IT202200000410A1 - DOUBLE BELT PRESS EQUIPMENT FOR REFRIGERATOR PANEL PRODUCTION - Google Patents

Description

Title: DOUBLE BELT PRESS EQUIPMENT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF REFRIGERATOR PANELS

Description

The present invention refers to a double belt press equipment for the production of panels made of expanded material, for example polyurethane, for the production of panels for refrigerators.

State of art

Double belt presses are normally used in the production of expanded polyurethane panels. In practice, two overlapping belts are used in the shape of a track (or, in the jargon used in the sector, in the shape of roller shutters) made up of a plurality of of plates placed side by side, normally metal plates.

The two tapes can be brought closer together in order to establish the thickness of the panel that will be created. formed in the resulting cavity. By operating the two belts in opposite directions (i.e., one clockwise, the other anti-clockwise) the polyurethane panel advances thus. formed, creating a continuous production process.

With the equipment described above, various types of panels can be obtained, including panels for cold rooms.

Cold rooms are usually built using sandwich panels. In this case the polyurethane is inserted between two sheets which will constitute the external walls of the panel.

The various panels are designed for a modular structure and are then assembled to form a cold room of the desired shape and size using male-female hooks which are partially embedded in the polyurethane foam being formed, at distances set along the external edges of the panel. In this way, by avoiding fixing with through screws, the formation of heat bridges which would lead to condensation is prevented.

The production method of refrigerator panels with hooks inserted? traditionally a discontinuous process. The sheets are profiled and cut to length, then placed on the carriage where spacers are added and hooks in place. At the end the upper sheet metal is positioned and the carriage is placed in the press where it is foamed with the mold closed. The hooks are held in position by special spacers during the development process of the expanded polyurethane foam inside the press. After a curing time that varies depending on the thickness of the panel (for example, approximately 30 minutes), the press is opened and the finished panel is removed.

This discontinuous process produces on average four panels of maximum length per hour, therefore 48 linear meters per hour.

The discontinuous process described above? very versatile, but has a productivity? very low.

Continuous systems have been developed that can guarantee a production of between 300 and 600 linear meters per hour, but these processes suffer from various problems linked above all to the correct positioning of the male-female hooks. In fact, the hooks must be placed in such a way as to have the same longitudinal and vertical position between the right side (e.g. male hook) and the left side (e.g. female hook). Furthermore, the hook must be parallel to the face of the panel.

There is therefore a need to solve the problem outlined above and to make available a double belt press that allows a quick and precise positioning of the male-female hooks on both sides of the panel being formed, so that, at the end of the process, they are fixed to the edge of the panel in the correct reciprocal position.

Summary of the invention

Object of the present invention? a double belt press apparatus as outlined in the attached claims, the definitions of which form an integral part of the present description.

In particular, an object of the invention? a double belt press apparatus for forming modular panels in expanded polyurethane, in which the panels comprise a sandwich structure comprising two plates which enclose the polyurethane and in which the panels form lateral profiles comprising male hooks or female hooks for the mutual coupling of said panels, said hooks comprising a hollow body and an opening, in which the apparatus comprises a first belt or roller member and a second belt or roller member arranged one above the other so as to form a separation space, and in which on the two sides of the belt members there are respective first and second mobile containment members comprising respective first and second chains, in which said first chain is associated with a plurality? of first swabs and said second chain? associated with a plurality? of second pads, the pads being removably placed one next to the other so as to constitute, during the sliding along the section that faces the space between the two belt members, respective containment sides for the polyurethane, characterized by the fact that at least some first swabs of said plurality? of first pads include first inserts and at least some second pads of said plurality? of second pads comprise second inserts, the inserts being configured to interlock with the openings of the hooks.

A further object of the invention? a hook suspension system for cold room panels, comprising a pad configured to hook onto a chain of movable containment members positioned laterally to first and second belt or roller members in a double belt press apparatus, said pads being characterized by the fact of comprising respective front elements on which inserts configured to interlock with the openings of said hooks for refrigerator panels are fixed.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the description of some embodiments, made below for indicative and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the following figures:

Figure 1 represents an overall side view of a double belt press;

Figure 2 represents a perspective view of the double belt press of figure 1;

Figure 3 represents a side view of a detail of the double belt press of figure 1;

Figure 4 represents a top view of the detail in figure 3;

Figure 5A represents side views of the suspension system according to the invention of the male and female hooks, respectively;

Figure 5B represents top views of the suspension system of figure 5A;

Figure 6A represents an exploded perspective view of the suspension system according to the invention of a male hook;

Figure 6B represents an exploded perspective view of the suspension system according to the invention of a female hook;

Figure 7A represents a perspective view of the suspension system according to the invention of a female hook;

Figure 7B represents a perspective view of the suspension system according to the invention of a male hook;

Figure 8 represents a coupling sequence of two cold room panels;

Figures 9A and 9B represent side sectional views of the coupling of two coupled cold room panels.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention concerns a double belt press apparatus, indicated as a whole with the number 1, for forming panels of expanded polymeric material, in particular expanded polyurethane, for use as modular panels of cold rooms.

For a better understanding, figures 8, 9A and 9B illustrate the coupling of two panels P, one carrying at least one female hook GF and the other carrying at least one male hook GM.

The P panels are made up of an upper plate L1 and a lower plate L2, among which ? sandwiched the PU expanded polyurethane and forming the two external faces of the P panel.

The P panels include PL side profiles. Each panel P includes a first side profile PL whose ? associated at least one female hook GF and a second lateral profile PL on the opposite side (not visible in figure 8) to which? associated with at least one GM male hook. The side profile PL which carries the at least one female hook GF of a panel P will couple? with the lateral profile PL carrying the at least one male hook GM of another panel P, as shown in figure 8. Figure 8 only partially shows the panels P, so the lateral profiles PL on the opposite sides of each are not visible panel.

Once the two P panels have been coupled as in figure 8 below, you can introduce, into a hole specially made on the L1 plate of panel P which carries the male hook GM, a key C which allows you to rotate the hook element G rotatably mounted inside the male hook GM until it comes out of the body of the GM male hook and have it hooked to a PR pin enclosed in the body of the GF female hook. Figures 9A and 9B illustrate this operation. In this way, by repeating the same operation for each pair of GM-GF hooks of two P panels, the panels are stably connected to each other. Could it be? what? build a cold room of the desired dimensions, coupling the desired number of P panels.

Coming now to describe the apparatus for the production of said panels P, this apparatus 1 comprises a first belt or roller member 2a, or upper belt, and a second belt or roller member 2b, or lower belt, arranged one above the ?other. The belt members 2a, 2b comprise a track structure formed by a plurality of of plates 102 aligned to form a tracked belt 20, similarly to known presses. In certain embodiments, however, members 2a, 2b may be roller members and comprise a roller structure consisting of a plurality of rollers. of rollers aligned to form a ?conveyor?.

The tracked belt 20? mounted on respective pulleys 6a, 6b arranged at the ends? of the ribbon members 2a, 2b. At least one pulley 6a, 6b of each of the belt members 2a, 2b? set in rotation by a respective drive 4a, 4b, for example an electric motor. Between the lower surface 3a of the upper belt 2a and the upper surface 3b of the lower belt 2b there is? a space 30 which determines the thickness of the panel being produced and whose width is ? adjustable by moving the upper 2a belt member upwards or downwards using conventional actuator members known in the art.

The ribbon members 2a, 2b are mounted on a plurality? of lateral supports 5, arranged on both sides of the appliance 1.

Each of the lateral supports 5 fixedly supports the second band member 2b, i.e. the lower belt, and, where present, the relative motorization 4b (the motorization 4a, 4b is arranged only in correspondence with at least one pulley 6a, 6b).

The first 2a ribbon organ, that is? the upper ribbon, ? instead supported in a vertically sliding manner on said lateral supports 5 in a known and conventional manner. For example, the first belt member 2a and the related motorization 4a, where present, can be mounted on a slide, operated by a suitable actuator, which slides vertically on the lateral supports 5.

Equipment 1 includes an end of inlet 7, into which the metal sheets of the panel are introduced and the polyurethane composition for foaming is fed, and one end? outlet 8, from which a continuous strip of foamed material is released. The continuous strip of foamed material? composed of a sandwich structure in which a pair of plates sandwiches the foamed polyurethane in which the hooks for coupling the panels have been positioned. From said continuous strip, the individual modular panels for the cold rooms will then be obtained using cutting equipment located downstream. The cutting equipment (not shown) is conventional or otherwise? object of the present invention, so it will not come? described below.

At the end? of input 7, the equipment 1 includes an upper trolley 9a and a lower trolley 9b for feeding the upper and lower plates 10 respectively which will constitute the walls of the panel.

The upper carriage 9a? placed with a slight downward inclination towards the end? of inlet 7, so as to allow a dispensing head of the polyurethane composition to be introduced between the two laminae 10. The upper carriage 9a includes a driving member 11 which includes wheels 12 beneath which the upper lamina 10 slides and which have the function of accompanying the change in slope of the upper plate 10 at the entrance to equipment 1.

On the two sides of the belt members 2a, 2b there are respective first and second mobile containment members 13, 13?. The mobile containment organs 13, 13? comprise respective first and second chains 14. The chains 14 are closed in a ring and are mounted on pulleys 15 located at the ends? of input 7 and output 8 of the equipment 1. At least one pulley 15 of each chain member 13, 13? ? placed in rotation around respective vertical axes by a respective motorization. The mobile containment organs 13, 13? therefore they move in a parallel and intermediate plane with respect to the planes on which the plates 10 slide and parallel to the space 30 between the two ribbon members 2a, 2b, so? to constitute means of lateral containment of the space 30.

To each of the chains 14 ? in fact associated a plurality? of pads 16, removably placed one next to the other so as to constitute, during the sliding along the section that faces the space 30 between the two belt members 2a, 2b, respective containment sides to prevent the polyurethane composition, during the foaming phase between the two plates 10, it can come out laterally.

To this end, the two motorized pulleys 15 of the chain members 13, 13? rotate in the opposite direction (as shown by the arrows in figure 4), that is? one clockwise and one counterclockwise, at the same speed? of advancement of the belt members 2a, 2b and therefore at the same speed? advancement of the plates 10 including the polyurethane composition? during the foaming phase. When the continuous strip of foamed material comes out of the equipment at the end? of outlet 8, the expanded polyurethane will be? completely reacted and hardened. Equipment 1 can in fact have a length of up to tens of metres, in order to allow a sufficient duration of the polyurethane hardening process. This process? favored by an increase in temperature of a few tens of degrees, so for this purpose the ribbon members 2a, 2b are suitably heated.

The mobile containment organs 13, 13? they conventionally include lateral adjustment means (not shown) which allow adjustment towards or away from the space 30 (see the double arrows in figure 4). In this way the equipment 1 can be adapted to different panel widths in production. These lateral adjustment means are known to those skilled in the art and do not in themselves form object of the present invention, therefore they will not be described in further detail below.

The present invention concerns in particular a system for suspending the GM, GF hooks which consists in a modification of the pads 16 which allows the precise and repeatable suspension of the GM, GF hooks during the coupling phase with the panel in production.

The GM, GF hooks include a CC hollow body and an opening A. The GM male hook has a larger size, as inside the CC hollow body there is containing the hooked element G, as previously described. During the production of the continuous strip of foamed polyurethane material from which the P panels will be obtained, the hooks GM, GF are embedded in the polyurethane material in such a way that their opening A is arranged flush with the lateral profile PL of the panel. In order to then proceed with the coupling of two P panels as described above,? It is essential that the positioning of the GM, GF hooks in the polyurethane during the foaming phase (which will harden during the journey inside the equipment 1) is accurate and repeatable, both in terms of the spacing between one hook and another along the lateral profile PL, both as regards the orientation which must be parallel to the two plates 10 and planar with respect to the lateral profile PL. The positioning of the hooks in the polyurethane material being formed will not be able to then be adjusted once the continuous strip of foamed polyurethane material ? exited the equipment 1.

The present invention has solved this technical problem as it will be? described below.

Figures 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B illustrate in detail the pads 16 according to the invention.

The pads 16 comprise a first pad 16a configured for the suspension of a male hook GM and a second pad 16b configured for the suspension of a female hook GF.

The pads 16a, 16b include a body 21a, 21b and a front element 22a, 22b.

The body 21a, 21b, in the drawings, is? shown in two different dimensions, but in other embodiments the dimensions may be identical or reversed, depending on the type of panel P that you want to produce and the setup of the equipment 1.

The body 21a, 21b includes a rear side 23a, 23b which includes a vertical groove 24, having a C-shaped profile in cross section.

The figures also show a chain element 25 which will form, together with a plurality of of identical chain elements 25, the chain 14. The chain element 25 comprises a body 27 to which one or more pairs of wheels 28 with vertical rotation axis and one or more? wheels 28? with horizontal rotation axis and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the chain 14. The wheels 28, 28? they are configured to slide in special guides and maintain the correct alignment of the chain 14 during its movement.

The body 27 of the chain element 25 includes blocks 29, on each of which is fixed - for example by means of fixing screws - a plate 26. The groove 24 of the body 21a, 21b of the pad 16a, 16b is insertable on plate 26 until it abuts against an upper relief (not visible) so? to keep the pad 16a, 16b in position on the chain 14.

The front element 22a, 22b of the pads 16a, 16b, i.e. the side of the pads 16a, 16b which, during use, faces the lateral profiles PL of the panel being formed, has a different profile depending on whether it corresponds to the "female side?" or to the ?male side? of the panel. With ?female side? (LF) means a substantially C-shaped PL side profile with a "male side" means a stepped PL side profile. Figure 8 shows the different profiles of the LF female side and the LM male side. ? in fact it is known technique that the P panels for cold rooms are first joined together by interlocking. This coupling is then solidified, as previously described, using the hooks GM, GF. The LF female side can? include either the GM male hook or the GF female hook; similarly, the LM male side can? include indifferently the male hook GM or the female hook GF, with the only caveat that a male hook GM of a panel P is always found in correspondence with a female hook GF of another panel to which it is paired. For example, how? visible in figure 8 above, the female side LF of the panel P on the right includes a male hook GM and the male side LM of the panel P on the left includes the female hook GF.

The front elements 22a, 22b of two pads 16a, 16b arranged on opposite sides of the equipment 1 will therefore have complementary profiles, which reproduce in negative the profile of the female side LF or the male side LM of the panel in production.

In particular, a first front element 22a has a double-step profile 31, 31?, i.e. comprising? an upper step 31 and a lower step 31?. This shape allows the polyurethane material, during the polyurethane foaming phase, to penetrate the gap formed between said double-step profile 31, 31? and the upper and lower plates 10. Will it form? why? in panel P a LF female side as shown in figure 8 above, panel P on the right.

Conversely, a second front element 22b has a C-shaped profile comprising an upper rib 32 and a lower rib 32? which, during the polyurethane foaming phase, will be avoided? for the polyurethane material to penetrate into the portions immediately adjacent to the plates 10. In this way it will form? a male side LM of the panel P of a complementary shape to the female side LF of another panel P, that is? with a shape substantially corresponding to that of the first front element 22a having the double step profile 31, 31?.

The first front element 22a and the second front element 22b include respective inserts 33a, 33b configured to interlock with the openings A of the hooks GM, GF.

A first 33a insert? configured to couple with a male hook GM and includes a body 34 of substantially parallelepiped shape having length and width substantially corresponding to the dimensions of the opening A of the male hook GM. From the body 34 protrudes in a perpendicular direction a finger 35 having a straight side and a side with a bent profile. This shape allows you to penetrate deeply? in the hollow body CC of the male hook GM without interfering with the hook element G housed in it. In this way a more efficient coupling is obtained. stable of the GM male hook with the respective insert 33a.

The second insert 33b? configured to couple with a female hook GF and includes a body 36 of substantially parallelepiped shape having length and width substantially corresponding to the dimensions of the opening A of the female hook GF.

The inserts 33a, 33b include holes 37 for their fixation to the respective front element 22a, 22b. Even if in the figures a male GM hook? shown coupled with the first front element 22a having the double step profile 31, 31? and a GF female hook? shown coupled with the second front element 22b having a C-shaped profile, it must be understood that the positioning of the inserts 33a, 33b can be reversed, depending on production needs.

In preferred embodiments, the inserts 33a, 33b include beveled edges to facilitate their detachment from the respective hook GM, GF, as will be seen? described later.

The apparatus 1 of the invention can be operated in the following way.

The pads 16a, 16b are mounted on the respective first and second chains 14 located on the sides of the belt members 2a, 2b, in such a way that the pads 16a carrying the insert 33a for the male hooks are mounted on the chain 14 of a first side GM and the pads 16b carrying the insert 33b for the female hook GF are mounted on the chain 14 of the other side, or vice versa.

At this point, a GM male hook is fitted onto the inserts 33a for the GM male hooks; a GF female hook is fitted onto the inserts 33b for the GF female hooks. Since the distance between one pad and the adjacent one of the same chain 14 is very small, typically the pads with the inserts 33a, 33b are arranged alternately with one or more? 16 pads without inserts. The distance between two pads 16 with inserts will be? dictated by the type of P panel you want to produce.

The equipment 1 is then operated: the two plates 10 are fed to the equipment 1 from the end of inlet 7 and at the same time the polyurethane composition is dispensed (typically a two-component polyisocyanate polyol composition) which in this phase has the appearance of a dense liquid. Upon contact with the surfaces of the plates 10, heated by the belt members 2a, 2b, the foaming of the polyurethane begins to develop. Substantially at the point where the polyurethane begins to foam, the two sides of the belt members 2a, 2b are flanked by the pads 16a, 16b mounted on the two chains 14, which advance with synchronized motion with respect to that of the belt members 2a, 2b. The hooks GM, GF fitted onto the inserts 33a, 33b of the pads 16 and which protrude from them then immerse themselves in the polyurethane material being formed and, in proximity to the of the extremity outlet 8 of the apparatus 1, are firmly embedded in the hardened material, with only the portion that includes the opening A placed flush with the material.

At this point, given that the chain abandons the straight trajectory at the pulleys 15, the inserts 33a, 33b separate from the hooks GM, GF, which are now part of the continuous strip of polyurethane material that will go to form the P panels.

The above proposed solution of the hook suspension system has numerous advantages.

First of all, the system of the invention allows precise and repeatable positioning, as well as? easily implementable, of the hooks, also thanks to the fact that the inserts 33a, 33b are associated with the pads, which in turn are easily interchangeable along the chain 14, thanks to the plate 26-groove 24 coupling. what? achieve continuous positioning of the hooks, an operation that was not possible with state-of-the-art equipment.

Furthermore, the inserts 33a, 33b, by inserting themselves into the opening A of the hooks GM, GF, prevent the polyurethane foam from filling the hollow body CC of the same, which would cause the impossibility of or at least a greater difficulty? in the subsequent coupling of the P panels.

AND? It is evident that only some particular embodiments of the present invention have been described, which the expert in the art will be aware of. capable of making all those modifications necessary for its adaptation to particular applications, without however departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims (12)

1. Double belt press equipment (1) for forming modular expanded polyurethane panels (P), wherein the panels (P) comprise a sandwich structure comprising two plates (L1, L2) enclosing the polyurethane (PU ) and in which the panels (P) form lateral profiles (PL) including male hooks (GM) or female hooks (GF) for the mutual coupling of said panels (P), said hooks (GM, GF) comprising a hollow body (CC) and an opening (A), in which the apparatus (1) includes a first belt or roller member (2a) and a second belt or roller member (2b) arranged one above the other so as to form a separation space (30), and in which on the two sides of the belt members (2a, 2b) there are respective first and second mobile containment members (13, 13?) comprising respective first and second chains (14), wherein said first chain (14) ? associated with a plurality? of first pads (16a) and said second chain (14) ? associated with a plurality? of second pads (16b), the pads (16a, 16b) being removably placed next to each other so as to constitute, during the sliding along the section that faces the space (30) between the two belt members (2a , 2b), respective containment sides for the polyurethane, characterized by the fact that at least some first pads (16a) of said plurality? of first pads (16a) include first inserts (33a) and at least some second pads (16b) of said plurality? of second pads (16b) include second inserts (33b), the inserts (33a, 33b) being configured to interlock with the openings (A) of the hooks (GM, GF). 2. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second pads (16a, 16b) which include said inserts (33a, 33b) are arranged along the chain (14) in positions alternating with one or more? pads (16) without said inserts (33a, 33b). 3. Apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of said first inserts (33a) is configured to couple with a male hook (GM) and includes a body (34) of substantially parallelepiped shape having length and width substantially corresponding to the dimensions of the opening (A) of the male hook (GM), in which the body (34) protrudes in a perpendicular direction a finger (35) having a straight side and a side with a bent profile to couple in depth? with the hollow body (CC) of the male hook (GM). 4. Apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of said second inserts (33b) is configured to couple with a female hook (GF) and includes a body (36) of substantially parallelepiped shape having length and width substantially corresponding to the dimensions of the opening (A) of the female hook (GF). 5. Apparatus (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the first and second inserts (33a, 33b) include beveled edges to facilitate their detachment from the respective hook (GM, GF). 6. Apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said first and second pads (16a, 16b) comprise a body (21a, 21b) and a front element (22a, 22b), the body (21a , 21b) comprising a rear side (23a, 23b) which includes a vertical groove (24) having a C-shaped profile. 7. Apparatus (1) according to claim 6, in which the front element (22a) of said first pads (16a) comprises a double step profile (31, 31?), comprising an upper step (31) and a step lower (31?) and in which the front element (22b) of said second pads (16b) comprises a C-shaped profile comprising an upper rib (32) and a lower rib (32?), or vice versa. 8. Apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 7, wherein each of said first and second chains (14) is formed by a plurality? of chain elements (25), wherein each chain element (25) comprises a body (27) which includes a plate (26) which can be coupled to said groove (24) of said first or second pads (16a, 16b). 9. Apparatus (1) according to claim 8, wherein one or more chains are rotatably connected to the body (27) of each chain element (25). pairs of wheels (28) with vertical rotation axis and one or more? wheels (28?) with axis of rotation horizontal and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the chain (14). 10. Hook suspension system (GM, GF) for panels (P) for cold rooms, comprising a pad (16a, 16b) configured to hook onto a chain (14) of mobile containment members (13, 13?) placed laterally to first and second belt or roller members (2a, 2b) in a double belt press apparatus (1), said pads (16a, 16b) being characterized by the fact of comprising respective front elements (22a, 22b) on to which inserts (33a, 33b) configured to interlock with the openings (A) of said hooks (GM, GF) for refrigerator panels (P) are fixed. 11. Suspension system according to claim 10, wherein said inserts (16a, 16b) comprise a body (34, 36) of substantially parallelepiped shape and preferably having beveled edges. 12. suspension system according to claim 11, in which from said body (34) a finger (35) protrudes in a perpendicular direction having a straight side and a side with a bent profile to couple in depth. with the hollow body (CC) of a male hook (GM).