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US 6,581,260 B2Granted
Machine and method of securing fabric to a core
AssigneeHerman Miller, Inc.
InventorThomas M. Kinney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine and method for securing fabric layers to the core of a fabric panel. The machine includes top rollers and side rollers for stretching the fabric layers along the top surface and side surfaces of the core. Staplers preserve the stretch by stapling the edge of the fabric to the side surfaces. A front stapler and rear stapler are also provided for stapling the fabric to the rear surface and front surface of the core.
Claims50
A machine for securing fabric to a core comprising:
- a support adapted to support said core, a first roller disposed adjacent said support, said first roller adapted to stretch said fabric over said core, a stapler positioned adjacent said support, said stapler adapted to staple said fabric to said core, wherein said first roller is disposed above said support thereby being adapted to stretch said fabric over a top surface of said core towards a side surface of said core and said stapler is positioned along a side of said support thereby being adapted to staple said fabric to a side surface of said core, and further comprising two of said first roller oriented in a V-shape and mounted to an overhead frame, wherein each roller extends from a center location above said support to opposite sides of the overhead frame with a side-positioned portion of each roller engaging said fabric before a center-positioned portion of each roller.
A machine for securing fabric to a core comprising:
- a core, a fabric adapted to be secured to said core, a support adapted to support said core, two top rollers disposed above said support adapted to engage and stretch said fabric along a top surface of said core towards side surfaces of said core, wherein each roller is disposed along opposite sides of said core and the rollers are oriented with their axes of rotation angled acutely from the incoming center line of said core, said top rollers being free spinning;
- and two side rollers disposed along sides of said support adapted to engage and stretch said fabric along said side surfaces, wherein each roller is disposed along opposite sides of said core and the rollers are oriented with their axes of rotation parallel to said side surfaces of said core, said side rollers being powered by a motor.
A method of manufacturing a fabric panel comprising:
- supporting a core;
- placing a fabric on a top surface of said core;
- moving said core under a pair of top rollers, wherein said top rollers are disposed in an inverted V-shape with an outer end of each roller engaging said fabric before an inner end of each roller, said top rollers being free spinning;
- rotating a pair of side rollers, wherein said rollers are disposed along opposite sides of said core with their axes of rotation being parallel to side surfaces of said core thereby engaging said fabric;
- and securing said fabric to said side surfaces of said core after said top rollers and said side rollers stretch said fabric thereby preserving said stretch.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.