GB2349838A

GB2349838A - Adhesive applicator

Info

Publication number: GB2349838A
Application number: GB9909764A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Harry Wilding
Original assignee: INBIS Ltd
Current assignee: INBIS Ltd
Priority date: 1999-04-29
Filing date: 1999-04-29
Publication date: 2000-11-15
Also published as: GB9909764D0

Abstract

An applicator (10) for applying adhesive, for example, to the slot of a slot joint comprises a body for receiving the adhesive and defining a hole (16) through which the adhesive may exit. A guide (18), which is dimensioned for a flush fit with the sides of the slot, enables the body to be guided in the slot whilst the adhesive is applied. The body comprises a tube (12) and a blade (14) and the guide (18) comprises a bar connected to the tube by connecting rods (20, 22). In use the blade and bar are inserted in the slot in which adhesive is to be applied and adhesive is pumped through the hole in the body of the applicator to flow past the side and bottom of the blade and coat the sides and bottom of the slot.

Description

I 2349838 -1 Apolicator The present invention relates to an applicator,

and particularly, although not exclusively, to an adhesive applicator.

There is an industrial requirement for adhesively bonded, slotted joints. Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide improvements on adhesive applicators suitable for use when bonding slotted joints.

According to the present invention there is provided an applicator comprising a body adapted to receive a material to be applied, a guide, and means to allow the material to exit from the body, the guide enabling the body to be guided whilst material exiting the body is applied.

Preferably the applicator body comprises a tube and a blade.

Preferably the tube and blade are integral. Alternatively, they could be manufactured separately and fixed together.

Preferably the means to allow the material to exit from the body comprises a hole, which is preferably disposed in the blade.

Preferably the guide comprises a bar, which is preferably connected to the tube by at least one connecting rod.

When the applicator is for use in a slot, the guide is preferably dimensioned for a flush fit with the sides of the slot.

Preferably the lowest connecting rod is joined to the applicator body at the interface between the tube and the blade of the applicator body.

Preferably the applicator is manufactured from a plastics material by injection moulding. Alternatively the applicator could be manufactured from metal.

Preferably the material comprises an adhesive.

In order that the present invention be more readily understood an embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side eievational view of an applicator in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a front elevational view of the applicator of figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the applicator of figure 1; Referring to the drawings an applicator 10 comprises a hollow tube 12. Typically the hollow tube 12 will have an outer diameter of 10.0 mm and an inner diameter of 8.4 mm. One end of the tube 12 is flattened to form a blade 14. The blade 14 thus comprises two edges and two flat surfaces. A hole 16 is machined into one of the edges of the blade 14. The hole 16 runs from approximately the centre of the edge to the end of the blade removed from the tube 12.

A guide bar 18 is attached to the tube 12 and is parallel to the tube 12. The guide bar 18 is fixed by two rods 20, 22. The first rod 20 connects the guide bar to the tube 12 at the point where the tube has been flattened into the blade. The second rod 22 joins the bar to the tube further along the length of the tube than the first bar. The guide bar 18 extends beyond the blade end of the applicator. The applicator is manufactured from a plastics material, using injection moulding methods.

In use the applicator is used in connection with slot joints. The surfaces to be bonded are prepared, typically by abrasion methods.

The blade 14 and guide bar 18 are inserted into the slot. The applicator is inserted into one end of the slot so that the hole 16 in the blade 14 faces along the length of the slot. The guide bar 18 is configured so as to be flush with the walls and floor of the slot. The blade 14 is configured so as to be narrower than the slot width and short of the slot floor. The precise dimensions of the blade 14 are chosen so as to be appropriate with the slot width and the thickness of the adhesive layer required. For example, if a 1 mm adhesive layer thickness is required the blade 14 would need a width of 2 mm less than the slot width. This allows a 1 mm gap on each side on the blade. The lower connecting rod 20 is disposed at the interface between the tube and blade. This point is configured so as to be level with the top of the slot joint. Therefore a chamber is formed between the guide bar 18, the blade 14, the lower connecting rod 20 and the floor and walls of the slot. A pump is attached to the tube 12 of the applicator. Adhesive is pumped through the applicator. The adhesive is injected through the hole 16 in the blade 14 into the chamber. The guide provides a dam at the front of the chamber and dynamically seals the front of the chamber.

The applicator is moved along the length of the slot. The applicator is moved along at a rate matched to the adhesive flow. As adhesive is being pumped into the chamber, the motion of the applicator results in adhesive flowing passed the sides and bottom of the blade and coating the sides and bottom of the slot. The lower connecting rod controls the upper boundary of the adhesive at the slot edge. When the applicator reaches the other end of the slot the adhesive supply is discontinued and the applicator withdrawn. A component may now be inserted into the slot. Typically it will be secured in position whilst the adhesive cures. Once cured the securing means may be removed.

A particular applicator will be designed for a specific slot. A range of applicators could be provided for a range of slot sizes. For example, when coating a slot having a depth of 40 mm and a width of 6 mm it may be possible to achieve an application rate of 1 metre/mm for an adhesive thickness of 1 mm.

It will be appreciated that the above embodiment described is by way of example only, and that many variations and modifications 1 -5 are possible within the scope of the invention.

One such variation is that the applicator could be used in conjunction with materials other than adhesive. For example, lubricants could be applied to an area by the applicator. Since the viscosities of different materials will not be the same the applicator will have to be moved along the slot at a rate to match the new material flow.

A second variation would be to manufacture the applicator from metal. Suitable metals would be copper for the tube 12 and blade 14, and brass for the guide bar 18 and connecting rods 20, 22.

Claims

-6CLAIMS

1 An applicator comprising a body adapted to receive a material to be applied, a guide, and means to allow the material to exit from the body, the guide enabling the body to be guided whilst material exiting the body is applied.

2. An applicator as claimed in claim 1, in which the body comprises a tube and a blade.

3. An applicator as claimed in claim 2, in which the tube and blade are integral.

4. An applicator as claimed in claim 2, in which the tube and blade are separate components fixed together.

5. An applicator as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the means to allow the material to exit from the body comprises a hole.

6. An applicator as claimed in claim 5, when appendant directly or indirecty to claim 2. in which the hole is disposed in the blade.

7. An applicator as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the guide comprises a bar.

8. An applicator as claimed in claim 7, in which the bar is connected to the tube by at least one connecting rod.

9. An applicator as claimed in claim 7, when appendant directly or indirectly to claim 2, in which there is more then one connecting rod and one rod is joined to the applicator body at the interface between the tube and the blade of the body.

10. An applicator as claimed in any preceding claim, which is injection moulded from plastics material.

11. An applicator as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, which is made from metal.

12 An applicator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.