Air disengagement assembly and method for manufacturing dip-molded articles out of RTV silicone by fully automated process

摘要

An automated mandrel dip coating process assembly for RTV silicone dispersions is described, including an enclosure adapted to hold a moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium for mandrel dip molding and at least one mandrel having a surface for contacting the moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium. An automated motive drive assembly is arranged to removably translate one or more of the mandrel(s) into contact with the moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium in the enclosure, and to subsequently translate at least one mandrel contacted with the moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium into at least one of (A) contact with a bubble crusher in the enclosure, and (B) disengagement from the moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium in the enclosure and rotation of the mandrel at a vertical displacement angle of from 70° to 110°. By such arrangement, air bubble entrapment on the dip molded film on the mandrel is avoided, and controlled film thickness is achieved at desired location(s) so that the product molded film article is free of pinholes and air bubble inclusions in the film, and complies with desired thickness specifications.

主权项

1. A mandrel coating method, comprising:
providing an enclosure adapted to hold a moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium for mandrel dip molding; actuating a motive drive assembly to translate at least one mandrel into contact with a moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium in said enclosure for coating of said mandrel with such curable medium; and thereafter, by continued action of said motive drive assembly, translating the at least one mandrel contacted with the moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium into at least one of (A) contact with a bubble crusher in the enclosure, and (B) disengagement from the moisture-cure ambient temperature curable medium in the enclosure and rotation of the at least one mandrel at a vertical displacement angle of from 70° to 110°.