Patent ID: 7959752
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: B29C,B29D,B29K,B29L,D03D,D04H,D10B,E02D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for producing a geogrid, which includes longitudinal fiber-reinforced polymer strips reinforced with fibers or fiber bundles and lateral fiber-reinforced polymer strips reinforced with fibers or fiber bundles, the longitudinal fiber-reinforced polymer strips and the lateral fiber-reinforced polymer strips being interconnected at a plurality of junctions to form a lattice structure, by using a device provided with a strip arranging means, wherein the strip arranging means comprises an upper plate and a lower plate positioned to face the upper plate, wherein the upper plate, the lower plate, or both are moveable so that the upper and lower plates can come closer to and get away from each other within a predetermined distance, wherein a predetermined number of first bending members are formed on the lower surface of the upper plate and predetermined number of second bending members are formed on the upper surface of the lower plate, wherein the first bending members and the second bending members are formed along a plurality of lateral lines that are spaced apart from and are in parallel with each other and a plurality of longitudinal lines that are spaced apart from and are in parallel with each other such that the first and second bending members are formed at positions corresponding to the junctions of the lattice structure while they do not directly face each other, the method comprising: (a) supplying the longitudinal fiber-reinforced polymer strips between the upper and lower plates along the plurality of longitudinal lines; (b) moving the upper plate, lower plate, or both to become closer to each other such that all of the longitudinal fiber-reinforced polymer strips are pressed by the first and second bending members at the same time, thereby forming valleys in each of the longitudinal fiber-reinforced polymer strips at positions where the longitudinal fiber-reinforced polymer strips are pressed by the first bending members and ridges in each of the longitudinal fiber-reinforced polymer strips at positions where the longitudinal fiber-reinforced polymer strips are pressed by the second bending members, whereby the valleys and the ridges formed in all of the longitudinal fiber-reinforced polymer strips define closed spaces when viewed in a lateral direction; (c) inserting the lateral fiber-reinforced polymer strips into the closed spaces such that one lateral fiber-reinforced polymer strip is inserted into each closed space, whereby the lateral fiber-reinforced polymer strips are crossed with the longitudinal fiber-reinforced polymer strips at positions corresponding to the junctions of the lattice structure; and (d) adhering the longitudinal fiber-reinforced polymer strips and the lateral fiber-reinforced polymer strips at the positions corresponding to the junctions of the lattice structure.