WO2018065553A1

WO2018065553A1 - Method and device for thermal planar welding of a plurality of material panels

Info

Publication number: WO2018065553A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/075427
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oliver Mance; Thorsten Koch
Original assignee: Robert Bürkle GmbH
Priority date: 2016-10-06
Filing date: 2017-10-05
Publication date: 2018-04-12
Also published as: DE102016120064A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for thermal planar welding of a plurality of material panels consisting of foamed and/or also non-foamed material, in which material panels (10, 11) are fed continuously to a welding station (D) by means of conveyor devices (20, 21). The material panel (10, 11) surfaces which are to face each other and be welded are subjected to the application of heat upstream of the welding station (D) by means of at least one heating element (15) located between said surfaces, such that at least one of these surfaces melts. The surfaces are then integrally interconnected under contact pressure, as the result of the preceding application of heat by said heating element (15). The features according to which the material panels (10, 11) are fed to the welding station (D) at an angle of less than 1° and preferably parallel to one another, the heating element (15) melts the surfaces of the material panels (10, 11) with contact, and the material panels (10, 11) are connected to one another positioned with an exact fit in the welding station (D), allow a method and device to be provided which allow the production of high quality material panels while achieving an energy-efficient process and a high working speed.

Description

Method and device for thermal, surface welding

several material plates

description

Related to related applications

The present application relates to and claims the priority of German Patent Application 10 2016 1 19 012.8, filed on 06.10.2016 and the German patent application 10 201 1 120 064.6, filed on 20.10.2016, the disclosure of which hereby expressly also in its entirety is made the subject of the present application.

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a method for the thermal, surface welding of a plurality of material plates made of foamed and / or non-foamed material having the features according to the preamble of claim 1 and an apparatus for thermal, surface welding of several such material plates with the features according to the preamble of claim 1. 1

Under a "surface" welding is a welding or joining any surfaces of material plates, as understood in particular insulating panels, wherein to increase the width of the longitudinal edges, to increase the length of the transverse edges and to increase the thickness or height of the insulating panels, the surfaces To melt the surfaces to be joined, a heat element is used which is arranged horizontally in the exemplary embodiments and has a small vertical height compared to its length also be arranged vertically or at any other angle.

State of the art

However, the main field of application of the present invention, to which the invention is not limited, is the lamination or doubling of hard foam boards which are used for the production of thermal barrier coatings, in particular for buildings. such Insulation boards are used to achieve sufficient thermal insulation due to current energy-saving regulations, especially in the construction and real estate sector and in the industry, in order to save non-renewable energy sources. Optimum heat insulation can significantly reduce the heating costs of a house. For this reason, in the past, plastic foam elements were used as insulating panels with particularly strong thicknesses of more than 100 mm for building insulation. For this purpose, especially insulating materials such as rigid polyurethane foam, expanded polystyrene foam or extruded polystyrene foam were known.

Extruded material plates are usually process-related in width and height, e.g. mostly limited to 600 to 1200 mm width and 100 mm height maximum with a plate width of 1200 mm and 240 mm height with a plate width of 600 mm. Basically, however, other widths and heights are conceivable.

However, after turning away from the CFC-containing propellants used in the past for foaming the material plates, difficulties have arisen in the production of such plastic plates. These difficulties increase significantly at least from a thickness of the material plates of more than 80 mm. At the same time, the insulating properties and the lambda value deteriorate in the case of material plates with a thickness of more than 80 mm, since the cell structure of the foam changes.

From the preamble of claim 1 underlying DE 10 2012 204 822 A1 discloses a method for permanent surface bonding of material plates made of foamed materials is known. The material plates are positioned one above the other, each with a conveyor in the desired orientation and coverage, one above the other

Welding station fed and moved along a separating blade. The positioning of the separating blade creates a gap with a defined gap width, in which a fixedly installed heating element, preferably a heating blade, arranged downstream of the separating blade is arranged. This heating blade softens by contact-free heat transfer at least one of the surfaces of the material plates to be joined or melts them. Subsequently, the material plates are joined together by pressing elements that press the material plates against each other so that adjusts a cohesive connection due to the previous heat application during pressing and subsequent cooling of the weld. Thus, multi-layer rigid foam boards can be produced or rigid foam boards are laminated. However, due to the arrangement of the separating blade and the heating sword in a gap, a diversion of the working required material plates, which can lead to bumps and bends of the finished joined material plate especially for larger thicknesses of material plates.

WO 2016/102292 A1 discloses a process for the production of at least two-ply thermoplastic sheets by thermal welding of sheets, the sheets having a different density. In this case, a plurality of heating elements are introduced on mutually offset planes between the output plates, without the surfaces of the heating elements touching the material plates. By appropriately selected distances different amounts of energy or heating power can be transferred to the surfaces to be joined together the output plates, which are then connected to each other.

From EP 2 724 843 A1 it is known to produce extruded foam plates of large thickness by welding a plurality of starting plates, wherein the weld is kept so thin by a short-term shock heating that the Wasserdampfdiffusionswi- resistance number compared to the output plates is increased as little as possible and a desired diffusion openness reach is. For the heating, a heating blade or a heating wedge is used as the heat source, or at least partially comes into contact with the contact surfaces of the output plates. The starting plates are fed at an angle of between 1 and 15 degrees (paragraph (0137)).

Conventionally, the welding of two material plates takes place cyclically in the mirror welding process, wherein the surfaces to be joined of the two material plates over the entire surface are heated by surface heat sources until fused. Thereafter, the mirrors are moved out and the two material plates accurately placed on each other and then pressed against each other until the melted surfaces of the material plates are cooled and thus creates a material connection of the two material plates. If necessary, then further plates can be applied to further increase the plate thickness. The mirrors are usually at a small distance of, for example, 0.3 mm from the material plates, so that the latter must be supplied very accurately. Due to the movement of the mirrors, there is also the danger that the melted surfaces will cool at different speeds. The mirror welding method has the disadvantage that only a small plate capacity / min. and a high energy input is required, since with each movement, the heat applied between the plates for melting is dissipated again. The said method has in common that on the one hand a limitation of the geometry is given by the fact that the extrusion width and / or the extrusion thickness are limited. In addition, a convertibility of an extruder for an order-related production is associated with a high degree of waste and effort until the process is stable and reproducible. Optimum lambda values are achieved up to a thickness of approx. 80 mm, after which the values in the individual plates reduce with increasing thickness.

If the starting plates are made as usual in the art at an angle of e.g. fed to five degrees or more, this leads to a lower performance and thickness limitation of the upper insulation board due to the associated curvature.

Summary of the invention

Starting from this prior art, the present invention is based on the object to provide a method and an apparatus for the surface thermal welding of material plates, which allows the production of high-quality material panels at the same time energy-efficient process and high operating speed.

This object is achieved by a method and a device for thermal, surface welding of a plurality of material plates made of foamed and / or non-foamed materials with the features of claim 1 or 1 1. Advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims. The features listed individually in the claims can be combined in a technologically meaningful manner and can be supplemented by explanatory facts from the description and by details from the figures, with further embodiments of the invention are shown.

The method and the device for carrying out the method allow welding any surfaces of material plates, in particular Dämmstoffplat- th. In order to increase the width of the longitudinal edges, to increase the length of the transverse edges and to increase the thickness or height of the insulating panels Surfaces of the insulating panels themselves are welded together. The invention makes use of the fact that by feeding in parallel with an angle of delivery of less than 1 °, a continuous process with continuous feeding of the material plates is possible even with rigid material plates. In this case, the heat element, which is preferably designed as a heating sword, touches the surfaces of the material plates and melts them before the actual welding or joining process. By the direct contact of the heat element to the material plates can be worked in an optimized temperature range, which melts just as much of the material plate, as required for the subsequent joining process. As a result, the weld can be kept very thin, which among other things contributes to the diffusion-open nature of the end products produced. Since the melting takes place immediately before the actual welding process, and also the heat element does not have to be removed from the gap, the process can be operated with relatively little energy. The low thermal conductivity of the material plates also has the advantage that heat from the minimum gap with parallel or nearly parallel feeding of the material plates can hardly escape. Compared to a feeding of the material plates at an angle at which the air around the heat element around "is pushed out" in the welding station and thus heat energy is dissipated, compared to the previously known continuously operating method results in a significantly lower energy consumption for heating the heating element for melting the plates to be joined surfaces of the material.

The parallel or nearly parallel feed of the material plates also has the advantage that significantly less height is required in a device according to the invention. This is to set up, align or position the material plates to each other, e.g. create a fold or a tongue and groove on the material plates, now possible directly in the welding station. This reduces the construction costs for corresponding positioning mechanisms, as they are customary in the prior art. At the same time reduce the hitherto required changeover times, since even with a small stock of material plates in the short term, a large range of geometry can be covered in to be produced material plates. This leads to a high degree of flexibility and low storage capacities in the manufacturing companies. Any thicknesses, widths and lengths of material plates can be produced in one station as well as in several stations. A reworking after the joining process can be avoided or at least minimized, since a high precision is ensured by the location close to the welding station. This also reduces possible waste by reworking considerably and thus contributes to a resource-saving handling of the required raw materials.

At the same time, the throughput rate can be increased to, for example, up to 200 m ³ / h, above all in the production of four or more layered plates, by allowing several plates to be welded together in a continuous process. It is advantageous if the material plates are measured during the feeding and positioned in the welding station to each other. As a result, the efficiency can be increased further, since the exact position of the plates is already known at the time of joining.

Preferably, the material plates are positioned accurately to each other only in the welding station itself. The later the positioning takes place, the easier it is to ensure positioning, as long as it is ensured that the positioning can keep up with the throughput of the material plates.

Preferably, after a surface treatment, in particular with one of the planner shafts of the surfaces to be joined, the material plates are fed directly to the welding station. Due to the parallel or nearly parallel feed in connection with the dynamic planner shaft adjustment with a processing of the material plates above and / or below, a turning station and / or Plattenhubstation can be saved.

The heating element is preferably a heating bar, wherein a plurality of heating elements may also be provided, in particular if several layers of material plates, i. in particular, more than two layers are welded together.

In a preferred embodiment, the heating element has a plurality of surfaces which can be tempered to different temperatures. It is particularly advantageous if the heating element is heated to different temperatures on separate surfaces by means of separate heating means. The independently installed heating means such as eg heating resistors or heating circuits can be operated, for example, in the temperature range from 100 ° C. to 400 ° C., the temperature being dependent on the respective softening temperatures of the materials. About the heating means, the surfaces can then be tempered so that a material plate on one surface and the other on the opposite surface of the heat element are guided past contact. Likewise, as an alternative or in addition, the material plates can be supplied to the surfaces of the heat element with different contact pressure. In both cases, this allows special features of the individual material plates, such as their density, structure, material properties to be dealt with as needed, so that identical but also different material plates can be treated "in a manner appropriate to the species" before they are welded together. It is advantageous if the material plates with a small distance parallel or almost parallel with an angle of less than 1 ° are fed to the heating element. The preferred gap dimension is less than or equal to 10 mm, but preferably a smaller gap of 5 mm or even no gap is present, ie the plates are superimposed on the heat element. This can go so far in the field of welding station that the material plates are fed quasi with a negative gap of, for example, up to minus 4 mm the heat element. This is to be equated with an already existing melting of the surfaces. Due to the small or no gap enters a thermal insulation of the heat element, so that with low energy optimal melting of the material plates can be achieved at the surfaces to be welded together.

If more than two layers of material plates welded together, several at least in one direction transverse to the transport direction of the material plates offset heat elements may be provided so that each located between the material plates gap is associated with at least one heat element. If necessary, the fused surfaces of the material plates can also be connected to one another simultaneously in a welding station. Especially for rigid insulation boards as material plates, the method has been found to be particularly suitable, even if they have the same thickness, as occurring by the parallel, in particular symmetrical feeding occurring after welding curvatures of the finished material panels are sustainable avoided. The thermal element is preferably self-cleaning due to the continuous and contact-related passing of the material plates so that residual material adhering to the surface of the surfaces is reliably dissipated and, for example, can contribute to the joining process of the next material plate. The stated object is also achieved by a device for thermal, surface welding of a plurality of material plates. In this case, a first conveyor and a second conveyor for continuously feeding the material plates to the welding station are provided. Upstream of the welding station, the heating element is arranged. Pressing elements downstream of the heating element provide for the joining process, which is possible due to the previous application of heat by the heating element and leads to the fluid connection of the material plates. The first subsidy dereinrichtung and the at least one further conveyor are at least in the region of the welding station at an angle of less than 1 °, preferably arranged parallel to each other, which allows a gentle supply of even rigid insulating panels. The arrangement of the heat element touching the surfaces of the material plates can be accomplished with relatively little energy, a melting of the surfaces. The parallel feed contributes to the fact that relatively little air reaches the heating element, which is at the same time arranged between heat-insulating material plates. This also contributes to an energy-efficient melting. The heat element is preferably arranged directly in the welding station, so that the joining process can take place immediately after the melting process. Means for positioning the material plates to each other are associated with the welding station, as by the parallel feed positioning shortly before or preferably in the welding station to achieve an optimum result is possible. As a result, the cost of reworking after the joining process and the accumulation of material waste can be reduced.

In a preferred embodiment, the heating element has a plurality of surfaces which can be tempered to different temperatures, or the material plates are fed to the heating element at different pressure or different "draft", i.e. with a quasi "negative" gap. As a result, it is possible to specifically address the different characteristics of the material plates to be joined together. The tempering is accomplished in a particularly preferred manner by separate heating means.

Preferably, the heat element is such that there is no adhesion of residual material of the melted surfaces of the material plates. This can be achieved by e.g. appropriate coatings and polishing of the heat element can be ensured. This allows a guide of the material plates close to the heat element to facilitate the parallel feed.

According to the apparatus, the conveyors for conveying the material plates are arranged so that plates between the material forms a gap less than or equal to 10 mm, preferably between 5 and 0 mm. The material plates can also be supplied to the thermal element with a negative gap of, for example, up to minus 4 mm. Due to the low to no or even negative gap and the small angle in the feeder, the material can be supplied with a low overall height. If necessary, in the gap in front of the heat element, a separating element can be used as a positioning aid whose height is less than or equal to the height of the heat element. After the heating element The material plates are joined together, so that virtually results in a gap with a "negative gap" less than zero.

Preferably, the gap is tuned to the vertical height corresponding to the vertical extent of the thermal element. This leads to a low-friction and low-wear promotion along the heating element.

If several conveyors provided for supplying at least three layers of material plates, preferably also a plurality of heat elements are provided which are offset from one another at least in one direction transversely to the transport direction of the material plates. As a rule, with horizontal feed of the material plates and horizontally arranged heat element, the heat elements then lie vertically one above the other, but they can be exactly offset one above the other in the transport direction. As a result, it is possible to produce a multilayer end product with at least one heat element per layer, preferably in only one welding station.

In a welding of longitudinal and transverse edges of the material plates, the at least one heat element can also be arranged vertically standing. As a result, the material plates can be reliably and positionally supplied to the heating element, so that joining processes along the edges of material plates are easy to implement.

Further advantages emerge from the dependent claims and the following description of a preferred embodiment. Brief description of the figures

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures. 1 shows a schematic representation of a process sequence according to the invention,

2 is an enlarged view of the conveyor with material plates arranged thereon in the region of the welding station D in section,

2 shows an enlarged detail from FIG. 2 in the region of the heating blade 15, FIG. 4 shows a representation according to FIG. 2 with a plurality of material plates to be joined at the same time, Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a known method according to the prior art.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments are only examples that are not intended to limit the inventive concept to a particular arrangement. Before the invention is described in detail, it should be noted that it is not limited to the respective components of the device and the respective method steps, since these components and methods may vary. The terms used herein are intended only to describe particular embodiments and are not intended to be limiting. Furthermore, if the singular or indefinite articles are used in the description or claims, this also applies to the majority of these elements, unless the overall context clearly indicates otherwise.

Fig. 5 shows schematically a method for the thermal, surface welding of several material plates of foamed materials according to the prior art, as e.g. from DE 10 2012 204 822 A1 is known. The existing there machines A to D are surrounded by dashed lines for explanation.

In the working direction from left to right first material plates 10 and further material plates 1 1 are supplied. The material plates 10 are arranged on a conveyor 20, the material plates 1 1 on a conveyor 21, which is formed in the original example by a vacuum conveyor. From left to right in FIG. 5, the material plates first arrive at a planner shaft 18 with which a surface treatment in region A takes place from above. The machine B is a vacuum transfer station, in which now the material plates 1 1 are received by the vacuum belt conveyor. Depending on the length of the plate one or two or more plates are fed and then turned by 180 °. Then, the number of plates machined correspondingly on the opposite surface, so that corresponding pairs of pairs form, which then run into the Plattenhub- and positioning station C. The Plattenhub- and positioning station C then performs the material plates at an angle accurately positioned the welding station D to. At the end of the welding station D is a heating sword as a heating element 15, which melts the surfaces of the material plates. In the subsequent process, nerisch not shown manner, the material plates 10, 1 1 pressed against each other via pressure rollers 25 and so firmly bonded together.

Fig. 1 shows the corresponding inventive method for thermal, surface welding of several material plates 10, 1 1 of foamed and / or not foamed material, i. not only foamed materials can be joined together with the method. A "planar" welding is understood as a welding or joining any surfaces of material plates, wherein to increase the width of the longitudinal edges, to increase the length of the transverse edges and to increase the thickness or height of the insulating panels, the surfaces of the insulating panels themselves welded together become.

It is striking that in comparison with FIG. 5, neither a vacuum reversing station nor a separate positioning station is required. Evident are the dashed framed device A for surface treatment, which is carried out alternately at the top or bottom or at the top and bottom with dynamic shaft adjustment. For this purpose, corresponding planner shafts 18 are provided. The material plates are alternately attached to the top or bottom of a conveyor 20, 21, so that a continuous transport, e.g. is guaranteed as a vacuum transport.

Since the plates according to the invention according to FIG. 1 in parallel and with respect to their surfaces already above and / or below, for. can be fed processed by the dynamically adjustable planetary wave, they can be fed directly to the dashed framed welding station D without a vacuum turning station, in which a corresponding Plattenhubstation is provided or integrated. Due to the parallel feeding of the material plates to the relatively thin heat element can be dispensed with the lifting station and due to the dynamic planner adjustment on the vacuum transfer station. The further material plates 1 1 can be fed to a vacuum conveyor line 21, while the material plates 10 are arranged on the conveyor 20, which may also be designed as a vacuum conveyor. At the end of the welding station D is the heat element in addition to the already in the conveying direction 14, the pressing means in the form of pressure rollers 25 can be seen.

Preferably, the material plate 10 after entry from the conveyor 21, for example, a hanging vacuum conveyor, are pressed into a lower position, so that the next material plate 1 1 can run over the first material plate. This is in Fig. 1 at the second position recognizable. This leads to a process that is more optimal than the prior art for highest throughput through plate pair formation in a two-level process. Between the individual material plates can be driven with a minimum gap, since the first material plate with eg 9.8 m / s ² can be accelerated and at high plate performance, the plates are of small thickness.

In the third position, the conveyor 21 has slightly lowered from the previous second position to deliver the desired gap. This is the principle of angular transfer in two planes, which contributes to high throughput. It is only a small drop height of e.g. only 100 mm drop height instead of 700 to 1300 mm with a horizontal Abschubstrecke. At the same time in this station, the plate pair is formed, which can then run directly into the welding station D.

Due to the dynamic shaft adjustment, an alternating machining of the upper and lower surface is to take place, which must be set in the partial gap between the material plates in the pass. The material panels are regularly provided with a skin that is to be removed for processing on the welding sides. Due to the heating element and the reciprocal dynamic planner shaft adjustment, which in the exemplary embodiment covers approximately 10 mm in the exemplary embodiment, the turning station can be dispensed with.

According to the method, at least one first material plate 10 is continuously fed to the welding station D by means of a first conveying device 20 and at least one further material plate 11 by means of at least one further conveying device 21. This means that more than two layers of material plates are supplied and more than two conveyors can be provided. The facing to be welded surfaces 10a, 1 1 a of a pair of plates forming material plates 10, 1 1 are applied as shown in FIG. 3 upstream of the welding station D by means of at least one located between the surfaces of the heat element 15 so heat that at least one of these surfaces 10a, 1 1 a melts. Thus, more than one heat element 15 can be provided between the plates to be joined to one another. In addition, it is possible to arrange a plurality of heat elements 15 offset from each other between several layers of material plates and then to accelerate the plates to one another. Subsequent to the melting of the surfaces 10a, 11a, the surfaces 10a, 11a to be pointed toward one another become materially cohesive with contact pressure due to the preceding application of heat by the thermal element 15 connected. This process is very energy efficient, which will be discussed in more detail.

According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the material plates 10, 11 are fed parallel or nearly parallel to the welding station 15 at an angle of less than 1 °. The heat element 15 touches the surfaces 10a, 11a of the material plates 10, 11 and melts them directly. Due to the parallel feed, it is possible to position the material plates 10, 1 1 in the welding station D or near the welding station D accurately to each other and to connect with each other. Preferably, the precise positioning can also be done only in the welding station D, and it is advantageous that the material plates are measured and positioned during the feed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the heat element 15 can have a plurality of surfaces 15a, 15b which can be temperature-controlled to different temperatures. This can be achieved in particular by separate heating means 16, 17, which ensure that opposing surfaces 15a, 15b of the heating element 15 - in Fig. 3 below and above the heating element - are heated to different temperatures. It is also alternatively or additionally possible to supply the material plates with different contact pressure to the heating element. The heating means are electrical heating means such as e.g. Resistance heaters as well as heating circuits with suitable temperature control. Such heating means are known to those skilled in the art.

Thus, the first material plate 10 on one surface 15a and the further material plate 1 1 on the opposite other surface 15b of the heat element 15 are guided past contact. This makes it possible, above all, to melt not only the same but also different material plates. Depending on the density, material composition, composition and / or thickness of the material plate can be targeted to work with certain temperature ranges in order to achieve a gentle melting of the surfaces to be joined. As a result, the weld skin can be adjusted as thick as necessary in order to be able to insert the material plates, but also to set them as thin as possible, in order thereby to impair as little as possible the water-diffusion resistance factor compared to the starting plates.

At the same time, the desired temperature for melting the surfaces can be achieved with relatively little energy by arranging the heat element 15 between the material plates 10, 11, which may be supplied in parallel with a small gap 13. the. On the one hand there is no additional Luftein- or -austrag, which provides for an undesirable removal of heat energy, on the other hand is the heat element 15 between the material plates 10, 1 1, which have a low thermal conductivity and thus isolate the heat element 15 at the same time in position , This contributes to a highly energy-efficient joining process. At the same time, only as much material is melted as is required for the joining process, so that a very thin

Weld seam can be achieved. This in turn contributes to a good diffusion-openness of the end product also in the area of the weld. For this purpose, the material plates are not only as parallel or nearly parallel as possible, but also with a minimum distance with a gap, e.g. less than or equal to 10 mm, preferably with a gap between 5 and 0 mm supplied to the heat element 15. This can also go so far in the area of the welding station that the material plates have a quasi negative gap of e.g. be supplied to the heating element 15 to minus 4 mm. Due to the small to negative gap, the material can be supplied with a low overall height. If necessary, in the gap in front of the heat element, a separating element 23 can be used as a positioning aid whose height is less than or equal to the height of the heat element. After the heating element, the material plates are joined together, so that virtually results in a gap with a "negative gap" less than zero.

If more than three layers of material plates 10, 10 ', 11', 11 'according to FIG. 4 are to be welded together, they become a plurality of heat elements 15, 15' offset transversely to the transport direction 14 of the material plates (in FIG. 4 vertically offset) fed and connected as possible in a welding station D. In this case, but also in only two layers, dividing elements 23 can additionally be provided as positioning aid, which are arranged in the transport direction in front of the heating element 15. However, in order to ensure the contact of the material plates 10, 10 ', 1 1, 1 1', the height of these separating elements is matched to the height of the heat element and usually smaller than the height of the heat element 15. It goes without saying, however, that several welding stations D can be provided if the process or the material requires it.

Preferably, the material plates may also be rigid insulating panels, for example, have the same thickness. Due to the parallel feed, no curvature of the material plates 10, 11 in the feed is required, so that also several material plates For example, each with a thickness of 200 mm can be joined together by this method.

By means of the method, any continuous surfaces and thicknesses of insulating panels of extruded standard formats can be produced in the case of a continuous supply of the welding partners, that is to say the material panels. A subsequent cut to any geometric shapes and surfaces is possible. In this case, the limits of the extrusion in the production of the material plates can be taken into account and it can be used material plates with optimum lambda values readily. At the same time, high throughput rates are easily possible. In addition, the process can also be significantly simplified in the production of multilayer boards with more than two layers.

The material plates are fed continuously via conveyors 20, 21 such as vacuum conveyors. The material plates 10, 1 1 to be joined are preferably aligned and positioned precisely in front of the welding station D and then guided along the heat element 15 and fused, so that they can then be joined together immediately afterwards under contact pressure. Optionally, the joined plates are then fed to a further assembly. The material plates 10, 1 1 are parallel to each other or at least almost parallel to each other with a possibly small gap 13 of about 10 mm, preferably 5 mm or even without or with a negative gap, fed to the welding station. The upper material plate 1 1 can be positioned by hanging vacuum conveyor as a conveyor 21 to the desired gap height. The material plates are suitably processed in the upstream planning station A by means of planner shafts 18 alternately above and / or below, so that only one planning station is required. The parallel feeding with a small or no gap 13 eliminates the lifting and turning process and thus the vacuum reversing station, which regularly represents the bottleneck in the maximum performance of a continuous thermobonding station as a welding station. The apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a first conveyor 10 for continuously feeding a first material plate 10 to a welding station D and a further conveyor 21 for continuously feeding at least one further material plate 1 1 to the welding station D. At least one heating element 15 is arranged upstream of the welding station between the surfaces 10a, 11a of the material plates 10, 11 to be welded onto one another which are to be welded together. About pressing elements, which are arranged downstream of the heating element 15 and in the embodiment by the pressure rollers 25 are formed, the material plates 10, 1 1 downstream of the heat element 15 are pressed against each other, so that connect the surfaces facing each other due to the previous heat application by the heat element 15 materially. The first conveyor 20 and the at least one further conveyor 21 are at an angle of less than 1 °, at least in the region of the welding station D, preferably they are parallel to each other. The heating element 15 is arranged relative to the conveyors 20, 21 so that it contacts the surfaces 10a, 11a of the material plates 10, 11. The welding station D are associated with means for positioning the material plates 10, 1 1 to each other. Preferably, the means for positioning the material plates are provided in the welding station D itself.

The heat element 15 may have a plurality of surfaces 15a, 15b, which are temperature-controlled to different temperatures. This is preferably done by separate heating means 16, 17. The conveyor 20 and the conveyor 21 for conveying the material plates 10 and 1 1 are arranged so that forms the desired gap between the material plates, which preferably has a vertical height, the the vertical extent of the heat element 15 is equal to or smaller than this height. If several layers of material plates are supplied, there is a corresponding gap or at least one corresponding thermal element between each layer of the material plates according to FIG. 4. In addition, separating elements 23, e.g. be provided as a positioning aid upstream of the one or more heat elements 15, 15 '. These plurality of heat elements 15, 15 'are offset from each other at least in a direction transverse to the transport direction 14 of the material plates, i. in the embodiment, they are vertically above one another, but they could also be offset in the transport direction 14 to each other.

With the method and apparatus and rigid insulation boards can be supplied continuously, pre-aligned, aligned, prepositioned the welding station D are supplied. The material plates can be joined together longitudinally, transversely and in multiple layers. A welding of identical and dissimilar materials possibly also with different melting temperatures is possible with appropriate design of the heating element 15.

The heating element is a heating blade or a thin heating wire, wherein the material plates are guided past the heating element continuously. The heating element 15 can be operated permanently and / or clocked. For example, the heat element can be subjected to a short time with higher energy before the supply of the semifinished product to be welded become. Preferably, the heat element 15 is equipped with a control unit, such as a temperature sensor, a temperature control or control.

The surface of the heat element 15 is preferably designed so that an adhesion of the material to be welded is reduced or completely excluded. This can be achieved on the one hand by a surface treatment e.g. be achieved with a coating or a special surface design to a polish. However, the heating element 15 is also process-based self-cleaning, since the material plates are continuously passed contact-contacting the heat element.

The heating element is e.g. a thin, heatable steel band.

About the heat element 15, a high energy density must be introduced. The energy must be supplied quickly or dynamically. If necessary, cooling can also be effected in a targeted manner via the Peltier effect. The temperature ranges at which the heat element 15 is operated, depend on the material to be welded. A temperature of 100 to 400 ° C is usually required. The concrete surface temperature of the material to be welded depends on the recommended processing temperatures of the materials to be joined.

The heat element 15 must also be mechanically durable and heat-resistant. It should have the lowest possible thermal expansion or it must be provided a device for permanent compensation of thermal expansion, such. a bias with weights, springs or the like. Multi-layer welding can take place in one station and in one work step. It is also possible to supply more than two plates, as long as it is ensured that the plate surfaces are fed in parallel or nearly parallel.

The positioning should preferably allow an exact feed, so that before, during and after joining a plate offset minimized, excluded, targeted and reworking is largely avoided. This can be assisted, for example, by measuring the material plates during the process and positioning them in relation to each other so that the most exact possible positioning results. The supply via the conveyors 20, 21 can eg with vacuum bands, air bags, mangle rolls, alignment rolls, driven stop rulers, stationary or ange- drove, slide or pusher done. In the case of a multi-layer feed is possible below by vacuum belts and in the middle, for example by a lateral conveyor 22 as shown in FIG. 4 at the outer edges. Also conceivable are slides and pushers or lateral guides and slats.

It will be understood that this description is susceptible of various modifications, changes and adaptations, ranging from equivalents to the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10, 10 'first material plate

10a surface

1 1, 1 1 'further material plate

1 1 a surface

13 gap

14 transport direction

15 heat element

15a, 15b surface

16, 17 heating medium

18 Planner shaft

20 first conveyor

21 more conveyor

22 lateral conveyor

23 separating element

25 pressure roller

A surface treatment

B vacuum transfer station

C plate lifting and positioning device

D welding station

Claims

claims

1 . Method for the thermal, surface welding of a plurality of material plates made of foamed and / or non-foamed material,

wherein at least one first material plate (10) by means of a first conveyor (20) and at least one further material plate (1 1) by means of at least one further conveyor (21) are each fed continuously to a welding station (D)

wherein facing surfaces to be welded (10a, 11a) of the material plates (10, 11) upstream of the welding station (D) by means of at least one between the surfaces (10a, 1 1 a) located heat element (15) so with heat be acted upon that at least one of these surfaces (10a, 1 1 a) melts,

wherein the surfaces (10a, 11a) to be pointed towards one another are subsequently joined together in a material-locking manner under contact pressure due to the preceding application of heat by the heating element (15),

characterized in that the first material plates (10) and the further material plates (1 1) are fed at an angle of less than 1 °, preferably parallel to one another, up to the welding station (D),

the heating element (15) melts the surfaces (10a, 11a) of the material plates (10, 11) in a contacting manner and

that the material plates (10, 1 1) in the welding station (D) are connected to each other accurately positioned.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the first material plates (10) and the further material plates (1 1) are measured during feeding and positioned in the welding station (D) to each other and / or only in the welding station (D) to each other be accurately positioned.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the material plates (10, 1 1) after a surface treatment of the surfaces to be joined (10a,

10b) are fed directly to the welding station (D).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surfaces of the material plates (10, 10 ', 1 1, 1 1') are serially preferably processed with at least one dynamically adjustable plunger shaft (18) and then to form a with the surfaces to be joined (10a, 11a) adjoin one another ing pairs or groups of material plates of the welding station (D) are supplied.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one heat element (15) has a plurality of surfaces (15a, 15b) which are temperature-controlled to different temperatures and / or which the material plates (10, 1 1) with different pressure be supplied.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the heating element (15) by means of separate heating means (16, 17) on opposite surfaces (15a, 15b) is heated to different temperatures, wherein the first material plates

(10) on the one surface (15 a) and the other material plates (1 1) on the opposite other surfaces (15 b) of the heat element (15) are guided past contact.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first material plates (10) and further material plates (1 1) at a distance with a gap less than or equal to 10 mm, preferably with a gap between 5 and 0 mm, up to a negative gap of preferably up to minus 4 mm the heating element (15) are supplied.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least three layers of material plates (10, 10 ', 1 1, 1 1') at least in one direction transversely to the transport direction (14) of the material plates offset heat elements (15, 15 ') are fed and connected in one welding station (D).

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that as material plates (10, 1 1) rigid insulating panels are supplied, which preferably have the same thickness.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thermal element (15) is cleaned by the continuous and contact-related passing of the material plates, the heat element.

1 1. Device for thermal, surface welding of a plurality of material plates of foamed and / or non-foamed material, in particular for carrying out the method according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, with a first conveyor (20) for continuously feeding at least one first material plate (10) a welding station (D),

a further conveying device (21) for continuously feeding at least one further material plate (1 1) to the welding station (D),

at least one thermal element (15) arranged between the surfaces (10a, 11a) of the material plates (10, 11) to be welded together facing each other, upstream of the welding station (D),

Pressing elements, which are arranged downstream of the heat element (15) and press the material plates (10, 1 1) against each other, so that their successive facing surfaces (10a, 1 1 a) due to the previous heat application by the heat element (15) materially together connect, characterized in that the first conveyor (20) and the at least one further conveyor (21) at least in the region of the welding station (D) at an angle less than 1 °, preferably arranged parallel to each other,

in that the heating element (15) is arranged relative to the conveying devices (20, 21) such that it touches the surfaces (10a, 11a) of the material plates (10, 11) and

that the welding station (D) means for positioning the material plates (10, 1 1) are associated with each other.

12. The device according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the means for positioning the material plates in the welding station (D) are provided.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 1 or 12, characterized in that the heat element (15) has a plurality of surfaces (15a, 15b) which are temperature-controlled to different temperatures and / or which the material plates (10, 1 1) supplied with different pressure are.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the heating element (15) separate heating means (16, 17) for different temperature control of its surfaces (15a, 15b).

15. Device according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the heat element (15) is such that no adhesion of residual material of the fused surfaces (10 a, 1 1 a) of the material plates takes place.

16. Device according to one of claims 1 1 to 15, characterized in that the conveyor (20) for conveying the first material plate (10) and the conveyor (21) for conveying the further material plate (1 1) are arranged so that the material plates between them form a gap (13) which is less than or equal to 10 mm, preferably between 5 and 0 mm wide, and up to a negative gap of preferably up to minus 4 mm.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized in that the gap (13) has a vertical height which is less than or equal to the vertical extent of the heat element (15).

18. Device according to one of the preceding claims 1 1 to 17, characterized in that a plurality of conveying devices (20, 21) for supplying at least three layers of material plates (10, 10 ', 1 1, 1 1') to a plurality of heat elements (15 , 15 ') are provided, which are offset from one another at least in one direction transversely to the transport direction (14) of the material plates.

19. Device according to one of the preceding claims 1 1 to 18, characterized in that the heat element (15) for welding longitudinal and transverse edges of the material plates (10, 1 1) is arranged vertically standing.