Apparatus and method for placement of angle plates in transverse duct flanges

1. A method of fabricating a duct fitting comprising:

fabrication of a duct fitting at a work station and automatically inserting angle plates in said duct fitting at said work station, said work station comprising

(a) an apparatus for automatically assembling an angle plate in channel-shaped flanges at ends of said duct fitting, said apparatus comprising:

a platen for engaging an end of said duct fitting in a pre-selected position relative to said platen and said platen includes a substantially unobstructed work area adapted to receive said duct fitting;

clamping members for locking said duct fitting in a pre-selected position relative to said platen;

a supply hopper for angle plates located underneath said platen for advancing upwardly an angle plate for insertion into said duct fitting;

an angle plate advancing member for advancing an angle plate into engagement with a corner of said clamped duct fitting; and

pressing members for pressing an angle plate into said corners of said duct fitting; and

(b) a table adjacent said apparatus adapted for use by one or more workers.

2. The method according to claim 1 comprising two of said work stations positioned side by side.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus and table are in vertical relation to one another.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus is perpendicular to said table.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein each duct flange has a free side edge, and there are crimper members for crimping said side edges over said angle plate.

6. The method according to claim 5 further comprising a trigger member and an electric switch to activate said insertion and a PLC member to control sequence operation of components of said apparatus.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein said supply hopper further comprises an elevator for advancing said angle plate into position relative to said angle plate advancing member.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said elevator comprises a V-shaped magazine for holding angle plates, an air cylinder and finger plates adapted to engage said angle plates.

9. The method according to claim 7 wherein each of said clamping members, angle plate elevator, angle plate advancing member, pressing members, and crimper members is activated by a separate air cylinder.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said clamping members comprise a clamp arm, a clamp head and a clamp finger adapted to engage said duct flange to lock said flange in place.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein said pressing members comprise a press head having a press wedge adapted for engaging an angle plate and pressing said angle plate into said duct flange.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein said pressing members press said angle plate into said duct flange at an angle in a range of about 50 to about 90 degrees.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein said supply hopper is adapted to receive a package of angle plates wherein said package is selected from the group consisting of a sleeve, a plurality of bands and a plurality of bands and a V-shaped backing.

14. The method according to claim 13 wherein said package is adapted to hold a plurality of angle plates in a range of 50 to 100 angle plates.