DE102008047234B4 - Repair nozzle and repair system - Google Patents

Abstract

A repair nozzle (10) for dispensing adhesives and / or sealants (115) for use in the automotive sector from a cartridge (113) containing them by means of an associated caulking gun (100) with a proximal product feed side (11), the means for releasably securing the repair nozzle (11). 10) on the cartridge (113) and a protruding collar (16, 26) for supporting on the caulking gun (100) and having a distal product discharge side (12, 22) having a slot-shaped mouth opening (13, 23) around a Issue adhesive and / or sealant bead, characterized in that a product channel (14, 24) is provided to transport the adhesive and / or sealant (115) from the Produktzuführseite (11, 21) to the product output side (12, 22) and that an end cap (17) having the slit-shaped mouth opening (13, 23) is formed on the product discharge side (12, 22) which is curved in the distal direction of the repair nozzle (10, 20) in which the slit-shaped mouth opening (13, 23) extends over a dome top of the arched end cap (17).

Description

The present invention relates to a nozzle for the production, in particular for the adjustment and restoration of adhesive and / or sealant beads for structures in the automotive sector.

The GB 2 289 230 A1 discloses, for example, a nozzle for dispensing a kit material by means of a dispensing gun.

Such caterpillars are automatically applied by application robot in mass production in the automotive sector. The caterpillars are used for bonding sheet metal parts, insulation against sound or temperature influences or are used as a seal. The robot nozzles used are usually made of metal and must have a long service life in order to prevent failure of the application robot due to a defective robot nozzle in series production. Subsequent application of adhesives and / or sealants, for example, to restore or readjust a defective structure in the motor vehicle sector, in particular after an accident, is not possible with the known application form via a robot nozzle. The aftermarket, especially most garages, do not have a necessary application robot. In addition, the purchase of a specific robot nozzle for the application due to the high cost of the robot nozzle for the aftermarket, especially the repair market does not make sense.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a nozzle for the aftermarket and in particular for the repair market for the issue of adhesives and / or sealants in the automotive sector, to restore the structures produced in series production.

This invention is solved by the features of claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified by the subclaims.

The basic idea of the invention is the use of a repair nozzle for dispensing adhesives and / or sealants used in the automotive sector from a cartridge containing them by means of an associated caulking gun with a proximal product feed side, the means for releasably securing the nozzle to the cartridge and a projecting collar for support on the caulking gun and having a distal product discharge side having a slit-shaped mouth opening for dispensing an adhesive and / or sealant bead.

The adhesives and / or sealants used are adhesives and / or sealants commonly used in series production of the motor vehicle sector, which are preferably highly viscous. These adhesives and / or sealants are contained in a cartridge. These cartridges may for example consist of a plastic material or aluminum. Most of the cartridges have a cylindrical body, wherein on one side of a movable piston for squeezing the adhesive contained in the cartridge and / or sealant is provided and on the opposite side an outlet opening for dispensing the adhesive and / or sealant. The piston is displaced by applying a force within the cartridge, so that the adhesive and / or sealant can be output. Of course, the use of suitable similar to those skilled in the known container, in particular the use of known tubular bag.

Pneumatic pistols in which by means of pneumatics the adhesive and / or sealant can be dispensed from the cartridge via the nozzle are particularly suitable as cartridge guns used. These caulking guns are particularly suitable for use with a repair nozzle according to the invention, since compressed air is available in most workshops, whereby a user-friendly output of the adhesive and / or sealant can be made possible for the user. In particular, the use of a special compressed air gun for ejecting pasty to low-viscosity material, as described in the international patent application WO 2006/128578 A1 is described. For the aspects relating to the caulking gun, reference may be made to the cited document, the disclosure of which supplements the disclosure of the present patent application in this respect. Also conceivable is the use of known to those skilled purely mechanically acting caulking guns. These are suitable, for example, for use in areas where no compressed air is available. However, preferably pneumatic cartridge guns are used, since in the automotive industry in particular often highly pasty adhesives and / or sealants are applied, so that the use of special pneumatic cartridge guns, which can produce higher discharge pressures than purely mechanical pistols, is particularly suitable.

The repair nozzle is preferably made of plastic. Preferably, the repair nozzle is a disposable product. After the release of the adhesive and / or sealant, the nozzle is thus disposed of. A cleaning of the nozzle is not provided here, so that avoids working hours and other auxiliary and cleaning agents for Removal of adhesive and / or sealant residues can be dispensed with. The means for releasably attaching the nozzle to the cartridge are preferably provided on the proximal product feed side. This may in particular be a threaded portion which can be engaged with a corresponding threaded portion of the cartridge to secure the nozzle to the cartridge. In addition, a projecting collar for supporting the repair nozzle on the caulking gun is preferably provided in the region of the proximal Produktzuführseite. Preferably, for use of the repair nozzle, it is connected to a cartridge via said connection means and inserted into the cartridge gun together with the cartridge. Preferably, the repair nozzle protrudes at least with its distal end out of an opening of the cartridge gun. The opening is dimensioned such that the collar of the repair nozzle can be supported on the proximal side of the opening bounding parts of the cartridge gun. The opening is thus preferably smaller than the collar of the repair nozzle. When pressure is applied to the adhesive and / or sealant from the cartridge via the cartridge gun, the cartridge with the repair nozzle is pressed in the direction of the distal product discharge side of the repair nozzle. Due to the projecting collar of the repair nozzle, the repair nozzle on the cartridge gun is supported, so that displacement of the cartridge with the nozzle is prevented and the adhesive and / or sealant can be dispensed via the repair nozzle.

The repair nozzle has a slot-shaped mouth opening at the distal product discharge side to discharge an adhesive and / or sealant bead. This slot-shaped mouth opening has proven to be particularly advantageous for applying broad beads, wherein the substrate is wetted over a wide area with this adhesive and / or sealant, so that an excellent adhesive and / or sealing effect can be achieved. Preferably, the adhesives and / or sealants are not applied to areas with large gaps with the repair nozzle, so that the use of a slot-shaped mouth opening is particularly suitable. The caterpillars applied via the repair nozzle according to the invention in the motor vehicle area are used for bonding sheet metal parts, insulation against sound or temperature influences or are used as a seal.

The use of a repair nozzle according to the invention brings many advantages. In particular, structures which have been produced automatically in the context of series production in the motor vehicle sector can be restored or readjusted by repair shops, for example, in the event of repair in the aftermarket and, in particular, in the repair market. In particular, accident damage such structures can be repaired in this way. On the use of an application robot, which is necessary in the series production for dispensing the adhesives and / or sealants for the production of structures can be dispensed with. By using a repair nozzle according to the invention, therefore, the adhesives and / or sealants automatically applied by default in the motor vehicle sector in mass production, in particular in the aftermarket, such as in workshops, can be subsequently applied, in particular in the event of repair. The slot-shaped mouth opening of the repair nozzle has further advantages. The slot-shaped design allows a special adhesive and / or sealant bead to be dispensed. The caterpillar is relatively wide in relation to its height whether the slot-shaped mouth opening. It is a clearly dimensioned corrugated flat caterpillar. This means that the width and / or the height and / or the appearance of the bead correspond to the design of the adhesive and / or sealant bead of the original equipment manufacturer, which has hitherto been achieved exclusively by robotic application. Moreover, the adhesive and / or sealant bead dispensed via the repair nozzle is also without overspray. The user thus receives an adhesive and / or sealant bead with sharp and without frayed edges. In addition, an adhesive and / or sealing surface can be provided via the slot-shaped mouth opening, which has a closed film and thus provides improved bonding or sealing.

According to the invention, the repair nozzle is equipped with a product channel for transporting the adhesive and / or sealant from the product supply side to the product delivery side and having an end cap formed on the product discharge side and having the slit-shaped orifice, which is curved in the distal direction of the nozzle. This form has proven to be particularly advantageous. Preferably, the product channel tapers from the proximal product delivery side toward the distal product delivery side to increase the flow rate of the adhesive and / or sealant within the product channel. Also, a slight taper to the pressure drop of the adhesive and / or sealant is compensated by the friction on the inner walls of the product channel. The equipment of the repair nozzle with a curved towards the distal product output side end cap allows a particularly simple production of the repair nozzle. In particular, the demoulding of repair nozzles made of plastic by injection molding is greatly simplified by a curved end cap. In addition, a repair nozzle with a curved end cap has excellent flow properties, so that the pressure drop of the adhesive and / or sealant in the repair nozzle can be reduced. This nozzle shape is particularly suitable for applications in which no size adjustment of the sealing and / or adhesive bead must be made. For example, a special repair nozzle is used, wherein the repair nozzle can be equipped with a pre-assembled for the issued adhesive and / or sealant and / or for a particular application slot-like mouth opening. The user can be provided by such a repair nozzle in each case the correct orifice for the issued adhesive and / or sealant and / or the application, so that errors can be avoided.

Another advantage of using a domed end cap on the distal product discharge side is the provision of the slot-shaped mouth opening over a dome top of the domed end cap. Under the buckling point is to be understood as the point of the curved end cap with which the end cap protrudes furthest in the distal direction of the repair nozzle. The extent of the slot-shaped mouth opening on the dome top is particularly advantageous in terms of flow technology. When the adhesive and / or sealant is dispensed, it is also applied laterally on a side-by-side basis due to the curvature of the slot-shaped mouth opening, so that the user receives a product bead which is wider than the pure diameter of the repair nozzle in the area of the distal product discharge side without the curved end cap ,

A further advantage in equipping the nozzle with a product channel is the at least partially rotationally symmetrical design of the product channel, the axis of rotation extending from the proximal product feed side to the distal product output side.

Another advantage of the at least partially rotationally symmetrical design of the product channel is the provision of a slot-shaped mouth opening, which extends over the axis of rotation of the product channel.

A further advantage is the provision of a repair system for restoring structures in the motor vehicle sector, comprising a repair nozzle described above, a caulking gun and a cartridge containing an adhesive and / or sealant, around an adhesive and / or sealant bead for restoring structures in the motor vehicle sector deploy. By means of such a system, the user can readjust and / or restore the structures produced in series production automatically, without having to resort to an application robot, for example.

• 1 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Reparaturdüse mit einem gewölbten Endbereich
• 2 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht einer nicht erfindungsgemäßen Reparaturdüse mit einem trapezartigen Endbereich
• 3 zeigt eine teilgeschnittene Seitenansicht eines Reparatursystems mit einer Kartuschenpistole, einer Kartusche und der Reparaturdüse aus 2.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings by way of example. Show

• 1 shows a perspective view of a repair nozzle according to the invention with a curved end portion
• 2 shows a perspective view of a repair nozzle not according to the invention with a trapezoidal end portion
• 3 shows a partially sectioned side view of a repair system with a caulking gun, a cartridge and the repair nozzle 2 ,

1 shows a repair nozzle according to the invention 10 used for dispensing adhesives and / or sealants which can be used in the automotive sector, from a cartridge containing them, not shown, by means of an associated cartridge gun (not shown). The repair nozzle 10 has a proximal Produktzuführseite 11 on, with the repair nozzle 10 can be releasably attached to a cartridge and a distal product discharge side 12 for dispensing the adhesive and / or sealant onto a substrate. At the proximal product feed side 11 is an area at least substantially around a rotation axis 15 rotationally symmetrical product channel 14 intended. The product channel 14 provides a bond for the adhesive and / or sealant between the proximal product delivery side 11 and the distal product discharge side 12 dar. The product channel 14 has an unillustrated internal thread, so that the repair nozzle 10 can be mounted on a cartridge with a corresponding external thread. To dispense the adhesive and / or sealant is on the distal product output side 12 an end cap 17 provided, which has a slot-shaped mouth opening 13 having the output of the adhesive and / or sealant. The end cap 17 is in the distal direction of the repair nozzle 10 arched and the slot-shaped mouth opening 13 extends over the camber of the domed end cap 17 , In the present embodiment, the axis of rotation runs 15 also through the slot-shaped mouth opening 13 , With the slot-shaped mouth opening 13 For example, beads may be dispensed onto adhesives and / or sealants that have a low application height compared to the application width on the substrate. This has great advantages, in particular in the case of adhesive bonding of components in the motor vehicle sector, since the largest possible surface area of the substrate should be provided with adhesive and / or sealant in order to achieve a sufficient adhesive and / or sealing effect, the thickness of the adhesive tape and adhesive / or sealant layer should be kept as low as possible. By the Use of the curved end cap 17 and the course of the slot-shaped mouth opening 13 over the camber of the end cap 17 In addition, the issue of a broader bead can be ensured, since the adhesive and / or sealant at the end regions of the slot-shaped mouth opening 13 not only in the axial direction with respect to the rotation axis 15 but also partially radially outward with respect to the axis of rotation 15 can be issued. Further, at the proximal product feed side 11 a radially outward with respect to the axis of rotation 15 protruding collar 16 provided, the support of the repair nozzle 10 Serves on a caulking gun.

2 shows a repair nozzle not according to the invention 20 with a proximal product feed side 21 and a distal product dispensing side 22 , At the product issue page 22 has the repair nozzle 20 one around a rotation axis 25 rotationally symmetrical product channel 24 on. To the product channel 24 closes towards the distal product output side 22 a trapezoidal end 27 on, which is a slot-shaped mouth opening 23 having. The trapezoidal end area 27 is designed such that a base 28 at the distal product discharge side 22 is arranged. The slot-shaped mouth opening 23 extends over the base 28 of the trapezoidal end portion. Further, at the proximal product feed side 21 a radially outward with respect to the axis of rotation 25 protruding collar 26 provided, the support of the repair nozzle 20 Serves on a caulking gun. The trapezoidal end area 27 has several parallel to the base on the surface 28 arranged cutting lines 29 on. These cut lines 29 represent marks where the user parts the trapezoidal end portion 27 can separate. Due to the trapezoidal shape of the end area 27 is a separation of a part on the distal product output side 22 with a reduction of the base 28 associated. Accordingly, by separating a part of the trapezoidal end portion 27 by downsizing the base 28 also the slit-shaped mouth opening 23 that are about the base 28 extends, downsized. The user can in this way by separating parts of the trapezoidal end portion 27 the size of the slit-shaped mouth opening 23 vary to adjust this to be issued adhesive and / or sealant or the size of the desired bead.

This in 3 illustrated repair system for adjustment and / or restoration of structures in the automotive sector consists of the in 2 shown trapezoidal repair nozzle 20 , a caulking gun 100 and one an adhesive and / or sealant 115 containing cartridge 115 , Of course, also another repair nozzle 20 come to Weinsatz, for example, an in 1 shown repair nozzle with an integrally formed on the product output side, the slot-shaped mouth opening having end cap which is curved in the distal direction of the nozzle.

The caulking gun 100 has a handle 101 on, the one operating and leadership possibility of the caulking gun 100 for the user. This includes the handle 101 a grip area 106 which may be anti-slip or ergonomic in nature to provide the user with a secure grip when working with the system. The handle 101 is with a carrier area 104 equipped on the one receiving unit 103 with the handle 101 connected is. The recording unit 103 has a hollow cylindrical shape and serves to accommodate the issued with the adhesive and / or sealant 115 filled cartouche 113 , The product issue takes place at a delivery end 110 the recording unit 103 , This is the handle 101 a metering device 102 provided by means of which the user the output of the in the cartridge 113 contained adhesive and / or sealant 115 can regulate. In the present embodiment, it is a pneumatically acting cartridge gun 100 , wherein the output of the adhesive and / or sealant 115 about the use of compressed air is made possible. This is the handle 101 a compressed air connection 107 intended. To this compressed air connection 107 The user can connect a print medium, such as a compressor. To regulate the pressure is on the handle 101 a pressure regulator 108 appropriate. By means of a handle 101 provided pressure gauge 109 the user can view the on the cartridge gun 100 adjacent and over the pressure regulator 108 Read off the set pressure. To regulate the pressure for the release of the adhesive and / or sealant 115 can the dosing unit 102 via an operating lever 105 which are operated by the handle 11 is attached and in the direction of the handle 101 can be pivoted. About the degree of pivoting of the operating lever 105 and the set air pressure at the pressure regulator 108 may be the output of the in the cartridge 113 located adhesive and / or sealant 115 be regulated. In the recording unit 103 is for dispensing the adhesive and / or sealant 115 a propelling element not shown provided within the receiving unit 103 can be moved. By applying pressure to the driving element selbiges is moved and presses in the receiving unit 103 arranged cartridge 113 with the adhesive and / or sealant to be dispensed 115 in the direction of the end of dispensing 110 the recording unit 103 , The recording unit 103 indicates at the end of delivery 110 a cap 111 on. This cap 111 is in the present embodiment via a Screw thread with the cylindrical receiving unit 103 connected and has one with the hollow cylindrical shape of the receiving unit 103 Concentric aligned opening 112 on. About this opening 112 may be the adhesive and / or sealant 115 from the in the receiving unit 103 located cartridge 113 be issued. In addition, the opening 112 in the present embodiment in a system in which a trapezoidal repair nozzle 20 is used so designed that they are radially outward with respect to the cap 111 Having extending slots which are dimensioned such that the closure cap 111 at a mounted trapezoidal repair nozzle 20 over the trapezoidal end area 27 the repair nozzle 20 for mounting on the receiving unit 103 can be pushed.

To provide the system for taking up the work becomes the repair nozzle 20 with the cartouche 113 connected. This is indicated by the cartridge 113 an external thread 114 on, which with a corresponding internal thread on the product channel 24 the repair nozzle 20 can be engaged. To start working with the system, the cartridge 113 in the cavity of the receiving unit 113 inserted so that the repair nozzle 20 from the receiving unit 103 protrudes. Following is the cap 111 over the trapezoidal end area 27 the repair nozzle 20 pushed and over the above-described screw with the receiving unit 103 connected. The repair nozzle 20 protrudes when installed with the product channel 24 through the opening 111 from the receiving unit 113 out. By applying pressure to the propulsion element, not shown, for dispensing the adhesive and / or sealant 115 will the cartouche 113 in the direction of the delivery end 110 pressed and supported on the cap 111 from. For a firm hold the repair nozzle 20 To ensure this is with the collar 26 fitted. This is larger than the opening 112 the cap 111 , so that at a resulting due to the applied pressure movement of the cartridge 113 and thus also the repair nozzle 20 also a support of the repair nozzle 20 on the cap 111 can be guaranteed. The acting pressure does not move the cartridge due to the support 113 together with the repair nozzle 20 but moves the propulsion element within the cartridge 113 so that the adhesive and / or sealant 115 from the cartouche 113 is squeezed into the product channel 24 the repair nozzle 20 and finally over the slot-shaped mouth opening 23 can be issued. For setting the desired bead width of adhesive and / or sealant 115 the user can use the cutting lines 29 at the trapezoidal end area 27 predetermined and nachzustellenden structure and / or the adhesive and / or sealant 115 corresponding areas of the repair nozzle 20 remove, so that due to the trapezoidal design of the end portion 27 the mouth opening 23 is reduced, the more the user of the trapezoidal end 27 away. With the present system, due to the use of a repair nozzle 20 with a slot-shaped mouth opening 23 very wide caterpillars on adhesive and / or sealant 115 are issued, the crawler height can be kept as small as possible. Beads applied in this way with the largest possible wetting area of the substrate make possible an outstanding bonding and / or sealing and make it possible to restore and / or readjust automated structures in the motor vehicle sector.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

repairing

11

Produktzuführseite

12

Product expenditure side

13

mouth

14

product channel

15

axis of rotation

16

collar

17

endcap

20

repairing

21

Produktzuführseite

22

Product expenditure side

23

mouth

24

product channel

25

axis of rotation

26

collar

27

trapezoidal end region

28

Base

29

cut lines

100

caulking gun

101

handle

102

metering

103

recording unit

104

support region

105

actuating lever

106

grip area

107

Compressed air connection

108

pressure regulator

109

manometer

110

delivery end

111

cap

112

opening

113

cartridge

114

external thread

115

Adhesive and / or sealant

Claims (8)

A repair nozzle (10) for dispensing adhesives and / or sealants (115) for use in the automotive sector from a cartridge (113) containing them by means of an associated caulking gun (100) with a proximal product feed side (11), the means for releasably securing the repair nozzle (11). 10) on the cartridge (113) and a protruding collar (16, 26) for supporting on the caulking gun (100) and having a distal product discharge side (12, 22) having a slot-shaped mouth opening (13, 23) around a Issue adhesive and / or sealant bead, characterized in that a product channel (14, 24) is provided to transport the adhesive and / or sealant (115) from the Produktzuführseite (11, 21) to the product output side (12, 22) and that an end cap (17) having the slit-shaped mouth opening (13, 23) is formed on the product discharge side (12, 22) which is curved in the distal direction of the repair nozzle (10, 20), w obei the slot-shaped mouth opening (13, 23) extends over a camber of the domed end cap (17). Repair nozzle (10) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the product channel (14) at least partially rotationally symmetrical about a rotational axis (15) is designed. Repair nozzle (10) after Claim 2 , characterized in that the slot-shaped mouth opening (13) extends over the axis of rotation (15) of the product channel (14). Repair nozzle (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a threaded portion is provided as means for releasably securing the repair nozzle (10) to the cartridge (113). Repair nozzle (10) after Claim 4 , characterized in that the threaded portion is designed as an internal thread, which is formed on the product channel (14). Repair nozzle (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of a plastic. Use of a repair nozzle (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 6 for applying adhesive and / or sealant beads in the automotive sector for bonding sheet metal parts, insulation against sound or temperature influences, for sound or vibration insulation or for sealing. Repair system for restoring structures in the motor vehicle sector, comprising a cartridge gun (100) and a cartridge (113) containing an adhesive and / or sealant (115), and a repair nozzle (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 to deploy an adhesive and / or sealant bead to restore structures in the automotive sector.

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