Abstract: An assembly of air heaters and reciprocally movable air driven staking tools is provided for use in the assembly of pieces using thermally softenable and pressure deformable studs. The air heaters and air driven staking tools are assembled in a supporting structure through which air is circulated to cool the staking tools to limit adhesion of hot softened material to the working face of each staking tool. The air heaters and air driven staking tools are individually selectable and controllable to meet the requirement of each workpiece to be hot staked. The method of operating the hot staking assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A heat staking apparatus includes a workpiece support and a moveable support plate having a planar surface spaced from the workpiece support. A plurality of extensible components are supported on the support plate by holders that slideably engage the planar surface in a manner allowing horizontal adjustment in an infinite number of directions within a given area on the plane. The extensible components include staking tools configured to heat stake a workpiece located on the workpiece support. The hot staking apparatus further includes a plurality of adjustable hot air heater assemblies, one for each extensible cylinder. Each hot air assembly includes a holder adjustably secured to the support plate. The holder includes opposing members, one of which is spring-loaded for removably releasably engaging and holding the respective hot air heater assembly.

Abstract: An upholstering apparatus is provided including a frame, a work-supporting plate operably mounted on the frame including a nest configured to support a sheet of upholstery material, especially fabric, and a substrate. A clamp on the frame is configured to rubbingly press the substrate against the upholstering material. In a first embodiment, a plurality of edge fold assemblies are located around the nest, each including a first subassembly having an edge fold blade operably attached to the work-supporting plate, and a second subassembly operably attached to the clamp for engaging the edge fold blade.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for laying a composite tape on an elongated molding is provided. The apparatus includes a reciprocatable carrier for carrying the molding, a composite tape applicator adapted to apply a pair of parallel strips of composite tape to the back of the molding, and a release-paper-adhering tape applicator adapted to apply release-paper-adhering tape to the release paper on the composite tape. The composite tape applicator includes a composite tape advancing mechanism, a cutter for cutting an expended strip of composite tape from a supply of the composite tape, and a pressing roller for pressing the composite tape securely onto the molding. The release-paper-adhering tape applicator includes a second tape advancing mechanism, a cutter for cutting a section of the release-paper-adhering tape from a supply of the release-paper-adhering tape, and a pressing member and a heater for securely bonding the section of release-paper-adhering tape to the release paper of the composite tape.

Abstract: An assembly of air heaters and reciprocally movable air driven staking tools is provided for use in the assembly of pieces using thermally softenable and pressure deformable studs. The air heaters and air driven staking tools are assembled in a supporting structure through which air is circulated to cool the staking tools to limit adhesion of hot softened material to the working face of each staking tool. The air heaters and air driven staking tools are individually selectable and controllable to meet the requirement of each workpiece to be hnot staked. The method of operating the hot staking assembly is also disclosed.