GASKETS AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING GASKETS

摘要

A method of making a compression gasket (10) having a predetermined gasket body pattern includes the steps of forming a gasket preform (20) of a flowable elastomeric compound, and compressing the preform between two planar plates (14, 16) to form a gasket (10) having the predetermined gasket body pattern. Furthermore, an apparatus for making a compression gasket includes a dispensing head (32), a numerical control motion generator (26), and a data storage and retrieval system (26) containing data for directing the numerical control motion generator (28) for moving a dispensing head. The apparatus also includes a source of flowable elastomeric compound (30). The elastomeric compound is dispensed by the head (32) at a known flow rate into a predetermined gasket body pattern (20). The apparatus further includes a first pressing plate (14) having a first substrate whereby the dispensing head (32) dispenses the flowable elastomeric compound onto the first substrate in the predetermined gasket body pattern. A second pressing plate (16) having a second substrate is positionable over the first substrate with the flowable elastomeric compound dispensed thereon. The first and second substrates are capable of compressing the dispensed elastomeric compound to a desired thickness. The compressed compound is then cured to provide a compression gasket (10).