Adhesive tape and covering method for covering long articles, such as cable harnesses in particular.

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adhesive tape, particularly for covering long articles, such as cable harnesses in automobiles, longitudinally, and includes a carrier having an upper surface and a lower surface, the carrier having a width B with respect to the transverse direction. T The carrier has a closure strip made of adhesive on its underside, the at least one closure strip extending along one of the longitudinal edges of the carrier and having a minimum length of 3 mm and a width B T A maximum width of 50% (including 50%) B K The carrier has, and on the upper or lower surface of the carrier there is at least one reinforcing element extending in the longitudinal direction, and this at least one reinforcing element preferably has a width B T A range of B from 10% (including 10%) to 50% Ver The present invention relates to the adhesive tape having the following characteristics.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to adhesive tapes and covering methods for covering long articles, such as cable harnesses in automobiles. [Background technology]

[0002] Adhesive tapes have been used for cable room coverings for quite some time. Adhesive tapes are used to bundle multiple wires before installation or in an already assembled state to reduce the space requirements of the wire bundles and to achieve additional protective functions, such as protection against mechanical and / or thermal loads, compared to, for example, bandages. Common forms of adhesive tapes include film or textile supports, which are usually coated on one side with a pressure-sensitive adhesive. Adhesive tapes for covering long articles are known from, for example, EP1848006A2 (Patent Document 1), DE102013213726A1 (Patent Document 2), and EP2497805A1 (Patent Document 3). When film-type adhesive tapes are used, some protection against liquid ingress is achieved; when air-containing, bulky adhesive tapes based on thick nonwoven fabrics or foams as carriers are used, damping properties are obtained; and when abrasion-resistant and stable carrier materials are used, protection against wear and abrasion is achieved. Exceptional protection against impact is achieved by abrasion-resistant fabrics with additionally applied coatings.

[0003] In addition to conventional vehicles equipped with combustion engines, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) equipped with batteries are becoming increasingly important. A hybrid electric vehicle is an electric vehicle equipped with a hybrid drive system, that is, an electric vehicle that is driven by at least an electric motor and another energy converter, and receives energy not only from its energy storage device (battery) but also from additionally carried fuel. A fully electric vehicle does not require fossil fuels because it is driven solely by a battery-powered electric motor. The battery is charged by an external power source. Furthermore, the manufacture of electric and hybrid vehicles requires more wiring. The use of voltages above 42V requires additional protection of the wiring, which must also ensure protection in special accident situations that go beyond the normal use of the vehicle.

[0004] In all automobiles, the increasing use of electrical components has led to an increase in the amount of wiring, resulting in cable harnesses becoming larger, thicker, and more complex. At the same time, the installation space for cable harnesses is becoming increasingly smaller, especially in smaller vehicles, leading to cramped and complicated installation situations in some cases. Cable harnesses are also attached to movable parts (e.g., seats, seat backs, trunk lids, movable folding mirrors, doors with function switches, etc.) and must continuously perform their functions. In particular, cable harnesses need to be easily and repeatedly movable in these locations.

[0005] The routing of cables to movable components is generally known. Cables to doors are routed, for example, using movable rubber bellows. The drawback is that these bellows need to have different shapes for different routing locations. Therefore, for each series configuration, it is necessary to cost-effectively manufacture fixed shapes that can be assembled and installed as is.

[0006] Cable ducts made of rigid plastic can be fabricated in any shape; in this application, the cables are passed through the cavities of these fabricated members and then painstakingly installed in the automobile in their final form.

[0007] EP2314481A1 (Patent Document 4) describes the installation situation of electrical cables under the floor panel of an automobile. The number and diameter of the cables are particularly large and increase when an electric drive device is installed to provide a sufficient energy flow. At the same time, the installation depth under the floor panel should be particularly small. A number of round cables are divided into several groups, and a small number of cables in each group are passed through a flat cable duct. Although multiple adjacent cable ducts keep the overall installation depth small, the materials involve significant construction effort, and the installation process is time-consuming and costly.

[0008] A general fixing member for a cable harness is described in US2014 / 0131093A1 (Patent Document 5). In this document, a non-woven fabric is arranged around the cable harness and pressed into a flat form. Additional fixtures fix the cable harness in an accurate position. It is unclear how to sustainably maintain the flat form.

[0009] The need to vary the shape of cable strands over the length of a cable harness is described in EP2236360A1 (Patent Document 6). When a number of round cables are bundled, the cable strands are approximately round unless they are clearly arranged parallel to each other. The need for a flat shape of the cable strands when the cable strands are repeatedly moved or there is only a flat installation space is described. Before and after these positions, the cable strands exist in a round shape. How the sheath material is made and whether the shape can be sustainably maintained in the desired form remains unresolved.

[0010] EP2579406A2 (Patent Document 7) discloses the use of flat-formed fixing elements, which, on the one hand, flatten a cable bundle and, on the other hand, fix this formed cable bundle to a specified location within a vehicle. These fixing elements must be laboriously designed and manufactured with respect to the construction for each shape and each size of the cable strands.

[0011] EP3729578A1 (Patent Document 8) discloses a cover for covering a long article, particularly for manufacturing a long sheath for cables in an automobile. This cover comprises a carrier and at least two closed strips made of an adhesive disposed on the upper surface and / or the lower surface of this carrier. At this time, the closed strips extend along each longitudinal edge of the carrier and define a free area therebetween and / or adjacent thereto.

[0012] It is known from EP1875573B1 (Patent Document 9) that the sheath is composed of two adhesive tapes and, at this time, a third adhesive tape is applied onto this sheath.

[0013] DE202010014239U1 (Patent Document 10) discloses an adhesive tape and a tubular covering manufactured therefrom. The adhesive tape comprises a carrier and one or more adhesive strips applied onto this carrier. The adhesive strips cover between about 20% and 50% of the corresponding carrier-side surface. Thereby, an adhesive tape is provided that enables particularly flexible wrapping of articles to be bundled together, particularly cables.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0014]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent document 4

Patent document 5

Patent document 6

Patent document 7

Patent document 8

Patent document 9

Patent document 10

Patent document 11

Patent document 12

Patent document 13

Patent document 14

Patent document 15

Patent document 16

Patent document 17

Patent document 18

Patent document 19

Patent document 20

Patent document 21

Patent document 22

Patent document 23

Patent document 24

Patent document 25

[0015] [Non-Patent Document 1] "Vliesstoffe" (Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1982) [Non-Patent Document 2] "Textiltechnik-Vliesstofferzeugung" (Arbeitgeberkreis Gesamttextil, Eschborn, 1996) [Non-Patent Document 3] "Emulsion Polymerization and Emulsion Polymers", Peter A.Lovell and Mohamed S.El-Aasser-Wiley-VCH 1997-ISBN 0-471-96746-7 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0016] The challenge is to provide an adhesive tape for cable bundling that flattens a large number of cables and maintains this shape until installation in a vehicle. The flat cable harness should be bendable without significantly affecting its flat shape. The bundles of individual, unfixed wires move in the direction of gravity when the cable harness moves, during transport, or when the cable harness is bent, forming the densest possible package. This is usually a round cable bundle. The individual wires, oriented parallel to each other for the flattened area, are wrapped with adhesive tape in a longitudinal orientation. This allows the entire length to be uniformly wrapped in the desired flat configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0017] This problem is solved by the adhesive tape described in the main claim. Herein, the subject of the subordinate claims is an advantageous development of the adhesive tape, and a method of using the adhesive tape.

[0018] Accordingly, the present invention relates in particular to an adhesive tape for covering long articles, such as cable harnesses in automobiles, wherein the adhesive tape includes a carrier having an upper surface and a lower surface, the carrier having a width B with respect to the transverse direction. T The carrier has at least one closure strip made of adhesive on its underside, the at least one closure strip extending along one of the longitudinal edges of the carrier and having a minimum length of 3 mm and a width B T A maximum width of 50% (including 50%) B K The carrier has a structure, and at least one reinforcing element extending in the longitudinal direction is present on the upper or lower surface of the carrier.

[0019] Preferably, the reinforcing element has a width B T The minimum width B is 10% (including 10%) to 50%. T A range of 20% to 48% (including 48%), with width B being particularly preferred. T A range of 30% to 40% (including 40%) B Verhas.

[0020] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, on the lower surface of the carrier, there is a second closing strip made of an adhesive, and the second closing strip extends along the other longitudinal edge of the carrier and is at least 3 mm and at most 50% (including 50%) of the width B T of the width B K has, and preferably, both closing strips have the same width.

[0021] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first and second closing strips extend along each one of the longitudinal edges of the carrier and have a width of 50% of the width B T of the width B K As a result, both closing strips contact at their inner edges, and preferably, both closing strips consist of a single uniform adhesive layer. In this variant of the present invention, both closing strips can be applied as a single uniform layer, and as a result, the carrier has a full-surface adhesive coating. Therefore, when the carrier is fully coated, this is understood in the sense of the present invention as two closing strips each having a width of 50% of the width B T of the width B K being applied along each one of the longitudinal edges of the carrier.

[0022] According to another preferably preferred embodiment of the present invention, a second reinforcing element extending in the longitudinal direction is present on the same surface of the carrier, and this second reinforcing element has a width of at least 10% (including 10%) to 50% of the width B, more preferably 20% to 48% (including 48%) of the width B, and particularly preferably 30% to 40% (including 40%) of the width B T of the width B, and at this time, both reinforcing elements are preferably arranged side by side with a distance D of at least 5 mm. T of the width B T of the width B Ver has, and at this time, both reinforcing elements are preferably arranged side by side with a distance D of at least 5 mm.

[0023] In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the carrier is extended in the form of a flag at one longitudinal edge, wherein the flag has a width B T The minimum range is 50% (including 50%) to 150% (including 150%). Fahne The flag has a third closing strip made of adhesive that extends from the free edge of the flag to the underside, and this third closing strip is at least 3 mm wide and at most B Fahne (Width B Fahne (including) up to width B K It has this flag. With this flag, the cable room can be completely covered twice (720°) or multiple times in a partial area. Flag width B Fahne This can be adjusted accordingly.

[0024] More preferably, the third closing strip has a width B Fahne The flag has adhesive applied to the entire underside of the flag, preferably the three closing strips covering the entire underside of the carrier and consisting of a single, uniform layer of adhesive.

[0025] More preferably, at least one reinforcing element extending in the longitudinal direction is present on the underside of the carrier, and even more preferably, two reinforcing elements extending in the longitudinal direction are present on the underside of the carrier.

[0026] The aforementioned at least one, preferably two, reinforcing elements located on the underside of the carrier are preferably fixed to the underside of the carrier using an additional adhesive coating present between each reinforcing element and the carrier.

[0027] The at least one, preferably two, reinforcing elements located on the underside of the carrier are preferably fixed to the underside of the carrier via adhesive to the closing strip.

[0028] In yet another preferred alternative embodiment of the present invention, at least one longitudinally extending reinforcing element is present on the upper surface of the carrier, and more preferably, two longitudinally extending reinforcing elements are present on the upper surface of the carrier.

[0029] At least one, preferably two, reinforcing elements on the upper surface of the carrier are preferably fixed to the upper surface of the carrier using an additional adhesive coating present between the reinforcing element and the carrier.

[0030] More preferably, at least one longitudinally extending reinforcing element is present on the upper surface of the carrier, and at least one longitudinally extending reinforcing element is present on the lower surface of the carrier.

[0031] In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the carrier is configured as a textile carrier, preferably 30 g / m² 2 From 300g / m 2 Having a basis weight up to a certain amount, and more preferably selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, or knitted fabrics.

[0032] In principle, all carrier materials are suitable as carriers, but in this case, tesctile carrier materials are particularly selected.

[0033] The terms “textile carrier” or “textile flat product” encompass all known textile carriers, such as weft knits, non-crimped fabrics, tapes, braids, tufted fabrics, felts, woven fabrics (including plain, twill, and satin), knitted fabrics (including warp knits and other knitted products), or nonwoven fabrics, where “nonwoven fabric” is understood to mean at least a textile flat product in accordance with EN29092(1988), as well as stitch-bonded nonwoven fabrics and similar systems.

[0034] Nonwoven materials considered include fixed staple fiber nonwovens, filament nonwovens (usually with additional fixation), meltblown nonwovens, and spunbond nonwovens. Possible fixation methods for these nonwovens include mechanical, thermal, and chemical fixation. In mechanical fixation, fibers are usually bound together purely mechanically by intertwining individual fibers, interlooping of fiber bundles, or sewing in additional threads. However, thermal and chemical methods can achieve adhesive (with binder) or cohesive (without binder) interfiber bonding. These bonds can be limited exclusively, or at least primarily, to fiber nodes through appropriate formulation and process execution, thereby forming a stable three-dimensional network while obtaining a loose, open structure in the nonwoven.

[0035] The above definition is based on DIN61211:2005-05 ("Auf Naehwirkanlagen hergestellte textile Flaechengebilde" (Textile flat products manufactured by stitch bonding machines)).

[0036] Examples of stitch-bonded fabrics include yarn-layer stitch-bonded fabrics, i.e., flat textile products having one or more layered yarn layers as a base material fixed by creating stitches with incorporated knitted yarns, such as Florofol; pile yarn stitch-bonded fabrics, i.e., flat textile products in which knitted yarns formed as piles are incorporated into the base material by the formation of stitches, such as Maripol; and weft pile stitch-bonded fabrics, i.e., flat textile products in which yarns formed as piles without forming stitches are bonded to the base material by weft yarns by the formation of stitches, such as Schusspol. Furthermore, nonwoven stitch-bonded fabrics, i.e., flat textile products manufactured by forming stitches in a flat base material from incorporated knitted yarns without using yarn, are also suitable. These include textile flat products made of fiber nonwoven fabric, i.e., a fiber nonwoven fabric having a side with fixed fiber mesh and a side with fibers arranged horizontally to the fiber mesh layer, in which fibers from the fiber nonwoven fabric are formed in the fiber mesh, such as Malivlies; textile flat products made of fiber nonwoven fabric with or without a base material, i.e., a fiber nonwoven fabric having a fiber mesh side and a pile fiber side having fibers arranged substantially perpendicular to the fiber mesh layer, such as Voltex, Kunit, or Maliknit; textile flat products made of knitted nonwoven fabric, i.e., a pile fiber nonwoven fabric, in which a second fiber mesh layer is formed from the pile fibers, such as Multiknit or Optiknit.

[0037] Marifleece is characterized by its quaerfaservlies, which are nonwoven fabrics with transversely oriented fibers that are fixed together to form a mesh.

[0038] Furthermore, nonwoven fabrics of the Coonit or Multiknit type can also be used as carriers. Coonit nonwoven fabrics are characterized by processing longitudinally oriented fiber nonwoven fabric to create a flat structure that has stitches on one side and bridges or pile fiber folds between stitches on the other side, but does not have yarn or pre-existing planar structures. One further characteristic of these nonwoven fabrics is that, as longitudinally oriented fiber nonwoven fabrics (Laengsfaservlies), they can absorb high tensile forces in the longitudinal direction. Compared to Coonit nonwoven fabrics, Multiknit nonwoven fabrics are characterized in that the nonwoven fabric is fixed on both the top and bottom surfaces by double-sided needle punching. As raw materials for Multiknit, one or two pile fiber nonwoven fabrics with stitches formed on one side, manufactured according to the Coonit method, are generally used. In the final product, both top surfaces of the nonwoven fabric have closed surfaces formed by the formation of fiber stitches and are bonded to each other by fibers standing almost vertically. There is further possibility of introducing other punchable flat formations and / or diffusible media.

[0039] Finally, stitch-bonded nonwovens are also particularly suitable. Stitch-bonded nonwovens are formed from nonwoven material using multiple stitches that run parallel to each other. These stitches are made by sewing or stitch-bonding continuous textile threads. For this type of nonwoven (also known as Maliwatt), the Karl Mayer "Malimo" type stitch-bonding machine is well known.

[0040] Such fixed nonwoven fabrics are manufactured, for example, using the "Marimo" type stitch-bonding machine of Karl Mayer GmbH (formerly Marimo GmbH), and are available from companies such as Tenowo GmbH.

[0041] Needle-punched nonwoven fabrics are also suitable. In needle-punched nonwoven fabrics, a fiber web is processed into a flat material using needles with hooks. By alternately piercing and removing the material with the needles, the material is fixed to the needle bar, and in this process, the individual fibers intertwine to form a firm, flat material. The number and form of the needle punch points (needle shape, penetration depth, double-sided needle punching) generally determine the thickness and strength of the fiber material, which is lightweight, breathable, and elastic.

[0042] Furthermore, a staple fiber nonwoven fabric is advantageous, which is a wet nonwoven fabric pre-fixed by mechanical processing or hydrodynamically laid in the first step, in which case between 2% and 50% by weight of the nonwoven fabric fibers, particularly between 5% and 40% by weight of the nonwoven fabric fibers, are meltable fibers. This type of nonwoven fabric is characterized by pre-fixing the staple fiber nonwoven fabric by wet laying of the fibers or by forming a mesh from the nonwoven fabric fibers by, for example, needling, sewing, air and / or water jetting. In the second step, heat fixing is performed, in which the strength of the nonwoven fabric is further strengthened by melting or partially melting the meltable fibers.

[0043] For nonwoven fabrics to be used, adhesive fixation of mechanically pre-fixed or wet-laid nonwoven fabrics is particularly important, and this can be done by adding a solid, liquid, foam, or paste-like binder. After fixation, the nonwoven fabric does not have (self)adhesive properties. In principle, various forms of provision are possible, for example, solid binders in the form of powder for flow-through addition, films or grids, or binding fibers. Liquid binders can be dissolved in water or organic solvents or applied as dispersions. Primarily, binding dispersions are selected for adhesive fixation: thermosetting plastics in the form of phenol- or melamine resin dispersions, elastomers as dispersions of natural or synthetic rubber, or typically dispersions of thermoplastic plastics such as acetate, vinyl acetate, polyurethane, styrene-butadiene systems, PVC, and their copolymers. In this case, usually stabilized anionic or nonionic dispersions are used, but cationic dispersions may also be advantageous in special cases.

[0044] The binder can be applied according to prior art, and for example, standard coating methods or nonwoven fabric technologies such as "Vliesstoffe" (Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart, 1982) (Non-Patent Literature 1) or "Textiltechnik-Vliesstofferzeugung" (Arbeitgeberkreis Gesamttextil, Eschborn, 1996) (Non-Patent Literature 2) can be applied.

[0045] For mechanically pre-fixed nonwovens that already exhibit sufficient bonding strength, it is appropriate to spray-apply a binder to one side to precisely alter the surface properties. This method conserves binder and significantly reduces the energy required for drying. Since a squeezing roll is not necessary and the dispersion remains mainly in the upper region of the nonwoven, undesirable hardening and stiffening of the nonwoven can be largely prevented. For sufficient adhesion and fixation of the nonwoven carrier, the binder can be added in an amount generally on the order of 1% to 50%, and especially 3% to 20%, based on the weight of the fibrous nonwoven.

[0046] The addition of the binder can be done during nonwoven fabric manufacturing, during mechanical pre-fixation, or in another process step, in which case it can be done in-line or offline. After the binder is added, it is necessary to temporarily create a state for the binder where it becomes adhesive and bonds the fibers together. This can be achieved, for example, during the drying of the dispersion, but also by heating, in which case further variations are possible through the application of planar or partial pressure. The activation of the binder can be done in a known drying path, under the selection of an appropriate binder, but also by infrared, UV, ultrasonic, high-frequency radiation or similar means.

[0047] Another special form of adhesive fixation involves activating the binder by partial dissolution or partial swelling. In principle, the fiber itself or a blend of special fibers can also function as the binder. However, for most polymer fibers, this process is not widely used because such solvents raise environmental concerns or present problems in their handling.

[0048] Similarly, laminated three-dimensional woven and knitted fabrics can also be used. Three-dimensional knitted fabrics are double-sided finished textiles in which each warp-knitted surface is spaced apart by connecting threads, so-called pile threads, for maintaining distance. Three-dimensional knitted fabrics are knitted fabrics (Maschenware) or knitted fabrics that have been expanded to include a third dimension. Three-dimensional woven fabrics similarly have two spaced-apart woven layers, which are spaced apart by filaments, threads, or fibers. Such three-dimensional woven fabrics are disclosed in EP0071212B1 (Patent Document 11).

[0049] Advantageously, and at least in part, the carrier may have one or both surfaces that are smoothly polished, preferably each having a surface that is smoothly polished over its entire surface. The smoothly polished surface may be chintzen, for example, as described in detail in EP1448744A1 (Patent Document 12).

[0050] Furthermore, the carrier can be calendered in a roll mill for increased density. Preferably, both rollers travel in opposite directions and at the same peripheral speed, so that the carrier is pressed and densified. If the peripheral speeds of the rollers are different, the carrier is additionally smoothed.

[0051] The carrier can be a fabric. A particularly preferred fabric is constructed as follows: The number of threads in the warp ranges from 10 to 60 threads / cm. The number of threads in the weft is between 10 and 40 threads / cm. The warp threads have a count between 40 and 400 dtex, particularly between 44 and 330 dtex, and especially preferably 167 dtex. The weft yarn has a count between 40 and 660 dtex, particularly between 44 and 400 dtex, and especially preferably 167 dtex.

[0052] According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the number of warp threads is 40 to 50 threads / cm, preferably 44 threads / cm. According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the number of weft threads is 18 to 22 threads / cm, preferably 20 threads / cm.

[0053] According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the fabric is a polyester fabric, or a blended fabric made of polyester and polyamide or viscose.

[0054] More preferably, the thickness of the fabric is up to 300 μm, particularly preferably 170 to 230 μm, and most preferably 190 to 210 μm.

[0055] As raw materials for the carrier material of adhesive tapes, the following are particularly intended: (chemical) fibers (staple fibers or continuous filaments) made of synthetic polymers, also called synthetic fibers, made of polyester, polyamide, polyimide, aramid, polyolefin, polyacrylonitrile or glass; natural polymers, such as cellulose fibers (viscose, modal, lyocell, cupro, acetate, triacetate, cellulose); rubber fibers, such as plant protein fibers and / or animal protein fibers; and / or natural fibers made of cotton, sisal, flax, silk, hemp, linen, coconut or wool. However, the present invention is not limited to the above materials, and rather, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art without requiring inventive steps, a number of yet other fibers can be used for the manufacture of carriers. Furthermore, yarns made from the above fibers are equally suitable.

[0056] In the case of woven or non-crimped fabrics, individual yarns can be made from blended yarns, i.e., they may have synthetic and natural components. However, usually the warp and weft threads are formed from a single material, respectively.

[0057] Textile yarn or thread can exist as a filament. In the sense of this invention, a filament is a bundle of parallel, straight single fibers / monofilaments, often referred to as a multifilament in the literature. In some cases, this fiber bundle can be twisted and brought together, in which case the terms spun or twisted filament are used. Alternatively, the fiber bundle can be brought together by a vortex of compressed air or water jet. Hereafter, the term filament will be used collectively with respect to all these embodiments.

[0058] The filament can be textured or smooth, and can be point-converged or unconverged.

[0059] Preferably, polyester is used as the material for the textile carrier due to its excellent aging resistance and excellent media resistance to chemicals and working substances, such as oil, gasoline, and de-icing agents. Furthermore, polyester has the advantage of providing a carrier with very good abrasion resistance and heat resistance, which is very important for specific applications in automobiles, such as bundling cables in the engine compartment. In one embodiment of the present invention, PET nonwoven fabric or PET woven fabric is used as the carrier.

[0060] Advantageously, the basis weight of the textile carrier is 30 g / m². 2 and 300g / m 2 In between, 50g / m 2 and 200g / m 2 Between these two, 50g / m is particularly advantageous. 2 and 150g / m 2 Between these two, 70g / m² is particularly advantageous. 2 and 130g / m 2 It is between these two points.

[0061] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adhesive is absorbed into the carrier by more than 10%, preferably more than 25%, and more preferably more than 50% after being applied to the carrier. In this case, for example, the figure of 25% means that the adhesive penetrates over a layer thickness of 25% of the thickness of the textile carrier; that is, in the case of a carrier with a thickness of 100 μm, the adhesive starts from the surface of the coated carrier and penetrates over a layer thickness of 25 μm in the carrier perpendicular to the plane that extends in the longitudinal and transverse directions.

[0062] Carrier materials made from paper, laminates, films (e.g., PP, PE, PET, PA, PU), foams, or foamed films are also suitable for adhesive tapes.

[0063] These non-textile flat materials are particularly suitable when special requirements necessitate such modifications of the present invention. The films are generally thinner than, for example, textile materials, and their closed layers provide additional protection from the intrusion of chemicals and working substances, such as oil, gasoline, and de-icing agents, into the actual cable area. With the appropriate selection of raw materials, they can be greatly adapted to requirements: for example, if polyurethane or copolymers made of polyolefins are used, a flexible and elastic coating can be produced, and if polyester and polyamide are used, good abrasion resistance and heat resistance can be achieved.

[0064] In contrast, foam materials or foam films offer greater space-filling and better sound insulation properties. When cable strands are laid, for example, in channels or tunnel-like areas within a vehicle, a suitable thickness and sound-insulating covering tape can prevent disruptive flapping and vibration from occurring in the first place.

[0065] A laminate of a textile carrier and a film or plastic layer applied to at least one surface of the textile carrier is preferred. Furthermore, the film or plastic layer may be applied to the upper and lower surfaces of the textile carrier. This application can be carried out by lamination or extrusion. A preferred modified form of the textile carrier is one in which a film is applied to its lower surface and a pressure-sensitive adhesive is provided on the other surfaces.

[0066] Suitable films or plastic materials include, for example, films made of PP, PE, polyester, PA, PU, ​​or PVC. These films themselves can consist of multiple individual layers, for example, layers co-extruded as a film. Polyolefins are preferred, but copolymers made of ethylene and polar monomers, such as styrene, vinyl acetate, methyl methacrylate, butyl acrylate, or acrylic acid, are also included. Homopolymers such as HDPE, LDPE, and MDPE, or copolymers made of ethylene and other olefins, such as propene, butene, hexene, or octene (e.g., LLDPE, VLDDE), are also acceptable. Polypropylene (e.g., polypropylene homopolymer, polypropylene-random copolymer, or polypropylene-block copolymer) is also suitable.

[0067] The film preferably has a thickness of 12 μm to 100 μm, more preferably 28 to 50 μm, and particularly 35 μm. The film may be colored and / or transparent.

[0068] All known adhesive systems can be used as adhesives. In addition to natural rubber or synthetic rubber-based adhesives, silicone-based adhesives and polyacrylate-based adhesives can be used in particular. If another adhesive layer is present on a first or second carrier-free surface, these can also be selected from the following adhesives.

[0069] Preferably, the adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive, that is, an adhesive that enables permanent bonding to almost all substrates under relatively light pressure and can be peeled off the substrate again after use without leaving essentially any residue. A pressure-sensitive adhesive is permanently pressure-sensitive at room temperature, meaning it has sufficiently low viscosity and high initial tackiness, and therefore pre-wets the surface of each substrate with low pressure. The adhesiveness of an adhesive is based on its bonding properties, and its re-peelability is based on its cohesive properties.

[0070] Pressure-sensitive adhesives can be considered as extremely viscous liquids containing elastic components. Therefore, pressure-sensitive adhesives possess characteristic viscoelastic properties that result in persistent, inherent tack and adhesion.

[0071] A characteristic of pressure-sensitive adhesives is that, upon mechanical deformation, both a viscous flow process and the generation of elastic restorative force occur. Both processes exist in specific ratios to each other, depending on the exact composition, structure, and degree of crosslinking of each pressure-sensitive adhesive, as well as the rate and time of deformation and the temperature.

[0072] A certain proportion of viscous flow is necessary to achieve adhesion. Only the viscous components caused by polymers with relatively high mobility enable good wetting and good flow on the substrate to be bonded. A high proportion of viscous flow results in strong pressure-sensitive adhesion (also called tack or surface adhesion), and therefore, in many cases, also high adhesive strength. Strongly crosslinked systems, crystalline, or glassy cured polymers generally lack flowable components and are therefore not pressure-sensitive, or at least only slightly pressure-sensitive.

[0073] A proportionate elastic restoring force is necessary to achieve cohesion. This restoring force is provided, for example, by very long-chain, tightly entangled polymers and physically or chemically crosslinked polymers, and enables the transmission of forces acting on the adhesive bonds. The restoring force allows the adhesive bonds to withstand sustained loads acting on them, for example, in the form of sustained shear loads, for a relatively long period of time.

[0074] Particularly preferred are pressure-sensitive adhesives in the form of dry polymer dispersions, wherein the polymer is (a) 95.0 to 100.0% by weight of n-butyl acrylate and / or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (b) 0.0 to 5.0% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having an acid functional group or an acid anhydride functional group It consists of.

[0075] Preferably, the polymer is composed of 95.0 to 99.5% by weight of n-butyl acrylate and / or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and 0.5 to 5% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having an acidic functional group or an acid anhydride functional group. More preferably, it is composed of 97.0 or 98.0% to 99.0% by weight of n-butyl acrylate and / or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and 1.0 to 2.0% or 3% by weight of an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having an acidic functional group or an acid anhydride functional group.

[0076] In addition to the acrylate polymers mentioned above, the pressure-sensitive adhesive may optionally contain additional tackifiers and / or additives, such as photoprotective agents or anti-aging agents, in addition to any residual monomers present.

[0077] In particular, no other polymers such as elastomers are included in the pressure-sensitive adhesive; that is, the polymer of the pressure-sensitive adhesive consists only of monomers (a) and (b) in the aforementioned ratio.

[0078] Preferably, n-butyl acrylate forms monomer (a).

[0079] Advantageous monomers (b) include, for example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, and / or maleic anhydride. (Meth)acrylic acid of formula I is preferred.

[0080] [ka] In the formula, R 3 The compound is H or CH3, and preferably, optionally, a mixture consisting of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid is used. Acrylic acid is particularly preferred.

[0081] In particular, according to one of these preferred modifications, the polymer has the following composition: (a) n-butyl acrylate in an amount of 95.0 to 100.0% by weight, preferably 95.0 to 99.5% by weight, more preferably 98.0 to 99.0% by weight, and (b) Acrylic acid in an amount of 0.0 to 5.0% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 5.0% by weight, and more preferably 1.0 to 2.0% by weight.

[0082] The polymer dispersion is produced by emulsion polymerization of the above components. This method is described, for example, in "Emulsion Polymerization and Emulsion Polymers," Peter A. Lovell and Mohamed S. El-Aasser-Wiley-VCH 1997, ISBN 0-471-96746-7 (Non-Patent Document 3) or EP1378527B1 (Patent Document 13).

[0083] In polymerization, it cannot be ruled out that not all monomers are converted into polymers. In this case, it is clear that the residual monomer content should be kept as low as possible. Preferably, an adhesive is prepared containing the polymer dispersion having a residual monomer content of 1% by weight or less (based on the amount of dry polymer dispersion), particularly 0.5% by weight or less.

[0084] "Adhesive resin" is understood, in accordance with the general understanding of those skilled in the art, to be an oligomeric or polymeric resin that enhances the auto-adhesion (tack, intrinsic tackiness) of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, compared to a pressure-sensitive adhesive that is otherwise identical but does not contain adhesive resin.

[0085] The use of tackifiers to enhance the adhesion of pressure-sensitive adhesives is generally known. This effect is also observed when up to 15 parts by weight (<15 parts by weight) or 5 to 15 parts by weight of tackifier are added to the adhesive (based on the weight of the dry polymer dispersion). Preferably, 5 to 12 parts, more preferably 6 to 10 parts by weight of tackifier are added (based on the weight of the dry polymer dispersion).

[0086] In principle, all known types of substances are suitable as tackifiers, also known as adhesive resins. Examples of tackifiers include hydrocarbon resins (e.g., polymers based on unsaturated C5 or C9 monomers), terpene phenol resins, polyterpene resins based on raw materials such as α- or β-pinene, aromatic resins such as coumarone-indene resins, or resins based on styrene or α-methylstyrene, such as rosin and its secondary products, such as disproportionated, dimerized, or esterified rosin, or reaction products with glycol, glycerin, or pentaerythritol. Resins that do not have easily oxidizable double bonds, such as terpene phenol resins, aromatic resins, and especially preferably resins produced by hydrogenation, such as hydrogenated aromatic resins, hydrogenated polycyclopentadiene resins, hydrogenated rosin derivatives, or hydrogenated polyterpene resins, are preferred. Preferred resins are those based on terpene phenols and rosin esters. Similarly preferred are adhesive resins having a softening point above 80°C according to ASTM E28-99 (2009). Particularly preferred are terpene phenol and rosin ester-based resins having a softening point above 90°C according to ASTM E28-99 (2009). The resins are advantageously used in the form of dispersions. These can be mixed with polymer dispersions in a fine dispersion state without any problems.

[0087] A modified form in which no adhesive resin is added to the pressure-sensitive adhesive is particularly preferred. In particular, the following substances are not added to the pressure-sensitive adhesive: • Hydrocarbon resins (for example, polymers based on unsaturated C5- or C9- monomers), • Terpene phenol resin, For example, polyterpene resins based on raw materials such as α- or β-pinene, Aromatic resins, such as chroman-indene resins, or resins based on styrene or α-methylstyrene, such as rosin and its secondary products, such as disproportionated, dimerized or esterified rosin, such as reaction products with glycol, glycerin or pentaerythritol. Solvent-free acrylate-based hot melt compositions, as described in detail in DE19807752A1 (Patent Document 14) and DE10011788A1 (Patent Document 15), are preferred due to their exceptional suitability as adhesives for automotive cable harness adhesive tapes in terms of their non-fogging properties. Fogging (see DIN75201A) is understood to be the release of gases from low molecular weight compounds from the adhesive tape under unfavorable conditions, which can condense on the component at low temperatures. This can impair visibility, for example, through windshield glass.

[0088] Suitable adhesives include acrylate-based hot-melt adhesives having a K value of at least 20, particularly greater than 30 (measured at 25°C in a 1% by weight solution in toluene). Such adhesives can be obtained by concentrating a solution of these adhesives to create a system that can be processed as a hot melt. Concentration can be carried out in a boiler or extruder equipped with the appropriate equipment, and a vented extruder is particularly preferred if degassing is required. Such adhesives are described in DE4313008C2 (Patent Document 16). From the acrylate-based adhesive thus produced, the solvent is completely removed in an intermediate step. At this time, the K value is determined in particular in accordance with DIN EN ISO1628-1:2012-010.

[0089] In addition, other easily volatile components are removed at this stage. After coating from the molten material, these adhesives still contain volatile components, albeit in small amounts. Therefore, all monomers / formulations claimed in the above patents can be used. The adhesive solution may contain 5 to 80% by weight of solvent, particularly 30 to 70% by weight of solvent. Preferably, commercial solvents, especially low-boiling hydrocarbons, ketones, alcohols and / or esters, are used. More preferably, a single-screw, twin-screw or multi-screw extruder with one or particularly two or more degassing units is used. Benzoin derivatives, such as benzoin acrylate or benzoin methacrylate, acrylic acid esters or methacrylic acid esters, can be polymerized into the acrylate-based hot-melt adhesive. Such benzoin derivatives are described in EP0578151A (Patent Document 17). The acrylate-based hot-melt adhesive can be UV crosslinked. However, other crosslinking methods are also possible, such as electron beam crosslinking.

[0090] In yet another preferred embodiment, the self-adhesive agent may be a copolymer consisting of (meth)acrylic acid and its esters having 1 to 25 carbon atoms, maleic acid, fumaric acid, and / or itaconic acid and / or its esters, substituted (meth)acrylamide, maleic anhydride, and other vinyl compounds, such as vinyl esters, particularly vinyl acetate, vinyl alcohol, and / or vinyl ether. The residual solvent content is preferably less than 1% by weight.

[0091] One adhesive that has proven particularly suitable is a low molecular weight acrylate-based melt-sensitive adhesive, such as acResin UV or Acronal®, particularly acResin A 260UV, sold by BASF. This adhesive, with its low K value, obtains its application-specific properties through final radiochemically induced crosslinking.

[0092] Further excellent and suitable adhesives are described in EP3540024A1 (Patent Document 18), EP2520627A1 (Patent Document 19), EP2522705A1 (Patent Document 20), EP2520628A1 (Patent Document 21), EP2695926A1 (Patent Document 22), and EP2520629A1 (Patent Document 23).

[0093] Similarly, the adhesive coating is preferably composed of a synthetic rubber-based adhesive, i.e., an adhesive made of at least one vinyl aromatic block copolymer and at least one adhesive resin. Typical concentrations of the block copolymer are in the range of 30% to 70% by weight, particularly between 35% and 55% by weight.

[0094] Further polymers may include polymers based on pure hydrocarbons, such as unsaturated polydienes like natural or synthetic polyisoprene or polybutadiene; chemically substantially saturated elastomers, such as saturated ethylene-propylene copolymers, α-olefin copolymers, polyisobutylene, butyl rubber, and ethylene-propylene rubber; and chemically functionalized hydrocarbons, such as halogen-containing, acrylate-containing, or vinyl ether-containing polyolefins, which can replace up to half of vinyl aromatic-containing block copolymers.

[0095] As a tackifier, an adhesive resin compatible with styrene block copolymer elastomer blocks is used.

[0096] Plasticizers, such as liquid resins, softening oils, or low molecular weight liquid polymers, such as low molecular weight polyisobutylene with a molar mass of <1500 g / mol (number average), or liquid EPDM types, are typically used.

[0097] Further additives that can be added to all types of adhesives include photoprotective agents, such as UV absorbers, sterically hindrance amines, ozone degradation inhibitors, metal deactivators, processing aids, and end-block reinforcing resins.

[0098] Fillers, for example, to name just a few, include silicon dioxide, glass (crushed glass, or glass in the form of solid or hollow spheres), microballoons, aluminum oxides, zinc oxides, calcium carbonates, titanium dioxide, carbon black, silicates, and chalk, as well as colored pigments and dyes, and fluorescent whitening agents.

[0099] Typically, primary and secondary antioxidants are added to pressure-sensitive adhesives to improve their aging stability. Primary antioxidants react with oxy radicals and peroxy radicals that can form in the presence of oxygen, and then react with them to form relatively less reactive compounds. Secondary antioxidants, for example, reduce hydroperoxides to alcohols. As is known, there is a synergistic effect between primary and secondary antioxidants, resulting in a protective effect of the mixture that is often greater than the sum of the individual effects of both.

[0100] If flame retardancy is desired for the adhesive tape described, this can be achieved by adding a flame retardant to the carrier and / or adhesive. These may be organobromine compounds with synergistic agents such as antimony trioxide as needed, but with respect to the halogen-free nature of the adhesive tape, it is preferable to use red phosphorus, organophosphorus compounds, minerals, or swelling compounds, such as ammonium polyphosphate, alone or in combination with synergistic agents.

[0101] Pressure-sensitive adhesives can be manufactured and processed from solutions, dispersions, and melts. The preferred method of manufacture and processing is from melts. In the latter case, suitable manufacturing processes include batch processes and continuous processes.

[0102] The amount of adhesive to be applied is preferably 40 to 160 g / m² based on the adhesive tape surface. 2 Between these two, more comfortably 60 and 130 g / m² 2 More preferably between 80 and 100 g / m² 2 It is between these two points.

[0103] The general term "adhesive tape," in the sense of this invention, includes all flat formations such as two-dimensionally stretched films or film fragments, tapes having a stretched length and a limited width, tape fragments and similars, and finally die-cuts or labels. The adhesive tape exists particularly in a web-like form. A web is understood to be an article whose length is several times greater than its width. Thus, the adhesive tape has both a length and a width. The adhesive tape also has a thickness that extends perpendicular to both extensions, in which case the width and length extensions are several times greater than the thickness. The thickness of the carrier is as uniform as possible, preferably exactly the same, across the entire area of ​​the adhesive tape determined by its length and width. The adhesive has a greater thickness only in the areas of the reinforcing elements.

[0104] The adhesive tape can be manufactured in roll form, that is, in the form of an Archimedean spiral wound around itself.

[0105] The free upper surface of the carrier may be coated with a back varnish (functional layer) to favorably influence the unwinding characteristics of the Archimedean spiral-wound adhesive tape. To this end, this back varnish may contain silicone- or fluorosilicone compounds, as well as polyvinyl stearyl carbamate, polyethyleneimine stearyl carbamate, or fluorine organic compounds as anti-adhesive substances.

[0106] The adhesive is applied in the form of at least two closure strips along the longitudinal direction of the adhesive tape. Depending on the application, multiple parallel closure strips may be coated onto the carrier material. The position of the closure strips on the carrier is freely selectable, and it is preferable to position them directly on the longitudinal edge of the carrier. Preferably, the closure strips are formed so that the adhesive is applied to the entire surface of the carrier.

[0107] If flame retardancy is desired for the adhesive tape described, this can be achieved by adding a flame retardant to the carrier and / or adhesive. These may be organobromine compounds with synergistic agents such as antimony trioxide as needed, but with respect to the halogen-free nature of the adhesive tape, it is preferable to use red phosphorus, organophosphorus compounds, minerals, or swelling compounds, such as ammonium polyphosphate, alone or in combination with synergistic agents.

[0108] Finally, the adhesive tape may have a cover material that covers one or two adhesive layers until consumed. All of the materials described in detail above are suitable as the cover material. A non-fraying material, such as plastic film or well-sized long-fiber paper, is preferably used.

[0109] The reinforcing element(s) may consist of plastics such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polyetherimide (PEI), polysulfone (PSU), polyethersulfone (PES), polyamideimide (PAI), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or (less preferably) paper or cardboard. However, paper is sensitive to moisture.

[0110] Furthermore, a film can also be used as a reinforcing element. The thickness of the film is preferably between 100 μm and 1500 μm, and more preferably between 300 μm and 1000 μm. Larger thicknesses can also be achieved without problems; in this case, the thicker the film fragment, the less flexible and more rigid it becomes.

[0111] Furthermore, the reinforcing element(s) may consist of a metal or metal foil. Suitable metals include silver, copper, gold, platinum, aluminum and aluminum compounds, tin, nichrome, nirosta, titanium, and preferably aluminum.

[0112] In one particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reinforcing element(s) are not made of metal or do not contain any metal additives.

[0113] The thickness of the reinforcing element(s) is selected so that they do not bend or deform as much as possible, or at most only slightly, during the winding process. The thickness is preferably between 100 μm and 1500 μm, more preferably between 150 μm and 1000 μm.

[0114] The width of the reinforcing element(s) can be adjusted to fit the available installation space. Preferably, the entire width of the installation space is utilized. Typically and preferably, the reinforcing element(s) have a width between 30 and 80 mm, more preferably between 45 and 60 mm.

[0115] Particularly preferred, • Made of polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate (PET), • Thickness between 150 and 1000 μm, Widths between 30 and 80 mm, One or two reinforcing elements having the following characteristics are selected.

[0116] If two or more reinforcing elements are used, they are preferably identical in material and dimensions, and in particular identical in material and width.

[0117] Preferably, the reinforcing elements are selected such that they are plastically and / or elastically deformable when a certain force is applied when the cable room covered with adhesive tape is bent. In this way, the cable room is held in its flat shape but can be bent, for example, along a curve.

[0118] Preferably, the material for the reinforcing elements and / or the number of reinforcing elements are selected such that the force F1 in the measurement of the bending stiffness of the flat cable harness in the test cable room (see below) is less than 4 N. If the bending stiffness is higher than this, the flexibility of the cable room formed with one or more reinforcing elements will be too low to bend along curves or corners. Preferably, further, the material for the rigid elements and / or the number of reinforcing elements are selected such that the force F2 in the measurement of the bending stiffness of the flat cable harness in the test cable room is greater than 3.5 N, and more preferably less than 20 N.

[0119] More preferably, the material for the reinforcing element is selected such that, in the measurement of the bending force F3 according to the tests specified below, the value of the force F3 is between 1 N / 60 mm and 20 N / 60 mm (single layer), preferably between 3 N / 60 mm and 10 N / 60 mm.

[0120] The results for the test cable room establish criteria for the material and / or number of reinforcing elements. Selecting the appropriate size and number of reinforcing elements according to the type and number of cables to be covered is within the capabilities of those skilled in the art. In particular, 0.35 mm is described as preferred. 2 2.5mm 2 In cable strands containing bundles of 10 to 70 cables with cross-sectional areas up to a certain size, the material and / or number of reinforcing elements can be determined through testing in a test cable room. Reinforcing elements that achieve the required measurements will ensure that the desired effect is achieved in such cable strands.

[0121] In one preferred modification, the reinforcing element is bent transversely, preferably into the shape of an arc having a central angle between 5° and 90°, with the inner arc in contact with the article to be covered.

[0122] The reinforcing elements may have an additional adhesive layer on their free surfaces, i.e., the "back surfaces," which is preferably applied to the entire surface.

[0123] Based on the advantageous properties described above, the adhesive tape is excellent for insulating and wrapping wires or cables. The long article is wrapped with the adhesive tape in the axial direction. In this case, the wrapping of the cable loop with the adhesive tape is done not in a spiral, but such that the long axis of the tape is oriented essentially parallel to the direction of extension of the cable loop during wrapping. In this case, when viewed laterally, the adhesive tape exists in the form of an Archimedean spiral around the cable loop. This wrapping method is also called "cable loop wrapping" or "cigar wrapping".

[0124] Similarly, the concept of the present invention includes covered long articles, such as cable harnesses, that are covered with the adhesive tape according to the present invention, and vehicles that include such covered long articles.

[0125] In one embodiment of the present invention, the long article is a cable strand comprising a bundle of multiple cables, for example, 3 to 1000 cables, preferably 10 to 500 cables, and particularly between 50 and 300 cables.

[0126] Particularly preferably, cable strands containing 10 to 70 cables, and more preferably between 15 and 60 cables, are covered with the adhesive tape of the present invention. The cables are 0.35 mm 2 2.5mm 2It has a (normal) cross-sectional area up to 0.35 mm. In one preferred variant of the present invention, the elongated article consists of a cable strand comprising a bundle of 10 to 70 cables, wherein the cables are 0.35 mm 2 2.5mm 2 It has a cross-sectional area up to [a certain point].

[0127] The adhesive tape can be formed in the form of a covering, for which the adhesive tape according to the present invention is provided, but at least in the edge region, there is another self-adhesive adhesive tape, which is attached to the adhesive tape so as to extend over one of the longitudinal edges of the adhesive tape, more preferably to an edge region narrower than the width of the adhesive tape. Such a product and an optimized embodiment thereof is disclosed in EP1312097A1 (Patent Document 24). Further developments that allow the adhesive tape according to the present invention to be used very well are described in EP1300452A2 (Patent Document 25), DE10229527A1 (Patent Document 26), and WO2006 / 108871A1 (Patent Document 27).

[0128] In particular to ensure proper use of the adhesive tape in cable rooms, at least one marking line extending longitudinally may be present on the upper surface of the carrier. Two marking lines are preferable. These marking lines are distinct from the surrounding surface in terms of sight and / or touch.

[0129] Markings are provided on the carrier, for example, by printing. However, alternatively or additionally, markings can also be introduced into the first carrier. For example, markings can be realized as woven warp threads. EP3245265A1 (Patent Document 28) discloses the use of such marking lines on adhesive tape.

[0130] Furthermore, the adhesive tape according to the present invention can be used in a method for covering long articles, such as cable harnesses in particular, in which two strip-shaped adhesive tapes surround the article like a hose, with the article positioned essentially centrally between the adhesive tapes, and the adhesive tapes are combined such that they adhere to each other at their contacting edge regions. In this case, at least one of the two adhesive tapes, preferably both adhesive tapes, is designed according to the present invention. The method and form of covering are disclosed in detail in EP1367608A2 (Patent Document 29).

[0131] To enable particularly easy operation for the user, perforations are present in the adhesive tape, and these are oriented perpendicular to the direction of travel of the adhesive tape and / or arranged at regular intervals. In this case, the perforations primarily serve as an aid for cutting to a predetermined length. Perforations should not be present in the portion of the adhesive tape that covers the article in such a way that they do not negatively affect its shielding properties.

[0132] Particularly advantageous is that perforation can be generated intermittently using a flat die or a laterally running perforating wheel, or continuously using a rotary mechanism, such as a spike roller or punch roller, and in some cases, a pair of rollers (Bulcolan rollers) that form a pair of wheels during cutting are used. Further possibilities include the use of cutting techniques controlled to operate periodically, such as lasers, ultrasonics, or high-pressure water jets. When some of the energy is introduced into the carrier material as heat, as in the case of laser or ultrasonic cutting, the fibers can be melted in the cutting area, resulting in a cut with sharp edges, which in turn largely avoids destructive unraveling. The latter method is also suitable for achieving specific cut shapes, such as concave or convex cuts.

[0133] The adhesive tape can be flexibly used on various cable diameters. The use of advantageous markings allows for reliable and easy verification of the professionally appropriate use of the adhesive tape.

[0134] The adhesive tape will be described in more detail below with reference to several drawings, but this is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0135] [Figure 1] This shows multiple sections of the cable room covered with adhesive tape, as viewed from the top and side. [Figure 2] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the adhesive tape according to the present invention is shown. [Figure 3] Further, another particularly advantageous embodiment of the adhesive tape according to the present invention is shown. [Figure 4] Figure 3 shows the adhesive tape wrapped around the cable. [Figure 5] Further advantageous embodiments of the adhesive tape according to the present invention are shown. [Figure 6] Figure 5 shows the adhesive tape wrapped around the cable. [Figure 7] Further, another particularly advantageous embodiment of the adhesive tape according to the present invention is shown. [Figure 8] Figure 7 shows the adhesive tape wrapped around the cable. [Figure 9] Further, another particularly advantageous embodiment of the adhesive tape according to the present invention is shown. [Figure 10] Figure 9 shows the adhesive tape wrapped around the cable.

[0136] Figure 1 shows multiple portions of the cable room as viewed from above and the side, with the central portion 101 covered with adhesive tape according to the present invention. Due to the reinforcing elements integrated into the adhesive tape, the covered cable room is maintained in a flat shape. The portions forward of the central portion 101 and the rear portion 102 are covered with conventional adhesive tape for cable sheathing, which is wound in a spiral manner. This results in a cylindrical shape (circular in cross-section) for the covered cable room.

[0137] When ordinary adhesive tape is guided around a long object in a helical or spiral motion, a helical shape is created (also called a spiral, spiral line, cylindrical spiral, or coil; a helix is ​​a curve that winds around the side of a cylinder at a constant pitch).

[0138] Figure 2 shows the adhesive tape 1 according to the present invention, in which the width B T The carrier 10 comprises two closure strips 11 and 12 made of adhesive. These closure strips 11 and 12 extend in the longitudinal direction of the carrier 10, also referred to as the machine direction, and both terminate flush with the longitudinal edge of the carrier 10. Both closure strips have a width B T 50% width B K It has the following characteristics. If the adhesives on both closing strips 11 and 12 are the same, a uniform and closed adhesive layer is formed on the underside of the carrier 10.

[0139] On the closure strips 11 and 12 made of adhesive, there are two reinforcing elements 21 and 22 made of plastic that extend in the longitudinal direction. Both reinforcing strips have a width B T 40% of the same width B Ver It has the following: The distance D between the two reinforcing elements is width B T It is 25% of that.

[0140] Furthermore, the carrier 10 is extended in the form of a flag 13 at one of its long edges, and this flag has a width of B T 100% of width B Fahne In this case, the free edge of the flag 13 has a third closing strip 14 made of adhesive that extends to the lower surface, and the third closing strip 14 has a width B Fahne Same width B K The flag 113 has the following properties: its entire surface is coated with adhesive. If the adhesives on the three closing strips 11, 12, and 13 are the same, a uniform and closed layer of adhesive is formed on the underside of the carrier 10 and the flag 13.

[0141] The flat portion of the cable harness may include one or more layers of individual conductors oriented in parallel. In this case, it is particularly advantageous that each layer of parallel-oriented conductors is in contact with an adhesive coating, thereby being held in a specific position.

[0142] Figure 3 shows another particularly advantageous embodiment of the adhesive tape 1 according to the present invention. The adhesive tape 1 has a carrier 10 which has a width B T It has two closing strips 11 and 12 made of adhesive on its lower surface, and these have a total width B T It extends over a certain distance. On the adhesive closing strips 11 and 12, there are two reinforcing elements 21 and 22 made of plastic that extend in the longitudinal direction, and these have additional adhesive layers 23 and 24 on their free surfaces that cover the entire free surface. On the adhesive layers 23 and 24, there are layers of multiple cables 2 that are arranged side by side.

[0143] As shown in Figure 4, the adhesive tape 1 is folded so that the flat cable harness is formed by the reinforcing elements 21 and 22 and the two adhesive tape ends 11a and 12a that protrude are securely closed.

[0144] Figure 5 shows another particularly advantageous embodiment of the adhesive tape 1 according to the present invention. The adhesive tape 1 has a carrier 10 which has a width B T It comprises two closing strips 11 and 12 made of adhesive and having a total width B T It extends over a certain distance. On the adhesive-based closure strips 11 and 12, there are reinforcing elements 21 made of plastic that extend in the longitudinal direction. On each of the adhesive-based closure strips 11 and 12, there are layers of multiple cables 2 that are arranged side by side.

[0145] As shown in Figure 6, the adhesive tape 1 is folded so that the flat cable harness is formed by the reinforcing element 21 and the two adhesive tape ends 11a and 12a that protrude are securely closed.

[0146] Figure 7 shows another particularly advantageous embodiment of the adhesive tape 1 according to the present invention. The adhesive tape 1 has a carrier 10 which has a width B T It comprises two closing strips 11 and 12 made of adhesive and having a total width B T It extends over the length. On the upper surface of the carrier 10, there is a reinforcing element 21 made of plastic that extends in the longitudinal direction. The surface of the reinforcing element 21 that faces the carrier 10 has an adhesive layer 25 that covers the entire surface. On the closing strips 11 and 12 made of adhesive, there are layers of multiple cables 2 that are arranged side by side.

[0147] As shown in Figure 8, the adhesive tape 1 is folded so that a flat cable harness is formed by the reinforcing element 21 and the two protruding adhesive tape ends 11a and 12a ensure a secure closure.

[0148] Figure 9 shows another particularly advantageous embodiment of the adhesive tape 1 according to the present invention. The adhesive tape 1 has a carrier 10 which has a width B T It comprises two closing strips 11 and 12 made of adhesive and having a total width B T It extends over a certain distance. On the adhesive closing strips 11 and 12, there are two reinforcing elements 21 and 22 made of plastic that extend in the longitudinal direction. On the reinforcing elements 21 and 22, there are one layer on one side and two layers on the other, each consisting of multiple cables 2 that are arranged side by side.

[0149] As shown in Figure 10, the adhesive tape 1 is folded so that the flat cable harness is formed by the reinforcing elements 21 and 22 and the two adhesive tape ends 11a and 12a that protrude are securely closed. [Examples]

[0150] Test Procedure Measurements are performed in a test environment of 23±1℃ and 50±5% relative air humidity (unless otherwise clearly stated).

[0151] Measuring bending stiffness in flat cable harnesses: The flat cable harness has the advantage of exhibiting a low installation height on the component and being easily assembled. The force F1 (Figure 11) is measured using a spring balance when the 10 cm overhang is bent at a 90° angle. A similar measurement for the flat cable harness in a flat orientation is performed on a firmly fixed cable harness with a 10 cm overhang length. The force F2 (Figure 11) is measured using a spring balance until the cable harness deviates from its fixed shape. The measurement is stopped when the F2 value exceeds 12 N, because twisting may occur, and as a result, reliable measurement may no longer be guaranteed.

[0152] Measurement of the bending stiffness of various reinforcing elements The measurement of flexibility is one of the essential qualitative characteristics of textiles, leather, paper, and plastics with flexible properties. Testing the bending force F3 using the soft meter method helps determine the flexibility or stiffness of sheet-like materials in comparison to fixed conditions. To determine the bending force on a textile surface, a 75 × 60 mm specimen is punched out. A rotatably mounted sample holder, consisting of two parallel plates, fixes the punched specimen in a 60 × 60 mm area. The sample holder with the specimen is rotated relative to the force sensor to bend the unfixed portion of the specimen, which is 15 mm long, by 30°. At this point, the required bending force is measured as a bending force in mN after a 10-second measurement period.

[0153] To describe the textile properties, the sample can be punched out for measurement in the longitudinal and transverse directions, and diagonally if necessary depending on the application. In this case, the spread in the direction of the 75 mm length sample should also be described as the bending direction to be evaluated.

[0154] In addition to the aforementioned tests on single-layer specimens using a soft meter, the double-layer specimen is also measured. Bending tests are performed in a similar manner.

[0155] Longitudinal bending stiffness: The longer side of the test specimen extends parallel to the manufacturing direction of the material or the warp direction of the fabric. In all cases, the bending direction of the test specimen corresponds to the later use.

[0156] Example Summary The adhesive tape according to the present invention will be described below based on several examples of preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not intended to be limited in any way.

[0157] Furthermore, comparative examples illustrating adhesive tapes with significantly poor performance are also included.

[0158] Examples of materials:

[0159] [Table 1]

[0160] For a flat cable harness, 15 individual conductors are arranged in parallel and bundled together to form a flat cable harness. The length is approximately 25 cm. The width of the cable harness is 30 mm, and its height, including the sheath being tested, corresponds to one cable layer.

[0161] [Table 2]

[0162] A structure of 15 parallel cables, each consisting of strips of test reinforcement elements with a width of 30 mm laid on the top and bottom surfaces of the cables, and the resulting package being wrapped with strips of adhesive tape with a width of 80 mm according to the method shown in Figure 4, is referred to as a test cable room.

[0163] Examples 5-9 demonstrate the advantages of the reinforcement element. Example 10 shows that the selected reinforcement element results in a cable room that is too stiff (F1 is too high).

[0164] The following shows the measurement results of the bending stiffness of various reinforcing elements.

[0165] [Table 3]

[0166] The flat cable harness can be easily bent in one direction, and is even more flexible than a cable harness with the same number of cables bundled in a circular shape. While a stable film provides additional shape stability, its flexibility is still lower than that of a circular cable bundle. Double-sided reinforcement using PET film also enables easy bending, but requires the introduction of more materials. [Explanation of symbols]

[0167] 1 Adhesive tape 10 Carriers 11, 12, 13 Closure strips 11a, 12a End of the closure strip 21, 22 Enhancement elements 23, 24, 25 Adhesive layer 101 Flat Cable Harness Area 102 Circular Cable Harness, Standard Adhesive Tape Wrapping 301 Flat Cable Harness 302 Fixing Clamp F1 Bending force 90° flat orientation F2 Bending force 90° wide orientation

Claims

1. Adhesive tape, particularly for covering long articles, such as cable harnesses in automobiles, comprising a carrier having an upper and lower surface, wherein the carrier has a width B with respect to the transverse direction. Ｔ The carrier has at least one closure strip made of adhesive on its underside, the at least one closure strip extending along one of the longitudinal edges of the carrier and having a minimum length of 3 mm and a width B Ｔ Width B, up to 50% (including 50%) Ｋ The carrier has, and on the upper or lower surface of the carrier there is at least one reinforcing element extending in the longitudinal direction, and this at least one reinforcing element preferably has a width B Ｔ A range of B from 10% (including 10%) to 50% Ｖｅｒ The adhesive tape having the following characteristics.

2. A second closing strip made of adhesive is present on the underside of the carrier, the second closing strip extending along the other longitudinal edge of the carrier and having a minimum length of 3 mm and a width B Ｔ Width B, up to 50% (including 50%) Ｋ The adhesive tape according to claim 1, wherein the closure strips preferably have the same width.

3. The first and second closure strips extend along each one of the longitudinal edges of the carrier and the width B Ｔ has a width B of 50% thereof, with the result that the two closure strips contact at their inner edges, preferably, the two closure strips consist of a single uniform adhesive layer, the adhesive tape according to claim 2. Ｋ ​

4. The adhesive tape according to claim 3, characterized in that both closure strips are applied in the form of a single uniform layer, and as a result the carrier has a complete adhesive coating.

5. A second reinforcing element extends longitudinally on the same surface of the carrier, and this second reinforcing element has a width B Ｔ The minimum range is 30% to 48% (including both 30% and 48%). Ｖｅｒ The adhesive tape according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that both reinforcing elements are arranged side by side with a distance D of at least 5 mm between them.

6. The carrier is extended in the form of a flag at one of its longitudinal edges, and this flag is the width B Ｔ The minimum range is 50% to 150% (including both 50% and 150%). Ｆａｈｎｅ The flag has a third closing strip made of adhesive that extends from the free edge of the flag to the lower surface, and this third closing strip is at least 3 mm long and at most B width Ｆａｈｎｅ (Width B Ｆａｈｎｅ Width B (including) Ｋ The adhesive tape according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by having the following features.

7. The third closing strip has a width B Ｆａｈｎｅ The adhesive tape according to claim 6, wherein the entire lower surface of the flag is coated with adhesive, and preferably the three closing strips cover the entire lower surface of the carrier and consist of a single uniform adhesive layer.

8. The adhesive tape according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one reinforcing element extending in the longitudinal direction is present on the lower surface of the carrier, preferably two reinforcing elements extending in the longitudinal direction are present on the lower surface of the carrier.

9. The adhesive tape according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one, preferably two, reinforcing elements located on the lower surface of the carrier are fixed to the lower surface of the carrier using an additional adhesive coating present between the reinforcing element and the carrier.

10. The adhesive tape according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one, preferably two, reinforcing elements located on the underside of the carrier are fixed to the underside of the carrier via the adhesive of the closing strip.

11. The adhesive tape according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least one reinforcing element extending in the longitudinal direction is present on the upper surface of the carrier, preferably two reinforcing elements extending in the longitudinal direction are present on the upper surface of the carrier.

12. The adhesive tape according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one, preferably two, reinforcing elements on the upper surface of the carrier are fixed to the upper surface of the carrier using an additional adhesive coating present between the reinforcing element and the carrier.

13. The adhesive tape according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at least one reinforcing element extending in the longitudinal direction is present on the upper surface of the carrier, and at least one reinforcing element extending in the longitudinal direction is present on the lower surface of the carrier.

14. The aforementioned carrier is 30 g / m ２ From 300g / m ２ The adhesive tape according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it is formed as a textile carrier having a basis weight up to a certain amount, preferably selected from the group consisting of woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics, or knitted fabrics.

15. The adhesive tape according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the reinforcing element consists of a plastic, such as polyetherimide (PEI), polysulfone (PSU), polyethersulfone (PES), polyamideimide (PAI), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

16. The adhesive tape according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the reinforcing element is bent laterally, preferably in the shape of an arc having a central angle between 5° and 90°.

17. The adhesive tape according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that a pressure-sensitive adhesive, preferably an acrylate-based pressure-sensitive adhesive, is used as the adhesive.

18. Use of an adhesive tape according to any one of claims 1 to 17 for covering a long article, for example, a cable in an automobile, wherein the long article is wrapped with the adhesive tape in an axial direction, the adhesive tape is fixed to the long article using one closing strip, and the other closing strip is fixed on one surface of the carrier (3) to form a cover.

19. The use of the adhesive tape according to claim 18 for covering a long article, wherein the contour of the covering has an elliptical shape, characterized in that the ratio of the maximum dimension of the contour in the horizontal direction to the maximum dimension in the vertical direction is between 1:2 and 1:

10.

20. A long article, such as a cable harness, covered with the adhesive tape described in any one of claims 1 to 17.

21. A vehicle comprising a covered long article as described in claim 20.

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