|
(11) | EP 1 785 243 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | Edge banding apparatus |
| (57) An edge banding apparatus for fixing a strip (25) to an edge (20a) of an element
(20) in wood or similar material comprises gluing means (9), suitable for applying
adhesive to said strip (25) or to said edge (20a), pressing means (2), suitable for
pressing said strip (25) to said edge (20a), and a plurality of fixing means (4),
suitable for removably connecting said pressing means (2) to a work surface (3) configured
for supporting said element (20).
|
[0001] The present invention relates to a an edgebanding apparatus, in particular an edgebanding apparatus for an edgebanding operating machine, suitable for applying strips, tapes, listels, rods of differing stiffness and elasticity to edges of elements such as panels, tables, shelves.
[0002] Known edgebanding apparatuses essentially comprise a supply unit that is able to supply a gluing roller and a pressing roller or feeder with a thin strip or a straight listel.
[0003] The gluing roller applies glue to the side of the strip intended for abutting the edge of an element or panel, or to the edge itself. The pressing roller moves, positions and compresses with the necessary force the strip on the edge to achieve and consolidate the fixing thereof. The pressing roller is motor-driven and by rotating feeds and moves the strip. Both the glue and pressure rollers are fixed to a work surface, on which the element to be edgebanded is positioned. Guides and combs are also provided that support and guide the strip up to the joint or abutment point with the edge of the element.
[0004] In order to optimise the gluing process, the distance between the joint point and the gluing roller, and therefore the distance between the gluing roller and the pressing roller, must be as small as possible. This in fact enables the time to be reduced that elapses between distribution of glue onto the strip and the abutting of the latter on the edge, and therefore the time of exposure of the applied glue to the air. For this purpose, the work or incidence angle that the strip forms with the edge of the element at the joint point must be sufficiently wide as the wider this angle is the less the distance between the two rollers can be.
[0005] In the case of strips of material in rolls or reels that have great flexibility and elasticity, for example because they are of reduced thickness (up to 1 mm) or of particularly flexible material, the width of the work angle is generally comprised between 45°and 60°.
[0006] Edgebanding apparatuses that use thin and flexible strips or belts are not, however, able to perform edgebanding with stiff listels or rods that are less deformable and/or fragile, for example straight listels of solid wood with a thickness that is greater than 2 mm. Said listels have to be bent along curves of wide radius and can be applied using work angles with a reduced width, less than 30°. Generally, for these listels/rods specific edgebanding apparatuses have to be used.
[0007] An object of the present invention is to improve known edgebanding apparatuses, in particular by increasing the versatility and flexibility of use thereof.
[0008] Another object is to obtain an edgebanding apparatus that is able to apply strips, belts, listels having differing stiffness and elasticity.
[0009] A further object is to obtain an edgebanding apparatus that enables a strip to be fixed to the edge of an element with great precision and reliability.
[0010] According to the invention there is provided an edgebanding apparatus for fixing a strip to an edge of an element in wood or similar material, comprising gluing means, suitable for applying adhesive to said strip or to said edge, and pressing means, suitable for pressing said strip to said edge, characterised in that it comprises a plurality of fixing means suitable for removably connecting said pressing means to a work surface configured for supporting said element.
[0011] Owing to the invention it is possible to obtain a versatile and flexible edgebanding apparatus, that enables strips, belts, listels, rods to be applied having different thicknesses, stiffness, elasticity. The fixing means in fact enables the pressing means to be locked in different work positions in such a way as to be able to bend the strips, listels on the edge to be machined with different work angles, according to the features of the strip, and in particular the greater or lesser flexibility, elasticity, fragility of the latter.
[0012] The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached drawings, that illustrate an embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of an edgebanding apparatus according to the invention in which a pressing roller is represented by a continuous line in a work position and by a broken line in further possible and various work positions;
Figure 2 is a perspective schematic view of the apparatus in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of the apparatus in Figure 1, in which the pressing roller is in another work position;
Figure 4 is a perspective schematic view of the apparatus in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a schematic plan view of a version of the apparatus in Figure 1 comprising a pair of pressing rollers;
Figure 6 is a perspective schematic view of the apparatus in Figure 5.
[0013] With reference to figures 1 to 4, there is illustrated an edgebanding apparatus 1 suitable for fixing a strip 25 to an edge 20a of an element 20 in wood or similar material, typically a straight or round, shaped curved panel.
[0014] The apparatus 1 comprises gluing means 9, suitable for applying a glue to a face of said strip 25, and pressing means 2, suitable for pressing said strip 25 to said edge 20a and making it adhere thereto.
[0015] The gluing means 9 includes a gluing roller of known type, which is able to distribute for example a thermofusible glue to the strip 25.
[0016] In a non-illustrated version of the apparatus 1, the gluing means 9 is arranged to apply the glue directly to the edge 20a of the element 20.
[0017] The apparatus 1 comprises a plurality of fixing means 4 configured for removably connecting the pressing means 2 to a work surface 3, intended for supporting said element 20.
[0018] The pressing means 2 comprises a pressing roller 12, of known type, that is rotatably connected to one of the fixing means 4. The pressing roller 12 is rotated around a respective axis 12a by driving means, of known type and not illustrated in the figures. The axis 12a is fixed and almost perpendicular to the work surface 3. Each fixing means 4 may, for example, comprise a grooved hub 4a, inside which there can be inserted a corresponding shaft of the pressing roller 12. The grooved hub 4a is connected to the driving means and by rotating transfers motion to the respective pressure roller 12.
[0019] The fixing means 4 are distanced from one another and arranged at an increasing distance from the gluing means 9. As illustrated in figure 1, the fixing means 4 can be arranged equidistantly along a rectilinear direction A, or be staggered in several directions, for example parallel directions. In this way it is possible to place the pressing roller 12, which may have variable radial dimensions, in different work positions, at different distances from the gluing means 9, according to the features of the strip 25 to be applied.
[0020] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, in the case of a particularly flexible or elastic strip or belt 25, for example a strip of thin material with thickness that is less than or equal to 1 mm, unwound from a roll, it is possible to mount the pressing roller 12 onto the fixing element 4 nearest the gluing means 9 to optimise the gluing process, reducing the time of exposure to the air of the glue applied to the strip 25. The latter forms with the edge 20a of the element 20 a work angle a that is sufficiently wide and is generally comprised between 55° and 45°.
[0021] Mounting the pressing roller 12 onto fixing means 4 that is progressively further away from the gluing means 9 enables the width of said work angle α to be progressively reduced to perform edgebanding with strips, belts, listels, rods having progressively greater stiffness and/or consisting of less elastic and more fragile material.
[0022] With reference to Figures 3 and 4, mounting the pressing roller 12 in a work position that is further from the gluing means 9 enables a stiff listel 25 to be mounted, for example of solid wood with a thickness that is greater than or equal to 2 mm, which can be bent with a wider curvature radius.
[0023] By appropriately defining the number and arrangement of the fixing means 4 on the work surface 3, it is possible to position the pressing roller 12 in such a way as to force the strip 25 to form work angles α that are variable over a very wide range.
[0024] In the version of the edgebanding apparatus 1 illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, the pressing means 2 comprises a plurality of pressing rollers 12, for example two, rotatably fixed to respective fixing means 4 and acting jointly on the strip 25. The use of two pressing rollers 12 has proved to be particularly advantageous because it enables the gluing process to be optimised. The two rollers in fact enable the strip 25 to be kept pressed on the edge 20a along a compression portion B with a length that is greater than that of the compression portion that is obtainable with a sole pressing roller.
[0025] With a same application speed of the strip 25 it is thus possible to increase the compression time of the strip 25 on the edge 20a. This is particularly useful and appropriate, especially in the case of flexible strips or belts having a thin thickness and reduced width.
[0026] The length of the portion B, which substantially corresponds to the distance between the two pressing rollers 12, can be defined according to specific needs, fixing said pressing rollers 12 to respective appropriate fixing means 4.
1. Edgebanding apparatus for fixing a strip (25) to an edge (20a) of an element (20)
in wood or similar material, comprising gluing means (9), suitable for applying adhesive
to said strip (25) or to said edge (20a), and pressing means (2), suitable for pressing
said strip (25) on said edge (20a), characterised in that it comprises a plurality of fixing means (4) suitable for removably connecting said
pressing means (2) to a work surface (3), configured for supporting said element (20).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressing means (2) comprises a pressing
roller (12) rotatably fixed to one of the fixing means (4).
3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pressing means (2) comprises a plurality
of pressing rollers (12) rotatably fixed to respective fixing means (4).
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said pressing rollers (12) act jointly on
said strip (25) in such a way as to make a compression portion (B) on said strip (25).
5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein each pressing roller (12)
is rotatable around a respective axis (12a).
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said axis (12a) is almost perpendicular to
said work surface (3).
7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, comprising driving means suitable
for rotating each pressing roller (12).
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said fixing means (4) are distanced
from one another with respect to said gluing means (9).
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said fixing means (4) are distanced from one
another along a rectilinear direction (A).