Method for manufacturing individual strip-shaped laminated members that contain an electronic component embedded between two laminate layers of a strip-shaped adhesive material, and device for manufacturing such a laminated member

Abstract

To provide a method for producing separated strip-like laminate components comprising an electronic component embedded between two laminate layers of a tape like adhesive material, specifically, of a rubberized material.SOLUTION: Individual components are placed at defined intervals by a placement device 5 onto a tape-like, lower first laminate layer 3 moved in a conveying direction by a transport means 4, after which a tape-like, upper second laminate layer 8 moved in the conveying direction is applied to the first laminate layer 3 with embedding of the components to form a laminate tape. The actual position of the component in the laminate component in relation to the conveying direction is detected by a measuring device disposed downstream of the cutting device 9. When a deviation of the actual position from a defined target position is detected, the synchronous movement of the transport means 4 and the gripper device 9 is controlled in dependence on the detected deviation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing individual strip-shaped laminate elements with electronic components embedded between two laminate layers of a strip-shaped adhesive material, in particular rubberized material, in which the individual components are placed at a predefined distance on a strip-shaped lower first laminate layer, which is moved in the conveying direction by a conveying means, and then a strip-shaped upper second laminate layer, which is moved in the conveying direction, is placed on the first laminate layer with embedded components to form a laminate tape. A cutting device, which includes at least one movable cutting blade, cuts individual strip-shaped laminate elements from the laminate tape delivered by the conveying means. The laminate elements are received by a gripping device and conveyed away. The gripping device grips the front end of the laminate tape in the region of the components and passes a predefined distance value past the cutting device in synchronism with the clocked movement of the conveying means and is positioned relative to the cutting blade. [Background technology]

[0002] For various applications, it may be necessary to place or integrate a long narrow strip of material tape on an object. At least one electronic component is embedded in this strip. The material tape thus serves as a carrier for the component. Such a component serves, for example, for characterization purposes, by means of which the object on which it is placed can be characterized, i.e. identified. Material tape refers to a plastic tape material made of a plastic material, preferably a rubberized material, which is understood to be an industrially produced elastomer. Depending on the material, it may also have adhesive properties. An electronic component may be any component that can interact in some way with an external measuring instrument. In particular, this component may be an RFID chip, which can store certain information. This information can be read out for each object provided with an RFID chip, with regard to its identification.

[0003] One example of application in which such a laminate element can be used is in the field of tire manufacturing. By integrating such a laminate element into the tire, it is possible to provide each tire individually with such a characterization element, i.e. for example an RFID chip, in order to identify each tire. Information regarding, for example, the corresponding production date, production lot, permitted filling pressure, etc. can be recorded on the RFID chip and read out as required. However, this example of application is not limiting and other areas of application can also be envisaged.

[0004] During the production of such strips of laminate material, firstly an endless laminate tape with embedded components is produced. For this purpose, the individual components, i.e. the RFID chips, are placed at defined intervals on a strip-shaped lower first laminate layer of the material mentioned above by a placing device. The first laminate layer is moved in a defined transport direction by a transport means. A strip-shaped upper second laminate layer, also moving in the transport direction, is then placed on top of the first laminate layer with the components. As a result, a laminate tape with embedded components is formed. This results in the formation of a sandwich tape, i.e. a corresponding two-layer rubberized laminate tape, the individual layers of which are ultimately inseparable due to their adhesive or tackiness.

[0005] It is therefore required to cut individual strips from this material tape, each of which has at least one component. However, cutting narrow strips is difficult, especially when very narrow strips are cut, for example when the strip width is only a few millimeters, for example about 8-12 mm. A cutting device that is particularly suitable for cutting such laminating tapes is known from DE 20 2021 101 889 U1. This cutting device comprises a gripping device that is configured to fix the material tape on a table of the cutting device against which a cutting blade rests during cutting. When the cutting blade moves downwards, a laminating strip is cut off which comprises at least one component. When the cutting blade is raised upwards again, the gripping device receives the cut laminating strip and conveys it away. In this case, the laminating tape is fed to the cutting device, i.e. into the cutting area, by means of a clocked feed movement of the conveying means. That is to say, for each cutting step, the laminating tape is transported in the conveying direction by a predefined distance value or path, which corresponds to the desired cutting length. In the cutting device of DE 20 2021 101 889 U1, a clocked conveying operation is performed with the participation of a gripping device. In this known cutting device, the gripping device grips the leading end of the laminating tape in the area of ​​the part and moves exactly this predefined distance value in synchronism with the clocked movement of the conveying means, so that the laminating tape passes through the cutting device to the actual cutting position and is positioned relative to the cutting blade.

[0006] This very precisely controllable clocked feed should always enable the individual laminate elements to be cut in such a way that the parts are always in the same position inside the laminate, i.e., for example, always centered as viewed in the conveying direction. This positioning is usually specified as a limiting condition, i.e. relatively small tolerances are specified in this regard. Nevertheless, during operation, the position of the parts as viewed in the conveying direction can vary, i.e. laminate elements can be cut whose parts are not exactly positioned as viewed in the conveying direction. This is because the laminating tape slightly varies its shape, especially in the region between the position where the upper laminate layer is laid on the lower laminate layer and the actual cutting position where the cutting blade separates the laminating tape. The laminating tape usually shrinks slightly as viewed in the conveying direction. This is because both laminate layers are originally wound on very large rolls from which they are removed for the laminating process. Each laminate layer has a certain inherent stress. After lamination of both lightly stretched laminate layers under light pressure, this inherent stress gradually breaks down, which in particular causes a slight shrinkage, i.e. shrinkage, in the conveying direction. This shrinkage of the laminate material causes a positional change in the position of the individual parts, i.e. the distance between the parts relative to each other. This does not ensure that the parts are in the desired position inside the laminate element after the actual cutting. Such parts create the risk that the limit conditions set for the quality of the product are not met. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved method for this. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve this object, in a method of the type described in the opening paragraph, the invention provides for measuring the current position of the parts in the laminate in the conveying direction by means of a measuring device arranged downstream of the cutting device, and when the deviation of the current position from a predefined target position is measured, the synchronous movement of the conveying means and the gripping device is controlled as a function of the measured deviation.

[0009] According to the invention, for each laminate element, the position of the components inside the laminate element is measured by a measuring device arranged downstream of the cutting device and checked for whether this position is correct, i.e. within a predefined tolerance interval. The measuring device can thus measure possible deviations of the current position of the components in the laminate element from a predefined target position. If such deviations, which adversely affect the product quality, are measured, according to the invention, a suitable control device controls the synchronous movement between the conveying means, which can be a conveying belt or conveyor, such as a toothed or timing belt, and the gripping device in response to the measured deviations. This control is performed in such a way that inaccurate positioning is eliminated. This is performed by participating in and correspondingly adjusting the movement and positioning process, which positions the leading edge of the laminate tape to be cut relative to the cutting device, i.e. the cutting surface, to perform minor alignments so that the embedded components of the laminate element to be cut in a later step are again in the correct position, i.e. within the position interval. That is, a targeted intervention in the clocked transport movement is made, which is based on the actually measured position deviations, which are ultimately due to the contraction movement of the laminating tape, and thus a unique change in the cutting length is ensured, which ensures that the subsequently cut laminating strip pieces are again almost or completely deviation-free, i.e. that the components are again positioned in the laminating strip pieces in a manner that satisfies the requirements.

[0010] The measurement, i.e. deviation inspection, of the laminate members performed in the present invention is performed for each laminate member, so that it is possible to react quickly to possible deviations and to control the corresponding clocked conveying operation accordingly, thereby making it possible to immediately eliminate the deviations.

[0011] In order to determine the current position of the part in the laminate, it is possible according to the invention to measure by means of a measuring device at least one distance value between the part position assigned to the part and at least one edge of the laminate extending transversely to the conveying direction, whereby possible deviations are measured using this distance value. The measuring device therefore measures the laminate to obtain a distance value, which represents the distance between the part position assigned to the part, e.g. an edge or the like appearing on the laminate measured by the measuring device, and an edge of the laminate extending transversely to the conveying direction, i.e. the actual cut edge. This distance value is a value for the position of the part in the laminate and is the basis for measuring whether possible deviations have occurred.

[0012] In a further development of the invention, the measuring device can measure several such distance values ​​in order to be able to describe the current position of the component more accurately. A first distance value between a first component position and a first edge in the conveying direction and a second distance value between a second component position and a second edge in the opposite direction of the conveying direction are measured, and both distance values ​​can be used to measure possible deviations. Both results, i.e. both distance values, are combined to measure the deviation. Here, the first distance value is measured in the conveying direction and the second distance value is measured in the opposite direction of the conveying direction. Each distance value is based on one specific component position, which can be the edge of the corresponding component being measured. If the component is, for example, an RFID chip, this usually has an elongated shape with an actual chip body and antennas bounding both sides of it. This means that it is an elongated component that runs along the longitudinal axis of the laminate strip. Corresponding first and second edges are therefore formed, one in the conveying direction and the other in the opposite direction. Both edges define the first and second part positions on the basis of which the distance values ​​are measured. In this way, a more accurate measurement of the current position can be achieved.

[0013] To make the position measurement even more precise, it is conceivable to measure two first spacing values ​​for two separate first component positions, which are offset laterally with respect to the conveying direction, and two second spacing values ​​for two separate second component positions, which are offset laterally with respect to the conveying direction, and to use all four spacing values ​​to measure possible deviations, i.e. two spacing values ​​in the conveying direction and two spacing values ​​opposite the conveying direction, each of which is offset laterally with respect to the conveying direction. Thus, four specific component positions are measured with respect to the position of the component relative to the edge of each laminate member, i.e. four spacing values ​​are provided that allow an accurate depiction of the current position, which are associated with an accurate determination possibility of possible deviations.

[0014] Here, one or more distance values ​​are used to measure a deviation value which represents the deviation. The deviation value represents a possible deviation between a characterized part position, in particular the center of said part as seen in the conveying direction, and a target position, in particular the center of said laminate member as seen in the conveying direction, and the conveying means and the gripping device can be controlled depending on said deviation value. As mentioned above, it is possible to measure the corresponding one or more characterized part positions by means of a measuring device. The part positions are, for example, corresponding part edges. This part position can then be used to determine the characterized part position, preferably the center of the part as seen in the conveying direction, and to check whether this characterized part position corresponds to the target position, i.e. preferably the center of the laminate member, or whether it is displaced in the conveying direction or in the opposite direction. This deviation value is therefore the basis for a corresponding control of the transmission clock. Here, the deviation value can be used directly as a correction value for increasing or decreasing the distance value for feeding the laminating tape. Here, the conveying device and the gripping device are operated by the changed distance value in order to move the laminating tape. That is, the offset value or correction value represents a specific deviation of the characterized component position in the conveying direction or in the opposite direction. It can therefore be a positive or negative value. The distance value along which the laminating tape is actually conveyed in a clocked manner is then changed, i.e. increased or decreased, by just this offset or correction value and is correspondingly controlled by the control device and the gripping device. For example, the measurement of the offset value and therefore the correction value can be carried out as follows: K=[(A1+A2) / 2-(B1+B2) / 2] / 2 Where K = correction value, A1 = first spacing value in conveying direction A2 = second spacing value in conveying direction B1 = first spacing value in the opposite direction to the conveying direction B2 = second spacing value in the opposite direction of conveyance

[0015] The correction value thus determined represents the deviation of the component centre relative to its outer edge and can be used to effect a direct modified control.

[0016] Here, it can be envisaged that the control of the synchronous movement of the conveying means and the gripping device is only performed if the measured deviation or the measured offset value or correction value is greater than a predefined threshold value based on the measured deviation. That is to say, the involvement in the control is not performed for every minute deviation, but only if a minimum deviation occurs. For this, a corresponding threshold value is defined or a corresponding threshold interval is defined. The measuring device or the control device continuously checks whether the deviation, i.e. the offset value or correction value, is less than a defined threshold value or is within a threshold interval. If Yes, the current position of the part is within a predefined tolerance range, so no correction is performed. If No, the deviation of the current position from the target position is sufficiently large and requires a correction, so that a correction must be performed immediately. Here, the respective threshold value can be a positive or negative value depending on the direction of the deviation, as well as the corresponding offset value or correction value. It can also be envisaged to take into account only the respective values. If an interval is set, this can be, for example, + / - 0.25 mm for a cutting length of, for example, 8-12 mm. If the deviation or offset value is within the interval of + / - 0.25, no correction is performed, otherwise only the corresponding measured offset or offset value is corrected.

[0017] Here, in a further development of the invention, it may be further provided that the control of the synchronous movement of the conveying means and the gripping device as a function of the measured deviation is limited to a predefined limit value if the measured deviation or the measured offset or correction value is greater than the predefined limit value. That is to say, not only is a lower limit defined for the correction to be made, but also an upper limit is set, which indicates how large the maximum correction can be. For example, a distance variation of + / - 0.3 mm can be set as the maximum deviation or correction value. Here, for example, if the measured offset or correction value is 0.5 mm, a correction will only be made with a maximum correction value of 0.3 mm. It is conceivable to set different limit values ​​for different cutting lengths. Thus, for example, for a cutting length, i.e. a target length, of the laminated element is 8 mm, a limit value of + / - 0.15 mm can be set, for a cutting length of 10 mm a limit value of + / - 0.3 mm can be set, and for a cutting length of 12 mm a limit value of + / - 0.45 mm can be set. By setting the limit values ​​in this way, it is possible to avoid possible correction overshoots, i.e. excessive corrections. If too much correction is made, it may be necessary to immediately re-correct in the next two steps.

[0018] According to a particularly advantageous development, the placement devices, which can be moved together with the transport device and the gripping device in the transport direction and in the opposite direction to the transport direction, are also designed to be controlled according to the measured deviation. As described, the individual components are taken from the corresponding component stores by the placement device, i.e. the pick-and-place device, and placed on the lower first laminate layer in an accurately positioned manner. Then, in order to ensure that all components to be placed and then embedded are placed one by one in the laminate tape with the same spacing, even when a clocked transport operation is involved, an adjustment or adjustment of the transport device and the gripping device is also performed, if necessary, with respect to the movement of the placement device in the transport direction or in the opposite direction. That is, for example, by increasing the distance value from the original 10 mm to 10.2 mm, i.e. with a correction of 0.2 mm in the transport direction, the synchronous movement of the corresponding placement device is also 0.2 mm in the transport direction. By increasing the distance value, i.e. by slightly increasing the clocked transport distance by 0.2 mm, if the position of the loading device is the same, the spacing between the currently loaded component and the previously loaded component will increase by exactly 0.2 mm, at least for the loading steps that are performed after this positioning correction. However, if the loading device is also adjusted accordingly, it is ensured that the spacing of the loaded components remains the same despite the change in the distance value.

[0019] Here, the mounting device moves the modified distance value in synchronism with the movement of the conveying means and the gripping device at least by the measured offset or correction value, i.e., as described, if the original distance value is modified by a value + / - x, the mounting device moves by + / - x as well.

[0020] As mentioned above, the laminating tape shrinks to a certain extent in the conveying direction, i.e. it shrinks slightly due to the inherent stresses of the laminate layers that are laid down. This can lead to variations in the position of the components. This shrinkage can be determined to a certain extent in advance, i.e. a certain theoretical shrinkage in a certain range is always set, which is independent of how much the actual shrinkage is. In order to deal with this from the start, in one advantageous development of the invention, the laying device is adapted to move during each laying step such that the actual spacing between the two components laid down on the first laminate layer is greater than the target length of the laminate component to be cut by a defined value that compensates for the shrinkage in the conveying direction of the laminating tape. That is to say, the components are laid down from the start with a spacing that is slightly greater than the original cutting length for cutting the component. This fixed value for the increase in the spacing between the laid components thus largely compensates for the shrinkage that occurs regularly in a given range. For example, when cutting to a target length of 10 mm, this compensation value for shrinkage can be, for example, 0.15 mm, so that the shrinkage of 0.15 mm can always be compensated for, i.e. pre-compensated. The parts are then laid with a spacing of 10.15 mm. If the shrinkage occurs exactly by this 0.15 mm, the parts will ideally have a target spacing of 10 mm at the time of cutting. However, this shrinkage compensation value only allows a rough shrinkage compensation, since the actual shrinkage is of course always material-dependent. Since the laminating tape shrinks in the longitudinal direction, the shrinkage compensation value is only defined in the direction opposite to the conveying direction.

[0021] If the transport device does not measure any significant deviations, i.e. does not adjust the clocked transport, it may be possible according to the invention to carry out a predefined shrinkage compensation as described above, i.e. the mounting device always moves slightly in the opposite direction to the transport direction exactly by the shrinkage compensation value after each loading process. If, however, a corresponding deviation is detected, not only the shrinkage compensation value but also the actual compensation value is used for the movement of the mounting device. In this case, the movement of the mounting device consists of a predefined length value (i.e. the shrinkage compensation value) and a compensation value which may be positive or negative. i.e. if the shrinkage compensation value is set to -0.15 mm (negative since it is in the opposite direction to the transport direction) and the compensation value is +0.3 mm, the mounting device actually advances in the transport direction by +0.15 mm. In other words, despite the involvement of the compensation in the clocked transport of the laminating tape, an accurate component positioning is ensured taking into account not only the compensation value but also the shrinkage compensation value.

[0022] The measuring device, as already mentioned, serves to measure possible deviations, i.e. to evaluate them with the aid of a suitable control device and, if necessary, to determine deviation or correction values. Here, the measuring device can be a camera device or a fluoroscopy device, i.e. an X-ray or ultrasound device, or a sensor, for example a profile sensor. These types of measuring devices take corresponding camera or fluoroscopy images of the laminate or receive sensor signals. The corresponding deviation or deviation or correction values ​​can then be determined by evaluating these images or sensor signals with the aid of suitable evaluation software, i.e. with the aid of suitable evaluation algorithms. Here, the corresponding evaluation software or evaluation algorithm is designed in such a way that the corresponding component positions, which serve as the basis for measuring the corresponding distance values, etc., can also be determined. If this is a typical camera device, then the camera device is assigned a corresponding lighting device, for example. This lighting is, for example, a ring lighting device that rotates very quickly while the camera takes the camera images. This running light displays the corresponding contour edges resulting from the component ends in the camera images, which can serve as the basis for determining the corresponding deviations. Since the fluoroscopic image allows the parts to be precisely visible in any case, the corresponding evaluation algorithms can define the part positions directly on this basis.

[0023] An advantageous development of the invention provides for the configuration of an inspection device for checking the functionality of parts of a laminated element, i.e. in addition to measuring possible deviations, a functional test is also carried out. If the parts are, for example, RFID chips, the inspection device can check the communication capability of the RFID chip and can also check and measure, for example, the identification number of the chip, which can then be stored in a control device, for example together with the measured values ​​of the functional test. This functional test is preferably carried out simultaneously with the measurement using a measuring device, i.e., for example, taking an image of the evaluation object.

[0024] The gripping device can transport the parts to a transfer device to which a measuring device and possibly (if provided) an inspection device are assigned for this purpose. As already mentioned, the gripping device receives the cut laminated material and transfers it away. This transfer ends when the laminated material is transferred to the transfer device, whereupon a deviation measurement and possibly a function test are carried out. A gripping device which can be used for this purpose is described, as already mentioned, in DE 20 2021 101 889 U1. This gripping device comprises two separate gripping parts. The two gripping parts are oriented in opposite directions and arranged parallel to one another. They are arranged on a common carrier which can be rotated about a vertical axis, so that the gripping device can be rotated about the vertical axis. Each gripping part can be moved linearly along a horizontal axis separately relative to the carrier, and can also be raised and lowered vertically, i.e. parallel to the axis of rotation of the entire gripping device. That is to say that a corresponding degree of freedom is provided for each gripping part, and the gripping device as a whole can also be rotated. This allows one gripper to be brought to a position where it can receive the leading end of the laminating tape, and the other gripper to place the received laminating material in a transfer position for transporting the laminating material to the transfer device. When each process is completed and the first gripper receives the newly cut laminating material and the second gripper transfers the laminating material, the entire gripper can be rotated 180 degrees so that the newly cut laminating material can be transferred to the transfer device, and at the same time the empty gripper can grip the leading end of the laminating tape again. Specific functions are specified in DE 20 2021 101 889 U1, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference into the present disclosure.

[0025] A finished product inspection is carried out by the measuring device and the deviation measurement therewith, and possibly also by the inspection device. In the course of this inspection, it is finally checked whether the inspected laminate element is a pass, fulfilling all requirements, or a reject, which must not be further processed. Here, it is possible to arrange for laminate elements with deviations that do not exceed the rejection limit, and laminate elements that fulfill the requirements set for their functionality, even if deviations are measured, to be placed on the winding belt. In this case, if the part is passable, it is placed on the corresponding winding belt, and the laminate element is also pressed slightly against the winding belt by pressure stamping or the like, where it is lightly adhered. However, if the laminate element has deviations that exceed the rejection limit or does not fulfill the requirements set for its functionality, it is removed as a reject, i.e. is not placed on the winding belt.

[0026] Since the corresponding deviation measurement, i.e. the function test, is preferably carried out on the transfer device as described above, in one advantageous development of the invention, the laminate element to be placed on the winding belt is placed on the winding belt by the transfer device. That is, the transfer device conveys the acceptable parts onto the winding belt. However, if the part is a defective part to be removed, the laminate element to be removed can be directly removed by the transfer device. For this purpose, the transfer device itself is expediently designed as a swing device. It is arranged horizontally at the transfer position where the laminate element is transferred from the gripping device. For this, the transfer device is arranged vertically, for example, below the measuring device, i.e. the camera device, and the laminate element is placed in its measuring area. Similarly, an inspection device is provided adjacent to this position, so that the measurement and the inspection can be carried out simultaneously. By directly measuring the corresponding value, i.e. the information, it is known whether this is an acceptable or a defective part. The transfer device then pivots 180° in the conveying direction and takes the laminate material, which is either lightly glued to the transfer device by its adhesive properties or fixed to a magnet or similarly provided on the transfer device, and pivots directly onto the take-up belt, where it remains glued. The transfer device then returns again to the horizontal transfer position. However, if it is a defective product, the transfer device simply swings downwards, causing the defective laminate material to fall or be dumped from the transfer device and reach a defective product container located below.

[0027] In addition to the method itself, the present invention further relates to an apparatus for producing individual strip-shaped laminated members that include an electronic component embedded between two laminate layers of a strip of adhesive material, in particular a rubberized material, the apparatus comprising: a first supply device for supplying a lower strip of a first laminate layer and a conveying means for receiving the first laminate layer; a placement device for placing individual parts at predetermined intervals on the first laminate layer which is moved in a conveying direction by a conveying means; a second supply device for supplying an upper strip of a second laminate layer and placing the second laminate layer on the first laminate layer with embedded components therein, thereby forming a laminate tape; a cutting device having at least one movable cutting blade for cutting individual strip-shaped laminate members from the laminate tape fed by the conveying means; a gripping device for receiving and transporting the individual laminate members. The gripping device is configured to grip the leading end of the laminate tape in the area of ​​the part and is movable in synchronism with the clocked movable conveying means a predetermined distance value for moving the laminate tape through the cutting device and positioning it against the cutting blade.

[0028] According to the invention, the apparatus is characterized in that a measuring device is provided downstream of the cutting device, said measuring device being configured to measure the current position of the parts in the laminate member in the conveying direction, and when the deviation of the current position from a predetermined target position is measured, the synchronous movement of the conveying means and the gripping device can be controlled by the control device depending on the measured deviation.

[0029] All properties, features and advantages mentioned with respect to the method according to the invention apply equally to the device according to the invention.

[0030] The device according to the invention is characterized by a measuring device arranged downstream of the cutting device and a corresponding control device which is able to control the synchronous movement of the conveying means and the gripping device depending on the deviations measured by the measuring device and to compensate for possible deviations.

[0031] Here, the measuring device may be configured to measure at least one distance value between a part position assigned to the part and at least one edge of the laminate member extending transversely to the conveying direction, and to determine an offset value representative of a deviation using the distance value, the offset value representing a possible offset between a characterised part position, in particular the centre of the part seen in the conveying direction, and a target position, in particular the centre of the laminate member seen in the conveying direction, and the conveying means and the gripping device are controllable by a control device depending on the offset value. The measurement of the corresponding offset value can be performed in various ways, as explained above for the method according to the invention. The measuring device has a corresponding control device which has available evaluation software, i.e. software algorithms, suitable for performing the measurement of the corresponding value. The control device may be a control device assigned to the measuring device, but may also be a central control device. The central control device controls the plant operation, but also the operation of at least the conveying device and the gripping device, and is necessarily also assigned to the measuring device.

[0032] Here, the deviation value can directly serve as a correction value for increasing or decreasing the predefined distance value, and the conveying device and the gripping device can be controlled by the control device in such a way that the laminating tape can be moved by the changed distance value, i.e. the correction value is the basis for the control directly on the part of the control device.

[0033] Furthermore, the control device is configured such that the control of the synchronous movement of the conveying means and the gripping device as a function of the measured deviation only occurs if the measured deviation or the measured offset or correction value is greater than a predefined threshold value, i.e. is outside a predefined threshold interval, thereby ensuring that the control device only performs a correction if the position deviation is not within the corresponding tolerance range.

[0034] Furthermore, the control device can be configured such that the control of the synchronous movement of the conveying means and the gripping device as a function of the measured deviation is limited to a predefined limit value if the measured deviation or the measured offset value or correction value is greater than a predefined limit value, i.e. even if a larger correction value is measured, the maximum correction in the conveying direction and in the opposite direction is in any case limited to the limit value.

[0035] Furthermore, the placement devices, which can be moved together with the conveying means and the gripping device in the conveying direction and in the opposite direction to the conveying direction, can also be controlled by the control device as a function of the measured deviations. By synchronously moving the placement devices by corresponding correction values, it is ensured that the parts are always placed at the same distances, as explained above in relation to the method.

[0036] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to control the mounting device such that the mounting device is movable synchronously with the movement of the changed distance values ​​of the transport means and the gripping device by at least the measured correction value, the movement control of the mounting device also being based on the measured correction value.

[0037] Finally, the control device may be configured to control the movement of the placement device during each placement step so that the actual spacing between two parts placed on the first laminate layer is greater than the target length of the laminate material to be cut by a defined value that compensates for the shrinkage of the laminating tape in the conveying direction. This allows some compensation for shrinkage to be taken into account in advance, and usually a certain minimum shrinkage is set so that the parts can be placed with a slightly larger spacing. In this connection, all functions of the control device are referred to in the embodiment described above with respect to the method.

[0038] The measuring device is a camera device or a fluoroscopy device or a sensor, for example a profile sensor, and the deviations can be calculated by evaluation of at least one captured camera or fluoroscopy image or sensor information. Furthermore, an inspection device can be provided for checking the functionality of the parts of the laminate. With regard to this functionality, reference is also made to the embodiment of the method described above.

[0039] Furthermore, a transfer device is provided, which is arranged downstream of the gripping device and receives the laminate from the gripping device, to which a measuring device and possibly an inspection device are assigned. This transfer device can be a suitable transfer plate. According to an advantageous development, it is swingable and is configured to place the laminate on the winding belt and to discharge the laminate to be removed into a collection container. That is to say, the transfer plate can swing in opposite directions, and in one direction it transfers the laminate that is considered good onto the winding belt and in the other direction it discards the laminate to be removed into a reject container. Naturally, the control of the swingable transfer device, which is swung by a corresponding drive motor, is also advantageously performed by a suitable control device or a central control device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0040] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic side view of an apparatus according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a top view showing the device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 2 is a partial perspective view of the apparatus, showing a placement device and the associated transport means and second supply device; FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a partial view of the device of FIG. 1, showing the cutting device and the gripping device. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gripping device including two separate gripping parts oriented in opposite directions and capable of moving separately. [Figure 6]FIG. 11 is a schematic side view for explaining the movement of each gripping portion. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic top view corresponding to FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a partial view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing a transfer device and a measuring device in the form of a camera device assigned to it and a winding belt or collection container connected downstream thereof. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a measuring device including a delivery device and a collection container. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining a lamination process. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a top view of the laminate tape showing the embedded components. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an ideal strip-like component with a centrally located component. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a strip-shaped laminate member with eccentrically positioned parts to illustrate the correction process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0041] Further advantages and details of the invention will be explained on the basis of the embodiments described below and with reference to the attached drawings.

[0042] Fig. 1 shows an apparatus 1 according to the invention for producing individual strip-shaped laminate elements. The strip-shaped laminate elements are made up of two laminate layers of adhesive material stacked one above the other, between which an electronic component, here an RFID chip, is embedded. The apparatus 1 comprises a first feed device 2 for feeding a strip-shaped lower first laminate layer 3 and a transport means 4, for example a transport belt or a transport conveyor, on which the lower first laminate layer 3 is placed. As shown in Fig. 2, the first feed device 2 is arranged laterally with respect to the transport means 4, i.e. the first laminate layer 3 is fed at an angle of 90° and is finally turned around and placed on the transport means 4.

[0043] Furthermore, a placement device 5 is provided for placing the individual components to be embedded onto the first laminate layer 3. The individual components, in this case RFID chips, are fed from a storage roll 6 via a feed belt and are finally grasped and placed in a defined manner by the placement device 5, i.e. a pick-and-place device.

[0044] Furthermore, a second feed device 7 is provided for feeding the upper strip-shaped second laminate layer 8. Referring to Fig. 2, the second feed device 7 is also arranged laterally offset with respect to the conveying means 4, so that the second laminate layer 8 is also fed at an angle of 90 degrees and finally turns around. The second laminate layer 8 is placed on top of the first laminate layer 3, which is already equipped with components, so that a laminate tape is formed consisting of firmly bonded laminate layers 3, 8 and embedded components.

[0045] Furthermore, a cutting device 9 is provided with at least one movable cutting blade for cutting individual strip-shaped laminate elements from the laminating tape supplied by the transport means 4. Downstream of the cutting device 9, a gripping device 10 is provided for receiving and discharging the individual laminate elements. The individual laminate elements are finally deposited on a winding belt 11 of a winding device 12, which is then wound onto a roll 13.

[0046] Further shown is a basic controller 14 which controls the main components of the device 1, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows the placement and stacking area of ​​the device 1 in a perspective view. The transport means 4 on which the lower first laminate layer 3 is placed is shown. Similarly, a placement device 5 with a suitable gripper 15 is shown. The gripper 15 is on the one hand vertically movable as indicated by the arrow 16 and on the other hand horizontally movable as indicated by the arrow 17. This is because the components are fed from the side of the transport means 4 and have to be gripped and picked up by the gripper 15, moved on the transport means 4 and then removed from there again. Due to the placement device 5 or the gripper 15 being movable in the direction of the arrow 17, i.e. transversely to the conveying direction, it is possible to laterally or laterally correct the placement position of the components on the lower first laminate layer 3. As indicated by the arrow 18, the gripper 15, i.e. the placement device 5 itself, can also be moved in the conveying direction of the transport means 4, indicated by the arrow 19, which makes it possible to carry out corrections of the placement interval in the conveying direction. The adjustment of the placement interval will be described in detail later.

[0048] Also shown is in particular the actual lamination roll 20 arranged above the transport means 4. Below the lamination roll 20 there is also provided an upper second laminate layer, which is then laminated by the lamination roll 20 onto the lower first laminate layer 3.

[0049] 4 shows in a detailed view a further area of ​​the device 1, namely the singulation area. Here again the transport means 4 is shown, on which is arranged the first laminate layer 3 loaded with components, and also the upper second laminate layer 8, which is laminated by a lamination roll 20.

[0050] Downstream of the conveying means 4, as mentioned above, a cutting device 9 is arranged with a linearly movable cutting blade 21. The cutting blade 21 extends transversely to the conveying direction 19 and cuts the laminating tape 22 to form individual laminate elements. The lifting movement of the cutting blade 21 is controlled by a suitable lifting device 23, such as a pneumatic cylinder or an electric motor, which enables the cutting blade 21 to start its movement exactly at the required time to perform the cut.

[0051] As mentioned above, downstream of the cutting device 9, a gripping device 10 is arranged, which comprises two separate grippers 24, which will be explained in more detail below. Both grippers 24 are arranged offset from each other by 180°, and they are horizontally movable at least in a straight line, and the whole set may also be rotatable by 180°, as will be explained in more detail below. Each gripper 24 is arranged to receive, pick up and remove a cut laminate material, and to transfer it to a transfer device 25, which will be explained in more detail below. From this transfer device 25, the pre-measured and inspected laminate material is transferred to the winding device 12 or removed, as will be explained in more detail below.

[0052] A measuring device 26 is assigned to the area of ​​the transfer of the laminate element from the gripping part 24 to the transfer device 25. The measuring device 26 is configured to precisely measure the position of the components embedded between the two laminate layers 3, 8 and, on the basis of this measurement, to determine whether a position correction is necessary if necessary. The aim is to ensure that the components embedded in the laminate are positioned in a defined position, preferably in the center of the laminate element as viewed in the conveying direction. By means of the measuring device 26, possible deviations can be measured, after which the elimination of the corresponding deviations is controlled by the control device 14. For this purpose, it is involved in the movement movement of the gripping device 10. As is involved in the clocked conveying movement of the conveying means 4, this in particular results in a clocked conveying of the laminating tape 22 by the cutting device 10, whereby the conveying movement of the laminating tape 22 can be influenced for correction purposes. The measuring device 26 is preferably a camera device, which will be explained in more detail later.

[0053] Also shown is an inspection device 27, which is arranged in the area of ​​the transfer of the laminate from the gripper 24 to the transfer device 25. This inspection device makes it possible to check the correct functioning of the components embedded in the laminate, namely the RFID chips. The transfer of such a laminate to the winding device 12 only takes place if the components function properly. Otherwise, the removal of the laminate takes place by transfer to a collection container 28. The inspection device 27 may be a corresponding reading or transmitting device, which for example communicates contactlessly with the RFID chip to read out its response signal or its identification code, etc. Corresponding information can be provided to the control device 14 and stored there.

[0054] FIG. 5 shows the gripping device 10 in detail. The gripping device 10 comprises, as described, two separate gripping parts 24. It can be seen that the two gripping parts 24 are arranged on a common carrier 29 with a 180° offset from each other. On a base 30, two separate linear guides 31 are arranged. The gripping parts 24 are arranged on such linear guides 31, respectively, so that they can move linearly in the conveying direction 19 and in the opposite direction to the conveying direction 19, separately. For this purpose, corresponding drives are naturally arranged. Furthermore, each gripping part 24 can also be raised and lowered vertically by means of a lift cylinder 32. Finally, the base 30 with both gripping parts 24 as a whole can be rotated around a vertical rotation axis 34 by means of a drive motor 33, so that the orientation of both gripping parts 24 can be rotated by 180°. This allows one gripping portion 24 to be positioned at any location on the laminate tape to grip and pull the laminate tape 22 through the cutting device 9, while the other gripping portion 24 can simultaneously move with the laminate material it has previously received to a transfer position for transferring the laminate material to the transfer device 25.

[0055] Each gripper is equipped with a suitable gripping means 35, which on the one hand makes it possible to grip and fix the leading edge of the laminating tape, so that the laminating tape can be moved a defined distance by the linear movement of the corresponding gripper 24 along its linear guide 31 through the cutting device 9, i.e. passing under the cutting blade 21, in synchronism with the clocked feed of the transport means 4. The gripping means 35 can also fix the cut laminate element, and can also fix it during the subsequent linear lifting movement and the pivoting movement to the transfer position, where the laminate element is then removed. An example of such a gripping device is shown in DE 20 2021 101 889 U1. The device according to the invention is not limited to the use of such a gripping device described therein.

[0056] 6 and 7 show, in side view and top view, a cross section of the device 1 according to the invention. The functioning of the gripping device 10 with its two gripping parts 24 will now be explained in more detail, which have now been given the letters A and B to illustrate their distinguishable characteristics.

[0057] A cutting device 9 is shown with a cutting blade 21 which can be moved in a straight line as indicated by the double arrow 36. Also shown is a conveying means 4 and a laminate tape 22 placed thereon, on which are shown parts 37 embedded in the laminate. The laminate tape 22 is positioned by passing under the cutting blade 21, which is shown here lowered into the cutting position. The cutting blade 21 then starts to move and comes into contact with a cutting table 38 on which the laminate tape 22 is placed, where the cut takes place. The narrow space between the end of the conveying means 4 and the cutting table 38 is bridged by a transfer table 39 on which the laminate tape 22 is placed.

[0058] As mentioned, two grippers A and B are shown, which are merely connected here via a typical movement device 40 allowing corresponding linear, lifting and rotational adjustment as explained with respect to FIG. 5, so that grippers A, B can move in the above-mentioned degrees of freedom. They can both be lifted vertically separately as shown by arrow 41, they can both be moved linearly separately as shown by arrow 42, and they can both be rotated around vertical axis 34 as shown by arrow 43. This allows the grippers A, B to be interchanged in position.

[0059] The gripping device 10 functions as follows: It is assumed that when the cutting blade 21 is lifted, the gripping part A moves to a position where it can grip the leading edge of the laminate tape. That is, the gripping means 35 of the gripping part A is finally positioned above this edge area. For gripping, the gripping part A comes into contact with the corresponding laminate tape 22. Then, synchronously with this, the conveying means 4 and the gripping part A are activated. The conveying means 4 advances a defined path in the conveying direction 19, while at the same time the gripping part A lifts the leading edge of the laminate tape 22 slightly and advances in a straight line in the conveying direction 19, also a defined path, until it reaches the final cutting position. At the final cutting position, the conveying means 4 stops and, in response, the gripping part A, which places the laminate tape 22 on the cutting table 38, stops as well.

[0060] In parallel with this, gripper B, which was previously at the position of gripper A and picked up the laminate material at this position, performs a corresponding movement. Now, gripper B reaches the transfer position and is able to transfer the laminate material to the transfer device 25.

[0061] After the cutting by the cutting blade 21 has been performed, when the latter rises again, the gripper A lifts the separated laminate element, which is now on the gripping means 35, and possibly again moves a certain distance in the conveying direction. At the same time, the gripper B transfers the laminate element to the transfer device 25. The entire gripper device then rotates about the vertical axis 34, so that the gripper A loaded with the laminate element rotates into the transfer area, while the empty gripper B swivels into the area of ​​the cutting device 9. Now the above-mentioned process starts from the beginning, i.e. for the next step, the gripper B reaches the gripping area for gripping the leading edge of the laminating tape 22. This leading edge is then gripped and pulled by the gripper B through the cutting device 9 by a corresponding linear movement, clocked in synchronism with the conveying means. At the same time, the gripper A is also brought into the corresponding transfer position. After the cut has been made, the cut laminate strip is picked up again by gripper B, and at the same time gripper A delivers the laminate strip it holds to the delivery device 25.

[0062] 8 shows the transfer area in a schematic view together with the assigned measuring devices. The gripper 24 is shown in a cross-section approximately in the transfer position to the transfer device 25. The transfer device 25 comprises a transfer plate 44 on which the gripper 24 places the laminate element. After placement, the gripper 24 again retreats a short distance to allow the measurement of the laminate element by the measuring device 26. If this measurement, which will be described in more detail later, shows that the parts embedded in the laminate in the laminate strip are positioned exactly, i.e. within the tolerances, no corrections are necessary, otherwise corresponding corrections are made, which will be described later. At the same time, a corresponding functional check of the parts is also performed by the inspection device 27, which is not described in more detail here, as described.

[0063] If the result of the functional test is positive and the measurements show that the parts are correctly positioned, the transfer plate 44 swings to the right as shown by the double arrow 45 and places the laminate material on the take-up belt 11 of the take-up device 12. After the transfer plate 44 swings back again, the placed laminate material is lightly pressed against the take-up belt 11 by a pressurizer 46 which can move up and down vertically as shown by the arrow 47, where the laminate material lightly adheres to the take-up belt 11 since it is made of an adhesive material. The take-up belt 11 is then wound into a roll.

[0064] If the functional test (and possibly even measurements) reveals that a part is not functioning properly or is positioned outside of its positioning tolerances, the transfer plate 44 swings to the left, i.e., tilts downward, causing the defective laminate material to be dumped into the collection bin 28.

[0065] To fix the laminate material to the transfer plate 44, a fixing device can be provided, for example in the form of an adjustable magnet 48, which allows the laminate material to be adjusted between a fixed position, in which it is magnetically fixed by magnetic coupling of the magnet 48 with the embedded part, and a released position, in which it can be transferred to the take-up belt 11 or to the collection container 28. Like all movements of the moving parts, this movement is also controlled by the control device 14.

[0066] 9 shows the measuring device 26 in a detailed view. The measuring device 26 comprises a camera 49, which in the illustrated example is arranged above a transfer plate 44 on which the laminate element 50 is arranged. The camera 49 is assigned an illumination device 51, for example a rotating ring light, which illuminates the laminate element 50 during camera exposure so that corresponding edges or contours are visible in the camera image, which edges or contours can be used to perform a position determination.

[0067] Also shown is the inspection device 27. It will be appreciated that the inspection device 27 is also located in close proximity to the laminate member 50 so that functional testing can be performed.

[0068] 10 shows the lamination process in the form of a schematic diagram. A lower first laminate strip 3 on which components 37, i.e. RFID chips, are arranged, are shown, previously placed by a placement device 5 at a predefined distance X. A second upper laminate layer 8 in the form of a strip is fed from above. It is pressed by a lamination roll 20 onto the lower laminate layer 3, so that the components 37 are embedded in the laminate sandwiched between them. Also shown exemplarily is a cutting device 9 with a cutting blade 21 which performs the cut along a cutting line 52.

[0069] 11 shows that after lamination the material can shrink slightly, especially in the conveying direction 19, so that the original placement distance X between adjacent parts 37 gradually decreases continuously, resulting in a misalignment of the corresponding parts 37 with respect to the original cutting line 52.

[0070] On the left side of FIG. 11, only the lower laminate layer 3 is shown, on which the components 37 are precisely placed by the placement device 5 at a predetermined distance X, for example 10 mm. This position is maintained until the original lamination position 53, where the upper laminate layer 8 is laminated by the lamination or pressure roll 20. However, both the lower laminate layer 3 and the upper laminate layer 8 have some internal stresses due to the winding up and down process on the roll on which they were originally wound, and the lamination roll 20 possibly exerts further stress on the lamination tape 22, which causes a slight shrinkage in the conveying direction 19. It can be seen that the spacing of the components 37 therefore varies slightly from the lamination position 53 to the cutting line 52. The varied spacing is shown, albeit exaggerated, in FIG. 11, marked with an X'. The laminate member 37 shown just behind the lamination station 53 is still in the center of the assumed laminate member having the cutting width, i.e., length Y in the conveying direction 19, but moves toward the edge of the assumed laminate member as it approaches the direction of the cutting line 52, as can be seen clearly in Figure 11. That is, due to the relatively short conveying path between the lamination station 53 and the cutting line 52, slight misalignment may occur.

[0071] This offset is again shown in figures 12 and 13. In figure 12, a laminate element 50 is shown with an ideal shape. The part 37, i.e. the RFID chip, is exactly centered in the laminate element 50, i.e. in both laminate layers 3, 8, which have a width B and a length L. This is measured by the measuring device 26, which, as already mentioned, provides a camera image in the illustrated example. In the camera image, the contour of the part 37 is visible and can be evaluated. This contour shows, for example, the corresponding antenna 54 of the RFID chip, which extends in the direction of the width B of the laminate element. The control device 14 or the image processing device can now measure the distance from both antennas 54, 55 to each edge 56, 57 of the laminate element. For each antenna 54, 55, the distance to the edge 56 and to the end 57, respectively, is measured. For antenna 54, these are the spacing A1 to edge 57 and spacing B1 to edge 56, and for antenna 55, the spacing A2 to edge 57 and spacing B2 to edge 56. Using these measurements, the position of part 37 in laminate 50 can then be accurately measured, and using these spacings, the corresponding offset from center can also be measured. In case of an inaccurate position, the offset from center directly indicates the corresponding correction value for the cut width, i.e. the position to be cut. This calculation is performed as follows: K=[(A1+A2) / 2-(B1+B2) / 2] / 2

[0072] FIG. 13 shows a laminated element 50 where some shrinkage has occurred. It can be seen that the part 37 is not located in the middle, viewed in the longitudinal direction, but is slightly offset towards the edge 56. Here again, the corresponding distance values ​​A1, A2, B1 and B2 are measured by the measuring device 26 and by evaluation of the corresponding camera images. The corresponding offset from the middle is then determined using the above formula, i.e. a correction value K which accurately represents this offset. The actual correction is then performed by the control device 14, which performs control according to the transmission clock. The control device 14 is now able to control the movement of the transport means 4 and of the gripping parts 24 or A, B which grip the corresponding leading edge of the laminating tape 22. This control is performed in such a way that a given distance value, which the transport means and the gripping parts have synchronously moved in the transport direction and which has subsequently also moved the laminating tape 22, is increased or decreased according to the correction value. That is, both the conveying means 4 and the gripping parts 24, A, B, are controlled to move the laminating tape 22 by the changed distance value. The determined correction value thus represents a specific deviation of the characterized part position in the conveying direction 19 or in the opposite direction (in the illustrated example, opposite the conveying direction 19). The distance value along which the laminating tape 22 is actually conveyed in a clocked manner is then changed by this correction value. In the illustrated example, the distance value is increased by the correction value K, i.e. instead of the previously controlled distance value of 10 mm and the correction value K of 0.2 mm in the immediately following conveying step, for example, a distance value of 10.2 mm is switched over to. That is, the conveying means 4 and the gripping parts 24 together and synchronously move the laminating tape 10.2 mm through the cutting device 9. In the immediately following step, the previously determined deviation is thus ideally eliminated and the subsequently cut laminating part is again close to the ideal state shown in FIG. 12. That is, the part 37 is located in the middle of its length.

[0073] Here, the possible deviation can occur not only in the opposite direction to the conveying direction as illustrated, but also in the conveying direction. That is, the original correction value can be a positive value or a negative value. However, since shrinkage due to decomposition of internal stress often occurs, it is assumed that a positive correction value, i.e., an increase in the distance value, is mainly performed.

[0074] As already mentioned, the measurement of the correction value K is preferably performed on the side of the control device 14 which controls the corresponding transmission clock operation. In this case, the control device 14 may be configured so that no correction is performed in the case of minute deviations, i.e. very small correction values ​​K. It can be assumed that a kind of tolerance range is set around the original center position, and if the calculated correction value K is within this tolerance range, the correction is stopped. For example, if a target width of the laminate is specified, a length L of 10 mm according to FIG. 12, the window of correction can be set to, for example, + / - 0.2 mm. If the calculated correction value is within a window of + / - 0.2 mm from the center value, no correction is performed. If the correction value is, for example, 0.3 mm, a correction of exactly 0.3 mm is performed.

[0075] At the same time, an upper limit for the maximum permissible correction can also be set. For example, for a cutting width of 10 mm, this upper limit can be set to, for example, + / - 0.35 mm. If the correction value is, for example, 0.4 mm, then in any case only a maximum correction of 0.35 mm is made. This avoids possible overshoots, i.e. overcorrections. Instead, a corresponding monitoring is carried out for each step, and the outcome of the corrections made can be directly inspected, so that in the end it is possible to approach the ideal situation step by step.

[0076] As mentioned above, the laying device 5, i.e. the gripper arrangement 15, can also be moved in the conveying direction 19, as indicated by the arrow 18, i.e. this allows the laying position to be changed. In this way, it is possible to more or less counteract, i.e. to compensate in advance, the known positional changes that may possibly occur in the component positions inside the laminating tape 22. For example, if it is known that the material to be processed always shrinks and that this shrinkage is at least 0.15 mm in the area between the laminating position 53 and the cutting position 52, it is possible to partially compensate this known shrinkage deviation from the outset by varying the laying position. For example, if the cutting length, i.e. the length L of the laminating member, is 10 mm, it is possible to switch to a laying spacing of 10.15 mm instead of a laying spacing of 10 mm without shrinkage. Even if the conveying means 4 and the gripper arrangement 10 convey a laminating tape of 10 mm (ideally, because it is uncorrected), the laying device 5 nevertheless lays at 10.15 mm. The 0.15 mm to be compensated disappears during the shrinkage between the lamination location 53 and the cutting line 52. In some cases this shrinkage may be a little larger, in which case at least partial compensation is provided.

[0077] The predetermined feed is 10 mm, but in order to allow placement at somewhat larger intervals by the conveying means 4 and gripping device 10, the placement device 5, i.e. the gripper structure 15, must likewise move in a clocked manner for each placement step by a correction value, in the example described, by 0.15 mm, i.e. in the opposite direction to the conveying direction 19, if a placement at 10.15 mm overall is to be achieved.

[0078] In this case, a correction value K is calculated, which has to be taken into account during the movement of the mounting device 5, i.e. during the basic shrinkage compensation, if the clocked conveying movement of the conveying means 4 and the gripping device 10 is initiated by the control device 14. If the correction value by which the clocked feed increases the distance value is, for example, 0.3 mm, this increase of 0.3 mm is taken into account during the movement of the mounting device 5. In this case, the mounting device moves in the conveying direction by 0.15 mm within the range of the subsequent placement process which is carried out synchronously with the change in the distance value. This is in order, on the one hand, to take into account the distance value correction of the clocked feed and, on the other hand, to again carry out the basic shrinkage compensation. This means that, in the end, a cumulative consideration of the basic correction and the measured actual correction value is taken into account.

[0079] As already mentioned, it is basically also possible for the placement device 5 or the gripper 15 to carry out lateral corrections of the placement position in the direction of the arrow 17 in FIG. 3, i.e. for the components to be positioned exactly on both lateral edges of the first laminate layer 3. Possible positioning errors can be determined by evaluating the camera images, and then corresponding position corrections can be made transverse to the conveying direction.

[0080] In this specification, an RFID chip has been described as an example of component 37. Of course, it is also conceivable to embed other types of electronic components in the laminate, with corresponding requirements regarding the positional accuracy of the components within the laminate material.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing individual strip-shaped laminate members (50) including electronic components (37) embedded between two laminate layers (3, 8) made of a strip-shaped material, in particular a rubberized material, comprising the steps of: placing the individual components (37) at a predetermined interval on a first lower laminate layer (3) in the strip, which is moved in a conveying direction (19) by a conveying means (4) using a placement device (5); then mounting an upper second laminate layer (8) in the strip, which is moved in the conveying direction (19), on the first laminate layer (3) while embedding the components (37) therein, to form a laminate tape (22). a cutting device (9) having at least one movable cutting blade (21) cuts off the individual strip-shaped laminate elements (50) from the laminating tape (22) fed by the conveying means (4), the laminate elements (50) being received and conveyed away by a gripping device (10) in which the leading end of the laminating tape (22) is gripped in the area of ​​a part (37) by the gripping device (10) and moved by the cutting device (9) by a predetermined distance value in synchronism with the clocked movement of the conveying means (4) and positioned relative to the cutting blade (21), a measuring device (26) arranged downstream of the cutting device (9) for measuring a current position of the part (37) in the laminate material (50) in the conveying direction (19), and when a deviation of the current position from a predefined target position is measured, controlling the synchronous movement of the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (9) depending on the measured deviation.

2. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, for measuring the current position by the measuring device (37), at least one distance value (A1, A2, B1, B2) between a part position assigned to the part (37) and at least one edge (56, 57) of the laminate material (22) extending transversely to the conveying direction (19) is measured and possible deviations are measured using said distance values.

3. 3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that a first distance value (A1, A2) between a first component position and a first edge (57) lying in the conveying direction (19) and a second distance value (B1, B2) between a second component position and a second edge (56) lying in the opposite direction to the conveying direction are measured, and both distance values ​​are used to determine possible deviations.

4. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that two first distance values ​​(A1, A2) for different first component positions arranged laterally offset with respect to the conveying direction (19) and two second distance values ​​(B1, B2) for different second component positions arranged laterally offset with respect to the conveying direction (19) are measured, and possible deviations are measured using all four distance values ​​(A1, A2, B1, B2).

5. 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising measuring a deviation value representative of said deviation using one or more of said distance values ​​(A1, A2, B1, B2), said deviation value representing a possible deviation between a characterized part position, in particular the center of said part seen in the conveying direction (19), and a target position, in particular the center of said laminate material seen in the conveying direction (19), and said conveying means (4) and said gripping device (10) being controlled depending on said deviation value.

6. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the deviation value is used as a correction value (K) for increasing or decreasing the distance value, and the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) are controlled to move the laminating tape (22) by the modified distance value.

7. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the control of the synchronous movement of the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) as a function of the measured deviation takes place only if the measured deviation is greater than a predefined threshold value.

8. The method described in claim 5, characterized in that control of the synchronous movement of the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) in accordance with the deviation value is performed only when the deviation value is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

9. The method described in claim 6, characterized in that the control of the synchronous movement of the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) in accordance with the correction value (K) is performed only when the correction value (K) is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

10. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the control of the synchronous movement of the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) as a function of a measured deviation is limited to a predefined limit value if the measured deviation is greater than said predefined limit value.

11. The method described in claim 5, characterized in that the control of the synchronous movement of the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) in response to the deviation value is limited to a predetermined limit value when the deviation value is greater than the predetermined limit value.

12. The method described in claim 6, characterized in that the control of the synchronous movement of the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) in response to the correction value (K) is limited to a predetermined limit value when the correction value (K) is greater than the predetermined limit value.

13. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the placement device (5), which is movable together with the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) in the conveying direction (19) and in the direction opposite to the conveying direction (19), is also controlled depending on the measured deviation.

14. The placement device (5), which is movable together with the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) in the conveying direction (19) and in the opposite direction to the conveying direction (19), is also controlled in response to the measured deviation, 7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the placement device (5) moves at least by the measured offset or correction value (K) in synchronism with the movement of the changed distance value of the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10).

15. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the laying device (5) is moved during each laying step in such a way that the actual distance between the two parts (37) laid on the first laminate layer (3) is greater than the target length of the laminate material (50) to be cut by a defined value that compensates for the shrinkage of the laminating tape (22) in the conveying direction (19).

16. 15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the movement of the mounting device (5) is based on a defined length value and on the correction value (K).

17. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the measuring device (26) is a camera device or a fluoroscopy device or a profile sensor, and the deviation is calculated by evaluation of at least one captured camera image or fluoroscopy image or from sensor information acquired by the profile sensor.

18. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the functionality of said parts (37) of said laminate material (50) is inspected by means of an inspection device (27).

19. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping device (10) conveys the laminate member (50) to a transfer device (25) to which the measuring device (26) is assigned.

20. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a laminate element (50) having deviations that do not exceed the discard limit value and that meets the requirements set for its functionality even if deviations are measured, is placed on a winding belt (11).

21. 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that laminate elements (50) having deviations exceeding a discard limit value or not meeting the requirements set for their functionality are removed.

22. 22. The method according to claim 19 and claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the laminate material (50) to be placed on the winding belt (11) is placed on the winding belt (11) by the transfer device (25) and the laminate material (50) to be removed is directly removed by the transfer device (25).

23. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that by means of the placement device (5), the placement position of the component (37) can be varied transversely to the conveying direction.

24. 1. An apparatus for manufacturing individual strip-shaped laminate elements (50) comprising an electronic component (37) embedded between two laminate layers (3, 8) of a strip-shaped adhesive material, in particular a rubberized material, comprising: a first supply device (2) for supplying a lower strip-shaped first laminate layer (3) and a conveying means (4) for receiving said first laminate layer (3); a placement device (5) for placing individual parts (37) at predetermined intervals on the first laminate layer (3) which is moved in a conveying direction (19) by the conveying means (4); a second supply device (7) for supplying an upper strip-shaped second laminate layer (8) and placing said second laminate layer (8) on said first laminate layer (3) with said components (37) embedded therein, thereby forming a laminate tape (22); a cutting device (9) having at least one movable cutting blade (21) for cutting the individual strip-shaped laminate members (50) from the laminate tape (22) fed by the conveying means (4); a gripping device (10) for receiving and transporting the individual laminate members (50); the gripping device (10) is adapted to grip the leading end of the laminating tape (22) in the region of the part (37) and is movable in synchronism with the clocked movable conveying means (4) by a predetermined distance value for moving the laminating tape (22) through the cutting device (9) and positioning it relative to the cutting blade (21), a measuring device (26) is provided downstream of the cutting device (9), which is configured to measure a current position of the part (37) in the laminating member (50) in the conveying direction (19), and wherein when a deviation of the current position from a predefined target position is measured, a synchronous movement of the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (9) can be controlled by a control device (14) depending on the measured deviation.

25. 25. Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the measuring device (26) is configured to measure at least one distance value (A1, A2, B1, B2) between a part position assigned to the part (37) and at least one edge (56, 57) of the laminate member (50) extending transversely to the conveying direction (19) and to determine an offset value representative of the deviation by means of the distance value, the offset value representative of a possible offset between a characterised part position, in particular the centre of the part (37) seen in the conveying direction, and a target position, in particular the centre of the laminate member (50) seen in the conveying direction (19), and the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) are controllable by the control device (14) depending on the offset value.

26. The device according to claim 25, characterized in that the offset value acts as a correction value (K) for increasing or decreasing the predetermined distance value, and the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) are controllable by the control device (14) so ​​that the laminating tape (22) can be moved by the changed distance value.

27. 25. Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the control device (14) is configured such that the control of the synchronous movement of the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) as a function of the measured deviation is performed only if the measured deviation is greater than a predefined threshold value.

28. The apparatus described in Claim 25, characterized in that the control device (14) is configured to control the synchronous movement of the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) in accordance with the deviation value only when the deviation value is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

29. The device described in Claim 26, characterized in that the control device (14) is configured to control the synchronous movement of the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) in accordance with the correction value (K) only when the correction value (K) is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

30. 25. Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the control device (14) is configured such that the control of the synchronous movement of the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) as a function of the measured deviation is limited to a predefined limit value if the measured deviation is greater than said predefined limit value.

31. The apparatus described in Claim 25, characterized in that the control device (14) is configured so that control of the synchronous movement of the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) in response to the deviation value is limited to a predetermined limit value when the deviation value is greater than the predetermined limit value.

32. The device described in Claim 26, characterized in that the control device (14) is configured so that control of the synchronous movement of the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) in accordance with the correction value (K) is limited to a predetermined limit value when the correction value (K) is greater than the predetermined limit value.

33. 25. Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that a placement device (5), which is movable together with the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) in the conveying direction and in the direction opposite to the conveying direction, is also controllable by the control device (14) as a function of the measured deviation.

34. A loading device (5) movable together with the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10) in the conveying direction and in the direction opposite to the conveying direction is also controllable by the control device (14) in response to the measured deviation, 27. The device according to claim 26, characterized in that the control device (14) is configured to control the placement device (5) such that the placement device (5) is movable by at least the measured correction value (K) in synchronization with the movement of the changed distance value of the conveying means (4) and the gripping device (10).

35. 25. Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the control device (14) is configured to control the movement of the placing device (5) during each placing step so that the actual spacing between two parts (37) placed on the first laminate layer (3) is greater than the target length of the laminate material (50) to be cut by a defined value that compensates for the shrinkage of the laminate tape in the conveying direction (19).

36. 25. The device according to claim 24, characterized in that the measuring device (26) is a camera device or a fluoroscopy device or a profile sensor, and the deviation can be calculated by evaluation of at least one captured camera image or fluoroscopy image or sensor information.

37. 25. Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that it comprises a testing device (27) for testing the functionality of said parts (37) of said laminate member (50).

38. 25. The apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a transfer device (25) arranged downstream of the gripping device (10) for receiving the laminate material (37) from the gripping device (10), the transfer device (25) being assigned to the measuring device (26).

39. 39. The device according to claim 38, characterized in that the swingably embodied transfer device (25) is configured to place the laminate material (50) on the winding belt (11) and to eject the laminate material (50) to be removed into a collection container (28).

40. 25. Apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that by means of the placement device (5), the placement position of the component (37) can be varied transversely to the conveying direction.

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