GB2094214A - -Frame-assembling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Four slide units (10, 12, 14, 16) are adapted to slide along four slide rods (18, 20, 22, 24) arranged to form a rectangle with each slide unit having a corner piece (26) adapted to receive the corner-forming portions of two frame members. The corner pieces, or parts thereof, are movable with respect to their slide units to a limited extent so as to cause pressure to be exerted on the frame members by the corner pieces while fastening elements are inserted in the corners of the frame. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Frame-assembling apparatus This invention relates to apparatus for assembling rectangular frames. It is especially aplicable to the assembly of picture frames but it could also be applied to the assembly of other rectangular frames such as mirror frames, window frames, door frames and furniture frames. For the sake of convenience however, the invention will be described below in particular relation to the assembly of picture frames.

The main aim of the invention is to provide apparatus which is able to hold four frame members arranged to form a rectangular frame while fixing pins or other connecting elements are driven in at their corner regions. Normally, frame members are fastened together entirely by hand (relying therefore entirely on the skill of the picture-framer) or a simple jig is used which holds two or more of the members at right angles to each other while a fixing element is driven in at the corner where they join each other.

Hitherto these jigs have not been able to assemble picture frames for different sizes nor has there been any provision for controlling the pressure exerted on the frame members while they are being fastened together. The present invention however seeks to provide apparatus for assembling frames which is adustable to a very wide range of frame sizes and wherein the pressure exerted on the frame members as their corners are fastened together is carefully controlled.

With these aims in view, the present invention is directed to frame-assembling apparatus comprising four sliding units which can be moved towards and away from each other on four slide rods or other slide means arranged in a rectangle, each of the units having a corner piece adapted to receive the corner formed by two adjacent frame members with each corner piece being arranged for limited movement on its respective unit so as to vary the pressure exerted on the frame members by the four corner pieces on the four units while fastening elements are inserted in the corners of the frame.

An example of frame-assembling apparatus in accordance with the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 7 is a perspective view from above of the apparatus; Figure 2 is a plan of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 with four frame members inserted on it; and Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the four sliding units shown in Figure 1.

The apparatus shown in the drawings is for assembling picture frames of a wide range of sizes in one operation. It comprises four sliding units 10, 12, 14 and 16 which are arranging for sliding movement towards and away from each other on four slide rods 18, 20, 22 and 24. The slide rods 20 and 24 pass laterally through through-holes in the four units 10, 12,14 and 16, whilethe two rods 18 and 22 pass longitudinally through through-holes in the units lying at right angles to the through-holes for the rods 20 and 24. The rods can be made of any reasonable length, according to the range of picture frame size with which the apparatus is to be used.

Each sliding unit 10,12, 14 and 16 has a right angle corner piece 26 mounted on it in such a way that it is capable of limited movement with respect to its sliding unit. This is achieved by mounting the corner piece on a subsidiary slide 28 which is capable of limited sliding movement on the respective slide unit. A coil tension spring 30 connects each corner piece 26 to a respective pin 32 mounted on the slide unit so that the corner piece is urged in a direction rearwardly of the sliding unit. The pin 32 serves as a pivot for a handle 34 which carries a cam surface 36 adapted to bear against the rear end of the subsidiary slide 28 so that rotation of the handle 34 through an angle less than 360" causes the corner pieces to be urged forwards against the action of the spring 30.

Locking screws 38 are provided on each unit 10, 12, 14 and 16 for locking it on the respective slide rods.

The apparatus described above is used in the following way: The four units 10,12, 14 and 16 are moved along their respective slide rods so that their four corner pieces 24 are spaced apart by distances slightly larger than a frame to be assembled. The four separate frame members are then introduced into the corner pieces whereupon each unit 10,12, 14 and 16 (or at least two of them) are moved along the slide rods so that the spacing between the corner pieces is adjusted to the lengths of the four frame members.

At this stage, the corner pieces do not exert any pressure on the frame members. The locking screws 38 are then screwed home tightly so as to lock the units 10,12,14 and 16 on the slide rods 18,20,22 and 24. The handles 34 controlling the four corner pieces 26 are then swung through angles which are exactly the same on each sliding unit so that the respective corner pieces are moved forwards and exert a predetermined clamping pressure on the frame members. It will now be found that the frame members are held very tightly with respect to each other, and therefore in the correct position and underthe correct conditions for the insertion of fastening members such as nails or pins at their corner portions.The corner pins or nails are inserted through appropriately positioned holes 40 in the corner pieces by means of a special punch having a nose portion which fits into each of the holes 40 in turn. Alternatively, in place of the holes 40, a groove or slit can be provided in each corner piece 26 for the insertion into the frame members of pins or other fastening elements.

Once the fastening elements have been driven into the frame members, the handles 34 on the four sliding units are swung back to their original position of rest so as to take pressure off the completed frame through the corner pieces 26. It will then generally be possible to lift the frame out of the apparatus without releasing the locking screws 38, but it will naturally be simpler to remove the completed frame by releasing at least some of the locking screws so that two or more ofthe units 10,12,14 and 16 can be moved away from the other units.

The rods 18,20,22 and 24 will normally be made of steel, while the sliding units 10,12, 14 and 16 can be made either of steel or of a strong synthetic plastics material. Where a synthetic plastics material is used for the sliding units, it will usually be necessary for the corner pieces 26 to be made of metal as it is important that they should not flex or yield under operating conditions.

As indicated above, the apparatus is not restricted to the assembly of picture frames. It can for example be equally well used for the fastening together of frame members in the production of window frames, door frames, and any other open frame comprising fourframe members which have to be joined together at their corners.

CLAIMS (Filed on 19 Feb 1980) 1. Apparatus for asssembling rectangular frames, especially picture frames, mirror frames, window frames, door frames and furniture frames, comprising four slide units which are movable towards and away from each other on four slide rods or other slide means adapted to be arranged in a rectangle, each of the units having a corner piece adapted to receive the corner formed by two adjacent frame members with each corner piece or a part thereof being arranged for limited movment on its respective unit so as to cause pressure to be exerted on the frame members bythe four corner pieces on the four units while fastening elements are inserted in the corners of the frame.

2. Frame-assembling apparatus according to claim 1, in which two of the slide rods are parallel to each other and pass through through-hoies in the four units, while the other two rods lie at right angles to the first two rods and pass through through-holes in the units which lie at right angles to the throughholes for the first two rods.

3. Frame-assembling apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which each corner piece is mounted on a subsidiary slide which is capable of limited sliding movement on its respective slide unit.

4. Frame-assembling apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, in which a coil tension spring connects each corner piece to a respective pin or other anchorage point on the slide unit so that the corner piece is urged in a direction rearwardly of the slide unit.

5. Frame-assembling apparatus according to claim 4 when appendant to claim 3, in which the pin serves as a pivot for a handle which carries a cam surface adapted to bear against the rear end of the respective subsidiary slide so that rotation of the handle through an angle less than 360 causes the corner piece our a part thereof to be urged forwards against the action of the spring.

6. Frame-assembling apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which locking screws are provided on each unit for locking it on the respective slide rods.

7. Frame-assembling apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of assembling rectangular frames which comprises (a) moving four slide units along four respective slide rods so that corner pieces on the units are spaced apart by distances slightly larger than a frame to be assembled; (b) introducing four separate frame members into the corner pieces and moving at least two of the units along the slide rods so that the spacing between the corner pieces is adjusted to the lengths ofthefourframe members without the corner pieces exerting pressure on the frame members; (c) locking the units on the slide rods and operating handles controlling the four corner pieces so that the latter are moved to exert a predetermined clamping pressure on the frame members; ; (d) inserting fastening members such as nails or pins into the frame members at their corner portions, the fastening members being inserted through holes, grooves or slits in the corner pieces by means of a punch; and (e) operating the handles on the four sliding units in the reverse direction so as to take pressure off the completed frame through the corner pieces, thereby allowing the frame to be lifted out of the apparatus, if necessary after releasing the locking screws.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. of steel, while the sliding units 10,12, 14 and 16 can be made either of steel or of a strong synthetic plastics material. Where a synthetic plastics material is used for the sliding units, it will usually be necessary for the corner pieces 26 to be made of metal as it is important that they should not flex or yield under operating conditions. As indicated above, the apparatus is not restricted to the assembly of picture frames. It can for example be equally well used for the fastening together of frame members in the production of window frames, door frames, and any other open frame comprising fourframe members which have to be joined together at their corners. CLAIMS (Filed on 19 Feb 1980)

1. Apparatus for asssembling rectangular frames, especially picture frames, mirror frames, window frames, door frames and furniture frames, comprising four slide units which are movable towards and away from each other on four slide rods or other slide means adapted to be arranged in a rectangle, each of the units having a corner piece adapted to receive the corner formed by two adjacent frame members with each corner piece or a part thereof being arranged for limited movment on its respective unit so as to cause pressure to be exerted on the frame members bythe four corner pieces on the four units while fastening elements are inserted in the corners of the frame.

2. Frame-assembling apparatus according to claim 1, in which two of the slide rods are parallel to each other and pass through through-hoies in the four units, while the other two rods lie at right angles to the first two rods and pass through through-holes in the units which lie at right angles to the throughholes for the first two rods.

3. Frame-assembling apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which each corner piece is mounted on a subsidiary slide which is capable of limited sliding movement on its respective slide unit.

4. Frame-assembling apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, in which a coil tension spring connects each corner piece to a respective pin or other anchorage point on the slide unit so that the corner piece is urged in a direction rearwardly of the slide unit.

5. Frame-assembling apparatus according to claim 4 when appendant to claim 3, in which the pin serves as a pivot for a handle which carries a cam surface adapted to bear against the rear end of the respective subsidiary slide so that rotation of the handle through an angle less than 360 causes the corner piece our a part thereof to be urged forwards against the action of the spring.

6. Frame-assembling apparatus according to any preceding claim, in which locking screws are provided on each unit for locking it on the respective slide rods.

7. Frame-assembling apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of assembling rectangular frames which comprises (a) moving four slide units along four respective slide rods so that corner pieces on the units are spaced apart by distances slightly larger than a frame to be assembled; (b) introducing four separate frame members into the corner pieces and moving at least two of the units along the slide rods so that the spacing between the corner pieces is adjusted to the lengths ofthefourframe members without the corner pieces exerting pressure on the frame members; (c) locking the units on the slide rods and operating handles controlling the four corner pieces so that the latter are moved to exert a predetermined clamping pressure on the frame members; ; (d) inserting fastening members such as nails or pins into the frame members at their corner portions, the fastening members being inserted through holes, grooves or slits in the corner pieces by means of a punch; and (e) operating the handles on the four sliding units in the reverse direction so as to take pressure off the completed frame through the corner pieces, thereby allowing the frame to be lifted out of the apparatus, if necessary after releasing the locking screws.