A method for automated application of self-adhesive film to bodywork parts, in which a film blank is gripped on the non-adhesive outer face at two opposite ends by means of suction grippers to which a vacuum can be applied, and is held stretched out, in which the film blank which is held stretched out is aligned accurately in position above the bodywork part to be bonded to and is adhesively bonded to it, comprising the steps:
- providing prefabricated, elongated paint film blanks in a configuration according to features a to c) for application of paint film, and in that the paint film blanks which have been provided in this way are moved according to features d) to g) for automated application:
- a) including each prefabricated, elongated paint film blank in a film composite and provided on the outside and underneath with an adherent but easily detachable protective strip, with each of the two protective strips projecting (projections) beyond a useful length (L) of the paint film blank at two ends, which are located in the area of the narrow faces of the paint film blank,
- b) approximately matching the length, measured in the longitudinal direction of the film blank, of an end projection to an attachment width (b2) of the associated suction gripper measured in the longitudinal direction of the paint film blank while, in contrast, the length of a start-side projection is likewise matched approximately to the attachment width (b1) of the associated suction gripper but with at least the lower protective strip on the start-side projection being lengthened by a specific gripping length beyond said attachment width (b1),
- c) providing the film composite which includes the paint film blank is offered in a defined position with the outer protective strip being freely accessible in the working area of a freely programmable industrial robot, which is provided with an application tool, for picking up by the application tool,
- d) pushing up the film composite by two of said suction grippers, which are provided on the application tool and whose sucking picking-up surfaces are located on a standard picking-up plane, on the upper protective strip in the area of the end and start-side projections, with the two suction grippers then being pivoted from the picking-up plane through a respective specific angle (α, α′), in such a way that the projections which have been picked up off the film composite that is held stretched out, project obliquely and approximately in mirror-image form with respect to one another from a picking-up plane in the direction of a rear face of the application tool,
- e) pulling off the lower protective strip, starting from a start-side end of the paint film blank and guided by a start-side projection, which is used as a pulling-off lug and is gripped by a gripping tool, which can move within the application tool thus exposing the adhesive face of the paint film blank,
- f) once the film composite, which is held stretched out by the application tool has been aligned in the correct orientation at a short distance from the bodywork part, which is to be bonded to and is held firmly in the defined orientation and inflexibly, wiping the paint film blank onto the bodywork part to be bonded to, from the stretched-out separated position, by means of a flexible wiper which can move longitudinally within the application tool,
- g) pulling off the upper protective strip from the outer face of the applied paint film blank by means of a pulling-off movement of the the end suction gripper.