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US 2003/0155340 A1Published application
Method of and apparatus for joining profile sections
AssigneeGenCorp Property Inc.
InventorHorst Dragon
Life of this patent
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AssigneeGenCorp Property Inc.
InventorHorst Dragon
Estimating the term…
A method and apparatus for joining the ends of two profile sections (5, 6) such as two sealing, trimming or finishing strips for use in motor vehicle body construction, is shown. The two profile sections (5, 6) are clamped in respective retaining devices (18, 20) and a length of heat-responsive foil-like material (24) is unwound from a roll (22) into a position between the facing ends of the profile sections. Heaters (26-32) carried by a heater unit (34) are then moved into position between the ends of the profile sections (5, 6) and the foil (24). The outermost heaters (26, 30) heat the ends of the profile sections, and the intermost heaters (28, 32) heat the foil. The heaters (26 to 32) are then withdrawn, and the two retaining devices (18, 20) are then moved towards each other so as to move the ends of the two profile sections into contact with opposite sides of the heated foil (24) which thus heat-bonds the ends of the profile sections together. The retaining devices (18, 20) are then opened to release the joined profile sections. The heaters (26 to 32) are non-contact type heaters to avoid contaminating the foil or the ends of the profile sections. The use of the separate heaters allows the foil (24) to be heated to a temperature which is different from that of the ends of the profile sections, to achieve optimum bonding.
A method of forming a joint between respective ends of two profile sections (5,6), comprising the steps of holding the profile sections (5,6), positioning heat-responsive connecting material (24) between the ends of the profile sections (5,6), heating the connecting material (24) and the ends of the profile sections (5,6), and moving the profile sections (5,6) towards each other so that the heated ends make contact with the heated connecting material (24) whereby the connecting material (24) bonds the ends of the profile sections (5,6) together, characterised in that the heating step applies different amounts of heat to the connecting material (24) and to the ends of the profile sections (5,6).
A method according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the heating of the profile sections (5,6) and the connecting material (24) is contactless.
A method of forming a joint between respective ends of two profile sections (5,6), comprising the steps of holding the profile sections (5,6), positioning heat-responsive connecting material (24) between the profile sections (5,6), heating the connecting material (24) and the ends of the profile sections (5,6), and moving the profile sections (5,6) towards each other so that the heated ends make contact with the heated connecting material (24) whereby the connecting material (24) bonds the ends of the profile sections (5,6) together, characterised in that the connecting material (24) and the ends of the profile sections (5,6) are heated contactlessly.
A method according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the heating step is performed by heating means (26 to 32) positioned between the ends of the profile section ends (5,6) and the connecting material (24), and including the step of withdrawing the heating means (28 to 30) before moving the profile sections (5,6) towards each other.
Apparatus for forming a joint between respective ends of two profile sections (5,6), comprising retaining means (18,20) for holding the profile sections (5,6), means (22) for positioning heat-responsive connecting material (24) between the profile sections (5,6), heating means (26 to 32) for heating the connecting material (24) and the ends of the profile sections (5,6), and means for moving the retaining means (18,20) towards each other so that the heated ends of the profile sections (5,6) make contact with the heated connecting material (24) whereby the connecting material (24) bonds the ends of the profile sections (5,6) together, characterised in that the heating means (26 to 32) is adapted to apply a different amount of heat to the connecting material (24) and to the ends of the profile sections (5,6).
Apparatus for forming a joint between respective ends of two profile sections (5,6), comprising retaining means (18,20) for holding the profile sections (5,6), means (22) for positioning heat-responsive connecting material (24) between the profile sections (5,6), heating means (26 to 32) for heating the connecting material (24) and the ends of the profile sections (5,6), and means for moving the retaining means (18,20) towards each other so that the heated ends of the profile sections (5,6) make contact with the heated connecting material (24) whereby the connecting material (24) bonds the ends of the profile sections (5,6) together, characterised in that the heating means (26 to 32) is separate from the retaining means (18,20) and applies substantially no heat to any part of the profile sections (5,6) when held in the retaining means (18,20) other than the said ends thereof.
Apparatus for forming a joint between respective ends of two profile sections (5,6), comprising retaining means (18,20) for holding the profile sections (5,6), means (22) for positioning heat-responsive material (24) between the profile sections (5,6), heating means (26 to 32) for heating the connecting material (24) and the ends of the profile sections (5,6), and means for moving the retaining means (18,20) towards each other so that the heated ends of the profile sections (5,6) make contact with the heated connected material (24) whereby the connecting material (24) bonds the ends of the profile sections (5,6) together, characterised in that the heating means comprises non-contact heating means (26 to 32).
A method or apparatus according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the heat-responsive connecting material (24) is a thermoplastic material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.