Setting Head Adhesive Deposition for Bonding Functional Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in attaching functional elements, such as metal or fiber-reinforced plastic components, to plastic components without damaging or losing the adhesive, particularly during handling and transport, as existing methods face risks of adhesive damage or loss due to improper application and handling.

Innovation Solution

A device with an injection system applies adhesive in the form of rings or drops directly to the contact surface within a setting head, minimizing the risk of adhesive damage and ensuring precise application, which can be integrated with various devices like presses or robots for efficient attachment of functional elements to plastic components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If adhesive is pre-applied to functional elements before handling and transport, then attachment readiness is improved, but adhesive damage or loss occurs during handling and transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment readinessVSAvoidadhesive integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive is applied to the functional element just before attachment in the setting head, rather than being pre-applied during earlier handling stages. This preliminary action is timed optimally to ensure the adhesive is in place when needed but has not been exposed to damaging handling and transport conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The adhesive application step is extracted from the earlier handling and transport phases and separated into a distinct operation that occurs only in the setting head immediately before attachment. This separation prevents the adhesive from being present during conditions that cause damage or loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If adhesive is applied outside the setting head, then application flexibility is improved, but contamination risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication flexibilityVSAvoidcontamination risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The setting head serves as an intermediary structure that provides a controlled environment for adhesive application. It acts as a protective barrier between the adhesive application process and the external environment, allowing flexibility in application methods while preventing contamination from external sources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The setting head creates a controlled, contamination-free environment for adhesive application. By confining the application process within the setting head structure, the patent establishes an inert environment that protects the adhesive and functional elements from external contaminants during the critical application phase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

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 solution effectively prevents adhesive damage and loss, ensuring reliable attachment of functional elements to plastic components with precise adhesive application, reducing contamination risks and enhancing the reliability of the bonding process.

Implementation Method 1

A device with an injection system applies adhesive in the form of rings or drops directly to the contact surface within a setting head

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive application: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3217024B1Device and method for attaching functional elements to a component, in particular to a component made of fiber-reinforced plastic
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 PROFIL VERBINDUNGSTECHNIK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3217024B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP3217024B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3217024B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A device and a method are provided for attaching functional elements (10) made of metal to a component, in particular to a component made of fiber-reinforced plastic, using a setting head (41), the functional element having a contact surface (12) provided with adhesive. In this case, the adhesive inside the setting head is attached to the functional element before the functional element is attached to the component.