Apparatus for forming a flexible mask
First Claim
1. A die for forming a flexible mask comprising a body having a pair of opposing outer surfaces, a plurality of openings extending through and between said pair of opposing outer surfaces and a plurality of protrusions extending from one of the opposing outer surfaces, said die comprising:
- first die means for forming said plurality of openings;
second die means positioned against said first die means for forming said plurality of protrusions, said first and second die means forming a cavity to define said mask, andstripping means positioned within said cavity for removing said flexible mask after being formed.
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Abstract
The invention is a flexible mask for use in charging a flowable material into selected cells of a honeycomb structure and is of particular utility in charging a sealing material into the ends of selected cells of such a structure during fabrication of solid particulate filter bodies and other selectively plugged honeycomb structures. The mask has a central body with a set of openings extending therethrough which allow passage of the flowable material through to the selected cells and a second set of protrusions extending from one of the surfaces of the mask which are used to align the mask to the end face of the structure and which extend into and sealably cover the cells which are not to receive the flowable material. The mask may be formed from a polymer, preferably an elastomer, using any of three disclosed die apparatuses. The mask may be used by fitting it to an end face of the structure and charging the flowable material through its openings or by fitting the mask across the orifice of an appropriate charging device, such as a ceramic cement press, and bringing the structure to the mask for fitting and charging.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A die for forming a flexible mask comprising a body having a pair of opposing outer surfaces, a plurality of openings extending through and between said pair of opposing outer surfaces and a plurality of protrusions extending from one of the opposing outer surfaces, said die comprising:
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first die means for forming said plurality of openings; second die means positioned against said first die means for forming said plurality of protrusions, said first and second die means forming a cavity to define said mask, and stripping means positioned within said cavity for removing said flexible mask after being formed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus for forming a flexible mask comprising:
a die piece having a mask-forming surface, a plurality of bores wherein said bores taper inwardly as said bores extend into said piece from said mask-forming surface for forming protrusions on said mask, first means extending from said mask-forming surface for forming a cavity defined by said bores, said first means and said surface, and second means extending from said mask-forming surface for forming a plurality of openings through said mask, said bores and said protrusions formed in rows mutually parallel and evenly spaced, said protrusions and said bores are alternated with one another across said die surface. - View Dependent Claims (7)
Specification