Method and apparatus for applying flowable materials

A method for applying a flowable material to a component of an automotive vehicle, the method comprising:

• providing a first surface of the component, the component including at least one contaminant material disposed thereon, the component being selected from a door beam, a closure panel, a trunk lid, a hood lid, a roof bow, a fuel filler door, exterior trim or a vehicle pillar;
• treating the first surface of the component by applying a primer to the first surface, washing the first surface or exposing the surface of the component to energy from an energy source thereby removing the at least one contaminant material from the first surface;
• extruding the flowable material upon the first surface in a slightly flowable state such that the flowable material wets and adheres to the first surface without pre-heating the surface wherein the flowable material is selected from a polyurethane based flowable material or an epoxy based flowable material and the flowable material includes an ingredient selected from a solubilizing agent, a low compatibility component, a polar ingredient or an ingredient modified with an adhesion promoter and wherein the flowable material has a base resin with a narrow molecular weight distribution;
• transporting the component along with a plurality of other components to an assembly plant;
• and
• assembling the component to the automotive vehicle prior to painting the body of the automotive vehicle.

A method for applying a flowable material to a component of an article of manufacture, the method comprising:

• providing a first surface of the component;
• and
• extruding the flowable material upon the first surface in a slightly flowable state such that the flowable material wets and adheres to the first surface, the flowable material being extruded with an automated apparatus, which includes:
• i) a supply of the flowable material, the flowable material being provided as pellets in a container;
• ii) an extruder in communication with the supply of flowable material for receiving the pellets, the extruder capable of intermixing the pellets of flowable material into a viscoelastic state and dispensing the flowable material, the extruder including a rotatable screw for dispensing the flowable material wherein the extruder includes a nozzle arrangement including an extrusion die through which material is extruded from the extruder to the component and wherein the extruder die is attached to the extruder with a quick change attachment device selected from a quick nut and bolt fastener, a hydraulic quick connect fastener or a male/female quick connect fastener and further wherein the extruder die includes a plurality of openings for emitting a plurality of beads of flowable material;
• iii) a system for moving the extruder or the component during dispensing of the flowable material wherein the system includes a robot arm, a conveyor or a carousel for moving the component;
• and
• iv) a programmable logic controller in communication with the extruder and the system wherein the programmable logic controller is programmed with a profile that relates an output rate of flowable material to a position angle of the extruder and a rotational speed of the extruder screw and wherein the programmable logic controller employs closed loop control in conjunction with the profile to set the output rate at a desired level and wherein the controller is programmed to reverse a direction of rotation of the extruder screw for retracting the flowable material a short distance after an application of the flowable material to the component.