Apparatus for the continuous production of mattresses containing agglomerated mineral fibres

Abstract

An apparatus (100) for the continuous production of a mattress (14) comprising agglomerated mineral fibers is described, the apparatus comprising: a mineral fiber receiving or forming chamber (2); an accumulator conveyor (3) arranged below the receiving or forming chamber (2) and comprising adjacent drums (4) having perforated or gas-permeable circumferential surfaces (5) for receiving and depositing the mineral fibers to form a mattress (14) comprising mineral fibers between the drums (4); a gas extractor (6) in fluid communication with the perforated or gas-permeable circumferential surfaces (5) of the drums (4); and a lower space (10) between the drums (4) for removing the mattress (14) comprising mineral fibers formed between the drums (4), the apparatus (100) being characterized in that the drums (4) are movable along a displacement axis (Y) perpendicular to the rotation axis (X) of the drums (4) between a first end stroke position in which the drums (4) are maximally spaced apart from each other and a second end stroke position in which the drums (4) are maximally approached from each other.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates in a general aspect to the manufacture of insulating mattresses comprising aggregate mineral fibres (non-woven), such as glass fibres or rock wool fibres.

[0002] In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for continuously producing agglomerated mineral fiber mattresses, comprising a mineral fiber receiving or forming chamber, an accumulator conveyor (accumulation and transport device) arranged below the receiving or forming chamber and comprising adjacent drums having perforated or gas-permeable peripheral surfaces for receiving and depositing the mineral fibers to form a mattress of agglomerated mineral fiber between the drums, a gas extraction device in fluid communication with the perforated or gas-permeable peripheral surfaces of the drums, and a lower space between the drums for removing the mattress formed between the drums.

[0003] The present invention provides an improvement over the prior art, in particular for receiving (collecting) so-called insulating mineral fibers containing a binder in a liquid state and separating the gases and induced air emanating from a fiberizing machine to produce a mattress containing mineral fibers. [Background technology]

[0004] As is known in the art, the manufacture of mattresses comprising agglomerated mineral fibers, such as glass fibers, involves separating the fibers produced by fiber-forming machines (fiberization machines) from the gases and induced air produced by the burners of said machines, and collecting and shaping (depositing) the separated fibers to form a felt, substantially in the form of a mattress, comprising agglomerated mineral fibers.

[0005] To carry out the above-mentioned operation, it is known to use an apparatus comprising a receiving or forming chamber intended to receive from above a flow containing mineral fibers, gas, and induced air supplied from a fiberizing machine, an accumulator conveyor arranged below the fiber receiving or forming chamber and comprising adjacent drums having perforated or gas-permeable peripheral surfaces for receiving and depositing the fibers to form a mattress containing agglomerated mineral fibers between the drums, a gas extraction device in fluid communication with the perforated or gas-permeable peripheral surfaces of the drums, and a lower space between the drums for removing the mattress containing agglomerated mineral fibers formed between the drums.

[0006] In particular, according to a known method, a flow containing gas, induction air, and mineral fibers impregnated with a binder mixture (resin) discharged from a fiberizing machine is introduced into a fiber receiving or forming chamber and directed toward the gas-permeable or perforated surfaces of drums arranged below the receiving or forming chamber. These surfaces are gas-permeable or have holes of a size that allow gas to pass through but not the mineral fibers. These surfaces act as a kind of filter and, under the suction action of a gas extractor, allow the fibers to be deposited on their surfaces to form a mattress containing mineral fibers, while the suction gas passing through is discharged to the outside. The mattress containing mineral fibers thus formed is then removed through a lower space formed between the drums, appropriately predetermined depending on the desired thickness of the mattress.

[0007] Conventionally, a fiber receiving or forming chamber comprises an upper part having a first vertical wall extending longitudinally in the direction of the drum's rotation axis and a second vertical wall extending transversely to the drum's rotation axis, with such first and second walls defining the sides of the receiving or forming chamber, and a lower element below the upper part and provided with an arcuate recess in which the drum is housed.

[0008] The first and second vertical walls of the chamber are typically made of a rotating carpet or belt made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), the outward facing portions of which are in contact with cleaning means, such as scraping blades, which are arranged to keep the surfaces of these walls clean by removing clumps of fibers impregnated with the binder mixture, which, if the walls are fixed, can form on the surface of the walls and fall between the drums, potentially damaging the quality of the mineral fiber mattress being produced.

[0009] Furthermore, the first vertical wall has a higher height dimension since it laterally overlaps the lower element and its lower end ends below in a tangential juxtaposition to the gas-permeable or perforated surface of the drum, while the second vertical wall of the chute ends above the lower element and, while located above the drum, is movable along the direction of the drum's rotation axis so as to move away from or towards each other, thereby adjusting the width of the fiber receiving or forming chamber (i.e., the chamber dimension in the direction of the drum's rotation axis) depending on the width of the mineral fiber mattress to be obtained, i.e., its transverse width.

[0010] An improved apparatus for the continuous production of agglomerated mineral fiber mattresses is described in WO 2022 / 074106 in the name of the applicant. In this apparatus, each drum comprises first and second half drums telescopically connected to one another. The first and second half drums are movable along the rotation axis between a first end stroke position, in which the first and second half drums are juxtaposed, i.e., in contact with one another, and a second end stroke position, in which the first and second half drums are spaced apart by a predetermined maximum distance. Opposite ends of the first and second half drums are further provided with gas-permeable or perforated circumferential bands overlapping at least one of the first and second half drums. Summary of the Invention

[0011] The device makes it possible to eliminate the use of fixed lower elements, thereby maintaining the ability to adjust the width or amplitude of the mineral fiber mattress obtained with the device according to production requirements, while having the advantage of reducing the formation of lumps of impregnated fibers in the receiving or forming chamber.

[0012] Although the above device is satisfactory from a functional point of view, it is limited by the fixed distance between the drums, which can entail drawbacks in the manufacture of textile mattresses.

[0013] In fact, the distance between the drums helps to determine the pressure experienced by the mineral fibres in the mattress formed between the rollers, which pressure makes it possible to felt, i.e. to make compact, the mineral fibre mattress. This pressure determines the weight per square metre (wt / m) of mineral fibres in the mattress formed. 2 ) is higher and determines the final compactness of the mineral fiber mattress.

[0014] It should therefore be noted that, on the one hand, the pressure exerted by the drum on the formed fiber mattress is necessary to bond the mineral fibers and obtain a mineral fiber material with the appropriate density, but, on the other hand, if this pressure is too high, the fibers may break, and if it is too low, the final mineral fiber mattress may not be sufficiently densified, in either case resulting in an unsatisfactory product, for example because it is damaged and / or does not meet the specified required properties in terms of mechanical resistance.

[0015] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the continuous production of mattresses containing agglomerated mineral fibers, which has structural features that allow the pressure exerted by the drum on the mattress of fibers being formed to be adjustable, thereby allowing the compactness and / or thickness of the mattress produced to be adjusted, thereby overcoming the drawbacks mentioned above in relation to the prior art and obtaining a product with suitable properties according to specifications.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide such an apparatus which is free of structural complexity and which allows for simple and economical manufacture of the products obtained therefrom.

[0017] These objects are achieved by an apparatus for continuously producing mattresses containing agglomerated mineral fibers, comprising: a mineral fiber receiving or forming chamber; an accumulator conveyor arranged below the receiving or forming chamber and comprising adjacent drums having perforated or gas-permeable peripheral surfaces for receiving and depositing the mineral fibers to form a mattress containing mineral fibers between the drums; a gas extraction device in fluid communication with the perforated or gas-permeable peripheral surfaces of the drums; and a lower space between the drums for removing the mattress containing mineral fibers formed between the drums, wherein the drums are movable along a displacement axis substantially perpendicular to the drum rotation axis between a first end stroke position in which the drums are maximally spaced apart from each other and a second end stroke position in which the drums are maximally approached from each other.

[0018] In one embodiment, the mineral fiber receiving or forming chamber comprises a first vertical wall extending longitudinally in the direction of the rotation axis of the drums and each of which terminates below and is tangentially juxtaposed to the perforated or gas-permeable peripheral surface of the corresponding drum, and a second vertical wall extending transversely to the rotation axis of the drums and each of which terminates below and is juxtaposed laterally to the corresponding drum.

[0019] In one embodiment, the device further comprises lower carriages to which the corresponding drums are integrally connected and which slide along the displacement axis, and means for adjusting the translational movement of each lower carriage connected to the corresponding drum along the displacement axis (Y).

[0020] Preferably, the means for adjusting the translational movement of the lower carriage comprises at least one rotating screw connected to the lower carriage and motorized means adapted to impart a rotational movement to the at least one screw to adjust the advancement of the lower carriage and the drum integral with the lower carriage along the displacement axis towards or away from the opposing drum.

[0021] In one embodiment, the distance between the most closely spaced and most closely spaced positions between the perforated or gas-permeable peripheral surfaces of the drum is comprised between 10 mm and 400 mm, preferably between 40 mm and 300 mm.

[0022] In one embodiment, the first vertical wall of the receiving or forming chamber is movable in the height direction of the mineral fiber receiving or forming chamber along a vertical axis perpendicular to the rotation axis of the drums so that the lower end of the first vertical wall remains tangentially juxtaposed to the perforated or gas-permeable peripheral surface of one of the drums, depending on the mutual position of the drums along the displacement axis.

[0023] In one embodiment, each of the drums comprises a first half-drum and a second half-drum telescopically connected to one another and movable along the rotation axis between a first end stroke position in which the first and second half-drums are juxtaposed or in contact with one another and a second end stroke position in which the first and second half-drums are spaced apart a predetermined maximum distance along the direction of the drum's rotation axis, and further comprises gas-permeable or perforated circumferential bands at opposite ends of the half-drums overlapping at least one of the first and second half-drums.

[0024] In one embodiment, the device further comprises upper carriages to which the first and second half drums of each corresponding drum are integrally connected and which slide along the rotation axis, the upper carriages being slidable along a pair of opposing guides extending along the rotation axis of the drums and fixed on each lower carriage, and means for adjusting the translational movement along the rotation axis of each upper carriage connected to the first and second half drums of each corresponding drum.

[0025] Preferably, said means for adjusting the translational movement of the upper carriage comprise at least one rotating screw connected to the upper carriage and motorized means adapted to impart a rotational movement to the at least one screw to adjust the advancement of the upper carriage and the half-drum integral with the upper carriage along the axis of rotation towards or away from the opposing half-drum.

[0026] In one embodiment, the second vertical walls are movable away from or towards each other along the direction of the drum's rotation axis to adjust the width of the receiving or forming chamber by an amount equal to the sum of the width of the perforated or gas-permeable peripheral surface of the drum and the distance determined by the mutual positions of the first and second half-drums along the direction of the rotation axis.

[0027] In one embodiment, the gas extraction device comprises a suction chamber arranged inside each drum below the gas-permeable or perforated peripheral surface of each drum, each suction chamber having a first half-chamber arranged inside the first half-drum and a second half-chamber arranged inside the second half-drum, the first and second half-chambers being movable along the rotation axis (X) between first and second end stroke positions of the first and second half-drums, and further comprising bands at opposite ends of the half-chambers overlapping at least one of the first and second half-chambers.

[0028] The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for continuously producing a mattress comprising agglomerated mineral fibers according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in an operational configuration with the drums at their maximum spacing from one another. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in an operational configuration with the drums in maximum proximity to one another. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in an operational configuration with the drums at an intermediate position between their maximum proximity and maximum separation from one another. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in an operational configuration where the fiber receiving or forming chamber is narrow. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a detail of the device shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 in an operating configuration where the fiber receiving or forming chamber is wide. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a detail of the device shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of another detail of the device shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] 1 to 9, an apparatus for the continuous production of a mattress comprising agglomerated mineral fibres in accordance with the present invention will now be described, said apparatus being generally designated by the reference numeral 100.

[0031] The apparatus 100 comprises a fiber receiving or forming chamber 2, an accumulator conveyor 3 arranged below the fiber receiving or forming chamber 2 and rotatably movable about a rotation axis X and comprising adjacent drums 4 each having a peripheral surface 5 with holes 5a, a gas extractor 6 arranged inside the drums 4 and having an output opening 11 in fluid communication with the perforated peripheral surface 5 of the drums 4, and a lower space 10 between the drums 4 for removing a mattress 14 comprising mineral fibers formed between the drums 4.

[0032] The receiving or forming chamber 2 has at its top first vertical walls 7 extending longitudinally in the direction of the rotation axis X of the drum 4 and second vertical walls 8 extending transversely to the rotation axis X of the drum 4, said first walls 7 and second walls 8 defining the upper and lateral boundaries of the receiving or forming chamber 2.

[0033] The first 7 and second 8 vertical walls of the receiving or forming chamber 2 consist of an infinitely movable rotating carpet or belt, the outwardly facing portion of which is in contact with at least one scraping blade (not shown), which is arranged to keep the surfaces of the first 7 and second 8 vertical walls clean by removing any clumps of fibers impregnated with the binder mixture that may form on the surfaces.

[0034] In this embodiment, the first vertical wall 7 and the second vertical wall 8 have the same direction of rotation, that is, from top to bottom inside the receiving or forming chamber 2 and from bottom to top outside the receiving or forming chamber 2. Of course, the first vertical wall 7 and the second vertical wall 8 may also have opposite directions of rotation.

[0035] The first vertical wall 7 terminates below in a tangential juxtaposition with the perforated circumferential surface 5 of one of the respective drums 4, while the second vertical wall 8 is juxtaposed laterally above the output opening 11 of the gas extractor 6 in the upper region of the drums 4, so that, when the drums 4 rotate, it laterally closes off the part of the perforated circumferential surface 5 located above the lower space 10 present between the drums 4 for removing the mattresses 14.

[0036] According to a first aspect of the invention, the drums 4 are translatable along a displacement axis, moving away from or towards each other, to adjust the distance between the two drums 4 according to production requirements. In particular, the distance between the drums 4 is adjusted along the displacement axis Y between a first end stroke position in which the drums 4 are at their closest position (smallest distance between the drums 4) and a second end stroke position in which the drums 4 are at their most distant position (largest distance between the drums 4).

[0037] The movement of the drums 4 along the axis Y can be independently performed by respective sliding lower carriages 25 to which the drums 4 are integrally connected, and means for adjusting the translational movement of each drum 4 are further provided. More specifically, in this embodiment, each lower carriage 25 slides along a pair of opposing rails 26 and extends along the displacement axis Y by means of suitable wheels 27 fixed to each lower carriage 25. Furthermore, the means for adjusting the translational movement of each lower carriage 25 along the axis Y comprises a pair of opposing rotating screws 28 extending along the displacement axis Y and operably connected to the lower carriage 25 of each drum 4. This adjusts the advancement of the drums 4 along the axis Y toward or away from the opposing drum 4 depending on the rotation imparted to the screws 28. This rotation can be imparted to the screws 28 by motorized means comprising a motor 29 connected to the rotating screws 28 via a motion transmission rod 30.

[0038] Advantageously, the distance between the drums 4 is adjusted to the weight per square meter (wt / m) of mineral fibers in the mattress to be formed.2 ) or depending on the thickness of the mattress formed between the drums 4. This allows to apply the right pressure to the fibers to obtain a mattress 14 of fibers with an optimum consistency, i.e. not too much pressure that would damage the mineral fibers, and not too little pressure that would affect the properties of the final product, in particular the compactness of the final mattress.

[0039] For example, the distance between the drums 4 can be adjusted and varied based on processing parameters such as the weight per square meter of the mattress formed on each drum 4 above the lower space 10 between the drums 4, the amount of binder used, and the size of the fibers. This allows a final mattress 14 with desired specifications, particularly in terms of thickness and / or weight per square meter. Generally, if the weight per square meter of the mattress formed on each drum 4 above the lower space 10 between the drums 4 is low, the final thickness of the mattress 14 will be the sum of the thicknesses of the mattresses formed on the drums 4. In contrast, if the weight per square meter of the mattress formed on each drum 4 above the lower space 10 between the drums 4 is high, the thickness of the final mattress 14 may be greater than the sum of the thicknesses of the mattresses formed on the drums 4. This is because the final mattress 14 may have elastic properties that accompany expansion, resulting in an increase in thickness. Therefore, to obtain a mattress 14 that is always dense and has appropriate resistance, the distance between the drums 4 can be adjusted in an optimal manner by a person skilled in the art based on the above instructions and their general technical knowledge.

[0040] In the device 100 according to the invention, the distance between the drums 4, understood as the (minimum) distance G between the circumferential surfaces 5 of the drums 4, may be, for example, between 10 mm and 400 mm, preferably between 40 mm and 300 mm.

[0041] Several operating configurations of the device 100 are shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, with different adjustments of the mutual distance between the drums 4 and of the height of the first vertical wall 7.

[0042] In particular, a configuration of apparatus 100 in which drums 4 are at a maximum distance from one another at a maximum end stroke position is shown in Figure 2. To maintain first side wall 7 in tangential apposition to drum 4, first side wall 7 is raised along vertical axis Z until it reaches a predetermined maximum height depending on the maximum end stroke position of drum 4.

[0043] Alternatively, a configuration of the apparatus 100 in which the drums 4 are at a minimum distance from each other at their maximum proximal end stroke position is shown in Figure 3. To maintain the first side wall 7 in tangential apposition to the drum 4, the first side wall 7 is lowered along the vertical axis Z until it reaches a predetermined minimum height depending on the maximum proximal end stroke position of the drum 4.

[0044] A configuration of the device 100 in which the drums 4 are spaced apart at an intermediate position between the end stroke positions at maximum distance from each other and the end stroke positions at maximum proximity to each other is shown in Figure 4. In order to maintain the first side wall 7 in tangential apposition to the drums 4, the first side wall 7 is adjusted along the vertical axis Z at an intermediate height between the above maximum and minimum heights depending on the intermediate mutual position of the drums 4.

[0045] Thus, according to another aspect of the invention, the first side wall 7 of the receiving or forming chamber 2 is movable along an axis Z perpendicular to the axis of rotation X of the drum 4, i.e. perpendicular to the height direction of the fiber receiving or forming chamber 2.

[0046] In particular, the movement of the first side wall 7 along axis Z is preferably accompanied by a translational movement of the drums 4 along the displacement axis Y. This allows the tangential juxtaposition of the lower end of the first side wall 7 to the perforated circumferential surface 5 of one of the drums 4 to be maintained as the distance between the drums 4 along the displacement axis Y changes. In other words, as the drums 4 approach each other, the first vertical wall 7 can be lowered, either in synchronization with the movement of the drums 4 or after the movement of the drums 4, to a degree that ensures that the first vertical wall 7 is tangentially juxtaposed to the perforated circumferential surface 5 of each drum 4 at the new distanced position of the drums 4. Conversely, as the drums 4 are moved away from each other, the first vertical wall 7 can be raised, either in synchronization with the movement of the drums 4 or before the movement of the drums 4, to a degree that ensures that the first vertical wall 7 is tangentially juxtaposed to the perforated circumferential surface 5 of each drum 4 at the new distanced position of the drums 4.

[0047] The variation in height of the first sidewall 7 may be small enough not to result in a significant change in the volume of the receiving or molding chamber 2. For example, the variation in height of the first sidewall 7 may be between 50 mm and 200 mm.

[0048] Advantageously, the vertical movement of the first side wall 7 and the translational movement of the drum 4 along the axis Y can be regulated by a command and control unit (not shown) in electrical communication (e.g. bidirectional) with motorized means 29, 30 that control the translational movement of the drum 4 by means of the screw 28, and in electrical communication with motorized means (not shown) that control the vertical movement of the first vertical wall 7.

[0049] According to another aspect of the invention, the device 100 also makes it possible to adjust the width W of the receiving or forming chamber 2 and thus the width of the mattress 14 formed between the drums 4. In this regard, in this embodiment, each drum 4 comprises a first half drum 4a and a second half drum 4b connected to each other (e.g., telescopically). The first and second half drums 4a, 4b are movable along the rotation axis X between a first end stroke position (FIGS. 5-6), in which the first and second half drums 4a, 4b are juxtaposed or in contact with each other, and a second end stroke position (FIGS. 7 and 8), in which the first and second half drums 4a, 4b are spaced apart from each other by a maximum distance along the drum rotation axis X (appropriately predetermined depending on the desired maximum width W of the receiving or forming chamber 2 and thus of the final product).

[0050] Furthermore, the second vertical walls 8 are movable outside the drum 4 along the direction of the rotation axis X of the drum 4, and can be moved away from or towards each other to adjust the width W of the receiving or forming chamber 2 (i.e., the chamber dimension 2 in the direction of the rotation axis X of the drum).

[0051] More specifically, the movement of the second side wall 8 is preferably performed simultaneously with the translational movement of the first and second half drums 4a, 4b, in the same direction as the direction of the rotation axis X of the drum 4. This allows the second side wall 8 to be maintained in lateral juxtaposition with respect to the drum 4, and allows the width W of the receiving or forming chamber 2 to be adjusted to a value substantially equal to the sum of the width of the periphery of the drum 4 and the distance determined by the mutual positions of the first and second half drums 4a, 4b along the direction of the rotation axis X of the drum 4.

[0052] The movement of the half drums 4a and 4b of each drum 4 along the rotation axis X can be performed independently by a respective sliding upper carriage 21 to which the first half drum 4a or the second half drum 4b is integrally connected, and means for adjusting the translational movement of each of the half drums 4a, 4b are further provided. More specifically, in this embodiment, each upper carriage 21 connected to the first half drum 4a or the second half drum 4b of the drum 4 extends along the rotation axis X of the drum 4 and slides along a pair of opposing guides 32 fixed to the respective lower carriage 25. Furthermore, the means for adjusting the translational movement of each upper carriage 21 along the axis X comprises a rotating screw 33 extending along the rotation axis X and operably connected to the upper carriage 21 of the first half drum 4a or the second half drum 4b of the drum 4, respectively. This allows the first half-drum 4a or the second half-drum 4b to move towards or away from the opposing half-drum 4b or 4a, depending on the rotation imparted to the screw 33. This rotation can be imparted to the screw 33 by motorized means (not shown).

[0053] Advantageously, the movement of the second side wall 8 and the translational movement of the drum 4 along the axis X can also be coordinated by a command and control unit (not shown), which is in electrical communication (e.g. bidirectional) with motorized means operatively connected to said second side wall 8 and said half-drums 4a, 4b to control the movement of the second side wall 8 along the axis of rotation X.

[0054] The connection between the first half drum 4a and the second half drum 4b of each drum 4 can be made in a manner conventional per se, for example the first half drum 4a and the second half drum 4b can be provided with coaxial tubular stems that extend along the rotation axis X of the drum 4 and slide relative to each other to form an extensible connection between them.

[0055] Furthermore, according to another embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 5 to 8, the device 100 comprises, for each drum 4, a circumferentially extending perforated plate 22 fixed to an end of the circumferential surface 5 of the second half drum 4b and partially overlapping the opposite end of the circumferential surface 5 of the first half drum 4a.

[0056] Advantageously, the plate 22 can close the space formed between the first half-drum 4a and the second half-drum 4b at any distance therebetween, and in fact, in the end stroke position of the maximum distance between the half-drums 4a and 4b, the plate 22 has a width greater than the predetermined maximum distance between the first half-drum 4a and the second half-drum 4b along the direction of the rotation axis X of the drum 4, so that the free end peripheral portion of the plate 22 always partially overlaps one of the half-drums 4a and 4b.

[0057] At the same time, the plate 22, which is perforated with holes 22a (like the holes 5a on the periphery of the drum 4) sized to hold the fibers and allow gas to pass through, allows the active surface of the drum 4 to be enlarged to deposit the fibers when the first half drum 4a and the second half drum 4b are positioned apart from each other, thereby allowing the width W of the receiving or forming chamber 2 and, consequently, the width of the final product removed from the device 100 to be adjusted accordingly.

[0058] In an alternative embodiment of the device 100 (not shown), the above-mentioned plate 22 can be replaced by functionally equivalent means, for example by a perforated ring integrally formed on one end of the first half-drum 4 a and the second half-drum 4 b and having a larger diameter than the latter, which perforated ring further overlaps the opposite end of the other circumferential surface 5 of the first half-drum 4 a and the second half-drum 4 b.

[0059] Similarly, in the device 100, the gas extraction device comprises suction chambers 6 arranged inside each drum 4 below the perforated peripheral surface 5, each suction chamber comprising a first half-chamber arranged inside the first half-drum 4a and a second half-chamber arranged inside the second half-drum 4b. The first and second half-chambers are movable along the rotation axis X between first and second end stroke positions of the first and second half-drums 4a and 4b, and further comprise bands 18 overlapping the first and second half-chambers at their opposite ends, thereby closing the space formed at any interval between the first and second half-chambers and suctioning gas at each position.

[0060] In this embodiment, the band 18 consists of a plate fixed to the outer peripheral edge of the wall 6b of the second half-chamber and partially overlapping the opposite outer peripheral edge of the wall 6a of the first half-chamber, although other functionally equivalent means may also be used.

[0061] 5 and 6 show a configuration of the apparatus 100 in which the first half drum 4a and the second half drum 4b of the drum 4 are arranged side by side (juxtaposed), with the second side wall 8 laterally juxtaposed to the half drum 4a or the second half drum 4b of the drum 4, defining a minimum width W of the receiving or shaping chamber 2. In this configuration, the portion of the circumferential plate 22 protruding from the second half drum 4b of each drum 4 towards the first half drum 4a completely overlaps a portion of the circumferential surface 5 of the first half drum 4a, and the width W of the fiber receiving or shaping chamber 2 is substantially equal to the sum of the widths (or amplitudes) of the first and second half drums 4a and 4b of each drum 4 in the direction of the rotation axis X of the drum 4. In this configuration, the two suction half chambers of the suction device 6 of each drum 4 are also juxtaposed to each other and are integral with and movable together with the respective half drums 4a and 4b.

[0062] Alternatively, a configuration of the device 20 is shown in Figures 7 to 9 in which the first and second half drums 4a, 4b of the drum 4 are spaced apart from one another and the second side wall 8 is laterally juxtaposed to either the half drum 4a or the second half drum 4b of the drum 4 to define the maximum width W of the fiber receiving or forming chamber 2. In this configuration, the portion of the circumferential plate 22 that projects from the second half drum 4b of each drum 4 towards the first half drum 4a overlaps the circumferential surface 5 of the first half drum 4a over a minimal free edge portion so as to close the underlying space formed by the mutual distance between the first and second half drums 4a, 4b of the drum 4. This defines a width W of the fiber receiving or forming chamber 2 that is substantially equal to the sum of the width (or amplitude) of the first half drum 4a and the width (or amplitude) of the second half drum 4b of each drum 4 and the predetermined maximum distance between the first and second half drums 4a, 4b in the direction of the drum's rotation axis X. In this configuration, the two suction half chambers of the suction device 6 of each drum 4 are also spaced apart from each other and are integral with and movable together with the respective half drums 4a, 4b. The band 18 overlaps the free peripheral edge portions of the wall 6a of the first half chamber and the wall 6b of the second half chamber, thereby closing the space formed between the first and second half drums 4a, 4b by their mutual distance.

[0063] Needless to say, the above-described features of the device 100 also make it possible to adjust the width W of the receiving or forming chamber 2 to an intermediate value between the minimum width and the maximum width by appropriately adjusting the mutual positions (distance) of the first half drum 4 a and the second half drum 4 b to an intermediate position between the end stroke position where the first half drum 4 a and the second half drum 4 b are arranged side by side and the end stroke position where the first half drum 4 a and the second half drum 4 b are at the maximum distance (spacing).

[0064] It should be noted that it is advantageous to form the plate 22 or other functionally equivalent means thin in order to reduce the height of any step caused by the presence of the plate 22 on the peripheral surface 5 of the drum 4 and to keep any thickness non-uniformities that may occur in the final product within acceptable limits or within limits that do not impair the desired properties of the final product.

[0065] In this regard, the plate 22 may be formed with a small thickness, preferably between 1 mm and 5 mm, in particular about 3 mm.

[0066] Furthermore, advantageously, the perforated plate 22 has a larger ratio of solid to hollow portions (holes 22a) in the region overlapping with the circumferential surface of the first half drum 4a than the ratio of solid to hollow portions (holes 5a) of the half drums 4a and 4b, and the dimensions of the holes 22a are smaller than the dimensions of the holes 5a of the half drums 4a and 4b. In other words, in the region overlapping with the circumferential surface of the first half drum 4a, the plate 22 has more holes 22a than the holes 5a present in the lower half drum 4a.

[0067] Advantageously, this allows minimizing the loss of the effective area for aspirating gas on the drum 4 during operation of the device 20, since solid portions of the overlapping plate 22 may overlap the holes 5a of the underlying drum 4, especially if the rotational movement of said drum 4 becomes out of sync or incomplete.

[0068] Regarding the operation of the device 100 described above, in a first step the distance between the drums should be adjusted according to the weight per square meter of the mattress formed on each drum 4 above the lower space 10 between the drums 4, in order to obtain a final product (mattress) with the desired characteristics, in particular in terms of thickness and / or weight per square meter. Typically the final mattress has a weight per square meter of 400 g / m2, depending on the type of final product (mattress), for example in the form of a roll or panel. 2 ~5000g / m 2The distance between the drums 4 can be adjusted depending on the type of final product (panels, rolls, etc.) (as well as the weight per square meter) to avoid affecting the elastic properties of the final product, especially at higher values ​​of weight per square meter. For example, if the final mattress is in roll form and has a high weight per square meter, excessive pressure must not be applied during the bonding step, as this would result in excessive compression, which could affect important elastic properties and damage the final mattress 14. Therefore, for the same weight per square meter, final products in the form of rolls or panels may require different bonding distances between the drums 4.

[0069] Thus, the fibers impregnated with the binder mixture, gas, and induction air output from each fiberization unit 13 are introduced into the receiving or forming chamber 2 and directed toward the perforated circumferential surface 5 of the drum 4, which rotates in opposite directions. The fibers are deposited on the circumferential surface 5 of the drum 4, forming a mattress 14 of cohesive fibers. Meanwhile, gas is suitably sucked by an extractor 6 (e.g., a device capable of generating a vacuum) through the holes 5a in the circumferential surface 5 and discharged outside the output opening 11 (arrow A). It should be noted that the dimensions of the holes 5a in the circumferential surface 5 are small enough to allow the gas to pass through but not the fibers.

[0070] The mattresses 14 carried by the rotational movement of the drums 4 are thus conveyed towards the lower space 10 between the drums 4 where they are removed from the drums 4 and collected on a conveyor belt 16 for delivery to the next processing station, storage area, or other use.

[0071] In view of the above, it will be appreciated that the device according to the present invention may achieve its stated objectives and provide important advantages over known devices.

[0072] In fact, by employing a movable drum that slides along a displacement axis Y perpendicular to the rotation axis X, the device according to the invention makes it possible to effectively adjust the thickness of the fiber mattress delivered from the fiberizing machine according to the production requirements and based on the value of the weight per square meter of mineral fibers in the mattress to be formed. All this is done without damaging the fibers and without obtaining a less dense product. This can be easily done by appropriately adjusting the mutual position (distance) of the drums.

[0073] In particular, when the mineral fibres have a high value of weight per square metre, the distance between the drums can be increased to reduce the compression pressure of the fibres and avoid possible breakage.

[0074] Conversely, if the weight per square meter of the mineral fiber mattress is very low, the distance between the drums can be reduced and the pressure increased to obtain a dense and uniform mineral fiber mattress.

[0075] This device therefore makes it possible to adjust the distance between the drums and thereby the pressure provided by the drums during the formation of the mineral fibre mattress and, consequently, the thickness of the mattress.

[0076] In fact, the device according to the invention, by adopting a movable drum consisting of two half-drums sliding along its rotation axis (and by adopting an overlapping band between the half-drums), makes it possible to effectively adjust on demand the width of the receiving or forming chamber for the fibers fed from the fiberizing machine, so that the width of the product discharged from the device can be adjusted within a wide range according to the most diverse production requirements. This can be done in a simple manner by appropriately adjusting the mutual position (distance) between the half-drums that make up the drum, and by arranging the vertical wall of the chute, which extends longitudinally transversely to the rotation axis of the drum, so as to be laterally juxtaposed to the drum.

[0077] Finally, it should be noted that providing a movable drum with overlapping plates in the form of a half-drum that slides vertically along its axis of rotation, i.e. a half-drum that slides along the axis of rotation of the drum, does not involve significant complications in the structural, functional and / or construction nature of the device.

[0078] Those skilled in the art can suggest several modifications and alternatives to the device according to the invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the appended claims.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus (100) for continuously producing a mattress (14) comprising agglomerated mineral fibers, comprising: a mineral fibre receiving or forming chamber (2); an accumulator conveyor (3) arranged below the receiving or forming chamber (2) and comprising adjacent drums (4) having perforated or gas-permeable peripheral surfaces (5) for receiving and depositing the mineral fibers to form a mattress (14) containing the mineral fibers between the drums (4); a gas extractor (6) in fluid communication with the perforated or gas-permeable peripheral surface (5) of the drum (4); a lower space (10) between the drums (4) for removing the mattress (14) containing mineral fibers formed between the drums (4); Equipped with 1. An apparatus (100) characterized in that the drums (4) are movable along a displacement axis (Y) perpendicular to the rotation axis (X) of the drums (4) between a first end stroke position in which the drums (4) are furthest apart from one another and a second end stroke position in which the drums (4) are furthest together.

2. The mineral fibre receiving or forming chamber (2) comprises: first vertical walls (7) extending longitudinally in the direction of the rotation axis (X) of the drums (4) and each terminating below and tangentially juxtaposed to the perforated or gas-permeable peripheral surface (5) of the respective drum (4); second vertical walls (8) extending transversely to the rotation axis (X) of the drums (4) and each terminating below and laterally juxtaposed to the respective drum (4); The apparatus (100) of claim 1, comprising:

3. a lower carriage (25) to which the corresponding drum (4) is integrally connected and which slides along the displacement axis (Y); means for adjusting the translational movement along said displacement axis (Y) of each lower carriage (25) connected to its corresponding drum (4); The apparatus (100) of claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising:

4. The means for adjusting the translational movement of the lower carriage (25) comprises: At least one rotating screw (28) connected to said lower carriage (25); motorized means adapted to impart a rotational movement to said at least one screw to adjust the advancement of said lower carriage (25) and said drum (4) integral with said lower carriage (25) along said displacement axis (Y) when moving towards or away from the opposing drum (4); The apparatus (100) of claim 3, comprising:

5. 5. The device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the distance between the maximum proximity position and the maximum separation position between the perforated or gas-permeable peripheral surfaces (5) of the drums (4) is comprised between 10 mm and 400 mm, preferably between 40 mm and 300 mm.

6. 6. The apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first vertical wall (7) of the receiving or shaping chamber (2) is movable in the height direction of the mineral fiber receiving or shaping chamber (2) along a vertical axis (Z) perpendicular to the rotation axis (X) of the drums (4) so ​​that the lower end of the first vertical wall (7) remains tangentially juxtaposed to the perforated or gas-permeable peripheral surface (5) of one of the drums (4) depending on the mutual position of the drums (4) along the displacement axis (Y).

7. each of the drums (4) comprises a first half-drum (4a) and a second half-drum (4b) telescopically connected to one another and movable along the rotation axis (X) of the drum (4) between a first end stroke position in which the first half-drum (4a) and the second half-drum (4b) are juxtaposed or in contact with one another and a second end stroke position in which the first half-drum (4a) and the second half-drum (4b) are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined maximum distance along the direction of the rotation axis (X) of the drum (4); and a gas-permeable or perforated circumferential band (22) overlapping at least one of the first half drum (4a) and the second half drum (4b) at the opposite ends of the first and second half drums (4a, 4b). An apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. an upper carriage (21) to which the first and second half drums (4a, 4b) of each corresponding drum (4) are integrally connected and which slides along the rotation axis (X), the upper carriage (21) being slidable along a pair of opposing guides (32) which extend along the rotation axis (X) of the drum (4) and are fixed on each lower carriage (25); means for adjusting the translational movement along said axis of rotation (X) of each upper carriage (21) connected to the first and second half-drums (4a, 4b) of the corresponding drum (4); The apparatus (100) of claim 7, further comprising:

9. The means for adjusting the translational movement of the upper carriage (21) are: At least one rotating screw (33) connected to the upper carriage (21); motorized means adapted to impart a rotational movement to said at least one screw (33) to adjust the advancement of said upper carriage (21) and said first and second half-drums (4a, 4b) integral with said upper carriage (21) along said axis of rotation (X) when said upper carriage (21) moves towards or away from the opposing first and second half-drums (4a, 4b); The apparatus (100) of claim 8, comprising:

10. 10. The device (100) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the second vertical walls (8) are movable away from or towards each other along the direction of the rotation axis (X) of the drum (4) so ​​as to adjust the width (W) of the receiving or forming chamber (2) by an amount equal to the sum of the width of the perforated or gas-permeable peripheral surface (5) of the drum (4) and a distance determined by the mutual positions of the first half-drum (4a) and the second half-drum (4b) along the direction of the rotation axis (X).

11. The gas extraction device (6) comprises a suction chamber arranged inside each drum (4) below the gas-permeable or perforated peripheral surface (5) of each drum (4), each suction chamber having a first half-chamber arranged inside the first half-drum (4a) and a second half-chamber arranged inside the second half-drum (4b), the first and second half-chambers are movable along the axis of rotation (X) between the first and second end stroke positions of the first and second half-drums (4a) and (4b), a band (18) overlapping at least one of the first and second half chambers at the opposite ends (6a, 6b) of the first and second half chambers; An apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 7 to 10.

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