SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY APPLYING A BEAD OF SEALANT WITHIN A PERIPHERAL GROOVE

A system for automatically applying a bead of sealant within a peripheral groove defined between two elements coupled to each other and having dimensions that are not strictly predetermined. In one example, a manipulator robot includes a sealant dispensing head including a dispensing nozzle and a profilometer. An electronic controller moves the sealant dispensing head for a first pass along the peripheral groove to detect the profile of the facing lateral surfaces defining the peripheral groove. The correct amount of sealant is calculated based on the detected profile of the groove. The electronic controller moves the dispensing head for a second pass to dispense the calculated amount of sealant in the peripheral groove. In one example, the sealant is dispensed with a constant flow rate and the speed of movement of the dispensing nozzle varies to apply the calculated amount of sealant to each portion of the peripheral groove.