Integrated Tape Roll End Effector for Compact Adhesive Application
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing end effectors for double-sided adhesive tapes are cumbersome, require extensive structural space, lack flexibility, and pose safety risks due to long feed distances, leading to inefficient and unsafe application in automated manufacturing processes, particularly when bonding components to vehicle roof linings.
Innovation Solution
An end effector with integrated roll holder, guide arrangement, application arrangement, and discharge arrangement, featuring a drive unit, web-tensioning element, and electronic control unit, ensures precise and efficient application of double-sided adhesive tapes by minimizing feed distance and reducing the need for external devices, enhancing automatability and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If adhesive tape rolls are arranged on external unwinding devices, then large amounts of adhesive tape can be applied without interruption, but the required structural space increases and flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the adhesive tape roll holder directly into the end effector structure, merging the storage function with the application device. This eliminates the need for separate external unwinding devices while maintaining the capability to hold and dispense adhesive tape rolls, thereby reducing the overall structural space required in the manufacturing hall.
2Quantity of substance
If the distance between external unwinding device and end effector is long, then large amounts of adhesive tape can be stored, but the feed arrangement becomes complex and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the adhesive tape roll holder from the external unwinding device and relocates it directly into the end effector. This eliminates the long feed distance between the unwinding device and end effector, thereby simplifying the feed arrangement and removing the need for complex compensators and tension control mechanisms.
3Quantity of substance
If long feed distances are used, then adhesive tape storage capacity increases, but the risk of tape getting dirty and bonding quality reducing increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the roll holder with the end effector, the adhesive tape is dispensed directly at the application location. This eliminates long feed distances through which the tape could become contaminated by dust, dirt, or other environmental factors, thereby maintaining bonding quality.
4Productivity
If external roll unwinders are used, then adhesive tape can be supplied continuously, but working safety decreases due to personnel entanglement risks
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the roll holder from external unwinding devices and integrates it into the end effector, which is controlled by the automated movement unit. This eliminates exposed moving tapes that could entangle personnel, while maintaining continuous adhesive tape supply through automated control.
5Ease of operation
If separate roll unwinders are used, then adhesive tape can be fed to the end effector, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the roll holder with the end effector into a single integrated unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate roll unwinders and their associated feed arrangements, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining full adhesive tape feeding capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An end effector configured for the application of double-sided adhesive tapes and comprising: a roll mount; a guide arrangement; an application arrangement; and a removal arrangement. The the roll mount is designed to receive a roll of adhesive tape, the guide arrangement is designed for guiding an adhesive tape provided by a roll of adhesive tape arranged in the roll mount from the roll mount to the application arrangement, and the application arrangement is designed for guiding an adhesive tape fed to the application arrangement in such a manner that, in an application region, the adhesive layer of the adhesive tape lies on the outer side of the end effector, as a result of which the end effector can bring a substrate which is to be adhesively bonded into contact with the adhesive layer of the adhesive tape.