Method and apparatus for substantially simultaneously cleaning internal and external regions of plastic frames

Apparatus for trimming flashing from first and second joined plastic members, comprising:

• a pair of cooperating fixtures for clamping the first and second plastic members;
• a heating plate for heating and softening ends of the first and second members to be joined;
• fixture actuators for moving the first and second members in a direction to bring heated, softened surfaces of said first and second members into engagement, causing fusion of the members at the heated softened surfaces, whereby a portion of the heated material is forced out from between the engaging surfaces to form flashing;
• at least one of said fixtures having a guide;
• at least one first trimming assembly movable along said guide;
• a trimming actuator for moving said first trimming assembly along said guide to move the trimming assembly in a first direction transverse to the heated surfaces to thereby move the trimming assembly from a position displaced from the flashing and a second direction opposite said first direction to trim flashing in a first given region;
• a second trimming assembly for removing flashing in a second region;
• and
• means for selectively moving the second trimming assembly in mutually orthogonal directions between a position displaced from said frames and a second position adjacent said first and second members to trim flashing in a second region.

A method for trimming flashing from stacks of joined plastic members comprising the steps of:

• (a) arranging multiple stacks of first and second plastic members;
• (b) clamping first and second plastic members of each of said stacks between cooperating clamps;
• (c) moving the sets of clamps in a direction to bring heated, softened surfaces of said members into engagement causing fusion of the members in the region of the heated softened surfaces, whereby a portion of the heated molten material is forced out from between the engaging surfaces, forming flashing;
• (d) affixing at least one guide to each set of clamps;
• (e) providing at least one trimming assembly for each set of clamps;
• (f) imparting movement to each trimming assembly each being guided by an associated one of said guides to move the trimming assemblies in a direction transverse to the heated surfaces to thereby move the trimming assemblies from a first position, displaced from the flashing toward a second position to simultaneously trim a first portion of the flashing of each of the joined members clamped by said sets of clamps;
• and
• (g) selectively moving a second trimming assembly in mutually perpendicular directions from a position displaced from said frames to a position adjacent to said frames for simultaneously trimming a second portion of flashing from each of said stacks of frames.

Apparatus for trimming flashing from stacks of joined plastic members comprising:

• means for clamping multiple stacks of first and second plastic members between cooperating clamps;
• means for moving the sets of clamps in a direction to bring heated, softened surfaces of said members into engagement causing fusion of the members in the region of the heated softened surfaces, whereby a portion of heated softened material is forced out from between the engaging surfaces, forming flashing;
• each set of clamps being provided with at least one guide;
• at least one trimming assembly provided for each set of clamps, each trimming assembly being guided by an associated one of said guides;
• means for moving the trimming assemblies in a direction transverse to the heated surfaces to thereby move the blade assemblies from a first position, displaced from said flashing, toward second position to simultaneously trim first a portion of the flashing of each of the joined members clamped by said sets of clamps;
• a second trimming assembly having a plurality of trimming tools for each frame of said stack of frames;
• and
• means for simultaneously moving said trimming tools including means for selectively moving the second trimming assembly in mutually perpendicular directions from a first position displaced from said frames to a second position adjacent to said frames for simultaneously trimming a second portion of the flashing of each of the frames by an associated tool.

A method for operating on a region of plastic members having heated end surfaces to be joined, comprising:

• (a) moving said members to bring the heated end surfaces into engagement thereby causing flashing along surfaces of said members adjacent to the end surfaces being joined;
• (b) holding a tool post displaced from said members during performance of step (a);
• (c) moving the tool post in a first direction and a second direction transverse to said tool direction to bring said tool post adjacent to said members;
• and
• (d) manipulating a tool on said tool post to remove flashing.

Apparatus for operating on a region of plastic members having heated end surfaces to be joined, comprising:

• means for moving said members to bring the heated end surfaces into engagement thereby causing flashing along surfaces of said members adjacent to the end surfaces being joined;
• a tool post having a tool mounted thereon;
• and first and second actuators selectively operable for moving said tool post between a first position displaced from said members and a second position adjacent to said members, said first and second actuators respectively moving the tool post in first and second mutually perpendicular directions;
• and
• one of said first and second actuators being operated responsive to said tool post reaching said second position to cause the tool on said tool post to remove flashing.

Apparatus for operating on a region of plastic members having heated end surfaces to be joined, comprising:

• means for moving said members to bring the heated end surfaces into engagement thereby causing flashing along surfaces of said members adjacent to the end surfaces being joined;
• a tool post having a tool mounted thereon;
• and
• first and second actuators selectively operable for moving said tool post between a first position displaced from said members and a second position adjacent to said members, said first and second actuators respectively moving the tool post in first and second mutually perpendicular directions;
• and
• said tool being configured perform an operation on said joined members.