Synchronous positioning frame assembly machine

• US 7,891,646 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terry P E Clifford
• Original Assignee: Terry P E Clifford
• Inventors: Terry, Clifford
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson; Lee D
• Application Number:
  US12/228,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20100032878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 269/41, 269/71, 269/73, 269104-118
• US Class Current: 269/41
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 5/142 for windows and frames

Abstract

A Synchronous Positioning Frame Assembly Machine having a plurality of extension wings (48) arranged to precisely locate miter clamps (40) containing captive sliding rails (46) that create a secondary motion to connect small and large frame members. Artist canvas frames, picture frames and other rectangular or square frames such as mirror frames made from mitered members being joined with glue or other mechanical means are precisely brought together at right angles and in a flat plane. Rotary motion of a central rotating shaft (54) linked (50) to the sliding rails (46) positions the clamps (40). A mechanically or manually operated torque lever (56) with knob (58) provides the prime mover force that moves the clamps in a synchronized manner while applying a clamping force to hold the frame members A, B, C, D together with a ratchet (68) and pawl (88) stop for the required assembly time of glue cycle, manual or mechanical fasteners.

Claims

1. A synchronous positioning frame assembly system for assembly frames said system comprising a plurality of extended pivoting wings each rotatingly attached upon a mounting means aligning the wings for clamping square and rectangular frame patterns;

said wings containing sliding captive rails linked with aperture within a rotating plate attached to a central arbor rotated with a torque lever causing said rails to move inward or outward wherein said rails having a plurality of equally spaced keyholes in an linear array to precisely move in unison in response to said torque lever such that pivoting miter clamps selectively located along each of said rails synchronously moving said miter clamps and conventional frame joints together in a flat plane forming right angles at each of the corners with sustaining force for gluing and mechanical fastening of the frame members all of which is mounted upon a supporting structure.

2. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 1 wherein said wings have a thin wall rectangular shape.

3. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 2 wherein said wings are made of said rectangular shaped metal extrusions comprising grooves for sliding members.

4. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 2 wherein said grooves are longitudinally located on three sides of said wings and said rails slide in the main captivating grooves at the a top wide side of said rectangle.

5. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 4 wherein said wings have additional longitudinal grooves at opposite narrow sides, run the entire length of said wings and mount a manual inserting tool used for mechanical attachment of frame members.

6. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 5 wherein said manual inserting tool is further comprising a fixture including a crank handle, a magnetic holder, and a pushing mechanism for holding a “

V”

nail installing said “

V”

nail in said frame members.

7. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 1 wherein said miter guides having a plurality of groove pins that engage into said keyholes of said rails are coordinated with an incorporated hole to register a boss on the underside of said miter clamps.

8. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 7 wherein said miter clamps pivot about the centerline of said boss on the underside which is coordinated with a point representing the apex of the right angle planes of the clamp faces that is the outward point of the frame members to be joined.

9. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 8 wherein said cross members support said wings when removed from the table.

10. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 7 wherein said clamp faces extend upward at 90 degrees on the opposite side from said boss for a short length along a 45 degree plane on both sides of the longitudinal centerline of said miter clamp commencing a short distance from said apex allowing some exposure of said frame members near the outermost point for access of mechanical fastening.

11. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 10 wherein said miter clamps have a relief groove along the centerline between the clamp faces such that a space is provided for excess glue runoff from said frame members.

12. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 10 wherein said miter clamps have a radial slot for clearance of a shaft with a knob threaded into said miter guide to lock the rotational position of said miter clamp.

13. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 10 wherein said ratchet permits a sustained compression force applied to said frame members when said miter clamps bring them into contact.

14. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 10 wherein a cam adjacent to said pawl rotates it clear of said ratchet when moved by a cam lever and counter rotation of said arbor simultaneously moves said miter clamps through said fixed synchronous linkeage in a linear plane away from said arbor centerline and from said frame members.

15. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 1 wherein said arbor, said disk, and the plurality of said links, said rails, said miter guides and said miter clamps are dimensionally coordinated to said arbor'"'"'s centerline such that said miter clamps positioned at one set of said keyholes on any rail will be at the same dimension on each of said rails forming a fixed synchronous linkeage operating within a square.

16. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 15 wherein said fixed synchronous linkeage may operate within a rectangle when said wings are repositioned on the table at a rectangular pattern of holes and said links attached to said disk at a rectangular pattern.

17. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 15 wherein said fixed synchronous linkeage brings said frame members together forming 90 degree right angles at each corner of said square pattern or said rectangular pattern.

18. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 1 wherein a ratchet engaging its teeth with a spring loaded pawl retains the radial position of said arbor when rotated in the desired direction with said torque lever.

19. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 1 wherein a means of upright supports with cross members horizontally surrounding said uprights provide the support for said mounting table means.

20. The synchronous positioning assembly system as in claim 1 wherein said plate is circular with a plurality of apertures being equally spaced.