Method for reinforcing the edge region of a plate formed of a porous material by means of a reinforcement agent

A method of reinforcing an edge region of a plate formed of a porous material by means of a reinforcement agent wherein the plate is immersed in a bath containing a reinforcement agent. Air contained in the plate is withdrawn at least from one plate surface. Both plate surfaces prior to the immersion of the plate in the bath are covered so as to be protected against contact by the reinforcement agent.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a new and improved method of reinforcing 
the edge region of a plate formed of a porous material by means of a 
reinforcement agent. 
It is known in this particular field of technology that the edges of plates 
formed of porous materials, such as for instance chipboard and plates 
formed of a mineral substance or material, such as "Vermipan," must be 
reinforced in order, among other things, to increase the impact resistance 
of the edges and to be able to thread screws and the like into the plate 
from the side of the edges. 
With a state-of-the-art technique for edge-reinforcement wooden ledges, 
so-called glued borders, are applied to the plate edges. This procedure is 
of course associated with considerable work and therefore expensive. 
Additionally, it is known to reinforce the edges of a plate by forcing-in 
at high pressure a reinforcement agent. Yet, this method is nonetheless 
associated with relatively great costs owing to the considerably great 
amount of equipment which is needed for the performance thereof. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Hence, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved method of reinforcing the edge regions of a plate formed of a 
porous material by means of a reinforcement agent in a manner not 
associated with the aforementioned drawbacks and limitations of the prior 
art proposals. 
Another and more specific object of the present invention aims at the 
provision of a new and improved method of the previously mentioned type by 
means of which it is possible to reinforce the edges in as simple and 
inexpensive manner as possible. 
Now in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, 
which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the 
method aspects of the present invention are manifested by the features 
that the plate is immersed in a bath containing a reinforcement agent and 
at least from one plate surface of the plate the air contained therein is 
withdrawn. Further, both plate surfaces, prior to immersion of the plate 
into the bath, are protected against contact with the reinforcement agent 
by covering such plate surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Describing now the drawings, it is to be understood that FIGS. 1 to 3 only 
schematically show the components of the apparatus for the performance of 
the method needed to understand the underlying principles and concepts of 
the method aspects of this development. 
Thus, the plates 1, the edge regions of which should be reinforced, are 
completely covered at both surfaces 2 and 3, as best seen by referring to 
FIG. 3, and introduced into a container or vat 4 which is open at the top 
and contains a suitable reinforcement agent 5. The plate 1 is completely 
submerged or immersed in the reinforcement agent-bath. 
Covers or cover members 6, 7 (FIGS. 1 and 3) and 8, 9 (FIG. 2) 
respectively, are applied to both plate surfaces 2, 3 and completely cover 
these plate surfaces. The upper cover or cover member, such as the cover 
member 6 of FIG. 1 or the cover member 8 of FIG. 2, possess one or a 
number of connections or studs 10, each of which can be connected via a 
connection conduit or line 11 with a not particularly illustrated but 
conventional air suction installation, such as a suction pump or 
equivalent structure. 
At the edge of the cover members 6, 7 and 8, 9 respectively, there is 
provided a suitable seal or closure between the relevant cover member and 
associated plate surface in order to prevent penetration of the 
reinforcement agent 5 between each cover member and the associated plate 
surface. In FIG. 3 this seal or closure is constituted, by way of example, 
by an adhesive strip 12 which extends completely about the periphery of 
the plate. 
In the case of a plate 1 which, as in the showing of FIG. 2, has a recess 
13, the cover mebmers 8, 9 likewise are provided with an appropriate 
recess. The previously mentioned seal or closure must then also be applied 
to the edge of such recess. 
Now if the air suction installation is placed into operation, then the 
plate surface 2 (FIG. 3) is exposed to a negative pressure, resulting in 
withdrawal of the air contained in the porous plate 1. The reinforcement 
agent can penetrate into the plate 1 from the narrow sides 14, as such has 
been indicated in FIG. 3 by the arrows 15, by virtue of the atmospheric 
pressure which acts upon the surface of the reinforcement agent-bath. 
At this point there will be summarized once again some of the more 
essential steps of the method of the invention: 
(a) Both surfaces of the plate, prior to the immersion into the 
reinforcement agent-bath, are covered in such a manner that such surfaces 
cannot come into contact with the reinforcement agent and no reinforcement 
agent can penetrate between each cover member and the associated plate 
surface. 
(b) The plate which has been covered in this manner is immersed or 
submerged in a bath consisting of a reinforcement agent or containing a 
reinforcement agent. 
(c) At least from the side of one surface of the plate the air contained in 
such plate is withdrawn, and the reinforcement agent can penetrate into 
the plate from the regions of the plate edges. 
The apparatus for the performance of the aforesaid method can possess any 
suitable construction. In particular, the cover members and the 
connections with the air suction installation can be constructed 
differently than illustrated in the drawings of the exemplary embodiment. 
It is also possible to suck-off the air from both plate surfaces out of 
such plate. 
The air suction action can be carried out during the entire treatment time 
continuously or only periodically at the plate surface or surfaces. 
Instead of using a container 4 which is open at the top as described it is 
also possible to provide a closed pressure container in that apart from 
the reinforcement agent there is also provided a compressed gas exerting a 
pressure upon the surface of the reinforcement agent-bath which is greater 
than atmospheric pressure. This excess pressure can be effective during 
the withdrawal of air out of the plate. It is however also conceivable to 
alternately withdraw air from the plate and to have the excess pressure 
act upon the bath surface. 
In the event it is desired that certain edge sections of the plate are not 
reinforced, then the corresponding edge section, prior to submersion of 
the plate into the bath, can be covered, so that at the covered locations 
there cannot penetrate into the plate any reinforcement agent. 
As the reinforcement agent there can be employed all suitable liquid 
substances, such as a synthetic resin. The nature of the reinforcement 
agent is not crucial to the invention and suitably commercially available 
materials can be readily employed. 
The described edge-reinforcement method can be employed for all plates 
which are formed of a porous material, for instance wood chipboards and 
plates formed of a material formed on a mineral basis such as "Vermipan", 
by way of example. 
While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the 
invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not 
limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced 
within the scope of the following claims.