| 摘要 |
A method and apparatus (10) for automatically installing in tandem pairs of protective covers (40) to adjacent corners of a rectangular picture frame, to protect the corners during shipment, includes a pair of corner protector installation mechanisms (20) oriented at ninety degrees with respect to one another and mounted on a supporting frame laterally spaced apart at a distance adjustable to accommodate frames of varios widths. Each mechanism has a work table (22) which supports a pair of mutually perpindicular, non-intersecting, vertically disposed, longitudinally elongated guide plates (26) which support on the upper surfaces thereof, near inner diagonally cut transverse vertical end walls of the plates, a clamp support beam member(25), a lower surface of which defines with inner side of the guide plates and the work table surface a diagonally disposed frame entrance opening. When two adjacent corners of a frame are inserted into and correctly oriented with respect to the guide plates, sensors (160) within each of the guide plates (26) produce a command signal which initiates simultaneous automatic operation of both installation mechanisms, each of which includes a feeder (60) that loads an individual pre-cut cardboard preform (40) into position on a work table inwardly of the entrance opening through the guide plares. Each installation mechanism (20) includes flap folder arms (121) which fit into worktable recesses (119), and which bend preform flaps (41), (42), (47), (50) and (51) to overlie adjacent members of a picture frame, and a pneumatic stapler gun (91) which inserts a staple downwardly through a right-triangular cover flap (42) into a securement flap (51) and a frame member, securing a separate folded corner protector (40) over each frame corner. |
