Patent EA-000397-B1 (EA)
Title: Process and apparatus for the production of a mineral fibreboard
Inventor: WYSS PETER
IPC: D04H1/4209
Filed: 1997-03-24
Abstract: 1. Apparatus for the continuous production of bonded mineral fibreboard from a mineral fibre fleece comprising a fibre production unit for producing a fleece, transport means (19, 23) for transporting the fleece to a bonding station (25), a bonding station (25) for bonding the fleece, a compression unit (19) for thickness and/or longitudinal compression of the fleece disposed between the fibre production unit and the bonding station (25), and means (61, 65) to prevent break-out of the fleece between the compression unit (19) and the bonding station (25), characterised in that the compression unit comprises a plurality of conveyor pairs (31. 33. 35, 37) disposed consecutively in the conveying direction; each conveyor pair (31, 33, 35, 37) comprises two opposite roller groups (31', 31"; 33', 33"; 35', 35"; 37', 37") comprising in each case at least two spaced-apart rollers (39), so that a conveying path for the fleece is formed by the opposite roller groups (31', 31"; 33', 33"; 35', 35"; 37', 37"), each said roller has a diameter of between 60 and 160 mm, preferably between 80 and 120 mm, the distance between adjacent rollers (39) is so selected that as to substantially prevent escape of the fibre felt (20). there are drive means (117', 117'', 117''', 117'"', 118', 118", 118'", 118"") are provided in order to drive the rollers (39, 39') of each group at substantially the same circumferential speed, there are means for individually adjusting the circumferential speeds of the conveyor pairs (31, 33, 35, 37) and there are means for adjusting the distance between the opposite roller groups (31', 31"; 33', 33"; 35', 35"; 37', 37") of the conveyor pairs (31, 33, 35, 37). 2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 in which the distance between adjacent rollers in a group is from 2 to 30 mm, preferably less than 20 mm. 3. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that the roller diameter is 90 mm and the centre-to-centre distance between two adjacent rollers is 95 mm. 4. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, characterised in that the compression unit (19) comprises at least three conveyor pairs, preferably four conveyor pairs (31, 33. 35, 37) with roller groups of in each case three to eight rollers (39), preferably four rollers (39) in each case. 5. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the position of the opposite roller groups (31', 31") of at least one conveyor pair (31) is individually adjustable relatively to the position of the roller groups (33', 33"; 35', 35"; 37', 37") of the following conveyor pair or pairs.  6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterised in that the distance between the opposite roller groups (31', 31"; 33', 33"; 35', 35") of a conveyor pair (31, 33 35) is adjustable to approximately 0.5 to 0.1 times the distance between the roller groups (33', 33"; 35', 35"; 37', 37") of the following conveyor pair (33, 35, 37) and in that the conveying path defined by the two conveyor pairs is substantially in alignment. 7. Apparatus according to any one of Claims l to 6, characterised in that means are provided to control the circumferential speed of the rollers (39) of each individual group (31', 31", 33', 33", 35', 35", 37', 37'') independently of the speed of the rollers in each other group. 8. Apparatus according to any one of Claims l to 7, characterised in that the compression unit (19) comprises means for inclining at least two opposite roller groups (31', 31"; 33', 33"; 35', 35"; 37', 37") relatively to one another in order, for example, to produce a fleece web tapering in the conveying direction F. 9. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim, characterised in that the roller groups of at least one conveyor pair (31) are each disposed on a support structure (71) so as to be displaceable independently of one another perpendicularly to the conveying direction. 10. Apparatus according to Claim 9, characterised in that at least two roller groups are each disposed on a separate frame (87) adjustable on the support structure (71) perpendicularly to the conveying direction. 11. Apparatus according to Claim 10, characterised in that the frame (87) is disposed pivotally on the support structure (71). 12. Apparatus according to Claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the frame (87) is vertically adjustable by means of first spindles (89, 89', 91, 91') disposed on the support structure (71). 13. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 10 to 12 characterised in that four first spindles (89, 89', 91, 91') are provided which are interconnected by shafts (99, 99', 101, 101'). 14. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 10 to 13 characterised in that second spindles (109, 109') are provided on the vertically adjustable frame (87) to pivot the frame (87) relatively to the support structure (71). 15. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 10 to 14 characterised in that guides are provided to guide the frame (87) vertically on the support structure (71). 16. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 9 to 15 characterised in that except for one roller group (31'') the lower roller groups (33", 35", 37'') are fixedly disposed on the support structure (71). 17. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 16 characterised in that the circumferential speeds of all the conveyor pairs and the distances between the opposite conveyors are individually adjustable. 18. Apparatus according to any one of Claims l to 17 characterised in that the drive means for the conveyors (31, 33, 35, 37) and the means for adjusting the distance between the conveyors are connected to a microprocessor control system. 19. Apparatus according to Claim 18, characterised in that the microprocessor control system comprises at least two read/inputting units in combination, one being disposed in the region of the compression unit and the other, for example, in a control room. 20. Apparatus according to Claim 19, characterised in that the microprocessor control system comprises memory means for storing the process parameters such as the speeds and spacing of the roller groups (31', 31"; 33', 33"; 35', 35", 37', 37"). 21. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 20, characterised in that means, e.g. an isotope unit, for determining the quantity of fibre per unit area, are provided before the compression unit (19). 22. Apparatus according to Claim 21, characterised in that the means for determining the quantity of fibre are connected to the fibre production unit or to the microprocessor control system. 23. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 22, characterised in that a separating device (41) for separating the fleece into two or more sub-webs is provided between the conveyor pairs (31, 33, 35, 37) and the bonding station (21), in that at least one compression stage (53, 54) for thickness and/or longitudinal compression of at least one sub-web is provided and in that conveyors (47, 49, 50, 51) are provided to prevent break-out of the compressed fleece between the compression stage (19) and the bonding station (25). 24. Apparatus according to Claim 23, characterised in that at least the separating device (41) and the following conveyor (49) are vertically adjustable in the region of the multi-ply unit (21). 25. Apparatus according to Claim 23 or 24, characterised in that the compression stage for the compression of the at least one sub-web comprises at least two independently driven conveyor pairs (53, 54). 26. Apparatus according to Claim 25, characterised in that the conveyor pairs (53. 54) are roller conveyors, the roller spacing thereof being adjustable. 27. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 24 to 26, characterised in that means (57) are provided for the metered supply of a binder to the mutual contact surfaces of the sub-webs. 28. Apparatus for the continuous production of a bonded mineral fibreboard from a mineral fibre felt or fleece comprising a fibre production unit for producing a felt, transport means (19, 23) for transporting the felt to a bonding station (25), a bonding station (25) for bonding the felt, a longitudinal or longitudinal/thickness compression unit (19) disposed between the fibre production unit and the bonding station (25), and means (61, 65) to prevent break-out of the fleece between the compression unit (19) and the bonding station (25), characterised by a compression-optimising unit comprising a plurality of conveyor pairs (31, 33, 35, 37), each conveyor pair (31, 33, 35, 37) comprising in each case two opposite rollers or roller groups (31', 31"; 33', 33"; 35', 35''; 37', 37"), in which each roller has a diameter of between approximately 60 and 160 mm, preferably between 80 and 120 mm, and the distance between the rollers (39) is so selected that an escape of the fibre felt (20) is not possible, means for individually adjusting the circumferential speeds of the conveyor pairs (31, 33, 35, 37) and means for adjusting the clearance between the opposite roller groups (31', 31"; 33', 33"; 35', 35"; 37', 37") of the conveyor pairs (31, 33, 35, 37). 29. Apparatus according to Claim 28, characterised in that drive means (117', 117", 117"'. 117"", 118', 118". 118'", 118'"') are provided for driving the rollers (39) of each group at substantially the same circumferential speed. 30. A continuous process for the production of a bonded mineral fibre board by production of a mineral fibre fleece, longitudinal and/or thickness compression of the fleece followed by bonding of the longitudinally compressed fleece in a bonding station (25), the fleece being held to prevent break-out between the compression unit (19) and the bonding station (25) characterised in that the longitudinal compression is effected by the fleece passing through a compression unit (19) comprising a plurality of conveyor pairs (31, 33, 35, 37) disposed consecutively in the conveying direction, each conveyor pair (31, 33, 35, 37) comprising in each case two opposite roller groups (31', 31"; 33', 33"; 35',