Process for applying a material to a member
First Claim
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1. A process for applying a material to a member, the process comprising:
- providing a member having a surface suitable for receiving a material;
providing a mold having at least one contour;
applying the material in a viscoelastic state to the mold, the member or both, wherein;
i) the material is positioned adjacent the at least one contour of the mold, the surface of the member or both with an automated apparatus; and
ii) the material is a polymeric sealing or reinforcing material;
conforming the material, in a viscoelastic state, at least partially to the shape of the at least one contour while the material is contacting the surface of the member; and
moving the member away from the mold with the material adhered to the surface of the member.
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Abstract
There is disclosed a process for applying a material to a member having an adhesion surface. Typically, the process includes applying the material to a mold, the member or both. Thereafter, the material is at least partially conformed to the shape of the mold.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A process for applying a material to a member, the process comprising:
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providing a member having a surface suitable for receiving a material;
providing a mold having at least one contour;
applying the material in a viscoelastic state to the mold, the member or both, wherein;
i) the material is positioned adjacent the at least one contour of the mold, the surface of the member or both with an automated apparatus; and
ii) the material is a polymeric sealing or reinforcing material;
conforming the material, in a viscoelastic state, at least partially to the shape of the at least one contour while the material is contacting the surface of the member; and
moving the member away from the mold with the material adhered to the surface of the member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A process for applying a material to a member of an automotive vehicle, the process comprising:
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providing a member of an automotive vehicle, the member having a surface suitable for receiving a material;
providing a mold having at least one cavity suitable for receiving a material;
applying the material in a viscoelastic state to the mold, the member or both, wherein;
i) the material is extruded into the at least one cavity with an automated apparatus that includes an extruder and a robot for moving the extruder relative to the mold; and
ii) the material is a sealing or reinforcing material;
conforming the material, in a viscoelastic state, at least partially to the shape of the at least one cavity while the material is contacting the surface of the member;
moving the member away from the mold with the material adhered to the surface of the member; and
activating the material at elevated temperatures during a paint processing step of the automotive vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A process for applying a material to a member of an automotive vehicle, the process comprising:
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providing a member of an automotive vehicle, the member having a surface suitable for receiving a material, the member being a cover fuel sender;
providing a mold having at least one cavity suitable for receiving a material;
applying the material to the mold, the member or both in a viscoelastic state at a temperature below 70°
C., whereini) the material is extruded into the at least one cavity with an automated apparatus that includes an extruder and a robot for moving the extruder relative to the mold; and
ii) the material is heat expandable and heat curable;
conforming the material, in a viscoelastic state, at least partially to the shape of the at least one cavity while the material is contacting the surface of the member;
moving the member away from the mold with the material adhered to the surface of the member; and
curing the material at elevated temperatures during a paint processing step of the automotive vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification