Spreading unit with adjustable shaper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12226794-B2
Application number	US-202217964565-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2022
Priority date	Oct 2, 2016
Publication date	Feb 18, 2025
Grant date	Feb 18, 2025

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a spreading unit having a shaper for spreading viscous material, in particular sealing material, on a component, wherein the shaper has a first shaping contour for shaping the viscous material in the process of the spreading, wherein at least a second shaping contour of the shaper for shaping the viscous material can be brought by means of an actuator, in a direction of spreading, into superimposition with the first shaping contour, so that a shape of the shaper is adjustable during an application process.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A spreading unit having a shaper for spreading viscous material on a component, wherein the shaper has a first shaping contour for shaping the viscous material in the process of the spreading,
wherein at least a second shaping contour of the shaper for shaping the viscous material is configured to be brought by an actuator, in a direction of spreading, into superimposition with the first shaping contour, so that a shape of the shaper is adjustable during an application process,
wherein the spreading of the viscous material is realized by a movement of the spreading unit in a direction of application or spreading,
wherein the spreading unit comprises a nozzle for the application of the viscous material on the component and wherein the nozzle is arranged at a predefined fixed distance from the shaper,
wherein the first and second shaping contours are arranged directly one behind the other in the direction of application or spreading; and
wherein the nozzle applies the viscous material on the component such that the nozzle is maintained at the predefined fixed distance from the shaper;
wherein the first shaping contour and the second shaping contour are arranged directly one behind the other in the direction of application or spreading such that the first shaping contour lies behind the second shaping contour in the direction of spreading and is arranged at the predefined fixed distance relative to the nozzle such that the viscous material is configured to precompact or partially harden in a predefined manner on the path from the nozzle to the shaper;
wherein the second shaping contour has a course which substantially corresponds to a cross-section of the component in the region of the spreading;
wherein the second shaping contour comprises at least two contour segments which are separately movable relative to one another, wherein the at least two contour segments are arranged side by side,
wherein one of the contour segments is directly connected to the actuator, wherein the other of the contour segments is guided in a separately movable manner,
wherein the second contour segment is movable in a resiliently elastic manner in relation to the other of the contour segments; and
wherein the viscous material is applied to a joint weld of the component, wherein the joint weld is configured as a stepped weld or a fillet weld.

2. The spreading unit according to claim 1 , wherein the component is a structural component of an aircraft.

3. The spreading unit according to claim 1 , wherein the second shaping contour at least partially superimposes the first shaping contour at least at the beginning of a material application, wherein the second shaping contour is moved back during the application of a start region.

4. The spreading unit according to claim 1 , wherein the second shaping contour at least predominantly opens up the first shaping contour during a continuous material application, wherein the second shaping contour, during the application of an end region, is brought into superimposition with the first shaping contour.

5. The spreading unit according to claim 1 , wherein the spreading unit has a sensor for detecting that region of the component that is to be coated.

6. A system for spreading viscous material on a component, wherein the system has a component holder for receiving a component, wherein the system has a spreading unit according to claim 1 .

7. A system according to claim 6 , wherein the system has a manipulator with the spreading unit as the end effector.

8. The spreading unit according to claim 1 , wherein the second shaping contour at least partially superimposes the first shaping contour at least at the beginning of a material application, wherein the second shaping contour is moved back during the application of a start region; and
wherein the second shaping contour at least predominantly opens up the first shaping contour during a continuous material application, wherein the second shaping contour, during the application of an end region, is brought into superimposition with the first shaping contour.

9. The spreading unit according to claim 8 , wherein the second contour segment is biased via a spring so that it is at all times advanced up to a stop on the first contour segment insofar it does not bear against the component and is moved in relation to the first contour segment out of the stop position.

10. The spreading unit according to claim 1 , wherein the distance between the nozzle and the shaper is less than 5 cm.

11. The spreading unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first shaping contour and the second shaping contour are arranged directly one behind the other in a direction of application or spreading such that the first shaping contour lies behind the second shaping contour in the direction of spreading and is arranged at a fixed distance relative to the nozzle such that the viscous material exiting the nozzle comes into contact with surrounding air prior being shaped by the shaper such that the viscous material is configured to precompact or partially harden in a predefined manner on the path from the nozzle to the shaper.

Assignees

• Broetje Automation Gmbh

Inventors

• Pidan Sergej
• Rupp Kay
• Schneider Christoph

Classifications

• B05C11/023

  Apparatus for spreading or distributing liquids or other fluent materials already applied to a surface (B05C11/021, B05C11/04 take precedence) · CPC title

• B05C11/041

  characterised by means for positioning, loading, or deforming the blades · CPC title

• B05C17/00516

  Shape or geometry of the outlet orifice or the outlet element · CPC title

• B05C11/045

  characterised by the blades themselves · CPC title

• B05C5/0216 Primary

  by relative movement of article and outlet according to a predetermined path · CPC title