US2830631A - Continuous laminating machine - Google Patents

Continuous laminating machine Download PDF

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US2830631A
US2830631A US441206A US44120654A US2830631A US 2830631 A US2830631 A US 2830631A US 441206 A US441206 A US 441206A US 44120654 A US44120654 A US 44120654A US 2830631 A US2830631 A US 2830631A
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press
switch
platen
feed
wire
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US441206A
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Jr Albert E Cranston
Jesse A Wasser
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B30PRESSES
    • B30BPRESSES IN GENERAL
    • B30B1/00Presses, using a press ram, characterised by the features of the drive therefor, pressure being transmitted directly, or through simple thrust or tension members only, to the press ram or platen
    • B30B1/003Presses, using a press ram, characterised by the features of the drive therefor, pressure being transmitted directly, or through simple thrust or tension members only, to the press ram or platen by an elastic bag or diaphragm expanded by fluid pressure
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B27WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
    • B27DWORKING VENEER OR PLYWOOD
    • B27D1/00Joining wood veneer with any material; Forming articles thereby; Preparatory processing of surfaces to be joined, e.g. scoring
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B27WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
    • B27DWORKING VENEER OR PLYWOOD
    • B27D1/00Joining wood veneer with any material; Forming articles thereby; Preparatory processing of surfaces to be joined, e.g. scoring
    • B27D1/10Butting blanks of veneer; Joining same along edges; Preparatory processing of edges, e.g. cutting

Definitions

  • Claims. prising the number of veneers desired inthe finished panels, such as three, iive, seven or more.
  • Each such pile of glue coated Veneers is then inserted in one of the interplaten spaces of a multiple platen hot press.
  • Such a press is adapted to pressand cure ten to -twenty panels at one time, the press-being ⁇ opened at the termination of the presscycle for removal of all the completed panels and the insertion of ⁇ a newload of veneer assemblies which have been prepared for the next cycle of operation.
  • the conventional. hot press. used. for ⁇ laminating is madeas rigidfasapossible, entailing a very expensive type ofeconstruction. which supplies. all the pressure exerted by the press is mounted oni-a relatively small number of vertical pistons operable inhydraulicvcylinders extending down into wells beneath the press.
  • the lower platen is made ⁇ of ⁇ a single rigid steel plate of some thicknessbacked up -by heavy I-beams which transmit and distribute the pressure lapplied by the hydraulic pistons tothe extremities of the platen. This great mass must be lifted each time thepress is closed, and a considerable amount of energy is consumed in each cycle of operation in just lifting the movable platens to closed position.
  • the conventional type-of rigid and ponderous movable press platen is found to be unsatisfactory for making relatively thin laminate sheets such as a single layer of wood veneer between two layers of paper.
  • a. press load of veneers such as are involved in the manufacture of plywood, is sufrcientlyresilient and compressible to adjust itself ⁇ readily to small variations in the spacing of the ⁇ platens
  • a single: thin laminatesheet is incapable of Ordinarily, the lowermost platen 2,830,631 Patented pr. 15, 1958 ice .d such self-compensation.
  • the general objects of the present invention are, therefore, to provide a novel form of ⁇ hot press which will over ⁇ come the shortcomings and disadvantages of conventional hot presses in the manufacture of lthin laminate sheets.
  • More specific objects are to provide ⁇ a hot press which will successfully laminate thin materials in a continuous strip of any desired length, to provide a hot press having a light weight and relatively flexible movable platen, to provide a pneumatically operated hot press, to provide a hot press of the type described having a very brief operating cycle so as not to interpose long delays in the work flow to and from the press, to provide a hot press apparatus which will materially reduce manual handling of the material, to produce a hot press apparatus which is largely automatic and continuous in operation, to provide' a control mechanism for hot press apparatus of the type described which will time the press cycle ⁇ and perform a number of operations in sequence with a minimum of supervision by the operator, and to provide an improved hot press apparatus which is relatively inexpensive to build and economical and reliable in operation.
  • the present apparatus comprises, in general, a lay-up table, a two-platen hot press, a feed mechanism, a clipper knife and an electric and pneumatic control system.
  • the function of the apparatus is to laminate a single thin layer of wood veneer between two layers of paper, plastic sheet material, metal foil, or any other sheet material capable of being adhesively. united with the surfaces of wood veneer. It is not necessary that the same type of sheet material be used on both sides of the veneer, as, for example, when metal foil is applied to one side it is often desirable to have paper applied to the other side. For the purpose of describing the method and apparatus, it will be assumed that the sheet material on both sides of the veneer layer is paper.
  • the veneer sheets are first coated on both sides with a Y suitable adhesive and are then laid up edge to edge as core s strips between the two paper face sheets which may be fed f During the pressing cycle one of the platens is moved toward the other to press the assemblage and apply the necessary heat to cure the adhesive and form a hat, smooth, ilexible, composite sheet.
  • the process is continuous in the sense that a finished portion of the corn posite sheet is delivered intermittently at short intervals from one side of the press while a length of laid up assen bly is continuously being prepared on the other side of the press.
  • a pair of horizontal feed rolls grip the composite sheet which emerges from the outlet side of the press and draws all the material forward the required distance in each feed movement at the end of a heating cycle.
  • the alternate operation of the press and feed rolls discharges a continuous ribbon of the composite sheet which may be split lengthwise into a plurality of ribbons of the desired width.
  • These ribbons are fed through a transverse clipper knife for cutting into the desired lengths.
  • Suitable automatic mechanism is provided for controlling the opening and closing of the press, the length of feed movement, the operation of the clipper knife, and for cycling these operations.
  • the flexible construction of one of the platens which is designed to apply uniform pressure over the whole area of the material which is in contact with the other platen which is rigid.
  • the applied pressure is not affected by irregularities or variations n the thickness of the material which is interposed between the two platens.
  • the lower platen is made flexible and upward pressure is applied under the whole area of the lower platen by means of a relatively large number of closely spaced pneumatic diaphragm units which are distributed across the breadth and length of the lower platen.
  • Figure 1 is a plan View of the apparatus of the invention
  • Figure 2 is a s'ide elevation view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the press, taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;
  • Figure 4 is an elevation view of the valve mechanism controlling the movements of the lower platen, taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2;
  • Figure 5 is a plan view of the valve mechanism shown in Figure 4.
  • Figure 6 is a top plan view of the lower platen with portions broken away to illustrate the construction thereof;
  • FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of the feed switch and clipper switch actuating mechanism, taken on the line 7 7 of Figure 2;
  • Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 2 showing the longitudinal shearing rolls;
  • Figure 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control system for the various operating units of the machine.
  • the apparatus is seen to comprise, essentially, a lay-up table A at one side of the press B, a feed roll mechanism C at the other side of the press, and a clipper mechanism D beyond the feed roll.
  • the veneer core strips are laid up by hand on the table A and the assemblage including the face sheets is drawn by the feed roll mechanism C in intermittent step by step movement through the press B.
  • the finished laminate product issues in a continuous ribbon from the feed roll mechanism C until it is cut into the desired lengths by the operation of clipper D.
  • the table A extends some distance to the left of the portion shown in Figures 1 and 2 and is equipped with a paper roll support (not shown) for feeding a lower sheet of paper 10 in a continuous strip across the surface of the table.
  • Glue coated veneer core strips 11 are placed on the sheet 10, and, as the sheet 19 and core strips 11 are drawn into the press, a top sheet of paper 12 is applied over the assemblage as it is drawn from an upper paper roll 13.
  • the frame of the press B comprises a pair of longitudinal stringers 15 surmounted by a plurality of transverse I-beams 16. Resting on the transverse I-beams 16 are three longitudinal I-beams 17 supporting a plurality of pneumatic diaphragm units 1S. The diaphragm units 18 are equipped with short cylindrical struts or supporting columns 19 for a lower platen 20.
  • An upper platen 21 is rigidly mounted on a plurality of longitudinal I-beams 22 connected with transverse beams 23, as shown in Figure 3.
  • Transverse beams 23 are supported at their ends on standards 24 which are connected with the lower transverse beams 16.
  • a pair of upper longitudinal frame members 25 interconnect the standards 24 and support a shaft 26 for the upper paper roll 13.
  • the ends of shaft 26 are equipped with sleeve bearings 27 which are adapted to rest on pairs of rollers 28 on the upper frame members 25 to facilitate free turning movement of the paper roll.
  • the work engaging surface of the lower platen cornprises a plurality of long narrow steel plates 30 disposed in edge to edge relation, as shown in Figures 3 and 6.
  • the work engaging surface of the stationary upper platen comprises a plurality of similar plates 31 rigidly connected with a plurality of spaced transverse plates 32 which are connected with the longitudinal I-beams 22.
  • the lower platen plates 30 rest on and are connected with spaced transverse plates 33.
  • Electric heating units 35 are mounted in heat conducting relation with the platen plates 30 and 31 in the spaces between the aforementioned supporting plates 32 and 33. Suitable thermal insulation, not shown, covers the'plates 32 and 33 and the heating elements.
  • the lower platen is flexible to some extent in both longitudinal and transverse directions and any tendency to warping is confined to the relatively narrow widths of the plates 30.
  • the plates 30 and 31 are not directly connected to each other.
  • the pneumatic diaphragm units 18 each comprise a rigid bottom shell or housing member 40 having a flat bottom surface adapted to rest on the flat upper surface of an I-beam 17.
  • a flexible diaphragm 41 is secured around its rim to a peripheral ange edge of the housing 40 to form a closed pressure chamber 42 wherein the dia. phragm 41 s adapted to move vertically, like a piston, in response to variations in pneumatic pressure in the chamber 42 beneath the diaphragm.
  • main central area of the diaphragm 41 is reinforced by a circular metal plate 43 which supports the cylindrical struts 19.
  • the upward thrust of each strut 19 is distributed over a plurality of the spaced plates 33 by a square cap plate 45, as best shown in Figure 6.
  • An upper housing part 46 protects the diaphragm 41 and has a large central opening to allow free vertical movement of the strut 19.
  • the struts 19 have portions cut away on the upper and lower ends thereof to form offset feet 47 for engaging the diaphragm plate 43 and a cap plate 45. This arrangement provides ventilation for cooling the struts and lengthens the heat conducting paths between cap plate and diaphragm plate 43 so that the high platen temperature will not be transmitted directly to the diaphragm material.
  • the several diaphragm chambers 42 are connected with three manifold pipes 50 equipped with individual valves 51 to turn on and shut olf air pressure from supply pipes 52.
  • Each valve is operated by a lever 53 which has an angular movement not exceeding degrees between open and closed limit positions.
  • the three valve levers 53 are connected together for movement in unison by a common link 54 which has one end pivotally connected with a piston rod 55 in an air cylinder 56.
  • One end of the cylinder 56 is pivotally connected at 57 with a supporting bracket 58 on the frame of the press.
  • Cylinder 56 is of the double acting type having two pipe connections 61 and 62 with a conventional solenoid valve unit 63.
  • the solenoid valve unit 63 has two coils for shifting a balanced spool valve member (not shown) to one orthe other of two limit positions. In one limit position the valve admits air pressure from a supply pipe 64 to one of the supply pipes 61, 62 to move the piston rod 5S and valve levers 53 to the olf or closed position. At such time the other of the two pipes 61, 62 is connected by the spool valve memberwith anexhaust port 65 in the housing of the solenoid valve. In .its other limit position, the spool valve member reverses the connectionsbetween pipes 61, 62 and the supply and exhaust pipes 64, 65 to move piston rod 55 in the opposite direction and shift valve levers 53 to open position.
  • valve levers 53 When valve levers 53 are in closed position, the pressure in supply pipes 52 is shut olf from manifold pipes 50 and the latter are connected with exhaust ports 66 to relieve the pressure Ain all the diaphragm chambers 42. When the pressure is thus reduced to atmospheric value, the weight of the lower platen depresses the diaphragms 41, causing the press to open.
  • exhaust ports 66 are closed and supply pipes 52 are connected with manifold pipes 50 to establish sufficient pressure in diaphragm chambers 42 to lift the diaphragms 41 and close the press.
  • the pressure in diaphragm chambers 42 exerts sufficient additional upward force against the lower platen to press the top and bottom sheets of paper and 12 against the opposite faces of core strips 11 to eifect a strong permanent bond at the platen temperature which is maintained by heating units 35.
  • the lower platen adjusts itself to irregularities in the thickness of the work and applies uniform pressure over the whole area of the platen.
  • the feed roll mechanism C and clipper D are mounted on a frame 70 which may be bolted to the frame of the press B.
  • the frame 70 includes a pair of standards 71 supporting a transverse beam 72.
  • the standards 71 also have bearings for the-shafts 73 and 74 of ⁇ longitudinal shearing cutters 75. These are rotary type cutters which trim olf the rough edges and split the completed ribbon laminate into a plurality of parallel ribbons of the desired widths.
  • Another pair of standards 76 is equipped with bearings to support the shafts 77 of a pair of feed rolls 78.
  • the laminate material is supported in its passage through the trimming cutters 75 and feed rolls 78 by a transversely ilat surface 79 having a longitudinal arch 8i) between the feed rolls and the clipper D.
  • the function of the arch Si) is to facilitate the upward buckling of the material during the brief interval while its forward movement is arrested by the operation of the clipper knife. This prevents excessive crowding of the material against the clipper blade which might otherwise cause bindingand interfere with a true and straight transverse cut.
  • the clipper D is of conventional construction, being of the type used to cut wood veneer.
  • the movable blade is normally raised to allow the material to pass thereunder, and is actuated at the proper time by a piston rod 83 in a pneumatic cylinder 81 acting through a conventional toggle linkage S2.
  • the lower trimming cutter shaft 74 and lower feed roll shaft 77 are rotated by suitable drive mechanism from the electric motor 85, indicated diagrammatically in Figure 9.
  • the upper trimming cutter shaft73 is gear driven from the lower shaft 74 and the upper feed roll is simi larly driven by the lower feed roll.
  • Cutter shafts 73 and 74 are driven at a speed which will rotate the cutting rolls 75 slightly faster than the material is pulled ahead by the feed rolls 78.
  • the lower feed roll shaft 77 carries a small gear 86, Figure 7, which drives a larger metering gear 87 equipped with a :switch actuating pin 8S.
  • a feed switch 90 is mounted on the frame 70 adjacent the metering gear 37 in a position to be actuated by the pin 8S once in each revolution of the metering gear 87.
  • Feed motor 85 is deenergized by such actuation of the switch 90,1but the momentum of the drive mechanism carries the pint ⁇ 97 out ofengagement with the switch 100 after the motor is deenergized whereby the switch 90- alwaysreadjacent its periphery.
  • One or more switch actuating4 pins 97 may be inserted in the apertures 96.
  • Metering wheel rides on and is frictionally drivenby a drive cone 9K mounted on a threaded end of the upper ⁇ feed roll shaft 77.
  • a drive cone 9K mounted on a threaded end of the upper ⁇ feed roll shaft 77.
  • the wheel 95 may be brought toV bear on different diameter portions of the cone as shown in Figure 7 to vary the driving ratio.
  • ⁇ Cone 98 is securedin adjusted position by la jam nut 99.
  • Mounted on the armiA 92 adjacent the metering wheel 95 is a'cli-pper switchltli)v in a position to be actuated by the pin or pins 97.
  • a Iplaten switch 101 is mounted on the frame of the machine in a position to be actuated by a lug 89 on the lower platen 20, as shown in Figure 2.
  • the operating mechanism of this switch is arranged so that the switch is lnot operated when the lower platen is raised.
  • the press opens, the descending movement of the lower platen 211 causes the switch 101 to be momentarily closed and then reopened.
  • a number of manual control switches are mounted on the frame of the machine adjacent the table A as shown in - Figure 2.
  • a toggle -switch 102 which is in the nature of a main switch, a feed stop switch 103, and a press close switch 1114 which will also stop the feed mechanism.
  • the numeral 105 designates a jogging switch to operate the feed mechanism momentarily when desired.
  • the numerals 1696 designate adjustable thermostatic control-s for the platen heating units 55, whereby the platen temperatures may be maintained at certain predetermined constant values.
  • Figure 9 illustrates the electric and pneumatic control system for opening and closing the press B, starting and .stopping the feed roll mechanism C and operating the clipper D.
  • the heating circuits for platen heating unitsy 35 are controlled exclusively by the thermostatic means 106 and are not shown in Figure 9.
  • the feed motor 85 is energized from a power circuit 109 and the control system is energized from the supply wires 11), 111.
  • the power circuit for motor 85 is controlled by a feed relay havinga solenoid coil 112 and an armature 113 which is lifted to close the motor circuit when the relay is energized. At such times, a fourth contact bar 114 is held in engagement with a pair of stationary contacts 115, 116.
  • the relay is deenergized, the armature 113 falls to the position shown, opening the motor circuit.
  • this and the other relays in the system will be referred to generally by the numerals applied to their solenoid coils.
  • Contact 115 is connected with a wire 117 leading to a stationary contact 118 ⁇ which is normally engaged by the switch arm 1211 in feed switch 9i).
  • a second stationary contact 121 is momentarily engaged by the switch arm 1211 during the time that switch actuating member 122 is engaged by the moving pin 5S on metering gear 87.
  • An internal spring, not shown, in the switch 90 always returns the movable switch arm into enga-gement with the contact 118 after pin 88 leaves engagement with actuating member 122 and motor 85 and gear 87 come to rest.
  • Contact arm 120 is connected by a wire 123 with the supply wire'111.
  • the push button switches 1133 and 104 are spring returned to the normal positions shown.
  • a wire 125 connects solenoid coil 112 with a stationary contact 126 in the :switch 164 which has a second stationary contact 127 in the same circuit.
  • Contact 127 is connected with a contact 123 in the switch 103 which has a second stationary contact 129.
  • Contact 129 is connected with the terminal 139 of toggle switch 102.
  • the other terminal 131 of the toggle switch is connected with the line wire rl ⁇ he free end of arm 92 110.
  • Switch 104 also has a stationary contact 132 connected with line wire 111 and a contact 133 connected with a wire 134.
  • the push button switch is normally spring biased to its open position shown.
  • a stationary contact is connected with wire 125 and a stationary contact 136 is connected with line wire 1 10.
  • a third stationary contact 137 is connected with a wire 138 and a fourth sta tionary contact 139 is connected with a wire 140 leading to the line wire 111.
  • the wire 138 is also connected with relay solenoid terminal 116 and the terminal 141 of platen switch 101.
  • the other terminal of switch 101 is connected with a wire 142 leading to the line wire 111.
  • Wire 134 is connected with contact 121 in feed switch 90 and also with one terminal of the solenoid .coil 145 of a valve control relay for the air supply to lift the lower platen.
  • This relay :solenoid circuit is completed through a wire 146 connected with terminal 130 of toggle switch 102.
  • the relay has an armature 147 equipped with a lcontact bar 148 normally engaging a pair of stationary contacts 149 and 150 when the relay is deenergized.
  • Contact 149 is connected with a wire 151 and contact 150 is connected with the wire 146.
  • the contact bar 148 engages a pair of contacts 152 and 153.
  • Contact 152 is connected with a wire 154 and contact 153 is connected with the wire 146.
  • the numeral 155 designates diagrammatically a dash pot mechanism or other time delay device to hold the relay armature in raised position for an interval of time necessary for a pressing operation. layed opening relay which may be adjusted Within the desired limits to hold the armature up after solenoid coil 145 has been deenergized.
  • the solenoid valve 63 in Figures 5 and 9 has a pair of opposed solenoid coils 156 and 157 connected with the respective wires 154 and 151.
  • a common wire 158 connects the two coils with line wire 111.
  • Clipper switch 100 has a movable contact arm 160 connected through wire 161 with line wire 111 and a stationary contact 162 connected through a wire 163 with one terminal of solenoid coil 165 of a clipper relay.
  • Contact arm remains in open circuit position until actuating member 159 is engaged by pin 97 on metering wheel 95.
  • the other terminal of relay coil is connected with wire 146.
  • This clipper relay has an armature 166 equipped with a contact bar 167 and a delayed opening device 168. When this relay is energized the contact bar 167 engages a pair of stationary contacts 169 and 170.
  • the delay device 168 holds the contact bar 167 in engagement with contacts 169 and 170 for a sucient time to allow the clipper to operate once and then the'contact bar is dropped back into open circuit position.
  • the clipper cylinder 81 is a double acting cylinder having air pressure supply pipes 171 and 172 connected with the opposite ends thereof to reciprocate the piston rod 83 in opposite directions in successive cutting strokes.
  • the pipes 171 and 172 are connected with a solenoid valve 175 which is in turn connected with an air pressure supply pipe 176.
  • the valve device 175 contains a balanced spool valve which is shifted between two limit positions by a pair of opposed solenoid coils 177 and 178. When coil 178 is energized, the valve connects pipe 172 with pressure supply pipe 176 and when coil 177 is energized, the pipe 171 is connected with pressure.
  • a wire 1'79 connects the two coils with relay contacts 169.
  • the respective coils are connected individually with a pair of stationary contacts 180 and 181 in a pressure switch, designated generally by the numeral 182.
  • Sta- This is a conventional type of def hausted to atmosphere through valve ports 66,
  • tionary contacts 183 and 184 in the pressure switch are connected with line wire 111.
  • a contact bar 185 is connected with a ilexible diaphragm 186 in a diaphragm chamber 187.
  • a spring 188 normally deflects the diaphragm inwardly and holds the contact bar 185 in engagement with contacts 180 and 183.
  • a pipe 186 connects diaphragm chamber 182 with the pipe 172 whereby when pressure is admitted to this pipe the diaphragm 186 is deected outwardly, causing the contact bar 185 to engage the other pair of contacts 181 and 184.
  • the switch device 182 thereby acts as a reversing switch for the solenoid valve 175 to admit air to opposite ends of the cylinder 81 in successive clipping operations.
  • This circuit raises the armature of press relay 145, and after push button 104 is released the delay device 155 holds the armature 147 in raised position with contact bar 148 in engagement with contacts 152 and 153 until the end of the interval for which the device 155 is set.
  • a circuit is thereby closedthrough line Wire 110, toggle switch 102, wire 146, contact bar 148, wire 154, solenoid valve coil 156, and wire 158, back to line wire 111.
  • the operating mechanism (not shown) for switch 101 is arranged to cause this switch to be closed momentarily and then reopened during the descending movement of lower platen 20, whereby switch 101 immediately returns to its open position shown in Figure 9.
  • the lifting of relay armature 113 completes a holding circuit for the relay through wire 123, contact arm 120 of switch 90, wire 117, and contact bar 114 in parallel with the reopened platen switch 101.
  • This holding circuit maintains the energization of the feed motor after platen switch 101 reopens.
  • Motor 85 thus energized by the opening of the press, drives the feed rolls 78 to pull a length 'of the material through the press and push it through the clipper D. By reason of the holding circuit just described, this feed movement continues until pin 88l on gear 87 engages the operating lever 122 of feed switch 9) to shift the contact arm 120 out of engagement with contact 118 and into engagement with contact 121. Disengagement of contact arm 1Z0 from contact 118 breaks the holding circuit for relay 112, allowing the armature 113 to drop and deenergize feed motor 85.
  • feed rolls 78 hasjhus pulled the pressed length of material out of the press and has pulled in a new length of material including glue spread core strips 11 which have been laid up on the table A during the Vpressing interval.
  • contact arm 120 in feed switch 9i) engages the contact 121, a circuit is completed from line wire 111 through wire 123, contact arm 120, wire 134, and platen relay 145 to wire 146, toggle switch 102, and line wire 110.
  • This circuit energizes platen relay 1@5 which lifts its armature 147 to bring Contact bar 14d into engagement with contacts 152 and 153.
  • lf toggle switch 102 is opened during feed movement, the feed relay 112 is deenergized to stop the feed motor 85.
  • lf toggle switch 102 is opened during a press interval, both solenoid valve coils 156 and 157 are deenergized, but this does not result in the closing of valves 51 to open the press because the balanced spool valve member in solenoid valve 63 remains in its last position supplying air pressure to the end of cylinder 56 which opens the valves 51.
  • Switch 102 is not used for emergency stop purposes.
  • Push button switch 103 serves as an emergency stop for the feed motor S in case the core strips 11 become disarranged on the lay-up table A or in case the operator does not have a suicient number of core strips in position to occupy the length of the press, or for any other reason when it may be desired to stop the feed movement.
  • the feed motor is re-started by pressing switch 104. Switch 103 does not affect the controls for thev4 press.
  • Push button switch 104 stops the feed and closes the press. This switch is also used as a starting switch in the manner hereinabove described.
  • Push button switch 105 is referred to as ajogging switch.
  • ajogging switch For example, in setting up the machine for operation, after the upper and lower sheets 10 and 12 have been drawn through the press, the ends of these sheets may be inserted in the nip of the feed rolls 78 and the jogging switch touched momentarily to rotate the feed relis sufficiently to grip the paper. This is done while the main toggle switch 102 is open, whereby the feed relay 112 is closed and feed motor 85 is energized only so long as the switch 105 is held closed.
  • the jogswitch 105 thereby permits operation of the feed rolls for a long or short interval, as may be desired, without putting the machine in its normal cycle of operation subject to the other automatic control devices.
  • clipper relay solenoid coil 165 raises its contact bar 167 into engagement with contacts 169 and 170 to complete a circuit from wire 146 through wire 179 and one or the other of the valve solenoid coils 177 or 178 as determined by the position of the contact bar 165 of pressure switch 182.
  • lcontact bar 185 engages the upper contacts 180 and 183, the solenoid coil is energized to supply pressure to the pipe 172 and retract the piston rod 33 to operate the clipper mechanism.
  • the admission of pressure to pipe 172 operates the pressure switch 180 to deenergize the circuit for solenoid coil 178 and prepare a circuit i for solenoid coil 177 to produce an opposite movement of piston rod 83 when the clipper switch 100 and relay 165are next operated. lt was previously explained that the clipper is operated by a toggle mechanism whereby the cutting blade makes onestroke when the piston rod 83 moves outwardly and another stroke when the piston rod moves inwardly.
  • the clipper relay 165 is equipped with a delay device 16S which causes the armature 166 to be released promptly after momentary closing of the relay contacts, even though the relay coil 165 may still be energized by the closed position of switch arm 160.
  • the glue may be either of the cold setting or hot setting type, according to the speed desired in the pressing operation. Urea resin glues are preferred.
  • the temperature and pressing time are governed by the nature of the materials used. A thermal gradient exists through the thickness of the face sheets 10 and 12 whereby in a short press interval the temperature at the glue line may be considerably lower than the platen temperature, depending upon the thickness and heat conductivity of the sheets 10 and 12.
  • a platen temperature of 450 F. been used successfully with a pressing interval of l0 to l5 seconds.
  • the feed movement requires yabout live seconds, thereby allowing three presses per minute. In an eight-foot press, this rate of operation produces 24 linear feet of laminate product per minute. It is not necessary that the press interval be long enough to dry the glue completely, as it will continue to dry and set after leaving the press.
  • the foregoing values of time, temperature and dimension are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the invention.
  • the present machine is fully automatic in its press, feed and clipping operations, producing continuous ribbons of laminate product which are automatically clipped to any desired length.
  • the press cycle is fast enough to permit a substantially continuous work ilow as fast as a workman can lay up the core strips on the bottom continuous face sheet 10. It is not necessary to assemble a great amount of material for a single press load, and it is not necessary to incur a larger investment in a battery of presses to achieve a substantially continuous work ow.
  • a hot press for laminating sheet materials comprising a rigid horizontal platen, a flexible horizontal platen, and a plurality of pneumatic diaphragm units operatively connected with said flexible platen for vertical movement, the work engaging surface of said exible platen comprising a plurality of flat plates disposed in edge abutting relation, a plurality of elongated narrow members connected with said plates, and a plurality of thrust means each extending across a plurality of said members and connecting said members with said diaphragm units.
  • a hot press for laminating sheet materials comprising a rigid horizontal platen, a flexible horizontal platen, and a plurality of pneumatic diaphragm units operatively connected with said flexible platen for vertical movement, the work engaging surface of said ilexible platen comprising a plurality of Hat-plates disposed in edge abutting relation, a plurality of spaced members supporting said plates, heating units disposed in the spaces between said members, apertured tubular struts on said diaphragm units, and an individual thrust 'plate on each of said tubular struts engaging a plurality of said members.
  • a hot press for laminating sheet materials comprising a rigid horizontal upper platen, a lower platen support comprising ya plurality of longitudinal beams, a plurality of pneumatic diaphragm units seated on each of said beams, a ventilated tubular strut on each diaphragm unit, an individual thrust plate on cach of said struts, -a plurality of spaced transverse plates supported by said thrust plates, a plurality of longitudinal plates supported on said transverse plates and disposed in side by side edge abutting relation, and heating units mounted in the spaces between said transverse plates, said plates and heating units constituting a exible lower platen for the press.
  • Apparatus for laminating sheet materials comprising a hot press having a movable platen, means for moving said platen to open and close the press, feed rolls for moving said materials through the press, means for driving said feed rolls, a feed control relay connected with said driving means, a platen control relay connected with said platen moving means, a control member rotatably driven by said feed rolls, a switch connected with both of said relays and actuated by rotation of said control member to operate said relays to stop said driving means and close the press, means to operate said platen control relay to open the press, and a switch actuated by opening movement of said platen to operate said feed control relay to start said driving means.
  • Apparatus for laminating sheet materials comprising a hot press having a movable platen, fluid pressure operated means for moving said platen to open and close the press, feed rolls for moving said materials through the press, an electrical motor for driving said feed rolls, a feed control relay controlling the energization of said motor, a platen control relay and solenoid valve controlling said fluid pressure means, a control member ro tatably driven by said feed rolls, a switch controlling both of said relays and actuated by rotation of said control member to operate said relays to stop said motor and close the press, means to operate said platen control relay after -a pressing interval to open the press, and a switch actuated by opening movement of said platen to operate said feed control relay to start said motor.

Description

April 15, 1958 A. E. cRANs'roN, JR., :nu 2,830,631
CONTINUOUS LAMINATING MACHINE AprilV 15, y1958 Af.' E. cRANs-roN, JR., ErAL 2,830,631
CONTINUOUS LAMINATINGAMCHINE Filed July 6, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ALBERT E. cRANsToN JR. `:EssE A. wAssER ATTRNEYs .April 15, 1958 A.'E. cRANsroN, JR., Erm. 2,830,631
commons LAMINATING MACHINE Filed July s. 1954 4 sheets-sheet s IHHI IHHI
INVENTORS A RT E. CRANSETON JR.
JE E A. WASS R ATTORNEYS April 1s, 195s A.' E. (.ZRANESTON,n JR., ETAL CONTINUOUS LAMINATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 6, 1954 kan. J Y N MOR S MNE Y NNs E EAS m VRA O Ncw T I T LA A .ME E. @E AJ Y B United States Patent O CUNTlNUUUS LAMINATING MACHINE Albert E. Cranston, Jr., Oak Grove, and Jesse A., Wasser, Milwaukie, Qreg.
Application `lnly 6, 1954, Serial No. 441,206
Claims. (Cl. 144-28l) prising the number of veneers desired inthe finished panels, such as three, iive, seven or more. Each such pile of glue coated Veneers is then inserted in one of the interplaten spaces of a multiple platen hot press. Such a press is adapted to pressand cure ten to -twenty panels at one time, the press-being` opened at the termination of the presscycle for removal of all the completed panels and the insertion of `a newload of veneer assemblies which have been prepared for the next cycle of operation. This is known as a batch type of operation, and it isused extensively for making rigid panels of standard size which are necessarily limitedby the dimensions -ofthe press platens, such as four feet by eight feet.'` The operation involves a great deal of manual handlingof theveneers in4 laying up the assembliesvpriortopressingand also manual handling of therhotfpanels which must be removed from t the press after :each cycle of operation;k Other disadh vantages of the conventional batch processiare theloss of heat whiletthe press is open for unloading and loading, the` long interval between vglue spreadingyand tpressing, f limitation of panelasize, and the-cyclical interruptions to a steady, continuous work flow in the handling of thet materials going into the, press and the `handling of finished panels produced by the. press.
Also, the conventional. hot press. used. for` laminating is madeas rigidfasapossible, entailing a very expensive type ofeconstruction. which supplies. all the pressure exerted by the press is mounted oni-a relatively small number of vertical pistons operable inhydraulicvcylinders extending down into wells beneath the press. In order to apply uniform pressure over the whole area of the material in the press the lower platen is made `of `a single rigid steel plate of some thicknessbacked up -by heavy I-beams which transmit and distribute the pressure lapplied by the hydraulic pistons tothe extremities of the platen. This great mass must be lifted each time thepress is closed, and a considerable amount of energy is consumed in each cycle of operation in just lifting the movable platens to closed position.
ln addition to the numerous disadvantages pointed out, the conventional type-of rigid and ponderous movable press platen is found to be unsatisfactory for making relatively thin laminate sheets such as a single layer of wood veneer between two layers of paper. Whereas a. press load of veneers, such as are involved in the manufacture of plywood, is sufrcientlyresilient and compressible to adjust itself `readily to small variations in the spacing of the` platens, a single: thin laminatesheet is incapable of Ordinarily, the lowermost platen 2,830,631 Patented pr. 15, 1958 ice .d such self-compensation. Regardless of the rigidity of the press and the precision with which 'the parts are made, there inevitably exists in a press `four feet wide and eighty feet long a variation in the spacing of the upper and lower platens from point to point which is sufficient to concentrate substantially the entire pressure of the press in certain local areas, leavingvother areas substantially without-any application of pressure, or, at least, insufticient pressure. Previous attempts to correct the fault by making the movable platen still heavier and `more rigid" have been unsuccessful because the samedefect resultsfrom slight variations in the veneerthickness even if the press is geometrically perfect. Conventional hot presses' are generally considered to be incapable of 'laminating thin materials, such as paper and wood veneer, in a three# ply assembly.
The general objects of the present invention are, therefore, to provide a novel form of `hot press which will over` come the shortcomings and disadvantages of conventional hot presses in the manufacture of lthin laminate sheets.
More specific objects are to provide `a hot press which will successfully laminate thin materials in a continuous strip of any desired length, to provide a hot press having a light weight and relatively flexible movable platen, to provide a pneumatically operated hot press, to provide a hot press of the type described having a very brief operating cycle so as not to interpose long delays in the work flow to and from the press, to provide a hot press apparatus which will materially reduce manual handling of the material, to produce a hot press apparatus which is largely automatic and continuous in operation, to provide' a control mechanism for hot press apparatus of the type described which will time the press cycle `and perform a number of operations in sequence with a minimum of supervision by the operator, and to provide an improved hot press apparatus which is relatively inexpensive to build and economical and reliable in operation.
The present apparatus comprises, in general, a lay-up table, a two-platen hot press, a feed mechanism, a clipper knife and an electric and pneumatic control system. The function of the apparatus is to laminate a single thin layer of wood veneer between two layers of paper, plastic sheet material, metal foil, or any other sheet material capable of being adhesively. united with the surfaces of wood veneer. It is not necessary that the same type of sheet material be used on both sides of the veneer, as, for example, when metal foil is applied to one side it is often desirable to have paper applied to the other side. For the purpose of describing the method and apparatus, it will be assumed that the sheet material on both sides of the veneer layer is paper.
The veneer sheets are first coated on both sides with a Y suitable adhesive and are then laid up edge to edge as core s strips between the two paper face sheets which may be fed f During the pressing cycle one of the platens is moved toward the other to press the assemblage and apply the necessary heat to cure the adhesive and form a hat, smooth, ilexible, composite sheet. The process is continuous in the sense that a finished portion of the corn posite sheet is delivered intermittently at short intervals from one side of the press while a length of laid up assen bly is continuously being prepared on the other side of the press.
A pair of horizontal feed rolls grip the composite sheet which emerges from the outlet side of the press and draws all the material forward the required distance in each feed movement at the end of a heating cycle. Thus, the alternate operation of the press and feed rolls discharges a continuous ribbon of the composite sheet which may be split lengthwise into a plurality of ribbons of the desired width. These ribbons are fed through a transverse clipper knife for cutting into the desired lengths. Suitable automatic mechanism is provided for controlling the opening and closing of the press, the length of feed movement, the operation of the clipper knife, and for cycling these operations.
An important feature of the press is the flexible construction of one of the platens which is designed to apply uniform pressure over the whole area of the material which is in contact with the other platen which is rigid. The applied pressure is not affected by irregularities or variations n the thickness of the material which is interposed between the two platens. Preferably, the lower platen is made flexible and upward pressure is applied under the whole area of the lower platen by means of a relatively large number of closely spaced pneumatic diaphragm units which are distributed across the breadth and length of the lower platen.
. The foregoing and additional objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that various changes and modifications may be made and certain features may be used without others Without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a plan View of the apparatus of the invention;
Figure 2 is a s'ide elevation view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the press, taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is an elevation view of the valve mechanism controlling the movements of the lower platen, taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a plan view of the valve mechanism shown in Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a top plan view of the lower platen with portions broken away to illustrate the construction thereof;
Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of the feed switch and clipper switch actuating mechanism, taken on the line 7 7 of Figure 2;
Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 2 showing the longitudinal shearing rolls; and
Figure 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control system for the various operating units of the machine.
In Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus is seen to comprise, essentially, a lay-up table A at one side of the press B, a feed roll mechanism C at the other side of the press, and a clipper mechanism D beyond the feed roll. The veneer core strips are laid up by hand on the table A and the assemblage including the face sheets is drawn by the feed roll mechanism C in intermittent step by step movement through the press B. The finished laminate product issues in a continuous ribbon from the feed roll mechanism C until it is cut into the desired lengths by the operation of clipper D.
The table A extends some distance to the left of the portion shown in Figures 1 and 2 and is equipped with a paper roll support (not shown) for feeding a lower sheet of paper 10 in a continuous strip across the surface of the table. Glue coated veneer core strips 11 are placed on the sheet 10, and, as the sheet 19 and core strips 11 are drawn into the press, a top sheet of paper 12 is applied over the assemblage as it is drawn from an upper paper roll 13.
The frame of the press B comprises a pair of longitudinal stringers 15 surmounted by a plurality of transverse I-beams 16. Resting on the transverse I-beams 16 are three longitudinal I-beams 17 supporting a plurality of pneumatic diaphragm units 1S. The diaphragm units 18 are equipped with short cylindrical struts or supporting columns 19 for a lower platen 20.
An upper platen 21 is rigidly mounted on a plurality of longitudinal I-beams 22 connected with transverse beams 23, as shown in Figure 3. Transverse beams 23 are supported at their ends on standards 24 which are connected with the lower transverse beams 16. A pair of upper longitudinal frame members 25 interconnect the standards 24 and support a shaft 26 for the upper paper roll 13. The ends of shaft 26 are equipped with sleeve bearings 27 which are adapted to rest on pairs of rollers 28 on the upper frame members 25 to facilitate free turning movement of the paper roll.
The work engaging surface of the lower platen cornprises a plurality of long narrow steel plates 30 disposed in edge to edge relation, as shown in Figures 3 and 6. The work engaging surface of the stationary upper platen comprises a plurality of similar plates 31 rigidly connected with a plurality of spaced transverse plates 32 which are connected with the longitudinal I-beams 22. The lower platen plates 30 rest on and are connected with spaced transverse plates 33. Electric heating units 35 are mounted in heat conducting relation with the platen plates 30 and 31 in the spaces between the aforementioned supporting plates 32 and 33. Suitable thermal insulation, not shown, covers the'plates 32 and 33 and the heating elements. The lower platen is flexible to some extent in both longitudinal and transverse directions and any tendency to warping is confined to the relatively narrow widths of the plates 30. The plates 30 and 31 are not directly connected to each other.
The pneumatic diaphragm units 18 each comprise a rigid bottom shell or housing member 40 having a flat bottom surface adapted to rest on the flat upper surface of an I-beam 17. A flexible diaphragm 41 is secured around its rim to a peripheral ange edge of the housing 40 to form a closed pressure chamber 42 wherein the dia. phragm 41 s adapted to move vertically, like a piston, in response to variations in pneumatic pressure in the chamber 42 beneath the diaphragm. 'Ihe main central area of the diaphragm 41 is reinforced by a circular metal plate 43 which supports the cylindrical struts 19. The upward thrust of each strut 19 is distributed over a plurality of the spaced plates 33 by a square cap plate 45, as best shown in Figure 6. An upper housing part 46 protects the diaphragm 41 and has a large central opening to allow free vertical movement of the strut 19. The struts 19 have portions cut away on the upper and lower ends thereof to form offset feet 47 for engaging the diaphragm plate 43 and a cap plate 45. This arrangement provides ventilation for cooling the struts and lengthens the heat conducting paths between cap plate and diaphragm plate 43 so that the high platen temperature will not be transmitted directly to the diaphragm material.
Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the several diaphragm chambers 42 are connected with three manifold pipes 50 equipped with individual valves 51 to turn on and shut olf air pressure from supply pipes 52. Each valve is operated by a lever 53 which has an angular movement not exceeding degrees between open and closed limit positions. The three valve levers 53 are connected together for movement in unison by a common link 54 Which has one end pivotally connected with a piston rod 55 in an air cylinder 56. One end of the cylinder 56 is pivotally connected at 57 with a supporting bracket 58 on the frame of the press.
Cylinder 56 is of the double acting type having two pipe connections 61 and 62 with a conventional solenoid valve unit 63. The solenoid valve unit 63 has two coils for shifting a balanced spool valve member (not shown) to one orthe other of two limit positions. In one limit position the valve admits air pressure from a supply pipe 64 to one of the supply pipes 61, 62 to move the piston rod 5S and valve levers 53 to the olf or closed position. At such time the other of the two pipes 61, 62 is connected by the spool valve memberwith anexhaust port 65 in the housing of the solenoid valve. In .its other limit position, the spool valve member reverses the connectionsbetween pipes 61, 62 and the supply and exhaust pipes 64, 65 to move piston rod 55 in the opposite direction and shift valve levers 53 to open position.
When valve levers 53 are in closed position, the pressure in supply pipes 52 is shut olf from manifold pipes 50 and the latter are connected with exhaust ports 66 to relieve the pressure Ain all the diaphragm chambers 42. When the pressure is thus reduced to atmospheric value, the weight of the lower platen depresses the diaphragms 41, causing the press to open. When the valve handles 53 are in open position, exhaust ports 66 are closed and supply pipes 52 are connected with manifold pipes 50 to establish sufficient pressure in diaphragm chambers 42 to lift the diaphragms 41 and close the press. In addition to supplying merely the pressure necessary to raise the lower platen to close the press, the pressure in diaphragm chambers 42 exerts sufficient additional upward force against the lower platen to press the top and bottom sheets of paper and 12 against the opposite faces of core strips 11 to eifect a strong permanent bond at the platen temperature which is maintained by heating units 35. By reason of its flexibility, the lower platen adjusts itself to irregularities in the thickness of the work and applies uniform pressure over the whole area of the platen.
The feed roll mechanism C and clipper D are mounted on a frame 70 which may be bolted to the frame of the press B. The frame 70 includes a pair of standards 71 supporting a transverse beam 72. The standards 71 also have bearings for the- shafts 73 and 74 of `longitudinal shearing cutters 75. These are rotary type cutters which trim olf the rough edges and split the completed ribbon laminate into a plurality of parallel ribbons of the desired widths.
Another pair of standards 76 is equipped with bearings to support the shafts 77 of a pair of feed rolls 78. The laminate material is supported in its passage through the trimming cutters 75 and feed rolls 78 by a transversely ilat surface 79 having a longitudinal arch 8i) between the feed rolls and the clipper D. The function of the arch Si) is to facilitate the upward buckling of the material during the brief interval while its forward movement is arrested by the operation of the clipper knife. This prevents excessive crowding of the material against the clipper blade which might otherwise cause bindingand interfere with a true and straight transverse cut.
The clipper D is of conventional construction, being of the type used to cut wood veneer. The movable blade is normally raised to allow the material to pass thereunder, and is actuated at the proper time by a piston rod 83 in a pneumatic cylinder 81 acting through a conventional toggle linkage S2.
The lower trimming cutter shaft 74 and lower feed roll shaft 77 are rotated by suitable drive mechanism from the electric motor 85, indicated diagrammatically in Figure 9. The upper trimming cutter shaft73 is gear driven from the lower shaft 74 and the upper feed roll is simi larly driven by the lower feed roll. Cutter shafts 73 and 74 are driven at a speed which will rotate the cutting rolls 75 slightly faster than the material is pulled ahead by the feed rolls 78.
Control system The lower feed roll shaft 77 carries a small gear 86, Figure 7, which drives a larger metering gear 87 equipped with a :switch actuating pin 8S. As shown in Figure 2, a feed switch 90 is mounted on the frame 70 adjacent the metering gear 37 in a position to be actuated by the pin 8S once in each revolution of the metering gear 87. Feed motor 85 is deenergized by such actuation of the switch 90,1but the momentum of the drive mechanism carries the pint` 97 out ofengagement with the switch 100 after the motor is deenergized whereby the switch 90- alwaysreadjacent its periphery. One or more switch actuating4 pins 97 may be inserted in the apertures 96. Metering wheel rides on and is frictionally drivenby a drive cone 9K mounted on a threaded end of the upper `feed roll shaft 77. By shifting cone 98 arially-on its supporting shaft 77 the wheel 95 may be brought toV bear on different diameter portions of the cone as shown inFigure 7 to vary the driving ratio. `Cone 98 is securedin adjusted position by la jam nut 99. Mounted on the armiA 92 adjacent the metering wheel 95 is a'cli-pper switchltli)v in a position to be actuated by the pin or pins 97.
A Iplaten switch 101 is mounted on the frame of the machine in a position to be actuated by a lug 89 on the lower platen 20, as shown in Figure 2. The operating mechanism of this switch is arranged so that the switch is lnot operated when the lower platen is raised. When the press opens, the descending movement of the lower platen 211 causes the switch 101 to be momentarily closed and then reopened.
A number of manual control switches are mounted on the frame of the machine adjacent the table A as shown in -Figure 2. There is a toggle -switch 102 which is in the nature of a main switch, a feed stop switch 103, and a press close switch 1114 which will also stop the feed mechanism. The numeral 105 designates a jogging switch to operate the feed mechanism momentarily when desired.
The numerals 1696 designate adjustable thermostatic control-s for the platen heating units 55, whereby the platen temperatures may be maintained at certain predetermined constant values.
Figure 9 illustrates the electric and pneumatic control system for opening and closing the press B, starting and .stopping the feed roll mechanism C and operating the clipper D. The heating circuits for platen heating unitsy 35 are controlled exclusively by the thermostatic means 106 and are not shown in Figure 9. The feed motor 85 is energized from a power circuit 109 and the control system is energized from the supply wires 11), 111. The power circuit for motor 85 is controlled by a feed relay havinga solenoid coil 112 and an armature 113 which is lifted to close the motor circuit when the relay is energized. At such times, a fourth contact bar 114 is held in engagement with a pair of stationary contacts 115, 116. When the relay is deenergized, the armature 113 falls to the position shown, opening the motor circuit. For convenience, this and the other relays in the system will be referred to generally by the numerals applied to their solenoid coils.
Contact 115 is connected with a wire 117 leading to a stationary contact 118 `which is normally engaged by the switch arm 1211 in feed switch 9i). A second stationary contact 121 is momentarily engaged by the switch arm 1211 during the time that switch actuating member 122 is engaged by the moving pin 5S on metering gear 87. An internal spring, not shown, in the switch 90 always returns the movable switch arm into enga-gement with the contact 118 after pin 88 leaves engagement with actuating member 122 and motor 85 and gear 87 come to rest. Contact arm 120 is connected by a wire 123 with the supply wire'111.
The push button switches 1133 and 104 are spring returned to the normal positions shown. A wire 125 connects solenoid coil 112 with a stationary contact 126 in the :switch 164 which has a second stationary contact 127 in the same circuit. Contact 127 is connected with a contact 123 in the switch 103 which has a second stationary contact 129. Contact 129 is connected with the terminal 139 of toggle switch 102. The other terminal 131 of the toggle switch is connected with the line wire rl`he free end of arm 92 110. Switch 104 also has a stationary contact 132 connected with line wire 111 and a contact 133 connected with a wire 134.
The push button switch is normally spring biased to its open position shown. A stationary contact is connected with wire 125 and a stationary contact 136 is connected with line wire 1 10. A third stationary contact 137 is connected with a wire 138 and a fourth sta tionary contact 139 is connected with a wire 140 leading to the line wire 111. The wire 138 is also connected with relay solenoid terminal 116 and the terminal 141 of platen switch 101. The other terminal of switch 101 is connected with a wire 142 leading to the line wire 111.
Wire 134 is connected with contact 121 in feed switch 90 and also with one terminal of the solenoid .coil 145 of a valve control relay for the air supply to lift the lower platen. This relay :solenoid circuit is completed through a wire 146 connected with terminal 130 of toggle switch 102. The relay has an armature 147 equipped with a lcontact bar 148 normally engaging a pair of stationary contacts 149 and 150 when the relay is deenergized. Contact 149 is connected with a wire 151 and contact 150 is connected with the wire 146. When the relay is energized the contact bar 148 engages a pair of contacts 152 and 153. Contact 152 is connected with a wire 154 and contact 153 is connected with the wire 146. The numeral 155 designates diagrammatically a dash pot mechanism or other time delay device to hold the relay armature in raised position for an interval of time necessary for a pressing operation. layed opening relay which may be adjusted Within the desired limits to hold the armature up after solenoid coil 145 has been deenergized.
The solenoid valve 63 in Figures 5 and 9 has a pair of opposed solenoid coils 156 and 157 connected with the respective wires 154 and 151. A common wire 158 connects the two coils with line wire 111. When the coil 156 is energized the solenoid valve 63 admits air to the proper end of cylinder 56 in Figure 5 to open the valves 51 and raise the lower platen 20, and when the coil 157 is energized the solenoid valve 63 admits air to the other end of cylinder 56 to close the valves 51 and exhaust the air in diaphragm chambers 18 through ports 66 to atmosphere to lower the platen 20 and open the press.
Clipper switch 100 has a movable contact arm 160 connected through wire 161 with line wire 111 and a stationary contact 162 connected through a wire 163 with one terminal of solenoid coil 165 of a clipper relay. Contact arm remains in open circuit position until actuating member 159 is engaged by pin 97 on metering wheel 95. The other terminal of relay coil is connected with wire 146. This clipper relay has an armature 166 equipped with a contact bar 167 and a delayed opening device 168. When this relay is energized the contact bar 167 engages a pair of stationary contacts 169 and 170. The delay device 168 holds the contact bar 167 in engagement with contacts 169 and 170 for a sucient time to allow the clipper to operate once and then the'contact bar is dropped back into open circuit position.
The clipper cylinder 81 is a double acting cylinder having air pressure supply pipes 171 and 172 connected with the opposite ends thereof to reciprocate the piston rod 83 in opposite directions in successive cutting strokes. The pipes 171 and 172 are connected with a solenoid valve 175 which is in turn connected with an air pressure supply pipe 176. The valve device 175 contains a balanced spool valve which is shifted between two limit positions by a pair of opposed solenoid coils 177 and 178. When coil 178 is energized, the valve connects pipe 172 with pressure supply pipe 176 and when coil 177 is energized, the pipe 171 is connected with pressure.
A wire 1'79 connects the two coils with relay contacts 169. The respective coils are connected individually with a pair of stationary contacts 180 and 181 in a pressure switch, designated generally by the numeral 182. Sta- This is a conventional type of def hausted to atmosphere through valve ports 66,
tionary contacts 183 and 184 in the pressure switch are connected with line wire 111. A contact bar 185 is connected with a ilexible diaphragm 186 in a diaphragm chamber 187. A spring 188 normally deflects the diaphragm inwardly and holds the contact bar 185 in engagement with contacts 180 and 183. A pipe 186 connects diaphragm chamber 182 with the pipe 172 whereby when pressure is admitted to this pipe the diaphragm 186 is deected outwardly, causing the contact bar 185 to engage the other pair of contacts 181 and 184. The switch device 182 thereby acts as a reversing switch for the solenoid valve 175 to admit air to opposite ends of the cylinder 81 in successive clipping operations.
Operation ln starting up the machine the lower and upper face sheets 10 and 12 are rst pulled through the open press by hand and engaged between the feed rolls 78. Glue coated core strips 11 are then laid up on the table A on top of the lower sheet 10. As shown in Figure l, the operator first places the core strips 11 on the paper 10 and then straightens and aligns them and pushes them into edge abutting relation in preparation for the rst cycle of the machine.
In Figure 9 the various switches and relays are shown in their normal rest positions when the machine is shut down with all circuits deenergized. When the material is ready for operation of the machine, the operator rst switches on the heating units 35 and closes toggle switch 102. This produces no immediate function but serves to prepare certain circuts for the initial phase of operation. The energization of platen valve coil 157 merely continues to hold the press open. To start the machine, the operator presses push button switch 104, closing a circuit from line wire 111 through wire 134, relay solenoid 145, Wire 146, and toggle switch 182 back to line wire 110. This circuit raises the armature of press relay 145, and after push button 104 is released the delay device 155 holds the armature 147 in raised position with contact bar 148 in engagement with contacts 152 and 153 until the end of the interval for which the device 155 is set. A circuit is thereby closedthrough line Wire 110, toggle switch 102, wire 146, contact bar 148, wire 154, solenoid valve coil 156, and wire 158, back to line wire 111. This produces operation of solenoid valve 63 to admit air pressure to the proper end of cylinder 56 in Figures 4 and 5 to open the valves 51 and admit air pressure to the manifold pipes 50 leading to all the diaphragm chambers 18 beneath the lower platen 20.
The lower platen is thereby raised and the press held closed until time delay device 155 releases the relay armature 147 to allow it to return to the normal position shown. The dropping of armature 147 breaks the circuit through solenoid valve coil 156 and energizes solenoid valve coil 157 by a circuit through a line wire 110, toggle switch 102, wire 146, contact bar 148, wire 151, coil 157, and wire 158, back to line wire 111. The energizing of solenoid valve coil 157 shifts the spool valve member in the valve unit 63 to reverse the air supply connections to cylinder 56, moving piston rod 55 in a direction opposite to its previous movement and closing the valves 51. When the valves 51 are thus closed, the supply pressure from pipes 52 is cut olf and the pressure in diaphragm chambers 18 and manifold pipes 50 is exallowing the lower platen 20 to fall and open the press.
The closing of the press brought lug 89 into engagement with the operator of switch 101, but the switch mechanism is arranged so that no switch movement is produced by such engagement. However, when the press opens, the disengagement of lug 89 from the switch operator (Figure 2) causes switch 101 to close, completing a circuit through line wire 111, wire 142, switch 101, wire 138, relay solenoid coil 112, wire 125, push button switch 104, pushbutton switch 103, and toggle switch 102, back to the line Wire 110. This circuit energizes feed relay 112, lifting the armature 113 and closingn the power circuit from supply wires 109 tothe feed motor 85. The operating mechanism (not shown) for switch 101 is arranged to cause this switch to be closed momentarily and then reopened during the descending movement of lower platen 20, whereby switch 101 immediately returns to its open position shown in Figure 9. However, the lifting of relay armature 113 completes a holding circuit for the relay through wire 123, contact arm 120 of switch 90, wire 117, and contact bar 114 in parallel with the reopened platen switch 101. This holding circuit maintains the energization of the feed motor after platen switch 101 reopens.
Motor 85, thus energized by the opening of the press, drives the feed rolls 78 to pull a length 'of the material through the press and push it through the clipper D. By reason of the holding circuit just described, this feed movement continues until pin 88l on gear 87 engages the operating lever 122 of feed switch 9) to shift the contact arm 120 out of engagement with contact 118 and into engagement with contact 121. Disengagement of contact arm 1Z0 from contact 118 breaks the holding circuit for relay 112, allowing the armature 113 to drop and deenergize feed motor 85. After the motor 85 has been deenergized, the momentum of the feed drive mechanism carries the pin 83 out of engagement with switch actuating lever 122, allowing contact arm 120 to be returned by a switch spring (not shown) to'its normal engagement with contact 118. However, the holding circuit for relay 112 has now been opened by the dropping of contact bar 114, so the return movement of switch arm 120 at this time is of no effect and the feed mechanism remains stationary. j
The metered operation of feed rolls 78 hasjhus pulled the pressed length of material out of the press and has pulled in a new length of material including glue spread core strips 11 which have been laid up on the table A during the Vpressing interval. When contact arm 120 in feed switch 9i) engages the contact 121, a circuit is completed from line wire 111 through wire 123, contact arm 120, wire 134, and platen relay 145 to wire 146, toggle switch 102, and line wire 110. This circuit energizes platen relay 1@5 which lifts its armature 147 to bring Contact bar 14d into engagement with contacts 152 and 153. After contact arm 120 leaves engagement with contact 121, this circuit is broken but the armature 147 is held in raised position for the duration of another pressing interval by the action of the delayed opening device The lifting of contact bar'148 again cornpletes a circuit through the solenoid coil 156 of solenoid valve 63 to effect operation of the piston rod 55 and valves 51 in Figures 4 and 5 as previouslydescribed, admitting air to the diaphragm chambers 18 and closing the press for another press cycle. The press and feed cycles thus repeat in sequence until the machine is stopped by the operator.
lf toggle switch 102 is opened during feed movement, the feed relay 112 is deenergized to stop the feed motor 85. lf toggle switch 102 is opened during a press interval, both solenoid valve coils 156 and 157 are deenergized, but this does not result in the closing of valves 51 to open the press because the balanced spool valve member in solenoid valve 63 remains in its last position supplying air pressure to the end of cylinder 56 which opens the valves 51. Switch 102 is not used for emergency stop purposes.
Push button switch 103 serves as an emergency stop for the feed motor S in case the core strips 11 become disarranged on the lay-up table A or in case the operator does not have a suicient number of core strips in position to occupy the length of the press, or for any other reason when it may be desired to stop the feed movement. The feed motor is re-started by pressing switch 104. Switch 103 does not affect the controls for thev4 press.
Push button switch 104 stops the feed and closes the press. This switch is also used as a starting switch in the manner hereinabove described.
Push button switch 105 is referred to as ajogging switch. For example, in setting up the machine for operation, after the upper and lower sheets 10 and 12 have been drawn through the press, the ends of these sheets may be inserted in the nip of the feed rolls 78 and the jogging switch touched momentarily to rotate the feed relis sufficiently to grip the paper. This is done while the main toggle switch 102 is open, whereby the feed relay 112 is closed and feed motor 85 is energized only so long as the switch 105 is held closed. The jogswitch 105 thereby permits operation of the feed rolls for a long or short interval, as may be desired, without putting the machine in its normal cycle of operation subject to the other automatic control devices.
It will be observed that the holding circuit through con-- 163, clipper relay solenoid coil 165, wire 146, switch` 102, and supply wire 110. The energization of clipper relay raises its contact bar 167 into engagement with contacts 169 and 170 to complete a circuit from wire 146 through wire 179 and one or the other of the valve solenoid coils 177 or 178 as determined by the position of the contact bar 165 of pressure switch 182. When lcontact bar 185 engages the upper contacts 180 and 183, the solenoid coil is energized to supply pressure to the pipe 172 and retract the piston rod 33 to operate the clipper mechanism. The admission of pressure to pipe 172 operates the pressure switch 180 to deenergize the circuit for solenoid coil 178 and prepare a circuit i for solenoid coil 177 to produce an opposite movement of piston rod 83 when the clipper switch 100 and relay 165are next operated. lt was previously explained that the clipper is operated by a toggle mechanism whereby the cutting blade makes onestroke when the piston rod 83 moves outwardly and another stroke when the piston rod moves inwardly.
In order to prevent repeated operations of the clipper if the pin 97 should come to rest in engagement with the operating lever 159 of clipper switch 100 at the end of a feed movement, the clipper relay 165 is equipped with a delay device 16S which causes the armature 166 to be released promptly after momentary closing of the relay contacts, even though the relay coil 165 may still be energized by the closed position of switch arm 160.
A wide variety of suitable glues are available on the market. The glue may be either of the cold setting or hot setting type, according to the speed desired in the pressing operation. Urea resin glues are preferred.
The temperature and pressing time are governed by the nature of the materials used. A thermal gradient exists through the thickness of the face sheets 10 and 12 whereby in a short press interval the temperature at the glue line may be considerably lower than the platen temperature, depending upon the thickness and heat conductivity of the sheets 10 and 12. When the sheets 10 and 12 are paper, a platen temperature of 450 F. been used successfully with a pressing interval of l0 to l5 seconds. The feed movement requires yabout live seconds, thereby allowing three presses per minute. In an eight-foot press, this rate of operation produces 24 linear feet of laminate product per minute. It is not necessary that the press interval be long enough to dry the glue completely, as it will continue to dry and set after leaving the press. The foregoing values of time, temperature and dimension are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the invention.
Thus, the present machine is fully automatic in its press, feed and clipping operations, producing continuous ribbons of laminate product which are automatically clipped to any desired length. The press cycle is fast enough to permit a substantially continuous work ilow as fast as a workman can lay up the core strips on the bottom continuous face sheet 10. It is not necessary to assemble a great amount of material for a single press load, and it is not necessary to incur a larger investment in a battery of presses to achieve a substantially continuous work ow. Also, there is considerable advantage in the very short interval of time transpiring between the spreading of the glue on the core strips and the pressing operation, as this permits the use of an inexpensive cold setting glue of a grade which cannot be used in a conventional multiple platen hot press because of the necessarily relatively long interval of time between the glue spread operation and the pressing operation.
Having now described our invention and in what manner the same may be used, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:
1. A hot press for laminating sheet materials comprising a rigid horizontal platen, a flexible horizontal platen, and a plurality of pneumatic diaphragm units operatively connected with said flexible platen for vertical movement, the work engaging surface of said exible platen comprising a plurality of flat plates disposed in edge abutting relation, a plurality of elongated narrow members connected with said plates, and a plurality of thrust means each extending across a plurality of said members and connecting said members with said diaphragm units.
2. A hot press for laminating sheet materials comprising a rigid horizontal platen, a flexible horizontal platen, and a plurality of pneumatic diaphragm units operatively connected with said flexible platen for vertical movement, the work engaging surface of said ilexible platen comprising a plurality of Hat-plates disposed in edge abutting relation, a plurality of spaced members supporting said plates, heating units disposed in the spaces between said members, apertured tubular struts on said diaphragm units, and an individual thrust 'plate on each of said tubular struts engaging a plurality of said members.
3. A hot press for laminating sheet materials comprising a rigid horizontal upper platen, a lower platen support comprising ya plurality of longitudinal beams, a plurality of pneumatic diaphragm units seated on each of said beams, a ventilated tubular strut on each diaphragm unit, an individual thrust plate on cach of said struts, -a plurality of spaced transverse plates supported by said thrust plates, a plurality of longitudinal plates supported on said transverse plates and disposed in side by side edge abutting relation, and heating units mounted in the spaces between said transverse plates, said plates and heating units constituting a exible lower platen for the press.
4. Apparatus for laminating sheet materials comprising a hot press having a movable platen, means for moving said platen to open and close the press, feed rolls for moving said materials through the press, means for driving said feed rolls, a feed control relay connected with said driving means, a platen control relay connected with said platen moving means, a control member rotatably driven by said feed rolls, a switch connected with both of said relays and actuated by rotation of said control member to operate said relays to stop said driving means and close the press, means to operate said platen control relay to open the press, and a switch actuated by opening movement of said platen to operate said feed control relay to start said driving means.
5. Apparatus for laminating sheet materials comprising a hot press having a movable platen, fluid pressure operated means for moving said platen to open and close the press, feed rolls for moving said materials through the press, an electrical motor for driving said feed rolls, a feed control relay controlling the energization of said motor, a platen control relay and solenoid valve controlling said fluid pressure means, a control member ro tatably driven by said feed rolls, a switch controlling both of said relays and actuated by rotation of said control member to operate said relays to stop said motor and close the press, means to operate said platen control relay after -a pressing interval to open the press, and a switch actuated by opening movement of said platen to operate said feed control relay to start said motor.
References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 395,592 Schwarzler Jan. 1, 1889 808,756 Johnson Jan. 2, 1906 856,416 McLarty June l1, 1907 1,702,185 Weber Feb. 12, 1929 2,050,191 Liebowitz Aug. 4, 1936 2,172,002 Stanley Sept. 5, 1939 2,254,394 Ratley Sept. 2, 1941 2,373,770 Martin Apr. 17, 1945 Y 2,407,070 Frame Sept. 3, 1946 2,547,157 Gibbons Apr. 3, 1951 2,570,926 Elmendorf Oct. 9, 1951 2,672,835 Paul Mar. 23, 1954 2,684,626 Eberle July 27, 1954
US441206A 1954-07-06 1954-07-06 Continuous laminating machine Expired - Lifetime US2830631A (en)

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US4518550A (en) * 1983-05-16 1985-05-21 Makrotalo Oy Method of manufacturing rigid frame building elements filled with hard foam plastic
US20020026988A1 (en) * 2000-05-24 2002-03-07 Grecon Dimter Holzoptimierung Sud Gmbh & Co. Kg Bonding machine for lamellar pieces of wood to be joined to a board and method for pressing lamellar pieces of wood to boards

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US808756A (en) * 1905-06-21 1906-01-02 Charles J Johnson Compo-board machine.
US856416A (en) * 1905-12-11 1907-06-11 Archie P Mclarty Hydraulic clamp.
US1702185A (en) * 1929-02-12 -weber
US2050191A (en) * 1935-07-03 1936-08-04 Trubenizing Process Corp Machine for adhesively uniting the plies of multiple ply articles of apparel
US2172002A (en) * 1936-12-31 1939-09-05 Merritt Engineering & Sales Co Automatic diaphragm press
US2254394A (en) * 1940-09-16 1941-09-02 Nat Automotive Fibres Inc Cutoff applying means
US2373770A (en) * 1942-05-07 1945-04-17 Martin Russell Press
US2407070A (en) * 1942-03-04 1946-09-03 G M Diehl Machine Works Core splicer
US2547157A (en) * 1947-02-13 1951-04-03 James H Gibbons Cutoff mechanism
US2570926A (en) * 1946-11-01 1951-10-09 Elmendorf Armin Machine for making flexible wood filaments
US2672835A (en) * 1951-01-09 1954-03-23 Radio Steel & Mfg Co Sheet feeding mechanism
US2684626A (en) * 1948-12-28 1954-07-27 Journal Company Bundle tying machine feeder and the control mechanism

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US395592A (en) * 1889-01-01 sghwaezlee
US1702185A (en) * 1929-02-12 -weber
US808756A (en) * 1905-06-21 1906-01-02 Charles J Johnson Compo-board machine.
US856416A (en) * 1905-12-11 1907-06-11 Archie P Mclarty Hydraulic clamp.
US2050191A (en) * 1935-07-03 1936-08-04 Trubenizing Process Corp Machine for adhesively uniting the plies of multiple ply articles of apparel
US2172002A (en) * 1936-12-31 1939-09-05 Merritt Engineering & Sales Co Automatic diaphragm press
US2254394A (en) * 1940-09-16 1941-09-02 Nat Automotive Fibres Inc Cutoff applying means
US2407070A (en) * 1942-03-04 1946-09-03 G M Diehl Machine Works Core splicer
US2373770A (en) * 1942-05-07 1945-04-17 Martin Russell Press
US2570926A (en) * 1946-11-01 1951-10-09 Elmendorf Armin Machine for making flexible wood filaments
US2547157A (en) * 1947-02-13 1951-04-03 James H Gibbons Cutoff mechanism
US2684626A (en) * 1948-12-28 1954-07-27 Journal Company Bundle tying machine feeder and the control mechanism
US2672835A (en) * 1951-01-09 1954-03-23 Radio Steel & Mfg Co Sheet feeding mechanism

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4518550A (en) * 1983-05-16 1985-05-21 Makrotalo Oy Method of manufacturing rigid frame building elements filled with hard foam plastic
US20020026988A1 (en) * 2000-05-24 2002-03-07 Grecon Dimter Holzoptimierung Sud Gmbh & Co. Kg Bonding machine for lamellar pieces of wood to be joined to a board and method for pressing lamellar pieces of wood to boards
US6938662B2 (en) * 2000-05-24 2005-09-06 GreCon Dimter Holzoptimierung Süd GmbH & Co. KG Bonding machine for lamellar pieces of wood to be joined to a board and method for pressing lamellar pieces of wood to boards

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