GB2117306A

GB2117306A - A board repair press

Info

Publication number: GB2117306A
Application number: GB08204398A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frederick Torr; David Applebee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-02-15
Filing date: 1982-02-15
Publication date: 1983-10-12
Also published as: GB2117306B

Abstract

A press for repairing boards is made as a modular unit including a base on which is carried a press support of generally C-shape respectively carrying a press bed and a press head (43). A clamping press (36, 37, 38) acts laterally of the press head (43) and is mounted on the press bed so that when the press bed is displaced downwardly by the action of the press head (43) the clamping press (36, 37, 38) moves with it. The modular construction of the unit allows it to be linked to a power supply suitable to any site conditions depending on the availability of manual labour, an electrical supply or a source of pneumatic pressure. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A board repair press The present invention relates to a board repair press for use in repairing split boards using nail plates.

In particular, the present invention is adapted for use in repairing scaffold boards which, because of the heavy use they experience on a building site, frequency become split. When the board is otherwise undamaged such a split constitutes a considerable waste of material, particularly since wood is increasingly expensive, and the practice has arisen of reparing such split boards using metal plates having generally triangular areas pressed out at right angles to constitute a plurality of spikes which are driven into the board across the split to hold the board together and permit further use.When used in this specification the term "nail plate" will be understood to refer to a generally flat metal plate (although curved metal plates may also be encompassed within this expression) having a plurality of approximately triangular eiements stamped out and bent at right angles to constitute a plurality of spikes or nails projecting from the plate.

For an extended split a plurality of such nail plates may be fixed to the board over the length thereof, entering the board from each side to provide a secure reinforcement. Such nail plates must be pressed into the board and for this purpose the requirement is for a small portable press which can be used on site. However, building sites are widely variable in the facilities they have available. The technical problem which the present invention seeks to solve is therefore that of providing a board repair press of modular construction which can be made to accommodate one of a plurality of different forms of power input from various different power supplies.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a press for repairing boards which are longitudinally split, having two fluid pressure actuators, one for clamping the board laterally to hold it together and one for pressing a nail plate (as hereinbefore defined) into the board to repair a split therein, in which the press is formed as a modular construction with means for accepting power supplied by any one or more of up to three sources of fluid pressure for the actuators, namely a manually operated fluid pressure pump, an electrically driven pump or a fluid pressure circuit which operates from an external pneumatic pressure source.

Embodiments of the present invention may thus readily be constructed in several different versions, specifically adapted to the requirements of any given site. Moreover, provision of modular units for converting a press to accept different power supplies is envisaged.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides a press for preparing a split scaffold board or the like by driving a nail plate (as hereinbefore defined) into it across the split, the press comprising a resiliently mounted press bed carrying a first fluid pressure actuator operable to clamp a board placed on the press bed firmly in position thereon, a second fluid pressure actuator mounted above the press bed, the second fluid pressure actuator carrying a press head and being operable to drive a nail plate into a board on the press bed, and a distributor valve for directing fluid under pressure from a pressure source either to the first actuator or to the second actuator, in which the pressure source is one of: a manually actuated hydraulic pump; an electrically driven hydraulic pump; a pneumatic/hydraulic circuit operable to generate hydraulic fluid pressure from a pneumatic pressure input. Such a press is, of course, adapted for use with hydraulic rams serving as the fluid pressure actuators, Pneumatic actuators may alternatively be used, in which case the alternative power supplies would be either a source of pneumatic pressure, such as a compressed air line, or an electrically driven compressor or a compressor driven other than electrically.

The present invention also comprehends a press for reparing split scaffold boards or the like by driving a nail plate (as hereinbefore defined) into the board across the split, comprising a press bed, a press head and first and second fluid pressure actuators in the configuration referred to above, in which the press bed and the press head are carried on a support shaped to fit on and be carried by a base adapted to accommodate at least a reservoir for the hydraulic pressure source.

The base may alternatively house a pneumatic/hydraulic circuit able to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure from a pneumatic pressure input. Again, this would be particularly required if the fluid pressure actuators are hydraulic rams. The base may also house or alternatively house an electrically driven hydraulic pump.

The base may house a reservoir for a manually operated hyraulic pump and a pneumatically driven hydraulic pressure generating circuit so that use may be made of a compressed air line whilst nevertheless having the back-up of a manually operable pump should the air line be out of service or should the press be moved to a site where compressed air is not available.

The various base configurations referred to above may be formed from a plurality of modular base units, and may house not only a reservoir for manually operable hydraulic pump and a pneumatically driven hydraulic pressure generating circuit, but also an electrically driven hydraulic pump as well.

The manually operable hydraulic pump, when fitted, is preferably mounted on the said support and draws fluid from a reservoir housed in the base.

The said first and second fluid pressure actuators are preferably spring return hydraulic rams and a suitable pressure release valve is incorporated in the circuit for allowing fluid pressure return to the reservoir under the action of the return springs when the rams have been extended.

The press head may be carried on the support by a moveable element to the second fluid pressure actuator and guided with respect to the support by a guide member fixedly secured thereto and slidable in the support. This guide member, in the preferred embodiment, is located within the plan outline of the support. The press head may also be provided with resiliently mounted guides for the nail plate, these resiliently mounted guides serving also as abutment stops defining the limit of movement of the presshead in driving a nail plate into a board on the press bed.

In the preferied embodiment of the invention the press head carries a pressure-applying insert which contacts the nail plate whilst the latter is being driven into a board on the press bed, the insert being interchangeable with other such inserts of different dimensions feeds with different nail plates.

The nail plate-contacting surface of the pressure-applying insert is preferably concavely curved so that the upper surface of the nail plate is convexly curved upon insertion. By suitably choosing the dimensions of the resiliently mounted guides which serve as abutment stops it can be arranged that the edges of the nail plate are pressed into the board so as to be recessed below the surface such as to leave a flush surface when the pressure is released.

Embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a side view from the right hand side of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view from the left hand side of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front elevation of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a partly sectioned rear elevation of the embodiment of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a general perspective view of an alternative embodiments of the invention adapted for manual operation or for accepting a pneumatic input; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention adapted solely for operation from a pneumatic input;; Figure 8 is a general perspective view of a composite assembly for modular construction for accepting an electrical input, a pneumatic input, or for manual operation; Figure 9 is a schematic circuit diagram of an hydraulic control circuit suitable for use in any of the above embodiments having hydraulic operation.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly figures 1 to 5, the board-repair press illustrated comprises generally a base 11 on which is carried a press support 1 2. As can be seen more particularly in figures 2 and 3, the press support 1 2 is a C-shape member having two horizontal limbs 13, 14 joined by an upright limb 1 5. The lower limb 14 is located with its upper edge on the underside of the upper surface of the base 11 so that only the upright limb or support column 1 5 and the upper horizontal limb 13 are in fact visible in figure 1.The C-shape support 1 2 is constructed from two parallel plates 1 6, 1 7 profiled to the required shape and held in position on the upper plate 18 of the base 11 which is slotted to accept the upright limbs which constitute the column 1 5.

Also carried on the base 1 8 is a press bed, generally indicated 1 9 comprising a shaped plate having two upright flanges 20, 21, on either side of a slot 22 at the forward end thereof, and an upright flange 23 at the rear end. The press bed 1 9 has four guide rods 24 secured thereto and projecting downwardly through respective openings in the base plate 1 8 which latter is provided with cups 25 which surround springs 26 extending between the under surface of the press bed 19 and the bottom of each cup. The rods 24 project through openings in the bottom of each cup 26 and have a mushroom end in the form of, for example, a bolt head or nut secured thereto and indicated with reference numeral 27.The press bed 1 9 is thus resiliently supported by the springs 26 in a plane defined by the length of the rods 24, each spring 26 urging the plate 1 9 upwardly until the mushroom end 27 of each rod 24 engages the under surface of the associated cup 25. Downward movement of the press bed 1 9 can take place against the action of the springs 26 as will be described in greater detail below.

Within the C-shape support 12, adjacent the junction between the junction between the column 1 5 and the upper horizontal limb 13 is housed a pump 28 which is manually operable by means of a lever 29 projecting out from the column 15. The pump 28 draws hydraulic fluid through a line 29a from a reservoir 30 housed between the lower limbs 14 of the C-shape support members and located underneath the base plate 18. The delivery of the pump 28 is supplied to an inlet 31 of a distributor valve 32 having two alternative outlets 33, 34 the first of which leads, via a line 35 to a first hydraulic actuator 36 mounted on the rear flange 23 of the press bed 1 9. The actuator 36 has an extending arm 37 and a pressure plate 38 which slides over the press bed 1 9 upon extension and retraction of the actuator 36. In use the actuator 36 is extended after a board has been placed on the press bed 19, and advances the pressure plate 38 to clamp the board between itself and the forward flanges 20, 21 of the press bed 19 that were holding the board firmly in position.

On the base plate 18 there is supported an anvil 39 which lies beneath slot 22 and is of slightly narrower width and shorter length than slot 22. In use of the apparatus an anvil plate of selected size and shape in accordance with the type of nail plate being used is placed on the anvil block 39 and a nail plate positioned on the anvil plate with its spikes projecting upwardly. The thickness of the press bed 1 9 is such that such spikes do not project above the level of the press bed 1 9 thereby allowing the board to be repaired to be positioned on the press bed 19 without fouling the spikes.

The distributor valve 32 has a control shaft 40 with a square tool-engaging spigot 41 on which can be fitted a lever for turning the distributor valve between its two positions in the first of which the inlet 31 from the pump communicates with the outlet 33 leading to the actuator 36, and in the second of which the inlet 31 communicates with the outlet 34 which leads to a second hydraulic actuator 42 housed between the upper limbs 1 6 of the C-shape support. This actuator carries a press head 43 having two spring loaded guides 44 located on either side of a press plate 45 the width of which is slightly less than that of the slot 22 in the press bed 19, and the position of which corresponds with that of the slot 22.The spring loaded guides 44 have projecting lower flanges 46 which contact the press head 43 when the guides 44 have reached the end of their travel, in which position the press plate 45 projects slightly below the level of the lower surface of the flanges 46.

The pump 28 has a shaft 47 with a square spigot end 48 engaged by a lever 29, and a pressure release knob 49. The two actuators 36 and 42 are of the spring return type.

In use of the embodiment described above a suitable anvil plate and nail plate are positioned on the anvil block 39 within the slot 22 as described above, the shaft 40 is moved by means of a tool fitted on this square spigot end 41 to turn the distributor valve 32 into its first position with the inlet 31 communicates with the outlet 33 and the pump 28 operated by repeated pulling on the handle 29 to pressurise the cylinder 36 and cause the clamp plate 38 to advance until it engages the edge of a board placed on the press bed 1 9 and clamp this between the clamp plate 38 and the front flanges 20, 21 as discussed above.

Then, the valve 32 is commuted to its second position by operating on the lever connected to the spigot 41 to put the inlet 31 into communication with the outlet 34 leading to the actuator 42. Further pumping action on the handle 29 pressurises the actuator and causes the press head 43 to lower until the flanges 46 of the guides 44 engage the upper face of the board to be repaired. Continued pumping action increases the pressure on the board pressing this and the press bed 1 9 downwardly against the action of the springs 26 until the press bed 19 comes to rest on the base plate 18 at which time the spikes of the nail plate should be driven fully home into the under surface of the board being repaired.The press head 43 can descent slightly lower to take up the resilient movement of the guides 44 pressing the nail plate slightly further into the board and giving this a concave curvature with the edges being pressed further into the board than the centre portion so that these are recessed below the surface of the board. The limit of movement is determined by the contact of the flanges 46 against the presshead 43.The pressure release knob 49 is then pulled to allow the spring loaded actuators 42 and 36 to return to their original positions, the fluid flowing back through the circuit to the reservoir 30 from which it was drawn by the pump 28, first through the line 50 leading from the actuator 42 to the inlet 34 of the distributor valve 32, and from there through the union 31 and the line 51 to the pump 28, and subsequently, after having turned the distributor valve 32 back to its first position, through the flexible line 35 to the union 33, through the valve 32 and out into the line 51 as before.

The embodiment illustrated in figure 6 is similar to that illustrated in figure 1-5 with the addition of a modular unit 55 incorporating a pneumatically driven pump which is connected by a line (not shown) to a union (not shown) with the line 51. A lever 56 controls the operation of the pneumatic circuit, when connected, so that pressurisation of the actuaters 36, 42 can take place without it being necessary to pump the handle 29.

In the embodiment of figure 7 the pump 28 is replaced by a pneumatically driven pump and there is no facility for manual operation.

In the embodiment of figure 8 a further modular unit 57 is provided, on which the modular unit 55 is mounted. The unit 57 incorporates a power pack comprising a reservoir, an electric motor and a pump the delivery of which is connected to a union (not shown) with the line 51. An operating handle 58 and a switch 59 are provided for switching on the electrical circuit and for turning on the pump respectively.

Should a compressor be available rather than an electricity supply, the pneumatically operated power supply can be used, a suitable union on the modular unit 55 being provided on the rear face which cannot be seen in figure 8.

A further alternative arrangement may be obtained by mounting either the embodiment of figure 1 or the embodiment of figure 7 on the base 57 to obtain a device which may be manually or electrically operated or a device which may be pneumatically or electrically operated. All these combinations are obtained simply by mounting the modular units one above the other as illustrated and completing appropriate internal connections to the power supply lines to connect into the delivery line 51 leading to the distributor valve 32.

Referring now to Figure 9, the circuit shown is similar to that of the previous embodiment but is modified to adapt it particularly for power operation.

In this circuit a pump 60, which is preferably driven by an electric motor to provide a continuous head, delivers hydraulic fluid to a three-position valve 61 which has an output line 70 leading to the press head actuator or ram 42 and a line 64 leading to a flow control valve 62 which supplies fluid at a selected pressure via a line 67 to a manual selector valve 63 having two outputs one of which leads via a line 69 to the clamping actuator or ram 36 and the other of which leads via a return line 65 to the three way valve 61 and from there to the reservoir. The flow control valve 62 has an overflow line 66 connected to the return line 65.In use of the circuit the pump 60 is driven, for example, by an electric motor, and upon manual displacement of the three way valve 61 to apply fluid to the line 64 the flow control valve 62 allows a certain proportion of the arriving fluid to pass to the line 67 and from there to the manual selector valve 63 and bypasses the remainder through the line 66 to the return line 64 and from there to the reservoir. In this way the flow control valve 62 acts, in effect, as a pressure regulator. It also serves as a uni-directional pressure holding valve which prevents any slight escape of fluid from the clamping ram 36 when the three-way valve 61 is subsequently commuted to delivery output fluid under pressure to the line 70 leading to the press head ram 42.It is important that the clamping ram 36 maintain its pressure to hold the board in a firm position while the nail plate is pressed into it.

The manual selector valve 62 can be operated to release the clamping ram pressure at the end of the operation. This selector valve is manually moved to interconnect the lines 65 and 69 instead of the lines 67 and 69 so that the pressure in the clamping ram 36, which is of the spring return type, can escape through the line 65 and the three-way valve 61, which by now will be in the neutral position, to the reservoir.

In the embodiment of figures 1 to 5 it will be seen that guidance of the press head 43 to maintain the flanges 46 thereof strictly parallei with the anvil 39 and the slot 22 in the press bed 19 is achieved by means of a head guide 55 which is secured at its lower end to the press head 43 and passes through an aperture 56 in the press head support plate 57.

It will be understood from a comparison of figure 1 with figures 4 and 5, that these latter have been illustrated with the overall cover plate spanning the sides 16, 17 having been removed to expose the interior. Although the embodiments described hereinabove have employed a manually operable changeover valve to effect the transition from operation of the lateral clamping ram 36 to operation of the press head ram 42, it is envisaged that a suitable automatic changeover could be employed, for example by using a pressure-sensitive element to indicate when the required lateral clamping force has been applied and operative to effect the commutation. The changeover may be hydraulically or electrically effected, or indeed a combination of electrical and hydraulic components may be employed.In such an arrangement, of course, a safety arrangement would be required, to ensure that an operator's hands are not under the press head when this is lowered, and such an arrangement might include a pair of push buttons or other control switches on opposite sides of the base and in a circuit which requires both switches to be simultaneously depressed before energisation of the rams can take place.

Claims (Filed on 15 February 1983) 1. A press for repairing boards, having two fluid pressure actuators, one for clamping the board laterally to hold it together and one for pressing a spiked retaining plate into the board to repair a split therein, in which the press is formed as a modular construction with means for accepting power supplied by any one or any combination of a manually operated fluid pressure pump, an electrically driven pump and a fluid pressure circuit which operates from an external pneumatic pressure source.

2. A press for repairing a split board or the like by driving a spiked retaining plate or nail plate (as herein defined) into it across the split, comprising a resiliently mounted press bed carrying a first fluid pressure actuator operable to clamp a board placed on the press bed firmly in position thereof, a second fluid pressure actuator mounted above the press bed, the second fluid pressure actuator carrying a press head and being operable to drive a spiked retaining plate or nail plate into a board on the press bed, and a distributor valve for directing fluid under pressure from a pressure source either to the first actuator or to the second actuator, in which the pressure source is one of a manually actuated hydraulic pump, an electrically driven hydraulic pump or a pneumatic and/or hydraulic circuit operable to generate hydraulic fluid pressure from a pneumatic pressure input.

3. A press for repairing a split board or the like by driving a spiked retaining plate or nail plate (as herein defined) into the board across the split, comprising a resiliently mounted press bed carrying a first fluid pressure actuator operable to clamp a board placed on the press bed firmly in position thereon, a second fluid pressure actuator mounted above the press bed, the second fluid pressure actuator carrying a press head and being operable to drive a spiked retaining plate or nail plate into a board on the press bed, and a distributor valve for directing fluid under pressure from a pressure source either to the first actuator or to the second actuator, in which the press bed and press head are carried on a support shaped to fit on and be carried by a base adapted to accommodate at least a reservoir for the hydraulic pressure source.

4. A press as claimed in Claim 3, in which the base houses a pneumatic/hydraulic circuit able to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure from a pneumatic pressure input.

5. A press as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, in which the base houses an electrically driven hydraulic pump.

6. A press as claimed in Claim 3, Claim 4 or

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

Claims

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

three-position valve 61 which has an output line 70 leading to the press head actuator or ram 42 and a line 64 leading to a flow control valve 62 which supplies fluid at a selected pressure via a line 67 to a manual selector valve 63 having two outputs one of which leads via a line 69 to the clamping actuator or ram 36 and the other of which leads via a return line 65 to the three way valve 61 and from there to the reservoir. The flow control valve 62 has an overflow line 66 connected to the return line 65.In use of the circuit the pump 60 is driven, for example, by an electric motor, and upon manual displacement of the three way valve 61 to apply fluid to the line 64 the flow control valve 62 allows a certain proportion of the arriving fluid to pass to the line 67 and from there to the manual selector valve 63 and bypasses the remainder through the line 66 to the return line 64 and from there to the reservoir. In this way the flow control valve 62 acts, in effect, as a pressure regulator. It also serves as a uni-directional pressure holding valve which prevents any slight escape of fluid from the clamping ram 36 when the three-way valve 61 is subsequently commuted to delivery output fluid under pressure to the line 70 leading to the press head ram 42.It is important that the clamping ram 36 maintain its pressure to hold the board in a firm position while the nail plate is pressed into it.

The manual selector valve 62 can be operated to release the clamping ram pressure at the end of the operation. This selector valve is manually moved to interconnect the lines 65 and 69 instead of the lines 67 and 69 so that the pressure in the clamping ram 36, which is of the spring return type, can escape through the line 65 and the three-way valve 61, which by now will be in the neutral position, to the reservoir.

In the embodiment of figures 1 to 5 it will be seen that guidance of the press head 43 to maintain the flanges 46 thereof strictly parallei with the anvil 39 and the slot 22 in the press bed

19 is achieved by means of a head guide 55 which is secured at its lower end to the press head 43 and passes through an aperture 56 in the press head support plate 57.

It will be understood from a comparison of figure 1 with figures 4 and 5, that these latter have been illustrated with the overall cover plate spanning the sides 16, 17 having been removed to expose the interior. Although the embodiments described hereinabove have employed a manually operable changeover valve to effect the transition from operation of the lateral clamping ram 36 to operation of the press head ram 42, it is envisaged that a suitable automatic changeover could be employed, for example by using a pressure-sensitive element to indicate when the required lateral clamping force has been applied and operative to effect the commutation. The changeover may be hydraulically or electrically effected, or indeed a combination of electrical and hydraulic components may be employed.In such an arrangement, of course, a safety arrangement would be required, to ensure that an operator's hands are not under the press head when this is lowered, and such an arrangement might include a pair of push buttons or other control switches on opposite sides of the base and in a circuit which requires both switches to be simultaneously depressed before energisation of the rams can take place.

Claims (Filed on 15 February 1983) 1. A press for repairing boards, having two fluid pressure actuators, one for clamping the board laterally to hold it together and one for pressing a spiked retaining plate into the board to repair a split therein, in which the press is formed as a modular construction with means for accepting power supplied by any one or any combination of a manually operated fluid pressure pump, an electrically driven pump and a fluid pressure circuit which operates from an external pneumatic pressure source.
2. A press for repairing a split board or the like by driving a spiked retaining plate or nail plate (as herein defined) into it across the split, comprising a resiliently mounted press bed carrying a first fluid pressure actuator operable to clamp a board placed on the press bed firmly in position thereof, a second fluid pressure actuator mounted above the press bed, the second fluid pressure actuator carrying a press head and being operable to drive a spiked retaining plate or nail plate into a board on the press bed, and a distributor valve for directing fluid under pressure from a pressure source either to the first actuator or to the second actuator, in which the pressure source is one of a manually actuated hydraulic pump, an electrically driven hydraulic pump or a pneumatic and/or hydraulic circuit operable to generate hydraulic fluid pressure from a pneumatic pressure input.
3. A press for repairing a split board or the like by driving a spiked retaining plate or nail plate (as herein defined) into the board across the split, comprising a resiliently mounted press bed carrying a first fluid pressure actuator operable to clamp a board placed on the press bed firmly in position thereon, a second fluid pressure actuator mounted above the press bed, the second fluid pressure actuator carrying a press head and being operable to drive a spiked retaining plate or nail plate into a board on the press bed, and a distributor valve for directing fluid under pressure from a pressure source either to the first actuator or to the second actuator, in which the press bed and press head are carried on a support shaped to fit on and be carried by a base adapted to accommodate at least a reservoir for the hydraulic pressure source.
4. A press as claimed in Claim 3, in which the base houses a pneumatic/hydraulic circuit able to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure from a pneumatic pressure input.
5. A press as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, in which the base houses an electrically driven hydraulic pump.
6. A press as claimed in Claim 3, Claim 4 or

Claim 5, in which the base houses a reservoir for a manually operated hyraulic pump and a pneumatically driven hydraulic pressure generating circuit.
7. A press as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 6, in which the base is formed of a plurality of parts and houses a reservoir for a manually operable hydraulic pump, a pneumatically driven hydraulic pressure generating circuit, and an electrically driven hydraulic pump.
8. A press as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 7, in which the said support carries a manually operable hydraulic pump drawing fluid from a reservoir housed in the said base.
9. A press as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 8, in which the said first and second fluid pressure actuators are spring return hydraulic rams.
10. A press as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 9, in which the press head is carried on the support by a movable element of the second fluid pressure actuator and guided with respect to the support by a guide member fixedly secured thereto and slidable in the support (within the support plan outline).
11. A press as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 10, in which the press head is provided with resiliently mounted guides for the nail plate.
12. A press as claimed in Claim 11, in which the said resiliently mounted guides serve as abutment stops defining the limit of movement of the press head in driving a nail plate into a board on-the press bed.
13. A press as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 12, in which the press head carries a pressureapplying insert which contact the nail plate whilst the latter is being driven into a board on the press bed, the insert being interchangeable for one of different dimensions for use with different nail plates.
14. A press as claimed in any of Claims 3 to 13, in which the nail plate-contacting surface of the pressure-applying insert is concavely curved so that the edges of the nail plate are pressed further into the board than the central part of the plate so that the edges are recessed below the surface to leave a flush surface when pressure is released.

1 5. A board repair press substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.