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  Working device and method for working a stack of plate-shaped elementsUSPTO Application #: 20060089086Title: Working device and method for working a stack of plate-shaped elements Abstract: A working station for working vertical edges of a stack (9) of plate-shaped elements (10). The working station comprises a support (11) for supporting the stack (9) and a number of working devices (1, 2, 3, 4) that are each configured for being able to slide towards and away from the stack (9). The support (11) is configured for being able to rotate the stack (9) about a vertical axis (13), and the working devices (1, 2, 3, 4) are configured for being, in a fixed path, able to slide between an outermost position away from the stack (9) and an innermost position towards or in proximity away from the stack (9) and an innermost position towards or in proximity of the vertical edges of the stack (9), irrespective of the angulation of the stack (9). Furthermore, a method is disclosed for working vertical edges of a stack (9) of plate-shaped elements (10) by means of such working station. (end of abstract) Agent: Dykema Gossett PLLC - Washington, DC, US Inventor: Steffen Bastrup Pedersen USPTO Applicaton #: 20060089086 - Class: 451008000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Abrading, Precision Device Or Process - Or With Condition Responsive Control, With Indicating The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060089086. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The invention relates to a working station for working vertical edges of a stack of plate-shaped elements, which working station comprises a support for supporting the stack and a number of working devices that are each configured to be brought towards and away from the stack. [0002] The invention also relates to a method of working vertical edges of a stack of plate-shaped elements by means of a number of working devices that are successively brought towards the vertical edges of the stack and work them along their entire circumference. [0003] Such working station is used eg for grinding or intermediate grinding of edges of tabletops, shelves or other furniture elements that can be stacked for forming a stack, wherein, in this case, the working station comprises a number of grinding cylinders that can be caused to abut on the vertical edges of the stack. EP-A2-1,034,882 teaches one such grinding device, wherein the stack of plate-shaped elements is secured on a roller belt, while the grinding device with two grinding cylinders can be conveyed around the stack with one of the grinding cylinders in contact with the peripheral edges of the stack. The grinding cylinders are mounted in a common holder device that is turnably suspended in a travelling trolley that can be caused to slide in a first direction along a transverse beam that can further be caused to slide in a second direction perpendicular thereto. This construction means that the grinding cylinders can be conveyed around the stack while one of them abuts on the vertical edges of the stack and grinds them. When the grinding with the first grinding cylinder is finished, the holder device of the grinding cylinders is turned 180.degree., whereby the second cylinder is caused to abut on the periphery of the stack. Then this second grinding cylinder is conveyed around the stack, preferably with an oppositely oriented direction of rotation. [0004] It is a drawback of this grinding device that the entire grinding device with two grinding cylinders is to be conveyed around the stack of plate-shaped elements, which for one thing requires excessive energy and for another requires complex guiding of the grinding device. Besides, the grinding process is time-consuming, since the entire grinding device must be conveyed twice around the stack. [0005] A further working station is also known in the form of a grinding device that is automated. By this grinding device the stack of plate-shaped elements is also secured, while the working devices rotate about the stack. In this device the peripheral geometry of the stack is measured by a measuring wheel that rotates about the stack in order to subsequently revert to its starting point. Then a grinding cylinder with double-coated flexible grinding cloth is conveyed around the stack while it rotates in one direction. Upon return the grinding cylinder rotates in the opposite direction. Finally a blow cleaner is conveyed around the stack to remove grinding dust and it also reverts to its starting point. Thus the stack is caused to run around six times during this grinding process, of which the two involve no kind of working. [0006] It is the object of the invention to provide a working station that can be used eg as a grinding device for grinding the vertical edges of a stack of plate-shaped elements without being in possession of the above-described drawbacks of the prior art. [0007] This is achieved by configuring the working station described above such that the support is configured for being able to rotate the stack about a vertical axis, and that the working devices are configured for being, in a fixed track, displaceable between an outermost position away from the stack and an innermost position towards or in proximity of the vertical edges of the stack, irrespective of the angulation of the stack. It is also obtained by the method described above being configured such that the stack is rotated about a vertical axis, and that the working devices are displaced in a fixed track for working of the vertical edges of the stack. [0008] Hereby a working station is achieved for working the vertical edges of a stack of plate-shaped elements, said working station having firstly a more simple construction that the prior art grinding device described above, the number of degrees of freedom for the individual working devices being considerably reduced. Furthermore this construction of a working station, where the stack is the rotating element as opposed to the prior art where it is the working devices that are conveyed around a fixed stack, means that the working time can be reduced since return of the working devices no longer takes place. [0009] According to the preferred embodiment, each of the working stations is mounted on a sliding carriage that can be caused to slide radially towards and away from the stack. Such mounting of the working devices is particularly simple and gives rise to a comparatively simple monitoring of the management of the working station. [0010] As mentioned, a working station according to the invention is particularly suitable as grinding device for grinding vertical edges of a stack of plate-shaped elements. In this embodiment the working devices comprise at least one grinding cylinder that is configured to be turnable about a vertical axis. The grinding cylinder is preferably provided with a flexible grinding material, which causes the grinding effect of the grinding cylinder to be maintained over time. [0011] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the working station comprises precisely two grinding cylinders that are configured for rotation in opposite directions, whereby uniform working is performed on the edges of plate-shaped elements. [0012] The working station according to the invention is preferably provided with measuring means for detecting the peripheral geometry of the stack, since guide means are also provided for automatically moving the working devices towards the and away from the stack in response to the detected geometry and the rotation of the stack. By configuring the working station in this manner, fully automated control of the working is obtained. [0013] The measuring means may comprise a measuring wheel that is mounted on a carriage that can be caused to slide radially towards and away from the stack. The measuring wheel is thus mounted in the same manner as the working devices, thereby simplifying the construction. [0014] When the working station is configured with grinding cylinders, means may be provided for removing grinding dust from the vertical edges of the stack. These means may be in the form of a blower device that is mounted on a carriage that can be displaced radially towards and away from the stack, or they may be in the form of a brush that rotates about a vertical axis and is mounted on a carriage that can be caused to slide radially towards and away from the stack. [0015] The working station according to the invention may, as mentioned, be a grinding device, but it may also be configured as a painting or varnishing device, whereby the working devices are configured with a paint or varnish applicator device, and optionally a working device provided with hardening means, such as UV lamps, for the paint or the varnish. These paint or vanish applicator devices and a hardening device, if any, may be arranged in the same working station as the grinding device, but preferably, however, they are separate, as they may be arranged eg within each their dustproof enclosure. [0016] By the preferred embodiment of the method of working vertical edges on a stack of plate-shaped elements, the latter are subjected to grinding in the following steps: [0017] a measuring wheel is displaced radially for abutment on the periphery of the stack, the stack is rotated one full revolution while simultaneously its peripheral geometry is registered, the measuring wheel is displaced radially away from the stack; [0018] a first grinding cylinder that rotates in a first direction about a vertical axis is displaced radially for abutment on the vertical edges of the stack, while the stack rotates one full revolution, the first grinding cylinder is displaced radially way from the stack; [0019] a second grinding cylinder that rotates in a second direction about a vertical axis is displaced radially for abutment on the vertical edges of the stack, while the stack rotates one full revolution, the second grinding cylinder is caused to slide radially away from the stack; [0020] a blower device or a rotating brush is caused to slide radially towards the vertical edges of the stack, while the stack rotates one full revolution, the blower device or the brush is caused to slide radially away from the stack. [0021] The invention will now be explained in further detail with reference to the drawing, wherein [0022] FIG. 1 schematically shows a working station according to the invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment; [0023] FIGS. 2a-2d schematically show the operation of the working station shown in FIG. 1, seen from the top when the vertical edges of a stack of plate-shaped elements are subjected to grinding; and [0024] FIG. 3 schematically shows an alternative embodiment of a working station according to the invention. [0025] FIG. 1 schematically shows a working station according to the invention in a preferred embodiment, wherein the working station is configured as a grinding device, wherein the grinding devices are configured with a measuring wheel 1, two grinding cylinders 2,3 and a blower device 4. [0026] Each of the working devices 1-4 is mounted on a carriage 5 that is configured to be slidable on a radially protruding bracket 6, as is outlined by the double arrows A at each carriage 5. For causing the carriage 5 to slide, suitable means are provided, eg in the form of pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, servomotors or other purely mechanical constructions. A person skilled in the art will be able to readily point to such means and they will not be subject to further discussion herein. [0027] The brackets 6 are secured on a central unit 7, from where they project radially. The central unit 7 and/or the brackets 6 is/are attached to a machine frame, not shown in further detail, that imparts to the working station the requisite strength and rigidity. Such machine frame can be of any given type and a person skilled in the art will be able to readily point to such frame. [0028] Underneath the working station a roller path 8 is provided on which a stack 9 of plate-shaped elements 10, such as tabletops, shelves or other plate-shaped elements, are transported into the working station. In FIG. 1 one such stack 9 has already been arranged on a support 11 and is ready for working. The stack 9 is located centrally in the working station and rests on a support 11 that is configured as a rotary table that is, in a controlled manner, able to rotate the stack 9 continuously about a vertical axis 13, as will be described below. Also the means for rotating the stack 9 can readily be pointed to by the person skilled in the art and they will not be subject to further discussion herein. For securing the stack 9 on the support 11 a clamping device 12 is provided in the form of a scissor mechanism that clamps in the stack 9 between the support 11 and the central unit 7 of the working station. Of course, the clamping device 12 can be configured in other ways than the shown scissor mechanism, as it is possible to use eg a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or some other kind of mechanical securing means. Continue reading... Full patent description for Working device and method for working a stack of plate-shaped elements Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Working device and method for working a stack of plate-shaped elements patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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