Apparatus for attaching a seal to an encapsulated window assembly

Abstract

A seal attachment fixture is provided for attaching a seal to an encapsulated gasket disposed on a work piece, for example, an automotive window assembly. The seal attachment fixture includes wedge portions, which slidably move into contact with openable lip portions on the gasket, thus exposing a retention slot defined therein. With the gasket retention slot open, a seal is then inserted within the slot.

1 . A seal insertion fixture comprising at least one fixture member, the fixture member capable of contacting a gasket that is affixed to at least a portion of a work piece, the gasket having a pair of openable lip portions and a retention slot portion therebetween; 
 wherein, when the fixture member contacts the exterior of at least one of the openable lip portions of the gasket, the lip portion opens, thus exposing the retention slot for seal insertion.    
   
   
       2 . The seal insertion fixture of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive for moving the fixture member.  
   
   
       3 . The seal insertion fixture of  claim 2 , further comprising a rotating hub mechanism rotatably attached to the drive.  
   
   
       4 . The seal insertion fixture of  claim 3 , wherein the rotating hub mechanism has at least two arms, a first end of each arm pivotably attached to the rotating hub mechanism and a second end of each arm pivotably attached to separate wedge portions.  
   
   
       5 . The seal insertion fixture of  claim 4 , wherein the wedge portions are aligned with separate lip portions that are disposed on a side of the gasket opposite of where the gasket is disposed on the work piece, each wedge portion being slidably attached to at least two rails.  
   
   
       6 . The seal insertion fixture of  claim 5 , wherein the seal is flexible and the gasket is relatively rigid.  
   
   
       7 . The seal insertion fixture of  claim 6 , further comprising locating stops, where the work piece, on which the gasket has been affixed, has been initially placed.  
   
   
       8 . The seal insertion fixture of  claim 7 , further comprising a plate, to which the drive and locating stops are attached.  
   
   
       9 . The seal insertion fixture of  claim 8 , wherein the locating stops are adjustably attached to the plate.  
   
   
       10 . The seal insertion fixture of  claim 1 , further comprising locating stops, where the work piece, on which the gasket has been affixed, has been initially placed.  
   
   
       11 . A fixture for attaching a flexible seal to a relatively rigid gasket, the relatively rigid gasket having openable lip portions that define a retention slot therebetween on a side of the gasket opposite the side of the gasket disposed upon a work piece, comprising: 
 a plate;    a drive attached to the plate;    a rotating hub mechanism rotatably attached to the drive, and having at least two arms, a first end of each arm pivotably attached to the rotating hub mechanism;    separate wedge portions pivotably attached to a second end of each arm, where the wedge portions are aligned with the lip portions of the seal and each wedge portion is slidably attached to at least two rails; and    at least three locating stops that are adjustably attached to the plate.    
   
   
       12 . The seal fixture of  claim 11 , wherein the gasket is encapsulated onto the periphery of the work piece, which work piece is an automotive glazing.