ITRM20120346A1 - MODULAR MACHINE FOR PANEL PROCESSING AND ITS PROCESSING METHOD. - Google Patents

Description

Modular machine for panel processing and related processing method.

The present invention relates to a modular machine for processing panels and related processing method.

More in detail, the invention concerns a modular machine capable of processing panels, in particular parallelepiped panels, on all faces, intended in particular for the processing of wooden panels, but which can also be used for panels of different materials, such as plastic, aluminum and the like.

In the following the description will be addressed to known types of processing, such as drilling, even along the thickness of the panel, milling of surface layers of the faces and / or insertion of hardware, but it is clear that the same should not be considered limited only to this type of work.

As is well known, currently there are different types of machines for working wood panels, which provide for the transport of said panels by means of suitable dragging and support devices, and the machining of the panel itself by means of tool-holder heads.

The Italian patent MI2000A001066, for example, describes a machine equipped with a driving device, such as a track or a belt, comprising a flat sliding belt, having an active surface, which is put into contact with the panel to be dragged and is installed on a suitable support structure. The active surface of said belt is positioned horizontally and is suitable for receiving one face of a panel to be machined.

The face of the panel opposite to the one resting on said belt is blocked by a mobile roller system, able to adapt to the dimensions of the panel to be processed. The panel thus positioned in the machine has four free faces which can be machined over the entire surface by a tool holder head. However, one of the faces is difficult to access from a tool-holder head, due to the thickness of the belt of the towing device, which creates encumbrance. The face with which the panel rests on the towing device belt, on the other hand, is not workable.

It therefore appears evident that machines of the type just described have the disadvantage represented by the fact that the face of the panel which rests on the driving device is not workable. This forces the panel to be removed from the machine and repositioned, to make previously unworkable faces accessible.

The aforementioned problem has been solved by machines currently present on the market such as that of the Italian patent MI2004A000120, in which a machine for processing panels is described, comprising a dragging device, having a belt whose active surface is arranged in this case vertically. In this way, the panel to be machined is supported by said belt and by a roller abutment system, so as not to have a face completely resting on the belt. This allows the complete machining of five faces, while the face placed on the roller abutment system can only be partially machined, as this system determines a space between the face to be machined and the tool holder head. This implies, also in this case, the need to extract the panel from the machine, in order to reposition it to make even the partially accessible face workable.

There are also machines placed in line and connected to each other by means of transfer devices, or transfer, in order to make all the faces of the panel workable. These machine chains, however, have a very large footprint.

Another disadvantage of the machines according to the known art is represented by the need to stop the processing of the panel, to allow the transfer of the same from one station to another. This causes a machine stop, which slows down the entire machining process.

The relevant known art also includes patent application EP 960705 A2 and US patent 6189682 B1.

In light of the above, it is therefore an object of the present invention to solve the problems present in the known art.

In particular, the aim of the invention is to provide a machine for the processing of panels, preferably of a parallelepiped shape, which allows the processing of all the faces of the panel.

Another object of the invention is that of realizing a modular machine that adapts easily and automatically to the panel format, to allow continuous processing.

A further object of the invention is that of realizing a modular machine, having a reduced overall dimensions with respect to that of known machines.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method of processing a panel by means of the modular machine.

Therefore, the specific object of the present invention is a modular machine for processing a panel comprising at least a first module comprising dragging means, for moving said panel along a sliding direction, and processing means for said panel, and at least a second module comprising dragging means, for moving said panel along said sliding direction, and processing means for said panel, characterized in that said dragging means for said first module comprise at least one belt having an active or dragging surface arranged substantially vertically, and in that said driving means of said second module comprise at least one belt whose active or driving surface is arranged substantially horizontally, so that said processing means of said second module work the face of said panel on which the active surface acts d said at least one belt of said first module.

Always according to the invention, said first module can comprise a first and a second belt, spaced apart by a space, through which said working means can operate on the panel to be worked.

Still according to the invention, said first module can comprise guiding means for supporting said panel during dragging by means of said dragging means, and said second module can comprise guiding means for supporting said panel during dragging by said dragging means.

Advantageously according to the invention, said guide means and said belt of said second module can be integral with each other and able to translate along a direction, substantially perpendicular to said sliding direction of said panel, with respect to said dragging means of said panel. first module.

Further according to the invention, said guide means of said first module can comprise first and second abutment means, arranged facing said active surface of said at least one belt, lateral pressure means and upper pressure means, said upper pressure means being movable along a vertical direction.

Always according to the invention, said first and second abutment means can be separated from each other by a space and said upper pressing means comprise at least two series of rollers spaced apart by a space, and by the fact that said machining means comprise a first tool holder head , arranged so as to work said panel also through said space between said two series of rollers, a second tool holder head, arranged so as to work said panel also through said space between said first and second abutment means, and a third tool holder head arranged so as to work the lower face of said panel also through said space between said first and second abutment means.

Still according to the invention, said tool holder head can be provided with return tools, suitably configured to machine the side faces of the panel.

Furthermore, according to the invention, said guide means of said second module can comprise first and second abutment means, arranged in correspondence with said active surface of said at least one belt of said second module, and in that said lateral pressure means and said upper pressing means are movable along a vertical direction.

Advantageously according to the invention, said first and second abutment means can be separated from each other by a space and said upper pressing means comprise at least two series of rollers spaced apart by a space, and said machining means comprise at least one tool holder head, arranged in so as to work said panel also through said space between said two series of rollers and said space between said first and second abutment means.

Always according to the invention, said machine can comprise sensor means adapted to detect the dimensions of said panel, and can comprise a logic control unit connected to said sensor means and connected to said guide means of said first module, to said control means. guide of said second module, so as to move said upper pressure means, said lateral pressure means, of said first module, and said upper pressure means and said side pressure means of said second module, to move and adapt them to the dimensions of said panel, based on the signals received by said sensors.

Still according to the invention, said machine can comprise a plurality of said first and second modules, connectable in series, also spaced apart.

A further object of the present invention is a method of working a panel by means of a machine according to any one of the preceding claims comprising the following steps: inserting said panel to be worked in one of said first and / or second module of said machine; working said panel by means of said means for working said first and / or second module; moving said panel according to said sliding direction by means of said dragging means of said first and / or second module; and transferring said panel from one module to the next, so that said belt and said abutment means of said second module translate along said direction with respect to said dragging means of said first module, so that the edge identified by two contiguous faces of said panel and the edge of the active surface of the belt of said second module coincide.

The present invention will now be described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the panel to be machined;

Figure 2 shows a first schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the modular machine for processing panels according to the present invention; And

Figure 3 shows a second schematic perspective view of the machine according to Figure 2.

In the various figures similar parts will be indicated with the same numerical references.

Referring to figure 1, a panel P to be machined is shown, which can be indifferently made of wood, plastic, aluminum or the like, with a parallelepiped shape, thus having six faces. In particular, the panel P is described below with reference to a vertical positioning assumed by it when it is inserted into the machine 1.

The faces of panel P will, for convenience of reference, be indicated as follows. Considering the Cartesian reference system in figure 1, it is indicated by:

- F1 the first face that develops along the XY plane;

- F2 the second face which develops along the XY plane and is opposite to said first face F1;

- F3 the third face that develops along the XZ plane;

- F4 the fourth face which develops along the XZ plane and is opposite to said third face F3;

- F5 the fifth face that develops along the YZ plane; And

F6 the sixth face that develops along the YZ plane and is opposite to said fifth face F5.

With reference now to figures 2 and 3, a modular machine 1 for processing panel P can be seen. Said machine 1 comprises at least two processing modules, a first module 2 and a second module 3.

The first module 2 mainly comprises driving means 30, guiding means 40 and processing means 50 for the panel P.

Said means 30 for dragging the panel P to be processed comprise at least a first belt 31 and a second belt 32, each having respectively a first active surface 31 'and a second active surface 32', which in the dragging of the panel P are in contact with a surface of the same, as will be better specified below. Said first active surface 31 'and said second active surface 32' are arranged vertically, i.e. they lie on a plane perpendicular to the XZ plane of said Cartesian reference system.

Said first belt 31 and second belt 32 are respectively activated by actuators 33 and 34.

Furthermore, said first belt 31 and said second belt 32 are spaced apart by a space indicated with D, such as to allow the movement of said means 50 for working the panel P, as will be better described hereinafter.

The guide means 40 of said first module 2 comprise first abutment means 41 ', arranged facing said first active surface 31' of said first belt 31, and second abutment means 41 ", also arranged facing said second surface activates 32 'of said second belt 32.

Said first and second abutment means 41 'and 41 "are spaced apart by a space D', and are also adapted to cooperate in the movement of the panel

P.

Said guide means 40 also provide lateral pressing means 42 and upper pressing means 43. The lateral pressing means 42 comprise a plurality of longitudinal bars 42 ', each having wheels 42 "arranged in series to facilitate the sliding of the panel P in the direction of movement Said bars 42 'are arranged parallel to the X axis and can translate independently from each other along the Y axis, to receive panels P of different heights.

Said upper pressing means 43 have two series of rollers 43 'and 43 ", spaced apart by a space D".

Said upper pressing means 43 can translate along the Y axis of the reference system illustrated in Figure 2, to adapt to the different possible dimensions of the panel P to be machined. Said upper pressing means 43 are adapted to guide the panel P.

The machining means 50 of the panel P of said first module 2 comprise three tool holder heads, indicated respectively with the numerical references 51, 52 and 53, the function and arrangement of which will be better specified below. Said tool-holder heads 51, 52 and 53 are each suitable for drilling and / or milling the panel P or also for inserting hardware therein.

Still referring to Figures 2 and 3, the second module 3 also comprises driving means 60, guiding means 70 of the panel P and processing means 80 of the panel P.

Said dragging means 60 of said second module 3 comprise at least one dragging belt 61, having an active surface 62, which in dragging the panel P is in contact with a surface thereof, as will be better specified hereinafter. Said active surface 62 is arranged horizontally, i.e. it lies on a plane parallel to the XZ plane of said Cartesian reference system. Said belt 61 is operated by a first actuator 63 and a second actuator 64.

Said guide means 70 of said second module 3 comprise abutment means 71 ', arranged substantially in correspondence with said active surface 62 of said belt 61 and second abutment means 71 ", also substantially arranged at said active surface 62 of said belt 61. Said abutment means 71 'and 71 "are integral with said belt 61. In particular, they can translate along the direction indicated by arrow B, oriented parallel to axis Z.

Said first and second abutment means 71 'and 71 "are spaced apart by a space D' '' and are also adapted to cooperate in the movement of the panel P.

Said guiding means 70 of said second module 3 also provide lateral pressing means 72 and upper pressing means 73.

The lateral pressing means 72 comprise a plurality of longitudinal bars 72 ', each having wheels 72 "arranged in series to allow the panel P to slide in the direction of movement. Said bars 72' are arranged parallel to the X axis and can translate, independently of each other, along the Y axis to receive P panels of different heights.

The upper pressing means 73 have two series of rollers 73 'and 73 ", spaced apart by a space D <IV>, and can translate along the Y axis of the reference system illustrated in Figure 2, to also adapt to the different dimensions of panel P to be machined.

Said machining means 80 of the panel P of said second module 3 comprise a tool holder head 81 suitable for drilling and / or milling the panel P or for inserting hardware into the panel P.

Said first and second modules 2 and 3 also provide optical sensors (not shown in the figures) for detecting the dimensions of the panel P to be machined. Said sensors are connected to a logic control unit (also not shown in the figures) which controls both the guide means 40 of said first module 2, and the guide means 70 of said second module 3, to automatically adapt them in turn in turn to the different dimensions of the panel P to be processed acquired by said sensors.

The operation of the modular machine 1 for processing panels P described above takes place as follows.

A panel P to be machined is inserted in the machine 1 preferably starting from the first module 2, but it is also possible to start the machining starting from the second module 3.

The optical sensors detect the size of said panel P and transmit the detected data to said logic control unit, which moves the guide means 40 of said first module 2 and the guide means 70 of said second module 3 to adapt them to the dimensions of the panel. P.

Said panel P, as mentioned, is arranged vertically and is inserted, in the case in question, in the first module 2 according to the arrow C indicated in figure 2, which is oriented parallel to the X axis of the Cartesian reference system. In particular, face F3 is facing downwards, i.e. It is parallel to the face XZ of the Cartesian reference system, and the face F1 is in contact with said active surface 31 'of the first belt 31. Therefore, the panel P is initially dragged by said active surface 31' of said first belt 31 , and guided by said first abutment means 43 ', which are in contact with face F4. The lateral pressure means 42, on the other hand, are in contact with the face F2 of the panel P.

The tool holder head 51 is arranged so as to work the panel P through the space D "between said two series of rollers 43 'and 43" of said upper pressing means 43, and can, therefore, work the face F4 of said panel P .

The tool holder head 52 is arranged so as to work the panel P also through the space D 'between said first and second abutment means 41', 41 "and D" between said two series of rollers 43 'and 43 ". Therefore, as can easily be deduced from the figure, said tool holder head 52 can work the entire face FI of said panel P, during its dragging.

Furthermore, said tool holder head 52 is equipped with return tools, suitably configured, which allow to machine the side faces F6 and F5 of panel P.

Finally, the tool holder head 53 is arranged so as to work the panel P, through the space D 'between said first and second abutment means 41' and 41 ", and the space D between said first and second belt 31 and 32 Therefore, as can be easily deduced from the figures, said tool holder head 52 can machine the entire face FI of said panel P.

The processing module 2 is therefore able to work (milling, drilling, etc.) the five of the six faces FI, F3, F4, F5 and F6 of the P panel. Naturally, the processing of the aforementioned faces of the P panel takes place during the dragging of the same by initially the first belt 31 and subsequently by the second belt 32, together with the guide means 40.

Subsequently the panel P is dragged by said second belt 32 onto said belt 61 of said second module 3 and held in vertical position by the guide means 70. In particular, face F3 will be in contact with the active surface 62 of said belt 61.

Face F2, the only one not machined by said first module 2, can be machined by said tool holder head 81 of said second module 3.

The belt 61 and said abutment means 71 'and 71 ", translating according to the arrow B, perpendicular to the direction of the arrow C, receive the processed panel P and at the outlet from said first module 2, adapting to the thickness of the faces F5 and F6, in so that the edge identified by the faces F2 and F3 of the panel P and the edge of the active surface 62 of the belt 61 of said second module 3 coincide, obtaining the geometric configuration also known in the sector as "machine zero", in which the heads of machining interfaces with the face from time to time to be machined of the panel P without structural obstructions of the machine 1 itself.

The processing means 50 are controlled by said logic control unit of the machine 1, which can be programmed according to the type of processing of the panel P required.

Therefore, each face of the P panel can also be machined in distinct areas. During the dragging of the panel P by means of the belts 31 and 32 along the direction A, said areas to be milled or drilled will be machined by the different tool holder heads, when they are in correspondence with the spaces D, D 'and D ".

In further embodiments, the machine 1 can be composed of modules 1 and 2 arranged in series, according to the type of processing required to be carried out on the panel P. For example, consider the case in which it is necessary to equip the panel P with hardware , e.g. a handle or the like. This protrudes from the face F1 and / or F2, thus determining an encumbrance. Therefore, the machine 1 can be provided with two modules 2 and 3 for the different machining on the six faces, and a first additional module 2, to insert the handle.

The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is understood that variations and / or modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without thereby departing from the relative scope of protection. , as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS 1. Modular machine (1) for processing a panel (P) comprising at least a first module (2) comprising dragging means (30), for moving said panel (P) along a sliding direction (A), and processing means (50) of said panel (P), said means of drive (30) of said first module (2) comprise at least one belt (31, 32) having an active or driving surface (31 ', 32') arranged substantially vertically, and at least a second module (3) comprising dragging means (60), for displacement of said panel (P) along said sliding direction (A), and processing means (80) of said panel (P), said dragging means (60) of said second module (3) comprise at least one belt (61) whose active or driving surface (62) is arranged substantially horizontally, so that said processing means (80) of said second module (3) work the face of said panel (P) on which the active surface (31 ', 32') of said at least one belt (31, 32) acts said first module (2), characterized since said first module (2) comprises guiding means (40) for supporting said panel (P) during the dragging by said dragging means (30), said guiding means (40) of said first module (2) comprise first and second abutment means (41 ', 41 "), arranged facing said active surface (31', 32 ') of said at least one belt (31, 32), lateral pressure means (42) and upper pressure means (43 ), said upper pressing means (43) being movable along a vertical direction, and by the fact that said second module (3) comprises guide means (70) for supporting said panel (P) during dragging by means of said dragging means (60), from the fact that said first and second abutment means (41 ', 41 ") are separated from each other by a space (D') and said upper pressing means (43) comprise at least two series of spaced rollers (43 ', 43") of a space (D "), and from the fact that said machining means (50) comprise a first tool holder head (51), arranged so as to work said panel (P) also through said space (D ") between said two series of rollers (43 ', 43") , a second tool holder head (52), arranged so as to work said panel (P) also through said space (D ') between said first and second abutment means (41', 41 "), and a third tool holder head (53 ) arranged so as to work the lower face of said panel (P) also through said space (D ') between said first and second abutment means (41', 41 "). 2. Machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first module comprises a first (31) and a second (32) belt, spaced by a space (D), through which said processing means (50) they can operate on the panel (P) to be machined. Machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said guide means (70) and said belt (61) of said second module (3) are integral with each other and able to translate along a direction ( B), substantially perpendicular to said sliding direction (A) of said panel (P), with respect to said dragging means (30) of said first module (2). 4. Machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tool holder head (52) is provided with return tools, suitably configured to machine the side faces of the panel (P). Machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized from the fact that said guide means (70) of said second module (3) comprise first and second abutment means (71 ', 71 "), arranged in correspondence with said active surface (62) of said at least one belt (61) of said second module (3), and in that said lateral pressure means (72) and said upper pressure means (73) are movable along a vertical direction. Machine (1) according to claim 5, characterized from the fact that said first and second abutment means (71 ', 71 ") are separated from each other by a space (D' '') and said upper pressing means comprise at least two series of rollers (73 ', 73") spaced apart a space (D <IV>), and in that said machining means (80) comprise at least one tool holder head (81), arranged so as to work said panel (P) also through said space (D '' ') between said two series of rollers (71', 71 ") and said space (D <IV>) between said first and second feedback means (73 ', 73"). Machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising sensor means suitable for detecting the dimensions of said panel (P), and by comprising a logic control unit connected to said sensor means and connected to said guide means (40) of said first module (2), to said guide means (70) of said second module (3), thus to move said upper pressure means (43), said lateral pressure means (42), of said first module (2), and said upper pressure means (73) and said side pressure means (72 ') of said second module (3) , to move them and adapt them to the dimensions of said panel (P), on the basis of the signals received by said sensors. 8. Machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of said first (2) and second (3) modules, connectable in series, also spaced apart. Method of working a panel (P) by means of a machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims comprising the following steps: - inserting said panel (P) to be machined into one of said first (2) and / or second (3) module of said machine (1); - machining said panel (P) by means of said means (50, 80) for processing said first (2) and / or second (3) module; And - moving said panel (P) according to said sliding direction (A) by means of said dragging means (30, 60) of said first (2) and / or second (3) module; characterized in that it further comprises the following step: - transferring said panel (P) from one module to the next, so that said belt (61) and said abutment means (71 ', 71 ") of said second module (3) translate along said direction (B) with respect to said dragging means (30) of said first module (2), so that the edge identified by two contiguous faces of said panel (P) and the edge of the active surface (62) of the belt (61) of said second module (3), coincide.