MACHINE

A machine for producing two or more drill holes in a surface of a panel. The machine includes a feeding device for feeding the panel in a feeding direction and a drilling device including two or more drilling units. The drilling units are displaceable relative the surface in a drilling direction which is at an acute angle relative the surface of the panel.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of European Application No. 20160664.7, filed on Mar. 3, 2020. The entire contents of European Application No. 20160664.7 are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relates to a machine for producing drill holes in a panel, such as a furniture panel, configured to be a part of a locking device for locking the panel to an adjacent panel.

BACKGROUND

A furniture product provided with a mechanical locking device disclosed, in PCT/SE2019/050801 and PCT/SE2019/050802. The furniture comprises a first panel connected mainly perpendicular to a second panel by a mechanical locking device. The mechanical locking device may comprise one or more inclined pins and a locking part.

SUMMARY

It is an object of at least certain embodiments of the present invention to provide an efficient machine for producing inclined drill holes.

A further object of at least certain embodiments of the present invention is to provide a machine for producing inclined drill holes with an improved positioning tolerance and/o improved inserting of dowels in the drill holes.

At least some of these and other objects and advantages that may be apparent from the description have been achieved by an aspect of the invention including a machine for producing two or more drill holes in a surface of a panel. The machine comprises a feeding device for feeding the panel in a feeding direction and a drilling device comprising two or more drilling units. The drilling units are displaceable relative the surface in a drilling direction which is at an acute angle relative the surface of the panel.

The drilling units may be linearly displaceable relative to the surface.

The drilling device may comprise an assembly plate, wherein the drilling units are attached to the assembly plate.

The drilling units may be displaceable relative the assembly plate by a linear motor.

The assembly plate may be displaceable relative the surface by a linear motor.

The machine may comprise a first of said drilling device, an edge surface drilling device, which is configured for producing two or more drill holes in an edge surface of the panel.

The machine may comprise a second of said drilling device, a main surface drilling device, which is configured for producing two or more drill holes in a main surface of the panel.

The machine may comprise a first frame, wherein the first and/or the second of said drilling device is/are attached to the first frame.

The machine may comprise an opposite second frame, wherein another of the first and/or the second of said drilling device is/are attached to the second frame.

The second frame may be displaceable relative the first frame and guided by a guiding device.

The machine may comprise an insertion device for inserting a dowel in one or more of the more drill holes.

Each drilling unit may comprise a drill with a first diameter.

The machine may comprise a predrilling device which comprises two or more drilling units which each comprises a drill with a second diameter.

The second diameter may be greater than the first diameter.

The drilling units of the predrilling device may be displaceable relative the surface in a drilling direction which is essentially perpendicular relative the surface of the panel.

The machine may comprise a predrilling device which comprises two or more punching units, wherein the punching units of the predrilling device are displaceable relative the surface in a punching direction which is essentially perpendicular relative the surface of the panel.

The panel may be of a rectangular shape.

The first and the second panel may comprise a wood-based core, such as HDF, MDF, plywood or a particle board.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1Ashows an embodiment of a panel1of a rectangular shape. The embodiment of the panel comprises a first edge surface11, an opposite second edge surface12, a third edge surface13which extend between the first and the second edge surface, and a fourth edge surface14which is opposite to the third edge surface. The embodiment of the panel comprises a main surface22, which extends between first edge surface11and the opposite second edge surface12. The main surface may be essentially perpendicular to the first edge surface11and/or the opposite second edge surface12.

The embodiment of the panel1may comprise two or more drill holes32in the main surface22.

An embodiment of the panel1may comprise two or more drill holes30in the first edge surface11and/or in the second edge surface12, see, e.g.,FIG. 2A.

The panel may comprise a wood-based core, such as solid wood, HDF, MDF, plywood or a particle board. The panel may comprise a decorative surface layer, such as a veneer, a laminate layer or a thermoplastic layer.

FIG. 1Bshows an embodiment of a machine40for producing two or more drill holes32in a main surface22of an embodiment of the panel1. The machine comprises a feeding device41for feeding the panel in a feeding direction42and a drilling device43, a main surface drilling device, comprising two or more drilling units44. The drilling units44are displaceable relative the main surface22in a drilling direction45which is at an acute angle2relative the main surface22of the panel1.

The drilling direction45may also be at an acute angle relative the feeding direction42. The acute angle relative the feeding direction42may be the same as the acute angle2.

The main surface drilling device43may comprise an assembly plate47, wherein the drilling units44are attached to the assembly plate47.

The drilling units44may be linearly displaceable relative the main surface22. Each drilling unit44comprises a drill48with a first diameter37.

FIG. 2Ashows an embodiment of a machine40for producing two or more drill holes30in the first edge surface11of an embodiment the panel1. The machine comprises a feeding device41for feeding the panel in a feeding direction42and a drilling device43, an edge surface drilling device, comprising two or more drilling units44. The drilling units44are displaceable relative the first edge surface11in a drilling direction45′ which is at an acute angle3relative the first edge surface11of the panel1.

The drilling direction45′ may also be at an acute angle relative the feeding direction42. The acute angle relative the feeding direction42may be the same as the acute angle3.

The acute angle2may be the same, about the same, or within 5° of acute angle3.

The edge surface drilling device43may comprise an assembly plate47, wherein the drilling units44are attached to the assembly plate47.

The drilling units44may be linearly displaceable relative the first edge surface11.

Each drilling unit44comprises a drill48′ with a first diameter37′.

FIG. 2Bshows an embodiment of a dowel31. The dowel31may be of an elongated shape and comprise a length33a width34. The dowel31may be of a cylindrical shape with a centreline38.

An embodiment of the dowel31is configured to be inserted into one or more of the drill holes in the panel1shown inFIG. 1B or 2A. The dowel may be a part of a locking device for locking the panel1to an adjacent panel.

FIG. 3Ashows an embodiment of a predrilling device53which comprises two or more drilling units54which each comprises a drill58with a second diameter59. An embodiment of the machine40may comprise the predrilling device53arranged in a position before the drilling device43in the feeding direction42.

The drilling units54of the predrilling device53are displaceable relative the main surface22in a drilling direction55which may be essentially perpendicular relative the main surface of the panel1.

An embodiment of the predrilling device53may be arranged to produce pre drill holes36in the first or the second edge surface11,12of the panel. That embodiment may comprise drilling units54which are displaceable relative the first or the second edge surface11,12of the panel in a drilling direction55which is essentially perpendicular relative the first or the second edge surface11,12of the panel.

The predrilling device53is configured to produce two or more pre drill holes36. The drills48of the drilling device43may be guided by pre drill holes36which may increase the positioning of the drill holes30,32.

The drill holes36may be of a cone shape or of a cylindrical shape.

The second diameter59of the drill of the predrilling device53may be greater than the first diameter37of the drilling device43. The pre drill hole36may be used to guide an embodiment of the dowel31into the drill hole30,32.

FIG. 3Bshows an embodiment of a predrilling device53which comprises two or more punching units64which each comprises a puncher68. An embodiment of the machine40may comprise the predrilling device53arranged in a position before the drilling device43in the feeding direction42.

The punching units64of the predrilling device53are displaceable relative the main surface22in a punching direction65which may be essentially perpendicular relative the main surface of the panel1.

An embodiment of the predrilling device53may be arranged to produce pre drill holes36in the first or the second edge surface11,12of the panel. That embodiment may comprise punching units64which are displaceable relative the first or the second edge surface11,12of the panel in a punching direction65which is essentially perpendicular relative the first or the second edge surface11,12of the panel.

The predrilling device53is configured to produce two or more pre drill holes36. The drills48,48′ of the drilling device may be guided by pre drill holes which may increase the positioning of the drill holes30,32.

FIG. 4Ashows an embodiment of the drilling device43. Each drilling unit44comprises a linear motor61for displacing the drilling unit44relative the assembly plate47in the drilling direction45. Each drilling unit44may be displaced independently.

FIG. 4Bshows an embodiment of the drilling device43which comprises a linear motor62for displacing the assembly plate47in the drilling direction45. The drilling units may be displaced jointly.

FIG. 5shows in a side view an embodiment of a machine40which comprises a first frame71, wherein an embodiment of a first of said drilling device43, an edge surface drilling device which is disclosed inFIG. 2A, is attached to the frame71and an embodiment of a second of said drilling device43, a main surface drilling device which is disclosed inFIG. 1Bis attached to the first frame71.

FIG. 6Ashows in a side view an embodiment of a machine40which comprises the first frame71and an opposite second frame72, wherein an embodiment of another of the first of said drilling device43, the edge surface drilling device which is disclosed inFIG. 2Ais attached to the frame and an embodiment of another of said second of said drilling device43, the main surface drilling device which is disclosed inFIG. 1Bis attached to the second frame72.

The embodiment of the machine may be configured to produce two or more drill holes30in the first edge surface11and/or to produce two or more drill holes30in the second edge surface12of an embodiment the panel1.

An embodiment of a first of said feeding41device may be attached to the first frame71and an embodiment of a second of said feeding41device may be attached to the second frame72. An embodiment of the feeding device41may be a conveyor belt or chain. The machine is configured to displace the panel1in-between the first frame71and the second frame72(into the plane of the page).

FIG. 6Bshows an enlargement of a part of the embodiment shown inFIG. 6A. The figure shows the embodiment in a position during drilling drill holes in the first edge surface11of the panel1by drills48′.

FIG. 7Ashows in a side view an embodiment of a machine40which comprises the first frame71and an opposite second frame72, wherein an embodiment of another of the first of said drilling device43, which is disclosed inFIG. 2Ais attached to the frame and an embodiment of another of said second of said drilling43, which is disclosed inFIG. 1Bis attached to the second frame72.

The embodiment of the machine may be configured to produce two or more drill holes in the main surface22at an edge91and to produce two or more drill holes in the main surface22at an opposite edge92of an embodiment the panel1.

An embodiment of a first of said feeding41device may be attached to the first frame71and an embodiment of a second of said feeding41device may be attached to the second frame72. An embodiment of the feeding device41may be a conveyor belt or chain. The machine is configured to displace the panel1between the first frame71and the second frame72.

FIG. 7Bshows an enlargement of a part of the embodiment shown inFIG. 7A. The figure shows the embodiment in a position during drilling drill holes in the main surface22at the edge91of the panel1by drills48.

The second frame72may be displaceable relative the first frame71and guided by a guiding device73. The guiding device73may comprise a rail, such as a beam, and/or a rod.

FIG. 8shows in a top view an embodiment of the machine40which comprises an embodiment of the first frame71and an embodiment of the second frame72. The embodiment comprises two linear motors62, at each frame, for displacing the assembly plate in the drilling direction. The embodiment is configured to displace a panel in a feeding direction42in-between the first and the second frame71,72by an embodiment of the feeding device41at each of the first frame71and the second frame72.

FIG. 9shows in a top view an embodiment of the machine40which comprises an embodiment of the first frame71and an embodiment of the second frame72. The embodiment comprises a linear motor62at each of the first frame and the second frame71,72for displacing the assembly plate in the drilling direction. The embodiment is configured to displace the panel1in a feeding direction42in-between the first and the second frame71,72by an embodiment of the feeding device41at each of the first frame71and the second frame72.

FIG. 10shows in a top view the embodiment of the machine40shown inFIG. 8.FIG. 8shows the second frame72in a first position andFIG. 10shows the second frame72displaced to a second position which is closer to the first frame71. TheFIGS. 8 and 10shows that the same machine40is configured for producing drill holes in panels of different sizes.

FIG. 11shows in a top view the embodiment of the machine40shown inFIG. 8during drilling of drill holes in the first edge surface11and in the second edge surface12of an embodiment of the panel1. During the drilling one or more of the drilling units is/are outside the first edge surface11and the second edge surface12. Thus, the same machine is configured for producing drill holes in panels of different sizes.

Embodiments of the machines shown inFIGS. 5-11may lack one or more of the drilling devices43. Embodiments may be configured for producing only drill holes in the first and/or the second edge surface11,12. Embodiments may be configured for producing only drill holes in the main surface22at the first and/or the second edge surface11,12.

An embodiment of the feeding device may comprise a linear motor and a gripping device for positioning and gripping the panel.

FIG. 12shows an embodiment of the machine40which comprises an embodiment of the pre drilling device53at a first position, an embodiment of the drilling device43at a second position and an insertion device83for inserting a dowel31in one or more of the more drill holes30at a third position. The dowel31is displaced in a displacement direction85which is parallel to the drilling direction45of the drilling device43. The panel1is displaced from the first position to the third position by a feeding device41. The insertion may be configured to apply glue in the drill holes.

Further embodiments of the invention are described below:

1. A machine (40) for producing two or more drill holes (30,32) in a surface (11,12,22) of a panel (1), wherein the machine comprises a feeding device (41) for feeding the panel in a feeding direction (42) and a drilling device (43) comprising two or more drilling units (44), characterized in that the drilling units (44) are displaceable relative the surface (11,12,22) in a drilling direction (45) which is at an acute angle (2) relative the surface (11,12,22) of the panel (1).

2. The machine (40) as described in embodiment 1, wherein the drilling units (44) are linearly displaceable relative to the surface (11,12,22).

3. The machine (40) as described in embodiment 1 or 2, wherein the drilling device (43) comprises an assembly plate (47), wherein the drilling units (44) are attached to the assembly plate (47).

4. The machine (40) as described in embodiment 3, wherein each drilling unit (44) is displaceable relative the assembly plate (47) by a linear motor (61).

5. The machine (40) as described in embodiment 3, wherein the assembly plate (47) is displaceable relative the surface (11,12,22) by a linear motor (62).

6. The machine (40) as described in any one of the embodiments 1-5, wherein the machine comprises an edge surface drilling device (43) which is configured for producing two or more drill holes (30) in an edge surface (11,12) of the panel (1).

7. The machine (40) as described in any one of the embodiments 1-6, wherein the machine comprises a main surface drilling device (43) which is configured for producing two or more drill holes (32) in a main surface (22) of the panel (1).

8. The machine (40) as described in any one of the embodiments 6 or 7, wherein the machine comprises a first frame (71), wherein the edge surface drilling device (43) and/or the main surface drilling device (43) is/are attached to the first frame (71).

9. The machine (40) as described in embodiments 8, wherein the machine comprises an opposite second frame (72), wherein another of the edge surface drilling device (43) and/or the main surface drilling device (43) is/are attached to the second frame (72).

10. The machine (40) as described in embodiments 9, wherein the second frame (72) is displaceable relative the first frame (71) and guided by a guiding device (73).

11. The machine (40) as described in any one of the embodiments 1-10, wherein the machine comprises an insertion device for inserting a dowel (31) in one or more of the more drill holes (30,32).

12. The machine (40) as described in any one of the embodiments 1-11, wherein each drilling unit (44) comprises a drill (48) with a first diameter (37).

13. The machine (40) as described in embodiment 12, wherein the machine (40) comprises a predrilling device (53) which comprises two or more drilling units (54) which each comprises a drill with a second diameter (59).

14. The machine (40) as described in embodiment 13, wherein the second diameter (59) is greater than the first diameter (37).

15. The machine (40) as described in embodiment 12 or 13, wherein the drilling units (54) of the predrilling device (53) are displaceable relative the surface (11,12,22) in a drilling direction (55) which is essentially perpendicular relative the surface (11,12,22) of the panel (1).