Abstract:
In a preferred embodiment, a machine for milling doors and/or drawer fronts, including: apparatus to horizontally clamp a door or drawer front to a horizontal movable table; apparatus to remove vertically disposed scribe pins from the door and/or drawer front, backs of the vertically disposed scribe pins defining a position of a frame to be spaced from the door and/or drawer front by a reveal; points disposed at the lower end of the vertically disposed scribe pins, flush with the backs, the points inserted into the door or drawer front; and apparatus to move the movable table such as to move the door or drawer front past a cutter head, the cutter head cutting the door or drawer front at least from a line in which lie the backs to a finished edge of the door or drawer front. A method of using the milling machine is also provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to doors and drawer fronts for cabinets generally and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a novel machine for trimming such doors and drawer fronts and a method of trimming the same. 
   2. Background Art 
   Doors and drawer fronts are well known and widely used. In the case of flush, or inset, doors and drawer fronts (when the latter is used), it is desirable to have a uniform space around each side of the door and the drawer front. This reveal is typically one-eighth of an inch wide. It is relatively easy to assemble such doors and drawer fronts when they are of stock sizes—one merely assembles precut panels and, assuming the precut panels have been properly cut, the resulting space around the door and the drawer front is uniform and no measuring is required. 
   When a custom cabinet is constructed, on the other hand, fitting the door and the drawer front can be somewhat difficult. The openings for the door and the drawer front must be measured by hand and then the door and the drawer front trimmed by use of a router and/or a drum sander, for example. This requires a certain degree of skill and cannot be simply used on a production line by a relatively unskilled laborer. 
   Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a trimming machine and method that produce a uniform spacing around an inset door and a drawer front of a cabinet. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide such a trimming machine and method that can be used by a relatively unskilled laborer on a production line. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide such a trimming machine and method that requires no manual measurement. 
   An additional object of the invention is to provide such a trimming machine that can be economically constructed using conventional techniques. 
   Other objects of the present invention, as well as particular features, elements, and advantages thereof, will be elucidated in, or be apparent from, the following description and the accompanying drawing figures. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention achieves the above objects, among others, by providing, in a preferred embodiment, a machine for milling doors and/or drawer fronts, comprising: means to horizontally clamp a door or drawer front to a horizontal movable table; means to remove vertically disposed scribe pins from said door and/or drawer front, backs of said vertically disposed scribe pins defining a position of a frame to be spaced from said door and/or drawer front by a reveal; points disposed at the lower end of said vertically disposed scribe pins, flush with said backs, said points inserted into said door or drawer front; and means to move said movable table such as to move said door or drawer front past a cutter head, said cutter head cutting said door or drawer front at least from a line in which lie said backs to a finished edge of said door or drawer front. A method of using said milling machine is also provided. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Understanding of the present invention and the various aspects thereof will be facilitated by reference to the accompanying drawing figures, provided for purposes of illustration only and not intended to define the scope of the invention, on which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a cabinet front with door and drawer front trimmed according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric view of the cabinet front, indicating the where scribe pins will be placed. 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a table for use in preparing the door and drawer front. 
       FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a clamp assembly for use with the table of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is an isometric view showing that direction of clamping motion of the clamp of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a first portion of a fixture for aligning scribe pins on the door and the drawer front. 
       FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a second portion of a fixture for aligning scribe pins on the door and the drawer front. 
       FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a scribe pin. 
       FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a cabinet front frame being placed on a door and a drawer front. 
       FIG. 10  is an isometric view of the cabinet front frame clamped on the door and the drawer front. 
       FIG. 11  is an isometric view of the first portion of the fixture for aligning scribe pins clamped in place on a portion of the frame, with a scribe pin being inserted therein, and the second portion of the fixture spaced apart from the first portion. 
       FIG. 12  is an isometric view of the scribe pin inserted in the first portion of the fixture for aligning scribe pins and indicating that the second portion is inserted in the first portion. 
       FIG. 13  is an isometric view of the fixture for aligning scribe pins, with the second portion inserted in the first portion and showing the locking action of the second portion. 
       FIG. 14  is an isometric view of the fixture for aligning scribe pins repositioned to a second position. 
       FIG. 15  is an isometric view of the fixture for aligning scribe pins repositioned to a third position. 
       FIG. 16  is an isometric view showing eight scribe pins inserted in each of the door and the drawer front. 
       FIG. 17  is a side elevational view, partially in cross-section, showing the location of the scribe pins relative to the material to be removed. 
       FIG. 18  is an isometric view of the machine for trimming the door and the drawer front. 
       FIG. 19  is a fragmentary, exploded, isometric view of the trimming machine showing more clearly the clamp, the electromagnetic scribe pin removal assemblies, the moving table, and the cutting head. 
       FIG. 20  is a fragmentary, isometric view of the trimming machine showing more clearly the control panel and the mechanism for moving the moving table in the “Y” direction. 
       FIG. 21  is a fragmentary, isometric view of the trimming machine showing a workpiece in place on the moving table. 
       FIG. 22  is a fragmentary, isometric view of the trimming machine showing how two scribe pins are placed against the electromagnetic scribe pin removal assemblies. 
       FIG. 23  is a fragmentary, isometric view of the trimming machine showing a workpiece with two of the scribe pins engaging two of the electromagnetic scribe pin removal assemblies. 
       FIG. 24  is a fragmentary, isometric view of the trimming machine with the vertical clamping mechanism clamping the workpiece to the moving table. 
       FIG. 25  is a fragmentary, isometric view of the trimming machine showing upper portions of the two electromagnetic scribe pin removal assemblies being lowered to grasp the scribe pins. 
       FIG. 26  is a fragmentary, isometric view of the trimming machine showing the two scribe pin removal assemblies removing two of the scribe pins. 
       FIG. 27  is a top plan view of the trimming machine showing the “X” and “Y” motions of the moving table. 
       FIG. 28  is a top plan view of the trimming machine showing the workpiece clamped in place on the moving table and ready to start the trimming operation. 
       FIG. 29  is a top plan view of the trimming machine showing two of the scribe pins removed from the workpiece and the cutter head rotating. 
       FIG. 30  is a top plan view of the trimming machine showing the workpiece being fed against the cutter head. 
       FIG. 31  is a top plan view of the trimming machine showing the workpiece moved past the cutter head. 
       FIG. 32  is a top plan view of the trimming machine showing the moving table moved outwardly in the “Y” direction. 
       FIG. 33  is a top plan view of the trimming machine showing the moving table being returned in the “X” direction to the starting point and with the cutter head rotation stopped. 
       FIG. 34  is a top plan view of the trimming machine showing that the scribe pins will be released by the electromagnetic scribe pin removal assemblies and travel down a sloped channel to a collection bin. 
       FIGS. 35 and 36  are isometric views of the cutter head showing that the cutter head is movable upwardly or downwardly to present different cutter blades to the workpiece. 
       FIG. 37(A)  is a fragmentary, side elevational view, partially in cross-section, of one style of cut produced by one type of cutter head. 
       FIG. 37(B)  is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the one type of cutter head. 
       FIG. 38(A)  is a fragmentary, side elevational view, partially in cross-section, of another style of cut produced by another type of cutter head. 
       FIG. 38(B)  is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the another cutter head. 
       FIG. 39  is an isometric view of the assembled cutter head. 
       FIG. 40(A)  is a fragmentary, isometric view of the trimming machine showing a clamp mechanism that may be used with elongated workpiece, the clamp mechanism being shown spaced apart from a workpiece. 
       FIG. 40(B)  is a fragmentary, isometric view of the trimming machine with the clamp mechanism locked in place against a workpiece. 
       FIG. 41  is a front elevational view of the control panel of the trimming machine. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference should now be made to the drawing figures on which similar or identical elements are given consistent identifying numerals throughout the various figures thereof, and on which parenthetical references to figure numbers, when used, direct the reader to the view(s) on which the element(s) being described is (are) best seen, although the element(s) may be seen on other figures also. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a cabinet front frame  100  having therein disposed therein an inset door  102  and an inset drawer front  104 , the edges of both of the latter being flush with the cabinet front frame. It is noted that there is a uniform space, as at  110 , between each side of door  102  and drawer front  104  and the corresponding edges of cabinet front frame  100 . The dimension of this space is typically one-eighth-inch wide, although any desired space dimension may be chosen. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates cabinet front frame  100  spaced apart from door  102  and drawer front  104 . The broken lines, as at  120 , shown on door  102  and drawer front  104  will be described later. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates a setup table  130  having a horizontal working surface  132  and two hold down assemblies  134  movable horizontally therealong. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates more clearly a hold down assembly  134 . 
     FIG. 5  illustrates the vertical motion of a clamp bar  140 , in this case, the downward vertical motion is providing by the extension of pistons  150  from conventional hydraulic actuators  152 . It will be noted that the control lines to and from hydraulic actuators  152  are omitted from the drawing figures, as well as other conventional control lines on other figures, the same being well known to those skilled in the art. 
     FIG. 6  illustrates a first portion of a fixture for aligning scribe pins, generally indicated by the reference numeral  160 . First portion  160  includes a knob  170  that turns a horizontal threaded screw  172  fixedly axially disposed with respect to first portion  160 . Journaled for axial movement on screw  172  is a vertical outer frame engaging member  180  opposing, two, vertical inner frame engaging members  182  fixedly attached to an end member  184  to which screw  172  is rotatingly attached. Inner frame engaging members  182  are spaced apart horizontally and are attached to end member  184  inside of outwardly flared side members  190 . 
     FIG. 7  illustrates a second portion  200  of a fixture for aligning scribe pins. The pertinent parts of second portion  200  are two, vertically aligned pins  210  extending horizontally from an inner surface of the second portion. 
     FIG. 8  illustrates a scribe pin generally indicated by the reference numeral  220 . Scribe pin  220  includes an elongated body portion  230  having defined therealong a groove  232  and a point  234  disposed at one end thereof. The width of scribe pin  220  is equal to the spacing apart of inner frame engaging members  182  ( FIG. 6 ) and the width of groove  232  is equal to the diameter of pins  210  ( FIG. 7 ). 
     FIG. 9  illustrates cabinet front frame  100  positioned over door  102  and drawer front  104  and shows that the cabinet front frame will be lowered over the latter two elements. Cabinet front frame  100  will be positioned on door  102  and drawer front  104  so that the latter two elements are positioned equally within the cabinet front frame, so that the broken lines (not actually shown on the parts) are just within the inner edges of the cabinet front frame. 
     FIG. 10  illustrates that the three elements described above with reference to  FIG. 9  have been properly aligned and clamp bar  140  has been lowered to clamp the three elements in place on horizontal working surface  132 . 
     FIG. 11  illustrates first portion  160  clamped to a side of cabinet front frame  100  by advancing knob  170  and concomitantly screw  172  so that the inner surface of outer frame engaging member  180  engages the outer surface of the cabinet front frame and the inner surfaces of the two inner frame engaging members  182  engage the inner surface of the cabinet front frame. Now, scribe pin  220  can be inserted into the slot formed between inner frame engaging members  182 . Second portion  200  is shown as being ready to be inserted into first portion  160 . Drawer front  104  is not shown on  FIG. 11  as it has been prepared and has been removed, the drawer front not being clamped by hold down assembly  134 . 
     FIG. 12  illustrates scribe pin  200  inserted in the slot formed between inner frame engaging members  182  and second portion  200  being inserted into first portion  160 . 
     FIG. 13  illustrates second portion  200  fully inserted into first portion  160  and magnetically locked therein by means of the partial turning of lever  240 . Second portion is a conventional magnetically locked item. The partial turning of lever  240  realigns the N and S poles of an internal magnet to coincide with the N and S poles of another internal magnet so that there is an external magnetic force. Prior to the partial turning of lever  240  the N and S poles of the internal magnets are oppositely aligned so that there is no external magnetic force. Now, two or three sharp raps on the top of scribe pin  220  with a hammer, for example, drives point  234  ( FIG. 8 ) into cabinet front frame  100 . Scribe pin  220  is now firmly vertically disposed in cabinet front frame  100 . 
     FIG. 14  illustrates first and second portions  160  and  200 , respectively, repositioned so that a second scribe pin  250  may be driven into cabinet front frame  100 . 
     FIG. 15  illustrates first and second portions  160  and  200 , respectively, repositioned so that a third scribe pin  260  may be driven into cabinet front frame  100 . 
     FIG. 16  illustrates door  102  and drawer front  104  with eight scribe pins each disposed along broken lines  120  as shown. It will be noted that the scribe pins are located generally close to corners of the respective elements. 
     FIG. 17  illustrates more clearly the material that will be removed and the relationship of the scribe pins and the material. Here, scribe pin  300  is shown driven into door  102  adjacent the inner wall  302  of cabinet front frame  100 . “A” indicates the dimension between the inside of cabinet front frame  100  and the outside of door  102  before any portion of the door is removed. “B” indicates space  110  ( FIG. 1 ) between door  102  and cabinet front frame  100 . The portion of door  102  that will be removed is indicated by the reference numeral  310 . Another scribe pin  320  has been driven into frame  100  against an adjacent surface of frame  100 . 
     FIG. 18  illustrates a trimming machine, constructed according to the present invention, and generally indicated by the reference numeral  400 . The main elements of trimming machine  400  are a base  410 , a first, horizontally movable, horizontal table  412 , a first horizontal hydraulic cylinder  414  that moves the first movable table in the “X” direction. First moveable table  412  rides on rails two horizontal rails  413  fixedly attached to two rail supports  415  disposed at longitudinal edges of a second, horizontally movable, horizontal table  417 . Second movable table  417  is fixedly attached to a second horizontal hydraulic cylinder  416  that moves second movable table  417  and first movable table  412  in the “Y” direction. Trimming machine  400  further includes two bearing structures  418  on which second movable table  417  is supported, four electromagnetic scribe pin removal assemblies  420  horizontally movable on a support rod  422 , the latter element being fixedly disposed on the first movable table, a vertical clamping member  424  having supports  425  fixedly disposed on the first movable table, a cutter head housing  426  fixedly mounted on the base and in which is disposed a cutter head (not visible on  FIG. 18 ), and a control panel  428 . 
   Control lines are conventional and are not shown on the drawing figures for clarity. Hydraulic components may be substituted by, for example, conventional electrical components, the exact choice not being part of the present invention. 
     FIG. 19  illustrates in more detail some of the elements of trimming machine  400 . In particular, cutter head  450  is shown as is vertical paint brush bristles  452  on either side of the cutter head to remove wood chips and sawdust from a workpiece (not shown on  FIG. 19 ). 
     FIG. 20  also illustrates in more detail some of the elements of trimming machine  400 . 
     FIG. 21  illustrates a workpiece  500  placed on first movable table  412 , with vertical clamping member  424  in a raised position. 
   On  FIG. 22 , two of electromagnetic scribe pin removal assemblies  420  have been aligned with vertical scribe pins  510  and workpiece  500  is advanced in the direction indicated by the arrows until the scribe pins engage vertical electromagnets  512  on the electromagnetic scribe pin removal assemblies. Vertical clamping member  424  is still raised but is omitted from  FIG. 22  for clarity. 
   On  FIG. 23 , scribe pins  510  are shown engaging vertical electromagnets  512 . Scribe pins  510  remain orthogonal with respect to workpiece  500 . This sets the amount of the edge of workpiece  500  to be trimmed. Again, vertical clamping member  424  is still raised but is omitted from  FIG. 23  for clarity. 
     FIG. 24  illustrates vertical clamping member  424  lowered, clamping workpiece  500  against movable table  412 . 
     FIG. 25  illustrates the upper portions  520  of electromagnetic scribe pin removal assemblies lowered in the direction of the arrows on  FIG. 25  to grasp the upper portions of scribe pins  510 , while maintaining the position of the scribe pins. Vertical clamping member  424  is still in the clamped position but is omitted from  FIG. 25  for clarity. 
     FIG. 26  illustrates scribe pins  510  being removed vertically from workpiece  500  by upper portions  520  of electromagnetic scribe pin removal assemblies. Again, vertical clamping member  424  is still in the clamped position but is omitted from  FIG. 26  for clarity. 
     FIGS. 27–33  illustrate the trimming process of the present invention. 
     FIG. 27  illustrates that first movable table  412  can be selectively positioned in the “X” and the “Y” directions as indicated by the arrows labeled “X” and “Y”, the latter position by virtue of second movable table being moved in the “Y” direction. Workpiece  500  is advanced into trimming machine  400 , with vertical clamping member  424  raised, until scribe pins  510  engage electromagnetic scribe pin removal assemblies  420  as shown on  FIG. 28  and vertical clamping member  424  is lowered. 
   On  FIG. 29 , scribe pins  510  have been grasped by upper portions  520  ( FIG. 25 ) of electromagnetic scribe pin removal assemblies  420  and the scribe pins pulled from workpiece  500 . Cutter head  450  has been started rotating. 
   On  FIG. 30 , workpiece  500  is being fed past cutter head  450  by moving first movable table  412  moving to the right on  FIG. 30  in the direction of the arrows on  FIG. 30 . 
   On  FIG. 31 , the edge of workpiece  500  facing cutter head  500  has been fully trimmed and the rightward movement of the workpiece has been stopped. 
   On  FIG. 32 , first movable table  412  is moved in the “Y” direction, or downwardly on  FIG. 32 , by virtue of second movable table  417  moving in the “Y” direction. This moves workpiece  500  outwardly of cutter head  450 . 
   On  FIG. 33 , first movable table  412  is moved to the left on  FIG. 33  back to its “X” starting position. First movable table  412  is then moved in the “Y” direction to the starting position shown on  FIG. 27 , that is, upwardly on  FIG. 33 . 
   On the final step, indicating on  FIG. 34 , scribe pins  510  have been released by the upper portions  520  ( FIG. 25 ) and the scribe pins travel down channel  600  to scribe pin bin  602 . 
   The foregoing process is repeated for the other three sides. 
     FIG. 35  illustrates cutter head  450  raised so that cutter blade  700  is used to trim workpiece  500  ( FIG. 21 ) as that workpiece passes the cutter blade as indicated by the arrows on  FIG. 35 . 
     FIG. 36  illustrates cutter head  450  lowered so that cutter blade  702  is used to trim workpiece  500  ( FIG. 21 ) as that workpiece passes the cutter blade as indicated by the arrows on  FIG. 36 . 
     FIGS. 37(A) ,  37 (B),  38 (A), and  38 (B) show various cuts that can be produced by cutter head  450  ( FIG. 19 ). Cutter blade  700  produces cut  710 , while cutter blade  702  produces cut  712 . Of course, other configurations can be provided as well and such is within the contemplation of the present invention. 
     FIG. 40(A)  illustrates a fixture, generally indicated by the reference numeral  800  that is particularly useful when workpiece  500  is elongated, the fixture being shown spaced part from the workpiece. For clarity, vertical clamping member  424  ( FIG. 18 ) is omitted from  FIG. 40(A) . Fixture includes first and second edge engaging members  810  and  812  that loosely engage the front and rear of movable table  412  and a long member  814  that fits generally along the longest portion of workpiece  500 . A diagonal member  820  is rotatably attached to long member  814  and to first edge engaging member  810 . A first knob and screw  830  disposed through diagonal member  820  and threadingly into first edge engaging member  810  is used to tighten diagonal member to first edge engaging member  810 , while a second knob and screw  832  threadingly inserted into first edge engaging member  810  and bearing against the front edge of movable table  412  is used to tighten fixture  800  against the front and rear edges of movable table  412 . 
     FIG. 40(B)  shows fixture  800  in tightened position against workpiece  500 . Again, for clarity, vertical clamping member  424  ( FIG. 18 ) is omitted from  FIG. 40(B) . Fixture  800  serves three purposes. First, fixture  800  fixedly maintains workpiece in place. Second fixture  800  maintains any slight angle that may exist between workpiece  500  and cabinet front frame  100   FIG. 1 ). Third, second edge engaging member  812  is formed of nylon to help prevent splitting of the edge of workpiece  500 . The edge of second edge engaging member facing cutter head  450  is shaped the same as the cutter blade being used. Having second edge engaging member  812  formed of nylon is useful with a workpiece of any relative dimensions. 
     FIG. 41  illustrates control panel  428 . Since the controls are conventional and others can be substituted for the same, no detailed description is provided. Once workpiece  500  is positioned as shown on  FIG. 28  and vertical clamping member  424  lowered, the operation proceeds automatically until moving table is brought back to its initial position shown on  FIG. 28 . 
   In the embodiments of the present invention described above, it will be recognized that individual elements and/or features thereof are not necessarily limited to a particular embodiment but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in any selected embodiment even though such may not be specifically shown. 
   Spatially orienting terms such as “above”, “below”, “upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, “inwardly”, “outwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and the like, when used herein, refer to the positions of the respective elements shown on the accompanying drawing figures and the present invention is not necessarily limited to such positions. 
   It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those elucidated in, or made apparent from, the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown on the accompanying drawing figures shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. 
   It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.