Applicator for die-cut parts and method for applying die-cut parts to surfaces, and a die-cut part strip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11260644-B2
Application number	US-201916457651-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2019
Priority date	Jun 29, 2018
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

The invention relates to an applicator for die-cut parts (2), having a die-cut part strip (1) with a longitudinal direction (L) having a carrier layer (3) and an adhesive layer (4), where an outer contour of the die-cut parts (2) is punched through the carrier layer and adhesive layer (3, 4) down to predetertnined breaking points (18) and a die-cut part complement (19) protrudes beyond the die-cut parts (2) continuously laterally to a longitudinal direction (L), and a punch head (8) over which the die-cut part strip (1) runs, where the die-cut parts (2) running over the punch head (8) face away from the punch head (8) by their adhesive layer (4), and the die-cut parts (2) can be pressed by means of the punch head (8) onto a surface (11).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An applicator for die-cut parts comprising:
a die-cut part strip having a longitudinal direction and comprising die-cut parts, a die-cut part complement, a carrier layer, and an adhesive layer; wherein an outer contour of the die-cut parts is punched through the carrier layer and adhesive layer down to predetermined breaking points; wherein the die-cut part complement protrudes beyond the die-cut parts continuously laterally in the longitudinal direction; and
a punch comprising a punch head over which the die-cut part strip runs, wherein the adhesive layer of the die-cut parts faces away from the punch head as the die-cut parts run over the punch head, and wherein the die-cut parts are configured to be pressed by means of the punch head onto a surface; and
a control system signal-conductingly connected to a first sensor comprising a scanning region directed at the punch head; wherein the first sensor is configured to register the presence of one of the die-cut parts at the punch head; wherein the control system further comprises a robotic arm on which the applicator is disposed; wherein the control system is further configured to halt a first winding roller of the die-cut part strip when one of the die-cut parts is registered at the punch head; wherein the control system is further configured to then drive a forward movement and a back movement of the robotic arm with the applicator.

2. The applicator of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to activate the robotic arm and move the punch head into a first position above the surface and adhere the die-cut part in a first surface position and, after the adhering of the die-cut part, the control system is further configured to activate the robotic arm and move the punch head into a second position above the surface, where it drives a forward movement and a back movement of the applicator.

3. The applicator of claim 1 , further comprising a die-cut part roll on a supply side of the punch head; wherein the applicator further comprises the first winding roller on a removal side of the punch head; wherein the first winding roller is signal-conductingly connected to the control system; wherein the first winding roller is configured to accept a winding of a punched strip formed by the removal of the die-cut parts from the die-cut part strip; and wherein the first winding roller is further configured to move the die-cut part strip cyclically onward.

4. The applicator of claim 3 , wherein the die-cut parts strip further comprises a liner covering the adhesive layer; and wherein the applicator further comprises a second winding roller at the supply side for accepting a winding of the liner.

5. A method for applying die-cut parts to a surface, the method comprising:
providing an applicator comprising:
a die-cut part strip having a longitudinal direction and comprising die-cut parts, a die-cut complement, a carrier layer, and an adhesive layer; wherein the die-cut part complement protrudes beyond the die-cut parts continuously laterally to the longitudinal direction;
a punch comprising a punch head over which the die-cut part strip runs, wherein the adhesive layer of the die-cut parts faces away from the punch head as the die-cut parts run over the punch head, and wherein the die-cut parts are configured to be pressed by means of the punch head onto a surface;
a control system signal-conductingly connected to a first sensor comprising a scanning region directed at the punch head; wherein the first sensor is configured to register the presence of one of the die-cut parts at the punch head; wherein the control system further comprises a robotic arm on which the applicator is disposed; wherein the control system is further configured to halt a first winding roller of the die-cut part strip when one of the die-cut parts is registered at the punch head; wherein the control system is further configured to then drive a forward movement and a back movement of the robotic arm with the applicator,

running the die-cut strip over the punch head, halting the die-cut part strip when one of the die-cut parts is positioned over the punch head,
punching an outer contour of the die-cut parts through the carrier layer and adhesive layer down to predetermined breaking points, and
then sticking one of the die-cut parts onto the surface.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein when the first sensor registers the presence of one of the die cut parts at the punch head then the die-cut part strip is halted and then the punch is moved to the surface and adheres the die-cut part, and then the die-cut part strip is cycled to a next die-cut part.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein a first position on the surface is determined and the die-cut part is stuck to the first position, wherein then a second position on the surface is determined and the punch is moved to the second position.

Assignees

• Tesa Se

Inventors

• Brandt Hans-Peter
• Seibert Matthias

Classifications

• B65H2555/30

  Multi-axis · CPC title

• B65H2301/51514

  Breaking; Bursting; Tearing, i.e. cutting without cutting member · CPC title

• B65H37/04 Primary

  for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling (adhering replacement to expiring web during change of web roll B65H19/18) · CPC title

• B65H2701/19

  Specific article or web · CPC title

• B65H2553/80

  Arangement of the sensing means · CPC title