Patent ID: 6041700
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: B27N,B30B

Abstract:
A press for pressing a mat into a thin panel, the press comprising:a press frame;upper and lower press plates on the frame;upper and lower press belts having confronting lower and upper stretches defining a press gap extending in a horizontal and longitudinal transport direction and respectively running below and above the upper and lower press plates;upper and lower flexible intake plates juxtaposed respectively above and below upstream ends of the lower and upper stretches of the belts and defining therewith an intake mouth flaring upstream;an array of spaced fluid-powered actuators carried on the frame and having outer ends juxtaposed with one of the intake plates;thermal insulation between the actuator outer ends and the one intake plate; andball joints between the actuator outer ends and the one intake plate each includinga shell fixed on the one intake plate and having a part-spherical outer surface turned toward the respective actuator outer end and a concentric part-spherical inner surface turned away from the respective actuator outer end;a seat formed on the respective actuator outer end and complementarily engaging the shell outer surface; anda head fixed on the respective actuator outer end and having a surface riding on and complementary to the shell inner surface.