Mechanical tool for disassembling bonded surfaces

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly (1) for disassembling two layers glued together with a glue joint, said assembly (1) being remarkable in that it comprises a means (3) for holding a blade, said holding means (3) having an elongated shape, a blade (5) attached to said holding means (3), an induction heating device (7) configured to heat said blade (5) and a vibration device configured to vibrate the blade (5) in a direction parallel to the length of said holding means (3) of said blade Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Mechanical tool for disassembling bonded surfaces

[0001] The invention relates to an assembly for disassembling two layers glued together with an adhesive joint and to the use of this assembly for disassembling a substrate comprising two layers glued together with an adhesive joint. The invention also relates to a method for disassembling two layers glued together with an adhesive joint.

[0002] Generally speaking, when it is necessary to disassemble an assembly comprising surfaces bonded together, several options are available to those skilled in the art. Thus, the application of mechanical loads, solvents or microwaves can be used. However, this type of separation entails a risk of degradation of the bonded surfaces, altering for example the mechanical properties of these parts. In addition, glue residues still present on the surfaces may require additional treatment steps. In the context of the use of solvent, health risks may also arise.

[0003] In order to overcome some of the problems, document US2023039626 describes a particular adhesive that can be easily peeled off by heating. This adhesive is a two-layer adhesive system that contains an adhesive layer containing conductive particles. By applying a relatively low but sufficient electrical power to heat the conductive particles, it is possible to heat separate this two-layer adhesive system. The conductive particles can be selected from silver, gold, palladium, platinum, carbon black, carbon fiber, graphite, indium tin oxide, silver-plated nickel, silver-plated copper, silver-plated graphite, silver-plated aluminum, silver-plated fiber, silver-plated glass, silver-plated polymer, antimony-doped tin oxide and any mixture thereof.

[0004] Although this two-layer adhesive can be used in a variety of applications and can then be released upon heating, sometimes glue joints that join two layers together are not equipped with conductive particles that facilitate the release of the glue joint. It is therefore necessary to find a universal means for releasing any type of adhesive present between two layers. In addition, the use of conductive particles can represent a certain cost and therefore does not necessarily appear to be a universal solution for joining two layers together. problems encountered in the prior art. In particular, the invention aims to provide a tool for disassembling a substrate having two layers bonded together with a glue joint.

[0006] To this end, according to a first aspect, the invention relates to an assembly for disassembling two layers glued together with an adhesive joint, said assembly being remarkable in that it comprises a means for holding a blade, said holding means having an elongated shape, a blade attached to said holding means, an induction heating device configured to heat said blade and a vibration device configured to vibrate the blade in a direction parallel to the length of said means for holding said blade.

[0007] As will be understood from reading the definition just given, the invention relates to an assembly for disassembling two layers glued together with a glue joint. The glue joint is detached by the force applied by a vibration device and also by the heat provided by the induction heating device. The use of both force and heat does not require the incorporation of conductive particles within the glue joint, which allows the assembly to be used in the context of any type of substrate having two layers glued together. Finally, it is interesting to note that the temperatures necessary for starting the assembly according to the invention are relatively low because the glue joint is also removed under the effect of the force applied by the vibration device.

[0008] Advantageously, the blade is made of steel.

[0009] Preferably, said steel exhibits a Young's modulus of less than 215 GPa as determined by the ISO 6892-1 standard, more preferably less than 213 GPa or less than 211 GPa.

[0010] Advantageously, said blade holding means has one end connected to said vibration device via a connecting means. Preferably, said connecting means is a chuck coupled to a self-tightening tip.

[0011] Advantageously, the blade has a beveled shape.

[0012] Advantageously, said blade holding means has a chiseled shape.

[0013] Advantageously, the assembly further comprises a motorized arm with one end attached to said blade holding means.

[0014] Advantageously, the assembly further comprises a motorized arm with one end forming said blade holding means.

[0015] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to the use of an assembly according to the first aspect for disassembling two layers glued together with an adhesive joint. two layers glued together with a glue joint, said process is remarkable in that it comprises the following steps:

[0017] (a) providing a substrate comprising two layers bonded together with a joint of glue;

[0018] (b) providing an assembly for disassembling two layers bonded together they with a glue joint as defined according to the first aspect;

[0019] (c) heating the blade;

[0020] (d) placing the heated blade at the glue joint;

[0021] (e) activating the vibration device so as to advance the blade within glue joint so as to disassemble the two layers.

[0022] Advantageously, step (c) of heating the blade is carried out at a temperature between 40°C and 80°C, or between 45°C and 75°C, or between 50°C and 70°C.

[0023] Advantageously, step (e) of activating the vibration device is implemented with a frequency of between 10 Hz and 500 Hz, preferably between 20 Hz and 100 Hz, or between 25 Hz and 50 Hz.

[0024] Advantageously, step (e) of activating the vibration device is implemented with an amplitude of between 0.05 mm and 1.00 mm, preferably between 0.10 mm and 0.90 mm, or between 0.20 mm and 0.80 mm.

[0025] Advantageously, the method further comprises a step (f) of scraping the surface of the two layers.

[0026] Advantageously, step (e) is automated by means of a robot.

[0027] The invention will be well understood and other aspects and advantages will appear clearly on reading the following description given with reference to the appended figures in which:

[0028] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] represents the assembly for disassembling two glued layers between them with an adhesive joint according to the invention.

[0029] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] shows schematically the detachment of two layers of a substrate with the assembly according to the invention.

[0030] In the following description, the term "comprise" is synonymous with "include" and is not limiting in that it allows for the presence of other steps in the method or other elements in the sealing frame or vehicle to which it relates. It is understood that the term "comprise" includes the terms "consist of".

[0031] Similarly, the terms "lower", "upper", "high" and "low" will be understood according to their usual definition, in which the terms "lower" and "low" indicate a greater proximity to the ground in the vertical direction than the terms "upper" and "high" respectively.

[0032] Throughout the description, the different figures use the same reference signs to designate identical or similar entities.

[0033] The present invention relates to an assembly 1 for disassembling two layers (11, 13) glued together with a glue joint 15. [Fig.l] allows a representation of such an assembly 1 to be visualized. The assembly 1 according to the invention is remarkable in that it comprises a means 3 for holding a blade, said holding means 3 having an elongated shape, a blade 5 attached to said holding means 3, an induction heating device 7 configured to heat said blade 5 and a vibration device (not shown) configured to vibrate the blade 5 in a direction parallel to the length of said holding means 3 of said blade.

[0034] The disassembly tool of the present invention therefore makes it possible to separate two layers (11, 13) glued together with a glue joint 15. One of the advantages of the invention is that it is not necessary to have a particular glue joint for the tool to work, which makes it possible to apply the assembly 1 according to the invention to any substrate which has two layers glued together. In addition, the presence of both an induction heating device and a vibration device facilitates disassembly, to the point that the temperatures required to activate the release of the glue joint are not excessive.

[0035] The induction heating device 7 makes it possible to activate the release of the glue forming the glue joint 15, which makes it possible to reduce any stresses on the substrate 9 during separation. For example, the induction heating device 7 may be an induction gun.

[0036] The vibration device makes the peeling process more efficient, and facilitates the use of the assembly 1 by the user. For example, the vibration device may be a multi-function tool.

[0037] The assembly 1 according to the invention makes it possible to dismantle bonded assemblies while ensuring the integrity of the two layers once the disassembly is complete. Indeed, the mechanical and physical constraints on the layers to be detached are reduced due to the use of the blade in conjunction with the induction heating device.

[0038] Since the integrity of the two layers (11, 13) forming the substrate 9 is guaranteed, it is possible to revalue these layers, in particular to reform other substrates. The disassembly tool according to the invention therefore presents economic and ecological interests.

[0039] The blade 5 may be made of steel, preferably flexible steel. Thus, preferably, the steel has a Young's modulus of less than 215 GPa as preferably determined by the ISO 6892-1 standard, more preferably less than 213 GPa or less than 211 GPa.

[0040] For example, the steel may exhibit a Young's modulus of between 203 GPa and 215 GPa as preferably determined by ISO 6892-1, more preferably of between 205 GPa and 213 GPa, or of between 207 GPa and 211 GPa.

[0041] Advantageously, said blade holding means 3 has one end connected to said vibration device via a connecting means. Preferably, said connecting means is a chuck coupled to a self-tightening bit, for example a self-tightening bit of the SDS type (“Special Direct System” in English), which facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the assembly 1.

[0042] Preferably, a cooling system (not shown) may be incorporated between the connecting means and the holding means 3, so that the induction heating device 7 does not interfere with the vibration device by heating it. For example, the cooling system consists of a water conduit with an inlet and an outlet within said blade holding means 3.

[0043] The blade 5 may have a beveled shape. The beveled shape of the blade allows for better penetration of the blade into the glue joint.

[0044] The blade holding means 3 may have a chiseled shape. This makes it possible to apply stress to the upper layer when the blade passes over it in order to facilitate detachment.

[0045] The assembly 1 according to the invention is used to disassemble two layers glued together with a glue joint.

[0046] The invention also relates to a method for disassembling two layers (11, 13) glued together with a glue joint 15.

[0047] The first step (a) of the method is the provision of a substrate comprising two layers (11, 13) glued together with a glue joint 15. The second step (b) is the provision of an assembly 1 as described above. Then, in the third step (c), the blade is heated, for example to a temperature between 40°C and 80°C, or between 45°C and 75°C, or between 50°C and 70°C. In the fourth step (d), the heated blade is placed at the glue joint 15, as visible in [Fig. 2]. Finally, a step (e) consists of activating the vibration device so as to advance the blade 5 within the glue joint 15 so as to disassemble the two layers (11, 13). The heated blade 5 advances into the glue joint 15 under the effect of the vibratory mechanism, which allows it to be inserted without effort on the part of the operator.

[0048] This step of activating the vibration device is for example implemented with a frequency between 10 Hz and 500 Hz, preferably between 20 Hz and 100 Hz, or between 25 Hz and 50 Hz.

[0049] This step of activating the vibration device is for example also implemented with an amplitude of between 0.05 mm and 1.00 mm, preferably between 0.10 mm and 0.90 mm, or between 0.20 mm and 0.80 mm.

[0050] Advantageously, the assembly 1 may further comprise a motorized arm with one end attached to said blade holding means 3 and / or forming the blade holding means 3. For example, the motorized arm is an articulated arm, preferably initially started by a robot. Therefore, the step of activating the vibration device can also be automated by means of a robot, which makes it possible to use the assembly 1 according to the invention in a continuous industrial process.

[0051] Advantageously, the method further comprises a step (f) of scraping the surface of the two layers, which makes it possible to ensure the cleaning of the glued surface of each layer. Scraping is generally facilitated by the flexibility of the steel used to make up the blade 5 of the assembly.

Claims

Claims

1. Assembly (1) for disassembling two layers (11, 13) glued together with a joint (15) of glue, said assembly (1) being characterized in that it comprises a means (3) for holding a blade, said holding means (3) having an elongated shape, a blade (5) attached to said holding means (3), an induction heating device (7) configured to heat said blade (5) and a vibration device configured to vibrate the blade (5) in a direction parallel to the length of said holding means (3) of said blade.

2. Assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the blade (5) is made of steel; preferably, said steel shows a Young's modulus of less than 215 GPa as determined by the ISO 6892-1 standard.

3. Assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said blade holding means (3) has one end connected to said vibration device via a connecting means; preferably, said connecting means is a chuck coupled to a self-tightening tip.

4. Assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the blade (5) has a beveled shape.

5. Assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said blade holding means (3) has a chiseled shape.

6. Assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it further comprises a motorized arm with one end forming said blade holding means (3).

7. Use of an assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6 for disassembling two layers (11, 13) glued together with a glue joint (15).

8. A method for disassembling two layers (11, 13) glued together with a glue joint (15), said method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: (a) providing a substrate (9) comprising two layers (11, 13) glued together with a glue joint (15); (b) providing an assembly (1) for disassembling two layers (11, 13) glued together with a glue joint (15) as defined according to one of claims 1 to 6; (c) heating the blade (5); (d) placing the heated blade at the glue joint (15); (e) activating the vibration device so as to advance the blade (5) within the glue joint (15) so as to disassemble the two layers (11, 13).

9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that step (c) of heating the blade (5) is carried out at a temperature between 40°C and 80°C.

10. Method according to claim 8 to 9, characterized in that the method further comprises a step (f) of scraping the surface of the two layers (11, 13).

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