GB990233A - Method and apparatus for making structural units - Google Patents

Abstract

990,233. Binding edges of non-metallic sheet material. B. H. G. HALFORD. March 7, 1962 [Dec. 7, 1960], No. 42194/60. Heading B5K. In a method of making structural units, slabs, e.g. of bonded fibrous material such as cement bonded wood wool, are supplied in succession to a working position and channel-section edging members are supplied in succession to a position such that, when a slab and one of said edging members are advanced laterally relatively to one another, the edging member is applied to the slab in embracing engagement with an edge portion of the latter. Fig. 1 shows a structural unit comprising a slab S having edge members E which consist of side limbs L with a centre web portion W. The web W is-preferably formed with a complementary rib R and groove G, and is provided with tongues T to engage the edge of slab S. In forming such units slabs S are conveyed in succession by a conveyer 4 to conveyer belt 1 which positions the slab against suitable stops 8 and lateral guide elements 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16. On each side of the machine there is a structure 30 (Fig. 5) forming storage and feeding means for edging members. This structure comprises a number of pairs 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 (Fig. 4) of guide members such as 34 and 134 (Fig. 5) which house and guide the edging members to their operative position. Means are provided for releasing the edging members one at a time from the guides to position E3 on a support plate 61 adjacent the edge of slab S. When the slab and edging members are in position the lateral guide elements 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are swung downwardly and the edging members are pressed on to the edges of slabs by members 63. When this operation has been performed the stops 8 are removed and the conveyer belt 1 feeds the unit forward on to conveyer 5. The machine may be adapted to deal with any length of slabs up to 12 feet 6 inches and edging members can be applied to one or both sides of the slabs S. In the embodiment shown the various operations are carried out by hydraulic means under the control of solenoids operated in timed sequence but pneumatic or electrical means may be used. The operations may be initiated by a slab S on conveyer 4 operating switch 6. The edging members E may have limbs L substantially at right angles to the webs W in which case the members may be pressed straight on, the corners of the slab being chamfered to allow for this. Alternately the edging members may be pressed on by first engaging the lower limb beneath the underside of the slab and springing the top limb over the upper side of the slab. In a further embodiment the limbs of the edging members are at an angle greater than 90 degrees to the web so that they can be positioned over the edge of the slab and then pressed into engagement with the faces of the slab. In practice this may be done by the means for feeding the edging members on to the slab, engaging the sides of the rib R and squeezing them together, thus bringing the limbs L into contact with the faces of the slab.