Sealing Profile Application Guide Head with Non-Driven Pressure Roller

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for applying sealing profiles to vehicle surfaces, such as door and sunroof surrounds, face challenges in reliably bonding the profiles due to internal tension and irregular contours, often requiring complex speed control and driven application rollers.

Innovation Solution

A device using a guide head with a guide element and a feed device applies the sealing profile without a driven application roller, utilizing a non-driven pressure element and a continuous slip clutch to ensure constant torque and compression, stabilizing the profile with a pressure roller for reliable adhesion across varying contours.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a driven application roller is used to apply the sealing profile, then the profile can be fed with compression to prevent detachment, but the system becomes complex requiring accurate speed detection and control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding reliabilityVSAvoidspeed control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the driven application roller and its associated speed control system from the device. Instead, it uses a simple pressure roller that merely presses the sealing profile onto the surface without driving it, thereby eliminating the complex speed detection and control mechanisms while maintaining reliable bonding through the pressure roller's compressive action

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing profile is fed through the guide head by the feeding mechanism (separate from the application roller), and the pressure roller simply applies pressure to bond it. The system separates the feeding function from the bonding function, allowing each to be optimized independently without complex coordination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If a driven application roller applies the sealing profile, then defined application is achieved, but force application becomes irregular due to hollow profile yielding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication definitionVSAvoidforce application regularity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the driven application roller that was causing irregular force application on hollow profiles. The feeding mechanism delivers the profile to the surface, and a separate non-driven pressure roller applies consistent pressing force without the variability introduced by driven roller compression of hollow sections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent separates the feeding function (performed by the feeding mechanism) from the bonding function (performed by the pressure roller). This segmentation allows the pressure roller to focus solely on applying defined, regular force to bond the profile, while the feeding mechanism handles profile delivery without interfering with force application consistency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the guide head moves at varying speeds along irregular contours, then complex speed control is required to maintain compression, but this increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression consistencyVSAvoidspeed control system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the complex speed control system entirely. The pressure roller is non-driven and simply presses the profile onto the surface as the guide head moves at any speed along the contour. Compression consistency is achieved through the mechanical action of the pressure roller rather than through active speed control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure roller is designed to adapt dynamically to the guide head's movement along irregular contours. It maintains contact and applies pressure regardless of speed variations, allowing the system to handle varying speeds without requiring active control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This method ensures consistent and reliable bonding of the sealing profile to the surface, maintaining constant compression and adhesion regardless of contour shape, reducing the risk of detachment and improving application accuracy and stability.

Implementation Method 1

a continuous slip clutch in order to ensure constant torque

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2998204B1Device and method for applying a sealing profile
Publication Date: 2020.01.08 AYTEC AUTOMATION
  • EP2998204B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2998204B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2998204B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for applying a sealing profile (11) to a surface (28), comprising a handling device (14) for moving and guiding a guide head (16) in an application position to apply the sealing profile along a defined contour on the surface (28), wherein a feed device (20a,b) is arranged in conjunction with the guide head (16) to supply the sealing profile (11) to the surface (28) with a compression.The guide head has a guide element (26) for guiding the sealing profile, which guide profile (26) in the application position can be oriented at an acute angle relative to the surface and against the direction of movement of the guide head relative to the surface in order to transfer the sealing profile onto the surface without the interposition of a driven application roller, and that a non-driven pressure element (44), in particular a pressure roller, is arranged on the guide head (16), which pressure element is designed to bear against the sealing profile (11) transferred onto the surface (28) in the application position by means of a spring device (48) under preload.