DE102022128248A1 - Process for producing adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements and refilled cassette unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements (10), comprising the method steps: a) producing or providing a dispensing material strip (12) in a dispensing arrangement (14), wherein the dispensing material strip (12) comprises a plurality of adhesive elements (10), wherein the dispensing arrangement (14) is designed to separate the adhesive elements (10) in a dispensing area (18) from a web-shaped first separating material (16) and to dispense them from the dispensing arrangement (14), b) producing or providing two or more receiving arrangements (20a-e), each comprising: i) a feed roll (22), ii) a receiving roll (24), iii) a guide arrangement (26), and iv) a web-shaped second separating material (28), wherein the web-shaped second separating material (28) is arranged between the feed roll (22) and the receiving roll (24) in the guide arrangement (26) and is guided through a receiving area (30) of the receiving arrangement (20a-e), c) guiding the dispenser material strip (12) in the dispenser arrangement (14) through the dispensing area (18), d) rolling up the web-shaped second release materials (28) on the receiving rolls (24) in the respective receiving arrangements (20a-e), and e) dispensing adhesive elements (10) from the dispenser arrangement (14) in the dispensing area (18) and transferring a portion of the dispensed adhesive elements (10) into the receiving areas (30) of the receiving arrangements (20a-e).

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements, in particular for refilling cassette units, a dispenser device for use in a corresponding method, the use of a corresponding dispenser arrangement for refilling cassette units and a refilled cassette unit that can be produced using the method.

The use of adhesive elements is now an important part of many modern manufacturing processes. Corresponding adhesive elements are not only used to attach components to a substrate, but also serve in particular to close openings in a substrate. Such openings are usually due to manufacturing and represent potential weak points in the final product through which moisture or contamination can penetrate, for example. The use of suitable, usually one-sidedly sticky adhesive elements to close corresponding openings in substrates represents a simple, time- and cost-efficient solution for closing corresponding openings and preventing unwanted ingress of contamination. In the state of the art, such adhesive elements are already regularly used for this purpose, which are also referred to as die-cuts due to their manufacturing process.

In principle, it would be conceivable to place the corresponding adhesive elements manually on a substrate. However, as automation progresses and in view of the continued interest in a process that is as error-free and efficient as possible, automated application devices have been developed that serve to apply adhesive elements to a substrate to be bonded. There are a wide range of requirements placed on the corresponding application devices. In particular, the corresponding application devices must enable reliable and reproducible application of adhesive elements to the substrates, with a high throughput being desirable.

To optimize handling efficiency and avoid complex feed systems, application devices with an integrated dispenser arrangement for adhesive elements were designed in which the provision of the adhesive element and the application device can be carried out together, for example as part of an end effector of a robot head. For an efficient supply of adhesive elements, corresponding application devices with an integrated dispenser device often rely on a refill system in which adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements are inserted into the dispenser arrangement, which can be removed and replaced again after the adhesive elements contained on the adhesive roll have been applied. Many modern application devices rely on concepts with so-called refill cassettes, in which the adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements are usually arranged in a housing. In many cases, corresponding refill cassettes also include an integrated guide arrangement, for example made up of guide rollers and deflection elements, which optimally guide the material tape in the refill cassettes and enable the material tape in the refill cassette to be unwound with an external drive unit. The use of appropriate refill cassettes regularly allows a particularly fast, reliable and error-free supply of the application device with the adhesive elements required for the application, whereby the refill cassettes are also particularly advantageous during storage and transport.

Despite the advantages associated with the use of replaceable adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements and in particular the use of refill cassettes, their use is sometimes also perceived as disadvantageous from other points of view. In particular, the adhesive rolls that have been freed of adhesive elements, i.e. mostly the emptied carrier roll and the remaining unrolled liner, often end up as waste after use, which can only be recycled at great expense, particularly in older systems. In this respect, the handling of emptied refill cassettes is in many cases perceived as more advantageous due to the integrated guide arrangement and a roll that is usually present for winding up the unrolled liner. However, recycling or refilling refill cassettes is often complex, which is regularly caused by the housing of the refill cassettes, which in many cases is not easy to open from the outside, for example when an empty roll of adhesive tape is to be removed and replaced with a new adhesive roll. In many cases, the new material tape must also be threaded into the guide arrangement of the refill cassette and connected to the take-up roll. For these reasons, refilling refill cassettes is often not time and/or cost efficient and in many cases difficult to automate.

In addition to the problems described above, the time- and cost-efficient production of fresh adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements, which can be used directly in applications, for example, is also application devices or in a refill cassette are often perceived as challenging. The application devices, which are mostly used as end effectors, are regularly limited in terms of the maximum weight they can have, so that the adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements used can usually only have a limited width. In many cases, such application devices are designed for adhesive tape rolls that only have a row of adhesive elements on the release liner. For reasons of production efficiency, however, when producing adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements, for example adhesive rolls with die-cuts, it is actually preferable to manufacture these with large production widths, for example 400 mm or more, and to choose the densest possible packing of the adhesive elements on the liner in order to be able to obtain as many adhesive elements as possible per time and area. The production of adhesive rolls suitable for application devices and/or refill cassettes from these starting materials, also known as mother rolls, often requires complex equipment and/or process controls and/or is associated with compromises in time and/or cost efficiency.

The primary object of the present invention was to eliminate or at least reduce the disadvantages of the prior art described above.

In particular, it was the object of the present invention to provide an advantageous method for producing adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements, which can be used in particular for refilling cassette units.

In this respect, it was the object of the present invention that adhesive rolls or refill cassettes loaded with adhesive elements should be able to be produced in a time- and cost-efficient manner using the method to be specified.

It was a supplementary object of the present invention that adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements should be able to be produced using the method to be specified, which are suitable for use in application devices designed as end effectors, wherein this production should desirably also be possible starting from master rolls with large production widths and high packing densities of the adhesive elements.

It was a further object of the present invention that with the method to be specified a large number of adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements should be able to be produced simultaneously, or a large number of cassette units to be recycled should be able to be refilled simultaneously.

It was an additional object of the present invention to provide an advantageous dispenser device for use in the method to be specified and to specify the use of a corresponding dispenser device in the refilling of cassette units. It was also an object of the present invention to provide a refilled cassette unit that can be produced using the method to be specified.

The inventors of the present invention have now found that the objects described above can be achieved if a method for producing adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements is carried out with a dispenser arrangement, with which the adhesive elements of a donor material strip are transferred to web-shaped release materials of two or more receiving arrangements in order to produce the adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements in the receiving arrangements, as defined in the claims. In this respect, the inventors have succeeded in identifying particularly suitable structural designs with which the adhesive elements from the dispenser arrangement can be efficiently distributed to a large number of receiving arrangements, even from wide and densely packed parent rolls.

The above-mentioned objects are thus achieved by the subject matter of the invention as defined in the claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention emerge from the subclaims and the following statements.

Such embodiments, which are referred to below as preferred, are combined in particularly preferred embodiments with features of other embodiments referred to as preferred. Combinations of two or more of the embodiments referred to below as particularly preferred are therefore particularly preferred. Also preferred are embodiments in which a feature of an embodiment referred to as preferred to some extent is combined with one or more further features of other embodiments referred to as preferred to some extent. Features of preferred dispensing devices, uses and refilled cassette units result from the features of preferred methods.

1. a) Herstellen oder Bereitstellen eines Spendermaterialbandes in einer Spenderanordnung, wobei das Spendermaterialband eine Vielzahl von Klebeelementen mit einer Trägerschicht und einer damit verbundenen Klebeschicht umfasst, wobei die Klebeelemente mit der Klebeschicht auf einem bahnförmigen ersten Trennmaterial angeordnet sind, wobei die Spenderanordnung dazu eingerichtet ist, die Klebelemente in einem Spendebereich vom bahnförmigen ersten Trennmaterial zu separieren und aus der Spenderanordnung auszugeben,
2. b) Herstellen oder Bereitstellen von zwei oder mehr Aufnahmeanordnungen, umfassend jeweils:
   • i) eine Zuführrolle,
   • ii) eine Aufnahmerolle,
   • iii) eine Führungsanordnung, und
   • iv) ein bahnförmiges zweites Trennmaterial, welches teilweise auf der Zuführrolle aufgewickelt und an einem Ende an der Aufnahmerolle befestigt ist, wobei das bahnförmige zweite Trennmaterial zwischen der Zuführrolle und der Aufnahmerolle in der Führungsanordnung angeordnet ist und durch einen Aufnahmebereich der Aufnahmeanordnung geführt wird,
3. c) Führen des Spendermaterialbandes in der Spenderanordnung durch den Spendebereich,
4. d) Aufrollen der bahnförmigen zweiten Trennmaterialien auf den Aufnahmerollen in den jeweiligen Aufnahmeanordnungen, wobei die bahnförmigen zweiten Trennmaterialien von der Zuführrolle abgewickelt und in der Führungsanordnung durch den Aufnahmebereich geführt werden, und
5. e) Ausgeben von Klebeelementen aus der Spenderanordnung im Spendebereich und Überführen jeweils eines Teils der ausgegebenen Klebeelemente in die Aufnahmebereiche der Aufnahmeanordnungen zur Anordnung der überführten Klebeelemente auf den jeweiligen bahnförmigen zweiten Trennmaterialien.

The invention particularly relates to a method for producing adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements, comprising the method steps:

1. a) producing or providing a dispenser material tape in a dispenser arrangement, wherein the dispenser material tape comprises a plurality of adhesive elements with a carrier layer and an adhesive layer connected thereto, wherein the adhesive elements with the adhesive layer are arranged on a web-shaped first release material, wherein the dispenser arrangement is designed to separate the adhesive elements in a dispensing area from the web-shaped first release material and to dispense them from the dispenser arrangement,
2. (b) manufacturing or providing two or more receiving arrangements, each comprising:
   • (i) a feed roller,
   • (ii) a recording reel,
   • (iii) a management order, and
   • iv) a web-shaped second release material partially wound on the feed roll and secured at one end to the take-up roll, the web-shaped second release material being arranged between the feed roll and the take-up roll in the guide arrangement and being guided through a take-up region of the take-up arrangement,
3. c) guiding the donor material band in the donor arrangement through the dispensing area,
4. d) rolling up the web-shaped second release materials on the take-up rolls in the respective take-up arrangements, wherein the web-shaped second release materials are unwound from the feed roll and guided in the guide arrangement through the take-up area, and
5. e) Dispensing adhesive elements from the dispenser arrangement in the dispensing area and transferring a portion of the dispensed adhesive elements into the receiving areas of the receiving arrangements for arranging the transferred adhesive elements on the respective web-shaped second release materials.

The method according to the invention is used to produce adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements. Corresponding adhesive rolls can, for example, be used directly in application devices or can be used to produce or refill cassette units. In addition, the method according to the invention advantageously enables direct refilling of cassette units, i.e. the previously emptied cassette units can be refilled using the method according to the invention, so that the adhesive roll loaded with adhesive elements is produced directly in the cassette unit.

In process step a), a so-called dispenser material strip is first presented, which comprises the adhesive elements which are to be distributed to the downstream receiving arrangements in order to produce the adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements.

The donor material tape is preferably provided in a wound form, whereby the expert also speaks of a so-called master roll. Corresponding master rolls are usually produced with large production widths, which makes it possible to provide a large number of adhesive elements per master roll. A method according to the invention is preferred, whereby the donor material tape is provided, preferably on a master roll, whereby the master roll particularly preferably has a width in the range from 300 to 500 mm, very particularly preferably in the range from 350 to 450 mm.

The method according to the invention is advantageously suitable for a wide range of possible adhesive elements. With a view to the industrial relevance of corresponding adhesive elements, the method according to the invention is, however, particularly suitable for processing so-called die-cuts, with the processing of pressure-sensitive adhesive elements being of particular relevance. A method according to the invention is therefore relevant for essentially all embodiments, wherein the adhesive elements are die-cuts. A method according to the invention is also expedient for most cases, wherein the adhesive elements are rectangular or circular, preferably circular, adhesive elements, wherein the adhesive elements can in particular have rounded corners. In practice, a method according to the invention is also common, wherein the adhesive elements are pressure-sensitive adhesive elements and/or wherein the adhesive layer comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive, wherein the adhesive layer preferably consists of a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

For the adhesive layer of the adhesive elements, the expert can use adhesive masses that are common in the field of adhesive technology, for example poly(meth)acrylate and/or rubber-based systems. The corresponding adhesive layer is arranged in the usual way on a carrier layer, which is usually made of a plastic. Even if it is theoretically possible to process adhesive elements that are sticky on both sides using the method according to the invention, the In practice, processes according to the invention are used above all for adhesive elements that are sticky on one side. An example of a process according to the invention is one in which the carrier layer comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, cyclic olefin copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, polyester, ethylene vinyl alcohol, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyacrylonitrile, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyethersulfone and polyimide, preferably selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate, the carrier layer preferably consisting of these materials. In the vast majority of cases, a process according to the invention is preferred, the side of the adhesive elements facing away from the adhesive layer being formed by the carrier layer.

The adhesive elements are arranged on the dispenser material tape on a release material. Corresponding web-shaped release materials, which are also regularly referred to as liners, are well known to those skilled in the field of adhesive technology and are referred to here as release materials because the adhesive elements arranged thereon can be easily separated from them due to reduced adhesion to the surface. The functionality of the release materials can be achieved by conventional release layers known to those skilled in the art, which are applied to the surface of the release materials, where they cover the base layer made of plastic or paper, for example. In other words, it is usually a method according to the invention, wherein the web-shaped first release material and/or the web-shaped second release material, preferably all web-shaped release materials, are liners. A typical method according to the invention is one in which the web-shaped first release material and/or the web-shaped second release material, preferably all web-shaped release materials, are coated on the side facing the adhesive elements with a release layer, preferably with a silicone release layer, wherein the silicone release layer can preferably be produced by crosslinking a crosslinkable silicone system comprising one or more polysiloxanes.

• i.2) eine Mutterrolle mit dem Spendermaterialband,
• ii.2) eine Aufwickelrolle, zum Aufwickeln des von Klebelementen befreiten bahnförmigen ersten Trennmaterials,
• iii.3) eine Führungseinrichtung, die dazu eingerichtet ist, dass Spendermaterialband von der Mutterrolle durch den Spendebereich zu führen und das im Spendebereich von Klebelementen befreite bahnförmige erste Trennmaterial zu der Aufwickelrolle zu führen. Bevorzugt ist außerdem ein erfindungsgemäßes Verfahren, wobei die Mutterrolle und/oder die Aufwickelrolle, bevorzugt die Aufwickelrolle, elektrisch angetrieben ist.

The dispenser material tape is produced or provided in a so-called dispenser arrangement. This dispenser arrangement is designed to separate the adhesive elements from the web-shaped first separating material by suitable means and to dispense them from the dispenser arrangement, with particularly suitable structural designs for implementing this functionality being disclosed below. The area of the dispenser arrangement in which the adhesive elements separated from the separating material are dispensed is referred to as the dispensing area in the context of the present invention. In preferred embodiments, the dispenser arrangement will comprise, in addition to the master roll, which comprises the dispenser material tape, a winding roll and a guide device for guiding the dispenser material tape in the dispenser arrangement. The dispenser material tape extends, stretched by the guide elements of the guide device, which can be guide rolls, for example, from the master roll to the winding roll and passes through the dispensing area. The person skilled in the art will understand that with this structure, behind the dispensing area in the web direction, only the web-shaped first separating material, which is usually completely freed of adhesive elements, is present, which is wound onto the winding roll. By driving the take-up roll, which can optionally be combined with a drive for the parent roll, it is possible to run the web-shaped first separating material and thus the dispensing material band through the dispenser arrangement so that new adhesive elements can be guided from the parent roll into the dispensing area. In this respect, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the dispenser arrangement comprises:

• i.2) a master roll with the donor tape,
• ii.2) a take-up roll for winding up the web-shaped first release material freed from adhesive elements,
• iii.3) a guide device which is designed to guide the donor material strip from the master roll through the dispensing area and to guide the web-shaped first release material, freed of adhesive elements in the dispensing area, to the winding roll. A method according to the invention is also preferred, wherein the master roll and/or the winding roll, preferably the winding roll, is electrically driven.

• m) eine erste Rollenaufnahme zur drehbar gelagerten Aufnahme einer ein Spendermaterialband umfassenden Mutterrolle, wobei das Spendermaterialband eine Vielzahl von Klebeelementen mit einer Trägerschicht und einer damit verbundenen Klebeschicht umfasst, wobei die Klebeelemente mit der Klebeschicht auf einem bahnförmigen ersten Trennmaterial angeordnet sind,
• n) eine zweite Rollenaufnahme zur drehbar gelagerten Aufnahme einer Aufwickelrolle, zum Aufwickeln des von Klebelementen befreiten bahnförmigen ersten Trennmaterials,
• o) eine Führungseinrichtung, die dazu eingerichtet ist, dass Spendermaterialband von der Mutterrolle durch einen Spendebebereich zu führen und das im Spendebereich von Klebelementen befreiten bahnförmigen ersten Trennmaterial zu der Aufwickelrolle zu führen,

wobei die Spendervorrichtung dazu eingerichtet ist, die Klebelemente in dem Spendebereich vom bahnförmigen ersten Trennmaterial zu separieren und gleichzeitig oder alternieren an zwei separate Aufnahmeanordnungen auszugeben.Complementarily, the invention also relates to a dispensing device for use in a method according to the invention for forming a dispensing arrangement, comprising:

• m) a first roll holder for rotatably receiving a master roll comprising a donor material tape, wherein the donor material tape comprises a plurality of adhesive elements with a carrier layer and an adhesive layer connected thereto, wherein the adhesive elements with the adhesive layer are arranged on a web-shaped first release material,
• n) a second roll holder for the rotatable mounting of a take-up roll, for Winding up the web-shaped first release material freed from adhesive elements,
• o) a guide device which is designed to guide the dispensing material strip from the parent roll through a dispensing area and to guide the web-shaped first release material freed of adhesive elements in the dispensing area to the take-up roll,

wherein the dispensing device is adapted to separate the adhesive elements in the dispensing area from the web-shaped first release material and to dispense them simultaneously or alternately to two separate receiving arrangements.

In this respect, a dispensing device according to the invention is preferred, wherein the first roll holder and/or the second roll holder, preferably the second roll holder, is electrically driven.

It can be seen as an advantage of the method according to the invention that it is particularly easy and efficient to automate. The person skilled in the art will understand that an electronic data processing device will usually be used for this purpose in order to determine or promote the control of the method. In preferred embodiments, this electronic data processing device is part of the dispenser arrangement. A method according to the invention is therefore preferred, wherein the dispenser arrangement comprises an electronic data processing device for controlling the method.

In process step b), two or more receiving arrangements are now produced or provided in which adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements will be produced. These receiving arrangements comprise a feed roll which comprises a wound-up web-shaped second separating material which is guided from the feed roll through the guide arrangement, which in turn can comprise guide rolls or other guide elements, to the receiving roll. This makes it possible to guide the web-shaped second separating material through the receiving arrangement by winding it onto the receiving roll and unwinding it accordingly from the feed roll. According to the invention, the web-shaped second separating material passes through a so-called receiving area of the receiving arrangement. In the context of the present invention, this refers to the part of the receiving arrangement in which the adhesive elements dispensed by the dispenser arrangement are transferred to the receiving arrangement and are accordingly received by it. The person skilled in the art will understand that in the context of the method according to the invention, the web-shaped second separating material, which does not yet comprise adhesive elements, is guided through the receiving area, equipped with adhesive elements there and then wound onto the receiving roll. A method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the feed roller and/or the take-up roller, preferably the take-up roller, is electrically driven. Additionally or alternatively, a method according to the invention is also preferred, wherein the guide arrangement and/or the guide unit comprises one or more guide elements, preferably guide rollers.

• f) Durchtrennen der bahnförmigen zweiten Trennmaterialien der jeweiligen Aufnahmeanordnungen bei Erreichung von vorbestimmten Füllungsgraden der Aufnahmerollen und Entnehmen der jeweiligen Aufnahmerolle aus den Aufnahmeanordnungen zum Erhalt der mit Klebeelementen beschickten Kleberollen.

The production of the receiving arrangement will be particularly relevant for those methods according to the invention in which adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements are produced, which are then to be further processed as adhesive rolls, for example by inserting them into an application device or for filling a cassette unit in a downstream filling process. In these cases, the receiving arrangement is produced, for example, by inserting a feed roll with fresh web-shaped second release material and a roll suitable for receiving the adhesive roll into a device provided for this purpose, which comprises, for example, the guide arrangement and a drive for the respective rolls. The web-shaped second release material can then be threaded into the guide arrangement and is connected to the receiving roll in such a way that it can be rolled up on it. When producing corresponding adhesive rolls, the web-shaped second release material is advantageously provided from a large roll of material, with which several adhesive rolls can be produced one after the other, so that after a sufficiently filled adhesive tape roll has been reached, the liner can be severed and the adhesive roll produced can be removed. The free end of the web-shaped second release material can then be connected to a new take-up roll in order to start the process again. In this embodiment, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the adhesive rolls produced and loaded with adhesive elements are produced as separate adhesive rolls. A method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the method additionally comprises the following method step:

• f) Cutting through the web-shaped second separating materials of the respective receiving arrangements when predetermined filling levels of the receiving rolls are reached and removing the respective receiving roll from the receiving arrangements to obtain the adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements.

• u) die Spenderanordnung, und
• v) zwei oder mehr Rollenaufnahmeanordnungen, umfassend:
• i) eine dritte Rollenaufnahme zur drehbar gelagerten Aufnahme der Zuführrolle,
• ii) eine vierte Rollenaufnahme zur drehbar gelagerten Aufnahme der Aufnahmerolle, und
• iii) die Führungsanordnung.

The above-characterized preferred method according to the invention, with which separate adhesive rolls are obtained, can be efficiently carried out with a Filling device can be carried out in which the dispenser arrangement to be used according to the invention is combined with certain components of the receiving arrangement. The corresponding components of the receiving arrangement, which are included in the filling device, are the parts which in practice are usually not changed regularly, for example the corresponding roller holders for inserting the feed roller or the receiving roller, as well as the necessary guide arrangement. Accordingly, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the method is carried out with a filling device, wherein the filling device comprises:

• u) the donor arrangement, and
• (v) two or more roller receiving assemblies comprising:
• i) a third roller holder for the rotatable mounting of the feed roller,
• ii) a fourth roller holder for rotatably holding the take-up roller, and
• (iii) the management arrangement.

• g) Einsetzen der wiederbefüllten Kassetteneinheit in die Kassettenaufnahme einer Applikationsvorrichtung, wobei die Applikationsvorrichtung bevorzugt ein End-Effektor ist.

As an alternative to the above-described production of separate adhesive rolls, the direct production of adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements inside cassette units can be seen, in particular when refilling recycled cassette units. In these cases, the receiving arrangements are formed by cassette units which comprise the feed roller, the receiving roller, the guide arrangement and the web-shaped second separating material. Corresponding cassette units can be inserted into a suitable cassette-based application device after refilling. Accordingly, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the two or more receiving arrangements are cassette units, preferably recycled cassette units, wherein the cassette units are particularly preferably reversibly and non-destructively exchangeable cassette units of application devices and wherein the adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements produced are part of refilled cassette units. A method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the method additionally comprises the following method step:

• g) Inserting the refilled cassette unit into the cassette receptacle of an application device, wherein the application device is preferably an end effector.

Filled cassette units that can be used in an application device comprise the web-shaped second separating material loaded with adhesive elements and are successively emptied when used in the application device, with the web-shaped second separating material being wound up on the feed roll, which performs the opposite function when emptying compared to refilling. After the cassette unit has been completely emptied, the web-shaped second separating material is wound up on the feed roll, but is still connected to the take-up roll. Advantageously, the emptied cassette unit is therefore in the state that predestines it for use as a take-up arrangement in the method according to the invention, with the running direction of the rolls being inverted between use in the application device and use in the refilling method.

To improve handling properties, corresponding cassette units are regularly provided with a housing that is intended to protect the internal components from direct access from the outside and from environmental influences. The person skilled in the art understands that the web-shaped second separating material in the receiving area must, however, be accessible so that adhesive elements provided by the dispenser arrangement can be transferred to the web-shaped second separating material at this point. In this respect, the inventors have succeeded in identifying a particularly advantageous design of the cassette unit. This is because, as part of the guide arrangement in the receiving area, it relies on a so-called cassette dispensing edge. This is a part of the guide arrangement that ensures that the web-shaped second separating material in the receiving area is guided around an edge, with a deflection of 90° or more usually being sought. By means of a corresponding cassette dispensing edge, an advantageous web tension can be achieved for refilling in the receiving area, to which the adhesive elements can be transferred particularly well. When the running direction is inverted during use in the application device, the cassette dispensing edge also causes or promotes the detachment of the adhesive elements from the release liner and thus allows the adhesive elements to be advantageously dispensed from the cassette unit. This dispensing takes place with the adhesive layer facing downwards, so that during use in the application device, the adhesive elements can be dispensed from the cassette unit with the adhesive layer facing downwards, through which the adhesive elements can be transferred, for example, to the adhesion-reduced surface of a rotating conveyor element, for example a suction belt, from which the adhesive elements can be picked up particularly efficiently by an application element and placed on the substrate to be glued. A preferred embodiment of the invention is therefore Method, wherein the cassette units comprise a housing, wherein the housing is preferably designed such that the web-shaped second separating material can be fed with adhesive elements from the outside essentially exclusively in the receiving area. A method according to the invention is also preferred, wherein the cassette units comprise a stationary cassette dispensing edge as part of the guide arrangement, wherein the cassette units are designed such that a material strip provided on the receiving roll, which comprises a plurality of adhesive elements arranged with the adhesive layer on the web-shaped second separating material, can be guided over the cassette dispensing edge to the feed roll in such a way that the adhesive elements can be separated from the separating material in the receiving area and dispensed from the cassette unit.

• i) die Zuführrolle,
• ii) die Aufnahmerolle,
• iii) die Führungsanordnung, und
• iv) ein Materialband umfassend eine Vielzahl von Klebeelementen, die mit der Klebeschicht auf dem bahnförmigen zweiten Trennmaterial angeordnet sind, wobei das Materialband teilweise auf der Aufnahmerolle aufgewickelt und an einem Ende an der Zuführrolle befestigt ist, wobei das bahnförmige zweite Trennmaterial zwischen der Zuführrolle und der Aufnahmerolle in der Führungsanordnung angeordnet ist und durch den Aufnahmebereich der Aufnahmeanordnung geführt wird, und wobei die Führungsanordnung eine positionsfeste Kassettenspendekante, insbesondere eine Messerkante, umfasst, wobei die Kassetteneinheit dazu eingerichtet ist, dass das auf der Aufnahmerolle bereitgestellte Materialband derart über die Kassettenspendekante zur Zuführrolle geführt werden kann, dass die Klebelemente im Aufnahmebereich vom bahnförmigen zweiten Trennmaterial separiert und aus der Kassetteneinheit ausgegeben werden können.

Complementarily, the invention also relates to a refilled cassette unit, manufactured or producible using the method according to the invention, comprising arranged in a housing:

• i) the feed roller,
• (ii) the recording reel,
• (iii) the management arrangement, and
• iv) a material strip comprising a plurality of adhesive elements arranged with the adhesive layer on the web-shaped second separating material, wherein the material strip is partially wound on the take-up roll and fastened at one end to the feed roll, wherein the web-shaped second separating material is arranged between the feed roll and the take-up roll in the guide arrangement and is guided through the receiving area of the receiving arrangement, and wherein the guide arrangement comprises a position-fixed cassette dispensing edge, in particular a knife edge, wherein the cassette unit is designed such that the material strip provided on the take-up roll can be guided over the cassette dispensing edge to the feed roll in such a way that the adhesive elements in the receiving area can be separated from the web-shaped second separating material and dispensed from the cassette unit.

The inventors propose that a particularly efficient process is possible if specific receiving positions are provided in the dispenser arrangement, into which the cassette units can be optimally inserted, for example because they enable an at least partially form-fitting arrangement of the cassette units in the dispenser arrangement. In the opinion of the inventors, it is particularly preferred if the cassette units themselves are designed without a drive. This makes the initial production of corresponding cassette units significantly easier and the need for more complex components can be reduced. The rollers of corresponding cassette units are driven by drive units of the application device during later use in the application device.

In order to enable efficient refilling in the method according to the invention, the receiving positions of the dispenser arrangement for the cassette units can be provided with drive units which drive the rollers in the method according to the invention, it also being conceivable that several cassette units are driven by the same drive unit. In this case, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the dispenser arrangement comprises two or more receiving positions in which the two or more cassette units can be arranged in a reversible and non-destructively interchangeable manner in order to carry out the method. Additionally or alternatively, a method according to the invention is also preferred, wherein the feed roller and the receiving roller in the cassette unit are designed as non-driven rollers. A method according to the invention is also preferred, wherein the dispenser arrangement comprises a drive unit for driving the feed roller and/or the receiving roller of cassette units arranged in receiving positions of the dispenser arrangement. Additionally or alternatively, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the feed roller and/or the take-up roller, preferably the feed roller and the take-up roller, comprise a central structured engagement recess, wherein the central structured engagement recess preferably has a toothed structure. Additionally or alternatively, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the drive unit comprises one or more connecting elements arranged in the region of the take-up positions, which are designed to engage in the engagement recess of the feed roller and/or the take-up roller when cassette units are arranged in the take-up positions and to create a positive connection that enables the drive of the guide arrangement by the drive unit.

Regardless of the way in which the adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements are produced, it can be seen as a great advantage of the method according to the invention that it is suitable for the simultaneous production of a large number of adhesive rolls. The person skilled in the art will understand that the number of adhesive rolls to be produced simultaneously or cassette units to be refilled depends on the number of recordings arrangements. According to the inventors' assessment, it is fundamentally preferable to provide as many receiving arrangements as possible, whereby the maximum number of receiving arrangements that can be efficiently fed in practice will probably depend on the width of the master roll. Accordingly, a method according to the invention is preferred, whereby in method step b) three or more, preferably four or more, particularly preferably five or more, receiving arrangements are provided, and/or whereby in method step e) adhesive elements are transferred into the receiving areas of three or more, preferably four or more, particularly preferably five or more, receiving arrangements.

Preferred structural designs are disclosed below which, in the opinion of the inventors, are particularly well suited to carrying out the method according to the invention. The individual structural measures can be combined with one another in order to optimize the devices and arrangements used in the method according to the invention to the respective application requirements and to adapt them to efficient handling of the adhesive elements used, in particular with regard to their adhesive properties and their arrangement on the web-shaped first release material.

The inventors propose that a so-called detachment area can be set up in front of the dispensing area, which serves the purpose of reducing the adhesion of the adhesive elements to the web-shaped first separating material before the adhesive elements are actually dispensed from the dispenser arrangement in the dispensing area. This is particularly advantageous when adhesive elements are to be handled which, despite the adhesion-reduced surface of the web-shaped first separating material, show a comparatively strong adhesion to it in order to enable easier transfer. In addition, this design is particularly suitable for being combined with transfer elements in use, as disclosed below. These transfer elements are dependent on lifting the adhesive elements from the web-shaped first separating material, which is advantageously facilitated if a detachment area is provided, so that the necessary bond strength to the transfer elements can be reduced when picking them up. In terms of construction, a corresponding detachment area can be realized, for example, by deflecting the web-shaped first separating material with three guide elements so that it is guided over the first, second and third guide elements, whereas the first and third guide elements are so close to one another that the adhesive elements cannot follow this deflection and extension of the running path but are instead transferred over the edge formed by the first guide element directly onto the liner that reappears at the third guide element. A method according to the invention is therefore preferred, wherein the dispenser arrangement comprises a detachment area in front of the dispensing area in the direction of the dispenser material strip, wherein the detachment area is designed to reduce the adhesion of the adhesive elements to the web-shaped first separating material in front of the dispensing area, preferably by temporarily detaching the adhesive elements from the web-shaped first separating material and then re-contacting them. A method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the detachment region comprises a deflection arrangement with three or more deflection rollers, which are arranged such that the adhesive elements are separated from the web-shaped first release material at the first deflection roller and are conveyed beyond the first deflection roller, so that they are contacted again with the web-shaped first release material at the second deflection roller, which is guided in between via a third deflection roller arranged offset to the first and second deflection rollers in order to create a running distance difference.

In addition to or as an alternative to a detachment area, the dispenser arrangement can be designed in such a way that it comprises a position-adjustable dispensing edge in the dispensing area. Corresponding position-adjustable dispensing edges are also known to those skilled in the field of adhesive technology under the name of a swinging dispensing edge. Corresponding concepts for implementing a swinging dispensing edge are known to those skilled in the art based on their general specialist knowledge. For implementation, the dispenser arrangement comprises at least one movable element which can be moved forwards and backwards with the purpose of guiding the web-shaped first release material into and out of the dispensing area and thereby presenting the adhesive element arranged on the web-shaped first release material so that it can be picked up particularly efficiently by a transfer element, for example. Accordingly, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the dispenser arrangement comprises a position-adjustable dispensing edge in the dispensing area, wherein the position-adjustable dispensing edge is preferably formed by three or more deflection elements over which the dispenser material band is guided, wherein at least two of the deflection elements can be reversibly and non-destructively changed in position.

As an alternative to the swinging dispensing edge, the dispensing arrangement in the dispensing area can be provided with a fixed dispensing edge. The term dispensing edge is used for The concept of a dispensing edge is clear to the expert and the concept of a dispensing edge is well known to the expert in the field of adhesive technology. The material strip with the web-shaped first release material and the adhesive elements arranged on it is fed to the dispensing edge, with the web-shaped first release material being guided sharply around this dispensing edge at the end of the dispensing edge. Due to the inherent rigidity of the adhesive element, which is greater than the adhesion to the web-shaped release material, the adhesive element cannot follow this movement of the release material and is instead gradually detached from the release material the further the material strip is guided over the dispensing edge.

A corresponding dispensing edge has a twofold advantage. Firstly, it ensures advantageous tension of the web-shaped first separating material in the dispensing area, whereby the adhesive elements can be removed particularly efficiently by transfer elements. In addition, the functionality described above enables the adhesive elements guided over the edge of the dispensing edge to be separated from the separating material without the use of transfer elements, whereby in particular the combination of a rotating conveyor element disclosed below but also a direct transfer is possible. In this respect, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the dispenser arrangement in the dispensing area comprises a fixed dispensing edge, in particular a knife edge, wherein the dispenser arrangement is set up so that the dispenser material band guided in the dispenser arrangement can be guided over the fixed dispensing edge in such a way that the adhesive elements in the dispensing area are separated from the web-shaped first separating material and the adhesive elements are conveyed beyond the fixed dispensing edge.

Even if it is possible in principle, for example by using suitable transfer elements, to pick up the adhesive elements directly from the dispensing area on a swinging dispensing edge or a fixed-position dispensing edge, the inventors believe that it is preferable for essentially all embodiments if the adhesive elements are first transferred to a rotating conveyor element, such as a conveyor belt, after being detached from the web-shaped first separating material. It is particularly efficient if the transfer of the adhesive elements takes place on a fixed-position dispensing edge, as this enables a reliable and controlled transfer to the rotating conveyor element, and the movable design of a swinging dispensing edge is advantageously not required when using a rotating conveyor element. The person skilled in the art will understand that the simplest embodiment of the method according to the invention consists in the adhesive elements transferred to the rotating conveyor element being subsequently picked up with transfer elements and transferred to the receiving arrangements. For this purpose, it is expedient to design the surface of the rotating conveyor element with a reduced-adhesion surface based on typical rulers, so that the adhesive elements can be easily detached from the rotating conveyor element. A method according to the invention is therefore preferred, wherein the dispenser arrangement in the dispensing area comprises a rotating conveyor element with a reduced-adhesion surface, wherein the dispenser arrangement is set up so that an adhesive element conveyed beyond the dispensing edge is transferred with the adhesive layer to the reduced-adhesion surface of the conveyor element. An example of a method according to the invention is wherein the rotating conveyor element comprises a rotating conveyor belt or a conveyor belt, preferably a conveyor belt.

The above-defined design of the surface of the rotating conveyor element as an adhesion-reduced surface is easy for the expert to implement with knowledge of the invention, since he knows the concept of adhesion-reduced surfaces from many other areas of adhesive technology, where it is regularly used, for example, in connection with typical liners. Without knowledge of the practical application, it is difficult to specify absolute values for the forces acting and the necessary degree of adhesion reduction. The adhesion forces that can be tolerated between the adhesive elements and the adhesion-reduced surface of the conveyor element depend essentially on the physical and chemical properties of the adhesive used, in particular its cohesion, and the bond strength that any transfer element can generate in the short term with the carrier layer of the adhesive elements. In practice, the selection of the adhesive used in the adhesive layer will in most cases depend on the later application requirements that are placed on the bond strength to the substrate to be bonded. The person skilled in the art who has identified an adhesive suitable for interaction with the substrate can then make a suitable selection for the material of the conveying element or for its coating, to which the respective adhesive shows sufficiently low adhesion, which enables the adhesive element to be picked up with the transfer element or to be removed by means of a conveying dispensing edge. A method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the adhesion-reduced surface is coated with a release layer, preferably with a silicone release layer, wherein the silicone release layer can preferably be produced by crosslinking a crosslinkable silicone system comprising one or more polysiloxanes. Also preferred is a method according to the invention, wherein the adhesion-reduced surface is designed such that the adhesion of the adhesive elements to the adhesion-reduced surface is smaller, preferably by 50% or more, particularly preferably by 70% or more, very particularly preferably by 90% or more, than the bond strength between the transfer element and the adhesive element when the adhesive element is picked up by the transfer element.

In advantageous embodiments, the rotating conveyor element can be designed as a suction belt, in which a negative pressure acting through the openings in the adhesion-reduced surface enables additional fixing of the adhesive elements on the rotating conveyor element, which in particular also enables the adhesive elements to be guided outside the horizontal. For certain applications, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the rotating conveyor element includes a suction function for fixing the adhesive elements on the surface of the rotating conveyor element. For the majority of applications, however, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the rotating conveyor element does not include a suction function for fixing the adhesive elements on the surface of the rotating conveyor element.

The use of a rotating conveyor element in the dispensing area also makes it possible, in particular, to increase process reliability by ensuring that the correct positioning of adhesive elements on the rotating conveyor element can be ensured by sensor units, for example cameras. A method according to the invention is therefore preferred, wherein the dispenser arrangement comprises one or more sensor units, wherein the one or more sensor units are set up to detect the position of adhesive elements on the surface of the rotating conveyor element, wherein the method is preferably controlled as a function of data recorded with the one or more sensor units.

In the method according to the invention, the adhesive elements are transferred from the manufactured or provided dispenser and receiving arrangements, whereby this comprises the method steps c), d) and e). On the dispenser arrangement side, the dispenser material strip is guided through the dispensing area in order to separate the first separating material from the adhesive elements there. In the receiving arrangements, the web-shaped second separating material is unwound from the feed roll and guided through the receiving area in order to receive the adhesive elements there and then wound onto the receiving roll. When the dispenser material strip is guided through the dispensing area, adhesive arrangements are dispensed from the dispenser arrangement, whereby the dispensed adhesive elements are transferred to the receiving areas of the receiving arrangement and placed there on the respective web-shaped second separating materials. The person skilled in the art will understand that the method steps c), d) and e) are usually carried out at least partially simultaneously, whereby, depending on the structural design of the dispenser arrangement, almost continuous operation is also possible. Alternatively, however, a step-by-step process is also possible, whereby adhesive elements are presented in the dispensing area and transferred to the receiving area without the respective separating materials being in motion at the moment of dispensing or receiving, whereby the separating materials are only moved on after successful transfer in order to present a new adhesive element or to free up a receiving space for another adhesive element. However, the person skilled in the art will understand that as the speed at which the step-by-step process is carried out increases, the transitions to a continuous process become fluid and may be barely perceptible to the naked eye. A method according to the invention is therefore preferred, whereby process steps c) and/or d) and/or e), preferably process steps c) and d) and e), are carried out at least partially simultaneously. Alternatively, a method according to the invention is preferred, whereby process steps c) and/or d) are carried out discontinuously.

According to the inventors, a particularly high-performance design for transferring the adhesive elements is achieved by using suitable transfer elements. These transfer elements pick up the adhesive elements in the dispensing area and transfer them to the receiving area of the receiving arrangement. For this purpose, the transfer elements are able to establish a reversible and non-destructively detachable connection with the adhesive element and then pick it up. After picking up the adhesive element, the transfer element can be moved by an automated movement unit, for example a robot arm, in order to place the adhesive element on the web-shaped second separating material and to dissolve the reversible and non-destructively detachable connection there. Accordingly, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the dispenser arrangement comprises one or more transfer elements, wherein the Transfer elements are designed to separate adhesive elements arranged in the dispensing area from the web-shaped first separating material, to form a reversibly and non-destructively detachable connection, to pick this up and to transfer this in the receiving area to the web-shaped second separating material of one of the receiving arrangements. A method according to the invention is particularly preferred, wherein the dispensing arrangement comprises two or more, preferably three or more, particularly preferably four or more, very particularly preferably five or more, transfer elements, wherein the dispensing arrangement particularly preferably comprises at least one transfer element for each receiving arrangement.

When using transfer elements, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the transfer elements comprise an automated movement unit and one or more receiving units arranged on the movement unit, wherein the receiving unit is designed to form a reversible and non-destructively detachable connection with the carrier layer of the adhesive elements. A method according to the invention is also preferred, wherein the receiving unit comprises one or more controllable suction grippers, wherein the dispenser arrangement preferably comprises one or more vacuum pumps connected to the suction grippers. Furthermore, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the automated movement unit is an industrial robot, preferably a SCARA robot or a Delta robot.

Corresponding transfer elements can be advantageously combined with all configurations of the dispensing area as disclosed above. In particular, the adhesive elements can be received by a position-variable or position-fixed dispensing edge or - particularly preferably - by the adhesion-reduced surface of a rotating conveyor element. Depending on the configuration, this is a method according to the invention, wherein the transfer elements are designed to receive an adhesive element from a position-variable dispensing edge, or wherein the transfer elements are designed to receive an adhesive element from a position-fixed dispensing edge, or wherein the transfer elements are designed to receive an adhesive element from the adhesion-reduced surface of a rotating conveyor element.

In the opinion of the inventors, a particularly advantageous alternative to the use of transfer elements can be realized by using circulating conveyor elements, as described above. For this purpose, the conveyor elements are designed in such a way that they have a dispensing edge on the side opposite the area in which the adhesive element is transferred from the web-shaped first separating material to the circulating conveyor element, which is referred to as the conveyor dispensing edge in the context of the present invention. In accordance with the expert's understanding, this is a structural design of the circulating conveyor element in which the adhesion-reduced surface is deflected so sharply in the manner of a dispensing edge that the adhesive element cannot follow this movement due to its rigidity, so that the conveyed adhesive element is conveyed beyond the conveyor dispensing edge. In the particularly preferred design, the receiving arrangements can be placed so close to the conveyor dispensing edge that the adhesive element conveyed beyond the conveyor dispensing edge is pushed into the receiving area and there comes into contact with the web-shaped second separating material. Accordingly, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the rotating conveyor element comprises a conveyor dispensing edge, wherein the dispenser arrangement is designed such that adhesive elements conveyed on the rotating conveyor element are conveyed at the conveyor dispensing edge beyond the conveyor dispensing edge and dispensed from the dispenser arrangement.

The design described above advantageously does not require the use of transfer elements and is therefore particularly simple in terms of equipment and is not susceptible to faults. According to the inventors, a similar design can in principle also be implemented without the use of a rotating conveyor element if the dispenser arrangement has a fixed dispensing edge over which the adhesive elements are pushed out and transferred into the receiving area in a manner analogous to the above description. However, dispensing with the use of a rotating conveyor element is less advantageous, particularly with regard to the aspects of the separation of adhesive elements, as is disclosed below.

In order to ensure that adhesive elements that adhere only weakly to the web-shaped second release material do not detach from the release material in an undesirable manner after transfer, the inventors propose that pressure elements, for example pressure rollers, can also be provided, which press the transferred adhesive elements onto the web-shaped second release material in order to ensure sufficient adhesion. Accordingly, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the dispenser arrangement comprises one or more pressure elements, preferably pressure rollers, wherein the pressure elements are designed to press adhesive elements transferred to the web-shaped second separating material of one of the receiving arrangements in the receiving area onto the web-shaped second separating material.

In light of the above explanation, the person skilled in the art will understand that the dispensing and transfer of adhesive elements in preferred embodiments is either mediated by transfer elements or takes place by a direct transfer to a dispensing edge from the dispensing arrangement into the receiving area. In addition, it is clear to the person skilled in the art that, given the simultaneous loading of two or more receiving arrangements, the dispensing and transfer of adhesive elements into the various receiving arrangements preferably takes place largely simultaneously or at least alternately, with embodiments also being conceivable in which the different receiving units are filled successively. A method according to the invention is therefore preferred, in which the dispensing and transfer of adhesive elements takes place by transfer elements, or in which the dispensing and transfer of adhesive elements takes place via the fixed dispensing edge or the conveying dispensing edge of the rotating conveying element. A method according to the invention is also preferred, in which the dispensing and transfer of adhesive elements to various receiving arrangements takes place at least partially simultaneously or alternately, preferably at least partially simultaneously.

An important aspect of the present invention and a particularly great advantage of the method according to the invention is that wide master rolls can also be used as the dispenser material tape, on which numerous rows of adhesive elements run in the direction of the web, even if these are arranged in the context of a very dense pack in order to achieve the highest possible coverage density, as is conceivable, for example, with round or oval adhesive elements. The method according to the invention makes it possible to dispense with cutting the master roll, with the adhesive elements from two or more rolls of the master roll being transferred to each receiving arrangement in an advantageous manner. For essentially all embodiments, therefore, a method according to the invention is preferred, with the adhesive elements in the dispenser material tape being arranged in two or more, preferably three or more, particularly preferably five or more, rows running in the direction of the web, with the adhesive elements of adjacent rows preferably being arranged offset from one another along the direction of the web. A method according to the invention is preferred, with the dispenser material tape comprising two or more, preferably exactly two, rows of adhesive elements running in the direction of the web for each receiving arrangement. A method according to the invention is also preferred, wherein in method step e) adhesive elements from two or more, preferably exactly two, rows of adhesive elements of the donor material strip running in the web direction are transferred to the web-shaped second separating material of each receiving arrangement.

A particular advantage of the method according to the invention can be seen in the fact that the transfer of the adhesive elements makes it possible to change the arrangement of the transferred adhesive elements and, in particular, to generate just one row of adhesive elements from the adhesive elements of two or more rows of the master roll on the web-shaped second release material. A corresponding adhesive roll can be designed with a minimal working width and is particularly preferred for use in end effectors from a weight perspective. In addition, the simple, row-like arrangement of the adhesive elements on the adhesive roll loaded with adhesive elements in the application device makes it possible to implement a comparatively simple provision process for the adhesive elements. Accordingly, a method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the relative arrangement of the transferred adhesive elements to one another is changed during transfer, wherein preferably the adhesive elements from two or more, in particular exactly two, rows of adhesive elements running in the web direction of the donor material strip are arranged in a line on the web-shaped second release material, in particular alternating, and/or wherein the transferred adhesive elements are arranged on the respective web-shaped second release materials in a smaller number of rows running in the web direction than on the donor material strip, preferably in exactly one row running in the web direction, and/or wherein the transferred adhesive elements are arranged on the respective web-shaped second release materials in relation to the web direction in a reduced number per unit length than on the donor material strip.

The embodiment described above, in which the adhesive elements arranged closely on the parent roll are changed in their relative arrangement during transfer, in particular to realize a simplified arrangement on the web-shaped second release material, can be reliably realized, for example, by using transfer elements which can, for example, alternately remove adhesive elements from two rows of the parent roll and place them one after the other on the web-shaped second release material, the person skilled in the art understanding that in this case the web speed of the web-shaped second release material is higher than the guide speed of the donor material web.

However, a particularly advantageous design can be achieved by using a rotating conveyor element. By selecting a conveyor speed of the rotating conveyor element that is greater than the guide speed of the dispensing material belt, it is possible to separate the adhesive elements taken over by the rotating conveyor element at the dispensing edge along the web direction. Even if this effect can be used, at least in theory, to facilitate the reception of the adhesive elements by a transfer element, the inventors propose that the advance of the rotating conveyor element can be combined with guide elements that are placed above the rotating conveyor element in such a way that they move an adhesive element conveyed on the rotating conveyor element on the adhesion-reduced surface. By combining a leading rotating conveyor element with guide elements, it is possible to separate densely packed adhesive elements on the parent roll along the conveying direction and to reposition them transversely to the conveying direction so that they can be transferred to the receiving arrangements, for example in the form of a single row at the conveyor dispensing edge. In this respect, the inventors propose that the dispenser arrangements to be used in the method according to the invention can in this case be flexibly adapted to different shapes and arrangements of adhesive elements on the master roll if the guide elements are designed in the manner of a template which, depending on the master roll used, can be placed above the rotating conveyor element in order to optimally position the corresponding adhesive elements on the rotating conveyor element for transfer to the receiving arrangements, wherein, for example, the guide element template for round adhesive elements differs from that for oval adhesive elements. A method according to the invention is therefore preferred, wherein the conveying speed of the rotating conveyor element v _F is higher than the guide speed of the dispenser material strip v _M in the dispenser arrangement, wherein the conveying speed of the conveyor element is preferably at least 2*v _M or more, particularly preferably at least 3*v _M or more, very particularly preferably at least 4*v _M or more, particularly preferably at least 5*v _M or more. A method according to the invention is preferred, wherein the dispenser arrangement comprises one or more, preferably at least two for each receiving arrangement, guide elements, wherein the one or more guide elements are designed to adjust the position of adhesive elements arranged on the rotating conveyor element.

Finally, the invention also relates to the use of a dispenser device according to the invention in the refilling of emptied adhesive rolls with adhesive elements, in particular in the refilling of cassette units, particularly preferably the simultaneous refilling of two or more emptied adhesive rolls.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung der in einem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren verwendeten Komponenten in einer ersten bevorzugten Ausführungsform;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung der in einem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren verwendeten Komponenten in einer zweiten bevorzugten Ausführungsform;
• 3 eine perspektivische Darstellung der Komponenten gemäß 2;
• 4 eine schematische Darstellung der in einem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren verwendeten Komponenten in einer dritten bevorzugten Ausführungsform;
• 5 eine schematische Darstellung der in einem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren verwendeten Komponenten in einer vierten bevorzugten Ausführungsform;
• 6 eine schematische Darstellung der in einem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren verwendeten Komponenten in einer fünften bevorzugten Ausführungsform;
• 7 eine Draufsicht auf die Komponenten gemäß 6;
• 8 eine perspektivische Darstellung der Komponenten gemäß 6;
• 9 eine schematische Darstellung der in einem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren verwendeten Komponenten in einer sechsten bevorzugten Ausführungsform;
• 10 eine Draufsicht auf die Komponenten gemäß 9; und
• 11 eine perspektivische Darstellung der Komponenten gemäß 9.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained and described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures.

• 1 a schematic representation of the components used in a method according to the invention in a first preferred embodiment;
• 2 a schematic representation of the components used in a method according to the invention in a second preferred embodiment;
• 3 a perspective view of the components according to 2 ;
• 4 a schematic representation of the components used in a method according to the invention in a third preferred embodiment;
• 5 a schematic representation of the components used in a method according to the invention in a fourth preferred embodiment;
• 6 a schematic representation of the components used in a method according to the invention in a fifth preferred embodiment;
• 7 a top view of the components according to 6 ;
• 8th a perspective view of the components according to 6 ;
• 9 a schematic representation of the components used in a method according to the invention in a sixth preferred embodiment;
• 10 a top view of the components according to 9 ; and
• 11 a perspective view of the components according to 9 .

1 , 2 , 4 , 5 , 6 and 9 show schematically the components used in a method according to the invention for producing adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements 10 in various preferred embodiments. The 3 , 8th and 11 or 7 and 10 show perspective Views or top views of individual these six embodiments.

The dispenser arrangement 14 used in the method according to the invention comprises, in the respective embodiments, at least a first roll holder 48 and a second electrically driven roll holder 52 as well as a guide device 56. In the method according to the invention, a dispenser material strip 12 is guided from a master roll 50 rotatably mounted on the first roll holder 48 via the guide device 56 and through a dispensing area 18 to a take-up roll 54, which in turn is rotatably mounted on the second roll holder 52.

In the examples shown, the dispenser material strip 12 of the parent roll 50 is approximately 400 mm wide perpendicular to the web direction and comprises a web-shaped first release material 16, which in the example shown is designed as a liner coated with a silicone release layer. A large number of circular adhesive elements 10 with an adhesive layer pointing in the direction of the liner are arranged on the liner in such a way that they are in a tight pack. This means, for example, that the adhesive elements 10 are arranged offset from one another in a total of ten rows running in the web direction in such a way that as little unglued space as possible remains between the adhesive elements. In the examples shown, the adhesive elements 10 are pressure-sensitive, round die-cut pieces, such as those used to cover recesses in the automotive industry.

In the dispensing area 18 of the dispenser arrangement 14, in the context of the method according to the invention, 1 the adhesive elements 10 are partially detached from the liner at a fixed dispensing edge 38 by guiding the dispensing material strip 12 so sharply around the fixed dispensing edge 38 that the inherently stiff adhesive elements 10 cannot follow the movement of the liner. The corresponding adhesive elements 10 are picked up by a transfer element 34 shortly before or at the fixed dispensing edge 38 and are thereby dispensed from the dispenser arrangement 14 in the dispensing area 18, so that only the liner, i.e. the web-shaped first release material 16, is wound onto the take-up roll 54.

In the embodiment of the 2 , which can be particularly useful for strongly adhering adhesive elements 10, a detachment area 32 is additionally provided in front of the dispensing area 18 to reduce the adhesion between the liner and the adhesive elements 10 in the direction of the web. In the detachment area 32, which is formed by a total of 3 deflection rollers, a temporary detachment of the adhesive elements 10 from the liner is effected by a similar principle to that also known from the dispensing edge. In contrast to this, however, the adhesive elements 10 are placed back on the same liner, whereby the arrangement of the deflection rollers creates a difference in the running distance between the detachment point of an adhesive element 10 and the renewed contact point of the same adhesive element 10 on the liner. This embodiment and the functionality of the detachment area 32 is also shown in perspective in 3 shown.

The dispensing of the adhesive elements 10 from the dispensing area 18 of the dispenser arrangement 14 can alternatively also be carried out by a position-adjustable dispensing edge 36, as shown in 4 The position-adjustable - so-called pendulum- dispensing edge 36 comprises in the example shown a movable deflection roller, which in 4 was provided with a movement arrow.

In the embodiments of the 5 , 6 and 9 the dispenser arrangement 14 in the dispensing area 18 additionally comprises a rotating conveyor element 40 designed as a conveyor belt, which is coated with a silicone release layer and thus has a surface with reduced adhesion. In these embodiments, an adhesive element 10 dispensed via the fixed dispensing edge 38 is transferred directly to the rotating conveyor element 40 and there either picked up by one of the transfer elements 34, as shown in 5 and 6 shown, or directly from the conveyor element 40 via a conveyor dispensing edge 42 from the dispenser assembly 14, as shown in 9 is shown. The circulating conveyor belt 40 makes it possible to implement a speed difference between the conveying speed of the circulating conveyor element 40 v _F and the guide speed of the dispenser material belt 12 v _M such that the adhesive elements 10 on the conveyor element 40 are separated along the conveying direction.

To carry out the method according to the invention, at least two receiving arrangements 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e are required in addition to the dispenser arrangement 14. The receiving arrangements 20a-e each comprise a rotatably mounted feed roller 22 and an electrically driven receiving roller 24 as well as a guide arrangement 26 for guiding a web-shaped second release material 28, which, similar to the web-shaped first release material 16, is also designed as a liner with a silicone release layer.

In the context of the method according to the invention, in all embodiments shown, the adhesive elements 10 dispensed from the dispenser arrangement 14 are divided into one of five Receiving arrangements 20a-e by placing them in a receiving area 30 of the receiving arrangements 20a-e on the web-shaped second separating material 28, which is guided by the feed roll 22 over a dispensing edge and the guide arrangement 26 until it is subsequently wound onto the receiving roll 24.

In the examples shown, the 1 to 8 The dispenser arrangement 14 for transferring the adhesive elements 10 comprises a plurality of transfer elements 34 designed as suction grippers, whereby for reasons of clarity only one transfer element 34 is shown. Via a reversible and non-destructively detachable connection of the transfer elements 34 to the adhesive elements 10, the adhesive elements 10 can be detached from the liner of the dispenser arrangement 14 in the dispensing area 18 and placed precisely in the receiving area 30 on the liner of the receiving units 20a-e.

In other words, within the scope of the method according to the invention, the adhesive elements 10 are transferred from the liner of the master roll 50 to one of the liners of the various receiving arrangements 20a-e and wound up together with the liner on its respective receiving roll 24. In the examples shown, the liners of the total of five receiving arrangements 20a-e therefore have a reduced width compared to the liner of the master roll 50. When the adhesive elements 10 are transferred, in the examples shown, the relative arrangement of the adhesive elements 10 to one another is changed in such a way that the transferred adhesive elements 10 are arranged on the respective liners of the receiving arrangements 20a-e in just one row.

In the embodiments shown of the 1 to 5 and 9 to 11 The receiving arrangements 20a-e are each designed as cassette units 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d, 46e, which can be used in typical application devices for adhesive elements. For reasons of clarity, however, only the 1 the cassette unit 46a is also identified as a corresponding receiving arrangement 20a.

The cassette units 46a-e have a fixed cassette dispensing edge 60 as part of the guide arrangement 26, with the above-mentioned components of the receiving arrangement 20a-e in the cassette unit 46a being arranged in a housing 58. With their housing 58, the cassette units 46a-e are arranged in receiving positions designed for this purpose and equipped with drive units in a reversible and non-destructive manner.

In the embodiment of the 6 the receiving arrangements 20a-e are not designed as cassette units 46a-e. In this embodiment, an adhesive roll loaded with adhesive elements 10 in a method according to the invention can be obtained separately by cutting the web-shaped second separating material 28 between the rolls and removing the receiving roll 24 from the receiving arrangement 20a-e after reaching a predetermined filling level. 7 and 8th each show different perspective views of this embodiment.

In the embodiment of the 9 , which is considered particularly preferred by the inventors, advantageously no transfer elements 34 are necessary. Repositioning of the adhesive elements 10 on the surface of the conveyor element 40 is achieved in this embodiment not only by the speed difference between the conveyor element 40 and the donor material band 12, but also transversely to the web direction in particular by guide elements 44a, 44b, which are in the 10 and 11 The guide elements 44a-b can adjust the position of adhesive elements 10 on the conveyor element 40 such that they can be transferred as a single row of newly positioned adhesive elements 10 directly from the conveyor dispensing edge 42 to the dispensing edge of the respective receiving arrangement 20a-e.

In the embodiment shown, the 9 the method according to the invention can in particular be operated particularly efficiently as a continuous method, so that the guiding of the dispenser material strip 12 in the dispenser arrangement 14, the rolling up of the web-shaped second release materials 28 on the take-up rolls 24 in the respective take-up arrangements 20a-e, the dispensing of adhesive elements 10 from the dispenser arrangement 14, and the transfer of a portion of the dispensed adhesive elements 10 into the take-up areas 30 of the take-up arrangements 20a-e are carried out essentially simultaneously.

List of reference symbols

10

Adhesive element

12

Dispenser tape

14

Donor arrangement

16

web-shaped first separating material

18

Donation area

20a-e

Recording arrangement

22

Feed roller

24

Take-up roll

26

Guide arrangement

28

web-shaped second separating material

30

Recording area

32

Release area

34

Transfer element

36

position-adjustable dispensing edge

38

fixed dispensing edge

40

rotating conveyor element

42

Promotional donation edge

44a-b

Guide element

46a-e

Cassette unit

48

first roll recording

50

Mother role

52

second roll holder

54

Take-up roll

56

Guide device

58

Housing

60

fixed cassette dispensing edge

vF

Conveying speed of the rotating conveyor element

vM

Feed speed of the dispenser material belt

Claims (15)

Method for producing adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements (10), comprising the method steps: a) producing or providing a dispenser material strip (12) in a dispenser arrangement (14), wherein the dispenser material strip (12) comprises a plurality of adhesive elements (10) with a carrier layer and an adhesive layer connected thereto, wherein the adhesive elements (10) with the adhesive layer are arranged on a web-shaped first release material (16), wherein the dispenser arrangement (14) is designed to separate the adhesive elements (10) from the web-shaped first release material (16) in a dispensing area (18) and to dispense them from the dispenser arrangement (14), b) producing or providing two or more receiving arrangements (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e), each comprising: i) a feed roller (22), ii) a receiving roller (24), iii) a guide arrangement (26), and iv) a web-shaped second separating material (28) which is partially wound on the feed roll (22) and fastened at one end to the take-up roll (24), wherein the web-shaped second separating material (28) is arranged between the feed roll (22) and the take-up roll (24) in the guide arrangement (26) and is guided through a take-up area (30) of the take-up arrangement (20a-e), c) guiding the dispenser material strip (12) in the dispenser arrangement (14) through the dispensing area (18), d) rolling up the web-shaped second separating materials (28) on the take-up rolls (24) in the respective take-up arrangements (20a-e), wherein the web-shaped second separating materials (28) are unwound from the feed roll (22) and guided in the guide arrangement (26) through the take-up area (30), and e) dispensing adhesive elements (10) from the dispenser arrangement (14) in the dispensing area (18) and transferring a portion of the dispensed adhesive elements (10) into the receiving areas (30) of the receiving arrangements (20a-e) for arranging the transferred adhesive elements (10) on the respective web-shaped second separating materials (28). Procedure according to Claim 1 , wherein in method step e) adhesive elements (10) from two or more rows of adhesive elements (10) of the dispenser material strip (12) running in the web direction are transferred to the web-shaped second separating material (28) of each receiving arrangement (20a-e). Method according to one of the Claims 1 or 2 , wherein the transferred adhesive elements (10) are arranged on the respective web-shaped second release materials (28) in relation to the web direction in a reduced number per unit length than on the donor material strip (12). Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the dispenser arrangement (14) comprises a release region (32) in front of the dispensing region (18) in the web direction of the dispenser material strip (12), wherein the release region (32) is designed to reduce the adhesion of the adhesive elements (10) to the web-shaped first release material (16) in front of the dispensing region (18). Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , wherein the dispenser arrangement (14) comprises one or more transfer elements (34), wherein the transfer elements (34) are designed to separate adhesive elements (10) arranged in the dispensing area (18) from the web-shaped first separating material (16) to form a reversibly and non-destructively detachable connection, to receive them and to transfer them in the receiving area (30) to the web-shaped second separating material (28) of one of the receiving arrangements (20a-e). Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , wherein the dispenser arrangement (14) in the dispensing area (18) comprises a position-variable dispensing edge (36). Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , wherein the dispenser arrangement (14) in the dispensing area (18) comprises a fixed dispensing edge (38), wherein the dispenser arrangement (14) is designed such that the dispenser material strip (12) guided in the dispenser arrangement (14) can be guided over the fixed dispensing edge (38) in such a way that the adhesive elements in the dispensing area (18) are separated from the web-shaped first separating material (16) and the adhesive elements (10) are conveyed out over the fixed dispensing edge (38). Method according to one of the Claims 6 or 7 , wherein the dispenser arrangement (14) in the dispensing region (18) comprises a rotating conveyor element (40) with an adhesion-reduced surface, wherein the dispenser arrangement (14) is designed such that an adhesive element (10) conveyed beyond the dispensing edge (36, 38) is transferred with the adhesive layer to the adhesion-reduced surface of the conveyor element (40). Procedure according to Claim 8 , wherein the rotating conveyor element (40) comprises a conveyor dispensing edge (42), wherein the dispenser arrangement (14) is designed such that adhesive elements (10) conveyed on the rotating conveyor element (40) are conveyed at the conveyor dispensing edge (42) beyond the conveyor dispensing edge (42) and dispensed from the dispenser arrangement (14). Method according to one of the Claims 8 or 9 , wherein the conveying speed of the rotating conveying element (40) v _F is higher than the guide speed of the dispenser material belt (12) v _M in the dispenser arrangement (14). Method according to one of the Claims 8 until 10 , wherein the dispenser arrangement (14) comprises one or more guide elements (44a, 44b), wherein the one or more guide elements (44a-b) are adapted to adjust the position of adhesive elements (10) arranged on the rotating conveyor element (40). Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 11 , wherein the two or more receiving arrangements (20a-e) are cassette units (46a, 46b, 46c, 46d, 46e) and wherein the produced adhesive rolls loaded with adhesive elements (10) are part of refilled cassette units (46a-e). Dispensing device for use in a method according to one of the Claims 1 until 12 for forming a dispenser arrangement (14), comprising: m) a first roll holder (48) for rotatably receiving a master roll (50) comprising a dispenser material strip (12), the dispenser material strip (12) comprising a plurality of adhesive elements (10) with a carrier layer and an adhesive layer connected thereto, the adhesive elements (10) with the adhesive layer being arranged on a web-shaped first separating material (16), n) a second roll holder (52) for rotatably receiving a winding roll (54) for winding up the web-shaped first separating material (16) freed of adhesive elements (10), o) a guide device (56) which is designed to guide the dispenser material strip (12) from the master roll (50) through a dispensing area (18) and to guide the web-shaped first separating material (16) freed of adhesive elements (10) in the dispensing area (18) to the winding roll (54), the dispenser device being designed to guide the adhesive elements (10) in the dispensing area (18) from the web-shaped first separating material (16) and to output it simultaneously or alternately to two separate receiving arrangements (20a-e). Use of a dispensing device according to Claim 13 when refilling cassette units (46a-e). Refilled cassette unit (46a-e) manufactured or producible by the process according to Claim 12 , comprising arranged in a housing (58): i) the feed roller (22), ii) the take-up roller (24), iii) the guide arrangement (26), and iv) a material strip comprising a plurality of adhesive elements (10) which are arranged with the adhesive layer on the web-shaped second separating material (28), wherein the material strip is partially wound on the take-up roller (24) and fastened at one end to the feed roller (22), wherein the web-shaped second separating material (28) is arranged between the feed roller (22) and the take-up roller (24) in the guide arrangement (26) and is guided through the receiving area (30) of the receiving arrangement (20a-e), and wherein the guide arrangement (26) comprises a fixed cassette dispensing edge (60), wherein the cassette unit (46a-e) is designed such that the material strip provided on the take-up roller (24) is guided over the cassette dispensing edge (60) to the feed roller (22) in such a way that the adhesive elements (10) in the receiving area (30) are separated from the web-shaped second separating material (28) rated and ejected from the cassette unit (46a-e).

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