Apparatus and method for attaching edging to sheet

The invention relates to a device for pressing of items such as a metallic rail around the edge of a sheet.

The invention furthermore relates to a method for pressing of items such as a metallic rail around the edge of a sheet.

The invention also relates to the application of a device for pressing of items such as a metallic rail around the edge of a sheet.

It is known to press items such as folded sheet metal rails, which are to be pressed around e.g. posters in order to reinforce and strengthen the edge used for hanging of the posters.

The devices, which have hitherto been used for pressing, are primarily based on mechanical closing of metallic cheeks, which is arranged around an axis of rotation according to construction principles, which are also known from various plate bending machines.

It has been found, however, that there are some drawbacks of the hitherto known devices, including that it is difficult to transfer an even pressure on the item, which is to be pressed, and it has also shown to be problematic to secure the item in a specific position during the pressing process.

It is therefore an object of the invention to improve the known device and the method.

The object of the invention is achieved by a device of the type stated in the introductory portion of claim 1 , which is characterized in that the device includes a profile, on which a binding rail is mounted on the underside of

the profile, where the profile and the binding rail can be moved up and down in relation to stationary mechanical guides, which are mounted on each other. The stationary mechanical guide is placed in the profile such that the stationary mechanical guide has a lower exterior side, which faces a lower internal side of the profile and similarly an upper external side, which faces an upper internal side of the profile. Thereby two spaces are created between the external side of the guide and the internal side of the profile (an upper and a lower). In each of these spaces there is placed at least one flexible element, which can in turns be filled or emptied with a gas or a liquid. On the stationary mechanical guide is mounted a fixed base, which runs parallel with and under the binding rail.

In this way it thus becomes possible to transfer an even pressure to the item, which is to be pressed.

As stated in claim 3 it is also characteristic of the invention that the device is provided with one or more magnets mounted at or integrated in the base, for fastening of iron-containing items, which are to be pressed.

It is hereby achieved that the item can be fixed in a specific position during the pressing process.

Further preferred embodiments of the device appear from claim 2.

As mentioned the invention also relates to a method.

This method is characterized in that a device as stated in one or more of claims 1 to 3 is used for the pressing, where a partially bended metal profile rail is put on the fixed base, while the flexible element is extended and the flexible element is emptied. A sheet is placed with its edge into the partially pressed metallic rail. Hereafter the flexible element is emptied while the

flexible element is extended. Thereby the flexible element presses against the stationary mechanical guide's lower side and the movable profile's internal side and creates a descending movement of the movable profile and the binding rail against the fixed base such that the metallic rail is pressed wholly together around the edge of the sheet. Hereafter the flexible element is again emptied and the flexible element is filled, whereby the profile with the pressing machine is again lifted up in relation to the stationary mechanical guides and now releases the pressed item.

Hereby, it thus becomes possible, simple, inexpensive and efficient to transfer an even pressure over the whole item surface, which is to be pressed.

Further preferred embodiments appear from claim 5.

The invention as mentioned also relates to the application, which is characterized in that the device is used for pressing together or pressing items such as rails including metallic and magnetic rails around an end surface of objects such as posters or pictures.

The invention will now be explained more fully with reference to the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a device for pressing of items with deactivated pressing mechanism.

Fig. 2 shows the same device as fig. 1 but where the pressing mechanism is activated.

Fig. 3 shows the same device and state as fig. 1 , but seen from an end side and added pressure hoses.

Fig. 4 shows the same device and state as fig. 2 but seen from an end side and added pressure hoses.

Fig. 5 shows, seen from the side, a poster end, which is to be reinforced by a nosing.

Fig. 6 shows the same configuration as fig. 5 but with the nosing pressed around the end of the poster.

In fig. 1 is shown a device for pressing of items such as metallic nosings for strengthening of e.g. posters in their ends, in which they are to be suspended.

In fig. 1 is with 1 shown a movable device here consisting of a metallic profile such as a stainless steel profile, which has connection to a scissor or pressing device 2, e.g. consisting of a piece of rust-proof metal rail.

The profile 1 and binding rail 2 can be moved bi-directionally in one dimension controlled between stationary guides 5 and 8, to which is also connected a base 4 and a base support 6 where both base 4 and base support 6 can typically be manufactured from rust-proof steel plates or rails while the guides 5 and 8 can be manufactured from rust-proof steel profiles.

Items, which are to be pressed are placed in the space 3 between the base 4 and the binding rail 2 and are pressed when the binding rail 2 is moved in the direction towards the base 4.

In fig. 1 is shown a simplified diagram of the pressing device with deactivated binding rail 2 where the space 3 is open while fig. 2 shows the same device with activated binding rail 2 whereby the space 3 is closed.

In fig. 3 is shown the same configuration as in fig. 1 but seen from an end side where, between the stationary guide 8 and the movable profile 1 , is placed flexible elements 10, 11 such as consisting of hoses.

In the example shown in fig. 3 the flexible element 10 is extended and the lower flexible element 11 is minimised, whereby the movable profile 1 is pressed upwards in relation to the stationary guiding profile 8.

In this situation there is thus an open space 3 between the binding rail 2 and base 4.

In fig. 3, the pressing device is thus deactivated.

In fig. 4 is shown the same mechanical configuration as in fig. 3 but in an activated state where the flexible hose 10 is minimised while the hose 11 is extended.

Hereby the space 3 is removed, similar to that the pressing is complete.

In a preferred embodiment, the flexible elements 10 and 11 are hoses, which can operate under a relatively high pressure, e.g. through application of a gas including air or a liquid including water, which is added to the hoses under pressure.

Since the elements 10 and 11 are flexible, they will in activated extended state press with an even pressure over the whole surface of the item, which is to be pressed.

If the item, which is to be pressed, is manufactured from a magnetic material such as iron, the item can be fixed by building magnets into the

surfaces, which outline the space 3 between the binding rail 2 and base 4 including in the contact surfaces of these latter.

In fig. 5 is shown an example of items consisting of a rail 13, which is bended 14 around the middle and also provided with angles 15 near the ends.

The bar 13 is manufactured in order to enhance the edge 17 of objects 12 such as posters and / or pictures.

In fig. 6 is shown how the bar 13 after pressing in the pressing device is fastened to the object 12 by friction created between the bar ends 16 and the object 12.

The device part of the invention can be manufactured with two or more flexible elements such as hoses, but in a preferred embodiment is used exactly two hoses 10, 11.