Patent ID: 7306022
Filing Date: 2007-12-11
Classification: B01D,B07B

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for manufacturing a filtering screen comprising a jig adapted to receive and locate at least one frame of plastics coated metal or reinforced plastics material, pneumatically operated clamps carried by the jig adapted in use to grip the edges of a layer of wire cloth placed over the at least one frame, pneumatically driven tensioning means on the jig adapted to drive the clamps outwardly from the frame to tension the cloth in orthogonal directions, a platen, means for heating the platen, drive means adapted in use to move the heated platen and/or the jig thereby to press the cloth against the frame in order to heat and locally melt the plastics material and cause the wires of the cloth to become embedded therein, and then to retract the platen and/or jig so as to remove the source of heat from the at least one frame to allow the frame and cloth to cool, in order to bond the cloth to the frame, and to allow the frame with cloth attached thereafter to be removed from the jig after release of the clamps, wherein each clamp comprises a fixed pair of jaws and an inflatable envelope between them for use in gripping the edge of the wire cloth.