Apparatus and method for producing a filter panel

Abstract

A method for producing a filter panel (8) made of a filter fabric (5) locked and tensioned within a frame (7) consisting of two mutually coupled half-frames (7a, 7b), wherein the moulding of the frame (7) of the panel (8), the unwinding of the fabric (5) from a feed roller (4) and the tensioning of the fabric (5) in the frame (7) are performed, the tensioning of the fabric (5) in the frame (7) being performed automatically during the moulding step. The device and method of the present invention provide the advantage of automating each of the operations of assembly of the filter panel, locking of the fabric in a centred position on the frame during the manufacturing process, tensioning of the fabric, and cutting of the fabric around the frame which has been moulded on the panel, compared to the solutions adopted in the prior art.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus and related methods for producing filter panels. Background Technology

[0002] The field of this invention is the production of filter panels in which a fabric of filter material is stretched and fixed to be molded within a frame. This type of panel is used for filtering municipal and industrial wastewater, separating powders, screen printing, etc.

[0003] The current method used to produce the aforementioned filter panels involves arranging the filter fabric as follows: the filter fabric is cut according to the dimensions of the frame receiving the filter fabric, and then secured to the frame by a manual centering operation between these sections. The initial fabric cutting operation specifically requires drilling, which is necessary to obtain the necessary reference points for manual centering of the fabric relative to the frame before molding the frame.

[0004] However, the above operation has significant drawbacks. It not only prolongs the production time of the filter panel, but also increases the possibility of errors in manually assembling the fabric on the frame, resulting in a large number of scraps and thus increasing the overall manufacturing cost of the product. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The main objective of this invention is to provide a new method and related equipment for molding filter panels of the above type. Compared with the prior art, this new method and related equipment allow for accelerated panel production in a fully automated manner, without errors and with a significant reduction in waste from the filter fabric used.

[0006] This application provides a method for producing a filter panel made of filter fabric, the filter fabric being locked and tensioned within a frame consisting of two interconnected half-frames, the method comprising molding the frame of the panel, unfolding the fabric from a feed roller, and automatically tensioning the fabric within the frame during the molding step.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment, the method includes a first molding step of molding a first half-frame of a filter panel frame.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, the method includes: unfolding a filter fabric from a feed roller; locking the filter fabric on a first half-frame; tensioning the fabric relative to the first half-frame at a centered position; and molding a second half-frame on the first half-frame to form a frame for the filter panel.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment, the method further includes cutting off excess portions of the fabric located outside the frame.

[0010] This application also provides an apparatus for implementing the above method, the type of which includes a press and a half mold movable relative to a fixed half mold, the movable half mold being provided with a mold insert that slides between a first position and a second position, the first position being for molding a first half frame of a panel, and the second position being for molding a second half frame of a panel on the first half frame.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the movable half-mold is provided with a guide member for sliding the mold insert.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the fixed half mold is provided with a lower mold insert that carries a punch, the punch being used to cooperate with the base of the sliding mold insert to mold the first half frame.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the fixed half-mold also has an upper mold insert, which is provided with a base for molding the second half-frame.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the sliding mold insert has inserts for locking the filter fabric by cooperating with corresponding inserts disposed on the upper mold insert of the fixed half mold.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the sliding mold insert is provided with a punch that is arranged close to the base of the sliding mold insert and engages with a corresponding groove surrounding or close to the base arrangement for molding the second half-frame, for tensioning the filter fabric.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the device also provides a bracket for sliding the mold insert in the guide.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the sliding mold insert can also move against the action of a spring within the seat of the bracket.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the device further includes a blade housed in a corresponding seat of a sliding mold insert and a corresponding cavity disposed in an upper mold insert for cutting the fabric supplied by the corresponding roller.

[0019] This application also provides a filter panel, which is of the type comprising a filter fabric fixed and tensioned within a frame, and the filter panel is manufactured using the method described above.

[0020] Compared to solutions employed in the prior art, the apparatus and method of the present invention have the advantage of automating each of the following operations: assembling the filter panel, locking the fabric in a position centered about the frame during the forming process, tensioning the fabric, and subsequently cutting the fabric from the feed rollers of the fabric itself. Attached Figure Description

[0021] These and other objects, advantages, and features arise from the following description of the apparatus and method of the invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings.

[0022] in: Figure 1 A schematic overall view of the device of the present invention is shown; Figure 2 A fixed half-mold and a movable half-mold are shown mounted on the device of the present invention; Figure 3 and Figure 3a The movable half-mold of the device shown in the foregoing figure is provided with a sliding mold insert, which is equipped with a base for molding a first half-frame for the filter panel; Figure 4 A fixed half-mold of the device of the present invention is shown, the fixed half-mold being provided with a lower mold insert for molding a first half-frame of the filter panel and molding a second half-frame of the filter panel on the first half-frame, respectively. Figure 5 It shows Figure 3 Details of the sliding mold insert for the active half-mold; Figure 6 It shows the use of Figure 5 The mold insert in Figure 3 Details of the sliding seat in the active half-mold; Figure 7 The filter fabric is shown in Figure 3 Details of the locking, tensioning, and cutting system on the sliding mold insert; Figure 8 It shows Figure 4 Details of the upper mold insert of the fixed half mold, which carries the base of the second half frame for molding the filter panel; Figure 9 It shows Figure 4 Details of the lower mold insert of the fixed half mold, which carries the punch for molding the first half frame of the filter panel; Figure 10 A simplified schematic diagram showing the positions of the fixed half-mold and the movable half-mold during the initial molding step of the filter panel is shown. Figure 11a and Figure 11b The steps of molding the first half frame of the filter panel are shown; Figure 12 The positioning of the sliding mold insert of the movable half mold, as well as the tensioning and cutting of the filter fabric, are shown in the molding step of the second half frame. Figure 13 It shows Figure 2 The half-die, as shown in the figure, displays the locking, tensioning, and cutting system of the filter fabric; Figure 14 and Figure 15 The filter panels produced using the equipment and methods described in the aforementioned figures are shown in plan view and side view, respectively. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The device of the present invention, in Figure 1 The overall structure is represented by the number 1, including the frame, the movable half-mold 2, and the fixed half-mold 3, which are installed within the frame. Additionally, there are... Figure 14 and Figure 15 The feed roller 4 of the filter fabric 5 of the panel 8 shown. The apparatus of the present invention also includes a press 6 for injection molding the frame 7 of the panel 8.

[0024] exist Figure 2 and Figure 3 The figure shows that the movable half mold 2 can move relative to the fixed half mold 3 in the direction of arrow F1. The sliding mold insert 9 can be seen in the figure. The sliding mold insert 9 is installed in the mold insert holder or guide 10 in the movable half mold 2 and slides in the direction of arrow F2.

[0025] In particular and as Figure 13 As better illustrated, the sliding mold insert 9 slides within the mold insert holder of the movable half-mold 2 in the direction of arrow F2 by means of the associated bracket 20. In the initial step of molding the first half-frame 7a of the panel 8, the sliding mold insert 9 is placed at the lower position 2a of the movable half-mold 2 of the device 1. In the next step of molding the second half-frame 7b (the first half-frame 7a has already been molded in the previous step), the sliding mold insert 9 moves from the lower position 2a where the first half-frame 7a has been molded to the upper position 2b of the second half-frame 7b of the filter panel 8.

[0026] According to the invention, the sliding mold insert 9 is further mounted such that it can resist the action of the spring 18 within the seat 21 located in the bracket 20 of the sliding mold insert 9. Figure 3a and Figure 13 Move in the direction of arrow F3.

[0027] like Figure 4 As better shown in the diagram, the lower portion 3a of the fixed half-mold 3 of the device 1 of the present invention includes a lower mold insert 22 that carries a punch 23, the punch 23 being used to mold with the base 19 of the sliding mold insert 9 at position 2a of the movable half-mold 2. Figure 15 The first half frame 7a of panel 8.

[0028] In the upper part 3b of the fixed half mold 3, the fixed half mold 3 is provided with an upper mold insert 24, which carries a base 25 for molding the second half frame 7b on the first half frame 7a. The first half frame 7a is molded at the lower part 2a of the half mold 2 and the lower part 3a of the fixed half mold 3.

[0029] like Figure 5 , Figure 7 and Figure 13 As shown, the sliding mold insert 9 of the movable half mold 2 has inserts 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d preferably made of elastic material, which are suitable for locking the filter fabric 5 by cooperating with corresponding inserts 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d provided on the upper mold insert 24 of the upper part 3b of the fixed half mold 3.

[0030] The described fabric 5 is locked and the spring 18 causes the sliding mold insert 9 to abut against the upper mold insert 24 of the fixed half mold 3 under bias. Figure 3a and Figure 13 The arrow F3 in the middle is aligned with the sliding mold insert 9, which also helps the sliding mold insert 9 to move into the seat 21 of the sliding mold insert 9 in the bracket 20 that supports the sliding mold insert 9.

[0031] Furthermore, on the sliding mold insert 9, corresponding punches 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d are provided closer to the inner side and closer to the base 19 for molding the first half-frame 7a than the aforementioned inserts 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d. When the fabric is locked in the upper part 3b of the fixed half-mold 3 between the inserts 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d of the upper mold insert 24 and the inserts 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11d of the sliding mold insert 9, these punches 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d tension or pull the fabric 5 within the frame of the panel.

[0032] The punch 13 of the sliding mold insert 9 engages with corresponding slots or recesses 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d for receiving the punch 13 in the upper mold insert 24 of the upper portion 3b of the fixed half mold 3. The slots or recesses are arranged close to the base 25 for molding the second half frame 7b.

[0033] like Figure 3a , Figure 7 and Figure 13 As better shown, a blade 15 is also provided in the upper part of the sliding mold insert 9. The blade 15 is housed in a corresponding seat 16 located above the insert 11a of the sliding mold insert 9, and is adapted to cut the fabric 5 supplied by the roller 4. Figure 8 The corresponding hollow part 17 provided in the upper mold insert 24 of the upper part 3b of the fixed half mold 3 fits.

[0034] The steps of the method of the present invention are as follows: Figures 10 to 12 To better represent it in Chinese.

[0035] In the first step of this method, the sliding mold insert 9 of the movable half mold 2 is placed at position 2a at the lower part 3a of the fixed half mold 3. Figure 10 At this position, the action of the resisting spring 18 (). Figure 11a Arrow F5 in the middle), active half-mold 2 along Figure 11a The direction of the middle arrow F4 abuts against the lower mold insert 22 located in the lower part 3a of the fixed half mold 3 and closes, and then the sliding mold insert 9 moves back into the seat 21 of the sliding mold insert 9 in the bracket 20.

[0036] With the closed mold in this position, the punch 23 (which is provided on the aforementioned lower mold insert 22) Figure 3 , Figure 11a and Figure 11b In a combined manner, injection molding is performed within the base 19 of the sliding mold insert 9. Figure 15 The first half of the frame 7a.

[0037] In the subsequent steps, the movable half mold 2 moves away from the fixed half mold 3, leaving the first half frame 7a molded as described above on the base 19 of the sliding mold insert 9.

[0038] From this position, the sliding mold insert 9 moves along the bracket 20. Figure 11b The middle arrow F6 slides towards the upper position 2b of the movable half mold 2 until the sliding mold insert 9 reaches the height of the upper part 3b of the fixed half mold 3. Figure 11b and Figure 12 At this position, the fabric 5 is unfolded from the roller 4 so as to position the fabric 5 between the sliding die insert 9 and the upper die insert 24 facing each other.

[0039] At this time, the active half-mold 2 along Figure 12 The direction of the middle arrow F7 is closed on the fixed half mold 3, and the sliding mold insert 9 returns to the mold insert seat 21 of the bracket 20 of the movable half mold 2 (arrow F8).

[0040] In this step, the following operations are performed automatically: - The filter fabric 5 is locked onto the previously formed first half frame 7a by the interference of the inserts 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d of the sliding mold insert 9 of the movable half mold 2 and the inserts 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d of the upper mold insert 24 of the fixed half mold 3. - By inserting the punch 13 of the sliding mold insert 9 into the grooves 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d of the upper mold insert 24 (which tensions the fabric itself by dragging the corresponding portions of the fabric 5 in these grooves), the fabric 5 is tensioned in a centered position relative to the first half-frame 7a housed in the sliding mold insert 9. - The second half-frame 7b is molded on the first half-frame 7a to form the frame 7 of the filter panel 8.

[0041] Then, the blade 15 cuts the upper portion of the fabric 5, thereby releasing the fabric 5 from the feed roller 4.

[0042] Then, the opening of the mold leaves the filter fabric 5, which is tensioned and secured to the frame 7 in a fully centered manner. Some portions of the fabric protrude excessively beyond the frame and can be easily removed to allow the panel 8 to have... Figure 14 The structure shown.

[0043] The method for molding the panel of the present invention is preferably carried out in two half-frame molding steps at a temperature of 200 to 300°C and a press holding pressure of 25 to 50 bar, and at the conditional temperature of the mold of the present invention of 20 to 60°C.

[0044] As described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, modifications can be made to achieve variations of this invention; however, these variations are included within the scope of this application. Thus, for example, the material used to manufacture the frame 7 of the panel 8 can be any thermoplastic polymer, whether reinforced or unreinforced, suitable for injection molding, and preferably suitable for medical and food applications. On the other hand, the material used to manufacture the fabric 5 can be composed of polyamides, polyethers, etc.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing a filter panel (8) made of a filter fabric (5) locked and tensioned within a frame (7) consisting of an interconnected first half-frame (7a) and a second half-frame (7b), the apparatus comprising a press (6) and a movable half-frame (2) movable relative to a fixed half-frame (3), characterized in that, The movable half mold (2) is provided with a sliding mold insert (9) that slides between a first position and a second position. The first position is used to mold the first half frame (7a) of the filter panel (8), and the second position is used to mold the second half frame (7b) of the filter panel (8) on the first half frame (7a).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movable half mold (2) is provided with a guide (10), which is used for the sliding of the sliding mold insert (9).

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The fixed half mold (3) is provided with a lower mold insert (22) that carries a punch (23). The punch (23) on the lower mold insert (22) is used to cooperate with the base (19) of the sliding mold insert (9) to mold the first half frame (7a).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The fixed half mold (3) also has an upper mold insert (24) which is provided with a base (25) for molding the second half frame (7b).

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The sliding mold insert (9) has inserts (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d) for locking the filter fabric (5) by cooperating with corresponding inserts (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) provided on the upper mold insert (24) of the fixed half mold (3).

6. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The sliding mold insert (9) is provided with punches (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d), which are arranged close to the base (19) of the sliding mold insert (9) and engage with corresponding grooves (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) arranged around or close to the base (25) for molding the second half frame (7b) to tension the filter fabric (5).

7. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The device also provides a bracket (20) for the sliding mold insert (9) to slide in the guide (10).

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The sliding mold insert (9) is also able to move against the action of the spring (18) within the seat (21) in the bracket (20).

9. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The device also includes a blade (15) housed in a corresponding seat (16) of the sliding mold insert (9) and a corresponding cavity (17) disposed in the upper mold insert (24) for cutting the fabric (5) supplied by the corresponding roller (4).

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