WO2023001545A1

WO2023001545A1 - Method and device for applying a dyeing agent

Info

Publication number: WO2023001545A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/068582
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christof Schulte-Göbel
Original assignee: Schulte Goebel Christof
Priority date: 2021-07-19
Filing date: 2022-07-05
Publication date: 2023-01-26

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for applying a dyeing agent onto an edge strip and/or a workpiece to be provided with an edge strip, comprising a dye application device with a metering unit and a dye container. The aim of the invention is to provide an efficient and precise method for applying a dyeing agent and to provide an optimal device for applying adhesive, optionally comprising a processing assembly, with a dye application device which can be used in an optimal manner and which comprises a metering unit and a dye container for applying a dyeing agent. According to the invention, the dyeing agent is applied - onto a narrow surface of the workpiece prior to and/or after an adhesive is applied, - onto an edge strip, wherein the dye application device is arranged upstream and/or downstream of the adhesive application process and/or a processing assembly for removing protruding edge strips, and/or - onto the workpiece and edge strips simultaneously. The invention additionally relates to a device for carrying out the method.

Description

Description METHOD AND DEVICE FOR APPLYING A COLORANT

The invention relates to a method for applying a coloring agent to an edging strip and/or to a workpiece to be provided with an edging strip, using a paint application device with a dosing unit and a paint container, and a device for attaching edging strips to a workpiece, with a device for applying Adhesive, a device for joining material and edging strips, and optionally with a further processing unit, and with a paint application device with a dosing unit and a paint container for applying a coloring agent to an edging strip and/or a workpiece to be provided with an edging strip.

A method and a device for applying a coloring agent to an edge strip or a workpiece to be provided with an edge band is known in a simple embodiment from the prior art and is used to apply coloring agent to workpieces. The device for applying a coloring agent and the device for attaching an edge strip, in particular the device for applying adhesive, are directly associated with one another. The colorant is placed on the edge strip or the workpiece at the same time as the adhesive and to the side of it, so that the edge strip, colorant and workpiece can be designed optically, usually in a uniform color. However, the immediate arrangement of the device for applying the coloring agent and for the application of adhesive is not always easy to implement in edge coating devices, either in the new design of devices or in the retrofitting. The invention is based on the object of providing an efficiently and precisely working method for applying a colorant and an optimal device for applying adhesive, , and with an optimally usable paint application device with a dosing unit and a paint container for applying a colorant to deliver.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and a device according to claim 6. Advantageous developments of the method and the device are specified in the dependent claims.

Characteristic of the method according to the invention for applying a colorant to an edge strip or a workpiece to be provided with an edge strip using a paint application device with a dosing unit and a paint container is that a colorant is applied to the following points:

- on a narrow surface of the workpiece before and/or after an adhesive application,

- On an edge strip, the paint application device being arranged before and/or after an application of adhesive and/or a further processing unit, and/or

- on workpiece and edging strips at the same time.

The colorant is preferably applied in the edge area of the edge strip or the narrow surface of the workpiece on or adjacent to the adhesive that is present or is still to be applied. The adhesive, in particular a hot-melt adhesive material, which is applied by means for applying an adhesive, is intended to be used to connect an edge strip and a narrow surface of a workpiece to one another. The adhesive can be applied in any way, e.g. B. by means of a roller or a nozzle, in strip form or by spot application. As a rule, the adhesive is applied in the middle of the edging strip or the narrow surface of the workpiece. The application of adhesive usually extends right up to the edge or up to e.g. B. 0.5 mm to the edge of the edge strip or the narrow surface of the workpiece. It has surprisingly turned out that it is possible to decouple the application of the adhesive and the application of the coloring agent and still create an optimal, visible connection between the edge strip and the workpiece on one or both sides of the edge strip, especially in the edge areas. It is preferred if the colorant and adhesive combine, e.g. B. by pressing the edge strip to the narrow surface of the workpiece, or if the dye at a applied to the visible edge between the workpiece and the edging strip in a mixture with adhesive.

It has proven to be advantageous to apply a coloring agent to a narrow surface of the workpiece before and/or after applying an adhesive. The dyeing through of the adhesive, which is associated with a high use of coloring agents, can therefore be avoided. According to the invention, the colorant can be applied to the narrow surface of a workpiece, in particular in the edge region of the narrow surface, before or after an application of adhesive, ie also spatially independently of the application of adhesive. Due to the independent arrangement of adhesive application and paint application, all requirements of new constructions and retrofitting of adhesive application devices with paint application can be flexibly taken into account. According to the invention, according to an alternative of the method, it is also provided that the application of paint takes place before and after an application of adhesive. This can either apply a double layer of colorant or apply a first coat of colorant to a first side of a workpiece or edging strip and a second coat of colorant to a second side of a workpiece or edging strip.

Furthermore, as preferred shows the application of paint on an edge strip, the paint application device before and / or after an application of adhesive and / or a processing aggregate, z. B. a milling machine for removing protruding edge strips, but also a polishing or buffing unit for cleaning the transition between the work piece and edge strips or the like. Is arranged. The application of the colorant can be done precisely, so that space can be left for the glue to be applied, or the colorant can be removed by e.g. B. a milling machine can be applied exactly, z. B. without contaminating the surface of the workpiece or the edging strip. The colorant can also be applied to the adhesive if the adhesive has been applied to the edge strip or the workpiece over the entire surface, for example. Alternatively, colorant that has already been applied can also be covered by an adhesive that has been applied to the entire surface of the adhesive or workpiece. The contact between the adhesive and the colorant can be used to fix the colorant, e.g. B. by mixing glue and colorant. Furthermore, the coloring agent can also be applied to the workpiece and the edging strip at the same time. The colorant can therefore also be applied where the edge strip and the workpiece are joined under pressure by means of the adhesive strip, or it can be applied before and/or after the joining of the workpiece and edge strip. This provides another option for preventing an unsightly seam between edge strips and workpiece by placing the device for applying coloring agent after the adhesive has been applied to either the edge strip or the workpiece or by simultaneously applying it to the workpiece and edge strip.

The method of applying a coloring agent according to the invention proves to be cost-effective, clean and precise compared to known methods. Since only very small amounts of expensive color pigments or dyes are used in comparison to the previously customary coloring of the adhesive, efficient use of resources is ensured, cleaning effort is minimized and production time is optimized through freely configurable process steps. The use of dyes is therefore more sustainable than with conventional methods, since there are few losses and only as much dye is used as is consumed.

The colorant includes, for example, pigments, in particular color pigments, dyes, but also colored substances based on color pigments, color pigment preparations and/or dyes. Binding agents, adhesives and/or additives can also be added to the colored substances, which improve adhesion of the coloring agent to the workpiece and/or the edging strip, for example, or which prevent the coloring agent from later becoming soiled during use. A colorant is preferably used that has a sufficiently high viscosity so that it does not run on the edge strip or the workpiece. This results in the advantage that aesthetic adaptations of the adhesive joint to the color and/or pattern of the workpiece or the edging strip are possible and the joint made of adhesive between the edging strip and the workpiece is concealed accordingly. Furthermore, the costs for expensive color pigments are reduced because the dosing unit applies the colorant precisely to the workpiece and there is no excess. According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the coloring agent is applied by means of the dosing unit, which applies the coloring agent by spraying, dropping, pouring or pumping from a paint outlet of the dosing unit onto the workpiece and/or the edge strip, advantageously in the form of threads or strips, but also in the form of dots . It has been found that it is possible with such a unit metering the colorant as a ribbon or thread with a width of z. B. 0.1 mm to 5 mm, preferably from 1 mm to 3 mm next to the adhesive, e.g. in the edge area of edges or narrow surface, preferably in the edge area of the edge strip or the narrow surface of the workpiece, either before or after applying the adhesive, which is arranged flat on the edge strip or the narrow surface of the workpiece, either over the entire surface or in sections, z. B. as a grid. The width or the diameter of z. B. band or line-shaped applied colorant can be precisely adjusted to either be subsequently stored on one or both sides next to the adhesive or to strip before applying the adhesive on the edges or to be stored on the workpiece. The colorant is preferably applied in a thickness that corresponds at most to the thickness of the adhesive, usually up to 1 mm, preferably up to 0.3 mm. The decisive factor is that the desired color is visible. When the strips of colorant and adhesive are superimposed, the thicknesses of the strips can add or the thickness of both strips can be reduced such that the result is not to exceed the thickness of the strip of adhesive. The thickness of the colorant is measured in such a way that an opaque layer of color is applied. The thickness of the colorant is also usually measured so that the adhesive is completely covered, i.e. that the layer of colorant is not thinner than the adhesive layer. As a rule, the colorant and adhesive then mix so that the colorant is fixed between the edge strip and the narrow surface of the workpiece.

As a rule, workpieces with different thicknesses and/or differently dimensioned edge strips are processed. A fixed arrangement of dosing unit and paint container is possible, but limits the use of the process with varying thicknesses of workpiece and edging strip. In addition, the method according to the invention should also be suitable for subsequent installation in differently constructed devices for applying edge strips. After an advantageous execution With the method according to the invention, the dosing unit and the paint container can be adjusted together or separately at an angle and/or height in relation to the workpiece or the edging strip, so that the coloring agent can be applied exactly to the edging strip and/or the narrow surface of the workpiece, in particular whose edge areas can be applied. Advantageously, the distance between the dosing unit and the workpiece or edge strip during the application of the colorant is between 0.1 mm and 20 mm, particularly preferably between 0.5 mm and 5 mm. However, the dosing unit can also rest on the surface of the edging strip or workpiece. The dosing unit can therefore, if necessary in connection with the paint container, be individually adapted to the respective construction of the edge coating device. In addition, an adjustment to the size or thickness of the workpieces and/or edging strips to be processed is possible.

The dosing unit releases colorant from the color outlet onto the surface of edge strips and/or workpieces. In principle, the cross-section of the paint outlet of the dosing unit can be of any design. Round or square cross-sections can be used here. According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the cross-section of the paint outlet of the dosing unit is adjustable. The quantity—and in particular in the case of coloring agent applied in the form of a paste—also the form of the coloring agent applied can preferably be adjusted. This allows the width and height of the colorant to be applied to be adjusted. The mechanism for adjusting the cross section can be controlled and/or regulated and can be connected to the control and/or regulating unit. The options described above for adjusting the color outlet in its cross section or in its position in relation to the workpiece or edging strip allow the colorant to be applied precisely and precisely to the workpiece and/or edging strip independently of the adhesive application.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the paint application device, in particular the cross section of the dosing unit or the paint outlet, as well as the height or distance and angle of the paint application device or paint outlet in relation to the edging strip or the workpiece to be provided with an edging strip by a Control adjustable. The distance between the paint application device and the workpiece or the edging strip can also be adjusted, with a setting mechanism can preferably be controlled and/or regulated by a control and regulation unit. The aforementioned parameters can advantageously be set both individually and in combination with one another.

In order to implement the described method according to the invention, the invention also relates to a device according to the invention for attaching edging strips to a workpiece with a device for applying adhesive, with a device for joining edging strips and workpieces, optionally with an additional processing unit, and with a paint application device with a dosing unit and a paint container for applying a colorant to an edging strip and/or a workpiece to be provided with an edging strip, so that the device for edge coating is designed to apply the colorant using a dosing unit:

- on an edge of a panel before and/or after the device for applying glue, and/or

- on an edge strip, before and/or after the device for applying glue, and/or

- before and/or after the device for joining the workpiece and edge strips and/or

- Before and / or after a processing unit, which is arranged after the device for joining the workpiece and edging strips.

It is essential that the device for applying the colorant is arranged spatially separate from the device for applying the adhesive. This separation of the device for applying the colorant (hereinafter: paint applicator) from the device for applying the glue (hereinafter: glue applicator) allows existing edge coating devices to be retrofitted without having to replace the glue applicator. Furthermore, the spatial separation of the paint application device and the adhesive application device advantageously allows new constructions of edge coating devices to be designed more flexibly. In particular, if the colorant is applied without the addition of adhesive, the edge strips and the narrow surface of the workpiece are pressed on in such a way that the colorant and adhesive are advantageously mixed at least in sections, like this that the dye is fixed at the edge between the edge strip and the narrow surface.

The device for attaching an edge strip can also be a processing unit, e.g. B. have a milling machine, a polishing or a buffing device with which z. B. the protruding edge strip can be removed after attachment to the workpiece or the transition from workpiece to edge strip can be cleaned or trimmed. According to an advantageous embodiment, the means for applying coloring agent can also be arranged before or after such a processing unit. A dye can be applied to the edge that has already been cleaned by the processing unit in the area between the edge strip and the workpiece.

The device according to the invention, i.e. paint container and dosing unit with paint outlet and possibly a supply line between dosing unit and paint container, can be made of metal, for example aluminum or steel, ceramic, glass and/or heat-resistant plastic.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the color container is connected to the dosing unit via a supply line for the continuous supply of colorant. If necessary, the colorant can be conveyed from the color container to the dosing unit by means of gravity, under pressure or with a pump. With a corresponding scale of production and larger consumption quantities for the colorant, a supply line with a connection to a larger color container can prove to be economical. In addition, a supply line that z. B. is designed as a hose or pipe, little space and can be easily inserted into an existing edge coating device. Particularly when the color of the colorant is changed more frequently, an embodiment of the device that has a holder for color cartridges as the color container is suitable. The cartridges can be changed quickly if necessary. The size of the cartridges can be chosen taking into account the amounts of colorant commonly used. Alternatively, the color container can be designed as a reservoir for colorants. Unlike a cartridge, the reservoir can be refilled when the dye runs out. This embodiment may prove suitable when the colorant is changed occasionally, e.g. B. to adjust color or composition, but if on average people gene are consumed, which are more than the capacity of a cartridge.

The colorant is usually in liquid or paste form. Usually, particulate pigments, for example granulated and/or as a powder, can be used, to which a binder or another liquid is usually added. Alternatively, the particulate pigments can also be sprinkled onto a layer of adhesive. Optionally, the coloring container can have mixing means for the coloring agent. For example, a preferred, individual colorant can be mixed based on a stock of existing basic colors. In this case, binders or additives can be added to the colorant in order to achieve properties such as water-repellent, antistatic, antibacterial or non-adhesive to foreign substances. A two-component (2-K) dye can also be used, which is only mixed when the paint is applied. For 2-component dyes, it is particularly preferred that there are separate color lines to avoid premature reaction of the different components of a colorant. The color lines for each component of a multi-component colorant can be laid in parallel so that the different components are applied to the edge strip and/or the workpiece at the same time. However, the paint lines of the various components can also be spatially separated from one another, so that the various components are applied to the edging strip and/or the workpiece with a spatial and possibly also temporal offset. Preferably, a first component of the coloring agent can be applied to the edge strip and a second component of the coloring agent to the narrow surface of the workpiece. When joining the workpiece and edging strips, the first and second components of the colorant mix, z. B. lead to a targeted curing of adhesive components in the colorant.

An airtight and/or gas-tight supply line for the dyes, which extends from the dyeing container to the dosing unit, is advantageous. In this way, any oxidation and/or other reactions of the colorant are prevented. Thus, the properties of the colorant do not change before the color is applied and the device ensures a homogeneous color application.

The color application of the dye can be removed from the paint container by gravity be taken. According to a further development of the device according to the invention, the application of paint, e.g. B. with the interposition of a pump at a pressure between z. B. 0.1 bar and 100 bar, particularly advantageously between 1 bar and 30 bar. Alternatively, the paint receptacle may be pressurized by a pressure unit to convey the colorant. The pressure can then be applied by the pressure unit using compressed air or another gas or gas mixture.

Since the supply of the coloring agent described above means that only the coloring agent that is required is in the supply line, cleaning losses are kept to a minimum and the effort involved in cleaning the device or changing the coloring agent is also kept within narrow limits. Accordingly, cleaning and switching from one colorant to the next is quick and easy to perform. This leads to increased efficiency, cleanliness and uniformity of colorant application.

The dosing unit or the color outlet is preferably adapted in its cross section to the amount of colorant to be applied to the workpiece or the edging strip. According to an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the dosing unit has a paint outlet which is designed in the manner of a nozzle or a diffuser, in particular such a nozzle that releases a precisely measured amount of colorant onto the workpiece and/or edge strip in the operating state. Precise paint outlet is particularly preferred, on the one hand to accurately position the paint application on the workpiece or edge strip and on the other hand to keep the cost of colorant low and to keep the amount of colorant application low. A nozzle allows a particularly precise setting to ensure a well-defined application of paint, e.g. B. can be defined to 0.1 mm. Alternatively, a diffuser is also suitable, especially if the application of the colorant does not have to be defined as precisely.

According to a development of the dosing unit, it can also have two or more color outlets, especially when larger amounts of colorant are to be applied, or when colorant is to be applied to both edge areas of the edging strip and/or the workpiece. if e.g. B. different colorants, for example with different different colors are to be applied or if the colorant has two or more components, then two or more color application devices can also be provided, e.g. for applying one component of a colorant each, applications of different colorants, but also for applying the colorant at different points, the edge coating device as claimed in claim 6.

If two or more paint application devices are installed at different points in an edge coating device, the paint containers of which each hold different colorants, then when changing production to a different color, a first paint application device can be switched off and a second paint application device can be switched on without the cleaning of the first paint application device must be awaited.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the cross section of the paint outlet of the dosing unit is adjustable. Depending on the application, the desired dimensions of the paint application vary. It therefore makes sense to adapt the cross-section of the paint outlet to the workpiece or edge strip to be coated. The cross section can be set to be round, oval or rectangular. The color outlet can e.g. B. in the manner of an aperture to open or close continuously. Alternatively, a slide can steplessly open and close the paint outlet. This means that you can work in a particularly resource-saving manner, since the width and quantity of the paint application can be precisely adapted to the dimensions of the workpiece and edging strips. The application of the colorant is preferably carried out in such a way that one or both edges between the narrow surface of the workpiece and the edging strip match the color of the surface of the workpiece and the edging strip or contrast therewith. In this case, the colorant and adhesive advantageously mix when the edging strip is pressed onto the workpiece, so that the colorant is securely fixed. Alternatively, colorant mixed with glue can be used.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device, the paint application device has means for setting the device at a predetermined angle to the workpiece and/or edge strip. The means for adjusting can be designed, for example, as a support structure to which the dosing unit in particular is attached in a detachable and adjustable manner. This allows the inventive device to the spatial requirements of respective edge coating device can be adjusted. In addition, the device according to the invention can thus be adapted to work pieces or edging strips of different thicknesses. More preferably, the paint application device has means for adjusting the height of the paint application device, in particular the dosing unit, relative to the height of the edge strip or workpiece. The paint application device can be set in such a way that the dosing unit or the paint outlet rests on the workpiece or edging strip or the paint outlet is at a predetermined distance from the workpiece and/or edging strip. In order to ensure an optimal application of paint, it is advantageous to be able to move the paint application device in many degrees of freedom. Depending on the application, the position of the paint application on the narrow surface of the workpiece or the edge strip can be accurate to a few tenths of a millimeter, e.g. B. 0.8 mm, 0.5 mm or 0.1 mm may be necessary, so the inking device ensures precise adjustment possibilities as described above. Furthermore, the use of colorants can be precisely dosed in this way.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, a controller is connected to means for moving the paint application device, in particular for adjusting the height and angle of the paint application device, and with means for adjusting the cross section of the paint outlet of the dosing unit, e.g. by the paint application device, in particular the dosing unit is moved by the control unit relative to the means for adjusting. The controller can be further connected to sensors, the z. B. record the dimensions of edging strips and / or the edge of a workpiece to calculate where colorant is to be applied, or the quantities of colorant applied to edging strips or workpieces and, if applicable, their position, adhesive already applied and / or quantities still available Detect dyes. The signals transmitted by these sensors can then z. B. to control or regulate the means for moving the paint application device or the means for adjusting the cross section of the paint outlet to ensure an optimal position, in particular of the dosing unit with respect to e.g. the edge area of edging strips and/or workpieces the colorant is to be applied. Finally, the signals described above can also be used to control or regulate the application of the adhesive, in particular if the adhesive is applied after the coloring agent. Next, signals can be sent that provide an indication indicate the supply of dye to the device. The paint application device and the device for applying adhesive can preferably be switched and/or controlled and/or regulated synchronously by the control and/or regulating unit.

Details of the invention are explained below using exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. l Schematic representations of the possible variants when applying adhesive and colorant a) Edge strips after application of adhesive and colorant b) Pre-application of colorant and subsequent application of adhesive c) Pre-application of adhesive and subsequent application of colorant Fig. 2 schematic representation of the arrangement of the device according to the invention

Fig. ta shows an edge strip 2 ready for processing, on which a strip 4 of adhesive is applied in the middle. The adhesive can be applied over the entire surface or in sections. According to a first embodiment of the invention, no adhesive is applied in the edge regions 3 of the edge strip, in which coloring agent is to be applied. The edge area or areas 3 can be up to 5 mm wide; they are usually 0.1 mm to 1 mm wide. A strip 6 of colorant is arranged on either side of the strip 4, either on one side or--as shown in FIG. The strips 4 of adhesive material and 6 of colorant and adhesive have not been applied at the same time, but have been applied in quick succession. Fig. Lb shows an edge strip 2, rich in the Randbe 3 before strips 6 were applied from dye and adhesive. The strip 4 of adhesive is subsequently applied between the edge regions 3. 1C shows a further alternative in which the stripe 4 of adhesive is applied in advance, while the marginal stripe(s) 6 of colorant and adhesive is/are subsequently applied in the edge regions 3. FIG. As an alternative to an edge strip 2, the strips 4 and 6 can also be applied in the same way to the Schmalflä surface of a workpiece, e.g. B. a furniture board applied. The dye is fixed by the adhesive it contains when pressing on the edge strips and the narrow surface of the workpiece. Alternatively, the adhesive is applied to the full width of the edging strip, either over the entire surface or in a grid. Coloring agent is then applied only in the edge area before or after the application of the adhesive. When pressing on the edge strips and the narrow surface of the workpiece, the coloring agent is fixed by mixing it with the adhesive.

All known adhesives can be used as the adhesive, e.g. B. glue or hot melt adhesive. One-component adhesives or two-component adhesives can be used. The adhesive can be applied in the form of particles, as a liquid or as a paste-like adhesive.

Pure pigments can be used as colorants, but color preparations are preferably used which, for. B. binders and possibly have adhesive. The colorant can preferably be applied in liquid or paste form. If the colorant is in solid form, e.g. B. applied in the form of particles, it may prove advantageous to apply the strip 4 of adhesive over the entire surface of the edge strip 2 or the narrow surface 10 of the workpiece 8 to fix the particles of dye. However, a colorant is preferably used that has a high viscosity and therefore does not flow on the edge strip 2 or the workpiece 8 . The width of the stripe 6 of colorant is usually up to 5 mm. The thickness of the strip 6 of colorant corresponds at most to the thickness of the strip 4 of adhesive.

2 shows, in a simplified, schematic representation, a section of a device for attaching edge strips with different variants in which the means for applying coloring agent can be arranged in each case. 2 shows a workpiece 8, in particular a plate-shaped workpiece, with a narrow surface 10 onto which an edge strip 2 is applied in the conveying direction F. The edge strip 2 is connected to the narrow surface 10 of the workpiece 8 by means of a strip 4 of adhesive, shown here in dashed lines, by using a pressure roller 12, shown here schematically and not to scale, as a means for joining the edge strip 2 to the narrow surface 10 of the workpiece 8 presses.

Means 14 for applying the adhesive are shown here schematically by an arrow puts. Various alternative positions for an inking device 16, 18, 20, 22 are also shown, which are intended to show that the inking device 16, 18, 20, 22 can be arranged in any relation to the means 14 for applying adhesive. The inking device 16 is arranged shortly after the means 14 for applying adhesive. Alternatively, the paint application device 18 is arranged far ahead of the means for applying adhesive in the conveying direction F, and the paint application device 20 is far behind the means 14 for applying adhesive in the conveying direction F. The paint application device 22 is optionally also arranged in such a way that it can apply the paint to the edge strip 2 and the narrow surface 10 at the same time.

The inking device 16, 18, 20, 22 can each be arranged on one side of Klebestrei fen 2 or narrow surface 10. However, the paint application device 16, 18, 20, 22 can also be arranged on both sides of the adhesive strip 2 or the narrow surface 10. The latter is particularly advantageous when the workpiece provided with an edge strip is visible from both sides. If the adhesive is applied to the narrow surface of the workpiece, an inking device 16, 18,

20 or 22 may be arranged before or after the means 14 for applying adhesive, either only one paint application device 16, 18, 20, 22 on one side of the narrow surface in an edge region 3 or two paint application devices 16, 18, 20, 22 on both sides the narrow surface of the workpiece in both edge areas 3.

The paint application devices 16, 18, 20, 22 can also be used in combination with one another, e.g. B. when a two-component colorant is used or when two or more colors between edge strips 2 and workpiece 8 should be visible. Each paint applicator can then pick up or dispense a component of the colorant or a colorant of a different color.

According to an embodiment of the invention not shown here, the application device Farbauf can also be arranged where edge strips 2 and workpiece 8 are already connected. Typical here is attaching the paint application device z.

B. before and / or after another processing unit such. B. a milling machine or remove the protruding edge strips 2 with a polishing or buffing device or clean or trim the transition between the workpiece and the edge strips.

According to the invention, the paint application device 16, 18, 20, 22 can therefore be arranged independently of the means 14 for applying adhesive. This opens up numerous possibilities for subsequently installing the paint application device in existing devices for attaching edge strips. For new constructions of devices for attaching edge strips, the invention enables flexible designs of such devices.

The paint application device 16, 18, 20, 22, which is not shown in detail Darge in Figs. 1 and 2, each has a dosing unit and a paint container. The dosing unit applies the colorant to the edge strip 2 or the workpiece 8 by spraying, dripping, or by pouring or pumping a strip 6 of colorant, preferably in the form of a ribbon or thread, onto the edge strip 2 or the workpiece 8. The dosing unit can have a fixed color outlet have, e.g. B. with a round, oval or square cross-section. However, the paint outlet is preferably adjustable, in particular continuously adjustable, e.g. B. by a slide or advantageously by an aperture that widens or narrows the cross-section evenly. The color container can be designed as a simple supply line for the continuous supply of colorant, which is connected on the one hand to a colorant container and on the other hand to the dosing unit or the color outlet. Alternatively, color cartridges or a reservoir for colorants can be used, which are each connected to the dosing unit or the color outlet via a supply line. A pump is inserted into the supply line, which ensures that the coloring agent is dispensed evenly during operation. Alternatively, the application of colorant can be done by applying pressure, e.g. B. by compressed air or another gas or Gasge mixed or by gravity.

The paint application device 16, 18, 20, 22 can be permanently installed in a simple equipment. In the present case, however, it is preferred if the paint application device 16, 18, 20, 22, or at least the dosing unit or paint outlet, is attached to a supporting structure and extends through relative to these supporting structures Means for moving the paint application device 16, 18, 20, 22, but at least its dosing unit or paint outlet, can be adjusted in height and at the angle at which the colorant is applied to the edge piece or workpiece, in order to ensure an exact colorant application and also , in order to be flexibly adaptable to different spatial requirements of edge coating machines.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the device for attaching edge strips, the exact application of coloring agent is ensured by the use of a controller. The controller is advantageously connected to sensors that z. B. the measurements from edge strips 2 and/or workpiece 8 or its narrow surface io, so that the control unit can determine where colorant is to be applied, in order to then use the means for moving the color outlet or the means 16, 18, 20, 22 to apply colorant to set the optimum angle and height for the application of colorant by moving the inking device relative to the support structure. Alternatively, the specifications for controlling or regulating the means for moving the paint outlet or the paint application device 16, 18, 20, 22 as a whole can be entered into the control unit in order to move the means for moving the paint outlet or the paint application device 16, 18, 20, 22 to control or regulate, even without sensors being present. The distance between the paint application device and the edge strip 2 or the workpiece 8 is preferably up to 20 mm, advantageously up to 5 mm. Alternatively, the color outlet can be set by the control unit in such a way that the color outlet rests on the workpiece 8 or the edge strip 2 .

The coloring agent is applied by feeding an edge strip 2 to the narrow surface 10 of a workpiece 8 in a device for applying edge strips. Adhesive is applied to the edge strip 2 and/or the narrow surface 10, either over the entire surface or as a strip 4 with a width that is less than the edge strip 2 or the narrow surface 10. Before or after the application of adhesive, the paint application device 16 , 18, 20 and/or 22 in the edge region 3 of the edge strip 2 or the narrow surface 10, a strip 6 of coloring agent is deposited at least on one side. The stripe 6 of colorant can optionally be overlapped with the stripe 4 of adhesive. Edge strips 2 and narrow surface 10 are - l8 - pressed against one another by means of the pressure roller 12 and thus connected to one another. On the side(s) of workpiece 8 where dye has been applied to edge strip 2 and/or narrow surface 10 of workpiece 8, no transition between edge strip 2 and workpiece 8 can be seen either in the short or long term if the dye is in the edge area of edge strip 2 or edge 10 was applied. If a contrasting coloring agent is used, this can also be recognized in the long term.

The coloring agent is applied with an accuracy of e.g. B. 0.1 mm based on the width of the edge strip and / or the narrow surface of the workpiece.

Claims

Expectations

1. A method for applying a colorant to an edge strip (2) and/or a workpiece (8) to be provided with an edge strip, using a paint application device (16, 18, 20, 22) with a dosing unit and a color container, the colorant on a narrow surface (16) of the workpiece (8) before and/or after an adhesive application, an edge strip (2), the paint application device (16, 18, 20) before and/or after an adhesive application and/or before or after a Processing unit is arranged, and / or is applied to the workpiece and edging strip simultaneously.

2. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the color outlet of the dosing unit applies the colorant to the workpiece (8) and/or the edge strip (2) by spraying, dripping or pouring or pumping.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dosing unit and the paint container are adjusted together or separately at an angle and / or height to the workpiece (8) or edge strip (2).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross section of the paint outlet of the dosing unit is adjusted.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the paint application device, the cross section of the dosing purity, the height and angle of the paint application device to the edge strip (2) and/or a workpiece ( 8) in- is provided.

6. Device for attaching edge strips (2) to a workpiece (8) with means (14) for applying adhesive, and optionally with a processing unit, and with a paint application device (16, 18, 20, 22) , having a dosing unit with a paint outlet and a paint container for applying a colorant to an edge strip (2) or a workpiece (8) to be provided with an edge strip (2), characterized in that a dosing unit for applying a colorant to - before or according to the device for applying adhesive to a

Narrow surface (10) of a workpiece (8), before or after the means (14) for applying adhesive to a Kan tenstreifen (2), and / or a workpiece (8) is arranged, and / or after the means for joining Workpiece (8) and edging strips (2) and before / or after an optionally arranged processing unit for simultaneous orders on the workpiece (8) and edging strips (2) is arranged.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the paint container is connected upstream of a supply line and / or the paint container a holder for

Has color cartridges and / or is designed as a reservoir for colorant.

8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the dosing unit has a paint outlet which is designed in the manner of a nozzle or a diffuser.

9. Device according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the cross section of the paint outlet of the dosing unit is adjustable.

10. Device according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the

Paint application device is adjustable in an angle to the workpiece (8) or edge strip (2) and / or adjustable in height. left Device according to one of Claims 6 to 10, characterized in that a controller is connected to means for moving the paint application device and for adjusting the cross section of the dosing unit, height and angle of the paint application device.