Sealant applicator
First Claim
1. An applicator for applying an annular bead of sealant to a wall of an aperture in a workpiece comprising:
- an applicator head having a dauber rotatively mounted thereon, said dauber having an end and a flexible, convexly contoured applicator tip affixed to said end,means associated with said applicator head for rotating said dauber,a sealant supply including a reservoir and supply means for supplying said reservoir with sealant, said reservoir having an opening and a sealant-permeable member operably associated with said opening, said permeable member having a shearing surface communicating with the exterior of said reservoir, said supply means for supplying sealant to said reservoir to feed sealant through said permeable member to provide a predetermined amount of sealant evenly over said shearing surface,means associated with said applicator head for moving said applicator tip between a first position wherein said applicator tip contacts said shearing surface to receive an annular bead of sealant thereon and a workpiece engagement position wherein said applicator tip engages the aperture wall in said workpiece to apply an annular bead of sealant to said aperture wall.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sealant applicator for applying a sealant to the countersink portion of a rivet bore in a workpiece includes an applicator head, a sealant supply, and a drive unit for moving the applicator head between the countersunk surface and the sealant supply. A sealant dauber is rotatably and adjustably mounted on the applicator head and is driven by a motor, also mounted on the head. A flexible applicator tip is fitted to one end of the dauber for receiving sealant from the sealant supply and applying it to the countersink surface. The sealant is supplied to the applicator tip from a reservior having an opening in which is located a sealant permeable member. Sealant is supplied to the reservoir from a sealant cartridge. A predetermined amount of sealant is passed through and is maintained above the permeable member before the applicator tip contacts the permeable member. When the applicator tip engages the permeable member a bead of sealant attaches to the tip. As the rotating applicator tip is removed from the reservoir opening, the sealant is sheared from the central portion of the permeable member, leaving a uniform annular bead of adhesive that is precisely positoned on the applicator tip. The applicator tip is then inserted in the rivet bore so that the tip surface engages the countersink surface and transfers the sealant to the countersink surface. The drive unit moves the applicator head, and thus the applicator tip, sequentially between three locations: a standby location wherein the tip is positioned adjacent and above the rivet bore; a workpiece engagement location wherein the tip engages the rivet bore; and a supply location wherein the tip engages the permeable member in the reservoir.
18 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An applicator for applying an annular bead of sealant to a wall of an aperture in a workpiece comprising:
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an applicator head having a dauber rotatively mounted thereon, said dauber having an end and a flexible, convexly contoured applicator tip affixed to said end, means associated with said applicator head for rotating said dauber, a sealant supply including a reservoir and supply means for supplying said reservoir with sealant, said reservoir having an opening and a sealant-permeable member operably associated with said opening, said permeable member having a shearing surface communicating with the exterior of said reservoir, said supply means for supplying sealant to said reservoir to feed sealant through said permeable member to provide a predetermined amount of sealant evenly over said shearing surface, means associated with said applicator head for moving said applicator tip between a first position wherein said applicator tip contacts said shearing surface to receive an annular bead of sealant thereon and a workpiece engagement position wherein said applicator tip engages the aperture wall in said workpiece to apply an annular bead of sealant to said aperture wall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An applicator tip for picking up an annular bead of sealant from a supply source comprising:
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an applicator head having a dauber rotatably mounted thereon, said dauber having an end and an applicator tip affixed to said end, means associated with said applicator head for rotating said dauber, an open reservoir and supply means for supplying said reservoir with sealant, said reservoir having a deformable sealant-permeable member operably associated with said opening, said permeable member having a shearing surface communicating with the exterior of said reservoir, said reservoir and said supply means cooperating to cause a predetermined amount of sealant to permeate said sealant-permeable member, and means associated with said applicator head for moving said applicator tip between a position remote from said shearing surface and a position wherein at least a portion of said applicator tip is in contact with said shearing surface when said dauber is being rotated.
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14. An applicator for picking up an annular bead of sealant from a supply source comprising:
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an applicator head having a dauber rotatably mounted thereon, said dauber having an end and a convexly countoured applicator tip affixed to said end, means associated with said applicator head for rotating said dauber, an open reservoir and supply means for supplying said reservoir with sealant, said reservoir having a sealant-permeable member operably associated with said opening, said permeable member having a shearing surface communicating with the exterior of said reservoir, said reservoir and said supply means cooperating to cause a predetermined amount of sealant to permeate said sealant permeable member, and means associated with said applicator head for removing said applicator tip between a position remote from said shearing surface and a position wherein at least a portion of said applicator tip is in contact with said shearing surface when said dauber is being rotated.
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15. An applicator for picking up an annular bead of sealant from a supply source comprising:
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an applicator head having a dauber rotatably mounted thereon, said dauber having an end and a deformable applicator tip affixed to said end, means associated with said applicator head for rotating said dauber, an open reservoir and supply means for supplying said reservoir with sealant, said reservoir having a sealant-permeable member operably associated with said opening, said permeable member having a shearing surface communicating with the exterior of said reservoir, said reservoir and said supply means cooperating to cause a predetermined amount of sealant to permeate said sealant permeable-member, and means associated with said applicator head for moving said applicator tip between a position remote from said shearing surface and a position wherein at least a portion of said applicator tip is in contact with said shearing surface when said dauber is being rotated.
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Specification