EP1591168B1 - Application head, application nozzle assembly, adapter plate and mounting plate - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an applicator head for applying fluid to a base body and an associated applicator nozzle assembly and to means for making a releasable connection between the base body and the applicator nozzle assembly, the means having a lever. The applicator head comprises an adapter plate and a mounting plate which is a detachable part of the body of the applicator head for applying fluid to a movable substrate.

Devices containing such applicator heads, applicator nozzle assemblies, adapter plates, and / or mounting plates are used in a variety of industries to produce various flowable materials, such as adhesives, paints, or coating materials on sanitary articles, wood products, machine parts, automotive body panels, or the like the like continuously or intermittently in the form of a caterpillar, linear, punctiform or flat.

For this purpose, the application nozzle arrangements and application heads are connected to a fluid source, for example an adhesive container, from which the fluid is optionally conveyed by means of a pump through a supply channel to the application nozzle arrangement. The fluid flow can be interrupted or released, for example, by a valve arrangement switched into the feed channel. When the valve is open, the fluid then flows through an outlet channel in the application nozzle arrangement, which channel opens into an outlet opening for discharging the fluid from which the fluid then exits with pressure and then passes to the substrate, which, for example by means of a conveyor relative to the outlet opening and thus is movable relative to the applicator nozzle assembly. The applicator nozzle assembly may be in contact with the substrate (contact type) upon application of the fluid, while in other embodiments the applicator nozzle assembly maintains a distance between itself and the substrate.

Such application heads and applicator nozzle arrangements are for example from PCT / EP 00/04137 ( WO-A-0067914 ) of the Applicant.

In order to maintain, repair or replace the applicator head and / or the applicator nozzle assembly in the prior art, it is necessary to disengage the plurality of fastener screws, which are usually difficult to access due to the geometry of the machine, connecting the applicator nozzle assembly to the applicator head. This process requires tools, time and sometimes mechanical skills of the fitter. In addition, after assembly, the correct positioning of the application nozzle assembly, which may have changed during assembly, may need to be checked.

A generic application nozzle arrangement is made US 2002/134858 A1 known.

The object of the present invention is to improve the known applicator heads and applicator nozzle arrangements mentioned above, and in particular to be able to produce a maintenance-friendly connection between applicator head and applicator nozzle arrangement.

The object is achieved according to the invention for a gun of the type mentioned by the application nozzle assembly comprises a concave recess extending along a narrow side and a narrow side opposite the narrow side extending along convex projection. In this case, the application nozzle arrangement is designed for mounting on a main body of such an application head.

An advantage of the invention is that the applicator nozzle assembly can only be connected to the applicator head in one correct way, which eliminates assembly errors. In addition, no tool is necessary to replace a job nozzle assembly. This allows a quick, inexpensive change of the applicator nozzle assembly. Another advantage is that when changing the application nozzle arrangement this is very easy and very accurately positioned. Accurate positioning is an important prerequisite for the trouble-free operation of adhesive application devices, so that the invention also reduces the probability of errors of such systems and thus their availability is increased. These advantages are achieved by the lever according to the invention.

Due to the fact that it is possible to dispense with tools for exchanging the application nozzle arrangement, it is no longer necessary to take into account in the construction that sufficient space is kept free for the use of the tool. The advantages mentioned can be achieved by a simple and therefore cost-effective design. In addition, existing applicators can be easily retrofitted.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lever is mounted on the base body. In a system for applying fluids to a movable substrate, a large number of different application nozzle assemblies per applicator head are regularly maintained for use. By providing the lever on the body, the number of levers required is minimized.

It is preferred that the lever is designed to exert a force on the applicator nozzle assembly, wherein the force acts substantially parallel to the contact surface between applicator nozzle assembly and base body. The fluid leaving the applicator head is applied to a generally movable substrate which moves along the application surface of the applicator nozzle assembly. In order to prevent deterioration of the substrate by the applicator nozzle arrangement, it is advantageous if it does not have any recesses or other surface irregularities. The fact that the force exerted by the lever on the applicator nozzle arrangement acts in parallel with the contact surface between the application nozzle arrangement and the base body avoids the need for the lever to engage in the surface facing the substrate.

It is preferred that a torque can be applied to the lever by means of a set screw. Friction occurs at the contact point between the set screw and the application head or the set screw and the lever. This friction prevents the set screw from loosening during operation, so that the torque applied to the lever does not change during operation.

It is particularly preferred that the adjusting screw is arranged on the base body facing the end of the lever. As a result, the adjusting screw is located at a large distance from the pivot point of the lever, so that a good lever ratio is achieved. In addition, the screw is thereby at a greater distance from the possibly hot application nozzle arrangement. Alternatively, the set screw may be located on the same side as the applicator nozzle assembly as viewed from the lever's location.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the application nozzle arrangement and the lever engage in one another in a form-fitting manner. This results in a particularly robust connection between application nozzle arrangement and application head. Even if the clamping force exerted by the lever decreases, the positive engagement prevents the application nozzle assembly from coming loose from the application head.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lever has a convex, in particular a circular arc-shaped contour at its end which is in contact with the application nozzle arrangement. By a convex, in particular a circular arc-shaped contour, an extended contact area between the lever and the application nozzle arrangement is achieved. Such a contour also has a positive effect on the achievable positioning accuracies.

It is preferred that the base body has a section acting as an abutment, to which the application nozzle arrangement can be pressed by means of the lever. The abutment, which is advantageously designed so that it also serves as a stop, leads to an increase in the positioning accuracy.

In this case, it is particularly preferred that the concave structure has a, preferably flat, guide surface which runs in such a way that the applicator nozzle arrangement is pressed against the basic body by the action of the lever. This results in a secure clamping connection between the applicator nozzle assembly and the main body.

In a preferred embodiment, the applicator nozzle assembly is linearly guided between the abutment and the one end of the lever. This ensures that only the lever must be released to change the application nozzle arrangement. Subsequently, the applicator nozzle assembly can be solved by a translational movement of the applicator head. The linear guide also increases the positioning accuracy of the applicator nozzle assembly relative to the gun.

Particularly preferred is a gun in which the convex projection is designed to cooperate with a concave structure of the base body. The interaction of the convex projection with the concave structure results in a large bearing surface of the application nozzle arrangement on the application head, so that a high positioning accuracy and a secure connection between the two are ensured.

In a preferred embodiment, the applicator nozzle arrangement has a lock which limits a movement parallel to the contact surface of the base body and application nozzle arrangement and parallel to the concave recess, wherein the locking is in particular formed by a hollow pin, in which a spring-loaded ball is guided so that a fraction the ball protrudes beyond an end face of the hollow pin. A movement here is to be understood merely as meaning a movement of the application nozzle arrangement guided by the basic body, as occurs during the assembly of the application nozzle arrangement.

The lock allows precise positioning and at the same time rapid assembly of the applicator nozzle assembly on the gun. If the said hollow pin is used and the application nozzle arrangement is in the correct position relative to the application head, then the spring-loaded ball in the hollow pin is pressed further by the spring force by a small amount relative to its pressure gauge beyond the end face of the hollow pin. In this case, the ball engages in a recess which is provided on the applicator nozzle assembly, so that applicator nozzle assembly and applicator head are locked relative to each other.

Preferred is an adapter plate according to the invention, which is designed for mounting on a base body of an applicator head described above or comprises a concave recess extending along a narrow side and a convex projection extending along the narrow side opposite this narrow side. In addition, an adapter plate is preferred, in which the convex projection is designed to cooperate with a concave structure of the main body of an applicator head. Cheap is also when the adapter plate has a stop, in particular a pin, which limits a movement parallel to the contact surface of the base body and applicator nozzle assembly and parallel to the concave recess.

Particularly preferred is an adapter plate which comprises a recess for receiving an elastic sealing element. The elastic sealing element is elastically deformed during the assembly of the application nozzle arrangement on the application head and thus prevents leakage of the fluid in the event that both components are not perfectly positioned relative to each other.

Preferred is a mounting plate according to the invention, in which the lever is mounted on the base body. This makes it possible to quickly retrofit job systems that previously work with a different clamping system.

Preferably, a mounting plate is formed with at least one of the characterizing features of claims 3-10. In this way, the retrofitted systems have the advantages described above for the gun.

In a preferred embodiment, the mounting plate is for releasable connection to an adapter plate according to any one of claims 13-14.

Figur 1

einen Auftragskopf mit einer entsprechend zugeordneten, montierten Auftragsdüsenanordnung in einer perspektivi- schen Ansicht,

Figur 2

eine Seitenansicht des Auftragskopfes und der zugeordne- ten Auftragsdüsenanordnung nach Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht des Auftragskopfes und der Auftragsdüsenanordnung nach Figuren 1 und 2, im getrenn- ten Zustand,

Figur 4

eine weitere perspektivische Ansicht der Komponenten wie

in

Figur 3,

Figur 5

eine Montageplatte,

Figur 6

eine Explosionszeichnung der Montageplatte nach Figur 5,

Figur 7

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Hohlstifts zur Arretierung von Auftragsdüsenanordnung und Auftragskopf relativ zu- einander und

Figur 8

eine weitere perspektivische Ansicht der Komponenten wie in Figur 3, mit dem Hohlstift nach Figur 7.

An embodiment of the present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. It shows

FIG. 1

an application head with a correspondingly assigned, mounted application nozzle arrangement in a perspective view,

FIG. 2

a side view of the applicator head and the associated order nozzle arrangement according to FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3

a perspective view of the applicator head and the applicator nozzle assembly according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in the separated state,

FIG. 4

another perspective view of the components like

in

FIG. 3 .

FIG. 5

a mounting plate,

FIG. 6

an exploded view of the mounting plate after FIG. 5 .

FIG. 7

a perspective view of a hollow pin for locking applicator nozzle assembly and applicator head relative to each other and

FIG. 8

another perspective view of the components as in FIG. 3 , with the hollow pin behind FIG. 7 ,

FIG. 1 shows an applicator head 10 having a body 12, an associated applicator nozzle assembly 14 and a lever 16. The main body 12 comprises a metering dispenser 18 and a mounting plate 20

The metering dispenser 18 has a substantially cuboid shape and has on one of its narrow sides an electrical connection 22 for connection to a voltage source and a connection 24 for the supply of fluid. About the terminal 22, a not shown here solenoid is energized, which releases the release of fluid from the applicator head 10 or interrupts. The mounting plate 20 is attached to the terminals 22, 24 opposite side by means of two screws 26a, 26b. The screw 26a engages in a threaded hole 28a (see. FIG. 6 ), the screw 26b corresponding to a threaded hole 28b in the mounting plate 20. The dosing dispenser 18 and the mounting plate 20 close on three sides flush with each other.

The mounting plate 20 rests with a contact surface 30 on the dispenser 18 (see also Figures 5 and 6 ). At that narrow side of the mounting plate 20, which does not terminate with a narrow side of the dosing dispenser 18, the lever 16 is pivotally articulated by means of a pin 32. As FIG. 6 shows in an exploded view, the pin 32 is received in two bearing bores 34 a, 34 b in the mounting plate 20 and extends through a provided in the lever 16 bearing bore 36th

Adjacent to the lever 16 is located on the mounting plate 20, a rectangular contact plate 38. This is partly over the contact surface 30 of the mounting plate 20 addition (upper part) and is the other part with its back on the body of the mounting plate 20 at (lower part). The contact plate 38 is screwed to the mounting plate 20 by means of a hexagon socket head screw 40 passing through a hole 42. In the contact plate 38 extends in the lower end of a through hole 44 through which a spring 46 engages. The spring 46 bears with one end on the body of the mounting plate 20 and with its other end on the lever 16 and clamped both pressure against each other.

At its end with respect to pin 32 and contact point of the spring 46 other end is on the lever 16, a set screw 48 is disposed in a threaded hole which, when it is rotated clockwise, the lever 16 so against the contact plate 38 biases the spring 46 is compressed. At its same end relative to the pin 32 as the contact point of the spring 46, the lever 16 extends into a convex contour 50 facing the mounting plate 20, which in the present case has a circular arc shape.

The mounting plate 20 has a contact surface 30 extending parallel to the contact surface 52 which is bounded on its side facing away from the lever 16 by a projection 54. This is designed such that the mounting plate 20 substantially in the form of a serif provided L, whose back is the contact surface 30. In this case, the projection 54 at its end facing away from the contact surface on a planar guide surface 56 which faces the contact surface 52. By turning the adjusting screw 48 in the clockwise direction, the end of the lever 16 moves with the convex contour 50 to the projection 54.

Between the contact surface 30 and the contact surface 52 passes through a drilled through hole 58, the mounting plate 20 completely. A not shown here O-ring is inserted into a groove in the mounting plate 58. This O-ring serves to prevent leakage when the mounting plate 20 is mounted on the dispenser 18.

At the projection 54 and the lever 16 adjacent side surfaces is a recess 59, which terminates in the contact surface 52. The clear width of the recess 59 is greater than the outer diameter of the not shown here O-ring, which is inserted into the groove of the mounting plate 58. This avoids shearing of the O-ring during assembly of the mounting plate 20 to the applicator nozzle assembly.

By the projection 54 extends centrally a threaded through hole 60 into which an externally threaded centering pin 62 is screwed ( Fig. 6 ; see. Fig. 3 . 4 ). The centering pin 62 has on its in the installed position the lever 16 side facing a survey 64 and on the opposite side of this survey a slot 66. In the installed position, the centering pin 62 is flush with the projection 54 so that only protrusion 64 protrudes on the side of the centering pin facing the lever 16 (cf. FIG. 4 ).

As FIG. 2 shows, the planar guide surface 56 of the projection 54 forms an undercut; together with the end of the lever 16, which has the convex contour 50, a space for receiving the applicator nozzle assembly 14 is thus formed together with the contact surface 52.

The applicator nozzle assembly 14 comprises an adapter plate 68 and a nozzle plate 70 which are firmly but releasably connected to each other, for example by four screws ( Fig. 3 ). At its in installation position of the contact surface 52 of the mounting plate 20 side facing the applicator nozzle assembly 14 has a contact surface 72. In one of the contact surface 72 adjacent Narrow sides is introduced along this narrow side extending arcuate recess 74 which is larger than the convex contour 50 of the lever 16 (see. FIG. 2 ). On the opposite narrow side of a truncated pyramidal projection 76 is provided, whose one narrow side flush with the contact surface 72. This surface opposite a sliding surface 78 is provided which is inclined by the same angle against the contact surface 72 as the guide surface 56 is inclined against the contact surface 52.

Perpendicular to the contact surface 72 extends in the projection 76, a slot 80 which has a depth which is greater than the amount by which the elevation 64 of the centering pin 62 (see. FIG. 6 ) in installation position on the corresponding boundary surface of the projection 54 protrudes.

In the contact surface 72 is a bore 81 which in FIG. 3 not visible and therefore shown in dashed lines, embedded. This extends from the contact surface 72, starting from the applicator nozzle assembly 14 and terminates in a lower surface 82, which faces the contact surface 72. The bottom surface 82 is that surface of the applicator nozzle assembly 14 that contacts the fluid upon application of fluid to a moveable substrate. In the bore 81, an O-ring 83 is inserted, which is also in FIG. 3 is not visible and therefore shown in dashed lines and partially protrudes beyond the contact surface 72.

To assemble the application nozzle arrangement 14 on the base body 12, the application nozzle arrangement 14 is positioned next to the base body 12 in such a way that its contact surface 72 runs essentially parallel to the contact surface 30 of the base body 12. The application nozzle assembly 14 is then moved toward the base body 12 such that the sliding surface 78 comes into contact with the guide surface 56 and the recess 74 includes the convex contour 50 of the lever 16 in a form-fitting manner. In this case, the applicator nozzle assembly 14 is guided linearly by the projection 54 and by the convex contour 50 of the lever 16.

At the application nozzle arrangement, a locking pin 84 is provided (see. FIGS. 1 . 2 ), which then stops the movement of the applicator nozzle assembly 14 by striking the lever 16 when in the correct position. In this position, the centering pin 62 is screwed in to secure, which engages in the slot 80 and fixes the applicator nozzle assembly 14 so securely

As an alternative to the centering pin 62, an externally threaded hollow pin 86 is screwed into the through hole 60 ( FIG. 7 ). The hollow pin 86 has on its one end face 88 a slot 90. From the end face 88 is a central axial blind bore 92 goes out. The blind bore 92 extends along the longitudinal axis of the hollow pin 86, terminates short of the end face 94 and there passes into a second central bore 96 which extends axially from the end face 94. In the area in which the blind bore 92 merges into the bore 96, a ball 98 is arranged whose diameter lies between the diameter of the bore 96 and that of the blind bore 92. To the ball 98 is located on a compression spring 100, which extends through the blind bore 92 and terminates at a closure piece 102 which is flush with the end face 88 and the slot 90 and glued into the blind bore 92. The compression spring 100 clamps the ball 98 against the closure piece 102, so that a fraction of the ball 98 projects beyond the end face 94. By pressing the ball against the spring force, the ball is pressed into the blind bore 92.

The hollow pin 86 and the centering pin 62 are alternatives, both of which cooperate with the slot 80. The locking pin 84 is redundant with respect to both, so that only the locking pin 84, the centering pin 62 or the hollow pin 86 are sufficient to ensure a locking of the applicator nozzle assembly 14 on the applicator head 10.

FIG. 8 shows the position of the hollow pin 86 when installed in the mounting plate 20. The end face 94 terminates flush with the projection 54, so that on the lever 16 side facing only the ball 98 protrudes. Now, if the applicator nozzle assembly 14 is inserted into the space formed by the projection 54 and the convex contour 50, the Ball 98 through the projection 76 (see. Fig. 3 ) in the blind bore 92 (see. Fig. 7 ). When the applicator nozzle assembly 14 is in the correct position relative to the mounting plate 20, the ball 98 will snap open due to the pressure spring 100 (see FIG. Fig. 7 ) applied force in the slot 80 (see. Fig. 3 ) and thus locks the applicator nozzle assembly 14 relative to the mounting plate 20.

By turning the adjusting screw 48 by 180 ° - 360 ° in a clockwise direction, a torque is applied to the lever 16. As a result, the end of the lever 16 with the convex contour 50 moves further into the recess 74, and exerts a force on the applicator nozzle assembly 14 which is substantially parallel to the contact surfaces 52 and 72. This force pushes the applicator nozzle assembly 14 toward the projection 54. In this case, the sliding surface 78 slides on the planar guide surface 56 of the projection 54, wherein the applicator nozzle assembly 14 is further moved toward the base body 12. The projection acts as an abutment for the lever 16. In this way, the applicator nozzle assembly 14 and the body are braced against each other. The holes 58 and 81 are directly above each other and are sealed by the O-ring 83 against each other.

To release the connection of applicator nozzle assembly 14 and body 12, the adjusting screw 48 is rotated counterclockwise. This reduces the force exerted by the lever 16 on the adapter plate 68 force. Subsequently, the applicator nozzle assembly 14 is removed by a translational movement of the main body 12

By means of such a fastening mechanism, different adapter plates 68, which are adapted with regard to their designs to the respective application, can be easily and quickly fastened or loosened.

Claims (12)

1. An application head for the application of fluid to a movable substrate, having a base body (12), an associated application nozzle arrangement (14) and having means for producing a detachable connection between the base body and the application nozzle arrangement (14), wherein the means have a lever (16), characterised in that the application nozzle arrangement (14) comprises a concave cutout (74) running along one narrow side and a convex projection (76) which runs along a narrow side opposite the narrow side.
2. An application head according to claim 1, characterised in that the lever (16) is mounted on the base body (12).
3. An application head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lever (16) is designed to exert a force upon the application nozzle arrangement (14), wherein the force acts substantially parallel to the contact surface (52, 72) between the application nozzle arrangement (14) and the base body (12).
4. An application head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a torque can be applied to the lever (16) by means of an adjusting screw (48).
5. An application head according to claim 4, characterised in that the adjusting screw (48) is arranged at the end, facing the base body (12), of the lever (16).
6. An application head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the application nozzle arrangement (14) and the lever (16) engage one another in a positive-locking manner.
7. An application head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the lever (16) has a convex, in particular arcuate, contour (50) at its end in contact with the application nozzle arrangement (14).
8. An application head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the base body (12) has a portion (54) acting as a counter bearing, against which the application nozzle arrangement (14) can be pressed by means of the lever (16).
9. An application head according to claim 8, characterised in that the portion (54) has a, preferably plane, guide surface (56) which runs in such a manner that the application nozzle arrangement (14) is pressed against the base body (12) by the action of the lever (16).
10. An application head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the application nozzle arrangement (14) is guided linearly between the counter bearing and the one end of the lever (16).
11. An application head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the convex projection (76) is designed to cooperate with a concave structure (54; 56) of the base body (12) of the application head (10).
12. An application head according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the application nozzle arrangement (14) has a locking means (62. 84, 86) which limits movement parallel to the contact surface (52, 72) of the base body (12) and the application nozzle arrangement (14) and parallel to the concave cutout (74), wherein the locking means is in particular formed by a hollow pin (86) in which a ball (98), acted upon by spring force, is guided in such a manner that a portion of the ball (98) projects out beyond an end face (94) of the hollow pin (86).

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