Method for detaching plastic components from automobiles and other products
First Claim
1. A method for detaching a plastic component from a supporting structure where the plastic component is attached to said structure by a fastener having a head and a shank, with said head engaged with a surface of the plastic component and the shank extending through the plastic component into said structure, said method comprising propelling a striker into engagement with said fastener head with sufficient force to rupture said plastic component around said fastener head and shank.
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Abstract
An improved method and apparatus for effecting separation of plastic components from associated metal components where the plastic and metal components are attached to one another by fasteners, e.g., effecting separation of plastic components from a discarded manufactured product such as an automotive vehicle. The improved method comprises impacting the heads of the fasteners in a direction leading from the plastic component to the metal component, so as to cause the plastic component to rupture around the fasteners and thereby free the plastic component from the metal component. The improved apparatus is a pneumatically-powered striker device that is designed for easy alignment of its striker with the heads of the fasteners and is capable of driving its striker against said fasteners with sufficient force and acceleration to cause rupture of the plastic component around the fasteners so as to free the plastic component from the metal component.
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Citations
6 Claims
- 1. A method for detaching a plastic component from a supporting structure where the plastic component is attached to said structure by a fastener having a head and a shank, with said head engaged with a surface of the plastic component and the shank extending through the plastic component into said structure, said method comprising propelling a striker into engagement with said fastener head with sufficient force to rupture said plastic component around said fastener head and shank.
Specification