ITUB20150532A1 - EDGE BANDING DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

EDGE BANDING APPARATUS

The present invention relates to an edging apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for especially edging a wooden panel with a veneer tape. In detail, the present invention provides for obtaining the fixing of such a tape by means of thermal activation carried out by means of a laser beam.

The present invention allows an effective control of the quantity? and of the uniformity? of the heat supplied to the joining area.

Furthermore, compared to the laser-activated edging apparatuses, it allows to reduce the thickness of the tape to be associated, in particular of its thermo-activable layer, allowing to obtain a finer finish. high quality of edged products.

Therefore the present invention is placed in the field of panel edging.

Nowadays, a traditional edging apparatus provides for forming an edge composed of a finishing layer and an adhesion layer.

The adhesion layer? thermo-activated to adhere to the edge to be finished.

The thermal activation of the adhesion layer, according to this traditional process,? implemented by a laser beam.

An emission device produces a laser beam which intercepts the face of the tape equipped with the adhesion layer.

The image of the beam on the tape, that is the area of the latter which? intercepted by the beam, it is moved along the entire height of the tape to activate the adhesive layer.

A variant known today provides an adjustable optical zoom that allows you to vary the width of the image of the laser beam on the edge to adapt the latter to the height of the edge itself.

A drawback of these traditional processes? that of using a high-power laser that requires effective refrigeration.

An additional drawback? that such processes provide the edge with a? high density? of power which is not easily controlled with consequent risk of damage to the edge to be glued.

Furthermore, this traditional process is of limited application and not easily adaptable in the event of a change in the color of the edge to be glued and therefore in the absorption of radiation associated with it.

The problem underlying the present invention? to have greater flexibility? in the edging operation.

The main aim of the present invention is to provide an edging apparatus which solves this problem by solving the aforementioned drawbacks of the traditional processes and apparatuses described above. As part of this task? purpose of the present invention to propose an edging apparatus which allows to easily adjust the thermal power to join the edge to the panel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an edging apparatus which allows preheating

Another object of the invention is to propose an edging apparatus which allows to apply edges of different heights.

A further object of the invention is to provide an edging apparatus which is more reliable than the traditional ones described above.

Yet another object of the present invention? to propose an edging apparatus that requires less maintenance and is more? durable in efficiency.

This task, as well as? these and other objects which will become clearer in the following are achieved by an edging apparatus according to the attached claim 1.

Detailed characteristics of an edging apparatus according to the invention are reported in the corresponding dependent claims.

An edging apparatus according to the present invention allows the strip to be joined to be gradually heated, allowing a much better control of the temperature and of the thermal power transferred to the strip with respect to traditional laser apparatuses.

By means of the edging apparatus according to the present invention, it is thus possible to process edging tapes of a wide spectrum of colors and obtain an effective adhesion of the same to the edge of the panel, at the same time reducing the risk of damaging the tape itself.

The edging apparatus according to the present invention in practice allows to heat the tape to be applied to the edge of the panel in a more effective way. uniform than traditional solutions and to use a lower specific power cos? to avoid the risk of burns and damage to the belt itself.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of an edging apparatus according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an edging apparatus according to the present invention, with some parts removed to better highlight others;

Figure 2 illustrates a detail of the edging apparatus according to the present invention;

- figures 3a and 3b show a length of tape intercepted by laser beams emitted by an edging apparatus according to the present invention;

- Figures 4a and 4b schematically illustrate two configurations of an edging apparatus according to the present invention.

With particular reference to the aforementioned figures,? generally indicated with 10 an edging apparatus for joining a finishing tape 100 to the edge 200a of a panel 200, said tape 100 having a heat-activated face 100a.

The edging apparatus 10 comprises a retaining device, not shown, adapted to retain a panel 200 and a pressing device 11 adapted to press the strip 100 against an edge 200a of the panel 200.

The pressing device 11 defines, for the belt 100, a direction of advancement C which, in use, coincides with a longitudinal direction C? along which the belt 100 develops.

In other words, in use the pressing device 11 guides the tape 100 which is fed thereto so as to apply it to the edge 200a of the panel 200.

Preferably, the pressing device comprises a roller arranged, with respect to the holding device, in such a way as to press the strip 100 against the edge 200a when the panel 200? held by the restraint device.

Clearly, the edging apparatus will be able to be suitable for straight edging or curved edging.

According to the present invention, the edging apparatus 10 has a particular peculiarity? in the fact of being endowed with a plurality? of emitters 12, configured in such a way as to emit laser beams aimed at intercepting, in use, a plurality of of zones A of the thermo-activable face 100a of the belt 100; where the emitters 12 are arranged, with respect to the pressure device 11, in such a way that in use the zones A comprise zones aligned along the direction of advance C.

In other words, in use, the emitters 12 irradiate the tape 100 so as to intercept it in zones A which at least follow one another along the direction of advance C.

The belt 100, in use, advances along the direction of advance C cos? that the zones A slide on it and gradually heat the thermo-activable face 100a on which they affect.

In fact, each section of the tape, during its relative motion with respect to the emitters 12 is intercepted in succession by a plurality of elements. of zones A cos? that in correspondence of each of these the tape receives a predefined quantity? of heat by laser irradiation.

This heating is gradual and therefore easily controllable and allows to avoid densities? of power typical of edgebanding devices with traditional lasers.

Preferably the emitters 12 are arranged so as to form a matrix such as to emit laser beams suitable for intercepting, in use, the heat-activated face 100a of the belt 100 in the zones A which preferably comprise zones also aligned along at least one trajectory B which? transversal to a direction of travel C.

In other words, the emitters 12 are configured to emit a plurality of products. of laser beams oriented so as to intercept the thermo-activatable face 100a of the tape 100, in a plurality of of zones A which are aligned both longitudinally and transversely to the direction of advancement C of the belt 100.

A particularly efficient configuration provides that the trajectory B is preferably rectilinear and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction C ?.

In this way, the areas A intercepted in use by the laser beams on the belt 100 are also aligned along the trajectory B which? perpendicular to the longitudinal direction C? of tape 100.

In practice, a beading apparatus 10 according to the present invention is more? functionally flexible, with respect to traditional apparatuses, since the distribution of thermal power in the zones A, mutually flanked longitudinally and transversely, with respect to the direction of advancement C of the belt 100, allows the latter to be heated more effectively. uniform than traditional solutions and to use a lower specific power cos? to avoid the risk of burns and damage to the belt.

In practice, by means of an edging apparatus 10 according to the present invention, edging tapes of a wide spectrum of colors can be processed and obtain an effective adhesion of the same to the edge of the panel, at the same time reducing the risk of damaging the tape itself.

In an embodiment of the present invention which allows a particular flexibility? and compactness, the edging apparatus 10 comprises a plurality of of emitters 12 - which can be included in a multi-beam head 13 - which are preferably organized in at least two rows and in at least two columns to irradiate the correspondingly organized areas in at least two rows and at least two columns.

With particular reference to figures 1 to 3a and 3b, in these? shown, by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of the present invention which presents a preferred solution which constitutes a good compromise between overall dimensions and capacity. of heating tape.

This comprises 8 emitters 12 arranged in two rows side by side each comprising 4 emitters 12 cos? to be suitable for forming, on the heat-activated face 100a, two rows side by side, each of 4 second zones A, as illustrated for example in Figures 3a and 3b.

In an embodiment which allows to obtain a particularly high flexibility? of the particularly high edging apparatus 10, advantageously the edging apparatus 10? configured in such a way that the emitters 12 are selectively operable, for this purpose the edging apparatus 10 preferably comprises a programmable and / or operable control device 100 to selectively operate the emitters 12 to modulate the extension of an area of the belt 100 which, in use,? intercepted by the rays emitted by the emitters 12.

In practice, during use, the tape is heated by the successive action of the emitters 12 which are turned towards it.

For example, an embodiment of the edging apparatus 10 can be be of the type of an edge banding machine with linear advancement of the panel 200 and of the belt 100, in which case it can? have 12 fixed emitters, as for example illustrated in Figure 1.

These, for example, can be organized in two rows or columns of 4 emitters 12 each, like those illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

In this case, the belt 100 which advances towards the pressure device 11 is intercepted, in succession, first by the beams produced by the first column of emitters 12 and then by the beams produced by the second column of emitters 12.

A greater number of columns of emitters 12, possibly spaced apart, allows to modulate in a refined way the density? of power transmitted to the thermo-activatable face 100a of the belt 100, per unit? surface of the latter.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b, the emitters are grouped in movable multi-beam heads, identified with the references 13a, 13b and 13c.

These multi-bundle heads can be activated selectively and are movable with respect to the belt 100 so as to modulate the extension of a portion 100b of the belt 100, intercepted by the bundles generated by the active multi-beam heads.

In particular, then, when the tape? intercepted by the beams produced by one of these heads, it is first intercepted by the beams produced by the emitters of the first column and then by the emitters of the second column.

In this way, the heating of the tape? gradual, substantially in steps and thermal shocks of the belt are avoided.

Moreover, a selective activation of the multi-beam heads 13 and / or of the emitters 12 of the same allows a fine but simple adjustment of the thermal power transferred to the belt and, therefore, allows to easily adapt the edging apparatus 10 to the application of different colors or in general with different capacities? of thermal absorption.

To get flexibility? of particularly high use, the multi-beam heads 13 advantageously comprise handling means 14 configured to move the emitters 12.

The handling means 14 can be operated to, in use, orient the emitters 12 to adjust the relative position of the zones A along the height on the belt 100 so as to modulate the specific power transmitted to the belt 100 and / or modulate the extension of a surface part of the belt 100 affected by the zones A.

Preferably, the movement means 14 are configured to move the emitters 12 so as to orient the emission section of the laser beam according to a rotary movement D and / or a translational movement E so as to be able to move the areas A on the belt 100 according to a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction C? of the belt 100 and / or according to a direction along the height of the belt D?, i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal direction C?, as shown for example in Figure 2.

So ? adjustable the extension of the area of the tape 100 hit by the rays emitted by the emitters of a multi-beam head 13.

Such flexibility? ? further increased if the edging apparatus 10 advantageously comprises re-positioning means, not illustrated, configured to move at least one of the multi-bundle heads 13.

The re-positioning means can be operated to, in use, orient at least one multi-beam head 13 to adjust, in use, the relative position of the zones A along the length of the belt 100 so as to modulate the specific power transmitted to the belt 100 and / or to modulate the extension of a part of the surface of the belt 100 affected by the zones A.

Thereby ? It is possible to easily adapt the area affected by the beams emitted by the emitters 12 and, therefore, to adapt the edging apparatus 10 to apply ribbons of different colors or which advance at high speed. different or having different absorbance or, again, having a different height, as in the cases illustrated in Figures 3a and 3b in which two sections 300 of tape 100 of different height are seen where? the orientation of the emitters 12 has been adjusted by means of the action of the handling means 14 so as to thin out the areas A along the height of the belt, as in figure 3a, or compact them, as in figure 3b.

An edging apparatus 10 according to the present invention also allows to easily adapt the speed? relative of the tape 100 with respect to the multi-bundle heads 13.

In fact, if this speed? ? low will be? possible to reduce the number of active multi-beam heads 13 and vice versa if the speed? ? high will be? Is it possible to increase the number of active multi-beam heads 13, or of the emitters thereof, to maintain the density at a predetermined value? of power transmitted to the belt 100.

A form of implementation that allows a particular flexibility? in activating the multi-bundle heads 13 it provides that the edging apparatus 10 advantageously comprises motor means, not shown, for moving at least one of the multi-bundle heads 13 with respect to the position occupied, in use, by the belt 100.

In particular, this flexibility? ? improved if the edging apparatus 10 advantageously comprises repositioning means configured to move at least one of the multi-bundle heads 13.

These re-positioning means are operable to, in use, orient the multi-beam head or heads 13 to adjust, in use, the relative position of the zones A on the belt 100 so as to modulate the specific power transmitted to the belt 100 and / o to modulate the extension of a part of the surface of the belt 100 affected by the zones A.

At least one of the multi-beam heads 13 has an emission direction of the laser beams emitted in use by said emitters 12 which, in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction C? of said tape 100, impacts on the latter forming a right angle with respect to the thermo-activatable face 100a.

Particular flexibility of use occurs in an embodiment of the present invention in which the re-positioning means are configured in such a way as to be able to rotate F and / or translate G the multi-beam heads 13 with respect to the position in use? occupied by tape 100.

In this way the configurations exemplified in Figures 4a and 4b are possible.

In the first of these? shown a configuration suitable for the case in which a lower thermal power is required (for example in the case of a tape of lower height) for which only the first 13a and the third 13c of the multi-bundle heads 13 are active in which case 5 are advanced towards the belt 100 while the second 13b? inactive and behind the latter.

If, starting from this configuration, a greater heating power of the belt is required, for example why? a strip of greater height is worked, 10 then by means of the motor means the first 13a and the third 13c of the multi-bundle heads 13 would be moved back and the third 13b of the multi-bundle heads 13 would be moved forward and activated. to obtain the possibility? to irradiate an area pi? extended with the 15 beams emitted by the 12 emitters.

In a particularly compact embodiment of the present invention, the edging apparatus 10 has at least one of the emitters 12, but preferably all the emitters 12, which comprises:

- at least one light-emitting diode, ie an LED, capable of generating laser light;

- a light guide 15, preferably comprising or consisting of an optical fiber, having an input section facing the diode to receive light radiation, and an output section configured to project a laser light beam onto the tape 100.

A particularly efficient effect occurs when each emitter 12 further comprises a collimator 16, adapted to collimate a laser light beam, connected to the exit section of the light guide 15.

In an embodiment variant that allows a particular compactness and uniformity? of the irradiation of the ribbon 100, each multi-beam head comprises - a casing in which the laser LEDs arranged in a plurality are directly mounted. of columns each comprising a plurality of of LED;

- a plurality? of lenses placed in front of each column of LEDs to direct and collimate the light beam.

Preferably? provided for a refrigeration system of the LEDs, which, thanks to the low power that to them? required according to the present invention, can? provide for air cooling, with consequent savings and greater simplicity? structural compared to traditional solutions.

How to ? having found an edging apparatus 10 according to the present invention, it has numerous advantages.

In particular, since? in case of failure of a single diode / emitter, there is only a contetuta reduction of the emitted radiation and, therefore, the system can? continue to work with speed? relative between heads and belt, slightly lower.

The edging apparatus 10 according to the present invention also has a remarkable simplicity. construction of the system, especially in the case of a configuration dedicated to linear edging.

In an edging apparatus 10 according to the present invention, there is a distribution of the energy which is more? efficient compared to the traditional single laser of considerable power (even 2 KW) propagated in optical fiber.

The possibility? of purchase on the market of packages / LED arrays already? packaged and suitable for forming multi-bundle heads, at low costs, with consequent possibility? providing for any stocks in the warehouse, however, allows to improve the logistical management and maintenance of the edging apparatus according to the present invention.

The found so? conceived? susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the attached claims.

Furthermore, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as? the contingent shapes and dimensions may be varied according to contingent requirements and the state of the art.

Where the constructive characteristics and techniques mentioned in the following claims are followed by reference marks or numbers, such marks or reference numbers have been affixed with the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility? of the claims themselves and, consequently, they do not in any way limit the interpretation of each element identified, purely by way of example, by such signs or reference numbers.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Edging apparatus (10) for joining a finishing belt (100) to the edge (200a) of a panel (200), said belt (100) having a heat-activated face (100a), said apparatus comprising a holding device adapted to retaining a panel (200) and a pressing device (11) adapted to press said tape (100) against an edge (200a) of said panel (200); said pressing device (11) defining for said belt (100) a direction of advancement (C) with which, in use, coincides a longitudinal direction (C?) along which said belt (100) extends; said apparatus being characterized by the fact of being equipped with a plurality of of emitters (12) configured in such a way as to emit laser beams oriented to intercept, in use, a plurality of areas (A) of the heat-activated face (100a) of said tape (100); said emitters (12) being arranged, with respect to said pressure device (11), in such a way that in use said areas (A) comprise areas aligned along said direction of advancement (C). 2. Edging apparatus (10) according to claim 1 characterized in that said emitters (12) are arranged in such a way that said zones (A) being comprise zones aligned along at least one trajectory (B) which? transversal to a direction of travel (C). 3. Edging apparatus (10) according to claim 2 characterized in that it dictates at least one trajectory (B)? straight and perpendicular to said longitudinal direction (C?). 4. Edging apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that said emitters (12) are organized in at least two rows and in at least two columns to irradiate said zones (A) correspondingly organized in at least two rows and in at least two columns. 5. Edging apparatus (10) according to claim 4 characterized in that said emitters (12) are selectively operable, said edging apparatus comprising a programmable and / or operable control device (100) to selectively actuate said emitters (12) to modulate the extension of an area of said belt (100) which, in use, is intercepted by the rays emitted by said emitters (12). 6. Edging apparatus (10) according to one of claims 2-5 characterized in that it comprises movement means (14) configured to move said emitters (12), said movement means (14) being operable to, in use, orient said emitters (12) to adjust the relative position of said zones (A) along said trajectory (B) on said belt (100) so as to modulate the specific power transmitted to said belt (100) and / or modulate the extension of a surface part of said belt (100) affected by said areas (A). 7. Edging apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises motor means for moving at least one of said emitters (12) with respect to the position occupied, in use, by said belt (100). 8. Edging apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that at least one of said emitters (12) has an emission direction which, in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (C?) Of said tape (100), it affects the latter forming a right angle with respect to said thermo-activatable face (100a). 9. Edging apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that it comprises re-positioning means configured to move at least one of said emitters (12), said re-positioning means being operable to, in use, orient said emitters (12) to adjust, in use, the relative position of said zones (A) on said belt (100) along said direction of advancement (C) so as to modulate the specific power transmitted to said belt (100) and / or to modulate the extension of a surface part of said belt (100) affected by said zones (A). 10. Edging apparatus (10) according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that at least one of said emitters (12) comprises - at least one light emitting diode adapted to generate laser light; - a light guide (15) having an input section facing said at least one diode for receiving light radiation, and an output section configured to project a laser light beam onto said tape (100).