WO2022185012A1 - Facility for producing mineral wool - Google Patents

Facility for producing mineral wool Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2022185012A1
WO2022185012A1 PCT/FR2022/050376 FR2022050376W WO2022185012A1 WO 2022185012 A1 WO2022185012 A1 WO 2022185012A1 FR 2022050376 W FR2022050376 W FR 2022050376W WO 2022185012 A1 WO2022185012 A1 WO 2022185012A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
rollers
mineral
conveyor belt
roller
fibers
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FR2022/050376
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Vincent HUTIN
Mihai MANZAT
Original Assignee
Saint-Gobain Isover
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Saint-Gobain Isover filed Critical Saint-Gobain Isover
Priority to US18/548,521 priority Critical patent/US20240229311A9/en
Priority to EP22711279.4A priority patent/EP4301915A1/en
Publication of WO2022185012A1 publication Critical patent/WO2022185012A1/en

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Classifications

    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D01NATURAL OR MAN-MADE THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING
    • D01GPRELIMINARY TREATMENT OF FIBRES, e.g. FOR SPINNING
    • D01G25/00Lap-forming devices not integral with machines specified above
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04HMAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H1/00Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
    • D04H1/40Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties
    • D04H1/42Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties characterised by the use of certain kinds of fibres insofar as this use has no preponderant influence on the consolidation of the fleece
    • D04H1/4209Inorganic fibres
    • D04H1/4218Glass fibres
    • D04H1/4226Glass fibres characterised by the apparatus for manufacturing the glass fleece
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04HMAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H1/00Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
    • D04H1/40Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties
    • D04H1/44Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties the fleeces or layers being consolidated by mechanical means, e.g. by rolling
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04HMAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H1/00Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
    • D04H1/40Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties
    • D04H1/58Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties by applying, incorporating or activating chemical or thermoplastic bonding agents, e.g. adhesives
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04HMAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H1/00Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
    • D04H1/70Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of fibres
    • D04H1/72Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of fibres the fibres being randomly arranged
    • D04H1/732Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres characterised by the method of forming fleeces or layers, e.g. reorientation of fibres the fibres being randomly arranged by fluid current, e.g. air-lay

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the field of the manufacture of mineral wool, of the type for example glass wool, and it relates more particularly to an installation for the manufacture of mineral wool comprising a station for distributing the mineral fibers on a conveyor belt of this installation.
  • Mineral wool manufacturing facilities conventionally comprise several successive stations, including a fiber-drawing station, in which virgin or recycled mineral fibers are formed, a station for mixing or sizing the mineral fibers thus formed with a binder, for example under liquid form, a station for distributing the mineral fibers on a conveyor belt, a calendering station, and a crosslinking station in which the mat formed on the conveyor belt is transformed by heating by the presence of mineral fibers and binder to form the mineral wool.
  • a fiber-drawing station in which virgin or recycled mineral fibers are formed
  • a station for mixing or sizing the mineral fibers thus formed with a binder for example under liquid form
  • a station for distributing the mineral fibers on a conveyor belt for a station for distributing the mineral fibers on a conveyor belt
  • calendering station for distributing the mineral fibers on a conveyor belt
  • a crosslinking station in which the mat formed on the conveyor belt is transformed by heating by the presence of mineral fibers and binder to form the mineral wool.
  • the distribution station comprises means for guiding the assembly formed by the mineral fibers and the binder allowing this assembly to be distributed under suction, mainly following the aeraulics imposed by the settings of the tools.
  • drawing to which jets of compressed air are added in order to macroscopically distribute the clusters of fibers on the conveyor belt and the mat thus formed is then directed towards an oven forming the calendering and crosslinking station, in which the The mattress is successively dried and then subjected to a specific heat treatment which causes the polymerization (or “hardening”) of the resin of the binder present on the surface of the fibres.
  • the continuous mat of mineral wool is then intended to be cut to form, for example, panels or rolls of thermal and/or acoustic insulation.
  • thermal and/or acoustic insulation performance of these panels depends in particular on the arrangement of the mineral fibers in the panel and therefore on the arrangement of the mineral fibers on the conveyor belt before their passing through the curing station. It is therefore understood that the configuration of the distribution station within the mineral wool manufacturing installation is essential.
  • distribution stations configured to allow positioning of the fibers on the conveyor belt, with toothed rollers which prevent conglomerates of fibers formed in the mixture with the binder are placed as they are on the conveyor belt. The fibers thus separated are then sucked up via a suction box placed on the other side of the conveyor belt so as to be deposited on this conveyor belt.
  • the present invention aims to to propose an installation which greatly improves the performance of thermal insulation by seeking, in addition to the absence of agglomerates of mineral fibers within the mat of mineral fibers, the optimization of the positioning of each of the mineral fibers within such a mat.
  • the present invention falls within this context and aims to provide a mineral wool manufacturing facility, comprising at least one mineral fiber supply device and a fiber distribution station comprising a conveyor belt movable in a direction of longitudinal movement. and on which the mineral fibers are capable of being received to form a mat of mineral fibers, characterized in that the fiber distribution station comprises a train of rollers arranged on the passage of the mineral fibers intended to fall by gravity onto the conveyor belt , the train of rollers comprising at least three rollers, each roller being suitable for being driven in rotation about a transverse axis of rotation, the rollers being configured to arrange the mineral fibers in a homogeneous manner in the thickness of the fiber mat formed on the conveyor belt.
  • the installation according to the invention is aimed in particular at the specific use of mineral fibers, the dimensions, lightness and flexibility of which, for example, are specific compared to other fibers such as wood fibers, which implies a specific positioning of the rollers relative to the conveyor belt to ensure that the mineral fibers can be deposited evenly on the conveyor belt moving under the train of rollers, so as to be distributed evenly in the thickness of the mineral fiber mat which forms on the conveyor belt.
  • the distribution station is devoid of fiber suction means, so that the distribution of the fibers is done only mechanically.
  • the absence of such aeraulic means makes it possible to control the deposit of the mineral fibers on the conveyor belt and their homogeneous distribution as the conveyor belt unrolls on which the fiber mat is formed. If the absence of aeraulic means has the advantage of being able to control the deposition of mineral fibers, this requires configuring the installation to prevent too large a quantity of fibers from falling between the first rollers that the fibers encounter.
  • the rollers of the roller train can in particular be distinguished in that a proximal roller is arranged at a first end of the roller train, and more particularly the end closest to the feed device, in that a distal roller is disposed at the opposite end of the train of rollers and in that a plurality of central rollers are arranged successively between the proximal roller and the distal roller.
  • the train of rollers is thus configured to ensure a homogeneous distribution of the mineral fibers in the thickness of the mat of mineral fibers, in particular by proposing a configuration allowing the passage of a substantially equivalent quantity of fibers between each pair of neighboring rollers of the train of rollers, thus avoiding that a large majority of the fibers encountering the train of rollers crosses the latter between the first two rollers that they encounter, namely a proximal roller and an immediately neighboring central roller.
  • the train of rollers comprises a plurality of rollers arranged in parallel to one another, among which a proximal roller is arranged at one end of the train of rollers, and the distribution station comprises means for mechanically guiding the mineral fibers in the direction of the proximal roller so that all the mineral fibers entering this distribution station are directed in the direction of the conveyor belt so that they fall onto the proximal roller or between this proximal roller and the roller which is attached to it is directly adjacent.
  • the train of rollers comprises a plurality of rollers arranged parallel to each other with a spacing between two neighboring rollers which is variable from one end of the train of rollers to the other.
  • the train of rollers can in particular be configured so that the spacing between two neighboring rollers increases from one end to the other of the train of rollers, considering the direction of advance of the fibers along the conveyor belt.
  • the spacing between two successive rollers of the roller train varies by increasing regularly with each spacing in the direction of movement of the fibers from one roller to the other.
  • the increase in the spacing between two neighboring rollers can in particular be regular.
  • the rollers are driven in rotation to, on the one hand, allow the passage of a part of the mineral fibers through the train of rollers towards the conveyor belt and, on the other hand, to allow the transfer of a part of the mineral fibers from one roller to the other, so that certain mineral fibers gradually reach the distal end of the set of rollers, opposite the proximal end of the set of rollers located directly above the arrival of the mineral fibers in the distribution station.
  • the fact of providing a spacing between two rollers which increases according to the direction of advance of the mineral fibers from one roller to the other makes it possible to reduce the spacing between the first rollers reached by the mineral fibers and to force a large part of the mineral fibers to propagate in the direction of the following rolls to ensure step by step that a sufficient quantity of mineral fibers passes through the train of rolls between a central roll and the distal roll of this train of rolls.
  • the spacing between the first rollers is thus small in size to avoid a massive natural displacement of the mineral fibers towards the conveyor belt under the effect of gravity and to ensure that a sufficient quantity of mineral fibers is directed to the other reels.
  • the greater spacing makes it possible to direct the fibers towards the conveyor belt despite the transverse speed that they have been able to acquire through the rotation rollers.
  • each roller is driven by individual drive means.
  • a module for controlling the operation of the mineral wool manufacturing installation is configured to give a specific control instruction to each of the drive means associated with a roller, and in particular to give a control instruction relating to a speed of rotation of this roll.
  • each roller is driven at a speed of rotation different from that of the neighboring rollers, the speeds of rotation of the rollers decreasing in the direction of movement of the fibers from one roller to another.
  • the first rollers reached by the mineral fibers have the function of accelerating the speed of the fibers to drive them towards the following rollers and the speed of the rollers successively reached by these mineral fibers decreases to allow as they move along the roller train their passage through this roller train.
  • a speed of movement of the conveyor belt is between 5 and 100 m/min so that the mat of mineral fibers has a volume density between 5 and 40 kg/m3, more particularly between 6 and 35 kg/m3, even more particularly between 7 and 30 kg/m3.
  • the installation is in this particular sense in that the mats of mineral fibers obtained at the outlet of the distribution station have a volume density of mineral fibers which is lower than that of mats of other types of fibers, such as wood fibers by example.
  • This volume density is obtained in particular by modulating the surface density by controlling a speed of movement of the conveyor belt which allows the depositing of a given number of mineral fibers in a given time.
  • the mineral wool manufacturing installation comprises a conveyor belt arranged between the mineral fiber supply device and the mineral fiber distribution station so that mineral fibers at the outlet of the conveyor belt are suitable for falling by gravity onto the conveyor belt via a passage between the rollers of the train of rollers, the speed of movement of the conveyor belt being a function of the speed of movement of the conveyor belt and the desired volume density of the mineral fibers in fiber mat.
  • the distribution station is equipped with a deflector means configured to guide the mineral fibers at the outlet of the feed device, and in particular at the outlet of the conveyor belt, as far as the conveyor belt.
  • This deflector means can be movable to modify the zone of the train of rollers on which the mineral fibers and the associated binder are directed at the outlet of the conveyor belt.
  • the distribution station comprises mechanical means for directing the mineral fibers into a zone of the train of rollers comprising the proximal roller.
  • These mechanical means may in particular take the form of a tray forming a funnel, with a wide surface for receiving the fibers at the outlet of the feed device and in particular of the conveyor belt, and a narrower surface facing the conveyor belt, at the plumb of the proximal roller.
  • the mineral fibers are directed by gravity onto the desired area of the roller train, so that they can then pass step by step from the proximal roller to the distal roller of the roller train.
  • the rollers work sequentially for the fibers that do not pass directly between the first rollers, so that the fibers are evenly distributed over the length of the roller train.
  • the deflector means can in this context consist of a wall of mechanical means whose determined inclination makes it possible to slide the mineral fibers with precision on the desired area of the train of rollers, namely the proximal roller or in the immediate vicinity of this proximal roller, or else consist of a mobile wall at the outlet of the tray forming the funnel mentioned above, the inclination of which is adjusted by an appropriate actuator to direct the mineral fibers on or near the proximal roller depending on the amount of fibers present on the proximal roller.
  • the rollers each have reliefs on the surface, arranged regularly along the axis of rotation of the rollers. It should be noted that by relief is meant both hollows and bumps, and more particularly grooves or prominences, intended to break the regular profile of the peripheral surface of the rollers, in order to ensure the attachment and/or the unhooking of the mineral fibers by these rollers.
  • the rollers consist of toothed rollers, each tooth forming a radial projection of the roller body driven in rotation.
  • At least one toothed roller comprises a plurality of teeth which are arranged annularly and are regularly distributed around the periphery of the roller.
  • the radial dimension of the teeth can be considered for the calculation of the value of the vertical clearance of the corresponding roller, to ensure on the one hand that the teeth can make it possible to ensure simultaneous contact of the mineral fibers with the conveyor belt or the mattress. of fiber already formed and one of the teeth, with the aim of orienting the fibers longitudinally and to ensure on the other hand that the teeth can be in contact with the fibers previously deposited on the conveyor belt and likely not to be still correctly plated on the surface of the mineral fiber mat, in order to finalize the longitudinal orientation of the mineral fibers and in the thickness of the fiber mat.
  • the vertical clearance can be measured between the conveyor belt, or the mineral fiber mat intended to rest on the conveyor belt, and the free radial end of the tooth closest to this conveyor belt.
  • At least one roller comprises a plurality of toothed rings arranged parallel against each other along the transverse axis of rotation of the corresponding roller.
  • the rollers can be configured to ensure a longitudinal orientation of the mineral fibers on the conveyor belt, in particular by considering the distance between the rollers of the train of rollers and the surface of the conveyor belt. on which the mineral fibers are deposited after having passed through the train of rollers, this distance being subsequently designated by the term vertical clearance.
  • mineral fibers consists in particular in the fact that they easily form agglomerates of fibers by sticking to each other, so that the average length of a mineral fiber to be considered can vary.
  • mineral fibers alone may have an average length of less than 10 millimeters, but these mineral fibers entirely separated from the others may represent only a minimal part within the fibrous assembly arriving in the post of distribution relative to clusters of fibers whose average length, depending on an average number of mineral fibers forming these clusters, can be of the order of 20 to 30 millimeters.
  • the installation according to the invention can be configured according to an average dimension of a length of fibers or clusters of fibers, in particular to adapt the vertical clearance value, that is to say the distance between the rollers of the roller train and the surface of the conveyor belt on which the fibers are deposited, and allow the vast majority of mineral fibers, whether alone or in clusters, to be correctly deposited on the conveyor belt.
  • the train of rollers comprises a plurality of rollers arranged in parallel to each other, among which a proximal roller is arranged at one end of the train of rollers.
  • the distribution station comprises means for mechanically guiding the mineral fibers in the direction of the proximal roller so that all the mineral fibers penetrating into this distribution station are directed in the direction of the conveyor belt so that they fall onto the proximal roller or between this proximal roller and the roller which is directly adjacent to it.
  • a vertical clearance between this proximal roller and the conveyor belt is less than a threshold value depending on the average length of the mineral fibers processed by the installation.
  • the notion of average length of the mineral fibers treated by the installation can indifferently extend to the average length of a single mineral fiber, when 'it is correctly separated from the other mineral fibers, or at the average length of an average mass of fibers agglomerated between them.
  • the average length may more particularly be of the order of 20 to 30 millimeters, this value being more particularly representative of an observation made by the inventors of the average length of a cluster of mineral fibers present from representative way in the mineral fiber mattress.
  • the vertical clearance is here measured between a peripheral surface of the proximal roller and the surface of the conveyor belt on which the mineral fibers are deposited.
  • the rollers of the roller train can in particular be distinguished in that a proximal roller is arranged at a first end of the roller train, and more particularly the end closest to the feed device, in that a distal roller is disposed at the opposite end of the train of rollers and in that a plurality of central rollers are arranged successively between the proximal roller and the distal roller.
  • the fibers driven by the rotation of the proximal roller and passing between the proximal roller and the central roller directly adjacent to the proximal roller are oriented by gravity in the direction of the conveyor belt, with a free end which hangs in the direction of the belt and an end which remains in contact with the roller.
  • the average length of mineral fibers and the vertical clearance of a value less than the threshold value equal to this value of average length of mineral fibers make it possible to ensure that the free end of each mineral fiber passing through the set of rollers between the proximal roller and the directly adjacent central roller comes into contact with the carpet while it is always in contact with the roller. In this way, the free end of the mineral fiber being driven longitudinally by the movement of the conveyor belt, the mineral fiber is stretched and positioned longitudinally.
  • the train of rollers extends mainly along an axis inclined with respect to the main elongation plane of the conveyor belt.
  • each roller of the roller train extends its own distance from the conveyor belt, with a progressive increase in this distance considering the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, i.e. as one moves away from the proximal roller of the roller train.
  • the thickness of the mineral fiber mat present on the conveyor belt tends to increase considering the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, and the inclination of the train of rollers is calculated so that each roller is at a value of vertical clearance less than the chosen threshold value, with respect to the surface directly above this roller, considering the thickness of the mineral fiber mat which is supposed to be under this roller.
  • the inclination of the train of rollers with respect to the main elongation plane of the conveyor belt is determined by an angle calculated in function of the thickness of the mineral fiber mat intended to rest on the conveyor belt, so that the vertical clearance is constant between each of the rollers and the upper surface of the mineral fiber mat.
  • the distribution station may comprise means for adjusting an inclination of the train of rollers.
  • the device for supplying mineral fibers comprises means for supplying non-binding mineral fibers and a binder of the powder type or of the pre-bonded mineral fiber type, that is to say composed a core of mineral fiber and a coating encasing this core and comprising an uncured dried binder.
  • the conveyor belt is arranged within a separation tank also comprising means for separating the fibers. It is understood from this configuration that the mineral fibers and the associated binder are treated in a first separation draft stage in order to separate the largest fiber conglomerates and that the distribution station essentially has the function of distributing longitudinally in the mattress these fibers separated, if necessary by carrying out a separation finishing step for the few fibers which have not been separated from each other in the separation tank.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of part of a mineral wool manufacturing installation, illustrating in particular the mineral fiber distribution station in accordance with one aspect of the invention
  • Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the distribution station of Figure 1, according to the invention with a train of rollers and a conveyor belt which are arranged at a distance from each other to allow the rollers to orient the mineral fibers during deposit on the conveyor belt and with rollers specifically arranged relative to each other to allow a regular passage of mineral fibers between each pair of neighboring rollers of the train of rollers and a homogeneity of the fibers in the thickness of the fiber mat thus formed
  • Figure 3 is a detail view of the train of rollers of Figure 2, in a top view
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of part of a mineral wool manufacturing installation, illustrating in particular the mineral fiber distribution station in accordance with one aspect of the invention
  • Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the distribution station of Figure 1, according to the invention with a train of rollers and a conveyor belt which are arranged at a
  • FIG. 4 is a representation in perspective of a toothed ring forming part of a toothed roller of the train of rollers of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of two toothed rollers of the train of rollers aimed at illustrating the cooperation of these rollers with a mat of mineral fibers formed on the conveyor belt;
  • Figure 6 is a schematic representation of an alternative version of the distribution station of Figure 1, according to the invention with a train of rollers and a conveyor belt which are arranged at a distance from each other to allow rollers to orient the mineral fibers during deposit on the conveyor belt.
  • the invention relates to the particular configuration of a station of a mineral wool manufacturing installation, and more particularly a mineral fiber distribution station configured to distribute mineral fibers in an appropriate orientation.
  • Figure 1 a part of such a manufacturing plant 1 of mineral wool, for example glass wool, with different successive stations participating in the creation of an insulating blanket composed of mineral fibers and more particularly the station of specific distribution 2 according to the invention.
  • mineral wool for example glass wool
  • a first station comprises a fiber supply device 4 in which are mixed mineral fibers, virgin or recycled , and a binder capable of holding the fibers together when the mixture is heated at the end of installation.
  • the recycled mineral fibers are, for example, mineral fibers manufactured for a blowing wool application, or even fibers transformed into wool mineral for thermal and/or acoustic insulation.
  • the recycled mineral fibers already comprise a hardened binder which does not prevent it from being treated by the same process, namely by subsequently adding another binder.
  • virgin mineral fiber may in particular designate here mineral fiber, in particular glass or rock wool fiber, obtained by internal or external centrifugation, the fibers of which are not bonded to each other by means of an organic binder.
  • Virgin mineral wool fibers can be coated with a thin layer of size or lubricant.
  • recycled mineral fiber designates here mineral fiber carrying on its surface an insoluble and infusible organic binder, already crosslinked.
  • the mineral fibers present in the distribution station are a mixture of virgin mineral fiber and recycled mineral fiber, in any respective proportions.
  • the fiber supply device comprises at the output a supply duct connected to a conveyor belt 8.
  • the conveyor belt 8 is configured to move at a first running speed, which can be modified by an appropriate control instruction .
  • the conveyor belt 8 has a fiber distribution end 9 which is arranged overhanging the distribution station 2 mentioned above.
  • the distribution station 2 comprises at least one train of rollers 12 equipped with rollers 13 and a conveyor belt 14 on which is able to form, as the mineral fibers and the binder are deposited on the conveyor belt, a mattress of fibers 15.
  • the train of rollers 12 is arranged on the path of the mineral fibers between the conveyor belt 8 and the conveyor belt 14.
  • the train of rollers is formed of a plurality of rollers 13 arranged parallel to each other and capable of pivoting around axes of rotation parallel to each other.
  • these rollers 13 are configured to allow, on the one hand, to achieve a separation of the mineral fibers and to avoid the deposition of agglomerated mineral fibers on the conveyor belt and, on the other hand, to achieve a longitudinal orientation of these mineral fibers, perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rollers, within the fiber mat 15.
  • the distribution station 2 is configured to separate the mineral fibers 3 from each other for the mineral fibers which would not have been completely separated in the separation tank, in particular by the arrangement of the rollers in train of rollers within which the rollers 13, which rotate in the same direction of rotation, participate in directing part of the mineral fibers 3 between two neighboring rollers towards the conveyor belt and another part of the fibers towards the neighboring roller to advance along the train of rollers and be dumped further on the conveyor belt.
  • the conveyor belt 8 has a fiber distribution end 9 which is arranged overhanging the distribution station 2 and therefore the train of rollers 12.
  • this train of rollers there is a proximal roller 131 , disposed at a first end 121 of the train of rollers 12 closest to the conveyor belt 8, a distal roller 132 disposed at the opposite end 122 of the train of rollers 12 and a plurality of central rollers 133 arranged successively between the proximal roller and the distal roller.
  • the distribution station comprises mechanical guide means for guiding the mineral fibers arriving at the fiber distribution end 9 in the direction of the train of rollers 12 and more particularly in the direction of the proximal roller 131.
  • These mechanical guide means can take different forms among which a flexible conduit, a rigid tray forming a funnel as illustrated in my figure 6 or a guide ramp as illustrated in figures 1 and 2, these mechanical guide means consisting in guiding, in particular towards the proximal roller 131 and the immediately adjacent rollers, the mineral fibers falling by gravity into an environment where they are neither blown nor sucked.
  • the distribution station is also configured to give these mineral fibers 3 a longitudinal orientation, that is to say parallel to the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, this longitudinal orientation of the mineral fibers 3 in the mat 15 being optimal in terms of thermal insulation.
  • the distribution station 2 makes it possible to give this optimal longitudinal orientation of the mineral fibers in particular by the size of the rollers and their arrangement of the rollers with respect to the conveyor belt, and the impact that this can have on the way in which the fibers are caused to settle on the conveyor belt, instead of falling on it as may be the case in the installations of the prior art.
  • the mineral fibers 3 and pre-bonded mineral fibers 5, or where appropriate, the fibers glued with a liquid binder or in the form of a powder are deposited on the conveyor belt 14, being deposited on the surface of this conveyor belt after having passed between two adjacent rollers 13, under conditions which ensure drive and longitudinal stretching, and being combed to the surface of the fiber mat 15 by the contact of the rollers of the roller train 12, as will be detailed below.
  • the conveyor belt 14 is extended by a conveyor belt, which takes the mat 15 composed of these mineral fibers 3 and the binding elements 5 to an oven not shown here and inside which they are heated to crosslink the binder.
  • the distribution station and the train of rollers which it comprises are suitable for the treatment, and as mentioned above for the orientation of the fibers with respect to each other, of mineral fibers and for example of fibers glasses, which have specific dimensions and the average length of which may in particular vary according to the dimension of the cluster that they participate in forming, where appropriate, with other mineral fibers, these mineral fibers being more particularly intended for s agglomerate that other fibers such as wood fibers, and/or possibly consisting of recycled mineral fibers agglomerated together by residues of dried binder.
  • the configuration of the train of rollers 12 is moreover particularly suited to an assembly formed of mineral fibers 3 and binder 5 in which the binder is formed by pre-bonded fibers.
  • the train of rollers thus allows an optimal arrangement of the mineral fibers and the prebonded fibers in the mattress of fibers fallen on the conveyor belt.
  • the pre-bonded fibers here are more particularly fibers composed of a core of mineral fibers, advantageously the same mineral fiber as the non-binding mineral fibers present and of a shell surrounding the core which is made with a pulverized and dried binder.
  • the binder may in particular consist of a binder with a low formaldehyde content, preferably even without formaldehyde, for example binders based on biobased products.
  • This type of binder is at least partially derived from a base of renewable raw material, in particular vegetable, in particular of the type based on hydrogenated or non-hydrogenated sugars.
  • the binder is implemented via a pre-bonded mineral fiber, based on a mineral fiber similar to that treated elsewhere in the installation, makes it possible to treat the arrangement of the binder in the mineral fiber carpet in a similar way to that non-binding fibers.
  • the fiber distribution station 2 comprises, in addition to the train of rollers 12 and the conveyor belt 14 mentioned above, at least one casing 18 and a support 20 of the train of rollers.
  • the casing 18 is delimited by a plurality of walls inside which the mineral fibers and the associated binder are directed, from the conveyor belt 8, to the conveyor belt 14, crossing the train of rollers 12.
  • These mechanical guide means can be arranged projecting from one or more walls of the casing 18 to guide the non-binding mineral fibers and the binder in the direction of the rollers 13 of the train of rollers 12.
  • the deflector means can be movable, in order to be able to modify the zone of the train of rollers on which the mineral fibers falling from the conveyor belt are directed, it being understood that these mineral fibers falling by gravity are mainly directed via the mechanical guide means 19 towards the zone of the train of rollers 12 comprising the proximal roller and therefore the zone substantially plumb with the fiber distribution end 9 of the conveyor belt 8.
  • the tray forming the mechanical guide means 19 may have a funnel shape with an upper end with a wide opening to recover a large quantity of mineral fibers falling at the end of the conveyor belt and an end bottom whose opening is reduced compared to the upper end to target the desired area for laying fibers on the train of rollers, namely the area immediately close to the proximal roller 131.
  • the support 20 of the train of rollers here has the form of a frame fixed to the walls of the casing 18 to ensure the position of the rollers 13 with respect to the casing, if necessary via means for adjusting the inclination of the rollers.
  • the roller train support is configured so that all the fibers come into contact with the roller train 12.
  • the support 20 is configured so that the train of rollers 12 is inclined with respect to the conveyor belt 14.
  • the rollers are arranged parallel to each other along an axis A of the train of rollers which is inclined with respect to a plane P in which extends the surface of the conveyor belt on which the mineral fiber carpet rests.
  • means for adjusting the inclination of the rollers 100 can be provided and associated with the support 20 of the train of rollers to reduce or increase the angle of inclination a between the axis A of the train of rollers and the plane P of the conveyor belt.
  • FIG. 6 more particularly illustrates an exemplary embodiment of means for adjusting the inclination of the rollers 100, it being understood that this example is not limiting and that the tilt adjustment means could take another form.
  • the inclination adjustment means 100 here comprise a chain or belt 101, fixed on the one hand to an upright of the casing 18 and on the other hand to a distal end 202 of the support 20 of the train of rollers, while the opposite proximal end 201 of support 20 is fixed relative to housing 18 at a height lower than the height of attachment of the chain or belt to the upright of the housing.
  • the means for adjusting the inclination further comprise means for adjusting the length of the chain or the belt, and for example a motor 102 engaged on the belt or the chain, and the actuation of which makes it possible to reduce or increase the length of the chain or belt between the upright of the casing and the distal end 202 of the support 20, and thus to lower or raise this distal end 202 and generate according to the desired inclination of the support 20 and of the train of rollers 12 .
  • an inclination of the train of rollers with respect to the plane P of the conveyor belt of the order of 1° to 30°, preferably between 5 and 20°, may be provided.
  • This inclination can be fixed throughout the mineral wool manufacturing process, the inclination value being chosen according to the thickness of the mineral fiber mat to be obtained at the end of the conveyor belt before curing.
  • the operator orients the roller train support according to the desired inclination thanks to the inclination adjustment means 100, then the operator freezes the position of this support before the start of the manufacturing process.
  • the inclination adjustment means 100 could be automated, with automatic control of the position of the distal end 202 of the support according to the inclination to be given to the train of rollers during the process, in particular if plant data is modified.
  • This inclination value of the train of rollers can in particular be dependent on the speed of the conveyor belt. More specifically, the lower the speed of the conveyor belt, the higher the angle of inclination of the roller train must be.
  • the rollers 13 of the train of rollers 12 are here identical, and each have the same number of teeth 22 regularly distributed around the periphery of the rollers.
  • a proximal roller 131 disposed at a first end 121 of the train of rollers 12 closest to the conveyor belt 8
  • a distal roller 132 disposed at the opposite end 122 of the train of rollers 12 and a plurality of central rollers 133 arranged successively between the proximal roller and the distal roller.
  • the rollers 13 are driven in rotation, all in the same direction of rotation, so as to allow the progress of the mineral fibers 3 from one end to the other of the train of rollers, with a part of these fibers which pass between the rollers 13 to fall on the conveyor belt 14.
  • An upper part of the rollers and a lower part of the rollers can be defined according to their position relative to a median plane of the train of rollers, the lower part being the part of the rollers closest of the conveyor belt and of the fiber mat, and the direction of rotation of the rollers can be defined such that the upper part of the rollers rotates from the first end to the opposite end of the support.
  • Each roller 13 is driven by a drive device 24 which is specific to it, so that each roller can rotate at a specific rotational speed (Va, Vb...Vg), independent and if necessary different from the rotational speeds other rolls of the same roll train.
  • a device for removing impurities may comprise a suction hood which is arranged at the end of the roller train support and which is configured to suck up the conglomerates of fibers which have not been able to be separated by the action of the rollers of the roller train.
  • the distribution station 2 in accordance with the invention has technical characteristics and a dimensioning of the various components of this station which are specific to an application to mineral fibers 3 glued with a binder 5 in the form powder or with pre-bound mineral fibres. Several of these characteristics are particularly visible in the representation of Figure 2.
  • the center distance D between the rollers, and therefore the spacing 130 between these rollers when the rollers are all of the same shape and the same dimensions, is variable depending on the rollers considered.
  • the center distance DI between the proximal roller 131 and the central roller 133 adjacent to this proximal roller is different from the center distance D6 between the distal roller 132 and the central roller 133.
  • the dimensional variation of the centers is regular along the direction of elongation of the train of rollers, so that the centers progress successively from the proximal roller 131 to the distal roller 133.
  • Such a dimensional variation of the centers D makes it possible to pass between the rollers a quantity equivalent of mineral fibers whether at the level of the proximal roller or at the level of the distal roller, avoiding that a major part of the mineral fibers 3 does not pass through the first two rollers that they encounter.
  • variable spacing increasing in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt and of circulation of the fibers can be explained by the fact that for the rollers reached first by the mineral fibers, a small spacing is necessary because the mineral fibers move naturally between the rollers towards the conveyor belt under the effect of gravity, while a greater spacing is necessary thereafter because the mineral fibers which circulate along the train of rollers passing from rollers in rollers have acquired a transverse speed, and here an upward one due to the inclination of the train of rollers, which forces the mineral fibers to pass between the rollers to reach the conveyor belt.
  • the spacing 130 of the rollers is considered here as a function of the center distance D between the rollers, but it is also necessary to take into account the radial dimension of the teeth 22 forming the projection of the rollers 13.
  • the mineral wool manufacturing installation is advantageously configured in that a variation of the speeds of rotation of each of the rollers 13 is provided, it being recalled that the rollers are driven independently of each other. It is desired that the speed of rotation of the first rollers reached by the fibers be high so that these first rollers can accelerate and drive the mineral fibers away from the conveyor belt towards which they are attracted by gravity, and in particular when the train of rollers is inclined and involves a movement with an upward component for the mineral fibers to join the following rollers of the roller train, and it is desired to gradually reduce the speed of rotation of the rollers to create a falling movement of the mineral fibers in the direction of the carpet conveyor.
  • the distribution station 2 is configured to allow a longitudinal orientation of the mineral fibers in the fiber mat.
  • the vertical clearance DV between the proximal roller 131 of the roller train and the conveyor belt 14, that is to say the minimum distance between the components of this proximal roller 131 and the conveyor belt has a lower value at a threshold value depending on the type of fibers brought to be deposited on the conveyor belt, and therefore here depending on a dimension of the mineral fibers.
  • the vertical clearance can in particular be measured between the outer peripheral surface of the proximal roller and the conveyor belt.
  • the vertical clearance DV is here less than 30 millimeters.
  • Such a vertical clearance value again smaller than that which could be implemented in applications to wood fibers, makes it possible to ensure that the mineral fibers, after having crossed the train of rollers, remain in contact with the roller at one of their ends when they come to rest on the conveyor belt. As will be detailed below, this makes it possible to ensure a longitudinal orientation of the fibers on the conveyor belt, parallel to the axis of advancement of the conveyor belt.
  • Means for adjusting the vertical clearance 150 can be provided to adjust, at least at the start of the mineral wool manufacturing process, the value of the vertical clearance DV and adapt it according to the average fiber lengths intended to fall on the train of rollers 12 via the conveyor belt 8 and the mechanical guide means 19. Vertical clearance adjustment could take another form.
  • the vertical clearance adjustment means 150 here comprise a plate 151 secured to the proximal end 201 of the support 20, said plate 151 being mounted on a rail 152 secured to an upright of the casing 18.
  • the vertical displacement of the plate 151 along the rail 152 makes it possible to adjust the vertical position of the proximal end 201 of the support 20 and therefore the position of the proximal roller 131 relative to the conveyor belt 14 which remains fixed to it.
  • the position of the proximal end 201 of the support 20 is fixed by fixing the plate to the upright of the casing.
  • the train of rollers 12 is inclined in accordance with what has been mentioned.
  • the characteristic concerning the maximum vertical clearance DV mentioned for the proximal roller namely a maximum distance at which the proximal roller 131 extends from the surface of the conveyor belt 14 on which the mineral fibers that this proximal roller carries can be deposited, can be reproduced for each of the rollers of the roller train 12 by considering this time the surface of the fiber mat 15 rather than the surface of the conveyor belt 14, the roller train 12 being configured so that the fibers that the rollers central 133 and the distal roller 132 cause are deposited on a mattress of mineral fibers already present on the conveyor belt.
  • Another characteristic of the installation and of the distribution station is specific to the use of mineral fibers, namely the speed of movement VI 4 of the conveyor belt 14.
  • This speed of movement VI 4 makes it possible on the one hand to drive and to stretch the mineral fibers 3 still in contact with the roller 13 which participated in the crossing by the mineral fibers of the train of rollers, and it is calculated to allow the production of fiber mats minerals with a fiber density of less than 40 kg/m3.
  • the speed of movement of the conveyor belt can be of the order of 5 to 100 meters per minute.
  • it can also be considered the speed of movement V8 of the conveyor belt 8 bringing the mineral fibers into contact with the train of rollers and the difference in movement speeds between the conveyor belt and the conveyor belt.
  • Figure 3 makes the support 20 of the train of rollers more particularly visible.
  • the support frame 20 has a rectangular shape, with two long sides 21 perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rollers and two short sides 23 connecting these long sides. On the long sides are arranged holding yokes 25 of the motorized drive means 24 and rotation bearings 26 associated with each of the rollers 13, with alternately on the same long side a yoke and a rotation bearing.
  • Each roller 13 has on the surface, that is to say on its peripheral surface arranged around the axis of revolution, reliefs which are arranged regularly along the axis of rotation of the rollers to break the regular profile of the peripheral surface of the rollers, in particular to control the interaction between the mineral fibers and these rollers.
  • each roller 13 comprises teeth forming projections arranged in successive parallel rings on the axial dimension of the roller, the rings of teeth 22 being separated from each other along the same roller by a pitch 220. It is noticeable in the top view of FIG. 4 that the rollers 13 are arranged so that the rings of teeth 22 of two neighboring rollers are offset axially, to avoid any interaction between the teeth of two neighboring rollers during their rotation.
  • Each roller 13 may in particular be formed by a plurality of toothed rings 28 pressed against each other along the axial dimension of the roller.
  • a ring 28 may comprise a ring body 280 able to be secured to the rotation shaft of the roller and a toothed peripheral portion 282, and these two parts of the ring may advantageously be made of two materials different from part to part.
  • the toothed portion can for example be molded onto the ring body, with hooking means by complementarity of shapes.
  • Each ring of teeth 22, and in particular when it is formed by a toothed ring 28 visible in FIG. 4, comprises teeth 22 regularly distributed angularly, here twenty in number, the teeth thus being characterized by an angular pitch, here of the order of 18°, between two successive teeth on the circumference.
  • Each tooth 22 projects from an outer surface of the ring, a radial dimension DR of the tooth being measured between the free end 222 of the tooth and the outer surface of the ring.
  • the teeth 22 are in particular dimensioned so that their free ends 222 can comb the mineral fibers 3 not yet plated on the surface of the mineral fiber mat 15, when the teeth pass during their rotation between the conveyor belt and the median plane of the train of rollers comprising the axes of rotation of the rollers.
  • the spacing 130 of the rollers mentioned above is determined by considering the center distance D between the axes of rotation of two neighboring rollers and the radial dimension DR of the teeth, particularly visible in Figure 4, the spacing being measured between the free end teeth of a roller and the neighboring roller.
  • the invention solves the technical problem of orientation of the mineral fibers in the carpet of fibers to be directed towards the crosslinking station, in particular by providing a particular configuration of the rollers at a short distance from the carpet. conveyor, and more particularly here at less than 30 millimeters from the conveyor belt for the proximal roller and at less than 30 millimeters from the surface of the mattress formed by the mineral fibers likely to be present on the conveyor belt directly above the other rollers .
  • This configuration allows a deposition of the mineral fibers on the conveyor belt with the ends of the mineral fibers which are in contact simultaneously with the conveyor belt and the rollers, which avoids having to release the fibers at a distance from the conveyor belt as in the prior art and that these are then deposited as they please, under the effect of gravity, on the conveyor belt.
  • the simultaneous contact of the mineral fibers with the conveyor belt or the mat of fibers and one of the rollers makes it possible to stretch the fibers and to position them in an optimum longitudinal position for the thermal insulation of the mineral wool obtained after cross-linking of the mat of fibers.
  • This longitudinal arrangement of the mineral fibers on the conveyor belt can be even better ensured when the rollers have teeth and these are positioned and sized to comb the surface of the mat of mineral fibers and more particularly the mineral fibers likely to protrude from this surface of the mattress, in a combing direction opposite to that of the direction of movement of the conveyor belt.
  • FIG. 5 schematically represents the action of the rollers, here toothed rollers, on the fibers to orient them longitudinally.
  • the proximal roller 131 is arranged at a distance from the conveyor belt 14 such that a vertical clearance DV is less than a minimum value chosen according to the dimensions of the mineral fibers 3 intended to be deposited on the conveyor belt 14
  • the value of the angle of inclination of the elongation axis of the train of rollers 12 with respect to the surface of the conveyor belt makes it possible to ensure that the other rollers are arranged so that an equivalent vertical clearance DV , that is to say less than the minimum value chosen according to the dimensions of the mineral fibers 3, is formed between the roller and the upper surface of the mat of fibers formed on the conveyor belt in line with said roller.
  • the rollers are dimensioned, and where appropriate the teeth forming radial projections of the roller body, and arranged at a distance from the conveyor belt so that the first mineral fiber 31 is deposited on the conveyor belt or on first mineral fibers already present on the belt while one end of this first mineral fiber is still in contact with a part of the proximal roller 131, here a tooth 22.
  • the mineral fibers are in simultaneous contact with the roller and the mat conveyor, or mattress fibers present on the conveyor belt, at the time of their deposit on the conveyor belt.
  • the fibers driven by the rotation of a roller and passing between this roller and the central roller directly adjacent to this roller are oriented by gravity in the direction of the conveyor belt, with a first free end which hangs in the direction of the belt and a second end which remains in contact with the roller.
  • the average length of the mineral fibers at least equal to 30 millimeters as previously mentioned, and the vertical clearance of a value less than this value of average length of the mineral fibers, here 30 millimeters, make it possible to ensure that the free end of each mineral fiber passing through the roller train between the proximal roller and the directly adjacent central roller comes into contact with the carpet while it is still in contact with the roller. In this way, the free end of the mineral fiber being driven longitudinally by the running of the conveyor belt, the mineral fiber is stretched and positioned longitudinally.
  • the mineral fibers are stretched by the movement of the conveyor belt which, in the example illustrated, brings a first free end 31a of the first mineral fiber 31 into a direction and by the rotation of the roller which in the example shown tends to bring the second free end 31b in the other direction or which tends at least to retain this second free end 31b.
  • Each mineral fiber thus deposited on the conveyor belt or on the fiber mat takes on a main longitudinal orientation, with the first free end 31a pressed against the fiber mat. It may result from the removal of the mineral fiber once released by the roller, as illustrated in Figure 5 for a second mineral fiber 32, that the second free end 32b of this second mineral fiber remains raised and is not pressed against the surface of the fiber mat.
  • the arrangement of the train of rollers, with central rollers and the distal roller which are arranged according to a vertical clearance less than the threshold value mentioned above, makes possible a function of combing this second mineral fiber, and more generally of the whole mineral fibers not yet plated on the surface of the mineral fiber mat, the rotational movement of the part bottom of the roller, and in particular of the teeth 22, tending to push the second end of the teeth towards the conveyor belt.
  • the installation comprises a separation tank in which the conveyor belt can be arranged and which comprises means of separation, here not represented, which allow a first step of separation of the fibers, in particular to avoid large agglomerates of fibers.
  • These separating means may in particular consist of toothed rollers and/or blowing means.
  • the fiber separation tank is configured so that the fibers treated by the separation means enter a fiber supply conduit connecting the separation tank to the distribution station mentioned above.
  • the fiber supply conduit can be configured to allow the fall by gravity of the fibers treated by the separation means.

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  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Preliminary Treatment Of Fibers (AREA)
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Abstract

Facility (1) for producing mineral wool, comprising at least one supply device (4) for supplying mineral fibres (3) and a fibre-distribution station (2) comprising a conveyor belt (14) which can move in a longitudinal direction and on which the mineral fibres (3) can be received so as to form a mineral fibre mat (15), characterised in that the fibre distribution station comprises a roller table (12) arranged on the passage of the mineral fibres (3) that are intended to fall by gravity onto the conveyor belt (14), wherein each roller (13) can be driven in rotation about a transverse axis of rotation, the rollers (13) being configured to dispose the mineral fibres (3) uniformly through the thickness of the fibre mat (15) formed on the conveyor belt (14).

Description

DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION
Titre : INSTALLATION DE FABRICATION DE LAINE MINERALE Title: MINERAL WOOL MANUFACTURING FACILITY
L’invention a trait au domaine de la fabrication de laine minérale, du type par exemple laine de verre, et elle concerne plus particulièrement une installation de fabrication de laine minérale comportant un poste de répartition des fibres minérales sur un tapis convoyeur de cette installation. The invention relates to the field of the manufacture of mineral wool, of the type for example glass wool, and it relates more particularly to an installation for the manufacture of mineral wool comprising a station for distributing the mineral fibers on a conveyor belt of this installation.
Des installations de fabrication de laine minérale comportent classiquement plusieurs postes successifs parmi lesquels un poste de fibrage, dans lequel on forme des fibres minérales, vierges ou recyclées, un poste de mélange ou d’encollage des fibres minérales ainsi formées avec un liant par exemple sous forme liquide, un poste de répartition des fibres minérales sur un tapis convoyeur, un poste de calandrage, et un poste de réticulation dans lequel on transforme par chauffage le matelas formé sur le tapis convoyeur par la présence de fibres minérales et de liant pour former la laine minérale. Mineral wool manufacturing facilities conventionally comprise several successive stations, including a fiber-drawing station, in which virgin or recycled mineral fibers are formed, a station for mixing or sizing the mineral fibers thus formed with a binder, for example under liquid form, a station for distributing the mineral fibers on a conveyor belt, a calendering station, and a crosslinking station in which the mat formed on the conveyor belt is transformed by heating by the presence of mineral fibers and binder to form the mineral wool.
Plus particulièrement, il est connu que le poste de répartition comporte des moyens de guidage de l’ensemble formé par les fibres minérales et le liant permettant à cet ensemble de se répartir sous aspiration, en suivant majoritairement l’aéraulique imposée par les réglages des outils du fibrage, auxquels sont ajoutés des jets d’air comprimés afin de répartir macroscopiquement les amas de fibres sur le tapis convoyeur et le matelas ainsi formé est ensuite dirigé en direction d’une étuve formant le poste de calandrage et de réticulation, dans laquelle le matelas est successivement asséché puis soumis à un traitement thermique spécifique qui provoque la polymérisation (ou « durcissement ») de la résine du liant présent à la surface des fibres. Le matelas continu de laine minérale est ensuite destiné à être découpé pour former par exemple des panneaux ou rouleaux d'isolation thermique et/ou acoustique. More particularly, it is known that the distribution station comprises means for guiding the assembly formed by the mineral fibers and the binder allowing this assembly to be distributed under suction, mainly following the aeraulics imposed by the settings of the tools. drawing, to which jets of compressed air are added in order to macroscopically distribute the clusters of fibers on the conveyor belt and the mat thus formed is then directed towards an oven forming the calendering and crosslinking station, in which the The mattress is successively dried and then subjected to a specific heat treatment which causes the polymerization (or “hardening”) of the resin of the binder present on the surface of the fibres. The continuous mat of mineral wool is then intended to be cut to form, for example, panels or rolls of thermal and/or acoustic insulation.
La performance d’isolation thermique et/ou acoustique de ces panneaux, consistant en des matériaux fibreux non tissés, dépend notamment de l’agencement des fibres minérales dans le panneau et donc de l’agencement des fibres minérales sur le tapis convoyeur avant leur passage dans le poste de réticulation. On comprend dès lors que la configuration du poste de répartition au sein de l’installation de fabrication de laines minérales est essentielle. The thermal and/or acoustic insulation performance of these panels, consisting of non-woven fibrous materials, depends in particular on the arrangement of the mineral fibers in the panel and therefore on the arrangement of the mineral fibers on the conveyor belt before their passing through the curing station. It is therefore understood that the configuration of the distribution station within the mineral wool manufacturing installation is essential.
On connaît de l’art antérieur, et par exemple la demande EP2238281, des postes de répartition configurés pour permettre le positionnement des fibres sur le tapis convoyeur, avec des rouleaux dentés qui permettent d’éviter que des conglomérats de fibres formés dans le poste de mélange avec le liant ne soient disposés en l’état sur le tapis convoyeur. Les fibres ainsi séparées sont ensuite aspirées via un caisson d’aspiration disposé de l’autre côté du tapis convoyeur de manière à venir se déposer sur ce tapis convoyeur. Known from the prior art, and for example application EP2238281, distribution stations configured to allow positioning of the fibers on the conveyor belt, with toothed rollers which prevent conglomerates of fibers formed in the mixture with the binder are placed as they are on the conveyor belt. The fibers thus separated are then sucked up via a suction box placed on the other side of the conveyor belt so as to be deposited on this conveyor belt.
Si des postes de répartition de ce type permettent d’améliorer la répartition des fibres au sein du matelas de fibres, en évitant que d’importants tas de fibres soient présents localement alors que des zones du matelas sont sans fibre, la présente invention vise à proposer une installation améliorant fortement la performance d’isolation thermique en cherchant, outre l’absence d’agglomérats de fibres minérales au sein du matelas de fibres minérales, l’optimisation du positionnement de chacune des fibres minérales au sein d’un tel matelas. If distribution stations of this type make it possible to improve the distribution of the fibers within the fiber mat, by avoiding that large piles of fibers are present locally while areas of the mat are without fiber, the present invention aims to to propose an installation which greatly improves the performance of thermal insulation by seeking, in addition to the absence of agglomerates of mineral fibers within the mat of mineral fibers, the optimization of the positioning of each of the mineral fibers within such a mat.
La présente invention s’inscrit dans ce contexte et vise à proposer une installation de fabrication de laine minérale, comportant au moins un dispositif d’alimentation de fibres minérales et un poste de répartition des fibres comportant un tapis convoyeur mobile selon une direction de déplacement longitudinale et sur lequel les fibres minérales sont aptes à être reçues pour former un matelas de fibres minérales, caractérisé en ce que le poste de répartition des fibres comporte un train de rouleaux agencé sur le passage des fibres minérales destinées à tomber par gravité sur le tapis convoyeur, le train de rouleaux comportant au moins trois rouleaux, chaque rouleau étant apte à être entraîné en rotation autour d’un axe de rotation transversal, les rouleaux étant configurés pour disposer les fibres minérales de façon homogène dans l’épaisseur du matelas de fibres formé sur le tapis convoyeur. The present invention falls within this context and aims to provide a mineral wool manufacturing facility, comprising at least one mineral fiber supply device and a fiber distribution station comprising a conveyor belt movable in a direction of longitudinal movement. and on which the mineral fibers are capable of being received to form a mat of mineral fibers, characterized in that the fiber distribution station comprises a train of rollers arranged on the passage of the mineral fibers intended to fall by gravity onto the conveyor belt , the train of rollers comprising at least three rollers, each roller being suitable for being driven in rotation about a transverse axis of rotation, the rollers being configured to arrange the mineral fibers in a homogeneous manner in the thickness of the fiber mat formed on the conveyor belt.
L’installation selon l’invention vise notamment l’utilisation spécifique de fibres minérales, dont les dimensions, la légèreté, la souplesse, par exemple sont spécifiques par rapport à d’autres fibres comme des fibres de bois, ce qui implique un positionnement spécifique des rouleaux par rapport au tapis convoyeur pour s’assurer que les fibres minérales puissent se déposer de façon régulière sur le tapis convoyeur se déplaçant sous le train de rouleaux, de manière à se répartir de façon homogène dans l’épaisseur du matelas de fibres minérales qui se forme sur le tapis convoyeur. The installation according to the invention is aimed in particular at the specific use of mineral fibers, the dimensions, lightness and flexibility of which, for example, are specific compared to other fibers such as wood fibers, which implies a specific positioning of the rollers relative to the conveyor belt to ensure that the mineral fibers can be deposited evenly on the conveyor belt moving under the train of rollers, so as to be distributed evenly in the thickness of the mineral fiber mat which forms on the conveyor belt.
Dans le but recherché de l’invention d’une disposition homogène des fibres minérales dans l’épaisseur du matelas de fibre, il est notable que selon l’invention, le poste de répartition est dépourvu de moyens d’aspiration des fibres, de sorte que la répartition des fibres se fait uniquement de manière mécanique. L’absence de tels moyens aérauliques permet de maîtriser la dépose des fibres minérales sur le tapis convoyeur et leur répartition homogène au fur et à mesure du déroulement du tapis convoyeur sur lequel se forme le matelas de fibres. Si l’absence de moyens aérauliques présente l’avantage de pouvoir contrôler le dépôt des fibres minérales, ceci nécessite de configurer l’installation pour éviter qu’une quantité trop importante de fibres ne tombe entre les premiers rouleaux que les fibres rencontrent.With the desired aim of the invention of a homogeneous arrangement of the mineral fibers in the thickness of the fiber mat, it is notable that according to the invention, the distribution station is devoid of fiber suction means, so that the distribution of the fibers is done only mechanically. The absence of such aeraulic means makes it possible to control the deposit of the mineral fibers on the conveyor belt and their homogeneous distribution as the conveyor belt unrolls on which the fiber mat is formed. If the absence of aeraulic means has the advantage of being able to control the deposition of mineral fibers, this requires configuring the installation to prevent too large a quantity of fibers from falling between the first rollers that the fibers encounter.
Les rouleaux du train de rouleaux peuvent notamment être distingués en ce qu’un rouleau proximal est disposé à une première extrémité du train de rouleaux, et plus particulièrement l’extrémité la plus proche du dispositif d’alimentation, en ce qu’un rouleau distal est disposé à l’extrémité opposée du train de rouleaux et en ce qu’une pluralité de rouleaux centraux sont agencés successivement entre le rouleau proximal et le rouleau distal. The rollers of the roller train can in particular be distinguished in that a proximal roller is arranged at a first end of the roller train, and more particularly the end closest to the feed device, in that a distal roller is disposed at the opposite end of the train of rollers and in that a plurality of central rollers are arranged successively between the proximal roller and the distal roller.
Selon l’invention, le train de rouleaux est ainsi configuré pour assurer une répartition homogène des fibres minérales dans l’épaisseur du matelas de fibres minérales, notamment en proposant une configuration permettant le passage d’une quantité de fibres sensiblement équivalente entre chaque paire de rouleaux voisins du train de rouleaux, en évitant ainsi qu’une grande majorité des fibres rencontrant le train de rouleaux traverse celui-ci entre les deux premiers rouleaux qu’elles rencontrent, à savoir un rouleau proximal et un rouleau central immédiatement voisin. According to the invention, the train of rollers is thus configured to ensure a homogeneous distribution of the mineral fibers in the thickness of the mat of mineral fibers, in particular by proposing a configuration allowing the passage of a substantially equivalent quantity of fibers between each pair of neighboring rollers of the train of rollers, thus avoiding that a large majority of the fibers encountering the train of rollers crosses the latter between the first two rollers that they encounter, namely a proximal roller and an immediately neighboring central roller.
Selon une caractéristique de l’invention, le train de rouleaux comporte une pluralité de rouleaux agencés en parallèle les uns des autres parmi lesquels un rouleau proximal est disposé à une extrémité du train de rouleaux, et le poste de répartition comporte des moyens de guidage mécanique des fibres minérales en direction du rouleau proximal de sorte que toutes les fibres minérales pénétrant dans ce poste de répartition sont dirigées en direction du tapis convoyeur pour qu’elles tombent sur le rouleau proximal ou entre ce rouleau proximal et le rouleau qui lui est directement voisin. According to one characteristic of the invention, the train of rollers comprises a plurality of rollers arranged in parallel to one another, among which a proximal roller is arranged at one end of the train of rollers, and the distribution station comprises means for mechanically guiding the mineral fibers in the direction of the proximal roller so that all the mineral fibers entering this distribution station are directed in the direction of the conveyor belt so that they fall onto the proximal roller or between this proximal roller and the roller which is attached to it is directly adjacent.
Selon une caractéristique de l’invention, le train de rouleaux comporte une pluralité de rouleaux disposés parallèlement les uns aux autres avec un espacement entre deux rouleaux voisins qui est variable d’une extrémité à l’autre du train de rouleaux. Le train de rouleaux peut notamment être configuré de sorte que l’espacement entre deux rouleaux voisins augmente d’une extrémité à l’autre du train de rouleaux, en considérant la direction d’avancement des fibres le long du tapis convoyeur. According to one characteristic of the invention, the train of rollers comprises a plurality of rollers arranged parallel to each other with a spacing between two neighboring rollers which is variable from one end of the train of rollers to the other. The train of rollers can in particular be configured so that the spacing between two neighboring rollers increases from one end to the other of the train of rollers, considering the direction of advance of the fibers along the conveyor belt.
En d’autres termes, selon une caractéristique de l’invention, l’espacement entre deux rouleaux successifs du train de rouleaux varie en augmentant régulièrement à chaque espacement dans le sens de déplacement des fibres d’un rouleau à l’autre. L’augmentation de l’espacement entre deux rouleaux voisins peut notamment être régulière. In other words, according to a characteristic of the invention, the spacing between two successive rollers of the roller train varies by increasing regularly with each spacing in the direction of movement of the fibers from one roller to the other. The increase in the spacing between two neighboring rollers can in particular be regular.
Les rouleaux sont entraînés en rotation pour d’une part permettre le passage d’une partie des fibres minérales à travers le train de rouleaux en direction du tapis convoyeur et pour d’autre part permettre le transfert d’une partie des fibres minérales d’un rouleau à l’autre, pour que certaines fibres minérales atteignent de proche en proche l’extrémité distale du train de rouleaux, à l’opposé de l’extrémité proximale du train de rouleaux se trouvant à l’aplomb de l’arrivée des fibres minérales dans le poste de répartition. Le fait de prévoir un espacement entre deux rouleaux qui augmente selon la direction d’avancement des fibres minérales d’un rouleau à l’autre permet de diminuer l’espacement entre les premiers rouleaux atteints par les fibres minérales et de forcer une grande partie des fibres minérales à se propager en direction des rouleaux suivants pour assurer de proche en proche qu’une quantité suffisante de fibres minérales traverse le train de rouleaux entre un rouleau central et le rouleau distal de ce train de rouleaux. L’espacement entre les premiers rouleaux est ainsi de petite dimension pour éviter un déplacement naturel massif des fibres minérales en direction du tapis convoyeur sous l’effet de la gravité et s’assurer qu’une quantité suffisante de fibres minérales est dirigée vers les autres rouleaux. A l’extrémité du train de rouleaux, en bout de chaîne de déplacement des fibres minérales, l’espacement plus important permet de diriger les fibres vers le tapis convoyeur malgré la vitesse transversale qu’elles ont pu acquérir par l’intermédiaire de la rotation des rouleaux. The rollers are driven in rotation to, on the one hand, allow the passage of a part of the mineral fibers through the train of rollers towards the conveyor belt and, on the other hand, to allow the transfer of a part of the mineral fibers from one roller to the other, so that certain mineral fibers gradually reach the distal end of the set of rollers, opposite the proximal end of the set of rollers located directly above the arrival of the mineral fibers in the distribution station. The fact of providing a spacing between two rollers which increases according to the direction of advance of the mineral fibers from one roller to the other makes it possible to reduce the spacing between the first rollers reached by the mineral fibers and to force a large part of the mineral fibers to propagate in the direction of the following rolls to ensure step by step that a sufficient quantity of mineral fibers passes through the train of rolls between a central roll and the distal roll of this train of rolls. The spacing between the first rollers is thus small in size to avoid a massive natural displacement of the mineral fibers towards the conveyor belt under the effect of gravity and to ensure that a sufficient quantity of mineral fibers is directed to the other reels. At the end of the train of rollers, at the end of the mineral fiber movement chain, the greater spacing makes it possible to direct the fibers towards the conveyor belt despite the transverse speed that they have been able to acquire through the rotation rollers.
Selon une caractéristique de l’invention, chaque rouleau est entraîné par des moyens d’entrainement individuels. Un module de contrôle du fonctionnement de l’installation de fabrication de laines minérales est configuré pour donner une instruction de commande spécifique à chacun des moyens d’entraînement associé à un rouleau, et notamment pour donner une instruction de commande relative à une vitesse de rotation de ce rouleau. Il en résulte qu’avantageusement les rouleaux d’un même train de rouleaux peuvent être entraînés en rotation avec des vitesses de rotation différentes d’un rouleau à l’autre. According to a characteristic of the invention, each roller is driven by individual drive means. A module for controlling the operation of the mineral wool manufacturing installation is configured to give a specific control instruction to each of the drive means associated with a roller, and in particular to give a control instruction relating to a speed of rotation of this roll. As a result, the rollers of the same train of rollers can advantageously be driven in rotation with different rotational speeds from one roller to another.
Selon une caractéristique de l’invention, chaque rouleau est entraîné à une vitesse de rotation différente de celle des rouleaux voisins, les vitesses de rotation des rouleaux allant en diminuant dans le sens de déplacement des fibres d’un rouleau à l’autre. Les premiers rouleaux atteints par les fibres minérales ont pour fonction d’accélérer la vitesse des fibres pour les entraîner vers les rouleaux suivants et la vitesse des rouleaux successivement atteints par ces fibres minérales décroît pour autoriser au fur et à mesure de leur déplacement le long du train de rouleaux leur passage à travers ce train de rouleaux. According to a feature of the invention, each roller is driven at a speed of rotation different from that of the neighboring rollers, the speeds of rotation of the rollers decreasing in the direction of movement of the fibers from one roller to another. The first rollers reached by the mineral fibers have the function of accelerating the speed of the fibers to drive them towards the following rollers and the speed of the rollers successively reached by these mineral fibers decreases to allow as they move along the roller train their passage through this roller train.
Selon une caractéristique de l’invention, une vitesse de déplacement du tapis convoyeur est comprise entre 5 à 100 m/min de sorte que le matelas de fibres minérales ait une densité volumique comprise entre 5 et 40 kg/m3, plus particulièrement entre 6 et 35 kg/m3, encore plus particulièrement entre 7 et 30 kg/m3. According to one characteristic of the invention, a speed of movement of the conveyor belt is between 5 and 100 m/min so that the mat of mineral fibers has a volume density between 5 and 40 kg/m3, more particularly between 6 and 35 kg/m3, even more particularly between 7 and 30 kg/m3.
L’installation est en ce sens particulière en ce que les matelas de fibres minérales obtenus en sortie du poste de répartition présentent une densité volumique de fibres minérales qui est inférieure à celle de matelas d’autres types de fibres, comme des fibres de bois par exemple. Cette densité volumique est notamment obtenue par modulation de la densité surfacique via le contrôle d’une vitesse de déplacement du tapis convoyeur qui autorise la dépose d’un nombre donné de fibres minérales en un temps donné. Selon une caractéristique de l’invention, l’installation de fabrication de laine minérale comporte un tapis de convoyage agencé entre le dispositif d’alimentation de fibres minérales et le poste de répartition des fibres minérales de sorte que des fibres minérales en sortie du tapis de convoyage sont aptes à tomber par gravité sur le tapis convoyeur via un passage entre les rouleaux du train de rouleaux, la vitesse de déplacement du tapis convoyeur étant fonction de la vitesse de déplacement du tapis de convoyage et de la densité volumique souhaitée des fibres minérales dans le matelas de fibres. The installation is in this particular sense in that the mats of mineral fibers obtained at the outlet of the distribution station have a volume density of mineral fibers which is lower than that of mats of other types of fibers, such as wood fibers by example. This volume density is obtained in particular by modulating the surface density by controlling a speed of movement of the conveyor belt which allows the depositing of a given number of mineral fibers in a given time. According to one characteristic of the invention, the mineral wool manufacturing installation comprises a conveyor belt arranged between the mineral fiber supply device and the mineral fiber distribution station so that mineral fibers at the outlet of the conveyor belt are suitable for falling by gravity onto the conveyor belt via a passage between the rollers of the train of rollers, the speed of movement of the conveyor belt being a function of the speed of movement of the conveyor belt and the desired volume density of the mineral fibers in fiber mat.
Selon une caractéristique de l’invention, le poste de répartition est équipé d’un moyen déflecteur configuré pour guider les fibres minérales en sortie du dispositif d’alimentation, et notamment en sortie du tapis de convoyage, jusqu’au tapis convoyeur. Ce moyen déflecteur peut être mobile pour modifier la zone du train de rouleaux sur laquelle sont dirigées les fibres minérales et le liant associé en sortie du tapis de convoyage. According to a characteristic of the invention, the distribution station is equipped with a deflector means configured to guide the mineral fibers at the outlet of the feed device, and in particular at the outlet of the conveyor belt, as far as the conveyor belt. This deflector means can be movable to modify the zone of the train of rollers on which the mineral fibers and the associated binder are directed at the outlet of the conveyor belt.
Plus particulièrement, le poste de répartition comporte des moyens mécaniques pour diriger les fibres minérales dans une zone du train de rouleaux comportant le rouleau proximal. Ces moyens mécaniques peuvent notamment prendre la forme d’un bac formant entonnoir, avec une large surface de réception des fibres en sortie du dispositif d’alimentation et notamment du tapis de convoyage, et une surface plus étroite en regard du tapis convoyeur, à l’aplomb du rouleau proximal. De la sorte, les fibres minérales sont dirigées par gravité sur la zone souhaitée du train de rouleaux, pour qu’elles puissent ensuite passer de proche en proche du rouleau proximal au rouleau distal du train de rouleaux. Les rouleaux travaillent en séquentiel pour les fibres qui ne passent pas directement entre les premiers rouleaux, de sorte que les fibres sont réparties de manière homogène sur la longueur du train de rouleaux. Il convient de noter qu’une telle répartition n’est pas possible dans des systèmes de l’art antérieur où les fibres sont soufflées et aspirées dans un carter de l’installation et se déposent sur n’importe quelle zone du tapis convoyeur après être passées aléatoirement entre l’une ou l’autre paire de rouleaux voisins. More particularly, the distribution station comprises mechanical means for directing the mineral fibers into a zone of the train of rollers comprising the proximal roller. These mechanical means may in particular take the form of a tray forming a funnel, with a wide surface for receiving the fibers at the outlet of the feed device and in particular of the conveyor belt, and a narrower surface facing the conveyor belt, at the plumb of the proximal roller. In this way, the mineral fibers are directed by gravity onto the desired area of the roller train, so that they can then pass step by step from the proximal roller to the distal roller of the roller train. The rollers work sequentially for the fibers that do not pass directly between the first rollers, so that the fibers are evenly distributed over the length of the roller train. It should be noted that such a distribution is not possible in systems of the prior art where the fibers are blown and sucked into a casing of the installation and are deposited on any zone of the conveyor belt after being randomly passed between one or the other pair of neighboring reels.
Le moyen déflecteur peut dans ce contexte consister en une paroi des moyens mécaniques dont l’inclinaison déterminée permet de faire glisser les fibres minérales avec précision sur la zone souhaitée du train de rouleaux, à savoir le rouleau proximal ou à proximité immédiate de ce rouleau proximal, ou bien consister en une paroi mobile en sortie du bac formant entonnoir précédemment évoqué, dont l’inclinaison est réglée par un actionneur appropriée pour diriger les fibres minérales sur le rouleau proximal ou à proximité de celui-ci en fonction de la quantité de fibres présentes sur le rouleau proximal. The deflector means can in this context consist of a wall of mechanical means whose determined inclination makes it possible to slide the mineral fibers with precision on the desired area of the train of rollers, namely the proximal roller or in the immediate vicinity of this proximal roller, or else consist of a mobile wall at the outlet of the tray forming the funnel mentioned above, the inclination of which is adjusted by an appropriate actuator to direct the mineral fibers on or near the proximal roller depending on the amount of fibers present on the proximal roller.
Selon une caractéristique de l’invention, les rouleaux présentent chacun en surface des reliefs, disposés régulièrement le long de l’axe de rotation des rouleaux. Il convient de noter que par relief, on entend aussi bien des creux que des bosses, et plus particulièrement des rainures ou des proéminences, destinées à casser le profil régulier de la surface périphérique des rouleaux, afin d’assurer l’accrochage et/ou le décrochage des fibres minérales par ces rouleaux. According to one characteristic of the invention, the rollers each have reliefs on the surface, arranged regularly along the axis of rotation of the rollers. It should be noted that by relief is meant both hollows and bumps, and more particularly grooves or prominences, intended to break the regular profile of the peripheral surface of the rollers, in order to ensure the attachment and/or the unhooking of the mineral fibers by these rollers.
Selon d’autres caractéristiques de l’invention, les rouleaux consistent en des rouleaux dentés, chaque dent formant une saillie radiale du corps de rouleau entraîné en rotation. Au moins un rouleau denté comporte une pluralité de dents qui sont agencées annulairement en étant réparties régulièrement sur le pourtour du rouleau. According to other characteristics of the invention, the rollers consist of toothed rollers, each tooth forming a radial projection of the roller body driven in rotation. At least one toothed roller comprises a plurality of teeth which are arranged annularly and are regularly distributed around the periphery of the roller.
La dimension radiale des dents peut être considérée pour le calcul de la valeur du dégagement vertical du rouleau correspondant, pour s’assurer d’une part que les dents puissent permettre d’assurer un contact simultanée des fibres minérales avec le tapis convoyeur ou le matelas de fibre déjà formé et l’un des dents, dans le but d’orienter les fibres longitudinalement et pour s’assurer d’autre part que les dents puissent être au contact des fibres préalablement déposées sur le tapis convoyeur et susceptibles de ne pas être encore correctement plaquées à la surface du matelas de fibres minérales, dans le but de finaliser l’orientation longitudinale des fibres minérales et dans l’épaisseur du matelas de fibres. En d’autres termes, le dégagement vertical peut être mesurée entre le tapis convoyeur, ou le matelas de fibres minérales destiné à reposer sur le tapis convoyeur, et l’extrémité radiale libre de la dent la plus proche de ce tapis convoyeur. The radial dimension of the teeth can be considered for the calculation of the value of the vertical clearance of the corresponding roller, to ensure on the one hand that the teeth can make it possible to ensure simultaneous contact of the mineral fibers with the conveyor belt or the mattress. of fiber already formed and one of the teeth, with the aim of orienting the fibers longitudinally and to ensure on the other hand that the teeth can be in contact with the fibers previously deposited on the conveyor belt and likely not to be still correctly plated on the surface of the mineral fiber mat, in order to finalize the longitudinal orientation of the mineral fibers and in the thickness of the fiber mat. In other words, the vertical clearance can be measured between the conveyor belt, or the mineral fiber mat intended to rest on the conveyor belt, and the free radial end of the tooth closest to this conveyor belt.
Selon une caractéristique de l’invention, au moins un rouleau comporte une pluralité de bagues dentées agencées parallèlement les unes contre les autres le long de l’axe de rotation transversal du rouleau correspondant. De manière additionnelle, sans que cela soit limitatif de l’invention, les rouleaux peuvent être configurés pour assurer une orientation longitudinale des fibres minérales sur le tapis convoyeur, notamment en considérant la distance entre les rouleaux du train de rouleaux et la surface du tapis convoyeur sur laquelle se déposent les fibres minérales après avoir traversé le train de rouleaux, cette distance étant par la suite désignée par le terme de dégagement vertical. According to one characteristic of the invention, at least one roller comprises a plurality of toothed rings arranged parallel against each other along the transverse axis of rotation of the corresponding roller. Additionally, without this being limiting of the invention, the rollers can be configured to ensure a longitudinal orientation of the mineral fibers on the conveyor belt, in particular by considering the distance between the rollers of the train of rollers and the surface of the conveyor belt. on which the mineral fibers are deposited after having passed through the train of rollers, this distance being subsequently designated by the term vertical clearance.
Une particularité de ces fibres minérales consiste notamment dans le fait qu’elles constituent facilement des agglomérats de fibres en se collant les unes aux autres, de sorte que la longueur moyenne d’une fibre minérale à considérer peut varier. A titre d’exemple non limitatif, des fibres minérales seules peuvent présenter une longueur moyenne inférieure à 10 millimètres, mais ces fibres minérales entièrement séparées des autres peuvent ne représenter qu’une part minime au sein de l’ensemble fibreux arrivant dans le poste de répartition par rapport à des amas de fibres dont la longueur moyenne, dépendant d’un nombre moyen de fibres minérales formant ces amas, peut être de l’ordre de 20 à 30 millimètres. Il est dès lors avantageux de prévoir une installation prenant en charge cette particularité propres aux fibres minérales, la présence d’amas de fibres pouvant par ailleurs être augmentée lorsque les fibres minérales utilisées sont des fibres recyclées, avec des résidus de liant solidarisant entre elles plusieurs de ces fibres minérales. L’installation selon l’invention peut être configurée en fonction d’une dimension moyenne d’une longueur de fibres ou d’amas de fibres, notamment pour adapter la valeur de dégagement vertical, c’est-à-dire la distance entre les rouleaux du train de rouleaux et la surface du tapis convoyeur sur laquelle se déposent les fibres, et permettre que la grande majorité des fibres minérales, qu’elles soient seules ou en amas, soit correctement déposées sur le tapis convoyeur. A special feature of these mineral fibers consists in particular in the fact that they easily form agglomerates of fibers by sticking to each other, so that the average length of a mineral fiber to be considered can vary. By way of non-limiting example, mineral fibers alone may have an average length of less than 10 millimeters, but these mineral fibers entirely separated from the others may represent only a minimal part within the fibrous assembly arriving in the post of distribution relative to clusters of fibers whose average length, depending on an average number of mineral fibers forming these clusters, can be of the order of 20 to 30 millimeters. It is therefore advantageous to provide an installation taking care of this particularity specific to mineral fibers, the presence of clusters of fibers being able moreover to be increased when the mineral fibers used are recycled fibers, with residues of binder joining together several of these mineral fibers. The installation according to the invention can be configured according to an average dimension of a length of fibers or clusters of fibers, in particular to adapt the vertical clearance value, that is to say the distance between the rollers of the roller train and the surface of the conveyor belt on which the fibers are deposited, and allow the vast majority of mineral fibers, whether alone or in clusters, to be correctly deposited on the conveyor belt.
Selon une caractéristique de l’invention, le train de rouleaux comporte une pluralité de rouleaux agencés en parallèle les uns des autres parmi lesquels un rouleau proximal est disposé à une extrémité du train de rouleaux. According to a feature of the invention, the train of rollers comprises a plurality of rollers arranged in parallel to each other, among which a proximal roller is arranged at one end of the train of rollers.
Selon une caractéristique de l’invention, le poste de répartition comporte des moyens de guidage mécanique des fibres minérales en direction du rouleau proximal de sorte que toutes les fibres minérales pénétrant dans ce poste de répartition sont dirigées en direction du tapis convoyeur pour qu’elles tombent sur le rouleau proximal ou entre ce rouleau proximal et le rouleau qui lui est directement voisin. According to one characteristic of the invention, the distribution station comprises means for mechanically guiding the mineral fibers in the direction of the proximal roller so that all the mineral fibers penetrating into this distribution station are directed in the direction of the conveyor belt so that they fall onto the proximal roller or between this proximal roller and the roller which is directly adjacent to it.
Selon une caractéristique de l’invention, un dégagement vertical entre ce rouleau proximal et le tapis convoyeur est inférieur à une valeur seuil fonction de la longueur moyenne des fibres minérales traitées par l’installation. According to one characteristic of the invention, a vertical clearance between this proximal roller and the conveyor belt is less than a threshold value depending on the average length of the mineral fibers processed by the installation.
Tel que cela a pu être évoqué précédemment, il convient de noter que la notion de longueur moyenne des fibres minérales traités par l’installation, selon la présente invention, peut indifféremment s’étendre à la longueur moyenne d’une fibre minérale seule, lorsqu’elle est correctement séparée des autres fibres minérales, ou bien à la longueur moyenne d’un amas moyen de fibres agglomérées entre elles. Selon un exemple non limitatif, la longueur moyenne peut plus particulièrement être de l’ordre de 20 à 30 millimètres, cette valeur étant plus particulièrement représentative d’un constat fait par les inventeurs de la longueur moyenne d’un amas de fibres minérales présent de façon représentative dans le matelas de fibres minérales. As may have been mentioned previously, it should be noted that the notion of average length of the mineral fibers treated by the installation, according to the present invention, can indifferently extend to the average length of a single mineral fiber, when 'it is correctly separated from the other mineral fibers, or at the average length of an average mass of fibers agglomerated between them. According to a non-limiting example, the average length may more particularly be of the order of 20 to 30 millimeters, this value being more particularly representative of an observation made by the inventors of the average length of a cluster of mineral fibers present from representative way in the mineral fiber mattress.
Le dégagement vertical est ici mesuré entre une surface périphérique du rouleau proximal et la surface du tapis convoyeur sur laquelle les fibres minérales viennent se déposer. Les rouleaux du train de rouleaux peuvent notamment être distingués en ce qu’un rouleau proximal est disposé à une première extrémité du train de rouleaux, et plus particulièrement l’extrémité la plus proche du dispositif d’alimentation, en ce qu’un rouleau distal est disposé à l’extrémité opposée du train de rouleaux et en ce qu’une pluralité de rouleaux centraux sont agencés successivement entre le rouleau proximal et le rouleau distal. The vertical clearance is here measured between a peripheral surface of the proximal roller and the surface of the conveyor belt on which the mineral fibers are deposited. The rollers of the roller train can in particular be distinguished in that a proximal roller is arranged at a first end of the roller train, and more particularly the end closest to the feed device, in that a distal roller is disposed at the opposite end of the train of rollers and in that a plurality of central rollers are arranged successively between the proximal roller and the distal roller.
Les fibres entraînées par la rotation du rouleau proximal et passant entre le rouleau proximal et le rouleau central directement voisin du rouleau proximal s’orientent par gravité en direction du tapis convoyeur, avec une extrémité libre qui pend en direction du tapis et une extrémité qui reste en contact du rouleau. The fibers driven by the rotation of the proximal roller and passing between the proximal roller and the central roller directly adjacent to the proximal roller are oriented by gravity in the direction of the conveyor belt, with a free end which hangs in the direction of the belt and an end which remains in contact with the roller.
La longueur moyenne des fibres minérales et le dégagement vertical d’une valeur inférieure à la valeur seuil égale à cette valeur de longueur moyenne des fibres minérales, qui peut être comprise de manière non limitative entre 20 et 30 millimètres, permettent d’assurer que l’extrémité libre de chaque fibre minérale passant à travers le train de rouleaux entre le rouleau proximal et le rouleau central directement voisin entre en contact avec le tapis alors qu’elle est toujours en contact du rouleau. De la sorte, l’extrémité libre de la fibre minérale étant entraînée longitudinalement par le défilement du tapis convoyeur, on étire la fibre minérale et on la positionne longitudinalement. The average length of mineral fibers and the vertical clearance of a value less than the threshold value equal to this value of average length of mineral fibers, which can be between 20 and 30 millimeters in a non-limiting manner, make it possible to ensure that the free end of each mineral fiber passing through the set of rollers between the proximal roller and the directly adjacent central roller comes into contact with the carpet while it is always in contact with the roller. In this way, the free end of the mineral fiber being driven longitudinally by the movement of the conveyor belt, the mineral fiber is stretched and positioned longitudinally.
Il convient de noter que cette caractéristique de valeur de dégagement vertical inférieure à une valeur seuil, ici 30 millimètres, est similaire pour les autres rouleaux du train de rouleaux, en étant mesurée cette fois entre l’axe de rotation de cet autre rouleau et la surface supérieure du tapis de fibres minérales destinée à reposer sur le tapis convoyeur au droit de ce rouleau. Dès lors, de manière analogue à ce qui a été évoqué ci-dessus, l’extrémité libre de chaque fibre minérale passant à travers le train de rouleaux entre cet autre rouleau et le rouleau directement voisin entre en contact avec le matelas de fibres minérales déjà présent sur le tapis alors qu’elle est toujours en contact de cet autre rouleau ce qui assure l’étirement et le positionnement longitudinal de la fibre minérale. It should be noted that this characteristic of a vertical clearance value below a threshold value, here 30 millimeters, is similar for the other rollers of the set of rollers, being measured this time between the axis of rotation of this other roller and the upper surface of the mineral fiber mat intended to rest on the conveyor belt to the right of this roller. Therefore, analogously to what was mentioned above, the free end of each mineral fiber passing through the set of rollers between this other roller and the directly neighboring roller comes into contact with the mineral fiber mat already present on the carpet while it is still in contact with this other roller, which ensures the stretching and the longitudinal positioning of the mineral fiber.
Selon une caractéristique de l’invention, le train de rouleaux s’étend principalement selon un axe incliné par rapport au plan d’allongement principal du tapis convoyeur. En d’autres termes, chaque rouleau du train de rouleau s’étend à une distance du tapis convoyeur qui lui est propre, avec une augmentation progressive de cette distance en considérant la direction de déplacement du tapis convoyeur, c’est-à-dire au fur et à mesure que l’on s’éloigne du rouleau proximal du train de rouleaux. Il convient de noter que l’épaisseur du matelas de fibres minérales présent sur le tapis convoyeur tend à augmenter en considérant la direction de déplacement du tapis convoyeur, et l’inclinaison du train de rouleaux est calculée pour que chaque rouleau soit à une valeur de dégagement vertical inférieur à la valeur seuil choisie, par rapport à la surface directement à l’aplomb de ce rouleau, en considérant l’épaisseur du matelas de fibres minérales qui est supposé se trouver sous ce rouleau. According to a characteristic of the invention, the train of rollers extends mainly along an axis inclined with respect to the main elongation plane of the conveyor belt. In other words, each roller of the roller train extends its own distance from the conveyor belt, with a progressive increase in this distance considering the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, i.e. as one moves away from the proximal roller of the roller train. It should be noted that the thickness of the mineral fiber mat present on the conveyor belt tends to increase considering the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, and the inclination of the train of rollers is calculated so that each roller is at a value of vertical clearance less than the chosen threshold value, with respect to the surface directly above this roller, considering the thickness of the mineral fiber mat which is supposed to be under this roller.
Selon une caractéristique de l’invention, l’inclinaison du train de rouleaux par rapport au plan d’allongement principal du tapis convoyeur est déterminée par un angle calculé en fonction de l’épaisseur du tapis de fibres minérales destiné à reposer sur le tapis convoyeur, de sorte que le dégagement vertical soit constant entre chacun des rouleaux et la surface supérieure du tapis de fibres minérales. According to one characteristic of the invention, the inclination of the train of rollers with respect to the main elongation plane of the conveyor belt is determined by an angle calculated in function of the thickness of the mineral fiber mat intended to rest on the conveyor belt, so that the vertical clearance is constant between each of the rollers and the upper surface of the mineral fiber mat.
Selon une caractéristique de l’invention, le poste de répartition peut comporter des moyens de réglage d’une inclinaison du train de rouleaux. According to a characteristic of the invention, the distribution station may comprise means for adjusting an inclination of the train of rollers.
Selon une caractéristique de l’invention, le dispositif d’alimentation de fibres minérales comporte des moyens d’alimentation de fibres minérales non liantes et d’un liant de type poudre ou de type fibres minérales préliantées, c’est-à-dire composées d’un cœur de fibre minérale et d’un revêtement enrobant ce cœur et comportant un liant séché non cuit. According to one characteristic of the invention, the device for supplying mineral fibers comprises means for supplying non-binding mineral fibers and a binder of the powder type or of the pre-bonded mineral fiber type, that is to say composed a core of mineral fiber and a coating encasing this core and comprising an uncured dried binder.
Dans une variante de réalisation, le tapis de convoyage est agencé au sein d’une cuve de séparation comportant par ailleurs des moyens de séparation des fibres. On comprend de cette configuration que les fibres minérales et le liant associé sont traités dans une première étape d’ébauche de séparation afin de séparer les conglomérats de fibres les plus importants et que le poste de répartition a essentiellement pour fonction de répartir longitudinalement dans le matelas ces fibres séparées, le cas échéant en procédant à une étape de finition de séparation pour les quelques fibres qui n’ont pas été séparées les unes des autres dans la cuve de séparation. In an alternative embodiment, the conveyor belt is arranged within a separation tank also comprising means for separating the fibers. It is understood from this configuration that the mineral fibers and the associated binder are treated in a first separation draft stage in order to separate the largest fiber conglomerates and that the distribution station essentially has the function of distributing longitudinally in the mattress these fibers separated, if necessary by carrying out a separation finishing step for the few fibers which have not been separated from each other in the separation tank.
D’autres caractéristiques, détails et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront plus clairement à la lecture de la description détaillée donnée ci- après à titre indicatif, en relation avec les différents exemples de réalisation de l’invention illustrés sur l’ensemble des figures parmi lesquelles : la figure 1 est une représentation schématique d’une partie d’une installation de fabrication de laine minérale, illustrant notamment le poste de répartition de fibres minérales conforme à un aspect de l’invention ; la figure 2 est une représentation schématique du poste de répartition de la figure 1, conforme à l’invention avec un train de rouleaux et un tapis convoyeur qui sont disposés à distance l’un de l’autre pour permettre aux rouleaux d’orienter les fibres minérales lors du dépôt sur le tapis convoyeur et avec des rouleaux spécifiquement disposés les uns par rapport aux autres pour permettre un passage régulier de fibres minérales entre chaque paire de rouleaux voisins du train de rouleaux et une homogénéité des fibres dans l’épaisseur du matelas de fibres ainsi constitué ; la figure 3 est une vue de détail du train de rouleaux de la figure 2, dans une vue de dessus ; la figure 4 est une représentation en perspective d’une bague dentée formant partie d’un rouleau denté du train de rouleaux de la figure 3 ; la figure 5 est une représentation schématique de deux rouleaux dentés du train de rouleaux visant à illustrer la coopération de ces rouleaux avec un matelas de fibres minérales formés sur le tapis convoyeur ; la figure 6 est une représentation schématique d’une version alternative du poste de répartition de la figure 1, conforme à l’invention avec un train de rouleaux et un tapis convoyeur qui sont disposés à distance l’un de l’autre pour permettre aux rouleaux d’orienter les fibres minérales lors du dépôt sur le tapis convoyeur. Other characteristics, details and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the detailed description given below by way of indication, in relation to the various exemplary embodiments of the invention illustrated in all of the figures among which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of part of a mineral wool manufacturing installation, illustrating in particular the mineral fiber distribution station in accordance with one aspect of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the distribution station of Figure 1, according to the invention with a train of rollers and a conveyor belt which are arranged at a distance from each other to allow the rollers to orient the mineral fibers during deposit on the conveyor belt and with rollers specifically arranged relative to each other to allow a regular passage of mineral fibers between each pair of neighboring rollers of the train of rollers and a homogeneity of the fibers in the thickness of the fiber mat thus formed ; Figure 3 is a detail view of the train of rollers of Figure 2, in a top view; FIG. 4 is a representation in perspective of a toothed ring forming part of a toothed roller of the train of rollers of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of two toothed rollers of the train of rollers aimed at illustrating the cooperation of these rollers with a mat of mineral fibers formed on the conveyor belt; Figure 6 is a schematic representation of an alternative version of the distribution station of Figure 1, according to the invention with a train of rollers and a conveyor belt which are arranged at a distance from each other to allow rollers to orient the mineral fibers during deposit on the conveyor belt.
Pour rappel, l’invention porte sur la configuration particulière d’un poste d’une installation de fabrication de laine minérale, et plus particulièrement un poste de répartition de fibres minérales configuré pour répartir dans une orientation appropriée des fibres minérales. As a reminder, the invention relates to the particular configuration of a station of a mineral wool manufacturing installation, and more particularly a mineral fiber distribution station configured to distribute mineral fibers in an appropriate orientation.
On a illustré sur la figure 1 une partie d’une telle installation de fabrication 1 de laine minérale, par exemple de laine de verre, avec différents postes successifs participant à la création d’un matelas isolant composé de fibres minérales et plus particulièrement le poste de répartition 2 spécifique selon l’invention. There is illustrated in Figure 1 a part of such a manufacturing plant 1 of mineral wool, for example glass wool, with different successive stations participating in the creation of an insulating blanket composed of mineral fibers and more particularly the station of specific distribution 2 according to the invention.
En amont de ce poste de répartition, si l’on considère le sens de circulation des fibres minérales au sein de l’installation, un premier poste comporte un dispositif d’alimentation de fibres 4 dans lequel sont mélangés des fibres minérales, vierges ou recyclées, et un liant apte à assurer la tenue des fibres entre elles lorsque le mélange est chauffé en fin d’installation. Le cas échéant, les fibres minérales recyclées sont par exemple des fibres minérales fabriquées pour une application de laine à souffler, ou encore des fibres transformées sous forme de laine minérale pour l’isolation thermique et/ou acoustique. Dans ce dernier cas, les fibres minérales recyclées comportent déjà un liant durci ce qui n’empêche pas de la traiter par le même procédé, à savoir en ajoutant par la suite un autre liant. Upstream of this distribution station, if we consider the direction of circulation of the mineral fibers within the installation, a first station comprises a fiber supply device 4 in which are mixed mineral fibers, virgin or recycled , and a binder capable of holding the fibers together when the mixture is heated at the end of installation. Where appropriate, the recycled mineral fibers are, for example, mineral fibers manufactured for a blowing wool application, or even fibers transformed into wool mineral for thermal and/or acoustic insulation. In the latter case, the recycled mineral fibers already comprise a hardened binder which does not prevent it from being treated by the same process, namely by subsequently adding another binder.
Dans la suite de la description, lorsqu’il sera fait mention de fibres minérales aptes à traverser un train de rouleaux et à être déposées sur un tapis convoyeur dans le poste de répartition, on pourra indifféremment se référer à des fibres minérales vierges ou à des fibres minérales recyclées, ou encore à des fibres minérales mêlées à du liant ou à des fibres minérales préliantées, et ce que ce soit pour une fibre minérale seule, parfaitement séparée des autres fibres minérales, ou bien un amas de plusieurs fibres entremêlées. In the rest of the description, when mention is made of mineral fibers capable of passing through a train of rollers and of being deposited on a conveyor belt in the distribution station, reference may be made indiscriminately to virgin mineral fibers or to recycled mineral fibers, or else to mineral fibers mixed with binder or with pre-bonded mineral fibers, and whether for a single mineral fiber, perfectly separated from the other mineral fibers, or else a cluster of several intermingled fibers.
Le terme « fibre minérale vierge » peut notamment désigner ici de la fibre minérale, en particulier de la fibre de laine de verre ou de roche, obtenue par centrifugation interne ou externe, dont les fibres ne sont pas liées les unes aux autres au moyen d’un liant organique. Les fibres de laine minérale vierge peuvent être enrobées d’une mince couche d’ensimage ou de lubrifiant. Le terme « fibre minérale recyclée » désigne ici de la fibre minérale portant à sa surface un liant organique insoluble et infusible, déjà réticulé. Bien entendu il peut être envisagé que les fibres minérales présentes dans le poste de répartition soient un mélange de fibre minérale vierge et de fibre minérale recyclée, en n’importe quelles proportions respectives. The term "virgin mineral fiber" may in particular designate here mineral fiber, in particular glass or rock wool fiber, obtained by internal or external centrifugation, the fibers of which are not bonded to each other by means of an organic binder. Virgin mineral wool fibers can be coated with a thin layer of size or lubricant. The term “recycled mineral fiber” designates here mineral fiber carrying on its surface an insoluble and infusible organic binder, already crosslinked. Of course it can be envisaged that the mineral fibers present in the distribution station are a mixture of virgin mineral fiber and recycled mineral fiber, in any respective proportions.
Le dispositif d’alimentation de fibres comporte en sortie un conduit d’alimentation relié à un tapis de convoyage 8. Le tapis de convoyage 8 est configuré pour se déplacer à une première vitesse de défilement, qui peut être modifiée par une instruction de commande appropriée.The fiber supply device comprises at the output a supply duct connected to a conveyor belt 8. The conveyor belt 8 is configured to move at a first running speed, which can be modified by an appropriate control instruction .
Le tapis de convoyage 8 présente une extrémité de distribution de fibres 9 qui est disposée en surplomb du poste de répartition 2 précédemment évoqué. The conveyor belt 8 has a fiber distribution end 9 which is arranged overhanging the distribution station 2 mentioned above.
Le poste de répartition 2 comporte au moins un train de rouleaux 12 équipé de rouleaux 13 et un tapis convoyeur 14 sur lequel est apte à se former, au fur et à mesure du dépôt des fibres minérales et du liant sur le tapis convoyeur, un matelas de fibres 15. Le train de rouleaux 12 est disposé sur le trajet des fibres minérales entre le tapis de convoyage 8 et le tapis convoyeur 14. Le train de rouleaux est formé d’une pluralité de rouleaux 13 disposés en parallèle les uns des autres et aptes à pivoter autour d’axes de rotation parallèles les uns aux autres. Tel que cela sera détaillé ci- après, ces rouleaux 13 sont configurés pour permettre d’une part de réaliser une séparation des fibres minérales et éviter le dépôt de fibres minérales agglomérées sur le tapis convoyeur et d’autre part de réaliser une orientation longitudinale de ces fibres minérales, perpendiculaire à l’axe de rotation des rouleaux, au sein du matelas de fibres 15.The distribution station 2 comprises at least one train of rollers 12 equipped with rollers 13 and a conveyor belt 14 on which is able to form, as the mineral fibers and the binder are deposited on the conveyor belt, a mattress of fibers 15. The train of rollers 12 is arranged on the path of the mineral fibers between the conveyor belt 8 and the conveyor belt 14. The train of rollers is formed of a plurality of rollers 13 arranged parallel to each other and capable of pivoting around axes of rotation parallel to each other. As will be detailed below, these rollers 13 are configured to allow, on the one hand, to achieve a separation of the mineral fibers and to avoid the deposition of agglomerated mineral fibers on the conveyor belt and, on the other hand, to achieve a longitudinal orientation of these mineral fibers, perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rollers, within the fiber mat 15.
En d’autres termes, le poste de répartition 2 est configuré pour séparer les fibres minérales 3 les unes des autres pour les fibres minérales qui n’auraient pas été complètement séparées dans la cuve de séparation, notamment par l’agencement des rouleaux en train de rouleaux au sein duquel les rouleaux 13, qui tournent dans le même sens de rotation, participent à diriger une partie des fibres minérales 3 entre deux rouleaux voisins vers le tapis convoyeur et une autre partie des fibres vers le rouleau voisin pour avancer le long du train de rouleaux et être déversé plus loin sur le tapis convoyeur. In other words, the distribution station 2 is configured to separate the mineral fibers 3 from each other for the mineral fibers which would not have been completely separated in the separation tank, in particular by the arrangement of the rollers in train of rollers within which the rollers 13, which rotate in the same direction of rotation, participate in directing part of the mineral fibers 3 between two neighboring rollers towards the conveyor belt and another part of the fibers towards the neighboring roller to advance along the train of rollers and be dumped further on the conveyor belt.
Tel que cela a été évoqué, le tapis de convoyage 8 présente une extrémité de distribution de fibres 9 qui est disposée en surplomb du poste de répartition 2 et donc du train de rouleaux 12. Dans ce train de rouleaux, on distingue un rouleau proximal 131, disposé à une première extrémité 121 du train de rouleaux 12 la plus proche du tapis de convoyage 8, un rouleau distal 132 disposé à l’extrémité opposée 122 du train de rouleaux 12 et une pluralité de rouleaux centraux 133 agencés successivement entre le rouleau proximal et le rouleau distal. Le poste de répartition comporte des moyens de guidage mécanique pour guider les fibres minérales arrivant à l’extrémité de distribution de fibres 9 en direction du train de rouleaux 12 et plus particulièrement en direction du rouleau proximal 131. Ces moyens de guidage mécanique peuvent prendre différentes formes parmi lesquelles un conduit flexible, un bac rigide formant entonnoir tel qu’illustré sur ma figure 6 ou une rampe de guidage tel qu’illustrée sur les figures 1 et 2, ces moyens de guidage mécaniques consistant à guider, notamment vers le rouleau proximal 131 et les rouleaux immédiatement voisins, les fibres minérales tombant par gravité dans un environnement où elles ne sont ni soufflées ni aspirées. Le poste de répartition est également configuré pour donner à ces fibres minérales 3 une orientation longitudinale, c’est-à-dire parallèle à la direction de déplacement du tapis convoyeur, cette orientation longitudinale des fibres minérales 3 dans le matelas 15 étant optimale en termes d’isolation thermique. As mentioned, the conveyor belt 8 has a fiber distribution end 9 which is arranged overhanging the distribution station 2 and therefore the train of rollers 12. In this train of rollers, there is a proximal roller 131 , disposed at a first end 121 of the train of rollers 12 closest to the conveyor belt 8, a distal roller 132 disposed at the opposite end 122 of the train of rollers 12 and a plurality of central rollers 133 arranged successively between the proximal roller and the distal roller. The distribution station comprises mechanical guide means for guiding the mineral fibers arriving at the fiber distribution end 9 in the direction of the train of rollers 12 and more particularly in the direction of the proximal roller 131. These mechanical guide means can take different forms among which a flexible conduit, a rigid tray forming a funnel as illustrated in my figure 6 or a guide ramp as illustrated in figures 1 and 2, these mechanical guide means consisting in guiding, in particular towards the proximal roller 131 and the immediately adjacent rollers, the mineral fibers falling by gravity into an environment where they are neither blown nor sucked. The distribution station is also configured to give these mineral fibers 3 a longitudinal orientation, that is to say parallel to the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, this longitudinal orientation of the mineral fibers 3 in the mat 15 being optimal in terms of thermal insulation.
Plus particulièrement, le poste de répartition 2 permet de donner cette orientation longitudinale optimale des fibres minérales notamment par la dimension des rouleaux et leur disposition des rouleaux par rapport au tapis convoyeur, et l’impact que cela peut avoir sur la façon dont les fibres sont amenées à se déposer sur le tapis convoyeur, au lieu de tomber dessus comme cela peut être le cas dans les installations de l’art antérieur. Les fibres minérales 3 et des fibres minérales préliantées 5, ou le cas échéant, les fibres encollées par un liant liquide ou sous forme de poudre, se déposent sur le tapis convoyeur 14, en étant déposées à la surface de ce tapis convoyeur après être passées entre deux rouleaux 13 voisins, dans des conditions qui assurent un entraînement et un étirement longitudinal, et en étant peignées à la surface du matelas de fibres 15 par le contact des rouleaux du train de rouleaux 12, tel que cela sera détaillé ci- après. More particularly, the distribution station 2 makes it possible to give this optimal longitudinal orientation of the mineral fibers in particular by the size of the rollers and their arrangement of the rollers with respect to the conveyor belt, and the impact that this can have on the way in which the fibers are caused to settle on the conveyor belt, instead of falling on it as may be the case in the installations of the prior art. The mineral fibers 3 and pre-bonded mineral fibers 5, or where appropriate, the fibers glued with a liquid binder or in the form of a powder, are deposited on the conveyor belt 14, being deposited on the surface of this conveyor belt after having passed between two adjacent rollers 13, under conditions which ensure drive and longitudinal stretching, and being combed to the surface of the fiber mat 15 by the contact of the rollers of the roller train 12, as will be detailed below.
Le tapis convoyeur 14 est prolongé par un tapis de convoyage, qui emmène le matelas 15 composé de ces fibres minérales 3 et les éléments liants 5 vers une étuve ici non représentée et à l'intérieur de laquelle elles sont chauffées pour réticuler le liant. The conveyor belt 14 is extended by a conveyor belt, which takes the mat 15 composed of these mineral fibers 3 and the binding elements 5 to an oven not shown here and inside which they are heated to crosslink the binder.
On comprend qu’une telle ligne d’installation est adaptée pour la production de produits à base de fibres de laine de verre, tel que cela va être décrit, mais qu’elle est évidemment adaptée à la production de produits à base de fibres minérales. It is understood that such an installation line is suitable for the production of products based on glass wool fibers, as will be described, but that it is obviously suitable for the production of products based on mineral fibers .
Plus particulièrement, le poste de répartition et le train de rouleaux qu’il comprend sont adaptés au traitement, et tel qu’évoqué ci-dessus à l’orientation des fibres les unes par rapport aux autres, de fibres minérales et par exemple de fibres de verres, qui présentent des dimensions spécifiques et dont la longueur moyenne peut notamment varier en fonction de la dimension de l’amas qu’elles participent à former le cas échéant avec d’autres fibres minérales, ces fibres minérales étant plus particulièrement destinées à s’agglomérer que d’autres fibres comme des fibres de bois, et/ou pouvant consister en des fibres minérales recyclées agglomérées entre elles par des résidus de liant séché. More particularly, the distribution station and the train of rollers which it comprises are suitable for the treatment, and as mentioned above for the orientation of the fibers with respect to each other, of mineral fibers and for example of fibers glasses, which have specific dimensions and the average length of which may in particular vary according to the dimension of the cluster that they participate in forming, where appropriate, with other mineral fibers, these mineral fibers being more particularly intended for s agglomerate that other fibers such as wood fibers, and/or possibly consisting of recycled mineral fibers agglomerated together by residues of dried binder.
La configuration du train de rouleaux 12 est par ailleurs particulièrement adaptée à un ensemble formé de fibres minérales 3 et de liant 5 dans lequel le liant est formé par des fibres préliantées. Le train de rouleaux permet ainsi un agencement optimal des fibres minérales et des fibres préliantées dans le matelas de fibres tombé sur le tapis convoyeur. The configuration of the train of rollers 12 is moreover particularly suited to an assembly formed of mineral fibers 3 and binder 5 in which the binder is formed by pre-bonded fibers. The train of rollers thus allows an optimal arrangement of the mineral fibers and the prebonded fibers in the mattress of fibers fallen on the conveyor belt.
Les fibres préliantées sont plus particulièrement ici des fibres composées d’un cœur en fibres minérales, avantageusement la même fibre minérale que les fibres minérales non liantes présentes et d’une coquille entourant le cœur qui est réalisée avec un liant pulvérisé et séché.The pre-bonded fibers here are more particularly fibers composed of a core of mineral fibers, advantageously the same mineral fiber as the non-binding mineral fibers present and of a shell surrounding the core which is made with a pulverized and dried binder.
Le liant peut notamment consister en un liant à faible teneur en formaldéhyde, de préférence même sans formaldéhyde, par exemple des liants à base de produits biosourcés. Ce type de liant est au moins partiellement issu d'une base de matière première renouvelable, en particulier végétale, notamment du type à base de sucres hydrogénés ou non. The binder may in particular consist of a binder with a low formaldehyde content, preferably even without formaldehyde, for example binders based on biobased products. This type of binder is at least partially derived from a base of renewable raw material, in particular vegetable, in particular of the type based on hydrogenated or non-hydrogenated sugars.
Le fait que le liant soit mis en œuvre via une fibre minérale préliantée, basée sur une fibre minérale similaire à celle traitée par ailleurs dans l’installation, permet de traiter l’agencement du liant dans le tapis de fibres minérales de manière similaire à celle des fibres non liantes.The fact that the binder is implemented via a pre-bonded mineral fiber, based on a mineral fiber similar to that treated elsewhere in the installation, makes it possible to treat the arrangement of the binder in the mineral fiber carpet in a similar way to that non-binding fibers.
On va maintenant décrire plus en détails le poste de répartition de fibres 2 conforme à un aspect de l’invention, notamment en référence aux figures 2 à 5. We will now describe in more detail the fiber distribution station 2 according to one aspect of the invention, in particular with reference to Figures 2 to 5.
Le poste de répartition de fibres 2 comporte, outre le train de rouleaux 12 et le tapis convoyeur 14 précédemment évoqués, au moins un carter 18 et un support 20 du train de rouleaux. The fiber distribution station 2 comprises, in addition to the train of rollers 12 and the conveyor belt 14 mentioned above, at least one casing 18 and a support 20 of the train of rollers.
Le carter 18 est délimité par une pluralité de parois à l’intérieur desquelles les fibres minérales et le liant associé sont dirigés, depuis le tapis de convoyage 8, jusqu’au tapis convoyeur 14, en traversant le train de rouleaux 12. The casing 18 is delimited by a plurality of walls inside which the mineral fibers and the associated binder are directed, from the conveyor belt 8, to the conveyor belt 14, crossing the train of rollers 12.
Un ou plusieurs moyens de guidage mécanique 19, et par exemple un déflecteur tel qu’illustré sur les figures 1 et 2 ou bien un bac tel qu’illustré sur la figure 6, peuvent être prévus pour guider les fibres minérales arrivant à l’extrémité de distribution de fibres 9 en direction du train de rouleaux 12 et plus particulièrement en direction du rouleau proximal 131. Ces moyens de guidage mécanique peuvent être agencés en saillie d’une ou plusieurs parois du carter 18 pour guider les fibres minérales non liantes et le liant en direction des rouleaux 13 du train de rouleaux 12. Plus particulièrement le moyen déflecteur peut être mobile, pour pouvoir modifier la zone du train de rouleaux sur laquelle les fibres minérales tombant du tapis de convoyage sont dirigées, étant entendu que ces fibres minérales tombant par gravité sont principalement dirigées via les moyens de guidage mécanique 19 vers la zone du train de rouleaux 12 comprenant le rouleau proximal et donc la zone sensiblement à l’aplomb de l’extrémité de distribution de fibres 9 du tapis de convoyage 8. One or more mechanical guide means 19, and for example a deflector as shown in Figures 1 and 2 or a tank as shown in Figure 6, can be provided to guide the mineral fibers arriving at the end fiber distribution 9 in direction of the train of rollers 12 and more particularly in the direction of the proximal roller 131. These mechanical guide means can be arranged projecting from one or more walls of the casing 18 to guide the non-binding mineral fibers and the binder in the direction of the rollers 13 of the train of rollers 12. More particularly the deflector means can be movable, in order to be able to modify the zone of the train of rollers on which the mineral fibers falling from the conveyor belt are directed, it being understood that these mineral fibers falling by gravity are mainly directed via the mechanical guide means 19 towards the zone of the train of rollers 12 comprising the proximal roller and therefore the zone substantially plumb with the fiber distribution end 9 of the conveyor belt 8.
Tel qu’illustré sur la figure 6, le bac formant le moyen de guidage mécanique 19 peut présenter une forme d’entonnoir avec une extrémité supérieure à large ouverture pour récupérer une quantité importante de fibres minérales tombant en bout de tapis de convoyage et une extrémité inférieure dont l’ouverture est réduite par rapport à l’extrémité supérieure pour cibler la zone souhaitée de dépose des fibres sur le train de rouleaux, à savoir la zone immédiatement proche du rouleau proximal 131. As illustrated in Figure 6, the tray forming the mechanical guide means 19 may have a funnel shape with an upper end with a wide opening to recover a large quantity of mineral fibers falling at the end of the conveyor belt and an end bottom whose opening is reduced compared to the upper end to target the desired area for laying fibers on the train of rollers, namely the area immediately close to the proximal roller 131.
Le support 20 du train de rouleaux présente ici la forme d’un cadre fixé sur les parois du carter 18 pour assurer la position des rouleaux 13 par rapport au carter, le cas échéant via des moyens de réglage de l’inclinaison des rouleaux. Le support du train de rouleaux est configuré pour que l’intégralité des fibres entre en contact avec le train de rouleaux 12.The support 20 of the train of rollers here has the form of a frame fixed to the walls of the casing 18 to ensure the position of the rollers 13 with respect to the casing, if necessary via means for adjusting the inclination of the rollers. The roller train support is configured so that all the fibers come into contact with the roller train 12.
Le support 20 est configuré pour que le train de rouleaux 12 soit incliné par rapport au tapis convoyeur 14. En d’autres termes, les rouleaux sont agencés en parallèles les uns des autres le long d’un axe A du train de rouleaux qui est incliné par rapport à un plan P dans lequel s’étend la surface du tapis convoyeur sur laquelle repose le tapis de fibres minérales. Tel que cela a été évoqué, des moyens de réglage de l’inclinaison des rouleaux 100 peuvent être prévus et associés au support 20 du train de rouleaux pour diminuer ou augmenter l’angle d’inclinaison a entre l’axe A du train de rouleaux et le plan P du tapis convoyeur. The support 20 is configured so that the train of rollers 12 is inclined with respect to the conveyor belt 14. In other words, the rollers are arranged parallel to each other along an axis A of the train of rollers which is inclined with respect to a plane P in which extends the surface of the conveyor belt on which the mineral fiber carpet rests. As mentioned, means for adjusting the inclination of the rollers 100 can be provided and associated with the support 20 of the train of rollers to reduce or increase the angle of inclination a between the axis A of the train of rollers and the plane P of the conveyor belt.
La figure 6 illustre plus particulièrement un exemple de réalisation de moyens de réglage de l’inclinaison des rouleaux 100, étant entendu que cet exemple est non limitatif et que les moyens de réglage de l’inclinaison pourraient prendre une autre forme. Les moyens de réglage de l’inclinaison 100 comportent ici une chaîne ou courroie 101, fixée d’une part sur un montant du carter 18 et d’autre part à une extrémité distale 202 du support 20 du train de rouleaux, alors que l’extrémité proximale 201 opposée du support 20 est figée par rapport au carter 18 à une hauteur inférieure à la hauteur de fixation de la chaîne ou courroie sur le montant du carter. Les moyens de réglage de l’inclinaison comportent en outre des moyens de réglage de la longueur de la chaîne ou de la courroie, et par exemple un moteur 102 en prise sur la courroie ou la chaîne, et dont l’actionnement permet de réduire ou augmenter la longueur de la chaîne ou courroie entre le montant du carter et l’extrémité distale 202 du support 20, et ainsi de baisser ou lever cette extrémité distale 202 et générer en fonction l’inclinaison souhaitée du support 20 et du train de rouleaux 12. FIG. 6 more particularly illustrates an exemplary embodiment of means for adjusting the inclination of the rollers 100, it being understood that this example is not limiting and that the tilt adjustment means could take another form. The inclination adjustment means 100 here comprise a chain or belt 101, fixed on the one hand to an upright of the casing 18 and on the other hand to a distal end 202 of the support 20 of the train of rollers, while the opposite proximal end 201 of support 20 is fixed relative to housing 18 at a height lower than the height of attachment of the chain or belt to the upright of the housing. The means for adjusting the inclination further comprise means for adjusting the length of the chain or the belt, and for example a motor 102 engaged on the belt or the chain, and the actuation of which makes it possible to reduce or increase the length of the chain or belt between the upright of the casing and the distal end 202 of the support 20, and thus to lower or raise this distal end 202 and generate according to the desired inclination of the support 20 and of the train of rollers 12 .
Il peut notamment être prévu une inclinaison du train de rouleaux par rapport au plan P du tapis convoyeur de l’ordre de 1° à 30°, de préférence entre 5 et 20°. Cette inclinaison peut être fixe pendant tout le processus de fabrication de laine minérale, la valeur d’inclinaison étant choisie en fonction de l’épaisseur du matelas de fibres minérales que l’on veut obtenir en bout du tapis convoyeur avant cuisson. L’opérateur oriente le support de train de rouleaux selon l’inclinaison souhaitée grâce aux moyens de réglage de l’inclinaison 100, puis l’opérateur fige la position de ce support avant le début du processus de fabrication. De manière alternative, les moyens de réglage de l’inclinaison 100 pourraient être automatisés, avec un contrôle automatique de la position de l’extrémité distale 202 du support en fonction de l’inclinaison à donner au train de rouleaux en cours de processus, notamment si des données de l’installation sont modifiées. In particular, an inclination of the train of rollers with respect to the plane P of the conveyor belt of the order of 1° to 30°, preferably between 5 and 20°, may be provided. This inclination can be fixed throughout the mineral wool manufacturing process, the inclination value being chosen according to the thickness of the mineral fiber mat to be obtained at the end of the conveyor belt before curing. The operator orients the roller train support according to the desired inclination thanks to the inclination adjustment means 100, then the operator freezes the position of this support before the start of the manufacturing process. Alternatively, the inclination adjustment means 100 could be automated, with automatic control of the position of the distal end 202 of the support according to the inclination to be given to the train of rollers during the process, in particular if plant data is modified.
Cette valeur d’inclinaison du train de rouleaux peut notamment être dépendante de la vitesse du tapis convoyeur. Plus particulièrement, plus la vitesse du tapis convoyeur est basse, plus l’angle d’inclinaison du train de rouleaux doit être élevé. This inclination value of the train of rollers can in particular be dependent on the speed of the conveyor belt. More specifically, the lower the speed of the conveyor belt, the higher the angle of inclination of the roller train must be.
Les rouleaux 13 du train de rouleaux 12 sont ici identiques, et comportent chacun un même nombre de dents 22 régulièrement réparties sur le pourtour des rouleaux. Tel qu’évoqué précédemment, on distingue dans le train de rouleaux un rouleau proximal 131, disposé à une première extrémité 121 du train de rouleaux 12 la plus proche du tapis de convoyage 8, un rouleau distal 132 disposé à l’extrémité opposée 122 du train de rouleaux 12 et une pluralité de rouleaux centraux 133 agencés successivement entre le rouleau proximal et le rouleau distal. The rollers 13 of the train of rollers 12 are here identical, and each have the same number of teeth 22 regularly distributed around the periphery of the rollers. As mentioned previously, there is in the train of rollers a proximal roller 131, disposed at a first end 121 of the train of rollers 12 closest to the conveyor belt 8, a distal roller 132 disposed at the opposite end 122 of the train of rollers 12 and a plurality of central rollers 133 arranged successively between the proximal roller and the distal roller.
Les rouleaux 13 sont entraînés en rotation, tous dans le même sens de rotation, de manière à permettre la progression des fibres minérales 3 d’une extrémité à l’autre du train de rouleaux, avec une partie de ces fibres qui passent entre les rouleaux 13 pour tomber sur le tapis convoyeur 14. On peut définir une partie supérieure des rouleaux et une partie inférieure des rouleaux en fonction de leur position par rapport à un plan médian du train de rouleaux, la partie inférieure étant la partie des rouleaux la plus proche du tapis convoyeur et du matelas de fibres, et on peut définir le sens de rotation des rouleaux tel que la partie supérieure des rouleaux tourne de la première extrémité à l’extrémité opposé du support. The rollers 13 are driven in rotation, all in the same direction of rotation, so as to allow the progress of the mineral fibers 3 from one end to the other of the train of rollers, with a part of these fibers which pass between the rollers 13 to fall on the conveyor belt 14. An upper part of the rollers and a lower part of the rollers can be defined according to their position relative to a median plane of the train of rollers, the lower part being the part of the rollers closest of the conveyor belt and of the fiber mat, and the direction of rotation of the rollers can be defined such that the upper part of the rollers rotates from the first end to the opposite end of the support.
Chaque rouleau 13 est entraîné par un dispositif d’entraînement 24 qui lui est propre, de sorte que chaque rouleau peut tourner à une vitesse de rotation spécifique (Va, Vb...Vg), indépendante et le cas échéant différente des vitesses de rotation des autres rouleaux du même train de rouleaux. Each roller 13 is driven by a drive device 24 which is specific to it, so that each roller can rotate at a specific rotational speed (Va, Vb...Vg), independent and if necessary different from the rotational speeds other rolls of the same roll train.
Un dispositif d’évacuation d’impuretés, ici non représenté, peut comporter une hotte d’aspiration qui est disposée en bout du support de trains de rouleaux et qui est configurée pour aspirer les conglomérats de fibres qui n’ont pas pu être séparées par l’action des rouleaux du train de rouleaux. A device for removing impurities, not shown here, may comprise a suction hood which is arranged at the end of the roller train support and which is configured to suck up the conglomerates of fibers which have not been able to be separated by the action of the rollers of the roller train.
Tel que cela a pu être évoqué précédemment, le poste de répartition 2 conforme à l’invention présente des caractéristiques techniques et un dimensionnement des différents composants de ce poste qui sont spécifiques à une application à des fibres minérales 3 encollées avec un liant 5 sous forme de poudre ou avec des fibres minérales préliantées. Plusieurs de ces caractéristiques sont notamment visibles sur la représentation de la figure 2. As may have been mentioned previously, the distribution station 2 in accordance with the invention has technical characteristics and a dimensioning of the various components of this station which are specific to an application to mineral fibers 3 glued with a binder 5 in the form powder or with pre-bound mineral fibres. Several of these characteristics are particularly visible in the representation of Figure 2.
Tel qu’illustré sur la figure 2, l’entraxe D entre les rouleaux, et donc l’espacement 130 entre ces rouleaux dès lors que les rouleaux sont tous de même forme et de mêmes dimensions, est variable en fonction des rouleaux considérés. En d’autres termes, l’entraxe DI entre le rouleau proximal 131 et le rouleau central 133 voisin de ce rouleau proximal est différent de l’entraxe D6 entre le rouleau distal 132 et le rouleau central 133. Plus particulièrement, la variation dimensionnelle des entraxes est régulière le long de la direction d’allongement du train de rouleaux, de sorte que les entraxes progressent successivement du rouleau proximal 131 jusqu’au rouleau distal 133. Une telle variation dimensionnelle des entraxes D permet de laisser passer entre les rouleaux une quantité équivalente de fibres minérales que l’on soit au niveau du rouleau proximal ou au niveau du rouleau distal, en évitant qu’une majeure partie des fibres minérales 3 ne passe au travers des deux premiers rouleaux qu’elles rencontrent. As illustrated in Figure 2, the center distance D between the rollers, and therefore the spacing 130 between these rollers when the rollers are all of the same shape and the same dimensions, is variable depending on the rollers considered. In other words, the center distance DI between the proximal roller 131 and the central roller 133 adjacent to this proximal roller is different from the center distance D6 between the distal roller 132 and the central roller 133. More particularly, the dimensional variation of the centers is regular along the direction of elongation of the train of rollers, so that the centers progress successively from the proximal roller 131 to the distal roller 133. Such a dimensional variation of the centers D makes it possible to pass between the rollers a quantity equivalent of mineral fibers whether at the level of the proximal roller or at the level of the distal roller, avoiding that a major part of the mineral fibers 3 does not pass through the first two rollers that they encounter.
Plus particulièrement, l’espacement variable allant en augmentant dans le sens de déplacement du tapis convoyeur et de circulation des fibres peut s’expliquer par le fait que pour les rouleaux atteints en premier par les fibres minérales, un espacement de petite dimension est nécessaire car les fibres minérales se déplacent naturellement entre les rouleaux en direction du tapis convoyeur sous l’effet de la gravité, tandis qu’un espacement plus important est nécessaire par la suite car les fibres minérales qui circulent le long du train de rouleaux en passant de rouleaux en rouleaux ont acquis une vitesse transversale, et ici ascensionnelle du fait de l’inclinaison du train de rouleaux, qui oblige à forcer les fibres minérales à passer entre les rouleaux pour rejoindre le tapis convoyeur. More particularly, the variable spacing increasing in the direction of movement of the conveyor belt and of circulation of the fibers can be explained by the fact that for the rollers reached first by the mineral fibers, a small spacing is necessary because the mineral fibers move naturally between the rollers towards the conveyor belt under the effect of gravity, while a greater spacing is necessary thereafter because the mineral fibers which circulate along the train of rollers passing from rollers in rollers have acquired a transverse speed, and here an upward one due to the inclination of the train of rollers, which forces the mineral fibers to pass between the rollers to reach the conveyor belt.
L’espacement 130 des rouleaux est considéré ici en fonction de l’entraxe D entre les rouleaux, mais il convient de tenir par ailleurs compte de la dimension radiale des dents 22 formant saillie des rouleaux 13. The spacing 130 of the rollers is considered here as a function of the center distance D between the rollers, but it is also necessary to take into account the radial dimension of the teeth 22 forming the projection of the rollers 13.
Par ailleurs, l’installation de fabrication de laine minérale est avantageusement configurée en ce qu’une variation des vitesses de rotation de chacun des rouleaux 13 est prévu, étant rappelé que les rouleaux sont entraînés indépendamment les uns des autres. Il est souhaité que la vitesse de rotation des premiers rouleaux atteints par les fibres soit élevée pour que ces premiers rouleaux puissent accélérer et entraîner les fibres minérales à l’opposé du tapis convoyeur vers lequel elles sont attirées par gravité, et notamment lorsque le train de rouleaux est incliné et implique un déplacement à composante ascensionnelle pour les fibres minérales pour rejoindre les rouleaux suivants du train de rouleaux, et il est souhaité de baisser progressivement la vitesse de rotation des rouleaux pour créer un mouvement de chute des fibres minérales en direction du tapis convoyeur. Furthermore, the mineral wool manufacturing installation is advantageously configured in that a variation of the speeds of rotation of each of the rollers 13 is provided, it being recalled that the rollers are driven independently of each other. It is desired that the speed of rotation of the first rollers reached by the fibers be high so that these first rollers can accelerate and drive the mineral fibers away from the conveyor belt towards which they are attracted by gravity, and in particular when the train of rollers is inclined and involves a movement with an upward component for the mineral fibers to join the following rollers of the roller train, and it is desired to gradually reduce the speed of rotation of the rollers to create a falling movement of the mineral fibers in the direction of the carpet conveyor.
On comprend que ces caractéristiques permettent d’assurer une disposition homogène des fibres minérales 3 dans l’épaisseur du matelas de fibres 15 formé sur le tapis convoyeur 14, en s’assurant qu’une quantité sensiblement égale de fibres minérales 3 soit apte à passer en un temps donné entre chaque couple de rouleaux 13 voisins du train de rouleaux 12. On s’évite ainsi la formation d’un matelas de fibres stratifié avec des strates dont la densité de fibres est différente l’une de l’autre, et notamment avec une strate inférieure plus dense que les autres, ce qui pourrait être formé si les fibres minérales passent majoritairement entre les deux premiers rouleaux du train de rouleaux. It is understood that these characteristics make it possible to ensure a homogeneous arrangement of the mineral fibers 3 in the thickness of the fiber mat 15 formed on the conveyor belt 14, by ensuring that a substantially equal quantity of mineral fibers 3 is able to pass in a given time between each pair of rollers 13 adjacent to the train of rollers 12. This avoids the formation of a layered mat of fibers with strata whose fiber density is different from one another, and in particular with a lower stratum denser than the others, which could be formed if the mineral fibers mainly pass between the first two rolls of the train of rolls.
Il peut être prévu de combiner les caractéristiques d’augmentation de l’écartement entre les rouleaux et de baisse de la vitesse des rouleaux, dans le sens de déplacement des fibres. Provision may be made to combine the characteristics of increasing the spacing between the rollers and decreasing the speed of the rollers, in the direction of fiber movement.
Par ailleurs, le poste de répartition 2 est configuré pour permettre une orientation longitudinale des fibres minérales dans le matelas de fibres. A cet effet, le dégagement vertical DV entre le rouleau proximal 131 du train de rouleaux et le tapis convoyeur 14, c’est-à-dire la distance minimale entre les composants de ce rouleau proximal 131 et le tapis convoyeur, présente une valeur inférieure à une valeur seuil fonction du type de fibres amenées à être déposées sur le tapis convoyeur, et donc ici en fonction d’une dimension des fibres minérales. Le dégagement vertical peut notamment être mesurée entre la surface périphérique externe du rouleau proximal et le tapis convoyeur. Le dégagement vertical DV est ici inférieur à 30 millimètres. Une telle valeur de dégagement vertical, là encore plus petite que celle qui pourrait être mise en œuvre dans des applications à des fibres de bois, permet d’assurer que les fibres minérales, après avoir traversées le train de rouleaux, restent au contact avec le rouleau à une de leur extrémité lorsqu’elles viennent se déposer sur le tapis convoyeur. Tel que cela sera détaillé ci- après, ceci permet d’assurer une orientation longitudinale des fibres sur le tapis convoyeur, parallèlement à l’axe d’avancement du tapis convoyeur. Des moyens de réglage du dégagement vertical 150 peuvent être prévus pour ajuster, au moins à la mise en route du procédé de fabrication de laines minérales, la valeur du dégagement vertical DV et l’adapter en fonction des longueurs de fibres moyennes destinées à tomber sur le train de rouleaux 12 via le tapis de convoyage 8 et les moyens de guidage mécanique 19. La figure 6 illustre plus particulièrement un exemple de réalisation de moyens de réglage de dégagement vertical 150, étant entendu que cet exemple est non limitatif et que les moyens de réglage de dégagement vertical pourraient prendre une autre forme. Les moyens de réglage de dégagement vertical 150 comportent ici une platine 151 rendue solidaire de l’extrémité proximale 201 du support 20, ladite platine 151 étant montée sur un rail 152 solidaire d’un montant du carter 18. Le déplacement vertical de la platine 151 le long du rail 152 permet d’ajuster la position verticale de l’extrémité proximale 201 du support 20 et donc la position du rouleau proximal 131 par rapport au tapis convoyeur 14 qui lui reste fixe. Une fois la position verticale souhaitée atteinte, la position de l’extrémité proximale 201 du support 20 est figée par fixation de la platine sur le montant du carter.Furthermore, the distribution station 2 is configured to allow a longitudinal orientation of the mineral fibers in the fiber mat. For this purpose, the vertical clearance DV between the proximal roller 131 of the roller train and the conveyor belt 14, that is to say the minimum distance between the components of this proximal roller 131 and the conveyor belt, has a lower value at a threshold value depending on the type of fibers brought to be deposited on the conveyor belt, and therefore here depending on a dimension of the mineral fibers. The vertical clearance can in particular be measured between the outer peripheral surface of the proximal roller and the conveyor belt. The vertical clearance DV is here less than 30 millimeters. Such a vertical clearance value, again smaller than that which could be implemented in applications to wood fibers, makes it possible to ensure that the mineral fibers, after having crossed the train of rollers, remain in contact with the roller at one of their ends when they come to rest on the conveyor belt. As will be detailed below, this makes it possible to ensure a longitudinal orientation of the fibers on the conveyor belt, parallel to the axis of advancement of the conveyor belt. Means for adjusting the vertical clearance 150 can be provided to adjust, at least at the start of the mineral wool manufacturing process, the value of the vertical clearance DV and adapt it according to the average fiber lengths intended to fall on the train of rollers 12 via the conveyor belt 8 and the mechanical guide means 19. vertical clearance adjustment could take another form. The vertical clearance adjustment means 150 here comprise a plate 151 secured to the proximal end 201 of the support 20, said plate 151 being mounted on a rail 152 secured to an upright of the casing 18. The vertical displacement of the plate 151 along the rail 152 makes it possible to adjust the vertical position of the proximal end 201 of the support 20 and therefore the position of the proximal roller 131 relative to the conveyor belt 14 which remains fixed to it. Once the desired vertical position has been reached, the position of the proximal end 201 of the support 20 is fixed by fixing the plate to the upright of the casing.
Afin de tenir compte de l’épaisseur du matelas de fibres 15 qui augmente au fur et à mesure de son avancée sur le tapis convoyeur, le train de rouleaux 12 est incliné conformément à ce qui a été évoqué. De la sorte, la caractéristique concernant le dégagement vertical DV maximum évoqué pour le rouleau proximal, à savoir une distance maximale à laquelle s’étend le rouleau proximal 131 de la surface du tapis convoyeur 14 sur laquelle les fibres minérales que ce rouleau proximal entraîne peuvent être déposées, peut être reproduite pour chacun des rouleaux du train de rouleaux 12 en considérant cette fois la surface du matelas de fibres 15 plutôt que la surface du tapis convoyeur 14, le train de rouleaux 12 étant configuré de sorte que les fibres que les rouleaux centraux 133 et le rouleau distal 132 entraînent sont déposés sur un matelas de fibres minérales déjà présentes sur le tapis convoyeur. In order to take into account the thickness of the fiber mat 15 which increases as it advances on the conveyor belt, the train of rollers 12 is inclined in accordance with what has been mentioned. In this way, the characteristic concerning the maximum vertical clearance DV mentioned for the proximal roller, namely a maximum distance at which the proximal roller 131 extends from the surface of the conveyor belt 14 on which the mineral fibers that this proximal roller carries can be deposited, can be reproduced for each of the rollers of the roller train 12 by considering this time the surface of the fiber mat 15 rather than the surface of the conveyor belt 14, the roller train 12 being configured so that the fibers that the rollers central 133 and the distal roller 132 cause are deposited on a mattress of mineral fibers already present on the conveyor belt.
Une autre caractéristique de l’installation et du poste de répartition est propre à l’utilisation de fibres minérales, à savoir la vitesse de déplacement VI 4 du tapis convoyeur 14. Cette vitesse de déplacement VI 4 permet d’une part d’entraîner et d’étirer les fibres minérales 3 encore au contact du rouleau 13 qui ont participé à la traversée par les fibres minérales du train de rouleaux, et elle est calculée pour permettre la réalisation de matelas de fibres minérales présentant une densité volumique de fibres inférieure à 40kg/m3. A titre d’exemple non limitatif, la vitesse de déplacement du tapis convoyeur peut être de l’ordre de 5 à 100 mètres par minute. Par ailleurs, pour la réalisation de matelas avec une telle densité, il peut également être considéré la vitesse de déplacement V8 du tapis de convoyage 8 amenant les fibres minérales au contact du train de rouleaux et le différentiel de vitesses de déplacement entre le tapis convoyeur et le tapis de convoyage. Another characteristic of the installation and of the distribution station is specific to the use of mineral fibers, namely the speed of movement VI 4 of the conveyor belt 14. This speed of movement VI 4 makes it possible on the one hand to drive and to stretch the mineral fibers 3 still in contact with the roller 13 which participated in the crossing by the mineral fibers of the train of rollers, and it is calculated to allow the production of fiber mats minerals with a fiber density of less than 40 kg/m3. By way of non-limiting example, the speed of movement of the conveyor belt can be of the order of 5 to 100 meters per minute. Moreover, for the production of mattresses with such a density, it can also be considered the speed of movement V8 of the conveyor belt 8 bringing the mineral fibers into contact with the train of rollers and the difference in movement speeds between the conveyor belt and the conveyor belt.
La figure 3 rend plus particulièrement visible le support 20 du train de rouleaux. Figure 3 makes the support 20 of the train of rollers more particularly visible.
Le cadre du support 20 présente une forme rectangulaire, avec deux grands côtés 21 perpendiculaires à l’axe de rotation des rouleaux et deux petits côtés 23 reliant ces grands côtés. Sur les grands côtés sont disposés des chapes de maintien 25 des moyens d’entraînement 24 motorisés et des paliers de rotation 26 associés à chacun des rouleaux 13, avec en alternance sur un même grand coté une chape et un palier de rotation. The support frame 20 has a rectangular shape, with two long sides 21 perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rollers and two short sides 23 connecting these long sides. On the long sides are arranged holding yokes 25 of the motorized drive means 24 and rotation bearings 26 associated with each of the rollers 13, with alternately on the same long side a yoke and a rotation bearing.
Chaque rouleau 13 présente en surface, c’est-à-dire sur sa surface périphérique agencée autour de l’axe de révolution, des reliefs qui sont disposés régulièrement le long de l’axe de rotation des rouleaux pour casser le profil régulier de la surface périphérique des rouleaux, notamment pour contrôler l’interaction entre les fibres minérales et ces rouleaux. Each roller 13 has on the surface, that is to say on its peripheral surface arranged around the axis of revolution, reliefs which are arranged regularly along the axis of rotation of the rollers to break the regular profile of the peripheral surface of the rollers, in particular to control the interaction between the mineral fibers and these rollers.
Dans l’exemple illustré, les reliefs sont formés par une pluralité de dents 22. En d’autres termes, chaque rouleau 13 comporte des dents formant des saillies agencées en anneaux parallèles successifs sur la dimension axiale du rouleau, les anneaux de dents 22 étant séparés les uns des autres le long d’un même rouleau d’un pas 220. Il est notable sur la vue de dessus de la figure 4 que les rouleaux 13 sont agencés de sorte que les anneaux de dents 22 de deux rouleaux voisins sont décalés axialement, pour éviter tout interaction entre les dents de deux rouleaux voisins lors de leur rotation. In the example illustrated, the reliefs are formed by a plurality of teeth 22. In other words, each roller 13 comprises teeth forming projections arranged in successive parallel rings on the axial dimension of the roller, the rings of teeth 22 being separated from each other along the same roller by a pitch 220. It is noticeable in the top view of FIG. 4 that the rollers 13 are arranged so that the rings of teeth 22 of two neighboring rollers are offset axially, to avoid any interaction between the teeth of two neighboring rollers during their rotation.
Chaque rouleau 13 peut notamment être formé par une pluralité de bagues 28 dentées plaquées les unes contre les autres le long de la dimension axiale du rouleau. Tel que cela est illustré sur la figure 4, une telle bague 28 peut comporter un corps de bague 280 apte à être rendu solidaire de l’arbre de rotation du rouleau et une portion périphérique dentée 282, et ces deux parties de la bague peuvent avantageusement être constituées de deux matériaux différents d’une partie à l’autre. La portion dentée peut par exemple être surmoulée sur le corps de bague, avec des moyens d’accroche par complémentarité de formes. Each roller 13 may in particular be formed by a plurality of toothed rings 28 pressed against each other along the axial dimension of the roller. As illustrated in Figure 4, such a ring 28 may comprise a ring body 280 able to be secured to the rotation shaft of the roller and a toothed peripheral portion 282, and these two parts of the ring may advantageously be made of two materials different from part to part. The toothed portion can for example be molded onto the ring body, with hooking means by complementarity of shapes.
Chaque anneau de dents 22, et notamment lorsqu’il est formé par une bague dentée 28 visible sur la figure 4, comporte des dents 22 régulièrement réparties angulairement, ici au nombre de vingt, les dents étant ainsi caractérisées par un pas angulaire, ici de l’ordre de 18°, entre deux dents successives sur le pourtour. Each ring of teeth 22, and in particular when it is formed by a toothed ring 28 visible in FIG. 4, comprises teeth 22 regularly distributed angularly, here twenty in number, the teeth thus being characterized by an angular pitch, here of the order of 18°, between two successive teeth on the circumference.
Chaque dent 22 s’étend en saillie d’une surface externe de la bague, une dimension radiale DR de la dent étant mesurée entre l’extrémité libre 222 de la dent et la surface externe de la bague. Each tooth 22 projects from an outer surface of the ring, a radial dimension DR of the tooth being measured between the free end 222 of the tooth and the outer surface of the ring.
Les dents 22 sont notamment dimensionnées pour que leurs extrémités libres 222 puissent peigner les fibres minérales 3 non encore plaquées à la surface du tapis de fibres minérales 15, lorsque les dents passent lors de leur rotation entre le tapis convoyeur et le plan médian du train de rouleaux comprenant les axes de rotation des rouleaux. The teeth 22 are in particular dimensioned so that their free ends 222 can comb the mineral fibers 3 not yet plated on the surface of the mineral fiber mat 15, when the teeth pass during their rotation between the conveyor belt and the median plane of the train of rollers comprising the axes of rotation of the rollers.
L’espacement 130 des rouleaux précédemment évoqué est déterminé en considérant l’entraxe D entre les axes de rotation de deux rouleaux voisins et la dimension radiale DR des dents, notamment visible sur la figure 4, l’espacement étant mesurée entre l’extrémité libre des dents d’un rouleau et le rouleau voisin. The spacing 130 of the rollers mentioned above is determined by considering the center distance D between the axes of rotation of two neighboring rollers and the radial dimension DR of the teeth, particularly visible in Figure 4, the spacing being measured between the free end teeth of a roller and the neighboring roller.
Tel que cela résulte de la description détaillée qui précède, l’invention répond au problème technique d’orientation des fibres minérales dans le tapis de fibres à diriger vers le poste de réticulation, notamment en prévoyant une configuration particulière des rouleaux à faible distance du tapis convoyeur, et plus particulièrement ici à moins de 30 millimètres du tapis convoyeur pour le rouleau proximal et à moins de 30 millimètres de la surface du matelas formé par les fibres minérales susceptibles d’être présentes sur le tapis convoyeur à l’aplomb des autres rouleaux. Cette configuration permet un dépôt des fibres minérales sur le tapis convoyeur avec des extrémités des fibres minérales qui sont en contact simultanément du tapis convoyeur et des rouleaux, ce qui évite de devoir lâcher les fibres à distance du tapis convoyeur comme dans l’art antérieur et que celles-ci se déposent ensuite à leur guise, sous l’effet de la gravité, sur le tapis convoyeur. Le contact simultané des fibres minérales avec le tapis convoyeur ou le matelas de fibres et l’un des rouleaux permet d’étirer les fibres et de les positionner dans une position longitudinale optimale pour l’isolation thermique de la laine minérale obtenue après réticulation du matelas de fibres. As results from the preceding detailed description, the invention solves the technical problem of orientation of the mineral fibers in the carpet of fibers to be directed towards the crosslinking station, in particular by providing a particular configuration of the rollers at a short distance from the carpet. conveyor, and more particularly here at less than 30 millimeters from the conveyor belt for the proximal roller and at less than 30 millimeters from the surface of the mattress formed by the mineral fibers likely to be present on the conveyor belt directly above the other rollers . This configuration allows a deposition of the mineral fibers on the conveyor belt with the ends of the mineral fibers which are in contact simultaneously with the conveyor belt and the rollers, which avoids having to release the fibers at a distance from the conveyor belt as in the prior art and that these are then deposited as they please, under the effect of gravity, on the conveyor belt. The simultaneous contact of the mineral fibers with the conveyor belt or the mat of fibers and one of the rollers makes it possible to stretch the fibers and to position them in an optimum longitudinal position for the thermal insulation of the mineral wool obtained after cross-linking of the mat of fibers.
Cette disposition longitudinale des fibres minérales sur le tapis convoyeur peut être encore mieux assurée lorsque les rouleaux comportent des dents et que celles-ci sont positionnées et dimensionnées pour venir peigner la surface du matelas de fibres minérales et plus particulièrement les fibres minérales susceptibles de dépasser de cette surface du matelas, dans un sens de peignage inverse à celui de du sens de déplacement du tapis convoyeur. This longitudinal arrangement of the mineral fibers on the conveyor belt can be even better ensured when the rollers have teeth and these are positioned and sized to comb the surface of the mat of mineral fibers and more particularly the mineral fibers likely to protrude from this surface of the mattress, in a combing direction opposite to that of the direction of movement of the conveyor belt.
Ces caractéristiques et les avantages qui en résultent sont plus précisément détaillés en référence à la figure 5, qui représente schématiquement l’action des rouleaux, ici des rouleaux dentés, sur les fibres pour les orienter longitudinalement. These characteristics and the resulting advantages are more precisely detailed with reference to FIG. 5, which schematically represents the action of the rollers, here toothed rollers, on the fibers to orient them longitudinally.
Tel qu’évoqué, le rouleau proximal 131 est disposé à distance du tapis convoyeur 14 de telle sorte qu’un dégagement vertical DV soit inférieur à une valeur minimale choisie en fonction des dimensions des fibres minérales 3 destinées à être déposées sur le tapis convoyeur 14. La valeur de l’angle d’inclinaison de l’axe d’allongement du train de rouleaux 12 par rapport à la surface du tapis convoyeur permet de s’assurer que les autres rouleaux sont disposés de sorte qu’un dégagement vertical DV équivalent, c’est-à-dire inférieure à la valeur minimale choisie en fonction des dimensions des fibres minérales 3, soit formé entre le rouleau et la surface supérieure du matelas de fibres formé sur le tapis convoyeur au droit dudit rouleau. As mentioned, the proximal roller 131 is arranged at a distance from the conveyor belt 14 such that a vertical clearance DV is less than a minimum value chosen according to the dimensions of the mineral fibers 3 intended to be deposited on the conveyor belt 14 The value of the angle of inclination of the elongation axis of the train of rollers 12 with respect to the surface of the conveyor belt makes it possible to ensure that the other rollers are arranged so that an equivalent vertical clearance DV , that is to say less than the minimum value chosen according to the dimensions of the mineral fibers 3, is formed between the roller and the upper surface of the mat of fibers formed on the conveyor belt in line with said roller.
Dans cette configuration, si l’on se reporte à la représentation schématique du rouleau proximal 131 et d’une première fibre minérale 31 passée à travers le train de rouleaux 12 entre ce rouleau proximal et le rouleau central voisin, les rouleaux sont dimensionnées, et le cas échéant les dents formant des saillies radiales du corps de rouleaux, et disposées à distance du tapis convoyeur de telle sorte que la première fibre minérale 31 soit déposée sur le tapis convoyeur ou sur des premières fibres minérales déjà présentes sur le tapis alors qu’une extrémité de cette première fibre minérale est encore au contact d’une partie du rouleau proximal 131, ici une dent 22. De la sorte, il est notable que selon l’invention, les fibres minérales sont en contact simultané du rouleau et du tapis convoyeur, ou du matelas de fibres présent sur le tapis convoyeur, au moment de leur dépôt sur le tapis convoyeur. Les fibres entraînées par la rotation d’un rouleau et passant entre ce rouleau et le rouleau central directement voisin de ce rouleau s’orientent par gravité en direction du tapis convoyeur, avec une première extrémité libre qui pend en direction du tapis et une deuxième extrémité qui reste en contact du rouleau. In this configuration, if we refer to the schematic representation of the proximal roller 131 and of a first mineral fiber 31 passed through the train of rollers 12 between this proximal roller and the neighboring central roller, the rollers are dimensioned, and where appropriate the teeth forming radial projections of the roller body, and arranged at a distance from the conveyor belt so that the first mineral fiber 31 is deposited on the conveyor belt or on first mineral fibers already present on the belt while one end of this first mineral fiber is still in contact with a part of the proximal roller 131, here a tooth 22. In this way, it is notable that according to the invention, the mineral fibers are in simultaneous contact with the roller and the mat conveyor, or mattress fibers present on the conveyor belt, at the time of their deposit on the conveyor belt. The fibers driven by the rotation of a roller and passing between this roller and the central roller directly adjacent to this roller are oriented by gravity in the direction of the conveyor belt, with a first free end which hangs in the direction of the belt and a second end which remains in contact with the roller.
La longueur moyenne des fibres minérales, au moins égale à 30 millimètres tel que précédemment évoqué, et le dégagement vertical d’une valeur inférieure à cette valeur de longueur moyenne des fibres minérales, ici 30 millimètres, permettent d’assurer que l’extrémité libre de chaque fibre minérale passant à travers le train de rouleaux entre le rouleau proximal et le rouleau central directement voisin entre en contact avec le tapis alors qu’elle est toujours en contact du rouleau. De la sorte, l’extrémité libre de la fibre minérale étant entraînée longitudinalement par le défilement du tapis convoyeur, on étire la fibre minérale et on la positionne longitudinalement. The average length of the mineral fibers, at least equal to 30 millimeters as previously mentioned, and the vertical clearance of a value less than this value of average length of the mineral fibers, here 30 millimeters, make it possible to ensure that the free end of each mineral fiber passing through the roller train between the proximal roller and the directly adjacent central roller comes into contact with the carpet while it is still in contact with the roller. In this way, the free end of the mineral fiber being driven longitudinally by the running of the conveyor belt, the mineral fiber is stretched and positioned longitudinally.
Si l’on se réfère à la première fibre minérale 31 illustrée sur la figure 5, les fibres minérales sont étirées par le déplacement du tapis convoyeur qui dans l’exemple illustré amène une première extrémité libre 31 a de la première fibre minérale 31 dans une direction et par la rotation du rouleau qui dans l’exemple illustré tend à amener la deuxième extrémité libre 31b dans l’autre direction ou qui tend au moins à retenir cette deuxième extrémité libre 31b.If we refer to the first mineral fiber 31 illustrated in FIG. 5, the mineral fibers are stretched by the movement of the conveyor belt which, in the example illustrated, brings a first free end 31a of the first mineral fiber 31 into a direction and by the rotation of the roller which in the example shown tends to bring the second free end 31b in the other direction or which tends at least to retain this second free end 31b.
Chaque fibre minérale ainsi déposée sur le tapis convoyeur ou sur le matelas de fibres prend une orientation principale longitudinale, avec la première extrémité libre 31a plaquée contre le matelas de fibre. Il peut résulter de la dépose de la fibre minérale une fois lâchée par le rouleau, tel que cela est illustré sur la figure 5 pour une deuxième fibre minérale 32, que la deuxième extrémité libre 32b de cette deuxième fibre minérale reste relevée et ne soit pas plaquée contre la surface du matelas de fibres. L’agencement du train de rouleaux, avec des rouleaux centraux et le rouleau distal qui sont disposés selon un dégagement vertical inférieur à la valeur seuil précédemment évoquée, rend possible une fonction de peignage de cette deuxième fibre minérale, et plus généralement de l’ensemble des fibres minérales non encore plaquées à la surface du tapis de fibres minérales, le mouvement de rotation de la partie inférieure du rouleau, et notamment des dents 22, tendant à repousser la deuxième extrémité des dents en direction du tapis convoyeur. Each mineral fiber thus deposited on the conveyor belt or on the fiber mat takes on a main longitudinal orientation, with the first free end 31a pressed against the fiber mat. It may result from the removal of the mineral fiber once released by the roller, as illustrated in Figure 5 for a second mineral fiber 32, that the second free end 32b of this second mineral fiber remains raised and is not pressed against the surface of the fiber mat. The arrangement of the train of rollers, with central rollers and the distal roller which are arranged according to a vertical clearance less than the threshold value mentioned above, makes possible a function of combing this second mineral fiber, and more generally of the whole mineral fibers not yet plated on the surface of the mineral fiber mat, the rotational movement of the part bottom of the roller, and in particular of the teeth 22, tending to push the second end of the teeth towards the conveyor belt.
De manière générale, le mode de réalisation qui a été décrit ci-dessus n’est nullement limitatif : on pourra notamment imaginer des variantes de l’invention ne comprenant qu’une sélection des caractéristiques décrites isolées des autres caractéristiques mentionnées dans ce document, si cette sélection de caractéristiques est suffisante pour conférer un avantage technique ou pour différencier l’invention par rapport à l’état de la technique antérieur.In general, the embodiment which has been described above is in no way limiting: it is possible in particular to imagine variants of the invention comprising only a selection of the characteristics described isolated from the other characteristics mentioned in this document, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior state of the art.
A titre d’exemple, dans une variante de réalisation non représentée et sans que cela soit limitatif du nombre de variantes qui peuvent être envisagées, l’installation comporte une cuve de séparation dans laquelle peut être disposé le tapis de convoyage et qui comporte des moyens de séparation, ici non représentés, qui permettent une première étape de séparation des fibres, notamment pour éviter des gros agglomérats de fibres. Ces moyens de séparation peuvent notamment consister en des rouleaux dentés et/ou en des moyens de soufflage. La cuve de séparation des fibres est configurée pour que les fibres traitées par les moyens de séparation pénètrent dans un conduit d’amenée de fibres reliant la cuve de séparation au poste de répartition précédemment évoqué. Notamment, le conduit d’amenée de fibres peut être configuré pour permettre la chute par gravité des fibres traitées par les moyens de séparation. By way of example, in a variant embodiment not shown and without this being limiting of the number of variants which can be envisaged, the installation comprises a separation tank in which the conveyor belt can be arranged and which comprises means of separation, here not represented, which allow a first step of separation of the fibers, in particular to avoid large agglomerates of fibers. These separating means may in particular consist of toothed rollers and/or blowing means. The fiber separation tank is configured so that the fibers treated by the separation means enter a fiber supply conduit connecting the separation tank to the distribution station mentioned above. In particular, the fiber supply conduit can be configured to allow the fall by gravity of the fibers treated by the separation means.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1), comportant au moins un dispositif d’alimentation (4) de fibres minérales (3) et un poste de répartition (2) des fibres comportant un tapis convoyeur (14) mobile selon une direction de déplacement longitudinale et sur lequel les fibres minérales (3) sont aptes à être reçues pour former un matelas de fibres minérales (15), caractérisé en ce que le poste de répartition des fibres comporte un train de rouleaux (12) agencé sur le passage des fibres minérales (3) destinées à tomber par gravité sur le tapis convoyeur (14), le train de rouleaux (12) comportant au moins trois rouleaux (13), chaque rouleau (13) étant apte à être entraîné en rotation autour d’un axe de rotation transversal, les rouleaux (13) étant configurés pour disposer les fibres minérales (3) de façon homogène dans l’épaisseur du matelas de fibres (15) formé sur le tapis convoyeur (14). 1. Installation for manufacturing mineral wool (1), comprising at least one supply device (4) for mineral fibers (3) and a fiber distribution station (2) comprising a conveyor belt (14) movable in one direction of longitudinal displacement and on which the mineral fibers (3) are capable of being received to form a mat of mineral fibers (15), characterized in that the fiber distribution station comprises a train of rollers (12) arranged on the passage mineral fibers (3) intended to fall by gravity onto the conveyor belt (14), the train of rollers (12) comprising at least three rollers (13), each roller (13) being capable of being driven in rotation around a transverse axis of rotation, the rollers (13) being configured to arrange the mineral fibers (3) homogeneously in the thickness of the fiber mat (15) formed on the conveyor belt (14).
2. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le train de rouleaux (12) comporte une pluralité de rouleaux (13) disposés parallèlement les uns aux autres avec un espacement (130) entre deux rouleaux (13) voisins qui est variable d’une extrémité à l’autre du train de rouleaux (12). 2. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the train of rollers (12) comprises a plurality of rollers (13) arranged parallel to each other with a spacing (130) between two rollers (13) neighbors which is variable from one end to the other of the train of rollers (12).
3. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce que l’espacement (130) entre deux rouleaux successifs du train de rouleaux (12) varie en augmentant régulièrement à chaque espacement dans le sens de déplacement des fibres d’un rouleau (13) à l’autre. 3. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the spacing (130) between two successive rollers of the roller train (12) varies by increasing regularly with each spacing in the direction of movement of the fibers from one roll (13) to another.
4. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon l’une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que chaque rouleau (13) est entraîné par des moyens d’entrainement individuels (24). 4. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each roller (13) is driven by individual drive means (24).
5. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce que chaque rouleau (13) est entraîné à une vitesse de rotation différente de celle des rouleaux voisins, les vitesses de rotation des rouleaux (13) allant en diminuant dans le sens de déplacement des fibres (3) d’un rouleau à l’autre. 5. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each roller (13) is driven at a speed of rotation different from that of the neighboring rollers, the speeds of rotation of the rollers (13) ranging in decreasing in the direction of movement of the fibers (3) from one roller to another.
6. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon l’une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu’une vitesse de déplacement (VI 4) du tapis convoyeur (14) est comprise entre 5 à 100 m/min de sorte que le matelas de fibres minérales (15) ait une densité volumique comprise entre 5 et 40 kg/m3. 6. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a displacement speed (VI 4) of the conveyor belt (14) is between 5 to 100 m / min so that the mineral fiber mat (15) has a volume density of between 5 and 40 kg/m3.
7. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce qu’un tapis de convoyage (8) est agencé entre le dispositif d’alimentation (4) de fibres minérales et le poste de répartition (2) des fibres minérales de sorte que des fibres minérales (3) en sortie du tapis de convoyage (8) sont aptes à tomber par gravité sur le tapis convoyeur (14) via un passage entre les rouleaux (13) du train de rouleaux (12), la vitesse de déplacement (VI 4) du tapis convoyeur (14) étant fonction de la vitesse de déplacement (V8) du tapis de convoyage (8) et de la densité volumique souhaitée des fibres minérales (3) dans le matelas de fibres (15).7. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a conveyor belt (8) is arranged between the supply device (4) of mineral fibers and the distribution station (2) mineral fibers so that mineral fibers (3) leaving the conveyor belt (8) are able to fall by gravity onto the conveyor belt (14) via a passage between the rollers (13) of the roller train (12) , the speed of movement (VI 4) of the conveyor belt (14) being a function of the speed of movement (V8) of the conveyor belt (8) and of the desired volume density of the mineral fibers (3) in the fiber mat ( 15).
8. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon l’une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le poste de répartition (2) est équipé d’un moyen déflecteur (19) configuré pour guider les fibres minérales (3) en sortie du dispositif d’alimentation (4) jusqu’au tapis convoyeur (14). 8. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distribution station (2) is equipped with a deflector means (19) configured to guide the mineral fibers (3) in exit from the feed device (4) to the conveyor belt (14).
9. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon l’une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les rouleaux (13) présentent chacun en surface des reliefs, disposés régulièrement le long de l’axe de rotation des rouleaux. 9. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rollers (13) each have reliefs on the surface, arranged regularly along the axis of rotation of the rollers.
10. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon l’une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les rouleaux (13) consistent en des rouleaux dentés, chaque dent (22) formant une saillie radiale du corps de rouleau entraîné en rotation. 10. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rollers (13) consist of toothed rollers, each tooth (22) forming a radial projection of the roller body driven in rotation .
11. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce qu’au moins un rouleau (12) comporte une pluralité de bagues dentées (28) agencées parallèlement les unes contre les autres le long de l’axe de rotation transversal du rouleau correspondant. 11. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one roller (12) comprises a plurality of toothed rings (28) arranged parallel against each other along the axis transverse rotation of the corresponding roller.
12. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon l’une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le train de rouleaux (12) comporte une pluralité de rouleaux (13) agencés en parallèle les uns des autres parmi lesquels un rouleau proximal (131) est disposé à une extrémité du train de rouleaux (12). 12. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the train of rollers (12) comprises a plurality of rollers (13) arranged in parallel to each other, among which a proximal roller (131) is arranged at one end of the train of rollers (12).
13. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon la revendication 12, caractérisé en ce que le poste de répartition (2) comporte des moyens de guidage mécanique (19) des fibres minérales en direction du rouleau proximal (131) de sorte que toutes les fibres minérales pénétrant dans ce poste de répartition (2) sont dirigées en direction du tapis convoyeur (14) pour qu’elles tombent sur le rouleau proximal (131) ou entre ce rouleau proximal (131) et le rouleau qui lui est directement voisin. 13. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the distribution station (2) comprises mechanical guide means (19) of the mineral fibers in the direction of the proximal roller (131) so that all the mineral fibers entering this distribution station (2) are directed in the direction of the conveyor belt (14) so that they fall on the proximal roller (131) or between this proximal roller (131) and the roller which is directly connected to it neighbour.
14. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon la revendication 12 ou 13, caractérisé en ce qu’un dégagement vertical (DV) entre le rouleau proximal (131) et le tapis convoyeur (14) soit inférieur à une valeur seuil fonction de la longueur moyenne des fibres minérales (3) traitées par l’installation (1). 14. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that a vertical clearance (DV) between the proximal roller (131) and the conveyor belt (14) is less than a threshold value according to the average length of the mineral fibers (3) processed by the installation (1).
15. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon la revendication précédente, caractérisé en ce que le dégagement vertical (DV) est mesuré entre une surface périphérique externe du rouleau proximal (131) et le tapis convoyeur (14). 15. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the vertical clearance (DV) is measured between an outer peripheral surface of the proximal roller (131) and the conveyor belt (14).
16. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon l’une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le train de rouleaux (12) s’étend principalement selon un axe incliné par rapport au plan d’allongement principal du tapis convoyeur (14). 16. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the train of rollers (12) extends mainly along an axis inclined with respect to the main elongation plane of the conveyor belt ( 14).
17. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon l’une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le poste de répartition (2) comporte des moyens de réglage (100) d’une inclinaison du train de rouleaux (12). 17. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distribution station (2) comprises adjustment means (100) of an inclination of the train of rollers (12).
18. Installation de fabrication de laine minérale (1) selon l’une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif d’alimentation (4) de fibres minérales comporte des moyens d’alimentation de fibres minérales non liantes et d’un liant de type poudre ou fibres minérales préliantées. 18. Mineral wool manufacturing plant (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mineral fiber supply device (4) comprises means for supplying non-binding mineral fibers and a binder of the powder or pre-bonded mineral fiber type.
PCT/FR2022/050376 2021-03-02 2022-03-02 Facility for producing mineral wool WO2022185012A1 (en)

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EP22711279.4A EP4301915A1 (en) 2021-03-02 2022-03-02 Facility for producing mineral wool

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FRFR2102035 2021-03-02
FR2102035A FR3120372B1 (en) 2021-03-02 2021-03-02 MINERAL WOOL MANUFACTURING FACILITY

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU432156B2 (en) * 1968-04-29 1973-01-31 Chhun. V A method for manufacturing anon-woven web ormat from fibers and products manufactured according to said method
WO1999036623A1 (en) * 1997-12-23 1999-07-22 Marianne Etlar Eriksen Fiber distributor
CN1550601A (en) * 2003-05-20 2004-12-01 �����֯��ʽ���� Fiber shaped body and method for making said fiber shaped body
EP2238281A1 (en) 2008-01-11 2010-10-13 Advance Nonwoven A/S A forming head for dry forming a fibrous web
EP2799607A1 (en) * 2013-05-03 2014-11-05 Formfiber Denmark ApS A method and apparatus for dry-forming a fibrous product

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU432156B2 (en) * 1968-04-29 1973-01-31 Chhun. V A method for manufacturing anon-woven web ormat from fibers and products manufactured according to said method
WO1999036623A1 (en) * 1997-12-23 1999-07-22 Marianne Etlar Eriksen Fiber distributor
CN1550601A (en) * 2003-05-20 2004-12-01 �����֯��ʽ���� Fiber shaped body and method for making said fiber shaped body
EP2238281A1 (en) 2008-01-11 2010-10-13 Advance Nonwoven A/S A forming head for dry forming a fibrous web
EP2799607A1 (en) * 2013-05-03 2014-11-05 Formfiber Denmark ApS A method and apparatus for dry-forming a fibrous product

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US20240229311A9 (en) 2024-07-11
FR3120372A1 (en) 2022-09-09
US20240133090A1 (en) 2024-04-25

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