Pneumatic clamping apparatus and method thereof
AssigneeThermwood Corporation
InventorKenneth J. Susnjara
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is designed to effectively band ornamental trims onto panel edges, such as those of furniture tops. The present invention utilizes pneumatic forces to hold the ornamental trims against the panel edges instead of traditional clamps, resulting in asserting a uniform pressure press-fitting the trims against the panel edges along a good length of the trims instead of merely along several points of the trims. furthermore, since the contacting surface of the present invention is made of a soft material, it would not leave any pressmarks or indentations on the trims as can left by a hardened clamp.
Claims21
A clamping apparatus, comprising:
- a main body having a port and a plurality of adjacent edges each with a channel;
- a vacuum generator pneumatically connected to the port;
- a valve connected to a plurality of collapsible bladders each residing in the channel;
- a first conduit pneumatically interconnected to a compressor, the vacuum generator and the valve;
- wherein the vacuum generator generates a vacuuming force when the compressor generates a pumping force.
An apparatus for clamping banding material to a panel edge, comprising:
- A solid body having top and bottom plane surfaces;
- two adjacent, downward projecting locating fences, formed into U-shaped channels, disposed on two adjoining edges of said body;
- an access opening, formed through said panel, bisecting the intersecting corner of said locating fences;
- a second opening formed through said panel to provide for the passage of air;
- a first valve;
- a second valve;
- a static vacuum generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.