Article supporting fixture

摘要

A fixture for supporting and masking an encapsulated window assembly includes a generally planar floor having a periphery surrounded by generally upstanding walls. An upper edge of the walls engages an inner surface of a gasket formed on a periphery of the window assembly whereby the fixture masks the inside surfaces of the gasket and a glass sheet forming the window assembly. At least one aperture is formed in the fixture for receiving a reference pin utilized to locate the fixture with respect to a painting apparatus. A sensor is provided for generating a signal representing the engagement of the aperture by the reference pin and a control unit is responsive to the sensor signal for controlling a robot painting apparatus to spray paint an outer surface of the gasket. The fixture further is used to support the window assembly during curing of the paint and subsequent manufacturing operations.