hose) between the material outlet and the applicator is unavoidable, leading to the disadvantages described above.

[0012] The invention therefore provides a modified design of the spindle metering pump in which the spatial arrangement of the material inlet and outlet is essentially reversed. This means that the material outlet of the spindle metering pump is located further away from the rotary drive (e.g., servo drive) than the material inlet. This allows the applicator to be directly flanged to the spindle metering pump, which offers several advantages that will be described in detail below.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the material outlet of the spindle metering pump is located in the third or quarter of the pump housing of the spindle metering pump furthest from the rotary drive. Conversely, the material inlet of the spindle metering pump is preferably located in the third or quarter of the pump housing of the spindle metering pump on the drive side.

[0014] Furthermore, it should be noted that the material inlet and / or outlet of the spindle metering pump are preferably located laterally with respect to the axis of rotation of the spindle metering pump, for example, on the same side surface of the pump housing. However, it is also possible for the material inlet and outlet to be arranged on opposite or adjacent side surfaces of the spindle metering pump.

[0015] Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the rotary drive (e.g., servo drive) of the spindle metering pump is preferably arranged coaxially with the spindle of the spindle metering pump. In the spindle metering pump according to the invention, the application medium thus flows away from the rotary drive parallel to the axis of rotation of the spindle metering pump during operation. In contrast, in known spindle metering pumps, the application medium flows parallel to the axis of rotation of the spindle metering pump towards the rotary drive.

[0016] Furthermore, it should be noted that the term "spindle metering pump" used within the scope of the invention is to be understood generally and includes all rotary pumps that have a rotatable rotor for pumping the application agent from the material inlet to the material outlet. Preferably, however, the spindle metering pump is a screw spindle pump, such as that known, for example, from EP 2 961 988 B1.

[0017] Furthermore, it should be mentioned that the invention is not limited to the highly viscous application agents mentioned above as examples with regard to the application medium. Rather, the invention is generally suitable for the application of liquid or pasty application agents. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, however, the spindle metering pump is designed for the application of adhesives (e.g., epoxy, polyurethane (PUR), isocyanate, hot butyl), insulating materials, or sealants, with PVC plastisols (PVC: polyvinyl chloride) being a particularly suitable application medium.

[0018] Furthermore, it should be noted that the invention enables the application of the coating agent to any type of component. However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the coating agent is applied to motor vehicle body components.

[0019] The invention claims protection for an application device comprising such a spindle metering pump and an applicator for applying the application agent, wherein the applicator is directly flanged to the end of the spindle metering pump opposite the rotary drive. This direct flange connection of the applicator to the spindle metering pump enables a very short flow path between the material outlet of the spindle metering pump on the one hand and the applicator on the other. According to the invention, the flow path between the material outlet of the spindle metering pump and the applicator is shorter than 10 cm or 5 cm. This short flow path is advantageous because it enables a fast response time, i.e., the application device can change the delivered volumetric flow rate of the application agent very dynamically.

[0020] Furthermore, it should be mentioned that directly flange-mounting the applicator to the spindle metering pump allows for a hose-free and pipe-free flow path between the material outlet of the spindle metering pump and the applicator. Eliminating a hose between the material outlet of the spindle metering pump and the applicator offers the advantage of preventing disruptive hose venting.

[0021] Furthermore, it should be mentioned that a material pressure regulator is preferably installed upstream of the material inlet of the spindle metering pump, which regulates the pump inlet pressure of the application agent at the material inlet of the spindle metering pump, in particular depending on the volume flow rate of the application agent being conveyed.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the material pressure regulator receives a predetermined setpoint value for the pump inlet pressure of the application agent at the material inlet of the spindle metering pump, wherein the material pressure regulator then adjusts the pump inlet pressure to the predetermined setpoint value.

[0023] The pump inlet pressure of the application material at the material inlet of the spindle metering pump is preferably regulated such that the pump slip of the spindle metering pump is minimal or at least reduced. Pump slip is defined here as the deviation between the actual flow rate delivered by the spindle metering pump and the theoretical flow rate, which is speed-dependent and determined by a pump characteristic curve of the spindle metering pump. Ideally, the delivered flow rate of the application material should be independent of the pressure conditions at the inlet and outlet of the spindle metering pump. This corresponds to the ideal of a metering unit, but cannot be fully achieved in practice due to the unavoidable pump slip. However, regulating the pump inlet pressure of the spindle metering pump using the material pressure regulator can minimize the pump slip.Furthermore, the regulation of the pump inlet pressure of the application medium can also be carried out in such a way that the wear of the spindle metering pump is minimal.

[0024] As mentioned above, the material pressure regulator can receive a setpoint value and then adjust the pump inlet pressure to that setpoint. To receive this setpoint value, the material pressure regulator can have a setpoint input. For example, the setpoint input of the material pressure regulator can be supplied with the setpoint value via a proportional valve, which preferably operates pneumatically.

[0025] The target values ​​for the pump inlet pressure, which depend on the metering flow rate, can be determined, for example, in a calibration run. In this process, the spindle metering pump is operated with the material pressure regulator open at various flow rates, and the resulting metering pressure is determined. This pressure forms the basis for setting the inlet pressure (i.e., the target value) of the spindle metering pump in subsequent production operation.

[0026] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the spindle metering pump has a first pressure sensor to measure the pump inlet pressure of the application agent at the material inlet of the spindle metering pump, wherein the first pressure sensor can be connected to the material pressure regulator to supply the material pressure regulator with the pump inlet pressure as an actual value.

[0027] Furthermore, the spindle metering pump can have a second pressure sensor to measure the pump outlet pressure of the application agent at the material outlet of the spindle metering pump, whereby the second pressure sensor can be connected to the material pressure regulator to supply the material pressure regulator with the pump outlet pressure as an actual value.

[0028] In addition, the spindle metering pump can have a third pressure sensor that measures the pressure of the application medium at the inlet of the material pressure regulator, whereby the third pressure sensor can be connected to the material pressure regulator to supply the pressure of the application medium at the inlet of the material pressure regulator as an actual value.

[0029] Furthermore, a rotary encoder can be provided to measure the rotational position of the spindle metering pump. Alternatively, the rotational position of the spindle metering pump can also be provided by a servo drive.

[0030] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the application device includes an additional piston pump arranged upstream of the material pressure regulator, which delivers the application agent at a specific pump outlet pressure via the material pressure regulator to the spindle metering pump. The pump outlet pressure of the piston pump is preferably higher than the desired pump inlet pressure of the spindle metering pump, so that the material pressure regulator between the piston pump and the spindle metering pump then reduces the pump outlet pressure of the piston pump to the desired pump inlet pressure of the spindle metering pump.

[0031] The connection between the piston pump and the material pressure regulator can be made conventionally via a rigid pipe, which can also have a relatively long length of more than 2 m, 4 m, 6 m, 8 m, 10 m, or even 12 m. Alternatively, the piston pump can also be connected to the material pressure regulator via a flexible hose or by a combination of a rigid pipe and a flexible hose. In this case as well, the total pipe length between the piston pump and the material pressure regulator can be greater than 2 m, 4 m, 6 m, 8 m, 10 m, or even 12 m.

[0032] Preferably, the piston pump is a pneumatically operated scoop piston pump, although other pump types are also possible in principle. It should be noted, however, that the piston pump preferably has a relatively high maximum delivery pressure, preferably at least 10 bar, 50 bar, 100 bar, 200 bar, or 350 bar. For example, the pneumatically operated scoop piston pump marketed by the applicant under the product name "EcoPump VPS™" can be used.

[0033] Regarding the applicator, it should be noted that it does not contain a regulator, but only at least one main valve that selectively enables or disables the dispensing of material by the applicator. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this main valve is designed as a main needle valve. This means that the main needle valve has a movable valve needle which, depending on its valve position, either enables or disables a valve seat.

[0034] Furthermore, the application device according to the invention can include a heater to heat the application medium. For example, such a heater can be designed as a trace heating element to heat a hose or pipe carrying the application medium.

[0035] The application device according to the invention preferably has a mounting flange for detachable mounting of the application device to a robot flange of an application robot. The application device preferably includes the spindle metering pump with the rotary drive, the applicator, the material pressure regulator, the proportional valve, any pressure sensors, and / or the heater. The integration of these components in the application device enables a quick changeover of the complete application device with all components, which was not possible with the structural separation of the components in the prior art. The aforementioned further components (e.g.,Rotary drive, applicator, material pressure regulator, proportional valve, pressure sensors, heating) can be flanged to the spindle metering pump, so that the spindle metering pump together with these components forms a single assembly that can be mounted on or removed from the application robot together.

[0036] In general, it should be mentioned that the spindle metering pump is preferably designed to deliver a volume flow rate of at least 5 cm³ / s, 10 cm³ / s, 20 cm³ / s or 24 cm³ / s.

[0037] Furthermore, it should be generally mentioned that the spindle metering pump preferably has a sufficiently large working range of the volume flow, which preferably covers the volume flow range from 2 cm 3< / s to 24 cm 3< / s.

[0038] It was briefly mentioned above that the rotary drive of the spindle metering pump can be an electromechanical servo drive. This offers the advantage that the control of the servo drive also provides information about the rotary position of the servo drive and thus also the rotary position of the spindle metering pump, eliminating the need for a separate encoder to determine the rotary position of the spindle metering pump.

[0039] The application device according to the invention has been described above as a single-component system designed for application agents consisting of only one component (1K). However, the invention also provides for the possibility that two such application devices each convey one component of a two-component material (2K), with a mixer then blending the two components of the two-component material to form the application agent. The invention therefore also claims protection for a two-component system.

[0040] Furthermore, the invention also claims protection for a complete application robot with several robot arms, optionally a robot hand axis and a robot flange, wherein the application device according to the invention described above is mounted on the robot flange.

[0041] Furthermore, the invention also claims protection for an operating method for the application device described above. This method may include determining the pump slip of the spindle metering pump. The invention offers two variants for determining the pump slip of the spindle metering pump, which are described below.

[0042] In a first embodiment of the invention, the following steps are carried out to determine the pump slip of the spindle metering pump: Closing the applicator's main valve, building up a predetermined pre-pressure at the spindle metering pump's material outlet by pumping the application agent against the closed main valve, measuring the pump outlet pressure at the spindle metering pump's material outlet using the second pressure sensor, switching off the spindle metering pump when the pump outlet pressure at the spindle metering pump's material outlet reaches the predetermined pre-pressure, regulating the pump inlet pressure at the spindle metering pump's material inlet to a constant setpoint using the material pressure regulator, measuring the pressure drop over time at the spindle metering pump's material outlet or at the applicator upstream of the main valve during a monitoring period after the spindle metering pump is switched off using the second pressure sensor.and evaluation of the pressure drop over time during the monitoring period to determine the pump slip of the spindle metering pump.

[0043] In a second embodiment of the invention, the following steps are carried out to determine the pump slip of the spindle metering pump: Closing the applicator's main valve, building up a predetermined pre-pressure at the material outlet of the spindle metering pump by having the spindle metering pump deliver the application agent against the closed main valve, measuring the pump outlet pressure at the material outlet of the spindle metering pump using the second pressure sensor, detecting the rotary position of the spindle metering pump when the pump outlet pressure at the material outlet of the spindle metering pump reaches the predetermined pre-pressure, in particular by measuring the rotary position using the rotary encoder or by querying the rotary position from the servo drive of the spindle metering pump, regulating the pump inlet pressure of the spindle metering pump to a constant setpoint value using the material pressure regulator, regulating the pump outlet pressure at the material outlet of the spindle metering pump to the predetermined pre-pressure by controlling the rotary drive of the spindle metering pump.Measuring the change in the rotational position of the spindle metering pump over time during a monitoring period after reaching the predetermined pre-pressure, wherein the monitoring period preferably comprises several minutes, in particular five minutes, and evaluating the change in the rotational position of the spindle metering pump over time during the monitoring period to determine the pump slip of the spindle metering pump.

[0044] Depending on the measured pump slip, a correction can be made to avoid dosing errors. For example, a new pump characteristic curve can be measured, which represents the relationship between the pump speed of the spindle metering pump on the one hand and the delivered volume flow rate on the other. This pump characteristic curve can then be stored in a controller.

[0045] As mentioned above, the invention enables a highly dynamic change in the volume flow rate of the applied application agent within a so-called "brush." ​​For example, the "brush" can form an elongated bead of the application agent that is applied to a component (e.g., a vehicle body part). Adhesives and sealants, for instance, are applied to the respective components in the form of such beads. The invention allows the volume flow rate of the applied application agent to be varied along the elongated bead, i.e., within a single "brush." ​​This enables optimization of the application result, whereby the feed rate of the applicator can also be varied along the bead. This aspect of the invention is of independent, patentable significance within the scope of the invention, separate from the aspect of the invention that provides for the determination of pump slip.

[0046] Other advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the dependent claims or are explained in more detail below together with the description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures. Brief description of the drawings

[0047] Figure 1A shows a perspective view of a conventional spindle metering pump according to the state of the art. Figure 1B shows a perspective view of an application robot with the conventional spindle metering pump according to Figure 1A . Figure 2A shows a perspective view of a spindle metering pump according to the invention. Figure 2B shows a perspective view of an application robot with the spindle metering pump according to the invention mounted on it. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the spindle metering pump according to the invention without the other components mounted on it. Figure 4shows a schematic representation of an application device according to the invention with the spindle metering pump according to the invention, a pre-connected material pressure regulator and a piston pump. Figure 5 shows a flowchart to illustrate the determination of pump slip according to a first embodiment of the invention. Figure 6 shows a flowchart to illustrate the determination of pump slip according to a second embodiment of the invention. Figure 7 shows a perspective view to illustrate the application of an adhesive bead with a variable volume flow of the adhesive. Detailed description of the drawings

[0048] The following will now describe the Figures 2A and 2B described, which in part correspond to the state of the art according to the Figures 1A and 1B to agree, so that, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the preceding description, using the same reference numerals for relevant details.

[0049] A special feature of this embodiment is that the spatial arrangement of the material inlet 3 and the material outlet 4 of the spindle metering pump 1 is reversed compared to the prior art. Thus, the material inlet 3 is located at the drive-side end of the pump housing of the spindle metering pump 1, while the material outlet 4 is located at the distal end of the pump housing of the spindle metering pump 1, i.e., on the side facing away from the servo drive 2 (see figure). Fig. 3The material outlet 4 is therefore further away from the servo drive 2 than the material inlet 3. This reversal of material inlet 3 and material outlet 4 allows the applicator 9 to be directly flanged to the pump housing of the spindle metering pump 1. The reversal of the spatial arrangement of material inlet 3 and material outlet 4 compared to the prior art results in the application medium flowing away from the servo drive 2 along the axis of rotation of the spindle metering pump 1 within the pump housing, whereas in the prior art, the application medium flowed towards the servo drive 2 within the spindle metering pump 1.

[0050] Firstly, by directly flange-mounting the applicator 9 to the spindle metering pump 1, the flow path between the material outlet 4 of the spindle metering pump 1 on the one hand and the applicator 9 on the other hand is greatly shortened, which enables more dynamic metering.

[0051] On the other hand, the direct flange mounting of the applicator 9 to the spindle metering pump 1 also makes it possible to dispense with the hose line 8, as is the case in the prior art according to Fig. 1A, 1B This is necessary. This completely avoids the tube breathing that is disruptive in the current state of the art.

[0052] Furthermore, the drawings show that the spindle metering pump 1 has a mounting flange 15 that can be detachably mounted on the mounting flange 10 of the application robot 11. A quick-release fastener is provided between the two mounting flanges 10 and 15, enabling quick assembly and disassembly. It should also be noted that numerous other components are mounted on the spindle metering pump 1, such as the heating module 7, the material pressure regulator 6, and the servo drive 2, so that the entire assembly with all these components can be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled. This also represents an advantage over the prior art according to [reference to relevant document]. Fig. 1A, 1B , where the applicator 9 and the spindle metering pump 1 must be mounted or dismounted separately.

[0053] In addition, pressure sensors 16, 17 are provided on the spindle metering pump 1 to measure the pressure of the application medium upstream before the material pressure regulator 6 or downstream after the material pressure regulator 6.

[0054] Furthermore, a pressure sensor 18 is provided on the spindle metering pump 1, which measures the pressure of the application agent at the applicator 9.

[0055] Furthermore, the drawings show a pneumatic proportional valve 19, which supplies the material pressure regulator 6 with a setpoint for the pump inlet pressure of the spindle metering pump 1 at the material inlet 3. The material pressure regulator 6 then regulates the pump inlet pressure at the material inlet 3 of the spindle metering pump 1 to the specified setpoint during operation. The proportional valve 19 can be controlled by a pump controller, which thus specifies the setpoint.

[0056] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the spindle metering pump 1, as it is used in the Figures 2A and 2B The diagram shows the assembly with the other components removed. The material inlet 3 and the material outlet 4 of the spindle metering pump 1 are only shown schematically.

[0057] Figure 4Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an application device according to the invention, including the spindle metering pump 1 and the material pressure regulator 6. Reference is made to the preceding description to avoid repetition. The drawing also shows a piston pump 20, which provides a delivery pressure of 350 bar. The piston pump 20 is connected to the material pressure regulator 6 via a pipe 21. The material pressure regulator 6 then reduces the very high delivery pressure of the piston pump 20 to the desired pump inlet pressure of the spindle metering pump 1. Preferably, the piston pump 20 is a pneumatically operated plunger pump, which is marketed by the applicant under the product name "EcoPump VPS™".

[0058] The Figures 5 and 6Figure 1 shows two flowcharts illustrating the determination of the pump slip of the spindle metering pump. It should be noted that a defining characteristic of metering pumps is that the delivered volume flow rate is fundamentally independent of the pressure conditions at the inlet and outlet of the metering pump. However, this ideal behavior of a metering pump cannot be fully achieved in practice, for example, due to mechanical wear. The disruptive pump slip can therefore lead to metering errors during the operation of the spindle metering pump 1. The invention thus also enables the determination of the disruptive pump slip and its subsequent correction. For this purpose, the invention offers two variants, which are described in the following sections. Figures 5 or 6 are shown.

[0059] In the invention variant according to Figure 5 In a first step, S1 closes the main needle valve of the applicator 9.

[0060] In a second step S2, the spindle metering pump 1 then builds up a pre-pressure at the material outlet 4 of the spindle metering pump 1.

[0061] In step S3, the pressure sensor 18 continuously measures whether the desired pre-pressure is reached.

[0062] When the desired pre-pressure is reached at the material outlet 4 of the spindle metering pump 1, the spindle metering pump 1 is then stopped in step S4.

[0063] The pump inlet pressure at the material inlet 3 of the spindle metering pump 1 is then kept constant in step S5 by the material pressure regulator 6.

[0064] Subsequently, due to the unavoidable disruptive pump slippage, a pressure drop occurs at the material outlet 4 of the spindle metering pump 1 over time, whereby this pressure drop is continuously measured in step S6.

[0065] In step S7, the pump slip is then calculated from the pressure drop over time.

[0066] In the next step S6, the pump characteristic curve can then be corrected according to the determined pump slip, whereby the corrected pump characteristic curve is then subsequently used for controlling the spindle metering pump.

[0067] Figure 6 shows another flowchart to illustrate a second invention variant for determining pump slippage.

[0068] Here too, in a first step S1 the main needle valve of the applicator 9 is closed.

[0069] In the next step S2, the spindle metering pump 1 then builds up a predetermined pre-pressure at the material outlet 4 of the spindle metering pump 1.

[0070] In step S3, it is continuously checked whether the desired pre-pressure is reached at the material outlet 4 of the spindle metering pump 1.

[0071] If this is the case, the rotational position of the spindle metering pump 1 is measured in step S4 when the pre-pressure is reached. This measurement of the rotational position can be performed, for example, by a rotary encoder. However, when using the servo drive 2, the rotational position of the spindle metering pump 1 is already known due to the control of the servo drive 2, so a separate rotary encoder is not required.

[0072] In the next step S5, the pre-pressure at the material outlet 4 of the spindle metering pump 1 is kept constant. Due to the unavoidable, disruptive pump slippage, this requires that the spindle metering pump 1 be rotated at least a little further.

[0073] In step S6, the pump inlet pressure at the material inlet 3 of the spindle metering pump 1 is kept constant by means of the material pressure regulator 6.

[0074] After a monitoring period has elapsed, the rotational position of the spindle metering pump 1 is measured again in step S7.

[0075] In the next step S8, the pump slip is then derived from the change in the rotational position of the spindle metering pump 1 during the monitoring period.

[0076] The final step S9 then provides that the pump characteristic curve is corrected according to the determined pump slip, whereby the corrected pump characteristic curve can then be used to control the spindle metering pump 1.

[0077] Finally, it shows Figure 7A perspective view illustrating the application of an adhesive bead 22 to a motor vehicle body component 23 using the applicator 9. Several points P1, P2, P3 along the adhesive bead 22 are shown as examples, where the movement speed v of the applicator 9 and the volume flow rate Q of the adhesive applied by the applicator 9 can have different values ​​v1, v2, v3 and Q1, Q2, Q3, respectively. Within the scope of the invention, it is therefore possible for both the movement speed v of the applicator 9 and the volume flow rate Q of the adhesive applied by the applicator 9 to be varied highly dynamically along the adhesive bead 22 ("brush"). Advantages of the invention

[0078] The main advantages of the invention are summarized below: In the spindle metering pump according to the invention, the applicator can be directly flanged to the spindle metering pump due to the reversal of the spatial arrangement of the material inlet and outlet. This direct flange connection of the applicator to the spindle metering pump enables a short flow path between the pump and the applicator, allowing for highly dynamic metering. Furthermore, this direct flange connection eliminates the need for the previously required tubing between the pump and the applicator, thus preventing disruptive tubing leakage. The material pressure regulator upstream of the spindle metering pump smooths out any pressure pulsations from the material supply (e.g., piston pump). The spindle metering pump therefore receives a constant pump inlet pressure.By appropriately controlling the material pressure regulator, an optimal pump inlet pressure can be selected for different brushes. Regulating the pump inlet pressure reduces pump slip, leading to increased dosing accuracy, extended service life of the spindle metering pump, and reduced material shear of the dispensing agent. Monitoring pump slip ensures higher and more consistent dosing accuracy throughout the pump's lifespan and extends its service life by compensating for any potential increase in pump slip over time. The integrated design of the spindle metering pump, applicator, and other components facilitates easier mounting and dismounting on the application robot. Reference symbol list

[0079] 1 Spindle metering pump 2 Servo drive of the spindle metering pump 3 Material inlet of the spindle metering pump 4 Material outlet of the spindle metering pump 5 Pipeline from the material pressure regulator to the material inlet of the spindle metering pump 6 Material pressure regulator 7 Heating module 8 Hose line from the material outlet of the spindle metering pump to the applicator 9 Applicator 10 Mounting flange of the application robot 11 Application robot 12 Proximal robot arm ("Arm 1") of the application robot 13 Distal robot arm ("Arm 2") of the application robot 14 Robot hand axis 15 Mounting flange of the spindle metering pump with quick-release fastener for mounting on the robot flange 1617 Pressure sensors 18 Pressure sensor on the applicator 19 Pneumatic proportional valve for setting a target value for the material pressure regulator 20 Piston pump 21 Pipeline from the piston pump to the material pressure regulator 22 Adhesive bead 23 Automotive body component P1-P3 Points along the adhesive bead Q1-Q3 Volume flow rate of the adhesive at points P1-P3 along the adhesive bead v1-v3 Movement speed of the applicator at points P1-P3 along the adhesive bead

Claims

1. Application device with a) a spindle metering pump (1) for metering an application agent, with a1) a material inlet (3) for receiving the application agent to be applied, a2) a material outlet (4) for dispensing the application agent to be applied, and a3) a rotary drive (2) for rotating the spindle metering pump (1), a4) wherein the material outlet (4) on the spindle metering pump (1) is arranged further away from the rotary drive (2) than the material inlet (3), b) an applicator (9) for applying the application agent to a component (23), wherein the applicator (9) does not include a regulator but merely at least one main valve, which selectively releases or blocks the material discharge through the applicator (9), and c) a flow path connecting the material outlet (4) of the spindle metering pump (1) with the applicator (9), characterized in, d) that the applicator (9) is flange-mounted on that end of the spindle metering pump (1), which faces away from the rotary drive (2), and e) that the flow path between the material outlet (4) of the spindle metering pump (1) and the applicator (9) is shorter than 10 cm.

2. Application device according to claim 1, characterized in, a) that the material inlet (3) on the spindle metering pump (1) is arranged laterally with respect to the axis of rotation of the spindle metering pump (1), and b) that the material outlet (4) on the spindle metering pump (1) is arranged laterally with respect to the axis of rotation of the spindle metering pump (1), and c) that the material inlet (3) and the material outlet (4) are arranged on the spindle metering pump (1) as follows: c1) on the same side surface of the spindle metering pump (1), or c2) on opposite side surfaces of the spindle metering pump (1), or c3) on adjacent side surfaces of the spindle metering pump (1), which run at right angles to each other, and d) that the rotary drive (2) is arranged with its drive shaft coaxial to the spindle of the spindle metering pump (1), and e) that the application agent in the spindle metering pump (1) flows along the axis of rotation of the spindle metering pump away from the rotary drive (2).

3. Application device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in a) that the flow path between the material outlet (4) of the spindle metering pump (1) and the applicator (9) is tubeless and pipeless, b) that the flow path between the material outlet (4) of the spindle metering pump (1) and the applicator (9) is shorter than 5 cm, and c) that a material pressure regulator (6) is connected upstream of the material inlet (3) of the spindle metering pump (1), which regulates the pump inlet pressure of the application agent at the material inlet (3) of the spindle metering pump (1), in particular depending on the volume flow rate as a function of the delivered volume flow rate of the application agent.

4. Application device according to claim 3, characterized in that the material pressure regulator (6) regulates the pump inlet pressure of the application agent at the material inlet (3) of the spindle metering pump (1) such that the pump slip of the spindle metering pump (1) is minimal, the pump slip representing the deviation between the volume flow actually delivered by the spindle metering pump (1) and the theoretical volume flow predetermined by a pump characteristic curve of the spindle metering pump (1) as a function of speed.

5. Application device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by a) a first pressure sensor (17) for measuring the pump inlet pressure of the application agent at the material inlet (3) of the spindle metering pump (1), wherein the first pressure sensor (17) is connected to the material pressure regulator (6) and supplies the measured pump inlet pressure as an actual value to the material pressure regulator (6), and b) a second pressure sensor (18) for measuring the pump outlet pressure of the application agent at the material outlet (4) of the spindle metering pump (1), wherein the second pressure sensor (18) is connected to the material pressure regulator (6) and supplies the measured pump outlet pressure as an actual value to the material pressure regulator (6), and c) a third pressure sensor (16) for measuring the pressure of the application agent at the inlet of the material pressure regulator (6), wherein the third pressure sensor (16) is connected to the material pressure regulator (6) and supplies the material pressure regulator (6) with the measured pressure of the application agent at the inlet of the material pressure regulator (6) as an actual value, and / or d) a rotary encoder for detecting the rotary position of the spindle metering pump (1).

6. Application device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in, a) that the material pressure regulator (6) has a target input at which the material pressure regulator (6) receives a target value for the pump inlet pressure of the application agent at the material inlet (3) of the spindle metering pump (1), b) that the target input of the material pressure regulator (6) is supplied with the target value via a proportional valve (19), c) that the proportional valve (19) operates pneumatically.

7. Application device according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in, a) that the application device has a piston pump (20) which is arranged upstream of the material pressure regulator (6) and conveys the application agent with a specific pump outlet pressure via the material pressure regulator (6) to the spindle metering pump (1), b) that the pump outlet pressure of the piston pump (20) is greater than the pump inlet pressure of the spindle metering pump (1), wherein the material pressure regulator (6) regulates the pump outlet pressure of the piston pump (20) down to the pump inlet pressure of the spindle metering pump (1), c) that the piston pump (20) is connected to the material pressure regulator (6) as follows: c1) via a rigid pipe (21), c2) via a flexible hose, or c3) via a combination of a rigid pipe (21) and a flexible hose, d) that the pipe (21) between the piston pump (20) and the material pressure regulator (6) preferably has a pipe length of at least 2 m, 4 m, 6 m, 8m, 10 m or 12 m, e) that the piston pump (20) is a scoop piston pump operated by compressed air, f) that the piston pump (20) has a maximum delivery pressure of at least 10 bar, 50 bar, 100 bar, 200 bar or 350 bar.

8. Application device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in, a) that the application device has a heater (7) for heating the application agent, in particular as trace heating for heating a hose or pipe carrying the application agent, and b) that the application device has a mounting flange (15) for detachable mounting of the application device on a robot flange (15) of an application robot (11), the application device comprising the following components, which can be mounted together on the robot flange of the application robot by means of the mounting flange (15) and are flange-mounted on the spindle metering pump (1): b1) the spindle metering pump (1) with the rotary drive (2), b2) the applicator (9), b3) the material pressure regulator (6), b4) the proportional valve (19), b5) the first pressure sensor (17) and / or the second pressure sensor (18) and / or the third pressure sensor (16), and b6) the heater (7), and / or c) that the spindle metering pump (1) is designed to deliver a volume flow of at least 5 cm3 / s, 10 cm3 / s, 20 cm3 / s or 24 cm3 / s, and d) that the rotary drive (2) of the spindle metering pump (1) is an electromotive servo drive, so that the rotary position of the servo drive is known through the control of the servo drive.

9. Application system with a) two application devices according to one of the preceding claims for conveying one component each of a two-component material and b) a mixer for mixing the two components of the two-component material.

10. Application robot (11) with a plurality of robot arms (12, 13), a robot hand axis (14) and a robot flange (10), wherein the application device according to one of the preceding claims or the application system according to claim 9 is mounted on the robot flange (10).

11. Operating method for an application device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pump slip of the spindle metering pump (1) is determined.

12. Operating method according to claim 11, characterized by the following steps for determining the pump slip of the spindle metering pump (1): a) Close the main valve of the applicator (9), b) Building up a predetermined pre-pressure at the material outlet (4) of the spindle metering pump (1) by the spindle metering pump (1) delivering the application agent against the closed main valve, c) Measuring the pump outlet pressure at the material outlet (4) of the spindle metering pump (1) by means of the second pressure sensor, d) Switching off the spindle metering pump (1) when the pump outlet pressure at the material outlet (4) of the spindle metering pump (1) reaches the specified inlet pressure, e) Regulating the pump inlet pressure at the material inlet (3) of the spindle metering pump (1) to a constant target value by means of the material pressure regulator (6), f) measuring the pressure drop over time at the material outlet (4) of the spindle metering pump (1) or at the applicator (9) upstream of the main valve during a monitoring period after the spindle metering pump (1) has been switched off by means of the second pressure sensor, and g) Evaluation of the pressure drop over time during the monitoring period to determine the pump slip of the spindle metering pump (1).

13. Operating method according to claim 11, characterized by the following steps for determining the pump slip of the spindle metering pump (1): a) Close the main valve of the applicator (9), b) Building up a predetermined pre-pressure at the material outlet (4) of the spindle metering pump (1) by the spindle metering pump (1) delivering the application agent against the closed main valve, c) Measuring the pump outlet pressure at the material outlet (4) of the spindle metering pump (1) by means of the second pressure sensor, d) Detecting the rotational position of the spindle metering pump (1) when the pump outlet pressure at the material outlet (4) of the spindle metering pump (1) reaches the predetermined inlet pressure, in particular by d1) Measuring the rotary position by means of the rotary encoder or by d2) Querying the rotary position of the servo drive of the spindle metering pump (1), e) Regulating the pump inlet pressure of the spindle metering pump (1) to a constant target value by means of the material pressure regulator (6), f) Regulating the pump outlet pressure at the material outlet (4) of the spindle metering pump (1) to the specified inlet pressure by controlling the rotary drive (2) of the spindle metering pump (1), g) measuring the temporal change in the rotational position of the spindle metering pump (1) during a monitoring period after the predetermined inlet pressure has been reached, the monitoring period preferably comprising several minutes, in particular five minutes, and h) Evaluation of the change in the rotational position of the spindle metering pump (1) over time during the monitoring period to determine the pump slip of the spindle metering pump (1).

14. Operating method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in, a) that a correction is made depending on the determined pump slip in order to avoid metering errors, b) that the correction preferably provides for a new pump characteristic curve to be measured which reflects the relationship between the pump speed of the spindle metering pump (1) and the delivered volume flow.

15. Operating method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in, a) that an elongated bead (22) of the application agent is applied to a component (23) by the applicator (9) by guiding the applicator (9) along the bead (22) over the component (23) at a specific speed of movement (v1, v2, v3), the applicator (22) applying the application agent at a specific volumetric flow rate (Q1, Q2, Q3), b) that the volume flow (Q1, Q2, Q3) of the application agent is dynamically varied during the movement of the applicator (9) along the bead (23), and / or c) that the speed of movement (v1, v2, v3) of the applicator (9) is varied dynamically during the movement of the applicator (9) along the bead (23).