Method and machine for machining door and window frame components

Abstract

 A method and machine for machining door and window frame components (2), whereby each component (2), which has two parallel first lateral faces (3), two second lateral faces (4), and two third lateral faces (5), is moved parallel to the relative first faces (3) inside a relative same pocket (40) at all times, so as to at least tenon a relative second face (4) and profile a relative third face (5), without ever releasing the component (2) from the pocket (40).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of machining door and window frame components.

[0002] In the woodworking industry, door and window frame components, each comprising two substantially parallel first lateral faces, two second lateral faces, and two third lateral faces, are known to be machined on a machine comprising a first feed device, which has a first supporting surface for at least one component, and clamping means for gripping the component to the first supporting surface.

[0003] The first feed device is movable in a given first direction to feed the component through a first cutting station where a first tool cuts a first end portion of the component, and a second tool tenons one of the second faces. At this point, the component is released, is rotated 180°, is again clamped to the first supporting surface, and is again fed through the first cutting station to cut a second end portion of the component and tenon the other second face.

[0004] Once the end portions are cut and the second faces tenoned, the component is transferred from the first feed device to a second feed device, which normally comprises a second supporting surface substantially coplanar with the first supporting surface, and a number of powered rollers above the second supporting surface. The rollers feed the component along the second supporting surface, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, along a lateral guide parallel to the second direction, and through a second cutting station where at least a third tool profiles one of the third faces longitudinally.

[0005] Transferring components from the first to the second feed device poses serious technical problems.

[0006] Firstly, after being transferred from the first to the second feed device, the components must be positioned correctly on the second supporting surface and contacting said lateral guide by means of a relatively time-consuming operating sequence which therefore reduces the output of known machines of the above type.

[0007] Secondly, being fed along the second supporting surface in contact with said lateral guide, the components are subject to damage, and must therefore undergo further finishing and/or smoothing operations.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of machining door and window frame components, designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0009] According to the present invention, there is provided a method of machining door and window frame components, as claimed in Claim 1.

[0010] The present invention also relates to a machine for machining door and window frame components.

[0011] According to the present invention, there is provided a machine for machining door and window frame components, as claimed in Claim 7.

[0012] A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of a preferred embodiment of the machine according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows, schematically, an operating cycle of the Figure 1 machine.

[0013] Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a machine for machining components 2 of door and window frames (not shown). In the example shown, each component 2 is substantially in the form of an elongated, substantially rectangular-section parallelepiped, and comprises two substantially parallel lateral faces 3, two parallel lateral faces 4 perpendicular to faces 3, and two parallel lateral faces 5 perpendicular to faces 3 and 4.

[0014] Machine 1 comprises an elongated base 6, which extends in a horizontal direction 7, is defined at the top by a flat surface 8, and has two guides 9 fitted to surface 8 and parallel to direction 7. Guides 9 support a device 10 for gripping and transporting components 2, and comprising a slide 11, which is fitted in known manner to guides 9 to move linearly in direction 7 along guides 9 under the control of a known actuating device not shown, and is fitted with two guides 12 parallel to a horizontal direction 13 perpendicular to direction 7.

[0015] Guides 12 support a slide 14, which is fitted in known manner to guides 12 to move linearly in direction 13 along guides 12 under the control of a known actuating device not shown, and has a number of gripping members 15 fitted in known manner to slide 14 to move linearly along slide 14 in directions 7 and 13, and the arrangement of which in directions 7 and 13 depends substantially on the shape and/or size of components 2 for machining and/or on the machining operations to be performed.

[0016] Each member 15 is a gripper member comprising a bottom jaw 16 and a top jaw 17, which are substantially parallel to surface 8, engage at least one component 2 by a longitudinal edge, and are movable with respect to each other, in a vertical direction 18 perpendicular to directions 7 and 13, between a gripping position and a release position respectively gripping and releasing components 2.

[0017] Member 15 also comprises a locating member 19 extending parallel to direction 18 and crosswise to surface 8 to position components 2 correctly in direction 13.

[0018] Components 2 are fed by device 10 through a cutting station 20 comprising a fixed frame 21 extending in direction 18, and a cutting assembly 22 fitted to frame 21.

[0019] Assembly 22 comprises an operating unit 23, in turn comprising a slide 24, which is fitted in known manner to frame 21 to move linearly in direction 18 with respect to frame 21 and under the control of a known actuating device not shown, and supports an electric spindle 25, an output shaft of which rotates a circular blade 26 about a respective longitudinal axis 27 parallel to direction 13.

[0020] Assembly 22 also comprises an operating unit 28, in turn comprising a slide 29, which is fitted in known manner to frame 21 to move linearly in direction 18 with respect to frame 21 and under the control of a known actuating device not shown, and supports a bracket 30 projecting from slide 29 in direction 13.

[0021] Bracket 30 supports a shaft 31, which is fitted to bracket 30 to rotate, with respect to bracket 30 and under the control of a known actuating device not shown, about a respective longitudinal axis 32 parallel to direction 18, and is fitted with a number of substantially circular tools 33 (only one shown in Figure 1) associated with a known chip guard 34 fitted to slide 29 and normally common to all of tools 33.

[0022] Assembly 22 also comprises an operating unit 35, in turn comprising a slide 36, which is fitted in known manner to frame 21 to move linearly in direction 18 with respect to frame 21 and under the control of a known actuating device not shown, and supports an electric spindle 37, an output shaft of which rotates a circular blade 38 about a respective longitudinal axis 39 parallel to direction 7.

[0023] Operation of machine 1 will now be described assuming the machining of one component 2, with reference to the machining cycle shown in Figure 2, and as of the instant in which members 15 have been positioned correctly in directions 7 and 13, with relative jaws 16 and 17 set to the release position.

[0024] The component 2 considered is placed between jaws 16 and 17 and in contact with locating members 19, and jaws 16 and 17 are moved into the gripping position to define a pocket 40 for receiving and retaining component 2.

[0025] By combining the movements of slide 11 in direction 7, of slide 14 in direction 13, and of operating units 23, 28, 35 in direction 18, component 2 is fed through cutting station 20 and firstly into engagement by blade 38, which cuts a first end portion of component 2 (Figure 2a) and faces a second end portion of component 2 (Figure 2b).

[0026] Component 2 is then fed into engagement by tools 33 of operating unit 28 to tenon (Figure 2c) one of faces 4 (hereinafter indicated 4a) and to longitudinally profile (Figure 2d) one of faces 5 (hereinafter indicated 5a).

[0027] At this point, jaws 16 and 17 are moved into the release position, component 2 is rotated 180°, jaws 16 and 17 are moved back into the gripping position, and component 2 is fed through station 20 and into engagement by tools 33 of operating unit 28 to tenon (Figure 2e) the other face 4 (hereinafter indicated 4b) and to longitudinally profile (Figure 2f) the other face 5 (hereinafter indicated 5b).

[0028] It should be pointed out that:

a glass stop 41 may also be cut by blade 26 (Figure 2g) simultaneously with the profiling of face 5a;

face 4b may be tenoned before jaws 16 and 17 are released and the component is rotated 180°;

in variations not shown, cutting assembly 22 also comprises tools for making holes, and tools for making seats for housing, for example, locks and/or other accessories;

combining the movements of slide 11 in direction 7 and of slide 14 in direction 13 provides for machining components 2 with faces 4 and 5 which are other than flat and/or perpendicular to directions 7 and 13 respectively;

the movements of slide 11 in direction 7 and of slide 14 in direction 13, and therefore the machining cycle of components 2, may be controlled selectively;

the end portions of component 2 may be cut and faced, faces 4 may be tenoned, and face 5a may be profiled longitudinally without ever releasing or removing component 2 from pocket 40.

Claims

1. A method of machining door and window frame components (2), each component (2) comprising two substantially flat, parallel first lateral faces (3), two second lateral faces (4), and two third lateral faces (5), and being moved parallel to said first faces (3); the method comprising a step of tenoning at least one of said second faces (4), and a step of profiling at least one of said third faces (5); and being characterized in that, during said tenoning step and said profiling step, each component (2) is advanced at all times inside a relative same pocket (40).

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein each said pocket (40) is advanced in two horizontal directions (7, 13) perpendicular to each other.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein both second faces (4) of each component (2) are tenoned advancing the component (2) at all times inside the relative said pocket (40).

4. A method as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, and also comprising a step of cutting at least one end portion of each component (2); said cutting step being performed moving the component (2) at all times inside the relative said pocket (40).

5. A method as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, and also comprising a further cutting step to cut a glass stop from each component (2); said further cutting step being performed with the component (2) maintained at all times inside the relative said pocket (40).

6. A method as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims, wherein each said pocket (40) comprises gripping means (16, 17) movable to and from a gripping position gripping the relative component (2) inside the pocket (40); the relative gripping means (16, 17) engaging each component (2) by the relative said first faces (3).

7. A machine for machining door and window frame components (2), each component (2) comprising two substantially flat, parallel first lateral faces (3), two second lateral faces (4), and two third lateral faces (5); the machine comprising a first operating unit (28) for performing a tenoning operation on at least one of said second faces (4) and a profiling operation on at least one of said third faces (5), and transportation means (10) for moving each component (2) parallel to said first faces (3) and into engagement by said first operating unit (28); and being characterized in that said transportation means (10) comprise at least one movable pocket (40) for receiving and retaining a relative said component (2) during both said tenoning operation and said profiling operation.

8. A machine as claimed in Claim 7, and also comprising actuating means for moving said pocket (40) in two horizontal directions (7, 13) perpendicular to each other.

9. A machine as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, wherein said first operating unit (28) comprises a number of tools (33) mounted for rotation about the same axis of rotation (32).

10. A machine as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 9, and also comprising a second operating unit (35) for cutting at least one end portion of each said component (2); said pocket (40) also moving the relative said component (2) into engagement by said second operating unit (35).

11. A machine as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 10, and also comprising a third operating unit (23) for cutting a glass stop from each said component (2); said pocket (40) also moving the relative said component (2) into engagement by said third operating unit (23).

12. A machine as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 11, wherein said pocket (40) comprises gripping means (16, 17) movable to and from a gripping position gripping the relative component (2) inside the pocket (40), and designed to engage the relative component (2) by the relative said first faces (3).

Drawing