FR2640553A1 - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING A PROFILE, IN PARTICULAR FOR SEALING AN OPENING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for mounting a sealing profile on the edge of a vehicle door opening. It relates to a device A which advances a section of profile 7 and bends the outer part B thereof so that it gradually applies the profile to the flange 6 delimiting the opening of the door. The initial end of the section remains away from the flange and is only applied against the latter when the section has gone all the way around the opening so that the two ends are in abutment. Application to the assembly of sealing profiles on automobile bodies.

Description

The present invention relates to apparatus and methods of mounting

  a flexible profile. For example, the profile may be a sealing profile that must be

  mounted around a door opening or other of the car-

  bodywork of a motor vehicle. The invention thus relates to an apparatus for use in mounting a flexible channel-shaped profile on a mounting flange or the like, comprising

  a portable body and a training device for

  worn by the body and intended to advance the

  spun along its length, along a predetermined path that is fixed relative to the body and whose outer portion is outside the body and in such a way that the profile is presented for mounting on the flange

  when the body is moved along the flange and in position

  predetermined relation to him.

  The invention also relates to a robot assembly des-

  for mounting a flexible and longitudinal profile

  on a mounting flange, around an opening

  shut-off member, belonging to a motor vehicle body, the profile having a channel-shaped clamping portion for clamping the flange by surrounding it; the assembly comprises a robot hand having a device defining a predetermined path for the

  sealing profile, the final part of the journey is

  the robot hand comprising a profile driving device which is controlled by a motor and which is intended to house an initial end of the sealing profile and to be moved out of the robot hand and being bent; the latter along a path such that the mouth of the channel is turned outwardly of the curvature of the final part of the path, and a robot arm supporting the robot hand and moving it towards the flange so that the mouth of the profile channel, in the final part of the path, tightens the mounting flange by surrounding it, the assembly further comprising an arm drive device, controlled by a motor and intended to move the robot arm so that it carries the robot hand the

  long flange mounting flange with a relative position pre-

  determined in relation to it so that the profile

  advance in clamping position of the flange.

  The invention also relates to a method for mounting an elongated channel-shaped elastic profile on a

  mounting flange or the like, comprising the longitudinal feed

  from the profile to the flange in the transverse direction

  dirty to the length of the flange, retaining the initial end of the profile so that it follows a curved path such that a portion of the profile immediately following the initial end has the opening of the flange channel, but to distance from it, moving the

  profile as a whole towards the flange so that the

  flange section that immediately follows surrounds the profile, and the further movement of the profile in the longitudinal direction with simultaneous thrust of the latter towards

  the flange so that the rest of the profile surrounds the flange.

  Other features and advantages of the invention

  will be better understood by reading the description that will

  follow of exemplary embodiments for mounting a sealing profile on a motor vehicle door opening, made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

  Figure 1 is a side elevation of the opening

  a door, representing the apparatus in schematic form; Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective of the sealing profile whose end is cut; Figure 3 is a section of the sealing profile mounted on a flange surrounding an opening; Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective of a robot hand forming part of the apparatus; Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the robot hand in the working state just before the profile is disposed on the flange; Figure 6 corresponds to Figure 5 but shows a subsequent state of operation; Figure 7 corresponds to Figure 6 but shows a further state of operation; Figure 8 is a double plan view of the disassembled robot hand, a portion being seen along arrow VIII of Figure 4;

  FIG. 9 is similar to FIG.

  feel the robot's hand disassembled in another plane;

  Figure 10 corresponds to Figure 4 but represents

  feels a variant of a robot hand; Figure 11 is a side elevational view of the robot hand of Figure 10 when it receives a sealing profile; Figures 12 to 14 correspond to Figures 5 to 7, but in the case of the robot hand of Figure 10;

  Figure 15 corresponds to Figure 10 but represents

  feel another variant of the robot hand; Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a portion of a sealing profile applied to a door opening;

  Figures 17 and 18 are perspectives that represent

  both robot blade of Figure 15 when it applies the end of the sealing profile of Figure 16 on the flange;

  Figure 19 corresponds to Figure 10 but represents

  feels another variant of a robot hand; Fig. 20 is a side elevational view of a portion of the robot hand of Fig. 19; Fig. 21 is a perspective view of a portion of the robot hand of Fig. 19, near the end of the mounting of the sealing profile; Figure 22 is a schematic elevational view of a guide pusher of the robot hand of Figure 21 at the time of mounting of the sealing profile and just after the operation shown in Figure 21; and Figures 23 to 25 show steps that

  immediately follow that of Figure 22.

  Figure 1 shows a door opening 5 of a motor vehicle body. The opening is delimited by a flange 6 which is formed at the place where the internal and external coatings of the bodywork are welded to one another. Obtaining the seal at the door opening 5 involves mounting a door seal (see FIG. 2) on the flange

  6 during the manufacture of the bodywork. As the

  2, the door seal has a channel-shaped clamp portion 8 which, in use, clamps the flange 6 around it and supports a soft tubular sealing portion 10 so that the seal is arranged around the opening of the door, the section

  seal located outside the opening.

  As shown in FIG. 3, when the door, a part of which is indicated schematically by the reference 11, closes the opening, it partially compresses the tubular sealing portion 15 and thus forms a weather-resistant seal. The apparatus and method described hereinafter relate to the automatic assembly of the gasket 7

door on the flange 6.

  The apparatus comprises two parts: a robot hand 12 as shown in FIG. 1, and a robot arm (not shown), the hand carrying arm 12 which is attached to a mounting member. This organ is better

shown in Figure 4.

  As described below, a free end of a section of the sealing profile 7 (whose length is determined so that it corresponds to the periphery of the

  the opening of the door) advances in the hand as

  at A in Figure 1, and the hand automatically grips it

  and presents the open mouth of the channel of the clamping portion 8 to the flange 6 as shown in B. The robot arm is programmed to move the hand 12 (under the control of a drive device not shown ) to the flange so that the clamping portion surrounds the flange 6 and the clamp as indicated in C. Then, the arm of the robot moves the hand 12 around

  the periphery of the opening of the door, at a suitable distance

  6. During this movement, the hand automatically and constantly advances the section of the seal on the flange 6 until the hand has traveled the entire periphery of the opening. At the end of this path, the outer end of the door seal is placed in

  position on the flange very close to the initial end.

  When the robot arm moves the hand 12 around the periphery, it automatically adjusts the angular position

  of the hand according to the corners and elbows of the

  and so that the approach angle of the joint 7 is

  suitable in all positions.

  As shown more clearly in FIG. 3, the clamping section 8 is made of a plastic or rubber-based material 16 which is extruded onto a channel-shaped metal support 18. The extruded material 16 thus forms clamping and sealing lips 20 on the internal walls of the channel, these lips being in sealing contact with the side surfaces of the flange 6 which is thus clamped. The metal support can have any suitable shape. For example, it may comprise a series of U-shaped metal elements placed close to each other so that they delimit a channel and are connected to each other by flexible connection connections or completely separated from each other. However, it may also include instead a wire forming loops passing alternately from one side to the other over the entire length of the channel. However, other types of media may be used instead. The section of

  clamping may comprise a ribbon or wire 22 which is conveniently

inextensible.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the robot hand 12 has a seal driving section 24 which contains three pairs of rollers (described hereinafter) which grip the sides of the seal and are driven to advance the seal. on its length in the hand. These

  rollers are driven by a main motor 26 by the

  The drive shaft of the latter passes through a cover 30 joining a section 32.

  belt drive which distributes the driving force

  the gearbox output shaft, via a drive belt, to the three pairs of rollers of the seal drive section 24. The drive shafts transmitting the energy of the section 32 to the pairs of rollers placed in the drive section 24 are supported in bearings placed in a bearing section 34. A tachometer generator 36 controls the speed

of the engine 26.

  In the manner described hereinafter, the seal enters the A-drive section 24 and exits at the opposite end of the section. At the exit point, the guide pin 40 is positioned. This finger 40 is mounted so that it is articulated on an arm 42 protruding from the body

  of the section 24. The location of the guide finger 40 is

  1. As shown in FIG. 4, the guide pin 40 carries a lug 43 having dimensions such that it can be fitted without play at the end of the channel section of the seal 7. Initially, the The guide finger 40 is disposed adjacent to the location where the seal is coming out. When the seal exits, its channel-shaped section 8 is blocked on the spigot 43. When the seal continues to be driven, it pivots the guide pin 40 with it as shown in FIG. 5. As its tightening section

  blocked on the spigot, the seal follows the sensi-

  circular D and comes into contact with a rotating roller

44 guide.

  The robot arm then moves the hand 12 closer to the flange 6 and the roller 44 pushes the section

  8 tightening on the flange as shown in Figure 6.

  The guide finger is then accelerated so that it is no longer locked on the end of the seal, the operation being performed using a motor 46, a gearbox 48 and

  of a belt 50 as shown in FIG. 7.

  The robot arm then begins to move the hand 12 to the periphery of the opening of the door. During this operation, the section 24 driving the seal drives the latter through the hand at a suitable speed, and the clamping section is thus firmly placed on the flange being guided and pushed back on the flange by the roller 44. When the robot hand 12 has been moved all around the door opening, the remote end of the gasket passes into the section 24 and is disposed on the flange 6, near the initial end. The motor 46 (FIG. 4) is then energized so that it returns the guide pin 40 to its initial position, ready to receive a section of seal intended for opening.

of a next door.

  Figure 8 shows the underside of the robot hand 12, in the direction of the arrow VIII of Figure 4, the base 51 being removed. This figure represents the three pairs of rollers 52, 54 and 56 between which the

  seal 7 is tightened and driven longitudinally

  seems 12 when rotating pebbles. The base 51 is formed with projecting protruding portions 58 so that the seal 7 is successively guided by a pair of

  pebbles to the next, after initial sampling.

  Figure 9 is a view of the robot hand 12, the motor 26, the gearbox 28 and the cover 30 being removed. As clearly shown in this figure, a main roller 60 is driven by the output shaft of the reducer 28 and frictionally drives a continuous belt 62. The latter passes successively around the rollers 64, 66, 68, 70 and 72 drive . In addition, it passes on a belt tensioning member 74 which is biased by a spring. It should be noted that since

  suitable drive shafts pass through the

  34 appears to have bearings (Figure 4), the driving rollers 64 and 66 rotate the pair of the drive rollers 52 of the seal in the section 24, the rollers 68 and 72 drive the rollers of the pair 54 and the roller 70 causes the one of the rollers 56 of the pair, the other roller of the pair being able to rotate freely. The speed of the rollers 50, 52 and 54 of drive is such, compared to the angular movement of the arm of

  robot, that the seal 7 is slightly compressed longitudinally

  when placed on the flange 6. This facilitates

  the compensation of the lengthening effect which may appear

  differently and which could have the

  the setting of the door seal laid partially

  voltage. If it is switched on, it can progressively

  of time, and this may have the effect of spreading the two ends of the

  attached, so that there remains a space that is not aesthetically

  tick and the weathertightness is defective. This

  phenomenon is avoided by laying the joint slightly in

  pressure. The nominal length of the seal is predetermined after taking into account this compression so well

  that the ends of the seal are mounted in mutual contact.

  The number of rollers can be reduced

three.

  The seal section is supported in any suitable manner, for example on the hand or the robot arm, at

during the assembly operation.

  The belt 50 and other moving parts of the

  hand are locked in practice in protective hoods.

  The robot hand 12 shown in Figure 10 is identical to that of Figure 4, apart from the difference described below, and therefore not described in detail. The only difference relates to the fact that the hand 12 of FIG. 10 comprises a guiding finger 40A forming a right angle and replacing the finger 40 and the lug 43 of the hand of FIG. 4, and it is articulated on the arm 42

(as the guide finger 40).

  The role of the finger 40A at right angles is to guide the initial end of the seal 7 along a curved path after its exit from the robot hand. As indicated in FIG. 11, the initial end 7A of the seal coming out is in contact with the finger 40A. When the seal continues to exit, it is obliged to follow a curved path defined by the location of the guide finger 40A during rotation around

  its pivot point on the arm 42. The seal is now

  held in contact with the guide pin 40A under the action of its own elasticity. The operation continues until the finger 40A reaches the position shown in Figure 12, the seal along a substantially circular path, at

roller contact 44.

  The robot arm then moves the hand 12 closer to the flange 6 and the guide roller 44 pushes the clamping section 8 on the flange as shown in FIG. 13. The finger 40A is then accelerated when it deviates from the flange. end of the seal, the operation being carried out using the motor 46, the gearbox 48 and the belt 50 as

shown in Figure 14.

  The robot arm then drives the hand 12 around the periphery of the opening of the door, always the

  as described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

  The motor 46 (FIG. 10) is then powered so that it brings the finger 40A back to its initial position in which it is ready to cooperate with a section of joint.

  corresponding to the opening of a next door.

  Figure 15 shows a variant of the hand of

  robot of Figure 10. The hand of Figure 15 is

  10 but further includes a plunger 90 which is attached to a piston which is slidable in a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 92. The plunger may be used to move it away from the cylinder 92 or it enters the latter, through lines 94 and 96 for supplying pneumatic or hydraulic fluid. The

  cylinder 92 of the cylinder is attached to the side of the section 24 of

  by a device that is not represented.

  During operation, the plunger 90 is initiated

  100 is then fully retracted into the cylinder 92. The seal 7 then leaves the hand 12 and is guided around the roller 44 by the finger 40A, as described above with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14. During this operation, the plunger 90 has no role and, as it is totally backward, it

  is spaced from the seal and the guide pin 40A.

  The robot's hand then puts the seal on the flange and

  move around the flange in the manner previously described

  the seal is placed on the flange.

  Finally, the hand has moved completely around the opening of the door and it has placed the final end 7B of the seal on the flange as shown in Figure 16. As shown in Figure 16 (which does not represent the robot hand), the final end 7B is placed near the initial end 7A. However, the initial end 7A and the adjacent seal portion are remote from the flange, given the method of applying the seal to the

  flaccid by the hand of the robot (see Figures 13 and 14).

  The hand 12 of the robot then approaches the end.

  7A again and simultaneously, the guiding finger 40A partially rotates under the control of its motor 46 to the position shown in Figure 17 so that the guide finger passes between the end 7A of the seal and the flange 6 , the roller 44 being in contact with the

  outer surface of the section 8 clamping.

  The robot hand then moves slightly away from the flange 6 as shown in FIG. 18 so that the seal is moved away from the flange, and the plunger 90 is taken out of the cylinder 92 so that it comes into contact with the initial end 7A of the seal and the regrowth on the flange which is adjacent to the final end 7B. The plunger 46 is then moved back, the seal retaining itself on the flange by the clamping action of the clamping section. The hand of the robot is then moved a short distance in the direction perpendicular to the flange 6, in the direction of the arrow X

  (FIG. 18) so that the guide pin 40A is total-

  distant from the joint. During this operation, the hand of

  robot can also move slightly in parallel direction

  leles to the flange (in the direction of arrow Y) so that the roller 44 is distant from the clamping section. The guide pin A is then rotated by the motor 46 to the position shown in FIG. 14. Finally, the robot hand is brought back to the position in which the roller 44 is in contact with the clamping section 8, and is then moved parallel in translation to the flange so that the initial end of the seal 7A is pushed in cooperation with the flange, so that the two ends of the seal abut against each other. The sealing profile must advantageously be slightly compressible in its longitudinal direction and must have a length slightly greater than the peripheral length of the flange so that this mounting operation

be very effective.

  The robot hand shown in Figure 19 is similar to that shown in Figure 10, apart from the addition of a pusher 100 guide. The pusher has a sectional channel shape (see Fig. 20 which is a side elevation of only a portion of the robot hand), the width measured inside the channel being slightly greater than the total width of the section 8 and a sealing portion 10 of the profile 7. A deflector 102 is mounted halfway along the channel of the

  100. This deflector has a slot 104 having a di-

  such as it can be adjusted with Game on the

  flask 6, for a purpose described below.

  During operation, the hand of the robot of FIG. 19 works in exactly the same manner as that of FIG. 10 for mounting most of the robot.

  sealing profile on the flange. The pusher is inoperable

  during this operation. Then, the pusher comes into action so that it rises the final end 7B of the seal on

the flask.

  FIG. 21 represents in schematic form the

  situation obtained when the robot's hand moved

  completely around the opening of the door and has placed the final end 7B of the seal 7 on the flange 6. When this operation is performed, the robot raises the hand 12 (parts only are shown on the

  figure) away from the joint. The figure indicates that the

  end 7B is of course placed against the extreme

  initial mass 7A. However, the initial end 7A and the immediately adjacent portion of the seal are distant from the flange due to the method of applying the seal on

  the flange by the robot hand (see Figures 11 to 14).

  The robot hand then moves laterally with respect to the flange, over a distance corresponding to the distance R in FIG. 20, so that the pusher 100 is then immediately above the initial end.

7A of the seal.

  The subsequent processing step is shown in Fig. 22 on which the hand is not shown.

  except for the pusher 100, for the convenience of explaining the

  tion. As shown, the robot hand then lowered the pusher 100 on the initial end 7A of the seal, so that the latter end is then surrounded by the pusher, slightly on the side of the deflector 102 and close thereto. The initial and final ends 7A, 7B of the profile overlap slightly as shown in S. The robot hand then moves the pusher 100 guide in the direction of the arrow Z as shown in Figure 23. The deflector 102 is then abutted against the end 7A and pushes it to the right (as shown in the figure). This has the effect of causing "buckling" of the sealing strip near the initial end 7A as shown at 7C. The initial end 7A

  no longer covers slightly the end end 7B.

  As shown in Fig. 24, the robot hand then moves the pusher downward so that the initial end 7A is pushed firmly onto the flange. The initial and final ends 7A and 7B are separated by the

  deflector 102 whose slot 104 surrounds the flange itself

  even. The robot hand is then raised relative to the flange and raises the pusher 100 away from the sealing profile (the latter being held on the flange 6 by the clamping action of the section 8). The robot hand then moves laterally relative to the flange but in the opposite direction to the preceding direction, so that the roller 44 is

  still placed on the sealing profile, on the flange.

  The robot hand is then lowered so that the roller 44 is in contact with the profile placed on the flange and the roller is moved alternately on the sealing profile by the robot hand and in the region of the location of the ends 7A and 7B which are connected, and it pushes the initial end 7A of the seal and the immediately adjacent portion thereof in close cooperation with the flange so that the two ends of the seal are in abutment. The parts of the robot hand 12, apart from the roller 44, do not

  are not shown in Figure 25.

  The sealing profile must also be advantageous

  slightly compressible along its length and shall have a length slightly greater than the length

flange device.

  Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art to the methods and apparatus which have just been described solely as examples.

  non-limiting without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (22)

  1. A method of mounting an elongated and elongated profile   channel-shaped tick (7) on a flange (6) for mounting or the like, comprising a step of advancing the profile (7) towards the flange (6), and characterized in that the profile advances longitudinally towards the flange ( 6) transversely to the length of the flange (6), and the method comprises the steps of retaining the initial end (7A) of the profile (7) so that it follows a curved path such as the part of the profile which immediately follows the initial end (7A) has the opening of the flange channel (6),   away from it, the movement of the profile (7)   balancing to the flange (6) so that its next part immediately surrounds the flange (6), and continuing the movement of the profile (7) in the longitudinal direction with simultaneous thrust thereof to the flange (6) so that the remainder of the profile (7) overlaps the flange (6). 2. Method according to claim 1, characterized by the step of mechanically lifting the profile portion immediately following, holding the initial end (7A) of the profile (7) so that it overlaps the flange (6) by position immediately adjacent to the end (7B) of the profile (7) on the flange (6), and then pushing the profile portion (7) raised mechanically on the flange (6). 3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of moving the profile (7) globally   towards the flange (6) so that the profiled part (7) follows   immediately overlaps the flange (6), is such that the initial end (7A) is spaced from the flange (6), the method comprising the steps of continuing the displacement of the profile (7) in the longitudinal direction and simultaneously pushing the profile to the flange (6) so that the rest   the profile (7) surrounds the flange (6), the thrust of the ex-   initial tremity (7A) of the profile (7) which is distant from the flange in a direction substantially parallel to the flange (6) and at a distance from the final end (7B) of the profile (7) so that the profile (7) presents a buckling near the initial end (7A) and is raised partially away from the flange (6), pushing the initial end (7A) of the profile (7) in contact with the flange (6) so that it overlaps in position immediately adjacent to the end end (7B) of the profile (7) placed on the flange (6), then   of the profile parts of the end region   mites (7A, 7B) which are not already on the flange (6) towards this last.   4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in   the profile (7) initially has a longer length than   than the mounting flange (6), and the profile (7)   is slightly compressible in the longitudinal direction.   5. Apparatus for use in mounting an elongate and flexible channel-shaped profile (7) on a mounting flange (6) or the like and intended for   process according to any of the claims   preceding embodiments, comprising a portable body (12) and a drive assembly (52 to 56; 40) carried by the body (12) and for advancing the profile (7) along its length along an predetermined path which is fixed relative to the body (12), characterized in that the outer portion of the path is outside the body (12) and is such that the profile (7) is shown for mounting on the flange (6) when the body (12)   is moved along the flange (6) and in a predetermined position   minée with respect to this flange (6).   6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized by a robot supporting the body (12) and intended to move the latter along the mounting flange (6) in position   predetermined with respect thereto.   7. Apparatus according to one of claims 5 and 6,   characterized by a control assembly of the set of   (52 to 56; 40) depending on the speed of   moving the body (12) along the flange (16).   Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that   what the control unit ensures a control of the   seems to drive (52 to 56; 40) depending on the speed of movement of the body (12) along the flange of   mounting (6) so that the profile (7) is slightly   awarded along its length on the mounting flange (6).   9. Apparatus according to one of claims 5 to 8,   characterized by a guide assembly (40) mounted on the body (12) and for accommodating the initial end (7A) of the profile (7) and guiding it along the outer portion of the path.   10. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the guide assembly (40) comprises a member (40) movable between a first position in which it houses the initial end of the strip and is mechanically in contact with it, and a second position, and in that said movable member (40), as it moves between the first and second positions, moves along the outer portion of the path and guides the initial end (7A) of the profile (7) along its length.   11. Apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the guide assembly comprises a guide pin (40) mounted in articulated form on the body (12) and movable between a first and a second position so that part of guide (40A) disposed transversely to the outer portion of the path, when the finger is in the   first position, elastically in contact with the former   initial tremity (7A) of the profile (7), and then moves adjacent to the path with the profile (7) and guides the initial end (7A) along the outer portion of the path until the finger (40) reaches the second position.   Apparatus according to one of claims 10 and   11, characterized by a rotatable roller (44) mounted near said portion of the path which is outside the body and for guiding the profile along the outer portion of the path.   13. Apparatus according to one of claims 10 and   11, characterized by a second drive assembly (46) for moving the movable member (40) beyond the   second position and thus separate it from the tial (7A) of the profile (7).   14. Apparatus according to one of claims 11 and   12, characterized by a second drive assembly (46) for moving the guide finger (40) beyond the   second position and thus release it from the tial (7A) of the profile (7).   15. Apparatus according to one of claims 11 and   14, characterized by a movable pusher (90) mounted on the body (12) near the guide pin (40) and intended to cooperate, during operation, with the initial end (7A) of the profile (7) and to push this initial end away from the body (12) and on the flange (6), in an adjustable manner, while the guide finger (40) is temporarily held in position between the first and the second position and in contact with the profile ( 7) near its initial end (7A) so that the profile is   temporarily kept at a distance from the flange (6).   Apparatus according to any of the claims   6, 13 and 14, characterized by a control assembly of the second drive assembly (46) in a manner that corresponds to the movement of the robot, so that the second drive assembly (46) moves the guide member (40) beyond the second position while the robot begins to move the body (12) relative to the flange (6).   17. Apparatus according to any of the claims   5 to 16, characterized by a support device of a predetermined length section of the profile (7) near the   body (12) so that the profile advances from the device   tif support and in the body (12) and through it, the predetermined length length corresponding to the length of at least a predetermined portion of the flange of mounting (6).   Apparatus according to any of the claims   6 & 17, characterized in that the training set   profile member has a plurality of pairs of rollers (52-56) whose margins are spaced along said path, and a guide device for the initial end (7A) of the   section (7) successively in the rights of way.   Apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the profile drive assembly comprises a   electric motor (26) and an endless belt (62) of   to distribute the training power among less pebbles (52 to 56).   Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized   in that the profile drive assembly leaves the former   initial end (7A) of the profile (5) away from the flange (6), and a pusher device (100) is mounted on the body (12) so that it is placed in contact with the remote initial end ( 7A) and that it applies a force at this end in the direction of the length of the flange (6) and in the opposite direction to that of the end end (7B) of the profile (7) when it was mounted on the flange (6), so that the initial end (7A) of the profile (7)   can be applied to the flange (6) near the end   final mite (7B) but away from it.   21. Apparatus according to claim 20, characterized in that the pusher device (100) comprises a channel for overlapping the profile (7) with clearance and a deflector (102) placed in the channel (100) and intended to be abutting against the initial end (7A) of the profile (7) that exceeds.   22. Apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the deflector (102) defines a slot (104) for overlapping the flange (6) with play when the pusher device (100) moves towards the flange (6). ,   and the pusher channel (100) repels the former   initial tremity (7A) of the profile (7) on the flange (6).