Background of the invention
[0001] The invention relates to an edgebanding group intended in particular for producing
panel-shaped edged elements.
[0002] Specifically, but not exclusively, the invention can be used for gluing an edge to
the perimeter of a panel-shaped element having a relatively complex shape. It is possible
to use the invention in the case of a numerical control machining centre or in a multifunction
machine, in particular for machining workpieces made of wood or material similar to
wood.
[0003] The prior art comprises edgebanding units or groups configured for applying the glue
to the side of the panel, or to the edge to be applied to the side of the panel, and
to press the edge (generally consisting of a strip of material) against the raw section
of the panel to make the two elements adhere together.
[0004] An edgebanding group of known type comprises an edge-pressing device that is used
to press the glued edge against the side of the panel and is particularly suitable
for pressing a given type of edge. For example, the use of a pressure device of the
rolling type is known that comprises in general at least one pressing roller, in which
it is preferable to increase the diameter of the roller as the stiffness of the edge
to be applied increases.
[0005] In general, it is known using different pressure devices in function of the type
of profile of the element to be edged. For example, the use of pressure rollers of
small diameter is known to press edges on curved profiles with relatively reduced
internal radiuses. The use of pressure devices of the sliding type is also known that
have a shaped pad that is suitable for operating on profiles with sharp internal edges,
or pressure devices of the roller unit type that are suitable, for example, for edges
with a special shape.
[0006] Known edgebanding groups have a problem when, in the case of machining a panel, it
is opportune to use edge-pressing devices of different types.
[0007] If, merely by way of example, it is wished to produce a panel shaped with a side
edged by a stiff edge element, for example an edge in solid wood, it is opportune
to use an edge-pressing roller of great diameter. If the panel has another side with
a reduced internal radius it is not possible to edgeband the entire perimeter with
the same pressing roller. Currently, the machining programme has to be interrupted,
the edgebanding group has to be modified by fitting a suitable pressing device and
then machining has to be started again automatically with the second part of the programme.
[0008] In general, the prior art has a problem when edgebanding operations have to be performed
on panels that require the use of different types of edge-pressing devices.
Summary of the invention
[0009] An object of the invention is to solve the aforesaid prior-art problem.
[0010] Another object of the invention is to make an edgebanding group that is able to work
on workpieces having relatively complex profiles.
[0011] An advantage of the invention is to provide an edgebanding group for numerical control
machining centres that is able to perform automatically a complete edgebanding programme,
in particular for panel-shaped workpieces with relatively complex profiles.
[0012] Another advantage consists of avoiding interrupting a machining programme for replacing
the edge-pressing device. Such objects and advantages and still others are all achieved
by the edgebanding group according to any of the following claims.
[0013] The edgebanding group comprises an engaging device that is able to receive an edge-pressing
device and a series of edge-pressing devices that are mutually interchangeable.
[0014] The edgebanding group is predisposed so as to be able to change rapidly the edge-pressing
device in function of the profile of the workpiece being machined and/or of the edge
element used.
[0015] In particular, the edgebanding group is provided with an automatic rapid engaging
device by means of which it is possible selectively to insert and release on the unit
different edge-pressing devices.
[0016] The series of interchangeable edge-pressing devices can be housed in a store.
[0017] It will be possible, for example by means of a rapid change device provided with
gripping means, to deposit in the store and/or remove from the store the edge-pressing
devices according to the type of machining to be performed.
[0018] The rapid engaging device could be provided with means for supplying energy to the
various edge-pressing devices, which, time by time, are located on the edgebanding
group in the work position, this energy can be, for example, mechanical and/or pneumatic
and/or electric energy.
Short description of the drawings
[0019] The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached
drawings, which illustrate some embodiments thereof by way of non-limiting example.
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an edgebanding group.
Figure 2 is an enlarged detail of figure 1.
Figure 3 shows the unit of figure 1 without the edge-pressing device.
Figure 4 is an enlarged particular of figure 3.
Figure 5 shows an enlarged detail of the edgebanding group in figure 1.
Figure 6 shows the edgebanding group of figure 1 with a series of interchangeable
edge-pressing devices 3, 3a, 3b and 3c that can be operationally associated in a selective
manner with the same unit.
Figures 7 to 9 show on an enlarged scale the interchangeable devices 3a, 3b and 3c
of figure 6.
Detailed description
[0020] With reference to figure 1, an edgebanding group has been generally indicated by
1 that is suitable for gluing edge elements to the perimeter of panel-shaped workpieces.
The edgebanding group can be used, for example, in the case of a numerical control
machining centre, suitable for machining workpieces made of wood or material similar
to wood, which is provided with other operating units (for example milling units,
boring units, etc).
[0021] The edgebanding group 1 comprises a distributing device 2 configured for distributing
a layer of glue in order to glue an edge element to a side of a panel-shaped workpiece
being machined. The distributing device 2 may comprise any of the glue-distributing
devices of known type that are currently used in edgebanding groups for edgebanding
panel-shaped workpieces. For this reason, the glue-distributing device 2 is not disclosed
in further detail.
[0022] The edgebanding group 1 comprises an edge-pressing device 3 configured for pressing
an edge element against a side of the workpiece being machined. The edge-pressing
device 3 may comprise a device of rolling type (as in the specific case of the figure
1 in which it is of the roller type) or of the sliding type.
[0023] The edgebanding group 1 comprises an engaging device 4 configured for receiving the
edge-pressing device 3 in a removably coupled manner in a work position.
[0024] The engaging device 4 may comprise, as in the specific case, a guide 5 with a rectilinear
axis predisposed for slidable coupling with a corresponding guiding element 6 with
which the edge-pressing device is provided. The engaging device 4 may moreover have
a locking system provided with at least one locking element, which is movable in a
direction that is transverse to the axis of the guide, to lock in position the edge-pressing
device 3. The locking system comprises an actuator (for example a linear actuator)
which can be connected (as in the specific example) by at least one lever 7 and with
the action of at least one elastic element 8, to the movable locking element that,
in the case in point, has the shape of a slideway 9 that defines at least partially
a side of the guide 5.
[0025] The edgebanding group 1 further comprises one or more further edge-pressing devices
3a, 3b, 3c, each of which is configured for pressing an edge element against a side
of the workpiece being machined. The various edge-pressing devices 3, 3a, 3b, 3c can
be, as in the specific case, different from one another and suitable for working in
a specific operating situation, according to the type of edge element to be glued
and/or the type of panel being machined to be edgebanded and/or the type of side to
which to apply the edge element. Also the further edge-pressing devices 3a, 3b, 3c
can comprise devices of the rolling type and/or of the sliding type. In particular,
the various edge-pressing devices 3, 3a, 3b, 3c are each provided with at least one
pressing element that is suitable for a specific type of edge pressing. In the specific
case, for example, the devices 3, 3a, 3b, 3c are provided with pressing elements,
respectively, 30 (roller of relatively large diameter), 31 (shaped pad), 32 (pair
of rollers) and 33 (roller of relatively small diameter). It is possible to provide
other types of pressing element of known type.
[0026] Each of the further edge-pressing devices 3a, 3b, 3c is configured for being received
by the engaging device 4 in a removably coupled manner in a work position, similarly
to the pressing device 3.
[0027] The edgebanding group 1 can be used in the case of a numerical control machining
centre comprising a store (not shown) for housing the further edge-pressing devices
3a, 3b, 3c that, momentaneously, are not operationally associated with the group part
that is actually working.
[0028] The edgebanding group 1 can be further operationally associated with an automatic
change device 10 configured for replacing the edge-pressing device. The automatic
change device 10 is in particular predisposed for removing the edge-pressing device
3 released by the engaging device 4 and for placing the edge-pressing device 3 in
the store, and for removing one of the further edge-pressing devices 3a, 3b, 3c from
the store and coupling one of the further edge-pressing devices 3a, 3b, 3c with the
engaging device 4 in a work position.
[0029] The various edge-pressing devices 3, 3a, 3b, 3c each comprise an easy-to-grasp zone
11 predisposed for coupling with a corresponding movable grasping element 12 of the
automatic change device. The grasping element 12 can be, for example, of the gripper
type. The easy-to-grasp zone 11 may comprise, for example, an external side surface
(for example cylindrical) that is suitable for being grasped on two opposite sides
by a grasping element. This easy-to-grasp zone 11 can be the same for all the devices.
[0030] The engaging device 4 is provided with means for supplying driving energy to an edge-pressing
device that is momentaneously received in a work position. The edge-pressing device
is thus configured for being supplied by the aforesaid supplying means, which can
be, for example, of the electric energy and/or fluid and/or pneumatic and/or mechanical
type. It is, for example, possible to provide for the engaging device 4 comprises
an electric energy socket (which is usable as a source of heating) and/or a source
of pneumatic energy (which is usable as a source of cooling).
[0031] The engaging device 4 can be predisposed, to ensure safety, in such a manner as to
lock automatically the edge-pressing device in the event of an energy supply failure.
[0032] An electronic control unit will be predisposed, which is not illustrated, which is
programmed for controlling the operation of the various glue-distributing, edge-pressing,
coupling and automatic change devices. In particular, the control unit is programmed
for commanding the engaging device 4 for assuming a coupling configuration and a releasing
configuration in which, respectively, it engages and disengages the edge-pressing
device that is momentaneously in the work position.
[0033] The control unit is further programmed in such a manner as to control the automatic
change of the pressing device so as not to have to stop machining, for example if
the workpiece being machined has a special shape that requires an edge-pressing device
to be used in a first machining step and a different edge-pressing device to be used
in a subsequent step.
[0034] Inserting and extracting the various edge-pressing devices may comprise, as in the
specific case, relative sliding between the guiding element 6 (which is also substantially
the same for all the devices 3, 3a, 3b, 3c) and the guide 5. After insertion, the
edge-pressing device is locked by moving the locking element (in the case in point
the slideway 9) transversely.
[0035] In the attached figures a type of drive of the locking element has been illustrated
that comprises a lever system 7, even if it is possible to provide any type of energy
transmission system from an actuator to the locking element.
[0036] It is possible to provide for the engaging device comprising - instead of a grasping
system with a sliding guide (for example a dovetail guide as in the illustrated example)
and a removable locking device - a grasping system of the cone type (for example an
HSK cone or a cone of another known type), like one of those used for the removable
attachment of tools in toolholder spindles.
1. Edgebanding group comprising:
a. a distributing device (2) configured for distributing a layer of glue for gluing
an edge element on a side of a workpiece;
b. at least one edge-pressing device (3) configured for pressing an edge element against
a side of a workpiece;
c. an engaging device (4) configured for receiving said edge-pressing device (3) in
a removably coupled manner in a work position.
2. Edgebanding group according to claim 1, comprising one or more further edge-pressing
devices (3a; 3b; 3c), each of which is configured for pressing an edge element against
a side of a workpiece, each of said one or more further edge-pressing devices (3a;
3b; 3c) being further configured for being received by said engaging device (4) in
a removably coupled manner in a work position.
3. Edgebanding group according to claim 2, operationally associated with a store for
housing said one or more further edge-pressing devices (3a; 3b; 3c), and further operationally
associated with an automatic change device (10) configured for removing said edge-pressing
device (3) released by said engaging device (4) and for placing the engaging device
(4) in said store, and/or for removing one of said one or more further edge-pressing
devices (3a; 3b; 3c) from said store and for coupling said one of said one or more
further edge-pressing devices (3a; 3b; 3c) with said engaging device (4).
4. Edgebanding group according to claim 3, wherein said edge-pressing device (3) and
said one or more further edge-pressing devices (3a; 3b; 3c) each comprise an easy-to-grasp
zone (11) predisposed for coupling with a corresponding movable grasping element (12)
of said automatic change device (10).
5. Edgebanding group according to any preceding claim, wherein said engaging device (4)
is provided with means for supplying drive energy to an edge-pressing device (3; 3a;
3b; 3c) that is received by said engaging device (4) in a work position, said edge-pressing
device (3; 3a; 3b; 3c) being configured for being supplied by said supplying means
by means of electric and/or fluid and/or pneumatic and/or mechanical energy.
6. Edgebanding group according to claim 5, wherein said engaging device (4) is configured
for automatically locking said edge-pressing device (3; 3a; 3b; 3c) in the event of
an energy supply failure.
7. Edgebanding group according to any preceding claim, comprising a control unit predisposed
for commanding the operation of said distributing device (2), of said edge-pressing
device (3) and of said engaging device (4), said engaging device being provided with
the possibility of assuming a coupling configuration and a releasing configuration
wherein, respectively, it engages and disengages said edge-pressing device, said engaging
device being connected to said control unit so as to pass between said coupling and
releasing configurations upon the command of said control unit.
8. Edgebanding group according to any preceding claim, wherein said engaging device (4)
comprises a guide (5) predisposed for slidable coupling with a corresponding guiding
element (6) with which said edge-pressing device (3) and/or each of said further edge-pressing
devices (3a; 3b; 3c) is provided, said engaging device having a locking element (9)
that is movable in a direction that is transverse to an axis of said guide (5) for
locking said edge-pressing device and/or each of said further edge-pressing devices.
9. Edgebanding group according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said engaging device
(4) comprises a cone-type connection system.
10. Edgebanding group according to any preceding claim, wherein said edge-pressing device
(3) is of the sliding or of the rolling type.
11. Edgebanding group according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein said one or more
further edge-pressing devices (3a; 3b; 3c) comprise one or more devices of the sliding
and/or of the rolling type.
12. Numerical control machining centre comprising: an edgebanding group according to any
one of claims 3 to 11; a store for housing said one or more further edge-pressing
devices (3a; 3b; 3c); and an automatic change device (10) configured for removing
said edge-pressing device (3) released by said engaging device (4) and for placing
the edge-pressing device (3) in said store, and/or for removing one of said one or
more further edge-pressing devices (3a; 3b; 3c) from said store and for coupling it
with said engaging device (4).