Method and apparatus for manufacturing articles employing folded honeycomb panels
AssigneeTenneco Packaging
InventorsDale W. Komarek, Paul Moser, George T. Wroblewski, Sr.
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Abstract
A method is disclosed of folding a honeycomb panel, the panel preferably comprising a honeycomb core having opposing face sheets. A slit is preferably cut through one face sheet and the underlying honeycomb core and a wedge is driven into the honeycomb panel at the location of the slit. The wedge crushes the honeycomb core to a preselected depth with a preselected angle whereby the crushed honeycomb core forms a hinge. The honeycomb panel can then be folded along the hinge in a direction opposite the intact face sheet.
Claims26
An apparatus for manufacturing a honeycomb panel foldable along a predetermined line, the apparatus comprising:
- a) means for partially cutting a slit into the honeycomb panel along the predetermined line;
- b) at least one wedge having a vertex and at least two sidewalls being at an angle with respect to each other;
- and
- c) means for driving the vertex into the honeycomb panel along the predetermined line to crush the honeycomb panel to a predetermined depth and at a predetermined angle, the crushed portion of the honeycomb panel forming a hinge.
An apparatus for manufacturing a foldable honeycomb panel, said honeycomb panel comprising a honeycomb core and opposing face sheets, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a knife for cutting a slit into one of the opposing face sheets;
- b) a crushing device capable of forming a generally non-rectangular trough in the honeycomb panel;
- and
- c) means for driving said crushing device along said slit to crush the honeycomb panel to a predetermined depth to form the generally non-rectangular trough, the honeycomb panel capable of being folded about said trough.
An apparatus for manufacturing a foldable honeycomb panel, the apparatus comprising:
- a) a cutting edge for partially cutting a slit into the honeycomb panel;
- b) a non-rectangular wedge;
- and
- c) means for driving said wedge into the honeycomb panel along said slit to crush the honeycomb panel to a predetermined depth and at a predetermined angle, the crushed portion of the honeycomb panel forming a hinge about which the honeycomb panel may be folded.
An apparatus for manufacturing a foldable honeycomb panel, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a knife for cutting a slit into the honeycomb panel;
- b) a crushing device capable of forming a generally V-shaped trough in the honeycomb panel;
- and
- c) means for driving said crushing device along said slit to crush the honeycomb panel to form the generally V-shaped trough, the honeycomb panel capable of being folded about said trough.
A system for manufacturing a foldable honeycomb panel comprising:
- a) a honeycomb panel;
- b) a knife for cutting a slit into the honeycomb panel;
- c) a crushing device;
- and
- d) means for driving said crushing device along said slit to crush the honeycomb panel to form a generally non-rectangular trough, the honeycomb panel capable of being folded about said trough.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.