Background of the invention

The invention relates to a profiling apparatus consisting of a bed structure and one or several molding stations. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing and using the profiling apparatus.

It has conventionally been difficult to adjust profiling apparatuses. Molding stations are attached to holes drilled in the bed structure, which holes are in each bed structure located in predetermined places. When moving the place of a molding station, it must first be detached and then attached to another location. In case there is needed a completely new site of assembly, new holes must be drilled in the bed structure, which is slow and troublesome. In addition, it may be difficult to accurately adjust the arrangement, because new holes cannot be drilled in the immediate vicinity of earlier holes.

General description of the invention

We have now invented a profiling apparatus where the adjusting of the location of the molding station is technically extremely easy.

For achieving this aim, the invention is characterized by what is set forth in the independent claims. Other claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

In a profiling arrangement according to the invention, the bed structure is provided with a sliding profile, and the molding station includes one or several adjustable fastening elements, and respectively the sliding profile is provided with one or several fastening back stops for fastening the molding station to the sliding profile. The fastening element and the fastening back stop can be mutually attached in the longitudinal direction, in an essentially stepless fashion. This makes the adjusting of the location of the molding station precise and makes the use of the apparatus essentially more versatile. By means of the stepless adjustment, various different profiles can be molded in the same arrangement without difficulty. Also the adjusting itself takes place rapidly and accurately, in which case the production process and the product itself can be varied in many different ways.

The arrangement can be used for adjusting for example profiling radii in a versatile and precise manner.

A stepless adjusting process also simplifies the production, because same units can be used in the assembly of different arrangements. For instance, the bed structure need not be separately machined for various different molding stations. This brings essential technical and economical advantages to the manufacturing process of the equipment. Molding stations can be added or replaced in the machine easily after delivery. The machine can be steplessly adjusted also for profile plates that should be made curved in the longitudinal direction.

By means of the method of the invention, the produced machines are made extremely modular, which remarkably shortens delivery times. Only molding rollers and molding blades are made individually for each customer after the machine has been ordered.

The fastening element can be any adjustable fastening element known in the prior art. It can preferably be an industrially manufactured fastening element, in which case it need not be separately designed and manufactured for the apparatus in question. Advantageously the adjustable fastening element of the molding station is an Allen screw, a spiral bar, a stud bolt or a catch. The opening and locking of this type of a fastening element is carried out precisely and rapidly.

According to an object of the invention, the fastening back stop is an essentially steplessly adjustable groove, such as a preferably T-shaped or C-shaped groove. In this kind of a fastening back stop, the fastening of the molding station is technically precise, and it is easily realized as stepless. According to another object of the invention, the fastening back stop is an essentially steplessly adjustable rail, such as a T-rail. In that case, the fastening element can preferably be for example a fastening nut that is secured to the rail.

According to an object of the invention, the sliding profile is provided with a control bracket, and respectively the corresponding molding station is provided with a control back stop recess. These advantageously improve fastening accuracy and also the movability of the molding station in the sliding profile. The molding station is accurately installed with respect to the bed structure.

According to an object of the invention, the sliding profile is a metal profile, such as an aluminum profile or a steel profile. This kind of sliding profile is technically

easy to manufacture, and it is relatively light in weight. It can be machined precisely, and its installation in the bed structure is technically easy.

The sliding profile can be attached to the bed structure preferably with Allen screws, or with a screw-fastened catch.

The profiling apparatus according to the invention is rapidly assembled. Moreover, remarkable savings in expenses are achieved thereby, because separate fastening holes need not be made in the bed structure. The manufacturing process can be largely standardized. In addition, savings are achieved also in the planning step, because the locations of the fastening holes need not be planned separately in each profiling apparatus. The adjusting of the profiling apparatus is technically extremely easy, in which case it can be rapidly and accurately adjusted to be suitable for various different materials. Also from the technical point of view, the adjusting is simple and quick, because the apparatus is provided with fastening elements that can be opened and locked rapidly.

Detailed description of the invention

In the specification below, a few preferred embodiments of the invention are described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings.

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal view of part of the profiling apparatus.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section of the profiling apparatus illustrated in figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a sliding profile in cross-section.

Figure 4 shows another profiling apparatus in cross-section.

Figure 1 illustrates a molding station 4, which is installed in a sliding profile 1 attached to the bed structure 2. The sliding profile 1 is attached to the bed structure 2 by means of Allen screws (fastened by screws) 3.

Figure 2 shows a molding station 4 installed in sliding profile 1 attached to the bed structure 2. The sliding profile 1 is attached to the bed structure 2 by means of Allen screws 3. The molding station 4 includes, as adjustable fastening elements 5, Allen screws, and the sliding profile 1 includes, as fastening back stops 1v, two grooves that in shape are essentially T-shaped. In the grooves 1v, there are also installed T-groove nuts (or longer counterpieces, in which case the assembly and moving of the molding station is even easier still). In addition, the sliding profile 1

also includes a control bracket 1u, and the molding station 4 is provided with a corresponding control recess 4s for aligning the fastening position of the molding station 4 in the correct position with respect to the sliding profile 1. In this kind of an apparatus, the location of the molding station 4 with respect to the bed structure 2 is steplessly adjustable. When adjusting the location of the molding station 4, the Allen screws (or stud bolts) 5 are loosened, and the molding station 4 can now be steplessly moved to the desired spot in the sliding profile 1 and locked in said spot by tightening the Allen screws (or stud bolts) 5.

Figure 3 shows a detailed cross-section of an advantageous sliding profile 1. We see two T-shaped fastening counterpart grooves 1v, and a control bracket 1u in between said fastening counterpart grooves 1v.

Figure 4 shows a molding station 4 that is installed in the sliding profile 1 attached to the bed structure 2. The sliding profile 1 is attached to the bed structure 2 by means of Allen screws (screws) 3. The molding station 4 includes, as adjustable fastening elements 6, an adjustable spiral bar, and the sliding profile 1 includes, as fastening back stops 1v, two grooves that in shape are essentially T-shaped grooves. In said grooves 1v, there are also installed groove nuts. Moreover, the sliding profile 1 is provided with a control bracket 1u, and the molding station 4 is provided with a corresponding control recess 4s for aligning the fastening position of the molding station 4 in the correct position with respect to the sliding profile 1. In an apparatus like this, the location of the molding station 4 with respect to the bed structure 2 is steplessly adjustable. While adjusting the location of the molding station 4, the spiral bar 6 is loosened, and the molding station 4 can now be steplessly moved to the desired spot of the sliding profile 1 and locked therein by tightening the spiral bar 6.