Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C63/00—Lining or sheathing, i.e. applying preformed layers or sheathings of plastics; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C63/0073—Lining or sheathing, i.e. applying preformed layers or sheathings of plastics; Apparatus therefor of non-flat surfaces, e.g. curved, profiled
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C63/00—Lining or sheathing, i.e. applying preformed layers or sheathings of plastics; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C63/0047—Preventing air-inclusions
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C63/00—Lining or sheathing, i.e. applying preformed layers or sheathings of plastics; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C63/0056—Provisional sheathings
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
  • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
  • B29L2031/30—Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for the coating of motor vehicles.
• motor vehicles exiting assembly lines are covered with a protective material against dust and weather, and which ensures that the paintwork of the various bodywork elements is not deteriorated during storage and transportation to the dealer.
• the known film-coating devices comprise a motorized chassis along at least two axes and therefore able to move up and down, and horizontally above a motor vehicle.
• the frame is of the type comprising for example a reel roller (that is to say a reel of film to be unwound), coder rollers and bar feeder (that is to say rollers for guiding the film unwound from roller), pressure and applicator rollers, and a tensioning roller.
• the laminator described in DE 196 06 395 includes an end-of-application roller which makes it possible to apply the film unrolled through the machine, on the surface of the body.
• This end of application roller has a rotating brush similar to that used in vehicle washing stations.
• the main object of the present invention is therefore to provide a laminator making it possible to apply, automatically or semi-automatically, a layer of adhesive film to the body of a vehicle, so that the pressure for applying the film is as homogeneous as possible, whatever the relief of the bodywork.
• the object of the invention is achieved with a device for the automatic or semi-automatic laying of adhesive film on the surface of a motor vehicle, comprising a motorized chassis movable along at least two axes, said chassis carrying at least one reel of film, coder and bar feed rollers for guiding the film through the device, a film applicator roller coupled to a pressure roller, film cutting means and an end-of-application roller for pressing the film deposited on the surface of said vehicle to ensure its good performance.
• the invention is characterized in that the end-of-application roller comprises an axis around which said roller is movable in rotation, a pair of discs each disposed near one end of the axis, a stretched flexible skin on the discs, at a distance from the axis, a core of cellular material disposed around the axis between the discs.
• the core of cellular material is arranged around the axis between the discs so that a space is defined between the skin and the core of cellular material.
• the roller allows two types of particular applications. Firstly, when the surface of the body is convex, the skin can, thanks to its flexibility, deform and conform to the domed shape of the body, thanks to the space between the core and the skin. In this case, all areas of the bodywork are in contact with the surface of the roller, guaranteeing uniformity of the application.
• the flexible skin is microperforated.
• the assembly of the skin with respect to the discs, and the assembly of the discs with respect to the axis are preferably carried out in a sealed manner, and means for pressurizing or vacuuming the air inside. of the end of application roller are provided.
• pressurizing or vacuuming means preferably comprise an air inlet and outlet, respectively towards and out of the roller, said air inlet and outlet being connected to a regulated pneumatic circuit, making it possible to vary or maintain the pressure or vacuum of air inside the roller, in particular in the cells of the core of cellular material.
• the flexible skin can then deform outwards when pressure is applied to the inside of the roller, so that when film is applied to hollow body surfaces, it is possible, not only to reach the bottom of the hollows thanks to the deformation of the skin, but also to apply in these zones a high pressure which makes it possible to ensure that no air bubble is trapped between the film and the bodywork , and also to ensure sufficient pressure to guarantee that no detachment of the film will take place until the vehicle arrives at the dealership.
• this skin reacts as described above in the case where a pressure - positive - is applied to the inside of the roller, and when a vacuum is applied - negative pressure - , the skin curves inward (its surface is then concave) and air being sucked in through the perforations, the skin acts like a vacuum cleaner.
• this suction effect is not sufficient to counter the adhesive effect of the film already stuck on the surface of the bodywork to be protected, on the other hand the free edge of the film unrolled being applied is held against the applicator roller, until it comes into contact with the body surface. This phenomenon avoids the formation of folds and air bubbles between the film and the surface to be protected.
• the core of the roller is made of polyurethane type foam.
• the invention also relates more particularly to the applicator roller per se.
• Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a lamination device according to the invention, in position to start lamination from the front of a vehicle.
• Figure 2 is a schematic view similar to Figure 1, when the device is in the process of filming a vehicle.
• Figure 3 is a front sectional view of an applicator roller for a coating device according to the invention.
• Figure 4 is a schematic front sectional view illustrating the positioning of the skin and the core of the applicator roller according to the invention on the bumpy surface of a vehicle.
• the film-coating device 1 as illustrated in FIG. 1 or 2 comprises a chassis 2, movable along two axes, vertical and horizontal from front to rear, thanks to a motor 3. On the chassis are mounted different rollers allowing the unwinding and the passage of the film to be applied through the device, and for making cuts of this film when necessary.
• a reel 4 - or reel of film - stores protective adhesive film, which is unwound and driven through the device to the surface where it is to be applied.
• Coding rollers 5 and bar feeders 6 guide the film through the device by changing its direction of unwinding.
• An applicator roller 7 is coupled to a pressure roller 8, which allow the adhesive film to come into contact with the surface to be covered.
• Cutting means 9 for the film 10 are also provided, which take the form of a hot knife, the width of which is greater than or equal to the width of the film.
• This knife is movable in translation, retracted when the film is applied to the vehicle as illustrated in FIG. 1, and taken out to be able to cut the film; as shown in figure 2.
• the device 1 comprises an end of application roller 12 which makes it possible to exert sufficient pressure on the film 10 placed on the bodywork 13, so that the adhesive of the film is correctly applied to this body.
• the end of application roller 13, as illustrated in FIG. 3, has an axis 14 allowing it to be mounted on the chassis 2 of the device 1, so that once installed, the end of application roller is movable in rotation, about itself, about this axis 14.
• Discs 15 are fixed to the axis of rotation 14 of the roller 12.
• a flexible skin of rubber, or similar material is stretched between these discs.
• a foam core or equivalent cellular material is arranged around the axis 14, so that a space 18 is formed between the skin 16 and the foam core 17.
• the discs 15 and the flexible skin 16 of the roller 12 are sealingly arranged around the axis 14, the skin being for example crimped in the peripheral edges of the discs, so that a sealed cavity is formed, delimited by the discs 15 on the sides, and flexible skin 16.
• An air inlet / outlet comprising a channel 19 (two separate channels can be used if necessary), is provided which passes through the axis 14 and opens out inside the sealed cavity described above.
• the outlet of the channel 20 can be connected to means (not illustrated in the drawing) for pressurizing the air contained in the roller, in particular a compressed air pump.
• An electronic circuit for managing the air pump can then vary the air pressure inside the roller so that if the body 13 of a vehicle has reliefs and hollows, an overpressure created inside of the roller will deform the skin 16 outwards, so that the latter can then fill in the hollows and apply significant effective pressure, as illustrated in FIG. 4.
• the film-coating device moves over the vehicle to be protected, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, like the automatic washing devices with rotary brushes commonly used.
• the applicator roller 7 retracts into the machine, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and the hot knife 9 comes out to cut the film. Since the film 10 is still held between the applicator 7 and presser 8 rolls, the filming may resume when the device 1 is translated to the next bodywork portion.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Automobile Manufacture Line, Endless Track Vehicle, Trailer (AREA)
• Adhesive Tape Dispensing Devices (AREA)
• Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
• Adhesives Or Adhesive Processes (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=33306189

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2003
  • 2003-05-06 FR FR0305516A patent/FR2854593B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2004
  • 2004-04-23 WO PCT/FR2004/001000 patent/WO2004098861A2/fr active Application Filing
  • 2004-04-23 EP EP04742570A patent/EP1625009A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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