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(11) | EP 2 979 833 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | TRIMMING ASSEMBLY FOR THE FINISHING OF WOOD PANELS OR THE LIKE |
| (57) A trimming assembly for the finishing of wood panels (2) or the like has a horizontal
slide (12), which is coupled to a support frame (7) in a sliding manner by means of
the interposition of a shock absorber device, and a pair of vertical slides (16, 17),
which are coupled to the horizontal slide (12) in a sliding manner by means of the
interposition of respective shock absorber devices, and support respective trimming
tools (24), which are each mounted so as to rotate due to the thrust of a respective
electric motor (18).
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[0001] The present invention relates to a trimming assembly for the finishing of wood panels or the like.
[0002] Each panel has two larger lateral faces, which are parallel to one another, is delimited by a lateral profile, which is substantially transverse to the larger lateral faces, and has a finishing edge, which is glued along at least part of the lateral profile.
[0003] The trimming assembly normally comprises a support frame; a horizontal slide, which is coupled to the support frame in a sliding manner by means of the interposition of a first shock absorber device, so as to carry out horizontal movements relative to the support frame; and a pair of vertical slides facing one another, each coupled to the horizontal slide in a sliding manner by means of the interposition of a second shock absorber device, so as to carry out vertical movements relative to the horizontal slide.
[0004] The trimming assembly comprises, furthermore, a pair of trimming tools, which are engaged in the relative vertical slides in a rotary and axially fixed manner and, moreover, are coupled in a sliding and angularly fixed manner to a first splined transmission shaft, which is mounted so as to rotate around a first rotation axis.
[0005] The two trimming assemblies are associated with respective vertical copy attachments, which, in use, are arranged in contact with the larger lateral faces of the panel, and with a horizontal copy attachment, which, in use, is arranged in contact with the finishing edge.
[0006] Furthermore, the trimming assembly also has a second transmission shaft, which extends through the support frame, is configured to be axially locked on a tool carrier spindle of a work centre, and is caused to rotate by the tool carrier spindle around a second rotation axis.
[0007] The second transmission shaft is coupled to the first transmission shaft in an angularly fixed manner by means of the interposition of a coupling joint, which is configured so as to allow the two trimming tools to correctly follow both the outline of the larger lateral faces and the outline of the lateral profile.
[0008] In use, the two trimming tools are arranged on opposite sides of the panel, the two vertical copy attachments are moved so as to come into contact with the larger lateral faces, and the horizontal copy attachment is caused to come into contact with the finishing edge.
[0009] By moving the trimming assembly around the panel, the vertical copy attachments and the horizontal copy attachment allow the trimming tools to correctly follow both the outline of the larger lateral faces and the outline of the finishing edge and, therefore, to correctly carry out the trimming of two longitudinal corners of the finishing edge that project from the larger lateral faces themselves.
[0010] Due to the presence of the first transmission shaft and of the coupling joint, known trimming assemblies of the type described above have a relatively large number of components and, therefore, are relatively complicated and expensive.
[0011] Furthermore, the coupling joint is subject to wear and can jeopardize the correct operation of the trimming assembly.
[0012] Finally, known trimming assemblies of the type described above are affected by a further drawback lying in the fact that the replacement of the trimming tools is relatively complicated, involves relatively long set-up times, and each time requires the first transmission shaft to be disassembled.
[0013] It is an object of the present invention to provide a trimming assembly for the finishing of wood panels or the like, which is designed to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks in a straightforward, relatively low-cost manner.
[0014] According to the present invention, there is provided a trimming assembly for the finishing of wood panels or the like according to the appended claims.
[0015] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show a nonlimiting embodiment thereof, wherein:
figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the trimming assembly according to the present invention;
figure 2 is a schematic longitudinal section, with parts removed for greater clarity, of the trimming assembly of figure 1; and
figure 3 schematically shows the operating cycle of the trimming assembly of figure 1.
[0016] With reference to figures 1 and 3, number 1 indicates, as a whole, a trimming assembly for the finishing of substantially flat wood panels 2 or the like.
[0017] In particular, each panel 2 substantially has the shape of a parallelepiped, is delimited by two larger lateral faces 3, which are parallel to one another, and, furthermore, is delimited by a lateral profile 4, which is substantially transverse to the faces 3 themselves.
[0018] The panel 2 is provided with a finishing edge 5, which is glued along at least part of the profile 4, and has, in an initial configuration of its, two longitudinal corners 6, which are opposite to one another and project from the faces 3 perpendicularly to the faces 3 themselves.
[0019] According to figures 1 and 2, the trimming assembly 1 comprises a support frame 7, which has a box-like shape, and is engaged in a rotary manner by a coupling shaft 8 having a longitudinal axis 9 that is parallel to a substantially vertical direction 10.
[0020] The shaft 8 has, furthermore, an upper appendage 11 substantially having the shape of a truncated cone, which projects upwards from the frame 7, and allows the trimming assembly 1 to be coupled to a tool carrier spindle (not shown) of a work centre (not shown).
[0021] After having coupled the appendage 11 to the aforesaid tool carrier spindle (not shown), the frame 7 and, therefore, the trimming assembly 1 can be oriented around the axis 9 in a known manner as a function of the profile of the panel 2 being processed.
[0022] The frame 7 supports a horizontal slide 12, which extends under the frame 7, and is coupled to the frame 7 in a sliding manner, so as carry out, relative to the frame 7 itself and in a way that will be better described below, straight movements in a horizontal direction 13 that is transverse to the direction 10.
[0023] The slide 12 is substantially L-shaped with a concavity facing downwards, and comprises a horizontal plate 14, which is coupled to the frame 7, and a vertical upright 15, which projects downwards from the plate 14 parallel to the direction 10.
[0024] The slide 12 is coupled to the frame 7 in a sliding manner by means of the interposition of a shock absorber device (not shown) comprising a pair of coupling pins, which are fixed to the frame 7 on opposite sides of the plate 14 in the direction 13, extend parallel to the direction 13, and are engaged in a sliding manner inside respective cavities obtained in the plate 14 itself.
[0025] Furthermore, each cavity houses, on the inside, a spring, which is fitted on the relative coupling pin, and is interposed between the frame 7 and the plate 14.
[0026] The upright 15 is engaged by two vertical slides 16, 17 in a sliding manner, the slide 16 being arranged above the slide 17.
[0027] Each slide 16, 17 is coupled to the upright 15 in a sliding manner, so as to carry out, along the upright 15 and due to the thrust of at least one relative actuator cylinder (not shown), straight movements in the direction 10.
[0028] Each slide 16, 17 houses, on the inside, an electric motor 18 provided with an output shaft 19, which is, in particular, coaxial to the axis 9, faces the shaft 19 of the other motor 18, and is coupled to the slide 16, 17 in a rotary manner by means of the interposition of a pair of rolling bearings 20.
[0029] Each motor 18 is supplied with power through an electric circuit 21 comprising a first portion 22, which is mounted on the trimming assembly 1, and a second portion (not shown), which is carried by the aforesaid tool carrier spindle (not shown) of the work centre (not shown) and is connected to the portion 22 through of a plurality of electric contacts 23.
[0030] According to a variant that is not shown herein, the trimming assembly 1 is configured as an operating head, which is permanently mounted on the work centre (not shown) and, therefore, is provided with its own power supply circuit.
[0031] Each shaft 19 has, splined on it, a known trimming tool 24, which is configured to trim one of the longitudinal corners 6 of the edge 5, and is caused to rotate around the axis 9 by the relative motor 18.
[0032] Each trimming tool 24 cooperates with a known vertical copy attachment 25, which is mounted on the relative slide 16, 17, and is aligned with the other copy attachment 25 in the direction 10.
[0033] In use, the two copy attachments 25 are arranged on opposite sides of the panel 2 in the direction 10 and in contact with the relative faces 3. The thrust exerted upon the copy attachments 15 and, therefore, on the slides 16, 17 by the panel 2 is substantially equal to the thrust exerted upon the slides 16, 17 themselves by the relative actuator cylinders (not shown), so as to allow the trimming tools 24 to correctly follow the outline of the faces 3 of the panel 2 being processed.
[0034] The two trimming tools 24 are associated, furthermore, to a known horizontal copy attachment 26, which is fixed to the upright 15 in the direction 10, and is arranged in contact with the edge 5. The thrust exerted upon the copy attachments 26 and, therefore, on the slide 12 by the panel 2 is substantially equal to the thrust exerted upon the slide 12 itself by the aforesaid springs (not shown), so as to allow the trimming tools 24 to correctly follow the outline of the profile 4 of the panel 2 being processed.
[0035] Since each trimming tool 24 is caused to rotate around the axis 9 by its own electric motor 18, the trimming assembly 1 has a relatively small number of components and, therefore, is relatively simple and low-cost.
[0036] Furthermore, the replacement of the trimming tools 24 is relatively easy and involves relatively short set-up times.
[0037] According to some embodiments that are not shown:
the trimming assembly 1 is provided with scraping tools to scrap the edge 5 and/or the glue applied between the panel 2 and the edge 5 itself;
the output shafts 19 of the two electric motors 18 have respective rotation axes, which are distinct from one another and preferably - though not necessarily - parallel to one another;
each vertical slide 16, 17 is mounted on a relative horizontal slide associated with a relative horizontal copy attachment; and
the frame 7 supports two vertical slides, each of which is coupled to the frame 7 in a sliding manner by means of the interposition of a shock absorber device, and supports, in turn, a horizontal slide, which is coupled to the vertical slide in a sliding manner by means of the interposition of a shock absorber device, and supports the relative trimming tool 24 in a rotary manner.
1. A trimming assembly for the finishing of wood panels (2) or the like, each panel (2)
being provided with a finishing edge (5), which is applied along at least part of
a lateral profile (4) of the panel (2) itself, the trimming assembly comprising a
support frame (7); at least one horizontal slide (12), which is coupled to the support
frame (7) in a sliding manner by means of the interposition of a first shock absorber
device; and, for each horizontal slide (12), at least one respective vertical slide
(16, 17), which is coupled to the horizontal slide (12) in a sliding manner by means
of the interposition of a second shock absorber device, and supports a trimming tool
(24) in a rotary manner; and being characterised in that it comprises, furthermore, for each trimming tool (24), a respective electric motor
(18), which is housed in the relative vertical slide (16, 17), and has an output shaft
(19), which is engaged through the trimming tool (24) itself in an angularly fixed
manner.
2. A trimming assembly for the finishing of wood panels (2) or the like, each panel (2)
being provided with a finishing edge (5), which is applied along at least part of
a lateral profile (4) of the panel (2) itself, the trimming assembly comprising a
support frame (7); at least two vertical slides, which are coupled to the support
frame (7) in a sliding manner by means of the interposition of respective first shock
absorber devices; and, for each vertical slide, a respective horizontal slide, which
is coupled to the vertical slide in a sliding manner by means of the interposition
of a second shock absorber device, and supports a trimming tool (24) in a rotary manner;
and being characterised in that it comprises, furthermore, for each trimming tool (24), a respective electric motor
(18), which is housed in the relative horizontal slide, and has an output shaft (19),
which is engaged through the trimming tool (24) itself in an angularly fixed manner.
3. A trimming assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two trimming tools (24)
are mounted so as to rotate around a single rotation axis (9).
4. A trimming assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two trimming tools (24)
are mounted so as to rotate around respective rotation axes (9), which are distinct
from one another, in particular parallel to one another.
5. A trimming assembly according to any of the previous claims, wherein the support frame
(7) is configured so as to rotate around a rotation axis (9).
6. A trimming assembly according to claim 5, wherein the rotation axis (9) is the rotation
axis (9) of at least one trimming tool (24).
7. A trimming assembly according to any of the previous claims and comprising, furthermore,
a locking device (11) to fasten the trimming assembly to a tool carrier spindle of
a work centre.
8. A trimming assembly according to claim 7 and comprising, furthermore, at least one
power supply connector (23), which is configured to be coupled to a power supply device
mounted on the tool carrier spindle.
9. A trimming assembly according to any of the previous claims and comprising, furthermore,
for each horizontal slide (12), a respective horizontal copy attachment (26), which
is configured to be arranged, in use, in contact with the finishing edge (5), so as
to move the horizontal slide (12) as a function of the profile of the finishing edge
(5) itself.
10. A trimming assembly according to any of the previous claims and comprising, furthermore,
for each vertical slide (16, 17), a respective vertical copy attachment (25), which
is configured to be arranged, in use, in contact with a larger lateral face (3) of
the panel (2), so as to move the vertical slide (16, 17) as a function of the profile
of the larger lateral face (3) itself.
11. A trimming assembly according to any of the previous claims and comprising, furthermore,
a pair of scraping tools to scrap the finishing edge (5) and/or the glue applied between
the panel (2) and the finishing edge (5) itself.
12. A trimming assembly according to any of the previous claims, wherein each horizontal
slide (12) is mobile in a horizontal direction (13) and each vertical slide (16, 17)
is mobile in a vertical direction (10).