NL8003870A - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR APPLYING FOAM TO A FLAT PANEL AND PANEL OBTAINED ACCORDING TO THE METHOD - Google Patents

Description

MOBAN B.V.

Inventors: Joannes VAN A BERG in Stein (L)

Johan G. AALBERS at Doetinchera 1 3208

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FOAM TO A SURFACE

PANEL AND PANEL OBTAINED ACCORDING TO THE METHOD

The invention relates to a method for applying foam to a flat, substantially horizontally placed panel, which is provided with spaced parallel lines, using a spray head moving relative to the panel, which apply a foam-forming material to the panel between the rails.

Such panels can be used as a building panel, for example as an inner cavity leaf, partition, roof boarding and the like. The foam forms a heat-insulating layer and gives the panel a greater mechanical strength.

Such a method is known from the Ned. patent application 7707840. In the method described herein, strips of foamed material are placed by a nozzle between juxtaposed lines, parallel to the lines, until the space between the lines is filled. The spray head is reciprocated in the longitudinal direction of the lines, such that one strip connects to the adjacent one. When applying relatively long strips, the one strip of inclined material is already largely foamed when the adjacent strip is applied. The drawback of this is that the slanting of the sloping material of strips arranged next to each other does not take place or only takes place to a small extent, as a result of which optimum mutual adhesion between the various adjacent strips is not obtained. This can create gaps and cracks between the foam strips, especially if the lines are not exactly parallel to each other. Although it is possible with this method to make the foam stand against the rails, which is desirable from the viewpoint of strength and insulating properties, the height of the foam against the rails cannot be adjusted. Moreover, a uniform surface of the foam applied is not obtained.

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These local differences in thickness of the foam layer and the gaps present have an adverse effect on the insulating properties and the mechanical strength.

The object of the invention is to provide a method for applying foam or a foam-forming material between the lines of a rule-reinforced panel, wherein the above-mentioned drawbacks do not occur.

According to the invention this is achieved in that the spray head is moved across the panel parallel to and in the middle between each two adjacent lines and during this movement the spray head performs a reciprocating movement in a direction perpendicular to the lines.

Any suitable adhesive synthetic resin foam can be used as a foam or as a foam-forming material. Very suitable is, for example, polyurethane foam.

With the method according to the invention it is achieved that the adjoining strips of foaming material flow into each other. The strips are now arranged almost perpendicularly at the spaced apart spaced apart lines, as a result of which the foaming process has hardly started when the one strip is placed next to the other, next to the other. The distance between the lines is much smaller than the length of the lines. The material to be foamed flows into each other, so that an even surface of almost equal thickness is obtained. There are no gaps and 25 gaps left cp.

The reciprocating movement of the nozzle in a direction perpendicular to the lines is preferably a pendulum movement relative to the normal panel. By swinging movement of the nozzle is meant a periodic tilting movement of the nozzle about an axis which is parallel to the lines on the panel. The nozzle, i.e. the direction of the outflowing foam-forming material, hereby makes a periodically varying angle with respect to the normal panel. The maximum angle to the normal is called the deflection angle.

The application of the foam or the foam-forming material between the lines on the panel can take place fully automatically. To achieve this, the distance between two adjacent parallel lines is taken by a measuring device, whereby: 8003870 3 ί V * a. The nozzle is placed directly at half the distance between the lines and then b. the nozzle is moved parallel to the lines across the panel at a speed and / or amount of spray per unit time 5 which is directly determined by the distance taken between the two lines.

If the distance between the lines is continuously continuous, whereby the position of the nozzle is continuously corrected and the speed of the nozzle or the spray quantity per unit of time is continuously controlled, it is still possible to completely correct irregularities in the foam surface with lines which are not completely parallel. avoid.

The nozzle preferably makes a pendulum movement with respect to the panel, the angle of deflection of the nozzle being determined directly by the spacing between the two lines.

Preferably the reciprocating movement of the spray head is a sinusoid. With this movement of the spray head, at the location of the upright side edges of the lines, the upward movement is slightly delayed reversed into the reverse movement. The consequence of this is that at the location of these upright side edges relatively more foam material is deposited by the spray head on the panel. This multiple foam material will rise up against these side edges, so that they can be completely covered with foam if desired. By modifying the sinusoidal motion, the amount of foam rise up against the rules can be adjusted.

During the application of the foam to the panel, the panel may or may not be interrogated. The nozzle will have to be moved at the same speed as the panel advances. Preference is given to not advancing the panel during the application of the foam. When moving the panel with the rails in a direction perpendicular to the rails, preferably during this movement the distance between two adjacent parallel rails is taken, then the movement of the panel is stopped and the foam is applied between the two rails, then the panel is advanced again and the cycle repeats until all spaces between the lines are filled with foam. The deflection angle of the nozzle is preferably set in direct proportion to the distance taken between two adjacent lines.

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The method according to the invention is very suitable for applying foam to panels with varying line spacing.

The distance between the adjacent lines is preferably taken with a photocell and a light source positioned at the height of the lines on either side of the panel, the connecting line between the photocell and the light source locating parallel to the lines. Adjusting the nozzle in the middle between two adjacent lines can be accomplished in a simple but very effective manner by moving the nozzle at a speed which is half the speed at which the panel is moved relative to the photocell . The spray head is pre-positioned above the connection line between the photocell and the light source. If this is not done, the nozzle must be moved at the same speed as the panel, at least during the advance phase. The invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention.

The device according to the invention comprises: a. Means for moving the panel; b. means for taking the distance between two consecutive lines cp; c. means to cause the nozzle to move parallel to it in the middle between two lines and d. means to have the nozzle perform a reciprocating movement between the lines, perpendicular to the lines.

A periodically driven conveyor belt, a chain conveyor, a roller conveyor or the like can be used for advancing the panel. As mentioned before, the spacing between two adjacent lines can be effected by means of a photocell with light source. Sensors or acoustic measuring instruments can also be used for this.

The spray head can be moved midway between two adjacent lines and parallel thereto, with a chain moving along a guide to which the spray head is attached.

35 In order for the nozzle to perform a reciprocating movement between the lines, perpendicular to this, one can also use a guide with chain mechanism. If the nozzle makes a 8003870 ϊ «τ '* * 5 pendulum motion, perpendicular to the lines, then a rotating disk with a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, to which cylinder or the piston pliers the nozzle is attached, can be used. via a lifting bocane mechanism. The angle of deflection of the spray head is determined by extending the piston pliers more or less. The extension of the piston pliers is determined or controlled depending on the spacing between two adjacent parallel lines. The amount of foam to be applied is of course partly dependent on the layer thickness that is desired. 10 This layer thickness is limited by the height of the lines.

Many types of material can be used for the panel, such as wood, plasterboard, resin-bonded sand boards, plywood, plywood, fiber-reinforced cement boards, etc. As fiber material, glass fiber, polymer fiber, asbestos fiber, etc. can be used. The rails can be made either solid, hollow or with a U-profile. The hollow lines may or may not be filled with e.g. foam. For the rules, one can use wood, plastic, metal, glass, fiber-treated materials, etc.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing.

Herein: fig. 1 shows a schematic top view of a panel provided with rules, which is placed on a periodically movable table; Fig. 2 is a cross section of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the tilting mechanism of the spray head and Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of different positions of the spray head.

The panel 1 is provided with parallel, spaced spaced lines 2,2 ', etc. which can lie loose on the panel or, for example, attached by nailing. The panel 1 is placed on a table 3, which is periodically moved by, for example, a roller conveyor 4. Above the panel 1, a spray head 5 is placed, with which foam-forming material is placed on the panel between the lines. A photocell 6 with light source 7 is placed on the side of the panel at the height of the lines 2,2 '. The spray head 5 placed above the panel is attached to the cylinder 8 by means of levers 11 and 12, the piston rod 9 of which is fixedly mounted on a rotating disc 10.

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The application of the foam to the panel 1 between the lines takes place as follows: "When the table 3 is advanced, the distance a between two successive lines 2 'and 2" 5 is taken up by the photocell 6 and the light source 7. is stopped automatically when the adjacent line is detected by the photocell with light source Simultaneously with the advancement of the table 3, the nozzle 5 is moved in the same direction so that the nozzle 5 moves in the same direction so that the nozzle 5 has also traveled a distance a 10 It is also possible, and preferred, after the nozzle has filled the space between two lines and has to be moved to the next space between two lines, first move the nozzle 5 to perpendicularly above the photocell and the light source and then move the nozzle at half the speed of that of the table when moving the table.

This means that when the table with panel has traveled the distance a between two consecutive lines, the nozzle has traveled a distance i a and is thus placed in the middle between two consecutive lines.

The angle of deflection of the spray head 5 is also set by taking the distance a between two adjacent lines. As is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, this is done by shifting the hydraulic cylinder 8 more or less relative to the fixed piston rod 9. The piston pliers 9 are arranged on a rotating disc 10. The rotation of the disk 10 in relation to the amount of displacement of the cylinder 8 determines the eccentricity of the levers 12 and 13 relative to the center of the disk 10 and thus the magnitude of the deflection angle of the nozzle 5. In Fig. 4 different positions of the spray head 5 are shown schematically. The dotted circle 14 indicates the maximum displacement of the cylinder 8 over the piston rod 9 with rotating disc 10.

When the above operations have been carried out, the application of foam-forming material between the lines 2 'and 2 "(see 35 fig. 1) can commence. The spray head 5 moves from point b to point c over the panel and, as already mentioned, a pendulum movement This pendulum movement is a periodic tilting movement of the spray head 5 about an axis, which is parallel to the lines on the panel The spray head 5, ie the direction of the 8003870

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# 7 flowing shear forming material, hereby makes a periodically varying angle from the normal cp the panel. As already mentioned, the maximum angle to the normal is called the deflection angle. As shown in Fig. 1, the reciprocating movement of the nozzle is a sinusoid, which provides the advantage that at the location of the upright side edges of the lines, the forward motion e is slightly delayed and the reverse motion f is reversed. The consequence of this is that at the location of these upright side edges relatively more foam-forming material is deposited by the spray head 5 on the panel. This multiple material will rise up against these side edges, so that they are partially or completely covered with foam. By modifying the sinusoidal movement, the amount of foam rise up against the rules can be adjusted.

Because the distance between the lines is much smaller than the width of the panel and because the strips of foam-forming material are now applied perpendicularly to the lines, it is achieved that when applying one strip next to the other, the previous strip is hardly or not at all. beveling process has started. The material to be foamed now flows into each other, so that an even surface of approximately 20 equal thickness of the foam is obtained everywhere. With this method, there are no gaps and crevices between the regions and between the regions and the lines.

When the spray head 5 has reached the point on the panel, the spraying is stopped and the spray head is placed again above the connecting line 25 of photocell 6 and light source 7, and this entirely on the side of the panel. The panel is then moved again until the next line on the panel is detected by the photocell 6 with light source 7. The nozzle is moved just half the speed at which the panel is moved while moving the panel. Thus the nozzle is again in the middle between the lines and the cycle can start again. It is not necessary with this method that the lines cp the panel cp are constantly equidistant from each other.

The application of foamable material can be stopped if a part of the surface of the panel between the lines does not have to be covered with foam, because, for example, a window opening is projected in this part of the panel. This stop the 8 0 0 3 8 7 0

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Deposition of the foam can take place automatically because, for example, a photocell detects a line 11 placed perpendicular to lines 2 "and 2" (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1).

Comparative example 5 On a gypsum board with a thickness of 10 mm and a width of 200 cm, 96 mm high wooden beams are placed at a distance of 40 cm from each other. The lines are parallel to each other and are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The space between the lines was filled with polyurethane foam. When the foam-forming material was placed in 10 strips parallel to the lines, according to the method as described in Dutch patent application 7707840, a foam layer was obtained, the thickness of which varied from 30 to 70 mm (95% of the measurements). The average thickness was 35 mm. This required 50% more foam than could be calculated on the basis of a thickness of 35 mm. Locally, the foam layer exhibited gaps between the adjacent strips and between the rails and the adjacent strip of foam material. The insulating effect thereby diminished, while the foam layer occasionally protruded above the lines, which meant post-processing of the foam layer, since the plate cover against it would otherwise not be flush.

Example

On a gypsum board with the same dimensions as in the comparative example and with the same manner placed 96 mm high wooden blocks placed in the same manner, the space between the lines was filled with polyurethane foam using the method according to the invention. An amount of foam-forming material was introduced into the regions through the spray head. The transverse speed at which the nozzle moved across the plasterboard plate in this case was 30 m / min, while the maximum deflection angle of the nozzle was 90 °. The height above the plate was 20 cm. After curing the foam layer, the thickness of the foam layer in the middle between the lines varied from 30 to 50 mm (95% of the measurements).

The average thickness was 35 mm. This required only 20% more foam than could be calculated on a soil of a thickness of 35 mm. The foam was against the rules cp but did not rise above it. The foam layer showed no gaps between the strips and between the wooden rails and the adjacent foam material.

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Claims (12)

6 * ^ ^ 3208 1. Method for applying foam to a flat, substantially horizontally placed panel, which is provided with parallel spaced apart spacers, using a spray head moving relative to the panel, which separates the foam or a foam-forming material between the lines, characterized in that the nozzle is moved across the panel parallel to and in the middle between each two adjacent lines and that during this movement the nozzle performs a reciprocating movement 10 in a direction perpendicular to the rules. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the reciprocating movement of the spray head is a pendulum movement relative to the normal on the panel. 3. Method as claimed in claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the distance between two adjacent parallel lines is taken, wherein: a. The nozzle is placed directly at half distance between the lines; b. the nozzle parallel to the lines ever the panel is advanced at a speed or amount of spray per time unit directly determined by the spacing between the two lines. 4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the spray head makes a pendulum movement with respect to the panel, wherein the deflection of the spray head is directly determined by the included distance between the two lines. Method according to claims 1-4, characterized in that the reciprocating movement of the spray head is a sinusoid. 6. Method according to claims 1-5, characterized in that the panel is not advanced during the application of the foam. 7. Method according to claims 1-6, characterized in that the panel with lines is advanced in a direction perpendicular to the lines and during this movement the distance between two lines is taken, the movement of the panel is stopped and the foam is applied, after which the panel is advanced again and the cycle is repeated until the entire panel is provided with a foam layer. 8003870 »» - / 3- Method according to claims 1-7, characterized in that the deflection angle is adjusted in direct proportion to the distance between two adjacent lines. Method according to claims 1-8, characterized in that a photocell 5 and a light source are arranged at the height of the rails on either side of the panel, the connecting line between the photocell and the light source locating parallel to the rails. 10. A method according to claims 1-9, characterized in that the adjustment of the nozzle in the middle between two lines is effected by moving the nozzle at a speed that is half the speed at which the panel complies with the photocell is advanced. 11. Panel provided with rules with a layer of foam applied therebetween according to one or more of the preceding claims. Device for carrying out the method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that this device comprises: a. Means for moving the panel; b. means for taking the distance between two consecutive lines cp; c. means for moving the nozzle in the middle between two lines parallel thereto and d. means for causing the nozzle to perform a reciprocating movement between the lines, perpendicular to the lines. 8003870 -7