Patent EA-002388-B1 (EA)
Title: Laminating apparatus
Inventor: WILLMAN TARMO
IPC: B30B15/06
Filed: 1999-09-30
Abstract: 1. A method of connecting surface layers (12, 13) and a core (14) to a sandwich element (23) through putting together the surface layers and the core into a press object (9) after adding a glue layer between these, which after this is subjected to pressing in a press between two press platens (3, 7, 11) while the glue is cured, whereby at least one of the press platen (7) is flexible and is acted on by several power units (8), which are arranged over the press platen (7) and which are arranged at a relative distance from each other, which power units (8) act against a fixed supporting structure (4, 10), and a pressing pressure (P) is applied on the press object (9), characterized in that the power units (8) during the pressing are controlled individually or in groups, so that local deviations from the pressing pressure (P) are kept within predetermined intervals (from Pmin to P and from P to Pmax respectively). 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the power units (8) before the pressing are controlled in such a way that the flexible press platen (7) becomes flat and preferably also parallel to the other press plates (3, 11). 3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the allowed value for the deviation from the pressing pressure (P) from the minimum pressure (Pmin) and respective maximum pressure (Pmax) is selected so that the height of local elevations and respectively depth of local recesses in the surface of the press object are kept less than one thousand of the diameter of the aforesaid roughness. 4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that press platens are used of which the other press platen (3) is fixed and flat. 5. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that press platens are used which both are flexible and are separately acted on by several power units, which act against fixed supporting structures and the influence of which during the pressing can be adjusted individually or in groups. 6. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the effect of the power units is controlled so that both flexible press platens becomes parallel to each other and/or flat. 7. A method according to any claim above, characterized in that the curing of the glue during the pressing action will be accelerated by heating from one or both of the press platens. 8. A method according to any claim above, characterized in that the press object is taken continuously through the press between two belts and that the distance between the press platens is less than the thickness of the press object and the belts together in an unloaded condition. 9. A press for connecting surface layers (12, 13) and a core (14) in an element in which the surface layers and the core are assembled to form a press object (9) after adding a glue layer (27) between the surface layer and core, which then is subjected to pressing between two press platens (11, 3, 7), characterized in that at least one of the press platens (7) is flexible and is acted on by several power units (8), which are arranged between the press platen (7) and a fixed supporting structure (4, 10, 21) so that they can produce forces which can be transferred from the fixed supporting structure to this press platen and the influence of which can be controlled individually or in groups, and that the flexibility of the flexible press platen has been chosen in relation to the position of the power units over the press platen so that the power units can be adjusted to exert a local pressure against the press object which lies within a predetermined range (Pmin - Pmax). 10. A press according to claim 9, characterized in that the other press platen (3) is flat and that the press is arranged so that the power units (8) can make the flexible press platen (7) flat and parallel to this other press platen (3). 11. A press according to claim 9, characterized in that both press platens are flexible and that both are acted on by several power units, which are arranged between the press platens and fixed supporting structures so that they can produce forces which can be transferred from the fixed supporting structures to the press platens and the influence of which can be controlled individually or in groups, and that the press is so arranged that the power units can make the press platens parallel and/or flat. 12. A press according to claim 9-11, characterized in that the power units are elongated with a length that corresponds to the dimension of the flexible press platen in one direction or rows of individual pressure units with such a length. 13. A press according to claim 12, characterized in that the elongated power units or rows of individual pressure units are arranged across the flexible press platen. 14. A press according to claim 9-13, characterized in that one or both press platens are heated, e.g. with a circulating heating medium. 15. A press according to claim 9-14, characterized in that there is a belt which extends over the lower press platen so as to transport press objects through the press. 16. A press according to claim 15, characterized in that there also is one more belt which is so arranged that press objects can be transported through the press between the two belts. 17. A press according to claim 9-16, characterized in that the supporting structure or at least one of the supporting structures is arranged to take different positions, e.g. determined by preferably adjustable stopping blocks. 18. A press according to claim 9-17, characterized in that the power units are double-acting so that they can not only exert repulsive forces but also attractive forces.