Abstract: In a method and apparatus for automatically applying self-adhesive protective sheeting to surface parts of vehicle bodies, a specific rectangular piece of protective sheeting in the form of stock roll is grasped on its non-adhesive side, using a robot-controlled tentering frame with suction legs, is drawn off and is cut off. Before the sheeting blank is laid on to the body, in the freely stretched-out state tear-off lines are perforated, preferably from the non-adhesive sheeting side, in the region of accessory parts by means of a perforating device guided along definite contour lines. Thereafter the protective sheeting, which is thus prepared and stretched out so as to be free of creases in the tentering frame, is lowered in the correct position onto the associated part by the handling robot and laid onto the surface part so as to be free of bubbles. The sheetings are subsequently pressed down in a brushing manner under an elastic brushing bar extending over the entire vehicle width.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for automatically applying self-adhesive protective sheeting to surface parts of vehicle bodies, a specific rectangular piece of protective sheeting in the form of stock roll is grasped on its non-adhesive side, using a robot-controlled tentering frame with suction legs, is drawn off and is cut off. Before the sheeting blank is laid on to the body, in the freely stretched-out state tear-off lines are perforated, preferably from the non-adhesive sheeting side, in the region of accessory parts by means of a perforating device guided along definite contour lines. Thereafter the protective sheeting, which is thus prepared and stretched out so as to be free of creases in the tentering frame, is lowered in the correct position onto the associated part by the handling robot and laid onto the surface part so as to be free of bubbles. The sheetings are subsequently pressed down in a brushing manner under an elastic brushing bar extending over the entire vehicle width.