DE102017122249A1 - Applicator for thermally activating a functional layer of a coating material - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an applicator for thermally activating a functional layer of a coating material, comprising: a main body, a waveguide, and a dielectric cladding, wherein the cladding is removably disposed in the body, the cladding is configured, the coating material along a passage direction To lead and encase, the waveguide is able to conduct electromagnetic waves, in particular microwaves, in the direction of the coating material guided in the enclosure.

Description

Subject of the invention

The present invention relates to an applicator for thermally activating a functional layer of a coating material. Moreover, the present invention relates to a device for thermally activating the functional layer of the coating material, a sheath for use in an applicator for thermally activating coating material and the use of the sheath.

State of the art

It has proven useful to coat cutting surfaces of plate-shaped workpieces, so-called workpiece surfaces, with an approximately strip-like coating material. On the one hand, the narrow surface can be adapted to the properties of the workpiece surface of the workpiece without the need for time-consuming reworking. On the other hand, it is possible by such a coating to carry out the core of the workpiece with another, for example, less expensive material than the externally visible surfaces.

In order to bond the workpiece with the coating material, an adhesive or an adhesive is used. In this case, in particular, an adhesive is used which is activated by an energy input and only then can produce a reliable connection between two components (coating material and workpiece).

There are many ways to integrate this adhesive into the joining process. So that beats EP 1 163 864 B1 a method in which a plastic edge is coextruded with an adhesive layer. This bond between coating material and activatable functional layer (or adhesive layer) is then melted when applied to the workpiece by means of laser light in the region of the adhesive and pressed onto the workpiece.

Also known is the thermal activation of the functional layer by means of electromagnetic waves, in particular in the microwave spectrum. The use of electromagnetic waves in the microwave spectrum can have advantages in terms of accuracy and adaptability of the amount of energy in the functional layer.

However, the use of electromagnetic waves poses further challenges because electromagnetic waves can have harmful effects. For this reason, the use of applicators is known in which the functional layer of the coating material is activated by the electromagnetic waves. These applicators are designed to shield the electromagnetic waves.

For example, an applicator as shown in FIG 1 , The applicator 1 here has an opening 9 on, through which a coating material 8th can be passed. Electromagnetic waves are generated for example in a generator, not shown, and then via a waveguide 6 applied. To protect the waveguide 6 are two glass panes 2 provided, which on both sides of the coating material 8th are provided. These glass panes 2 are in grooves 7 caught.

To make sure that out of the opening 9 no excessive radiation of electromagnetic waves can escape lambda / 4 traps 4 provided the waves in the area of the opening 9 can wipe out by means of destructive interference. The lambda / 4 traps 4 are here in slot shape running pockets, but can also be implemented in a different geometric shape.

The thermal energy input into the functional layer of the coating material can lead to particle-containing outgassing, which can be precipitated as soiling. Even dusty ambient air and abrasion of the coating material can lead to such contamination.

The above mentioned contamination can affect the glass panes 2 , the grooves 7 , the opening 9 and the lambda / 4 Fall 4 knock down.

Such contaminants can lead to arcing, with such an arc the applicator 1 and / or can destroy the edge band.

It is also known that contaminants in the applicator can be removed by means of a cleaning process. The cleaning process of the applicator 1 is consuming and time consuming.

It is also known from the DE 10 2014 213 533 A1 a belt carried by an applicator that keeps debris out of a material channel. However, this solution has the disadvantage that a separate drive device is required for the transport of the tape, the additional space takes up. Furthermore, this solution is complex by the additionally required cleaning device and not limited Space conditions suitable. Also, the cost in this case is high because an additional device is provided.

Further, the DE 10 2014 201 426 A a cooking device in microwave technology with microwave trap in lambda / 4 form.

Presentation of the invention

From the above, it has been found that the object of the present invention is to provide an applicator for thermally activating a functional layer of a coating material, which can be cleaned in a less expensive and time-consuming manner.

As a solution, the present invention provides the applicator of claim 1.

The invention was based on the finding that the above-mentioned problems are mainly due to the fact that the cleaning takes place at not easily accessible points inside the applicator and that the grooves 7 and the lambda / 4 Fall 4 in the applicator 1 have non-flat surfaces.

In view of these findings, the present invention provides an applicator for thermally activating a functional layer of a coating material. The applicator has in this case: a base body, a waveguide and a cladding made of dielectric, wherein the cladding is arranged removably in the base body, the cladding is configured to guide the coating material along a passage direction and encase, the waveguide is capable of to direct electromagnetic waves, in particular microwaves, in the direction of the coating material carried in the envelope.

The thermal activation and the guiding of the coating material within the envelope makes it possible that accumulating impurities only settle in the envelope. Since the wrapper is still removable, it can be easily replaced or cleaned. Furthermore, it is possible to use an exchange wrapper while the actual wrapper is being cleaned, thereby preventing production stoppage.

In addition, the sheath of the applicator may additionally have a guide which is variably adjustable for guiding the coating material.

This makes it possible to use the applicator with different sized coating material, without having to be provided an additional different enclosure.

The applicator preferably has at least one lambda / 4 trap, which is provided for erasing the electromagnetic waves at openings of the applicator.

Thus, the amount of electromagnetic radiation outside the applicator can be reduced. It may further be preferred that at least one lambda / 4 trap is filled with dielectric. By this filling the cleaning can be reduced or eliminated.

Preferably, the sheath of the applicator may be configured to seal the waveguide against the coating material.

Thus, no contaminants can penetrate the waveguide, which would require basic cleaning or replacement.

In the applicator, furthermore, the sheath can preferably be designed such that only a region of the guide necessary for it is in contact with the guided coating material. Thus, abrasion created by the guide is limited to a minimum.

Even more preferably, the waveguide may have a substantially rectangular cross-section.

When transmitting electromagnetic waves at a given frequency, the wavelength is lower here than when using a round cross-section, which makes a substantially rectangular cross section suitable for use in small installation space ratios.

Preferably, the envelope may have a wall thickness of 0.1 mm to 40 mm. This value range has proven to be particularly preferred in order to optimize an energy input into the functional layer of the coating material while maintaining the structural integrity.

It may further be preferred that substantially the entire waveguide is filled with the sheath. Thus, it is possible to reduce the dimensions of the applicator depending on the dielectric used as when blocking air is provided in the waveguide.

More preferably, the wrapper has a permittivity loss factor of less than 5 x 10 ^-3, and more preferably less than 5 x 10 ^-4, and can be formed of polytetrafluoroethylene, quartz glass or aluminum oxide.

These materials having such a permittivity loss factor have been found to be particularly advantageous for use in the applicator illustrated above.

Further, the present invention provides an apparatus for thermally activating a coating material, comprising: a generator for generating electromagnetic waves, in particular microwaves, and an applicator as set forth above, capable of applying the electromagnetic waves generated in the generator to the coating material apply.

Further, the present invention discloses a dielectric sheath for use in an applicator for thermally activating coating material by electromagnetic waves, particularly microwaves, wherein the sheath is configured to guide and encase the coating material along a direction of travel.

This sheath may preferably be used in or with an applicator as shown above.

This preferably corresponds to the use of a cladding in an applicator for thermally activating coating material by means of electromagnetic waves, in particular microwaves, wherein the cladding can be removably arranged in the base body, and the cladding is designed to guide and coat the coating material along a passage direction.

The use of the sheath in the applicator thus has the technical effect of enabling easy and quick cleaning of the applicator and sheath unit.

list of figures

• 1 shows a sectional view of an example of an applicator according to the prior art.
• 2 shows a sectional view of a portion of a preferred embodiment of an applicator according to the invention.
• 3 shows the envelope of a preferred embodiment of an applicator according to the invention.
• 4 shows the enclosure of a preferred embodiment of an applicator according to the invention in exploded view.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention

2 shows a preferred embodiment of an applicator according to the invention. The applicator 10 is intended to be connected to a generator and a feeding device (both not shown) which generates electromagnetic waves and conducts them to the resonance space. Furthermore, it is provided that these electromagnetic waves a functional layer 3 a coating material 8th activate thermally.

As electromagnetic waves in this preferred embodiment, in particular microwaves in a frequency band between 2.4 GHz - 2.5 GHz are provided, but also the frequency band of 5.725 GHz - 5.875 GHz is conceivable for this purpose. This is provided for in the Radio Regulations of the Constitution and Convention of the International Telecommunication Union, an international treaty on radio frequency use as the ISM band (Industrial, Scientific and Medical Band) and thus also for such applications.

The applicator initially consists of the main body 13 that the structure of the applicator 10 trains and picks up other elements of it. So is in the main body 13 the waveguide 14 which, in this preferred embodiment, has a substantially rectangular shape along a propagation direction of the electromagnetic waves. In 2 this propagation direction of the electromagnetic waves is orthogonal to a feed direction 5 of the coating material 8th to recognize. For guiding the coating material 8th is still an envelope 11 provided that the coating material 8th wrapped and thus from the inside of the applicator 10 , in particular of the waveguide 14 shields. In particular, therefore, there is no direct transition between a region through which the coating material 8th runs and between other cavities of the applicator 10 like through the waveguide 14 , Thus, when using the applicator 10 no soiling on these inner areas, which would involve consuming and lengthy cleaning operations.

Soiling is thus primarily located inside the enclosure 11 so it may be necessary to clean it.

For this purpose, it is provided that the envelope 11 from the applicator 10 is removable. In the preferred embodiment shown here, this is done by pushing out together with the coating material 8th , The serving 11 is further preferably carried out in two parts, whereby a simple release of the enveloping state of wrapping 11 can be achieved. The connection of the two halves with one another can preferably take place by way of configurations which are helpful for the positioning, such as pockets and grooves. To manufacture the cladding 11 To simplify, a flat surface can be provided at the point where both halves meet.

The serving 11 can thus be used in a process in which a further thermal activation process of the coating material 8th can be continued with only a brief break, while the envelope 11 through a structurally identical enclosure 11 is replaced. While this new cladding continues to thermally activate the coating material 8th the cladding can be used 11 for example, be cleaned and then exchanged again at a given time.

The serving 11 is preferably formed from a material having a Permitivitäts loss factor of less than 5 × 10 ^-03, and more preferably of less than 5 × 10 ^-04 to minimize energy losses in the enclosure 11 to evoke what would be a temperature increase of the same pronounced. Such substances are also called dielectrics. Particularly suitable materials here polytetrafluoroethylene, quartz glass or alumina have been found with a wall thickness of 0.1 mm to 40 mm. The wall thickness does not necessarily have to be a constant strength, but can also be variable to allow greater structural integrity.

In the embodiment shown here is a part of the waveguide 14 with the serving 11 and thus filled with dielectric in solid form. As a result, the dimensions of the applicator can be reduced by a factor depending on the dielectric used.

This allows the formation of a more compact applicator 10 , Thus, the introduced into the waveguide enclosure 11 the geometric length dimensions of the applicator 10 reduce, at the same time no contamination in the waveguide 14 can penetrate.

The lambda / 4 traps (not shown) may continue from the sheath 11 be at least partially covered or filled with dielectric. Thus, they can not pollute and a cleaning is eliminated.

Furthermore, bores for introducing a flushing fluid such as air into the applicator for flushing the same can be introduced into the envelope. These holes ensure that outgassing from the functional layer is carried out of the applicator. Furthermore, the use of a protective gas can prevent a possible oxidation of the functional layer with the atmospheric oxygen.

3 shows the envelope of a preferred embodiment of an applicator according to the invention.

Here it is shown that the wrapping 11 a guide 12 may have, which is designed adjustable. Thus, the same envelope 11 be used with coating materials of various sizes. In the illustrated embodiment, the height-adjustable guide is on an upper side of the coating material 8th intended. It is also possible the variable guidance on a lower side of the coating material 8th to provide or alternatively to use two guides, which allows centering of the coating material within the Resonatorraums.

4 shows the enclosure of a preferred embodiment of an applicator according to the invention in exploded view.

Here it is shown that a lower edge of the envelope 11 and the leadership 12 allow the coating material to be guided at a lower and upper edge thereof. The guiding is preferably done with minimal friction and thus minimal material removal, so that there is as little abrasion as possible.

Thus, replacement intervals shown above can be extended. To achieve this minimum friction, the top and bottom edges of the enclosure can 11 For example, be polished to reduce the surface roughness or be provided with coatings.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Applicator prior art

2

glass panes

3

functional layer

4

Lambda / 4 traps

5

Throughput direction

6

waveguide

7

groove

8th

coating material

9

opening

10

applicator

11

wrapping

12

guide

13

body

14

waveguide

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 1163864 B1 [0004]
• DE 102014213533 A1 [0013]
• DE 102014201426 A [0014]

Claims (12)

An applicator (10) for thermally activating a functional layer (3) of a coating material (8), comprising: a main body (13), a waveguide (14), and a cladding (11) of dielectric, wherein the envelope (11) is removably disposed in the base body (13), the casing (11) is configured to guide and coat the coating material (8) along a direction of passage (5), the waveguide (14) is capable of guiding electromagnetic waves, in particular microwaves, in the direction of the coating material (8) guided in the sheath (11). Applicator (10) after Claim 1 , wherein the sheath (11) additionally comprises a guide (12) which is variably adjustable for guiding the coating material (8). Applicator (10) after Claim 1 or 2 wherein the applicator (10) has at least one lambda / 4 trap for eradicating the electromagnetic waves at openings of the applicator. Applicator (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the sheath (11) is configured to seal the waveguide (14) from the coating material (8). Applicator (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the envelope (11) is configured such that only a portion thereof necessary for guiding is in contact with the guided coating material (8). Applicator (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 5 wherein the waveguide (14) has a substantially rectangular cross-section. Applicator (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 6 , wherein the sheath (11) has a wall thickness of 0.1 mm to 40 mm. Applicator (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 7 , Wherein substantially the entire waveguide (14) is filled with the sheath (11). Applicator (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 8th wherein the sheath (11) has a permittivity loss factor of less than 5 × 10 ^-3 and preferably less than 5 × 10 ^-4 and is preferably formed of polytetrafluoroethylene, quartz glass or aluminum oxide. Apparatus for thermally activating a coating material (8), comprising: a generator for generating electromagnetic waves, in particular microwaves, and an applicator according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 which is capable of applying the electromagnetic waves generated in the generator to the coating material (8). A dielectric sheath (11) for use in an applicator (10) for thermally activating coating material (8) by means of electromagnetic waves, in particular microwaves, wherein the sheath is configured to guide and direct the coating material (8) along a direction of travel (5) envelop. Use of a sheath (11) preferably after Claim 11 in an applicator (10) for thermal activation of coating material (8) by means of electromagnetic waves, in particular microwaves, wherein the envelope (11) can be removably arranged in the base body (13), and the envelope (11) is designed, the coating material ( 8) along a passage direction to lead and wrap.

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