EP1380367A1

EP1380367A1 - Machine for angle joining intermediate components for the assembly of profiled elements for doors and windows and the like

Info

Publication number: EP1380367A1
Application number: EP03014465A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ezio Lavezzi
Original assignee: Oemme SpA
Current assignee: Oemme SpA
Priority date: 2002-07-09
Filing date: 2003-07-01
Publication date: 2004-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2023-07-01
Also published as: ITMO20020193A0; ATE297273T1; EP1380367B1; DE60300795T2; DE60300795D1; ITMO20020193A1

Abstract

A machine (1) for angle joining intermediate components (P) for the assembly of profiled elements for doors and windows and the like, comprising a workbench (3) and reference elements (4) for at least one pair of intermediate components (P) on the workbench (3), the intermediate components being provided internally with respective tubular chambers (C) and being preassembled at right angles by inserting in the chambers at least one angular connecting element (E), and at least one unit (9) for fixing one of the intermediate components and the angular element, which is associated with the workbench and is provided with at least one working head (10) that comprises elements (11) for the insertion of at least one dowel (S) provided with a through hole for the connection of the corresponding intermediate component and of the angular element and with elements (12) for injecting a predetermined amount of filler material into the chamber through the hole of the previously inserted dowel, the amount of injected material being suitable to occupy at least one portion of the chamber (C) that is arranged at the angular element (E).

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for angle joining of intermediate components for the assembly of profiled elements for doors and windows and the like.
It is known that the frames of metallic doors and windows are manufactured by assembling intermediate components, such as profiled elements obtained by extrusion, machined at their ends to obtain angled bevels, and provided internally with tubular chambers.
Angle brackets for mutually connecting each profiled element that constitutes the frame and the adjacent profiled element are inserted in the chambers so as to preassemble the corners of the frames.
Currently, various methods are used in order to permanently connect said corners; one of them consists of the doweling of the intermediate components, which provides the joint by inserting dowels for connecting the profiled elements and the bracket inserted therein.
Two different working methods are known for performing the doweling: one consists in inserting manually, with the aid of percussion hammers or the like, the dowels in holes formed beforehand in the profiled elements; the other one uses doweling machines.
These machines are substantially constituted by a workbench on which there are two doweling heads arranged at right angles to each other, each head cooperating with a respective profiled element, and there is a sort of clamp for blocking the profiled elements being machined.
Each head generally has a magazine provided with a plurality of seats in which the dowels are accommodated and a pusher for expelling the individual dowels.
In some cases, cylindrical dowels are used to join the comers mechanically, and adhesive material is injected manually into the chambers of the profiled elements through additional holes formed generally in the profiled elements prior to assembly, so as to embed the bracket and the dowels inserted therein, obtaining, after a suitable setting time, a permanent connection of the profiled elements.
The adhesive material protects the bracket against corrosion and increases the mechanical strength of the joint obtained between the profiled elements.
Known types of treatment are not free from drawbacks, including the fact that the machines that are currently used do not allow the insertion of a plurality of dowels distributed within the thickness of each profiled element and therefore the fixing of a plurality of brackets inside the profiled elements; moreover, the manual injection of the adhesive material entails a considerable increase in treatment times.
The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks noted above of known machines by providing a machine for angle joining intermediate components for the assembly of profiled elements for doors and windows and the like that allows to achieve higher flexibility in use and a reduction in treatment times and associated costs.
Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a machine that is simple, relatively easy to provide in practice, safe in use, effective in operation, and has a relatively low cost.
This aim and this and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by the present machine for angle joining intermediate components for the assembly of profiled elements for doors and windows and the like, comprising a workbench and reference means for at least one pair of intermediate components on said workbench, the intermediate components being provided internally with respective tubular chambers and being preassembled at right angles by inserting in said chambers at least one angular connecting element, characterized in that it comprises at least one unit for fixing one of said intermediate components and said angular element, which is associated with said workbench and is provided with at least one working head that comprises means for the insertion of at least one dowel provided with a through hole for the connection of the corresponding intermediate component and of said angular element and with means for injecting a predetermined amount of filler material into said chamber through said hole, the amount of injected material being suitable to occupy at least one portion of the chamber that is arranged at the angular element.
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a machine for angle joining intermediate components for the assembly of profiled elements for doors and windows and the like, illustrated by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic and perspective view of a machine for angle joining intermediate components for the assembly of profiled elements for doors and windows and the like, according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a partial enlarged-scale perspective view of the machine of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic and partial side view of a fixing unit of the machine according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a schematic and partial plan view of the unit of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a schematic and partial perspective view of the injection means of the machine according to the invention.
With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a machine for angle joining intermediate components for the assembly of profiled elements for doors and windows and the like.
The machine 1 comprises a supporting frame 2, which forms a workbench 3 on which two intermediate components P are positioned by way of reference means 4.
The intermediate components P are constituted by respective extruded profiled elements, which are machined at their ends to obtain an angular bevel and are provided with respective tubular chambers C, an upper chamber C₁ and a lower chamber C₂, and are preassembled at right angles by inserting at least one and preferably two angular elements E, such as L-shaped brackets or the like, one in the upper chambers C₁ and the other one in the lower chambers C₂.
The reference means 4 comprise a sort of clamp that is constituted by a fork-like element 5 that protrudes from the workbench 3 and on which there abuts the outer corner formed by the two intermediate components P and by a wedge, not shown, which can slide within a seat 6 formed in the workbench and is suitable to abut against the inner corner formed by the intermediate components.
Such wedge is associated with means for actuating movement toward and away from the intermediate components P and with means for adjusting contact pressure, both of which are not shown because they are of a conventional type.
The reference means 4 further comprise a plurality of supports 7 of adjustable height, which are distributed on the workbench 3, and a plurality of supporting wings 8, which protrude laterally from the workbench.
The machine 1 further comprises at least one and preferably two units 9 for fixing the two intermediate components P and angular elements E inserted therein, which are associated in an upper region with respect to the workbench 3.
Each unit 9 comprises at least one and preferably two working heads 10, which are provided with respective means 11 for inserting a dowel S, which is provided with a longitudinal through hole, not shown in the figures, for the connection of the corresponding intermediate component P and of one of the angular elements E and of respective means 12 for injecting a preset amount of filler material into the corresponding chamber C through the hole of the previously inserted dowel S.
The amount of filler material injected through each hole varies according to the useful volume inside the corresponding chamber C and is suitable to occupy at least one portion of the chamber, which is arranged at the angular element E inserted therein.
Conveniently, the filler material is suitable to protect the angular elements E accommodated within the chambers C and/or to increase the mechanical strength of the joint provided between intermediate components P.
The filler material can be constituted, for example, by an adhesive or the like.
The working heads 10 of each unit 9 are arranged at different heights with respect to the workbench 3, the upper working head 10a and the lower working head 10b being arranged respectively at the upper chamber C₁ and lower chamber C₂ of the corresponding intermediate component P.
The working heads 10 of the units 9 can move in a reciprocating manner in a direction that is parallel to the corresponding intermediate component P between a first active configuration for the insertion of a dowel S in the intermediate component and a second active configuration for injecting the preset amount of filler material through the hole of the previously inserted dowel S.
The insertion means 11 comprise a duct 13 for the exit of the dowels S, which is fed by a magazine 14, and pusher means 15 for expelling individual dowels S through said duct.
The exit duct 13 is formed in a protruding portion 16 of the corresponding working head 10, which is designed to be arranged in abutment against the corresponding intermediate component P.
The pusher means 15 of each working head 10 comprise a pusher 17, which is made to move in a reciprocating fashion substantially transversely to the corresponding intermediate component P by corresponding actuation means, which are not shown because they are of a conventional type, between an inactive configuration and a pushing configuration.
The pusher 17 is constituted by a sort of associable stem that can slide along the exit duct 13 of the dowels S.
The actuation means can be, for example, of the mechanical or pneumatic or hydraulic type, i.e., operated by way of a fluid medium.
Advantageously, the magazine 14 is of the linear type and is arranged parallel to the corresponding intermediate component P.
The magazine 14 comprises an elongated element 18, which is provided with a longitudinal seat 19 for accommodating a plurality of dowels S, which are arranged mutually side by side and lie transversely to the elongated element, with an opening 20 for the insertion of the dowels that is connected to the seat 19, and with a through slot 21 for the exit of the individual dowels S, which is aligned with the exit duct 13 and faces it and is interposed between the exit duct and the pusher 17.
The magazine 14 further comprises pusher means 22 for the translational motion of the dowels S arranged inside it along the seat 19 up to the vicinity of the through slot 21.
The pusher means 22 comprise a slider 23, which is associated so that it can slide along the seat 19, and elastic means 24, such as a conventional pack spring or the like, which are arranged inside said seat and have a first end that is rigidly coupled to the elongated element 18 and a second end that is rigidly coupled to the slider 23.
The elastic means 24 act parallel to the seat 19, pushing the dowels S contained therein toward the through slot 21, so that at each pass of the pusher 17 a new dowel S is arranged along its path in order to be expelled at the next pass.
The injection means 12 of each working head 10 comprise a channel 25 for the exit of the filler material, which is formed in the protruding portion 16 and is associated with a duct 26 for feeding said material, which is provided with an injector 27.
The feed duct 26 is served by feeder means 28, which are constituted, for example, by a tank 29 that is preferably accommodated within the machine 1.
Conveniently, the tank 29 is provided with dosage means 30, such as a conventional volumetric regulator or the like, which are set to allow the release of the preset quantity of filler material.
In the particular embodiment shown, the tank 29 that feeds the filler material toward the upper working heads 10a (or lower working heads 10b) of the two units 9 is in common, since generally the shape of the upper chambers C₁ (or lower cams C₂) of the two intermediate components is the same, and therefore amount of filler material that is injected is the same.
As an alternative, it is possible to provide independent tanks 29 for each working head 10 or other solutions.
Each unit 9 comprises first, second and third means, respectively designated by the reference numerals 31, 32 and 33, for adjusting the relative position of the upper head 10a with respect to the position of the lower head 10b, respectively in a vertical direction, in a transverse direction and in a parallel direction with respect to the corresponding intermediate component P.
Each unit 9 further comprises means 34 for positioning the working heads 10 on the workbench 3 in a direction that is parallel to the corresponding intermediate component P.
In the particular embodiment shown in the figures, the adjustment means 31, 32 and 33 and the positioning means 34 are of a type that can be adjusted manually by way of threaded elements or the like, which are associated with mechanical counters of a known type or other devices, not shown in detail.
As an alternative, the adjustment means 31, 32 and 33 and the positioning means 34 can be of the electronic type and be controlled by a control and management unit, such as a conventional programmable controller.
Finally, the machine 1 comprises actuation means, such as conventional levers or control switches, which actuate the translational motion of the working heads 10 between the first and second active configurations, the insertion means 11 and the injection means 12.
The operation of the invention is as follows: the operator must fix beforehand the intermediate components P on the workbench 3, adjusting the supports 7 and placing the wedge so as to lock said intermediate components between the edge and the fork-like element 5.
The intermediate components P are arranged on the supports 7 at a suitable distance from the workbench 3, so that the lower chambers C₂ are at a level that is close to the level of the lower heads 10b.
The operator must further act manually to adjust the adjustment means 31, 32 and 33 and the positioning means 34, so that the working heads 10 are arranged at the angular elements E inserted in the chambers C of the respective intermediate components P.
Such adjustment depends on the dimensions and shape of the intermediate components P and of the angular elements E.
If instead the adjustment means 31, 32 and 33 and the positioning means 34 are of the electronic type, it is sufficient to make the controller identify the type of intermediate component P being treated, for example by entering codes or the like, so that it correctly positions said means.
Finally, depending on the useful volume of the chambers C it is necessary to set the dosage means 30 in order to allow the release of the preset quantity of filler material.
By operating the actuation means, the means 11 for inserting the lower heads 10b and then the means for inserting the upper heads 10a are activated simultaneously. Following the insertion of the dowels S, the working heads 10 are made to perform a translational motion parallel to the respective intermediate components P by an extent that corresponds to the center distance between the exit ducts 13 and the exit channels 25 of the heads, so as to arrange each exit channel 25 of the filler material at the hole of the corresponding dowel S inserted previously.
Finally, the injection means 12 are actuated by way of the actuation means and inject the preset quantity of filler material through the hole of each dowel S.
It is possible to provide alternative embodiments of the machine 1, which are not shown and in which for example there are two to four pairs of units 9, so as to be able to assemble simultaneously a plurality of corners of a frame.
In practice it has been found that the described invention achieves the proposed aim and object.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent ones.
In practice, the materials used, as well as the shapes and the dimensions, may be any according to requirements without thereby abandoning the scope of the protection of the appended claims.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. M02002A000193 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

A machine for angle joining intermediate components for the assembly of profiled elements for doors and windows and the like, comprising a workbench and reference means for at least one pair of intermediate components on said workbench, the intermediate components being provided internally with respective tubular chambers and being preassembled at right angles by inserting in said chambers at least one angular connecting element, characterized in that it comprises at least one unit for fixing one of said intermediate components and said angular element, which is associated with said workbench and is provided with at least one working head that comprises means for the insertion of at least one dowel provided with a through hole for the connection of the corresponding intermediate component and of said angular element and with means for injecting a predetermined amount of filler material into said chamber through said hole, the amount of injected material being suitable to occupy at least one portion of the chamber that is arranged at the angular element.
The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said insertion means comprise at least one duct for the exit of said dowels, a magazine suitable to feed the dowels toward said duct, and pusher means for expelling individual dowels through said duct.
The machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said pusher means comprise a pusher, which is made to move in a reciprocating fashion in a direction that is substantially transverse to said intermediate component between an inactive configuration and a pushing configuration by corresponding actuation means, the pusher being associable so that it can slide along the dowel exit duct.
The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said magazine is of the substantially linear type and comprises an elongated element for accommodating a plurality of said dowels, which is provided with an opening for the insertion of said dowels and with a through slot for the exit of the individual dowels that is interposed between said pusher and said exit duct.
The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said dowels are distributed along said magazine substantially transversely to said elongated element.
The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said magazine comprises pusher means that are suitable to produce the translational motion of said dowels along said elongated element up to the vicinity of said exit slot.
The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pusher means comprise a slider that is associated so that it can slide along said elongated element and is associated with elastic means in which a first end is rigidly coupled to said elongated element and a second end is rigidly coupled to said slider.
The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said injection means comprise at least one channel for the exit of said filler material, which is associated with a duct for feeding said material, which is provided with at least one injector and is associated with means for feeding said material.
The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said feeder means comprise dosage means that are suitable to adjust said preset amount of injected filler material.
The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said filler material is suitable to protect said angular element and/or increase the mechanical strength of the joint provided between said intermediate components.
The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said filler material is of the type of an adhesive or the like.
The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said head is allowed to move in a reciprocating fashion between a first active configuration for the insertion of said dowel and a second active configuration for injecting said preset quantity of filler material.
The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said heads are two and are arranged at different levels with respect to said workbench, one head being arranged above the other.
The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said unit comprises means for adjusting the position of the upper head with respect to said workbench.
The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said unit comprises means for positioning said heads on said workbench in a direction that is substantially parallel to said intermediate component.
The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said positioning means and said adjustment means is of the type that can be adjusted manually by way of respective threaded elements or the like.
The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said positioning means and said adjustment means is of the electronic type and is controlled by a control and management unit.
The machine according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fixing units are two, each one being suitable to fix said angular element and the respective intermediate component.
A method for angle joining intermediate components for the assembly of frames of doors and windows and the like, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: positioning at least one pair of profiled elements on a workbench, said intermediate components being provided internally with respective upper and lower chambers and being preassembled at right angles by way of the insertion of a respective angular connecting element inside said chambers; inserting at least one dowel provided with a through hole for the connection of each one of said intermediate components and of said angular element inserted in the corresponding lower chamber; inserting at least one of said dowels for the connection of each one of said intermediate components and of said angular element inserted in the corresponding upper chamber; and injecting preset quantities of filler material within said chambers through the holes of said dowels, the amount of material injected through each hole being suitable to occupy at least one portion of the corresponding chamber arranged at the angular element.