JP2006002036A - Bonding apparatus and bonding method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a bonding apparatus which is used to bond adherends each comprising a soft member to an irregular-surfaced work and provides high productivity and improved quality of bonding. <P>SOLUTION: The lower plate 8 that is vertically moved by an elevation mechanism is provided with an adherend set tool 9 with its top face having irregularities inverse to those of the surface of a door trim base 2. A robot that applies a hotmelt adhesive to felt materials set on predetermined positions on the adherend set tool 9. The upper plate 13 is provided with a work set tool 14 on which the door trim base 2 with its surface facing downward is set. A bag 16 connected to a compressed air supply source 18 through an electromagnetic valve 17 is provided between the upper frame 6b and the upper plate 13. By elevating the adherend set tool 9, the felt materials are bonded to the surface of the door trim base 2 while they are kept in the state of positioning. While they are kept in this state, the bag 16 is inflated with supplied compressed air. The bag then produces force of downwardly pressing the door trim base 2 to pressure-bond the felt materials to the door trim base 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a bonding apparatus and a bonding method for bonding an adhesive made of a soft member at a predetermined position on a surface of a workpiece having an uneven shape on the surface.

  For example, a door trim (rear pillar trim) as an interior material of an automobile is configured by pasting a plurality of (for example, five) felt materials cut into a predetermined shape on the back side of a door trim base material made of a plastic molded product. . In this case, each felt material is generally bonded to a predetermined position of the door trim base material by a hot melt adhesive (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Specifically, first, a process of applying a hot melt adhesive to one side of the felt material and attaching a release paper is performed. Next, a process of processing the felt material into a predetermined shape (a shape following the surface shape of the door trim base material) with a press machine is executed. And the process which peels the release paper affixed on the felt material, and adhere | attaches a felt material on the predetermined position of a door trim base material is performed. Most of the above steps are performed manually by the operator.
JP 2001-158232 A

  In the case where a plurality of felt materials are pasted on a predetermined position of the door trim base material, the surface of the workpiece (door trim base material) is provided with an uneven shape, and the adhesive (felt material) is a soft member. For this reason, it is considered difficult to automate the bonding work, and the work has to be done manually. However, in the case of performing the above-described bonding operation manually, the felt material must be positioned and pasted while peeling the release paper one by one, and there is a situation where the felt material cannot be reattached. The work was troublesome and inferior in productivity. In addition, the amount of adhesive applied to the felt material tends to be large, and the amount of adhesive used increases, and there is also a problem that the adhesive protrudes during application and soils the surface of the door trim base material. Furthermore, since release paper is used, there is a problem that waste is generated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to bond an adhesive made of a soft member to a workpiece having a concavo-convex shape on the surface. The present invention provides a bonding apparatus and a bonding method capable of improving the above.

  The inventors of the present invention are to bond an adhesive made of a soft material to a workpiece having an uneven shape on the surface. In order to automate the bonding work, trial production and research are repeated, and the upper surface reverses the surface shape of the workpiece. Automation of work by using an adhesive set jig that is shaped and providing a pressing means that can press the entire surface of the workpiece relatively uniformly against the adhesive set jig As a result, the present invention was accomplished.

  That is, the bonding apparatus of the present invention includes an adhesive set jig whose upper surface is a shape obtained by inverting the surface shape of the workpiece, and the workpiece placed above the adhesive set jig with the surface facing downward and the bonding A workpiece setting jig set in an alignment state with respect to the object setting jig, an adhesive application means for applying an adhesive to the surface of the adhesive set at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the adhesive setting jig, Elevating means for raising the adhesive setting jig relative to the work setting jig to adhere the adhesive to the work, and relatively moving the entire surface of the work relative to the adhesive setting jig And a pressurizing means that presses uniformly (invention of claim 1).

  According to this, the adhesive is set at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the adhesive setting jig, and in this state, the adhesive is applied to the surface of the adhesive by the adhesive applying means, and then the adhesive setting jig. However, it is relatively raised by the lifting means, and the adhesive is bonded to the workpiece set on the workpiece setting jig. Furthermore, the entire surface of the work is pressed uniformly against the adhesive set jig by the pressing means. At this time, since the upper surface of the adhesive set jig is a shape obtained by inverting the surface shape of the workpiece, the adhesive made of a soft member is adhered to the surface of the workpiece while being sandwiched between the workpiece. In this case, the adhesive is uniformly pressed by the pressing means, so that the adhesive is pressed in a form that follows the surface of the workpiece.

  Thereby, the uneven | corrugated shape is provided in the surface of the workpiece | work, and even if there exists a situation where an adhesive material is a soft member, automation of the adhesion | attachment operation | work of an adhesive material can be aimed at. In this case, even if there are a plurality of adhesives, the bonding operation can be performed at a time. Since it is possible to automatically apply the adhesive to the set adhesive, it is possible to minimize the amount of the adhesive used, and it is possible to prevent contamination due to the protruding adhesive. Of course, since the release paper is not used, the release paper does not come out as dust.

  At this time, the pressurizing means may be configured to provide a bag body having elasticity into which a fluid is introduced and to apply a pressing force via the bag body (invention of claim 2). According to this, the bag body into which the fluid is introduced becomes a so-called cushion, and it is possible to apply a uniform pressurizing force in the form of pressurization through the cushion. Moreover, the structure for uniform pressurization can be completed easily.

  The bonding method of the present invention includes an adhesive setting step for setting an adhesive at a predetermined position on the upper surface of an adhesive set jig whose upper surface is a shape obtained by inverting the surface shape of the workpiece, and an upper surface of the adhesive set jig. Adhesive application process for applying adhesive to the surface of the set adhesive, and the adhesive setting jig relative to the workpiece placed in an aligned state with the surface facing down above the adhesive setting jig And a pressurizing step of pressing the entire surface of the workpiece relatively uniformly against the adhesive set jig. invention).

  According to this, the uneven | corrugated shape is provided in the surface of a workpiece | work, and even if there exists a situation where an adhesive material is a soft member, automation of the adhesion | attachment operation | work of an adhesive material can be aimed at. In this case, even if there are a plurality of adhesives, the bonding operation can be performed at a time. Since it is possible to automatically apply the adhesive to the set adhesive, it is possible to minimize the amount of the adhesive used, and it is possible to prevent contamination due to the protruding adhesive. Of course, since the release paper is not used, the release paper does not come out as dust.

  At this time, the pressurizing step can be configured to be performed by applying a pressing force to the workpiece through an elastic bag body into which a fluid is introduced (invention of claim 4). ). Thereby, the bag body into which the fluid is introduced becomes a so-called cushion, and a uniform pressure can be applied in a form of pressurization through the cushion. Moreover, the structure for uniform pressurization can be completed easily.

  According to the bonding apparatus and bonding method of the present invention, an adhesive set in which an adhesive made of a soft member is bonded to a workpiece having a concavo-convex shape on the surface, and the upper surface has a shape obtained by inverting the surface shape of the workpiece Since a jig is used and the entire surface of the workpiece is pressed relatively uniformly against the adhesive set jig, the bonding work of the adhesive can be automated, and productivity is improved. As a result, it is possible to improve the adhesion quality and to achieve an excellent effect.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a felt material in a door trim (rear pillar trim) as an automobile interior material will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 5 shows the completed state (the state after bonding) of the door trim 1, and this door trim 1 is used as an adhesive made of a soft member on the surface (inner surface side) of the door trim base 2 as a workpiece. A plurality of felt materials 3 are bonded together with, for example, a hot melt agent 4 (see FIG. 3) as an adhesive.

  At this time, the door trim base material 2 is made of, for example, a plastic molded product, and has a relatively complicated shape having irregularities on the surface thereof. Further, in this case, the felt material 3 is provided with five sheets (five types) cut into predetermined shapes having different shapes and sizes, and these are the surface shapes of the door trim base material 2. In accordance with the above, each is attached to the predetermined position. The door trim 1 is provided with a plurality of fixtures for assembling to the vehicle, and the door trim base 2 is previously formed with necessary openings.

  Next, an adhesive device for attaching the felt 3 to the door trim base 2 will be described. FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall configuration of a bonding apparatus 5 according to the present embodiment. Here, on the left and right sides of the frame 6 constituting the outer frame of the bonding apparatus 5, four slide bars 7 (only two are shown) extending in the vertical direction are provided. A lower plate 8 is provided on the upper part of the lower frame 6a constituting the base of the frame 6 so as to be movable up and down along the slide bar 7, and is normally positioned at a lowered position as shown in the figure. . Although not shown, the lower plate 8 is freely moved up and down by an elevating mechanism as an elevating means using an air cylinder or a motor as a drive source.

  At this time, an adhesive set jig 9 is provided on the upper surface portion of the lower plate 8 in a form slightly lifted upward by a plurality of support columns 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the adhesive set jig 9 has an upper surface (surface) shape that is an inversion of the uneven shape on the surface of the door trim base 2. As will be described later, on the upper surface of the adhesive set jig 9, the plurality of (five) felt materials 3 are set on a predetermined position at a predetermined position with the adhesive surface as the upper surface. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an adhesive for applying an adhesive (hot melt agent 4) to the felt material 3 set on the upper surface of the adhesive set jig 9 outside the frame 6. A robot 11 is provided as a coating means. The robot 11 is composed of, for example, an articulated (6-axis) type robot, and is configured by attaching an adhesive application gun 12 to the tip of the arm. This robot 11 discharges the hot melt agent 4 from its tip while freely moving the adhesive application gun 12 with respect to a predetermined application position (the upper surface of each felt material 3) by a program. Application is to be made.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, an upper plate 13 is provided on the upper portion of the frame 6 so as to be movable up and down along the slide bar 7. A jig 14 is provided. A spring 15 is provided between the upper plate 13 and the upper frame 6 b constituting the upper portion of the frame 6 in a state of being inserted into the outer periphery of the slide bar 7. Thus, the upper plate 13 is normally positioned at a height position that balances with the spring force of the spring 15 and can be slightly moved up and down against the spring 15 by an external force.

  The door trim base material 2 is set (held) on the lower surface side of the work setting jig 14 with its surface (the surface to which the felt material 3 is bonded) facing downward. At this time, the door trim base material 2 is set in a position in which the door trim base 2 is aligned with the adhesive set jig 9, that is, when the adhesive set jig 9 is raised, the surfaces are exactly overlapped.

  Thus, as will be described in detail later in the explanation of the operation (process explanation), a plurality of felt materials 3 are set at predetermined positions on the upper surface of the adhesive set jig 9, and the hot melt agent is applied to the felt materials 3. 4 is applied, the adhesive set jig 9 (lower plate 8) is lifted by the elevating mechanism, so that the adhesive is applied to the surface of the door trim base 2 set on the lower surface side of the work set jig 14. The felt material 3 set on the setting jig 9 is bonded in an aligned state.

  In the present embodiment, a bag 16 constituting a pressurizing means is provided between the upper frame 6b and the upper plate 13. The bag body 16 is formed in a thin bag shape from an elastic soft material such as rubber or synthetic resin, and an air inlet / outlet port 16a is provided at one end (left side in the figure). The air inlet / outlet port 16 a is connected to a compressed air supply source (compressor) 18 through an electromagnetic valve 17, and controls the electromagnetic valve 17 to supply air as fluid into the bag body 16. Or the air in the bag body 16 can be discharged.

  As a result, the bag body 16 is in a deflated state at normal times, and no external force is applied to the upper plate 13, but the bag body 16 is inflated by supplying compressed air into the bag body 16, A force for pressing the plate 13 and the work setting jig 14 downward is applied. Thus, the pressurizing means is configured. Although not shown, each mechanism (including the robot 11) constituting the bonding device 5 is controlled by a control device including a microcomputer according to a preset program. In this case, when the operator operates a switch on the operation panel provided in the vicinity of the frame 6, the bonding apparatus 5 automatically executes a series of operations (bonding steps) to be described later.

  Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows in sequence the steps in performing the operation of bonding the felt material 3 to the door trim base 2 using the bonding apparatus 5 described above. That is, first, a work setting process P1 for setting the door trim base material 2 on the work setting jig 14 is executed. At the same time, an adhesive setting process P2 for setting a plurality of felt materials 3 at predetermined positions on the adhesive setting jig 9 is performed. In the present embodiment, these steps P1 and P2 are performed manually by the operator.

  Next, an adhesive application step P3 for applying the hot melt agent 4 to the surface of the felt material 3 set on the adhesive set jig 9 is executed based on the operator's switch operation. As described above, the process P3 is automatically executed by the robot 11, and the hot melt agent 4 is spirally applied to the upper surface of each felt material 3. In this case, as the hot melt agent 4 is automatically applied, the amount of the hot melt agent 4 used can be minimized, and the hot melt agent 4 can be prevented from being contaminated due to protrusion. . Since the operator does not directly handle the high-temperature hot melt agent 4, safety can be improved without causing discomfort to the operator. Furthermore, since no release paper is used, it is a matter of course that the release paper does not come out as dust.

  When this adhesive application process P3 is completed, the robot 11 (adhesive application gun 12) is retracted from the adhesive set jig 9, and the adhesion process P4 is subsequently performed. In this bonding process P4, the lower plate 8 and consequently the adhesive set jig 9 are raised by the elevating mechanism, and the upper surface of each felt material 3, that is, the surface coated with the hot melt agent 4 is set on the work setting jig 14. It comes into contact with the surface of the door trim base member 2 and is bonded thereto. In this case, even if the surface of the door trim base material 2 has an uneven shape, the adhesive set jig 9 has a reverse shape of the surface of the door trim base material 2, so that each felt material 3 is the door trim base material 2. It is glued to follow the surface.

  When the bonding process P4 is performed in this manner, the pressurizing process P5 is then performed. In this pressurization process P5, the compressed air is supplied into the bag body 16 by the control of the electromagnetic valve 17 so that the bag body 16 expands, and the upper plate 13 and the work set are resisted against the spring force of the spring 15. A downward pressing force is applied to the jig 14. As a result, the entire surface of the door trim base material 2 is pressed with a uniform force against the adhesive set jig 9 with the felt material 3 sandwiched therebetween, so that each felt material 3 is pressed. Thus, adhesion (crimping) to the door trim base material 2 is reliably performed. This pressurized state is maintained for a certain time.

  And when this pressurization process P5 is complete | finished, the taking-out process P6 which takes out a product (door trim 1) from the adhesion | attachment apparatus 5 is performed. In the take-out process P6, the compressed air is discharged from the bag body 16, and the lower plate 8 and the adhesive set jig 9 are lowered by the lifting mechanism. In this state, the operator removes the door trim 1 (the one in which the felt material 3 is bonded to the door trim base material 2) from the work setting jig 14, thereby completing one bonding operation. .

  As described above, in this embodiment, unlike the conventional case where the bonding work is performed by laborious manual work, the surface of the work (door trim base material 2) is provided with a concavo-convex shape, and the felt is a soft adhesive. Even under the circumstances, the bonding work could be automated. In this case, even a plurality of felt materials 3 can be bonded at a time, and the hot melt agent 4 can be automatically applied to the set felt materials 3. As a result, according to the bonding apparatus 5 and the bonding method of the present embodiment, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect that the productivity can be improved and the bonding quality can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, in particular, the pressurizing means is provided with a bag 16 having elasticity into which a fluid is introduced, and a pressing force is applied via the bag 16. In other words, it becomes a cushion and is configured to pressurize through the cushion, and it is possible to apply a uniform pressure to the door trim base 2 and to simplify the configuration for uniform pressurization. Is.

  In the above-described embodiment, the bonding step is performed by raising the adhesive set jig 9 side by the lifting mechanism, but the same is achieved by lowering the work set jig 14 (work) side. You may make it perform the process of. In this case, the pressurizing means may be provided on either the workpiece side or the adhesive set jig 9 side. In the above embodiment, the operator sets the workpiece and the adhesive and takes out the product. However, these steps may be automated using a robot or the like.

  In addition, this invention is applicable not only to what can stick the felt material 3 to the door trim base material 2, but to the whole thing which adheres a soft adhesive to various workpieces. In this case, not only the hot melt agent but also various adhesives can be used as the adhesive. The adhesive application means is not limited to a robot. Furthermore, as the fluid to be introduced into the bag body 16, a gas other than air or a liquid such as water may be used, and the configuration of the pressurizing means itself is not limited to that using the bag body, The present invention can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range that does not depart from the gist of the present invention.

The front view which shows one Example of this invention and shows the structure of a bonding | bonding apparatus roughly Perspective view of adhesive set jig Diagram showing how adhesive is applied by a robot Diagram showing the bonding process Figure showing the appearance of the door trim

Explanation of symbols

In the drawings, 2 is a door trim base material (work), 3 is a felt material (adhesive), 4 is a hot melt agent (adhesive), 5 is an adhesive device, 9 is an adhesive setting jig, and 11 is a robot (adhesive). Application means), 14 is a work setting jig, and 16 is a bag.

Claims (4)

An apparatus for adhering an adhesive made of a soft member to a predetermined position on the surface of a workpiece having an uneven shape on the surface,
An adhesive set jig whose upper surface has a shape obtained by inverting the surface shape of the workpiece;
A workpiece setting jig which is disposed above the adhesive set jig, and the workpiece is set in a state of being aligned with the adhesive setting jig with the surface facing downward;
An adhesive application means for applying an adhesive to the surface of the adhesive set at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the adhesive set jig;
Elevating means for raising the adhesive set jig relative to the work set jig to adhere the adhesive to the work,
A bonding apparatus comprising: a pressing unit that presses the entire surface of the workpiece relatively uniformly against the bonding material setting jig.   The adhesive according to claim 1, wherein the pressurizing means has an elastic bag body into which a fluid is introduced, and is configured to apply a pressing force through the bag body. apparatus. A method for bonding an adhesive made of a soft member to a predetermined position on the surface of a workpiece having an uneven shape on the surface,
An adhesive set step of setting the adhesive at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the adhesive set jig whose upper surface is a shape obtained by inverting the surface shape of the workpiece;
An adhesive application step of applying an adhesive to the surface of the adhesive set on the upper surface of the adhesive set jig;
Adhesion for adhering the adhesive to the workpiece by raising the adhesive setting jig relative to the workpiece placed in an aligned state above the adhesive setting jig. Process,
And a pressing step of pressing the entire surface of the workpiece relatively uniformly against the adhesive set jig. The bonding method according to claim 3, wherein the pressurizing step is performed by applying a pressing force to the workpiece through an elastic bag body into which a fluid is introduced.

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