CA1118572A - Method and apparatus for forming expanded panels - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for forming expanded panels

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Publication number
CA1118572A
CA1118572A CA000368070A CA368070A CA1118572A CA 1118572 A CA1118572 A CA 1118572A CA 000368070 A CA000368070 A CA 000368070A CA 368070 A CA368070 A CA 368070A CA 1118572 A CA1118572 A CA 1118572A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
studs
attaching
mold
press platens
approximately
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000368070A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Donald R. Beasley
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Norfield Corp
Original Assignee
Norfield Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US05/763,097 external-priority patent/US4113909A/en
Application filed by Norfield Corp filed Critical Norfield Corp
Priority to CA000368070A priority Critical patent/CA1118572A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1118572A publication Critical patent/CA1118572A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

ABSTRACT
In order to make large panels of expanded thermoformable material in a process in which a blank of the material is placed between two heated mold plates, the blank is adhered to the plates by hot tack adhesion; the plates are separated and the expanded material is cooled, while maintaining commercial tolerances; the mold plates are supported on elongated mounting studs.

Description

11185~2 This invention relates to processes in which a plate or press must be held in a fixed position during a wide range of thermal cycling such as in the production of expanded thermoformable materials and products in general and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for maintaining a press or plate so fixed.
With respect to producing thermoformable products, it permits producing larger panels of such materials than was heretofore possible.
In general terms, an important type of process and apparatus to which the present invention relates is that disclosed in a series of U.S. Patents 3,919,445;
3,919,380; 3,919,381 and 3,919,378, all issued Novem-ber 11, 1975 to Walter H. Smarook. Basically, as dis-closed in U.S. Patent 3,919,445 the process is one in which a blank of thermoplastic polymeric material is placed between two molds of a heated press. The tem-perature of the mold plates is about five or ten degrees Celsius above the temperature at which the thermoplastic material exhibits hot tack adhesion. The mold plates are separated apart and the adhesive forces of the poly-meric material to the mold plates are greater than the cohesive flow properties of the polymeric material itself during the plate separation or expansion step. Thus, it is possible to mechanically move the mold plates a cer-tain distance apart with the polymeric material bonded to the surfaces thereof without causing a rupture o~ the adhesion between the surfaces and the fused material.
The plates are separated causing the panel to take or. 2 new internal geometry and the plates then cooled to solidify the expanded panel. During the process it is mandatory that the plate surfaces be parallel to each other within a few thousands of an inch, first during the melting stage, or else the plastic adhesion will not become accomplished, and finally, during the cooling state, or else the final pattern will not meet commercial standards of thickness uniformity. Typically, tempera-ture cycling can range between 60 and 700F; a more com-mon range being from 100 to 400F. Thus, a fundamental problem in this process is that the metal mold plates, when subjected to temperature changes, also undergo dimensional changes and, when fixed to a supporting frame which is, of course, necessary they tend to bend so as to lose their parallelism. In addition, buckling of the supporting frame can also occur. Most develop-mental work in these processes described in aforemen-tioned patents was done on six inch squares. Maintain-ing parallelism with such a small size is not particu-larly difficult. However, attempts to make larger size panels, up until the time of the present invention, have not been particularly successful. Even panels in a size as small as 14 x 24 inches have proven problematic.
There is, however, a need for larger panels, for example, panels of sizes up to and larger than 4 x 10 feet. For example, such panels can be used as floating roof covers in chemical and petroleum tanks to reduce pollution and evaporation loss. There are, of course, many other ap-plications for such panels, some of which require high tolerances, particularly where a plurality of panels are bonded or fitted together, e.g. office partitions and ~11857Z`

desk tops.
Thus, it can be seen that there is a need for an improved method and apparatus for carrying out an ex-pansion process with thermoformable material so as to produce larger size products, such as panels, which are commercially acceptable.
In general terms, there is a need for a method and apparatus for holding large presses or plates fixed during ther~al cycling.
The present invention provides a solution to this problem. Deviating from the previous manner of mounting in which I beams were mounted directly to the parallel press platens of the press machine-used to move the molds apart and together, an arrangement which per-mits relative movement between the machine and the mold is used in the method and apparatus of the present inven-tion. In accordance with the present invention, each of the molds is connected to the machine frame utilizing a plurality of elongated mounting studs. It has been dis-covered that when making thermoformable panels of a size of 4 x 10 feet, a length of these mounting studs greater than twelve inches is necessary in order to obtain molded panels which meet tolerance requirements and to achieve repeatability.
The construction of the present invention avoids problems found in other mounting arrangements.
For example, a mounting arrangement in which the mount-ing of the molds was made directly to I beams which were in turn directly mounted to the machine frame with the mold mounting bolts disposed so as to permit free sliding movement was found to be completely unsatisfactory re-sulting in a bowing which caused a three-sixteenths deviation between the ends and the middle. This is thought to be the result of the bolts not sliding freely and heat from the mold warping the I beams and machine frame. Even attempts at improving the sliding of the mounting bolts through the use of Teflon washers and insulating the mold from the I beams with suitable in-sulators does not give effective results. Although such steps will result in improvement, it is still difficult to obtain panel repeatability which meets commercial standards. Furthermore, even the use of mounting bolts of the type used in the present invention which are twelve inches long or shorter will not permit repeatably satisfactory results when making panels which have a size of 4 x 10 feet. Only when the mounting bolt length is increased above twelve inches, for example, sixteen inches, can tolerances be maintained in this size of panel. With sixteen inch mounting studs, thickness de-viation has been reduced to 10 mils with the apparatusand process of the present invention.
With the mold mounting of the present inven-tion, utilizing sixteen inch studs, thermal effects on the frame are reduced to insignificance. The predominant distortion effect is the horizontal movement of the mounting studs. Typically, with a horizontal mold plate and a 300 temperature difference there will be a change in length of approximately 0.23 inches on each side.
The effect of this horizontal change on the vertical position has been calculated to be approximately 1.6 *Trademark mils for each mold plate or a total of 3.2 mils. This is consistent with measurements made on actual molded panels and is well within the tolerances required for commercial grade panels.

In accordance with the foregoing objects, there is provided:
In a process for expanding the cross sec-tion of a blank of thermoformable material while in a thermoformable state by steps comprising positioning the material between two mold plates while the material in a thermoformable state and heated to a temperature at which it will adhesively bond to the mold plates, adhesively bonding the material by hot tack adhesion to each of the two mold plates, pulling the mold plates apart while the material is so bonded and in a thermoformable state and cooling the expanded material to a temperature below the heat distortion point of the material, the improvement comprising supporting each of the two mold plates being supported on a plurality of elongated studs, the studs having a length such as to satisfy the following equa-tion: D = C _ ~ c2 _ x2 where D equals one-half the maximum deviation permissible in panel thickness, C the length of the bolts and X the amount of thermal expansion in one half of the mold based on the mold material used and the temperature differential to be employed.
There is also provided:
In a device for expanding the cross sec-tion of a blank of thermofor~able material which includes a machine having first and second opposed press platens;

means for controlling the spacing Or the press platens, first and second molding plates; and means attaching the --~` 111857Z
mold plates to the press plates, the improvement compris-ing the means attaching the press platens comprising:
a) a plurality of elongated studs distributed over the area of the molding plates the length of said studs being such as to satisfy the equation: D = C _~c2 _ x2 where D equals one-half the maximum devia-tion permissible in panel thickness, C the length of the bolts and X the amount of thermal expansion in one half of the mold based on the mold material used and the temperature differential to be employed;
b) ~eans for attaching one end of each of said studs to a press platen;
and c) means for attaching the other end of said studs to a mold plate.
There is further provided:
In a process in which a flat planar member such as a press or plate must be held in a fixed position during thermal cycling through large ranges, a method of avoiding bending of the member due to the thermal cycling comprising supporting the member on a plurality of elon-gated studs, the studs having a length such as to satisfy the following equation: D = C -~C 2 _ X2where D equal the maximum deviation permissible in bending of the member, C the length of the bolts and X the amount of thermal ex-pansion in the member based on the material used therein and the temperature differential to be employed.

-6a-There is also provided:
In a device which includes a machine having first and second flat planar members; means for controlling the spacing of the planar members, and means attaching the planar members to a support structure, the improvement com-prising the means attaching the planar members comprising:
a) a plurality of elongated studs distributed over the area of the planar members the length of said studs being such as to satisfy the equation:
D = C _~c2 _ x2 where D equals the maximum deviation per~issible in bend-ing of the member C the length of the bolts and X the amount cf thermal ex-pansion in the planar members based on the material of which they are made and the temperature differential to be employed;
b) means for attaching one end of each of said studs to the support structure;
and c) means for attaching the other end of said studs to a planar member.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of the ma-chine platen illustrating the location of the mounting studs.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the arrangement of Fi~. 1 also showing the mold plate attached to the ma-chine platen.
Fig. 3 is a detail of Fig. 2 illustrating in more detail the mounting arrangement.

-6b-.

~ 111857Z

FiEs. 1 and 2 illustrate the general arrange-ment of the apparatus of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a view of the attachment of the mounting studs 11 of the present invention to the machine frame platen 13, more specifically the upper platen 13 of the machine frame. The machine frame platen illustrated comprises two 8 inch steel channels 12 with transverse ~ inch steel I beams 14 disposed therebetween. As illustrated, threé rows of mounting bolts are used. With the excep-tion of those on the ends, the mounting bolts have equal spacing in the horizontal direction equal to b". At the ends there is only a spacing of b' between mounting studs. The three rows of mounting studs 11 are separated fro~ each other by a distance designated a. Typically, for a 4 x 10 panel, i.e. where the di~ension A is 4 feet and the dimension B 10 feet, the distance a will be 17 inches with the middle row of mounting studs 11 on the center line, the distance b' will be 8 inches and the -6c-` -~ 1118572 distance b" 13 inches. Fig. 2 illustrates the machine platen 13 once again along with the mounting studs 11 and, at the end of the mounting studs 11, the mold plate 15. Shown also is a portion of the bottom mold plate 15a which is attached with similar bolts 11a to the op-posing machine frame platen (not shown). Finally, Fig.
3 illustrates in more detail the attachment of the mold 15 to the machine frame 13. As illustrated, each mount-ing stud 11, which may be a 5/8-11 threaded rod is at-10 tached to a threaded block 17 which is welded or other- ~-wise fastened to the mold plate with a lock nut 19 used to secure the threaded rod 11 in place. The threaded rod is passed through a suitable hole in the machine platen 13 with an opening provided thereabove so that lock nuts 21 can be fastened on opposing sides of the machine frame. The distance between the bottom of the machine frame 13 and the top of the mold plate 15, in-dicated as the distance C on the figure, when molding plates which are 4 by 10 feet should be at least 16 inches. In general terms, the amount of thermal expan-sion X of a plate in either direction as measured from the center line would be equal to B/2 times the coeffi-cient of thermal expansion times a t, where a t is the temperature change. For a 4 x 10 foot panel the equation 25 becomes X = 60 in. x 13 x 10 6 in/in/F x 300F = 0.23 inches. The change D in vertical dimensions because of such a horizontal expansion will be equal to C _ ~c2 _ x2.
In the present example, C is equal to 16 inches and X equals .23 inches. Solving for the above equation results in the vertical distance D being equal to 1.6 . . . :.,: .:

` ~ 1118S72 mils. In general termæ, when panels of a different size are being made, the length of the bolts should be se-lected to satisfy the equation D = C - ~C~ _ x2 where D equals one-half the maximum deviation permissible in panel thickness, (since there are two molds, each will make a contribution to the thickness deviation), C the length of the bolts and X the amount of thermal expan-sion in one half of the mold based on the mold material used and the temperature differential to be employed.
AlthouEh the present invention has been dis-closed in connection with a process for thermoformable materials, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that it is ~enerally applicable to any process where a plate or press must be held fixed such as in reaction injection molding (RIM).

. ~

Claims (9)

  1. THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
    OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

    l. In a device for expanding the cross sec-tion of a blank of thermoformable material which includes a machine having first and second opposed press platens;
    means for controlling the spacing of the press platens, first and second molding plates; and means attaching the molding plates to the press platens, the improvement compris-ing the means attaching the press platens comprising:
    a) a plurality of elongated studs distributed over the area of the molding plates the length of said studs being such as to satisfy the equation: D = C where D equals one-half the maximum devia-tion permissible in panel thickness, C the length of the studs and X the amount of thermal expansion in one half of the mold based on the mold material used and the temperature differential to be employed;
    b) means for attaching one end of each of said studs to a press platen;
    and c) means for attaching the other end of each of said studs to a mold plate.
  2. 2. Apparatus according to claim l wherein said thermoformable material has a length of approximate-ly 10 feet and wherein said studs are approximately 16 inches long.
  3. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said press platens are equipped with openings through which said studs may pass and wherein said means for at-taching to said press platens comprise lock nuts on each side Or said openings.
  4. 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for attaching said studs to said molding comprise threaded blocks rigidly attached to said molding plates and a lock nut for locking said studs in place after being screwed into said threaded blocks.
  5. 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said studs are arranged in rows.
  6. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the two studs on each end of each row are spaced closer to each other than the remaining studs.
  7. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said thermoformable material is approximately 10 feet long and 4 feet wide and wherein each row of studs com-prises seven studs.
  8. 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said end studs of each row are spaced approximately 8 inches apart and the remaining studs approximately 13 inches apart.
  9. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said rows are spaced approximately 17 inches apart.
CA000368070A 1977-01-27 1981-01-07 Method and apparatus for forming expanded panels Expired CA1118572A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000368070A CA1118572A (en) 1977-01-27 1981-01-07 Method and apparatus for forming expanded panels

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US763,097 1977-01-27
US05/763,097 US4113909A (en) 1977-01-27 1977-01-27 Method for forming expanded panels from thermoformable material and the resultant product
CA000295228A CA1118571A (en) 1977-01-27 1978-01-18 Method and apparatus for forming expanded panels
CA000368070A CA1118572A (en) 1977-01-27 1981-01-07 Method and apparatus for forming expanded panels

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1118572A true CA1118572A (en) 1982-02-23

Family

ID=27165473

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000368070A Expired CA1118572A (en) 1977-01-27 1981-01-07 Method and apparatus for forming expanded panels

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1118572A (en)

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