GB1146147A - Laminating method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,146,147. Laminating apparatus. R. M. EVANS. 21 Nov., 1966 [30 Nov., 1965; 14 Oct., 1966], No. 51935/66. Heading B5N. A press, Fig. 1, for use in laminating a plastics veneer to a shaped base, e.g. of wood, comprises upper and lower platens 44, 42, respectively, power means for reciprocating the platen 44, and a heater assembly 160 including heating means 192 which are swingable about a horizontal axis to either of two operative positions, each near one edge of the press, and to an inoperative intermediate position as shown in Fig. 1. In one embodiment of apparatus described, the platen 44 is supported on posts 132 passing through holes in the platen 42, and is reciprocated by a pair of two-way hydraulic cylinders 138. The platen 44 has an L-section edge member 68 hinged thereto at each edge and carries supports 150 on which the heater assembly 160 including radiant heater 192 is pivotally mounted. In use of the apparatus, a wooden base consisting of three sections 28, 30, 34 (Fig. 8) is inserted between the platens 42, 44, with a plastics veneer 24 adhered to the base by a bonding agent. The platen 44 is then lowered and the heating assembly 160 swung to a first operative position, as shown in Fig. 8, with the heater 192 adjacent the edge of the press. The edge portion of the veneer 24 is thus softened to render it pliable, and after return of the heater assembly to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 1, the appropriate edge member 68 is pivoted by hand to the position shown in Fig. 10 to shape the edge portion of the veneer and press it into contact with the base section 30. If hand pressure on the member 68 is insufficient a hook 106 carried by a pivoted arm 92 is engaged with a plate 86 on the member 68 and the arm 92 is pivoted under the action of an hydraulic cylinder to draw the hook 106 and hence member 68 downwardly. After return of the member 68 to its original position the heater 192 is swung to its second operative position adjacent the other edge of the press and a similar procedure to that just described is carried out to bond the other edge portion of the veneer 24 to the base section 34. The platens of the press are then opened and the veneer and base removed therefrom. The veneer and base are then replaced in the press in an inverted position with the base section 34 now at the right-hand edge, and the press platens closed. The heater is swung to its first operative position to soften the plastics veneer in the space 36 between the sections 28, 34 of the base, and the section 34 and the veneer adhered thereto are bent through 90 degrees to the position shown in Fig. 18 either by hand, or by use of the edge member 68, or by use, as shown, of a C-shaped clamp 220 pivotally connected to the platen 42. The exposed portion of the plastics veneer may have a piece of wooden coving adhered thereto. As shown, the veneer is bent to a relatively large curvature about a strip 280 at the edge of the platen 42. Alternatively, a U- or L-section adapter is placed over the platen. When it is desired to bend the veneer to a small radius a heating element 256, Fig. 22, is included in the platen 42 so that the veneer is softened from each side in the space 36 before bending. The laminate formed may be used as a kitchen counter top.