Lateral containment apparatus for the production of tile-shaped and / or corrugated sandwich panels and continuous press comprising said apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a new lateral containment apparatus for "bent" and / or "corrugated" panels or other similar panels configured to be installed on a continuous press (100) for the production of sandwich panels (1), in particular roof panels, of the type comprising at least one lower conveyor belt (110) and an upper conveyor belt (120) for supporting the panels (1) being processed and moving them along a substantially horizontal direction of advancement, said panel (1) being processed being inserted between said two conveyor belts (110, 120), said side containment apparatus (150) being characterized by comprising a motorized catenary (152) supporting a plurality of side containment devices (160), wherein said at least one lateral containment apparatus (150) further comprises an anchorage system for movably connecting said lateral containment devices (160), said anchorage system being configured to allow relative movement in a vertical direction of said lateral containment devices (160) with respect to said motorized catenary (152) and wherein said lateral containment device (150) further comprises a shaped guideway (153) having at least two sections (153a, 153c) having different elevations (Q1, Q2) connected by an inclined section (153c), each of said lateral containment devices (160) further comprising connecting means (165) adapted to allow movement of said lateral containment devices (160) with respect to said shaped guideway (153).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new lateral containment apparatus for sandwich panels, also referred to as "tile-shaped" and / or "corrugated" panels and similar types, suitable to be installed on a continuous press for producing said sandwich panels.

[0002] The improved containment apparatus according to the present invention, suitable for equipping the continuous press of the invention, is configured to adapt to a variety of panel dimensions, particularly to different panel thicknesses, thereby reducing the intervention time currently required to adapt known containment devices to the dimensions - especially the thickness - of the panel being processed, and consequently increasing the productivity of the press.

[0003] The present invention further relates to an improved containment apparatus, as well as to a continuous press comprising said containment apparatus, which may be installed on existing presses.

[0004] A method of operating the containment apparatus according to the invention is also part of the present invention.STATE OF THE ART

[0005] As is known from the state of the art, in the production of sandwich panels, in particular of sandwich panels for roofing also referred to in the industry as "roofing tile" and / or "corrugated", continuous plants or presses of the type comprising a pair of substantially horizontal opposing conveyor belts, also called conveyor belts, are used, in which a lower conveyor belt supports the panels being processed, and an upper conveyor belt supports the panel above.

[0006] As is well known, roofing or wall sandwich panels comprise a metal profile support and an insulating layer generally made of polyurethane or mineral fiber, and have a corrugated pattern, i.e. comprising several reinforcing ribs.

[0007] The conveyor belts of the continuous presses referred to here generally comprise a plurality of strips, also known as 'slats', made of higher grade steel, placed side by side and characterized by high strength and surface hardness.

[0008] An example of a known type of double-belt press for the production of sandwich panels is described in Italian patent IT1020220000410.

[0009] The conveyor belts perform several functions including supporting the panels being processed, and moving them along a feed direction that coincides with the longitudinal direction of the machine.

[0010] An overall front view of a continuous press of a known type is illustrated in Figure 2, while Figure 2A shows a view of a conveyor belt formed by a plurality of shutters.

[0011] In addition, the shutters of the conveyor belts are able to control the pressure and heat generated by the reaction of the sandwich panel in order to ensure the optimum polymerization reaction, and at the same time allow the bond between the sheets and insulation materials to take place.

[0012] In continuous presses, the expansion of the polyurethane foam, which is generally used as a filler, and the formation of the panel is enabled.

[0013] The press is able to regulate the pressure and temperature values independently in order to guarantee the quality of the panel. For this purpose, according to what is known from the state of the art, the two conveyor belts can advantageously be independently heated and thermally insulated in order to evenly distribute the temperature, and ensure heat transfer with high efficiency as well as low energy consumption values.

[0014] Also according to the state of the art, the continuous presses for the production of sandwich panels for certain types of panels (and in particular for "curved" and / or "corrugated" panels) further comprise, generally installed on the upper part of the continuous press at each of the movable plates known as shutters forming the upper conveyor belt mechanical sealing devices to counteract the thrust of the polyurethane foam that fills the hollow cavity between the two lower and upper plates that will form the "slatted" and / or "corrugated" panel, containing its leakage.

[0015] Such mechanical sealing devices of a known type can be seen, for example, in the views of Figure 1, where a frontal sectional view of a sandwich panel indicated overall with the number 1 is shown, comprising a lower profile 1a , an upper profile 1b, and a central insulating layer 1c made of polyurethane or similar insulating materials, enclosed between a lower conveyor belt 110 comprising a plurality of lower shutters 11, an upper conveyor belt 120 comprising a plurality of upper shutters 12, and fixed to said upper shutter 12 a mechanical sealing device 20 of known type.

[0016] As said, according to the state of the art a mechanical sealing device 20 is associated with each of said upper shutters 12 forming the upper conveyor belt.

[0017] However, such a known type of technical solution is not without drawbacks.

[0018] In particular, according to what is illustrated by way of example in Figures 3A and 3B, as the thickness of the sandwich panel 1 being processed varies, a mechanical sealing device 20 of greater height must be employed.

[0019] Figure 3A illustrates a section in a vertical plane transverse to the direction of advancement of the panel moved by the opposing lower conveyor belts 110 and upper conveyor belts 120 moving the panel 1 being processed.

[0020] Also visible in this section are the lower shutter 11 which acts as a support for the panel, and the upper shutter 12 which rests on top of the panel, as well as the lower profiles 1a , upper 1b, and the central insulating layer 1c made of polyurethane having a certain thickness, i.e. a certain vertical dimension. Lateral containment is ensured by the mechanical sealing device 20 of a known type having a vertical encumbrance such that it can be associated with the upper shutter 12 and ends with its lower portion 20' at the inner surface of the lower profile 1a of said panel 1.

[0021] Figure 3B shows the same view as Figure 3A in which the panel 1 has a lower overall height. As can be seen, as the thickness of the panel 1 varies, mechanical sealing devices 20 having an appropriate height envelope must be used: if the thickness of the panel 1 is less, as in the example of Figure 3B, the height envelope of the mechanical sealing device 20 must also be less, so that it can always be associated with the upper shutter 12 and reach with its lower end 20' as close as possible to the inner surface of the lower profile 1a of said panel 1.

[0022] Various dimensions of the mechanical sealing device 20 of known type are shown in Figures 4A to 5B.

[0023] The mechanical sealing devices of known type used on the state of the art double belt continuous presses 200 are not without drawbacks.

[0024] In fact, the mechanical sealing devices of a type known from the state of the art being, as said, each associated with one of the upper shutters 12 forming the upper conveyor belt 120, require a very long installation time. In particular, the longer the double belt press, the more sealing devices that must be associated with the shutters, further adding to the installation time.

[0025] Not only that, a further drawback afflicting known solutions consists in the fact that it is necessary to provide mechanical sealing devices with different dimensions, in particular a different overall height, to be used when panels with different thicknesses are being processed, as illustrated with particular reference to Figures 3A and 3B. Different dimensions of the mechanical sealing device 20 of known type are shown in Figures 4A to 5B.

[0026] Known mechanical sealing devices are manually installed on the upper shutter profiles 12 and fixed by means of screws. Two or more persons are generally employed for such assembly operations, who are engaged for about half a minute for the fixing of each device, which translates into hours of work each time the devices have to be mounted, and hours of work each time they have to be dismounted and replaced by devices having larger or smaller dimensions due to the different thickness of the panel being processed.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0027] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved side containment apparatus for continuous presses for the production of sandwich panels, which allows a drastic reduction in the installation time of the sandwich panels.

[0028] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a continuous press for the production of sandwich panels comprising an improved side containment apparatus according to the present invention, configured to be used in the processing of sandwich panels having different thicknesses.

[0029] The above-mentioned task, as well as the aforementioned purposes and others that will better appear later, are achieved by an improved side containment apparatus for continuous presses for the production of sandwich panels according to claim 1.

[0030] Other advantageous features are listed in the dependent claims.LIST OF FIGURES

[0031] Further features and advantages will more fully result from the illustrative but not limiting description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, illustrated with the aid of the appended drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a continuous double belt press of a type known from the state of the art; Figure 2 is a side view of a shuttered conveyor belt equipping a continuous double belt press from Figure 1; Figures 3A and 3B show side views of a side sealing device of known type in interaction with sandwich roof panels of different thicknesses; Figures 4A and 4B show front and side views, respectively, of a side sealing device of known type having a first dimension; Figures 5A and 5B show respectively a front and side view of a side sealing device of a known type having a second dimension; Figure 6 illustrates a front view of a continuous double belt press according to the present invention comprising a left and right side containment apparatus; Figure 7A illustrates a front view of the shaped guide which is part of the containment apparatus equipping the continuous press according to the present invention; Figure 7B illustrates a top view of the side containment apparatus equipping the continuous press according to the present invention; Figure 8A illustrates a front view of the side containment apparatus part of the side containment apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 8B illustrates a side view of the side sealing device of Figure 8A; Figure 8C illustrates a top view of the side sealing device of Figure 8A. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] In the appended figures, in particular Figure 6, there is illustrated a continuous press for the production of sandwich panels according to the present invention, indicated generically by reference numeral 100, equipped with the improved lateral containment device indicated generically by reference numeral 160 and visible in detail in the views of Figures 7A to 8C.

[0033] In particular, as shown in Figure 6, the continuous press 100 according to the present invention for the production of sandwich panels, in particular corrugated or corrugated roofing panels, comprises a pair of lateral containment apparatuses 150 placed laterally with respect to the opposing lower conveyor belts 110 and upper conveyor belts 120 that move the sandwich panel 1 being processed. Preferably, said lateral containment apparatuses 150 have a longitudinal development shorter than the longitudinal development of the double belt press, with a length advantageously between 10 and 45 meters.

[0034] Said lateral containment apparatuses 150 are advantageously positioned to the right and left with respect to the conveyor belts 110, 120, according to what can be seen for example in the front view of Figure 6, and advantageously each comprise a motorized catenary 152, which supports a plurality of the new lateral containment devices 160 that are moved by the catenary 152 so as to laterally contact the panel 1 being processed at the polyurethane layer during its movement by the conveyor belts 110, 120.

[0035] Said new lateral containment devices 160 are configured to laterally contact the panel 1 being processed which is, as said, positioned between the two upper conveyor belts 120 and lower conveyor belts 110, so as to contain the spillage and thrust of the polyurethane foam which is used as a panel filler.

[0036] The lateral containment devices 160 according to the present invention, shown in detail in Figures 8A, 8B, 8C, advantageously comprise a back plate element 161 bent in a U-shape, according to what is visible in particular in the top view of Figure 8C, and a front plate element 162 configured to laterally encounter said panel 1 being processed.

[0037] In accordance with the present invention, according to what is particularly visible in Figure 7B, each of said lateral containment apparatuses 150 further comprises, at said motorized catenary 152, preferably at the upper portion of said catenary, a shaped guide 153 comprising a first engagement section 153a, a second inclined section 153b comprising a cam and a third substantially flat section 153c which is raised to an elevation Q2 with respect to the elevation Q1 of the engagement section 153a.

[0038] A corresponding cam or inclined section analogous to the second inclined section 153b is provided to return the side containment device 160 to the lower elevation Q1 as shown in Figure 7B.

[0039] The U-bent backplate member 161 of said side containment device 160 according to the present invention advantageously supports connection means 165 for movably connecting said side containment device 160 to said contoured guide 153 of said side containment apparatus 150.

[0040] Preferably, according to the example embodiment shown in the annexed Figures, and in particular in Figures 8A to 8C, said connection means 165 for movably connecting said lateral containment device 160 comprise a wheel 165 mounted on bearings, preferably a radial ball bearing, suitable for fitting within said shaped guide 153 of said lateral containment apparatus 150.

[0041] With particular reference to Figures 8A to 8C, lateral containment apparatus 160 further comprising, on said U-shaped backplate element 161, a guide groove 164 having a predominantly longitudinal development disposed centrally with respect to the surface of the backplate element 161 according to what is particularly visible in Figure 8A, said guide groove 164 being configurated to engage on an anchorage system present on the motorized catenary 152 of each side containment apparatus 150, and in particular allowing therefore the movement in a vertical direction of the lateral containment device 160 with respect to said side containment apparatus 150, as can be seen in Figure. 10.

[0042] A pair of reference elements 163 is also advantageously provided.

[0043] More particularly, with reference to Figure 7B, the motorized catenary 152 as mentioned comprises in its upper part a shaped guide 153. When said lateral containment device 160, at its guide groove 164, is engaged by the anchoring system present on the catenary 152, the connection means 165 of said lateral containment device 160, which in the example shown in the Figures may advantageously comprise a wheel 165 mounted on bearings or a rolling bearing, fit into said shaped guide 153, in the example so that said wheel 165 fits into said shaped guide 153. In particular, as shown in Figures 7A and 7B, said lateral containment device 160 is moved horizontally by the motorized catenary 152 while it is moved in a vertical direction with respect to said catenary, and therefore with respect to the panel 1 being machined, by the shaped guide 153.

[0044] More specifically, when the lateral containment device 160, by means of its connecting means 165, engages the shaped guide 153, said containment device 160 travels along the first engagement portion 153a of said shaped guide 153 maintaining itself at an initial height Q1; continuing its movement in the horizontal plane, said catenary 152 drags said lateral containment device 160 until said means of connection 165 meet said second inclined section 153b, which, as said, comprises a cam and a curved section suitable to lift said containment device 160 upwardly, up to the second height Q2 of said third substantially flat section 153c, which is therefore raised with respect to the height Q1 of said engagement section 153a.

[0045] As shown in particular in Figure 7A, the shaped guide 153 is arranged, with respect to the development of said catenary 152, in such a way that the movement of the catenary involves both the movement in the horizontal plane of the lateral containment device 160, and its movement in the vertical direction, which is substantially synchronized with the movement in the horizontal direction, so that the lateral containment device 160 can carry out the containment action without colliding with the lower corrugated or "corrugated" sheet metal part of the panel 1 being processed.

[0046] With particular reference to Figure 6 depicting a front view of the continuous press 100 for the production of sandwich roofing panels according to the present invention, a right side containment apparatus, indicated with 150dx, and a left side containment apparatus, indicated with 150sx, are visible.

[0047] Each of said lateral containment apparatuses 150dx and 150sx are also mounted on motorized structures movable vertically and laterally with respect to the conveyor belts 110, 120 of the press 100, according to what is schematically indicated in Figure 9 by the horizontal and vertical arrows representing the directions of movement of the right containment apparatus 150dx.

[0048] Similar movement is provided for the left containment apparatus 150sx.

[0049] The lateral containment devices 150 can therefore be moved with respect to the conveyor belts 110, 120 of the press 100, and therefore with respect to the panel 1 being processed positioned between them, in order to bring the same, and in particular the containment devices 160 mounted on said containment elements 150 to the height of said panel. In particular, the lateral containment devices 160 will be positioned so as to be at said panel 1 when they are positioned at said initial height Q1.

[0050] After the lateral containment devices 160 have performed their containment function for the filler substance of the panel 1 when the device is in correspondence with the operative section of the catenary 150, inclined section 153b of said shaped guide 153 raises the containment devices 160 up to said second elevation Q2 corresponding to the third section 153c of the guide, which is greater than the first elevation Q1, so as to release the containment devices 160, and in particular the lower edge 162' of the front plate 162, from the shaped lower edge of the panel 1 being processed before the catenary 150, when it starts the curved stretch, determines the removal of the containment device 160 from the side of the panel 1.

[0051] It has thus been shown how the improved side containment device for continuous presses for the production of sandwich panels, in particular roofing panels, according to the present invention achieves the intended task and purposes.

[0052] In particular, it has been shown how the improved lateral containment device according to the present invention allows it to be used in the processing of sandwich panels having different thicknesses by reducing the installation and replacement time of devices of the type known in conventional presses, in which the lateral containment devices were directly connected to the shutters of the upper conveyor belt, thus reducing the time and so not only for installation but also for making and supplying the devices, being able with only one size of device to cover a high range of thicknesses of the panel being processed.

[0053] Furthermore, all details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. The materials used, as long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent dimensions and shapes may be any as required.

Claims

1. Lateral containment apparatus (150) suitable for use in continuous presses (100) for producing sandwich panels (1), in particular roof panels, comprising a motorized catenary (152) supporting a plurality of lateral containment devices (160), characterized by further comprising an anchoring system for movably connecting said lateral containment devices (160) to said motorized catenary (152) said anchoring system being configured to allow relative movement in a vertical direction of said lateral containment devices (160) with respect to said motorized catenary (152) and wherein said lateral containment apparatus (150) further comprises a shaped guideway (153) having at least two sections (153a, 153c) having different elevations (Q1, Q2) connected by an inclined section (153b), each of said lateral containment devices (160) further comprising connecting means (165) for allowing the relative movement of said lateral containment devices (160) with respect to said shaped guideway (153).

2. Lateral containment apparatus (150) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said connecting means (165) of said lateral containment devices (160) to said shaped guide (153) and said anchoring system, are configured so that when said motorized catenary (152) drags in its movement said lateral containment devices (160), said shaped guide (153) moves said lateral containment devices (160) in a vertical direction.

3. Lateral containment apparatus (150) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said connecting means (165) comprise a wheel mounted on bearings, or a radial ball bearing, capable of sliding within said shaped guide (153).

4. Lateral containment apparatus (150) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of said lateral containment devices (160) comprises a backplate member (161) folded in a U-shape, and a front plate member (162) configured to laterally strike said panel 1 being processed.

5. Lateral containment apparatus (150) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said shaped guide (153) comprises said inclined section (153b) which raises the lateral containment devices (160) from the initial elevation (Q1) to the upper elevation (Q2) to avoid collisions between the lower edge of the front plate element (162) of said lateral containment devices (160) and the inferior shaped edge of said panel (1) being processed.

6. Lateral containment apparatus (150) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said shaped guide (153) is placed in correspondence with the upper portion of said motorized catenary (152), and by the fact that said shaped guideway (153) comprising a first engagement section (153a) for engaging said connecting means (165), a second inclined section (153b) comprising a cam, and a third substantially flat section (153c) which is elevated with respect to the height of said first engagement section (153a).

7. Continuous press (100) for the production of sandwich panels (1), in particular roof panels, comprising at least one lower conveyor belt (110) and an upper conveyor belt (120) for supporting the panels (1) being processed and handling them along a substantially horizontal direction of advancement, said panel (1) being processed being inserted between said two conveyor belts (110, 120), characterized by comprising at least one lateral containment apparatus (150) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

8. Continuous press (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a right side containment apparatus (150dx) and a left side containment apparatus (150sx) positioned respectively to the right and to the left with respect to the direction of advancement of the panel (1) being processed.

9. Continuous press (100) according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that said left and right side containment apparatuses (150dx, 150sx) are movable with respect to the conveyor belts (110, 120) of the press (100) so as to be able to position the lateral containment apparatuses (160) mounted on said left and right side containment apparatuses (150dx, 150sx) at the height of said panel (1) being processed.

10. A method of operating a lateral containment apparatus (150) for continuous presses (100) for producing sandwich panels (1) comprising a containment apparatus according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, wherein: - when said lateral containment device (160), at its guide groove (164), is engaged by the anchoring system present on the motorized catenary (152), the connection means (165) of said lateral containment device (160) engage said shaped guide (153); - when the lateral containment device (160), by means of its linking means (165), engages said shaped guide (153), said lateral containment device (160) travels along the first engagement portion (153a) of said shaped guide (153), maintaining itself at an initial height (Q1); - Continuing its movement in the horizontal plane, said catenary (152) drags said lateral sealing device (160) until said connecting means (165) meet said second inclined section (153b), which, as said, comprises a cam and a curved stretch suitable to lift upwards said side sealing device (160) up to the second height (Q2) of said third substantially flat stretch (153c), which is therefore raised with respect to the height (Q1) of said engaging stretch (153a), so as to release the lower edge (162') of said front plate (162) of said containment devices (160) from the shaped lower edge (1') of said panel (1) being processed before said overhead contact line (150), as the curved section begins, causes the retaining device (160) to move away from the side of the panel (1).

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