EP0002643A1 - Plastic panel, assembling process for such a panel and machine for applying the process - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Panel consisting of heat-weldable plastics material, which is able to serve in particular as a shutter or door member, comprising a frame constituted by rectilinear members (1) providing a recess, filled at least partly by sections (2) which are also rectilinear and extend between two opposed parallel members (1) of the frame, the means for joining two opposed members (1) of the frame and the sections (2) being constituted by a first rectilinear tongue (4) rigidly connected to each member (1), projecting from the inner edge (3) of the latter and engaging in grooves (7) provided in the end faces of the sections (2) transversely with respect to the latter, characterized in that said means for joining two members (1) of the frame and the sections (2) also comprise at least one second tongue (4') similar to the first cooperating with at least one second groove (7') in the same manner as the tongue (4) cooperates with the groove (7) and that the tongues (4, 4') are rigidly connected to each of the corresponding grooves (7, 7') by welding of the material in order to ensure the joining of the sections (2) to the members (1).

Description

The invention relates, firstly, to means for assembling a panel of heat-sealable plastic material comprising on the one hand, a frame made up of rectilinear elements and, on the other hand, also rectilinear blades, filling all part of the frame extending between two parallel elements thereof. Secondly, it relates to an assembly process and a machine for carrying out the process.

Panels of heat-sealable plastic are already known comprising a frame and filling blades, which can serve in particular as a shutter or door elements. Such a known panel comprises a frame comprising two vertical uprights rigidly joined together by two horizontal and parallel crosspieces and, on the other hand, horizontal filling blades assembled to the vertical uprights of the frame by mechanical assembly means of the tenon type. and mortise. Thus, for example, each filling blade is provided, at its two free end portions, with at least one vertical groove or projection cooperating with at least one corresponding vertical projection or groove in the amount of the frame (see French patent 2,293,568) .

However, such an assembly has many drawbacks: the blades do not constitute elements of resistance of the panel but only means for filling the frame. Maintaining the blades is doubtful because of the assembly means used. Thus, in general, the panel lacks rigidity and is liable to deform during use. In addition, the use of a mechanical assembly system of the tenon and mortise type requires very precise dimensional tolerances.

The object of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing means for assembling panels of the aforementioned type which comprise at least one tongue associated with each vertical upright of the frame, penetrating into each strip so as to form a sort of groove at its end so that a rigid post-blade association can be achieved by heat sealing.

The advantages of the invention are that this assembly is at the same time very simple to carry out and makes it possible to obtain a panel having a high resistance therefore capable of being deformed in use. Thus, the invention makes it possible to produce a panel having a tear resistance which can reach and even exceed 30 kg on average per panel.

The blades can have any desired shape in cross section. They can be joined or, on the contrary, separated from each other, thus leaving variable days between them.

The panels assembled according to the present invention having a high rigidity, can be used in a versatile manner, not only as a shutter but also as a gate, cladding, etc.

The welds being made inside the grooves, without visible burrs on the outside, are therefore invisible from the outside so that the panel is much more aesthetic than those known to date.

As far as the actual manufacturing method is concerned, it is not necessary to envisage a special preparation of the blades, apart from cutting them to length. In particular, no notch or similar operation is necessary. These dimensional tolerance problems are therefore eliminated.

The assembly according to the invention is such that it makes it possible in particular to avoid the false squaring which occurs with most of the other assembly means known to date. On the other hand, the assembly according to the invention allows perfect reciprocal holding of the blades and the uprights. As a result, it is possible to conceive of a simplified manufacture of panels without end crossmembers. This simplification is all the more important as the assembly of the uprights and travenrses constituting the frame is of the tab type.

Finally, the manufacture of a panel, by the process according to the invention, can be made fully automatic.

• La figure 1 est une vue schématique, partiellement arrachée, en perspective éclatée, d'un panneau pourvu de moyens d'assemblage selon l'invention ; la figure 2 est une vue schématique, partiellement arrachée, en coupe selon la ligne II-II de la figure 1 ; la figure 3 est une vue schématique, partiellement arrachée, analogue à la figure 2, d'une seconde forme d'exécution de l'invention ; la figure 4 est une vue schématique, à plus petite échelle, de la machine pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé d'assemblage selon l'invention.

In what follows, the invention is explained in more detail using the drawings showing only one embodiment.

• Figure 1 is a schematic view, partially broken away, in exploded perspective, of a panel provided with assembly means according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view, partially broken away, in section along the line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic view, partially broken away, similar to Figure 2, of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a schematic view, on a smaller scale, of the machine for implementing the assembly method according to the invention.

The assembly means according to the invention apply in particular and without limitation to panels of all kinds, made of heat-sealable plastic, in particular PVC.

This panel comprises, in known manner, a frame made up of rectilinear elements 1, assembled at a square, providing a recess filled in whole or only in part by blades 2, also rectilinear, extending between two parallel elements. Thus, when the blades 2 are horizontal, they extend between elements 1 forming vertical uprights. On the contrary, if the blades 2 are ver-1 tical, they extend between two elements forming crosspieces horizontal and parallel. The elements 1 have, in cross-section, a generally rectangular or pseudo-rectangular shape defining a edge 3 preferably full, delimiting the edge of the recess limited by the frame. The two edges 3 of two elements 1 parallel to each other face each other and are intended to receive an assembly by welding of the end faces of the blades 2, as will be seen below.

The blades 2 can have, in cross section, any desired shape depending in particular on a desired aesthetic appearance. The length of the blades corresponds to the spacing between the edges 3 facing the two elements 1 with which they are rigidly associated. The pitch of the blades can be arbitrary. The blades can be contiguous or, on the contrary, spaced apart, thus saving days.

The assembly means, according to the invention, are located at each end of a blade and on the element 1 associated with this end. Thereafter, reference will therefore be made to only one of the two ends of each blade, it being understood that the assembly means are symmetrical as regards the other end.

The element is rigidly associated with at least one tongue 4 projecting from the middle part of the edge 3, elongated lengthwise of the element 1 and, preferably, for reasons of symmetry which is not strictly necessary, parallel to the defined edges by the edge 3 and the inner inner 5 faces 6 of the element 1. The tab (s) 4 are either in one piece with the element 1 proper, being produced during the manufacture of the latter, or, on the contrary , reported. Instead of a tongue, it is possible to provide several tongues, in particular two tongues, as illustrated in the figures or even a higher number of tongues. The tongues 4 are either continuous and uninterrupted from one end to the other of the element 1, or, on the contrary, discontinuous and therefore comprising interruptions. The latter solution can be adopted in particular in the case of non-contiguous blades 2.

The tongues 4 are intended to form grooves 7 with which they cooperate and this, in each of the blades 2, transversely, in each of its end faces turned towards a edge 3. As will be seen below, a tongue 4 forms a groove 7 so that later, a rigid association, amount - blade can be achieved by heat sealing.

It is important to note that the grooves 7 are not made in advance in each blade 3. The grooves 7 are, on the contrary, produced at the very moment of assembly of the panel by the tongues 4, as will be seen by the following.

In an alternative embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 3, is rigidly associated with the element 1 at least one secondary tongue 8 and preferably two secondary tongues projecting from the edge 3 and respectively extending the outer 5 and inner 6 faces of the frame which provides a covering of the blade-elé-Tooth junction 1. These secondary tabs 8 can also allow the maintenance of seals or the like. Naturally, the secondary tongues 8 can also be set back from the outer and inner faces of the frame to form decorative elements. The outer face of a tongue 8 can be any, flat, rounded, etc., as required.

The assembly process according to the invention is as follows: first of all, the various blades 2 constituting a panel are first placed in their final relative position and they are then kept in this position by any suitable means. Then heating, by any appropriate means and for the desired duration, the tab (s) 4 of an element 1. Simultaneously or subsequently, the coplanar ends of the blades are also heated for the necessary time. The element 1 is then brought closer to the end of the blades 2 so that the tab or tabs 4 penetrate into the end faces of the blades, thus forming and constituting the groove 7, until edge 3 comes to lock against the end face of the blades. Given the heating carried out previously, we realize in addition to the grooves 7, the actual welding of the blades 2 to the element 1.

Naturally, the process can be the subject of numerous variants. Thus, it is conceivable to weld each blade 2 to the element 1 separately. It is also conceivable to weld the blades 2 simultaneously to the two parallel elements 1 constituting the frame.

In practice, it has been found that the heating time of the tongues must be longer than that of the ends of the blades because the surface to be heated on the elements 1 is greater than that to be heated on the blades 2.

The machine for implementing the method comprises, in a sophisticated form, two heating rules 9 intended to be associated each with an element 1 and with one end of the blade. Between the heating rules 9, are placed supports 10 for holding and blocking a plurality of blades 2 in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction. Two carriages 11 are placed on either side of the heating rules 9, as illustrated in FIG. 4. These carriages 11 which are intended to receive the elements 1, have along their outer edge a longitudinal blocking element 11a against which elements 1 can be supported. The carriages II are mounted movable in the transverse direction, that is to say longitudinally with respect to the blades 2, by means of suitable sliding means 11b. The heating rules 9 are carried by support means 9a which allow the movement of these rules so that they can be applied to the blades 2 and can on the other hand, be retracted from the space between the carriages II and supports 10.

The operation of the machine which has just been described is as follows: the blades 2 are first placed so that they are in the relative position corresponding to their final position in the panel to be produced. The supports 10 are used so that these blades are thus blocked. Two elements 1 are then placed on the carriages 11. The heating rules 9 are implemented and in a first phase, the rules 9 are brought to the contact of the tabs 4 in order to heat them. In a second phase, the heating rules 9 are brought opposite the ends of the blades 2. The heating rules 9 are then retracted and simultaneously the carriages They are moved one towards the other so that the tongues 4 associated with the elements 1 begin to approach the blades 2, then come into contact with the ends of the blades, then sink into them later. The carriages II are kept in the final position in which the edges 3 of the elements 1 are against the ends of the blades 2 and this until heat-sealing.

It is important to note that the invention takes advantage of the tongues available to the elements of the frame to form the grooves in the blades and thus allow a rigid element-blade connection. This rigid connection allows significant rigidity due to the numerous anchoring points existing between the blades and the frame, which makes the panel indissociable. In addition, these results can be achieved without affecting the aesthetic appearance of the panel since the weld is completely invisible.

Naturally, the invention can be the subject of numerous other variant embodiments which cannot in any way affect its inventive spirit.

Claims (10)

1. Means for assembling panels of heat-sealable plastic material comprising a frame consisting of rectilinear elements (1) providing a recess, completely or only partially filled by blades (2), also rectilinear, extending between two elements frame parallels,
characterized by the fact that they comprise at least one tongue (4) rigidly associated with each element (1) and projecting from the edge (3) of this element, cooperating with at least one groove (7) formed in each of the end faces of each of the blades (2), transversely, so that later the tongue (4) can be rigidly associated with the blade (2) by welding the material. 2. Assembly means according to 1, in which the tongue (4) is continuous along the element (1). 3. Assembly means according to 1, in which the tongue (4) is discontinuous along the element (1). 4. Assembly means according to which the tongue (4) is rectilinear. 5. Assembly means according to 1, in which the tongue (4) is placed in the middle part of the edge (3). 6. Assembly means according to 1, in which the groove (7) is produced only at the time of the actual assembly of the blade (2) with the element (1). 7. Assembly means according to 1, in which the element (1) comprises at least one secondary tongue (8) covering located at least in the vicinity of the interior or exterior face (5), (6) of the element (1) and allowing the blade - element junction (1) to be hidden from view. 8. A method of assembling the blades and the elements of a panel, characterized in that the blades (2) constituting the panel are first placed in their final relative position; the blades (2) are kept in this position; the tongues (4) of the element (1) are heated simultaneously or successively, and, on the other hand, the ends of the blades (2); is brought into contact and then made to penetrate the tongues (4) in the blades (2) so as to produce the grooves (7); the element (1) and the blades (2) are maintained until complete welding. 9. Method according to 8, in which the operations are carried out simultaneously with regard to the two ends of the blades and the two elements (1) associated with these two ends. 10. Machine for implementing the method according to 7, which comprises supports (10) for holding and locking the blades (2) in their final relative position; two carriages (11) comprising longitudinal locking means (11a), supported by transverse sliding means (11b); two heating rules (9) carried by support means (9a) capable of being placed either in the space existing between the supports (10) and the carriages (11), or outside this space; the support means (9a) allowing the transverse movement of the heating rules (9) in order to bring them against the blades (2).

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