[0001] The present invention relates to an edging machine.
[0002] In particular, the invention relates to the structure of an edging machine comprising
a gluing unit which in turn comprises a gluing roller for applying a glue layer on
a surface of a panel (when said surface is subjected to machining by said edging machine),
wherein said structure is designed to determine at least one a thickness of the glue
layer present on the surface of the panel.
[0003] Preferably, the edging machine is designed to indirectly determine (i.e. through
the thickness of a glue layer on said gluing roller) he thickness of the glue layer
on the surface of the panel and more preferably to verify it the thickness of the
glue layer on the surface of the panel is equal to a desired thickness based on the
machining to be carried out on the surface of the panel.
[0004] In case of a negative outcome of the verification, it is necessary to rotate a shutter
(included in said gluing unit) with respect to the gluing roller so that more or less
glue is transferred from the shutter to the gluing roller to obtain an equal thickness
of the glue layer on the surface of the panel equal to the desired thickness.
Prior art
[0005] It is known that an edging machine is capable of applying an edging tape to a surface
of a panel using a quantity of glue.
[0006] For this purpose, the edging machine is provided with a gluing unit.
[0007] A gluing unit of a known type comprises a container containing a quantity of glue,
a shutter and a gluing roller.
[0008] The shutter is connected to the container and has a rotation axis around which said
shutter rotates to transfer more or less glue to the gluing roller.
[0009] In particular, the shutter comprises a first slot to receive a quantity of glue coming
from the container and a second slot, different from the first slot, to transfer said
quantity of glue from the shutter to the gluing roller.
[0010] A further shutter, placed inside said shutter, allows/prevents the transfer of said
quantity of glue towards the shutter roller.
[0011] The gluing roller has a rotation axis around which said gluing roller rotates, parallel
to the rotation axis of the shutter.
[0012] The gluing roller rotates around its rotation axis, so that the quantity of glue
coming out of the shutter is distributed on the outer surface of the gluing roller
and forms a glue layer.
[0013] In fact, during the rotation of the gluing roller, portions of the outer surface
of the gluing roller, different from each other, come into contact with the second
slot of the shutter, and a respective quantity of glue coming out from the second
slot of the shutter reaches each of said portions of outer surface.
[0014] A numerically controlled motor is connected to the shutter and configured to rotate
the shutter around its rotation axis so that more or less glue flows out of the shutter.
[0015] Consequently, the glue layer on the outer surface of the gluing roller can have a
greater or lesser thickness based on the quantity of glue flowing out of the shutter.
[0016] A logic control unit is connected to the numerically controlled motor and configured
to control the numerically controlled motor.
[0017] In particular, the logic control unit is configured to control the numerically controlled
motor on the basis of a desired value which is a reference value associated with the
thickness that a glue layer should have on a surface of a panel depending on the specific
machining to be carried out on the surface of the panel.
[0018] Consequently, for each machining to be carried out on a surface of a panel, the thickness
that the glue layer on said surface of said panel must have is established a priori.
[0019] The reference value associated with the thickness that the glue layer should have
on the surface of the panel is stored in a memory before the surface of the panel
is subjected to machining.
[0020] For example, if a surface of a panel is to be finished using a first edging tape
or a second edging tape, different from the first edging tape, the thickness of the
glue layer on the surface of the panel must have a different height based on the edging
tape and the thickness height value is established before the surface of the panel
is machined.
[0021] Therefore, depending on the machining to be carried out on a surface of a panel,
it is necessary that the glue layer on the surface of the panel has a respective predetermined
thickness.
[0022] A first disadvantage of said edging machine of know type is given by the fact it
is not possible to determine a thickness of the glue layer on the gluing roller.
[0023] A second disadvantage is given by the fact that it is not possible to determine the
thickness of the glue layer on the surface of the panel starting from the thickness
of the glue layer on the gluing roller.
[0024] A further disadvantage is given by the fact that, although a reference value associated
with the thickness of the glue layer on the surface of the panel is stored and although
the logic control unit controls a numerically controlled motor, often, the glue layer
on the surface of the panel does not have the correct thickness, i.e. the thickness
does not have the desired value for the machining to be carried out on said surface
of said panel.
[0025] In fact, often, the glue layer on the surface of the panel has a thickness greater
or lesser than the thickness desired for the machining to be carried out on said surface
of said panel.
[0026] This is due to various factors and mainly to the following factors: the wear of one
or more components of the gluing unit, in particular the components that must perform
a movement (such as the gluing roller or the shutter), the type of glue, the viscosity
of the glue, and the temperature of the glue.
[0027] As regards the wear of the components of the gluing unit, the fact that one or more
components of the gluing unit are worn affects the quantity of glue that flows out
of the shutter and reaches the gluing roller.
[0028] As regards the type of glue, the glue can be a hot-melt glue (whose melting temperature
is typically 200°C), such as an EVA glue ("Ethylene Vinyl Acetate"), or a polyurethane
glue (the whose melting temperature is typically 140°C).
[0029] The hot-melt glue is a reversible glue, i.e. a glue that can be heated several times
without its chemical-physical characteristics being altered.
[0030] Polyurethane glue is a glue having a strength greater than the strength of a hot-melt
glue.
[0031] As regards viscosity, glue can have a more or less high viscosity value.
[0032] The higher the viscosity of the glue, the lower the quantity of glue that reaches
the shutter and consequently the gluing roller.
[0033] As regard the temperature of the glue, the glue is in a more or less liquid state
depending on its temperature.
[0034] The higher the temperature of the glue, the greater the quantity of glue that reaches
the shutter and consequently the gluing roller.
[0035] The factors mentioned above affect the quantity of glue that reaches the gluing roller
and consequently the quantity of glue applied to the surface of the panel via said
gluing roller.
[0036] Therefore, in practice, it is difficult to obtain a thickness of the glue layer on
the surface of the panel to be machined which is equal to the thickness desired for
machining said surface of said panel.
Aim of the invention
[0037] The aim of the present invention is to overcome said disadvantages by providing an
edging machine comprising a gluing unit which in turn comprises a shutter and a gluing
roller, in which said edging machine is configured to apply, through said shutter
roller, a glue layer on a surface of a panel to be machined and to determine a thickness
of a glue layer on said gluing roller.
[0038] Advantageously, it is preferable that the edging machine is designed to regulate
the transfer of a quantity of glue from the shutter to the gluing roller in such a
way that the thickness of the glue layer on a surface of the panel is equal to a desired
thickness based on the machining to be carried out on said surface of said panel.
Object of the invention
[0039] It is therefore object of the invention an edging machine comprising:
- a gluing unit comprising:
a container containing a quantity of glue,
a shutter connected to said container,
a gluing roller comprising an outer surface,
wherein
said shutter has a rotation axis and comprises a first slot to receive said quantity
of glue from said container and a second slot to transfer said quantity of glue to
said gluing roller, so that a glue layer is formed on said outer surface of said gluing
roller,
said gluing roller has a rotation axis, parallel to the rotation axis of the shutter,
so that, when said gluing roller rotates, a quantity of glue is applied on a surface
of a panel and a glue layer is formed on said surface of said panel,
- a sensor to determine a thickness of said glue layer on the outer surface of said
gluing roller, and
- a logic control unit configured to:
∘ acquire, through said sensor, at least one first thickness value associated with
said glue layer on the outer surface of said gluing roller, when said gluing roller
is not in use and a quantity of glue has been transferred from said shutter to said
outer surface of said gluing roller, so that a glue layer is formed on said outer
surface of said gluing roller and said quantity of glue is not applied on the surface
of the panel,
∘ determine a glue layer thickness on said outer surface of said gluing roller on
the basis of said at least one first thickness value.
[0040] In particular, said glue layer thickness can be equal to said first thickness value.
[0041] Said logic control unit can be configured to:
∘ acquire, through said sensor, a second thickness value associated with a residual
quantity of glue present on said outer surface of said gluing roller, when said gluing
roller 5 is not in use and a quantity of glue has not been transferred from said shutter
to said outer surface of said gluing roller,
∘ calculate a difference value equal to the difference between said first thickness
value and said second thickness value,
∘ determine said thickness of a glue layer on said outer surface of said roller, wherein
said glue layer thickness is equal to said difference value.
[0042] Said edging machine comprises:
- storage means in which the following data are stored:
one or more reference thicknesses, each of which is a thickness associated with a
respective glue layer and on the outer surface of said gluing roller corresponding
to a glue layer to be applied on a surface of a panel to be subjected to a respective
predetermined machining,
wherein
said logic control unit is configured to:
∘ compare said glue layer thickness on said outer surface of said gluing roller with
a reference thickness associated with a predetermined machining corresponding to the
machining to which said surface of said panel is subjected,
∘ if said glue layer thickness on said outer surface is different from said reference
thickness, generate a signal to rotate said shutter.
[0043] Furthermore, the following data can be stored in said storage means:
one or more reference angles, each of which is associated with the rotation of said
shutter with respect to said gluing roller to increase/decrease the quantity of glue
transferred from said shutter to said gluing roller,
one or more predetermined factors, each of which is associated with a reference angle
and indicates an increase/decrease in a thickness of a glue layer on said gluing roller,
[0044] Said gluing unit can comprise a motor for rotating said shutter around its rotation
axis with respect to said gluing roller.
[0045] In a first alternative, said logic control unit can be configured to:
∘ send said signal to said motor to rotate the shutter around its rotation axis with
respect to said gluing roller by an angle equal to a reference angle to increase/decrease
the amount of glue transferred from said shutter to said gluing roller so that the
glue layer on said surface of said panel increases/decreases according to the predetermined
factor associated with said reference angle until the thickness of said glue layer
on said surface of said panel is equal to the respective reference thickness.
[0046] Said edging machine can comprise a control panel provided with displaying means for
displaying data,
In a second alternative, said logic control unit can be configured to send said signal
to said displaying means, wherein said signal contains information concerning the
glue layer thickness on the outer surface of said gluing roller, and said displaying
means can be configured to receive said signal.
[0047] Said edging machine can comprise alarm means and said logic control unit can be connected
to said alarm means.
[0048] Regardless of the alternatives mentioned above, said logic control unit can be connected
to said alarm means and configured to activate said alarm means when said glue layer
thickness value on said outer surface of said gluing roller is different from said
reference thickness.
[0049] With reference to the gluing roller, said shutter can be configured to rotate around
its rotation axis in a first direction and said gluing roller can be configured to
rotate around its rotation axis in a second direction, opposite to said first direction.
[0050] Said gluing unit can comprise a further shutter, arranged inside said shutter, in
which said further shutter is movable between a first position, in which said further
shutter allows the passage of said quantity of glue from said first slot to said second
slot, and a second position, in which said further shutter prevents the passage of
said quantity of glue from said first slot to said second slot.
[0051] With reference to said sensor, said sensor can be a laser sensor, wherein said laser
sensor is an image-based laser sensor.
[0052] Said sensor can comprise a laser source and a camera, and is arranged with respect
to the gluing roller so that said laser source emits at least one respective laser
beam on one or more points of the glue layer on the outer surface of said gluing roller
and that said one or more points of said glue layer fall within a visual field of
said camera.
[0053] In particular, said sensor can be configured to determine the thickness of said glue
layer on the outer surface of said gluing roller by acquiring one or more respective
heights associated with said one or more points of said glue layer with respect to
the outer surface of said gluing roller and calculating a mean value of said heights.
[0054] In an alternative, said sensor can be a distance sensor chosen from the following
group of distance sensors: a magnetic distance sensor, an optical distance sensor,
an ultrasonic distance sensor, an inductive distance sensor, a capacitive distance
sensor, a magneto-inductive distance sensor.
[0055] Said gluing unit can comprise a supporting element for supporting said gluing roller,
and said sensor can be connected to said supporting element through an arm.
Figure list
[0056] The present invention will be now described, for illustrative, but not limitative
purposes, according to its embodiment, making particular reference to the enclosed
figures, wherein:
Figure 1A is a perspective view of an edging machine according to the invention comprising
a gluing roller;
Figure 1B shows a detail of the edging machine referring to the gluing unit;
Figure2A is a side view of the edging machine of Figure 1A;
Figure 2B shows a detail of the edging machine of Figure 2A referred to the gluing
roller;
Figure 3 is a rear view of the edging machine of Figure 2A, partially in section,
along a plane E-E';
Figure 4 shows in detail the gluing unit installed in the edging machine, in which
said gluing unit includes a shutter and a gluing roller, as well as a logic control
unit, storage means and a sensor for determining the thickness of the glue layer on
a gluing roller;
Figure 5 is a schematic view showing in cross section a shutter and a gluing roller,
arranged in proximity to said shutter, as well as a further shutter, in which said
further shutter is arranged inside said shutter and movable inside said shutter to
allow/prevent the passage of a quantity of glue from a first slot to a second slot
of the shutter;
Figure 6 shows in detail the sensor for determining the thickness of the glue layer
on the gluing roller;
Figure 7 is a top view of a gluing unit, partially in cross section, in which a quantity
of glue has reached the shutter but has not been transferred from the shutter to the
gluing roller;
Figure 8 is a top view of a gluing unit, partially in cross section, in which a quantity
of glue has been transferred from the shutter to the gluing roller but said quantity
of glue has not been applied to the surface of the panel by the gluing roller, and
the sensor is in use;
Figure 9 is a top view of a gluing unit, partially in cross section, in which said
quantity of glue has been applied by the gluing roller on the surface of the panel
and the sensor is in use.
Detailed description of the invention
[0057] With particular reference to Figures 1 to 3, an edging machine 100 is disclosed.
[0058] The edging machine 100 is used to apply an edging tape on a surface S of a panel
P.
[0059] The panel can be a wooden panel or another material.
[0060] In the example being disclosed, the panel P is a wooden panel.
[0061] In order to glue an edging tape onto a surface S of the panel P, the edging machine
100 is provided with a gluing unit 1.
[0062] With particular reference to Figures 4 and 5, said gluing unit 1 comprises:
- a container 2 containing a quantity of glue,
- a shutter 3 connected to said container 2, and
- a gluing roller 5 comprising an outer surface 5A.
[0063] With reference to the shutter 3, said shutter 3 has a rotation axis A and comprises
a first slot 31 to receive said quantity of glue from said container 2 and a second
slot 32 to transfer said quantity of glue to said gluing roller 5, so that a glue
layer is formed on the outer surface 5A of said gluing roller 5.
[0064] The shutter 3 is arranged in such a way that the second slot 32 faces a portion of
the outer surface 5A of the gluing roller 5.
[0065] In particular, the second slot 32 can have a portion in contact to the outer surface
5A of the gluing roller 5 or be spaced from said outer surface 5A of said gluing roller
5.
[0066] In the embodiment being disclosed, the shutter 3 is configured to rotate around its
rotation axis A in a first direction D1 and the gluing roller 5 is configured to rotate
around it rotation axis B in a second direction D2, opposite to said first direction
D1.
[0067] In particular, said gluing unit 1 comprises a further shutter 4, arranged inside
said shutter 3, in which said further shutter 4 is movable between a first position,
in which said further shutter 4 allows the passage of said quantity of glue from said
first slot 31 to said second slot 32, and a second position, in which said further
shutter 4 prevents the passage of said quantity of glue from said first slot 31 to
said second slot 32.
[0068] With reference to the gluing roller 5, said gluing roller 5 has a rotation axis B,
parallel to the rotation axis A of the shutter 3, so that, when said gluing roller
5 rotates, a quantity of glue is applied on a surface S of the panel P and a glue
layer is formed on said surface S of said panel P.
[0069] In other words, the rotation of the gluing roller 5 allows a quantity of glue present
on its outer surface 5A to be applied on the surface S of the panel P.
[0070] The edging machine 100 comprises a sensor 9 to determine a thickness of the glue
layer on the outer surface 5A of said gluing roller 5.
[0071] Said sensor 9 is arranged in such a way as to face a portion of the gluing roller
5.
[0072] With reference to the sensor 9, in the embodiment being disclosed, said sensor 9
is a laser sensor, in particular an image-based laser sensor.
[0073] As shown in Figure 6, said sensor 9 (i.e. the laser sensor) comprises a laser source
91 and a camera 92.
[0074] Said sensor 9 is arranged with respect to the gluing roller 5 so that said laser
source 91 emits at least one respective laser beam on one or more points of the glue
layer on the outer surface 5A of the gluing roller 5 and that said one or more points
of said glue layer fall within a visual field of said camera 92.
[0075] In particular, said sensor 9 is configured to determine the thickness of the glue
layer on the outer surface 5A of the gluing roller 5 by acquiring one or more respective
heights associated with said one or more points (of said glue layer with respect to
the outer surface 5A of the gluing roller 5) and calculating a mean value of said
heights.
[0076] In other words, for each of said points of the glue layer the sensor is adapted to
acquire a respective height and calculate the mean value of the height values associated
with each point.
[0077] In the embodiment being disclosed, said gluing unit 1 comprises a supporting element
10 for supporting at least one gluing roller 5 and the sensor 9 is connected to said
supporting element 10 through an arm 11.
[0078] In the embodiment being disclosed, said supporting element 10 supports said shutter
3 and said gluing roller 5.
[0079] In particular, an end surface of said shutter 3 and an end surface of said gluing
roller 5 contact a surface of said supporting element 10.
[0080] However, although shown in Figures, it is not necessary that the sensor 9 is connected
to the gluing unit 1.
[0081] The important thing is that the sensor 9 is positioned inside the edging machine
100 in such a way that a light radiation (in this specific case the laser) emitted
by the sensor 9 hits the outer surface 5A of the gluing roller 5.
[0082] Said edging machine 100 further comprises:
- a logic control unit 8 configured to:
∘ acquire, through said sensor 9, at least one first thickness value associated with
said glue layer on the outer surface 5A of said gluing roller 5, when said gluing
roller 5 is not in use and a quantity of glue has been transferred from said shutter
3 to said outer surface 5A of said gluing roller 5, so that a glue layer is formed
on said outer surface 5A of said gluing roller 5+ and said quantity of glue is not
applied on the surface S of the panel P,
∘ determine a glue layer thickness on said outer surface 5A of said roller 5, on the
basis of said at least one first thickness value.
[0083] In particular, said thickness of glue layer can be equal to said first thickness
value.
[0084] In other words, the logic control unit 8 is connected to the sensor 9 and acquires
a value associated with the thickness of the glue layer present on the outer surface
5A of the gluing roller 5 and to determine the thickness of the glue layer on the
outer surface 5A of the roller 5 on the basis of said value (i.e. said first thickness
value).
[0085] The thickness value of the glue layer acquired through sensor 9 of the glue layer
on the outer surface 5A of the roller 5.
[0086] Furthermore, the logic control unit 8 can be configured to:
∘ acquire, through said sensor 8, a second thickness value associated with a residual
quantity of glue present on said outer surface 5A of said gluing roller 5, when said
gluing roller 5 is not in use and a quantity of glue has not been transferred from
said shutter 3 to said outer surface 5A of said gluing roller 5, so that a glue layer
is not formed on said outer surface 5A of said gluing roller 5 and is not applied
any quantity of glue on the surface S of the panel P,
∘ calculate a difference value equal to the difference between said first thickness
value and said second thickness value,
∘ determine a thickness of a glue layer on said outer surface 5A of said roller 5,
in which said thickness of glue layer is equal to said difference value.
[0087] From a temporal point of view, the second value associated with the thickness of
the glue layer on the outer surface 5A of the roller 5 is acquired by the control
logic unit 8 before said logic control unit 8 acquires the first value associated
with the thickness of the glue layer glue on the outer surface 5A of the roller 5.
[0088] Consequently, if the first value is acquired in a time instant, the second value
is acquired in a further time instant which is prior to said time instant.
[0089] In other words, in this case, the logic control unit 8 is connected to the sensor
9 and acquires two values associated with the thickness of the glue layer present
on the outer surface 5A of the gluing roller 5 and calculates the difference between
said two values.
[0090] Since a quantity of glue has not been transferred from the shutter 3 onto the outer
surface 5A of the gluing roller 5 and the gluing roller 5 is not in use, the second
value of the thickness associated with the glue layer on the outer surface 5A of the
gluing roller 5 is essentially zero, unless there is a residual quantity of glue,
for example due to a previous machining.
[0091] The result of this difference (i.e. the difference value) is the thickness of the
glue layer of the outer surface 5A of the roller 5.
[0092] Said edging machine 100 can comprise:
- storage means 7 in which the following data are stored:
one or more reference thicknesses, each of which is a thickness associated with a
respective glue layer on the outer surface 5A of said gluing roller 5 corresponding
to a glue layer to be applied on a surface S of a panel P to be subjected to a respective
predetermined machining.
[0093] Said storage means 7 can comprise a memory.
[0094] In the embodiment being disclosed, said storage means 7 are external to the logic
control unit 8.
[0095] However, said storage means 7 can be included in said logic control unit 8, without
departing from the scope of invention.
[0096] The logic control unit 8 can be configured to:
∘ compare said thickness of said glue layer on said outer surface 5A of said gluing
roller 5 with a reference thickness associated with a predetermined machining corresponding
to the machining to which said surface S of said panel P is subjected,
∘ if said thickness of said glue layer on said outer surface 5A of said gluing roller
5 is different from said reference thickness, generate a signal to rotate said shutter
3.
[0097] In a first alternative, said signal can be a control signal to control a motor for
rotating the shutter 3.
[0098] In fact, the gluing unit 1 can comprise a motor 6 for rotating the shutter 3 around
its rotation axis A with respect to the gluing roller 5.
[0099] In the embodiment being disclosed, said motor 6 is a numerically controlled motor.
[0100] The following data can be stored in said storage means 7:
one or more reference angles, each of which is associated with the rotation of said
shutter 3 with respect to said gluing roller 5 to increase/decrease the quantity of
glue transferred from said shutter 3 to said gluing roller 5,
one or more predetermined factors, each of which is associated with a reference angle
and indicates an increase/decrease in a glue layer thickness on said gluing roller
5.
[0101] Each predetermined factor is a value that indicates an increase/reduction of a thickness
of a glue layer on said gluing roller 5 associated with a respective reference angle.
[0102] For example, said value can be a percentage value to express the increase or reduction
in the thickness of a glue layer on said gluing roller 5 as a function of the reference
angle.
[0103] Said logic control unit 8 can be configured to:
∘ send said signal to said motor 6 to rotate the shutter 3 around its rotation axis
A with respect to said gluing roller 5 by an angle equal to a reference angle to increase/decrease
the amount of glue transferred from said shutter 3 to said gluing roller 5 so that
the glue layer on said surface S of said panel P increases/decreases according to
the predetermined factor associated with said reference angle until the thickness
of said glue layer on said surface S of said panel P is equal to the respective reference
thickness.
[0104] Advantageously, through the signal sent to the motor 6 of the shutter 3, it is possible
to carry out an automatic control of the thickness of the glue layer present on the
outer surface 5A of the gluing roller 5 so that the thickness of the glue layer on
the surface S of the panel P is the thickness required by the specific machining to
which said surface S of said panel P is subjected.
[0105] In a second alternative, said signal can be a signal directed to a control panel
101, in which said signal contains information relating to one or more thickness values
associated with the glue layer present on the outer surface 5A of the gluing roller
5.
[0106] In particular, the edging machine 100 can comprise a control panel 101 provided with
displaying means 102 for displaying data and the logic control unit 8 can be configured
to send said signal to said displaying means 102.
[0107] Said displaying means 102, included in said control panel 101, are configured to
receive said signal.
[0108] In the embodiment being disclosed, said displaying means comprise a display.
[0109] Advantageously, the values of the thickness of the glue layer on the outer surface
5A of the gluing roller 5 are displayed on said displaying means 102 and allow an
operator reading such values to take action through control panel 101 on the motor
6 of the shutter 3 to rotate said shutter 3 around its rotation axis A with respect
to said gluing roller 5 so that the glue layer on said surface S of said panel P increases/decreases
until the thickness of said glue layer on said surface S of said panel P is equal
to the reference thickness.
[0110] Through the control panel 101, the operator can view the data relating to the thickness
of the glue layer on the outer surface 5 of the gluing roller 5 and control the motor
6 of the shutter 3.
[0111] For example, the operator can select a reference thickness (depending on the machining
to which the surface S of the panel P is subjected) on said displaying means 102 and
through the logic control unit 8 send a signal to the motor 6 to rotate the shutter
3 around its rotation axis A.
[0112] Furthermore, regardless of the above-mentioned alternatives, said edging machine
100 can comprise alarm means and said logic control unit 8 can be connected to said
alarm means and configured to activate said alarm means when said thickness of said
glue layer on the outer surface 5A of the gluing roller 5 is different from the reference
thickness.
[0113] Said alarm means can comprise a light and/or acoustic source.
[0114] In particular, said alarm means can be arranged at any point of the edging machine
100.
[0115] For example, said alarm means can be included in the control panel 101.
[0116] Figures 7 to 9 show the gluing unit 1 in three different situations.
[0117] Figure 7 shows a first situation in which a quantity of glue from the container 2
has reached the shutter 3 but has not been transferred from the shutter 3 to the gluing
roller 5.
[0118] The second slot 32 of the shutter 3 comprises a first end portion 32A and a second
end portion 32B, opposite to said first end portion 32A.
[0119] In this first situation, the first end portion 32A contacts the outer surface 5A
of the gluing roller 5 and the second end portion 32B is spaced from the outer surface
5A of the gluing roller 5.
[0120] However, the quantity of glue does not reach the outer surface 5A of the gluing roller
5.
[0121] Figure 8 shows a second situation in which a quantity of glue has been transferred
from the shutter 3 to the gluing roller 5 but said quantity of glue has not been applied
from the gluing roller 5 on the surface S of the panel P.
[0122] In this second situation, the shutter 3 is rotated of a certain angle around its
rotation axis A.
[0123] Consequently, the shutter 3 is rotated with respect to the gluing roller 5.
[0124] The first end portion 32A and the second end portion 32B of the second slot 32 are
spaced from the outer surface 5A of the gluing roller 5, so that a quantity of glue
reaches the outer surface 5A of the gluing roller 5.
[0125] The sensor 9 is in use and a first thickness value of the layer glue on the outer
surface 5A of the gluing roller 5 is determined.
[0126] Figure 9 shows a third situation in which said quantity of glue has been applied
from the gluing roller 5 on a surface S of the panel P.
[0127] In this third situation, the gluing roller 5 contacts the surface S of the panel
P and a quantity of glue is applied on said surface S of said panel P.
[0128] Although not said, also in the first situation, the sensor 9 can be in use and a
thickness value of the glue layer on the outer surface 5A of the gluing roller 5 can
be determined.
[0129] In this case, the value associated with the thickness of the glue layer on the outer
surface 5A of the gluing roller 5 can be considered a calibration value.
[0130] Furthermore, the shutter 3 rotates between:
a first position, in which the first end portion 32A contacts the outer surface 5A
of the gluing roller 5 and the second end portion 32B is spaced from the outer surface
5A of the gluing roller 5, so that said quantity of glue does not reach the outer
surface 5A of the gluing roller 5, and
a second position, in which the shutter 3 is rotated around its rotation axis A (and
then with respect to the gluing roller 5) and the first end portion 32A and the second
end portion 32B are spaced from the outer surface 5A of the gluing roller 5, so that
a quantity of glue reaches said outer surface 5A of said gluing roller 5 and is distributed
over it.
[0131] With reference to the sensor 9 mentioned above, it is not necessary that said sensor
9 is a laser sensor.
[0132] In an alternative, not shown, said sensor 9 can be a distance sensor, without departing
from the scope of invention.
[0133] For example, said distance sensor can be chosen from the following group of distance
sensors: a magnetic distance sensor, an optical distance sensor, an ultrasonic distance
sensor, an inductive distance sensor, a capacitive distance sensor, a magneto-inductive
distance sensor.
[0134] As said, by means of said sensor 9, it is also possible to acquire the second thickness
value associated with the glue layer present on the outer surface 5A of the roller
5 before a quantity of glue has been transferred from said shutter 3 onto said outer
surface 5A of said gluing roller 5.
[0135] The acquisition of the second thickness value can be carried out during the setup
of the edging machine or at each machining cycle of the edging machine.
[0136] In any case, said second thickness value can be stored in said storage means 7.
[0137] The acquisition of said second thickness value at each machining cycle of the edging
machine allows to eliminate an error in the acquisition of the first thickness value
due to a residual quantity of glue present on the outer surface 5A of the gluing roller
5 and/or due to the wear of the gluing roller 5.
[0138] In fact, the presence of a residual quantity of glue present on the outer surface
5A of the gluing roller 5 and/or the wear of the gluing roller 5 cause inaccuracies
in the acquisition of the first thickness value.
Advantages
[0139] A first advantage is given by the fact that the edging machine 100, object of the
present invention, allows not only to apply a glue layer on a surface of a panel using
a gluing roller, but also to determine the thickness of the glue layer on the outer
surface 5A of the gluing roller 5.
[0140] A second advantage is given by the fact that the edging machine can be designed to
indirectly determine, i.e. through the thickness of a glue layer on the outer surface
5A of the gluing roller 5 (by means of which a quantity of glue is applied on the
surface S of the panel P and forms a glue layer on said surface S).
[0141] A further advantage is given by the fact that said edging machine can be designed
to verify whether the thickness of the glue layer on the surface S of the panel P
is equal to a desired thickness depending on the machining to which said surface S
of said panel P is subjected and to generate a signal which may be a signal sent to
the motor 6 to rotate the shutter 3 with respect to the gluing roller 5 or sent to
displaying means 102, included in a control panel 101, so that an operator is aware
that it is necessary to rotate the shutter 3 with respect to the gluing roller 5.
[0142] The rotation of the shutter 3 with respect to the gluing roller 5 can increase or
reduce the quantity of glue transferred from the shutter 3 to the gluing roller 5,
so that the quantity of glue on the surface S of the panel P increases or decreases
until the thickness of the glue layer on surface S of panel P is equal to the desired
thickness.
[0143] The present invention has been described for illustrative, but not limitative purposes,
according to its preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that variations
and/or modifications can be carried out by a skilled in the art, without departing
from the scope thereof, as defined according to enclosed claims.
1. Edging machine (100) comprising:
- a gluing unit (1) comprising:
a container (2) containing a quantity of glue,
a shutter (3) connected to said container (2),
a gluing roller (5) comprising an outer surface (5A),
wherein
said shutter (3) has a rotation axis (A) and comprises a first slot (31) to receive
said quantity of glue from said container (2) and a second slot (32) to transfer said
quantity of glue to said gluing roller (5), so that a glue layer is formed on said
outer surface (5A) of said gluing roller (5),
said gluing roller (5) has a rotation axis (B), parallel to the rotation axis (A)
of the shutter (3), so that, when said gluing roller (5) rotates, a quantity of glue
is applied on a surface (S) of a panel (P) and a glue layer is formed on said surface
(S) of said panel (P),
- a sensor (9) to determine a thickness of said glue layer on the outer surface (5A)
of said gluing roller (5), and
- a logic control unit (8) configured to:
∘ acquire, through said sensor (9), at least one first thickness value associated
with said glue layer on the outer surface (5A) of said gluing roller (5), when said
gluing roller (5) is not in use and a quantity of glue has been transferred from said
shutter (3) to said outer surface (5A) of said gluing roller (5), so that a glue layer
is formed on said outer surface (5A) of said gluing roller (5) and said quantity of
glue is not applied on the surface (S) of the panel (P),
∘ determine a glue layer thickness on said outer surface (5A) of said gluing roller
(5), on the basis of said at least one first thickness value.
2. Edging machine according to claim 1, wherein said glue layer thickness is equal to
said first thickness value.
3. Edging machine (100) according to claim 1, wherein said logic control unit (8) is
configured to:
∘ acquire, through said sensor (9), a second thickness value associated with a residual
quantity of glue present on said outer surface (5A) of said gluing roller (5), when
said gluing roller (5) is not in use and a quantity of glue has not been transferred
from said shutter (3) to said outer surface (5A) of said gluing roller (5),
∘ calculate a difference value equal to the difference between said first thickness
value and said second thickness value,
∘ determine a glue layer thickness on said outer surface (5A) of said roller (5),
wherein said glue layer thickness is equal to said difference value.
4. Edging machine (100) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein
said edging machine (100) comprises:
- storage means (7) in which the following data are stored:
one or more reference thicknesses, each of which is a thickness associated with a
respective glue layer and on the outer surface (5A) of said gluing roller (5) corresponding
to a glue layer to be applied on a surface (S) of a panel (P) to be subjected to a
respective predetermined machining,
wherein
said logic control unit (8) is configured to:
∘ compare said glue layer thickness on said outer surface (5A) of said gluing roller
(5) with a reference thickness associated with a predetermined machining corresponding
to the machining to which said surface (S) of said panel (P) is subjected,
∘ if said glue layer thickness on said outer surface (5A) is different from said reference
thickness, generate a signal to rotate said shutter (3).
5. Edging machine (100) according to claim 4, wherein the following data are stored in
said storage means (7):
one or more reference angles, each of which is associated with the rotation of said
shutter (3) with respect to said gluing roller (5) to increase/decrease the quantity
of glue transferred from said shutter (3) to said gluing roller (5),
one or more predetermined factors, each of which is associated with a reference angle
and indicates an increase/decrease in a thickness of a glue layer on said gluing roller
(5),
wherein
said gluing unit (1) comprises:
- a motor (6) for rotating said shutter (3) around its rotation axis (A) with respect
to said gluing roller (5),
wherein
said logic control unit (8) is configured to:
∘ send said signal to said motor (6) to rotate the shutter (3) around its rotation
axis (A) with respect to said gluing roller (5) by an angle equal to a reference angle
to increase/decrease the amount of glue transferred from said shutter (3) to said
gluing roller (5) so that the glue layer on said surface (S) of said panel (P) increases/decreases
according to the predetermined factor associated with said reference angle until the
thickness of said glue layer on said surface (S) of said panel (P) is equal to the
respective reference thickness.
6. Edging machine (100) according to claim 4, wherein
said edging machine (100) comprises a control panel (101) provided with displaying
means (102) for displaying data,
wherein
said logic control unit (8) is configured to send said signal to said displaying means
(102), wherein said signal contains information concerning the glue layer thickness
on the outer surface (5A) of said gluing roller (5), and
wherein
said displaying means (102) are configured to receive said signal.
7. Edging machine (100) according to any one of claims 4-6, wherein said edging machine
(100) comprises alarm means and said logic control unit (8) is connected to said alarm
means and configured to activate said alarm means when said glue layer thickness value
on said outer surface (5A) of said gluing roller (5) is different from said reference
thickness.
8. Edging machine (100) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said shutter
(3) is configured to rotate around its rotation axis (A) in a first direction (D1)
and said gluing roller (5) is configured to rotate around its rotation axis (B) in
a second direction (D2), opposite to said first direction (D1).
9. Edging machine (100) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said gluing
unit (1) comprises a further shutter (4), arranged inside said shutter (3), in which
said further shutter (4) is movable between a first position, in which said further
shutter (4) allows the passage of said quantity of glue from said first slot (31)
to said second slot (32), and a second position, in which said further shutter (4)
prevents the passage of said quantity of glue from said first slot (31) to said second
slot (32).
10. Edging machine (100) according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein said sensor (9) is
a laser sensor, wherein said laser sensor is an image-based laser sensor.
11. Edging machine (100) according to the previous claim, wherein said sensor (9) comprises
a laser source (91) and a camera (92),
wherein said sensor (9) is arranged with respect to the gluing roller (5) so that
said laser source (91) emits at least one respective laser beam on one or more points
of the glue layer on the outer surface (5A) of said gluing roller (5) and that said
one or more points of said glue layer fall within a visual field of said camera (92).
12. Edging machine (100) according to the previous claim, wherein said sensor (9) is configured
to determine the thickness of said glue layer on the outer surface (5A) of said gluing
roller (5) by acquiring one or more respective heights associated with said one or
more points of said glue layer with respect to the outer surface (5A) of said gluing
roller (5) and calculating a mean value of said heights.
13. Edging machine (100) according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein said sensor (9) is
a distance sensor chosen from the following group of distance sensors: a magnetic
distance sensor, an optical distance sensor, an ultrasonic distance sensor, an inductive
distance sensor, a capacitive distance sensor, a magneto-inductive distance sensor.
14. Edging machine (100) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said gluing
unit (1) comprises a supporting element (10) for supporting said gluing roller (5)
and said sensor (9) is connected to said supporting element (10) through an arm (11).