Ford Motor Company Limited

Visteon Global Technolgoies, Inc.

Automotive Components Holdings, LLC

Mark Alan Harris

Zinoviy Chernyak

Dale Paul Moore

Erich James Vorenkamp

James Potter

Richard Allen Knaggs

Ryan F Sekela

Joseph DeMaria

Mark W Plansinis

Michael J Boehk

James Heiden

Stanley Lank

Kale S Schulte

A method for securing a component to a tank includes forming the tank having a wall of multiple layers of polymer material with an opening in the wall, outer layers of polymer, and an inner layer of polymer having an inner surface whose color is dark relative to a natural color of the outer layers. The component is formed with a mounting surface of polymer. The tube wall opening is used to install the component in the tank such that the mounting surface contacts the inner surface. Energy is transmitted onto an area of a surface of the tank wall where the mounting surface contacts the inner surface. The transmitted energy is use to produce a weld between the mounting surface and the tank wall.

Attaching a component to an internal surface of a tank formed of polymer

A method is provided for attaching a component to a fuel tank having a wall defining a tank cavity, an inner surface, an outer surface, and an access opening extending through the wall. The component is placed in contact with the inner surface of the fuel tank. The component is inductively welded to the inner surface of the fuel tank by an emitter coil disposed exterior of the fuel tank.

Fuel tank assembly and method of assembly

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a film coated article by placing a pre-molded film into a loading station. The film has a decorative surface and a backing surface. The decorative surface is positioned juxtaposed the loading station. The film is transferred to a loader. The loader is positioned juxtaposed the backing surface. The loader and film are positioned in an open mold press between a cavity and a core. The film is transferred from the loader to the cavity. The decorative surface of the film is positioned juxtaposed the cavity. The cavity mates with the film and retains the film in position during the molding operation. The press is closed and a polymeric material is injected against the backing surface of the film. The polymeric material produces a molded article having a rigid substrate fused to the backing of the film and displaying the decorative surface. The press is opened and the molded article is transferred from the cavity to an unloader. The decorative surface of the article is positioned juxtaposed the unloader. The molded article is transferred to an unloading station and the unloader releases the molded article.

Method of manufacturing a film coated article

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a film-covered flange having the following steps. An injection molding press having a mold cavity and a core receives a pre-molded thermoformed film. The film is formed to have an in-turned flange portion that will form the covering for the final article. The film is placed within the mold cavity. The core has a slide movable between retracted and extended positions. The slide is retracted and the core is moved within the mold cavity. After the press is closed the slide is moved from the retracted position to the extended position. The slide includes a recessed portion that lies opposite the flange portion to create a space therebetween. A molten plastic material is injected into the space. The plastic material adheres to the flange portion and forms an article having a covered flange.

Method for injection molding an article having film covered flanges

A method for manufacturing a film-coated article by the following steps. A pre-molded film having a backing surface and a decorative surface is formed in the shape of the molded article. The film includes an opening that allows the molted plastic to pass through the film. The film is placed within a mold press having a mold with a cavity surface and a movable core. The mold includes an resin inlet with an inlet surface. The film is placed on the mold with the decorative surface juxtaposed the mold. The opening on the film overlies the resin inlet. The mold is closed and the film held securely in place against the inlet surface. A molten plastic material is injected through the resin inlet. The plastic material passes through the film and fuses to the backing surface. After the article has cooled, the press is opened. The molded article is retained on the core and removed from the press.

Method for molding a film-covered article

A method and apparatus for transferring a pre-molded film into a cavity by the following steps. A robotically controlled arm having a loader receives flexible film. The loader by two moveable end portion and a main portion there between. The pre-molded film is transferred onto the loader. The end portions are retracted so that the loader is in a retracted position. The loader is moved to a position within a cavity. The cavity has an opening that is larger then the loader when the loader is in the retracted position. The film is transferred to the cavity by aligning the film with corresponding three-dimensional contours on the cavity. The edge portions are extended so that essentially the entire surface of the film contacts the cavity. The loader is withdrawn from the cavity by first retracting the end portions and removing the loader.

Growing community of inventors

Dexter, MI, United States of America

Mark Alan Harris