GB2026902A

GB2026902A - Support assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2026902A
Application number: GB7925396A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Fichtel and Sachs AG; Sachs Systemtechnik GmbH
Current assignee: ZF Sachs AG; Sachs Systemtechnik GmbH
Priority date: 1978-07-20
Filing date: 1979-07-20
Publication date: 1980-02-13
Also published as: IT7968501A0; FR2431630B1; BR7904626A; IT1118923B; FR2431630A1; GB2026902B

Abstract

In a system for attaching articles (7; 23; 37; 39; 57; 65) to a support surface (1; 11; 27; 61; 71), an adhesive layer (3; 43; 53; 63; 79) of a thickness of at least 0.35 mm is applied to the supporting member (1; 11; 27; 61; 71) or the article (39). The invention also relates to a method of releasing an adhesive layer from a support surface in a system of this kind, in which a fluid is forced between the surface and the adhesive layer adhering thereto. The support surface may be a table-top, shelf, tray, emergency windscreen, display device or pallet. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Support assembly US Patent Specification 3 389 784 discloses a survival kit, the contents of which are releasably attached to subdividing foils, zones of which are coated with an adhesive coating. US Patent Specifi caion 3 409 257 discloses the provision of an adhesive coating at the back of a cable clip to enable the same to be attached to the wall along which the cable is to be laid. The adhesive coating is conventionally only relatively thin, usually less than 1/10 mm. The disadvantage of this is that the adhesive coating becomes unusable relatively quickly due to dirt and loses its adhesive power.In the case of the survival kit disclosed in US Patent Specification 3 398784 this means that the articles can be removed only a few times while in the case of the cable clip according to US Patent Specification 3409 257 the clip loses its adhesion probably after just one removal.

The object of the invention is to provide a way whereby articles can be releasably secured to a supporting surface by means of an adhesive coating or layer without the same losing its adhesive power even if the articles are removed frequently and even if the layer becomes relatively dirty.

To this end, according to the invention, an adhesive coating of a thickness of at least 0.35 mm is applied to the support or to the article. The adhesive coating is preferably between 0.5 mm and 2 mm thick. With adhesive coatings of this thickness, the article to be secured is embedded in the layer of adhesive so that even rolling articles, i.e. articles having no specific position of equilibrium, e.g. balls, can be secured reliably without difficulty. It has been found that adhesive layers of such a thickness are much more able to take dynamic forces acting on the article from outside without the article detaching from the adhesive layer. In addition, thick adhesive layers are protected more satisfactorily from undesirable cohesion breakdown within the adhesive layer.Because of their thickness, adhesive layers of this kind can absorb particles of dirt more satisfactorily and in greater numbers without losing their adhesive effect. The adhesive layer is therefore usable for longer periods.

The adhesive layer may be provided on a tabletop, a shelf, or a tray, so that such coated surfaces can be used in the galleys of aircraft, ships or motor-coaches for the stable location of crockery and the like. The invention can also be used for easily tipped-over camping tables, or for reliable location of articles, for example, in china and glass shops.

To enable the adhesive layer to be replaced if required, it is preferably applied to a support film or foil which is in turn attached to the support by means of an adhesive layer.

As in the previous embodiments, the support may be formed by a rigid board or the like or alternatively consist of a film or foil clamped between two clamping means and provided with an adhesive coating on at least one side. The film orfoil may, for example, be clamped in a vertical position and serve as a display support for goods in sale'rooms. The film or foil may form an endless band trained over two spaced rollers mounted rotatably on the clamping means. In this way the film or foil can be moved transversely of the axis of the rollers. If the latter are disposed one above the other, for example, the articles can be attached in the conveniently accessible bottom zone ofthefilm orfoil and then be moved into a less accessible zone together with the film or foil.

The invention can also be used in a re-usable replacement windscreen for a motor vehicle. For this purpose the adhesive layer is provided between two transparent films orfoils, one of which has at least one tear-off perforation or similar punched cut at a distance from and extending substantially parallel to its edge. The edge of this one film or foil can be removed along the tear-off performation or punched cut so that the structure can be attached, by means of the adhesive layer adhering to the other film or foil, to the motor vehicle bodywork parts adjacent the windscreen. If a number of perforations or cuts are provided, the size of the replacement windscreen can be adapted to the size of the windscreen requiring to the replaced.

Other preferred exemplified embodiments in which the adhesive layer is provided on the article requiring to be secured, are plates, flower-pots, glasses, etc., which have the adhesive layer on the underside of their base. Such articles can be fixed on their support in this way so that they cannot tip over if accidentally touched or be damaged if they are fragile. The articles may be advertising supports or warning signs, traffic signs and notices which can be used, for example, for road traffic control purposes at restricted times.

To enable the adhesion of the adhesive layer to be adjusted, the layer can be applied to the support or the article in a pattern at least partially covering the surface. Droplet-shaped or strip-shaped patterns are suitable for example. In reversal of this principle, however, the adhesive layer can be covered with an apertured cover film or foil.

Particularly important embodiments are those in which the support is constructed as a workpiece pallet for the transport of workpieces between work stations, the surface intended to receive the workpieces being flat and bearing an adhesive layer.

Workpiece pal lets of this kind are known from German Offenlegungsschrift 2535681. The workpieces can be fixed on the pallet by means of the adhesive and cannot drop down during transport.

The adhesive layer is usually of a thickness of from 20Fm to 1 20cm. The adhesive layer becomes fouled relatively quickly particularly in the case of such workpiece pallets, so that the adhesive effect deteriorates and the workpieces can no longer reliably be held on the pallet. The adhesive layer of known pal lets therefore has to be changed relatively frequently, for which purpose it is applied to a film or foil of polyvinyl chloride plastics, which is in turn attached to the pallet and, after use, is removed and replaced by a new one.

The adhesive layer of the pallet can again in this case be rendered more resistant to fouling and the adhesive effect of workpieces with irregular contours can be improved if, accordingtothe invention, the adhesive layer is made thicker than 0.35 mm. It is again preferably between 0.5 and 2 mm thick. With adhesive layers of this thickness, dirt and dust particles do not adhere just tothe surface. On the contrary, the layer absorbs the dirt and dust particles so that the -adhesive power, which is determined primarily by the cleanliness of the surface, is retained for a longer period. In addition, theworkpieces become more readily embedded in thick adhesive layers, because their projecting surface zones sink into the adhesive layer. More particularly, workpieces having no specific position of equilibrium, e.g. balls, can be embedded in thick adhesive layers.

It has also surprisingly been found that thick adhesive layers are much more abletotransmit dynamic forces acting on the workpieces than thin adhesive layers. With thick adhesive layers, the undesirable cohesion breakdown readily occcurring with thin layers is also provided. This may occur in cases in which stress concentrations occur owing to the flow of the adhesive being obstructed, and parts of the adhesive remain adhering to the workpiece when the latter is removed.

The support for the adhesive layer may be a layer of elastic material, e.g. foam orthe like, so that perfect fixing on the pallet is possible even in the case of workpieces with a very small or very curved contact surface. In addition, coarse pieces of dirt or the like may penetrate into the elastic layer when the workpieces is placed on to the adhesive layer, so that these pieces are prevented from projecting beyond the adhesive layer.

In the known workpiece pallet, the adhesive layer is applied to a polyvinylchloride film or foil serving as a support and in turn attached to the pallet via an adhesive or the like. The adhesive layer applied to the film or foil can thus be replaced as required. A disadvantage of this system is the relatively high cost of the adhesive and film or foil structure. The production costs for a replaceable adhesive layer can be reduced if the layer is applied directly to the pallet and the adhesive layer surface remote from the pallet has less adhesion than the other surface.

The adhesive layer is made from the same material throughout its thickness and after it has been rolled out to form a layer it is subjected to a drying process only on the side intended to receive the workpieces.

The drying process reduces the adhesive power of this side with respect to the other side. The adhesive material constituents responsible for the tackiness or adhesion of the adhesive layer migrate, during the drying process, from the side being dried to the opposite side and may increase stillfurtherthe adhesive power or tackiness thereof. Polyurethane based material is particularly suitable adhesive material. An adhesive based on a two-component polyurethane system is particularly suitable, since in this case the adhesive properties can be adjusted by appropriate mixing ofthetwo components.

The tensile strength of the above-described homogeneous adhesive layer is not particularly high, so that problems in connection with releasing the layer arise when it is required to be renewed.

Adhesive layers of this kind can be removed relatively simply if a fluid is forced between the surface of the workpiece pallet and the adhesive layer adhering thereto.Thefluid may be compressed air, or a liquid, e.g. water, or a soiventfor the adhesive. To release the layer, the latter may first be lifted manually at one corner and the thefluidforced beneath the layer by means of a hand-held nozzle.

In one preferred embodiment ofthe pallet, the pallet has a number of ducts each leading into the surface bearing the adhesive layer and being connected to a fluid supply conduit, Preferably, the pallet comprises two spaced and substantially parallel boards, which between them form the fluid supply conduit and one of which has a plurality of continuous holes. The fluid forced into the space between the boards passes out through the holes and lifts the adhesive layer off the entire surface of the pallet in one operation, thus accelerating the replacement of the adhesive layer.

Exemplified embodiments of the invention will be explained in detail hereinafter with reference to drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section through a tray with a beaker thereon.

Figure 2 is a front view of a system suitable for the storage of articles.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the system shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of another system suitable for storing articles.

Figure 5is a side elevation of the system shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6is a plan view of a replacement windscreen for a motor vehicle and Figure 7 is a section through the windscreen according to Figure 6 on the line VII-VII.

Figure 8 is a cross-section through a part of a first embodiment of a workpiece pallet.

Figure 9 is a cross-section through a part of a second embodiment of a workpiece pallet.

Figure lDls a diagrammatic sketch in explanation of a method of releasing the adhesive layer from the workpiece pallet.

Figure 77 is a cross-section through a part of a workpiece pallet with means for releasing the adhesive layer.

The exemplified embodiments explained in detail hereinafter all show arrangements for securing articles to supporting surfaces in which an adhesive coating or layer in a thickness of at least 0.35 mm is applied to the support or the article. The adhesive layer is preferably between 0.5 and 2 mm thick. The resulting advantage in all the systems described hereinafter is that the article adheres very well to the supporting surface, irrespective of the shape of the article, i.e. even with very curved surfaces, and the adhesive layer is insensitive to dirt, because its thickness enables it to absorb particles of dirt and the like so that the surface retains its adhesive power even if the article is frequently removed from the supporting surface.

Figure 1 shows a tray, the top of the base 1 of which bears a thick adhesive layer 3 of the kind described hereinbefore. The adhesive layer 3 is applied to a film or foil 5 which is in turn releasably attached to the tray base 1 by an adhesive (not shown). If the adhesive force of the layer 3 deterio rates after long usage, the system comprising the adhesive layer 3 and the foil 5 can be replaced as a unit. A beaker 7 is shown on the adhesive layer 3 of the tray and despite its curved base 9 is securely attached to the tray, because the layer 3 adjusts to the contours of the base 9 because of the layer thickness.

Adhesive coatings or layers can be applied similar liy to shelves, tables, and soon, more particularly for use in aircraft, ships, motor coaches and so on. The principle shown in Figure 1 can be reversed, the adhesive layer being applied to the underside of the article requiring to be secured, e.g. a beaker or plate, so that it can be placed down so as to remain stable or be prevented from tipping over.

Figures 2 and 3 show a foil 11 coated with an adhesive layer on each side, the foil 11 being fixed along two opposite edges to rods 13. The latter are secured to the floor 19 and ceiling 21 of a room in a building by means of hooks 15 and eyes 17. Articles 23 can be attached to both sides of the foil 11, which is thus stretched vertically. The adhesive layer may be applied continuously to the foil 11 or, as shown at 25 in Figure 2, be applied in a pattern of locally limited adhesive zones. The latter may, for example, be circular, droplet-shaped or in the form of strips.

The adhesive power can be adjusted by means of the size and arrangement of the adhesive zones. Such zones can also be obtained by covering a continuous adhesive layer with a foil which has openings corresponding to the pattern of adhesive zones.

Figures 4 and 5 show another embodiment in which a foil 27 having a thick adhesive coating on the outside has been joined together to make an endless strip trained over two rollers 29 arranged in spaced and parallel relationship. The rollers 29 are mounted rotatably in mountings 31 which are in turn fixed on the floor 33 and ceiling 35 of a room. Articles 37 can again be removably attached to the adhesive coating of the foil 27. The space in tall rooms can be well utilized by means of the system shown in Figures 4 and 5, because the articles 37 can be attached to the bottom zone of the foil 27 and then be moved upwards together with the foil.

Figures 6 and 7 show a replacement windscreen for a motor vehicle, in which an adhesive layer 43 is provided between two transparent foils 39, 31.

Adhesive layer 43 is so adjusted as to adhere more strongly to foil 39 than to foil 41. Two spaced perforations 45,47 extending around the edge are provided substantially parallel to the outer edge of the foil 41 and an annular strip 49 of optional width can be separated along the perforations 45, 47 from the foil 41 to expose the adhesive layer 43 therebeneath. The replacement windscreen is fixed along

support foil 55 forthe adhesive layer 53. Foil 55 consists of polyvinyl chloride and is in turn releasably secured to the pallet board 51 by means of an adhesive (not shown), so that the system consisting of the adhesive layer 53 and the foil 55 can as required be removed from the pallet board 51 and replaced.The adhesive layer 53 is at least 0.35 mm thick, preferably between 0.5 and 2 mm thick, so that the workpieces 57 to be attached to the pallet can sink into the adhesive layer 53. The contact area between the workpieces 57 and the adhesive layer 53 is thus increased so that even rolling workpieces 57 adhere firmly even if the pallet is at an angle. The relatively thick adhesive layer 53 has high dirt and particle absorbency. In addition, with thick adhesive layers of this kind, a uniform stress distribution can be obtained so that even relatively considerable dynamic forces acting on the workpieces, e.g. in the event of vibration, can be taken.

The workpiece pallet shown in Figure 9 comprises a pallet board 61 on which an adhesive layer 63 is applied directly in contrast to the embodiment shown in Figure 8. Layer 63 is again at least 0.35 mm thick, preferably 0.5 to 2 mm thick. It is made from a homogeneous adhesive material, more particularly on a two-component polyurethane base, with which drying of the side remote from the pallet board 61 causes this side, which is intended to receive workpieces 65, to have a lower adhesive power than that of the side facing the pallet board 61. The workpieces 65 can thus be released from the adhesive layer 63 attached to the board 61 without the layer 63 becoming detached from the board 61.

Because of its flowing properties, the adhesive layer 63 of the pallet shown in Figure 9 has a relatively low tensile strength. To enable the layer 63 to be nevertheless released from the board 61, it is lifted by hand, as shown in Figure 10, from the pallet board 61 near one of the edges or corners. A fluid, e.g. compressed air, water, or a solvent for the adhesive layer 63, is injected into the resulting gap by means of a hand-held nozzle 67. In this way the lifted layer 63 can be removed with relatively little tension and, if required, wound on a spindle.

Figure 11 shows a pallet for workpieces, in whose board 71 a number of continuous holes 73 are provided. The holes lead into an intermediate space 77 formed between the board 71 and another board 75. Board 75 is connected to board 71 in sealing-tight relationship outside the zone of the holes 73, so that a fluid introduced under pressure into the space 77 escapes through the holes 73 and in one operation releases over a large area an adhesive layer 79 attached to the free surface of the pallet board 71.

The fluid may again be compressed air, water, or a solvent for the adhesive material. In respect of its construction, the adhesive layer 79 preferably cor responds to the adhesive layer 63 of the workpiece pallet shown in Figure 9, but the bond between the adhesive and the support may be similar to the pallet

Claims

1. A system for attaching articles to a supporting surface, characterised in that an adhesive layer of a thickness of at least 0.35 mm is applied to the supporting member or the article.

2. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that the adhesive layer is between 0.5 and 2 mm thick.

3. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that the adhesive layer is provided on a table-top or a shelf or on a tray as the support.

4. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that the adhesive layer is provided on at least one side of a film orfoil, and the film orfoil is clamped between two clamping means.

5. A system according to claim 4, characterised in thatthe film or foil forms an endless band trained over two spaced rotatably mounted rollers of the clamping means.

6. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that the adhesive layer is provided between two transparent films or foils, one of which has at least one tear-off perforation or similar punched cut at a distance from and extending substantially parallel to its edge.

7. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that the adhesive layer is applied to the support or to the article in a pattern which only partially covers the surface.

8. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that the adhesive layer is covered with a cover foil which has apertures.

9. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that the support comprises a workpiece pallet for the transport of workpieces between work stations, the pallet surface intended to receive the workpieces being flat and bearing an adhesive layer.

10. A system according to claim 9, characterised in that the pallet has a number of ducts each leading into the surface bearing the adhesive layer and being connected to a fluid supply conduit.

11. Aworkpiece pallet according to claim 10, characterised in that the pallet comprises two spaced and substantially parallel boards, which between them form the fluid supply conduit and one of which has a plurality of continuous holes.

12. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that the adhesive layer is applied directly to the support and the surface of the adhesive layer remote from the support has less adhesion than the other surface.

13. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that the adhesive layer consists of a polyurethane based adhesive material.

14. A method of releasing an adhesive layer from a supporting surface of a system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a fluid is forced between the surface and the adhesive layer adhering thereto.