Thermal presses
First Claim
1. A thermal press for installing metal inserts into a workpiece of thermoplastics material and comprising a frame, a bit driver including a heating means and a housing supporting the heating means for relative reciprocation, the driver and housing mounted on the frame for reciprocation toward and away from the workpiece between a starting position remotely spaced relative to the workpiece and a ready operative position adjacent the workpiece, adjustment means on the frame for selectively establishing throw limit positions of the driver and housing in said starting and ready operative positions, the heating means including a bit adapted to be heated by the heating means, the bit being engageable with an insert upon movement of the driver from starting position to said ready operative position for applying heat directly to the insert causing it to locally melt the thermoplastics workpiece, and a bit biassing means for driving the bit from an insert engagement position to a fully extended position independently of the driver when movement of the driver is arrested in said ready operative position, thereby to apply an insert driving force on the bit to fully install the insert into the workpiece upon softening of its thermoplastics material, the housing having a stop member engageable with the heating means to establish the fully extended position of the bit under the driving influence of the biassing means.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hand-operated thermal press for installing metal inserts in a workpiece of a thermoplastics material comprises a frame (12) including an upright post (16) on which is slidably mounted a support bracket (24) carrying an insert driver (18). Movement of the bracket (24) along the post (16) is limited by adjustable clamps (20, 22) and the bracket (24) is biassed into a starting position by a coil spring (28). A hand-operable mechanism (34) is provided for moving the insert driver (18) along the post (16). The insert driver (18) incorporates a heating unit movable relatively to the insert driver (18) against a biassing spring (100). The heating unit includes a core (70) heated by the unit and which supports a bit (92) adapted to receive the metal insert to be installed. The clamps (20, 22) are adjusted to provide a required movement of the insert driver and the spring bias (100) ensures a consistent driving force for installing the insert.
11 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A thermal press for installing metal inserts into a workpiece of thermoplastics material and comprising a frame, a bit driver including a heating means and a housing supporting the heating means for relative reciprocation, the driver and housing mounted on the frame for reciprocation toward and away from the workpiece between a starting position remotely spaced relative to the workpiece and a ready operative position adjacent the workpiece, adjustment means on the frame for selectively establishing throw limit positions of the driver and housing in said starting and ready operative positions, the heating means including a bit adapted to be heated by the heating means, the bit being engageable with an insert upon movement of the driver from starting position to said ready operative position for applying heat directly to the insert causing it to locally melt the thermoplastics workpiece, and a bit biassing means for driving the bit from an insert engagement position to a fully extended position independently of the driver when movement of the driver is arrested in said ready operative position, thereby to apply an insert driving force on the bit to fully install the insert into the workpiece upon softening of its thermoplastics material, the housing having a stop member engageable with the heating means to establish the fully extended position of the bit under the driving influence of the biassing means.
Specification