Transfer belt application system

Abstract

The present invention relates to an application system (10) for applying a plurality of adhesive elements (12) to a substrate (14), comprising: a) a dispenser apparatus (16) including: a1) two or more dispenser units (18a-d); a2) an adhesive element guide system (20); and a3) a transfer unit (22); and b) an application device (30) spaced from the dispenser apparatus (16) and disposed in an automated motion unit (28), the application device (30) including: b1) a conveyor element (32); and b2) an application element (40). The present invention relates to an application system (10) including an application device (30) including an adhesive element (12), the application device (30) being adapted to move an adhesive element (12) to a transfer position relative to a dispenser device (16) using an automated motion unit (28), wherein the application system (10) is adapted to transfer the adhesive element (12) and then pick up the adhesive element (12) with an application element (40) in an application mode and apply the adhesive element (12) to a substrate (14).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an application system for applying adhesive elements to substrates, to an application device and a dispenser device for use with the corresponding application system, and to a method for applying adhesive elements to substrates using the corresponding application system. [Background technology]

[0002] The use of adhesive elements is currently an important component of many modern manufacturing methods. In this context, appropriate adhesive elements are not only used to secure components to a substrate, but also serve, in particular, to close openings in the substrate. Such openings are usually present during manufacturing and can represent weak spots in the final product, through which moisture or contaminants may penetrate. The use of suitable adhesive elements, usually adhesive on one side, to close such openings in a substrate is a simple, time- and cost-effective solution for closing such openings and preventing the penetration of undesirable contaminants. In the prior art, such adhesive elements are already commonly used for this purpose today; based on their manufacturing method, they are also called die-cuts.

[0003] In principle, it would be conceivable to manually place such adhesive elements on the substrate. However, in the course of increasing automation and in view of the ongoing interest in carrying out processes as error-free and efficiently as possible, automatable application devices have been developed that serve to apply adhesive elements to substrates. In this regard, various requirements are imposed on the corresponding application devices. For example, the corresponding application devices must, in particular, enable reliable and reproducible application of adhesive elements to substrates, and preferably achieve a high throughput.

[0004] Relatively simple solutions in the prior art are often based on so-called "pick and place" methods, where an end effector of a robotic arm individually picks up each adhesive element from a remote dispenser device and then places it on a substrate, but this approach is often considered to be disadvantageous in terms of time and cost efficiency.

[0005] To optimize handling efficiency and avoid complex supply systems in which the required adhesive elements must be introduced into the application device from a separate dispenser device, usually as a tape, application devices have been conceived with integrated dispenser facilities for adhesive elements, in which the adhesive element supply and application device can be configured together, for example, as part of an end effector of a robot head. Corresponding application devices with integrated dispenser devices often use refill systems for efficient supply of adhesive elements, in which a glue roller with adhesive elements is integrated into the dispenser device, which can be removed and replaced again after applying the adhesive elements contained on the glue roller. Many current application devices are based on the concept of using so-called refill cartridges, in which the glue roller with adhesive elements is usually arranged in a housing. The use of corresponding refill cartridges usually allows the adhesive elements required for application to be supplied to the application device particularly quickly, reliably, and error-free, and such refill cartridges are particularly advantageous in terms of storage and transportation.

[0006] Despite the advantages associated with the use of replaceable adhesive rollers equipped with adhesive elements, and in particular with refill cartridges, their use can sometimes be perceived as disadvantageous from other points of view. In particular, adhesive rollers from which adhesive elements have been removed, i.e., usually the empty carrier roller and the remaining unwound liner, often end up as waste after use, which can only be reused with great effort, especially in older systems. In addition, the time- and cost-effective production of new adhesive rollers equipped with adhesive elements, which can be directly integrated into application devices or refill cartridges, for example, is often recognized as difficult. Application devices, which are often used as end effectors of industrial robots, are often limited in terms of maximum weight, and as a result, the adhesive rollers equipped with adhesive elements used can often only have limited widths and lengths, which also limits the maximum size of the adhesive elements.

[0007] One particular problem with the solutions known from the prior art, both for external tape supply of adhesive elements and for designs with integrated dispenser equipment, is that different types of adhesive elements (e.g., different in terms of dimensions or the chemistry of the adhesive used) are often required for complete application of the substrate. This problem is compounded by the fact that the order in which these different types of adhesive elements are required is determined by the working path of the end effector. In order to minimize the path and optimize working efficiency, the end effector ideally targets the application points in an order determined by the shortest distance and that does not have to take into account different requirements for the adhesive location. Accordingly, the need for different adhesive elements hinders the efficiency of many prior art methods.

[0008] In the inventors' view, a satisfactory solution to the above problem has yet to be found in the prior art. Using a mobile end effector to apply different adhesive elements to two or more tape-form supplies is often not possible efficiently, especially in the case of cobots, since these applicators often weigh more than 20 kg. Equipping the end effector with multiple integrated dispenser units for different adhesive elements is generally not feasible, especially from a weight-technical standpoint. The ideal idea of ​​providing individual integrated or external adhesive element rollers of a dispenser unit with a complex array of different adhesive elements on each liner, the permutation of which corresponds to the adhesive positions of the subsequently sequentially directed substrates, would involve considerable manufacturing complexity and, in the inventors' view, would therefore be hardly practically feasible. In particular, any complexity, such as a defective or missing adhesive element, would jeopardize the entire workflow, especially with respect to the subsequently applied substrates.

[0009] In practice, against this background, in serial production, the skilled person is generally only left with the option of sequentially gluing different gluing locations with different requirements regarding the adhesive elements at different workstations and / or using different application devices, which results in considerable space requirements and equipment expenditures. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0010] The main object of the present invention was to eliminate or at least reduce the drawbacks of the state of the art.

[0011] In particular, it was an object of the present invention to provide a high-performance application system for applying adhesive elements to substrates, as well as corresponding dispenser and application devices for use in this application system.

[0012] One of the objectives of the present invention is that the application system should be able to operate with high operational and process reliability, and in this case, in particular, between the distributor device and the application device, belt-intermediate connections that may interfere with or endanger the workers employed in this method should be avoided.

[0013] Additionally, the application system to be provided should be as low maintenance as possible and should, in particular, eliminate the need for adhesive tape roller refill steps and the need to replace refill cartridges in order to reduce the amount of waste that is difficult to recycle.

[0014] However, in particular, one of the objectives of the present invention was to be able to use the application system provided to efficiently apply optimal adhesive elements to different adhesive locations on a substrate, which have different requirements for the adhesive element, without the need to disadvantageously increase the travel distance and / or weight of the application device.

[0015] In this case, one of the objectives of the present invention is that the provided application system can be used to apply adhesive elements with optimized adhesive positions sequentially to multiple substrates without any essential modifications, even if the substrates differ significantly in terms of the type, number or position of the adhesive positions.

[0016] One desirable condition was that the application system provided could also be configured with cobots, i.e. working robots that can be used in workstations where the substrates can also be processed by workers without endangering their safety, which in particular imposes particularly stringent requirements on the maximum weight of the application device.

[0017] Additionally, it was an object of the present invention to provide a corresponding method for applying an adhesive element to a substrate using the application system provided. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] The inventors of the present invention have now found that the above-described problems can be solved when a specific dispenser device and a special applicator device are used in the application system, each of which relies on the use of an orbiting conveyor belt (also called a transfer belt) having a reduced-stick surface and which can cooperate in a specific manner in the application system, as defined in the claims.

[0019] This concept is based on generating a substrate-specific array of adhesive elements in a dispenser device, which includes a plurality of different adhesive elements arranged in an order corresponding to the orientation of the applicator device to the appropriate adhesive position on the substrate. This arrangement of different adhesive elements (e.g., different in terms of their size and / or the chemical nature of the adhesive used) optimized for the requirements of the subsequent adhesive element distribution is transferred to the applicator device. For this purpose, the applicator device mounted on an automated motion unit is moved toward the dispenser device. The pre-organized array of adhesive elements can then be transferred from the dispenser device's transport belt to the applicator device's transport belt, which is dimensioned to accommodate the entire array of adhesive elements. After loading the substrate-optimized adhesive elements into the applicator device, the applicator device is again placed in application mode, in which it is oriented by the motion unit to the substrate's application position. At the first adhesive position, the applicator device picks up a first adhesive element from the array of adhesive elements and applies it to the substrate. The next adhesive element of the adhesive element array from the adhesive element stock then moves onto the rotating conveyor belt of the application device to the application area, where it can again be picked up and applied by the application element at the next adhesive position on the substrate. This allows the adhesive elements of the adhesive element array, which are temporarily placed on the transport belt of the application device, to be applied piece by piece to the substrate, with the application device advantageously providing path-optimized orientation to the adhesive position, since the availability of adhesive elements in the application area is adapted to the individual requirements of the adhesive position.

[0020] The corresponding application system advantageously eliminates the need for a belt-mediated connection between the dispenser device and the application device, as well as the use of an integrated dispenser device in the end effector. This advantageously allows for a particularly simple configuration of the application device and minimizes the amount of waste generated, especially when using recyclable refill cartridges in the dispenser device. In addition, the corresponding application system is very robust and error-resistant, allowing for efficient optimal application of completely different substrates that differ in the number, type, and / or location of adhesive positions, since the dispenser device can easily provide and transfer the modified, substrate-optimized adhesive element arrangement to the application device. Since the dispenser device can be advantageously configured as stationary and therefore has relatively low requirements in terms of weight and size, dispenser units for a large number of different adhesive elements can be provided on the dispenser device without incurring losses in efficiency, so that, for example, adhesive elements that are rarely needed and would normally require manual application on a conventional production line (when a separate automated dispenser device for these adhesive elements is not justified due to the low demand) can be provided "on demand." In summary, therefore, a corresponding application system allows, in particular, an increased adhesive element variety to be achieved, with a simultaneous high application speed of the individual adhesive elements and consequently advantageous time and cost efficiency.

[0021] Therefore, the above problems are solved by the present invention as defined in the claims. Preferred aspects of the invention are set forth in the subclaims and the detailed description below.

[0022] Such embodiments described below as preferred are combined in particularly preferred embodiments with features of other embodiments described as preferred. Thus, combinations of two or more of the embodiments described below as particularly preferred are especially preferred. Likewise preferred are embodiments in which a feature described as preferred in any strength for one embodiment is combined with one or more further features described as preferred in any strength for another embodiment. Features of preferred application devices, dispenser devices, and methods are derived from the features of the preferred application systems.

[0023] The present invention provides an application system for applying a plurality of adhesive elements to a substrate, comprising: a) a dispenser device comprising the following a1), a2) and a3): a1) two or more dispenser units, each of the two or more dispenser units comprising a plurality of adhesive elements or at least one adhesive element precursor, wherein the dispenser device is capable of producing a plurality of adhesive elements from the at least one adhesive element precursor, and the dispenser units are adapted to deliver the adhesive elements; a2) adhesive element guide system; and a3) a transfer unit, wherein the transfer unit includes an orbiting conveyor belt having a reduced-adhesion surface and a dispensing edge; However, the dispenser device is adapted to transfer the adhesive elements delivered from the dispenser units onto a conveyor belt of the transfer unit using an adhesive element guide system to generate an adhesive element array consisting of a plurality of adhesive elements on the reduced-adhesion surface, wherein the adhesive element array includes adhesive elements from different dispenser units; and b) An application device spaced apart from the dispenser device and arranged in an automated motion unit, comprising the following b1) and 2): b1) a conveyor element, wherein the conveyor element includes an orbiting conveyor belt having a reduced-adhesion surface, the orbiting conveyor belt extending through the receiving area, the unloading area, and the stock area; and b2) attachment element; An application system comprising: the application device is adapted so that the adhesive elements provided on the reduced-adhesion surface in the receiving area can be transferred by a conveyor element to a stock area, and the adhesive elements present in the stock area can be transferred by a conveyor element to a removal area; the application device is adapted to pick up adhesive elements arranged on the conveyor belt of the conveyor element in the take-out area by the application element and apply them onto a substrate; The application system is adapted such that the application device can be moved by the automated motion unit to a transfer position relative to the dispenser device, and in this transfer position the application system can transfer adhesive elements of the adhesive element array from the transfer unit via the dispensing edge to the conveyor element and provide them on a reduced-adhesion surface of the conveyor element in the receiving area, so that at least some of the transferred adhesive elements are transported by the conveyor element to the stock area; and the application system is adapted to, after the adhesive elements of the adhesive element array are transferred to the conveyor element, transport the adhesive elements from the stock area to the take-out area in an application mode, pick up the adhesive elements with the application element, and apply them onto a substrate; Adhesive system.

[0024] The application system according to the invention serves to apply an adhesive element to a substrate, for example an automotive part, such as a headliner, and includes a dispenser device and an application device spaced apart from the dispenser device, the application device being arranged in an automated motion unit, the two devices interacting with each other to enable the advantageous functioning of the application system according to the invention.

[0025] The particularly simple and efficient automation of this can be seen as an advantage of the application system according to the invention. In this regard, those skilled in the art will understand that for this purpose, electronic data processing devices are often used to control or help control the application systems and methods. Accordingly, for most purposes, application systems according to the invention are important, in which the application system includes an electronic data processing device for controlling the application system.

[0026] For substantially all embodiments, application systems according to the invention are of interest where the automated motion unit is a robotic arm. Application systems according to the invention are of particular practical interest where the application device is located at a workstation in the production line and / or where the dispenser device is located outside the workstation in the production line.

[0027] Particularly for larger production lines, the application system according to the invention is important, which comprises two or more application devices and / or dispenser devices, and in this case advantageously allows one dispenser device to supply several application devices at the same time.

[0028] The dispenser device serves in the application system according to the invention to generate substrate-specific adhesive element arrays, i.e., permutations of different adhesive elements, which can be transferred to and dispensed from the application device in the method according to the invention.

[0029] To achieve this function, the dispenser device first includes two or more dispenser units. These dispenser units serve to provide adhesive elements, which can differ, for example, in terms of their dimensions or the chemical properties of the respective adhesives. The greater the number of dispenser units, the greater the flexibility in terms of the adhesive elements that can be applied by the application system. Accordingly, application systems according to the invention are preferred in which the dispenser device includes three or more, preferably four or more, particularly preferably five or more dispenser units.

[0030] The advantage of the application system according to the invention is that it has a high degree of flexibility in terms of the adhesive elements used. In principle, therefore, it is possible to use the application system to dispense a large number of different adhesive elements, such as adhesive strips, adhesive films, or the like. However, in view of the high industrial importance, it is particularly preferred to design the application system for so-called die-cut application. Accordingly, application systems according to the invention in which the adhesive elements are die-cut are preferred.

[0031] In line with the understanding of those skilled in the art, adhesive elements generally refer to those having an adhesive layer and a carrier layer. Among adhesive elements, pressure-sensitive adhesive elements are particularly important in terms of practical requirements. Essentially all embodiments of the application system according to the invention are concerned with an adhesive element comprising a carrier layer and an adhesive layer bonded thereto. Preference is given to application systems according to the invention in which the sides of the adhesive element opposite the adhesive layer are formed from a carrier layer. Particular preference is given to application systems according to the invention in which the adhesive element is a pressure-sensitive adhesive element and / or the adhesive layer comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive, preferably consisting of a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

[0032] The adhesive layer may in principle be any adhesive commonly used in the art, such as adhesives based on synthetic rubber or poly(meth)acrylate. Regarding the carrier layer, the application system according to the present invention may comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, cyclic olefin copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyacrylonitrile, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyethersulfone, and polyimide, preferably polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate, and the carrier layer preferably consists of one of these materials.

[0033] Although it is at least theoretically conceivable to apply only identical adhesive elements using the application system according to the invention, those skilled in the art will understand that the advantages of the application system according to the invention and the method based thereon arise in particular when different adhesive elements are to be applied which differ in terms of their properties and which are optimized to the requirements of each adhesive point to be applied on the substrate. Accordingly, application systems according to the invention are preferred in which the adhesive elements of the different dispenser units differ in terms of one or more properties selected from the group consisting of the chemical composition of the adhesive layer, the carrier material of the carrier layer, the shape of the adhesive element and the dimensions of the adhesive element, preferably the dimensions of the adhesive element.

[0034] In the dispenser device, the adhesive elements can advantageously be provided as pre-separated adhesive elements on an adhesive tape roll, for example, on a liner with reduced adhesiveness on the adhesive layer side, from which they are separated when discharged from the dispenser unit. In addition to using pre-separated adhesive elements, however, it is also conceivable to first produce the adhesive elements to be applied in the dispenser device, the dispenser device being adapted for this purpose. In the case of stationary dispensers, this can be achieved in a relatively cumbersome and / or maintenance-intensive manner, for example, by a cutting unit with an oily knife or a laser radiator. In this case, the dispenser device essentially contains adhesive element precursors. In line with the understanding of those skilled in the art, such adhesive element precursors are semi-finished products from which adhesive elements can be produced. A particularly important example here is an adhesive roll of continuous adhesive tape, from which adhesive elements can be obtained, for example, by separating and / or cutting out the adhesive elements, e.g., by cutting or punching, to obtain the corresponding adhesive elements to be applied. Preferred are application systems according to the invention in which the dispenser units comprise adhesive elements on an adhesive tape roll and / or in which the dispenser units comprise an adhesive tape roll as adhesive element precursor and a cutting device. Particularly preferred are application systems according to the invention in which the dispenser units each comprise a plurality of adhesive elements, preferably on an adhesive tape roll.

[0035] In accordance with the understanding of those skilled in the art, two or more dispenser units can be partially connected to one another or structurally coupled to one another in other ways. For example, two adhesive tape rolls with adhesive elements as first and second dispenser units can be connected to the same drive and / or control unit and / or can be arranged together in one housing. Accordingly, multiple dispenser units of a dispenser device, for example, dispenser units in the form of adhesive tape rollers with adhesive elements and their associated guide systems, can be components of a larger dispenser structure.

[0036] In one preferred embodiment, the dispenser unit as a whole is arranged in the dispenser device in a reversible and non-destructively detachable manner. In this case, it is particularly preferred that the dispenser unit is configured in the form of a refill cartridge, which can be reversibly and non-destructively detachably inserted into a cartridge holder provided for the dispenser device. For this purpose, a bonding system according to the invention is preferred, in which the dispenser unit is arranged in the dispenser device in a reversible and non-destructively detachable manner.

[0037] As explained above, each of these dispenser units serves in the method to deliver the adhesive elements provided thereto to a downstream system. This is possible, for example, if the dispenser unit has a dispensing area where the adhesive elements are accessible from the outside and can be received by a transfer element, such as a suction gripper. Since the use of corresponding transfer elements in the "pick-and-place" sense, as will be described more comprehensively below with respect to the adhesive element guide system, would be relatively cumbersome, the inventors believe that it is preferable to provide the dispenser unit with a dispensing edge, sometimes also referred to as a knife edge. The concept of a dispensing edge is well known to those skilled in the art of adhesive technology. The dispensing edge serves to separate the adhesive elements from the underlying web-like release material, e.g., a liner, having a surface with reduced adhesiveness. The material tape with the web-like release material and the adhesive elements arranged thereon is fed onto the dispensing edge, where the web-like release material wraps around the edge at an acute angle, usually at the end of the dispensing edge with a very small bending radius. Due to the inherent rigidity of the adhesive elements, which is stronger than their adhesion to the web-like release material, the adhesive elements cannot follow this movement of the release material but rather are continuously peeled off from the release material as the material tape is guided through the dispensing edge. Therefore, the adhesive elements, peeled off from the web-like release material, proceed beyond the dispensing edge and can be transferred, for example, to a support structure adjacent to the dispensing edge, such as a conveyor belt. Therefore, application systems according to the present invention are preferred in which the dispenser unit has a dispensing edge, preferably a fixed dispensing edge, and is adapted to deliver the adhesive elements to the dispensing edge and transfer them to the adhesive element guide system. Whether a structural guide element is a dispensing edge, in the functional sense, depends on whether the corresponding adhesive element can be separated from the underlying web-like release material at this guide element. In practice, those skilled in the art will adapt the structural design, i.e., the bending radius at the edge, to the adhesion of the adhesive element to the web-like release material and the rigidity of the adhesive element.

[0038] In addition to the dispensing unit, the dispenser device also includes a so-called transfer unit, which includes a circular conveyor belt with a reduced-adhesion surface and a dispensing edge. This transfer unit serves to generate a specific sequence of adhesive elements, i.e., an array of adhesive elements, from a plurality of adhesive elements. Additionally, the transfer unit serves to transfer the array of adhesive elements organized in the transfer unit to the application device. To achieve the transfer function, the transfer unit includes a circular conveyor belt with a reduced-adhesion surface and a dispensing edge. The combination of the reduced-adhesion surface, which prevents the adhesive elements from sticking too strongly to the transfer unit, cooperates with the dispensing edge to allow the adhesive elements of the array of adhesive elements arranged on the transfer unit to separate from the reduced-adhesion surface again at the dispensing edge, thereby allowing the adhesive elements to move beyond the dispensing edge and, for example, when arranged flush with the circular conveyor belt of the transfer unit, to be transferred to a conveyor element of the application device, which will be described further below, at the transfer position. The corresponding circular conveyor belt is also referred to by the inventors as a transfer belt.

[0039] In accordance with the understanding of those skilled in the art, a reduced-adhesion surface is designed so that the adhesive element or its adhesive layer exhibits reduced or overall low adhesion to the surface. This design is easily implemented by those skilled in the art who are aware of the present invention, since they are familiar with the concept of a reduced-adhesion surface from many other areas of adhesive technology, where it is commonly used, for example, on typical liners. In practice, it is difficult to specify the absolute value of the applied force and the necessary degree of adhesive reduction. The acceptable adhesive force between the adhesive element and the reduced-adhesion surface of the conveyor element essentially depends on the physico-chemical properties of the adhesive used, in particular its cohesive strength, as well as the design of the dispensing edge, which determines the force exerted during peeling. In practice, the choice of adhesive used in the adhesive layer of the adhesive element usually depends on the application requirements imposed on the strength of the connection to the attached substrate or other application requirements. Having identified an adhesive suitable for interaction with the substrate, a skilled artisan can then make an appropriate selection for the material of the conveyor element or its coating, each of which should exhibit sufficiently low adhesion to such a material or coating so that the adhesive element can be separated from the reduced-adhesion surface at the dispensing edge without cohesive failure. In other words, this is an application system according to the invention in which the reduced-adhesion surface is designed so that the adhesion force between the adhesive element and the reduced-adhesion surface is preferably at least 30%, preferably at least 60%, particularly preferably at least 90% lower than the cohesive strength of the adhesive of the adhesive layer and / or the peel force acting between the adhesive element and the reduced-adhesion surface when delivered to the dispensing edge. In this regard, the inventors propose that the degree of adhesion of the adhesive element to the reduced-adhesion surface can also be advantageously determined, additionally or alternatively, in relation to the adhesion of the adhesive element to the substrate, since these interactions should be significantly higher than the adhesion of the adhesive element to the conveyor element.Therefore, preferred is an application system according to the invention in which the reduced-adhesion surface is designed so that the adhesion of the adhesive element to the reduced-adhesion surface is preferably at least 80%, particularly preferably at least 90%, and especially particularly preferably at least 95% lower than the adhesion of the adhesive element to the substrate.

[0040] It is at least basically possible to make the surface of the conveyor belt so as to have reduced adhesion by making the entire support surface of the conveyor belt from a material in which certain adhesive elements exhibit reduced adhesion. However, similar to the technology used in typical liners, it is preferable to achieve the desired reduced adhesion by coating the surface of the conveyor belt with a so-called release layer, which can particularly preferably be a silicone-based release layer. Accordingly, the application system according to the present invention is preferred, in which the surface with reduced adhesion is coated with a release layer, preferably a silicone-based release layer, which can be produced by crosslinking a crosslinkable silicone system containing one or more polysiloxanes.

[0041] Even if it is at least theoretically possible to configure the conveyor belt of the transport unit in a movable manner in the dispenser device, so that it can move towards the application device to be loaded, this is not preferred in terms of the structural design of the dispenser device. Rather, an application system according to the invention in which the conveyor belt of the transport unit is arranged in a fixed position in the dispenser device is preferred.

[0042] Since the movement of the conveyor belt of the transfer unit is undesirable in any case and, in addition, there is little reason to provide the transfer unit with a complex guidance of the adhesive elements (i.e. a guidance that would require the adhesive force of the adhesive elements on the reduced-adhesion surface to be greater than gravity to prevent the adhesive elements from falling off), the circular conveyor belt can advantageously be constructed very simply in the dispenser device. The suction belt design described below for the circular conveyor element of the application device is certainly possible, but is not necessary in the majority of cases.

[0043] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the adhesive element array produced in the transfer unit comprises a plurality of adhesive elements, which are advantageously arranged in more or less linear rows and in most cases are at least slightly spaced apart from one another to avoid undesirable adhesion between the adhesive elements.

[0044] In the method according to the invention, the different adhesive elements of the dispenser unit are transferred onto the circular conveyor belt of the transfer unit and are thereby arranged in a specific arrangement. To enable this, the dispenser device includes a suitable means, referred to in the present invention as an adhesive element guide system. The term "adhesive element guide system" abstracts various possibilities known to those skilled in the art for arranging the adhesive elements delivered from the dispenser unit in a specific arrangement on the transfer unit. In a first design, the adhesive element guide system can include, for example, a transfer element, such as a movable suction gripper, which receives the adhesive elements from the dispenser unit and places them in a predetermined position on the circular conveyor belt of the transfer unit to generate the adhesive element arrangement, similar to a "pick-and-place" concept. In this case, this is an application system according to the invention, in which the adhesive element guide system comprises one or more transfer elements, which are adapted to receive the adhesive elements delivered from the dispenser unit while forming a reversible and non-destructively detachable connection and to place them on the reduced-adhesion surface of the transfer unit, and in which the adhesive element guide system preferably comprises two or more, particularly preferably four or more, and most particularly preferably one separate transfer element for each dispenser unit.

[0045] However, even if it is possible to generate a predetermined adhesive element arrangement from different adhesive elements in different dispenser units with corresponding adhesive element guide systems based on transfer elements, the inventors believe that a corresponding configuration would involve a relatively high equipment complexity. Accordingly, the inventors propose that in a particularly preferred embodiment, dispenser units with dispensing edges can be used that are configured to transfer the adhesive elements onto the circular conveyor belt of the adhesive element guide system, on which the adhesive elements are guided towards the transfer unit. Advantageously, a desired adhesive element arrangement can be generated by transferring the adhesive elements consecutively, i.e., sequentially, onto the conveyor belt of the adhesive element guide system and thereby guiding them towards the transfer unit so that they arrive at the transfer unit in the desired sequence. Accordingly, an application system according to the invention is preferred, in which the adhesive element guide system comprises at least one circular conveyor belt with a surface with reduced adhesiveness. Particularly preferred is an application system according to the invention, in which the circular conveyor belt of the adhesive element guiding system is configured in such a way that the dispenser unit can transfer the adhesive elements delivered therefrom via the dispensing edge directly onto the circular conveyor belt of the adhesive element guiding system.

[0046] To transfer the adhesive elements from the corresponding circular conveyor belt of the adhesive element guiding system onto the circular conveyor belt of the transfer unit, it is again possible, at least theoretically, to use a transfer element (e.g., with a suction function), which again entails a relatively high level of equipment complexity. As with the above-mentioned embodiment, it is also preferable to realize transfer via a distribution edge, with the above-mentioned embodiments regarding the distribution edge and the reduced-adhesion surface correspondingly applying. A preferred application system according to the present invention is one in which the transfer unit includes one or more transfer elements, which are adapted to receive the adhesive elements guided on the circular conveyor belt of the adhesive element guiding element, forming a reversible and non-destructively detachable connection with the adhesive elements, and to place them on the reduced-adhesion surface of the conveyor belt of the transfer unit. A particularly preferred application system according to the present invention is one in which the circular conveyor belt of the adhesive element guiding system includes a distribution edge in the transition region to the transfer unit, which is configured so that the adhesive elements transported on the circular conveyor belt can be transferred directly onto the circular conveyor belt of the transfer unit via the distribution edge.

[0047] In addition to the dispenser device capable of generating substrate-specific adhesive element arrays, the application system according to the invention also includes an application device, which in the method according to the invention performs the actual application of the substrates. According to the invention, the application device is separate from the dispenser device, i.e., this is not an application system in which the dispenser device is integrated into the application device. The application device is arranged on an automated motion unit, in particular a robot arm, and is thereby movable in space by itself. Therefore, a corresponding application device is, for example, an end effector installed on an industrial robot. In line with the understanding of those skilled in the art, an end effector is the execution and / or terminal element of an automated motion unit, for example a robot arm. In other words, in the field of robotics, an end effector is the last component of a kinematic chain, which is usually adapted to execute execution instructions previously given by an external control device, possibly together with an automated motion unit (to which the end effector is fixed).

[0048] The application device includes a conveyor element as a central component, which again comprises or consists of a circulating conveyor belt with a reduced-adhesion surface. Together with the circulating conveyor belt, the conveyor element serves to transfer the adhesive element array provided by the transfer unit from the distributor device in a transfer position and supports the adhesive elements of the adhesive element array during use of the application device in application mode, with the circulating conveyor belt also serving to sequentially transport the adhesive elements to the influence area of ​​the application elements, which can then pick them up one by one from the circulating conveyor belt and apply them to the substrate. For this purpose, an application system according to the invention is preferred in which the conveyor belt is fixedly mounted on the application device.

[0049] In order to facilitate understanding of the invention and to allow for a clear definition, it is defined within the scope of the invention that the circulating conveyor belt extends over at least three different areas, which differ in the role they play in the operation of the application system and are accordingly called a receiving area, a removal area and a stock area. The distinction between these areas is useful for explaining the function of the invention, whereby a clear distinction between these areas is advantageously necessary, and there can be, for example, several individual areas, for example, several removal areas in the case of several application elements.

[0050] The receiving area is the part of the circular conveyor belt where the adhesive elements introduced via the distributing edge of the transfer unit are placed on the reduced adhesive surface of the conveyor element at the transfer position. In this respect, those skilled in the art understand that, for example, in the case of synchronized peripheral speeds between the conveyor elements and the conveyor belts of the transfer unit, the adhesive element array is transferred piece by piece onto the conveyor elements of the conveyor element without changing the spacing between the adhesive elements. In this case, to enable the reception of further adhesive elements in the receiving area, the adhesive elements previously placed on their surface are carried further by the conveyor belt of the conveyor element.

[0051] After taking over all adhesive elements from the transfer unit, all adhesive elements (except one, if applicable) are located outside the receiving area. The area outside the receiving area, where the adhesive elements are located during the subsequent application process and where they wait to be supplied to the application elements, is called a stock area in the present invention, since it is, so to speak, a stock from which the adhesive elements arranged in a specific order are dispensed during the application process. In addition to the receiving area and the stock area, a take-out area is defined, which refers to the part of the rotating conveyor belt where the application elements pick up the adhesive elements to be applied, which are then applied to the substrate. In an exemplary design, the take-out area connects to the receiving area in the rotation direction of the conveyor belt, while the stock area is located after the take-out area in the rotation direction. In this case, this is an application system according to the present invention in which the take-out area is arranged between the receiving area and the stock area. In such a design, therefore, the adhesive elements taken over from the transfer unit are placed piece by piece on the surface of the conveyor belt in the receiving area and guided through the removal area into the stock area, so to speak, filling the stock with adhesive elements.

[0052] Those skilled in the art will understand that the conveyor element for the adhesive elements is a kind of buffer storage during the application process. Accordingly, the length of the conveyor element is particularly important, since it determines how many adhesive elements the application device can receive before it needs to be refilled, depending on the dimensions of the adhesive elements. In this regard, application systems according to the invention are preferred in which the conveyor belt of the conveyor element has a length of its circumference ranging from 50 to 2000 cm, preferably from 100 to 1000 cm, and particularly preferably from 150 to 500 cm. Additionally or alternatively, application systems according to the invention are preferred in which the conveyor belt of the conveyor element is longer than the conveyor belt of the transfer unit.

[0053] It is advantageous to design the conveyor belt so that a certain minimum number of adhesive elements can be temporarily held thereon. Accordingly, it is advantageous for the length of the conveyor belt or of the available support surface to be specified relative to the adhesive elements in the circumferential direction. However, this has the disadvantage that in this case the structural characteristics of the application system must be defined via consumable parts. However, advantageously, the width of the conveyor belt used is, for weight reasons, usually close to the maximum diameter of the adhesive elements, so that an advantageous relationship of size can also be defined with respect to the width of the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt of the conveyor element is 10 * d to 100 * Range up to d, preferably 15 * d to 80 * d, particularly preferably 20 * d to 60 * d, and particularly preferably 25 * d to 40 * In addition or alternatively, the conveyor belt of the conveyor element has a length of the circumferential surface ranging from 10 to d, where d is the maximum diameter of the adhesive elements of the dispenser unit. * b to 100 * range up to b, preferably 15 * b to 80 * b, particularly preferably 20 * b to 60 * b, and particularly preferably 25 * b to 40 * Preferred is an application system according to the invention having a length of the circumferential surface ranging from b, where b is the width of the conveyor belt of the conveyor element in the direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction.

[0054] In relation to the implementation of the reduced-adhesion surface, the principles already defined above for the conveyor belt of the transfer unit, in particular the principles regarding the design with a release layer, also apply to the orbiting conveyor belt of the conveyor element. However, since the adhesive elements present on the conveyor belt of the conveyor element are not delivered via the dispensing edge but must be peeled off from the reduced-adhesion surface by the application element, it is advantageous to specify the degree of reduced adhesion relative to the bond strength that can be achieved by the adhesive element during pick-up, since this bond strength must be clearly higher than the adhesive force of the adhesive element to the reduced-adhesion surface to enable pick-up. The application system according to the invention is preferred, in which the reduced-adhesion surface is coated with a release layer, preferably a silicone-based release layer, which can be produced by crosslinking a crosslinkable silicone system containing one or more polysiloxanes. Additionally or alternatively, preferred is an application system according to the invention, in which the reduced-adhesion surface is designed in such a way that the adhesion force of the applied adhesive element to the reduced-adhesion surface is preferably at least 50%, particularly preferably at least 70%, and especially preferably at least 90% lower than the connection force between the application element and the adhesive element when the adhesive element is picked up by the application element. Additionally or alternatively, a functional definition of the application system according to the invention is that the reduced-adhesion surface is designed in such a way that the adhesion force between the adhesive element and the reduced-adhesion surface is preferably at least 30%, preferably at least 60%, and especially preferably at least 90% lower than the cohesive strength of the adhesive of the adhesive layer and / or the peel force between the adhesive element and the reduced-adhesion surface acting when the adhesive element is picked up.

[0055] Unlike the conveyor belt of the transfer unit, it is clearly preferable for the conveyor belt of the application device to be configured with a suction function. In one corresponding design, the surface of the conveyor element is provided with a series of recesses, through which a negative pressure acting in the conveyor belt ensures additional pressure of the adhesive elements on the conveyor belt. This ensures a more secure placement of the adhesive elements on the reduced-adhesion surface, so that they do not shift or fall off during operation of the application device if the adhesive elements are placed upside down and gravity acts accordingly. A particular advantage of this design is that the vertically downward side of the circulating conveyor belt also becomes available as additional provision space for the adhesive elements of the adhesive element array, thereby allowing a larger portion of the circulating surface to be used as a storage area when the absolute length of the conveyor belt is reduced. Corresponding suction functions and designs as suction belts are known to those skilled in the art and can be realized by using pumps, but the inventors propose to provide, in the removal area, optional blocking elements, which, in the shadow zone of their flow, create a reduced suction effect in the area where the application element picks up the adhesive element. Therefore, application systems according to the invention are particularly preferred, in which the conveyor belt of the conveyor element includes a suction function for fixing the adhesive element on the surface of the circulating conveyor element.

[0056] To enable particularly reliable, reproducible, and accurate application of the adhesive elements, it is desirable that they can be picked up reproducibly by the adhesive elements. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the adhesive elements are always positioned in the same way in the removal area at the moment of pick-up. For this purpose, the inventors propose the use of stop elements that can be arranged on the conveyor belt to allow fine adjustment of the positioning. In this design, an application system according to the invention is preferred, in which the application device includes stop elements that are adapted to fix the positions of the adhesive elements arranged on the conveyor belt of the conveyor element in the conveying direction so that these adhesive elements are moved relative to the reduced-adhesion surface when the conveyor element is running, and the stop elements are preferably adapted to change the positions of the adhesive elements arranged on the conveyor belt of the conveyor element transversely to the conveying direction.

[0057] If, from the viewpoint of structural design based on the circumferential direction, a stock area is located between the receiving area and the unloading area, the supply of adhesive areas from the stock area to the unloading area can be carried out in the same circumferential direction, which also allows the transfer of adhesive elements from the transfer unit. This also applies to designs in which the unloading area is located between the receiving area and the stock area in the circumferential direction, if, for example, a suction function of the conveyor belt allows the adhesive elements to move from the stock area to the unloading area again around the entire conveyor element. However, in this design, especially if no suction function is provided, it is preferable to design the application device so that the circumferential direction of the conveyor belt can be reversed if necessary. Accordingly, application systems according to the present invention are preferred in which the application device is adapted to allow the conveying direction of the conveyor belt of the conveyor element to be reversed.

[0058] As explained above, a major advantage of the application system according to the present invention is that it does not require the use of a support for an adhesive tape roller or a refill cartridge in the end effector. In particular, this allows the corresponding application device to be constructed to be particularly lightweight. In this regard, those skilled in the art will understand that it is also preferable to realize a correspondingly lightweight and / or simple application device design in order to utilize this advantage. Accordingly, application systems according to the present invention are preferred in which the application device does not include a support for an adhesive tape roller and / or does not include a support for a refill cartridge. Additionally or alternatively, application systems according to the present invention are preferred in which the application device has a total weight in the range of 1 to 40 kg, preferably in the range of 2 to 30 kg, and particularly preferably in the range of 4 to 20 kg.

[0059] One advantage of the application system according to the invention, in terms of the design of the application elements, i.e., the components responsible for the final application to the substrate, is that the application elements can pick up adhesive elements from a conveyor element. In this regard, particularly with regard to the application of adhesive strips, for example, an application roller can be envisaged, which forms a reversible and non-destructively detachable connection with the adhesive strips or their carrier layer arranged on a conveyor belt via a suction function, and then guides and presses them onto the substrate by rotation. However, in the inventors' opinion, a system that again uses a "pick-and-place" concept for the application elements is particularly preferred.

[0060] For the implementation of the application function in practice, in the majority of cases it is required that the application element be adapted to form a reversible, non-destructive, detachable connection with the adhesive element or its carrier layer, for which the skilled person can in principle rely on various solutions known from the prior art.

[0061] Those skilled in the art will understand that the ability of the above-described device for application elements to form a reversible and non-destructively detachable connection with the adhesive element does not require that the connection must be removed by removing the connection force, which could be achieved, for example, by turning off the magnetic field in the case of a magnetic connection or by turning off the suction function. This is also possible, and often even particularly effective in practice, if reversible and non-destructive detachment occurs against the force that caused the connection. In this case, it is particularly possible to take advantage of the fact that the adhesion of the adhesive element to the substrate is often significantly higher than the force that caused the connection with the application element, so that, for example, when the application element is separated from the substrate, the connection can be made against a negative pressure that creates a suction effect.

[0062] The reversible and non-destructively detachable connection can, at least in theory, be mediated, for example, by the arrangement of a magnet (which interacts, for example, with the magnetic carrier layer of the adhesive element), or, in theory, also by a suction cup or a pressure-sensitive adhesive. However, the use of a suction solution based on negative pressure is particularly preferred due to the high reliability, simple structural implementation and long life of such solutions.

[0063] In the inventors' opinion, application elements including a piston arrangement with at least one suction gripper arranged on a movable piston are particularly preferred, since they allow particularly accurate and efficient application of adhesive elements. In this case, the application element is aligned with the conveyor element, and a controllable suction gripper with a movable piston is lowered onto the conveyor belt of the conveyor element in the removal area, bringing the carrier layer of the adhesive element present thereon into contact with the suction gripper and establishing a reversible and non-destructive connection. By moving the piston again, the adhesive element can be lifted from the conveyor element and aligned toward the substrate by the motion unit, after which an application movement can be performed to bring the adhesive layer into contact with the substrate, thereby dissolving the connection between the adhesive element and the application element. Accordingly, application systems according to the present invention are preferred, in which the application element includes a motion unit and a pick-up unit mounted on the motion unit, the pick-up unit being adapted to form a reversible and non-destructive detachable connection with the carrier layer of the adhesive element. In this respect, a bonding system according to the invention is particularly preferred, in which the pick-up unit comprises one or more controllable suction grippers, with the bonding device preferably comprising one or more vacuum pumps connected to the suction grippers. Additionally or alternatively, a bonding system according to the invention is preferred, in which the motion unit comprises a piston arrangement with a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder, with the motion unit preferably comprising a rotation device for rotating the piston arrangement, the rotation axis preferably extending substantially parallel to the surface of the conveyor element of the conveyor unit.

[0064] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the application element can be designed as a rotatable application element, which includes corresponding movable pistons with suction grippers on both sides. After picking up a first adhesive element, the application element can then rotate around its axis of rotation, align the picked-up adhesive element with the substrate, and press it against the substrate by the movement of the pistons. Meanwhile, on the back side of the application element, another movable piston with a corresponding suction gripper is ready to pick up another adhesive element for application.

[0065] In one preferred embodiment, different dimensions of the suction grippers at different ends of the motion unit enable efficient application of adhesive elements of different geometries and / or different dimensions. If, for example, two types of adhesive elements with very different dimensions, such as small and large adhesive elements, are to be provided in the adhesive element array, application of these differently sized adhesive elements can be achieved in this embodiment by selecting the pickup surfaces of the two suction grippers to correspond to the two different diameters of these adhesive elements. This results in an application system according to the invention that efficiently enables accurate application of adhesive elements of different sizes without the need to exchange adhesive elements. Particularly preferred is an application device according to the invention in which the application element includes two or more pickup units, preferably with different dimensions. Based on this concept, application devices according to the invention are also preferred in which the application element includes three or more, preferably four or more, particularly preferably five or more, pickup units, preferably with different dimensions. However, additionally or alternatively, it is also possible to provide two or more application elements, which in this case are also designed for optimal application of one or more adhesive elements and which can be used specifically for the adhesive elements.

[0066] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the application element can pick up the adhesive element by relative movement between the application element and the conveyor element, which can be achieved, for example, by moving the conveyor element away after the adhesive element has come into contact with the application element so that the adhesive element remains on the application element. In this way, for example, a non-rotating suction gripper can also be used as the application element. For example, it can be lowered toward the adhesive element using a piston mechanism to bring it into contact. The conveyor element is then removed from under the non-rotating suction gripper, which then springs out of the piston mechanism again, thereby performing the application movement after passing the removed conveyor element.

[0067] In light of the above description, the present invention provides a dispenser device for use in an application system according to the present invention, comprising: a1) two or more dispenser units, each of said dispenser units comprising a plurality of adhesive elements, wherein said dispenser units are adapted to deliver adhesive elements; a2) adhesive element guide system; and a3) a transfer unit, wherein the transfer unit includes an orbiting conveyor belt having a reduced-adhesion surface and a dispensing edge; A dispenser apparatus comprising: The dispenser device is adapted to transfer the adhesive elements delivered from the dispenser units onto a conveyor belt of a transfer unit using an adhesive element guide system to generate an adhesive element array consisting of a plurality of adhesive elements on a reduced-adhesion surface, wherein the adhesive element array includes adhesive elements from different dispenser units. The present invention relates to a distributor device.

[0068] Accordingly, the present invention provides a bonding device for use in a bonding system according to the present invention, comprising: b1) a conveyor element, wherein the conveyor element comprises an orbiting conveyor belt having a reduced-adhesion surface, the orbiting conveyor belt extending through a receiving area, an unloading area, and a stock area; b2) attachment element; and b3) a fixing unit for fixing the application device to the automated motion unit; An application device comprising: the application device is adapted so that the adhesive elements provided on the reduced-adhesion surface in the receiving area can be transported by a conveyor element to a stock area, and the adhesive elements present in the stock area can be transported by a conveyor element to a removal area, the application device is adapted to pick up the adhesive element arranged on the conveyor belt of the conveyor element in the take-out area with the application element and apply it onto a substrate; It also relates to an application device.

[0069] Furthermore, the present invention provides a method for applying an adhesive element on a substrate using an application system according to the present invention, comprising the following process steps: i) generating an adhesive element array on a conveyor belt of a transfer unit of an application device, wherein said adhesive element array comprises a plurality of adhesive elements, wherein the adhesive element array comprises adhesive elements from different dispenser units; ii) a process step in which the application device is moved to a transfer position and the adhesive element array is transferred from the conveyor belt of the transfer unit to the conveyor belt of the conveyor element, wherein at least a part of the transferred adhesive elements is transported by the conveyor belt to a storage area, iii) a process step in which the adhesive elements are transported from the storage area to the removal area by means of a conveyor belt of a conveyor element, iv) picking up the adhesive element with the application element in a removal area, while forming a reversible and non-destructively detachable connection between the application element and the adhesive element; and v) applying the picked-up adhesive element to a substrate and releasing the connection between the application element and the applied adhesive element; A method comprising: repeating process steps iii), iv) and v) to apply a plurality of adhesive elements, preferably all adhesive elements, of the transferred adhesive element array, and repeating process steps i) and ii) after a plurality of adhesive elements, preferably all adhesive elements, of the transferred adhesive element array have been applied; It also relates to methods.

[0070] In this case, an example of a method according to the invention is a method in which the circular conveyor belt of the distributor device and the circular conveyor belt of the conveyor element are flush in the transfer position, so that the adhesive elements of the adhesive element array can be transferred from the conveyor belt of the transfer unit via the distributor edge onto the conveyor belt of the conveyor element.An example of a method according to the invention is a method in which all, preferably all, adhesive elements except one adhesive element are transferred to the storage area by the conveyor element.

[0071] The method according to the invention is preferred, in which the substrate to be adhered is an automotive part and / or the substrate to be adhered comprises a recess, in which case the adhesive element at least partially, preferably substantially completely, seals the recess, preferably in a liquid-tight manner.

[0072] In one embodiment, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein two or more different substrates are attached using the transferred adhesive element array in process step ii).

[0073] Alternatively, the method according to the invention is preferred, in which the array of adhesive elements transferred in process step ii) comprises a number of adhesive elements corresponding to the number of positions to be applied on the substrate, with the method according to the invention being particularly preferred, in which the application substrate comprises a plurality of different application positions with different adhesive requirements, and the array of adhesive elements transferred in process step ii) comprises different adhesive elements that are adapted to the different adhesive requirements of the application positions.

[0074] Additionally or alternatively to the previously disclosed embodiments, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the adhesive element array transferred in process step ii) comprises adhesive elements from different dispenser units, and wherein the permutation of these adhesive elements on the conveyor element is adapted to the work plan of the application device, so that the properties of the nth adhesive element on the conveyor element correlate with the adhesive requirements of the nth adhesive position targeted by the application device.

[0075] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0076] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a preferred application system according to the invention during the implementation of the method according to the invention at a first point in time. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a preferred application system according to the invention during the execution of the method according to the invention at a second point in time. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of a portion of a preferred application system according to the invention in a transfer position during the execution of a method according to the invention at a third point in time. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a preferred application device according to the invention in a first oblique view. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of the preferred application device according to the invention of FIG. 4 in a second oblique view.

[0077] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a preferred application system 10 according to the invention during the execution of a method according to the invention for applying a plurality of adhesive elements 12 to a substrate 14 at a first point in time.

[0078] The application system 10 comprises a dispenser device 16 with four separate dispenser units 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, each configured as a reversibly and non-destructively replaceable refill cartridge, which can be inserted into a corresponding support of the dispenser device 16, and each containing a plurality of adhesive elements 12, which are arranged in the refill cartridge in the form of an adhesive tape roller on a liner. For reasons of clarity, the drive and control units of the dispenser units 18a-d, which cause the adhesive elements 12 to be delivered to the refill cartridges inserted into the support of the dispenser device 16, are not shown.

[0079] In this case, the adhesive elements 12 are each pressure-sensitive adhesive die-cuts in the illustrated example and differ between dispenser units 18a-h in terms of geometric dimensions and / or the adhesive used, which can be recognized in Figure 1 by circles of different sizes or different pattern fills, and in the illustrated example, only three of the four possible adhesive elements 12 are introduced into the adhesive element array 26.

[0080] In the illustrated example, each of the dispenser units 18a-d has a dispenser unit-dispensing edge and is arranged so that it can transfer the adhesive elements 12 directly onto an adhesive element guide system 20 configured as a conveyor belt, to the surface of which the adhesive elements 12 exhibit reduced adhesion as a result of siliconization. The adhesive element guide system 20 transports the adhesive elements 12 towards a transfer unit 22, whereupon the adhesive elements are transferred via the guide system-dispensing edge onto the circular conveyor belt of the transfer unit 22, which likewise has a surface with reduced adhesion due to siliconization.

[0081] To generate the optimal adhesive element array 26 required for application to the substrate 14, the dispenser device 16 is controlled by an electronic data processing device (not shown) so that the adhesive elements 12 arrive at the transfer unit 22 in the desired order. This can be done, for example, by having the adhesive elements 12 delivered sequentially from each dispenser unit 18a-d. On the conveyor belt of the transfer unit 22, the adhesive elements received one after the other are transferred in a stepped, continuous transport motion controlled in accordance with the transport speed of the adhesive element guide system 20, resulting in an adhesive element array 26 consisting of a plurality of closely packed adhesive elements 12 only slightly spaced apart from one another.

[0082] While the dispenser device 16 is organizing the desired adhesive element array 26, the application system 10 is simultaneously in application mode in the illustrated example. In this case, the application device 30, which in the illustrated example of FIG. 1 is configured as an end effector of an industrial robot forming an automated motion unit 28, successively applies, by means of its application element 40, adhesive elements arranged on the rotating conveyor belt of the conveyor element 32. The conveyor element 32 is configured as a suction belt in the illustrated example, and the desired adhesive force reduction is also achieved in this case by a silicone release layer. This is achieved by the application device 30 transporting the adhesive elements 12 one after another into the influence area of ​​the application element 40, where they are picked up and then dispensed onto the substrate 14. For the sake of clarity, the application element 40 is shown here only in schematic representation, but in terms of configuration and arrangement, it corresponds to the structure shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0083] After the application device 30 has dispensed the adhesive elements 12 held on the conveyor belt of the conveyor element 32, the application device 30 is moved by the automated motion unit 28 towards the dispenser device 16, which moves the application system 10 to a transfer position, as schematically visualized in FIG.

[0084] 2 shows a schematic representation of the preferred application system 10 according to the invention from FIG. 1 now moved into the transfer position. Here, the transfer unit 22 and the circular conveyor belt of the conveyor element 32 are aligned so that their surfaces are flush with one another, so that the adhesive elements 12 can be transferred from the transfer unit 22 onto the circular conveyor belt of the conveyor element 32 via the dispensing edge 24. In this regard, FIG. 2 visualizes the application device 30 after it has already received the pre-organized adhesive element array 26 optimized for application to a substrate on the transfer unit 22 of the dispenser device 16, with the adhesive elements already substantially present in that portion of the surface of the conveyor element 32 that is referred to within the context of the present invention as a stock area 38 and serves, so to speak, as an intermediate storage of the adhesive elements.

[0085] 1 and 2, Figure 3 shows, in a schematic side view, the moment of transfer of the adhesive elements 12 of the adhesive element array 26 between the transfer unit 22 and the respective circular conveyor belts of the conveyor element 32. In particular, the distribution edge 24 (shown diagrammatically as being slightly over-pointed) is clearly visible in Figure 3, visualizing how the adhesive element 12, due to its inherent rigidity and the sharp peel angle of its base, goes beyond the distribution edge 24 and can then be taken up by the conveyor belt of the conveyor element 32.

[0086] 3 shows three areas that are used within the context of the present invention, particularly for the purpose of explaining the functionality. The transfer of the adhesive elements 12 takes place in a receiving area 34, which refers to the section of the conveyor belt of the conveyor element 32 where the adhesive elements 12 are loaded for transport. During transfer, the conveyor belt of the conveyor element 32 moves in the same conveying direction as the conveyor belt of the transfer unit 22, so that the adhesive elements 12 are transported through a take-out area 36 to a storage area 38. In the take-out area 36, ​​the adhesive elements 12 are later picked up by an application element 40 during application mode, while the storage area 38 is prepared with the adhesive elements 12 to be transported to the take-out area 36 after the respective preceding adhesive elements 12 of the adhesive element array 26 have been dispensed. Due to the arrangement of the unloading area 36 between the receiving area 34 and the stock area 38, the transfer of the adhesive elements 12 from the stock area 38 is carried out by reversing the conveying direction or by making the adhesive elements 12 of the adhesive element array 26 go around the conveyor belt completely under the aid of a suction function. In this regard, those skilled in the art will understand that the radius of curvature of the conveyor belt is selected to be sufficiently large so that the adhesive elements 12 do not form undesirable peeled edges during the transfer.

[0087] 4 and 5 show a schematic view of a preferred application device 30 according to the invention in two different perspective views. The stock area 38 of the conveyor belt of the conveyor element 32, configured without suction, is completely covered with adhesive elements of different sizes, so that FIGS. 4 and 5 show the state that may exist, particularly immediately after leaving the transfer position. Also visible in FIG. 5 is a fastening unit 42, by means of which the end effector can be fastened, for example, to a robot arm.

[0088] The receiving area 34 is provided with a pressure roller mounted directly on the conveyor belt, by means of which the received adhesive elements 12 are pressed in a controlled manner onto the reduced-adhesion surface of the conveyor belt, thus ensuring minimal adhesion and a safe delivery despite the reduced adhesive force and without suction. However, this receiving can also, at least in theory, take place from the opposite side of the conveyor belt of the conveyor unit 32. However, due to the lack of suction, this presupposes that the conveyor belt of the conveyor unit 32 is reversible so that the adhesive elements 12, once transported to the storage area 38, can then be returned to the removal area 38 again.

[0089] 4 and 5, the preferred application element 40 can be particularly clearly seen. In the example shown, the application element 40 comprises a rotatable motion unit, which is provided on both sides with a piston device having a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder, at both ends of which a suction gripper is arranged, respectively, by means of which a reversible and non-destructive connection can be established with the adhesive element 12 to be applied. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 10. Application System 12 Adhesive elements 14 Base material 16 Distributor equipment 18a-d Distribution unit 20 Adhesive element guide system 22 Transport Unit 24 Distribution Edge 26 Adhesive element array 28 Motion Unit 30. Application device 32 conveyor elements 34 Reception area 36 Extraction area 38 Stock Area 40 Paste Elements 42 Fixed Unit

Claims

1. A system (10) for applying a plurality of adhesive elements (12) onto a substrate (14), comprising: a) A dispenser device (16) comprising the following: a1), a2) and a3): a1) two or more dispenser units (18a-d), each of said dispenser units (18a-d) containing a plurality of adhesive elements (12) or at least one adhesive element precursor, from which said at least one adhesive element precursor can be produced by said dispenser device (16), and said dispenser units (18a-d) adapted to deliver the adhesive elements (12); a2) an adhesive element guide system (20); and a3) a transfer unit (22), wherein said transfer unit (22) comprises an orbiting conveyor belt having a reduced-adhesion surface and a dispensing edge (24); However, the dispenser device (16) is adapted to transfer the adhesive elements (12) delivered from the dispenser units (18a-d) onto the conveyor belt of the transfer unit (22) using the adhesive element guide system (20) to generate an adhesive element array (26) consisting of a plurality of adhesive elements (12) on the reduced-adhesion surface, wherein the adhesive element array (26) includes adhesive elements (12) from different dispenser units (18a-d). and b) an application device (30) spaced apart from the dispenser device (16) and arranged in an automated motion unit (28), comprising the following b1) and b2): b1) a conveyor element (32), wherein said conveyor element (32) comprises an orbiting conveyor belt having a reduced-adhesion surface, said orbiting conveyor belt extending through a receiving area (34), an unloading area (36), and a stock area (38); and b2) an application element (40); An application system (10) comprising: The application device (30) is adapted so that the adhesive elements (12) provided on the reduced-adhesion surface in the receiving area (34) can be transported by the conveyor element (32) to the stock area (38), and so that the adhesive elements (12) present in the stock area (38) can be transported by the conveyor element (32) to the removal area (36), The application device (30) is adapted to pick up the adhesive element (12) arranged on the conveyor belt of the conveyor element (32) in the take-out area (36) with the application element (40) and apply it onto a substrate (14); The application system (10) is adapted to move the application device (30) to a transfer position relative to the dispenser device (16) using an automated motion unit (28), and at this transfer position, the application system (10) can transfer the adhesive elements (12) of the adhesive element array (26) from the transfer unit (22) via the dispensing edge (24) to the conveyor element (32) and provide them on the reduced-adhesion surface of the conveyor element (32) in the receiving area (34), so that at least a portion of the transferred adhesive elements (12) are transported by the conveyor element (32) to the stock area (38); and The application system (10) is adapted to, after the adhesive elements (12) of the adhesive element array (26) are transferred to the conveyor element (32), transport the adhesive elements (12) from the stock area (38) to the take-out area (36) in an application mode, pick up the adhesive elements (12) with the application element (40), and apply them onto the substrate (14). Application system (10).

2. 2. The application system (10) of claim 1, wherein the reduced-adhesion surfaces of the conveyor belt of the transfer unit (22) and the conveyor belt of the conveyor element (32) are coated with a release layer.

3. The conveyor belt of the conveyor element (32) is 10 ＊ b to 100 ＊ 3. The application system (10) of claim 1 or 2, having a length of the circumferential surface ranging from b to r, where b is the width of the conveyor belt of the conveyor element (32) perpendicular to the circumferential direction.

4. 4. The application system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt of the conveyor element (32) comprises a suction feature for fixing the adhesive element (12) on the surface of the conveyor element (32) as it rotates.

5. The application system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the application device (30) is adapted to be able to reverse the conveying direction of the conveyor belt of the conveyor element (32).

6. The application system (10) of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the dispenser apparatus (16) comprises three or more dispenser units (18a-d).

7. The application system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the dispenser units (18a-d) are arranged on the dispenser device (16) so as to be reversibly and non-destructively detachable.

8. A dispenser device (16) for use in the application system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising: a1) two or more dispenser units (18a-d), each of said dispenser units (18a-d) containing a plurality of adhesive elements (12) or at least one adhesive element precursor, from which said at least one adhesive element precursor can be produced by said dispenser device (16), and said dispenser units (18a-d) are adapted to deliver the adhesive elements (12); a2) an adhesive element guide system (20); and a3) a transfer unit (22), wherein said transfer unit (22) comprises an orbiting conveyor belt having a reduced-adhesion surface and a dispensing edge (24); A dispenser device (16) comprising: The distributor device (16) is adapted to transfer the adhesive elements (12) delivered from the disintegrator units (18a-d) to the conveyor belt of the transfer unit (22) using the adhesive element guide system (20) to generate an adhesive element array (26) consisting of a plurality of adhesive elements (12) on the reduced-adhesion surface, wherein the adhesive element array (26) includes adhesive elements (12) from different distributor units (18a-d). Distributor device (16).

9. A bonding device (30) for use in the bonding system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, b1) a conveyor element (32), wherein said conveyor element (32) comprises an orbiting conveyor belt having a reduced-adhesion surface, said orbiting conveyor belt extending through a receiving area (34), an unloading area (36) and a stock area (38); b2) an application element (40); and b3) a fixing unit (42) for fixing the application device (30) to an automated motion unit (28); An application device (30) comprising: The application device (30) is adapted to transport the adhesive elements (12) provided on the reduced-adhesion surface in the receiving area to the stock area (38) using the conveyor element (32), and to transport the adhesive elements (12) present in the stock area (38) to the removal area (36) using the conveyor element (32); and The application device (30) is adapted to pick up the adhesive element (12) arranged on the conveyor belt of the conveyor element (32) in the take-out area (36) with the application element (40) and apply it onto the substrate (14). Application device (30).

10. A method for applying an adhesive element (12) to a substrate (14) using an application system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the following process steps: i) generating an adhesive element array (26) on the conveyor belt of the transfer unit (22) of the application device (30), wherein the adhesive element array (26) comprises a plurality of adhesive elements (12) spaced apart from one another, wherein the adhesive element array (26) comprises adhesive elements (12) from different dispenser units (18a-d); ii) moving the application device (30) to the transfer position and transferring the adhesive element array (26) from the conveyor belt of the transfer unit (22) to the conveyor belt of the conveyor element (32), wherein at least a portion of the transferred adhesive elements (12) are transported by the conveyor belt to the stock area (38); iii) a process step of transporting adhesive elements (12) from said stock area (38) to said removal area (36) by said conveyor belt of said conveyor element (32); iv) a process step of picking up the adhesive element (12) with the application element (40) in the removal area (36), while forming a reversible and non-destructively detachable connection between the application element (40) and the adhesive element (12); and v) applying the picked-up adhesive element (12) to a substrate (14) and releasing the connection between the application element (40) and the applied adhesive element (12); A method comprising: repeating the process steps iii), iv) and v) to attach a plurality of adhesive elements (12) of the transferred adhesive element array (26), and repeating the process steps i) and ii) after the plurality of adhesive elements (12) of the transferred adhesive element array (26) have been attached.

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