A supporting cross-beam for vacuum hold-down tables designed to hold in place panels, in particular wooden panels

Abstract: The cross-beam consists of a monoblock section (6) upon which a relative vacuum hold-down table (1) is fitted and slides; the section (6) houses a first tubular chamber (7) which extends along its entire length and is connected to external vacuum generation means (8); part of the first chamber (7) has an opening on which a magnetic seal (9) with a plurality of evenly distributed holes (10) is placed; fitted over this seal (9) on the outside of the first chamber (7) is a deformable strip (11) made of magnetic material, which moves from a position which closes the first chamber (7) to a position which opens the said chamber during the passage of a deflector unit (12) on the strip, fixed to the vacuum hold-down table (1), connecting the first chamber (7) and vacuum hold-down table (1) at any point on the section (6).

Description: The present invention relates to a supporting cross-beam for vacuum hold-down tables designed to hold in place panels, in particular wooden panels. Machinery for the machining of wooden workpieces (in the present text wooden workpieces include wooden boards, sections and panels used in the mass production of articles for industry or furnishings) currently have various types of tables designed to support and hold in place the workpieces so that precision machining can be effected on them: of particular interest in the present text are the type equipped with suction cups, on which the workpiece is held in place by means of a vacuum created by air suction. Such tables are generally defined by a series of cross-beams, each supporting a plurality of vacuum hold-down tables which form the actual support surface for the workpieces: the cross-beams are parallel to one another and can be moved manually along the machine's longitudinal axis (usually called the X-axis) together with a pair of bilateral fences (using a manual locking and release system); associated to each cross-beam are one or more vacuum hold-down tables which can be moved along the machine's transversal axis (usually called the Y-axis) by the operator, again manually. Each table consists of a horizontal support surface, upon which a seal is fitted. The configuration of the seal may vary according to hold-down requirements on certain areas of the workpiece, but it is always a single piece. The seal is inserted between the workpiece and the support surface, obtaining a vacuum in the desired zone by means of the suction produced by the relative pneumatic system located beneath the table, so as to hold down the workpiece securely. For example Document EP 229668 A describes such a supporting cross-beam. However, these tables have several disadvantages, caused mainly by the pneumatic suction system which, in order to obtain optimum holding of the workpiece above, must consist of a plurality of pipes, one for each cross-beam and one for each vacuum hold-down table: the first extend from the machine support base, the normal location of the suction means, and lead to the relative cross-beam, whilst the second extend from the relative support table to a fitting which connects them with the corresponding first pipe. All pipes must also be long enough to allow the safe movement of both the cross-beams and the vacuum hold-down tables within the "ranges" of movement. Bearing in mind that each medium sized machine has more than one cross-beam, upon which at least two vacuum hold-down tables are fitted, a considerable number of pipe units are obviously required in order to obtain normal air suction from the vacuum hold-down tables. This pneumatic network normally used therefore requires many items of equipment (pipes and relative control systems), but above all occupies working space on the machine which, as a result, has only limited open areas without components. The disadvantage of this is that it is impossible to rapidly and safely clean away the shavings produced during machining, which usually fall in the areas beneath the vacuum hold-down tables; this difficulty arises due to the number of pipes below, together with all of the electrical cables necessary for machine functioning. It is an object of this invention to provide a cross-beam supporting vacuum hold-down tables, as defined in claim 1 which is compact and which has an architecture specially designed to envisage not only the support function, but also adjustment, positioning and safe air suction from the vacuum hold-down tables, with precision functioning and complete absence of peripheral pipes, thus reducing the machine's overall dimensions, creating overall design linearity and allowing the possibility of automatic movement and control of all components which rest against the panels to be machined and of the relative functions. The technical specifications of the present invention, in accordance with the afore-mentioned objects, are clearly described in the claims herein, and their advantages made more evident in the detailed description below, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an example of an embodiment, in which: figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a machine for the machining of wooden panels, on which the cross-beam disclosed by the present invention may be fitted for the support of the vacuum hold-down tables; figure 2 is a side view, with some parts cut away to better view others, of the cross-beam shown in figure 1; figure 3 is a front view, with some parts cut away and some parts shown in cross-section, of the cross-beam disclosed by the present invention; figure 4 illustrates cross-section IV - IV shown in figure 2; figure 5 is a partial cross-section, viewed from A, of an enlarged detail of figure 3. In accordance with the accompanying drawings, and in particular with reference to figure 1, the supporting cross-beam disclosed by the present invention supports the vacuum hold-down tables 1 designed to hold the panels to be machined 2 and is used on machines for the machining of the said panels. Such a machine is usually equipped not only with a known machining unit 61 (generically illustrated, and which may be either for boring or routing the panel below), but also a plurality of these cross-beams 3 (the number depending on the size and class of the machine), which can be moved along the machine's longitudinal or X-axis (see arrow F in figure 1) partly thanks to the support of the machine's first parallel guides 3g; each cross-beam 3 has one or more vacuum hold-down tables 1, which slide independent of one another on the second set of guides 4, on the cross-beam 3, and along the machine's transversal Y-axis (see arrow F1 in figure 1). Each of these vacuum hold-down tables 1 has an open area on its upper surface (labelled 1z), delimited by a seal 1g and giving onto one or more internal air pipes 5, so that in the said area a vacuum is created by corresponding means 8, allowing the panels 2 resting on the table seals to be held in place. Substantially, in the said machines the panel 2 is moved forwards over the seals along the X-axis until it arrives beneath the relative machining unit 61, where it is held in place by the vacuum; the panel is held in place by the vacuum hold-down tables beneath it, their number depending on the size of the panel and the holding force necessary, which is proportional to the machining force of the relative tool. It is for this reason that such machines envisage a given number of vacuum hold-down tables, defining a matrix within which the individual tables must be easily and rapidly moved and blocked, activated or not, according to the size of the panel batches to be machined: the automation and controlled management of these "size changeovers" are, therefore, preferential feature. The cross-beam 3 disclosed by the present invention consists (see figures 2, 3 and 4) of a monoblock section 6 which is the basic element of the entire solution, upon which a plurality of vacuum hold-down tables 1 are mounted. The said tables slide over the cross-beam on the guides 4. The accompanying drawings show, by way of example only, a vacuum hold-down table 1 represented by a continuous line, and two other vacuum hold-down tables 1 represented by a broken line in order to simplify and to better show the technical solutions adopted on the cross-beam 3, said solutions being identical for each vacuum hold-down table 1 fitted on the same cross-beam 3. In view of this, hereinafter only one vacuum hold-down table 1 and the relative equipment is illustrated. The section 6, made of extruded aluminium, has an internal face and sides fitted with a first tubular chamber 7 which extends along the entire length of the section 6 and is joined at one end to the afore-mentioned external vacuum generation means 8, by an external outlet 50, whilst at the other end the said chamber is sealed by a relative cap, not illustrated here. An area of the side of this first chamber 7 is open (the slot extending along the entire length of the cross-beam). The entire length of this slot is sealed with a magnetic seal 9 with a plurality of holes 10 evenly distributed over its surface. To close the holes 10 in the seal 9, the latter is covered on the outside of the first chamber 7, with a strip 11 of deformable magnetic material: in the case described herein, the strip of magnetic material is, preferably, a steel strip, intended to be attracted by a magnet, or by means equipped with or able to generate a magnetic field, which in this case is the seal 9. The strip 11 can be moved from a position in which it closes the holes 10 and, therefore, the first chamber 7 to a position which leaves part of the said chamber open, that is to say, in which a given number of the holes 10 are uncovered, corresponding to the passage of a deflector unit 12 on the strip. This unit (illustrated in figure 3) is attached to the corresponding vacuum hold-down table 1 and is housed in a relative sealed seat 13 on the section 6; this seat 13 is located between the first chamber 7 and the afore-mentioned pipes 5 of the relative vacuum hold-down table 1: in this way, the deformation of the strip 11 (that is to say, its raising from the magnetic seal 9) leaves open a given number of holes 10, creating a direct connection between the vacuum hold-down table 1 and the chamber 7, where air suction is effected irrespective of the position of the vacuum hold-down table 1 on the section 6. In practice, this system defines the passage of air from the first chamber 7 to the seat 13 of the vacuum unit which is not fixed, but moves in accordance with the traversing of the vacuum hold-down table on the cross-beam, eliminating all types of traditional flexible pipes. More precisely (see figure 5) the deflector unit 12 has a curved rod 33 which extends parallel to the opening in the first chamber 7 and is inserted between the perforated seal 9 and the strip 11, thus deforming the latter; the rod 33 is secured to a support block 34, with a hole at the centre and securely fitted inside the first chamber 7. The block 34 is connected to the vacuum hold-down table 1 so that its movements correspond to those of the latter, and has a perimeter seal 35 for the area through which the air passes when the strip 11 is deformed. Obviously, the distance D between each hole 10 is calculated according to the length of the curved rod 33, so that the deformation of the strip 11 uncovers a given number of holes 10, sufficient to allow correct, adequate suction. The numeral 14 indicates the means for stable positioning of the vacuum hold-down table 1 on the section 6, which operate between the two so as to hold the vacuum hold-downs table on the section 6 whatever its position. In practice, these means 14 for stable positioning consist of a horizontal plate 18 (preferably made of string steel) fixed, at one end, to the bottom of the vacuum hold-down table 1, whilst the other end slides within a slot 19 which extends along the entire length of the section 6. Inside the slot 19 is a pipe 20 with oval section (a slightly flattened pipe) which extends along the entire length of the section 6, sealed at one end, and at the other end connected to means 21 which supply air within the pipe itself, so that when the vacuum hold-down table 1 is in the desired position a variation (increase) in the section of the pipe 20 which blocks the plate 18 between the slot 19 and the pipe 20 is obtained. The slightly flattened pipe 20 is, therefore, a simple counter element designed to block the plate 18 "in place" and, as a result, block the associated vacuum hold-down table in place. When the pipe 20 is not subjected to pressure, a small amount of friction is generated between the plate 18, slot 19 and pipe 20 in any case, favouring the maintenance of the position assumed by the vacuum hold-down table. Means 15 for the control of the vacuum generated in the individual vacuum hold-down tables 1 are also envisaged, means which are located in the sealed seat 13 and operated from outside the section 6. These means 15 slide together with the vacuum hold-down table 1 and can activate or disactivate the vacuum action on the vacuum hold-down table 1 depending on the panel to be machined 2. More precisely (see figure 3) these control means 15 consist of a cylinder 22 which rotates about its own axis, with a diametrical hole 23 (preferably defining a labyrinth closure) through the cylinder. This cylinder 22, which acts as a rotary valve, is located inside a case 24 which is fixed to the vacuum hold-down table 1, inside the afore-mentioned seat 13 of the section 6, and has a pair of openings 25 positioned coaxially to one another, one into the sealed seat 13, and the other into the pipes 5. The cylinder 22 is fitted axially and in such a way that it may slide on a relative control bar 26 with polygonal section (in the figures the section is hexagonal) and with a diametrical hole 27 positioned coaxially to the relative hole 23 in the cylinder 22. The control bar 26 extends along the entire length of the section 6, supported by the latter at both ends, and can rotate about its own axis at the command of a relative actuator 29, located at one end of the section 6 and designed to turn the cylinder 22 (see arrow F2 in figure 4) from an idle position, in which the hole 23 in the cylinder 22 is not aligned with the openings 25 of the case 24 (vacuum hold-down table 1 not activated, i.e.: valve defined by cylinder 22 - case 24 closed), to an operating position, in which the through hole 23 in the cylinder 22 is coaxial to the openings 25, thus creating the connection between the first chamber 7 and the pipes 5 (vacuum hold-down table 1 activated). In order to obtain rotation of the bar 26 with polygonal section, one end is connected to a relative crank lever 30, and the other end is attached to a connecting rod 31; the connecting rod 31 is, in turn, attached to the shaft 32 of the actuator 29 (for example, a pneumatic piston) which defines the afore-mentioned limit positions of the cylinder 22 when the shaft 32 moves forwards or backwards. The actuator 29 can also be operated from the machine's external control unit. In the embodiment illustrated there are three bars 26 and three vacuum hold-down tables 1. The connection of means 28 for the measurement of the pressure inside the first chamber 7 to the said chamber 7 is envisaged. These means may consist of a vacuum gauge 60, and inhibit machine activation in the presence of a pressure value other than the reference value. In practice, if a vacuum hold-down table 1 is occupied by a panel 2 but the table hold is faulty, the value inside the first chamber 7 is greater than the established value and the vacuum gauge 60 warns the machine control system that the panel 2 hold is incorrect, resulting in a machine stop. Thanks to the structure of the section 6, it is possible to add drive means, indicated by 16 and 17, for both the section 6 itself and for each vacuum hold-down table 1: in this way, it is possible to control their movements along the two working axes X and Y. The drive means 16 for the section 6 have a first variable speed motor 36 positioned on the lower external face of the section itself. The variable speed motor 36 has a first toothed pinion 37 which engages with a first crown gear 38, supported in such a way that it can rotate by a first casing 38a attached to the section 6. A shaft 39a is attached to the centre of the crown gear 38. The free end of the shaft is fitted with a toothed wheel 39 which engages with a rack 40 that extends transversally with respect to the section 6 and is attached to the first fixed guides 3g over which the section 6 slides; the motion of the toothed wheel 39 on the rack 40, therefore, moves the section 6 along the X-axis. Independent drive means 17 are envisaged for the vacuum hold-down table 1, consisting of a second variable speed motor 41, fixed under the section 6, which drives a second toothed pinion 42; engaged, in turn, with a second crown gear 43; the latter is housed in a second hollow casing 43a, fixed to the section 6. A splined shaft 44 is attached to the centre of the crown gear 43 and extends vertically at the side of the section 6 (see figures 2 and 3). The splined shaft engages with a corresponding toothed belt 45, closed in a ring around the shaft and gears 62 (shown with a broken line) located at the end of the section 6. The belt 45 is housed in a second chamber 46, which is open to the outside and created on the section 6 in the opposite area to that of the aforementioned first chamber 7. Figure 3 shows three chambers of different heights, since each chamber is, obviously, designed to house one belt 45 for each of the vacuum hold-down tables 1 present. As a result, the final shafts 44 have projecting sections of different lengths, depending on the vacuum hold-down table 1 to be moved (see figure 2, where the belts are positioned at different heights H1, H2 and H3, starting from the variable speed motor 41). A plate 47 is then fixed to the belt 45 using a screw 51 which is, in turn, attached to the relative vacuum hold-down table 1, thus allowing the tables to be moved on the section 6 and along the aforementioned Y-axis, independent of one another. In addition to the elements described above, it is also possible to fit the cross-beam 3 with other technological devices, such as limit switches and microswitches for the positioning of each vacuum hold-down table 1 on Cartesian co-ordinates transmitted to the machine control system which, in turn, can make the necessary positioning adjustments on the vacuum hold-down table 1. For this purpose, the presence of third chambers 54 for the longitudinal passage of electric cable 55 is envisaged on the section 6. These third chambers are adjacent to one another and pass below the first chamber 7. Starting from a machine stopped situation, a single cross-beam 3, structured as described, therefore, functions as follows. When the new size is set on the machine, the control unit for all functions (a conventional numeric control system, interacting with a dedicated "software" system if required) checks the position of each vacuum hold-down table 1 on each cross-beam 3, in accordance with the dimensions of the panel to be held in place. At this point the operator may enter the data for positioning of the cross-beams 3 and the relative vacuum hold-down tables 1 (always for the X and Y axes), or directly enter the coded details of the batch to be machined, in order to rest the panels 2 to be held on the vacuum hold-down tables 1. Upon completion of this operation, the drive means 16 and 17 are activated, to move the cross-beams 3 and each vacuum hold-down table 1 by means of the racks 40 and, respectively, the toothed belts 45. In order to do this, the pressure within the pipe 20 must be disactivated. Once positioned, the vacuum hold-down tables 1 are blocked in the desired position by the activation of the compressed air generation means 21, which allow the enlargement of pipe 20, and consequent pressure of the plate 18 against the vacuum hold-down table 1. At the same time, the bars 26 and relative cylinders 22 only of those vacuum hold-down tables required to hold the panel in place are turned, an operation easily effected using the software. The panels to be machined 2 are then positioned on the vacuum hold-down tables 1 and held in place by the activation of external suction means 8, which generate a vacuum in the first chamber 7, creating the holding vacuum on the relevant vacuum hold-down tables 1. During this operation the vacuum gauge 60 controls the pressure level in the first chamber 7, in order to check that the vacuum hold-down tables 1 effectively hold the panel 2; if the check gives positive results, the machine may start machining on the panel 2. If, in contrast, there is a significant difference between the theoretical and actual pressure values, the control system inhibits activation of the machine until the correct pressure value is reset (that is to say, the position of the panel 2 on the vacuum hold-down table 1 is corrected). Obviously, the cylinders 22 of the vacuum hold-down tables 1 that are not used remain in the position which prevents the passage of air suction. Therefore, with a cross-beam structured in this way, significant technical and design advantages are gained thanks to the elimination of many pipes. Only two pipes leave each cross-beam (one for suction from the first chamber, and the other to allow air into pipe 20 in order to block the vacuum hold-down table in position). This solution, therefore, allows considerable spaces between the cross-beams, without elements which prevent the shavings produced during machining from falling beneath the cross-beam. In this way, hoppers for the collection of the shavings can be placed beneath the cross-beams, thus speeding up an operation which is usually slow and difficult. The structure of the cross-beam has also allowed the creation of a system with two axes, X and Y, controlled both on the cross-beam and on each vacuum hold-down table, allowing all controls to be incorporated in a control system managed by special dedicated software for the machine. This control obviously facilitates and speeds up operations which with conventional solutions would all be the responsibility of the operator. Even the blocking in place of each vacuum hold-down table was designed to be fully automatic. The present invention, as described herein, may be subject to numerous modifications and variations, all encompassed by the design concept. Moreover, all parts may be replaced by technically equivalent parts.

Claims: A cross-beam supporting vacuum hold-down tables (1) which hold in place panels (2) to be machined by a machine said cross-beam (3) being mobile along a machine's longitudinal axis (X) and supported by machine's first guides (3g); said cross-beam (3) supporting at least one vacuum hold-down table (1) which slides on second guides (4) along the cross-beam along a machine's transversal axis (Y) and having pipes (5) for the passage of air in order to create a vacuum in the areas of the said vacuum hold-down table (1) designed to hold the said panels (2) in place, said cross-beam (3) having a monoblock section (6), to which at least one sliding vacuum hold-down table (1) is attached; characterised in that said monoblock section (6) includes a first tubular chamber (7) which extends along its entire length and is connected at one end to external means (8) which generate a vacuum, and sealed at the other end; said first chamber (7) having a slot on one side, along the entire length of which a magnetic seal (9) with a plurality of evenly distributed holes (10) is placed; said magnetic seal (9) being covered, on the outside of the said first chamber (7), by a strip (11) of deformable magnetic material, designed to move from a position in which it closes the first chamber (7) to a position which leaves part of the said first chamber open, corresponding to the passage of a deflector unit (12) between the magnetic seal (9) and the strip (11), said deflector unit being attached to the said vacuum hold-down table (1) and housed in a relative sealed seat (13) in the said section (6) between the first chamber (7) and the pipes (5) of the said vacuum hold-down table (1), in order to obtain the connection at any point of the said section (6); means (14) for the stable positioning of the vacuum hold-down table (1) on the section (6), pneumatically operated, located and operating between the section (6) and vacuum hold-down table (1), partly sliding with the vacuum hold-down table, so as to block the vacuum hold-down table (1) at any point on the section (6); means (15) for controlling the vacuum generated in the vacuum hold-down table (1), positioned in the said sealed seat (13), which can be operated from outside the section (6), and which slide in correspondence with the said vacuum hold-down table (1) and activate or disactivate the connection between the first chamber (7) and the pipes (5); means (28) for the measurement of the pressure in the said first chamber (7), designed to inhibit activation of the machine if the value read differs from a reference value. The cross-beam as described in claim 1, characterized in that said monoblock section (6) and vacuum hold-down table (1) have independent drive means (16, 17) which allow them to move along respective X, Y axes (X, Y) of the machine for machining said panels (2). The cross-beam as described in claim 1, characterized in that the said means (14) for stable positioning consist of a horizontal plate (18), fixed at one end to the lower section of the said vacuum hold-down table (1), the other end being inserted in a slot (19) which runs along the entire length of the section (6); the said slot (19) housing a pipe (20) with oval section which extends along the entire length of the section (6) and is connected at one end to means (21) which supply air within the pipe (20) itself, so that when at least one of the said vacuum hold-down tables (1) is in the desired position a variation in the section of the pipe (20) which blocks the said plate (18) is obtained. The cross-beam as described in claim 1, characterized in that the said means (15) for controlling the vacuum consist of a cylinder (22) with a diametrical through hole (23) and positioned in such a way that it can rotate inside a case (24); said case (24) being fixed in the said seat (13) of the section (6), between the cylinder (22) and pipes (5), and having a pair of openings (25) positioned coaxially to one another, one into the sealed seat (13), and the other into the pipes (5); the cylinder (22) being fitted axially and in such a way that it may slide on a relative control bar (26) with polygonal section and with a diametrical through hole (27) positioned coaxially to the hole (23) in the cylinder (22); the control bar (26) extending along the entire length of the section (6) and able to rotate about its own axis at the command of a relative actuator (29), located at one end of the section (6) and designed to move the cylinder (22) into at least two limit positions, one being the idle position, in which the hole (23) in the cylinder (22) is not aligned with the said openings (25), and the other being the operating position, in which the through hole (23) in the cylinder (22) is coaxial to the said openings (25), thus connecting the first chamber (7) and the pipes (5). The cross-beam as described in claim 4, characterized in that the said bar (26) with polygonal section is attached at one end to a relative crank lever (30), the other end being attached to a connecting rod (31) which is attached to the shaft (32) of the said actuator (29) which defines the said limit positions of the cylinder (22). The cross-beam as described in claim 1, characterized in that the said deflector unit (12) has a curved rod (33) which extends parallel to the said opening in the first chamber (7), inserted between the perforated seal (9) and the strip (11) in such a way as to define the deformation of the latter; the said rod (33) being attached to a support block (34), with a hole at the centre and connected to the vacuum hold-down table (1), with a perimeter seal (35), resting on the walls of the said first chamber (7) and sealing the area through which the air passes when the strip (11) is deformed. The cross-beam as described in claim 2, characterized in that the said drive means (16) for the monoblock section (6) have a first variable speed motor (36) positioned on the external face of the section itself, which drives a first toothed pinion (37) that engages with a first crown gear (38) housed in a first hollow casing (38a) attached to the section (6), and to the centre of which a first shaft (39a) is attached, one end of the shaft being fitted with a toothed wheel (39) which engages with a rack (40) that extends transversally with respect to the section (6) and is attached to the first fixed guides (3g) over which the section (6) slides, moving the section along the axis (X). The cross-beam as described in claim 2, characterized in that the said second drive means (17) for the said vacuum hold-down table (1) has a second variable speed motor (41), fixed to the monoblock section (6), which drives a second toothed pinion (42) engaged, in turn, with a second crown gear (43), the latter being housed in a second hollow casing (43a), fixed to the said monoblock section (6); a splined shaft (44) being attached to the centre of the latter and extending vertically at the side of the section (6); the splined shaft engaging with a corresponding toothed belt (45), closed in a ring around the shaft; the said belt (45) being housed in a second open chamber (46) on the section (6) in the opposite area to that of the first chamber (7); a plate (46) also being fixed to the belt (45), attached to the vacuum hold-down table (1) so as to allow the movement of the table on the section (6).

Inventors: GEMMANI GIUSEPPE, GEMMANI, GIUSEPPE
Applicants: SCM GROUP SPA, SCM GROUP S.P.A.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B23Q3
IPC codes: B25B11