US 5,667,208 AGranted

Vacuum clamping system for assembling cabinets

AssigneeAmerican Woodmark Corporation

InventorsJohn M. Schroer, Gary E. Smith

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Abstract

A clamping system is provided for assembling the wall panels of wooden kitchen cabinets and the like, including a frame that is normally supported for sliding movement on an assembly table toward an assembling position relative to a workpiece arranged on the table. The frame is vertically displaceable between a normal elevated transport position and a lowered clamping position relative to the assembly table, and a normally-activated device prevents displacement of the frame from the elevated position to the lowered position. A first suction cup is carried by the frame for connecting to the frame a panel that is to be fastened to the workpiece, and a second suction cup is carried by the frame that is operable, when the displacement preventing device is deactivated, to connect the frame to the assembly table, thereby to clamp the panel to the workpiece.

Claims15

Dependent claims

Clamping apparatus for clamping a planar member at a given angle relative to a workpiece arranged on a generally-horizontal assembly table, comprising:

(a) a frame;
(b) means supporting said frame for vertical displacement between a normal elevated transport position and a lowered clamping position relative to said assembly table, said frame supporting means normally supporting said frame, when in said elevated position, for sliding displacement on the assembly table toward an assembling position relative to said workpiece, said frame supporting means including normally-activated foot means for preventing displacement of said frame from said elevated position to said lowered position;
(c) means for deactivating said foot means;
(d) first suction cup means carried by said frame for connecting the panel to said frame;
and
(e) second suction cup means operable when said foot means is deactivated for connecting said frame with the assembly table.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.