DE8713352U1 - Auxiliary tool for mutual clamping of adjacent panels - Google Patents

Description

Hi Lfs tool for mutual
Bracing of adjacent plates

The invention relates to an auxiliary tool for the mutual clamping of two plates abutting against each other with their edges,
especially when gluing the panels to produce a
V Panel connections for interior fittings, such as those required for fitted kitchen work, battens or wall panels.

\Jv Worktops for fitted kitchens should have surfaces that are as uninterrupted as possible. This is not only
not only for optical reasons, but above all because
any kind of joints for contamination and penetration
of moisture. They are therefore mostly made from long, pre-produced pieces.

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Applicant: Gaggenau-Werke Haus- und Lufttechmk GmbH %

7560 Gaggenau, DE |

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which are individually adapted to the conditions in the respective kitchen. However, this process is complex/ because a large part of the cutting can only be done on site. This involves noise and dirt. The same applies to wall panels in shower cubicles, bathrooms, etc.

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Where worktops for fitted kitchens have been glued together at their edges in individual cases, the effort involved was considerable. In particular, it was difficult to clamp the abutting panels together while the adhesive was setting. Usually, auxiliary tools commonly used in carpentry were used for this, such as clamps, pliers or wooden blocks. Occasionally, strips or similar were screwed in from the underside of the worktop to temporarily fix the panels.

Based on this, the invention is based on the task of creating a way to clamp two plates that abut against each other with their edges in a considerably simpler and yet | reliable manner.

This is achieved in an auxiliary tool of the type described above in that two holding elements, each of which can be fastened to one of the plates, are connected so that they can be moved relative to one another by means of a clamping device and the holding elements are designed as vacuum holding devices which adhere to the surface of the plates.

Within the scope of the present invention, it has been found that vacuum adhesion devices, as used for other applications

for example for the transport and insertion of glass panes, are already known and are excellently suited to the purpose of the invention if they are combined with a clamping device that is as finely adjustable as possible. The holding force of the vacuum holding devices on a smooth worktop surface has proven to be sufficient, although the forces in the use according to the invention do not act predominantly perpendicular to the surface of the adhesion, as is usually the case, but parallel to it. The holding devices only begin to slip on the surface when relatively large forces are applied. This can often even be seen as an advantage in the context of the present invention, because ^it prevents the edges of the worktop from being pressed against each other excessively.

The clamping device can be designed in different ways and attached to the vacuum holding devices. It is important that it allows a finely adjustable displacement of the vacuum holding devices against each other and that the forces act on the vacuum holding devices in such a way that no excessive tilting moment is exerted on them, which could lift them off the surface*

For example, the tensioning device can be designed as a tensioning wire, which is attached to an eyelet attached to the circumference of the vacuum holding device. Its length can be finely adjusted using various known means, in the simplest case using a toggle that can be inserted into a double wire.

The clamping device can also be designed as an eccentric device, through which the holding elements are connected so that they can slide against each other. Another alternative is a

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Rack and pinion with a 7aftnr adapter r i iib .

Preferably, support parts for the clamping device are attached to the vacuum clamping device, which usually protrude a few centimeters from them. In this case, unacceptable tilting moments are avoided by the clamping device itself being rigid (for example, a rod or profile body with variable length) and by it being attached to the support parts so rigidly that it acts parallel to the holding surface. As a result, the clamping forces practically only act parallel to the holding surface.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an embodiment shown schematically in the figures. They show:

Fig. 1 an auxiliary tool according to the invention in perspective view

Fig. 2 an auxiliary tool according to Fig. 1 in section in use for clamping two plates

The auxiliary tool 1 shown in the figures consists essentially of two vacuum holding devices 2 and 3, to each of which a support part 4, 5 is attached, and of a handle 6 connecting the vacuum holding devices.

In Fig.Z, the auxiliary tool 1 is shown in operation. The plates 7,8 are to be connected to one another at their edges 9,TQ, which are coated with an adhesive not shown.

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For this purpose, the auxiliary tool 1 with the two vacuum holding devices 2,3 is placed - as shown - on the smooth surface 11,12 of the plates 7,8. The part of the surface to which the force devices 2,3 adhere is referred to as the adhesion surface.

The vacuum holding devices 2, 3 each have a rigid, approximately plate-shaped, membrane holder 2a and 3a, made for example of metal, and a rubber-elastic membrane 2b, 3b arranged underneath. The middle part of the rubber-elastic membranes 2b, 3b can be lifted using clamping elements 13, 14, which can be operated using handles 15, 16.

A support part 4,5 protrudes from each vacuum holding device 2,3, at the upper end of which a bearing is provided in which the handle 6 is rotatably mounted.

The left bearing 17 in Fig. 2 has a plain bearing ring 17a, into which a bearing pin 6a of the handle 6 engages. A retaining ring 6b sits on the pin 6a, by which the pin 6a is held when a force acts towards the other holding device. On the right side in the figure, the handle 6 merges into a threaded spindle 6c, which engages in a corresponding thread 18 of a bearing attached to the support part 5.

The handle 6 and the bearings 17,19 form a clamping device, by means of which the vacuum holding devices 2,3 can be moved against each other. In order to ensure sensitive movement, the thread 18 is designed as a fine thread.

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After the auxiliary tool has been placed in place, the clamping elements 13, 14 are actuated so that the membranes 2b, 3b are raised in the middle and the cavities 20, 21 are created underneath, in which a vacuum prevails. The vacuum holds the adhesive devices to the smooth adhesive surfaces 11a, 12a.

The handle is then turned in such a way that the threaded spindle 6c penetrates the thread 18. This causes the vacuum holding devices to be pushed towards one another until the edges 9, 10 of the plates 7, 8 lie against one another. The force with which they are pressed against one another can be varied by expanding the handle more or less. If too much force is applied, the vacuum holding devices 2, 3 begin to slip on the corresponding surfaces 11, 12, so that excessive clamping is automatically avoided. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the axis A of the handle 6 (and thus also of the pin 6a and the threaded spindle 6c) runs parallel to the holding surfaces 11a and 12a. The bearings 17 and 19 are rigidly connected to the vacuum holding devices 2, 3 via the support parts 4, 5. This measure prevents a tilting moment from acting on the holding devices 2,3 during the clamping process and causing them to lift off.

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Claims (6)

Dr.-ing. Herbert Mdsjer- &Lgr;\\ · r\ (' Dr.rer.nat. Hans-Peter Preifer Patent Attorneys D-7500 Karlsruhe 1, Nowockanlage 15 A 10Z6 Claims 1. A tool for clamping two panels arranged next to each other with their edges abutting against each other, particularly when gluing the panels to produce a panel assembly for interior fittings, () characterized in that two holding elements (2,3), each of which can be fastened to one of the plates, are connected so as to be displaceable relative to one another by means of a clamping device (6,17,19) and the holding elements (2,3) are designed as vacuum adhesion devices which adhere to the surface (11,12) of the plates (7,8). 2. Auxiliary tool according to claim 1, characterized in that ,ds*} on the vacuum holding devices (2,3) supporting parts (4,5) for the clamping device (6,17,19) are attached, to which the clamping device * acts parallel to the adhesion surface (11a,12a) and that the clamping device is rigid with respect to the axis (A) connecting the supporting parts. 3. Auxiliary tool according to claim 2, characterized in that the clamping device! has a handle (6) which can be rotated about its longitudinal axis, the ends of which are mounted on both sides in a bearing (17, 19) connected to the support part, at least one of the bearings (19) and one of the handles ending in a mating spindle thread (6c,18). 4. Auxiliary tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the vacuum holding devices (2, 3) have a rubber-elastic support membrane (2b, 3b) which closes off a vacuum chamber (20, 21) arranged above the support surface and that this vacuum chamber can be controlled by hand-operated clamping elements (13, 14) to generate vacuum. 5. A lifting tool according to claim 4, characterized in that the vacuum holding devices (2, 3) are designed in the shape of a circular disk. 6. A lifting tool according to claim 3, characterized in that the rotatable handle (6) has surfaces for labeling.