METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A MOLD-IN-PLACE GASKET

• Main Authors: CROSS, ROBERT, P, KRUEGER, GREGORY, A, DUCH, DEBORA, E, HORELIK, ANTHONY, R
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 18.09.2008
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; BLASTING; CYLINDERS; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULARARTICLES; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PISTONS; SEALINGS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRANSPORTING; WEAPONS; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A method and apparatus forms a mold-in-place gasket on a work piece. A loading station is provided for loading the work piece in a mold. An injection station injects UV-curable gasket material onto the work piece. A UV curing station applies UV energy to the gasket material to cure the material. An ejection station is provided for ejecting the work piece, including the gasket formed thereon from the mold. A transfer system provides for transferring the work piece among the loading station, the injection station, the UV curing station and the ejection station. La présente invention concerne un procédé et un appareil de formation d'une garniture d'étanchéité moulée sur place sur une pièce de travail. Un poste de chargement sert à charger la pièce de travail dans un moule. Un poste d'injection injecte le matériau de garniture d'étanchéité durcissant aux UV sur la pièce de travail. Un poste de durcissement aux UV applique l'énergie UV au matériau de garniture d'étanchéité pour durcir le matériau. Un poste d'éjection sert à éjecter du moule la pièce de travail, y compris la garniture d'étanchéité formée dessus. Un système de transfert sert à transférer la pièce de travail entre le poste de chargement, le poste d'injection, le poste de durcissement aux UV et le poste d'éjection.