Edge banding machine

Claim 1

Apparatus for manually applying a continuous edge band to the edges of a panel of woody material comprising: 1. a smooth, flat and hard work platform of dimensions adequate to yield a working area at the front portion thereof and large enough to accommodate panels of a variety of sizes; 2. means for storing a supply of edge banding material having a heat activatable adhesive on the backside thereof on said work platform near the upper edge thereof; 3. an adjustable guide means mounted on said work platform adjacent the supply of edge banding material for directing edge banding material of different thickness from the storage area to the working area of said work platform; 4. a heated means mounted on said work platform adjacent said guide means and in the vicinity of said working area for contacting said edge banding material to activate the adhesive thereon, said heated means further comprising an elongated heated platen having an initial curved portion with a curvature that is pronounced at its leading edge adjacent the adjustable guide means for assuring an immediate and intimate cooperation between the edge banding material and the heated platen after the edge banding material passes through said guide means, and a straight second portion at the trailing edge thereof; 5. a spring biased pressure roller device mounted on said work platform adjacent to and downstream of the trailing edge of said heated means for applying a uniform and continuous pressure to the panel edge after the application of said edging material thereto; and, 6. a finishing means mounted on said work platform adjacent said pressure roller device for providing a substantial bond between the panel edge and the edge banding material.