EP3584047A1

EP3584047A1 - Milling device for edge-banding structure and edge banding method

Info

Publication number: EP3584047A1
Application number: EP19181551.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andrea VOLPATO
Original assignee: Fravol Export Srl
Current assignee: Fravol Export Srl
Priority date: 2018-06-20
Filing date: 2019-06-20
Publication date: 2019-12-25
Also published as: IT201800006497A1

Abstract

Milling device for edge-banding machine, which comprises: a milling head (3) provided with a milling tool (6) rotatable around a rotation axis (X) and provided with a cutting profile (7) having a first operating section (18) and a second operating section (19) having different shapes; a transverse coupler (21), which is mounted on the milling head (3) and is able to define, along an adjustment direction (Rl) orthogonal to the rotation axis (X) of the milling tool (6), a working height in which the cutting profile (7) of the milling tool (6) acts on the cladding edge (B) of a panel (P); first actuator means (20) able to displace the milling tool (6) along the rotation axis (X) between a first operating position, in which the first operating section (18) of the cutting profile (7) acts on the cladding edge (B) of the panel (P), and a second operating position, in which the second operating section (19) of the cutting profile (7) of the milling tool (6) acts on the cladding edge (B); second actuator means (27) configured to move the transverse coupler (21) along the adjustment direction (Rl) selectively between a first reference position, when the milling tool (6) is in the aforesaid first operating position, and a different second reference position, when the milling tool (6) is in the aforesaid second operating position.

Description

Field of application

The present invention relates to a milling device for edge-banding machine, an edge-banding machine provided with said milling device and a method for edge-banding by means of said edge-banding machine.
The milling device of the invention is intended to be advantageously used in edge-banding machines designed to carry out the application of cladding edges on panels made of different materials such as wood, chipboard, plywood, MDF, etc.
In particular, the milling device in question is intended to be used to carry out the end milling of the cladding edges by linearly cutting the ends of such edges, and/or to carry out the rounding of the cladding edges performing an angular machining for joining and rounding at the ends of the cladding edges to seamlessly join the orthogonal faces of the panels.
The milling device of the invention is advantageously applicable to edge-banding machines of the unilateral type, which are adapted to apply a cladding edge to one side of the panel at each passage of the panel through the edge-banding machine.

Prior art

In the wood processing industry, in particular in the furniture industry, it is common practice to refine the panels by the application of edging strips that form the cladding edges of the panels and which are then processed by rounding the edges thereof according to the desired profiles.
For this purpose, edge-banding machines have been introduced on the market which are adapted to apply the cladding edges on the sides of the panels and are provided with operating units adapted to perform the necessary finishing operations of the same edges.
In particular, edge-banding machines of the unilateral type are known, which are adapted to apply an edge to one side of the panel at each passage of the panel through the edge-banding machine.
More in detail, edge-banding machines of the known type comprise a support frame provided with a sliding guide extending between an inlet port and an outlet port, and driving means (obtained for example with a sliding belt) adapted to move the panels to advance along the sliding guide from the inlet port to the outlet port.
The edge-banding machine further comprises a storage station adapted to accommodate an edging tape to be applied to the panels and which will form the cladding edge. More specifically, such storage station comprises a rotatable support which carries the wrapped edging tape and is operable to rotate to unwrap the edging tape along the sliding lane to apply the edging tape to the side of the panel.
The edge-banding machine also comprises a gluing unit able to deposit a layer of glue (for example of the heat-meltable type) on the side of the panel and to compress, by means of two or more rollers, the edging tape to the layer of glue to glue the tape to the side of the panel. The gluing unit is provided with a cutting tool able to cut off the edging tape at the rear end of the panel.
The edging tape glued to the panel using the above gluing unit has a greater length than the panel and a greater width than the thickness of the same panel, so that the edging tape protrudes with respect to the ends and the longitudinal sides of the side of the panel.
The edge-banding machine further comprises an end milling unit arranged downstream of the gluing unit and provided with a circular saw adapted to cut the portions of the edging tape that protrude beyond the ends of the side of the panel, linearly cutting the edging tape ends substantially flush with the ends of the side of the panel.
The edge-banding machine also comprises a trimming unit arranged downstream of the end milling unit and adapted to cut the portions of the edging tape that protrude beyond the longitudinal sides of the side of the panel.
The edge-banding machine also comprises a rounding unit positioned downstream of the trimming unit and provided with a milling tool able to round off the ends of the edging tape to seamlessly join the outer surface of the edging tape with the adjacent orthogonal side of the panel.
In particular, the milling tool of the rounding unit is provided peripherally with multiple cutting teeth, each of which has an arched profile with radius of curvature equal to the thickness of the edging tape to correctly join the two faces at 90 degree of the panel.
Operatively, the milling device of the rounding unit is able to pursue the panels during the translation run along the sliding lane to realize the angular rounding of the corners of the cladding edges at the ends of the panels that advance.
To maintain the milling device constantly at a precise distance from the panel, the milling device comprises a front coupler and a transverse coupler able to rest on the panel during the milling operations.
Moreover, the milling device comprises two screw adjustment devices connected to the corresponding couplers and able to be operated by the user to set the position of the couplers with respect to the milling device in order to adjust the position of the milling device from the panel, for example according to the thickness of the cladding edge.
The edge-banding machines of known type briefly described above have proved to be not free from drawbacks in practice.
A first drawback of the aforesaid known edge-banding machines is that they necessarily comprise two distinct operating units (the end milling unit and the rounding unit) to machine the ends of the edges during the different passages of the panel in the edge-banding machine, with consequent high cost and considerable size of the edge-banding machines.
To solve this drawback at least in part, an edge-banding machine has been introduced into the market which comprises a milling device able to carry out both the end milling operations and the rounding operations, and described for example in patent application EP 3248745 A1 .
In particular, this milling device comprises a milling tool whose cutting profile is provided with a rear rounding segment, with arched shape, and with a front end milling segment with rectilinear shape. Moreover, the milling tool can be actuated to move horizontally, along its rotation axis, between a retracted position, in which the end milling segment is able to act on the cladding edge to cut it linearly, and a forward position, in which the rounding segment is able to act on the cladding edge to round it off.
While this known solution allows obtaining an important structural simplification of the edge-banding machine, it is susceptible to improvements in operational terms.
In particular, the rectilinear end milling segment is the milling tool is lowered (for example by one or two tenths of a millimeter) relative to the rounding segment, so that, when the milling tool is brought to a forward position to round off the cladding edge, the front end milling segment does not come in contact with the adjacent faces of the panel to avoiding ruining them. This configuration entails that, when the milling tool is in the retracted position, the end milling segment is at a slightly lower position than that of the face of the panel, producing on the cladding edge a step (of approximately one or two tenths of a millimeter) that is raised with respect to the face of the panel, determining a slight discontinuity that can be perceived by touch.
This problem is generally present in milling devices in which the milling tool is provided with multiple, differently shaped operating segment, for example in the rounding unit described in patent application EP 1302287 A2 or DE 3732810 .

Disclosure of the invention

In this situation, the problem at the basis of the present invention therefore is to overcome the drawbacks exhibited by known solutions, making available a milling device for edge-banding machine, which is able to carry out, in a qualitatively improved manner, multiple different machining operations on the cladding edges applied to the panel (for example end milling and rounding).
Another object of the present invention is to provide a milling device for an edge-banding machine which is constructively simple and cost-effective to implement.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a milling device for an edge-banding machine which is operatively safe and reliable.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a milling device for edge-banding machine that is easy to use.

Brief description of the drawings

The technical features of the invention, according to the aforesaid aims, can clearly be seen in the content of the claims below, and its advantages will become more readily apparent in the detailed description that follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment, which is purely exemplary and not limiting, in which:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example of edge-banding machine in which the milling device object of the present invention is intended to be used;
figure 2 shows a lateral view of the edge-banding machine shown in figure 1;
figure 3 shows a perspective view of the milling device object of the present invention;
figure 4 shows a perspective view of a detail of the milling device shown in figure 2, relating to a milling head of said device in a first working position;
figure 5 shows a perspective view of the milling head in a second working position;
figure 6 shows a lateral view of the milling head, with some parts removed;
figure 7 shows a section view of the milling head of figure 6, according to the line VII-VII of figure 6;
figure 8 shows a lateral view of a detail of the milling device, relating to means for adjusting the reference positions of a transverse coupler of the milling device itself;
figure 9 shows a section view of the adjustment means of figure 8, according to the line IX-IX of figure 8;
figure 10 shows a lateral view of a detail of the milling device, relating to a milling tool;
figure 11 shows a section view of the milling tool of figure 10, according to the line XI-XI of figure 10;
figure 12 shows a front view of the milling tool illustrated in figure 10;
figure 13 shows a section view of the milling tool of figure 12, according to the line XIII-XIII of figure 12;
figure 14 shows the milling tool in a first operating position, for example to carry out an operation of end milling the cladding edge of the panel;
figure 15 shows the milling tool in a second operating position, for example to carry out an operation of rounding off the cladding edge of the panel;
figure 16 shows a portion of the milling tool in the first operating position of figure 14;
figure 17 shows a portion of the milling tool in the second operating position of figure 15.

Detailed description of an example of a preferred embodiment

With reference to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole a milling device object of the present invention.
The milling device 1 of the invention is intended to be advantageously mounted on an edge-banding machine 100 adapted to carry out the application of cladding edges on panels made, for example, of wood, chipboard, plywood, MDF (Medium-density fiberboard), etc.
Advantageously, the milling device 1 is intended to execute on the cladding edges of the panels rounding operations, or end milling operations, or (with reference to the particular example illustrated below) both of the aforesaid operations.
Conventionally, each panel P is substantially parallelepiped shape and it is provided with two main faces FP, generally cladded, mutually parallel and opposite and mutually connected perimetrically by four sides L parallel two by two which define the thickness of the panel P.
Each side L of panel P extends longitudinally between a front end edge and a rear end edge and is delimited in width by two longitudinal sides preferably parallel to each other.
The edge-banding machine 100 is adapted to apply a cladding edge B (e.g. PVC, ABS, melamine, wood, Formica, aluminum, etc.) on one or more sides L of panel P.
According to the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, the edge-banding machine 100 is in particular of the unilateral type, being adapted to apply a cladding edge B to one side only of panel P at every passage of panel P through the edge-banding machine 100 itself.
Advantageously, the edge-banding machine 100 comprises a supporting frame 101 intended to rest on the ground and provided with a sliding lane 102 extending between an inlet port 103 and an outlet port 104, preferably according to a substantially rectilinear and in particular horizontal sliding direction S.
The edge-banding machine 100 further comprises feeding means 105 adapted to move panels P to advance along the sliding lane 102 from the inlet port 103 to the outlet port 104.
Preferably, the feeding means 105 comprise a track conveyor belt of conventional type per se, adapted to advance panels P individually and horizontally, in succession to each other from the inlet port 103 to the outlet port 104.
Advantageously, the edge-banding machine also comprises a storage station 106 adapted to accommodate an edging tape to be applied to sides L of panels P and that will form the cladding edge B of panels P themselves. More specifically, such storage station 106 comprises a rotatable support 107 which carries the wrapped edging tape (not shown) and is operable to rotate to unwrap the edging tape along the sliding lane 102 to apply the edging tape to side L of panel P.
The edge-banding machine 100 advantageously comprises a grinding unit 108, of known type per se, placed along the sliding lane 102 downstream of the inlet port 103 and provided with one or more cutters (not shown) adapted to act on side L of panel P to eliminate the irregularities thereof.
The edge-banding machine 100 preferably comprises a gluing unit 109 placed downstream of the grinding unit 108 and comprising, in a conventional manner per se, a distribution device adapted to take an adhesive (such as heat-melting) from a containment tank and deposit a layer of such an adhesive on side L of panel P. The gluing unit 109 is also provided with two or more rollers adapted to compress the edging tape to the layer of glue to glue the edging tape to side L of panel P. The gluing unit 109 is also provided with a cutting tool adapted to cut the edging tape at the rear edge of side L of panel P, so that the portion of edging tape glued to side L of panel P forms a cladding edge B of panel P itself.
The cladding edge B glued to the corresponding side L of panel P by the gluing unit 109 has a greater length than side L of panel P and greater width than the thickness of panel P itself, so that the cladding edge B protrudes with respect to the end edges and the sides of side L of panel P.
Advantageously, the edge-banding machine 100 also comprises a trimming unit 110, known in itself, positioned downstream of the gluing unit 109 and able to cut the portions of the cladding edge B that project beyond the flanks of the side L of the panel P substantially flush with the main faces FP of the panel P itself.
The edge-banding machine 100 may advantageously be provided with further operating units of known type per se and not described in the present description.
Advantageously, the edge-banding machine 00 comprises a control unit 100, in particular provided with a PLC, adapted to control in an automated or semi-automated manner the operating units 108, 109, 110 of the edge-banding machine 100 itself.
The milling device 1 of the present invention is intended to be mounted on the support frame 101 of the edge-banding machine 100, along the sliding lane 102 preferably downstream of the gluing unit 109 and in particular downstream of the trimming unit 110 as well.
Such a milling device 1 can be operated for milling the portions of the cladding edge B that protrude beyond the end edges of the corresponding side L of panel P, defining two ends E of the cladding edge B substantially aligned with the edges of the corresponding side L of panel P.
With reference to the embodiment illustrated in figures 3, 4 and 5, the milling device according to the present invention comprises a support structure 2 intended to be mounted on the edge-banding machine 100, and in particular intended to be fixed to the support frame 101 of the edge-banding machine 100.
The milling device 1 also comprises a milling head 3 provided with a milling frame 4, which is mounted on the support structure 2 and is provided with an operating zone 5 in which the coating edge B of the panel P that advances along the sliding lane 102 is susceptible of passing. Advantageously, the milling device 1 comprises a single milling head 3.
The milling device 1 further comprises a milling tool 6 rotatably mounted on the milling frame 4 of the milling head 3 and provided with a rotation axis X, preferably orthogonal to the sliding direction S of the panels P and in particular horizontal.
The milling tool 6 is perimetrically provided with a cutting profile 7 extending around the rotation axis X and intended to act at the operating zone 5 to mill the cladding edge B of the panel P.
With reference to the example of figures 10-13, the milling tool 6 extends advantageously according to the rotation axis X between a front side 8 and a rear side 9, between which the cutting profile 7 develops in section.
Preferably, the milling tool 6 is peripherally provided with a plurality of teeth 10 arranged around the rotation axis X and on which the aforesaid cutting profile 7 is obtained.
In particular, the milling tool 6 consists of a rotating body made of rigid material, preferably metallic, such as steel (for example, super high speed steel), sintered metal, etc.
The milling device 1 also comprises actuation means 11 mechanically connected to the milling device 6 and able to bring the milling device in rotation around the rotation axis X to allow the cutting profile 7 of the milling tool 6 to mill the cladding edge B of the panel B.
Advantageously, the actuation means 11 comprise a first motor, preferably electric, mounted on the milling frame 4 of the milling head 3 and provided with an output shaft to which the milling tool 6 is connected to make the milling tool rotate around the rotation axis X, at a speed for example of 12000 rotations/minute.
Advantageously, with reference to the example of figure 3, the support structure 2 of the milling device 1 comprises a translation guide 12 orthogonal to the rotation axis X of the milling tool 6 and intended to be positioned parallel to the sliding direction S of the sliding lane 102 along which the panels P to be banded.
The milling device 1 advantageously comprises a movable carriage 13 slidably mounted on the translation guide 12 and bearing mounted the milling frame 4 of the milling head 3. The movable carriage 13 can be actuated to slide along the translation guide 12 to allow the milling head 3 to follow the panels that advance on the sliding lane 102.
For this purpose, the milling device 1 advantageously comprises displacement means (not shown in the accompanying figures), which are mounted on the support structure 2 and are mechanically connected to the movable carriage 13 to actuate the carriage to slide along the translation guide 12.
According to the invention, the milling frame 4 of the milling head 3 is rotatably mounted on the support structure 2 around an overturning axis Y preferably orthogonal with respect to the translation guide 12 and parallel to the rotation axis X of the milling tool 6. In particular, the milling frame 4 is rotatably mounted on the movable carriage 13 of the milling device 1, preferably by means of an overturning shaft 14 coaxial to the overturning axis Y.
Moreover, the milling device 1 comprises movement means 15 mechanically connected to the milling frame 4 of the milling head 3 to drive the latter to rotate around the overturning axis Y for at least one rotation run between at least two working positions illustrated in figures 4 and 5.
Preferably, the movement means 15 (able to drive the rotation of the milling head 3 around the overturning axis Y) comprise a second motor 16 integral with the movable carriage 13, mechanically connected to the milling frame 4 of the milling head 3 to drive the milling frame to rotate around the overturning shaft 14, and advantageously coupled with the movement means to synchronize the rotation of the milling head 3 around the overturning axis Y with its translation along the translation guide 12 above the movable carriage 13.
In particular, the aforesaid movement means comprise a transmission chain connected to the movable carriage 13 and engaged to a pinion moved by the second motor 16 so that, when the latter is activated to make the milling head 3 rotate around the overturning axis Y, the transmission chain, as a result of the movement of the aforesaid pinion, allows to displace, concurrently and in a synchronized manner, the movable carriage 13 along the translation guide 12.
Advantageously, with reference to figures 14 and 15, the milling frame 4 of the milling head 3 defines an operating side 17 parallel to the rotation axis X of the milling tool 6 and, preferably, parallel to the overturning axis Y of the milling frame 4.
Said operating side 17 passes through the operating zone 5 and is intercepted by the milling tool 6 so that the portion of the cutting profile 7 thereof, which faces said operating side 17, acts on the cladding edge B of the panel P to mill it. In particular, operatively, as a result of the rotation of the milling tool 6 around its rotation axis X, the teeth 10 of the milling tool 6 are brought in sequence on the operative side 17 of the milling head 3 to act, with its corresponding portion of the cutting profile 7, on the cladding edge B of the panel P that passes through the operating zone 5 of the milling head 3.
In particular, the movement means 15 are able to drive the rotation of the milling frame 4 around the overturning axis Y to bring the operating side 17 of the milling head 3 at the part of the cladding edge B to be milled, so that the cutting profile 7 of the milling tool 6 acts on the cladding edge B only at said operating side 17.
The cutting profile 7 of the milling tool 6 is provided with a section having multiple operating segments 18, 19, each able to apply a different machining process to the cladding edge B to cut the latter according to a corresponding shape. The aforesaid section of the cutting profile 7 is defined on a section plane radial and parallel to the rotation axis X and containing in particular the rotation axis X.
In more detail, with reference to the example of figure 11, the section of the cutting profile 7 is provided with a first operating section 18 placed in a first radial position with respect to the rotation axis X, and with a second operating section 19 with shape different from the first operating section 18 and placed in a second radial position with respect to said rotation axis X different from the aforesaid first radial position of the first operating section 18.
In accordance with the particular example illustrated in figure 11, the first operating section 18 has rectilinear shape to cut linearly the cladding edge B, extending preferably between the front side 8 of the milling tool 6 and the second operating section 19. In particular, the first operating section 18, rectilinear, is substantially parallel to the rotation axis X (in particular with an inclination between 0° and 2°, for example approximately 1°) in order to execute an end milling operation to cut an end E of the cladding edge flush with the end corners of the corresponding side L of the panel P itself (as illustrated in the example of figure 16).
With reference again to the particular example of figure 11, the second operating section 19 has arched shape, with concavity oriented towards the front side 8 of the milling tool 6 and able to execute a rounding operation to round off the ends E of the cladding edge B of the panel P, so as to seamlessly join the outer surface of said cladding edge B with the outer surface of the adjacent side L of the panel P or with the outer surface of the cladding edge B applied to said adjacent side L (as illustrated in the example of figure 17).
Obviously, in accordance with different embodiments of the invention, and therefore without departing from the scope of protection of the present patent, the cutting profile 7 of the milling tool 6 may comprise operating sections with different configurations from those of the example illustrated above: for example, the cutting profile 7 may comprise two operating sections with arched shape with different radii of curvature to apply different corner rounding to the cladding edges B, or two operating sections with rectilinear shape and with different inclinations with respect to the rotation axis X (for example of 1° and 30°) to cut linearly the cladding edges B with different inclinations. Moreover, the cutting profile 7 of the milling tool 6 may also comprise more than two operating sections placed in corresponding radial positions with respect to the rotation axis X.
The radial position of each operating section 18, 19 of the cutting profile 7 is defined by the radial distance DR1, DR2 of the operating section 18, 19 from the rotation axis X along a direction developing radially from said rotation axis X and lying on the radial section plane that defines the corresponding section of the cutting profile 7.
In particular, the aforesaid radial distance of each operating section 18, 19 is determined starting from a reference point of the corresponding operating section 18, 19 given for example by an end point thereof (as indicated in the example of figure 13).
The milling device 1 comprises first actuator means 20 mechanically connected to the milling tool 6 and able to displace the latter along its rotation axis X between multiple operating positions to bring the corresponding operating sections 18, 19 of the cutting profile 7 at the operating zone 5 of the milling head 3.
In more detail, the first actuator means 20 are able to displace the milling tool 6 between a first operating position and a second operating position. In the first operating position, the first operating section 18 of the cutting profile 7 of the milling tool 6 is placed in the operating zone 5 to act on the cladding edge B of the panel P for the purpose, for example, of linearly cutting the end E of the cladding edge B (as illustrated in the example of figures 14 and 16). In the second operating position, the second operating section 19 of the cutting profile 7 of the milling tool 6 is placed in the operating zone 5 to act on the cladding edge B of said panel P for the purpose, for example, of rounding off the end E of said cladding edge B (as illustrated in the example of figures 15 and 17).
The milling device 1 comprises a transverse coupler 21 and, advantageously, a front coupler 22, able to maintain the milling tool 6, during the milling of the cladding edges B of the panel P, constantly in a determined position with respect to the cladding edge B to assure consistent machining thereon.
In more detail, the transverse coupler 21 is mounted on the milling frame 4 of the milling head 3 and it can be moved, with relative motion with respect to the milling tool 6, along an adjustment direction R1 orthogonal to the rotation axis X and, preferably, orthogonal to the operating side 17 of the milling head 3. Moreover, the transverse coupler 21 is provided with a coupling surface 23 having at least one contact zone 24, which is substantially orthogonal to the adjustment direction R and is adapted to abut against at least one adjacent surface of the panel parallel to the rotation axis X in order to define, along said adjustment direction R, a working height at which the milling tool 6 acts on the cladding edge B. In particular, said working height coincides, at each instant of the machining of the cladding edge B, with the position, along the adjustment direction R1, of the adjacent surface of the panel P whereon, at that instant, abuts the contact zone 24 of the transverse coupler 21.
In particular, the contact zone 24 of the coupling surface 23 of the transverse coupler 21 faces the operating side 17 of the milling head 3 and it is preferably parallel to the rotation axis X of the milling tool 6 and in particular to the overturning axis Y of the milling frame 4.
Operatively, during the rotating motion of the milling frame 4 around the overturning axis Y, the contact zone 24 of the transverse coupler 21 abuts in succession on the adjacent surfaces of the panel P parallel to the rotation axis X, consisting in particular of the main faces FP of the panel P, or of the surface of the side L of the panel P adjacent to the end edge of the panel P whereat the milling head 3 is operating, or of the surface of the cladding edge B applied to said adjacent side L. In this way, the transverse coupler 21 maintains the milling tool 6 in the same position, along the adjustment direction R1, with respect to the cladding edge B to execute a correct machining operating thereon.
Advantageously, the transverse coupler 21 comprises a slidable frame 25, which is slidably constrained to the milling frame 4, and a coupling element 26 mounted on the slidable frame 25 and provided with the aforesaid coupling surface 23.
In accordance with the example illustrated in the accompanying figures, the coupling element 26 comprises a rotating disc, hinged in an idle manner on the slidable frame 25 with the revolution axis parallel to the rotation axis X of the milling tool 6. Said rotating disc is provided with an annular surface that extends around the revolution axis and that defines the coupling surface 23 of the transverse coupler 21, whose contact zone 24 is given by the section of the annular surface that faces the operating side 17 of the milling head 3 and that is intended to abut on the panel P. In particular, during the rotation of the milling frame 4 around the overturning axis Y, the rotating disc slides on the adjacent surface of the panel P going in contact on said adjacent surface with the section of the annular surface that, as a result of the rotation of the rotating disc, reaches instant by instant the operating side 17.
According to a different embodiment, not illustrated herein, the transverse coupler 21 may not be of the rotary type, comprising for example a slide of non-stick material fixed on the slidable frame 25 and able to slide on the adjacent surface of the panel P.
Preferably, the transverse coupler 21 (and in particular the coupling element 26 thereof) is positioned in front of the forward side 8 of the milling tool 6.
In accordance with the idea on which the present invention is based, the milling device 1 comprises second actuator means 27 mechanically connected to the transverse coupler 21 and configured to displace the latter along the adjustment direction R1 selectively in multiple reference positions (associated with corresponding operating positions of the milling tool 6), able to define corresponding positions, along the adjustment direction R1, of the milling tool 6 with respect to the cladding edge B during the milling operations thereof.
In more detail, the second actuator means 27 are able to selectively displace the transverse coupler 21 in a first reference position, when the milling tool 6 is brought by the first actuator means 20 in the aforesaid first operating position, and a second reference position, when the milling tool 6 is brought to the second operating position.
When the transverse coupler 21 is in the first reference position, the contact zone 24 of its coupling surface 23 is arranged (on the operating side 17) in the first radial position of the first operating section 18 of the cutting profile 7 of the milling tool 6 with respect to the rotation axis X thereof, so as to position said first operating section 18 at the aforesaid work height during the machining of the cladding edge B (as illustrated in the examples of figures 14 and 16).
When the transverse coupler 21 is in the second reference position, the contact zone 24 of its coupling surface 23 is arranged (on the operating side 17) in the second radial position of the second operating section 19 of the cutting profile 7 of the milling tool 6, so as to position said second operating section 19 at the aforesaid work height during the machining of the cladding edge B (as illustrated in the examples of figures 15 and 17).
In this way, in the different operating positions of the milling tool 6, it is possible to arrange the corresponding operating section 18, 19 that (being positioned in the operating zone 5) acts on the cladding edge B, at the work height so as to cut the end E of the cladding edge B realizing the margin thereof flush with the adjacent surfaces of the panel P (whereon the transverse coupler 21 abuts) without leaving discontinuity between the cladding edge B and the adjacent surface of the panel P and without the milling tool 6 ruining said adjacent surface.
In particular, with reference to the particular example illustrated in the accompanying figures 14 and 14, when the milling tool is in the first operating position (for example retracted as in the example of figure 14 and 16) to act on the cladding edge B with the first rectilinear operating section 18 to end mill the cladding edge B, the contact zone 24 of the transverse coupler 21 is arranged in the first radial position at the same distance from the rotation axis X of the milling tool 6 of the first operating section 18, so that the latter, during the machining of the cladding edge B, cuts the end E of the cladding edge B flush with the end corners of the corresponding side L of the panel P (with a precision of less than one tenth of a millimeter).
When the milling tool 6 is in the second operating position (for example retracted as in the example of figures 15 and 17) to act on the cladding edge B with the second arched operating section 19 to round off the cladding edge B, the contact zone 24 of the transverse coupler 21 is arranged in the second radial position of said second operating section 19 at a greater distance from the rotation axis X than the first radial position of the first operating section 18, so that, during the machining of the cladding edge B, the second (arched) operating section 19 mills the cladding edge B seamlessly joining the outer surface of the edging tape B with the adjacent surface of the adjacent side L of the panel P, and at the same time, the first operating section 18 remains separate from said adjacent surface in order not to damage it.
Advantageously, with reference to the embodiment illustrated in figure 3, the milling device 1 comprises a support 28 fixed to the overturning shaft 14 and provided with a coupling guide 29, orthogonal to the overturning shaft 14 and to the translation guide 12 and parallel to the adjustment direction R1, on which coupling guide 29 the milling frame 4 of the milling head 3 is slidably mounted.
Preferably, the milling device comprises a pusher means 30, obtained advantageously with a pneumatic piston, which is mounted on the support 28 and is driven by the control unit to displace the milling frame 4 of the milling head 3 along the coupling guide 29 until the transverse coupler 21 is pushed to abut on the panel P.
Advantageously, the milling frame 4 of the milling head 3 comprises a support body 31 mechanically connected to the support structure 2 of the milling device 1 and provided with a positioning guide substantially rectilinear and parallel to the rotation axis X of the milling tool 6. In particular, the support body 31 of the milling head 3 is slidably mounted on the coupling guide 29 of support 28 of the milling device 1.
Moreover, the milling frame 4 comprises a displacement body 32 slidably constrained to the positioning guide of the support body 31 and carrying rotatably mounted the milling tool 6 around the rotation axis X.
In particular, the aforesaid displacement body 32 bears mounted the transverse coupler 21 and preferably the front coupler 22 and the first motor of the actuation means 11 able to set the milling tool 6 in rotation.
The first actuator means 20 of the milling device 1 are connected to the displacement body 32 and are provided to displace the latter along the positioning guide of the supporting body 31 to move the milling tool 6 between the first operating position and the second operating position along the rotation axis X.
Preferably, the first actuator means 20 comprise a linear displacement actuator, in particular of the pneumatic type, mounted on the support body 31 of the milling frame 4 and connected to the displacement body 32 to move the latter along the positioning guide.
According to an embodiment variant of the present invention, the first actuator means 20 are arranged for moving, along the rotation axis X, the support structure 2 of the milling device 1 or the support 28 of the milling head 3, in both cases for the purpose of displacing the milling tool 6 between the first operating position and the second operating position.
Advantageously, according to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the second actuator means 27 are mechanically connected to the slidable frame 25 of the transverse coupler 21 and are arranged for moving said slidable frame 25 along the adjustment direction R1 in order to move the transverse coupler 21 between the first reference position and the second reference position.
Preferably, with reference to the example of figures 4-7, the slidable frame 25 of the transverse coupler 21 is fastened to the milling frame 4, and in particular to the displacement body 32 thereof, by means of one or more guides 33 parallel to the adjustment direction R1.
In particular, the slidable frame 25 comprises two lateral arms 34, parallel to each other and to the adjustment direction R1, which delimit between them a passage 35 traversed by the replacement body 32 and by the milling tool.
Appropriately, the lateral arms 34 are substantially L shaped and they are each provided with a base segment 34' that terminates with a corresponding front end 36, and with a rear segment 34" which develops from the corresponding base segment 34' and terminates with an apical end 38.
The slidable frame 25 also comprises a first crosspiece 37, which is positioned to connect the front ends 36 of the lateral arms 34, is arranged ahead of the front side 8 of the milling tool 6 and it bears mounted the coupling element 26.
Moreover, the slidable frame 25 comprises second crosspiece 39 positioned to connect the apical ends 38 of the lateral arms 34 and substantially orthogonal to the adjustment direction R1.
Advantageously, the guides 33 of the slidable frame 25 are obtained with one or more elongated slots 40, which are obtained on the lateral arms 34 of the slidable frame 25 and they have longitudinal development parallel to the adjustment direction R1. In each of the elongated slots 40 is inserted a corresponding guiding screw 41, which is fastened to the displacement body 32 of the milling frame 4 and with respect to which the elongated slot 40 can slide to allow the displacement of the slidable frame 25 of the transverse coupler 21 along the adjustment direction R1.
Advantageously, the second actuator means 27 comprise at least one linear actuator 42, preferably of the pneumatic type, having movement axis S parallel to the adjustment direction R1.
According to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the linear actuator 42 is mechanically connected to the slidable frame 25 of the transverse coupler 21 to move the latter along the adjustment direction R1.
In particular, with reference to the embodiment of figures 4-7, the linear actuator 42 is mounted on the slidable frame 25 of the transverse coupler 21 and, in particular, on a third crosspiece 43 positioned to connect the base segments 34' of the lateral arms 34. The linear actuator 42 is also connected to the milling frame 4 and in particular to the displacement body 32 thereof.
In more detail, conveniently, the linear actuator 42 is provided with a jacket 44 fixed to the slidable frame 25 of the transverse coupler 21, and with a movable member 45 fixed to the displacement body 32 of the milling frame 4 and able to be actuated to be displaced, with respect to the jacket 44, along the movement axis S so as to move the jacket 44 (and hence the slidable frame 25 of the transverse coupler 21) with respect to the displacement body 32.
According to a different embodiment, not illustrated in the accompanying figures, the transverse coupler 21 is fixed with respect to the milling frame 4 (or to the displacement body 32 thereof) and the milling frame 6 is moved by the first actuator means 20 to be displaced, along the adjustment direction R1, with respect to the transverse coupler 21 to define the reference positions thereof.
Advantageously, the transverse coupler 21 is provided with a first end stop portion 46, which abuts against the milling frame 4 (and in particular the displacement body 32) when the transverse coupler 21 is in the first reference position, and with a second end stop portion 47, which abuts with the milling frame 4 (and in particular the displacement body 32) when the transverse coupler 21 is in the second reference position.
Conveniently, the first end stop portion 46 and the second end stop portion 47 are arranged on the slidable frame 25 of the transverse coupler 21.
Preferably, the milling frame 4 (and in particular the displacement body 32) is provided with a first abutment portion 48 and with a second abutment portion 49 intended to receive in abutment, respectively, the first end stop portion 46 and the second end stop portion 47 of the transverse coupler 21.
In particular, the second actuator means 27 are able to displace the slidable frame 25 of the transverse coupler 21 along the adjustment direction R1 according to a first direction of displacement, until the first end stop portion 46 abuts against the first abutment portion 48 of the milling frame 4, determining the first reference position of the transverse coupler 21. Moreover, the second actuator means 27 are able to displace the slidable frame 25 of the transverse coupler 21 along the adjustment direction R1 according to a second direction of displacement (opposite the first), until the second end stop portion 47 abuts against the first abutment portion 49 of the milling frame 4, determining the first reference position of the transverse coupler 21.
Advantageously, the milling head comprises adjustment means 50, preferably mounted on the slidable frame 25, mechanically connected to the end stop portions 46, 47 of the transverse coupler 21 and arranged for varying the relative distance of the first end stop portion 46 with respect to the second end stop portion 47 along the adjustment direction R1, in order to adjust the distance of the milling member 6 from the contact zone 24 of the transverse coupler 21 when the latter is in the first operating position and/or in the second operating position.
In particular, the adjustment means 50 allow to modify, when setting and/or producing the milling device 1, the configuration of the reference positions of the transverse coupler 21 along the milling device R1, as a function for example of the shape and of the dimensions of the milling tool 6 (and of its cutting profile 7) or of the type of machining operation to be executed on the cladding edge B.
For example, with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures, the adjustment means 50 can be activated (for example when producing the milling device 1) to record the position of the first end stop portion 46 so that, when the transverse coupler 21 is in the first reference position, the contact zone 24 of the coupling surface 23 thereof is at the same distance of the first (rectilinear) operating section 18 of the cutting profile 7 from the axis of rotation X of the milling tool 6 (as illustrated in the solid line image of figure 11).
Moreover, the adjustment means 50 can be activated (for example when setting the milling device 1) to record the position of the second end stop portion 47, so that, when the transverse coupler 21 is in the second reference position, the contact zone 24 of the coupling surface 23 thereof is positioned at a determined point of the second (arched) operating section 19 of the cutting profile 7 corresponding for example to a determined corner rounding to be realized on the cladding edge B. In particular, in this way it is possible to set the second reference position of the contact zone 24 at different points of the second operating section 19 to which correspond different corner rounding values (as illustrated in the dashed line image of figure 11).
Advantageously, with reference to the example of figures 7-9, the adjustment means 50 comprise a first adjustment device 51 mounted on the slidable frame 25 of the transverse coupler 21 (and in particular on the second crosspiece 39 of the slidable frame 25), mechanically connected to the first end stop portion 46. Said first adjustment device 51 is actuatable to move, along said adjustment direction R1, the first end stop portion 46 with respect to the coupling element 26 of the transverse coupler 21, and fix said first end stop portion 46 at a specific first distance, along the adjustment direction R1, from the contact zone 24 of the coupling surface 23 of the coupling element 26. Said first distance defines the arresting point of the transverse coupler 21 (when it is actuated by the second actuating means 27 to move in the first direction of displacement) therefore defining the relative position (along the adjustment direction R1) between the milling tool 6 and the coupling element 26 when the latter is in the first reference position (and in particular the distance of the contact zone 24 of the coupling element 26 of the rotation axis X of the milling tool 6).
Advantageously, the adjustment means 50 comprise a second adjustment device 52 mounted on the slidable frame 25 of the transverse coupler 21 and mechanically connected to the second end stop portion 47 thereof. The second adjustment device 52 is actuatable to move, along the adjustment direction R1, the second end stop portion 47 with respect to the coupling element 26 of the transverse coupler 21, and fix said second end stop portion 47 at a specific second distance, along the adjustment direction R1, from the contact zone 24 of the coupling surface 23 of the coupling element 26. The second distance defines the arresting point of the transverse coupler 21 (when it is actuated by the second actuating means 27 to move in the second direction of displacement) therefore defining the relative position (along the adjustment direction R1) between the milling tool 6 and the coupling element 26 when the latter is in the second reference position (and in particular the distance of the contact zone 24 of the coupling element 26 of the rotation axis X of the milling tool 6).
In particular, with reference to the example illustrated in figure 7, the adjustment means 50 comprise a support body 53 which is fixed to the slidable frame 25 of the transverse coupler 21 (and in particular to the second crosspiece 39 of the slidable frame) and bears mounted the first adjustment device 51 and the second adjustment device 52.
Advantageously, the first adjustment device 51 comprises a support sleeve 54 having extension axis SV parallel to the adjustment direction R1 and rotatably fastened, in idle manner, to the slidable frame 25 of the transverse coupler 21 to rotate around its extension axis SV. In particular, the aforesaid support sleeve 54 is rotatably inserted in a first through hole 55 of the slidable frame 25 (and in particular of the second crosspiece 39 thereof) and it is preferably inserted in a second through hole 56 of the support body 53 fixed to the slidable frame 25.
The support sleeve 54 is fastened to the slidable frame 25 so as to be able to rotate idly around the extension axis SV without translating along said extension axis SV, for example by means of support bushings 57.
Preferably, the support sleeve 54 develops along the extension axis SV between a first end 58, positioned advantageously inside the passage 35 of the slidable frame 25, and an opposite second end 59 extending in particular above the support body 53. Moreover, the sleeve is provided with an internal channel 60 extending in a through manner between the first end 58 and the second end 59.
The first adjustment device 51 also comprises an adjustment rod 61, which is inserted via screwing and in a through manner within the support sleeve 54 coaxially thereto. In particular, the inner surface of the support sleeve 54 is provided with a first thread engaged to a second thread obtained on the outer surface of the adjustment rod 61.
The adjustment rod 61 extends, according to the extension axis SV, between two opposite ends 62, 63 positioned outside the support sleeve 54, of which a first end 62 extends beyond the first end 58 of the support sleeve 54 (and in particular within the passage 35) and an opposite second end 63 extends beyond the second end 59 of the support sleeve 54 itself.
In particular, the first end 62 of the adjustment rod 61 is provided with the first end stop portion 46 that abuts on the milling frame 4 to define the first reference position of the transverse coupler 21.
The second end 63 of the adjustment rod 61 is preferably provided with a grip knob 64 and it is susceptible to be activated by a user to rotate around said extension axis SV by activating, by screwing or unscrewing with respect to the support sleeve 54, the adjustment rod 61 to move along the extension axis SV so as to change the position of the first end 62 (and hence of the first end stop portion 46) along the adjustment direction R1 with respect to the slidable frame 25 (and hence with respect to the coupling element 26 mounted thereon).
The first adjustment device 51 comprises a locking element 66 engageable to the support sleeve 54 and to the adjustment rod 61 in order to rigidly lock the latter to the support sleeve 54. For example, the locking element 66 comprises a lock nut engaged to the second thread of the adjustment rod 61 and susceptible to be tightened in abutment on the second end 59 of the support sleeve 54 so as to prevent any relative motion of the adjustment rod 61 with respect to the support sleeve 54.
Operatively, to change the position of the first end stop portion 46, the user has to loosen the locking element 66 from the second end 59 of the support sleeve 54 and, subsequently, maintaining the latter still (for example with one hand) making the adjustment rod 61 rotate (acting on the second end 63 thereof with the other hand) screwing or unscrewing the latter with respect to the support sleeve 54 to change the position of the first end 62 of the adjustment rod 61. When said first end 62 has been placed in the desired position, the locking element 66 is tightened again against the second end 59 of the support sleeve 54 to lock the adjustment rod 61 thereto. This operation is conveniently carried out by the manufacturer of the milling device 1, in particular at the end of the assembly phase.
Advantageously, the second adjustment device 52 comprises a movement body 67 provided with the second end stop portion 47 and coupled by means of a screw - nut screw mechanism to the support sleeve 54, which is actuatable to rotate around its extension axis SV to move the movement body 67 along the support sleeve 54, so as to change the position of the second end stop portion 47 along said extension axis SV (and hence along the adjustment direction R1) with respect to the slidable frame 25 of the transverse coupler 21 (and hence with respect to the coupling element 26 thereof).
In more detail, the movement body 67 has substantially tubular shape extending between a first end 68, which is positioned inside the support sleeve 54, and a second end 69, which is positioned outside the support sleeve 54 (in particular inside the passage 35 of the slidable frame 25) and is provided with the second end stop portion 47. In particular, the second end 69 of the movement body 67 and the second end stop portion 47 are positioned inside a movement seat 70 of the milling frame 4 (and in particular the displacement body 32) extending between the first abutment portion 48 and the second abutment portion 49, which is preferably provided with a passage hole traversed by the movement body 67.
Advantageously, the inner surface of the inner channel 60 of the support sleeve 54 is provided with a third thread engaged with a fourth thread obtained on the outer surface of the movement body 67, so as to achieve the aforesaid screw-leadscrew coupling between movement body 67 and support sleeve 54.
Preferably, the movement body 67 is provided with an anti-rotation portion 71 configured to prevent the rotation of the movement body 67 around the extension axis SV when the support sleeve 54 is driven to rotate.
For example, said anti-rotation portion 71 is obtained with a polygonal or planar surface (obtained for example on the second end stop portion 47) coupled with a homologous inner surface of the movement seat 70, so as to prevent movements of rotation of the movement body 67.
Advantageously, the movement body 67 is provided with a through channel 72 extending from the first end 68 to the second end 69 of the movement body 67, coaxially to the extension axis SV. Inside the through channel 72 is inserted (in particular idly) the adjustment rod 61, whose first end 62 exits from the through channel 72 at the second end 69 of the movement body 67 and is preferably positioned inside the movement seat 70 to allow the first end stop portion 46 of abutting against the first abutment portion 48 of the milling frame 4.
Operatively, to change the position of the second abutment portion 47, the user simply has to make the support sleeve 54 rotate, acting for example on the grip knob 64 fixed to the adjustment rod 61 causing the rotation of the rod which, being rigidly fastened to the support sleeve 54 by means of the locking element 66, sets in rotation the support sleeve 54. Consequently, this determines the screwing or unscrewing of the movement body 67 with respect to the support sleeve 54 (by means of the screw-leadscrew coupling) causing the axial displacement of the movement body 67 and, hence, the displacement of the second end stop portion 47 along the extension axis SV. This operation can conveniently be carried out by the user, in particular before starting the edge-banding machine 100 to carry out the machining of the panels P.
Advantageously, the milling device 1 comprises tuning means 73 mechanically connected to the front coupler 22 intended to abut against the outer surface of the cladding edge B to be machined to maintain the milling tool 6 at a constant distance from the panel P along the axis of rotation X. Said tuning means 73 are arranged to set, in an adjustable manner, the position thereof along a tuning direction R2 parallel to the rotation axis X of the milling tool 6, so as to set the position of the cutting profile 7 of the milling tool 6 with respect to the panel P, according to said tuning direction R2 (in a manner known in itself to the person skilled in the art and hence not described in detail hereinafter).
Advantageously, the milling device 1 comprises and electronic drive module (not illustrated in the accompanying figures) operatively connected to the first actuator means 20 in order to drive the movement of the milling tool 6 between the first operating position and the second operating position along the rotation axis X, and operatively connected to the second actuator means 27 in order to drive the relative movement of said transverse coupler 21 between the first reference position and the second reference position along the adjustment direction R1.
Preferably, the electronic drive module of the milling device is integrated in the control unit of the edge-banding machine 100 and it can be operated by the user for example through a control panel of the edge-banding machine 100.
A method of operation of the milling device 1 of the type described above is described below.
According to said method, the milling tool 6 is positioned, selectively, in the first operating position or in the second operating position along the rotation axis X, while the first actuator means 20 of the milling device 1.
With reference to the example of figures 14 and 16, when the milling tool 6 is in the first operating position, the cutting profile 7 of the milling tool 6 acts on the cladding edge B of the panel P with the first operating section 18, for example to linearly cut an end E of the cladding edge B, in order to carry out an end milling operation of the cladding edge B.
With reference to the example of figures 15 and 17, when the milling tool 6 is in the second operating position, the cutting profile 7 of the milling tool 6 acts on the cladding edge B of the panel P with the second operating section 19, for example to round off the end E of the cladding edge B, thereby carrying out a rounding off operation of the cladding edge B.
The method of operation of the milling device 1 also provides for positioning the transverse coupler 21, selectively, in the first reference position (with the milling tool 6 in the first operating position) or in the second operating position (with the milling tool 6 in the second operating position) along the adjustment direction R1, by means of the second actuator means 27 of the milling device 1.
With reference to the example of figures 14 and 16, when the transverse coupler 21 is in the first reference position, the contact zone 24 of its coupling surface 23 is arranged in the first radial position of the first operating section 18 of the cutting profile 7 of the milling tool 6 with respect to the rotation axis X thereof, so as to position said first operating section 18 at the work height during the machining of the cladding edge B.
With reference to the example of figures 15 and 17, when the transverse coupler 21 is in the second reference position, the contact zone 24 of its coupling surface 23 is arranged in the second radial position of the second operating section 19 of the cutting profile 7 of the milling tool 6, so as to position said second operating section 19 at the work height during the machining of the cladding edge B.
The method of operation of the milling device 1 also provides for driving the milling tool 6 to rotate around the axis of rotation X, through the actuation means 11 of the milling device 1, to machine the cladding edges B of the panels P.
In particular, the above method is carried out in an edge-banding operation of panel P preferably obtained by the edge-banding machine 100.
This method allows carrying out an end trimming step of the cladding edge B of panel P or a rounding step of the cladding edge B, depending on the position (retracted or advanced, respectively) controlled to the milling tool 6.
Operationally, the edge-banding process provides for passing panel P through the edge-banding machine 100 from the inlet port 103 to the outlet port 104 of the latter along the sliding lane 102. At each passage of panel P, the operating units 108, 109, 110 of the edge-banding machine 100 apply a cladding edge B to one of sides L of panel P.
More in detail, in each passage, an operator must introduce panel P into the edge-banding machine 100 at the inlet port 103 of the latter, in such a way that the feeding means 105 of the edge-banding machine 100 advance panel P along the sliding lane 102 of the same edge-banding machine 100 .
The edge-banding process advantageously comprises a step of grinding side L of panel P to be edge-banded, by means of the above grinding unit 108 of the edge-banding machine, in order in particular to eliminate irregularities on side L.
A gluing step is then provided for a portion of the edging tape on side L of panel P, in particular obtained through the above gluing unit 109, in such a way as to attach a cladding edge B to side L of panel P.
In particular, the cladding edge B applied in this gluing step protrudes beyond the end edges and beyond the sides of side L of panel P.
Advantageously, the edge-banding process comprises, in particular after the gluing step, a trimming step, obtained in particular through the trimming unit 110 of the edge-banding machine 100, to remove the portions of the cladding edge B protruding from the sides of side L of panel P.
The edge-banding process comprises a machining step for machining the cladding edge B at the end corners of the panel P, carried out by the milling device 1 by means of the method of operation described above.
Advantageously, the machining step comprises an end milling step for linearly cutting the cladding edge B at the end corners of the panel P, and/or a step of rounding off the cladding edge B to carry out an angular joining and rounding at the end corners of the panel P. These end milling and rounding steps are both carried out by the milling device 1.
In particular, when the panel P (advancing along the sliding lane 102) reaches the milling device 1, the milling head 3 (starting from a first working position illustrated in the example of figure 4) is borne by the movable carriage 13 (which is driven to slide along the translation guide 12) to pursue the panel P at the front end corner of the side L of the panel P. Then, the milling head 3 is driven by the movement means 15 to rotate around the overturning axis Y for a first rotation run (substantially of 180 degrees) to an overturned working position (illustrated in the example of figure 5) to act on the cladding edge B along the aforesaid front end corner.
Subsequently, the movable carriage 13 arrests its translation run along the translation guide 12 and awaits the passage of the rear end corner of the side L of the panel P and, hence, it resumes pursuing the panel P. At this point, the milling head 3 is driven by the movement means 15 to rotate around the overturning axis Y for a second rotation run (substantially of 180 degrees) in the same direction as the aforesaid first rotation run, to act on the cladding edge B along the aforesaid rear end corner, rotating from the overturned position to again reach the first working position (illustrated in the example of figure 4).
The invention thus conceived thus achieves the intended purposes.

Claims

Milling device (1) for edge-banding machine, which comprises:
- a support structure (2) intended to be mounted on an edge-banding machine (100);

- a milling head (3), which comprises:
- a milling frame (4), which is rotatably mounted on said support structure (2) around an overturning axis (Y), and provided with an operating zone (5) in which a coating edge (B) of a panel (P) is susceptible of passing;

- a milling tool (6), which is rotatably mounted on said milling frame (4) around a rotation axis (X) parallel to said overturning axis (Y), and is arranged for acting at said operating zone (5) in order to mill the coating edge (B) of said panel (P); wherein said milling tool (6) is provided with a cutting profile (7) having at least:
• a first operating section (18) placed in a first radial position with respect to said rotation axis (X),

• a second operating section (19) with shape different from said first operating section (18) and placed in a second radial position with respect to said rotation axis (X) different from said first radial position;

- a transverse coupler (21), which is mounted on the milling frame (4) of said milling head (3), is movable, with relative motion with respect to said milling tool (6), along an adjustment direction (R1) orthogonal to said rotation axis (X), and is provided with a coupling surface (23) having at least one contact zone (24), which is substantially orthogonal to said adjustment direction (R1) and is adapted to abut against at least one adjacent surface of said panel (P) parallel to said rotation axis (X) in order to define, along said adjustment direction (R1), a working height at which the cutting profile (7) of said milling tool (6) acts on said coating edge (B);

- actuation means (11) mechanically connected to said milling tool (6) and adapted to rotate said milling tool (6) around said rotation axis (X);

- movement means (15) mechanically connected to the milling frame (4) of said milling head (3) in order to drive said milling head (3) to rotate around said overturning axis (Y) with the contact zone (24) of said transverse coupler (21) in abutment against said panel (P);

- first actuator means (20) mechanically connected to said milling tool (6) and adapted to move said milling tool (6) along said rotation axis (X) between:
- a first operating position, wherein the first operating section (18) of the cutting profile (7) of said milling tool (6) is positioned in said operating zone (5) in order to act on the coating edge (B) of said panel (P),

- and a second operating position, wherein the second operating section (19) of the cutting profile (7) of said milling tool (6) is positioned in said operating zone (5) in order to act on the coating edge (B) of said panel (P);

said milling device (1) being characterized in that it also comprises second actuator means (27) mounted on said milling frame (4) and configured for moving said transverse coupler (21) along said adjustment direction (R1), with relative movement with respect to said milling tool (6), selectively between:
- a first reference position, when said milling tool (6) is in said first operating position, and in such first reference position the contact zone (24) of the coupling surface (23) of said transverse coupler (21) is positioned in said first radial position in order to position the first operating section (18) of the cutting profile (7) of said milling tool (6) at said work height;

- a second reference position, when said milling tool (6) is in said second operating position, and in such second reference position the contact zone (24) of the coupling surface (23) of said transverse coupler (21) is positioned in said second radial position in order to position the second operating section (19) of the cutting profile (7) of said milling tool (6) at said work height.
Milling device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said transverse coupler (21) comprises:
- a slidable frame (25), which is slidably constrained to said milling frame (4) in order to slide along said adjustment direction (R1);

- a coupling element (26) provided with said coupling surface (23) and mounted on said slidable frame (25); wherein said second actuator means (27) are mechanically connected to said slidable frame (25) and are arranged for moving said slidable frame (25) along said adjustment direction (R1) in order to move said transverse coupler (21) between said first reference position and said second reference position.
Milling device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said milling frame (4) is provided with a first abutment portion (48) and with a second abutment portion (49), and said transverse coupler (21) is provided with a first end stop portion (46), which abuts against the first abutment portion (48) of said milling frame (4) when said transverse coupler (21) is in said first reference position, and with a second end stop portion (47), which abuts against the second abutment portion (49) of said milling frame (4) when said transverse coupler (21) is in said second reference position;
wherein said second actuator means (27) are arranged for moving said transverse coupler (21) along said adjustment direction (R1):
- according to a first direction of displacement, bringing said first end stop portion (46) to abut against the first abutment portion (48) of said milling frame (4); and

- according to a second direction of displacement opposite to said first direction of displacement, bringing said second end stop portion (47) to abut against the second abutment portion (49) of said milling frame (4).
Milling device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said milling head (3) comprises adjustment means (50) mechanically connected to said end stop portions (46, 47) and arranged for varying the relative distance of said first end stop portion (46) with respect to said second end stop portion (47) along said adjustment direction (R1).
Milling device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said adjustment means (50) comprise a first adjustment device (51) mounted on the slidable frame (25) of said transverse coupler (21), mechanically connected to said first end stop portion (46) and actuatable to move, along said adjustment direction (R1), said first end stop portion (46) with respect to the coupling element (26) of said transverse coupler (21), and fix said first end stop portion (46) at a specific first distance, along said adjustment direction (R1), from the contact zone (24) of the coupling surface (23) of said coupling element (26).
Milling device (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said adjustment means (50) comprise a second adjustment device (52) mounted on the slidable frame (25) of said transverse coupler (21), mechanically connected to said second end stop portion (47) and actuatable to move, along said adjustment direction (R1), said second end stop portion (47) with respect to the coupling element (26) of said transverse coupler (21), and fix said second end stop portion (47) at a specific second distance, along said adjustment direction (R1), from the contact zone (24) of the coupling surface (23) of said coupling element (26).
Milling device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said first adjustment device (51) comprises:
- a support sleeve (54), which is longitudinally extended along an extension axis (SV) parallel to said adjustment direction (R1), and is rotatably mounted, in an idle manner, on the slidable frame (25) of said transverse coupler (21) in order to rotate around said extension axis (SV) without translating along said extension axis (SV);

- an adjustment rod (61), which is inserted via screwing and in a through manner within said support sleeve (54) and is extended, according to said extension direction (SV), between two opposite ends (62, 63) placed outside said support sleeve (54) and comprising:
- a first end (62) provided with said first end stop portion (46),

- an opposite second end (63) on which a user can act in order to rotate said adjustment rod (61) around said extension axis (SV) by moving, by means of screwing or unscrewing with respect to said support sleeve (54), said adjustment rod (61), to be moved along said extension axis (SV);

- at least one locking element (66) engageable with said support sleeve (54) and with said adjustment rod (61) in order to rigidly lock said adjustment rod (61) to said support sleeve (54).
Milling device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that said second adjustment device (52) comprises a movement body (67) provided with said second end stop portion (47) and coupled by means of a screw - nut screw mechanism to said support sleeve (54), which is actuatable to rotate around said extension axis (SV) in order to move said movement body (67) along said support sleeve (54).
Milling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second actuator means (27) comprise at least one linear actuator (42) having movement axis (S) parallel to said adjustment direction (R1).
Milling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one electronic drive module operatively connected to said first actuator means (20) in order to drive the movement of said milling tool (6) between said first operating position and said second operating position, and operatively connected to said second actuator means (27) in order to drive the relative movement of said transverse coupler (21) between said first reference position and said second reference position.
Milling device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first operating section (18) has rectilinear shape and said second operating section (19) has arched shape.
Edge-banding machine (100), comprising:
- a support frame (101) provided with a sliding lane (102) extending between an inlet port (103) and an outlet port (104);

- advancement means (105) arranged to move panels (P) to advance along said sliding lane (102) from the inlet port (102) to the outlet port (104); each said panel (P) being provided with two main faces (FP) mutually parallel and opposite and mutually connected perimetrically from four sides (L), each said side (L) extending longitudinally between a front end corner and a rear end corner and being delimited in width by two mutually parallel longitudinal flanks;

- a gluing unit (109) mounted on said support frame (101) along said sliding lane (102) and designed to glue an edging tape on one of said sides (L) of said panel (P) to form a cladding edge (B);

- a trimming unit (110) arranged downstream of said gluing unit (109) and designed to cut the portions of said cladding edge (B) protruding beyond the sides of the side (L) of said panel (P);

- a milling device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, mounted on the support frame (101) of said edge-banding machine (100) along said sliding lane (102) downstream of said gluing unit (109), and designed to mill the portions of said cladding edge (B) which protrude beyond the end edges of the corresponding side (L) of said panel (P), thereby defining two ends (E) of said cladding edge (B) aligned with the edges of the corresponding side (L) of said panel (P).
Edge-banding method obtained by means of an edge-banding machine (100) according to claim 12, which method comprises:
- a step of gluing a portion of an edging tape on a side (L) of a panel (P) so as to attach a cladding edge (B) to the side (L) of said panel (P);

- after said gluing step, a trimming step for removing the portions of said cladding edge (B) projecting from the flanks of the side (L) of said panel (P);

- machining step for machining said cladding edge (B) at the end corners of said panel (P);
wherein said machining step is carried out by said milling device (1) by means of a method of operation comprising:
- selectively positioning:
- said milling tool (5) in a first operating position, in which the first operating section (18) of the cutting profile (7) of said milling tool (6) is in said operating zone (5), and said transverse coupler (21) in a first reference position, in which the contact zone (24) of the coupling surface (23) of said transverse coupler (21) is in said first radial position to arrange the first operating section (18) of the cutting profile (7) of said milling tool (6) at said work height;

- said milling tool (5) in a second operating position, in which the second operating section (19) of the cutting profile (7) of said milling tool (6) is in said operating zone (5), and said transverse coupler (21) in a second reference position, in which the contact zone (24) of the coupling surface (23) of said transverse coupler (21) is in said second radial position to arrange the second operating section (19) of the cutting profile (7) of said milling tool (6) at said work height;

- the operation of the rotation body (6) of said milling tool (5) to rotate around said rotation axis (X);

- bringing said milling head (3) at least at one of the end corners of said panel (P) and to make said rotation body (6) act on said cladding edge (B) at said end corner.