The disclosure can preferably be applied to 2C adhesives. However, it is not limited to 2C adhesives, but can also be applied to another 2C system. For example, the disclosure is in principle not limited to a particular adhesive system or to a 2C adhesive with a particular mixing ratio.

The application device can comprise, for example, a first hardening means for hardening application bead sections from the expediently mixed 2C material and/or comprise a second hardening means for hardening application bead sections from the first component material.

The second hardening means can preferably be arranged in the production line downstream of the first hardening means, so that hardening can be carried out first by means of the first hardening means and (expediently indirectly or directly) thereafter by means of the second hardening means.

The first hardening means is preferably configured for hardening by means of induction or infrared radiation. Alternatively or additionally, the second hardening means can comprise, for example, a hardening oven.

The disclosure also relates to an operating method for an application device, preferably an application device as disclosed herein.

The application device is preferably used for alternately applying a 2C material, comprising a first component material and a second component material, on the one hand and the first component material on the other hand (e.g. from an application nozzle, and in particular onto a motor vehicle component).

The application device comprises a first line section, e.g. leading to an application nozzle, wherein the first line section comprises a mixer and a first line for a first component material and a second line for a second component material. The first component material and the second component material are fed to the mixer, and the mixer mixes the first component material and the second component material with each other for forming a 2C material.

The operating method is characterized in particular in that a second line section is provided for the first component material to form an application bead of (e.g. indirectly or substantially directly) alternately the (expediently mixed) 2C material from the first line section and the first component material from the second line section.

In order to ensure a substantially continuous material flow (in particular from the application nozzle), e.g. during a switchover from a 2C material application to an application of the first material component, a metering of the 2C material from the first line section can be decreased and, e.g. simultaneously, a metering of the first material component from the second line section can be increased. This can preferably be done in reverse for a switchover from an application of the first material component to a 2C material application.

If the switchover is not required during the running application, for example, but is needed, for example, for a change from one application bead to the next application bead, the first material component for the first line section and the second line section can also be metered from one and the same metering device.

It should be mentioned again that the first component material for the first line and the first component material for the second line section are expediently the same material, e.g., the same adhesive medium.

It should be mentioned that in the context of the disclosure, exemplary embodiments are particularly encompassed in which the A component (in particular the first component material) and the mixed 2C material from the A component and a B component (in particular the first component material and the second component material) can be applied in alternation.

It should also be mentioned that, in addition to the second line section, the application device can comprise, for example, at least one further line section for a further material component. The further line section can lead to the application nozzle preferably bypassing the mixer. The further material component can, for example, be metered by an own metering device.

It should also be mentioned that the disclosure is preferably not limited to the sequence between bead sections from the 2C material and bead sections from the first component material.

It should also be mentioned that the adhesive medium is preferably resin.

The further line section can, for example, be constructed like the second line section, so that the corresponding disclosure mutatis mutandis expediently also applies to the further line section.

In particular, the application device enables a partially boosted application. This includes, in particular, an application in which the A component of a 2C material and the 2C material AB can be applied in alternation (expediently indirectly or essentially directly).

The preferred exemplary embodiments of the disclosure described in the figures correspond in part, wherein the same reference signs are used for similar or identical parts and reference can also be made to the description of the other exemplary embodiments for their explanation.

FIG. 1 shows an application device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, wherein FIGS. 4a and 4b each show a schematic view of an application bead 200, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, that can be generated by means of the application device 100.

The application device 100 is configured to apply an expediently mixed two-component material AB (2C material). The 2C material AB comprises a first component material A and a second component material B. The first component material A is, for example, an adhesive medium (preferably resin) and the second component material is, for example, a hardener medium for hardening the adhesive medium A. The following exemplary embodiments are described with reference to an adhesive medium A and a hardener medium B, but are not limited thereto.

The application device 100 comprises an application head H and an application nozzle 30, and a first line section 10 leading to the application nozzle 30. Preferably, the application nozzle 30 tapers towards its outlet opening. However, it can also have a substantially constant passage cross-section, for example.

The first line section 10 comprises a mixer 3 (e.g. a static or dynamic mixer) in an application tube 4 and a first line 1 for the adhesive medium A and a second line 2 for the hardener medium B. The first line 1 and the second line 2 are connected to the mixer 3 so that the mixer 3 can mix the adhesive medium A and the hardener medium B with each other for forming the mixed 2C material AB. The first line 1 and the second line 2 run partially in the application head H.

A special feature is that the application device 100 comprises a second line section 20, expediently leading to the application nozzle 30, for also the adhesive medium A (preferably resin).

The second line section 20 forms, in particular, a bypass line for bypassing the mixer 3 and can open, for example, downstream behind the mixer 3 into the application tube 4 and, in particular, into the application nozzle 30.

Consequently, the first line 1 and the second line section 20 can provide the same adhesive medium A.

By means of the first line 1 and the second line 2, and thus in particular by means of the first line section 10, the bead sections AB can be formed from the 2C material (FIGS. 4a and 4b).

By means of the second line section 20, the bead sections A can be formed from preferably only the adhesive medium A, in particular omitting the hardener medium B (FIGS. 4a and 4b).

Thus, application beads 200 can be produced from alternately the 2C material AB from the first line section 10 and only the adhesive medium A from the second line section 20, omitting the hardener medium B (FIGS. 4a and 4b).

The application medium device 100 enables an in particular partially boosted application, wherein the A component material of the 2C material AB and the 2C material AB can be applied (expediently indirectly or substantially directly) in alternation.

The second line section 20, which is provided in addition to the first line section 10 and is also for the adhesive medium A, enables in particular application beads 200 with as small as possible, preferably essentially no undefined transition regions S (FIGS. 4a and 4b) between bead sections from 2C material AB and bead sections from preferably only adhesive medium A, in particular because a mixture from adhesive medium A and hardener medium B can always remain in the mixer 3 in the set, expediently desired mixing ratio.

The adhesive medium A for the first line 1 and the adhesive medium A for the second line section 20 are the same material, which can expediently be provided by a common material supply 40 (e.g. FIGS. 3a and 3b) or can be provided by different material supplies 50 and 60 (FIG. 3c). In particular, the material supply can comprise one or more material tanks for the adhesive medium A.

The application tube 4 comprises an outer lateral surface and an inlet-sided front side 4.1. The application nozzle 30 comprises an outer lateral surface and an inlet-sided front side 30.1.

The first line section 10 leads via the front side 4.1 into the application tube 4 and via the front side 30.1 into the application nozzle 30.1. Application can then be carried out by means of the outlet opening of the application nozzle 30.

The second line section 20 is routed past the application head H and at least for the most part past the application tube 4. The second line section 20 extends outside the application tube 4 and leads, in particular, from laterally outside via the lateral surface of the application nozzle 30 into the application nozzle 30. Application can then be carried out via the outlet opening of the application nozzle 30.

The first line section 10 and the second line section 20 can thus open into the common application nozzle 30.

The first line 1 can comprise an own (first) metering device D1 to meter the adhesive medium A for the first line 1. The second line section 20 can also comprise an own (second) metering device D2 to meter the adhesive medium A for the second line section 20. However, a common metering device D can also be provided (e.g. FIG. 2) to meter the adhesive medium A for both the first line 1 and the second line section 20.

The second line 2 can also include a metering device D3 to meter the hardener medium B.

The application tube 4 with the mixer 3 preferably comprises a mounting structure for detachable mounting to the application head H.

The first line 1 and the second line 2 are integrated partially in the application head H and thus run in the application head H. Also integrated in the application head H is a first valve V1 (e.g. a needle valve) for opening and closing the first line 1 and a second valve V3 (e.g. a needle valve) for opening and closing the second line 2.

The second line section 20, however, is preferably routed past the application head H and, in particular, past the mixer 3.

The second line section 20 can comprise one or more optional valves V2, for example a non-return valve and/or a preferably controllable valve, for opening and closing the second line section 20.

The application nozzle 30 and the mixer 3 and/or the application tube 4 are preferably substantially coaxially aligned with each other. However, the second line section 20 connects to the application tube 4 and/or the application nozzle 30 preferably obliquely or laterally and thus, in particular, not coaxially.

In order to ensure a continuous material flow expediently downstream of the application nozzle 30 during a switchover from 2C material AB to the A component, the metering of the 2C material AB can be decreased, and simultaneously the metering of the A component can be increased. If the switchover is not required during running application, but is only needed, for example, when changing from one adhesive bead to the next adhesive bead, the A component can also be metered from, for example, one and the same metering device. An additional metering is then not required.

The application device 100 can be used in particular in vehicle bodyshell work. Here, by changing the application media during the application, areas can be applied which can expediently be thermally hardened quickly by, for example, induction or infrared radiation. In this way, sufficient handling strength can be achieved and/or alternative costly tacking processes can be avoided.

FIG. 2 shows an application device 100 according to another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, with which, for example, also application beads 200, as shown schematically in FIGS. 4a and 4b, can be produced.

A special feature is that the adhesive medium A can be metered from a common metering device D both for the line 1 and for the second line section 20.

FIGS. 3a to 3b show different material supplies for an application device 100 according to different exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 3a shows an exemplary embodiment of a common material supply 40 for the adhesive medium A, e.g. a tank for the adhesive medium A. The material supply 40 serves to provide the adhesive medium A both for the line 1 and for the second line section 20.

FIG. 3b shows another exemplary embodiment of a common material supply 40 for the adhesive medium A, e.g. a tank for the adhesive medium A. The material supply