GB2039974A

GB2039974A - Machine for insertion of weatherstrip into a groove

Info

Publication number: GB2039974A
Application number: GB7848350A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Caunter & Co Ltd
Current assignee: Caunter & Co Ltd
Priority date: 1978-12-13
Filing date: 1978-12-13
Publication date: 1980-08-20

Abstract

A machine for inserting a weatherstrip into a groove comprises an elongate recess (1) which can receive the weatherstrip, and a trigger-controlled (4) drive arrangement (2) comprising a pneumatically driven lower roller and a spring loaded freely rotatable upper roller for driving the weatherstrip along the recess and outwardly from an outlet end of the recess. A cutting device (3) may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Machine for insertion of weatherstrip into a groove This invention relates to a machine for inserting a weatherstrip into grooves.

It is common to insert weatherstrip into grooves, for example, aluminium window or door frames, the weatherstrip acting as a draught and water excluder.

The weatherstrip commonly comprises a pile of short fibres attached to a base. Previously, the weatherstripping has been inserted into the groove by hand by inserting the strip into one end of the groove and drawing the strip along the groove. This has proved to be time-consuming.

The present invention aims to provide a machine which can insert a continuous length of weatherstripping into the groove.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a machine comprising an elongate recess which can receive a weatherstrip, and a drive arrangement for driving the weatherstrip along the recess and out from an outlet end of the recess, the arrangement being such that when one end of the weatherstrip is inserted in a groove, operation of the drive arrangement urges the weatherstrip along the groove.

The drive arrangement preferably comprises a drive wheel which is engageable with the weatherstrip in the recess. Preferably, the drive wheel co-operates with an opposed wheel which is arranged to urge the weatherstrip into engagement with the drive wheel. An adjustable tension device is preferably provided for adjusting the force with which the weatherstrip is urged into engagement with the drive wheel.

The machine preferably includes cutting means arranged close to the outlet end of the recess, the cutting means comprising a blade or knife which is movable across the recess. The cutting means is preferably power operated.

In a preferred machine described in more detail below, the drive wheel is pneumatically operable, the drive arrangement comprising a fan blade non-rotatably secured to the drive wheel, a passageway communicating an inlet for compressed air with the fan blade, and a manually operable valve assembly for controlling the passage of air to the fan blade, and thus controlling operation of the machine. The cutting means is also preferably pneumatically operable.

A machine in accordance with the invention for inserting weatherstrip into a groove will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the machine, Figure 2 is a plan view with parts of the casing removed for clarity, and Figure 3 is a side view.

The machine comprises an elongate recess 1, of inverted T-shape cross-section which extends from the back to the front of the machine and which is adapted to receive a pile weatherstrip (not shown) having a pile upstanding from a base, the base of the weatherstrip fitting in use in the base 1A of the recess. A drive arrangement 2 is arranged to drive the weatherstrip along the recess and out from the front end thereof. Ciose to the front end of the recess 1 is a cutting device 3. Both the drive arrangement 2 and the cutting device 3 are operated by a trigger assembly 4 which operates a valve assembly 5 to control the flow of compressed air from an inlet 6, as will be described.

The drive arrangement 2 comprises a drive wheel 7 arranged adjacent to a gap 8 in the recess 1, the axis of the wheel extending transversely of the machine so that in use the weatherstrip runs tangentially of the wheel and is engaged by the wheel. The drive wheel 7 is connected to a shaft 9 of a fan blade 10 for rotation therewith. The blade 10 is mounted in a chamber 11 into which opens one end of a passageway 12 the other end of which communicates with an outlet chamber (not shown) of the valve assembly 5. The chamber 11 is sealed on one side by an O-ring seal 1 1A and communicates on its other side with atmosphere through a filter 25.

Operation of the valve assembly 5 by depressing a drive trigger 4A permits the passage of compressed air from inlet 6 through the valve assembly 5 and passageway 12 to the fan chamber 11 to rotate the blade 10 and thus the drive wheel 7.

Co-operating with drive wheel 7 is freely rotatable wheel 13 which is supported by an arm 14 secured to the machine casing by an adjuster screw 15. A coil compression spring 16 surrounds the screw shaft and bears at one end against the head of the screw 15 and at the other end against the arm 14. In operation a weatherstrip is urged by the free wheel 13 into engagement with the drive wheel 7, the force applied by the free wheel being adjustable by means of the adjuster screw 15.

The cutting device 3 comprises a blade or knife 17 which is movable transversely of the recess 1 and and which is also driven by compressed air. The air is passed to the cutting device from an outlet chamber (not shown) of the valve assembly 5 through a passageway 18 (Figure 3) when an auxiliary trigger 4B is depressed.

The valve assembly may take any suitable form, but in the illustrated machine (Figure 3) the valve assembly 5 comprises two valve arrangements operated by the respective triggers 4A, 4B. The valve arrangements comprise two sets of O-ring seals 19, 20 which define chambers and two co-axial spools 21,22 which have respective sets of apertures 23, 24.

In the condition illustrated in Figure 3 in which the triggers 4A, 4B are shown depressed, the apertures 23,24 are in positions in which they communicate the inlet 6 with the respective outlet chambers (not shown) and thereby the respective passageways 12, 18. When the triggers are released the spools move to the right past the co-operating O-ring seals and shut off communication between the inlet 6 and the outlet chambers. The triggers 4A, 4B are independently operable and, at least in the case of the drive trigger 4A, the air pressure passed to the fan chamber 10, and thus the speed of rotation of the drive wheel 7, is dependent upon the amount of air pressure used.

The above-described machine can insert continuous lengths of weatherstrip into a groove much more quickly and leff effort than has been previously possible by manual insertion. The machine is compact and portable, and easy to use by unskilled operators.

Claims filed on 13.12.79

Claims

1. A machine for inserting a weatherstrip into a groove, comprising an elongate recess which can receive the weatherstrip, and a drive arrangement for driving the weatherstrip along the recess and outwardly from an outlet end of the recess, the arrangement being such that when one end of the weatherstrip is inserted in the groove, operation of the drive arrangement urges the weatherstrip along the groove.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein the drive arrangement comprises a drive wheel which is engageable with the weatherstrip in the recess.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the drive wheel co-operates with an opposed wheel which is arranged to urge the weatherstrip into engagement with the drive wheel.

4. A machine according to claim 2 or 3, including an adjustable tension device for adjusting the force with which the weatherstrip is urged into engagement with the drive wheel.

5. A machine according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the drive wheel is pneumatically operable, the drive arrangement comprising a fan blade non-rotatably secured to the drive wheel, a passageway communicating an inlet for compressed air with the fan blade, and a manually operable valve assembly for controlling the passage of air to the fan blade, and thus controlling operation of the machine.

6. A machine according to any of claims 1 to 5, including cutting means arranged close to the outlet end of the recess, the cutting means comprising a blade or knife which is movable across the recess.

7. A machine according to claim 6, wherein the cutting means is power operated.

8. A machine according to claim 7, wherein the cutting means is pneumatically operated.

9. A machine for inserting a weatherstrip into a groove, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.