RU2621244C2 - Method for producing mechanical locking system for construction panels - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: construction.

SUBSTANCE: floor panels are provided with the mechanical locking system comprising a bar on the first edge of the first structural panel, which interacts with a bar groove on the second edge adjacent to the second construction panel, for the vertical mounting of the construction panels. The method comprises the stage of creating the bar from the first edge material. The mounting groove may have a side wall on the third edge adjacent to the first edge, and may be open at the fourth edge opposite the third edge.

EFFECT: simplification of producing the panels.

14 cl, 9 dwg

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to a building panel, for example a floor panel, a wall panel, a ceiling panel, a furniture part and / or the like, provided with a mechanical locking system, and to a method for manufacturing said building panel with said locking system.

Technical background

Building panels provided with a mechanical locking system comprising a movable and resilient bar that interacts with a bar groove for vertical fastening are known and disclosed, for example, in WO 2006/043893. The bar is a separate part and is made, for example, of plastic and placed in the installation groove on the edge of the panel. The block is pushed into the installation groove during the vertical assembly of the panels and resiliently returns to the groove for the bar of the adjacent panel when the panels take a fixed position.

A panel locking system is also known, comprising a bar that is slightly longer than the width of the panel, see, for example, WO 2008/004960, and which interacts with the bar groove for vertical fastening. The bar is a separate part and is inserted into the offset groove. The panels can be assembled by vertical movement, and the block is clamped between the long edges of the two adjacent panels and bent in the longitudinal direction.

Although the description refers to the floor panel, the description of the methods and their problems is also applicable to other applications, such as panels for other purposes, such as wall panels, ceiling panels, furniture, etc.

A disadvantage of the known system is that it is necessary to produce a separate bar, and special machines are needed to place the bar in the installation groove with high precision.

The above description of the differing known aspects constitutes their interpretation by the Applicant and is not an admission that any of the above descriptions is considered to be prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The objective of specific embodiments of the present invention is to provide an improvement over the methods described above and the prior art.

An additional task is to provide a castle system and method for creating a castle system containing a bar formed on the edge of a building panel. Such a system simplifies production, since there is no need to produce separate and additional parts and place them in the correct position in the castle system.

Another objective is to create a more efficient production method that needs less sophisticated production equipment.

At least some of the data and other tasks and advantages that will be apparent from the description are achieved by a method of manufacturing a locking system at the edges of building panels. The locking system may include a bar on the first edge of the first building panel, interacting with the groove for the bar on the second edge of the adjacent second building panel for vertical mounting of the building panels. The method, which is the first aspect of the invention, may include the following steps:

molding the material of the first edge to obtain at least parts of the external form of the bar;

creating an installation groove on the first edge, said installation groove being open laterally and extending horizontally; and

moving the bar at least partially into the installation groove.

The creation of the installation groove and bar is preferably performed on a production line containing mechanical cutting devices, such as milling tools.

Moving the bar into the installation groove is preferably performed on the same production line. The block can be moved by a device that moves the block in the vertical direction in the first stage and moves the block in the horizontal direction and into the installation groove in the second stage.

Parts of the external shape of the bar can be created on the upper part of the first edge, preferably above the installation groove.

The installation groove can be created below the upper part of the first edge and the block can move down and into the installation groove.

The method may further comprise the step of creating a connecting part between the bar and the upper edge of the first edge.

The method may include the step of creating a connecting part by forming a groove between the upper edge of the first edge and the outer parts of the bar. The connecting portion may have the advantage that the bar is in a fixed position until the bar is biased.

The method may include the step of disconnecting the connecting part by moving the bar. The connecting part may also be cut off, preferably in connection with the movement of the bar.

The method may include the step of creating a groove for the bar on the second edge.

An internal groove may be created throughout the bar, between the bar and the first edge of the building panel, to obtain an elastic portion of the bar. The internal groove may extend in the longitudinal direction of the bar and between the first and second protruding part of the bar, on the third and fourth edges of the construction panel, respectively. Part of the elastic bar may extend from the first to the second protruding part. Before moving the bar into the installation groove, the protruding parts can work as connecting parts, as described above.

The method may include the step of creating a side wall in the installation groove on the third edge of the first building panel adjacent to the first edge, and forming an opening of the installation groove on the fourth edge opposite the third edge and adjacent to the first edge. The bar may be biased to a position in which the pressing portion of the bar protrudes through the opening of the installation groove. In this position, the block also has an offset in the direction along the first edge of the building panel.

In the fixed position of the first and second edges, the bar can be sandwiched between the side wall and the edge of the adjacent building panel, so that the bar is bent, and part of the bar is pushed into the groove for the bar.

The bar may essentially have the same length as the length of the first edge.

The method may include the step of creating a locking element on the first edge and a locking groove on the second edge or a locking element on the second edge and a locking groove on the first edge, wherein said locking element and the locking groove are configured to cooperate to secure the first and second edges in the horizontal direction .

Production steps can be performed in any order. The construction panel on the production line may also be inverted.

The locking system is preferably created by mechanical cutting, for example, milling, drilling, cutting with a knife and / or sawing the edges of building panels.

A second aspect of the invention is construction panels, which are preferably manufactured in accordance with an embodiment of the first aspect provided by a mechanical locking system. The locking system may contain on the first edge of the first building panel a block interacting with a groove for the bar on the second edge of the adjacent second building panel for vertical mounting of the building panels. The bar is preferably made from a material of the first edge. The bar may be at least partially located in the installation groove on the first edge.

The bar can be displaced in the installation groove to ensure vertical assembly of the first and second edges. An embodiment may have an elastic portion between the slide bar and the bottom wall of the mounting groove. The elastic part allows you to push the movable block into the installation groove with the edge of the second edge during the vertical assembly of the first and second edges. The block resiliently returns to the groove for the bar when the first and second building panels take a fixed position. An embodiment with an elastic part is particularly useful for building panels with edges containing hard material, for example, dense wood. The elastic portion may not be necessary for building panels with edges containing an elastic material, such as plastic or vinyl. In such building panels, the bar can be configured to be sufficiently deformable to be pushed into the installation groove during vertical assembly.

In another embodiment, the displaceable bar may be formed so that when sandwiched between the side wall in the installation groove and the edge of the adjacent third building panel, the bar is bent and part of the bar is pushed into the groove of the bar. This solution has practical benefits for building panels with edges containing wood, such as high or medium density fiberboard.

The side wall may be located in the installation groove on the third edge of the first building panel adjacent to the first edge, and the installation groove may have a hole on the fourth edge opposite the third edge and adjacent to the first edge. The movable bar may be positioned so that the pressed part of the movable bar protrudes through the hole. This position improves the ability to apply force to the pressed part.

Another embodiment comprises a fixed bar, preferably firmly located in the installation groove. The fixed bar contains a protruding part that extends outward from the upper edge of the first edge and interacts with the groove for the bar, providing vertical fixation. The first and second edges provided by the locking system, which contains a fixed block, can be collected by angular movement. This embodiment is particularly convenient for thin building panels, preferably in the thickness range of about 3-7 mm or more, preferably in the range of about 4-6 mm. The reason is that it is easier to produce a locking system comprising a movable block at the edge of a thicker building panel than at the edge of a thinner building panel. Tools for creating a locking system with a movable bar require more space and material than tools for creating a locking system with a fixed bar. This embodiment is particularly suitable for plastic and vinyl tiles, which usually have a small thickness.

Embodiments of the locking system and building panels in the first and second aspects set forth above may contain the features described below.

For vertical mounting, the contact surface of the bar groove may interact with the contact surface of the bar.

The contact surface may be positioned so that when the movable bar elastically returns to the bar groove during the vertical assembly of the building panels, it prevents the bar from returning to its original position. The contact surface of the bar applies force to the contact surface of the groove of the bar to avoid play between the panels.

The contact surface may be positioned such that when the movable block is pushed into the groove of the bar, the contact surface of the bar applies force to the contact surface of the groove of the bar to avoid play between the panels.

The locking system may comprise a locking element, preferably located on the fixing strip on the first edge of the first panel, and a locking groove on the second edge of the second panel or a locking groove on the first edge of the first panel and a locking element on the second edge of the second panel. The said locking element and the closing groove interact for horizontal panel mounting.

The first and second building panels are preferably substantially the same, therefore, an edge opposite the said first edge of the first panel is provided with the same parts of the locking system as the second edge of the second panel.

The panels may be square in shape, and the edges between said first and said opposite edges are preferably provided in a locking system, which allows assembly with an adjacent panel by angular movement.

The mounting groove may be completely or partially filled with an elastic material, such as plastic or rubber, to improve the elastic properties of the displaced part and / or to make the locking system stronger.

The construction panel may be a floor panel, a wall panel, a ceiling panel, a piece of furniture, or the like.

The core of the building panels may be a wood core, preferably made of high density fiberboard, medium density fiberboard, oriented fiberboard, wood-plastic composite board or chipboard or plastic, for example vinyl or PVC.

The edge of the panels from which the locking system can be made may contain core material.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will be described by way of example in more detail with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which show embodiments of the present invention.

In FIG. 1 shows a well-known castle system with a separate and elastic bar.

In FIG. 2A-C show a known locking system with a separate and movable bar.

In FIG. 3A-C show cross sections of a known locking system with a separate and movable bar.

In FIG. 4A-F show cross-sections and top views of known locking systems with a separate and movable bar.

In FIG. 5A-C show an embodiment of building panels.

In FIG. 6A-C are a plan view of an embodiment of building panels.

In FIG. 7A-C show an embodiment of an assembly of an embodiment of building panels.

In FIG. 8A-C show an embodiment of an assembly of an embodiment of building panels.

In FIG. 9A-C are plan views of an embodiment of building panels.

Detailed description

A known locking system for building panels comprising a movable and resilient bar 30 on a first edge 4a of a first panel 1, interacting with a groove 20 for a bar on a second edge 4b of a second panel 1ʹ for vertically fastening the first and second edges 4a, 4b, is shown in FIG. 1. The bar 30 is a separate part made, for example, of plastic and placed in the installation groove on the first edge 4a. The bar 30 is pushed into the installation groove during the vertical assembly of the short edges 4a, 4b of the panels and resiliently returns to the groove 20 for the bar when the panels enter a fixed position. The locking system contains on the first edge of the locking strip 8 with a protruding locking element 6, which interacts with the closing groove 14 on the second edge. The third and fourth edges 5a, 5b of panels 1ʹ, 1ʹ, 1ʹʹ are provided in the locking system, which allows the panels to be assembled in the first and second row R1, R2 with an angular movement to simultaneously secure the adjacent edges 5a, 5b, 4a, 4b.

In FIG. 2A-C show the simultaneous assembly of adjacent long and short edges 5a, 5b, 4a, 4b in three steps in FIG. 2A-FIG. 2C. The second panel 1ʹ slopes downward along its first long edge 5a to the second long edge 5b of the third panel 1ʹʹ, and the second edge 4b of the second panel 1ʹ is simultaneously lowered vertically to connect with the first edge 4a of the first panel 1. The block 30 is gradually pushed into the mounting groove, see FIG. 2B, and elastically returns back to the groove 20 for the bar when the first, second and third panels 1, 1ʹ, 1ʹʹ enter a fixed position, see FIG. 2C.

In FIG. 3A-C show cross-sections of different embodiments of the known movable and elastic bar 30 when assembling two adjacent short edges. The panel with the groove for the bar is lowered relative to the panel with the bar 30, which is pushed into the installation groove 40 of the lower panel. The bar elastically returns back to the groove for the bar when the panels enter a fixed position and locks the panels vertically.

FIG. 4A-F discloses another known embodiment comprising a movable and resilient bar 30 during assembly of the first and second edges 4a, 4b of the first and second panels 1, 1ʹ. This embodiment is similar to the locking system shown in FIG. 1-3, but the displaceable and elastic block 30, which is automatically fixed due to the spring effect during vertical movement, is replaced by the displaceable and elastic block 30, which fixes the first and second edges 4a, 4b, when the third 1ʹʹ and fourth 1ʹʹʹ building panels are assembled along the third and fourth edges of the first panel 1, respectively. The displaceable and resilient bar 30 is longer in this embodiment than the width of the front surface of the first and second panels 1, 1 ʹ. The third and fourth edges 5a, 5b of the third and fourth building panels 1ʹʹ, 1ʹʹʹ respectively apply force to the outer parts E1, E2 of the movable and elastic bar 30. The force bends the movable and elastic bar 30, and part of it is pushed into the groove 20 for the bar on the second edge second panel 1ʹ.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in FIG. 5-9. The locking system is created on the first and second edges 4a, 4b of the first and second panels 1, 1ʹ for fastening the first and second edges 4a, 4b in the vertical and / or horizontal direction. Embodiments of the locking system comprise a movable or compressible block allowing assembly of the first and second edges 4a, 4b by vertical movement, see FIG. 5A-C, 6A-C and 7A-C. Another embodiment, which may include a fixed bar, enables the assembly of building panels along adjacent edges by angular movement, see FIG. 8A-8C. The locking system is preferably formed by mechanical cutting, for example milling, drilling, cutting with a knife and / or sawing, the edges of building panels.

FIG. 5A discloses a bar 30 formed from a material of a first edge of a first building panel 1 on an upper portion of a first edge. The groove for the bar is formed on the second edge of the second building panel 1ʹ. In the position where the first edge and the second edge are in a fixed position, see FIG. 5C, the bar 30 is configured to interact with the groove 20 for the bar to vertically fasten the first and second edges.

A connecting portion 50 may be created between the outer portion of the bar 30 and the upper edge of the first edge. The connecting portion 50 is preferably created by forming an opening 51, for example, by cutting, between the outer portion of the bar 30 and the upper edge of the first edge. The connecting part holds the block in the correct position before the block moves.

The installation groove 40 is formed below the upper part, and the block 30 is displaced into the installation groove 40, see FIG. 5B.

The bar 30 slides into the groove 20 for the bar during assembly of the first and second edges, see FIG. 5C. The contact surface of the bar is pressed against the contact surface 52 of the groove 20 for the bar.

An embodiment may have an elastic portion (not shown) between the bar 30 and the bottom wall of the installation groove 40. The elastic part allows the bar 30 to be pushed into the installation groove using the edge of the second edge during the vertical assembly of the first and second edges. The bar elastically returns back to the groove of the bar when the first and second building panels enter a fixed position.

A locking strip 8 with a vertically protruding locking element 6 is created on the edge of the first building panel. The locking element 6 interacts with the closing groove 14 formed on the edge of the second building panel 1ʹ for horizontal fastening of the first and second edges.

Another embodiment is shown in plan views in FIG. 6A-C. An embodiment comprises an installation groove 40 with a side wall 60 formed on a third edge adjacent to the first edge of the first building panel 1. An opening of the installation groove 60 is formed on a fourth edge opposite the third edge and adjacent to the first edge of the first building panel 1. Pressed portion E2 may protrude through the opening of the installation groove. When the first and second edges are in a fixed position, a force is applied to the pressed portion E2. The force presses the inner part E1 of the bar 30 against the side wall 60. The force bends the bar 30, and a part of the bar is pushed into the groove 20 for the bar at the second edge of the second building panel 1ʹ.

Additional embodiments are shown in cross sections in FIG. 7A-C and 8A-C. The block 30 and the installation groove 40 are created from the material of the first edge. The width of the bar 30 is greater than the depth of the installation groove 40 to obtain a bar with a protruding portion extending outside the top edge of the first edge when inserted into the installation groove 40. If the edge material is an elastic material, such as plastic or vinyl, the bar can be compressed to protrude the part was pushed into the installation groove and thereby ensured vertical assembly, as shown in FIG. 7B-C.

If the bar is not compressible and allows for vertical assembly, as shown in FIG. 7B-C, the first and second edges may be assembled by angular movement, as shown in FIG. 8A-C. The bar 30, which can be a fixed bar, can be firmly placed in the installation groove 4, if it is assumed that the first and second edges will be collected by angular movement.

In FIG. 9A-C show a top view of an embodiment of the invention in which an internal groove 90 is formed along the entire length of the bar 30 between the bar and the first edge of the building panel to provide an embodiment of the elastic portion of the bar. The inner groove extends in the longitudinal direction of the bar and between the first and second protruding part 91 of the bar 30 at the third and fourth edges of the building panel, respectively. Part of the elastic bar extends from the first to the second protruding part. Before the block moves into the installation groove, the protruding parts work as connecting parts, as described above. Part of the bar extends outside the installation groove when the bar moves into the installation groove. The second building panel 1ʹ is provided with recesses 92 in the lower edge of the bar groove in the positions corresponding to the first and second protruding part 60, as shown in FIG. 9A. The recess allows you to assemble the second building panel with the first building panel using vertical movement. The elastic part is pushed into the installation groove during vertical movement. When the first and second building panels are in the same horizontal plane, the elastic part elastically returns back to the groove for the bar and provides vertical fastening of the first and second building panels. As shown in FIG. 9B-C, if the mounting groove is provided with a side wall 60 and an opening, as described for the embodiment shown in FIG. 6A-C, this embodiment may include an additional fastening step including applying a force to the pressing portion E2. The force presses the inner part E1 of the bar 30 against the side wall 60. The force bends the bar 30, and a part of the bar is pushed into the groove 20 for the bar at the second edge of the second building panel 1ʹ.

Claims (17)

1. A method of manufacturing a locking system on the edges of building panels (1, 1 '), and the locking system comprises a bar (30) on the first edge (4a) of the first building panel (1), interacting with the groove for the bar (20) on the second edge ( 4b) an adjacent second building panel (1 ′), for vertically securing the building panels, the method comprising the steps of: molding the material of the first edge to obtain at least parts of the external form of the bar (30) on a production line containing mechanical cutting devices; creating an installation groove (40) on the first edge of the production line, said installation groove being open laterally and extending horizontally; and moving the bar (30) on the production line at least partially into the installation groove (40). 2. The method according to claim 1, in which part of the external form of the bar (30) is formed on the upper part of the first edge above the installation groove. 3. The method according to claim 2, in which the installation groove is formed below the upper part of the first edge and the bar is shifted down and into the installation groove. 4. The method according to claim 1, in which the method comprises the step of creating a connecting part (50) between the bar (30) and the upper edge of the first edge. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the step of creating a connecting part (50) by forming a groove between the upper edge of the first edge (4a) and the outer parts of the bar (30). 6. The method according to p. 4 or 5, in which the method comprises the step of disconnecting the connecting part (50) by moving the bar. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the step of forming a groove (20) for the bar on the second edge. 8. The method according to claim 1, in which the method comprises the step of creating a side wall (60) in the installation groove (40) on the third edge (5a) adjacent to the first edge (4a), and creating a hole (61) of the installation groove on the fourth an edge (5b) opposite the third edge and adjacent to the first edge (4a). 9. The method according to claim 1, in which the bar (30) has essentially the same length as the length of the first edge (4a). 10. The method according to claim 1, in which the internal groove (90) is formed over the entire length of the bar (30) between the bar and the first edge of the building panel to obtain the elastic part of the bar. 11. The method according to claim 10, in which the internal groove extends in the longitudinal direction of the bar and between the first and second protruding parts (60) of the bar (30). 12. The method according to claim 11, in which the first and second protruding parts (60) of the bar (30) are located on the third and fourth edges of the building panel, respectively. 13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, in which part of the elastic bar extends from the first to the second protruding part. 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the step of creating a locking element (6) on the first edge (4a) and a locking groove (14) on the second edge (4b) or a locking element (6) on the second edge (4b) and a locking groove (14) on the first edge (4a), wherein said locking element (6) and a locking groove (14) are interoperable for fixing the building panels (1, 1 ') in the horizontal direction.

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