Method for connecting the ends of profiled sealing elements, and device for carrying out said method

1. A method for connecting two similarly profiled ends of at least one profiled sealing strip, wherein the strip is attached to the surface of a vehicle component so that the ends form a butt joint, the method comprising:

moving the ends away from each other at the butt joint to form a working gap which diverges away from the surface of the vehicle component;

introducing a welding film into the working gap; and

closing the ends against the film at the butt joint,

whereby the ends can be welded to the film by supplying thermal energy.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the thermal energy is supplied by bringing the ends in the working gap into contact with a body of higher temperature.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein thermal energy is supplied by exposing the working gap to heat radiation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein thermal energy is supplied by exposing the working gap to a stream of hot gas.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein thermal energy is supplied by heating the welding film before introducing the film into the gap.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the ends are moved away from each other at the butt joint by

gripping each end near the butt joint; and

pulling the ends away from each other to form the working gap.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the ends are moved away from each other at the butt joint by compressing the ends near the butt joint.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising aligning the ends which each other by means of a shaped gripper conforming to the shape of the profiled strip.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after closing the ends against the welding film, pressing the ends toward each other.

10. The method of claim 2 further comprising pressing the ends toward each other while the ends in the working gap are in contact with the body of higher temperature.

11. A device for connecting two similarly profiled ends of at least one profiled sealing strip, wherein the strip is attached to the surface of a vehicle component so that the ends form a butt joint, the device comprising:

means for moving the ends away from each other at the butt joint to form a working gap;

a welding film feeder for introducing a welding film into the working gap;

a heating system for supplying thermal energy for welding the welding film to the ends of the profiled sealing strip; and

a positioning unit which is effective at least two levels for moving the welding film feeder between a rest position and a working position.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the device is mounted on the arm of a robot.

13. The device of claim 11 wherein the device is stationary.

14. The device of claim 11 wherein the means for moving the ends away from each other comprises:

a pair of grippers, each gripper having a pair of gripper arms which can be moved toward and away from each other in order to grip a respective end; and

at least one drive for moving the grippers toward and away from each other.

15. The device of claim 11 wherein the means for moving the ends away from each other comprises a pair of hold-downs which can be moved between a starting position and a working position.

16. The device of claim 11 wherein the heating system comprises a plate which can be heated and moved into the working gap.

17. The device of claim 11 wherein the heating system comprises an infrared heater.

18. The device of claim 11 wherein the welding film feeder comprises a pair of clamping jaws which can be moved toward and away from each other to stretch the welding film taut, the jaws having respective notches which are aligned with each other and profiled to correspond to the cross-section of the sealing strip.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the welding film feeder further comprises:

a supply spool and a wind-up spool for the welding film;

means for guiding the welding film between the clamping jaws as it is pulled from the supply spool.