FR2824290A1 - Workbench, for the repair of plastic automobile components, has a suction chamber under the grid of the worktable surface, with a base of angled walls leading to a suction opening for the extraction of dust and adhesive vapors - Google Patents

Abstract

Workbench, for the repair of plastic components, has a chamber (10) where the base (5) is formed by angled walls (50,52,53). The base walls slope downwards from the worktable (2) level, towards an opening (54) for connection to a suction unit. The bench has supports to carry the component being repaired. The worktable surface is a grid, with two levels (20,21) at different heights.

Description

SP 18804.69 GP

  The subject of the present invention is a workbench device for repairing plastic or similar objects, in particular

  motor vehicle bumpers.

  Plastics and the like are more and more frequently used in all fields, and particularly in that of automobile construction for the manufacture of elements, owing in particular to the savings in weight which can be achieved, and also due to the great diversity of

  new forms that the use of these materials allows.

  In the field of automobile construction, plastics or the like are thus used for the manufacture, in addition to the interior of the passenger compartment, of bodywork elements such

  than hoods, fenders, pavilions and bumpers.

  Plastics also have other advantages compared to sheet metal traditionally used, in particular that of being elastic, so that during a shock of reduced amplitude,

  the part deforms then resumes its initial shape.

  On the other hand, during a greater impact, the plastic parts can cut, crack or break, which requires repairs, the bumpers being of course the most

more exposed.

  However, rather than repairing a plastic or similar part, it is very common to replace it with a new one, with the disadvantage of a higher final cost for

the consumer.

  This practice is in particular due to the difficulties encountered during the repair of plastic or similar parts, because this work consists on the one hand in providing an overabundant supply of material at the point of damage, then, after drying, to restore

  to the piece its initial shape by a sanding operation.

  The sanding operation is the most restrictive, in fact it requires on the one hand an isolation to avoid the dispersion of dust and the deposit of this on sensitive elements, and on the other hand the protection of the operator, by means of a system of

mask.

  To overcome this drawback, workbench devices have been provided equipped with a suction system making it possible to suck up the dust from the working of the material and thus to avoid their dispersion, said devices being in the form of a box closed above by a grid intended to support the

  workpiece and connected to a suction means.

  However, these devices are not entirely satisfactory, in the sense that, on the one hand, the dust particles are not correctly sucked up and tend to accumulate in the bottom of the box, and on the other hand they are not suitable for the treatment of parts of elongated and curved shapes such as for example bumpers. It will be noted that similar problems are encountered during a material deposition, bonding or similar operation, since the materials used can lead to vapors liable to

  to be bothersome, even harmful.

  The object of the present invention is to propose a workbench device for the repair of plastic or similar objects, in particular motor vehicle bumpers,

  to overcome the various aforementioned drawbacks.

  The workbench device for repairing plastic or similar objects, in particular motor vehicle bumpers according to the invention is of the type which is in the form of a box associated with a suction means and whose the work plan is perforated, and it is essentially characterized in that the bottom of said box has inclined walls starting from the edges of said work plan to converge towards a mouth of

  connection to said suction means.

  The configuration of the bottom of the box of the workbench device according to the invention allows the dust, resulting from the machining of the part to be treated and which passes through the openings of the worktop, to be

sucked up entirely.

  According to an additional characteristic of the workbench device according to the invention, it comprises means for supporting the workpiece

  treat, orientable in all directions.

  According to another additional characteristic of the workbench device according to the invention, the openwork work plan consists of

a grid.

  According to another additional characteristic of the workbench device according to the invention, the openwork worktop present at

  at least two flat parts extending at different levels.

  According to a particular embodiment of the workbench device according to the invention, the work plan consists of two open planes extending at two different heights and connected by a

wall also perforated.

  According to an additional characteristic of the particular embodiment of the workbench device according to the invention, the mouthpiece is oriented so that its suction axis crosses the region of junction of the upper part of the work surface, with the wall

  connecting with the lower part.

  The differences in the level of the work surface favor the positioning of the part to be repaired when it presents

curved shapes.

  Preferably, the part to be repaired is placed so that the part to be treated is in the level change region so as to allow, in addition to optimizing the positioning of the

  part, an easier approach to said part to be treated.

  The advantages and characteristics of the device according to

  the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows

  and which relates to the attached drawing, which represents a mode of

non-limiting realization.

  In the appended drawing: - Figure 1 shows a schematic w e in perspective

  of a workbench device according to the invention.

  - Figure 2 shows a partial schematic view in

  front elevation of the same device.

  - Figure 3 shows a schematic elevational view of

  side of a part of the same device.

  With reference to FIG. 1, it can be seen that a workbench device according to the invention is generally presented under the

4 2824290

  shape of a table, that is to say it comprises a frame 1 comprising

  a body 10 in the form of a box and which rests on four feet 11.

  The body 10 has a work surface 2 above, which is divided into two parts 20 and 21 each extending horizontally on two different levels, respectively upper and lower, and connected by an intermediate wall 22,

which in this case is vertical.

  The work surface 2, that is to say the two parts 20 and 21, as well as the intermediate wall 22, are perforated, and consists of

  preferably in grids suitable for letting dust pass.

  In FIG. 1, it can also be seen that the workbench device according to the invention also comprises means suitable for serving as a support for the part to be treated, and which consist of

  brackets 3 on which are placed the parts to be treated.

  Advantageously, the brackets 3 are movable in displacement in all directions, for this purpose they comprise several parts which cooperate so that on the one hand they are telescopic both vertically and horizontally, and that on the other apart they can be moved along the frame 1 and

  can pivot on it around a horizontal axis.

  Thus a bracket comprises a bracket 30, a branch 31 which extends above the work surface 2 is telescopic, while the other branch 32 is slidably mounted axially in a

sleeve 33.

  The sleeve 33 is held in a movable ring 34 on the one hand in tranelation in a rail 12 which the body 10 has longitudinally, and on the other hand in pivoting. The blocking in position of the branch 32 is achieved by clamping by means of a single screw handle 35 capable of blocking the ring 34 and the sleeve 33 against the body

  10, and to block the branch 32 in the sleeve 33.

  Note also the presence of a bracket 4 extending above the work surface 2, in the longitudinal direction, which is telescopic and which is moved in a horizontal plane by pivoting of its base, and which is intended to serve as support to

tools.

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  If we now refer to Figure 2, we can see that the body 1 includes a bottom 5, also shown in Figure 3, having longitudinal walls 50 and 51, and transverse 52 and 53 inclined so as to form in a way a hopper flaring upwards, that is to say towards the work surface 2, and narrowing downwards to a mouth 54

  intended for the connection of a suction means not shown.

  It will be noted that the axis of the mouth 54 is substantially directed towards the zone 23 of junction of the upper part 20 of the plane of

  work 2 with the intermediate wall 22.

  In practice, the part to be treated is placed on the brackets 3, which are placed in the most suitable position according to the dimensions and the shape of the part to be treated. In addition, the part is positioned so that the part to be treated is preferably placed in the region of zone 23, which facilitates the approach of

  this part to be treated using the tools.

  During the machining of the part to be treated, for example a sanding, the dust is sucked through the work surface 2, all the more easily as the suction axis is passed through the

machining area.

  In addition, the dust which passes through the work surface 2 is channeled towards the mouth 54 due to the convergence of the

  walls 50, 51, 52 and 53, which prevents accumulation.

  We know that these characteristics also favor

  the suction of vapors from the materials used.

  It goes without saying that the present invention cannot be limited

  to the foregoing description of one of its embodiments,

  likely to undergo some modifications without going out

of the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

  1) Workbench device for repairing plastic or similar objects, in particular motor vehicle bumpers, of the type in the form of a box (10) associated with a suction means and of which the work plan (2) is perforated, characterized in that the bottom (5) of said box (10) has walls (50, 51, 52, 53) inclined starting from the edges of said work plan (2) to converge towards a mouth (54) of   connection to said suction means.   2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (3) for supporting the part to be treated,   orientable in all directions.   3) Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the openwork worktop (2) consists of a grid.   4) Device according to any one of claims   previous, characterized in that the perforated worktop has at least two planar parts (20, 21) extending to different levels.   ) Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the work surface (2) consists of two planes (20, 21) perforated extending at two different heights and connected by a wall (22) also openwork.   6) Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the mouth (54) is oriented so that its axis of the suction passes through the region (23) of junction of the upper part (20) of the work surface (2 ), with the wall (22) connecting with the part