Mineral Wool Curing Separator Belt for Surface Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mineral wool production methods result in flight marks on the surface of mineral wool products due to mineral wool material entering the openings in the curing oven belts, which are unacceptable for visible applications and require costly post-processing to correct, leading to material waste and increased production costs.

Innovation Solution

A diffusion-open separating tape, typically a glass filament fabric, is placed between the raw fleece and the curing oven belts to prevent mineral wool material from entering the flow openings, allowing for the removal of the tape after curing without damaging the surface and eliminating flight marks, thus reducing post-processing efforts and material usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the raw fleece is passed through the curing oven in a compressed state to achieve a constant target thickness, then the product thickness is controlled, but mineral wool material enters the openings in the belts and creates flight marks on the surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduct thicknessVSAvoidflight marks on surface
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A separating tape is introduced as an intermediary element between the compressed raw fleece and the belt openings in the curing oven. This tape prevents mineral wool material from entering the belt openings while allowing the fleece to maintain its compressed state for proper thickness control, thereby eliminating flight marks without sacrificing dimensional precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a separating tape is placed between the raw fleece and the curing oven belts to prevent flight marks, then the surface quality is improved, but the curing process may be hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflight marks on surfaceVSAvoidcuring process
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The separating tape is designed with a porous structure that allows the curing medium (heat and/or radiation) to pass through effectively. This ensures that while the tape prevents mineral wool material from entering the belt openings, it does not interfere with the curing process, maintaining both surface quality and curing reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If post-processing grinding is applied to remove flight marks, then the surface planarity is improved, but production time and costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface planarityVSAvoidpost-processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The separating tape is applied before the curing process to prevent flight marks from forming in the first place. This preliminary preventive measure eliminates the need for subsequent grinding operations, significantly reducing post-processing time and production costs while achieving the desired surface planarity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

The method achieves a flat, pattern-free surface on mineral wool products, allowing them to be used without additional grinding, reducing manufacturing effort and costs, and ensuring reliable curing without hindering the hardening process, with the separating tape being easily integrated into conventional production lines.

Implementation Method 1

A diffusion-open separating tape, typically a glass filament fabric, is placed between the raw fleece and the curing oven belts to prevent mineral wool material from entering the flow openings

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical barrier: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

A diffusion-open separating tape, typically a glass filament fabric, is placed between the raw fleece and the curing oven belts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 3

the binder usually hardens through the action of heat and/or radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 4

the binder usually hardens through the action of heat and/or radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentEP2167716B1Method and apparatus for production of a mineral wool product
Publication Date: 2016.08.10 SAINT GOBAIN ISOVER
  • EP2167716B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2167716B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2167716B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for production of a mineral wool product, in which a raw unbonded web (3) composed of mineral wool provided with an unhardened binder is passed, on a conveyor device, for the shaping of the product and for the hardening of the binder, into a curing oven (2) designed in the manner of a tunnel oven, and having an upper belt (21) and a lower belt (22). According to the invention, between the raw unbonded web (3) and the upper belt (21) and/or the lower belt (22) here there is a permeable separator belt (5) arranged. The invention further relates to a corresponding apparatus (1) and to a mineral wool product produced therewith. The result is an improved method of production of a mineral wool product, where in particular the cost of downstream operations on the mineral wool products discharged from the curing oven can be reduced.