WO1991005634A1

WO1991005634A1 - Device for the automatic installation of weatherstrips and process for the installation of such a weatherstrip

Info

Publication number: WO1991005634A1
Application number: PCT/BE1990/000058
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ronald D. Potter; Ray Hinson
Original assignee: Fabricom Societe Anonyme
Priority date: 1989-10-10
Filing date: 1990-10-10
Publication date: 1991-05-02
Also published as: BE1003429A7

Abstract

A device for the automatic installation of a weatherstrip on the metal frame of a door with the aid of a movable arm of a robot which travels along said door frame, wherein this weatherstrip is installed under the influence of a guiding element (7 or 77) integral with the movable arm and is fitted onto the flange (4) of the metal frame (3) with the aid of an application device (9) essentially consisting of a pusher (13) mounted on the movable arm, this pusher (13) moving with an essentially linear reciprocating movement perpendicular to the path of the movable arm.

Description

DEVICE FOR THE AUTOMATIC INSTALLATION OF WEATHERSTRIPS AND PROCESS FOR THE INSTALLATION OF SDCH A WEATHERSTRIP

Subject of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for the automatic installation of weatherstrips along the metal frame of automobile doors, for example. The invention also relates to the process for the installation of such a weatherstrip. Technological background

A number of documents, US Patents 4,620,354;

4,715,110; 4,760,636; 4,780,943 and German Patent 3,541,865 refer to various processes and apparatuses for the automatic installation of weatherstrips along the metal frame of automobile doors.

The techniques described in these documents consist in installing the weatherstrips with the aid of a movable arm of a robot which travels along inside the profile of the door. This arm comprises at least one guiding element consisting of rollers which install the weatherstrip along the frame and of a pressure roller which fits the weatherstrip onto the flange of the metal frame as the movable arm is displaced.

The main disadvantages of these techniques are, on the one hand, the appearance of an excess of weather¬ strip when the robot arm reaches the end of its travel. On the other hand, the weatherstrip is pulled away from the flange in the corners of the door frame. These two faults are due to the fact that the pressure roller fits the weatherstrip onto the flange while stretching it.

Customarily, the guiding devices are composed of a double roller which grips the weatherstrip laterally, arranged on one side thereof, and a thin roller, on the other side, having the effect of a blade which penetrates into the groove of the weatherstrip. This makes it difficult to use adhesives for the installation of the weatherstrip.

Objects of the invention

The present invention aims to provide a process which permits the installation of weatherstrips along the metal frame in an automatic manner while avoiding the disadvantages of the prior art.

In particular, the present invention aims to prevent the weatherstrip from pulling away from the corners of the metal frame. Furthermore, the invention aims to permit the perfect installation of the weatherstrip on the metal frame without obtaining any excess, if the weatherstrip is precut to a length corresponding exactly to the circumference of the metal frame. The invention also aims to bring about modifica¬ tions to the guiding device so as to permit the use of adhesives for the installation of the weatherstrip. Main features of the invention

The invention is applicable to devices for the automatic installation of a weatherstrip with the aid of a movable arm of a robot which travels along inside the frame of a door. This weatherstrip is placed along the frame under the influence of a guiding element integral with the movable arm. The invention also affords the improvement in the form of a pusher which is mounted on said movable arm upstream of the guiding device and moves with an essen¬ tially linear reciprocating movement perpendicularly to the path of the movable arm. This reciprocating perpendicular movement can be produced either with the aid of a pneumatic mechanism or with the aid of a controlled device connected to a cam¬ shaft.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process for the installation of a weatherstrip.

The. process according to the present invention consists in laying the weatherstrip along the metal frame with the aid of a guiding device and fitting it onto this metal frame by exerting forces essentially perpendicular to the weatherstrip installed on the frame.

Owing to the fact that the installation of the weatherstrip involves virtually no more stretching during the displacement of the movable arm, consistent installa- tion is obtained, without the pulling-away effect and without the excess of material when the robot arm reaches the end of its travel.

According to the invention, the guiding element, in contrast to the known devices, does not have a roller inserted in the weatherstrip groove but guides this weatherstrip on its lateral sides.

This frees the weatherstrip groove and thus permits the use of adhesives in the said groove in order to secure this weatherstrip to a corresponding flange provided in the door frame.

Brief description of the figures

Figure 1 shows schematically a view of a known installation device in profile.

Figure 2 shows schematically a view corresponding to the device according to the invention.

Figure 3 shows a more detailed view of the device according to the invention in profile.

Figure 4 shows a front view corresponding to Figure 3 of the device according to the invention. In the various figures, identical reference numerals are used for identical or similar elements of the various embodiments. Description of the prior art

In the conventional devices shown in Figure 1, a weatherstrip 1 is applied to the metal frame 3 of a door with the aid of a movable arm 5 mounted on a robot (not shown) .

This movable arm 5 comprises a guiding element composed of two rollers or a double roller 7 and a thin roller 8 which penetrates into the groove of the weather¬ strip 1.

Upstream of the guiding element in the direction of displacement of the movable arm, a roller 9, known as a pressure roller, likewise mounted on the movable arm 5, applies the weatherstrip 1, under pressure, to the flange of the metal frame 3 of the door.

The rolling movement of the pressure roller 9 tends to stretch the weatherstrip material by exerting a tractive effect thereon. This leads to inconsistent installation, in particular a tendency for the weather¬ strip to tear away from the corners of the metal frame, and excess length of weatherstrip when the robot reaches the end of its travel. In addition, the presence of a roller 8 which penetrates into the groove of the weatherstrip 1 makes it difficult to introduce an adhesive into said groove. Description of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention Figure 2 shows schematically a view similar to

Figure 1 with the variants proposed according to the invention.

The device 9 for the application of the weather¬ strip 1, which device is arranged on the movable arm 5, moves with a reciprocating movement perpendicular to the weatherstrip.

This device 9 has been shown in the form of a roller. It should be noted, however, that it does not necessarily have to take this form, assuming that the displacement of the arm 5 is interrupted on each movement of application of the weatherstrip 1 to the flange of the frame 3, and also assuming that the displacement of the arm 5 is much slower than that of the application device 9. On the other hand, if a continuous movement of the arm 5 is retained, it is desirable to keep the device 9 in the form of a customary roller.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the guiding device which aligns the weatherstrip 1 acts on its lateral sides and comprises, on either side of this weatherstrip, rollers 7 and 7' (of course, only those of the front face of the view are shown in Figure 2) .

Figures 3 and 4 show in greater detail a specific embodiment of the device according to the invention. A device 9 for the application of the weather¬ strip, which device is arranged on the movable arm 5, downstream of a guiding element 77 is essentially com¬ posed of a pusher 13 and a push rod 15. The push rod 15, supported by linear bearings 17, moves with a perpendicular reciprocating movement produc¬ ed by a rotating cam 19.

Springs 21 enable the contact between the push rod 15 and the cam 19 to be maintained. A variable speed electric motor 31 is connected at 33 to a camshaft 35 supporting the cam 19.

This motor 31 thus imparts a rotary movement to the cam 19 which in turn produces the perpendicular reciprocating movement of the pusher 13. This reciprocating movement of the pusher 13 permits the punctual fitting of the groove 2 of the weatherstrip 1 onto the flange 4 of the metal frame 3 in a manner comparable to hammer blows.

The movable arm 5 also comprises a guiding element 77 which is arranged upstream of the application device 9 and can be mounted on the movable arm on either side of the device 9 according to the direction of displacement of said arm.

This guiding element 77 grips the weatherstrip 1 on either side and guides it along the frame using pres¬ sure cylinders 11 which enable the guide to be matched to the shape of the frame 3.

The guiding element 77 and the pusher 13 are interchangeable according to the particular shape of the weatherstrip 1 to be installed.

A protective plate 41 covers the movable elements for safety reasons.

A shoulder 51 enables the tool to be mounted on a robot, so that the movement of the tool is entirely controlled by this robot.

Claims

1. A device for the automatic installation of a weatherstrip on the metal frame of a door with the aid of a movable arm of a robot which travels along said door frame, wherein this weatherstrip is installed under the influence of a guiding element (7 or 77) integral with the movable arm and is fitted onto the flange (4) of the metal frame (3) with the aid of an application device (9) essentially consisting of a pusher (13) mounted on the movable arm, this pusher (13) moving with an essentially linear reciprocating movement perpendicular to the path of the movable arm.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the application device (9) consisting of the pusher (13) is situated upstream of the guiding device.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding device (7 or 77) is mounted on either side of the application device (9) according to the direction of displacement of the movable arm (1).

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reciprocating perpendicular movement is produced with the aid of a pneumatic mechanism.

5. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein the reciprocating perpendicular movement is produced by a control device connected to a camshaft.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control device is an electric motor (31), preferably with variable speed, connected to a camshaft (35) supporting a cam (19) .

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the motor (31) imparts a rotary movement to the cam (19) which in turn produces the perpendicular reciprocating movement of the pusher (13).

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guiding element (7 or 77) grips the weatherstrip (1) on either side.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the guiding element consists of rollers (7 and 7').

10. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the guiding element consists of a fixed element (77) which assumes the shape of the weatherstrip.

11. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guiding element (7 or 77) is inter¬ changeable according to the particular shape of the weatherstrip (1).

12. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pusher (13) is interchangeable according to the particular shape of the weatherstrip

(!)•

13. A process for the automatic installation of a weatherstrip on the metal frame of a door with the aid of a movable arm of a robot which travels along said door frame, wherein this weatherstrip is fitted onto the flange (4) of the metal frame (3) by exerting forces essentially perpendicular to the weatherstrip (1) instal¬ led on the frame (3) .