JP4823220B2 - Mesh and method and apparatus for forming and using the mesh - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a mesh utilizing molded interconnecting link elements. The present invention also relates to a mesh formed by the method of the present invention, a product incorporating the mesh, and a method of using the mesh. In this specification, when the term “mesh” is used, it means one formed by an interconnecting link element such as a ring.

  Meshes formed by interconnecting link elements are best known in the form of chain insulators. Conventionally, a chain insulator is formed by connecting a closed metal ring and an open metal ring to each other and then closing the opened ring by mechanical deformation, welding, or the like. In addition, there is a method in which a split ring formed of a steel spring or other biasing material as an interconnecting link member is temporarily opened using a tool such as a plier and can be interconnected with other link members. is there. More recently, the mesh is formed of a plastic material and the closed ring is joined with the open ring, and then the open ring is mechanically tightened, welded or glued closed.

When chain insulator / mesh production is performed using a conventional method, it takes time and labor, and is expensive. Chain insulators / mesh containing unclosed link elements can only withstand limited forces until the link elements break. If the interconnecting link elements are closed, the seam can detract from the appearance of the finished mesh. Such methods may further limit the materials used in the manufacture of the mesh, to limit practical size of the link element.

  While complex devices exist that form meshes by breaking wire knots, to date, there has been no automated manufacturing method that continuously and economically performs chain insulator / mesh for the mass market.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automated process and apparatus for continuously producing meshes.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mesh with strong structural integrity and aesthetics.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mesh that can be economically manufactured over a variety of applications.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new mesh product and method of using the mesh.

  Each of the above objectives is interpreted disjunctive and at least aims to make useful options public.

The mesh formation method in the 1st aspect of this invention comprises the following.
a. By supplying a plurality of ready-made link elements arranged in a row adjacent to each other in the first direction to a plurality of cavities in the mold sequentially and sequentially from the second direction, The ready-made link elements and the newly-provided ready-made link elements arranged at intervals so that a part of the through holes provided in each link element overlaps in the second direction,
b. Newly supplied to interconnect the off-the-shelf link element and the newly formed link element in the first and second directions to form a continuous mesh of interconnected link elements. Separate from the ready-made link elements through the through-holes of adjacent link elements in the ready-made link elements in the row and through-holes of adjacent link elements in the supplied ready-made link elements. The new link element is molded in a mold in a direction crossing the ready-made link element to form a mesh.

In another aspect of the present invention, a mesh formation method comprises:
a. The first plurality of ready-made link elements are positioned at the first plurality of first positions of the mold.
b. The second plurality of ready-made link elements are positioned at the second plurality of second positions of the mold.
c. A third plurality of new link elements are molded into a third plurality of positions of the mold, and the first and second plurality of ready-made link elements are interconnected.
d. A part of the first plurality of ready-made link elements is moved so as to be positioned at the second plurality of second positions of the mold.
e. A fourth plurality of new link elements are molded to interconnect with the first plurality of ready-made link elements.

Furthermore, a mesh formed by the method of the present invention is provided.
An apparatus for forming a mesh according to another aspect of the present invention is a mold formed as a plurality of parts, in which a link element is molded and opened by a cavity formed by closing at least some of the parts. A mold for releasing the link element formed by the above-described method is provided, and the mold includes the following.
a. A plurality of ready-made link elements arranged in a row by being adjacent to each other in the first direction, a part of a through hole provided in each link element overlaps in a second direction in which the ready-made link element is supplied. A plurality of first cavities including a first position and a second position that are spaced apart from each other b. When the mold part is closed to form a cavity, new link elements are inserted through the through-holes of the ready-made link elements located at the first position and the second position of the first cavity, respectively . A plurality of second cavities dimensioned and arranged to form a second cavity in a direction transverse to the link element, and further away from the first cavity; and after forming the new link element in the second cavity,
(1) discharging the ready-made link element from the second position of the first cavity;
(2) sequentially moving the ready-made link element at the first position of the first cavity to the second position of the first cavity;
(3) A mechanism for supplying a plurality of new ready-made link elements to the first position of the first cavity is provided .
In another aspect of the invention, the mesh is formed from link elements in which the interconnecting link elements are formed as a continuous seamless loop by a molding process.

  In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus comprises a plurality of seamless link elements interconnected to form a two-dimensional mesh of link elements.

  Embodiments of the present invention include a meshing method that can employ a seamless closed loop as a link element. However, the link element may have various shapes, for example, a single through hole such as a ring or a plurality of through holes.

  FIG. 1 shows a method for continuously forming a mesh. The ready-made rings 1 to 4 are arranged in the first direction, and the pair of 1, 2 and the pair of 3, 4 are arranged so that a part of their central through holes overlap. Further, such a pair may be provided in a row at intervals on the surfaces of the rings 1 to 4 to form a mesh having a length as required. Thereafter, the ring 5 is molded so as to pass through the central through hole of the rings 1 to 4 as shown in the figure. The ring 6 shows a state in which rings are simultaneously formed in the column direction.

  2 and 3 show the manufacturing process for the next row of meshes. The ring 3 in FIG. 1 is located at the position of the ring 4 in FIG. 2, and the ring 1 in FIG. 1 is located at the position of the ring 2 in FIG. The ring 5 in FIG. 1 is located at the position of the ring 7 in FIG. New rings 3 and 1 are introduced at the positions shown in FIG. A new ring 5 is molded through the central through hole of rings 1 to 4. In this way, a new row of rings 1 and 3 can be introduced sequentially, and a new ring 5 can be continuously produced through the new rings 1 and 3 and the existing rings 2 and 4. By expanding this pattern in any direction, a mesh having a desired width can be obtained.

  A basic side cross-section for continuously forming the mesh shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 will be described based on the arrangement shown in FIG. The mold consists of mold parts 9, 10, 14 and fingers 13. The mold parts 9 and 10 are separated at the mold surfaces 9b and 10a, and the mold parts 9 and 10 are separated from the fingers 13 at the surfaces 9a, 10b and 14b. An annular cavity 12 is measured to hold the ring 2 and an annular cavity 11 is measured to hold the ring 1. Letters B, C and D representing the relative spacing between components are shown in FIGS.

  The finger 13 having a semicircular cross section occupies half of the central through hole of the ring 5 formed in the cavity 15. As shown in FIG. 5, plastic is introduced to form the ring 5 in the cavity 15 when the mold is closed. Thereafter, the mold parts 9 and 10 are moved to the left to open the mold, the fingers 13 are moved upward, and the mold parts 9 and 10 are separated to release the ring 5 molded in the cavity 15.

  To form the next row, the ring in cavity 11 is moved to cavity 12, a new ring is placed in cavity 11, and the new ring is placed in cavity 15 with the mold closed as shown in FIG. Formed inside. FIG. 5 shows a mold cross-section that is repeated through the mold to form a continuous mesh row.

  The mesh continuous manufacturing apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. The main part of the apparatus including the mold parts 30, 31, 32 is shown in FIGS. The mold parts 30, 31 can be separated from the mold part 32, as shown in FIGS. 6 b and 6 c. A plurality of fingers, an example of which is shown as the finger 37a, moves together with the mold part 30, and can move up and down with respect to it. As shown in FIG. 6b, the mold part 30 is movable with respect to the mold part 31, allowing the molded link element to be opened. The arm 33 is connected to a bar 34 (shown in FIG. 7 and thereafter), and the mold 37 is moved away from the mold 32 by moving the finger 37 a up and down by the roller 35 guided by the slot 36.

  7 to 11 show a part of the processed surfaces of the mold parts 30 and 31. FIG. These processed surfaces may be expanded to the left and right as necessary to form a mesh having a desired width. A plurality of fingers shown limited to 37 a to 37 d are fixed to the bar 34. The bar 34 is connected to the arm 35, and moves the fingers 37a to 37d up and down by the movement of the roller 35 in the track 36. FIG. 9 shows the raised positions of the fingers 37a to 37d, and FIGS. 7 and 8 show the lowered positions of the fingers 37a to 37d.

  A ready-made ring, part of which is shown at 43a to 43e, is supplied to the device through a supply tube. 12 to 14 show the shapes of the fingers 37a to 37d. The finger 37 a has partial annular cavities 39, 40 on the rear surface 38. These cavities 39, 40 are located in the partial annular cavities 39, 40 of the adjacent fingers with the rings 43a-43e supplied from the supply tube when the fingers 37a-37d are in the raised position shown in FIG. Are positioned as follows. The cavities 39, 40 include a biasing element 49 that biases the ring retained therein away from the cavities 39, 40. The end portion 42 of the finger 37 a is engaged with the bar 34. The tip 41 has a wave shape to facilitate removal of the product from the mold.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the processing surfaces of the mold parts 30 and 31 include cavities 45 a to 45 e that accommodate ready-made rings and cavities 44 a to 44 e that accommodate the rings so as to overlap the rings in the cavities 45 a to 45 e. Including. As will be described later, the ejector pins 48a to 48e enter and exit in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in order to promote the protrusion of the ring. The ejector pins 48a to 48e include undercut portions 47a to 47e that accommodate the rings in the cavities 45a to 45e when retracted.

  FIG. 11 shows a view along the line BB (see FIG. 10). It can be seen that the semicircular cavities 46 a to 46 e are provided perpendicular to the processing surface of the mold part 31. The semicircular protrusions 55a-55e occupying half of the ring's circular core extend from the mold part 30 so that when the mold is closed, half of the annular ring is formed by the cavities 46a-46e and the protrusions 55a-55e. I'm out.

  The processing surface of the mold part 32 is shown in FIGS. The plurality of semicircular recesses 51a to 51d form the other half of the annular cavity forming the molding ring. Fingers 37a-37d are located in cavities 50a-50d, and fingers 37a-37d occupy half of the core of the ring formed in the annular cavity (the other half is formed by protrusions 55a-55e). . The injection parts 53a to 53d (see FIG. 18) inject molten material into the semicircular cavities 51a to 51d through the holes 52a to 52d during the molding. In one embodiment, the material is a thermoplastic and in another embodiment, the material is a metal.

  The operation of the device will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the mold parts 30, 31 are separated from the mold part 32, and the fingers are located in the raised position shown in FIGS. 6c and 9. The rings in the supply tubes 43a-43e are urged to the fingers 37a-37d and are held in the recesses 39 and 40 of the respective fingers. Thereafter, the bar 34 moves downward so that the finger is positioned at the position shown in FIG. 8, and the mold parts 30, 31 move toward the mold part 32. The biasing element 49 in the recesses 39 and 40 urges the ring into the recesses 44a-44e. These rings overlap the rings already located in the recesses 45a to 45e.

  Thereafter, the mold parts 30 and 31 are closed with respect to the mold part 32 so that the fingers 37a to 37d are received in the recesses 50a to 50d (see FIG. 6a). As the mold is closed, the mold section 30 is also urged into the mold section 31. When the mold is closed, the recesses 51a to 51d and 46a to 46d become disk cavities. Fingers 37a-37d cooperate with protrusions 55a-55e to form a circular core to form a series of annular cavities.

  In one embodiment, plastic is then injected into the cavities 51a to 51d by the injection portions 53a to 53d, and rings are formed in the cavities 51a to 51d and 46a to 46d. Alternatively, the molten material may be commonly supplied to the cavities 51a to 51d (or another part of the mold cavity for each ring). Thereafter, the mold part 31 moves away from the mold part 32 (as shown in FIG. 6b), and at the same time, the mold part 30 biased against the mold part 31 removes the ring formed in the mold from the mold part 30. It leaves | separates from the type | mold part 31 only enough to make it open. Thereafter, the mold parts 30, 31 are further separated together with the fingers 37a to 37d as shown in FIG. 6c. When the mold parts 30, 31 are separated from the mold part 32, the roller 35 eventually reaches a portion where the bar 34 is raised in the slot 36. The bar 34 eventually rises to the position shown in FIGS. 6c and 9.

  At this time, the ejector pins 48a to 48e move in a direction of jumping out from the paper surface, and discharge the rings held in the cavities 45a to 45e. However, the rings in the recesses 44a to 44e remain held because they are located above the ejector pins 48a to 48e and behind the fingers 37a to 37d. Thereafter, in order to hold the ring in the recesses 44a to 44e, the fingers 37a to 37d are lowered halfway as the mold part 30 moves toward the mold part 32. Thereafter, the ejector pins 48a to 48e retract, and the rings in the recesses 44a to 44e fall into the recess cavities 45a to 45e. Thereafter, the mold parts 30 and 31 are closed with respect to the mold part 32, so that the next molding cycle of the apparatus is ready.

  Although the link elements are shown as being formed in rows, other molding methods may be used. For example, adjacent link elements may be offset from each other. Also, the device may combine two meshes. The method of the present invention may be implemented in various ways.

  After manufacture, the mesh may be further processed. The surface of each link element may be smoothed by exposing the mesh to a high-temperature heat source for a short time by “flash framing treatment” to dissolve minor surface defects. Further, the mesh may be coated by electroplating, spray painting or other coating processes. The coating may give physical properties or give a specific appearance.

  The mesh formed by the method of the present invention may be commercialized through further processing. For example, the link elements can be fused by heating the mold with a mesh and then cooled to maintain the connection between the link elements and maintain the desired form by forming a rigid structure.

Instead, a strong structure may be formed by maintaining the mesh in a desired form and maintaining the form until a resin is cured by applying a curable composite material such as a resin.
The linking element is formed from a variety of materials that can exist as a fluid phase, such as plastic, metal, glass, absorbent foaming agent, non-absorbing foaming agent, soft polymer, etc., and then cured. The mesh may include a mixture of link elements molded from different materials. Furthermore, the optical properties of the link elements may be different within the mesh to form a pattern or specific appearance. For example, different patterns may be created using different colored link elements and / or transparent link elements.

  Link elements of various shapes may be mixed in the mesh. 19A to 19H show some examples of closed loop link elements. Other novel shapes such as a heart shape may be used. Further, a pattern or a mark may be formed on the surface of the link element.

  FIG. 20 shows a link element of a circular disk 66 having a plurality of through holes 67 to 70 having another shape. Rings or other link elements may be formed through holes 67-70. A wide variety of link element shapes and configurations may be used, as well as conventional mesh arrangements utilizing a 1: 3, 1: 4 or 1: 6 link element layout.

  Meshes formed by the method and apparatus of the present invention can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as filtration, contamination control, signs, flags, displays, etc., conveyors, baffles, armor, clothes, hammocks, deck chairs, furniture, screen doors, curtains, etc. Etc. are possible.

  Meshes have been found to be particularly effective in recovering substances such as oil from fluids such as water. Meshes that are formed with link elements made of absorbent material or that contain links made of absorbent material would be more effective in oil recovery. The mesh can be provided as part of a drum or conveyor system to remove material continuously collected by a cleaning system or squeezer.

  Thus, a method and an apparatus for continuously and economically producing a mesh in a short time using various materials are provided. Meshes with a wide range of physical and optical properties can be produced. The mesh has good structural strength and a smooth appearance. The method according to the invention also makes it possible to economically produce meshes with small link elements.

  Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, the applicant does not intend that the claims be limited to such details or any limitation. Further advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus, methods, and examples described and illustrated. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the scope or spirit of applicant's inventive concept.

The perspective view which shows the relative positional relationship of a ring in the method of manufacturing the row | line | column of a mesh Front view showing the relative positional relationship of the rings when further rows are connected Side view of the ring shown in FIG. The figure which shows sectional drawing of the part of the simple type | mold for showing the effect | action of the manufacturing method of a mesh The figure which shows sectional drawing of the part of the simple type | mold for showing the effect | action of the manufacturing method of a mesh Side view showing the closed position of a device suitable for continuous mesh production 6a is a side view of the device shown in FIG. Side view of the device shown in FIG. The perspective view which shows a part of the processing surface of two mold parts which forms the half of the type | mold of the apparatus shown in figure with the row | line | column of a finger in the front part of a processing surface Front view showing a part of the machining surface shown in FIG. FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are front views showing a part of the processed surface with the fingers raised. Front view showing a part of the processed surface of FIGS. 7 to 9 without fingers Side sectional view along line BB in FIG. Rear perspective view of finger Finger rear view Finger side view Front view of the machining surface of the mold part opposite to the machining surface shown in FIGS. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the die part machining surface shown in FIG. Top view of mold part shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 Sectional view of the mold part shown in FIG. 16 along line AA Diagram showing the shape of various possible link elements Diagram showing the shape of various possible link elements Diagram showing the shape of various possible link elements Diagram showing the shape of various possible link elements Diagram showing the shape of various possible link elements Diagram showing the shape of various possible link elements Diagram showing the shape of various possible link elements Diagram showing the shape of various possible link elements Diagram showing further possible link element shapes

Claims (26)

a. By supplying a plurality of ready-made link elements arranged in a row adjacent to each other in the first direction to a plurality of cavities in the mold sequentially and sequentially from the second direction, The ready-made link elements and the newly-provided ready-made link elements arranged at intervals so that a part of the through holes provided in each link element overlaps in the second direction,
b. Newly supplied to interconnect the off-the-shelf link element and the newly formed link element in the first and second directions to form a continuous mesh of interconnected link elements. Separate from the ready-made link elements through the through-holes of adjacent link elements in the ready-made link elements in the row and through-holes of adjacent link elements in the supplied ready-made link elements. A method of forming a mesh by molding the new link element in a mold in a direction transverse to the ready-made link element .   The newly formed link element is connected to the supplied row of ready-made link elements and the newly supplied row of ready-made link elements on each side, except for the ends of the mesh. Item 2. The method according to Item 1. The method of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the newly formed link element is formed substantially perpendicular to the off-the-shelf link element to which the newly formed link element interconnects. Wherein all of the link element, the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 is closed loop having a central hole. Wherein all of the link element The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is a ring. The off-the-shelf link element A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 having a plurality of holes for receiving a new link elements molded through the prefabricated link elements.   The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of off-the-shelf link elements are fed into the first plurality of cavities in the mold. The first plurality of off-the-shelf link elements spans a plurality of molding cycles such that each off-the-shelf first link element interconnects with at least two newly formed link elements on either side. 8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the method is sequentially provided through the first cavity. 9. A method according to claim 8 , wherein two ready-made link elements are received in each first cavity during molding. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the formed mesh is heated while being maintained in a desired shape, and the mesh is held in a desired shape by fusing the link elements upon cooling. The method according to any one of 10 claims 1 subjected to electroplating on the mesh after forming the mesh. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11 to apply the binder to be a tight complex products on curing the mesh. a. Positioning the first plurality of ready-made link elements in the first plurality of first positions of the mold;
b. Positioning a second plurality of ready-made link elements in a second plurality of second positions of the mold;
c. Molding a third plurality of new link elements into a third plurality of locations of the mold, and interconnecting the first and second plurality of ready-made link elements;
d. Moving a portion of the first plurality of ready-made link elements to be located at the second plurality of second positions of the mold;
e. The method of claim 1, comprising each step of molding a fourth plurality of new link elements to interconnect with a portion of the first plurality of ready-made link elements. It mesh formed by a method according to any one of claims 1 to 13. A mesh having a mold formed as a plurality of parts, wherein the link element is molded by a cavity formed by closing at least some of the parts, and the mold is opened by opening the link element. A forming device comprising:
The mold is a. A plurality of ready-made link elements arranged in a row by being adjacent to each other in the first direction, a part of a through hole provided in each link element overlaps in a second direction in which the ready-made link element is supplied. a plurality of first cavities including a first position and a second position for holding at intervals so,
b. When the mold part is closed to form a cavity, new link elements are inserted through the through-holes of the ready-made link elements located at the first position and the second position of the first cavity, respectively . A plurality of second cavities dimensioned and arranged to form in the second cavity in a direction transverse to the link element and spaced from the first cavity;
After forming the new link element in the second cavity,
(1) discharging the ready-made link element from the second position of the first cavity;
(2) sequentially moving the ready-made link element at the first position of the first cavity to the second position of the first cavity;
(3) An apparatus for forming a mesh having a mechanism for supplying a plurality of new ready-made link elements to the first position of the first cavity. The first cavities are arranged in spaced rows, and the second cavities are sized and arranged to form new link elements that connect with the off-the-shelf link elements located in adjacent first cavities. The apparatus of claim 15 . The first cavity is dimensioned and arranged to hold an off-the-shelf link element at a substantially first surface, and the second cavity is a new link element formed within the second cavity. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the apparatus is generally located in a cross section relative to. The apparatus according to any one of claims 15 to 17 , wherein the mold includes first and second mold parts that form a part of the second cavity and a third mold part that forms another part. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the retractable finger forms a portion of a hole formed in each new link element molded into each second cavity. Part of each second cavity, claim 18 or 19 wherein is formed by said first and second mold portions are moved relative to each other to release a new link elements molded therein Equipment. 21. An apparatus according to any of claims 18 to 20 , wherein the third mold part and the fingers form the remaining part of the second mold cavity. 22. A device according to any of claims 19 to 21 , wherein the fingers supply a ready-made link element to the first cavity. 15. The mesh of claim 14 , wherein the interconnecting link element is formed from a link element that is formed as a continuous seamless loop by a molding process. 24. The mesh of claim 23 , wherein some of the link elements have different optical properties. 24. A mesh according to claim 23 , wherein some of the link elements have multiple through holes. The mesh according to claim 23 , wherein the mesh is a contamination collection mesh.

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