WO2020092490A2

WO2020092490A2 - Nozzle assembly and system for applying fluids onto a substrate and corresponding method

Info

Publication number: WO2020092490A2
Application number: PCT/US2019/058746
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Pahl
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Priority date: 2018-10-31
Filing date: 2019-10-30
Publication date: 2020-05-07
Also published as: DE102018127277A1; WO2020092490A3

Abstract

The invention relates in particular to a nozzle arrangement (1) for applying fluids (20), in particular thermoplastic adhesives, to a substrate (21), wherein the nozzle arrangement (1) has a main body (2) that is connectable preferably in an exchangeable manner to a mounting region of a distributor (30) and has an end- side face (3). According to the invention, an extension region (4) is formed on the end-side face (3) of the main body (2), in which extension region (4) at least one outlet nozzle (5) is formed, wherein the extension region (4) and the outlet nozzle (5) are formed such that the outlet opening of the outlet nozzle (5) is at a distance from the end-side face (3) of the main body (2), and a main-flow axis which is defined by the outlet opening and along which the fluid dispensed by the outlet nozzle (5) moves encloses an acute angle with the end-side face (3) of the main body (2).

Description

NOZZLE ASSEMBLY AND SYSTEM FOR APPLYING FLUIDS ONTO A SUBSTRATE

AND CORRESPONDING METHOD

Description

The invention generally relates to the application of fluids, including thermo plastic or fibrous adhesives, to a substrate by way of at least one nozzle arrange ment which is fastened preferably in a detachable manner on a mounting face of a distributor or of a distributor head, wherein said distributor or distributor head generally serves for feeding to the at least one nozzle arrangement the fluid to be applied. The purpose of such a system is the application of fluids for example to substrates which move relative to the at least one nozzle arrangement, and in particular the application of adhesives in partial spray patterns for the partial cov ering of a substrate.

EP 0 872 580 A discloses for example a plurality of melt-blowing nozzle arrange ments or nozzles, which are fastenable side by side to one or both ends of a con ventional distributor or distributor head, which provides for dosed feeding of ad hesive to each nozzle arrangement. The nozzle arrangements each comprise a plurality of substantially parallel plate elements which form a row of adhesive-dis pensing openings on an outlet face. The row of fluid outlet openings of each noz zle arrangement forms a section of a longer row which is formed by the plurality of adjacent nozzle arrangements, which are arranged along a common end of the distributor head. One or both sides of the distributor may be fastened next to the side of a similarly constructed distributor head in order to form even longer rows of fluid outlet openings, whereby provision is made of a modular melt-blowing, adhesive-dispensing system which accommodates a substrate of any dimensional width . In some adhesive-dispensing applications, the adhesive is applied such that it co vers the full width of the substrate, and in other applications, it is desirable for the adhesive to be applied only to selected sections or regions of the substrate and for other sections or regions of the substrate to be kept free of adhesive.

This applies for example to applications in which an edgefold region of a sub- strate has to be provided with adhesive. Edgefolding refers to the folding of a material about a part-edge through 90° or 180°. The edgefold region formed in this way is often then fastened to a support part by a suitable joining method, in particular adhesion.

Edgefolding methods of said type are used in particular in the automotive indus try for trim parts. Here, the increasingly complex three-dimensional geometries of the trim parts present a great challenge to the joining methods to be applied. In particular, one problem is to apply in edgefold regions, with the aid of a nozzle arrangement guided by a robot arm, a corresponding adhesive pattern in a uni form and continuous manner.

FIGURE 1 shows, in a schematic and isometric view, a conventional system 150 for applying thermoplastic adhesives 20 to a substrate 21 which has correspond ing edgefold regions.

The system 150 as per FIGURE 1 consists substantially of a distributor head 30, which is connected or connectable preferably to a robot arm (not shown in FIG URE 1), and which is movable in a direction of movement relative to the substrate 21. A nozzle arrangement 101 is connected preferably in an exchangeable manner to the distributor head 30 in a mounting region of the distributor head 30. In this case, the distributor head 30 serves for feeding the thermoplastic adhesive 20 to be sprayed and, if appropriate, shaping air, etc. to the nozzle arrangement 101 in a suitable manner.

The nozzle arrangement 101 used in the conventional system 150 for applying thermoplastic adhesives 20 to a substrate 21 has a main body 102 which - as seen in plan view - is embodied at least substantially in a rectangular manner and which is connected to the mounting region of the distributor head 30.

The main body of the nozzle arrangement 101 has an end-side face, which dis penses, with the outlet face, the thermoplastic adhesive 20 to be applied to the substrate 21.

An outlet nozzle 105 is - as indicated in FIGURE 1 - formed on the end-side face of the main body 102 of the nozzle arrangement 101 for this purpose, wherein the outlet opening of the outlet nozzle 105 is embodied such that a main-flow axis which is defined by the outlet opening and along which the adhesive jet 20 dispensed by the outlet nozzle moves encloses a right angle (90°) with the end- side face of the main body 102.

A problem during movement of the distributor head 30 relative to the substrate 21 in the direction of the movement direction, indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 1, is that, owing to the complex three-dimensional geometry of the substrate 21, either the distributor head 30 comes into contact with the substrate 21, or partic ular regions of the substrate 21, in particular regions in an edgefold region of the substrate 21, can no longer be reached by the nozzle arrangement 101.

Proceeding from this problem, the invention is thus based on the object of speci fying a nozzle arrangement for applying fluids, in particular thermoplastic adhe sives, to a substrate, wherein said nozzle arrangement permits the targeted appli cation of the thermoplastic adhesive or the fluid even in the case of complex geo metrical geometries of the substrate.

Furthermore, the intention is to specify a correspondingly optimized system for applying fluids, in particular thermoplastic adhesives, to substrates having a cor respondingly complex geometry, and a corresponding method of application.

With regard to the nozzle arrangement, the object upon which the invention is based is achieved by the subject matter of the independent patent claim 1, wherein advantageous refinements of the nozzle arrangement according to the invention are specified in the dependent claims 2 to 9.

With regard to the system, the object upon which the invention is based is achieved by the subject matter of the coordinate patent claim 11, and with re gard to the method, the object upon which the invention is based is achieved by the subject matter of the coordinate patent claim 13, wherein likewise advanta geous refinements of the system according to the invention and of the method according to the invention are specified in the corresponding dependent claims.

Accordingly, the invention relates in particular to a nozzle arrangement for apply ing fluids, in particular thermoplastic adhesives, to a substrate, wherein the noz zle arrangement has a main body that is connectable preferably in an exchangea ble manner to a mounting region of a distributor or of a distributor head and has an end-side face. According to the invention, it is provided here in particular that an extension region is formed on the end-side face of the main body, in which extension region at least one outlet nozzle is formed. The extension region and the at least one outlet nozzle are formed such that the outlet opening of the at least one outlet nozzle is at a distance from the end-side face of the main body of the nozzle arrangement, wherein in particular a main-flow axis which is defined by the outlet opening and along which the fluid dispensed by the outlet nozzle moves encloses an acute angle with the end-side face of the main body.

The advantages obtainable with the solution according to the invention are ap parent: The fact that the nozzle arrangement is provided with a corresponding extension region in which the outlet nozzle is embodied means that it is possible for the nozzle arrangement, in particular if this is arranged on a robot arm-guided distributor head, to be used in a significantly more flexible manner even in re gions of relatively complex geometry without there being the risk of the nozzle arrangement or the distributor head coming into contact with regions of the sub strate to be coated. Here, it is furthermore ensured that the nozzle outlet open ing of the outlet nozzle constantly maintains the intended distance from the sur face of that region of the substrate which is to be coated. In particular, the par ticular geometry of the nozzle arrangement with the extension region makes it possible for the nozzle arrangement to be able to be pivoted and rotated also rel ative to the substrate to be coated or to that region of the substrate which is to be coated, this being necessary for the purpose of uniformly wetting the region with the fluid, in particular thermoplastic adhesive.

According to preferred realizations of the nozzle arrangement according to the in vention, it is provided in particular that - as seen in plan view - the main body of the nozzle arrangement is embodied at least substantially in a rectangular man ner. It is furthermore provided that - likewise as seen in plan view - the exten sion region of the nozzle arrangement is embodied at least substantially in a trap ezoidal or triangular manner, in particular in a trapezoidal manner, and is con nected via its longer base side to the end side of the main body.

The fact that, in this embodiment, the main body is still - as in the prior art - embodied at least substantially in a rectangular manner as seen in plan view means that the nozzle arrangement can still be connected to the mounting region of the distributor head without structural changes to the mounting region or the distributor head having to be realized for this purpose. The same also applies to the fluid distribution system which is provided by the distributor head and is made available via a corresponding interface region with the main body of the nozzle arrangement.

In refinements of the last-mentioned embodiment, it is provided in particular that one side of the extension region that is embodied in particular in a trapezoidal manner as seen in plan view is aligned with a face of the main body. Alternatively or in addition, it may be provided here that the at least one outlet opening is formed in one side of the extension region that is embodied in particular in a trapezoidal manner as seen in plan view, said side being on the opposite side from the side that is aligned with the face of the main body.

These refinements involve solutions for how the nozzle arrangement according to the invention can be realized so as to allow even in particular complex geomet rical regions of the substrate to reach the region of the outlet nozzle of the noz zle arrangement in an effective manner without contact occurring between the nozzle arrangement or the distributor or the distributor head and the substrate, which solutions are particularly simple to realize but nevertheless effective.

According to the invention, it is provided in particular that the extension region is formed integrally with the main body of the nozzle arrangement. In this context, "integrally" means that the extension region is connected in a non-detachable manner to the main body of the nozzle arrangement, and in particular is formed in one piece with the material of the main body.

The integral configuration of the extension region yields the advantage that the nozzle arrangement and in particular also the orientation of the outlet nozzle or of the outlet opening of the outlet nozzle can be produced with great precision and only low tolerances.

Preferably, the nozzle arrangement is formed as a laminated nozzle component which consists of a multiplicity of sheet-like elements that are connected together in a planar manner, wherein at least one fluid duct is formed in the main body and in the extension region, said fluid duct being fluidically connected to the at least one outlet nozzle. The formation of the nozzle arrangement as a laminated nozzle component has the advantage that it is possible to configure even complex fluid duct systems in the interior of the main body or of the extension region par ticularly precisely but nevertheless in a relatively simple manner. In other words, even complex fluid ducts or fluid duct systems are able to be integrated in the nozzle arrangement without effort. Said fluid ducts, via a corresponding interface region, are able to be brought into fluidic connection with correspondingly as signed fluid ducts in the mounting region of the distributor head.

All in all, the configuration of the nozzle arrangement according to the invention as a laminated nozzle component makes possible a compact nozzle arrangement in which all the required functionalities are integrated.

Alternatively, it is however also conceivable for the nozzle arrangement according to the invention to be produced by means of 3D printing. Here, use may be made in particular of the laser sintering method or micro laser sintering, also referred to as selective laser melting (SLM). Said production methods make it possible for the fluid ducts to be embodied in a curved manner in multiple planes so as to achieve perfect flows. Fitting of the nozzle, and thus also any possible fitting er ror and tolerance deviations due to the fitting, is absent.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, it is provided that the fluid, and in particular the thermoplastic adhesive, can be dispensed by way of the nozzle arrangement according to a previously established sequence of events. In particular, the nozzle arrangement according to the invention is suitable for dispensing the fluid (the thermoplastic adhesive) with a pattern, in particular os cillatory pattern.

For this purpose, according to embodiments of the nozzle arrangement according to the invention, it is provided that the outlet opening of the at least one outlet nozzle of the nozzle arrangement is preferably assigned a multiplicity of fluid openings, wherein said fluid openings deliver shaping or deflecting air in order to deflect the fluid, in particular thermoplastic adhesive, dispensed by the outlet opening of the outlet nozzle from the main-flow axis in a targeted manner. The multiplicity of the (additional) fluid openings which serve for delivering corre sponding shaping or deflecting air is positioned in particular around the outlet opening of the outlet nozzle, wherein the main-flow axis of the additional fluid openings, along which a fluid (in particular compressed air) dispensed by the fluid openings moves, is inclined in the direction of the main-flow axis of the out let opening of the outlet nozzle.

With regard to an optimized deflection of the fluid (thermoplastic adhesive) dis pensed by the outlet nozzle, it is furthermore advantageous if the at least one fluid opening, via which the compressed air is dispensed as shaping or deflecting air, is arranged in an offset manner, with respect to the outlet opening, in the di rection of the face of the extension region on or in which the outlet opening of the outlet nozzle is formed.

The invention relates not only to a nozzle arrangement of the aforementioned type but also to the use of such a nozzle arrangement to apply a fluid, in particu lar a thermoplastic adhesive, to an edgefold region of a substrate.

The invention furthermore relates to a corresponding system for applying fluids, in particular thermoplastic adhesives, to a substrate. According to embodiments of the invention, said system has a distributor head, which is connected or con nectable preferably to a robot arm, and which is in particular linearly movable in a direction of movement relative to the substrate. The system according to the invention also has at least one nozzle arrangement of the above-described type, which is connected preferably in an exchangeable manner to the distributor head in a mounting region of the distributor head.

With the system according to the invention, it is provided in particular that the at least one nozzle arrangement is arranged in the mounting region of the distribu tor head such that the end-side face of the main body is oriented in the direction of movement of the distributor head. In this case, the direction of movement cor responds to the direction in which the distributor head is moved during the appli cation of fluid via the at least one nozzle arrangement.

According to advantageous refinements of the system according to the invention, it is provided that the outlet opening of the at least one outlet nozzle of the noz zle arrangement is assigned at least one and preferably a multiplicity of fluid openings, the main-flow axis of which, along which a fluid dispensed by the fluid opening moves, is inclined in the direction of the main-flow axis of the outlet opening of the outlet nozzle. In this context, it is furthermore provided that the distributor head is embodied such that the fluid to be applied is fed as required to the at least one outlet nozzle, and also such that compressed air is fed as re quired to the at least one fluid opening, in order to deflect a fluid jet dispensed by the at least one outlet nozzle.

With regard to the method according to the invention for applying fluids, in par ticular thermoplastic adhesives, to a substrate, it is provided that a nozzle ar rangement is moved relative to the substrate in a direction of movement, wherein said nozzle arrangement is in particular a nozzle arrangement of the above-de scribed type according to the invention. In the method according to the inven tion, it is also provided that a fluid jet, in particular a thermoplastic adhesive jet, is dispensed through an outlet nozzle of the nozzle arrangement during the movement of the nozzle arrangement relative to the substrate. Said fluid jet is specifically dispensed by the outlet opening of the outlet nozzle along a main- flow axis, which encloses an acute angle with the plane in which the direction of movement lies.

Preferably, it is furthermore provided that the fluid jet dispensed through the out let nozzle is deflected, for example with the aid of shaping air, in particular peri odically from the main-flow axis, in particular in order to create an omega-shaped pattern of the fluid jet applied to the substrate.

In the method according to the invention, it is also provided here in particular that the component is a component having an edgefold region, wherein, during the dispensing of the fluid jet through the outlet nozzle of the nozzle arrange ment, the nozzle arrangement is moved at least regionally into the edgefold re gion.

An exemplary embodiment of the nozzle arrangement according to the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows, schematically and in an isometric view, a conventional system for applying thermoplastic adhesives to a substrate;

FIGURE 2 shows, schematically and in plan view, an exemplary embodiment of the nozzle arrangement according to the invention; FIGURE 3 shows, schematically and in a side view, the exemplary embodiment of the nozzle arrangement according to the invention;

FIGURE 4 schematically shows a sectional view along the line A-A in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 schematically shows the exemplary embodiment of the nozzle arrange ment in an exploded illustration.

It has long been recognized that thermoplastic adhesives form good bonding agents. Specifically, they harden quickly, which means a particular advantage if the adhesive is applied in steps and the connection of the parts to be adhesively bonded then takes place immediately and the adhesive connection obtained is very strong. Furthermore, the range of the constituents from which the thermo plastic adhesives can be composed is so wide that, for a given purpose, a corre sponding adhesive composition can be easily produced.

Nevertheless, with regard to the widespread use of said adhesives, certain hin drances have been created insofar as the thermoplastic adhesive cannot be ap plied in part, or can be applied only with great difficulty, in an automatic manner to particular selected regions of a substrate having a complex geometry. This ap plies in particular to edgefold regions of substrates formed as shaped bodies.

FIGURE 1 shows, schematically and in an isometric view, a conventional system by way of which a thermoplastic adhesive 20 is applied in an automated manner to particular regions of a substrate formed as a shaped part. The conventional system 150 for applying thermoplastic adhesives 20 to a substrate 21 formed as a shaped body has a distributor head 30 which is connected or connectable prefer ably to a robot arm (not shown in FIGURE 1), and which is movable in a direction of movement relative to the substrate 21 with the aid of the robot arm.

As illustrated in FIGURE 1, the conventional system 150 for applying thermo plastic adhesives also has a nozzle arrangement 101, which is connected prefera bly in an exchangeable manner to the distributor head 30 in a mounting region of the distributor head 30. The nozzle arrangement 101 is formed substantially by an approximately rectangular main body 102, via which the nozzle arrangement 101 is connected to the mounting region of the distributor head 30. This - as seen in plan view - substantially rectangular main body 102 of the nozzle ar rangement 101 has an end-side face 103 in which an outlet nozzle 105 is formed. The main-flow axis which is defined by the outlet nozzle 105 or the outlet open ing of the outlet nozzle 105 and along which the thermoplastic adhesive material 20 dispensed by the outlet nozzle 105 moves encloses a right angle with the end- side face 103 of the main body 102 of the nozzle arrangement 101. Furthermore, the end-side face 103 of the main body 102 is in the direction of movement of the distributor.

In applications of the conventional system 150 with shaped parts having complex geometrical structures and in particular edgefold regions, it is generally not pos sible to avoid either parts of the system, in particular the distributor head or the nozzle arrangement, coming into contact with regions of the shaped part, or not all of the required regions of the shaped part being able to be reached by way of the nozzle arrangement.

In order to solve this problem, an optimized nozzle arrangement 1 is proposed according to the invention, wherein an exemplary embodiment of said nozzle ar rangement is described in more detail below with reference to the illustrations in FIGURES 2 to 5.

As can be seen in particular in the plan view in FIGURE 2, the exemplary embodi ment of the nozzle arrangement 1 according to the invention has a main body that is connectable preferably in an exchangeable manner to a mounting region of a distributor head and that may have for example a rectangular configuration. Said main body 2 is provided with an end-side face 3.

By contrast to the conventional nozzle arrangement 101 described above with ref erence to the illustration in FIGURE 1, however, with the nozzle arrangement 1 according to the invention, provision is made not for a corresponding outlet noz zle 5 to be provided on the end-side face 3 but for an extension region 4 to be formed on said end-side face 3, in which extension region the at least one outlet nozzle 5 is formed. The extension region 4 and the outlet nozzle 5 are formed such that the outlet opening of the outlet nozzle 5 is at a distance from the end- side face 3 of the main body 2 of the nozzle arrangement 1. It is furthermore provided that a main-flow axis which is defined by the outlet opening and along which the thermoplastic adhesive material 20 dispensed by the outlet nozzle 5 moves encloses an acute angle with the end-side face 3 of the main body 2.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGURES 2 to 5, it is provided in particu lar that - as seen in plan view - the main body 2 of the nozzle arrangement 1 is embodied at least substantially in a rectangular manner, and - likewise as seen in plan view - the extension region 4 is embodied at least substantially in a trape zoidal manner and is connected via its longer base side to the end side 3 of the main body 2. Specifically, one side of the extension region 4 that is embodied in a trapezoidal manner as seen in plan view is in this case aligned with a face of the main body 2.

It is furthermore provided that the at least one outlet opening is formed in one side of the extension region 4 that is embodied in a trapezoidal manner as seen in plan view, said side being on the opposite side from the side that is aligned with the face of the main body 2.

With the nozzle arrangement 1 according to the invention, it is provided in partic ular that the extension region 4 is formed integrally with the main body 2. As can be seen in this context in particular from the schematic exploded illustration in FIGURE 5, use is made in particular of a laminated construction in which a multi plicity of sheet-like elements 6 are connected to one another in a planar manner. In this way, corresponding fluid ducts can be formed in a particularly simple man ner in the main body 2 and in the extension region 4, which fluid ducts are fluidi- cally connected to the outlet nozzles of the nozzle arrangement.

It can furthermore be seen from the sectional view according to FIGURE 4 that the outlet opening of the at least one outlet nozzle 5 is assigned at least one and preferably a multiplicity of further fluid openings 7, the main-flow axis of which, along which a fluid (in particular compressed air) dispensed by the fluid openings 7 moves, is inclined in the direction of the main-flow axis of the outlet opening of the outlet nozzle 5. It is furthermore provided here that the fluid openings 7 are arranged in an offset manner, with respect to the outlet opening of the outlet nozzle 5, in the direction of the face of the extension region on or in which the outlet opening is formed. With the aid of said fluid openings, it is possible to direct compressed air in the direction of the thermoplastic adhesive jet dispensed by the outlet nozzle in order to thereby deflect the adhesive jet in a suitable manner. In particular, it is thus possible for the adhesive jet dispensed through the outlet nozzle to be deflected periodically from the main-flow axis in order for example to form an omega shaped pattern of the adhesive jet applied to the substrate.

The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiment shown in the draw ings, but rather results from a joint consideration of all the features disclosed herein .

List of reference signs

1 Nozzle arrangement

2 Main body

3 End-side face of the main body

4 Extension region

5 Outlet nozzle

6 Sheet-like element

7 Fluid opening

8 Fluid duct

20 Thermoplastic adhesive

21 Substrate

30 Distributor head

50 System for applying thermoplastic adhesive

101 Nozzle arrangement (prior art)

102 Main body (prior art)

103 End-side face (prior art)

105 Outlet nozzle (prior art)

150 System for applying thermoplastic adhesive (prior art)

Claims

Patent claims

1. A nozzle arrangement (1) for applying fluids (20), in particular thermoplastic adhesives, to a substrate (21), wherein the nozzle arrangement (1) has a main body (2) that is connectable preferably in an exchangeable manner to a mounting region of a distributor (30) and has an end-side face (3), w h e r e i n

an extension region (4) is formed on the end-side face (3) of the main body (2), in which extension region (4) at least one outlet nozzle (5) is formed, wherein the extension region (4) and the outlet nozzle (5) are formed such that the outlet opening of the outlet nozzle (5) is at a distance from the end- side face (3) of the main body (2), and in that a main-flow axis which is defined by the outlet opening and along which the fluid dispensed by the outlet nozzle (5) moves encloses an acute angle with the end-side face (3) of the main body (2).

2. The nozzle arrangement (1) as claimed in claim 1,

wherein, as seen in plan view, the main body (2) is embodied at least substantially in a rectangular manner, and wherein, likewise as seen in plan view, the extension region (4) is embodied at least substantially in a trapezoidal or triangular manner and is connected via its longer base side to the end side of the main body (2).

3. The nozzle arrangement (1) as claimed in claim 2,

wherein one side of the extension region that is embodied in a trapezoidal or triangular manner as seen in plan view is aligned with a face (3) of the main body (2).

4. The nozzle arrangement (1) as claimed in claim 2 or 3,

wherein the at least one outlet opening is formed in one side of the extension region (4) that is embodied in a trapezoidal or triangular manner as seen in plan view, said side being on the opposite side from the side that is aligned with the face (3) of the main body (2).

5. The nozzle arrangement (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4,

wherein the extension region (4) is formed integrally with the main body (2).

6. The nozzle arrangement (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5,

wherein the nozzle arrangement (1) is formed as a laminated nozzle component which consists of a multiplicity of sheet-like elements (6) that are connected together in a planar manner, and wherein at least one fluid duct (8) is formed in the main body (2) and in the extension region (4), said fluid duct (8) being fluidically connected to the at least one outlet nozzle (5).

7. The nozzle arrangement (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6,

wherein the outlet opening of the at least one outlet nozzle (5) protrudes from one face of the extension region (4).

8. The nozzle arrangement (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7,

wherein the outlet opening of the at least one outlet nozzle (5) is assigned at least one and preferably a multiplicity of fluid openings (7), the main-flow axis of which, along which a fluid dispensed by the fluid opening (7) moves, is inclined in the direction of the main-flow axis of the outlet opening.

9. The nozzle arrangement (1) as claimed in claim 8,

wherein the at least one fluid opening is arranged in an offset manner, with respect to the outlet opening, in the direction of the face (3) of the extension region (4) on or in which the outlet opening is formed.

10. The use of the nozzle arrangement (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9 to apply a fluid, in particular a thermoplastic adhesive (20), to an edgefold region of a component.

11. A system for applying fluids (20), in particular thermoplastic adhesives, to a substrate (21), wherein the system has the following:

a distributor head (30), which in this case is connected or connectable preferably to a robot arm, and which is movable in a direction of movement relative to the substrate (21); and

at least one nozzle arrangement (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, which is connected preferably in an exchangeable manner to the distributor head (30) in a mounting region of the distributor head (30), wherein the at least one nozzle arrangement (1) is arranged in the mounting region of the distributor head (30) such that the end-side face (3) of the main body (2) of the nozzle arrangement (1) is oriented in the direction of movement of the distributor head (30), wherein the direction of movement corresponds to the direction in which the distributor head (30) is moved during the application of fluids (20) via the at least one nozzle arrangement (1)·

12. The system as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the outlet opening of the at least one outlet nozzle (5) of the nozzle arrangement (1) is assigned at least one and preferably a multiplicity of fluid openings (7), the main-flow axis of which, along which a fluid dispensed by the fluid opening moves, is inclined in the direction of the main-flow axis of the outlet opening of the outlet nozzle (5), and wherein the distributor head (30) is embodied such that the fluid to be applied is fed as required to the at least one outlet nozzle (5), and such that compressed air is fed as required to the at least one fluid opening, in order to deflect a fluid jet dispensed by the at least one outlet nozzle (5).

13. A method for applying fluids (20), in particular thermoplastic adhesives, to a substrate (21), wherein the following method steps are provided:

moving a nozzle arrangement (1) relative to the substrate (21) in a direction of movement, wherein the nozzle arrangement (1) is in particular a nozzle arrangement (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9; and

dispensing a fluid jet through an outlet nozzle (5) of the nozzle arrangement (1) during the movement of the nozzle arrangement (1) relative to the substrate (21),

wherein the fluid jet is dispensed by the outlet opening along a main-flow axis, which encloses an acute angle with the plane in which the direction of movement lies.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13,

wherein the fluid jet dispensed through the outlet nozzle (5) is deflected preferably with the aid of shaping air, in particular periodically from the main-flow axis, in particular in order to create an omega-shaped pattern of the fluid jet applied to the substrate (21).

15. The method as claimed in claim 13 or 14, wherein the substrate (21) is a component having an edgefold region, and wherein, during the dispensing of the fluid jet through the outlet nozzle (5) of the nozzle arrangement (1), the nozzle arrangement (1) is moved at least regionally into the edgefold region.