Machine for drilling a plate

Abstract

A machine (1, 1') for drilling a plate (P) having a plurality of surfaces comprising a top surface (Fs) and a plurality of lateral surfaces, with a first lateral surface (Fld), a second lateral surface (Fa, Fb) and a third lateral surface (Fls) opposite the first lateral surface (Fld), the machine (1, 1') comprising: a base (10), a work table (20) for the plate (P), the work table (20) being arranged on the base (10) and comprising: - a first working area (21) for drilling the plate (P), the first working area (21) comprising a first set of reference elements (211, 231) for stopping the plate (P) upon contact with the third lateral surface (Fls) and the second lateral surface (Fa, Fb), and - a second working area (22) for drilling the plate (P), the second working area (22) comprising a second set of reference elements (221, 231) for stopping the plate (P) upon contact with the first lateral surface (Fld) and the second lateral surface (Fa, Fb), Conveying means (70) for the plate (P) configured to move the plate (P) from the first working area (21) to the second working area (22), and Drilling means (40, 50) for drilling one of the plurality of surfaces of the plate (P), positioned corresponding to the first working area (21) or the second working area (22), the drilling means (40, 50) comprising motorized means and at least one spindle (401, 501) for receiving a respective drill bit (4011, 5011) for drilling the plate when the spindle (401, 501) is actuated by the motorized means, the machine (1, 1') being characterized in that: the at least one spindle (401, 501) is positioned at an inclination angle (α) relative to the surface.

Description

The present invention relates to a machine for drilling boards, such as wood boards or similar materials, comprising a plurality of reference elements arranged at a first working area and a second working area, respectively. These reference elements allow the alignment and positioning of the plate by stopping its movement upon contact, thereby facilitating precise inclined drilling on one or more surfaces of the plate arranged corresponding to the inclined drilling means of the machine.BackgroundMachines for drilling panels are well known and comprise a work table on which panels made of wood, wood fibres, plastic, glass fibres or similar materials can be positioned.These machines include a base and a work table attached to the base.The work table includes a first working area and a second working area for drilling the plate when positioned in one of the areas. Each working area comprises reference elements for appropriately positioning the plate for drilling within the respective working area.When the panel is positioned in the first work area, the left side surface of the panel is drilled using a first machining head installed on a frame movable relative to the work table.The first machining head is provided with drilling means for drilling the left lateral surface of the plate. These drilling means allow orthogonal drilling relative to the left side surface of the plate.After drilling the left side surface, the plate is moved from the first working area to the second working area via conveying means, for example plate conveyor belts.When the panel is in the second working area, the right side surface of the panel is drilled using a second machining head installed on the frame movable relative to the work table.In this case, drilling is performed orthogonally to the right side surface of the plate.However, in known drilling machines, the types of precision machining or machinings with acceptable errors that can be performed on the plate surfaces are limited.Therefore, it is desirable to overcome this limitation by expanding the range of precision machining that can be performed on the plate surfaces.Object of the inventionThe object of this invention is to overcome this limitation by providing a machine for drilling plates that enables precise inclined drilling on the plate surfaces that are in correspondence with the drilling means of the machine.It is an object of the invention to provide a machine for drilling a plate according to claim 1.Further preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claimsList of Attached FiguresThe invention will now be explained by way of example, but not by way of limitation, according to a first and second embodiment with specific reference to the accompanying figures, in which: FIG. 1 is an XY plane view of the plate drilling machine according to the first embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing the XY plane of the work table of the plate type drilling machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the plate drilling machine shown in FIG. 1, including a base, a work table, and movable stands equipped with respective machining heads. Figure 4 shows a detailed perspective view of the machine shown in Figure 3, in which the inclined drilling means for drilling the left lateral surface of the plate or at least a portion of the upper surface of the plate near the left lateral surface are visible. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a panel having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of side surfaces. FIG. 6 is a view showing an XY plane of the plate drilling machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a view showing an XY plane of the work table of the plate type drilling machine shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the plate drilling machine shown in FIG. 6, including a base, a work table, and movable stands equipped with respective machining heads. Figure 9 shows a detailed perspective view of the machine shown in Figure 8, wherein inclined drilling means are visible for drilling the left lateral surface of the plate or at least a portion of the upper surface of the plate close to the left lateral surface.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONIn the various figures, similar parts are identified by the same reference numerals.Referring to Figures 1-3, there is shown the machine 1 for drilling panels P, for example wood panels, plastic panels, glass fibre panels, glass panels or similar panels.As shown in FIG. 5, each panel P comprises an upper surface / surface Fs, a lower surface / surface Fi opposite the upper surface / surface Fs, which may be fixed to the work table 1 of the machine, and a plurality of side surfaces / surfaces comprising a front surface / surface Fa, a rear surface / surface Fb opposite Fa, a left side surface / surface Fls, and a right side surface / surface Fld.This machine 1 enables drilling of one or more surfaces of the panels P for inserting dowels or nuts, which is required for assembling panels P, for example to build a furniture frame.The machine 1 comprises a base 10 and a work table 20 mounted on the base 10, where plates P are positioned to be drilled.The work table 20 comprises a first working area 21 and a second working area 22 for drilling the panel P.The second working area 22 is located at a predetermined distance from the first working area 21.The machine 1 further comprises plate conveying means 70 for the plate P configured to move the plate P between the first working area 21 and the second working area 22, or vice versa.The conveyor means 70 enables movement of the panel P to drill both opposing lateral surfaces Fls, Fld, or / and respective portions of the top surface Fs of the panel P without requiring rotation of the panel P on the work table 20.The conveyor means 70 may comprise belt, chain or conveyor systems for pulling the plate P.The conveying means 70 may comprise gripping or clamping elements configured to engage at least two opposing lateral surfaces Fls, Fld of the plate P or the lower surface Fi of the plate P to allow movement to the desired position.The work table 20 may also include a first loading / unloading area 23 for the plate P in the vicinity of the first work area 21 and a second loading / unloading area 24 for the plate P in the vicinity of the second work area 22.The conveying means 70 may allow the plate P to be moved to the respective loading / unloading area 23, 24 to remove the drilled plate P or replace it with a new plate P to be drilled.The first working area 21 and the second working area 22 are arranged between the first loading / unloading area 23 and the second loading / unloading area 24 for the plate P.FIG. 2 is a view showing the XY plane of the work table 20 of the machine 1 for drilling a plate P.As shown in Fig. 2, each working area 21, 22 comprises reference elements 211, 221, 231 for correctly positioning the plate P to be drilled within the respective working area 21, 22.In particular, the first working area 21 comprises a first set of reference elements 211, 231 for stopping the plate P when the reference elements 211, 231 are in contact with both the third lateral surface Fls and the second lateral surface Fa.The first set of reference elements 211, 231 comprises at least a first reference element 211 positioned along a first transverse axis Y 1 parallel to the work table 20 and a second reference element 231 arranged along the longitudinal axis X 1 parallel to the work table 20 and orthogonal to the first transverse axis Y 1.The second working area 22 comprises a second set of reference elements 221, 231 for stopping the plate P when the reference elements 221, 231 are in contact with both the first lateral surface Fld and the second lateral surface Fa.The second set of reference elements 221, 231 comprises at least a third reference element 221 positioned along a second transverse axis Y 2 parallel to the work table 20 and the second reference element 231 arranged along the longitudinal axis X 1 orthogonal to the second transverse axis Y 2.The first reference elements 211 and the third reference elements 221 may be arranged in mirror image with respect to the work table 22.The first reference elements 211 and / or the third reference elements 221 may be hidden type movable elements configured to assume a retracted position below the work table 20 when positioned below the work table 20 and an extended position above the work table 20 where they rise to a height sufficient to contact the panel P.In this way, when the plate P is moved into the first working area 21 or the second working area 22 by the conveying means 70, the respective first reference members 211 or third reference members 221 are raised to a level that hinders the movement of the plate P, so as to act as stops for the plate P itself.Therefore, the panel P is prevented from being undesirably moved relative to the work table 20 while the machining is being performed, particularly corresponding to the respective work areas 21, 22.The machine 1 may comprise a control logic unit configured to generate a signal to extend the at least one first reference element 211 in response to an indication that the plate P is positioned in the first work area 21, or to generate a signal to extend at least one third reference element 221 in response to an indication that the plate P is positioned in the second work area 22.This signal indicating that the plate P is positioned in the first working area 21 or the second working area 22 may be generated by sensor means, for example optical position sensors (not shown in the figures) capable of detecting the position of the plate P relative to the work table 20.Alternatively, the signal indicating that the disk P is positioned in the first work area 21 or the second work area 22 may be generated in response to a user command, for example, by an electronic device or an operation terminal.Unlike the first reference member 211 and / or the third reference member 221, the second reference member 231 may be fixedly positioned along the entire length of the work table 20.For example, the second reference member 231 may be located along one side of the work table 20, extend longitudinally along the entire length thereof, and also serve as a slide guide for the panel P.Contact with the second reference member 231 may be ensured by at least one pushing member 81, 82 pushing the plate P against the second reference member 231.Specifically, the pushing element 81, 82 is configured to push the plate P into contact with the first set of reference elements 211, 231 when the plate P is in the first working area 21 or / and to push the plate P into contact with the second set of reference elements 221, 231 when the plate P is in the second working area 22.Also in this case, the triggering of the movement of the thrust element 81, 82 can be associated with the control logic unit, which generates a triggering signal on the basis of the position of the plate P relative to the work table 20 detected by the position sensor means.The pressing elements 81, 82 ensure the correct positioning of the plate P relative to the second reference element 231.Referring again to FIGS. 1-3, the panel drilling machine 1 further comprises drilling means 40, 50 for drilling at least one surface of the panel P arranged in correspondence with the drilling means 40, 50, for example the left side surface Fls, the right side surface Fld or / and at least a portion of the top surface Fs in the vicinity of the left side surface Fls or the right Fld.These drilling means 40, 50 are positioned in correspondence to the first working area 21 or / and the second working area 22, and comprise motorized components and at least one spindle 401, 501 adapted to support a respective drill bit 4011, 5011 for drilling the plate P when the spindle 401, 501 is driven by drive means.The drilling means 40, 50 may comprise first drilling means 40 positioned in correspondence to the first working area 21 for drilling the left lateral surface Fls or / and at least a portion of the upper surface Fs in the vicinity of the third lateral surface Fls when the third lateral surface Fls and the second lateral surface Fa, Fb are in contact with the first set of reference elements 211, 231.The drilling means 40, 50 may comprise second drilling means 50 positioned in proximity to the second working area 22, for drilling the first lateral surface Fld or / and at least a portion of the upper surface Fs in proximity to the right lateral surface Fld when the first lateral surface Fld and the second lateral surface Fa, Fb are in contact with the second set of reference elements 221, 231.The drilling means 40, 50 may be mounted on a respective machining head 641, 651 of the machine 1.When the plate P to be drilled is positioned in the first work area 21, the drilling of the left side surface Fls or the upper surface Fs in the vicinity of the left side surface Fls is performed by the first machining head 641 installed on a frame 64 movable relative to the work table 20.Conversely, when the plate P to be drilled is positioned in the second work area 22, the drilling of the right side surface Fld of the plate P or the upper surface Fs is performed in the vicinity of the right side surface Fld by the second machining head 651 installed on a stand 65 movable relative to the work table 20.With particular reference to Figure 3, there is shown a perspective view of the machine 1 for drilling a plate P.The machine 1 can comprise a plurality of stands 64, 65 movable along the x-axis, on which stands a machining head 641, 651 can be moved in a sliding manner.The machining head 641, 651 can be displaced along a direction parallel to the Y axis of the Cartesian coordinate system XYZ illustrated in FIG. 3.FIG. 4 provides a detailed perspective view of the machine 1 shown in FIG. 3, wherein a first group of spindles 401 are visible, each of which is positioned at an inclination angle α relative to the third lateral surface Fls or / and the portion of the upper surface Fs in the vicinity of the third lateral surface Fls.The spindles 401 enable inclined drilling with an inclination angle α relative to the third side surface Fls of the plate P or with an inclination angle α relative to a portion of the upper surface Fs in the vicinity of the third side surface Fls.The second group of spindles 501 is not visible in Fig. 4, but also a second group of spindles 501 is similarly positioned, with an inclination angle α relative to the first lateral surface Fld of the plate P or / and the portion of the upper surface Fs in the vicinity of the first lateral surface Fld, as shown for example in Fig. 2.The spindles 501 enable inclined drilling at an angle α relative to the first side surface Fld of the plate P or at an inclination angle α relative to a portion of the upper surface Fs in the vicinity of the first side surface Fld.The inclination angle α may be in a range of 30° to 60°, and may preferably be about 45°.The inclined holes are designed to facilitate the insertion of dowels.This provides the advantage of achieving more durable panel-to-panel connections for furniture frame assembly, which also simplifies the assembly process and increases its safety.By using a first set of reference elements 211, 231 and a second set of reference elements 221, 231, it is possible to correctly reference the plate P at the respective working area 21, 22 to align the respective lateral surface Fls, Fld for inclined drilling, by means of the respective spindles 401, 501, with an inclination angle α with respect to the surface Fls, Fld, Fs to be drilled.Such alignment of the panel P with the respective reference elements 211, 211, 231 reduces errors in drilling which, unlike vertical / orthogonal drilling, differences between the actual size of the panel P and the expected / estimated size of the panel P result in tolerable variations in depth, in the case of inclined drilling such differences result in displacement of the actual drilling point relative to the desired drilling point on the panel P leading to unacceptable errors for the purpose of achieving a correct furniture frame.At least one spindle 401, 501 may be rotatable about an axis of rotation C, such as an axis perpendicular to the work table 20, to facilitate drilling at various angles, in adjusting the hole sequence from plate to plate, or from machining task to machining task.The spindles 401, 501 may be independently operated and may be positioned perpendicular to the work table 20.The spindles 401, 501 may comprise at least two spindles, wherein the drill inserts 4011, 5011 are oriented in opposite directions along an axis X parallel to the work table 20.With reference to Figures 6-9, there is shown a second embodiment of the machine 1' for drilling panels P, which differs from the machine 1 described in Figures 1-4 in that it does not comprise at least one thrust element.In this second embodiment, the correct positioning of the plate P relative to the second reference element 231 is ensured by the conveying means 70 which move the plate P from the first working area 21 to the second working area 22, or vice versa, while holding the plate P in alignment with the second reference element 231.A first advantage of the present invention is the possibility of correctly referencing the plate P within the respective working area 21, 22, facilitating a precise inclined drilling of opposite lateral surfaces Fls, Fld of the plate P or / and of the respective portions of the upper surface Fs in the vicinity of or in correspondence with the respective lateral surfaces Fls, Fld, by means of the inclined drilling means 40, 50 of the machine 1, 1'.A second advantage of the present invention is the ability to stop the movement of the plate P when it is positioned in the respective working area 21, 22 of the machine 1, 1', which facilitates a precise inclined drilling of the opposite lateral surfaces Fls, Fld of the plate P or / and of the respective portions of the upper surface Fs in the vicinity of or in correspondence with the respective lateral surfaces Fls, Fld.A third advantage of the present invention is the ability to extend the range of precise manipulations that can be performed on the lateral surfaces Fls, Fld of the panel P or / and the respective portions of the top surface Fs, in the vicinity of or in correspondence with the respective lateral surfaces Fls, Fld.The present invention has been described in its preferred embodiments by way of illustration, but not limitation. It is understood that variations or modifications can be made by the skilled person without departing from the scope of protection given by the appended claims.The present invention relates to a machine (1, 1') for drilling a panel (P) comprising a base (10), a work table (20) for the panel (P) comprising the first working area (21) for drilling the panel (P), the first working area (21) comprising a first set of reference elements (211, 231) for stopping the panel (P) upon contact with the third lateral surface (Fls) and the second lateral surface (Fa, Fb) of the panel (P), and a second working area (22) for drilling the panel (P), the second working area (22) comprising a second set of reference elements (221, 231), In order to stop the plate (P) upon contact with the first lateral surface (Fld) and the second lateral surface (Fa, Fb), plate conveying means (70) for moving the plate (P), and drilling means (40, 50) for drilling a surface of the plate (P) comprising at least one spindle (401, 501), the machine (1, 1') being characterized in that at least one spindle (401, 501) is positioned at an inclination angle (α) relative to the surface of the plate (P).

Claims

A machine (1, 1') for drilling a panel (P) having a plurality of surfaces comprising an upper surface (Fs) and a plurality of lateral surfaces, having a first lateral surface (Fld), a second lateral surface (Fa, Fb) and a third lateral surface (Fls) opposite the first lateral surface (Fld), the machine (1, 1') comprising: a base (10), a work table (20) for the panel (P), the work table (20) being arranged on the base (10) and comprising: - a first working area (21) for drilling the panel (P), the first working area (21) comprising a first set of reference elements (211, 231), to stop the plate (P) upon contact with the third lateral surface (Fls) and the second lateral surface (Fa, Fb), and - a second working area (22) for drilling the plate (P), the second working area (22) comprising a second set of reference elements (221, 231) to stop the plate (P) upon contact with the first lateral surface (Fld) and the second lateral surface (Fa, Fb), conveying means (70) for the plate (P) configured to move the plate (P) from the first working area (21) to the second working area (22), and drilling means (40, 50) for drilling one surface out of the plurality of surfaces of the plate (P) positioned corresponding to the first working area (21) or the second working area (22), wherein the drilling means (40, 50) comprises motorized means and at least one spindle (401, 501) to receive a respective drill bit (4011, 5011) to drill the plate when the spindle (401, 501) is operated with the motorized means, the machine (1, 1') being characterised in that: the at least one spindle (401, 501) is positioned at an angle of inclination (α) relative to the surface.Machine (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first set of reference elements (211, 231) comprises at least a first reference element (211) positioned along a first transverse axis (Y1) parallel to the work table (20) and a second reference element (231) positioned along a longitudinal axis (X1) parallel to the work table (20) and orthogonal to the first transverse axis (Y1).The machine (1, 1') according to the preceding claim, wherein said at least one first reference element (211) is configured to assume a retracted position relative to the work table (20), in which said at least one first reference element (211) is positioned under the work table (20), and an extended position relative to the work table (20), in which said at least one first reference element (211) is positioned at a height above the work table (20) sufficient to come into contact with the panel (P).Machine (1, 1') according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the second set of reference elements (221, 231) comprises at least one third reference element (221) positioned along a second transverse axis (Y2) parallel to the work table (20), and wherein the second set of reference elements (221, 231) comprises the second reference element (231) positioned along the longitudinal axis (X1) orthogonal to the second transverse axis (Y2).Machine (1, 1') according to the preceding claim, wherein said at least one third reference element (221) is configured to assume a retracted position relative to said work table (20), in which said at least one third reference element (221) is positioned under said work table (20), and an extended position relative to said work table (20), in which said at least one third reference element (221) is positioned at a height above said work table (20) sufficient to come into contact with said panel (P).The machine (1, 1') according to claim 3 or 5, comprising a control logic unit configured to: generate a signal to extend the at least one first reference element (211) in response to a signal indicating that the plate (P) is positioned in the first working area (21), or generate a signal to extend the at least one third reference element (221) in response to a signal indicating that the plate (P) is positioned in the second working area (22).Machine (1, 1') according to any one of claims 2 - 6, wherein the second reference element (231) is fixedly positioned on the work table (20), along the entire length of the work table (20).Machine (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the angle of inclination (α) is between 30° and 60°, and preferably about 45°.Machine (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one spindle (401, 501) is rotatable about an axis of rotation (C), the axis of rotation (C) preferably being perpendicular to the work table (20).A machine (1, 1') according to any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of spindles (401, 501) operable independently of each other and positioned perpendicular to the work table (20).Machine (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least two spindles comprise drill inserts (4011, 5011) oriented in opposite directions along an axis (X) parallel to the work table (20).The machine (1, 1') according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of movable stands (64, 65) each arranged on the work table (20) along a respective axis (Y) perpendicular to an axis (X) of the work table (20), and wherein each of the drilling means (40, 50) is installed on a respective machining head (641, 651) of the plurality of movable stands (64, 65).Machine (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: a first loading / unloading area (23) for the plate (P) adjacent to the first working area (21), and a second loading / unloading area (24) for the plate (P) adjacent to the second working area (22).Machine (1, 1') according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the drilling means (40, 50) comprise first drilling means (40) positioned in the first working area (21) for drilling the third lateral surface (Fls) and / or at least a portion of the upper surface (Fs) close to the third lateral surface (Fls) when the third lateral surface (Fls) and the second lateral surface (Fa, Fb) are in contact with the first set of reference elements (211, 231), and wherein the drilling means (40, 50) comprise second drilling means (50) positioned in the second working area (22) for drilling the first lateral surface (Fld) and / or at least a portion of the upper surface (Fs) close to the first lateral surface (Fld), when the first lateral surface (Fld) and the second lateral surface (Fa, Fb) are in contact with the second set of reference elements (221, 231).Machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising at least one pushing element (81, 82) configured to: push the plate (P) into contact with the first set of reference elements (211, 231) when the plate is / is positioned in the first working area (21), or / and push the plate (P) into contact with the second set of reference elements (221, 231) when the plate is / is positioned in a second working area (22).

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