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US 11,090,879 B1Granted
Clamping device for joining boards
OwnerNhon Hoa Nguyeninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamping device is used for joining panels or boards with highly cosmetic appearance at the visible joined surface. The clamping device can include mechanisms to support and move one panel relative to another panel in two directions perpendicular to the beveled edges of the panels. The clamping device can include a rotational mechanism to rotate one panel around a direction parallel to the beveled edge.
Claims20
A method comprising
- positioning first and second panels,
- wherein each panel of the first and second panels comprises a first surface opposite a second surface,
- wherein each panel of the first and second panels comprises a beveled edge along a side of the each panel,
- wherein each beveled edge of the beveled edges of the first and second panels comprises a first side contacting the first surface,
- wherein each beveled edge of the beveled edges of the first and second panels comprises a second side contacting the second surface,
- wherein the first and second panels are positioned so that the beveled edge of the first panel faces the beveled edge of the second panel;
- moving the first and second panels to align the beveled edges of the first and second panels,
- wherein moving the first and second panels comprises a first linear movement in a direction comprising a component parallel to a surface of the first panel, a second linear movement in a direction comprising a component parallel to a surface of the second panel, and a rotational movement in a rotational direction around a pivot on the second surface of the first panel,
- wherein the rotational movement comprises a movement pushing on the first surface of the first panel against the pivot on the second surface of the first panel to rotate the first panel,
- wherein the alignment comprises contacting the first side of the beveled edge of the first panel with the first side of the beveled edge of the second panel,
- wherein the alignment comprises forming a gap between the second side of the beveled edge of the first panel and the second side of the beveled edge of the second panel.
8 more elements
A method comprising
- positioning first and second panels,
- wherein each panel of the first and second panels comprises a first surface opposite a second surface,
- wherein each panel of the first and second panels comprises a beveled edge along a side of the each panel,
- wherein each beveled edge of the beveled edges of the first and second panels comprises a first side contacting the first surface,
- wherein each beveled edge of the beveled edges of the first and second panels comprises a second side contacting the second surface,
- wherein the first and second panels are positioned so that the beveled edge of the first panel faces the beveled edge of the second panel;
- adjusting relative positions between the first panel and the second panel to align the first beveled edge to the second beveled edge,
- wherein the first panel is disposed on a support of an assembly of a clamping device,
- wherein the clamping device comprises a first mechanism coupled to the support,
- wherein the first mechanism comprises a motion converter configured to convert a rotational movement to a linear movement to linearly move the support,
- wherein adjusting relative positions between the first panel and the second panel comprises rotating the first mechanism to linearly move the first panel in a direction comprising a component parallel to a surface of the first panel to bring the first side of the beveled edge of the first panel aligned with the first surface of the second panel,
- wherein the clamping device comprises a second mechanism coupled to the assembly,
- wherein the second mechanism is configured to move the assembly in a fine step configuration and a coarse step configuration,
- wherein, in the fine step configuration, the second mechanism comprises a motion converter configured to convert a rotational movement to a linear movement configured to linearly move the assembly,
- wherein, in the coarse step configuration, the second mechanism comprises a linear movement configured to linearly move the first assembly,
- wherein adjusting relative positions between the first panel and the second panel comprises moving the second mechanism in fine step and coarse step configurations to linearly move the first panel in a direction comprising a component parallel to a surface of the second panel to bring the first side of the beveled edge of the first panel aligned with the first side of the beveled edge of the second panel,
- wherein the first panel is contacted at a first area by a component of the assembly,
- wherein the clamping device comprises a third mechanism contacting a second area of the first panel,
- wherein the third mechanism comprises a motion converter configured to convert a rotational movement to a movement to linearly move the second area in a direction comprising a horizontal component,
- wherein the first and second areas are configured to enable the mechanism to rotate the at least a panel,
- wherein adjusting relative positions between the first panel and the second panel comprises rotating the third mechanism rotate the first panel to form an angle gap between the beveled edges of the first and second panels,
- wherein the alignment comprises forming a seamless appearance between the first side of the beveled edge of the first panel and the first side of the beveled edge of the second panel,
- wherein the alignment comprises forming a gap between the second side of the beveled edge of the first panel and the second side of the beveled edge of the second panel.
20 more elements
A method comprising
- positioning a first panel on a panel support;
- clamping a second panel on a clamping device,
- wherein each panel of the first and second panels comprises a first surface opposite a second surface,
- wherein each panel of the first and second panels comprises a beveled edge along a side of the each panel,
- wherein each beveled edge of the beveled edges of the first and second panels comprises a first side contacting the first surface,
- wherein each beveled edge of the beveled edges of the first and second panels comprises a second side contacting the second surface,
- wherein the first and second panels are positioned so that the beveled edge of the first panel faces the beveled edge of the second panel;
- adjusting the clamping device, using a combination of linear coarse movements, linear fine movements, and rotational movements, to align the beveled edge of the first panel to the beveled edge of the second panel,
- wherein the rotational movements comprise a movement pushing on the first surface of the second panel against a pivot on the second surface of the second panel to rotate the second panel,
- wherein the alignment comprises contacting the first side of the beveled edge of the first panel with the first side of the beveled edge of the second panel,
- wherein the alignment comprises forming a gap between the second side of the beveled edge of the first panel and the second side of the beveled edge of the second panel,
- adjusting the clamping device, using second coarse movements, to separate the first beveled edge from the second beveled edge;
- applying an adhesive material to at least one of the first and second beveled edges;
- adjusting the clamping device, using third coarse movements, to re-align the first and the second beveled edges.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.