The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 18, 1997
Filed:
Jan. 26, 1995
Kenneth Assink, Holland, MI (US);
Mark J Feenstra, Grand Haven, MI (US);
J. R. Automation Technologies, Inc., Holland, MI (US);
Abstract
An upholstering apparatus is provided including a frame, a work-supporting plate operably mounted on the frame including a nest configured to support a sheet of upholstery material, especially fabric, and a substrate. A clamp on the frame is configured to rubbingly press the substrate against the upholstering material. In a first embodiment, a plurality of edge fold assemblies are located around the nest, each including a first subassembly having an edge fold blade operably attached to the work-supporting plate, and a second subassembly operably attached to the clamp for engaging the edge fold blade. A first actuator is operably connected to the edge fold blade to extend the blade into contact with the edge of the upholstery material to press the edge of the upholstery material against the substrate, and a second actuator is operably connected to the clamp to press the edge fold blade against the upholstery material edge and the substrate for two dimensional complex movement as the edge fold blade is moved around onto the back surface of the substrate. A controller attached to the actuators controls the sequential actuation of the actuators so that the upholstering apparatus is automatically operated for optimal performance. In a second embodiment, heaters are movably connected to the clamp to heat a strip along a back edge of a polymeric structural member to create a fluidized film on the back surface so that, when edge fold blades press a sheet of material against the back edge, the fluidized film of bonds the sheet of material to the structural member as the fluidized film cools.