Bonding assembly system including timed bladder system

Abstract

An assembly system includes a fixture configured to support a structure including at least one component to receive a malleable material, and a bladder system coupled to the fixture. The bladder system includes a hollowed frame having sidewalls that support a bladder disposed therein. The hollowed frame has an opening that exposes an outer portion of the bladder and is configured to guide the exposed outer portion externally from the hollowed frame toward a targeted area of the structure. In response to inflating the bladder, the outer portion of the bladder extends through the opening and applies a force against the at least one component so as to form a design feature element from the malleable material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bladder system included in an assembly system, the bladder system comprising:
 a hollowed frame coupled to a fixture of the assembly system;   an inflatable bladder disposed in the hollowed frame; and   an opening in the hollowed frame, the opening exposing a portion of an outer surface of the bladder.   
     
     
         2 . The bladder system of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is configured to guide the exposed outer surface of the bladder externally from the hollowed frame in response to inflating the bladder. 
     
     
         3 . The bladder system of  claim 2 , wherein the bladder comprises an elastomer material. 
     
     
         4 . The bladder system of  claim 2 , wherein dimensions of the opening define a profile that guides the exposed outer surface of the bladder from the hollowed frame. 
     
     
         5 . The bladder system of  claim 4 , wherein the hollowed frame has a circumferential profile. 
     
     
         6 . The bladder system of  claim 5 , wherein the hollowed frame has a first circumference and the bladder has a second circumference less than the first circumference of the hollowed frame. 
     
     
         7 . The bladder system of  claim 6 , wherein the opening extends completely about the first circumference of the hollowed frame. 
     
     
         8 . The bladder system of  claim 7 , wherein the dimensions of the opening are uniform about the first circumference. 
     
     
         9 . The bladder system of  claim 3 , wherein the bladder includes an air passage in fluid communication with the bladder. 
     
     
         10 . The bladder system of  claim 9 , wherein the air passage is configured to receive air and deliver the air into the bladder so as to inflate the bladder. 
     
     
         11 . The bladder system of  claim 10 , wherein the bladder system includes an air supply in fluid communication with the air passage. 
     
     
         12 . The bladder system of  claim 11 , wherein the air supply generates the air and delivers the air to the air passage. 
     
     
         13 . The bladder system of  claim 12 , further comprising a control system configured to control the air supply. 
     
     
         14 . A method of forming a bonded structure, the method comprising:
 disposing an inflatable bladder in a hollowed frame supported by a fixture of an assembly system;   coupling at least one structure to the fixture so as to define a distance between the at least one structure and the hollowed frame;   depositing a malleable material on the at least one structure;   inflating the bladder such that a portion of an external surface of the bladder is forced through an opening formed in the hollowed frame;   guiding the portion of an external surface of the bladder, via the frame opening, toward a target area associated with the at least one structure; and   contacting the portion of an external surface of the bladder against the target area to compress the adhesive and form a design feature element from the malleable material.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein coupling the at least one structure to the fixture comprises:
 interacting a first fixture mating mechanism included with the fixture with a second mating mechanism included with a mating component;   arranging a target component adjacent to the mating component to define a bonding interface therebetween; and   depositing the malleable material in the bonding interface to form a bonding joint, the malleable material comprising an adhesive material.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 determining at least one inflation parameter;   inflating bladder based on the at least one inflation parameter; and   deflating the bladder in response to satisfying the at least one inflation parameter.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one inflation parameter is an inflation time. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 determining a curing time associated with the adhesive; and   determining the inflation time at which to inflate the bladder based at least in part on the curing time.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 programming an electronic controller with the inflation time; and   controlling inflation and deflation of the bladder based on the inflation time.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein controlling the inflation and the deflation of the bladder comprises:
 activating an air supply, via the controller;   generating air via the air supply and delivering the air to the bladder to induce the inflation; and   in response to determining, via the controller, the inflation time is reach, deactivating the air supply to induce the deflation of the bladder.