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(11) | EP 3 281 755 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | MACHINE AND METHOD FOR BORING HOLES IN PANELS OF WOOD OR THE LIKE |
| (57) A machine and method for boring holes in panels (2) of wood or the like, according
to which each panel (2) is advanced through a hole boring station (5) in a first direction
(4), is held in the hole boring station (5) and is drilled by the combined movements
of a drill bit (23) in the first direction (4), in a second direction (10) transverse
to the first direction (4), and in a third direction (8) orthogonal to the first direction
(4) and the second direction (10).
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[0002] In the field of boring holes in panels of wood, it is known to provide a machine of the type comprising an elongated base, which extends in a first direction, and is configured to define a support surface for at least one panel; a hole boring station; and a feeding device for feeding the panel along the base and through the hole boring station in the first direction.
[0003] The hole boring station is provided with a gantry, which extends above the base in a second direction transverse to the first direction, and supports a hole boring head movable along the gantry in the second direction.
[0004] The hole boring head is provided with at least one drill bit which is movable in a third direction which is orthogonal to the said first and second directions and to the support surface.
[0005] The feeding device comprises a plurality of clamp members arranged so as to hold the panel by at least one of its side edges, which are parallel to the first direction or the second direction.
[0006] Holes having a diameter greater than the diameter of the drill bits are made by combining the movements of the panel in the first direction with the movements of the hole boring head in the second direction and the movements of the drill bit in the third direction.
[0007] Known machines for boring holes in panels of wood or the like of the type described above have some drawbacks deriving mainly from the fact that, when the panel is relatively large in size and the hole is made a long way from the clamp members, accelerations and decelerations caused by movement of the panel in the first direction result in a deformation of the panel in the support surface and thus compromise correct positioning of the hole.
[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a machine for boring holes in panels of wood or the like which is free from the drawbacks described above and that is simple and cost-effective to implement.
[0009] A machine for boring holes in panels of wood or the like according to the present invention is provided as claimed in claims 1 to 10.
[0010] The present invention further relates to a method for boring holes in panels of wood or the like.
[0011] A method for boring holes in panels of wood or the like according to the present invention is provided as claimed in claims 11 to 14.
[0012] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment example, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view, with parts removed for clarity, of a preferred embodiment of the machine of the present invention; and
Figure 2 is a lateral schematic view, with parts removed for clarity, of a detail of the machine of Figure 1.
[0013] With reference to Figure 1, the number 1 denotes in its entirety a machine for boring holes in panels 2 of wood or the like.
[0014] The machine 1 comprises an elongated base 3, which extends in a horizontal direction 4, and is configured so as to define a substantially horizontal support surface P for the panels 2.
[0015] The machine 1 further comprises a hole boring station 5 comprising a gantry 6, which is fixed in the direction 4, and is arranged at an intermediate point of the base 3.
[0016] The gantry 6 comprises two mutually parallel vertical uprights 7, which extend in a vertical direction 8 perpendicular to the plane P, and are connected together by a horizontal crosspiece 9, which extends above the base 3 in a direction 10 orthogonal to the directions 4 and 8.
[0017] The machine 1 further comprises a feeding device 11 for feeding the panels 2 along the base 3 and through the station 5 in the direction 4.
[0018] The device 11 comprises a longitudinal side guide rail 12, which extends along the base 3 and through the gantry 6 in the direction 4, and is engaged in a sliding manner by a plurality of clamp members 13 (in this case two members 13) mounted to hold each panel 2 at one of its side edges parallel to the direction 4.
[0019] Each member 13 comprises a lower jaw (not shown) and an upper jaw 14 movable with respect to each other between a clamp position and a release position for the panels 2.
[0020] According to a variant not shown, the device 11 is eliminated and replaced with a feeding device configured to hold each panel 2 both at one of its side edges parallel to the direction 4, and at one of its side edges parallel to the direction 10.
[0021] The gantry 6 supports a hole boring head 15 comprising a horizontal slide 16 coupled in sliding manner to the crosspiece 9 so it can move linearly along the crosspiece 9 in the direction 10; and a horizontal slide 17 coupled in sliding manner to the slide 16 so it can move linearly in the direction 4 with respect to the crosspiece 9, driven by an actuation device 18.
[0022] The device 18 comprises a rack 19, which is fixed to the slide 17 parallel to the direction 4, and is coupled with a pinion (not shown) fitted to the output shaft of an electrical motor 20 fixed to the slide 16.
[0023] The head 15 further comprises, in this case, two electrospindles 21, which are mounted on the slide 17, have respective longitudinal axes 22 parallel to each other and to the direction 8, and are configured to receive and retain respective drill bits 23.
[0024] Each electrospindle 21 is coupled to the slide 17 in a sliding manner so it can move with respect to the crosspiece 9 in the direction 8 between a raised resting position and a lowered operating position.
[0025] To allow the drill bits 23 to correctly bore holes in the panels 2, the base 3 has a feeding channel 24, which extends in the second direction 10, opens up outwards at the support surface P, and is engaged by the drill bits 23 in a sliding manner.
[0026] In use, each panel 2 is fed by the device 11 along the base 3 and through the hole boring station 5 in the direction 4.
[0027] Once the panel 2 is properly positioned in the direction 4, the device 11 and thus also the panel 2 are held in the station 5.
[0028] At this point, a hole having a diameter greater than the diameter of the corresponding drill bit 23 is made by combining the movements of the slide 16 and, therefore, of the hole boring head 15 along the crosspiece 9 in the direction 10 with the movements of the slide 17 with respect to the crosspiece 9 in the direction 4 and the movements of the corresponding electrospindle 21 and, therefore, of the drill bit 23 with respect to the crosspiece 9 in the direction 8.
[0029] The hole boring is thus performed while the panels 2 are held stationary and moving only the drill bits 23 in the directions 4, 8, and 10.
[0030] As a result, the machine 1 has several advantages, mainly due to the fact that the hole boring head 15 is configured so as to ensure that the holes are correctly made and, therefore, that the holes are correctly positioned.
[0031] In addition, the base 3 ensures an effective support of the panels 2 on the support surface P and above the feeding channel 24, which in turn makes it possible for the drill bits 23 to correctly drill the panels 2.
[0032] Finally, the machine 1 makes it possible to concentrate in a relatively small space the work of vacuuming up the swarf and/or chips produced by the drill bits 23.
[0033] According to a variant not illustrated, the head 15 further comprises an additional horizontal slide, which is mounted between the slide 16 and the electrospindles 21, and is movable with respect to the slide 16 in the direction 10. The entire head 15 is thus positioned along the crosspiece 9 by means of the slide 16, while drilling of the panels 2 is carried out by combining the movements of the slide 17 with respect to the crosspiece 9 in the direction 4 with the movements of the electrospindle 21 and, therefore, of the drill bit 23 with respect to the crosspiece 9 in the direction 8 and the movements of the said additional horizontal slide with respect to the slide 16 in the direction 10.
[0034] According to a further variant not illustrated, the machine 1 has an additional hole boring head which is mounted below the plane P, and is auxiliary to, or an alternative for, the head 15.
[0035] According to a third variant not illustrated, the slide 16 is eliminated and replaced with two slides mounted so they can move along the crosspiece 9 independently from each other. Each slide supports a guide by means of the interposition of at least one articulated arm configured to move the guide in the direction 4. Each electrospindle 21 is coupled to the corresponding guide so it can move in the direction 8.
1. A machine for boring holes in panels (2) of wood or the like comprising an elongated
base (3), which extends in a first direction (4) and is designed to define a support
surface (P) for at least one panel (2); a hole boring station (5); a feeding device
(11) for feeding the panel (2) along the base (3) and through the hole boring station
(5) in the first direction (4); a crosspiece (9), which is mounted in the hole boring
station (5) and extends in a second direction (10), which is transverse to the first
direction (4); and a hole boring head (15), which is mounted on the crosspiece (9)
so as to move along the crosspiece (9) in the second direction (10); the hole boring
head (15) comprising at least one drill bit (23), which is movable in a third direction
(8), which is orthogonal to said first and second directions (4, 10) and to the support
surface (P); and characterised in that the drill bit (23) is movable in the first direction (4) relative to the crosspiece
(9).
2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the crosspiece (9) is fixed in the first
direction (4).
3. The machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hole boring head (15) comprises
a first slide (16), which is mounted so as to move along the crosspiece (9) in the
second direction (10), a second slide (17), which is mounted so as to move in the
first direction (4) relative to the first slide (16), and a third slide (21), which
is mounted so as to move in the third direction (8) relative to the first slide (16);
the drill bit (23) being mounted on one of said second and third slides (17, 21).
4. The machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hole boring head (15) comprises
a first slide (16), which is mounted so as to move along the crosspiece (9) in the
second direction (10), a second slide (17), which is mounted so as to move in the
first direction (4) relative to the first slide (16), a third slide (21), which is
mounted so as to move in the third direction (8) relative to the first slide (16),
and a fourth slide, which is mounted so as to move in the second direction (10) relative
to the first slide (16); the drill bit (23) being mounted on one of said second, third
and fourth slides (17, 21).
5. The machine according to any of the previous claims, wherein the crosspiece (9) extends
above the support surface (P) and the hole boring head (15) is mounted above the support
surface (P).
6. The machine according to any of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the crosspiece (9) extends
under the support surface (P) and the hole boring head (15) is mounted under the support
surface (P).
7. The machine according to any of the previous claims, wherein the crosspiece (9) defines
part of a gantry (6), which is mounted in the hole boring station (5) and extends
above the base (3) in the second direction (10).
8. The machine according to any of the previous claims, wherein the base (3) has a transverse
feeding channel (24), which extends in the second direction (10), opens up outwards
at the support surface (P), and is engaged by the drill bit (23) in a sliding manner.
9. The machine according to any of the previous claims, wherein the feeding device (11)
comprises at least one clamp member (13), which is designed to hold the panel (2)
at at least one of its side edges, which is parallel to said first or second direction
(4, 10).
10. The machine according to any of the previous claims, wherein the feeding device (11)
comprises at least two clamp members (13), which are designed to hold the panel (2)
at two of its side edges, which are parallel to said first and second directions (4,
10).
11. A method for boring holes in panels (2) of wood or the like in a machine comprising
an elongated base (3), which extends in a first direction (4) and is designed to define
a support surface (P) for at least one panel (2); a hole boring station (5), which
is provided with a crosspiece (9) extending in a second direction (10), which is transverse
to the first direction (4); and a hole boring head (15), which is mounted on the crosspiece
(9) so as to move along the crosspiece (9) in the second direction (10); the hole
boring head (15) comprising at least one drill bit (23), which is movable in a third
direction (8), which is orthogonal to said first and second directions (4, 10) and
to the support surface (P); the method being characterized in that it comprises, one after the other in the following order, the steps of:
locking at least one panel (2) in the hole boring station (5); and
boring a hole in the panel (2) by combining the movements of the drill bit (23) along the crosspiece (9) in the second direction (10) with the movements of the drill bit (23) relative to the crosspiece (9) in said first and third directions (4, 8).
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the hole boring head (15) comprises a slide
(16), which is mounted so as to move along the crosspiece (9) in the second direction
(10); a hole being bored in the panel (2) by combining the movements of the slide
(16) along the crosspiece (9) in the second direction (10) with the movements of the
drill bit (23) relative to the crosspiece (9) in said first and third directions (4,
8) and the movements of the drill bit (23) relative to the slide (16) in the second
direction (10).
13. The method according to claim 11 or 12 and further comprising the step of:
feeding the drill bit (23) into a transverse feeding channel (24) which is obtained in the base (3), extends in the second direction (10), and opens up outwards at the support surface (P).
14. The method according to any of the claims 11 to 13 and further comprising the step
of:
feeding the panel (2) along the base (3) and through the hole boring station (5) in the first direction (4);
locking the panel (2) and boring a hole in the panel (2) in the hole boring station (5) after having fed it in the first direction (4).