Back Panel Folding
Processing of furniture back panels with back panel folding systems
Foldable back panels are a popular element of contemporary furniture. However, their stability and functionality can only be guaranteed with the perfectly precise craftsmanship of PUR hinges – for example from LEHBRINK’s patented machining processes. LEHBRINK offers its customers a wide array of complete production lines and stand-alone solutions for back panel folding that are specially designed to manufacture back panels with single or multiple PUR folding sections. With options to enhance the equipment, our systems can be perfectly customized to meet your production needs and volumes.
LEHBRINK offers the right concept for every requirement:
- LEHBRINK offers the right concept for every requirement:
- Production line or stand-alone manufacturing
- Continuous processes, from cutting, shaping and gluing through to cooling, formatting, drilling, notching and stacking
- designs to suit small or large-scale production lines
- High stability
- Single and multiple folding sections as required
Center cut saw
In the first station, the raw material is cut into half by the center cut saw. For better side alignment, a side aligner is pneumatically controlled in the opposite circuit to the alignment ruler positioning, so that minimum and maximum workpiece widths can be optimally aligned. Thanks to the solid and robust mechanical engineering, a precise and high-quality cutting result is guaranteed. In order to ensure further damage free processing of the back panels, they are transported through a cleaning station after the center cut saw.
Back panel folding in the folding station
The two panel halves now run over roller conveyors into the folding station, where they are placed on top of each other by folding turners. The folding turners are driven by a servo motor.
After the folding, it is important that the panels are aligned longitudinally and transversely so that the required machining accuracy can be achieved at the following stations.
Milling station
In the milling station, the two superimposed panels are milled flush by means of two milling heads. This produces exact copies of the two longitudinal edges - for precise and straight edges.
Depending on the customer's requirements, a profile can also be milled onto the edge. This ensures greater stability of the finished back panel as well as less light transmission through the glueline.
Gluing station
In the next step, a defined amount of PUR glue is applied to the edges via a nozzle in the gluing station. This glue connects the two parts of the back panel and then, once hardened, later acts as a hinge.
Depending on the customer's depending on the customer’s requirements, the hinge for the back panel can also be formed with tape instead of adhesive. This is then applied in the back panel folding machine before folding. The system with tape applicator therefore has a different production process.
Cooling section
In the next step, the workpieces pass through the cooling section of the back panel folding machine. By applying room air (optionally also cooled room air) to the glue joint, the PUR adhesive obtains its initial strength for further processing of the back panels.
Dividing and trimming saw
Depending on the requirements, the processed back panels now pass through a dividing and trimming saw in cross through feed direction. Here, one back panel can thus be divided into several small ones. In order to achieve the highest possible accuracy in the dimensions of the back panels, they are trimmed at the edges.
Machining center
In the machining center, the back panels can be processed individually or as a package. Here, the workpieces can be notched and vertically drilled or milled according to customer requirements. Machining takes place in the longitudinal direction. To achieve the highest possible procesing quality, the workpieces are precisely aligned and clamped so that dust is also prevented from penetrating between the panels.
A patent-pending chain conveyor with attached MDF lamellas is used as a counter-layer, which also serves as a workpiece conveyor. This ensures an enormously high degree of flexibility during the machining operation: the complete freedom of movement means that the workpieces can be machined at any desired point on the counter-support without incurring high set-up times.
the lamella table trending_flat
Finally, the finished back panels are unloaded via lifting tables. Depending on the number of divisions in the upstream cross-cut saw, the back panels are sorted into stacks according to their size and aligned appropriately.
Back panel folding: Concepts for machines and plants
We offer the right concept for every requirement. All our machines and systems are manufactured according to your wishes and specifications!
