Device for applying weatherstrip on a motor vehicle body, and related method

An apparatus for applying weather stripping to a motor vehicle body, the body having an elongated receiving surface with a profile, the weather stripping comprising a thin wing having a bonding surface corresponding to the receiving surface and a hollow longitudinal tube connected to the wing, the apparatus comprising:

• an application plate for application of the bonding surface of the weather stripping to the receiving surface;
• means for pressing the weather stripping against the receiving surface;
• means for guiding the application plate over a trajectory along the profile of the receiving surface;
• and
• guide means comprising first means of referencing the body of the vehicle with respect to the apparatus, wherein
• the guide means comprises programmable articulated mechanical means for displacing the application plate and means for programming the articulated mechanical means to adapt the trajectory of the application plate to different profiles corresponding to different vehicles,
• the application plate is selectively connected to and disconnected from the articulated mechanical means and comprises a support and an application roller for application of the weather stripping to the receiving surface, the application roller rolling on a rolling surface of the thin wing on a side of the wing opposite the bonding surface, and
• the application plate comprises second means of referencing for positioning a downstream end of the weather stripping in a predetermined reference position with respect to the application roller, the second means of referencing including
• at least one first arm articulated on the support, and
• an indexing finger connected to the first articulated arm, the indexing finger being displaceable between an indexing position, engaging the hollow tube at the downstream end of the weather stripping when the weather stripping is in the reference position, and a release position, where the indexing finger is released.

An apparatus for applying weather stripping to a motor vehicle body, the body having an elongated receiving surface with a profile, the weather stripping comprising a thin wing having a bonding surface corresponding to the receiving surface and a hollow longitudinal tube connected to the wing, the apparatus comprising:

• an application plate for application of the bonding surface of the weather stripping to the receiving surface;
• means for pressing the weather stripping against the receiving surface;
• means for guiding the application plate over a trajectory along the profile of the receiving surface;
• and
• guide means comprising first means of referencing the body of the vehicle with respect to the apparatus, wherein
• the guide means comprises programmable articulated mechanical means for displacing the application plate and means for programming the articulated mechanical means to adapt the trajectory of the application plate to different profiles corresponding to different vehicles,
• the application plate is selectively connected to and disconnected from the articulated mechanical means and comprises a support and an application roller for application of the weather stripping to the receiving surface, the application roller rolling on a rolling surface of the thin wing on a side of the wing opposite the bonding surface,
• the application plate comprises second means of referencing for positioning a downstream end of the weather stripping in a predetermined reference position with respect to the application roller, and
• the application plate comprises upstream guide means for an upstream part of the weather stripping at an end opposite a downstream end, the upstream guide means being connected to the support and comprising
• first and second rollers rolling respectively over the rolling surface and the bonding surface, and
• third and fourth rollers with shafts respectively parallel and perpendicular to shafts of the first and second rollers.

An apparatus for applying weather stripping to a motor vehicle body, the body having an elongated receiving surface with a profile, the weather stripping comprising a thin wing having a bonding surface corresponding to the receiving surface and a hollow longitudinal tube connected to the wing, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of application plates for application of the bonding surface of the weather stripping to the receiving surface;
• means for pressing the weather stripping against the receiving surface;
• means for guiding the application plate over a trajectory along the profile of the receiving surface;
• guide means comprising first means of referencing the body of the vehicle with respect to the apparatus, wherein
• the guide means comprises programmable articulated mechanical means for displacing the application plate and means for programming the articulated mechanical means to adapt the trajectory of the application plate to different profiles corresponding to different vehicles, and
• the application plate is selectively connected to and disconnected from the articulated mechanical means and comprises a support and an application roller for application of the weather stripping to the receiving surface, the application roller rolling on a rolling surface of the thin wing on a side of the wing opposite the bonding surface, and
• the application plate comprises second means of referencing for positioning a downstream end of the weather stripping in a predetermined reference position with respect to the application roller;
• a feed conveyor;
• and
• a return conveyor, wherein
• the plurality of application plates carries the weather stripping in the reference position and are arranged on the feed conveyor in predetermined positions, and
• the articulated mechanical means is programmed to connect to the application plates of the feed conveyor before positioning of the weather stripping, to deposit the application plates on the return conveyor, and to disconnect from the application plates once the weather stripping positioning is finished.