Systems and apparatuses for applying glutinous substances

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10105728-B2
Application number	US-201615009431-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2016
Priority date	Oct 15, 2015
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering a glutinous substance from a cartridge to an applicator is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a sleeve and a pressure-cap assembly coupled to the sleeve. The pressure-cap assembly comprises a pressure cap proximate an inlet of the sleeve. The pressure cap is movable between, inclusively, a closed position, in which the pressure cap is in sealed engagement with a trailing end of the cartridge, and an open position, in which the pressure cap provides clearance sufficient for insertion of the cartridge inside the sleeve through the inlet of the sleeve. The pressure cap comprises a pressure input, through which pressure is selectively applied to the glutinous substance in the cartridge. The apparatus also comprises an applicator interface proximate the outlet of the sleeve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for delivering a glutinous substance from a cartridge to an applicator, the apparatus comprising:
a sleeve, comprising a central axis, an inlet, and an outlet opposite the inlet, wherein the sleeve is configured to receive the cartridge through the inlet;
a pressure-cap assembly, coupled to the sleeve and comprising:
a pressure cap proximate the inlet of the sleeve, wherein:
with the cartridge received within the sleeve, the pressure cap is movable between, inclusively, a closed position, in which the pressure cap is in sealed engagement with a trailing end of the cartridge, and an open position, in which the pressure cap provides clearance sufficient for insertion of the cartridge inside the sleeve through the inlet of the sleeve, and
the pressure cap comprises a first pressure input, through which pressure is selectively applied to the glutinous substance in the cartridge with the cartridge received within the sleeve, the pressure cap in the closed position, and a leading end of the cartridge in sealed engagement with the applicator; and

an actuator, coupled to the pressure cap and to the sleeve, wherein the actuator is selectively operable to move the pressure cap relative to the sleeve between, inclusively, the closed position and the open position; and

an applicator interface proximate the outlet of the sleeve, wherein the applicator interface is configured to releasably retain the applicator so that the applicator is sealingly coupled with the leading end of the cartridge with the pressure cap in the closed position, wherein the applicator interface comprises:
a receptacle, cross-sectionally complementary to a receptacle interface of the applicator; and
a retainer, rotatable relative to the receptacle.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure, selectively applied to the glutinous substance in the cartridge through the first pressure input of the pressure cap, is pneumatic pressure.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure cap further comprises a gasket, configured to form a seal between the pressure cap and an interior surface of the cartridge with the pressure cap in the closed position and the applicator retained by the applicator interface.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the pressure-cap assembly further comprises an arm, pivotable about an axis that is fixed relative to the sleeve and is perpendicular to the central axis of the sleeve; and
the pressure cap is coupled with the arm.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein:
the pressure-cap assembly further comprises a lock mechanism, mechanically coupling the arm with the actuator; and
the lock mechanism is configured to releasably lock the pressure cap in the closed position by releasably locking the arm relative to the sleeve.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the actuator is selectively operable to move the lock mechanism between, inclusively, a locked position, in which the arm is releasably locked relative to the sleeve so the pressure cap is releasably locked in the closed position, and an unlocked position, in which the arm is arranged relative to the sleeve so that the pressure cap is in the open position.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein:
the actuator is pneumatically operable; and
with the lock mechanism in the locked position, the lock mechanism remains in the locked position if the actuator loses pressure.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the lock mechanism comprises an over-center linkage.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein:
the pressure cap is pivotable relative to the arm; and
the pressure-cap assembly further comprises a biasing element configured to torsionally bias the pressure cap relative to the arm.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the biasing element comprises a torsion spring.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a second pressure input proximate the outlet of the sleeve, wherein pressure is selectively applied through the second pressure input to the cartridge to eject the cartridge from the sleeve through the inlet of the sleeve.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the second pressure input communicates pressure into the sleeve through the outlet of the sleeve.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the pressure, selectively applied to the cartridge through the second pressure input, is pneumatic pressure.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a control valve, pneumatically coupled to the first pressure input of the pressure cap and to the actuator, wherein the control valve is configured to disable operation of the actuator by preventing pressure from being communicated to the actuator with the pressure cap in the closed position and pressure applied to the glutinous substance in the cartridge through the first pressure input.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor configured to be coupled to the applicator.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , further comprising a pressure-signal conditioner, electrically coupled to the pressure sensor.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to be coupled to the applicator.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17 , further comprising a temperature-signal conditioner, electrically coupled to the temperature sensor.

19. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the retainer comprises an aperture;
the aperture is configured so that the receptacle interface of the applicator is retained inside the applicator interface with the retainer in at least one retaining orientation relative to the receptacle; and
the aperture is configured so that the receptacle interface of the applicator is removable from the applicator interface with the retainer in at least one releasing orientation relative to the receptacle.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the aperture of the retainer has a shape identical to that of a cross-section of the receptacle, perpendicular to the central axis of the sleeve.

21. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises at least one grip element extending from the retainer.

22. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the applicator interface comprises a plurality of detents, configured to provide the at least one retaining orientation of the retainer relative to the receptacle and the at least one releasing orientation of the retainer relative to the receptacle; and
each of the plurality of detents is configured to selectively releasably fix the retainer relative to the receptacle in one of the at least one retaining orientation or the at least one releasing orientation relative to the receptacle.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the at least one retaining orientation of the retainer relative to the receptacle is at least four retaining orientations and the at least one releasing orientation of the retainer relative to the receptacle is at least four releasing orientations.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein the at least one retaining orientation of the retainer relative to the receptacle is at least six retaining orientations and the at least one releasing orientation of the retainer relative to the receptacle is at least six releasing orientations.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Pringle Iv John W
• Brown John J
• Davancens Angelica
• Frontiera Frederick B
• Guirguis Martin
• Tomuta Raul
• Topf Richard P
• Trend Don D
• Weinmann Jake B

Classifications

• Y10T29/49819

  with conveying of work or disassembled work part · CPC title

• Y10T29/49815

  Disassembling · CPC title

• B23Q2003/15537

  Linearly moving storage devices · CPC title

• B23Q3/15566

  the tool being inserted in a tool holder directly from a storage device, i.e. without using transfer devices · CPC title

• B25J9/1692

  Calibration of manipulator · CPC title