Application device and application method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016176173-A1
Application number	US-201514975960-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 21, 2015
Priority date	Mar 14, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An application device that applies an adhesive-backed film to a base material having a bonding surface, along a first direction which is an extending direction of the base material, comprises: an application mechanism having an application unit that applies the film from a first end to a second end in the first direction on the base material by pressing the film; and a film gripping part that grips an end portion of the film on the second end side and can be driven in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction and is a direction in which the bonding surface and the film are opposed to each other, wherein the application unit presses the film by moving in the first and second directions relative to the base material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An application device that applies a film to a base material having a bonding surface, along a first direction which is an extending direction of the base material, comprising:
an application mechanism having an application unit that applies the film from a first end to a second end in the first direction on the base material by pressing the film; and a film gripping part that grips an end portion of the film on the second end side and that can be driven in a second direction which is a direction orthogonal to the first direction and in which the bonding surface and the film are opposed to each other, the application unit pressing the film by moving in the first and second directions relative to the base material.

2 . The application device according to claim 1 , wherein the application unit is split into a plurality of split sections along a third direction that is orthogonal to the first and second directions.

3 . The application device according to claim 2 , wherein the application mechanism can drive each of the plurality of split sections independently in at least one of the first and second directions.

4 . The application device according to claim 1 , wherein the application mechanism has an adjustment mechanism that can adjust an angle of the application unit relative to the base material.

5 . The application device according to claim 1 , further comprising a tension adjuster that can adjust a tension of the film.

6 . The application device according to claim 5 , wherein the tension adjuster is mounted in the film gripping part.

7 . The application device according to claim 4 , further comprising a tension adjuster that can adjust a tension of the film.

8 . The application device according to claim 1 , further comprising an expansion part provided so as to be continuous with the first end and the second end of the base material.

9 . The application device according to claim 7 , further comprising an expansion part provided so as to be continuous with the first end and the second end of the base material.

10 . The application device according to claim 1 , wherein the application unit is formed in a curved shape so as to be convex from the first end of the base material to the second end when viewed from the second direction.

11 . The application device according to claim 9 , wherein the application unit is formed in a curved shape so as to be convex from the first end of the base material to the second end when viewed from the second direction.

12 . The application device according to claim 1 , wherein a length in a third direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the first and second directions of the application unit, is longer than a length in the third direction of the base material.

13 . The application device according to claim 11 , wherein a length in a third direction, which is a direction orthogonal to the first and second directions of the application unit, is longer than a length in the third direction of the base material.

14 . The application device according to claim 1 , wherein when the application unit presses the film, a relative movement speed in the first direction relative to the base material is variable.

15 . The application device according to claim 13 , wherein when the application unit presses the film, a relative movement speed in the first direction relative to the base material is variable.

16 . An article having a film applied by using the application device described in claim 1 .

17 . The article of claim 16 being a portion of a vehicle.

18 . An application method for applying a film to a base material having a bonding surface, along a first direction which is an extending direction of the base material, comprising the steps of:
applying the film from a first end to a second end in the first direction on the base material by pressing the film by an application unit; and gripping an end part of the film on the second end side and moving the end part on the second end side in a second direction, which is the direction orthogonal to the first direction and in which the bonding surface and the film are opposed to each other, in the step of applying the film to the base material, the film being pressed by moving the application unit in the first and second directions relative to the base material.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Co

Inventors

• Kubota Masayuki
• Tokunaga Taishi
• Fujino Takayoshi
• Sakai Katsunori
• Wakamatsu Hiroki

Classifications

• B32B37/10 Primary

  characterised by the pressing technique, e.g. using action of vacuum or fluid pressure · CPC title

• B32B37/0046

  characterised by constructional aspects of the apparatus · CPC title

• B32B38/1866

  conforming the layers or laminate to a convex or concave profile · CPC title

• B32B38/1875

  Tensioning · CPC title

• B32B37/12

  characterised by using adhesives · CPC title