Patent Publication Number: US-2017348917-A1

Title: Bonding apparatus, article, and bonding method

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a bonding apparatus, an article, and a bonding method. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Hemming is a known method of joining inner and outer panels forming automotive parts and the like in the process of assembling the parts. Various methods of joining inner and outer panels are known, and International Patent Publication WO2014/037398 discloses a method of manufacturing a bonding section for bonding two panels. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In these machining methods, hot air is blown onto tape placed on an outer edge portion of the inner panel, and the heat of the hot air causes the tape to sag, thereby bonding the tape to the outer edge portion of the inner panel. However, because this method merely involves using hot air to cause tape to sag, the tape is not thoroughly bonded to the outer edge portion of the inner panel, and air penetrates between the tape and the inner panel. The tape not being fully bonded in this way leads to the problem of being incapable of securing sufficient wetting area on the tape (or effective bonding area; in other words, the area over which the tape is actually bonded to the article). When sufficient tape wetting area is not secured, paint may penetrate between the tape and the inner panel during, for example, electropainting, followed by the paint boiling and causing the air in between the tape and the inner panel to swell, thereby producing air bubbles. The production of air bubbles in this way not only negatively affects appearance but also impedes electropainting, thereby potentially creating a variety of unforeseen problems. 
     The present invention was conceived in order to solve one or more or all of these problems, and an object thereof is to provide a bonding apparatus, article, and bonding method capable of improving the tape wetting area. 
     A bonding apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is provided with: a dispenser part for dispensing tape; a supporting part that supports an article including two opposing surfaces with the tape dispensed by the dispenser part in contact with the article, and bonds the tape to the two surfaces of the article by causing the article and the dispenser part to engage in relative motion; a heat-providing part that provides heat to the tape in contact with the article; and a pressing part that presses the tape against the article. 
     In accordance with this embodiment, tape dispensed by the dispenser part contacts the article, in which state the article and the dispenser part engage in relative motion, thereby bonding the tape to the two surfaces of the article. The tape is pressed against the article by the pressing part. The tape can thus be thoroughly bonded to the article by the pressing part, thereby allowing for increased tape wetting area. In addition, the pressing of the tape against the article by the pressing part prevents air from penetrating between the tape and the article, thereby suppressing the production of air bubbles by swelling air. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the appearance of the article and avoid the occurrence of various problems caused by the production of air bubbles. 
     In a bonding apparatus according to another embodiment, the pressing part may be provided at a position near the heat-providing part on a side of the heat-providing part opposite that facing the dispenser part. 
     In a bonding apparatus according to another embodiment, the pressing part may be slanted with respect to the direction that the article moves with respect to the dispenser part so that force acts upon the tape toward the interior of the article. 
     In a bonding apparatus according to another embodiment, the pressing part may be further provided with a pressure-controlling part that controls the pressure with which the pressing part presses the tape against the article. 
     In a bonding apparatus according to another embodiment, the pressing part may be a roller that presses the tape against the article. 
     An article according to an embodiment of the present invention is assembled using the bonding apparatus described above. In accordance with this embodiment, the article and the dispenser part engage in relative motion with the tape in contact with the article, thereby bonding the tape to the two surfaces of the article. Moreover, the tape is pressed against the article by the pressing part. The tape is thus thoroughly bonded to the article by the pressing part, thereby improving the tape wetting area. In addition, the pressing of the tape against the article by the pressing part prevents air from penetrating between the article and the tape. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the production of air bubbles by swelling air, thereby allowing for an article of good appearance and enabling the various problems caused by the production of air bubbles to be avoided. 
     A bonding method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a step of dispensing tape from a dispenser part; a step of causing an article including two opposing surfaces and the dispenser part to engage in relative motion with the tape in contact with the article, thereby bonding the tape to the two surfaces of the article; and a step of pressing the tape against the article. 
     In accordance with this embodiment, tape is dispensed by the dispenser part and contacts the article, in which state the article and the dispenser part engage in relative motion, thereby bonding the tape to the two surfaces of the article. Moreover, the pressing of the tape against the article allows the tape to be thoroughly bonded to the article, thereby increasing the tape wetting area. In addition, the pressing of the tape against the article prevents air from penetrating between the tape and the article, thereby suppressing the production of air bubbles by swelling air. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the appearance of the article and avoid the occurrence of various problems caused by the production of air bubbles. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a bonding apparatus, article, and bonding method allowing for increased tape wetting area. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a bonding apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an inner panel, a dispensing device, a hot air blower device, and a pressing device. 
         FIG. 3  is a magnified perspective view illustrating the vicinity of a guide part of a dispensing device. 
         FIG. 4  is a magnified perspective view illustrating an inner panel, a dispensing device, a hot air blower device, and a pressing device. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating tape being pressed against an outer edge portion of an inner panel while the tape is being heated. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a door part in an assembled state. 
         FIG. 7( a )  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a door part assembled according to the bonding method of the present embodiment, and  FIG. 7( b )  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a door part assembled according to a conventional bonding method. 
     
    
    
     EXEMPLARY MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views illustrating a bonding apparatus  1  according to the present embodiment. The bonding apparatus  1  is an apparatus for bonding a tape T to an outer edge portion  11  of an inner panel (article)  10  forming part of a door part for an automobile. The outer edge portion  11  of the inner panel  10  includes an edge  11   c  of the inner panel  10  and a front surface  11   a  and a rear surface  11   b  (see  FIG. 6 ) of the inner panel  10  that extend a fixed distance from the edge  11   c  of the inner panel  10  toward the inside of the inner panel  10 . The front surface  11   a  and rear surface  11   b  correspond to two opposing surfaces of the inner panel  10 . As used herein, “two opposing surfaces” is a concept that refers not only to two flat surfaces which are mutually parallel, but also encompasses two flat surfaces that are slanted with respect to one another, two opposing curved surfaces, and the like 
     The tape T is bonded to the outer edge portion  11  of the inner panel  10 , after which the inner panel  10  is joined to an outer panel via hemming, and the door part is manufactured via this joining of the inner panel  10  to the outer panel. The front surface  11   a  of the outer edge portion  11  is a surface that is exposed to the exterior when the inner panel  10  is joined to the outer panel, and the rear surface  11   b  of the outer edge portion  11  is a surface that is concealed by the outer panel when the inner panel  10  is joined to the outer panel. 
     The tape T bonded to the outer edge portion  11  is constituted, for example, by a structural adhesive film containing a thermoset resin (preferably a structural adhesive film containing a thermoset resin and a foaming agent), and is constituted by a material that softens at a predetermined temperature (for example, 60° C. to 100° C.) or higher. An example of the material of the tape T is an epoxy compound. The tape T is a swelling foam tape that foams and swells when heated, and is sandwiched between the outer edge portion  11  of the inner panel  10  and the outer panel. The tape T serves to bond the inner panel  10  to the outer panel, to fill in the gap between the inner panel  10  and the outer panel, and to prevent rust. 
     The curing temperature of the tape T is typically 60° C. to 200° C., and is, for example, 100° C. to 150° C. The curing time of the tape T is typically 5 minutes to 60 minutes, and is, for example, 10 minutes to 30 minutes. The thickness of the tape T is typically 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm, and may be, for example, 0.4 mm. In the present embodiment, the tape T is in the form of a roll; however, the tape is not limited to being in a roll, and may be, for example, in the form of a strip. The tape T is peeled from a liner L for use, and examples of the material used for the liner L include polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or paper (30 μm to 200 μm thick). 
     The bonding apparatus  1  is provided with a dispensing device (dispenser part)  20  for dispensing the tape T, a supporting device (supporting part)  3  for supporting the inner panel  10 , a heat-providing device (heat-providing part)  4  for blowing hot air on the tape T dispensed from the dispensing device  20 , and a pressing device  5  for pressing the tape T dispensed from the dispensing device  20  against the outer edge portion  11  of the inner panel  10 . 
     The dispensing device  20 , heat-providing device  4 , and pressing device  5  are supported above a stand  6 . The heat-providing device  4  is disposed to a side of the dispensing device  20  in a direction D 1  in the which tape T is dispensed, and the pressing device  5  is disposed further along the dispensing direction D 1  to the side of the heat-providing device  4 . The dispensing direction D 1  is a direction extending diagonally downward from the lower part of the dispensing device  20 . 
     The dispensing direction D 1  can be altered by the dispensing device  20 ; for example, the angle of the dispensing direction D 1  with respect to a horizontal surface can be reduced in order to facilitate the bonding of the tape T to the outer edge portion  11  of the inner panel  10 . The angle formed by the dispensing direction D 1  and a conveying direction D 2  to be described hereafter is at least 0° and not more than 20°, and is preferably 10°. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the dispensing device  20  is provided with a holding part  21  for holding the tape T within its interior, a roller group  22  for guiding the tape T dispensed from the holding part  21 , a guide part  23  for guiding the tape T directly along the dispensing direction D 1 , and an air blower device  24  for blowing air on the tape T. 
     The holding part  21  of the dispensing device  20  has, for example, a box-like shape, and the tape T is held within the interior of the holding part  21  prior to being dispensed. The tape T is preferably kept at a temperature of at least 10° C. and no more than 25° C. within the interior of the holding part  21 . 
     The roller group  22  of the dispensing device  20  is capable of controlling the dispensing of the tape T according to the shape and length of the outer edge portion  11  of the inner panel  10  to which the tape T is to be bonded. The roller group  22  is made up of a guide roller  22   a  provided below the holding part  21 , a main roller  22   b  provided to the dispensing direction D 1  side of the guide roller  22   a , a guide roller  22   c  provided further to the dispensing direction D 1  side of the main roller  22   b , and a guide roller  22   d  positioned above the guide roller  22   c.    
     The guide roller  22   a  serves to control the dispensing direction D 1  of the tape T, and the main roller  22   b  serves to control the length of tape T that is dispensed (i.e., the dispensing speed of the tape T). Once passing the guide roller  22   a , the tape T is dispensed in the dispensing direction D 1  and enters the guide part  23 , where the liner L is peeled off. The removed liner L is wound diagonally upward from the guide part  23 , passes between the guide roller  22   c  and the main roller  22   b , and between the guide roller  22   d  and the main roller  22   b , and is further wound upward. Using an air cylinder or the like, the guide roller  22   d  presses the liner L against the main roller  22   b , in which state the main roller  22   b  is driven to wind the liner L further upward. 
     The positions and arrangement state of the plurality of rollers making up the roller group  22  can be altered, allowing for the alteration of the dispensing direction D  1 . It is also acceptable to use a single roller in place of the roller group  22 . 
     The guide part  23  of the dispensing device  20  is disposed from below the roller group  22  along the dispensing direction D 1 . The guide part  23  guides the tape T dispensed along the dispensing direction D 1  toward the outer edge portion  11  of the inner panel  10 , which is disposed along an extension of the dispensing direction D 1 . The guide part  23  has, for example, a prism shape (with either a triangular prism or a quadrangular prism being acceptable) including a bottom surface  23   a  and side surfaces  23   b , and a groove  23   c  is formed around the center of the side surfaces  23   b.    
     The tape T being dispensed along the dispensing direction D 1  is guided by the groove  23   c  of the guide part  23 , and the liner L is peeled off within the groove  23   c . The liner L is folded back 180° in the opposite direction at the tip end of the groove  23   c  (inner panel  10 ), and, after having been folded back in this manner, is rolled up between the guide roller  22   c  and the main roller  22   b.    
     The air blower device  24  is provided with an air-providing part  24   a  for providing air to the tape T, and a tube  24   b  for providing air to the air-providing part  24   a . The air-providing part  24   a  has, for example, a substantially cuboidal shape, and is anchored above the tip end of the guide part  23 . Five air-providing holes H, for example, are provided in a row along the widthwise direction of the groove  23   c  on the lower surface of the air-providing part  24   a . The air-providing holes H are provided so as to face the tape T guided into the groove  23   c  of the guide part  23 . Air is supplied from the air-providing holes H toward the location where the liner L is peeled off. Supplying air to the location where the liner L is peeled off in this way prevents the tape T from becoming entangled in the liner L. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the supporting device  3  is, for example, a robot arm that is disposed at a position located a predetermined distance from the dispensing device  20 , the heat-providing device  4 , and the pressing device  5 . The supporting device  3  is provided with a base section  3   a  that is rested upon a floor or the like (or, in some cases, suspended from the ceiling) in a factory or the like, a leg section  3   b  that is supported so as to be capable of horizontally swiveling with respect to the base section  3   b , an arm section  3   c  that is capable of swinging upward and downward with respect to the leg section  3   b  and extending and retracting, and a part-supporting section  3   d  that is rotatably mounted to the end of the arm section  3   c  and supports the inner panel  10 . The supporting device  3  is capable of controlling the horizontal swiveling of the leg section  3   b , the vertical swinging and extension/retraction of the arm section  3   c , and the rotation of the inner panel  10  by the part-supporting section  3   d . The supporting device  3  is capable of moving the inner panel  10  in three dimensions according to the shape and length of the outer edge portion  11  of the inner panel  10 . 
     The inner panel  10  is moved to a position below the dispensing device  20 , the heat-providing device  4 , and the pressing device  5  while being supported on the part-supporting section  3   d . During this process, the supporting device  3  supports the inner panel  10  so that the outer edge portion  11  is positioned at the dispensing direction D 1  side of the guide part  23  of the dispensing device  20  (i.e., to the downstream side of the guide part  23  with respect to the dispensing direction D 1 ). The supporting device  3  also causes the tape T dispensed in the dispensing direction D 1  from the guide part  23  to rest upon the edge  11   c  of the outer edge portion  11 . 
     The supporting device  3  bonds the tape T to the outer portion  11  of the inner panel  10  by horizontally moving and rotating the inner panel  10  at the dispensing direction D 1  side of the guide part  23  of the dispensing device  20 . Specifically, the supporting device  3  horizontally moves and rotates the inner panel  10  so that a bonding position P for the tape T constituted by the edge  11   c  of the outer edge portion  11  and the guide part  23  have identical positional relationships. 
     The relative positions of the dispensing device  20 , the inner panel  10 , the heat-providing device  4 , and the pressing device  5  are maintained by the supporting device  3 . The supporting device  3  progressively bonds the tape T to the outer edge portion  11  by moving the inner panel  10  in a conveying direction D 2 , which is the direction along which the outer edge portion  11  lies, with the tape T resting upon the bonding position P on the outer edge portion  11 . 
     The heat-providing device  4  is constituted, for example, by two heater pipes  4   a . The heat-providing device  4  is disposed to the conveying direction D 2  side of the dispensing device  20 , and is anchored so that the upper portion of the heat-providing device  4  is immobile. The heater pipes  4   a  extend diagonally downward from the upper part of the heat-providing device  4 . The heater pipes  4   a  are capable of blowing hot air from openings positioned diagonally below the heater pipes  4   a . In addition, of the two heater pipes  4   a , the position of the heater pipe  4   a  that is closer to the dispensing device  20  is fixed, but the position of the heater pipe  4   a  that is further away from the dispensing device  20  is variable, allowing this heater pipe  4   a  to be moved as appropriate. By allowing the position of one of the heater pipes  4   a  to be variable in this way allows the heater pipe  4   a  to follow the position of the tape T as it is progressively bonded to the inner panel  10 . 
     The heat-providing device  4  may have one heater pipe  4   a  or three or more heater pipes  4   a . The positions of the heater pipes  4   a  may be fixed or variable. Furthermore, a heat-providing device  4  utilizing features other than the heater pipes  4   a  described above may also be used; for example, a near-infrared lamp or the like may be used as the heat-providing device  4 . 
     The openings of the heater pipes  4   a  of the heat-providing device  4  face toward the bonding position P of the tape T on the outer edge portion  11  of the inner panel  10  supported by the supporting device  3 , or slightly to the side of the bonding position P in the conveying direction D 2 . The hot air blown from the heater pipes  4   a  strikes the tape T resting immediately following on the edge  11   c  of the outer edge portion  11 . The hot air being blown by the heat-providing device  4  on the tape T resting immediately following on the edge  11   c  causes the tape T to soften and droop immediately after being laid upon the edge  11   c , thereby temporarily bonding the tape T to the outer portion  11 . In this way, the heat-providing device  4  serves to deform the tape T and causes it to droop onto the outer edge portion  11 , thereby temporarily bonding the tape T to the front surface  11   a  and rear surface  11   b  of the inner panel  10 . 
     The pressing device  5  is, for example, a robot arm smaller than that of the supporting device  3 , and is anchored at the upper side of the stand  6  so as to be immobile. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 , the pressing device  5  is provided with a base section  5   a  anchored above the stand  6 , a first rotating part  5   b  supported so as to be horizontally rotatable with respect to the base section  5   a , a first arm  5   c  swingably mounted upon the first rotating part  5   b , a second arm  5   d  swingably mounted to the first arm  5   c , a second rotating part  5   e  rotatably supported at the end of the second arm  5   d , a roller (pressing part)  5   f  mounted on the end of the second rotating part  5   e , and a spring (pressure-controlling part)  5   g  mounted on the second rotating part  5   e  end of the roller  5   f . The second rotating part  5   e , roller  5   f , and spring  5   g  are not shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The pressing device  5  is disposed so that the first arm  5   c , second arm  5   d , the second rotating part  5   e , the roller  5   f , and the spring  5   g  hang down from the base section  5   a  and the first rotating part  5   b . The pressing device  5  is capable of controlling the rotation of the first and second rotating parts  5   b ,  5   e  and the swinging of the first and second arms  5   c ,  5   d . This control performed by the pressing device  5  allows the position of the roller  5   f  to be controlled, thereby allowing the roller  5   f  to be moved in three dimensions according to the shape and length of the outer edge portion  11  of the inner panel  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the roller  5   f  of the pressing device  5  is disposed further along the conveying direction D 2  than the heater pipes  4   a  of the heat-providing device  4 , and presses the tape T that has been temporarily bonded by the hot air from the heater pipes  4   a  to the front surface  11   a  of the outer edge portion  11 . The roller  5   f  is provided at a position near the heat-providing device  4 . Specifically, the roller  5   f  is disposed at a position at which the tape T and the front surface  11   a  first come into contact as the result of the tape T sagging due to the heat from the hot air supplied by the heat-providing device  4 . 
     As discussed above, the roller  5   f  of the pressing device  5  is a small roller for pressing the tape T against the front surface  11   a  of the outer edge portion  11  after the tape T has been heated by heat supplied from the heat-providing device  4 . The surface of the roller  5   f  that presses the tape T is, for example, flat (or, alternatively, a curved surface such as an arc). Examples of the material used for the roller  5   f  include non-tacky materials such as silicone sponge rubber or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or metal for which the surface has been subjected to an anti-tack treatment. The direction in which the roller  5   f  rotates is slanted with respect to the conveying direction D 2  of the inner panel  10  so that the upstream side of the conveying direction D 2  faces upward. The angle of inclination of the direction of rotation of the roller  5   f  with respect to the conveying direction D 2  is preferably at least 0° and no more than 5°, and is more preferably at least 2° and no more than 4°. 
     The spring  5   g  of the pressing device  5  serves to detect the pressing force of the roller  5   f  upon the tape T and to control said pressing force. The pressure with which the roller  5   f  presses the tape T is set according to various conditions such as the softness of the material used for the tape T, and the thickness and temperature of the tape T. The pressure with which the roller  5   f  presses the tape T is preferably a slight pressure. Here, “slight pressure” is a level of pressure such that the position of the tape T with respect to the article is maintained when the tape T is brought into contact with the front surface  11   a  of the outer edge portion  11  and pressed while not damaging the article, and is preferably a level of pressure such that scratches or other defects in appearance are not made in the plasticized tape T. This slight pressure is preferably at least 50 g and not more than 1 kg. 
     An element other than a spring  5   g  may also be used for the pressure-controlling part of the pressing device  5 . Various means can be used for the pressure-controlling part, such as an air-operated air cylinder, or an electrical means such as an electrically-operated electric cylinder. 
     Next, a method for bonding the tape T using the bonding apparatus  1  and a method for assembling the door part  40  from the inner panel  10  will be described. First, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the inner panel  10  is supported by the supporting device  3 , and the inner panel  10  is moved so that the outer edge portion  11  is positioned to the dispensing direction D 1  side of the guide part  23  of the dispensing device  20 . The tape T is then dispensed from the guide part  23  and laid upon the bonding position P on the outer edge portion  11 . In this state, the inner panel  10  is moved in the conveying direction D 2 , and hot air is blown at the bonding position P from the heater pipes  4   a  of the heat-providing device  4 . Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the tape T sags while engaging in relative motion in the conveying direction D 2  over the outer edge portion  11 , thereby becoming temporarily bonded to the front surface  11   a  of the outer portion  11 . Having been made to droop and become temporarily bonded in this way, the tape T is pressed against the front surface  11   a  by the roller  5   f  of the pressing device  5 . 
     Moving the inner panel  10  in the conveying direction D 2  with the tape T resting upon the bonding position P on the outer edge portion  11  as described above causes the tape T to become successively bonded to the outer edge portion  11  so as to cover the same, and the tape T is made to droop and be temporarily bonded to the front surface  11   a  and rear surface  11   b  of the outer edge portion  11  by the hot air from the heat-providing device  4 . The tape T is then pressed against the front surface  11   a  by the roller  5   f  of the pressing device  5 , thereby uniformly bonding the tape T to the outer edge portion  11  of the inner panel  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6( a ) , after the tape T has been bonded to the outer edge portion  11  of the inner panel  10 , the inner panel  10  is fitted against a bottom surface  31  of an outer panel  30 , ends  32  of which are bent at roughly right angles. Then, as illustrated in  FIG. 6( b ) , hemming is performed to bend the ends  32  of the outer panel  30  inward so as to sandwich the outer edge portion  11  of the inner panel  10 . At this time, the tape T bonded to the front surface  11   a  and rear surface  11   b  of the outer edge portion  11  extends throughout the entirety of the gap formed between the inner panel  10  and the outer panel  30 , and may extend outside the bent ends  32  of the outer panel  30 . Having the tape T extend outside the ends  32  of the outer panel  30  yields rust-preventing effects near the ends  32  of the outer panel  30 . The joining of the inner panel  10  and the outer panel  30  as described above completes the door part  40 . 
     In a conventional method for assembling a door part  140 , as illustrated in  FIG. 7( b ) , hemming is performed after an adhesive S has first been applied to a bottom surface  131  of an outer panel  130  and an inner panel  110  has been fitted to the bottom surface  131  of the outer panel  130 . The adhesive S is then heat-cured (baked). It is then necessary to mount the door part  140  to the vehicle body, perform electropainting, bake and dry the electropainted coating, apply a sealer C to the exterior of the ends  132  of the outer panel  130  to prevent rust, and then perform painting, baking, and drying and apply an anti-rust wax W all in that order, leading to the problem of an extremely complicated process. The sealer C may be pre-fired before painting after the door part  140  is mounted to the vehicle body, or before mounting the door part  140  to the vehicle body. 
     By contrast, in the method for assembling the door part  40  according to the present embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 7( a ) , the tape T is first bonded to the outer edge portion  11  of the inner panel  10 , after which hemming is performed to join the inner panel  10  and the outer panel  30 . If a structural adhesive film containing a foaming agent is used for the tape T, anti-rust performance can be imparted by the structural adhesive film. 
     Accordingly, it is possible to streamline the process in the present embodiment by bonding the tape T to the outer edge portion  11  of the inner panel  10 . In order to partially improve anti-rust performance, a sealer C may be applied to that portion and pre-fired, followed by applying anti-rust wax W. 
     In accordance with the bonding apparatus  1  and bonding method of the present embodiment as described above, the tape T dispensed by the dispensing device  20  comes into contact with the inner panel  10 , in which state the inner panel  10  is moved relative to the dispensing device  20 , thereby bonding the tape T to the front surface  11   a  and the rear surface  11   b  of the inner panel  10 . Moreover, the tape T is pressed against the inner panel  10  by the roller  5   f  Accordingly, the tape T can thus be bonded to the inner panel  10  by the roller  5   f , thereby allowing for increased wetting area on the part of the tape T. In addition, the pressing of the tape T against the inner panel  10  by the roller  5   f  prevents air from penetrating between the tape T and the inner panel  10 , thereby allowing the production of air bubbles by swelling air to be suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the appearance of the inner panel  10  and avoid the occurrence of various problems caused by the production of air bubbles. 
     The roller  5   f  is provided at a position near the heat-providing device  4  on a side of the heat-providing device  4  opposite that facing the dispensing device  20 . Specifically, the roller  5   f  is provided at a location where the tape T gradually droops due to the heat from the heat-providing device  4  and first faces the front surface  11   a  of the inner panel  10 . Disposing the roller  5   f  at this position causes the tape to be pressed against the inner panel  10  while in a warm and soft state, allowing the tape T to be more reliably bonded to the inner panel  10 . This allows the wetting area of the tape T to be increased. 
     The direction in which the roller  5   f  rotates is slanted with respect to the conveying direction D 2 , which is the direction in which the inner panel  10  is moved by the supporting device  3 , so that the upstream side of the conveying direction D 2  (i.e., the side towards the dispensing device  20 ) faces upward. Specifically, the roller  5   f  is slanted with respect to the conveying direction D 2  so that force acts upon the tape T toward the inside of the inner panel  10  (in the present embodiment, downward). Accordingly, due to the roller  5   f , a force pulling the tape T toward the inside of the inner panel  10  acts thereupon on the downstream side in the conveying direction D 2 , thereby allowing the trapping of air between the outer edge of the inner panel  10  and the tape T to be prevented. This allows for the more reliable prevention of the production of air bubbles by swelling air. 
     The apparatus is also provided with the spring  5   g , which controls the pressure with which the roller  5   f  presses the tape T against the inner panel  10 . Therefore, controlling pressure using the spring  5   g  allows the roller  5   f  to press the tape T against the inner panel  10  with the desired level of pressure. It is thus possible to avoid situations in which the Tape T becomes deformed due to being strongly pressed, such as wrinkles forming in the tape T, or the tape T tearing or breaking. In other words, the tape T is pressed against the inner panel  10  so as to be kept in a flat state without any deformation occurring therein, thereby allowing various problems caused by deformation of the tape T to be avoided. 
     The roller  5   f  is the feature used to press the tape T against the inner panel  10 . Thus, rolling the roller  5   f  over the tape T allows the tape T to be smoothly and uniformly pressed against the inner panel  10 , and enables the entirety of the tape T to be bonded to the inner panel  10 . This allows the wetting area of the tape T to be further increased. Rolling the roller  5   f  over the tape T to press the tape T against the panel  10  also allows damage to the tape T to be prevented. 
     The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and may take any of a variety of forms without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     For example, although the inner panel  10  is moved by the supporting device  3  in the embodiment described above in order to bond the tape T, it is also possible to bond the tape by securing the position of the inner panel and moving the dispensing device with respect to the inner panel. In other words, any arrangement is acceptable as long as the tape T is bonded to the inner panel  10  by the relative movement of the inner panel  10  and the dispensing device  20 . 
     While the pressing device  5  provided with the roller  5   f  is fixed above the stand  6  in the embodiment described above, the position of the pressing device  5  is not limited to being above the stand  6 , and can be altered as appropriate. For example, the pressing device  5  may be rested upon a factory floor or the like. 
     While in the embodiment described above, the tape T is bonded to the front surface  11   a , from which the tape T is visible after assembly, the tape T may also be bonded to both the front surface  11   a  and the rear surface  11   b  of the outer edge portion  11 . 
     While a roller  5   f  was used as the pressing part for pressing the tape T against the inner panel  10  in the embodiment described above, it is also possible to use an element other than a roller  5   f  as the pressing part, such as a squeegee or other plate-shaped member, or a member that clamps the tape T from both sides. In order to use a plate-shaped member such as a squeegee in order to create a force pressing the tape T against the inside of the inner panel  10 , the squeegee or the like must be slanted so that the upstream side thereof with respect to the conveying direction D 2  faces downward. Alternatively, for example, air may be blown in order to press the tape T against the inner panel  10 . 
     While the roller  5   f  is provided at a position near the heat-providing device  4  in the embodiment described above, the position of the roller  5   f  and the force with which the roller  5   f  presses the tape T may be altered as appropriate. For example, the roller  5   f  may be such that it presses the tape T in a single pass after the tape T has been completely bonded to the outer edge portion  11 . 
     While an inner panel  10  which constitutes a part of the door part  40  is the object to which the tape T is bonded in the embodiment described above, the tape T can be bonded to various objects. For example, the tape T may be bonded to various other automobile parts apart from doors such as hoods or trunks, to external parts for aircraft the like, or to finished articles such as industrially manufactured articles.