Apparatus and method for forming table aprons

An apron forming apparatus for bending and joining a pair of apron half segments, each having a pair of ends, the apparatus comprising:

• a series of four apron support surfaces lying in a common plane;
• a clamping arrangement mounted on each of the apron support surfaces for selectively clamping an apron half segment;
• a bending arrangement secured to each of the apron support surfaces for selectively bending an apron half segment;
• each of the apron half segments being disposed between the clamping arrangement and the bending arrangement on a pair of apron support surfaces such that the apron half segments lie substantially parallel to each other;
• each of the bending arrangements being movable into engagement with an apron half segment to bend the apron half segment such that the ends of one bent apron half segment are placed in overlapping relationship with the ends of the other bent apron half segment;
• and
• a fastening arrangement for joining the overlapped ends of the bent apron half segments while the apron half segments are positioned on the apron support surfaces.

A method of forming an apron adapted to be secured to the underside of a table from a pair of apron half segments, each having a pair of ends, the method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a series of four apron support surfaces lying in a common plane;
• providing a clamping arrangement on each of the apron support surfaces;
• supplying a bending arrangement on each of the apron support surfaces;
• positioning each of the apron half segments between the clamping arrangement and the bending arrangement on a pair of apron support surfaces such that the apron half segments lie substantially parallel to each other;
• moving each of the bending arrangements into engagement with the apron half segments to bend the apron half segments such that the ends of one apron half segment are placed in overlapping relationship with the ends of the other apron half segment;
• and
• joining the overlapped ends of the bent apron half segments while the apron half segments remain positioned on the apron support surfaces.

An apron forming apparatus for bending and joining a pair of apron half segments, each having a pair of ends, the apparatus comprising:

• a stationary framework having a longitudinal axis;
• a movable frame slidably mounted on the stationary framework;
• first and second apron support surfaces mounted on the stationary framework;
• third and fourth apron support surfaces attached to the movable frame;
• the first, second, third and fourth apron support surfaces lying in a common plane;
• a clamping arrangement secured to each of the first, second, third and fourth apron support surfaces for selectively clamping an apron half segment wherein
• a bending arrangement positioned on each of the first, second, third and fourth apron support surfaces for selectively bending an apron half segment;
• each of the bending arrangements is engageable with an apron half segment to bend the apron half segment such that the ends of one bent apron half segment are placed in overlapping relationship with the ends of the other bent apron half segment;
• a first drive system mounted on the stationary framework for moving the third and fourth apron support surfaces along an X-axis lying parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stationary framework and in the common plane;
• a second drive system mounted on the first and second apron support surface for moving the first and second apron support surfaces along a Y-axis lying perpendicularly to the X-axis and in the common plane;
• a third drive system mounted on the third and fourth apron support surfaces for moving the third and fourth apron support surfaces along the Y-axis;
• a first fastening system mounted on the stationary framework between the first and second apron support surfaces for fastening one pair of bent overlapping apron half segment ends;
• and
• a second fastening system mounted on the movable frame between the third and fourth apron support surfaces for fastening the other pair of bent overlapping apron half segment ends,
• the first and second fastening systems each being movable above and below the first, second, third and fourth apron support surfaces along a Z-axis lying perpendicular to the common plane.