WO2018011759A1

WO2018011759A1 - Machine and process for removing an sheet adhesive from a support

Info

Publication number: WO2018011759A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/054267
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alessandro Spaggiari
Original assignee: Spal Automotive S.R.L.
Priority date: 2016-07-15
Filing date: 2017-07-14
Publication date: 2018-01-18
Also published as: IT201600074454A1

Abstract

Described is machine (1) for removing an adhesive sheet (101) formed by a film (103) and by an adhesive layer (104) applied to the film (103) by a corresponding supporting sheet (102) comprising a frame (2); a seat (3) for the adhesive sheet (101) made in the frame (2); a suction system operating in the seat (3) in order to retain the adhesive sheet (101) and a gripper (10) for gripping the supporting sheet (102), movable relative to the frame (2) between a first operating position and a second operating position along a feed direction (D), for gripping the supporting sheet (102) and separating it from the adhesive sheet (101).

Description

DESCRIPTION

MACHINE AND PROCESS FOR REMOVING AN SHEET ADHESIVE

FROM A SUPPORT

Technical field

This invention relates to a machine and a process for removing an adhesive sheet from a support, in particular a machine for removing an adhesive sheet from a support and applying it on a corresponding component.

Background art

For the purpose of cooling components subject to heating, use is widely made in the electronics sector of thermally conductive and electrically insulating sheets or pieces of sheets to bring into thermal contact the component to be cooled with a corresponding heat sink.

Generally speaking, the sheets comprise a first thermally conductive layer, usually adhesive to be attached to the component to be cooled, and a second electrically insulating layer coupled to the first layer; an example of these sheets is that commonly identified by the name gap-pad® to which reference is hereinafter made without thereby limiting the scope of the invention.

The sheets are usually provided attached, by the adhesive of the first layer, to a further supporting sheet or film, in general made of plastic material, from which they are separated at the moment of use.

The sheets, either whole or cut or in any case shaped, are picked up and detached from the support and applied on the component to insulate electrically and from which to remove heat. Currently, this operation is performed manually by one or more operators who hold the supporting sheet and remove the sheets or the portions of sheet to apply them on the corresponding component.

The manual separation of the gap-pad® or the like from the supporting sheet is slow and laborious.

The application of the gap-pad® or the like, once removed from the respective support, on the respective component may not be precise and therefore not entirely satisfactory in terms of performance achieved in use. In this context, the main aim of this invention is to overcome the above- mentioned disadvantages

Disclosure of the invention

One aim of this invention is to provide a machine for removing an adhesive sheet, in particular gap-pad® or the like, from a relative support.

Another aim of this invention is to provide a machine for removing an adhesive sheet, in particular gap-pad® or the like, from a relative support and placing it in a corresponding application.

The technical purpose and aims specified are substantially achieved by a machine for removing an adhesive sheet from a relative support according to claim 1 .

Brief description of drawings

Further features and advantages of this invention are more apparent in the detailed description below, with reference to a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of a machine for removing an adhesive sheet from a relative support as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1A is a schematic perspective view, partly in blocks, of a machine for removing an adhesive sheet from a relative support according to this invention; Figure 1 B is a schematic perspective view of a composite sheet, comprising a supporting sheet and an adhesive sheet, which may be processed by the machine of Figure 1 ;

Figure 2 is a schematic side view, partly in blocks and with some parts cut away for greater clarity, of the machine of Figure 1 in a first operating configuration;

Figure 3 is a schematic side view, partly in blocks and with some parts cut away for greater clarity, of the machine of Figure 1 in a second operating configuration;

- Figure 4 is a schematic side view, partly in blocks and with some parts cut away for greater clarity, of the machine of Figure 1 in a third operating configuration;

Figure 5 is a schematic plan view, partly in blocks and with some parts cut away for greater clarity, showing the machine of Figure 4;

- figures 6 to 1 1 illustrate schematic side views, partly in blocks and with some parts cut away for greater clarity, of a detail of the machine according to this invention, in a sequence of operating steps.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a machine according to this invention for removing an adhesive sheet from a respective supporting sheet.

With reference in particular to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral 100 denotes a composite sheet.

The sheet 100 comprises an adhesive sheet 101 and a sheet 102 for supporting the sheet 101 ; as already mentioned, the machine 1 according to this invention is more specifically designed for the separation of the sheet 101 from the sheet 102.

The adhesive sheet 101 comprises a layer or film 103, for example plastic, and an adhesive layer 104 associated with the film 103 which determines the adhesiveness. According to a preferred example, the sheet 101 is of the thermally conductive and electrically insulating type.

More specifically, the film 103 is electrically insulating and the layer 103 is thermally conductive; an example of this sheet 101 is commonly identified by the name gap-pad®.

The supporting sheet or layer or film 102 is, for example, a sheet of plastic material preferably flexible.

The adhesive sheet 101 is, for example, divided, according to a predetermined model, in a plurality of tiles 105 each destined to a corresponding application.

Each tile 105 has an adhesive face 105a, defined by the adhesive layer 104, by which it is attached to the supporting sheet 102, and an outer face 105b, defined by the film 103, located on the opposite side to the face 105a that is, on the opposite side of the supporting sheet 102 considering the composite sheet 100.

Figure 5 in particular shows how in the example illustrated the sheet 101 is divided into four parts separated from each other and each part is divided into thirty tiles 105.

Preferably, the sheet 101 , in particular the separate parts of it, is divided into tiles 105 by punching, that is to say, it is notched in accordance with the above-mentioned model.

The machine 1 comprises a frame 2 equipped with a seat 3 for receiving the sheet 100.

More specifically, the frame 2 comprises a plate 4 in which the seat 3 is made.

The seat 3 is suitably shaped on the basis of the sheet 100, more specifically, on the basis of the adhesive sheet 101 being processed.

In the example illustrated, the seat 3 has four pockets or cavities 3a, each destined to a corresponding above-mentioned part of the sheet 101 .

In the example embodiment illustrated, the seat 3 has a first direction L1 of main extension and a second direction L2 of main extension. In a preferred embodiment, the directions of main extension of the supporting sheet 102 correspond substantially to the directions of main extension of the seat 3.

The machine 1 comprises suction means for retaining the sheet 101 in the seat 3

The seat 3 has a bottom wall 5 against which abuts the sheet 101 .

The seat 3 is also delimited by a perimeter edge or flank 6 which also defines preferably a reference for the positioning of the sheet 100, in particular of the sheet adhesive 101 .

The above-mentioned suction means comprise a plurality of through holes 7 in the bottom wall 5 of the seat 3.

The holes 7 are distributed in the wall 5 as a function of the above- mentioned predetermined model in which the sheet 101 is divided.

The suction means comprise a suction system, of substantially known type and schematically represented as a block 8, in fluid communication with the seat 3 by the holes 7.

The seat 3 is therefore of the suction type and the sheet 100 is held in the seat by the adhesive sheet 101 on an outer face of which, defined in practice by the outer faces 105b of the tiles 105, the suction of the suction means acts.

Preferably, at each tile 105 there is at least one suction hole 7; in this way, all the tiles 105 are retained individually in the seat 3.

In one embodiment, the plate 4 has an inner chamber 9 and the holes 7 are in communication with the suction system 8 by means of the inner chamber 9 to the plate 4.

The machine 1 comprises gripping means movable relative to the frame 2 between a first retracted operating position, illustrated for example in Figure 1 and a second advanced operating position, illustrated for example in Figure 4, along a feed direction D to grip the supporting sheet 102 and separate it from the adhesive sheet 101 , as described in more detail below. In the preferred embodiment illustrated by way of example, the gripping means comprise a gripper 10 for gripping the supporting sheet 102.

The gripper 10 comprises a first jaw 1 1 and a second jaw 12 which are relatively movable along a closing direction D1 transversal to the feed direction D between a configuration where they are apart, shown for example in Figure 1 , and a configuration where they are together, for picking up of the supporting sheet 102, shown for example in Figure 3. With reference in particular to Figures 2 and 3, it should be noted that the jaw 12 is slidably connected to the jaw 1 1 and is movable relative to it between the far position and the near position.

The jaw 1 1 is movable, together with the jaw 12, between a first lowered operating position, with reference for example to Figure 2, and a second raised operating position, with reference to Figure 3.

In other words, the gripper 10 is movable between the first, lowered operating position and the second, raised operating position, preferably according to the above-mentioned direction D1 .

The machine 1 comprises means for moving the gripping means, in particular the gripper 10, for moving it between the above-mentioned first withdrawn operating position, illustrated for example in Figure 1 and the second advanced operating position illustrated for example in Figure 4, along the feed direction D.

As illustrated, the movement means comprise, for example, a pair of guides 13 extending in the feed direction D.

The movement means comprise a movable assembly 14 slidably constrained to the guides 13 and supporting the gripper 10; the assembly

14 is movable between the above-mentioned advanced and withdrawn first and second operating positions.

As illustrated, the feed direction D is preferably parallel to the main direction of extension L1 of the seat 3.

The movement means comprise a drive unit for the assembly 14 of substantially known type and schematically represented as a block 15. The seat 3, in particular the side 6 of it, has a recess 16 which allows the gripper 10 to move towards the seat 3 in order to reach the supporting sheet 102.

The recess 16 defines, in practice, a passageway for the gripper 10.

The recess 16 extends preferably along the direction L2 of main extension transversal to the feed direction D of the movable assembly 14.

The gripper 10 extends mainly along the direction L2 of main extension transversal to the feed direction D of the movable assembly 14.

The sheet 102 has a flap 106 which projects from the adhesive sheet 101 in the direction D at the recess 16 to be able to be gripped by the gripper 10.

In use, by a movement of the movable assembly 14 from the withdrawn position towards the advanced position, the gripper 10, in particular the jaw 1 1 , is moved to a gripping position of the sheet 102.

The gripping position is preferably located substantially at the recess 16, that is to say, at the flap 106.

In effect, the recess 16 allows to the jaw 1 1 to move close to the seat 3 and position itself under the flap 106

The jaw 12 is moved close to the jaw 1 1 in such a way as to grip the sheet 102, in particular the flap 106.

Once the flap 106 is gripped by the gripper 10, the latter is moved to the second operating position, raised relative to the plate 4, with reference to Figure 3.

Preferably, the gripper 10 in the second operating position is located spaced from the plate 4 in such a way as to allow the transit of the gripper

10 along the seat 3 in movement along the direction D.

Advantageously, the distance between the jaw 1 1 and the plate 4, considering the gripper 10 in the second operating position, is preferably the least possible to allow the transit of the gripper 10 along the seat 3 in movement along the direction D. The assembly 14 with the gripper 10 in the second operating position is therefore moved from the gripping position towards the advanced position until it is reached.

During the advance the gripper 10 detaches the supporting sheet 102 from the adhesive sheet 101 which remains retained in the seat 3 by suction from the holes 7.

In one embodiment, the advanced position is located on the opposite side of the seat 3 in the direction D relative to the withdrawn position.

The distance of the gripper 10 in the advanced position relative to the gripping position, measured along the direction D, is substantially equal to twice the length of the seat 3 measured along the direction D.

In that way, once the gripper 10 has reached the advanced position, the sheet 102 is substantially completely removed from the adhesive sheet 101 as, preferably, the length of the seat 3 measured along the direction D is substantially equal to the size of the sheet 100 measured along the direction D.

In another embodiment, the assembly 14 comprises a unit for recovering the supporting sheet 102, schematically illustrated with a block 17 shown by a dashed line and not described in detail, which collects the sheet 102 during transfer of the assembly 14 from the withdrawn position and the advanced position.

More specifically, the unit 17 comprises the gripper 10 and a storage system for collecting the sheet 102 in which the sheet 2 is gradually placed as the movable assembly 14 advances towards the advanced position. In this embodiment, the movable assembly 14 in the advanced position is preferably located at one end of the seat 3 on the side opposite the recess 16 in the direction D.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the machine 1 comprises a blowing unit 18 for generating a jet of air in the direction D.

The jet generated by the unit 18 acts in conjunction with the gripper 10 in the separation of the sheet 102 from the adhesive sheet 101 . In particular, considering a section of the sheet 100 transversal to the feed direction D, a contact line 200 is identifiable between the supporting sheet 102 and the adhesive sheet 101.

The contact line 200 is indicated in Figure 3 and it is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

As the sheet 102 is gradually detached from the adhesive sheet 101 the above-mentioned contact line 200 also feeds along the direction D.

The blowing unit 18 is configured in such a way that the jet generated is directed substantially at the contact line 200 to favour detachment of the supporting sheet 102 from the adhesive sheet 101 .

In one embodiment, the blowing unit 18 is movable along the direction D between a withdrawn position and an advanced position preferably substantially corresponding to the withdrawn and advanced position of the movable assembly 14.

In this way, the jet generated by the unit 18 is advantageously positioned substantially at the line 200 of contact between the supporting sheet 102 and the adhesive sheet 101 gradually as the supporting sheet 102 is separated from the adhesive sheet 101 .

With reference in particular to Figure 5, at the end of a step of separating the supporting sheet 102 from the adhesive sheet 101 , the tiles 105 are positioned in the seat 3 with the respective adhesive faces 105a exposed towards the outside of the seat 3.

With reference to Figures 6 to 10, it should be noted that the machine 1 comprises a plurality of members 19, of which only one is illustrated for simplicity, for gripping the tiles 105.

In a preferred embodiment, the machine 1 comprises a number of gripping members 19 corresponding to the number of tiles 105 of a row transversal to the feed direction D.

Considering for simplicity a single gripping member 19, considering the others to be substantially similar, it may be noted that the member 19 is movable between a gripping position of the respective tile 105, illustrated in Figure 6, close to the seat 3 and a position for releasing the tile 105, illustrated in Figure 8.

The release position is located in an unloading station 20, in which the tile 105 is released by the member 19.

The gripping member 19 comprises a head 21 for gripping the tile 105 in fluid communication with the above-mentioned suction system 8.

The head 21 is preferably of the suction type for retaining the corresponding tile 105 from the pickup from the seat 3 to the release in the station 20.

The machine 1 comprises a plurality of members 22, of which only one of is illustrated for simplicity, for gripping the tiles 105 in the unloading station 20.

In a preferred embodiment, the machine 1 comprises a number of gripping members 22 corresponding to the number of gripping members 19.

Considering for simplicity a single gripping member 22, considering the other gripping members 22 to be substantially similar, it may be noted that the member 22 is movable between a gripping position of the respective tile 105 from a corresponding gripping member 19 in the station 20, and a releasing position.

The release position of the pickup member 22 is located in an application station 23, in which the tile 105 is applied in a generic application 300. The gripping member 22 comprises a head 24 for gripping the tile 105 in fluid communication with the above-mentioned suction system 8.

The head 24 is preferably of the suction type for retaining the corresponding tile 105 from the pickup from the member 19 to the application in the station 23.

In light of the above, the gripping head 21 retains the tile 105 by the relative adhesive face 105a by suction.

The tile 105 is transferred from the head 21 to the gripping head 24 which, by suction, retains it by the outer face 105b. Preferably, the suction system 8 is configured to generate a jet for detachment from the head 21 to facilitate the transfer of the tile 105 to the head 24, overcoming the resistance of the adhesive layer 104.

The tile 105, retained by the outer face 105b by the pickup head 24 can be positioned in the corresponding application 300 to which it adheres with the adhesive face 105a.

The process for removing the supporting sheet 102 from the adhesive sheet 101 in a composite sheet 100 comprises retaining the composite sheet 100 from the adhesive sheet 101 , in particular by suction acting on the outer face 105b of the tiles 105 in which the sheet 101 is divided.

The supporting sheet 102 is then retained by the respective flap 106 and moved along the feed direction D relative to the adhesive sheet 101 until separating it completely from it.

To facilitate the separation of the supporting sheet 102 from the adhesive sheet 101 , as already mentioned the process comprises blowing between the supporting sheet 102 and the adhesive sheet 101 in particular at the contact line 200 between them.

In order to apply each tile 105 in the corresponding application 300, the tiles 105 are picked up from the seat 3 by the adhesive face 105a.

The tiles 105 are thus overturned in such a way that the adhesive face 105a can be used for gluing on the corresponding application 300 in the application station.

More specifically, each tile 105 is transferred, in the unloading station 20, from the respective gripping member 19 to the respective gripping member 22 in such a way that whilst the member 19 retains it by the adhesive face 105a the member 22 picks it up by the outer face 105b.

Preferably, in the preferred case wherein one row of tiles 105 is picked up at a time, the process comprises a step of spacing the tiles 105 to each other. In one embodiment, the spacing step is performed by gripping members 19; in an alternative embodiment, the spacing step is performed by means of the pickup means 22.

Advantageously, in order to facilitate the transfer of each tile 105 from the member 19 to the member 22, the process comprises blowing the tile 105 from the member 19 in such a way, in particular, as to overcome the attraction determined by the adhesive.

The invention as described above brings important advantages.

The machine 1 allows greater speed and precision compared with a manual application of the tiles.

The adhesive sheet, which by its very nature is difficult to handle due to the presence of the adhesive layer, is more manageable as it is moved in an automated fashion.

The gripping and releasing of the tiles by means of the suction system allows a practical movement without pollution of the tiles.

Claims

1 . A machine for removing an adhesive sheet (101 ) comprising at least one tile (105), from a respective supporting sheet (102), the adhesive sheet (101 ) comprising at least one film (103) and an adhesive layer (104) applied to the film (103) and interposed between the film (103) and the supporting sheet (102), the machine being characterised in that it comprises:

a frame (2);

a seat (3) for the adhesive sheet (101 ), made in the frame (2);

suction means (7, 8), operatively active at least in the seat (3) to retain the adhesive sheet (101 ), the machine comprising

gripping means (10, 1 1 , 12) which are movable relative to the frame (2), between a first operating position and a second operating position, along a feed direction (D) to grip the supporting sheet (102) and to separate it from the adhesive sheet (101 ).

2. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping means (10, 1 1 , 12) comprise at least one gripper (10) comprising at least a first and a second jaw (1 1 , 12), which are relatively movable in a closing direction (D1 ) transversal to the feed direction between a spaced-apart configuration and a close together configuration for gripping the supporting sheet (102).

3. The machine according to claim 2, wherein the first and second jaws (1 1 , 12) are movable along the closing direction (D1 ).

4. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feed direction (D) is parallel to a main direction of extension (L1 , L2) of the seat (3).

5. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the suction means (7, 8) comprise a suction system (8) and at least one hole (7) made in a bottom wall (5) of the seat (3) in communication with the suction system (8), the hole (7) being provided at the tile (105).

6. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat (3) has an outer side (6), the outer side (6) having at least one recess (16) for the gripping means (10, 1 1 , 12).

7. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the machine comprises a blowing unit (18) which acts in conjunction with the gripping means (10, 1 1 , 12) to remove the supporting sheet (102), the blowing unit (18) being operatively active to generate an air jet substantially at a line of contact (300) between the adhesive sheet (101 ) and the supporting sheet (102).

8. The machine according to claim 7, wherein the blowing unit (18) is movable between a first operating position and a second operating position, along the feed direction (D).

9. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least a first member (19) for gripping the tile (105), the first gripping member (19) being movable between a gripping position of the tile (105) close to the seat (3), the tile (105) being picked from the seat (3), and a releasing position of the tile (105) into an unloading station (20), the gripping member (19) being of suction type.

10. The machine according to claim 9, comprising at least a second member (22) for gripping the tile (105), the second gripping member (22) being movable between a gripping position of the tile (105) in the unloading station (20) and a releasing position of the tile (105) into an application station (23), the second member (22) being of suction type.

1 1 . The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the seat (3) comprises a bottom wall (5), the suction means (7, 8) comprising at least one suction hole (7) in the bottom wall (5).

12. The machine according to claim 1 1 , wherein the frame (2) comprises an inner chamber (9), the suction means (7, 8) comprising the inner chamber (9), the inner chamber (9) being in communication with the suction hole (7), the suction hole (7) being sucked by means of the inner chamber (9).

13. The machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the machine comprises means (13, 14) for moving the gripping means (10, 1 1 , 12), the movement means (13, 14) comprising at least one guide (13) extending along the feed direction (D) and a movable assembly (14) which is slidably engaged with the guide (13), the gripping means (10, 1 1 , 12) being supported by the movable assembly (14).

14. A method for removing an adhesive sheet (101 ) comprising at least one tile (105), from a respective supporting sheet (102), the adhesive sheet (101 ) comprising at least one film (103) and an adhesive layer (104) applied to the film (103) and interposed between the film (103) and the supporting sheet (102), the method being characterised in that it comprises:

a step of retaining the adhesive sheet (101 ) by suction;

a step of gripping a flap (106) of the supporting sheet (102);

a step of moving the supporting sheet (102) along a feed direction (D), the supporting sheet being retained by the flap (106), relative to the adhesive sheet (101 ), retained by suction, until separating it completely from the adhesive sheet (101 ).

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the method comprises a step of blowing the supporting sheet (102) at a line of contact (300) between the adhesive sheet (101 ) and the supporting sheet (102).

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the feed direction (D) is parallel with a main direction of extension of the supporting sheet (102).

17. The method according to any of the claims from 14 to 16, comprising a first step of gripping the tile (105), the tile (105) being picked from a seat (3) and released in an unloading station (20), the tile (105) being picked from the adhesive layer (104) using a first gripping member (19).

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first gripping step occurs by the suction of the tile (105) at the adhesive layer (104).

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, comprising a second step of gripping the tile (105), the tile (105) being taken in the unloading station (20) and released in an application station (23), the tile (105) being taken from the film (103) in the second gripping step using a second gripping member (22).

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the second gripping step occurs by the suction of the tile (105) at the film (103).

21 . The method according to claim 19 or 20, wherein the method comprises a step of transferring the tile (105) from the first gripping member (19) to the second gripping member (22) in the unloading station (20).

22. The method according to any of the claims from 17 to 20, wherein the method comprises a step of blowing the tile (105) from the first gripping member (19) to promote the detachment of the tile (105) from the gripping member (19).