Apparatuses and methods for applying pressure to edge surfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11052624-B2
Application number	US-201916421896-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2019
Priority date	May 24, 2019
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

An apparatus for applying pressure to at least a portion of an edge surface, which bridges opposing faces of a workpiece, comprises a frame, a first roller, a second roller, a rotation-control member, a first biasing member, and a second biasing member. The first roller and the second roller are coupled to the frame, are rotatable relative to the frame about a first pivot axis, and are translationally fixed relative to the frame. The rotation-control member is coupled to and is movable relative to the frame, controlling rotation of the first roller and the second roller relative to the frame. The first biasing member is coupled to the first roller and to the second roller and is configured to operate in tension. The second biasing member is positioned, in compression, between the frame and the rotation-control member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for applying pressure to at least a portion of an edge surface, which bridges opposing faces of a workpiece, the apparatus comprising:
a frame;
a first roller, coupled to the frame, rotatable relative to the frame about a first pivot axis, and translationally fixed relative to the frame;
a second roller, coupled to the frame, rotatable relative to the frame about a second pivot axis, and translationally fixed relative to the frame, and wherein the second pivot axis is spaced from the first pivot axis along a first axis, which intersects and is perpendicular to the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis;
a rotation-control member, coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame;
a first biasing member, coupled to the first roller and to the second roller and configured to operate in tension; and
a second biasing member, positioned, in compression, between the frame and the rotation-control member;
and wherein:
when the rotation-control member is at a first location relative to the frame, the first roller and the second roller are rotatable relative to the frame and the rotation-control member does not contact the first biasing member; and
when the rotation-control member is at a second location relative to the frame, the first roller and the second roller are rotationally fixed relative to the frame and the rotation-control member contacts the first biasing member.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first biasing member is elastically stretchable and is supported by the first roller and by the second roller.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
the first biasing member has a closed shape; and
the first roller and the second roller are circumscribed by the first biasing member and the first biasing member wraps around a portion of the first roller and a portion of the second roller.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein:
the first biasing member comprises a first straight portion, a second straight portion, a first circular-arc portion, and a second circular-arc portion;
the first circular-arc portion is in circumferential contact with the first roller;
the second circular-arc portion is in circumferential contact with the second roller;
the first straight portion and the second straight portion are parallel to each other and to the first axis;
the first straight portion and the second straight portion are on opposite sides of the first axis;
the first straight portion interconnects the first circular-arc portion and the second circular-arc portion; and
the second straight portion interconnects the first circular-arc portion and the second circular-arc portion.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the first biasing member is in tension when the first roller and the second roller are circumscribed by the first biasing member and the first biasing member wraps around the portion of the first roller and the portion of the second roller.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein, when the rotation-control member is at the second location relative to the frame, one portion of the first biasing member is compressed between a first portion of the rotation-control member and the portion of the first roller and another portion of the first biasing member is compressed between a second portion of the rotation-control member and the portion of the second roller.

7. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
the first biasing member has an open shape and comprises a first end and a second end,
the first end is attached to the first roller at a first attachment point, and
the second end is attached to the second roller at a second attachment point.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the first biasing member is in tension between the first attachment point and the second attachment point.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the first biasing member is straight when the apparatus is not applying the pressure to at least the portion of the edge surface.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the frame comprises a channel, extending along and longitudinally centered on a second axis, perpendicular to the first axis;
the first roller and the second roller are separated by a gap; and
the second axis bisects the gap between the first roller and the second roller into two equal parts.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the gap between the first roller and the second roller has a gap width (D 2 ), equal to a channel width (D 3 ) of the channel or is less than the channel width (D 3 ) by a non-zero dimension that is less than or equal to twice a thickness (D 4 ) of the first biasing member.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the channel comprises a channel surface, extending parallel to the first axis.

13. A method of applying pressure to at least a portion of an edge surface, which bridges opposing faces of a workpiece, using an apparatus that comprises a frame; a first roller, coupled to the frame and rotatable relative to the frame about a first pivot axis and translationally fixed relative to the frame; a second roller, coupled to the frame and rotatable relative to the frame about a second pivot axis and translationally fixed relative to the frame, and wherein the second pivot axis is spaced from the first pivot axis along a first axis, which intersects and is perpendicular to the first pivot axis and to the second pivot axis; a rotation-control member, coupled to the frame and movable relative to the frame; a first biasing member, coupled to the first roller and to the second roller; and a second biasing member, positioned, in compression, between the frame and the rotation-control member, the method comprising steps of:
aligning the apparatus with the workpiece, such that the edge surface of the workpiece is centered along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis and that extends between the first pivot axis of the first roller and the second pivot axis of the second roller;

positioning the rotation-control member at a first location relative to the frame, such that the first roller and the second roller are rotatable relative to the frame and the rotation-control member does not contact the first biasing member;
with the rotation-control member positioned at the first location relative to the frame, moving the apparatus and the workpiece relative to each other, such that the workpiece is received between the first roller and the second roller, stretching the first biasing member so that the first biasing member applies pressure to at least the portion of the edge surface of the workpiece, while the first roller and the second roller apply equal and opposite forces to opposing faces of the workpiece; and
positioning the rotation-control members at a second location relative to the frame, such that the first roller and the second roller are rotationally fixed relative to the frame and the rotation-control member contacts the first biasing member, creating a frictional coupling between the apparatus and the workpiece, which maintains the pressure, applied to at least the portion of the edge surface by the first biasing member.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the step of positioning the rotation-control member at the first location relative to the frame comprises a step of compressing the second biasing member.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein:
the first biasing member has a closed shape; and
the first roller and the second roller are circumscribed by the first biasing member and the fi

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Howard Jesse P

Classifications

• B25B5/02

  with sliding jaws · CPC title

• B25B5/166

  Slideways; Guiding and/or blocking means for jaws thereon · CPC title

• B30B9/245

  the edges of the band being folded over the material · CPC title

• B25B5/163

  Jaws or jaw attachments · CPC title

• B30B9/241

  co-operating with a drum or roller · CPC title