Method and apparatus for controlling an assembly for bonding a cover material to foam
US5792291A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 28, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 11, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 28, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T156/1031
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus (84,94) for controlling an assembly for bonding a cover (22) over the undulating surface of a foam cushion (10) controls a tool actuator cylinder (80) to tilt a tool (18) to a loading position to permit placing the cover (22) and an adhesive layer (82) on the tool, tilts the tool to a working position to permit placing the cushion on the tool, controls a plate actuator cylinder (62) to lower and raise a compression plate (58) to force air from an interior of the cushion, controls a ram actuator cylinder (90) to lower a ram (14) to pierce the cushion with a plurality of hollow needles (44) attached to a plenum chamber, controls a heater (38) to heat compressed air and eject the hot air from the needles into the cushion to elevate the temperature of the cushion and melt the adhesive, and lowers and raises the compression plate to force hot air from the interior of the cushion to cure the adhesive and bond the cover to the cushion. Then the ram (14) is raised to extract the needles (44) from the cushion (10) as the compression plate (58) is maintained in place to hold the cushion and the cover (22) against the tool (18).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.