Patent ID: 6521083
Filing Date: 2003-02-18
Classification: B29C,B60J,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for activating a ready-to-install heat activated adhesive for attaching a vehicle panel to a vehicle, the vehicle panel comprising a curved window element having a convex side and a concave side and a bead of heat activated adhesive on the concave side, the bead having an interface portion on the concave side, a central core portion, and an outer skin portion, the bead further having a heat activation temperature and a heat degradation temperature above which the adhesive degrades, said apparats comprising:a first heating component comprising a source of shortwave infared radiation adapted for heating the convex side of the curved window element in order to heat the interface portion of the bead on the concave side of the curved window element and thereby heat the core portion of the bead; a second heating component comprising a source of longwave infared radiation adapted for heating the outer skin portion of the bead of adhesive in order to heat the core portion of the bead, said heating of the core portion by said first heating component and said heating of the core portion by the second heating component heating the core portion to at least the heat activation temperature of the adhesive while maintaining the temperature of the outer skin portion below the heat degradation temperature of the adhesive; and a support adapted for supporting the curved window element, for presenting the convex side to said first heating component, for presenting the concave side to said second heating component, and for conveying the vehicle panel through a space between the first heating component and the second heating component.