US3755873A - Weatherstrip assembly apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A zig zag wire carrier is continuously formed into a channel shape, and a continuously formed, elastomeric covering strip having a weatherseal element is wrapped around and secured to the channel. The wire channel is guided to straddle an inserter roll, and the body of the covering strip has inturned edges that are spread open by a spreading device as the strip approaches a wrapper adjacent the inserter roll. The wire channel is inserted in between the spread edges of the covering strip, and the wrapper roll presses the covering strip around the wire channel so that the inturned edges of the covering strip are tucked inside the wire channel. Then the legs of the channel are bent inward to complete the product.

Description

fi ment n 1 harming WEATHERSTRW ASSEMBLY APPARATUS lnventor: Frederick J. Lansing, Rochester,

Assignee: The Schlegel Manufacturing Company, Rochester, NY.

Filed: Apr. 27, 1972 Appl. No.: 248,287

[52] U.S. Cl. 29/202.5

[51] llnt. Cl..... 1323p 19/04 [58] Field ofSearch 29/202.5, 429, 400 R, 29/200 B, 208 D [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,565,477 8/1951 Crowell et a1. 29/202.5

3,529,340 9/1970 Polizzano et al.... 29/202.5

3,689,982 9/1972 Campbell 29/202.5

Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager Attorney-Crumpston, Shaw & Stephens [57] ABSTRAUK A zig zag wire carrier is continuously formed into a channel shape, and a continuously formed, elastomeric covering strip having a weatherseal element is wrapped around and secured to the channel. The wire channel is guided to straddle an inserter roll, and the body of the covering strip has inturned edges that are spread open by a spreading device as the strip approaches a wrapper adjacent the inserter roll. The wire channel is inserted in between the spread edges of the covering strip, and the wrapper roll presses the covering strip around the wire channel so that the inturned edges of the covering strip are tucked inside the wire channel. Then the legs of the channel are bent inward to complete the product.

5 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures FORMER I l t u M l s i z itg g 1 6 5 W CHANNEL J Patented Sept. 4, 1973 8 Sheets-Sheet l mmzmom Juzz Iu az M050 Patented Sept. 4, 1973 3,755,873

8 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

FIG. 4

53 FIG. 5

PIC-3.6 F|G.7

Patented Sept. 4, 1973 3,755,873

8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 4, 1973 3,755,873

8 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. IO

Patented Sept. 4, 1973 3,755,873

8 Sheets-Sheet 5 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. I2

Patented Sept. 4, 1973 3,755,873

8 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG. I?)

Patented Sept. 4, 1973 3,755,873

8 Sheets-Sheet 8 I WEATHERSTRIF ASSEMBLY APPARATUS THE INVENTIVE IMPROVEMENT Weatherstrips suitable for use around the doors and windows of motor vehicles commonly use a carrier device for gripping an edge to hold the Weatherstrip in place. Many different door and frame shapes, and wide ranges for manufacturing tolerances have required a large number of such Weatherstrip constructions.

The invention involves recognition of the possibility of mechanically assembling an extruded, elastomeric weather-seal element of the proper configuration and characteristics with a zig-zag wire carrier formed into a channel shape, all in one continuous operation for a substantial saving over previous constructions using different carriers and assembly methods. The invention aims at simplicity and economy combined with functional reliability.

A presently preferred Weatherstrip material is formed of an elastomer that is extruded to blow into an expanded, closed cellular strip. The nature of the extrusion process causes considerable variation in the width, thickness and resilience of the extruded strip so that it is difficult to assemble with a carrier. However, the invention suggests equipment that successfully assembles such an extruded strip with a zig-zag wire carrier formed into a channel shape in synchronization with the extruder for one continuous operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventive Weatherstrip assembly apparatus includes means for continuously forming a zig-zag wire carrier into a channel shape, and means for continuously forming an elastomeric covering strip having a weatherseal element and an adjacent body for wrapping around the wire channel. The body of the covering strip has inturned edges for tucking inside the wire channel. A guide directs the wire channel to straddle an inserter roll for placing the wire channel in the body of the covering strip. A spreader spreads open the body of the covering strip to separate the inturned edges, and a wrapper roll wraps the body around the wire carrier so the inturned edges tuck inside the channel. A guide adjacent the spreader controls the spreading and wrapping of the covering strip, and after the inturned edges of the covering strip body are tucked into the channel, the legs of the channel are bent inward.

DRAWINGS FIG. I is a partially schematic, elevational view of the inventive assembly apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the zig-zag wire carrier used in the inventive apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a crosssectional view of the formed wire channel taken along theline 3 3 of FIG. ll;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the covering strip used in the invention and taken along thelines 4 4 of FIG. ll;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the covering strip wrapped around the wire channel and taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the completed product taken along theline 6 6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, elevational view of a guide for the covering strip;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, elevational view of a channel guide for the inventive apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the channel guide of FIG. 8, taken along theline 9 9 thereof;

FIG. 10 is an elevation of the guide and spreader for the machine of FIG. I;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, elevational view of an inserter and wrapper roll for the inventive apparatus;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the inserter and wrapper rolls of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a spreader used in the machine of FIG. I;

FIG. M is an elevation of the spreader of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary, elevational view of the position of the wire channel on the inserter roll;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the final forming of the wire channel taken along theline 16 16 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the rollers for squeezing in the channel legs and taken along theline 17 117 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The main components of theinventive machine 10 are schematically shown in FIG. I. A zig-zag wire carrier Ill, such as illustrated in FIG. 2, is fed to a known channel former 12 having forming :rolls to shape carrier I ll into a zig-zag wire channel l3 such as shown in FIG. 3. Meanwhile, an extruder M continuously forms anelastomeric Weatherstrip 15 shown in cross section in FIG. 4.Elastorneric strip 15 is preferably of rubber or rubberlike material and has closed cells that expand somewhat after leaving extruder 14 to bringstrip 15 to its full dimensions. This expansion is difficult to control so that the manufacturing tolerances forstrip 15 ordinarily vary over a range wide enough to cause assembly problems.

Guides 16 and 17 respectivelydirect wire channel 13 and coveringstrip 15 toward a guide and spreader I8 arranged adjacent aninserter roll 19 and a wrappingroll 20. Details of guide and spreader I8 and inserter and wrapper rolls I9 and 20 are more fully explained below, but generally these components work in cooperation to spreadopen covering strip 15,insert wire channel 13 intostrip 15, and wrapstrip 15 aroundwire channel 13 to secure the two together. The assembled product 2I leaving inserter and wrapper rolls I9 and 20 is shown in FIG. 5.

Aguide 22 directs assembledproduct 21 to achannel forming roll 23 opposite a back-up roll 24 for pressing down on the bottom of the wire channel to help draw its free legs inward. Then theproduct 21 passes etweenformer rolls 25 that press inward against its edges to squeeze the legs of the channel inward to produce thefinal product 26 having a narrow, gripping channel as shown in FIG. 6.

Considering the process and apparatus in greater detail, zig-zag wire carrier 11 is formed of a metal orplastic monofilament wire 27 held in azig-zag shape bylongitudinal stitching 28 as generally known. When carrier lll is formed intowire channel 13 as shown in FIG. 3, it haschannel legs 29 terminating infree end loops 30, and itschannel bottom 31 is preferably curved convexly inward as illustrated.

Covering strip has ahollow weatherseal element 32 in a generally circular cross-section and abody 33 for wrapping aroundchannel 13.Body 33 has inturned ends 34 and 35 extending inward along the edges ofbody 33 and divided as illustrated. Covering strip I5 can have many different shapes depending upon the sealing requirements to be met, but generallybody 33 is sized and shaped for wrapping aroundchannel 13, andweatherseal element 32, which may have a crosssection other than circular, isadjacent body 32.Strip 15 is preferably formed of an elastomeric and resilient material that is relatively soft and resilient, and preferably is foamed to produce a closed-cell structure.

Guide 17 for directingstrip 15 is preferably formed of a low friction material and has an opening 36 comfortably larger than the cross section ofstrip 15 for steeringstrip 15 in the desired direction.

Guide 16 of FIGS. 8 and 9 is adjustably mounted onarm 37 and carries aguide block 38 for closing in and directingwire channel 13 without any twisting ofchannel 13 from the illustrated upright orientation.

Guide andspreader 18 is best shown in FIGS. and 11, and 13. Aguide block 39 has achannel 40 that steerswire channel 13 accurately without twisting so thatchannel 13 runs astraddleinserter roll 19 as best shown in FIG. 15.Ledges 41 oninserter roll 19 are positioned to receive the free loop ends 310 ofchannel 13 to supportchannel 13 accurately astraddleinserter roll 19.

Underneathguide block 39, aspreader 42 is supported by ascrew 43 and spaced fromguide block 29 by a spacer 44.Spreader 42 is also shown in plan view in FIG. 13 and in elevation in 1 16. 14. As illustrated in FIG. 10,spreader 42 runs insidebody 33 to spread apartinturned edges 34 and 35 as illustrated. A fixed guide block 45adjacent spreader 42 assists in the spreading operation, andspreader 42 and guide block 45 have different shapes for different cross sections of coveringstrip 15.Spreader 42 gradually enlarges from its leading end 46 and preferably extends far enough to straddlewire carrier 13 in thechannel 47 in the trailing end ofspreader 42. This assures thatinturned edges 34 and 35 are held apart and lifted ascarrier 13 is inserted inbody 33.

Anotherguide block 48 alongsidespreader 42 is preferably vertically adjustable by means of an adjustingknob 49 and a screw 50.Guide block 48 engagesweatherseal element 32 as illustrated, and the vertical position ofguide block 48 determines the downward pressure onweather seal element 32. Ifbody 33 is sufficiently wide for wrapping aroundcarrier 13 without lateral tensioning, then guideblock 48 is run in an upper position with very little pressure onseal element 32. However, ifbody 33 is a bit narrow for wrapping aroundchannel 13, then guideblock 48 is lowered to press down harder onseal 32 and stretch the elastomeric material downward to allow a little more stretch across the bottom ofbody 33.

inserter roll 19 has aflange 51 that engagesseal element 32 as strip is wrapped aroundcarrier 13 straddlinginserter roll 19.Seal 32 then rests betweeninserter roll 19 andflange 51 and is restrained from going beyondflange 51. Wrapper roll has aridge 52 that engages coveringstrip 15 in the groove betweenseal element 32 andbody 33 for pressing upward on coveringstrip 15 to wrapinturned end 35 aroundcarrier 13. Achannel 53 inwrapper roll 20forms body 33 around the bottom ofchannel 13, and aflange 54opposite ridge 52 engagesbody 33 to pushinturned edge 34 up over the edge ofchannel 13. Then asstrip 15 andchannel 13 leave rolls 19 and 30 they are assembled into aproduct 21 shown in FIG. 5 with inturned ends 34 and 35 tucked inside ofchannel 13. This is facilitated by proper adjustment ofguide block 43 controlling the lateral stretch ofbody 33 ofstrip 15.

Assembled product 21 is then led to a thinformer roll 23 opposite a back-up roll 24 having acentral groove 55 so thatformer roll 23 can press down and flatten the inwardlyconvex bottom 31 ofchannel 13. This tends to bendlegs 29 inward, and thegroove 55 in back-up roll 24 prevents pressure from forming, and roll 23 from cutting throughbody 33.

Beyondformer roll 23, a pair of preferably driven rolls 25 engage opposite sides of the assembled product and squeeze inward as illustrated in FIG. 7 to bendchannel legs 29 further inward to produce thefinished product 26 shown in FIG. 6. The relativelyclosed channel 13 carrying inturned ends 34 and 35 can then be pressed over an edge around an automotive door or window to holdweatherseal 32 in proper position for sealing. The Weatherstrip retains itself in proper position with inturned ends 34 and 35 providing a frictional grip, andwire channel 13 providing a resilient squeeze.Seal element 32 then bridges gaps between a door and frame and yieldably engages both the door and the frame for an effective seal.

The inventive apparatus allows continuous and economical formation of a Weatherstrip having a preferred soft and elastomeric cover over a springy, wire carrier channel. Such combination has many advantages of functional and economic significance, and the inventive apparatus allows the product to be made at high speeds and accuracy.

Persons wishing to practice the invention should remember that other embodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances. Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing and defining the invention, this should not inhibit broader or related embodiments going beyond the semantic orientation of this application but falling within the spirit of the invention. For example, those skilled in the art will appreciate the different Weatherstrip configurations that can be made on the inventive apparatus, and will understand different drives, guides, spreaders and roll shapes for assembling any desired weather seal according to the invention.

I claim:

1. Weatherstrip assembly apparatus comprising:

means for continuously forming a zig-zag wire carrier into a channel shape;

b. means for continuously forming an elastomeric covering strip having a weatherseal element and an adjacent body for wrapping around said wire channel, said body having inturned edges for tucking inside said wire channel;

0. an inserter roll for placing said wire channel in said body of said covering strip;

d. a guide for directing said wire channel to straddle said inserter roll;

e. a wrapper roll for wrapping said body around said wire carrier so said inturned edges tuck inside said channel;

f. said wrapper roll being adjacent said inserter roll;

g. a spreader arranged in the region of the approach of said covering strip to said wrapper roll for spreading open said body of said covering strip;

h. said spreader straddling said wire carrier on said inserter roll;

varying the lateral stretching tension on said body.

4. The apparatus of claim ll wherein the bottom of said Wire channel is inwardly convex, and said means for bending the legs of said channel inward includes a thin roller for bending said channel bottom substantially flat.

5. The apparatus of claim 4i including side rollers for squeezing the legs of said channel inward after flattening of said channel bottom.

Pk t WK l t

Claims (5)

1. Weatherstrip assembly apparatus comprising: means for continuously forming a zig-zag wire carrier into a channel shape; b. means for continuously forming an elastomeric covering strip having a weatherseal element and an adjacent body for wrapping around said wire channel, said body having inturned edges for tucking inside said wire channel; c. an inserter roll for placing said wire channel in said body of said covering strip; d. a guide for directing said wire channel to straddle said inserter roll; e. a wrapper roll for wrapping said body around said wire carrier so said inturned edges tuck inside said channel; f. said wrapper roll being adjacent said inserter roll; g. a spreader arranged in the region of the approach of said covering strip to said wrapper roll for spreading open said body of said covering strip; h. said spreader straddling said wire carrier on said inserter roll; i. a guide adjacent said spreader for engaging and guiding said weather seal element; and j. means for bending the legs of said channel inward after said inturned edges of said body are tucked into said channel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inserter roll has ledges radially inward from the periphery of said inserter roll for supporting the free ends of said wire channel in said straddling position on said inserter roll.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for vertically adjusting said guide adjacent said spreader for varying the lateral stretching tension on said body.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bottom of said wire channel is inwardly convex, and said means for bending the legs of said channel inward includes a thin roller for bending said channel bottom substantially flat.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including side rollers for squeezing the legs of said channel inward after flattening of said channel bottom.

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