Patent Description:
More specifically, the invention relates to a machine and a method of the type mentioned, studied and realized in particular for coupling at least one device, such as for example a suction cup, to a support panel, such as a sacrificial panel.

In the following the description will refer to the coupling of suction cups to a panel, but it is clear that the same should not be considered limited to this specific use.

As is known, there are currently machines for working wood panels, wooden beams, and the like.

Typically, the panels to be worked are positioned, during the working phases, on one or more suckers, in their turn arranged above a support panel and suitably spaced from each other to support each panel to be worked.

This support panel (called in jargon "sacrificial panel") is positioned on a respective working plane of a working machine.

The description below will refer to the support panel with the expression "sacrificial panel".

Said sacrificial panel, such as an MDF panel ("Medium-Density-Fibreboard"), is usually a breathable panel, possibly equipped with a plurality of small holes.

As said, the presence of one or more suckers on the sacrificial panel allows to support the panel to be worked, keeping it in position and avoiding that the same panel moves during the working phases.

In particular, said suckers are held in position by means of a vacuum condition created below the sacrificial panel.

The suction cups are generally arranged manually on the sacrificial panel by an operator.

One of the main drawbacks of these known solutions consists in the fact that the suckers, after being positioned, can move with respect to the assigned position.

In this case, if the suction cups were accidentally moved from the assigned operating position, following the application of the vacuum for their fixing to the sacrificial panel, there would be a risk, for example in the case of a process that involves drilling the panel placed above said suction cups, to damage the suction cups themselves by means of the working tool.

Furthermore, always in case of accidental incorrect positioning, it is necessary to carry out interventions by the operators, with the consequent downtime. This unavoidably causes an increase in costs for working the panels and the like.

The relevant prior art comprises the patent application <CIT> and the patent application <CIT>. <CIT> discloses a machine with a sacrificial panel.

In light of the above, it is therefore an object of the present invention providing a machine with a blocking and releasing device for panels to be machined which can be coupled to a sacrificial panel, which overcomes the disadvantages of the known systems described above.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method which allows at least one blocking and releasing device to be coupled to a sacrificial panel quickly, effectively and with simple use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine with a blocking and releasing device for panels to be worked, which can be removably coupled to a sacrificial panel, and which is blocked, in use, on said sacrificial panel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine with a blocking and releasing device for panels to be machined, which can be coupled to a sacrificial panel which is highly reliable, relatively simple to manufacture, and at competitive costs when compared to the prior art.

The machine of the invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

In particular, according to the invention, said blocking a releasing device may comprise two pins arranged for orienting said blocking and releasing device on said sacrificial panel.

Further according to the invention, said main body may have a recess communicating with said bearing surface, so that, when said at least one pin is coupled with said at least one opening of said sacrificial panel, said blocking and releasing device is capable of holding said workpiece by means of a vacuum condition generated between said working plane and said sacrificial panel.

Finally, according to the invention, said at least one pin may have a circular or polygonal section.

It is further object of the present invention a method for positioning a blocking and releasing device for a workpiece on a sacrificial panel, wherein said sacrificial panel is arranged on a working plane of a machine for working wood panels and the like, wherein said method comprises the following steps: A. providing at least one blocking and releasing device according to any one of the preceding claims; B. making at least one number of openings on said sacrificial panel corresponding to the number of pins of said blocking and releasing device, wherein said openings have a section compatible with said pins, in correspondence with a predetermined position; and C. placing said at least one blocking and releasing device in correspondence of said at least one number of openings so that, in use, each pin is inserted into a corresponding opening.

In particular according to the invention, said at least one blocking and releasing device may be a suction cup or a vice.

Finally, according to the invention, said sacrificial panel may be breathable, and in that it comprises, after said step C, the following further step: D. creating, between said sacrificial panel and said working plane, a vacuum condition so as to keep in position said workpiece on said at least one suction cup or vice.

In the various figures, similar parts will be indicated by the same reference numbers.

With reference to <FIG>, the machine for working panels and the like, indicated with the reference letter M, substantially comprises a working plane <NUM>, a working bridge <NUM>', movable along the working plane <NUM>, suitably equipped with means for carrying out workings, two sacrificial panels <NUM>, arranged on said working plane <NUM>, and four blocking and releasing devices <NUM>, for fixing the panels to be worked (not shown in the figures).

In particular, the working plane <NUM> of the machine M according to the present invention preferably develops longitudinally along the direction of the Cartesian axis X. Furthermore, said working plane <NUM> is configured to support said sacrificial panels <NUM> during the working phases.

These sacrificial panels <NUM> are capable of supporting the elements to be worked, such as for example panels, beams and the like, both in case of they are positioned directly on the surface of the sacrificial panels <NUM>, and in case of these elements to be worked are separated from said sacrificial panels <NUM> by means of said blocking and releasing devices <NUM>, as described below.

As anticipated, in the described embodiment, there are two sacrificial panels <NUM>, however in further embodiments such sacrificial panels <NUM> can be in a number different from two, for example even one.

Furthermore, as can be seen in <FIG>, and <FIG>, there are four blocking and releasing devices <NUM> arranged on the sacrificial panel <NUM>.

Said blocking and releasing devices <NUM> are configured for gripping (and subsequently for releasing) the panels to be machined.

In particular, the number of blocking and releasing devices <NUM> positioned on each sacrificial panel <NUM> depends on the size of the respective panel to be worked.

By way of example, in the case of small panels to be machined, only one blocking and releasing device <NUM> can be used.

As said, these blocking and releasing devices <NUM> allow to retain each panel to be worked during the working phases. In particular, by means of suitable means (not shown), which the machine M is equipped with, a vacuum condition can be created between said working plane <NUM> and said sacrificial panel <NUM>.

Furthermore, these blocking and releasing devices <NUM> also allow to release said panel to be worked at the end of the working. In the embodiment described, said blocking and releasing devices are suckers <NUM>. In a further embodiment of the present invention, said blocking and releasing devices <NUM> can be clamps.

More in detail, as can be seen from <FIG>, said suckers <NUM> substantially comprise a main body <NUM> and two pins <NUM>. These pins <NUM> can be, for example, inserted each in a respective seat <NUM> obtained in said main body <NUM>. In a further embodiment, said pins <NUM> can also be made in one piece, or integral with said main body <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> according to the present invention is hollow and has a square section. However, in further embodiments said main body <NUM> can have, for example, a circular or rectangular section.

Said main body <NUM> comprises a bearing surface <NUM>, on which said panel to be worked can rest, and a bearing surface <NUM>, intended to rest on said sacrificial panel <NUM>.

Said main body <NUM> comprises a cavity <NUM> communicating with said bearing surface <NUM>, such that, when a vacuum condition is generated between said working plane <NUM> and said sacrificial panel <NUM>, said sucker <NUM> is capable of retaining said panel to be worked placed on it.

In the embodiment at issue, said pins <NUM> have a cylindrical cross section, and, as said, are installed in said respective seats <NUM> formed on said bearing surface <NUM>. However, in further embodiments, said pins <NUM> can have, for example, a polygonal section.

In particular, said pins <NUM> are arranged to orient said blocking and releasing device <NUM> on said sacrificial panel <NUM>, for example on the basis of the different types of workpiece working.

With particular reference to <FIG>, said pins <NUM> are arranged substantially in the intermediate point of two opposite sides of said bearing surface <NUM>.

More in detail, said pins <NUM> comprise a first end inserted inside said seats <NUM>, and a second end, opposite the first end, which protrudes from each seat <NUM> by about <NUM> millimeters.

The operation and use of said blocking and releasing device <NUM> is as follows.

As can be seen in particular in <FIG>, before positioning the blocking and releasing device <NUM>, i.e. the suction cup <NUM>, two holes or openings <NUM> are made on the sacrificial panel <NUM> by means of a working tool, i.e. by means of a tip or a mill included in said machine M. These holes <NUM> can have a depth of about <NUM> millimeters.

In this way, the operator can place the blocking and releasing device <NUM> by inserting each pin <NUM> into a respective hole <NUM>. As said, said pins <NUM> can be coupled to respective holes <NUM> made on said sacrificial panel <NUM> by suitable processing tools (not shown), included in said machine M.

In fact, said pins <NUM> of each sucker <NUM> can be coupled, in use, to respective holes <NUM> of said sacrificial panel <NUM> so as to block, during the processing of said panel to be worked, each sucker <NUM> on said sacrificial panel <NUM>. In particular, said holes <NUM> have a section compatible with said respective pins <NUM>.

Therefore, the insertion of said pins <NUM> in said holes <NUM> on said sacrificial panel <NUM>, be it manual or automatic, allows each sucker <NUM> to remain in the original position on said sacrificial panel <NUM>, even in case of any accidental stresses caused by operators or additional objects.

The realization of the positioning holes <NUM> (see <FIG>), are carried out, as anticipated, by working tools in predetermined positions. The latter can be chosen by an operator or by means of a logic control unit connected to said machine M.

Of course, different variations can be provided for the shape and positioning of the pins <NUM>.

For example, in a variant of the release blocking device <NUM> according to the present invention it is possible to provide a single pin <NUM> having a circular section arranged in the center of the main body <NUM>.

Alternatively, it is possible to provide a single pin <NUM>, arranged in an eccentric position, but having a non-circular section, for example an elongated one. In this case, the machining tool of the machine M will have to make a groove on the sacrificial panel having a shape similar to the aforementioned section of said pin <NUM>.

In a further variant of the blocking and releasing device <NUM> according to the present invention, it is also possible to provide a plurality of pins <NUM>, for example three pins or four pins, arranged according to the most convenient configurations, aimed at fixing in a more stable manner said blocking and releasing device <NUM> on the sacrificial panel. Of course, in this case, the machine M will have to make a number of holes <NUM> corresponding to that of said pins <NUM>.

An advantage of the blocking and releasing device for panels to be machined which can be coupled to a panel according to the present invention is that of allowing a quick, effective and easy-to-use coupling.

Claim 1:
Machine (M) for working wood panels and the like comprising
a working plane (<NUM>),
a sacrificial panel (<NUM>) arranged on said working plane (<NUM>), and
a blocking and releasing device (<NUM>) for a workpiece, to be placed on the sacrificial panel (<NUM>), which has at least one opening (<NUM>),
wherein said blocking and releasing device (<NUM>) comprises a main body (<NUM>), having a supporting surface (<NUM>), on which said workpiece can be placed, and a bearing surface (<NUM>), to be placed on said sacrificial panel (<NUM>),
said blocking and releasing device (<NUM>) comprising at least one pin (<NUM>) arranged on said bearing surface (<NUM>), which can be removably inserted into said at least one opening (<NUM>) of said sacrificial panel (<NUM>), so that, when said pin (<NUM>) is inserted into said opening (<NUM>), said main body (<NUM>) is constrained to said sacrificial panel (<NUM>).