Patent GB-1479694-A (GB)
Title: Method and apparatus for the continuous manufacture of panels
IPC: B29C67/20
Filed: 1974-08-15
Abstract: 1479694 Laminating method and apparatus SOC DE PARTICIPATIONS ETUDES ET REALISATIONS 15 Aug 1974 [28 Aug 1973] 36056/74 Heading B5N A method for the continuous manufacture of panels comprising sheets of expanded synthetic material with at least one surface covered with a rigid facing comprises the steps of: applying to one surface of a layer of expandable synthetic material, in the liquid state, a sheet facing of non-woven material which is porous and permeable to the synthetic material; controlling the thickness of the synthetic material thus covered and allowing it to expand to a desired thickness; allowing the synthetic material to soak through the non-woven material to present an adhesive surface on the side thereof remote from the bulk of the synthetic material, applying to the adhesive surface sheets of a rigid facing material while moving the synthetic material and non- woven material along a conveyer and cutting the product to form panels. An apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a conveyer for continuously advancing sheets of rigidfacing material, a distributing station for depositing, in liquid form, a layer of expandable synthetic material on to the sheets, a constriction in the path of the layer to control the expansion of the synthetic material and an upper conveyer belt, arranged above the path of the layer to apply sheets of rigid facing material to the top surface of the layer at a position displaced from the distributing station, there being provided above the path of the layer and between the upper conveyer belt and the distributing station, means for applying to the upper surface of the layer a continuous sheet of non-woven porous material. With reference to the drawings, the exemplified apparatus comprises, from upstream to downstream, roller conveyers 1 for feeding facings 2a, 2b and a constriction formed principally by two conveyer belts 3 and 4 arranged respectively above and below the plane of advance of the layer of material produced, the upper span 4a being supported by a fixed plate 5 over the portion of its length where the expandable material is delivered into the constricition. The synthetic material is delivered in the liquid state to distributing station 7 arranged immediately upstream of the constriction 8, the sheet 9 of non-woven material being delivered from roll 9a, a flexible deformable, meshed structure 10 being provided to ensure the application of sheet 9 without folding and meshed structure 11 being supported on the upper surface of the lower span of belt 3 to apply pressure to the composite. Pressure rollers 12 are provided at the end of the fixed plate 5 and the structure 11 and a pair of traction cylinders 18 is provided to extract the panel from the machine, at least one heating bar 13 being provided to assist adhesion. The machine is also provided with a roll 16a to deliver a backing 16, e.g. of paper between the rigid facings 2b and the belt 4, the marginal edges 16b, 16c of the sheet 16 being folded upwardly along the lateral edges of the panels and being held in position by endless belts 17.