IE80886B1 - Method and apparatus for manufacturing insulating panels - Google Patents

Abstract

A panel 1 comprises a profiled external skin 2, an internal backing tray 3 and an insulating core 4 which fills the space between the skin 2 and tray 3. External skins are overlapped, a jointing tape 32 is drawn across the joint, the tape is conformed to the profile of the external skin and automatically applied to the joint by an applicator head 35. Liquid foam reactants are applied and a backing tray 3 is applied over the skins 2. The liquid foam reactants expand, on heating in an oven to form a foam insulating core. The backing tray 3 and foam core 4 are cut. The panels 1 are separated at the joint and then stacked for packing.

Description

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing insulating panels of the type comprising a profiled external skin and an internal backing tray having an insulating core therebetween.

UK-A-2227712 and UK-A-2257086 describe methods and apparatus for manufacturing insulating panels. These methods are very efficient in use, however, there is an increasing need to improve the manufacturing efficiency to cut costs and maximise the production of such insulating panels.

This invention is therefore directed towards providing an improved method and apparatus for efficient manufacturing of insulating panels.

Statements of Invention According to the invention there is provided a method for manufacturing an insulating panel of the type comprising a first skin and a second skin having an insulating core therebetween, the method comprising the steps oftconveying a first skin along a flat bed with an outer surface of the skin lowermost; cutting a leading first skin to a desired length; laying a foUowing first skin adjacent to the leading first skin; drawing a jointing tape across the joint between the leading and follo wing first skins; conforming the tape to the profile of the first skins; automatically applying the tape to the joint between the skins; applying liquid insulating foam reactants onto the skins; leading a second skin o ver the first skins and joint; heating the assembly in an oven to allow the liquid foam reactants to expand to form an insulating core between the skins; cutting the second skin and foam core at the joint; and separating the panels thus formed.

In this case, preferably above the first skin, jointing tape is drawn oft a reel, cut to length, applied over a tape applying head, and the tape applying head is moved downwardly to apply the jointing tape over the joint.

Preferably, the tape is applied over the tape applying head by drawing die tape under suction to the tape applying head. Ideally, the method includes the step of forming part of the jointing tape into at least one loop for applying to a corrugation profile of the external skin. Preferably, the jointing tape applying head comprises a number of sections, and portion of the tape is formed into a loop by moving adjacent sections laterally apart prior to moving the tape applying head downwardly to apply the tape.

The invention also provides an apparatus for manufacturing an insulating panel comprising: means for conveying a profiled first skin with an outer surface of the skin lowermost; cutting means for cutting a leading first skin to a desired length; means for laying a following first skin adjacent to the leading first skin; gripper means for drawing a jointing tape across the joint between the leading and following first skins; conforming means for conforming the tape to the profile of the first skins; an applicator head for applying the tape to the joint between the first skins; foam applicator means for applying liquid insulating foam reactants onto the first skins; means for leading second skin continuously over the first skin io form an assembly; an oven for heating ihe assembly to allow the liquid foam reactants to expand and form an insulating core between the skins; cutting means for cutting the second skin and foam core at the joint; and separating means for separating the panels thus formed.

Preferably, the gripper means for drawing a jointing tape across the joint comprises gripper jaw means and translation means attached to the gripper means for extending the gripper means across a bed to a supply reel and for drawing the tape from the reel across the bed. Ideally, the applicator head comprises a number of sections which are laterally spaced across the bed and at least some of the sections have suction means for releasably holding the tape to the head sections. Typically, at least some of the applicator head sections are laterally movable relative to one another to from a loop of tape for application to a corrugation profile of the first skins at the joint. Preferably, the apparatus includes positioning means for positioning the drawn tape under the applicator head. Ideally, the tape is cut to length from the supply reel by the cutting means as the tape is positioned under the applicator head.

The invention also provides insulated panels whenever manufactured by a method of the invention and/or using an apparatus of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will he more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Fig. 1 is a flow chart of the method of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a reflective tape applicator used in the method; Fig. 3 is a side view of the reflective tape applicator; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a jointing tape applicator used in fee method of the invention; Figs. 5(a) to 5(c) are end elevational views of the jointing tape applicator of Fig. 4, in use ; Fig. ό is a perspective view of an oven with a spacer changeover apparatus used in the method of the invention; Fig. 7 is an end cross sectional view of part of the spacer changeover apparatus; Fig. S is a perspective view of a part of a cutting means used in the method of the invention; o Fig. 9 is another perspective view of the cutting means part of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cutting means in use; Fig. 11 is a side elevational view illustrating the operation of the cutting means; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a protective material applicator used in the method of the invention; Fig. 13 is a side view of the protective material applicator of Fig. 12 ; Fig. 14 is a side view of a stack of panels with a protective material therebetween; Fig. 15 is a side, partially cross sectional view of a panel breaker apparatus used in the method of the invention in a first position of use; Fig. 16 is a side view of the breaker apparatus of Fig. 15 in a second position of use; Fig. 17 is a side view of the breaker apparatus of Fig. 15 in a final position of use; Figs. 18(a) and 18(b) are side, partially cross sectional views of panels separated using the apparatus of Fig. 15 to 17; and Fig. 19 is a cross sectional view of a typical panel formed using the method and apparatus of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention Referring to the drawings, the method and apparatus of the invention is for forming an insulated panel of the type which is illustrated in Fig. 19 and indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The panel 1 comprises a profiled external skin 2 of steel or aluminium material, an internal backing tray 3 also of steel or aluminium material .and an insulating core 4 of polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foam material which fills the space between the external skin 2 and backing tray 3. The insulated panel 1 is typically used for roofing and/or cladding systems, adjacent panels being overlapped both longitudinally and transversely to dad and/or roof a particular area.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the method according to the invention for forming the panel 1 in a substantially continuous manner comprises the step A of leading a sheet of external skin material from a reel onto a fiat bed with the outermost face of the external skin 2 lowermost. Reflective tape is applied in step B to the external skin 2 at a desired location as will be described in more detail below. Tne desired longitudinal overlap between adjacent panels are automatically marked using an ink jet apparatus. The external skin 2 is then profiled at C and cut to length in step D. The trailing edge of the external skin 2 of a first leading panel in the line is lifted up and placed down on the leading edge portion of the following external skin 2 in step E. As will be described in more detail below, a joint between the external skins 2 is made by automatically applying a jointing tape at F. The external skins 2 are then preheated at G prior to application of liquid foam reactants at H.

A sheet of backing tray material is led from a reel in step Ϊ, profiled in step J, and preheated in step K. The profiled backing tray 3 is then continuously applied over the overlapped external skins 2 and liquid foam reactants in step L. As the backing tray 3 is applied, a longitudinally extending side sealing tape 5 is also applied at M between the backing tray 3 and the external skin 2 to confine the foam core 4 in the desired space.

The backing tray 3 is maintained in spaced-apart relationship from the external skin 2 by appropriately sized spacer blocks. The spacer blocks may be readily changed as described in more detail below by first opening an oven in step N and changing the blocks in step 0.

The liquid foam reactants are then allowed to expand to fill the space between the external skin 2 and backing tray 3 by passing the assembly through the oven in step P in which the reactants are heated and allowed to expand to the desired thickness of foam insulating core 4.

The output from the oven is a continuous longitudinal sheet of insulating panels 1 interconnected by the joinring tape. As will be described in more detail below, at the joint between adjacent external skins, the backing tray 3 and foam core 4 are cut in a single cutting stage through to the internal (or upper) face of the external skin 2 in step Q. A protective material is applied to the exposed face of the backing tray 3 in step R and adjacent panels 1 are separated at the joint in step S in preparation for stacking and packaging.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, there is illustrated a reflective tape applicator 10 used in the method of the invention for applying a length of reflective tape 11 to a desired location, typically adjacent a side edge, of the external skin 2. The reflective tape 16 is led from a supply reel 12 over guide wheels 13 to a grooved index wheel 14 and on to an applicator head 15. A desired length of tape 16 is drawn from the supply reel by an indexing ram 20 carrying a rack 21 which engages with a pinion 21 of the index wheel 14 to deliver the tape to the applicator head 15. The tape 16 may be applied in different lengths to initiate particular processing parameters. Typically, the indexing ram 20 is operated once to deliver a length of tape 16 for a right hand panel and may be operated twice to deliver a double length of tape 16 to indicate a left hand panel.

The tape 16 is held in place on the applicator head 15 by suction. The applicator head 15 is driven by a cutting and applicator ram 25 from an initial rest position (Fig. 3) to receive reflective tape, through an intermediate position against a blade 26 to cut the tape to length, to a final tape applying position (Fig. 2) in which the cut tape is applied to the external skin 2. When the length of tape 11 is applied, the ram 25 is released and trie process is repeated to apply a length of tape 11 at desired locations of the external skin 2.

The length of reflective tape 11 applied to the upper face of the external skin 2 is used to automatically actuate various further steps in the method of the invention. It may be used, for example, to automatically activate the cutting means for cutting the backing tray and foam core through to the external skin. It may also be used to automatically activate the breaking means to separate the cut panels at the joint. In addition, the reflective tape 11 may trigger the operation of the jointing tape applying apparatus described 'below and/or the protective material applicator which is also described below.

Alternatively coding means may be provided by means other than a reflective tape. The coding means may, for example be or include a bar code which may be applied to a tape or possibly directly to a skin.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, there is illustrated an automatic jointing tape applicator 30 used in the method of the invention to apply a jointing tape at the joint between adjacent external skins 2. Jointing tape 32 is led from a supply reel 31 to a guide 33. Gripper jaws 34 are then used to grip the free end of the tape 32 and to draw it across the bed on which the profiled external skin is travelling. The length of the jointing tape 32 drawn across the bed is longer than the width of the skin 2 to take account of the profile of the skin 2.

The length of tape 32 is then drawn under an applicator head 35 which has a number of sections 36 corresponding to the flat portions of the profile of the external skin 2 and a number of sections 37 corresponding to the corrugations of the external skin 2. The applicator head 35 is moved up and down by a ram 39 io and the outer two of the head sections 36 may be moved in and out by a second ram (not shown).

As the tape 32 is drawn under the applicator head 35, it is cut to length by engaging against a blade 40. The outer two applicator head sections 36 are then moved from the outer position illustrated in Fig. 5(a) to the inner position illustrated in Fig. 5(b) to form the tape 32 into loops in the region of the corrugations. The ram 39 is then operated to drive the applicator head 35 downwardly to apply the jointing tape 32 across the profile of the external skins 2 at the overlapped joint between adjacent skins 2 as illustrated in Fig. 5(c).

The tape 32 is maintained in position on the applicator head sections 36 hy suction.

The line of external skins 2 is not stopped while the jointing operation takes place as the applicator 30 is mounted on a carriage 40 which travels with the line to optimise production efficiency.

The jointing tape applicator 30 may be automatically operated when the reflective tape described above is detected by a suitable detector.

Referring particularly to Figs. 6 and 7, in the method of the invention the assembly of the external skin 2, backing tray 3 and liquid foam reactants are heated in a long oven having a top bed 50 and a bottom bed 51. During the heating process the spacing between the backing tray 3 and external skin 2 is maintained by a continuous course of spacer blocks (not shown) on both sides. The top bed 50 is maintained at the desired spaced position from the bottom bed 51 by a plurality of first spacers 52 which are each interposed on rods 53 interconnecting the top and bottom oven beds 50, 51. The top bed 51 is lifted up from the bottom bed 50 by lifting rams 54.

A quick safe changeover from one thickness of panel to another is effected by lifting up the top bed 51 on operation of the rams 54 and changing over to second spacers 55 which in this case are thicker than fee first spacers 52.

The spacers 52 are each mounted on a spacer arm 56. The top bed 51 is lifted up from the bottom bed 50 by operating fee rams 54. The spacer arms 56 are then pushed out by pusher rams. Each spacer arm 56 is pivotally mounted at 57 for rotation from a first position in which fee first spacer 52 is between fee beds 50, 51 through 180° to a second position in which fee first spacer 52 is removed and fee second spacer 55 is in position between the beds 50, 51.

All of fee spacer arms 56 may be rotated substantially at the same time by operating a single or a number of spacer arm rotating rams 59. A ram 59 rotates fee arm 56 through a rack 60 and pinion 61 arrangement.

The pusher rams are then reversed to push fee second spacers 55 into position before closing down the top bed 51 of the oven on operation of retraction of fee main rams 54.

Referring particularly to Fig. 8 to 11, cutting means 70 for cutting the backing tray 3 and foam core 4 at fee joint between overlapping skins 2 comprises a leading Π cutting means provided by a cross cut saw 71 and a following blade 72. The blade 72 is operated against the biassing of a spring 74. The blade 72 is pivotally mounted by a pivot pin 77 on a bracket 75 which is in turn mounted to the housing 76 of the cross cut saw 71 so that the blade 72 travels across following the cross cut saw 71. The blade 72 is angled forwardly in the rest position and is held in that position by the spring 74. As the blade 72 is moved across, it is angled back and joggled up and down to provide a clean cutting action.

The cross cut saw 71 is set so that the cutting edge is spaced above the upper face of the flat surface of the external skin 2. The blade 72 is set so that as it moves across its cutting edge just engages the foam core.

As will be particularly apparent from Fig. 11, when the joint between external skins is detected, particularly using the reflective tape as described above, the cutting means 70 is automatically operated to cut the backing tray 3 and foam core 4. The cross cut saw 71 makes a first cut in which the blade 72 travels to cut through the core providing, in a very efficient way, a relatively clean cut.

For maximum processing efficiency, the cutting means 70 is mounted on a carriage (not shown) which travels with the panel as it progresses along the line.

A detector may be used to detect the position of the corrugations of the external skin as the blade 72 travels across. When a corrugation is detected, a ram may be operated to drive the blade 72 down to engage the corrugation and to cut the foam core 4 in the corrugation through to the upper face of the external skin. The blade 72 may also be wbrated by a vibrating means (not shown) to provide a dean cut.

Referring particularly to Figs. 12 and 13, there is illustrated a protective material applicator means 80 used in the method of the invention . The applicator means in this case comprises three nozzles 81 which are mounted on and spaced-apart across a carriage 82 above the upper face of the backing tray 3 of the panels 1. Each of the nozzles 81 is supplied with a flowable protective material through individual supply pipes 83. On detection of the reflective tape applied as described above, the protective material is automatically applied in a number of blobs 85 at spaced locations along and across the panels 1. The blobs 85 of protective material harden to provide spacers 86 between adjacent panels 1 when they are stacked as illustrated in Fig. 10 for storage and transportation. In this way, damage to the surface of the panels is substantially prevented.

In this case, the protective material is a hot melt adhesive which is prepared from granules stored in a storage vessel and delivered on demand to a heater which melts the material into a flowable form which, is then delivered along the pipes 83 to the nozzles 81. The hot melt adhesive cures rapidly in ambient conditions to form the panel spacers 86.

Referring to Figs. 15 to 17, there is illustrated a panel breaking apparatus 90 used in the method of the invention for separating a leading panel 91 from a trailing panel 92 at the cut joint 93. A first damp comprising a first upper clamping head 94 and a first lower damping head 95 grips the leading panel 91. A second clamp comprising a second upper clamping head 96 and a second lower damping head 97 grips the trailing panel 91. Tne first and second damps are mounted on separate carriages 98, 99 which are moved apart from the position illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16 to the separated position illustrated in Fig. 17 to separate the adjacent panels 91,92 at the joint from the joined position illustrated in Fig. 18(a) to the separated position illustrated in Fig. 18(b).

The carriages 98, 99 each comprise a post 101, 102 which is fixed relative to the respective panel 91, 92 and a movable post 103, 104. The posts 101, 103 and 102, 104 are interconnected by pivot arms 105,106 and the posts 101,102,103,104 are also interconnected by respective rams 107,108. To engage the upper damp head 94, 96 with the adjacent panels 91, 92, the rams 107, 108 are operated from the raised release position illustrated in Fig. 15 to move the posts 103, 104 on the pivot arms 105, 106 to the extended engaged position illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17. The lower clamps 95, 97 are also operated by lower rams, not shown.

At least the leading clamp may be provided with a roller 110 on a guide arm 111 pivotally connected to the movable post 104 and movable by a guide ram 112. The roller 110 rides on the surface of the backing tray 3 of the panel 91 io position the upper clamps 94, 96 as short a distance as possible above the backing tray. In this way, the distance through which the upper clamp heads 94, 96 travel is minimised. Consequently, the speed of the panel separation process is optimised.

It will he noted that the lower clamp heads 95 and 97 are spaced in the release position illustrated in Fig. 15 below the lower surface of the panels 91, 92. This ensures that grit and dirt are not trapped which could lead to damage to the exposed surface of the panel.

The carriages 98, 99 on which the clamps are mounted travel with the panels as they progress along the production line. This is important in ensuring that processing time is optimised as the panels are not stopped during the separation process.

The separating apparatus may be automatically actuated by a suitable detector picking up the reflective tape applied as described above.

It will also be appreciated that the breaker means may include a blade means to provide a smooth cut of the foam core through to the lower skin, on operation of the breaking means, e.g. on operation of the clamping means and/or on application of the separation force.

The invention provides a highly optimised and efficient method and apparatus for manufacturing insulating panels.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in detail.

Claims (15)

1. A method for manufacturing an insulating panel of the type comprising a first skin and a second skin having an insulating core therebetween, the method comprising the steps oftconveying a first skin along a flat bed with an outer surface of the skin lowermost; cutting a leading first skin to a desired length; laying a following first skin adjacent to the leading first skin; drawing a jointing tape across the joint between the leading and following first skins; conforming the tape to the profile of the first skins; automatically applying the tape to the joint between the first skins; applying liquid insulating foam reactants onto the first skins; leading a second skin over the first skin and joint; heating the assembly in an oven to allow the liquid foarn reactants to expand to form an insulating core between the skins; cutting the second skin and foam core at the joint; and separating the panels thus formed. Ιό

2. A method as daimed in claim 1 wherein, above the first skins, jointing tape is drawn off a reel, cut to length, applied over a tape applying head, and the tape applying head is moved downwardly to apply the jointing tape over the joint.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the tape is applied, over the tape applying head by drawing the tape under suction to the tape applying head.

4. A method is daimed in either of daims 2 or 3 induding the step of forming part of the jointing tape into at least one loop for applying to a corrugation profile of the first skin.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the jointing tape applying head comprises a number of sections, and portion of the tape is formed into a loop hy moving adjacent sections laterally apart prior to moving the tape applying head downwardly io apply the tape.

6. A method as daimed in any of daims 1 to 5 wherein the first skin is a profiled external skin and the second skin is an internal backing tray.

7. A. method for manufacturing an insulating panel as daimed in any of daims 1 to 6 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. Apparatus for manufacturing an insulating panel comprising: means for conveying a first skin with an outer surface of the skin lowermost; cutting means for cutting a leading first skin to a desired length; means for laying a following first skin adjacent to the leading fust skin; gripper means for drawing a jointing tape across the joint between the leading and following first skins; conforming means for conforming the tape to the profile of the first skins; an applicator head for applying the tape to the joint between the first skins; foam applicator means for applying liquid insulating foam reactants onto the first skins; an oven for heating the assembly to allow the liquid foam reactants to expand and form an insulating core between the skins; cutting means for cutting the second skin and foam core at the joint; and separating means for separating the panels thus formed.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the gripper means for drawing a jointing tape across the joint comprises gripper jaw means and translation means attached to the gripper means for extending the gripper means across a bed to a supply reel and for drawing the tape from the reel across the bed.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein the applicator head comprises a number of sections which are laterally spaced across the bed and at least some of the sections have suction means for releasably holding the tape to the head sections.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein at least some of the applicator head sections are laterally movable relative to one another to form a loop of tape for application to a corrugation profile of the first skins at the joint.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 8 to Π including positioning means for positioning the drawn tape under the applicator head.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the tape is cut to length from the supply reel by the cutting means as the tape is positioned under the applicator head.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 8 to 13 wherein the first skin is a profiled external skin and the second skin is an internal backing tray.

15. Apparatus for manufacturing an insulating panel as claimed in any of claims 8 to 14 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. ·.... ih ti ;··, A·?.·· ffi. An insulated panel whenever manufactured by a method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 and/or using an apparatus as claimed in any of claims 8 to 15.