Automated sealant application to assembled HVAC duct components and blanks for forming assembled HVAC duct components
AssigneeWilliam R. Gray
InventorWilliam R. Gray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A robotic system is provided for repeatedly and reproducibly applying a sealant to a seam in an assembled HVAC duct component. The applied sealant has a predetermined location on the assembled HVAC duct component to seal the seam. An assembled HVAC duct component is thus provided having a robot applied sealant on at least one seam in the assembled HVAC duct component, wherein the applied sealant has at least one of a predetermined location, thickness or coverage. The robotically applied sealant can be applied to a blank for forming the assembled HVAC duct component, wherein the sealant is located at locations forming a seam in the assembled HVAC duct component.
Claims17
A method of forming at least a first assembled heating, ventilation, and air conditioning duct component, the method comprising:
- (a) cutting a sheet metal blank to a predetermined configuration to form a cut sheet metal blank, the cut sheet metal blank having a first major surface and a second major surface;
- (b) retaining the cut sheet metal blank in a fixture configured to releasably retain and to present the first major surface or the second major surface to an applicator;
- (c) presenting to the applicator by the fixture, the first major surface in a first orientation of the cut sheet metal blank;
- (d) applying, with a robot, a sealant from the applicator to a predetermined portion of the first major surface in the first orientation of the cut sheet metal blank in the fixture relative to the applicator;
- (e) presenting to the applicator by the fixture, the second major surface in a different second orientation of the cut sheet metal blank;
- (f) applying, with the robot, the sealant from the applicator to a predetermined portion of the second major surface in the different second orientation of the cut sheet metal blank in of the fixture relative to the applicator;
- and
- (g) forming the cut sheet metal blank having the applied sealant on the first major surface and the second major surface, to produce the first assembled heating, ventilation, and air conditioning duct component.
A method of producing at least a first assembled heating, ventilation, and air conditioning duct component, the method comprising:
- (a) retaining a sheet metal blank in a fixture configured to releasably retain, the sheet metal blank having a first major surface and a second major surface;
- (b) presenting to the applicator by the fixture, the first major surface in a first orientation of the cut sheet metal blank;
- (c) applying, with a robot, a sealant from an applicator to a predetermined portion of the first major surface;
- (d) presenting to the applicator by the fixture, the second major surface in a different second orientation of the cut sheet metal blank;
- (e) applying, with the robot, the sealant from the applicator to a predetermined portion of the second major surface;
- (f) forming the cut sheet metal blank having the applied sealant on the first major surface and the second major surface;
- and
- (g) affixing a mechanical fastener to the formed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning duct component to produce the first assembled heating, ventilation, and air conditioning duct component.
A method of producing a first assembled heating, ventilation, and air conditioning duct component, the method comprising:
- (a) retaining a sheet metal blank in a fixture configured to releasably retain, in a predetermined orientation, the sheet metal blank having a first major surface and a second major surface;
- (b) presenting to the applicator by the fixture, the first major surface in a first orientation of the cut sheet metal blank;
- (c) applying, with a robot movable about at least two axes, a sealant from an applicator to a predetermined portion of the first major surface;
- (d) presenting to the applicator by the fixture, the second major surface in a different second orientation of the cut sheet metal blank;
- (e) applying, with the robot, the sealant from the applicator to a predetermined portion of the second major surface;
- and
- (f) forming the cut sheet metal blank having the applied sealant on the first major surface and the second major surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.