Apparatus and method for sealing a vertical protrusion on a roof

1. A device for assembling a roof fitment, said device in a machine frame, said device comprising:

an upper fixture assembly, comprising:

a seal forming cone mounted on a first movable arm to said machine frame; and

a vacuum plate mounted on a second movable arm to said machine frame;

a heat platen assembly; and

a transfer assembly.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

said heat platen assembly comprises:

a heat conductive plate movably mounted to a support rail on said machine frame; and

a heating element in thermal contact with said heat conductive plate.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein:

said transfer assembly comprises:

a die mounted on a third movable arm; and

a sliding assembly mounted to said third movable arm, said sliding assembly being movable along a guide rail on said machine frame.

4. A device for assembling a roof fitment, said device in a machine frame, said device comprising:

a seal-forming cone mounted on a first movable arm to said machine frame,

a vacuum plate, adapted to hold a base portion of a boot for the roof fitment, mounted on a second movable arm to said machine frame; and

a die, adapted to hold a top portion of the boot, mounted on a third movable arm,

wherein said seal forming cone is inserted into said die to cold form a bottom edge on said top portion;

wherein said die moves to a position aligning a bottom opening on said top portion and a base opening on said base portion; and

wherein said second movable arm and said third movable arm extend to place said base portion and said top portion, respectively, into contact with a holding pressure sufficient to allow bonding together of at least a portion of said base portion and at least a portion of said top portion.

5. The device of claim 4 additionally comprising:

a heat platen mounted to said machine frame, said heat platen providing sufficient heat to bond at least a portion of said base portion to at least a portion of said top portion.

6. The device of claim 4 additionally comprising:

a heating stylus, said heating stylus providing a source of hot air for welding together at least a portion of said top portion and at least a portion of said base portion.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said heating stylus rotates around at least a portion of a perimeter around an intersection of a portion of said top portion and a portion of said base portion to be sealed together.

8. The device of claim 6 wherein at least a portion of a perimeter around an intersection of a portion of said top portion and a portion of said base portion to be sealed together rotate past said heating stylus.

9. The device of claim 4 wherein said die is for an open design boot.

10. The device of claim 4 wherein said die is for said top portion having a conical shape.

11. The device of claim 4 wherein said die is for said top portion having a flap.

12. The device of claim 4 additionally comprising:

a mount for said die connected to said third movable arm, wherein said die is removable from said mount.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein said mount fits at least one additional die.

14. A device for assembling a roof fitment, said device in a machine frame, said device comprising:

a seal-forming cone mounted on a first movable arm to said machine frame;

a vacuum plate, adapted to hold a base portion of a boot for said roof fitment, mounted on a second movable arm to said machine frame;

a heat conductive plate movably mounted to a support rail on said machine frame;

a heating element in thermal contact with said heat conductive plate;

a die mounted on a third movable arm, said die adapted to hold a top portion of the boot; and

a sliding assembly mounted to said third movable arm and movable alone a guide rail on said machine frame,

wherein said seal forming cone is inserted into said die to cold form a bottom edge on said top portion,

said die moves along said guide rail to a position under said heat conductive plate,

said third movable arm extends to position said cold-formed bottom edge against a first side of said heat conductive plate,

said second movable arm extends to position said base portion against a second side of said heat conductive plate,

said heating element transfers heat to heat said top portion and said base potion sufficiently to allow bonding said portions of said boot together,

said second movable arm and said third movable arm retract to respective positions slightly away from said sides of said heat conductive plate,

said heat conductive plate moves on said support rail from a position between said portions of said boots,

a bottom opening on said top portion and a base opening on said base portion are aligned by said third movable arm and said second movable arm, respectively, and

at least one of said movable arms extends to place at least said heated portions of said boot into contact to allow heat bonding of said heated portions of said boot together.

15. The device of claim 14 additionally comprising:

a mount for said die connected to said third movable arm, wherein said die is removable from said mount.

16. The device of claim 14 wherein said die is connected to a source of vacuum for holding said top portion within said die.

17. The device of claim 14 wherein said die has a lip having a shape complementary to said cold formed bottom edge of said top portion.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein said lip is connected to a source of vacuum to position said cold formed bottom edge of said top portion.

19. The device of claim 14 wherein said heating element is appropriately shaped to match a desired portion of said top portion and said base portion to be bonded together.