Patent GB-1447786-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for the manufacture of construction panels from  setting material
IPC: B29C39/00
Filed: 1973-11-29
Abstract: 1447786 Laminating; moulding panels PENNARTZ PATENT PRODUCTS 29 Nov 1973 [5 Dec 1972] 55366/73 Headings B5N and B5A An apparatus for the manufacture of construction panels, comprises an open-top mould suitable for the production of a panel, means for feeding a setting material in fluid form into the mould to form a panel and a carriage mounted for travel in a horizontal plane above the mould, the carriage being provided with a flexible shutter, unrollable to cover the mould. In the embodiment shown, the apparatus comprises two longitudinal U-members 2, 3 forming the edges of the base of the mould 4, a layer 5 of concrete between the members to form the base of the mould, L-shaped sections 6, 7 being fixed on each member to define the width of the members, edge sections 9, 10 of the panel being held in place above these sections by magnetic means 8. Frame 1 is provided with parallel rails 11, 12 carrying movable carriages 14 and 64, carriage 14 having two brackets 15, 16 supporting a shaft 19 with sprocket 20 driven by chain 21 from sprocket 22 associated with motor 23 and reduction gear 24. On shaft 19 at least one gear 25 is fitted, this gear being engageable with gear 26 on shaft 27, the bearings for this shaft being displaceable in height in openings 30, 31 of the supports 32, 33 by an air cylinder 34, 35 to engage or disengage gears 25, 26. Shaft 27 also supports drum 36 around which the flexible shutter is rolled, one end of the shutter being attached to the shutter and the other end being provided with a hook 41 for engagement with section 41 of the mould, the shutter consisting of a plurality of parallel thick wooden strips 38 reinforced with L-sections 39 and connected by hinges 40. During the unrolling of the shutter, the strips are laterally guided to rest on the edge sections 9, 10 by leaf springs 44, frame 1 being provided with arms 46 tiltable about pivot shaft 45 and controlled by air-cylinder 47 and fitted with a catch portion 48 to clamp the shutter down on the mould. The setting material is supplied to the mould by spray guns 56, 57 displaceable along sliding rods 61, 62 by motor 65. In using the apparatus to make a preferred form of panel, the carriages 64 and 14 are coupled by hooks 88, pressure roller 54 is displaced downwards by air-cylinders 53 and the carriages run to the other end of the mould to line it with a release film 52 of polyethylene which is retained upon the panel during transport, edge sections 9 and 10 of metal are placed into the mould as are optional wooden frames for door and/or window openings. A hopper carriage loaded with plaster or cement is run over the mould to spread thismaterial on film 52. After the spread out material has dried in the mould, metal reinforcements are optionally applied prior to the application from the hopper of a filling material, the hopper being removed and the carriage 14 run to the right end of the mould. Subsequently, spray carriage 64 and carriage 14 are displaced over the mould to spray polyurethane foam-forming reactants on the filling material, a polyethylene film from roll 52 and the shutter 37 are simultaneously unrolled over the material, the shutter restraining the upward movement during foam formation. The shutter and the film are re-rolled prior to the application of glass fibre matting from roll 85 and polyester film carried in roll form on carriage 14, polyester resin being applied to the matting by spray guns 56, 57 whilst the carriages are run along the mould, pressure being applied by roller 54 and the polyester film rolled up.