Monolithic finishing process and machine for furniture parts and the like

Abstract

A process and machine are provided to manufacture furniture parts and the like with a unique, durable, low gloss finish which has a soft, satin feel, and imparts a monolithic appearance to the part. A blank cut from a suitable substrate material is grooved about its marginal edge to a depth near the opposite surface of the blank. A liquid edge protection material is poured into the groove and fully cured. The blank is then cut through at the filled groove to create a decorative protective strip about the marginal edge of the blank. The formed blank is next coated with a selected paint or base material. After the base coat is cured, a layer of UV curable, protective material is applied to the painted surfaces of the blank. The UV coated blank is then translated through a multi-stage, continuous feed, ultraviolet processor to selectively and sequentially cure the protective coat. Powered rollers arranged in spaced apart groups convey the parts through the processor. UV light sources are located above and below the rollers, vertically in line with the spaces between adjacent roller groups, and have selectively oriented reflectors which contemporaneously and uniformly radiate all of the UV coated surfaces of the blank to form a mar-resistant, low gloss protective coat, which together with the base coat, imparts a soft feel, and monolithic appearance to the finished part.