Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor – With bending – folding – winding – or wrapping means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-24
2002-01-22
Osele, Mark A. (Department: 1734)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Surface bonding means and/or assembly means therefor
With bending, folding, winding, or wrapping means
C156S443000, C156S512000, C156S518000, C083S013000, C052S631000, C312S140300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06340044
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an automated process for the manufacture of molding. More particularly, the invention relates to an automated process for the manufacture of beveled molding used along the front edge of countertops, as well as the molding manufactured in accordance with the present process.
2. Description of the Prior Art
With reference to
FIGS. 1
a,
1
b,
and
1
c,
standard beveled molding
10
a,
10
b,
10
c
used in the manufacture of countertops
11
is disclosed. The molding
10
a-c
provides an aesthetically pleasing alternative to conventional square edges commonly employed as a finish on countertops. Other, more elaborate, moldings are available, however, those shown in
FIGS. 1
a,
1
b,
and
1
c
account for approximately 90% of upgraded moldings currently sold within the United States.
Prior to the development of the present system, beveled moldings have been manufactured in a highly labor intensive manner. Specifically, and with reference to
FIGS. 2 and 3
, the fabrication begins with a facing member
12
and a bevel member
14
. Both members begin with a substantially rectangular cross section; as such, the facing member
12
includes a top surface
16
, a bottom surface
18
, a front decorative surface
20
and a backside
22
, while the bevel member
14
also includes a top surface
24
, a bottom surface
26
, a front decorative surface
28
and a backside
30
. The facing member
12
is then cut with a 45° angle along its top surface
16
as shown in
FIG. 3
to produce an angled top surface
32
. The cut is generally made using conventional cutting equipment.
Adhesive is then applied along the angled upper edge
32
in preparation for the attachment of the bevel member
14
thereto. The bottom surface
26
of the bevel member
14
is then secured to the angled top surface
32
of the facing member
12
such that the decorative surface
20
of the facing member
12
substantially aligns with the decorative surface
28
of the bevel member
14
. Once the bevel member
14
and facing member
12
are properly aligned, the assembly is clamped and the adhesive is permitted to set.
After the adhesive has thoroughly set, the rearwardly extending portion
34
of the bevel member
14
(see
FIG. 1
) is cut off to align the backside
30
of the bevel member
14
with the backside
32
of the facing member
12
. At this point, the molding is complete and ready for installation as the fabricator sees fit.
As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the process outlined above is highly labor intensive and very time consuming. With this in mind, a more convenient system for the assembly of beveled molding products is needed. The present invention provides such a system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a system for the fabrication of molding from stock material. The system includes a groove cutting assembly for cutting a groove of predetermined shape and size in stock material to define a facing member and bevel member, wherein the groove is positioned between the facing member and the bevel member to define respectively opposed surfaces on the facing member and the bevel member. The system also includes an adhesive application station for applying adhesive within the groove formed by the groove cutting assembly and a folding station for bringing the opposed surfaces of the facing member and the bevel member together. The system further includes means for conveying the stock material through the system.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method for the fabrication of molding. The method is accomplished by preparing a molding preform from stock material, conveying the molding preform to a groove cutting assembly, cutting a groove in the molding preform to define a facing member and a bevel member, conveying the molding preform to an adhesive application station, applying adhesive within the groove formed by the groove cutting assembly, conveying the molding preform to a folding station and folding the molding preform to bring the opposed surfaces of the facing member and the bevel member together.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beveled molding fabricated in accordance with the method outlined above.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a folding station for bringing opposed stock materials together. The folding station includes an inlet for receiving the opposed stock materials and an outlet for retrieving the stock materials after they have been brought together within the folding station. The folding station also includes a plurality of support arms shaped and dimensioned to receive the opposed stock materials as they enter the folding station. The support arms are coupled to a drive assembly which moves the support arms between a receiving position and a delivery position. A folding support is also provided upon which the support arms transfer the opposed stock materials when the support arms are moved to their delivery position. Finally, the folding station includes a press assembly positioned adjacent the folding support such that the press assembly may selectively apply pressure to opposed stock materials sitting upon the folding support to bring the opposed stock materials together in a predetermined manner.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3606508 (1971-09-01), Burnes
patent: 5826396 (1998-10-01), Michaels
patent: 5979038 (1999-11-01), Nelson et al..
patent: 2234902 (1974-01-01), None
patent: 458242 (1991-11-01), None
patent: 894565 (1999-02-01), None
patent: 93/04816 (1993-03-01), None
Beierman Dennis M.
Hubbard John K.
Osele Mark A.
Premark RWP Holdings Inc.
Purvis Sue A.
Welsh & Flaxman LLC
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