GB2532310A

GB2532310A - Multilayer insulating product packet, method and equipment for packaging such a packet

Info

Publication number: GB2532310A
Application number: GB1515512.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thierry Laurent; Duran Maxime; Palacio Eric
Original assignee: Orion Financement SA
Current assignee: Orion Financement SA
Priority date: 2014-09-03
Filing date: 2015-09-02
Publication date: 2016-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2035-09-02
Also published as: ES2562378A1; GB2532310B; NL2015397B1; ITUB20153352A1; GB201515512D0; ES2562378B1; FR3025134A1; BE1022958A1; NL2015397A; DE202015104606U1; FR3025134B1

Abstract

A packaged multilayer insulating product where at least one insulating product plate 10A-D comprises at least one first film 12 and at least one central element 14 which comprises corrugations spreading according to direction of propagation X with a pitch P and amplitude A wherein the corrugations connect to the at least one first film 12. The packing for the packaged insulating product holds the at least one plate in a state of compression in the direction of propagation of the corrugations such that the pitch P in the stressed state is lower than in the unstressed state and amplitude A in the compressed state is higher than in the uncompressed state. The corrugations may have a zigzag profile and delimit a planar outer face which is continuous and rectilinear. The packing may comprise an envelope or banding and the packet may comprise a rod or wire 60 passing through the at least one plate 10 according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations and held the two ends 64 or the rod or wire 60 against the sides of the plate extending transversally to the direction of propagation of the corrugations. Also included are a method of compressing said insulating product plate 10 and equipment for compressing product plate 10 which may include components which will exert pressure on the outer faces of the plate parallel to the film to allow control of the spacing of the outer faces from one another.

Description

Multilayer insulating product packet, method and equipment for packaging such a packet.

The present invention relates to a multilayer insulating product packet, comprising at least one multilayer insulating product plate which comprises at least one first film, and at least one central element, which is connected against said at least one first film and which comprises corrugations spreading according to a direction of propagation with a pitch and with amplitude crest to crest.

A multilayer insulating product of this type is known from French patent application No. 2 982 193.

This product is satisfactory, in particular with respect to its thermal insulation properties, its mechanical resistance and its lightness.

Another important parameter in the field of multilayer insulation is that of its bulk during transport and storage.

In conventional terms, to the extent where multilayer insulating products are traditionally made in the form of continuous strips, they are packaged by being wound onto rollers.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the traditional packaging method. Figure 10 in fact shows a multilayer insulating product strip 1, comprising a first film 2, a second film 2' and a central element 4 which is sandwiched between the two films. The strip 1 is conveyed in the forward direction S in the packaging device presented in figure 10. This device comprises a compression station 20 in which the thickness of the insulating product, measured perpendicularly to the plane of the strip 1, moves from a value E0 in the area 21 located upstream of the compression station 20 to a value El in the area 22 located downstream of the compression station. For this, the strip is compressed between compression cylinders 19. This thickness El is retained during winding of the strip according to a roller 26, in a winding area 23, due to the presence, in the area 22 located between the compression station 20 and the roller 23, of guides 24 enabling a flattened and compressed configuration, that is, in a stressed state, of the strip 1. Therefore, in the compression station, the central element 4 is crushed on itself. Once a roller of preferred diameter is produced, the strip 1 is kept in the compressed state, for example by packaging of the roller in a plastic film. The strip is thus transported and stored in the wound and stressed state. To utilise the strip, as shown in figure 11, the strip is unwound from the roller 26 in an unwinding station 28 and reconstitutes to a thickness E01 close to its original thickness EO.

The inventors realised that in the particular case of a multilayer insulating product of the type comprising a film and a central element having 5 corrugations (as described in French patent No. 2 982 193), compression of the strip by flattening perpendicular to its plane and its winding on a roller risks causing deterioration, in particular delamination of the corrugated central element, with the film(s) to which it is connected. In fact, in this case, compression of the strip which is made by reduction according to its thickness 10 tends to crush the corrugations, in turn degrading their bond with the film(s) (by shearing and delamination) and also impairs their capacity to regain their initial form when the strip is unwound. This problem is significant in the event where the direction of propagation of the corrugations is perpendicular to the forward direction S of the strip, since the flattening is done according to the contact line of the strip with the compression cylinders, this line being parallel to the direction of propagation of the corrugations, that is, perpendicular to the lines formed by the crests of the corrugations and compression and shearing operate perpendicularly to the corrugations. In other terms, the crest lines are crushed or "broken" by the compression cylinders. Now, from the manufacturing viewpoint, when the product is produced in a continuous strip it is interesting that the direction of propagation of the corrugations is according to the width of the strip. In fact, the fact of making the strip by positioning the central element such that the direction of propagation of the corrugations is oriented according to the width of the strip enables welding of the crests of the corrugations onto the film (or onto two films, when two films are provided), according to the length of the strip, according to the natural forward direction of the strip.

The aim of the invention therefore is to propose a multilayer insulating product packet of the type having a corrugated central element, packaged so as to eliminate this risk, or at least attenuate it significantly.

Therefore, the invention relates to a multilayer insulating product packet, comprising: -at least one multilayer insulating product plate which comprises at least one first film, and at least one central element, which is connected against said at least one first film and which comprises corrugations spreading according to a direction of propagation with a pitch and with amplitude crest to crest; and -stress packaging means holding said at least one plate in a stressed state.

According to an aspect of the invention, in the stressed state, said at least one plate is held compressed according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations such that the pitch is less and the amplitude larger in the stressed state than in an unstressed state of said at least one plate.

In other terms, when the insulating product plate is obtained from a strip in which the direction of propagation of the corrugations is oriented according to the width of the strip, the product is compressed according to its width and rather than according to its thickness. This compression therefore brings together the segments of the corrugations which extend between two consecutive crests, without crushing the corrugations, or crushing or "breaking" the crest lines.

Therefore, with the invention, the reduction in volume of the insulating product plate is obtained by compression made according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations of the central element rather than by a decrease in its thickness. The inventors have noted that compression made according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations does not alter or almost does not alter the bond between the central element and the film(s), and at the same time enables low-volume packaging of the product, preventing its deterioration and when the packet is undone allowing the plate to regain its original thickness to produce the preferred thermal insulation performance.

The above shows the packaging of at least one insulating product plate. As indicated, this plate is classically formed from a strip of multilayer insulating product but as is evident hereinbelow this strip is sectioned into sections forming plates of length allowing their packaging according to the invention.

Optionally, the packaging means comprise an envelope or banding which at least partially encloses said at least one plate by holding it in the stressed state.

The envelope can for example be a film fully enclosing the plate, at least on its faces parallel to the film and its sides perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the corrugations. The envelope can also be formed by a box, cardboard for example, a kit or the like. The banding can be done for example by means of ties of strap type, string or the like, or else by means of one or more adhesive strips.

Optionally, the packaging means comprise a rod or a wire passing through said at least one plate according to the direction of propagation of the 5 corrugations and held at its two ends against the sides of the plate which extend transversally to the direction of propagation of the corrugations. Therefore, the rod or the wire is poked through the plate, and therefore passes through the corrugations of the central element. The diameter of the rod or the wire can be extremely small such that the resulting boring does not affect or almost does not affect the insulating properties of the plate.

The rod or the wire is held by its two ends against the sides of the plate, for example by means of pierced platelets, via which the rod or the wire passes, and a stop solidly connected to the rod or the wire to the side of the platelet opposite the insulating product plate. With respect to a wire, this stop can be made by a simple knot made in the film. With respect to a rod, this stop can be made for example by a staple, a pin, a bolt or the like.

Optionally, the packet comprises a plurality of plates each held in the stressed state by the packaging means, these plates having in particular parallel directions of propagation and being in particular superimposed perpendicularly to these parallel directions.

The different plates forming part of the same packet can have the same dimensions in their stressed state. They can for example be stacked or juxtaposed so that their respective directions of propagation are parallel to each other without joining, or else placed end-to-end to align their directions of propagation. In all cases, the result is a packet containing several plates in reduced bulk, which can be handled, transported and stored easily.

The invention also relates to a method for making a multilayer insulating product packet of the above type.

As indicated previously in relation to figures 10 and 11, the multilayer insulating product packaging methods of the type mentioned above, which are known, undergo the risk of harming insulating products having a central element corrugated, in particular by causing delamination of the central element with the film(s) to which it is connected. The aim of the invention is to propose a method substantially free of these disadvantages.

Therefore, the invention relates to a method for making a multilayer insulating product packet comprising at least one multilayer insulating product plate which comprises at least one first film, and at least one central element, which is connected against said at least one first film and which comprises corrugations spreading according to a direction of propagation with a pitch and with amplitude crest to crest, the method comprising a packaging step, in which said at least one plate is packaged in a stressed state.

According to an aspect of the invention, from an unstressed state of said at least one plate, a compression step is conducted by compressing said at least one plate according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations to guide it into the stressed state in which the pitch is less and the amplitude greater than in the unstressed state.

Therefore, with this method, the plate is compressed so as to reduce the pitch of the corrugations, and the inventors noted that compression in this direction does not affect or almost does not affect the bond between the central element and the film(s).

Optionally, during the compression step, said at least one plate is compressed by bringing its sides together to each other transversal to the direction of propagation of the corrugations.

This bring together is achieved in particular by compression walls, cooperating with the sides of the plate perpendicular to its width.

Optionally, during the compression step, said at least one plate is compressed via aspiration in the cells formed in the hollows of the corrugations of the central element.

Optionally, during the compression step, said at least one plate is compressed according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations, and pressure allowing controlled spacing of said parallel outer faces is exerted on its outer faces parallel to the film.

Because of this, the preferred compression is achieved by holding the faces of the plate which are parallel to the film in the preferred bulk. In reaction to compression according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations, this in particular prevents the plate from warping by forming one or more waves rising perpendicularly to the direction of propagation of the corrugations by escaping compression and exiting from the bulk provided for its packaging.

Optionally, during the packaging step, said at least one plate is enclosed at least partially by an envelope or banding.

Optionally, during the packaging step, a rod or a wire is passed through said at least one plate according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations and the rod or the wire is held at its two ends against the sides of the plate which extend transversally to the direction of propagation of the corrugations.

Optionally, during the packaging step, several plates are packaged, which are in particular arranged so as to have parallel directions of propagation and be superimposed perpendicularly to these parallel directions.

The invention also relates to equipment for producing a multilayer 10 insulating product packet of the type mentioned above.

As indicated previously in relation to figures 10 and 11, known packaging equipment, when used for packaging an insulating product having a corrugated central element, undergo the risk of causing deterioration of the product, in particular delamination of the central element with the film(s) to which it is connected. The invention aims to propose equipment for packaging substantially free of these disadvantages.

Therefore, the invention relates to equipment for making a multilayer insulating product packet comprising at least one multilayer insulating product plate which comprises at least one first film and at least one central element, which is connected against said at least one first film and which comprises corrugations spreading according to a direction of propagation with a pitch and with amplitude crest to crest, the equipment comprising means for forming a packet in which said at least one plate is packaged in a stressed state.

According to an aspect of the invention, the equipment comprises a compression device configured to compress said at least one plate from an unstressed state of said at least one plate, according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations to guide said at least one plate into the stressed state in which the pitch is less and the amplitude greater than in the unstressed state.

The equipment according to the invention therefore produces a packet in which the plate is compressed according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations, which, as indicated previously, avoids or at the very least limits the risks of deterioration of the product.

Optionally, the compression device comprises means to compress said at least one plate by bringing its sides together to each other transversal to the direction of propagation of the corrugations.

Optionally, the compression device comprises means for undertaking aspiration in the cells formed in the hollows of the corrugations of the central element.

Optionally, the compression device comprises means for exerting pressure on the outer faces of the plate parallel to the film, said pressure allowing controlled spacing of said parallel outer faces.

The fact of exerting pressure for controlled spacing of the parallel outer faces prevents, during compression according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations, the plate from warping in its entirety and does not exit from the bulk provided for its packaging.

Optionally, the means for exerting pressure on the parallel outer faces comprise a planar support for the first outer face and at least one support surface, arranged supported on the second outer face.

Optionally, the means to compress said at least one plate comprise a compression wall capable of being shifted according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations and the equipment comprises means for spacing at least one part of the support surface from the support while the compression wall is shifted to compress said at least one plate.

Optionally, with the planar support being horizontal and the support 20 surface being formed at the lower surface of a support strip arranged above the support with a space for insertion of said at least one plate between the support and the support strip, the equipment comprises at least one weight roller arranged on the support strip, a lifting roller on which the support strip passes and means for spacing the lifting roller of the support while the compression wall is shifted to compress said at least one plate.

The invention will be more clearly understood and its advantages will emerge from the following detailed description of embodiments shown by way of non-limiting examples.

The description refers to the appended drawings, in which: -figure 1 is a view in partial perspective of a multilayer insulating product plate before its packaging; -figure 2 is an enlarged view of the detail II of figure 1; -figure 3 shows a variant embodiment for a superimposed multilayer insulating product plate, before its packaging; -figure 4A shows a packet according to the invention; - figure 4B shows a packet according to the invention, according to a variant; - figures 5A to 5C show different possible arrangements of packets according to the invention; -figures 6A and 6B show, in a plan view, the equipment serving as packaging of the insulating product; - figure 7 shows a possibility for the compression device in which a plate is arranged before being compressed; -figure 8 is a view similar to figure 7, showing the situation after 10 compression of the plate; -figure 9 is a view similar to figure 7 showing that the device can be used for compression of several plates;

- figures 10 and 11 illustrate the prior art.

The multilayer insulating product plate 10 shown in figure 1 comprises a first film 12, a central element 14, and a second film 12'. The central element is sandwiched between the films 12 and 12'. It comprises corrugations which spread according to a direction of propagation X which in this case is the direction of the width I of the plate. Therefore, the respectively upper and lower crests of the corrugations are respectively connected to the first film 12 and to the second film 12' and extend according to lines perpendicular to the width I of the plate, that is, according to the direction L of the length of the plate, transversal to the direction X of propagation of the corrugations.

Therefore, in this case the bond lines of the crests of the 25 corrugations with the films form an angle of 90 degrees with the direction of propagation of the corrugations X. But it should be noted that they can be inclined by a different angle relative to the direction X, in particular by being inclined by 900±150, or 90°±5° relative to the direction X. In this case, the direction of propagation X of the corrugations must be understood as being the direction of propagation of the wave formed by the profile of the corrugations, that is, their corrugation section in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the width I of the plate.

Figures 1 and 2 in particular show that the crests 14a, 14b of the corrugations delimit a continuous and rectilinear plane outer face, corresponding respectively to the plane of the film 12 and to that of the film 12'. This planarity of the outer face is verified in the unstressed state.

Hereinbelow, reference is made to the "plane of the film" by considering that it is defined by this planar outer face.

For example, as described in French application No. 2 982 193, the two films 12 and 12' are metallized plastic films which, as evident in figure 2, can comprise a layer of plastic 12a coated with a metallic layer 12B.

In the example shown, the profile of the corrugations of the central element 14 is a zigzag, that is, the crests are substantially pointed and the sections extending between two crests are substantially planar. This is best seen in figure 2, which shows crests 14a connected to the upper film 12 and crests 14b connected to the lower film 12', according to bond lines, in particular done by welding, whereof the width W (this width being measured according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations X) is minimal. The thickness e of the central element, measured over a section 14c extending between a crest 14a and the adjacent crest 14b is for example comprised between 1 mm and 1 cm. Cells 16 are formed in the hollows of the corrugations, that is, in the triangles formed in section by the crests 14a, 14b and 14a which follow each other. The pitch P of the corrugations of the central element 14 is measured between two consecutive upper crests 14a, or else between two consecutive lower crests 14b. It is preferably comprised between 15 and 100 mm. The amplitude A of the corrugations is their height, measured perpendicularly to the plane of the sheet 12, that is, according to the thickness of the plate.

As is seen in figure 3, the insulating product plate 10 can comprise several layers, each comprising a film of the type of film 12, and a central element of the type of the element 14. In other terms, the lower film 12' of the first layer comprising the film 12 and the central element 14 can form the upper film of the following layer, comprising the central element 14' formed between this film 12' and a film 12", and so on. The directions of propagation of the corrugations of the different central elements are parallel.

Figure 4A shows a multilayer insulating product packet 200 according to the invention. This figure illustrates several similar multilayer insulating product plates 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D which are held in a stressed state in which their opposite sides 11A and 11B transversal to the direction of propagation X of their corrugations are brought together such that the pitch of their corrugations is reduced, while the amplitude crest to crest is increased relative to the values of this pitch and this amplitude in the unstressed state. Of course, each of the insulating product plates shown in figure 4A can conform to the product according to figure 1 or to the product according to figure 3, that is, comprise one or more layers of central elements. In this case the choice was made to show plates each having three layers of corrugated central elements. From the pitch P and the amplitude A presented by the central element of the insulating product in the unstressed state, this pitch P and this amplitude A move respectively to pitch P' and amplitude A', as shown in dashed lines in figure 2. It should be noted that for the sake of simplification the part in dashed lines in figure 2, which illustrates the stressed state of the insulating product, represents the upper film 12 as being planar. Of course, due to the compression in the direction of propagation of the corrugations X, this film (as also for film 12') has slight corrugations in the stressed state.

For example, the ratio between the pitch P' in the stressed state and the pitch P in the unstressed state is comprised between 0.02 and 0.6, in particular between 0.05 and 0.4, more particularly between 0.15 and 0.35. For example, the ratio between the amplitude A' in the stressed state and the amplitude A in the unstressed state is comprised between 1.2 and 4.5, in particular between 1.4 and 2.2.

In reference again to figure 4A, it is evident that the packet 200 comprises stress packaging means which hold the insulating product plates 10A to 10D in their stressed state. In this case, these packaging means are formed by banding, two banding straps 40 or the like being shown. These can be straps, adhesive strips, strings or the like. As indicated previously, the packaging means can also comprise an envelope which encloses at least partially the plate(s) in the stressed state. Therefore, figure 4A shows in dashed lines an envelope 50, for example formed by the walls of a box, kit or the like in which the insulating product plates are arranged. Such an envelope can of course coexist with the abovementioned banding. It can also be provided that the envelope only is present, in particular when it has the form of a supple film wound about the plates. For clarity of the drawing, the envelope is shown with a small space relative to the insulating products it contains, which is not necessarily the case in reality, above all when banding is absent.

Figure 4B shows a packet 210 comprising the same plates 10A to 10D, held in the stressed state by another type of packaging means. In this case, these packaging means comprise rods, wires or the like 60, which pass through the plates on either side according to the directions of propagation X of the corrugations of their respective central elements (these directions being parallel), and which are held at the two ends against the sides of the insulating product plates. In this case, to achieve this the packaging means comprise rigid or semi-rigid platelets 62, arranged on either side of the plates, against their sides 11A and 11B perpendicular to the directions of propagation of the corrugations, and relative to which the ends of the rods or wires 60 are held by stops 64 such that, in this case, bulges are formed at these ends. Of course, these packaging means can coexist with those mentioned previously, in particular with the envelope 50.

It is noted that with the invention it is possible to significantly reduce the dimension of the insulating product plate in the direction of propagation of the corrugations X, and also show the ratio between the pitch P' and P, but by relatively slightly increasing the height of this plate, and also show the ratio between the amplitudes A' and A. For example, in the stressed state, the dimension of the plate according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations X (its width) is comprised between 100 and 700 mm. It can in particular be comprised between 150 and 400 mm and, in particular, be substantially equal to 200 mm. For example, in the unstressed state, the dimension of said at least one plate according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations X is 20 comprised between 1000 and 1500 mm, in particular being substantially equal to 1200 mm.

In particular, the insulating product packet according to the invention can comprise four similar plates, superimposed by their faces parallel to the film, each of these plates in the unstressed state having a length (measured 25 parallel to the crest lines of the corrugations) of the order of 1200 mm and a height, measured perpendicularly to the direction of propagation of the corrugations X and perpendicularly to the crest lines of the corrugations, of the order of 100 mm. An example of a packet, before stressing of the superimposed plates, can have a length of 1200 mm and a height of less than 400 mm. Once the plates are put in their stressed state, the same packet has for example a length of 200 mm and a height of 600 mm or fewer.

In figures 4A and 4B the plates are superimposed by their faces parallel to the films, that is, corresponding to the planes defined by the directions of propagation of the corrugations and the crest lines of the corrugations. In figure 5A, the packet is formed by plates 10A, 10B and 10C which are juxtaposed by their faces defined by the planes perpendicular to the directions of propagation of the corrugations. In figure 5B, the two above arrangements are combined, the plates 10A and 10C, as also the plates 10B and 10D being superimposed, and the two groups formed in this way being juxtaposed. In figure 5C, the plates 10A and 10B are arranged end to end and 5 the plates 10C and 10D, also arranged end to end, are superimposed on the latter (they could obviously be juxtaposed on them). In general, any arrangement of a packet of several plates superimposed, juxtaposed or end to end is feasible.

By way of simplification, figures 5A to 5C show similar straps 40 10 enclosing the entire packet considered. However, packaging individual means (for example banding) for each plate can of course be provided, and overall packaging means for the packet (for example an envelope).

Figures 6A and 6B, which schematically show the equipment for executing the manufacturing method of a multilayer insulating product packet according to the invention, will now be described. According to this method, the multilayer insulating product is advanced gradually on a conveyor 100, in particular a belt conveyor. In this case, the forward direction F of the conveyor is perpendicular to the direction of propagation X of the corrugations of the central element(s) of the insulating product.

The upstream station 102 is a feed station, which feeds the conveyor with the strip of insulating product 1. The following station, according to the forward direction F of the conveyor, is a cutting station 104 in which the strip 1 is cut. Downstream of this station 104, the front end 1' of the strip 1 and the rear end 10' of the plate 10 which has just been cut can be seen.

The means for forming a packet with this plate are arranged downstream of the cutting station 104. This shows in particular a compression device 110 in which the plate 10 now exited from the cutting station is compressed according to the propagation direction X of the corrugations of the central element of the plate. The compression station in this case comprises means for compressing the plate by bringing together one of the other of its sides transversal to the direction of propagation of the corrugations X. For example, these means comprise compression walls 112, moveable in a to-and-fro manner according to the direction X, which will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

Figure 6A shows the situation before the start of compression, the plate 10 being located in the compression device 110, from which the compression walls 112 have been spaced apart. In figure 6B, these walls 112 have been brought together and the plate 10 is therefore compressed.

As it leaves the compression device 110, the plate is held in the compressed state between guides 114, whereof the spacing corresponds to the spacing of the walls 112 on completion of compression of the plate, to be conveyed to a packaging station 116 in which the plate is packaged in the stressed state. For example, in this packaging station, banding or enveloping of the plate can be carried out to obtain the packet 200 or 210 shown in figures 4 and 5 (in this case the packet 200 is shown). As it leaves the packaging station 116, the produced packet 200 is conveyed to the exit of the conveyor, for example to means for paletting or introducing into cardboard cartons or the like, not shown here.

Figures 6A and 6B have just been described with reference made to the packaging of an insulating product plate. Of course, several plates can be packaged simultaneously. For this purpose, the feed device can simultaneously feed several superimposed or juxtaposed strips 1, which follow the previously disclosed processing. As they leave the cutting station, several plates can be superimposed in an elevator (not shown), which interrupts the conveyor and which, when carrying a sufficient number of plates, rests them on the conveyor upstream of the compression station 110.

In reference to figures 7 and 8, compression of an insulating product plate 10 is now described. Figure 7 shows this plate in the non-compressed state which it adopts when entering the compression device 110, whereof the compression walls 112 are then spaced apart. In figure 8, the compression walls 112 have been brought together according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations, in particular by being shifted respectively according to arrows f and f' to bring together the sides 11A and 11B of the plate 10. Of course, it could be arranged to move only one of the walls, the other staying fixed.

In what has just been described, the plate is compressed by bringing its sides together to each other perpendicular to its width, by mechanical stress exerted on these sides. By way of alternative or complement, other means of compression can be used. Therefore, in particular, aspiration can be executed in the cells 16 (see figure 2) formed in the hollows of the corrugations of the central element 14. Therefore, figures 6A and 6B show two vacuum boxes 110, which are located respectively in the downstream and upstream regions of the compression station 110, and which execute lateral aspiration tending to bring out the fluid contained by the cells (this fluid is in particular air, but it can also be another gas, for example). These vacuum boxes can be mobile in a to-andfro manner to be spaced apart from the plane of the conveyor when it advances and be brought closer to execute aspiration. The equipment comprises means for exerting pressure on the outer faces 11 and 11' of the plate which are parallel to the film 12, pressure allowing controlled spacing of its parallel outer faces. In this case, the plate is arranged on a planar support 113 against which rests the outer face 11'. A support surface 111 is arranged in support on the other outer face 11. In this case, the outer faces 11 and 11' are respectively the upper and lower faces of the plate 10, the planar support being horizontal and the plate being placed thereon. The support surface 111 is in this case formed on the lower surface of a support strip 115 arranged above the support 113 by delimiting relative to the latter a space which enables insertion of the insulating product plate 10 between the support and the support strip. In the situation shown in figure 7, the height of this space corresponds to the thickness E of the plate in the unstressed state (see also figure 1). The equipment comprises means for spacing at least one part of the support surface 111 relative to the support while the compression wall is shifted to compress the plate 10. In this case, the equipment comprises weight rollers which are arranged on the support strip. These weight rollers in this case comprise two lateral rollers 120, respectively arranged against the inner faces of the walls 112, each roller being connected to the relevant wall by a tilting rod 122. Therefore, the roller accompanies the shifts of the wall according to arrow f or f', and is capable of spacing apart from the support 113. In the middle part, the support strip 115 moves to a lifting roller 124, on either side of which are arranged two other weight rollers 126. Via a return system, the lifting roller 124 is connected to displacement of one of the compression walls 112 to space apart from the support 113 while this compression wall moves by compressing the plate 10. In this case, the lifting roller 124 is carried by a belt 128 which, via return pulleys is connected to one of the walls 112. It could be possible for it to be connected to both walls, if they are both mobile, or again for it to be connected to a winding pulley driven by a motor slaved to the system, that is, the exit of which considers the compression of the plate(s). The weight rollers 126 as such are stressed, while able to roll freely on the outer face of the strip 115, to remain in the middle region of the latter. For example, each weight roller 126 is connected to the weight roller 120 located to the same side of the lifting roller by a spring (not shown) working in compression. The mass of the weight rollers is determined as a function of the weight to be brought to the upper surface of the plate 10. It can be relatively modest, for example a few kilos. Figure 8 shows that the walls 112 have come together, the weight rollers 120 and 126 have accompanied this displacement and remained pressed onto the upper surface of the support strip 115, and the lifting roller 124 has moved up.

Figure 9 shows the same equipment as in figure 7, but several similar plates 10 are arranged on the support 113, under the support surface 10 111 and between the compression walls 112.

The compression device operates in the same way as that which has just been described, and therefore simultaneously compresses several similar plates 10 arranged above each other, that is, superimposed by their face parallel to the film, perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the corrugations.

Of course, even if figures 7 to 9 show compression of one or more plates having a single central element 14, the invention operates in the same way to compress one or more plates of the type shown in figure 3.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A multilayer insulating product packet (200, 210), comprising: -at least one multilayer insulating product plate (10) which comprises at least one first film (12) and at least one central element (14), which is connected against said at least one first film (12) and which comprises corrugations spreading according to a direction of propagation (X) with a pitch (P) and with amplitude (A2) crest to crest; and -stress packaging means (40, 50, 60) holding said at least one plate in a stressed state, characterized in that, in the stressed state, said at least one plate (10) is held compressed according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations (X) such that the pitch (P') is less and the amplitude (A') greater in the stressed state than in an unstressed state of said at least one plate.
2. The packet (200, 210) according to claim 1, wherein the ratio between the pitch (P') in the stressed state and the pitch (P) in the unstressed state is comprised between 0.02 and 0.6, in particular between 0.05 and 0.4, more particularly between 0.15 and 0.35.
3. The packet (200, 210) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ratio 20 between the amplitude (A') in the stressed state and the amplitude (A) in the unstressed state is comprised between 1.2 and 4.5, in particular between 1.4 and 2.2.
4. The packet (200, 210) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in the stressed state, the dimension of said at least one plate (10) according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations (X) is comprised between 100 and 700 mm, in particular between 150 and 400 mm, in particular being substantially equal to 200 mm.
5. The packet (200, 210) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, in the unstressed state, the dimension of said at least one plate (10) according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations (X) is comprised between 1000 and 1500 mm, and is in particular substantially equal to 1200 mm.
6. The packet (200, 210) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the profile of the corrugations of the central element (14) is a zigzag.
7. The packet (200, 210) according to claim 6, wherein the corrugations of the central element (14) exhibit crests (14a, 14b) delimiting a planar outer face which is continuous and rectilinear.
8. The packet (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the packaging means comprise an envelope (50) or banding (40) which encloses at least partially said at least one plate (10) by holding it in the stressed state.
9. The packet (210) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the packaging means comprise a rod or a wire (60), passing through said at least one plate (10) according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations and held at its two ends (64) against the sides of the plate which extend transversally to the direction of propagation of the corrugations.
10. The packet (200, 210) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising a plurality of plates (10A, 10B, 10C, 10D) each held in the stressed state by the packaging means (40, 50, 60), these plates having in particular parallel directions of propagation (X) and being in particular superimposed perpendicularly to these parallel directions.
11. A method for confection of a multilayer insulating product packet (200, 210) comprising at least one multilayer insulating product plate (10) which comprises at least one first film (12) and at least one central element (14), which is connected against said at least one first film (12) and which comprises corrugations spreading according to a direction of propagation (X) with a pitch (P) and with amplitude (A) crest to crest, the method comprising a packaging step, wherein said at least one plate is packaged in a stressed state, characterized in that, from an unstressed state of said at least one 25 plate (10), a compression step is conducted by compressing said at least one plate according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations (X) to guide it into the stressed state wherein the pitch (P') is less and the amplitude (A') greater than in the unstressed state.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein during the compression step, said at least one plate (10) is compressed by bringing together to each other its sides (11A, 11B) transversal to the direction of propagation of the corrugations (X).
13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein, during the compression step said at least one plate (10) is compressed by achieving aspiration in the cells (16) formed in the hollows of the corrugations of the central element (14).
14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein, during the compression step, said at least one plate (10) is compressed according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations (X), and pressure allowing controlled spacing of said parallel outer faces is exerted on its outer faces (11, 11') parallel to the film (12).
15. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein during the packaging step said at least one plate (10) is enclosed at least partially by an envelope (50) or banding (40).
16. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein, during the packaging step, a rod or a wire (60) is passed through said at least one plate (10) according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations (X) and the rod or the wire is held at its two ends (64) against the sides of the plate which extend transversally to the direction of propagation of the corrugations.
17. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein, during the packaging step several plates (10A, 10B, 10C, 10D) are packaged, which are arranged in particular so as to have parallel directions of propagation (X) and be superimposed perpendicularly to these directions.
18. Equipment for packaging a multilayer insulating product packet (200, 210) comprising at least one multilayer insulating product plate (10) which comprises at least one first film (12) and at least one central element (14), which is connected against said at least one first film (12) and which comprises corrugations spreading according to a direction of propagation (X) with a pitch (P) and with amplitude (A) crest to crest, the equipment comprising means for forming a packet wherein said at least one plate is packaged in a stressed state, characterized in that it comprises a compression device (110) configured to compress said at least one plate according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations (X) from an unstressed state of said at least one plate (10), to guide it into the stressed state wherein the pitch (P) is less and the amplitude (A'2) greater than in the unstressed state.
19. The equipment according to claim 18, wherein the compression device (110) comprises means (112) to compress said at least one plate (10) by bringing together to each other its sides (11A, 11B) transversal to the direction of propagation of the corrugations (X).
20. The equipment according to claim 18 or 19, whereof the compression device (110) comprises means (110') for carrying out aspiration in the cells (16) formed in the hollows of the corrugations of the central element (14).
21. The equipment according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the compression device (110) comprises means (111, 113) for exerting on the outer faces (11, 11') of the plate (10) parallel to the film (12), pressure allowing controlled spacing of said parallel outer faces.
22. The equipment according to claim 21, wherein the means for exerting pressure on the parallel outer faces comprise a planar support (113) for the first outer face (11') and at least one support surface (111), arranged in 10 support on the second outer face (11).
23. The equipment according to claim 22, wherein the means to compress said at least one plate (10) comprise a compression wall (112) capable of being shifted according to the direction of propagation of the corrugations (X) and the equipment comprises means (124) for spacing apart at least one part of the support surface (111) relative to the support (113) while the compression wall (112) is shifted to compress said at least one plate (10).
24. The equipment according to claim 23, wherein, the planar support (113) being horizontal and the support surface (111) being formed at the lower surface of a support strip (115) arranged above the support (113) with a space for insertion of said at least one plate (10) between the support (113) and the support strip (115), the equipment comprises at least one weight roller (120, 126) arranged on the support strip (115), a lifting roller (124) on which the support strip moves and means (128, 130) for spacing the lifting roller apart from the support while the compression wall is shifted to compress said at least one plate.
25. A multilayer insulating product packet substantially as herein before described having reference to the accompanying drawings.
26. A method for confection of a multilayer insulating product packet substantially as herein before described having reference to the accompanying 30 drawings.
27. An equipment for packaging a multilayer insultating product packet substantially as herein before described having reference to the accompanying drawings.