GB1453067A - Feeding of materials to be pressed - Google Patents

Abstract

1453067 Laminating press and method ADOLF FRIZ GmbH 12 Dec 1973 [15 Dec 1972] 57600/73 Heading B5N A charging device for feeding sheet material 7 provided with a cover layer on at least one face thereof into a press 2 comprises a press conveyer 3 having material support members, e.g. rotatable rollers 16 movable into a press in a feeding direction 37 for feeding the material supported thereon into a pressing zone at a distance above the lower press platen 8 and withdrawable to a location out of the press, and further comprising a retaining means 6 adapted to engage the material and to retain it on the pressing zone during the movement of the material support members to the location out of the press, so that the material is deposited on the lower platen. A method of charging a press with sheet material, e.g. of wood and one or more covering sheets of resin-impregnated paper comprises feeding the material in a feeding direction parallel to the lower press platen into a pressing zone in the press at a distance above the lower platen and, immediately prior to pressing depositing the material on the platen. In the embodiment shown, the press conveyer 3 comprises two endless chains 10 located externally of the lower platen 8 and passing round sprocket wheels 11 and 12, the rollers 16 connecting the chains over a portion of their length which is slightly less than half their total length and slightly greater than the length of platen 8. The cover conveyer 4 comprises a continuous conveyer belt 19 the upper span of which is located at the level of the upper span 13 of the chains 10, the front roller 18 of the cover conveyer being arranged directly against the rear sprocket wheel 11 of the press conveyer and the width of the cover conveyer being slightly greater than the width of the lower platen but less than the distance between chains 10. The retaining means 6 is journalled on the lower spans 24 of the endless chains 21 passing over two sprocket wheels 22, 23, the retaining means being cranked between connecting point 27 and jaw-like member 25 open towards the press. The depositing conveyer 25 consists of belt 28, press 2 being followed by a withdrawing device 32 with discharge guiding means 33 in the form of rollers 35 having a suction carriage 34 thereover. In operation, with a completed workpiece in closed press 2, the rollers 16 located outside the press below platen 8 with the leading roller near the uppermost point of rear sprocket wheel 11 and the next workpiece resting on conveyer 4 with its rear end 26 protruding and held by retaining means 6, the upper platen 9 is moved upwardly and the suction carriage moved in the direction of arrow 38 to pick up the pressed material and move it in the direction of arrow 37. When the carriage begins to move in direction 37, the upper span 13 of press conveyer 13 is started to move the rollers 16 over platen 8, the conveyer 4 and the chains 21 of the retaining means 6 being started at the same time so that the next workpiece is moved to the pressing zone, the conveyers 3 and 4 and retaining means 6 being accelerated over the first half of the stroke and the retaining means 6 and conveyer 4 being decelerated over the second half of the stroke. During the retardation of the retaining means the press conveyer 3 is accelerated to remove the rollers from the press leaving the material to be pressed over the platen 8, the leading edge of the material being deposited on the platen on withdrawal of the last roller from the press. The retaining means is then detached from the material and the press closed, press conveyer 3 moving to the starting position during closure of the press.