Upholstering apparatus
First Claim
1. An upholstering apparatus comprising:
- a support for supporting a polymeric structural member;
a clamp configured to hold the polymeric structural member on the support;
a heater configured to rapidly heat a surface of the polymeric structural member to a fluid state to form a film of fluidized material on the surface, one of said support and said heater being movably supported for movement between a heating position wherein the heater is located at least partially over the support and a polymeric structural member supported on the support, and a retracted position;
an edge fold blade for pressing portions of sheet material against the surface of the polymeric structural member so that the fluidized material of the polymeric structural member adheres to the sheet material as fluidized material on the surface solidifies from the fluid state; and
said heater including a forced air dispenser for focusing heated air onto a particular portion of the surface of the polymeric structural member, said forced air dispenser including a generally triangularly-shaped shroud having a wide end positioned proximate a perimeter of said support when in said heating position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An upholstering apparatus is provided including a frame, a work-supporting plate operably mounted on the frame including a nest configured to support a sheet of upholstery material, especially fabric, and a substrate. A clamp on the frame is configured to rubbingly press the substrate against the upholstering material. In a first embodiment, a plurality of edge fold assemblies are located around the nest, each including a first subassembly having an edge fold blade operably attached to the work-supporting plate, and a second subassembly operably attached to the clamp for engaging the edge fold blade. A first actuator is operably connected to the edge fold blade to extend the blade into contact with the edge of the upholstery material to press the edge of the upholstery material against the substrate, and a second actuator is operably connected to the clamp to press the edge fold blade against the upholstery material edge and the substrate for two dimensional complex movement as the edge fold blade is moved around onto the back surface of the substrate. A controller attached to the actuators controls the sequential actuation of the actuators so that the upholstering apparatus is automatically operated for optimal performance. In a second embodiment, heaters are movably connected to the clamp to heat a strip along a back edge of a polymeric structural member to create a fluidized film on the back surface so that, when edge fold blades press a sheet of material against the back edge, the fluidized film of bonds the sheet of material to the structural member as the fluidized film cools.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An upholstering apparatus comprising:
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a support for supporting a polymeric structural member; a clamp configured to hold the polymeric structural member on the support; a heater configured to rapidly heat a surface of the polymeric structural member to a fluid state to form a film of fluidized material on the surface, one of said support and said heater being movably supported for movement between a heating position wherein the heater is located at least partially over the support and a polymeric structural member supported on the support, and a retracted position; an edge fold blade for pressing portions of sheet material against the surface of the polymeric structural member so that the fluidized material of the polymeric structural member adheres to the sheet material as fluidized material on the surface solidifies from the fluid state; and said heater including a forced air dispenser for focusing heated air onto a particular portion of the surface of the polymeric structural member, said forced air dispenser including a generally triangularly-shaped shroud having a wide end positioned proximate a perimeter of said support when in said heating position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An upholstering apparatus comprising:
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a support for supporting a polymeric structural member; a clamp configured to hold the polymeric structural member on the support; a heater configured to rapidly heat a surface of the polymeric structural member to a fluid state to form a film of fluidized material on the surface, the heater including a shroud having an end defining a thin band, one of said support and said heater being movably supported for movement between a heating position wherein the wide end of the shroud is located proximate of a polymeric structural member supported on the support, and a retracted position; and an edge fold blade for pressing portions of a sheet material against the surface of the polymeric structural member so that the fluidized material of the polymeric structural member adheres to the sheet material as the film of fluidized material on the surface solidifies from the fluid state. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An upholstering system comprising:
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a polymeric structural member and a decorative sheet having interfacing surfaces characterized by an absence of an adhesive on or between the interfacing surfaces; and an apparatus including; a support for supporting the polymeric structural member; a heater configured to rapidly heat an elongated strip on a surface of the polymeric structural member to a fluid state to form a film of fluidized material on the surface of the polymeric structural member without heating the polymeric structural member to a temperature at which the polymeric structural member will deform, one of said support and said heater being movably supported for movement between a heating position wherein the heater is located at least partially over the support and a polymeric structural member supported on the support, and a retracted position; and an edge fold blade for pressing portions of the sheet against the surface of the polymeric structural member so that the fluidized material of the polymeric structural member adheres to the sheet material as fluidized material on the surface solidifies from the fluid state.
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12. An upholstering apparatus comprising:
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a support for supporting a polymeric structural member; a clamp configured to hold the polymeric structural member on the support; a heater configured to rapidly heat a narrow band along a perimeter surface of the polymeric structural member to a fluid state to form a film of fluidized material on the surface, one of said support and said heater being movably supported for movement between a heating position wherein the heater is located at least partially over the support and a polymeric structural member supported on the support, and a retracted position; and an edge fold blade for pressing portions of sheet material against the surface of the polymeric structural member so that the fluidized material of the polymeric structural member adheres to the sheet material as fluidized material on the surface solidifies from the fluid state. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification