Method for bonding and debonding a workpiece to a manufacturing fixture

Abstract

A system and a method by which workpieces are bonded to and debond from a manufacturing fixture using a radiation responsive adhesive as a bonding agent. The system includes curing the adhesive agent during loading within seconds, and structurally weakens the adhesive bond during unloading within seconds. During the workpiece loading cycle, an adhesive dispenser deposits radiation responsive adhesive on to a load bearing, light transmittive surface, known as gripper pins. The workpiece is subsequently pushed against the locators, and towards the gripper pins causing the adhesive to interpose between workpiece and gripper pins, curing radiant energy is transmitted through the gripper pins and on to the adhesive to cure adhesive and bond the workpiece to the fixture. Therefore, the bond is structurally weakened or debonded in order to remove the workpiece from the fixture after manufacturing.

1 . A workpiece holding method comprising the steps of: 
 dispensing a first radiation responsive adhesive on a fixing surface of a fixture;    positioning a workpiece adjacent to the fixing surface;    interposing the first radiation responsive adhesive between the fixing surface and the workpiece;    exposing the first radiation responsive adhesive to a first predetermined level of radiant energy for a first predetermined time period sufficient to cure the first radiation responsive adhesive and to form an adhesive bond between the workpiece and the fixing surface, whereby the workpiece and the fixture are interconnected.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  for separating the workpiece from the fixture after being interconnected further comprising the step of exposing the adhesive bond to a second predetermined level of radiant energy for a second predetermined time period sufficient to structurally weaken the adhesive bond between the workpiece and the fixture, whereby the workpiece and the fixture are disconnected.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of removing any residual adhesive substrate from the fixing surface.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of removing any residual adhesive substrate from the workpiece.  
     
     
         5 . A workpiece holding method comprising the steps of: 
 dispensing a first radiation responsive adhesive on a fixing surface of a fixture;    dispensing a second radiation responsive adhesive on the workpiece;    positioning the workpiece adjacent to the fixing surface;    curing the second radiation responsive adhesive on the workpiece to a semi-cured state; and    bringing the workpiece having the semi-cured second radiation responsive adhesive into contact with the first radiation responsive adhesive on the fixing surface.    
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising the step of dispensing a light absorbent radiation responsive adhesive on the first radiation responsive adhesive.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the first radiation responsive adhesive includes a light absorbent additive.  
     
     
         8 - 24 . (canceled)  
     
     
         25 . A radiant energy responsive adhesive composition comprising: 
 a substantially clear radiation responsive structural adhesive having an index of refraction of approximately 1.5 and ranging from 99% to 99.9% by weight; and    a colorant ranging from 0.1% to 1% by weight.    
     
     
         26 . The adhesive according to  claim 25  wherein: 
 said substantially clear radiant responsive structural adhesive is approximately 99.5% by weight; and    said colorant is carbon black being approximately 0.5% by weight.    
     
     
         27 . A method to produce radiant energy responsive adhesive composition comprising the steps of: 
 providing a substantially clear radiation responsive structural adhesive having an index of refraction of approximately 1.5 and ranging from 99% to 99.9% by weight;    providing a colorant ranging from 0.1% to 1% by weight; and    mixing the colorant with the substantially clear radiation responsive structural adhesive.    
     
     
         28 . A method to produce radiant energy responsive adhesive composition comprising the steps of: 
 providing a substantially clear radiant responsive structural adhesive being approximately 99.5% by weight;    providing a colorant being approximately 0.5% by weight; and    mixing the colorant with the substantially clear radiation responsive structural adhesive.    
     
     
         29 . A product as made by the process of  claim 27 .  
     
     
         30 . A product as made by the process of  claim 28 .  
     
     
         31 . (canceled)  
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 5  further comprising the step of further curing the first and second radiation responsive adhesives after bringing the semi-cured second radiation responsive adhesive into contact with the first radiation responsive adhesive whereby the workpiece and the fixture are interconnected.  
     
     
         33 . A workpiece holding method comprising the steps of: 
 dispensing a first radiation responsive adhesive on a fixing surface of a fixture;    dispensing a second radiation responsive adhesive on a workpiece;    bringing the second radiation responsive adhesive on the workpiece into contact with the first radiation responsive adhesive on the fixing surface;    exposing the first and second radiation responsive adhesives to predetermined levels of radiant energy for at least one predetermined time period sufficient to join the adhesives and to form an adhesive bond between the workpiece and the fixing surface, whereby the workpiece and the fixture are interconnected.