Method for charging a processing device with a profile strand to be fed to the processing device

A method for charging a processing device with a profile strand which is to be fed to the processing device and which the processing device, by severing strand portions and connecting the strand portions to a vehicle body, automatically processes to form seals or edge protection strips on the vehicle body, the method comprising the steps of:

• feeding the profile strand in a strand longitudinal direction to the processing device from a delivery unit transported to a processing location while being unwound from a winding contained in the delivery unit, wherein
• the profile strand is either unwound as a right-hand profile, which is to be applied to the vehicle body on the right, beginning with one of two strand ends, or as a left-hand profile, which is to be applied to the vehicle body on the left, beginning with the other strand end.

A delivery unit, comprising:

• a winding formed by a single profile strand of elastomer material;
• and a winding holder that holds the winding so that the winding is accessible in the winding holder in order to unwind the profile strand selectively from the winding, beginning with a first or a second strand end, and to guide the profile strand out of the winding holder while being moved in a strand longitudinal direction.

A holder for receiving and for transporting a winding, which is made from a profile strand comprising an elastomer material, comprising:

• a spool having a core and a front plate at each end of the core, wherein at least one of the front plates is removable so as to expose the winding at one axial end, or has pivotable parts for exposing the winding.