Application device with refilling cassette

Abstract

The present invention relates to an application device (10) for applying adhesive elements (12a, 12b) to a substrate to be applied, comprising: a) a cassette unit (14) comprising: a1) a guide device comprising a supply roll (16) and a receiving roll (18); a2) a delivery area having a dispensing edge (20); and a3) a material tape (22) including a plurality of adhesive elements (12a, 12b) having a carrier layer and an adhesive layer bonded thereto; the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) having the adhesive layer are arranged on a web of separation material, and the cassette unit (14) is adapted so that the material tape (22) provided on the supply roll (16) can be guided to the receiving roll (18) via the dispensing edge (20) so that the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) are separated from the separation material in the delivery area and delivered from the cassette unit (14); b) a base unit (24) comprising: b1) a cassette holder for holding said cassette unit (14); b2) a conveying element (26) having a reduced-adhesion surface; and b3) an application element (28); wherein the base unit (24) is adapted to receive the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) arranged on the conveying element (26) with the application element (28) and apply them to the substrate to be bonded, and the application device (10) is adapted to transport the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) delivered from said cassette unit (14) with their adhesive layers facing the reduced-adhesion surface of the conveying element (26).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an application device for applying adhesive elements to a substrate to be applied, a cassette unit and a base unit for the corresponding application device, and a method for applying adhesive elements to a substrate to be applied using the corresponding application device. Furthermore, a method for loading the corresponding application device is also disclosed. [Background technology]

[0002] Today, the use of adhesive elements plays an important role in many modern manufacturing methods. In the latter, corresponding adhesive elements are used not only to secure components to substrates, but also, in particular, to close openings in the substrate. Such openings are often present due to manufacturing reasons and represent potential weak spots in the final product, allowing, for example, moisture or contaminants to pass through. The use of suitable adhesive elements, which are usually adhesive on one side, to close corresponding openings in the substrate represents a simple, time- and cost-effective solution for closing the corresponding openings and preventing the unintended ingress of contaminants. Adhesive elements, also known as die cuts due to their manufacturing process, are already regularly used for this purpose in the prior art.

[0003] In principle, it is conceivable to manually place the corresponding adhesive elements on the substrate. However, with the increasing trend towards automation and the interest in processes that are as error-free and efficient as possible, automatic application devices have been developed for applying the adhesive elements to the substrate. Various requirements are imposed on the corresponding application devices. In particular, such application devices must be able to apply the adhesive elements to the substrate reliably and reproducibly, and it is desirable to achieve a high throughput.

[0004] A group of application devices known from the prior art is based on the well-known technology that the application device receives adhesive elements provided in a separate dispenser arrangement located at a distance from the application device and places them on a substrate.However, this design is often recognized as inefficient and disadvantageous, since it usually requires a lot of installation space and usually requires the application element to move back and forth between the dispenser unit and the substrate to be applied, which consumes a lot of space.Accordingly, long guide paths increase the risk of misplacement, for example due to slippage on the application element, or the risk of contamination on the adhesive element, which may result in an undesirable deterioration of the achievable adhesive strength.

[0005] Against this background, application devices have been designed that integrate a dispenser arrangement for the adhesive elements, and the distance between the supply of adhesive elements and the application device is so short that both can be designed as part of the end effector of, for example, a robot head.

[0006] Among these application devices with integrated application devices for adhesive elements, one of the greatest challenges is ensuring the reliable supply of adhesive elements, usually supplied from a roll on a tape-like release liner, so that they can be accurately applied by the actual application device. In practice, this is a major challenge, particularly due to the fact that the supply section of the corresponding application device must use the concept of a refill cassette to allow the application device to be quickly refilled with new adhesive elements. The reversible and non-destructive exchangeability of the adhesive element reservoir desired for this purpose makes it difficult to present the adhesive elements provided on the tape-like release liner in a manner appropriate for the actual application device, which ideally should not be part of the exchangeable cassette itself. Therefore, to realize an advantageous application device that can be loaded with adhesive elements using a refill cassette, a suitable mechanism for interaction between the cassette unit and the base unit carrying the application elements is required.

[0007] To solve this problem, a structure has been proposed that uses a so-called vibrating dispensing edge, in which the cassette contains a movable element that can be deployed from the cassette and moved back into the cassette again in order to guide the tape-like release layer out of the cassette and thereby present the adhesive element arranged on the tape-like release layer outside the cassette to the application element so that it can be received by this application element and finally applied to the substrate.

[0008] Even if a corresponding superstructure with a vibrating dispensing edge often produces good results, the effort involved in its implementation, especially in the design of the refilling cassette, is usually recognized as a disadvantage. Not only is an additional drive required to move the vibrating dispensing edge, but often also a very complex guiding device with a large number of guide units, e.g., guide rolls, is required, some of which must be designed as movable web tensioning elements to compensate for the cyclic deformation of the strip of separated material caused by the vibrating dispensing edge. Therefore, the effort involved in manufacturing the corresponding refilling cassette is relatively high, and a relatively large amount of waste is generated in the case of used refilling cassettes unless they are refilled, which is often difficult due to their complex design.

[0009] Due to the high level of complexity associated with corresponding superstructures with vibrating dispensing edges, attempts have been made to provide alternative solution concepts. An exemplary solution concept is disclosed in EP3569534A1. The approach of EP3569534A1 is not disclosed in the context of a solution based on a refill cassette and, in the inventors' opinion, is not optimal for this purpose. However, EP3569534A1 shows a solution without a vibrating dispensing edge. Instead, the die-cut blank is transferred to a rotating suction belt via a stationary dispensing edge with the adhesive side facing outward. Using vacuum, the non-adhesive side of the adhesive element is held on the suction belt and guided around the belt until it reaches the leading edge of the suction belt, from which it is bonded, for example, to a hole. In this solution, the suction belt is effectively the application element, ultimately bonding the adhesive element to the substrate.

[0010] Although the solution disclosed in EP 3 569 534 A1 simplifies the design of the dispenser arrangement compared to a vibrating dispensing edge, the inventors believe that it nevertheless entails significant drawbacks that prevent its efficient implementation in products with replaceable refill cassettes. In particular, the adhesive elements are held in place on the rotating suction belt (absorbent belt) solely by suction, which is considered a disadvantage, particularly in mobile application devices, since sufficient suction must always be ensured. This requires considerable equipment, such as perforations in the suction belt and the equipment required to generate a vacuum, such as pumps and hose systems. A corresponding design with a suction belt cannot be dispensed with, even in the case of simple stationary application devices, since application can only be performed on the adhesive elements arranged on the side walls of the suction belt, and therefore the suction effect is necessary in any case. Furthermore, in the solution of EP 3 569 534 A1, the adhesive elements are not separated when transferred to the actual application element. As a result, unless the distance between the adhesive elements on the tape-like separating material is chosen to be uneconomically large, a large number of punched pieces arranged one behind the other will be sucked onto the suction belt exposed for application, with their adhesive layer already facing outwards and therefore exposed. As a result, the application elements themselves will essentially be provided with an adhesive surface, which is not only inconvenient for handling but also carries the risk that the exposed adhesive surface of the adhesive element will be contaminated with dust or other components before application, which will have a negative impact on the adhesive strength that can be achieved after application.

[0011] A further drawback is often recognized: in order to ensure continuous, error-free transfer of the adhesive element from the dispensing edge to the rotating suction belt, the distance between these two elements must not change. At the same time, however, the positioning of the dispensing edge relative to the die-cutting roll must remain constant, in order to avoid the design complexity associated with a vibrating dispensing edge. However, as disclosed in EP 3569534 A1, application is performed by pressing the adhesive element, which is attached to the suction belt, against the substrate. If the suction belt, dispensing edge, and roll holder are relatively rigid, this means that both the suction belt, the dispensing edge, and the die-cutting roll must be moved relative to the substrate in order to apply the adhesive element. Therefore, a relatively large block, i.e., the entire end effector, must be completely moved for each application step, especially the die-cutting roll, which typically weighs several kilograms. This is often recognized as a disadvantage, especially in light of the growing interest in energy-efficient operation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0012] [Patent Document 1] EP3569534A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It was a primary object of the present invention to overcome or at least mitigate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

[0014] In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an advantageous application device for applying the adhesive element to the substrate to be bonded, which allows the adhesive element to be applied reliably, time-wise and cost-effectively.

[0015] In this context, the application device to be specified should be able to be implemented with exchangeable refill cassettes and should ensure a reliable supply of adhesive elements from the refill cassette to the application element. It was an object of the present invention that the application device to be specified should be able to operate with cassette units that are designed in a particularly simple manner, so that they can be produced in a particularly time- and cost-efficient manner.

[0016] The object of the present invention was to make it possible for the application device specified to be suitable for applying adhesive elements of different sizes without structural modifications and to pack the adhesive elements as tightly as possible onto the material tape used for supplying them without adversely affecting the accuracy of application.

[0017] Furthermore, it was an object of the present invention that the application device specified be operable with a cassette unit with particularly high refill efficiency.

[0018] A further object of the present invention was to ensure that the application device specified could operate as energy-efficiently as possible, thereby ideally avoiding the necessity of also moving the cassette unit and material roll for the final application step.

[0019] Furthermore, it was an object of the present invention that the application device to be specified should be feasible in simple embodiments, without complex devices for generating negative pressure for intermediate fixation of the adhesive elements, as is known, for example, from suction belts. In this regard, it was a supplementary object of the present invention that, insofar as vacuum-based fixation is used, a secondary fixation mechanism should advantageously be provided, which can at least partially compensate for variations in the strength of the vacuum-based fixation.

[0020] Furthermore, it was an object of the present invention that the application device specified guides the adhesive element in such a way that the adhesive layer intended for adhesion to the substrate is protected from contamination for as long as possible.

[0021] A further object of the present invention was to provide a cassette unit for use with a specified application device and a base unit corresponding to the specified application device.

[0022] Furthermore, it was an object of the present invention to provide a method for applying adhesive elements to substrates to be applied using a specified application device.

[0023] It was also a secondary object of the present invention to provide a method of supplying the specified application device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0024] The inventors of the present invention have found that the above-mentioned problem can be solved by an application device for applying adhesive elements to substrates to be bonded, as defined in the claims, in which a cassette unit is placed in a cassette holder of a base unit, and adhesive elements arranged on a material tape are guided in the cassette unit on a dispensing edge so that the adhesive elements are separated from the separating material and transferred, adhesive layer facing downwards, onto a conveying element of the base unit having a surface with reduced adhesion, the adhesive layer is separated from the separating material and transferred, adhesive layer facing downwards, onto a conveying element of the base unit having a surface with reduced adhesion, and the adhesive element located on the conveying element via the adhesive layer is received from the conveying element by an application element of the base unit and applied to the substrate.

[0025] Therefore, the above-mentioned problem is solved by the object of the invention as defined in the claims. Preferred embodiments according to the invention are based on the dependent claims and the following description.

[0026] In particularly preferred embodiments, such embodiments identified below as preferred are combined with features of other embodiments identified as preferred. Combinations of two or more of the embodiments described below as particularly preferred are therefore particularly preferred. Also preferred are embodiments in which features of embodiments designated as further preferred are combined with one or more further features of other embodiments designated as further preferred. Features of the preferred cassette unit, base unit, and method are derived from features of the preferred application device.

[0027] The present invention relates to an application device for applying an adhesive element to a substrate to be applied, the application device comprising: a) A cassette unit containing: a1) a guide device including a supply roll and a receiving roll; a2) a delivery area with a distribution edge, and a3) a material tape comprising a plurality of adhesive elements having a carrier layer and an adhesive layer bonded thereto; However, the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) are arranged on the web-like separating material via an adhesive layer (the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) are arranged on the web-like separating material on the adhesive layer side), and The cassette unit is adapted so that the material tape provided on the supply roll can be guided via a dispensing edge to a receiving roll so that the adhesive element is separated from the separation material in the delivery area and delivered from the cassette unit (14); b) A base unit containing: b1) a cassette holder for holding (accommodating) the cassette unit; b2) a conveying element with a reduced adhesive surface (a surface with reduced adhesive (tack) strength), and b3) application elements; However, the base unit is adapted to receive the adhesive element disposed on the conveying element with the application element and apply it to the substrate to be bonded; and the cassette unit is reversibly and non-destructively replaceably disposed in the cassette holder; and The application device is characterized in that the adhesive element delivered from the cassette unit is transported with its adhesive layer facing the reduced adhesive surface of the conveying element, so that the transported adhesive element can be received by the application element from the reduced adhesive surface of the conveying element and applied to the substrate to be affixed.

[0028] The application device according to the invention is used to apply adhesive elements to substrates to be attached and is therefore particularly suitable for the application of so-called punch blanks in the automotive manufacturing sector. The application device according to the invention can be integrated in various ways into existing production lines in which adhesive has to be applied to substrates. For example, a substantially stationary application device is conceivable in which the application element alone receives adhesive elements supplied from a cassette unit and places them on the substrate as part of a "pick and place" process.

[0029] However, in the inventors' estimation, the application device according to the present invention is preferably designed as a so-called end effector in most cases. As understood by those skilled in the art, an end effector is the execution and / or final element of an automated operating unit, for example, a robot arm. In other words, in the field of robotics, end effectors are the final components of a kinematic chain and are usually adapted to execute execution commands given by an external control device, possibly together with an automated motion unit to which they are attached. Therefore, the application device according to the present invention is preferably an end effector for an automated motion unit, preferably a robot arm. Furthermore, the application device according to the present invention is preferably arranged on an automated motion unit, preferably a robot arm.

[0030] Those skilled in the art will understand that the application device according to the present invention includes multiple automated or automatable components, in particular for moving the transport or application element and for guiding the material tape onto the application end, for example by driving a roll in a cassette unit. In principle, this control can be performed by an external control device, for example, along with the control of an automatic transfer unit. However, in the inventors' opinion, it is advantageous if the application device according to the present invention also includes an internal electronic data processing device that can control one or more of these components. Therefore, it is preferred that the application device according to the present invention includes an electronic data processing device for controlling the application device, preferably as a component of the base unit.

[0031] The application device according to the invention initially comprises a cassette unit, which may also be called a refill cassette. The task of this cassette unit in the application device according to the invention is to provide the adhesive elements to be applied to the application elements of the base unit. Those skilled in the art will understand that the cassette unit and the base unit of the application device according to the invention are designed so that the cassette unit can be reversibly and non-destructively inserted into the cassette holder of the base unit in an exchangeable manner, which in the inventors' opinion can be achieved in particular by magnetic connection. Therefore, it is preferred that the application device according to the invention has a cassette unit that can be reversibly and non-destructively detachably arranged in the cassette holder via a magnetic connection mechanism.

[0032] In a particularly preferred embodiment, wireless communication between the cassette unit and the base unit is possible, for example, by a corresponding transmitting / receiving system, in particular via RFID, to confirm a successful connection between the cassette unit and the base unit. Advantageously, further data, such as the dimensions of the adhesive elements guided in the cassette unit, can also be exchanged via the wireless communication link, so that, for example, an application element of the base unit suited to the dimensions of the adhesive element can be selected for application, or the speed control of the conveying element can be adapted to the desired separation effect. Therefore, the application device according to the invention preferably includes a wireless communication system, preferably an RFID system, whose electronic communication units are arranged in the cassette unit and the base unit and adapted to control the application device as a function of operating parameters, where the wireless communication system is preferably used to confirm the presence of the cassette unit in the base unit and / or to transmit the operating parameters of the cassette unit to an electronic data processing device of the application device.

[0033] In the cassette unit, the individual adhesive elements are arranged as part of a material tape having an adhesive layer on a web of separating material, with the carrier layer of the adhesive element facing outward. The adhesive elements are described in more detail below. However, at this point, we will first focus on the structure of the cassette unit, i.e., the refill cassette.

[0034] The central element of the cassette unit is a guide device along which the material tape is guided, which includes a so-called supply roll (feed roll) and a receiving roll. In its unused state, the supply roll consists of a wound material tape on which adhesive elements are arranged, while the receiving roll is intended to receive only the web-like separation material after the adhesive elements have been separated from the web-like separation material. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, when the method according to the invention is carried out or the application device according to the invention is operated, the web-like separation material is continuously unwound from the supply roll, separated from the adhesive elements in the delivery area, and then wound onto the receiving roll, so that a fully used cassette unit actually consists almost entirely of the web-like separation material wound completely onto the receiving roll, except for the remainder that is still connected to the supply roll. In other words, in the application device according to the invention, the cassette unit is adapted to wind the web-like separation material separated from the adhesive elements onto the receiving roll.

[0035] Between the time when the material tape is unwound from the supply roll and the time when it is wound onto the receiving roll, the material tape is guided over a dispensing edge, which in the context of the present invention takes place in a section of the cassette unit called the delivery area. The concept of a dispensing edge is well known to those skilled in the art of adhesive technology. The material tape, which has a web of separation material and adhesive elements arranged thereon, is supplied over the dispensing edge, and the web of separation material is guided sharply at the end of the dispensing edge and around this dispensing edge. Due to the inherent stiffness of the adhesive elements, which is greater than their adhesiveness to the web of separation material, the adhesive elements are unable to follow this movement of the separation material, but instead are continuously peeled off from the separation material as the material web is guided further over the dispensing edge.

[0036] The area corresponding to the cassette unit is designated here as the delivery area, since the adhesive element thus separated from the web-like separation material is now delivered from the cassette unit and transported for further handling in the base unit, while the web-like separation material released from the adhesive element proceeds in the direction of the receiving roll and accordingly remains within the cassette unit.

[0037] The application device according to the present invention is advantageously flexible in terms of the design of the dispensing edge, allowing those skilled in the art to rely on known arrangements for separating adhesive elements from a web of separating material. For example, in the application device according to the present invention, the dispensing edge is preferably a knife edge. To reduce possible friction losses and, as a result, the required motor power, it is preferable to use a rounded dispensing edge. Additionally or alternatively, the application device according to the present invention is preferably adapted such that the cassette unit guides a material tape provided on a supply roll over the dispensing edge so that the web of separating material is deflected at the end of the dispensing edge by 90° or more. Those skilled in the art will understand that the actual deflection angle depends on the design of the dispensing edge, and that deflection angles of, for example, 150° or more can also be achieved.

[0038] However, those skilled in the art will understand that in this respect, embodiments in which the position of the dispensing edge is essentially fixed are particularly preferred in view of advantageously avoiding a reciprocating dispensing edge and the associated structural design, since a particularly simple structure that perfectly fulfills the function in an advantageous manner can be achieved thereby. For essentially all embodiments, application devices according to the invention are preferred, and therefore it is particularly preferred that the dispensing edge is immobile within the cassette unit and / or that the dispensing edge is arranged in a fixed position within the cassette unit.

[0039] From the above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the material tape initially applied to the supply roll must be guided along or over the dispensing edge toward the receiving roll. For this purpose, it is conceivable in principle to provide the cassette unit with a separate drive unit capable of driving the supply roll and / or the receiving roll to enable the desired guidance of the material tape. However, the inventors believe that equipping the cassette unit with such a drive unit would significantly increase the design effort involved in constructing the cassette unit, especially considering the energy source required for this purpose, which would negatively affect the time and cost efficiency of its production as well as the required material. To avoid this problem, the inventors propose that the rolls of the cassette units can instead be designed as non-driven rolls, and that a corresponding drive unit be provided in the base unit, which can engage with the corresponding engagement recesses of the rolls by means of suitable coupling elements when the cassette unit is inserted into the cassette holder of the base unit, so that the guiding device of the cassette unit can be driven by the drive unit of the base unit, thereby significantly reducing the requirements for the functionality and design of the cassette unit in an advantageous manner. The interlocking of the coupling elements and the engagement recesses also has the advantage of further stabilizing the cassette unit in the cassette holder of the base unit. A preferred application device according to the invention is one in which the supply rolls and receiving rolls of the cassette units are designed as non-driven rolls. In this case, the application device according to the invention is preferably one in which the base unit is provided with a drive unit for driving the guiding device of the cassette unit. Particularly preferred in this respect is an application device according to the invention in which the supply rolls and / or receiving rolls, preferably the supply rolls and receiving rolls, have central structural engagement recesses, which preferably have a toothed structure.Therefore, particularly preferably, the application device according to the invention comprises one or more coupling elements arranged in the region of the cassette holder, which coupling elements are adapted to engage in engagement recesses of the supply roll and / or the receiving roll and to create a form-fitting connection (form-fit coupling) that allows the guiding device to be driven by the drive unit. In other words, particularly preferably, the application device according to the invention is therefore arranged in the cassette holder such that the coupling elements of the drive unit form-fit into engagement recesses of the supply roll and / or the receiving roll, so that the guiding device can be driven by the drive unit. In principle, the coupling elements are not limited in their design. However, in the inventors' opinion, coupling elements with at least partially movable elements, such as hinged grippers or gripping devices based on movable ball elements, in which a positive engagement between the coupling element and the roll can be achieved by moving the movable element, are particularly suitable. This makes it possible, for example, to particularly easily insert the cassette unit into the base unit with the movable element in an initial position, and then only by movement of the movable element to generate the engagement of the coupling elements in the engagement recesses required for actuation.

[0040] Regardless of the positioning of the drive device used to guide the tape, the inventors consider it particularly advantageous that the required guidance of the material tape in the cassette unit in the application device according to the invention can be performed simply and very efficiently by a roll arrangement in which only few stationary deflection elements are used to guide the material tape, so that no complex structure of a movable guiding device, in particular a position-variable web tensioning element, is required to achieve the required guidance of the material tape. A preferred application device according to the invention is one in which the guiding device does not include further movable guiding devices, in particular further guide rolls and / or movable web tensioning elements.

[0041] At least theoretically, it is possible to design the cassette unit as an open cassette unit, for example, in which the supply roll, receiving roll, and dispensing edge are arranged on a simple carrier plate. However, the inventors believe this is disadvantageous, and not only from an aesthetic point of view. Rather, in these embodiments, the adhesive elements are at least partially exposed, so that the adhesive layer is accessible at least in the edge area. This is considered to be disadvantageous with regard to contamination of the die cuts, but also with regard to drying. To this end, the inventors believe it is advantageous to instead provide a housing in which the essential components of the cassette unit are arranged so that they are at least partially protected from environmental influences, for example, light. Furthermore, a corresponding design often proves advantageous with regard to the manageability and storage of the refillable cassette. Because the application element of the base unit must accommodate the adhesive elements, a design with a cassette unit having a housing usually means that the housing has an application opening corresponding to the application area through which the adhesive elements separated from the web-like separation material can be applied from the housing. In the application device according to the invention, the cassette unit preferably comprises a housing in which the guide device part and the dispensing edge are arranged, the housing having a dispensing opening in the delivery area, and the cassette unit is adapted to dispense the adhesive element through the dispensing opening.

[0042] An advantage of the application device according to the invention is that it is suitable for applying a wide range of different adhesive elements. Due to their practical relevance, the application of so-called die cuts, especially those with diameters in the range of 10 to 80 mm, preferably 20 to 60 mm, is of particular importance. These are adhesive elements that can be obtained, for example, by punching an adhesive element from a larger adhesive composite, whereby the adhesive unit consists of an adhesive layer and a carrier layer arranged on the adhesive layer, the adhesive layer or carrier layer of the adhesive element being obtained after the punching process. Therefore, it is preferred that the application device according to the invention is used with adhesive elements that are die cut blanks (die cut cross sections).

[0043] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above definition means that the adhesive element comprises at least one carrier layer and at least one adhesive layer, and that multi-layer structures of the adhesive element are also contemplated. In particular, adhesive elements with multiple carrier layers may also be used where appropriate.

[0044] In many cases, the adhesive element applied in the method according to the invention using the application device according to the invention is a pressure-sensitive adhesive element, i.e., an adhesive element that has pressure-sensitive adhesive properties as a result of an adhesive layer of a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition. Such pressure-sensitive adhesive elements are advantageously inherently tacky without an additional curing step and can be applied particularly easily to substrates, thereby developing adhesive strength without the need for an additional curing step. A further advantage is that the pressure-sensitive adhesive element can also be relatively easily removed again if necessary, for example, to subsequently correct the fit of an incorrectly applied pressure-sensitive adhesive element. Preferred is an application device according to the invention in which the adhesive element is a pressure-sensitive adhesive element. It is also preferred that the adhesive layer of the application device according to the invention comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition, and preferably consists of a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition.

[0045] A pressure-sensitive adhesive, as understood by those skilled in the art, is an adhesive with pressure-sensitive adhesive properties, i.e., the ability to form a permanent bond to an adhesive substrate even under relatively low pressure. Such pressure-sensitive adhesive components typically have permanent tack even at room temperature, meaning that they wet the surface of the substrate even under low pressure and have a certain viscosity and tack. While not wishing to be bound by this theory, it is often assumed that pressure-sensitive adhesives can be viewed as highly viscous liquids with an elastic component, and therefore have characteristic viscoelastic properties that result in the permanent inherent tack and pressure-sensitive adhesion described above. In the corresponding pressure-sensitive adhesives, it is assumed that a viscous flow process occurs during mechanical deformation, as well as the accumulation of elastic restoring forces. Proportional viscous flow contributes to achieving adhesion, while proportional elastic restoring forces are particularly necessary to achieve cohesion. The relationship between rheology and tack is known in the art and is described, for example, in "Satas, Handbook of Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives Technology," 3rd Edition (1999), pp. 153-203. The storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G'') can be determined, for example, by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) using a rheometer, as disclosed, for example, in WO 2015 / 189323, and are commonly used to characterize the degree of elastic and viscous content. In the context of the present invention, the adhesive composition preferably has a viscosity of 10 0 From 10 1 At a temperature of 23°C in the deformation frequency range of 10 rad / sec, G' and G'' are at least partially 10 3 ~10 7 If the adhesive strength is in the range of 0.1 Pa, it is understood to be tacky and therefore a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition.

[0046] The application device according to the invention is very flexible with regard to the chemical composition of the adhesive composition used in the adhesive layer, so that essentially all adhesive compositions known to those skilled in the art can be used, with the advantage that the skilled person can essentially direct the selection of a suitable adhesive composition to the respective application requirements.

[0047] In addition to the adhesive layer, the adhesive element disposed on the web-like separating material also includes a carrier layer. In the context of the present invention, the term carrier layer is understood broadly and functionally, so that thinner coatings, such as lacquer coatings with a lacquer layer, are also understood as carrier layers. Those skilled in the art will understand that in most cases, the carrier layer primarily serves the purpose of reducing or preferably completely eliminating the adhesiveness of the adhesive element on the side facing away from the adhesive. In particular, this serves the purpose of ensuring that an adhesive element transferred to a conveying element with its adhesive layer facing downwards can be efficiently received by an application element on a non-sticky backing layer without adhering to the application element. In our estimation, in practice, at least one temporary coating is correspondingly advantageous, which reduces the adhesiveness in the application area of ​​the application element, at least during application. However, in many cases, the adhesive element has a permanent carrier layer that is essentially permanently non-sticky, so that, advantageously, after application of the adhesive element to a substrate, a surface that is as non-sticky as possible remains permanently. Those skilled in the art will understand in this respect that even if it is at least theoretically conceivable to use adhesive elements that are double-sticky, i.e. that have adhesive layers on both sides of the carrier layer, such a method is far less favorable in terms of clean handling during the application process. Therefore, in many cases, application devices according to the invention are preferred whereby the side of the adhesive element facing away from the adhesive layer is formed by the carrier layer.

[0048] It can be seen as an advantage of the application device according to the invention that the carrier layer can be manufactured from typical materials used in the field of adhesive technology for the corresponding carrier layer.In this respect, examples of the application layer according to the invention include the carrier layer comprising one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, cyclic olefin copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyacrylonitrile, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyethersulfone and polyimide, preferably selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate, and the carrier layer is preferably made of these materials.

[0049] For example, a so-called liner can be used as a web-like separation material on which the adhesive elements are placed on the material tape. However, functionally, any web-like material with a reduced-adhesion surface can also be used, and the following description of the reduced-adhesion surface of the conveying element applies accordingly, so that the required degree of reduced adhesion can be adapted to the chemical properties of the adhesive and the structural design of the dispensing edge to ensure efficient separation of the adhesive elements from the separation material. Particularly preferred are web-like separation materials that have been so-called siliconized, resulting in a reduced-adhesion surface.

[0050] The application device according to the present invention, wherein the web-like separating material is preferably a material with a surface that has reduced adhesiveness, such as a liner.A particularly preferred application device according to the present invention is that the web-like separating material is coated with a release layer, preferably a silicone release layer, on the side facing the adhesive element, and the silicone release layer can be preferably produced by crosslinking a crosslinkable silicone system that is composed of one or more polysiloxanes.

[0051] The advantageous design of the application device according to the present invention with its replaceable refill cassette allows for the use of relatively short material tapes in an advantageous manner, allowing for the fast and efficient replacement of empty material tapes without placing too many constraints on process control efficiency, resulting in only minor efficiency losses compared to very long material tapes. However, correspondingly, short material tapes achieve handling advantages, particularly in terms of the weight of the cassette unit and the corresponding weight of the application device according to the present invention, which are particularly advantageous when used as an end effector. Against this background, the application device according to the present invention is preferably configured such that the web-like separation material has a length in the range of 30 to 300 m, preferably in the range of 40 to 250 m, and particularly preferably in the range of 50 to 200 m. Additionally or alternatively, the application device according to the present invention is preferably configured such that the supply roll has a diameter of 500 mm or less, preferably 450 mm or less, and particularly preferably 420 mm or less.

[0052] In the application device according to the invention, adhesive elements dispensed from a cassette unit are transferred with the adhesive layer facing downward onto a conveying element, from which they can be received by the application element. The conveying element thus serves to guide the adhesive elements from the delivery area of ​​the cassette unit to the holder area where the application element can be received. In the inventors' view, many different configurations of the conveying element are theoretically conceivable, including, for example, an exclusively discontinuously operable configuration using a movable slider, whereby the adhesive elements are transported near the dispensing edge and then moved toward the application element. However, in the inventors' view, a solution using a continuously operable conveying element, which can be designed in particular as a revolving conveyor belt, is preferred in essentially all embodiments. A corresponding conveyor belt allows for reliable and precisely controllable transport of the adhesive elements, and in particular can be arranged in a fixed position within the base unit, thereby reducing sources of error during the transport of the adhesive elements from the cassette unit. In essentially all embodiments, the application device according to the invention preferably includes a revolving conveyor belt as the conveying element. Additionally or alternatively, the application device according to the invention is preferably arranged such that the conveying element is arranged in a fixed position in the base unit. In order to receive the adhesive element by the application element as accurately and as controlled as possible, the inventors consider it advantageous to adapt discontinuous operation in many types of application element, despite the continuous operability of the circulating conveyor belt in use, so that the conveyed adhesive element stops while being received by the application element. However, there are also embodiments in which an approximately continuous conveyance is intended, for example, when the adhesive element is transferred from the conveying element to a continuously operating application element, for example in the form of an application roll.

[0053] Those skilled in the art will understand that conventional rotating conveyor belts, such as those used in the arrangement according to EP 3 569 534 A1, are not easily adapted for use in the application device according to the invention. This is due to the fact that, contrary to the teachings of the prior art, the adhesive elements are transferred to the conveying element with the adhesive layer facing downwards. Therefore, without further measures, the adhesive elements often adhere completely or partially to the conveying element and in many cases can no longer be efficiently received by the application element, at least not without the risk that the adhesive will remain on the conveying element and the adhesive layer of the applied adhesive element will be correspondingly damaged. In this case, the demands on the application element to hold the adhesive elements and the adhesive strength achieved thereby would also increase considerably.

[0054] For this purpose, in the application device according to the invention, a conveying element is used, the surface of which is designed in such a way that the adhesive element or its adhesive layer exhibits reduced adhesion to the surface. Those skilled in the art who are aware of the present invention will be familiar with the concept of reduced-adhesion surfaces from many other areas of adhesive technology, for example those commonly used in connection with typical liners, and will therefore be able to easily carry out corresponding designs.

[0055] In practice, it is difficult to specify the absolute value of the applied force or the degree of adhesion reduction required. The acceptable adhesion force between the adhesive element and the reduced-adhesion surface of the conveying element essentially depends on the physicochemical properties of the adhesive used, in particular its cohesive strength, and the adhesive strength that the application element can generate in the short term with the carrier layer of the adhesive element.

[0056] In practice, the choice of adhesive composition used for the adhesive layer will often depend on the application requirements imposed on the adhesive strength to the substrate to which it is applied. Having identified an adhesive composition suitable for interaction with the substrate, a skilled artisan can then appropriately select the material of the carrier element or its coating, so that the respective adhesive composition exhibits sufficiently low adhesion to allow the adhesive element to be accepted by the application element. In this regard, the inventors propose that the degree of adhesion of the adhesive element to the reduced-adhesion surface should be advantageously defined in relation to the adhesion of the adhesive element to the substrate to which it is applied and / or in relation to the adhesive strength that the respective application element can form with the adhesive element at the moment of receiving the adhesive element, since both of these interactions should be intentionally greater than the adhesion of the adhesive element to the carrier element. Therefore, the application device according to the invention is preferably designed so that the reduced-adhesion surface has a smaller adhesion force of the adhesive element to the reduced-adhesion surface than the adhesion force of the adhesive element to the substrate to which it is applied, preferably by at least 80%, particularly preferably by at least 90%, and very particularly preferably by at least 95%. In the application device according to the invention, additionally or alternatively, the reduced-adhesion surface is preferably designed so that the adhesion of the adhesive element to the reduced-adhesion surface is preferably at least 80%, particularly preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% less than the adhesion strength between the application element and the adhesive element when the adhesive element is received on the application element.

[0057] In particular, when the position of the adhesive elements on the conveying elements is influenced by the use of guide and / or stop elements, as disclosed below, it is preferable to provide a particularly pronounced reduction in adhesion in order to allow the adhesive elements to be easily displaced on the surface with reduced adhesion.

[0058] In the opinion of the inventors, the surface of the conveying element is particularly suitable for obtaining a surface with reduced adhesion, for example, as is also used in many liners, by coating with siliconization.In the application device according to the present invention, the surface with reduced adhesion is particularly preferably coated with a release layer, preferably a silicone release layer, where the silicone release layer can be produced by crosslinking a crosslinkable silicone system preferably consisting of one or more polysiloxanes.

[0059] An advantage of the method according to the present invention is that the adhesive element is applied to the conveying element with the adhesive layer facing downwards, so that at least one residual adhesive force resulting from the tackiness of the adhesive layer remains despite the reduced adhesive surface. In particular, for stationary application devices according to the present invention that are not intended to move in space, for example as part of a robot arm, it is often advantageous to omit an additional fastening mechanism for the adhesive element on the conveying element, such as a suction function, especially in connection with the fact that the application element performs the final application step. By omitting such a suction function on the conveying element, the required equipment consumption can be advantageously significantly reduced, for example, because there is no need to provide a pump or corresponding fluid lines. The application device according to the present invention is particularly preferred for more stationary applications, in which case the conveying element is not designed to additionally fasten the adhesive element placed on the surface of the conveying element by negative pressure acting through perforations in the surface of the conveying element. In such cases, preferably, in the application device according to the present invention, the conveying element does not constitute a suction function for fastening the adhesive element to the surface of the conveying element. Consequently, it is also preferred that the application device according to the present invention does not include a device for generating a vacuum on the conveying element.

[0060] Despite the aforementioned possibility of designing the application device according to the invention in a particularly simple manner, the inventors believe that it is preferable for most applications to equip the conveying element with a corresponding suction function, as can be realized, for example, with a suction belt. This is because, in particular when used in the end effectors of robot arms, which may be subject to strong movements, forces may act to peel off the adhesive element, despite being attached to the conveying element by an adhesive layer, due to the intentionally reduced adhesion as a result of the reduced-adhesion surface. Nevertheless, there is a synergistic advantage in this case, since the strength of the suction function can be reduced by the additional adhesive effect and / or, even in the event of performance fluctuations or short-term failures of the suction function, the adhesive element can still be fixed to the surface of the conveying element and is prevented from falling off, at least in the absence of strong acceleration forces. It is particularly preferable for the application device according to the invention to be adapted so that the conveying element is additionally fixed by a negative pressure acting through perforations in the surface of the conveying element, by means of a negative pressure acting through the perforations in the surface of the conveying element. Therefore, it is also particularly preferred that the application device according to the invention has a conveying element with a suction function for fixing the adhesive element on the surface of the conveying element.It is also particularly preferred that the application device according to the invention has a conveying element with a device for generating a negative pressure (vacuum).

[0061] As disclosed above, discontinuous operation of the conveying elements is often preferred. Those skilled in the art will understand that even in such discontinuous operation, the conveying speed of the conveying elements should be adapted to a certain extent to the guiding speed of the material tape in the guiding device. In this regard, the inventors propose that two different process controls are particularly useful for this purpose. In a first embodiment, the conveying speed can essentially correspond to the guiding speed in the guiding arrangement, which usually ensures particularly good transport from the dispensing edge to the conveying element, and also allows for as continuous a subsequent delivery as possible when using continuously operating conveying elements. In this case, the application device according to the invention is preferably adapted such that in this application device the conveying element is adapted to transport the adhesive material dispensed by the cassette unit away from the cassette unit, in which case the conveying speed v relative to the cassette unit is set to 0.05 s. F is the guiding speed v of the material tape in the guiding device M is preferably reduced by not more than 10%, particularly preferably by not more than 5%, very particularly preferably by not more than 1%, and the conveying speed v F is particularly preferably the guiding speed v of the material tape in the guiding device. M It should not be smaller.

[0062] However, the inventors have found that a speed difference between the material tape and the conveying elements can be advantageous when the adhesive elements are arranged on the material tape for the purpose of optimizing surface utilization, and the adhesive elements are separated on the conveying elements. For example, round die cuts can be arranged on the material tape based on the densest packing, achieving the maximum possible number of adhesive elements per area of ​​the material tape. In such cases, separating the adhesive elements is usually desired to increase the accuracy of receiving the adhesive elements. Also, different speeds are advantageous when the conveying elements need to travel a relatively long distance to the application element, and, for example, it is desired for process control that only one adhesive element contacts the conveyor unit at a time. Therefore, in many cases, the application device according to the present invention is designed to have a conveying speed v of the conveying elements. F is the guiding speed v of the material tape in the guiding device.M and the conveying speed of the conveying element is preferably at least 2 * v M or more, particularly preferably at least 3 * v M or more, very particularly preferably at least 4 * v M or more, particularly preferably at least 5 * v M It is preferable that this is equal to or greater than this.

[0063] The advantage of the application device according to the invention is that it is very flexible with regard to the application element used for the final application, for example, rolls etc. can also be used, so that in many cases, in view of practical application, the application element should be adapted so that it can form a reversible and non-destructively peelable bond with the adhesive element. To achieve this functionality of the application element, adapted to form a reversible and non-destructively peelable bond with the adhesive element, a person skilled in the art can use various solutions known from the prior art.

[0064] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above-described device of an application element with an adhesive element for forming a reversibly and non-destructively detachable bond does not require that the detachment of the connection be achieved by removing the connecting force, as can be achieved, for example, in the case of a magnetic bond, by turning off the magnetic field or by turning off the suction function. Instead, it is also possible, and in fact often particularly effective, if the reversible and non-destructive release is achieved against the force that determines the bond. In particular, in many cases, the adhesive force of the adhesive element to the substrate is significantly greater than the force that causes the connection to the application element, so that the connection can be achieved, for example, against the negative pressure that acts as a suction when the application element is separated from the substrate.

[0065] A reversible, non-destructive peelable bond can, at least in theory, be achieved by a magnetic arrangement that interacts with the magnetic carrier layer of the adhesive element, for example, and theoretically could also be achieved via a suction cup or pressure-sensitive adhesive. However, the use of vacuum-based suction means is particularly preferred due to its high reliability, simple design, and durability.

[0066] In the inventors' view, application elements with a piston arrangement having a suction gripper (suction gripper) arranged on a movable piston are particularly preferred, as such application elements allow for particularly precise and efficient application of the adhesive element. In this case, the application element is aligned with a conveying element, and a controllable suction gripper with a movable piston is lowered onto the conveying element, bringing the adhesive element on the carrier layer into contact with the suction gripper and forming a reversible and non-destructive bond. By moving the piston again, the adhesive element can be lifted from the conveying element and aligned in the direction of the substrate by the transfer unit before the application operation of contacting the adhesive layer with the substrate is performed, thereby releasing the bond between the adhesive element and the application element. Therefore, in an application device according to the invention, the application element preferably comprises a transfer unit and a receiving unit arranged on the transfer unit, the receiving unit being adapted to form a reversible and non-destructively releasable bond between the adhesive element and the carrier layer. In this respect, application devices according to the invention are particularly preferred, where the receiving unit comprises one or more controllable suction grippers, and the application device preferably comprises one or more vacuum pumps connected to the suction grippers. Additionally or alternatively, in the application device according to the invention, preferably the movement unit comprises a piston device with a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder, and the movement unit preferably comprises a rotation device for rotating the piston device, the rotation axis preferably running essentially parallel to the surface of the conveying element.

[0067] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the application element can be designed as a rotatable application element, with a corresponding movable piston and suction gripper on both sides. In this way, after the first adhesive element has been received, the application element can be rotated around its axis of rotation, and the piston can be moved to align the received adhesive element with the substrate against which it can be pressed. Meanwhile, another movable piston with a corresponding suction gripper at the rear of the application element is ready to receive another adhesive element for the next application.

[0068] In a preferred alternative embodiment, different dimensions of the suction grippers at different ends of the transfer unit allow for the application of adhesive elements of different geometries and / or different dimensions. For example, if two different cassette units with adhesive elements of different diameters are used in the cassette holder of the application device according to the invention, in this embodiment, adhesive elements of different dimensions can be applied by selecting the holding surfaces of the two suction grippers to correspond to the adhesive elements of the two different diameters. As a result, the application device according to the invention allows for the accurate application of adhesive elements of different dimensions in a particularly efficient manner without the need for changing the application element. A particularly preferred application device according to the invention is one in which the application element includes two or more receiving units, preferably with different dimensions. Based on this concept, in the application device according to the invention, preferably, the application element includes three or more, preferably four or more, particularly preferably five or more receiving units, preferably with different dimensions.

[0069] As explained above, in order to ensure a reliable transfer of the adhesive element via the dispensing edge onto the conveying element, it is desirable that the distance between these elements is not too large. In this respect, the inventors have succeeded in defining a distance that is particularly suitable for this purpose. In fact, the application device according to the invention is such that the cassette unit is adapted such that the distance between the end of the dispensing edge facing the conveying element and the conveying element is 0.3 * L K Less than or equal to 0.2, preferably *L K Less than or equal to 0.1, preferably * L K Below 0.05, most preferably * L K Preferably, the L is located in the base unit as follows: K is the average length of the adhesive elements in the web direction of the material web. Additionally or alternatively preferred, in an application device according to the invention, the cassette units are arranged in the base unit such that the distance between the end of the dispensing edge facing towards the conveying element and the conveying element is 10 mm or less, preferably 8 mm or less, more preferably 6 mm or less, most preferably 4 mm or less.

[0070] In order to transfer the delivered adhesive elements to the conveying element as reliably as possible, the inventors propose that the transfer area can also be provided with a pressure roll, which can additionally guide the adhesive elements during transfer to the conveying element and press them against the conveying element. According to the inventors, such a design is particularly advantageous when the conveying element does not have a suction function and relies solely on the adhesive properties of the adhesive elements to fix the adhesive elements in place. Therefore, the application device according to the invention preferably comprises, as part of the base unit, one or more pressure rolls, which are arranged opposite the surface of the conveying element and are designed to press the adhesive elements delivered by the cassette unit against the surface of the conveying element, thereby improving adhesion.

[0071] In particular, in applications requiring high precision, it would be advantageous to check the correct positioning of the adhesive element on the conveying element before the adhesive element is received by the application element. For this purpose, the inventors propose that the application device according to the invention can be equipped with a sensor unit, for example an optical sensor, capable of detecting the correct positioning of the adhesive element on the surface of the conveying element. Therefore, the application device according to the invention preferably comprises, as part of a base unit, one or more sensor units, which are arranged to detect the position of the adhesive element on the surface of the conveying element, and preferably, the control of the application element is performed as a function of the data recorded by the one or more sensor units.

[0072] In addition to or as an alternative to providing a detection unit, the inventors propose providing a guide element, in particular a baffle plate, e.g., a V-shaped baffle plate with an open bottom, or two guide elements offset from each other, to ensure that the adhesive element is delivered to the application element on the conveying element in a safe and accurately positioned manner. Advantageously, the reduced-adhesion surface of the conveying element often ensures that the adhesive element can move smoothly over the surface of the conveying element, allowing the position of the adhesive element to be adjusted, particularly transversely to its direction of movement, i.e., the conveying direction of the conveying element. If the conveying element is designed with a vacuum-based fastening, the displacement of the adhesive element on the surface of the conveying element can be supported by the guide element via a region where the contact pressure exerted by the suction function is reduced. A preferred application device according to the present invention comprises one or more guide elements, preferably as part of a base unit, configured to adjust the position of the adhesive element placed on the conveying element.

[0073] Furthermore, in addition to or as an alternative to the repositioning of the adhesive element by the guide element, the inventors propose providing a stop element for fixing the position of the adhesive element in a predetermined position on the conveying element on the application device. This stop element functions as a stop, so to speak, and fixes the adhesive element before it is received by the application element. The stop element can also be adapted to reposition the adhesive element transversely to the conveying direction, advantageously eliminating the need for a separate guide element. In particular, the adhesive element can be repositioned and fixed in a simple manner thanks to the reduced-adhesion surface of the conveying element, since the stop element prevents the adhesive element from moving in the direction of movement of the conveying element at a predetermined position. If a person skilled in the art applies the application device according to the present invention in such a way that the adhesive element can be moved relatively easily over a reduced-adhesion surface, it is advantageously even possible to fix the position of the adhesive element and move the adhesive element in the opposite direction to the conveying direction over the reduced-adhesion surface while the conveyor belt continues and / or runs. The inventors propose that the conveying direction of the conveying element can be reversed, for example even for a short time, after the position of the adhesive element has been fixed by the stopper element in order to lower (separate) the adhesive element from the stopper element and increase the accuracy with which the adhesive element is received by the application element or to prevent contamination of the stopper element with adhesive. The application device according to the invention therefore preferably comprises, as part of the base unit, a stopper element adapted to fix the position of the adhesive element arranged on the conveying element in the conveying direction of the conveying element, such that the adhesive element moves relative to the reduced-adhesion surface when the conveying element is moved.

[0074] From the above, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention also relates to a cassette unit that is particularly suitable for use with an application device according to the present invention, as well as a complementary base unit for receiving this suitable cassette unit.

[0075] The present invention therefore also relates to a cassette unit for an application device according to the invention, said cassette unit comprising: a1) a guide device including a supply roll and a receiving roll; a2) a delivery area with a distribution edge, and a3) a material tape comprising a plurality of adhesive elements each having a carrier layer and an adhesive layer bonded thereto, said adhesive elements being arranged on a web of separating material via the adhesive layer; wherein the cassette unit is adapted so that the material tape provided on the supply roll can be guided via a dispensing edge to a receiving roll so that the adhesive element is separated from the separation material in the delivery area and delivered from the cassette unit; wherein the supply roll and the receiving roll in the cassette unit are designed as non-driven rolls, wherein the supply roll and / or the receiving roll (18) includes a central structured engagement recess; Here, the cassette unit is adapted such that when the cassette unit is placed in the cassette holder of the base unit, a form-fitting connection can be created via engagement of one or more coupling elements of the drive unit of the base unit in the engagement recesses of the supply roll and / or the receiving roll, thereby enabling the guiding device to be driven by the drive unit.

[0076] The invention therefore also relates to a base unit for an application device according to the invention, said base unit comprising: b1) A cassette holder that holds (accommodates) the cassette unit; b2) a conveying element having a surface with reduced adhesiveness, and b3) application elements; Here, the base unit is adapted to receive the adhesive element arranged on the conveying element with the application element and apply it onto the substrate to be applied.

[0077] The present invention also relates to a method for applying an adhesive element to a substrate to be applied using an application device according to the invention, comprising: i) manufacturing or providing a substrate to be applied; ii) guiding the material tape provided on a supply roll in a guiding device via a dispensing edge in order to separate the adhesive elements from the web of separation material and deliver the adhesive elements from the cassette unit; iii) transferring the delivered adhesive element with its adhesive layer on the reduced adhesive surface of the carrier element; iv) receiving the transferred adhesive element with the application element while forming a reversible and non-destructively peelable bond between the application element and the carrier layer of the applied adhesive element; and, v) applying the received adhesive element to the substrate to which it is to be attached and peeling the bond between the application element and the carrier layer of the applied adhesive element.

[0078] In a preferred method according to the invention, the position of the adhesive element arranged on the conveying element is adjusted by one or more guide elements before it is received in method step iv).

[0079] The method according to the invention is preferably such that the substrate to be applied is a vehicle part. The method according to the invention is also preferably such that the substrate to be applied comprises a recess and the adhesive element is applied to at least partially, preferably substantially completely, preferably liquid-tightly close the recess.

[0080] Finally, a method of supplying an application device according to the present invention is also disclosed, the method comprising the steps of: x) removing a first cassette unit that is reversibly and non-destructively replaceable into a cassette holder of the base unit; y) inserting a second cassette unit into a cassette holder of the base unit; z) Reconditioning the first cassette unit by replacing the supply roll and the receiving roll of the first cassette unit with a replacement supply roll and a replacement receiving roll to obtain a reconditioned cassette unit.

[0081] In the following, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0082] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the application device according to the invention in a preferred embodiment, a side view with a transparent housing of the cassette unit; [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic view of the application device according to the invention of Figure 1 with the housing of the cassette unit closed; [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic top view in cross section of the material tape and conveying element of an application device according to the invention in a preferred embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0083] 1 shows a schematic side view of an application device 10 according to the invention for applying adhesive elements 12a, 12b to substrates to be bonded with a transparent housing of the cassette unit 14 so that the interior of the cassette unit 14 is clearly visible. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the application device 10 is designed as an end effector that can be attached to, for example, a robot arm.

[0084] The application device 10 comprises a cassette unit 14, the housing of which is arranged a stationary dispensing edge 20 and a guide device with a supply roll 16 and a receiving roll 18. The dispensing edge 20, designed as a knife edge, is arranged in the delivery area of ​​the cassette unit 14 at the dispensing opening of the housing and thereby specifies the position of the cassette unit 14 at which the adhesive elements 12a-b are transferred to the base unit 24. The cassette unit 14 also comprises a material tape 22 with a plurality of adhesive elements 12a-b, which are arranged with an adhesive layer on the web-like separation material such that the carrier layers of the adhesive elements 12a-b face away from the web-like separation material. The material tape 22 is tensioned by a guide device between the supply roll 16, which is initially supplied, and the receiving roll 18, on which the tape-like separation material is sequentially wound up.

[0085] The cassette unit 14 is placed in a cassette holder of the base unit 24 of the application device 10 provided to receive the cassette unit 14, into which the cassette unit 14 can be reversibly and non-destructively inserted, which cassette unit 14 is supported by a magnetic connection mechanism in the example shown in Figure 1. In this way, a used cassette unit 14 can be removed in order to reload the application device 10 with the material tape 22 and replaced with a filled cassette unit 14.

[0086] The base unit 24 comprises a drive unit for driving the guiding devices, two coupling elements 32a, 32b, and an electronic data processing device (not shown) for controlling the application device 10, in particular the drive unit. The drive units are used to drive the guiding devices of the cassette units 14, and in the example shown are designed without their own drive devices. To transmit the required forces, the supply roll 16 and the receiving roll 18 each have central structural engagement recesses 30a, 30b with toothed structures, which allow them to form a form-fit connection with complementary coupling elements 32a-b of the drive unit, via which the guiding devices can be driven.

[0087] The base unit 24 further comprises an application element 28 and a fixedly positioned transport element 26 having a reduced-adhesion surface coated with a silicone release layer. The transport element 26 is designed as a rotating conveyor belt and, in the example shown, is arranged in the base unit 24 so that the distance between the end of the application end 20 facing the transport element 26 and the transport element 26 is approximately 3 mm. Based on the basic arrangement shown, the base unit 24 can also be equipped with a sensor unit for detecting the position of the adhesive elements 12 a-b on the surface of the transport element 26 and with guide elements (not shown) for adjusting the position of the adhesive elements 12 a-b arranged on the transport element 26.

[0088] In the illustrated example, the application element 28 is composed of a rotatable moving unit having a piston device with a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder on both sides, and also includes controllable suction grippers arranged on both sides of the moving unit.

[0089] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the application device 10 shown in FIG. 1 with the housing of the cassette unit 14 closed.

[0090] The illustrated application device 10 is particularly suitable for use in the method according to the invention for applying adhesive elements 12a-b to substrates to be applied, e.g., vehicle parts, and for bonding these holes and other recesses as fluid-tight as possible. For this purpose, the cassette unit 14 is first loaded with the material tape 22, which can be unwound from the supply roll 16 of the guide device. The cassette unit 14 can then be inserted into the cassette holder of the base unit 24 so that the coupling elements 32a-b of the drive unit of the base unit 24 can engage with the corresponding toothed engagement recesses 30a, 30b of the supply roll 16 and the backing roll 18. In the illustrated example, the coupling elements 32a-b comprise movable elements that create a form-fit connection.

[0091] The automatic transfer unit moves the application device 10, which functions as an end effector, to a destination near the recessed portion of the substrate to be bonded. By operating the drive unit via an electronic data processing device, the supply roll 16 and the receiving roll 18 are adapted to rotate, and the material tape 22 with the adhesive elements 12a-b is unwound from the supply roll 16 and guided over the dispensing edge 20 onto the receiving roll 18.

[0092] The web-like separation material, coated with a silicone release layer on the side facing the adhesive elements 12a-b, is deflected at the end of the dispensing edge 20 and guided further to the receiving roll 18, where it is wound up. The deflection angle is at least 90°, but in the illustrated arrangement it depends on the diameter of the receiving roll 18; the larger the receiving roll diameter, the greater the deflection angle. During deflection, the adhesive elements 12a-b, for example in the form of die-cut blanks, are separated from the web-like separation material of the material tape 22 at the end of the dispensing edge 20 and transferred by the conveying movement of the material tape 22 to the reduced-adhesion surface of the conveying element 26, with the pressure-sensitive adhesive layers of the adhesive elements 12a-b resting on the reduced-adhesion surface of the conveying element 26 and the carrier layers of the adhesive elements 12a-b facing upwards in the direction of contact with the application element 28.

[0093] The adhesive elements 12a-b thus output by the cassette unit 14 are transported from the cassette unit 14 towards the application element 28 by the conveying element 26, with a conveying speed v F is, for example, the guiding speed v of the material tape 22 in the guiding device. M is at least twice as large.

[0094] Figure 3 visualizes how, in a corresponding process control with an advancing conveying element 26, a separation of the adhesive elements 12a-b can be achieved during the transfer of the adhesive elements 12a from the material tape 22 to the conveying element 26, so that the adhesive elements 12b conveyed on the reduced-adhesion surface are spaced apart from one another in the conveying direction to a greater extent than the adhesive elements 12a guided on the material tape 22, which are conventionally arranged in a close pack.

[0095] 1-3, the adhesion of the adhesive elements 12a-b to the reduced-adhesion surface is significantly lower than the adhesion of the adhesive elements 12a-b to the substrate to which they are applied, or the adhesion between the application element 28 and the adhesive elements 12a-b after they have been received. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the absolute value of the adhesion is selected to be low enough to allow a relative displacement of the adhesive elements 12a-b to the reduced-adhesion surface without damaging the adhesive layer.

[0096] In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, the adhesive elements 12a-b arranged on the surface of the conveying element 26 are furthermore fixed in place by means of a vacuum acting through a number of perforations 36 provided on the surface of the conveying element 26 designed as a suction belt.

[0097] To increase the precision of the positioning of the adhesive elements 12a-b on the conveying element 26, a sensor unit of the base unit 24 can detect the positions of the adhesive elements 12a-b on the surface of the conveying element 26. Depending on the position data determined in this way, the desired positions of the adhesive elements 12a-b on the conveying element 26 can be adapted or corrected, for example by a guide element of the base unit 24, so that the adhesive elements 12a-b guided on the conveying element 26 can be received particularly precisely by one of the two suction grippers of the application element 28 shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, a stop element 34 can block the conveying of the adhesive element 12b in the conveying direction on the conveying element 26 at a predetermined position, thereby increasing the precision of the positioning of the adhesive element 12b guided on the conveying element 26, especially when the adhesive element 12b is received by the application element 28.

[0098] To receive the adhesive elements 12a-b, a vacuum (low pressure) is generated between one of the suction grippers of the application element 28 and the adhesive elements 12a-b to be applied via a vacuum pump, forming a reversible, non-destructive peelable bond between the carrier layer of the adhesive elements 12a-b and the suction gripper. The adhesive elements 12a-b can be applied (glued) via the adhesive layer to a substrate to be bonded, for example, above the transport element 26, by rotating the suction gripper, for example, about an axis of rotation running substantially parallel to the surface of the transport element 26, whereby the adhesive elements 12a-b are pressed against the substrate by the suction gripper. In principle, in the example shown in FIG. 1, application is possible at any position along the circular radius of the suction gripper, whereby application is performed at an alignment angle ranging from 90° to 270°, starting from an angle of 0°, at which the adhesive elements 12a-b are received by the application element 28. In many cases, the reversible and non-destructive peelable bond between the suction gripper and the adhesive elements 12a-b is broken by moving the application device 10, for example, because the adhesive force of the adhesive elements 12a-b to the substrate is greater than the force acting as a result of the vacuum.

[0099] Reference Symbol List 10 Application equipment 12a-b Adhesive elements 14 Cassette unit 16 supply rolls 18 Acceptance Roll 20 Distribution Edge 22 Material Tape 24 base units 26 Conveying elements 28 Application elements 30a-b Engagement recess 32a-b Connection elements 34 Stopper element 36 perforation v M Material tape guide speed v F Conveyor element transport speed

Claims

1. An application device (10) for applying adhesive elements (12a, 12b) to a substrate to be applied, comprising: a) a cassette unit (14) comprising: a1) a guide device including a supply roll (16) and a receiving roll (18); a2) a delivery area with a dispensing edge (20), and a3) a material tape (22) comprising a plurality of adhesive elements (12a, 12b) having a carrier layer and an adhesive layer bonded thereto; However, the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) are arranged on the web-like separating material via an adhesive layer, and The cassette unit (14) is adapted so that the material tape (22) provided on the supply roll (16) can be guided to the receiving roll (18) via the dispensing edge (20) so that the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) are separated from the separation material in the delivery area and delivered from the cassette unit (14); b) a base unit (24) comprising: b1) a cassette holder for holding the cassette unit (14); b2) a conveying element (26) having a surface with reduced adhesiveness, and b3) Application element (28); However, the base unit (24) is adapted to receive the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) arranged on the conveying element (26) at the application element (28) and apply them to the substrate to be bonded, and The cassette unit (14) is reversibly and non-destructively replaceably disposed in the cassette holder; and The application device (10) is adapted to transfer the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) delivered from the cassette unit (14) with their adhesive layers facing the reduced-adhesion surface of the conveying element (26), so that the transferred adhesive elements (12a, 12b) can be received by the application element (28) from the reduced-adhesion surface of the conveying element (26) and applied to the substrate to be affixed. The application device (10).

2. 2. The application device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveying element (26) is adapted to additionally fix the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) arranged on the surface of the conveying element (26) by negative pressure acting via perforations (36) on the surface of the conveying element (26).

3. 3. The application device (10) of claim 1, wherein the transport element (26) comprises an orbiting conveyor belt.

4. Application device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the surface with reduced adhesion is coated with a release layer, preferably a silicone release layer.

5. 5. The application device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the reduced-adhesion surface is designed such that the adhesive force of the adhesive element (12a, 12b) to the reduced-adhesion surface is at least 80% less than the adhesive force between the application element (28) and the adhesive element (12a, 12b) when the adhesive element (12a, 12b) is received by the application element (28).

6. 6. The application device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the application device (10) comprises one or more pressure rolls, which are arranged facing the surface of the conveying element (26) and are adapted to press the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) delivered from the cassette unit (14) against the surface of the conveying element (26) to improve adhesion.

7. 7. The application device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the application device comprises one or more sensor units, the one or more sensor units being adapted to detect the position of the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) on the surface of the conveying element (26).

8. The application device (10) comprises one or more guide elements, wherein the one or more guide elements are adapted to adjust the position of the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) arranged on the conveying element (26), and / or The application device (10) comprises a stopper element (34), 8. The application device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the stop element (34) is adapted to fix the position of the adhesive element (12a, 12b) arranged on the conveying element (26) in the conveying direction of the conveying element (26), so that when the conveying element (26) moves, the adhesive element (12a, 12b) is moved relative to the surface with reduced adhesiveness.

9. 9. The application device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the supply roll (16) and / or the receiving roll (18), preferably the supply roll (16) and the receiving roll (18), comprise central structured engagement recesses (30a, 30b).

10. 10. The application device (10) of claim 9, wherein the base unit (24) comprises a drive unit for driving the guiding device of the cassette unit (14), the drive unit comprising one or more coupling elements (32a, 32b) arranged in the area of ​​the cassette holder adapted to engage in engagement recesses (30a, 30b) of the supply roll (16) and / or the receiving roll (18) and to produce a form-fitting coupling.

11. 11. The application device (10) of claim 10, wherein the cassette unit (14) is arranged in the cassette holder so that the coupling elements (32a, 32b) of the drive unit form-fit and engage with the engagement recesses (30a, 30b) of the supply roll (16) and / or the receiving roll (18), thereby enabling the drive unit to drive the guiding device.

12. The application device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing edge (20) is arranged in a fixed position on the cassette unit (14).

13. a1) a guide device including a supply roll (16) and a receiving roll (18); a2) a delivery area with a dispensing edge (20), and a3) A material tape (22) comprising a plurality of adhesive elements (12a, 12b) each having a carrier layer and an adhesive layer bonded thereto, the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) being arranged on a web-like separating material via the adhesive layer; A cassette unit (14) for the coating device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising: the cassette unit (14) is adapted so that a material tape (22) provided on a supply roll (16) can be guided via a dispensing edge (20) to a receiving roll (18) so that the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) are separated from the separation material in a delivery area and delivered from the cassette unit (14); The supply roll (16) and the receiving roll (18) in the cassette unit (14) are designed as non-driven rolls, wherein the supply roll (16) and / or the receiving roll (18) include a central structured engagement recess; the cassette unit (14) is adapted such that, when the cassette unit (14) is placed in the cassette holder of the base unit (24), a form-fit connection can be effected via engagement of one or more coupling elements of the drive unit of the base unit (24) in engagement recesses of the supply roll (16) and / or the receiving roll (18), thereby allowing the guiding device to be driven by the drive unit; The cassette unit (14).

14. b1) a cassette holder for holding the cassette unit (14); b2) a conveying element (26) having a surface with reduced adhesiveness, and b3) application element (28), A base unit (24) for an application device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising: The base unit (24) is adapted to receive the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) arranged on the conveying element (26) with the application element (28) and apply them onto the substrate to be attached.

15. A method for applying adhesive elements (12a, 12b) to a substrate to be applied using an application device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising: i) manufacturing or providing a substrate to be applied; ii) guiding the material tape (22) provided on the supply roll (16) in the guiding device through the dispensing edge (20) in order to separate the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) from the web of separating material and to deliver the adhesive elements (12a, 12b) from the cassette unit (14); iii) transferring the delivered adhesive element (12a, 12b) with its adhesive layer on the reduced adhesive surface of the carrier element (26); iv) receiving the transferred adhesive element (12a, 12b) in the application element (28) while forming a reversible and non-destructively peelable bond between the application element (28) and the carrier layer of the applied adhesive element (12a, 12b); and v) applying the received adhesive element (12a, 12b) to the substrate to be attached and peeling the bond between the application element (28) and the carrier layer of the applied adhesive element (12a, 12b); The method comprising:

Images