| 摘要 |
An apparatus and method for adhesively bonding a roof covering to an automotive vehicle roof utilizes a female mold to which a vacuum is supplied in order to hold the roof covering in the configuration of the roof as the covering is moved over the roof during the bonding operation. The female mold includes an apertured foam backed mat with integral projections that extend away from the mold in spaced relationship to each other so as to define the general contour of the roof and to also define a network of spacing between the projections. A vacuum plenum communicates with the apertures in the mat to draw a vacuum within the network of spacing which distributes the vacuum over the central portion of the roof covering. An outer groove about the periphery of the central portion of the mold receives an initial vacuum prior to the central portion so as to position the roof covering on the mold and to define a chamber between the roof covering and the central portion of the mold. The subsequent vacuum drawn in the central portion of the mold is transmitted to the chamber and rapidly draws the roof covering to the shape of the roof. In a modified embodiment, the periphery of the central portion of the mold defines inner and outer vacuum grooves about the central portion of the mold and an intermediate cutting slot located between the vacuum grooves. This cutting slot receives and guides a suitable cutting tool so that the roof covering is cut to the configuration of the roof. Guides on the mold slidably engage the roof so as to guide the attached roof covering downwardly onto the roof after first applying an adhesive to the covering and/or the roof. The mold is then pressurized between the roof covering and the mat so that the adhesive forms a bond between the roof and the roof covering. |
