IP Library Granted Patent US 12,629,787
Granted Patent B2
US 12,629,787 · App. 18/213,563 · Granted May 19, 2026

Modular application apparatus and modular kit for constructing an application apparatus

Inventors: Christoph Siebenborn (Losheim am See, DE); Tim Kaub (Hermeskeil, DE); Bernd Paulus (Nonnweiler, DE)
Assignees: thyssenkrupp Automotive Body Solutions GmbH; thyssenkrupp AG
B23P19/047B60J10/45
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,629,787
App. No.
18/213,563
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an application apparatus for applying a sealing profile to a bodywork part, comprising a roller head, which is designed to apply the sealing profile to a receiving surface of the bodywork part, and at least one further functional unit for performing a further station step, wherein the at least one further functional unit is respectively designed as a functional module from a set of functional modules.

Claims (28)

1 . An application apparatus for applying a sealing profile to a bodywork part, comprising:

a base body including four metallic plates connected to one another at right angles so that the base body has a rectangular outline, wherein each of the four metallic plates has a configuration different than the others;

a roller head, configured to apply the sealing profile to a receiving surface of the bodywork part, forming a first station step; and

at least one further functional unit, configured to perform a further station step associated with the sealing profile and/or the application of the sealing profile, wherein the at least one further functional unit is respectively designed as a functional module from a set of functional modules, wherein the base body includes the roller head and a plurality of predetermined arrangement positions, wherein a specific arrangement position from the plurality of predetermined arrangement positions is assigned to a respective functional module from the set of functional modules for arranging on the base body, wherein each functional module of the application apparatus is arranged at the arrangement position assigned to the respective functional module.

2 . The application apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the arrangement positions for the functional modules assigned to these arrangement positions are predetermined so as to define a processing sequence for the respective further station step, which can be performed by the respective associated functional module, in relation to the first station step.

3 . The application apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a drilling unit as a further functional unit, wherein the drilling unit is designed to drill holes into the sealing profile.

4 . The application apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the drilling unit is assigned to an arrangement position which defines a further station step drilling of the sealing profile prior to application of the sealing profile; or in that the drilling unit is assigned to an arrangement position which defines as further station step drilling of the sealing profile during application of the sealing profile; or in that the drilling unit is assigned to an arrangement position which defines as further station step drilling of the sealing profile following application of the sealing profile.

5 . The application apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning unit as a further functional unit, wherein the cleaning unit is designed to clean a receiving surface of the bodywork part.

6 . The application apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the cleaning unit is assigned to an arrangement position which defines as a further station step cleaning of a receiving surface of the bodywork part prior to application of the sealing profile or wherein the cleaning unit is assigned to an arrangement position which defines as a further station step cleaning of a receiving surface of the bodywork part during application of the sealing profile.

7 . The application apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor unit as at least one further functional unit, wherein the sensor unit is designed to monitor a station step being performed.

8 . The application apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the respective sensor unit is assigned to an arrangement position which defines as a further station step monitoring of a station step being performed while the station step to be monitored is being performed; and/or in that the respective sensor unit is assigned to an arrangement position which defines as a further station step monitoring of a station step having been performed following the station step to be monitored having being performed.

9 . The application apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising a sensor unit for checking a position of a bodywork part in space as a sensor unit.

10 . The application apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising a sensor unit for checking the position of the sealing profile applied to a bodywork part as a sensor unit.

11 . The application apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising a sensor unit for checking a contact-pressure force during application of the sealing profile to a receiving surface of a bodywork part as a sensor unit.

12 . The application apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising a sensor unit for measuring an intended length of a sealing profile to be applied to a receiving surface of a bodywork part as a sensor unit.

13 . The application apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising a sensor unit for measuring a floating position of a contact-pressure unit of the application apparatus as a sensor unit.

14 . The application apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a severing unit as a further functional unit, wherein the severing unit is designed to sever a sealing profile.

15 . The application apparatus according to claim 14 , further comprising the severing unit is assigned to an arrangement position which defines as a further station step severing of the sealing profile during application of the sealing profile.

16 . The application apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base body has an arrangement interface which is designed to arrange the base body on a station support or on a movable robot arm.

17 . The application apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base body is arranged on a station support via the arrangement interface; or in that the base body is arranged on a movable robot arm via the arrangement interface.

18 . The application apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the base body has cable guides, in particular entry and/or exit openings, for cables for the at least one functional unit.

19 . A modular kit for constructing an application apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of modules with predefined properties, from which different variants of the application apparatus can be constructed, including:

basic modules, which are always a part of the kit and always incorporated into the constructed application apparatus; and

supplementary modules, which are always a part of the kit and sometimes incorporated into the constructed application apparatus;

wherein the basic modules include a base body and a roller head;

wherein the supplementary modules include a drilling unit, a cleaning unit, at least one sensor unit and a severing unit.

20 . The application apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the metallic plates each have apertures and/or protrusions which form the arrangement positions, and wherein the metallic plates are made of aluminum or steel.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2023
From: SIEBENBORN, CHRISTOPH; KAUB, TIM; PAULUS, BERND
To: THYSSENKRUPP AUTOMOTIVE BODY SOLUTIONS GMBH; THYSSENKRUPP AG
Reel/Frame 064045/0398 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2022 206 369.4 · Jun 24, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230415281A1 · Dec 28, 2023
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