Edge Strip Bands for Waterproofing Membrane Lamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing waterproofing membrane manufacturing processes face issues with polymer thinning and pressure loss at the edges, leading to poorly formed membranes and material wastage due to the spreading and flattening of polymers during the lamination process.
Innovation Solution
The system employs edge strips or belts positioned adjacent to the textile belt within the laminating machine, which are heated and move in conjunction with the polymer, maintaining uniform pressure and thickness by preventing edge thinning and ensuring well-formed side edges of the waterproofing membranes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the polymer is heated and pressed during lamination, then the polymer cures and forms the waterproofing membrane, but the polymer spreads and flattens at the edges causing thinning and pressure loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different properties to different parts of the system by introducing edge strips with specific thermal and mechanical properties at the edges, while the center region maintains standard lamination conditions. The edge strips have higher thermal conductivity and maintain higher pressure locally to prevent polymer spread and thinning at the edges during curing.
Solution Approach 2:
The edge strips act as intermediary elements between the heating/pressing system and the polymer at the edges. These strips mediate the thermal and pressure distribution, ensuring adequate curing at edges while preventing excessive polymer flow and thinning that would occur with uniform heating and pressing across the entire membrane.
2Stability of the object's composition
If uniform pressure is applied across the entire membrane during lamination, then the polymer cures evenly, but the edges thin and lose pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The edge strips provide localized quality enhancement at the membrane edges by maintaining higher pressure and temperature in the edge regions during lamination. This compensates for the natural pressure loss at edges and prevents thinning, while the center region maintains standard curing conditions for uniform polymerization throughout the membrane.
3Ease of manufacture
If the polymer is allowed to flow during heating, then the polymer distributes across the textile belt, but the edges spread and flatten causing material wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The edge strips are positioned on the textile belt before polymer application to preemptively prevent polymer spread at the edges. By having these strips in place beforehand, they create a physical and thermal barrier that stops polymer flow at the edges before excessive spreading and flattening can occur, thereby preventing material wastage while still allowing adequate polymer distribution across the membrane center.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach results in waterproofing membranes with solid, uniform side edges and consistent thickness, reducing material wastage and improving the overall quality of the membranes by maintaining pressure and thickness across their width.
Implementation Method 1
The laminating machine has an upper conveyor belt with an upper heat source adjacent to the upper conveyor belt. The laminating machine also has a lower conveyor belt with a lower heat source adjacent to the lower conveyor belt.
Implementation Method 2
The first polymer is also positioned between the pair of edge strips, with the edge strips being on either side (for example, at the side edges of the textile belt). For example, the polymer can be unwound from a first roller, placed on top of the textile belt which is then fed through the laminating machine (such that it can be cured or vulcanized into a waterproofing membrane)
Data Source
AI summary
A system for manufacturing waterproofing membranes, including: a laminating machine; a textile belt moveable through the laminating machine; and a pair of edge strips positioned adjacent to opposite sides of the textile belt. A first polymer is unrolled onto the textile belt and positioned between a pair of edge strips positioned adjacent to opposite sides of the textile belt and then moved through the laminating machine to heat and cure the first polymer into a first waterproofing membrane. The edge strips are preferably endless loops of material that pass continuously through the laminating machine. A second polymer can also be unrolled onto an opposite side of the textile belt such that two different waterproofing membranes can be manufactured simultaneously.