Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for bonding a trim cover to a foam pad along a conveyor assembly line

US6083337A · kind A · utility

6Cited by
15References
43Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 19, 1998
Grant dateJul 4, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 19, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T156/1768
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An assembly for use in bonding an trim cover to a foam pad along a pair of conveyor line in a process of a plurality of stations. A plurality of tool carriers are transported along each of the conveyor lines to each station. The tool carrier supports at least one mold assembly for bonding an air impervious adhesive film between the cover and the foam pad. A collar assembly pivotally supports a press platen above the mold assembly and provides pivotal movement between an open position spaced at a predetermined angle above the mold assembly and a closed position compressing the foam pad against the trim cover and mold assembly. The tool carrier includes a pair of vacuum inlet connectors for engagement by a vacuum snorkel to provide vacuum pressure to the mold assembly and travel with the tool carrier along the conveyor line between consecutive process stations. The tool carrier also includes a pair of heat connectors and a second dirty vacuum connector which are engaged at several stations by heat snorkels and a vacuum snorkel, respectively, to provide heat to the mold assembly for melting the adhesive and then dirty vacuum pressure to cure the bond between the trim cover and foam pa…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.