Sealant Applying Device with Floating Nozzle Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sealant applying devices for vehicle bodies result in non-uniform sealant thickness, leading to deformation, increased labor costs, and variability in vehicle quality due to manual application and lack of consistent application patterns, affecting air-tightness, water-tightness, and noise prevention.
Innovation Solution
A sealant applying device with a nozzle device, guide unit, and driving unit that includes a servo motor, torsion spring, and friction plate, allowing precise application along joint lines by rotating the floating unit to maintain contact with the joint line and adjusting the gap between panels and nozzle tips for consistent sealant application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If sealant is sprayed through a sealant gun, then the sealant application process is automated, but the sealant thickness becomes non-uniform causing deformation and bending of the vehicle body shell
Solution Approach 1:
The sealant applying device incorporates a floating unit with a spring that allows the fixing block to move dynamically up and down, enabling the nozzle tip to maintain optimal contact with the joint line while accommodating variations in panel surface, thus ensuring uniform sealant thickness during automated application
Solution Approach 2:
The device changes the operational parameters by controlling the rotation angle of the floating unit through a driving unit, which adjusts the gap between the nozzle tip and the joint line, ensuring consistent sealant application thickness throughout the automated process
2Manufacturing precision
If manual sealant application is performed, then sealant thickness uniformity can be maintained, but labor cost increases and vehicle body quality varies depending on operator ability
Solution Approach 1:
The floating unit with spring mechanism enables the nozzle device to self-adjust to the joint line position automatically, eliminating the need for operator skill in maintaining consistent sealant thickness while keeping the system relatively simple in structure
Solution Approach 2:
The device replaces manual mechanical application with a controlled mechanical system that uses a driving unit to rotate the floating unit to a predetermined angle, achieving consistent sealant application without human intervention
3Manufacturing precision
If additional manual work is performed to maintain consistent application pattern, then sealant application quality improves, but workability and productivity are deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The driving unit pre-sets the rotation angle of the floating unit to bring the nozzle tip into close contact with the joint line before sealant application begins, ensuring consistent application pattern from the start without requiring continuous manual adjustment during the process
Solution Approach 2:
The guide unit provides continuous feedback by guiding the nozzle tip along the joint line, ensuring the sealant is applied at a precise location and maintaining consistent application pattern throughout the entire sealing process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables uniform sealant application along precise locations, maintaining consistent thickness, width, and amount, reducing labor costs and improving vehicle body quality by ensuring consistent application patterns and enhanced air-tightness and noise prevention.
Implementation Method 1
a torsion spring connected to the driving rod and the driving bracket to provide a restoring force on the driving rod
Implementation Method 2
the driving brake may include a driving stopper which is selectively protruded towards the friction plate to contact with the friction plate
Data Source
AI summary
A sealant applying device for applying a sealant along a joint line formed on a panel joint, may include a nozzle device including a nozzle tip mounted through a fixing block to apply the sealant to the joint line, a guide unit mounted on one side of the fixing block adjacent to the nozzle tip and configured to be slidably movable along the joint line to guide the nozzle tip and a floating unit connected to the fixing block and a robot and allowing the fixing block to move upwards and downwards.