Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B37/00—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
  • B32B37/14—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the properties of the layers
  • B32B37/142—Laminating of sheets, panels or inserts, e.g. stiffeners, by wrapping in at least one outer layer, or inserting into a preformed pocket
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/14—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
  • B29C45/14467—Joining articles or parts of a single article
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
  • B21D47/00—Making rigid structural elements or units, e.g. honeycomb structures
  • B21D47/04—Making rigid structural elements or units, e.g. honeycomb structures composite sheet metal profiles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C44/00—Shaping by internal pressure generated in the material, e.g. swelling or foaming ; Producing porous or cellular expanded plastics articles
  • B29C44/20—Shaping by internal pressure generated in the material, e.g. swelling or foaming ; Producing porous or cellular expanded plastics articles for articles of indefinite length
  • B29C44/32—Incorporating or moulding on preformed parts, e.g. linings, inserts or reinforcements
  • B29C44/326—Joining the preformed parts, e.g. to make flat or profiled sandwich laminates
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/14—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
  • B29C45/14467—Joining articles or parts of a single article
  • B29C45/14508—Joining juxtaposed sheet-like articles, e.g. for making trim panels
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B37/00—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
  • B32B37/0046—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by constructional aspects of the apparatus
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04C—STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS; BUILDING MATERIALS
  • E04C2/00—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels
  • E04C2/30—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by the shape or structure
  • E04C2/38—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by the shape or structure with attached ribs, flanges, or the like, e.g. framed panels
  • E04C2/384—Building elements of relatively thin form for the construction of parts of buildings, e.g. sheet materials, slabs, or panels characterised by the shape or structure with attached ribs, flanges, or the like, e.g. framed panels with a metal frame
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
  • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
  • B32B2305/00—Condition, form or state of the layers or laminate
  • B32B2305/34—Inserts
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T156/00—Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
  • Y10T156/10—Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
  • Y10T156/1002—Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor with permanent bending or reshaping or surface deformation of self sustaining lamina

Definitions

• Composite sandwich panels are used to construct buildings. These panels can include insulative materials and therefore find particular application in constructing cool stores and large scale fridges.
• the panels are formed from at least one, and preferably two, sheets of a casing material.
• the casing material is generally aluminum, steel, or other hard resilient materials.
• An insulation material such as a polyurethane foam is injected into a gap between the sheets of casing material.
• the foam expands to fill the gap and a curing process is used to set the foam.
• Locking element in the form of cooperating cam-lock halves are secured in the sandwich panels.
• Each half is configured such that in use it interacts with a corresponding locking half on an adjacent sandwich panel. Accordingly, the interaction of the cam-lock elements secures adjacent panels together.
• One common method to manufacture composite sandwich panels uses a discontinuous process.
• the sheets of casing material are first cut to a length necessary to form the desired length of a sandwich panel.
• the sheets of material are then deformed using a roller press.
• the deformation ensgres that the sandwich panel will have a shape and configuration to facilitate adjacent panels interlocking.
• Locking elements are then secured to the mould.
• a plurality of male locking elements are secured along the mould at one edge of the sheets of casing material.
• a plurality of female locking elements are secured to the mould along an edge of the casing materials that is distal to the male locking elements.
• the position of the locking elements relative to the sheets of casing material is selected so that the finished sandwich panel will have a locking element in a position in which it can engage with another locking element on an adjacent sandwich panel.
• a polyurethane foam is then injected into a gap between the sheets of casing material.
• the mould is then used to cure the polyurethane foam. This secures the locking element and sheets of casing material relative to each other, thereby forming the composite sandwich panel.
• the insertion and positioning of locking elements is an important step. Incorrect positioning of the locking elements in a panel would result in the locking elements of two laterally adjacent sandwich panels being unable to engage with each other. Accordingly, the process has traditionally been performed manually. As a result, the production of composite sandwich panels is a labour intensive process.
• each panel includes the positioning of the sheet materials, the positioning of the locking element halves, the insertion of the insulation material, and curing time.
• the set up times are significant.
• the time to remove a cured composite sandwich panel from the mould is a further down time. In fact, the time to manufacture one composite sandwich panel can often exceed 40 minutes.
• manufacturing composite building elements including a feed station configured to position a length of a casing material, a filler station configured to secure a bulk material to the length of casing material, characterised in that the system includes an insert station that is configured to secure locking elements to the length of casing material.
• a locking element for a composite building element including a main body, a locking component configured to interact with a corresponding locking component on another locking element, a foot portion, characterised in that the foot has a connection portion configured to fit within a corresponding cavity in a length of a casing material forming part of the composite building element.
• the present inventions relate to manufacturing of composite building elements.
• the present inventions relate to continuous processes (methods) and systems to manufacture composite building elements.
• the methods and systems produce composite building panels of indefinite length e.g. the panels are continually output from the filling and/or moulding station, the panel can be subsequently cut to produce composite building elements having a desired length ("a cut panel").
• continuous should be understood as referring to a process in which materials are constantly fed into one or more of the components of the system. For instance a length of casing material is fed into the system without being cut. That is, a roll of the casing material constantly feeds the material into at least one component of the system.
• the prior art systems are discontinuous, in that the casing materials are cut to length before being inserted into a mould. Those lengths are held in a fixed position with respect to the mould while a bulk material is secured thereto. Further, there is no continual feed of the casing material, either in discrete lengths of as sheets of indefinite length.
• composite building element should be understood as meaning an assembly of two or more materials that can be used to construct a building.
• the composite building elements are pre-engineered panels.
• the composite buildings elements are composite sandwich panels. Accordingly, reference herein will be made to the composite building element as being sandwich panels.
• the composite sandwich panels should be understood as meaning a building component formed from two or more materials secured together.
• the composite sandwich panels according to the present invention include two or more layers of a casing material, and one or more bulk materials in between the layers of casing material.
• the building elements according to the present invention can include more than two layers of casing material, and several layers of bulk material.
• casing material should be understood as meaning a material which can provide an outer layer of a sandwich panel.
• the casing materials are provided in the forms of elongate sheets.
• the lengths of casing materials are in a roll or coil.
• the casing material can be mounted on a feed station (as is discussed below) and fed into components so as to facilitate forming of a sandwich panel.
• the inventors have identified that feeding the casing material from rolls facilitates the provision of a continuous method to manufacture composite sandwich panels. This is because the casing material can be continuously feed into a system for forming a composite sandwich panel. That is, the roll provides a sheet of casing material of indefinite length. This is particularly advantageous in increasing the efficiency of manufacture of composite sandwich panels.
• casing materials could be extruded to a required length.
• sections of materials may be pre-cut to desired lengths and sequentially fed into the system in a continuous process.
• the casing material may be sheet steel, aluminum sheets, sheets of reinforced plastics materials, or other materials suitable for use as the outer layer of a sandwich panel.
• the casing material may be made from, or coated with, a food grade material. This is beneficial as it enables the composite sandwich panels according to the present invention to be used in applications requiring this type of lining.
• casing material pre-coated with, or made from, a food grade material is a cost effective way to produce these composite sandwich panels.
• the casing material is not pre-coated or made from food grade material, then such a coating/lining may need to be applied subsequent to manufacture of the sandwich panel. This would significantly increase the cost of manufacturing ⁇ composite sandwich panels.
• the properties of the casing material and their selection are as should be understood by one skilled in the art.
• the casing material can be any material suitable for use in forming a composite sandwich panel.
• the bulk material is an insulative material which prevents or reduces transfer of heat through the sandwich panel.
• a suitable insulative material is a polyurethane foam. This is as should be understood one skilled in the art.
• locking element should be understood as referring to a component that secures, or assists in securing, adjacent composite sandwich panels together.
• locking elements according to the present invention are pairs of locking element halves. In use, each of locking element half engages with a
• the locking element halves are cam-locks.
• the cam-locks are each one of a pair of male and female components that can selectively engage with each other.
• the male element has a member which can be rotated to a position it engage a corresponding female element . Rotation is achieved using a key or other component.
• the locking elements have a feet with a portion configured to fit within a corresponding cavity in a section of a casing material forming part of the composite building element.
• the locking portions include a web.
• web should be understood as meaning an open lattice.
• the web is useful as a bulk material such as polyurethane foam can expand into and completely surround the web. This assists in securing the locking element in position within a composite sandwich panel according to the present invention.
• securing is achieved through interaction of the locking element with a corresponding cavity in a length of casing material.
• securing of the locking element to a length of casing material could be achieved using other techniques.
• the locking element could be secured using welding, adhesives, or temporary fasteners in the form of clamps.
• the inventors have discovered that securing the locking element to the length of casing material is important to achieving a continuous method of manufacturing a composite sandwich panel. This is because the locking element is fixed in a defined position relative to the length of casing material. This feature in turn enables a continuous feed of casing material, into and through, a moulding station. There is no need to cut lengths of casing materials. Furthermore, the continuous feed of casing materials means that panels are not "batch made" and as such, the manufacturing time is reduced.
• the step of securing a locking element to a sheet of casing material occurs prior to securing a bulk material to the length of casing material.
• feed station should be understood as referring to one or more components that are configured to feed the lengths of casing material so as to facilitate manufacture of a composite sandwich panel.
• the feed station includes a plurality of decoilers or uncoilers.
• de-coiler or un-coiler is as should be understood by one skilled in the art, referring to a devise which can support and unwind a coil of casing material. Reference will be made herein to decoilers.
• each of the decoilers includes a mounting to receive and support a coil of sheet metal, and a drive means configured to rotate the mounting. Rotation of the mounting facilitates feeding of the sheet metal.
• the functionality and components of the filling station are selected according to the properties of the bulk material used with the present invention.
• the filling station is a reservoir of liquid(s), and a fluid delivery system.
• the bulk material may be inserted into a gap between two sheets of material in a non-liquid form such as polystyrene sheets.
• the filling station may be provided by automated arms or manual loading mechanisms.
• the insert station is a plurality of automatic arms.
• the arms are configured to engaged locking elements and position these with respect to sheets of casing material.
• the insert station is configured to position a locking element so that the foot extends into a connection cavity in the length of casing material. This assists in securing, and preferably secures, the locking element to the length of casing material.
• the insert station is configured to secure the locking elements to a length of casing material prior to the bulk material being secured to the casing material.
• this feature facilitates for the casing material being continuously fed into and through the filling station, and subsequently pass into a shaping station. Therefore, it is not necessary to cure the bulk material to secure the locking elements and. Therefore the sheet of casing material can be fed through the other components of the system.
• securing the locking elements to a length of casing material enables the panels to continue through the process in a continuous feed into, and through, the filling and moulding stations. Accordingly, it is also possible to use the feed rate of casing material to control parameters of the composite sandwich panels produced using the current invention. This is yet a further advantage of the present invention.
• the insert station is configured to apply pressure to the length of casing material to thereby clamp the foot of the locking element within the cavity.
• Clamping may be achieved using robotic arms and/or hydraulic presses. However, the forgoing should not be seen as limiting on the scope of the present invention and alternatives are envisaged. Those may include where the locking elements are secured to the sheet of casing material using other mechanisms such as welding, adhesives.
• case forming station should be understood as meaning components configured to deform one or more of the sections of casing material.
• the case forming station includes a roll forming press.
• the roll forming press is a standard press as should be known to one skilled in the art.
• the press is configured to deform one or more side edges of the sections of material as they pass therethrough.
• connection cavity In a preferred embodiment deformation of side edges of the sections of material creates a connection cavity.
• connection cavity should be understood as meaning a cavity into which a foot of a locking element can be inserted so as to facilitate securing of the locking element to a sheet of casing material.
• the case forming station deforms a first edge of a sheet of casing material to create a first connection cavity.
• the case forming station is configured to deform a second edge of a sheet of casing material to create a second connection cavity.
• connection cavities have shapes corresponding to the shapes of locking elements with which they will be used.
• shaping station should be understood as meaning components that facilitate shaping of a composite sandwich panel.
• the shaping station limits expansion of a bulk material to thereby shape to sandwich panel.
• the shaping station includes a dual belt roller press.
• This component applies pressure to the two sheets of casing materials from opposing sides to limit the expansion of the filler material. Accordingly, the dual belt press assists in setting the thickness of sandwich panels manufactured according the present invention.
• the shaping station may include secondary rollers and belts.
• conveyer belts may engage side edges of the filler material as this passes through the shaping station. This prevents the filler material spilling out of the edges of the casing materials.
• the shaping station may also include additional components to assist in shaping the composite sandwich panels according to the present invention.
• the shaping station may include an etching element which scrapes part of the filler material along the side edge so as to create a desired shape.
• the shaping station may include a taping device.
• the taping device prevents the side conveyers from sticking to the filler material.
• the present invention includes a cutting station.
• cutting station should be understood as meaning one or more components that are configured to cut composite sandwich panels into lengths.
• the cutting station includes an actuator and a cutting element
• the cutting element is a rotary saw as should be known to are skilled in the art.
• the characteristics and properties of the rotary saw are selected so as to enable the cutting element to cut through the censored casing material and filer material (once secure).
• the cutting elements may be in the form of serrated knives, or other cutting elements which can cut sections of sandwich panels manufactured according to the present invention.
• the cutting station may include a length determining apparatus.
• the "length determining apparatus" is configured to control the length of composite sandwich panels manufactured according to the present invention.
• the length determining apparatus is a combination of marking devices and sensors.
• the marking elements apply indications to the casing material corresponding to a length of panel to be produced.
• the sensors detect the markings and communicate to the cutting elements where to cut the panels exiting the shaping station.
• the invention enables continuous manufacturing of composite sandwich panel building elements. This is likely to significantly decrease the cost in manufacturing the building elements. For instance, the labour requirement required to position locking elements is removed. In addition, the time required to manufacture particular sections of panels is significantly decreased.
• securing of locking elements to the casing materials significantly simplifies the process of manufacturing a composite sandwich panel. Once the locking elements are secured to the casing material it is possible to easily connect the bulk materials to the casing elements.
• cam-lock connectors can only be achieved in a discontinuous process in which these are secured to the mould prior to attaching of bulk material (fillers).
• the industry cuts lengths of material and inserts those into a mould in a discontinuous process.
• the success of the present invention surprisingly disproves the industry wisdom.
• Figure 1 is a schematic of a system according to the present invention
• Figure 2 is an exploded view of a composite sandwich panel
• Figure 3 A is an end on view showing side edges of two sheets of casing materials forming a female edge of composite building element
• Figure 3B is an end on view showing side edges of two sheets of casing materials forming a male edge of a composite building element
• Figure 3C is an end on view showing interaction of male and female side edges of adjacent composite building elements according to the present invention.
• Figure 3D is an end on view of two adjacent panels secured together;
• Figure 4A is an end on view of a male locking element;
• Figure 4B is a front on view of Figure 4A;
• Figure 5A is an end on view of a female locking element;
• Figure 5B is a front view of Figure 5A;
• Figure 6 is an exploded view of male and female locking elements;
• Figure 7 is functional architecture showing connectivity of components of a system according to the present invention;
• Figure 8 is a close up side view of a feed station according to the present
• Figures 9A & 9B are close up views of a case forming station
• Figures 10A & 10B are side views showing transition between a case forming station and a shaping station
• Figure 1 is a side view of an insert station and a shaping station
• Figure 12 is a side view of a cutting station.
• composite sandwich panel (3) has a first layer of casing material (4) and a second layer of casing material (5). Side edges (6, 7) of the layers of casing material (4, 5) are deformed so as to define a female side edge, generally indicated as (8).
• a male locking element (12) and a female locking element (13) are secured to the layer of casing material (4) so that in-use locking elements (12, 13) can engage with a complementary locking element on an adjacent panel.
• the male and female edges (11 , 8) are complementary. Therefore, the male side edge (11 ) can extend into the female edge (8). This is as generally as shown in Figures 3 and 3DB.
• the gap between layers of casing material (4, 5), generally indicated as (14) is filled with a bulk material in the form of a polyurethane foam.
• a polyurethane foam For simplicities sake the polyurethane foam is not shown in the Figures.
• the system (1 ) generally includes:
• the method of using the (1 ) is continuous meaning that sandwich panels (3) are produced from the shaping station (19) in indefinite lengths.
• the components of the system (1 ) are linked to and in communication with a computer processing apparatus (22).
• the computer processing apparatus is configured to control operation of each of the components of the system (1 ). This may include the speed at which the system (1 ) produces sandwich panels (3), or other parameters of the system's operation.
• the feed station (15) includes a first decoiler (23) holding a first roll (24) and a second decoiler (25) holding a second roll (26) of casing material in the form of steel.
• the casing material on roll (24) will be casing material (4) while the material of roll (26) will be casing material (5) in sandwich panel (3). Therefore the casing material provided by rolls (24, 26) being fed through the system (1 ) will be referred to as (4, 5).
• Each of the rolls (24, 26) is coated with a food grade quality coating, in the form of paint (not shown).
• the first and second decoilers (23, 25) include drive means (27, 28) configured to rotate the first and second rolls (24, 26). This facilitates feeding of lengths of casing material into the case forming station.
• the feed station (15) also includes secondary decoilers (29, 30) as are shown in Figure 8.
• the secondary decoilers (29, 30) facilitate continuous manufacturing of composite sandwich panels (3).
• the secondary decoilers (29, 30) are configured to feed casing material that can be joined to an end of casing material on the first and second rolls (24, 26). This is as should be understood by one skilled in the art.
• Accumulators indicated as (31 ) hold additional length of the casing material (4, 5). This facilitates securing ends of casing materials on rolls on decoilers (23, 25, 29, 30) together and thereby provision of a continuous method. This is as should be understood by one skilled in the art.
• Case forming station (16) includes a first roll press (32) and second roll press (33).
• the first and second roll presses (32, 33) are each configured to deform a side edge (6, 7, 9, or 10) of the sheets of casing material (4, 5) as these pass therethrough. Reformation of the side edges (6, 7, 9 or 10) creates connection cavities (100).
• the connection cavities (100) are best seen in Figures 3C and 3D.
• Insert station (18) includes first insert robot (34) and second insert robot (35) mounted on a carriage (36).
• the carriage (36) is configured to move along the direction of movement of the casing materials (4, 5) as these move from first and second roll presses (32, 33) towards filling station (21 ).
• the first and second insert robots (34, 35) and carriage (36) are substantially below casing material (4) and above casing material (5) e.g. the carriage (36) is in between the sheets of casing material (4, 5).
• a store (not shown) of male locking elements (12) is positioned adjacent to first insert robot (34).
• a store (not shown) of female locking elements (13) is positioned adjacent to second robot insert (35).
• Each of the first and second insert robots (34, 35) is configured to pick up a locking element (12 or 13) from a store and insert that into a connection cavity in the sheets of casing material (4, 5).
• a heating station (17) in the form of infrared heaters is configured to heat the casing material (4, 5) as this passes from the case forming station (16) to the filling station (21 ).
• Filling station (21 ) includes an injection mechanism, indicated generally as (37).
• the injection mechanism (37) is configured to deliver a polyurethane foam under pressure, which facilitates mixing of components in the foam.
• the injection mechanism (37) is as should be known to those skilled in the art.
• the shaping station (19) includes a dual belt press including a top press element (38) and a bottom press element (39).
• the spacing of the top and bottom press elements can be altered.
• the top and bottom press elements (38, 39) are commercially available moulds currently used in the known systems for continuous manufacture of composite sandwich panel building elements. Accordingly, the top and bottom press elements (38, 39) are as should be known to one skilled in the art.
• the shaping station (16) also includes taping devices (not visible).
• the taping devices are configured to apply a tape material to a polyurethane foam, in the gaps between side edges (6 - 10) of casing materials (4, 5).
• Supplementary belt presses are position to be on distal side of casing materials (4, 5) to each other, and extend along the direction of travel of casing materials (4, 5).
• the supplementary presses are configured to apply pressure to the sheets of casing material (4, 5) as they pass therethrough. This, in combination with the controlling of the spacing of the top and bottom press elements (38, 39), assists in controlling the volume to which the polyurethane foam can expand.
• the secondary press (42) prevents polyurethane foam expanding beyond the side edges of casing materials (4, 5).
• the system (1 ) also includes supplementary rollers (41 ) and conveyors (42).
• the rollers (41 ) and conveyors (42) assist in moving the casing materials (4, 5) through components according to the present invention.
• Cutting station (20) includes a carriage (43) and cutting element (44) in the form of a rotary saw.
• the carriage (43) is configured to move the rotary saw along the direction of movement of the casing material (4, 5). Accordingly, the carriage facilitates the cutting element (44) cutting the casing material (4, 5) as this exits from the shaping station (19) without the need to stop the feed of casing materials (4, 5). Accordingly, it is possible to produce sandwich panels (3) according to the present invention continuously in the form of a marking.
• a marking device (45) is configured to apply a visual indication onto a sheet of casing material (4).
• the marking is identified by sensor (46) in cutting station (20).
• the computer processing apparatus (22) receives a signal indicative of marking and sends instructions to cutting element (44) to cut sandwich panel (3) at a desired length.
• the male locking element (12) is formed from a first part (47) and a second part (48).
• First part has a body (49) and a foot portion (50). In use, foot (50) abuts an inner surface of a casing material (4).
• the second part (48) includes a housing (51 ).
• the housing has a locking member (52) rotatably mounted therein.
• An opening (53) in top surface (54) of housing (51 ) enables a key (not shown) to be used to engage and rotate the locking member (52).
• a side (55) of the housing (51 ) has an aperture (56).
• the aperture (56) enables the member (52) to protrude from housing (51 ) and to engage with a female locking element (13) in an adjacent composite sandwich panel (3) when the locking elements (12, 13) are in use.
• Each leg (60) extend away from the body (49).
• Each leg (60) has an upturned lip (61 ).
• Top surface (57) of first part (49) has a plurality of apertures (58).
• the apertures (58) are configured to receive detents (58B) on housing (51 ).
• apertures (58) and detents (58B) engage in a press fit manner so as to secure first part (47) and second part (48) together.
• Foot (50) has a plurality of apertures 50B.
• the apertures provided a lattice work web.
• a polyurethane foam can expand through the lattice work web to facilitate securing the locking element (12) with respect to casing materials (4, 5) and thereby forming of a sandwich panel (3).
• Female locking element (13) is formed from a first part (62) and a second part (63).
• the first part (62) has a body (62B) and a foot (64).
• the foot (64) extends away from body (62B).
• the foot (64) has a step, indicated as (65).
• the second part (63) has a housing (66).
• a female locking member (not shown) is secured in housing (66).
• Side (68) of housing (66) has an aperture (68B). This enables rotation of male locking member to extend through aperture (69) into the housing (66) and engage the female locking element (not shown) so as to secure the locking elements (12, 13) together.
• First part (62) top surface (69), has a plurality of apertures (70).
• the apertures (70) are configured to receive detents (71 ) on housing (66).
• the apertures (70) and detents (71 ) engage in a press fit manner so as to secure first and second parts together (62, 63).
• the first parts (62, 47) can be selected to have a height corresponding to the size of panel (3) being manufactured. This is important to ensure that second parts (48, 63) are positioned substantially within the centre of a panel.
• the locking elements (12, 13) are made from a reinforced plastics material. This is beneficial in reducing transfer of heat through composite sandwich panels according to the present inventions.
• the desired parameters for panels (3) to be produced by the system (1 ) are input to computer processing apparatus (22). This may include selection of:
• the computer processing apparatus calculates parameters for operation of the system (1 ), including:
• feed rate This should be understood as referring to the rate (meters per minute) of casing material entering into shaping station. It should be understood that reference to the term “feed rate” also describes the rate of movement of the casing material along its direction of travel at other stages of the system (1 ).
• the computer processing apparatus sends instructions to the components of the system (1 ).
• Decoilers (23, 25) are engaged to rotate so as to feed casing materials (4, 5) into roll formers.
• Roll presses (32, 33) deform side edges (7 -10) of casing materials (4, 5).
• the shape of the side edges of the casing materials (4, 5) as these exit from roll presses (25, 35) is best seen in Figures 3A - 3C.
• Rotation of roll presses (32, 33) feeds casing material (4, 5) towards and through insert station (18).
• First insert robot (34) engages and lifts a male locking element (12) and second insert robot (35) engages and lifts a female locking element (13).
• the robots position locking elements (12, 13) with respect to side edges of casing material (4).
• Carriage (36) moves arms along direction of travel at the feed rate.
• the insert robots push locking members (12, 13) so that the lip (61 ) and step (65) are each inserted into one of the connection cavities(100).
• Carriage (36) returns robots (34, 35) to the start point so that they can secure subsequent locking elements (12, 13) to casing material (4).
• Marker device (45) applies markings to a top surface of casing material (4).
• the markings indicate the division between two panels being manufactures by system (1 ), and corresponds to the location at which cutting element (44) must cut the panel exiting from the shaping station.
• Heating station (17) applies infrared radiation to casing elements (4, 5) so as to heat these to a temperature between 40 - 50°C.
• Filing station (21 ) delivers a polyurethane foam into casing material (5) according to instructions sent by the computer programming apparatus.
• the polyurethane foam may vary in blowing agent delivered, foam ingredients so as to alter properties such as fire resistance and/or insulative values, or volume of polyurethane foam delivered.
• casing material (5) which has been deformed by roll press (33) forms a tray to receive the polyurethane foam.
• the foam starts to expand as casing materials (4, 5) moves from filing station (22) towards shaping station (19).
• the rate of travel of casing material (5) from filling station to shaping station (19) allows the polyurethane foam to cure.
• the curing time is determined according to parameters as should be known by one skilled in the art. The cure time will depend on the parameters for the composite sandwich panel (3) being produced. It may also vary according to the distance between filling station (22) and shaping station (19).
• Casing materials (4, 5) converge to have a separation substantially equal to the desired thickness of panel (3).
• the locking elements (12, 13) are substantially submerged within polyurethane foam.
• the foam's expansion causes the foam to fill in the apertures in first parts of locking elements.
• Taping devices (not shown) apply tape to polyurethane foam in the gap between side edges (7 - 0) of casing materials (4, 5).
• Shaping station (19) applies pressure to the top and bottom surfaces of casing materials (4, 5) and to polyurethane via taped material.
• the shaping station (19) limits expansion of the polyurethane foam. Therefore, the shaping station defines the dimensions of the panel.
• the time taken for casing materials (4, 5) to move between filling station (21 ) and shaping station (19) is determined according to the rise time required to achieve a panel (3) having desired dimensions. This is as should be understood by one skilled in the art.
• the sheets of casing material (4, 5) with the polyurethane foam exit the shaping station (19) and are continuously fed into the cutting station (20).
• the marking device (45) applies a visual indication onto a sheet of casing material (4).
• the carriage (43) moves the rotary saw along the direction of movement of the casing materials (4, 5) at the identical rate of movement.
• the cutting element cuts the casing materials (4, 5) and the bulk material so as to provide a composite sandwich panel (3) having a desired length.
• the casing materials (4, 5) and bulk material continue to be fed out of shaping station.
• the carriage (43) returns the cutting element towards the shaping station ( 9). This enables the cutting element to cut the casing materials (4, 5) and bulk material to provide another composite sandwich panel (3) having a desired length. The above steps are repeated as necessary.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Casting Or Compression Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
• Building Environments (AREA)
• Finishing Walls (AREA)

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Citations (5)

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• 2013
  • 2013-03-30 SA SA113340432A patent/SA113340432B1/ar unknown
  • 2013-04-15 WO PCT/NZ2013/000066 patent/WO2013154442A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2013-04-15 AU AU2013247488A patent/AU2013247488B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2013-04-15 IN IN2321MUN2014 patent/IN2014MN02321A/en unknown
  • 2013-04-15 EP EP13775684.7A patent/EP2855790A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2013-04-15 US US14/394,471 patent/US9789676B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2017
  • 2017-01-19 AU AU2017200355A patent/AU2017200355A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2017-09-20 US US15/709,692 patent/US20180009208A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2018
  • 2018-08-06 AU AU2018213975A patent/AU2018213975A1/en not_active Abandoned

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