A process for wrapping an edge of a panel-shaped substrate, comprising the steps of:
- providing a workpiece defined by a panel-shaped substrate having first and second pairs of generally parallel edge faces which extend generally perpendicular to one another, and a thin flexible cover sheet positioned in overlying relationship to a front face of said substrate and having a flexible edge flap associated with each of said edge faces and extending along and protruding outwardly beyond the respective edge face;
- providing a support defining an upwardly-facing top surface adapted for supporting said workpiece thereon;
- positioning said workpiece on said support so that the flexible cover sheet thereof faces downwardly and is disposed in overlying relationship to said top surface;
- locating said workpiece on the support in cooperating engagement with a positioning arrangement associated with the support so that said workpiece along a first one if the edge faces extending lenthwise thereof horizontally overhangs a respective adjacent first edge of the top surface and a first one of the edge flaps protrudes generally horizontally outwardly from said first one of the edge faces;
- clamping said workpiece fixedly on the support in a position determined by the positioning arrangement;
- applying adhesive to an upwardly-facing back side of said first one of the edge flaps throughout a length thereof;
- providing an edge flap wrapping arrangement positioned adjacent said first edge of said top support and including first and second stiff but resilient wiping blades which extend lengthwise along said first edge, said first wiping blade projecting generally horizontally toward said first edge and terminating at a tip end, and said second wiping blade projecting generally vertically downwardly and terminating at a lower tip end;
- moving said edge flap wrapping arrangement upwardly adjacent said first edge of said top surface so that said first wiping blade contacts and deflects said first one of the edge flaps upwardly and the tip end of said first wiping blade wipes upwardly of the first one of the edge flaps and presses the first one of the edge flaps into contact with the first one of the edge faces of the workpiece;
- continuing upward movement of said first wiping blade until the first wiping blade moves upwardly out of engagement with the first one of the edge flaps;
- then moving the second wiping blade generally horizontally inwardly so that the second wiping blade contacts an upwardly protruding upper edge part of the first one of the edge flaps and deflects the first one of the edge flaps downwardly over an upwardly-facing back face of said workpiece and the lower tip end presses the edge part of the first one of the edge flaps into contact with the back face;
- then returning the edge flap wrapping arrangement back to a retracted position spaced from said workpiece.