adhesive tape

Abstract

The subject of the present invention is an adhesive tape, in particular a winding tape, for wrapping elongated objects, such as cable bundles in automobiles. The adhesive tape comprises a woven fabric carrier (1, 2), an adhesive coating (3) applied to one or both sides of the woven fabric carrier (1, 2), and at least one marking thread (4, 5) woven into the woven fabric carrier. In the present invention, the marking thread (4, 5) is a warp thread and / or a weft thread (4, 5) woven into the woven fabric carrier (1, 2) during the manufacturing process.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an adhesive tape, in particular a winding tape, for wrapping around elongated objects, such as cable bundles in automobiles, which comprises a woven fabric carrier, an adhesive coating applied to one or both sides of the woven fabric carrier, and at least one marking thread woven into the woven fabric carrier.

[0002] Adhesive tapes, and in particular winding tapes, for winding cable bundles in motor vehicles must meet a variety of requirements. These include, first of all, particular resistance to media, for example, oil and gasoline. High temperature resistance is also required. In practice, such winding tapes can be used in temperatures ranging from -50°C or even -40°C to over +150°C. Furthermore, low acoustic emissions are a target, so that, for example, rattle noise from cable harnesses or cable bundles wound in this way is prevented as much as possible.

[0003] In addition to the above requirements, high wear resistance is often required to prevent wear on the vehicle body. In this case, the wear resistance can be specified in accordance with the LV312 (2009) standard, for example, based on the prior art described in WO 2005085379. In practice, various wear classes are generally distinguished here.

[0004] Depending on the requirements of the vehicle manufacturer or the installation and operating conditions of the vehicle in which the cable harness is to be installed, different adhesive or wrapping tapes are used. These are usually wrapped manually around the cable bundle by the assembler. To distinguish between the individual adhesive tapes, they are also provided with a marking, product ID, etc. on the inside of the corresponding package or core. This allows the assembler to select the correspondingly designated adhesive tape and tailor the cable bundle or cable set accordingly.

[0005] The finished cable harnesses are then generally assembled at the automobile manufacturer. This is often done at a location somewhat distant from the cable harness production. This leaves room for potential mix-ups. Furthermore, increasingly detailed incoming and quality inspections are nowadays required. However, it is not possible to tell from the finished cable harness whether the specified adhesive tape has been applied or not.

[0006] Indeed, from the prior art of WO 2016113132, which forms the generic category, continuous stitching threads are known as markings on such adhesive tapes, but these markings are used as positioning aids during winding, so that the next winding is glued onto the preceding winding, with an overlap defined by the positioning aid.

[0007] The technical problem underlying the present invention is to improve such adhesive tapes so that it is possible to check, especially in the installed state, whether the adhesive tape is properly defined or meets the requirements.

[0008] In order to solve this technical problem, the present invention proposes that in an adhesive tape and in particular a winding tape for wrapping around elongated objects, such as cable bundles in motor vehicles, marking threads are formed as warp and / or weft threads woven into the woven fabric carrier during the manufacturing process.

[0009] In contrast to the prior art described in WO 2016113132, which forms the generic concept, the present invention uses an adhesive tape with a woven substrate in which at least one warp or weft thread is configured as a marking thread. This eliminates the additional manufacturing steps required in the known teachings due to the sewing threads mentioned there and the associated stitching. Instead, the marking threads are woven directly into the woven substrate during the woven substrate manufacturing process.

[0010] In an advantageous embodiment, the marking threads are matched in their count to the other warp and / or weft threads. Typically, a woven substrate suitable for such an adhesive tape has a fixed thread count of 33 dtex to 550 dtex, which is usually the case. The warp and weft threads of the woven substrate do not necessarily have to have the same thread count. Instead, it is also possible to use a woven substrate in which the warp threads are thicker than the weft threads, for example, with a width count of 2000 dtex / cm to 4000 dtex / cm. The weft threads, on the other hand, may have a length count in the range of 8000 dtex / cm to 16000 dtex / cm.

[0011] In any case, the marking thread is adapted in count to the other weft threads or the count of the marking thread corresponds to the count of the other warp threads, so that the weaving process can proceed and be completed normally without being hindered by the presence of the marking thread.

[0012] In this case, the measure taken is generally that the marking thread is visibly arranged in a woven state on the outer surface of the adhesive tape. This configuration is particularly recommended when the woven fabric carrier of the adhesive tape according to the invention is not formed as a single-ply woven fabric, which is generally the preferred embodiment. Instead, the woven fabric carrier can essentially consist of two individual woven fabric layers bonded together. In this case, the two individual woven fabric layers can be bonded to each other by adhesive or by the threads of the woven fabric itself.

[0013] In any case, in the case of such a woven substrate constructed as a laminate, it is advantageous if the marking thread is arranged so that it is visibly woven into the outer surface of the adhesive tape, i.e., in the case of a laminate, the marking thread is ultimately woven into the individual woven fabrics that face outward in the assembled state, so that the desired quality checks described above can also be carried out in the assembled state.

[0014] To ensure that the marking yarn can be clearly distinguished from the other warp or weft yarns and perform its indicating function, the marking yarn generally has a contrasting color compared to the other warp and / or weft yarns. For example, the marking yarn may have a red, yellow, green, or blue color, while the other yarns of the woven fabric are dyed black. However, alternatively or additionally, the marking yarn may have a different surface condition from the other warp and / or weft yarns.

[0015] Such a different surface condition of the marking yarn compared to the other warp or weft yarns occurs, for example, when the marking yarn is textured. In this way, the marking yarn has a thread made of natural fibers with a comparable crimp structure. In contrast, if the other warp and / or weft yarns have a smooth surface structure, preferably because they are plastic yarns made of polyamide or polyester, the marking yarn can be differentiated based on its surface texture or crimp structure and produce the desired marking. Another possibility for achieving a different surface condition is to twist the marking yarn. For example, as described in detail in the applicant's German Utility Model No. 202016100057, the marking yarn can be twisted with 50 or 100 or more twists per meter. This twisting process also allows the surface condition of the marking yarn to be configured differently compared to the other untwisted warp and / or weft yarns.

[0016] Another alternative or additional possibility for distinguishing the marking thread from the other warp and / or weft threads is also conceivable. Typically, the woven fabric carrier according to the invention has a plain weave. However, the marking thread can be woven into the woven fabric in a different weave, especially if several such marking threads are used. However, this is often technically difficult to implement. Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning. Twill, satin, or tricot weaves are used for different bonds compared to plain weaves. In this case, several different, identical weaves are usually used to ensure that the changes in weave are clearly visible to the naked eye. In any case, such changes in the marking thread can also be recognized, allowing the adhesive tape according to the invention to be individualized. In this way, individual or multiple characteristics of the adhesive tape can be visibly displayed, especially in the assembled state.

[0017] However, the marking yarn often has a contrasting color compared to the other warp and / or weft yarns, since this allows the same consistent weave for all yarns in the woven fabric to be produced without changes during the manufacturing process. The other warp and / or weft yarns are often dyed black or orange or have a consistent color, so the marking yarn may have a contrasting color thereto.

[0018] To achieve this in detail, the marking yarn is preferably dyed during its production. This can be done, for example, by dyeing through a spinning nozzle. In this case, the desired dye is fed to an extruder for spinning the marking yarn. Alternatively or additionally, the marking yarn can be dyed after its production. For this purpose, the present invention can use so-called immersion dyeing. In this case, the yarn is immersed in a dye bath or dye liquor, and in this way, color particles penetrate into the interior of the marking yarn.

[0019] In this context, another possibility arises: the marking thread can have several different colors and / or a varying surface texture. Since the production of such marking threads, for example, with several different colors, is time-consuming, most manufacturers use marking threads of the same color throughout the entire process. In any case, the possibility arises that the marking thread has a code. The code can be determined, for example, by the color corresponding to the marking thread. In this case, if the marking thread is additionally textured or twisted, it becomes clear that virtually any number of codes can be realized for the adhesive tape according to the invention, especially when only a single marking thread is used. As mentioned above, the code reflects one or more properties of the adhesive tape.

[0020] The adhesive tape's properties include its heat resistance. In practice, such adhesive tapes are characterized by the fact that, at certain temperatures, typically over a treatment time of up to 3,000 hours, the textile substrate does not fade significantly, as detailed in the LV312 standard. For this reason, temperature classes T1 to T5 are distinguished in practice.

[0021] Meeting the temperature grade T3 corresponds to no observable discoloration at temperatures up to 125°C within a specified time. As explained in detail in the applicant's German Utility Model No. 202018101649 and the additional evidence contained therein, the temperature grade T4 corresponds to durability up to 150°C, and the temperature grade T5 even corresponds to heat resistance up to 175°C. In any case, the temperature grades T1 to T5 can be represented by a total of five different colors of marking threads, for example. This makes it possible to determine whether an adhesive tape with the appropriate temperature grade for the application has been applied, either in the assembled state of the adhesive tape or based on the winding that holds the cable set together.

[0022] Another characteristic of adhesive tapes that can be indicated by marking threads is their abrasion resistance. In practice, abrasion resistance can be classified into several so-called abrasion grades, comparable to the temperature grades mentioned above. In practice, for example, as described in German Utility Model No. 202012103975, adhesive tapes are manufactured in abrasion grades A to G in accordance with the aforementioned LV312 standard "Adhesive Tapes for Cable Sets in Motor Vehicles" (1 / 2005 or latest status 10 / 2009), which serves as a common test guideline for Audi, BMW, Mercedes, and VW. In this case, a pin with a diameter of 5 mm is used to test the adhesive tape. The adhesive tape is then scraped off with a scraper at a defined force, with a measured number of strokes until the adhesive tape is scraped off. The number of strokes forms the basis for the abrasion grade.

[0023] Based on the above-mentioned wear classes A to G, a total of seven different colors of marking thread are required in this case to indicate the corresponding wear classes A to G, respectively, and to be visible to all even during subsequent inspection, i.e. the color of the marking thread in this case defines the wear class achieved by a correspondingly equipped adhesive tape.

[0024] Finally, another characteristic of the marking thread adhesive tapes is their sound-insulating capacity. Again, they can be produced in different noise-insulating classes according to the noise-insulating properties and in accordance with the LV312 standard, from class A, where no noise-insulating effect is achieved by the adhesive tape, to class E, which corresponds to a very high level of noise-insulating effect. Further information on the classification into the corresponding noise-insulating classes can be found in DE 10 2011 005 763 A1.

[0025] To be able to indicate the relevant noise attenuation grade, in this example, five different marking thread colors are required, based on a total of five different noise attenuation grades A to E. In any case, it becomes clear that the marking thread provides or can provide generally visible and understandable information regarding the various properties of the adhesive tape, and how to do so. In this case, it is basically possible to produce the tape using only one marking thread. However, if, for example, it is desired to simultaneously and understandably indicate several different properties of the adhesive tape, several marking threads are usually used.

[0026] The marking threads are generally adapted to the material of the other warp and / or weft threads. As already mentioned above, the marking threads are typically entirely made of plastic threads, just like the other warp and / or weft threads. For example, all threads are made of polyester or polyamide threads. In principle, combinations are of course also conceivable and are included in the present invention.

[0027] If multiple marking threads are used, each individual marking thread can represent and comprehensibly indicate a respective characteristic. For example, one marking thread may correspond to the temperature rating achieved by the adhesive tape. In this case, another marking thread may represent the abrasion resistance of the adhesive tape. Another, third marking thread may make visible its fogging characteristics or its sound-insulating properties. In this way, the multiple marking threads together define a code that represents one or more characteristics of the adhesive tape as described.

[0028] Since the marking threads are warp and / or weft threads, a plurality of marking threads can also be used to form essentially one or more geometric patterns in the woven substrate, which geometric patterns can represent corresponding codes, which themselves correspond to one or more of the described properties of the adhesive tape.

[0029] As a result, an adhesive tape is provided that for the first time allows comprehensive inspection of the correct installation of cable sets to which the adhesive tape is attached in the assembled state, since one or more marking threads can be coded in such a way that several distinct properties of the adhesive tape are visible to the outside. These properties can be the temperature class, abrasion resistance, sound insulation properties, etc., achieved by the adhesive tape, so that a comprehensive and unambiguous characterization of the adhesive tape is provided, especially in the assembled state of the cable set. This was not possible in this way until now, and this is a major advantage.

[0030] The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of the drawings which show only one embodiment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] 1 shows a first embodiment of an adhesive tape according to the invention with dyed marking threads; FIG. [Figure 2] 10A-10C show alternative objects according to the invention with marking threads having different surface structures; [Figure 3] FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of the present invention with marking yarns having different weaves. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating the use of multiple marking threads to achieve a geometric pattern.

[0032] The adhesive tape shown is a winding tape for wrapping cable bundles in motor vehicles. As explained in detail and illustrated in the starting prior art of WO 2016113132, winding tapes are used to sew cable bundles or cable sets in motor vehicles. For this purpose, the adhesive tape is guided spirally around the individual cables.

[0033] For this purpose, the adhesive or winding tape according to the invention is fitted with a woven substrate 1, 2. The woven substrate 1, 2 itself is made up of warp threads 1 and weft threads 2. On the basis of the diagram shown in Figure 1, it can be seen that the weft threads 2 have a significantly higher count than the warp threads 1, but it should be taken into account that this is of course only exemplary and in no way limiting. In this example, the woven substrate 1, 2 has a count of 50 g / m 2 ~500g / m 2 Furthermore, although the illustrated woven fabric carriers 1, 2 are single-ply woven fabrics, in principle multi-ply woven fabrics are also possible, i.e., laminates of woven fabric carriers 1, 2 and nonwoven fabrics, foam materials or plastic films.

[0034] The woven substrates 1, 2 are provided on at least one side with an adhesive coating 3. For this purpose, the adhesive coating 3 has a thickness of 50 g / m 2 ~250g / m 2 The adhesive coating 3 may be applied to the woven fabric carrier 1, 2 with a mass per unit area in the range of 1.0 to 1.5 mm. The adhesive may be, but is not limited to, a hot melt adhesive. In this embodiment, the adhesive coating 3 is applied to only one side of the woven fabric carrier 1, 2. In the assembled state, the adhesive coating 3 faces towards the cables to be bundled, while the woven fabric carrier 1, 2 faces outwards and is visible.

[0035] In this case, what is crucial in accordance with the present invention is the marking yarn 4 woven into the woven substrate 1, 2, which in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 is woven into the woven substrate 1, 2 as a weft yarn 4 during the manufacturing process. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, as Figure 1 suggests, one (single) marking yarn 4 is dyed via a spinning nozzle. Furthermore, the marking yarn 4 has the same count as the other weft yarns 2 of the woven substrate 1, 2. The color of the marking yarn 4 contrasts with the colors of the other yarns 1, 2.

[0036] Depending on the color of the marking thread 4, the adhesive tape can be judged with respect to its properties. For example, the temperature grade achieved by the adhesive tape according to the invention can be indicated based on the color of the marking thread 4. For this purpose, the marking thread 4 is arranged visibly woven into the outer surface of the adhesive tape. That is, when the adhesive tape according to the invention is wound spirally around a cable bundle or cable set, the marking thread 4, which has a color that contrasts with the other threads 1, 2 in the finished cable set, can nevertheless be immediately identified. For this purpose, the marking thread can be dyed, for example, red, white, or brown, in contrast to the other threads 1, 2 of the woven substrate 1, 2, which are typically dyed black. For this purpose, a corresponding temperature grade corresponds to a pre-specified color: for example, brown corresponds to temperature grade T5, white to temperature grade T4, and finally red to temperature grade T3.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the marking thread 4, which has a different surface condition from the other warp and weft threads 1 and 2. This different surface condition of the single marking thread 4 shown in FIG. 2 results from the marking thread 4 being twisted around its longitudinal axis, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 2. The twisted structure of the marking thread 4 results in a different surface condition from the other threads 1 and 2, which have a smooth surface. In this case, it is considered that different degrees of twisting, i.e., the number of twists of the marking thread 4 around its longitudinal axis, also correspond to different temperature grades, so that anyone can check and understand the temperature grade even when the adhesive tape is woven in.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the marking thread 4. Here, the marking thread 4 has a different weave from the other threads 1, 2. In fact, the other warp and weft threads are united in a plain weave to form the woven substrate 1, 2. In contrast, the weft thread 4 has a twill weave. Typically, a twill weave is produced using several weft threads 4, which allows the different weave types to be visually clearly understood. That is, the weft thread or threads 4 pass under a corresponding warp thread 1 and then over at least two corresponding warp threads or three warp threads 1. In contrast, the plain weave of the other threads 1, 2 is distinguished by the fact that each weft thread 2 passes under one warp thread 1 and then over only one warp thread 1.

[0039] In this way, the marking thread 4 now has a visually different configuration that can be seen later in the installed state or in a cable harness made with the adhesive tape. In this case, the number of warp threads 1 bridged by the weft thread 2 can serve as a measure of the property displayed by the marking thread 4. For example, two bridged warp threads 1 within the twill weave of the marking thread 4 can correspond to temperature class T3, three bridged warp threads 1 can correspond to temperature class T4, while four bridged warp threads 1 can correspond to temperature class T5.

[0040] Finally, FIG. 4 shows one embodiment in which a plurality of marking threads 4, 5 are used. In practice, a total of four marking threads 4 are woven into the woven fabric 1, 2 as weft threads, as well as two other marking threads 5 configured as warp threads. In this way, the marking threads 4, 5 as a whole can define the characteristic code of the illustrated adhesive tape. For example, in the drawing frame shown in FIG. 4, the marking threads 4, 5 represent a geometric pattern in the form of two enclosed squares or rectangles 6 each. The number of these rectangles or squares 6 is variable depending on the marking threads 4 used as weft threads, and in this way the characteristic code of the adhesive tape according to the invention can be newly realized and changed.

[0041] For example, one rectangle or square 6 may correspond to temperature class T1, two rectangles 6 represent temperature class T2, etc. Furthermore, in this connection, marking threads 4, 5 of different colors may be used to further greatly increase the number of possible codes.

[0042] Overall, it becomes clear that, especially when several marking threads 4, 5 are used, one or more geometric patterns, in the present invention a rectangle or a square 6, can be represented as a code. Overall and ultimately, this gives rise to the possibility of using one marking thread 4 or several marking threads 4, 5 to comprehensively characterize the adhesive tape according to the present invention with respect to the desired properties to be inspected or verified. All this also clearly works in connection with the finished cable harness and the adhesive tape that has been appropriately installed. Several major advantages can be seen in this respect.

Claims

1. An adhesive tape comprising a woven fabric carrier (1, 2), an adhesive coating (3) applied to one or both sides of the woven fabric carrier (1, 2), and at least one marking thread (4, 5) woven into the woven fabric carrier, The marking threads (4, 5) are formed as warp and / or weft threads (4, 5) woven into the woven fabric carrier (1, 2) during the manufacturing process, the marking threads (4, 5) have a contrasting color and / or a different surface texture compared to the other warp and / or weft threads (1, 2); the marking threads (4, 5) have a code corresponding to one or more properties of the adhesive tape, The marking threads (4, 5) are grouped together to form a geometric pattern (6) as a code, the properties of the adhesive tape, such as its heat resistance and / or abrasion resistance and / or its sound insulating properties, are indicated by the code of the marking threads (4, 5); An adhesive tape characterized by:

2. 2. Adhesive tape according to claim 1, wherein the marking threads (4, 5) are adapted in terms of their count to the other warp and / or weft threads (1, 2).

3. 3. An adhesive tape according to claim 1, wherein the marking threads (4, 5) are arranged so as to be visible when woven into the outer surface of the adhesive tape.

4. 4. An adhesive tape according to claim 1, wherein the marking threads (4, 5) are dyed during production.

5. 5. Adhesive tape according to claim 1, wherein the marking threads (4, 5) are dyed after their production.

6. 6. Adhesive tape according to claim 1, wherein the marking threads (4, 5) have a plurality of different colors and / or different surface textures.

7. 7. Adhesive tape according to claim 1, wherein the marking threads (4, 5) are adapted to the material of the other warp and / or weft threads (1, 2).

8. 8. An adhesive tape according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of marking threads (4, 5).

9. 9. Adhesive tape according to claim 8, wherein the marking threads (4, 5) together define the characteristic code of the adhesive tape.

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