Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-31
2001-10-30
Maki, Steven D. (Department: 1733)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S324000, C156S583500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309506
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for joining preferably flexible surface structures.
The invention relates to joining flexible surface structures by gluing. For the gluing, an adhesive mass is used which generally itself has the form of a surface structure. However, it is also conceivable that the adhesive mass should be already allocated in some other manner to one or a plurality of the surface structures to be joined.
The gluing takes place by the application of heat and pressure, the adhesive mass, plasticised by the heat, partially penetrating into the surface structures to be joined and thus effecting the bond between same. In technical jargon, this type of joining of surface structures is also referred to as laminating.
The surface structures in question are generally textile surface structures. However they can also be surface structures made of some other nonwoven material, for example foils, nets or mats. The surface structures to be joined are generally present in web form. However it is also conceivable that at least some of the surface structures should be processed already cut to size.
Devices for joining flexible surface structures are known which have a single laminating station with two circulating conveyor belts, the surface structures to be joined being conveyed between the facing bights of the conveyor belts through the laminating station. In the region of the laminating station, there is located a heating station by means of which the adhesive mass is activated and the surface structures to be joined are heated up. Following the heating station there is a pressing device, with which the surface structures to be joined are pressed together, the previously plasticised adhesive mass penetrating at least partially into the surface structures to be joined.
The known laminating stations only permit limited laminating efficiency. If greater laminating efficiency is required, a correspondingly larger and more powerful laminating station must be used whose laminating capacity is in many cases not fully exploited. This leads to uneconomic operation of laminating stations of this type.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Proceeding from this, the purpose underlying the invention is to create a method and a device for joining, especially laminating, flexible surface structures, by means of which flexible and yet economic operation is guaranteed.
According to this, method the joining of the surface structures takes place in the course of a plurality of stations which succeed one another in the conveying direction and/or in the direction of handling. Through the arrangement of the stations in succession, it is possible to configure same as independent units, by which means the method makes it possible to form a laminating line for joining the surface structures, which meets the requirements. The individual stations make it possible for the laminating line to be extended as needed, and this makes possible increased efficiency of the same whilst using previous stations.
As a development of the method, provision is made for reducing at least the moisture content of some surface structures, between successive thermal treatments in corresponding stations (laminating stations). This is possible in particular as a result of the arrangement in succession, according to the invention, of individual, preferably independent, stations, by corresponding space being formed between the stations, which is necessary in order to remove moisture or the like from at least some of the surface structures to an adequate extent, before these surface structures are preferably treated thermally in the next station.
Provision is also made for at least one station, especially a station following after a first station, optionally to be operated in such a way that the surface structures are either warmed or cooled or both warmed and cooled by it. By this means, the laminating line composed of the successive stations, obtains further improved flexibility, because a station of this sort (or even a plurality of stations), which is not currently needed for warming up the surface structures, can be used to increase efficiency by cooling the surface structures which are joined together by laminating.
According to a further development of the method, at least one surface structure is supplied between successive stations. This surface structure then does not run through the previous station or a plurality of stations placed in front of it. In this way, surface structures of different sensitivity can be processed and if necessary different joining techniques can be used.
According to an advantageous further development of the method, provision is made for taking the web-like surface structures out of engagement with the or each conveyor belt between at least two stations. The outer sides of the textile surface structures lie exposed between successive stations. This is favourable to cooling and evaporation of the surface structures treated in the previous station. In particular, effective reduction in the moistness of the surface structures lying exposed between successive stations is possible in this way.
According to the method, provision is additionally made for ascertaining the tension of at least one of the web-shaped surface structures between two successive stations. On the basis of the tension of at least one surface structure ascertained between successive stations, the conveying speed of the surface structures can be so controlled that the tension of the web of the textile surface structure is adjusted to the adhesive mass in such a way that the latter can penetrate the surface structures to sufficient depth. In addition, compression and smoothing effects of the web-shaped surface structure can be achieved through the web tension.
According to the device of the invention, through the fact that at least two successive, independent laminating stations are provided according to the invention, it is possible to extend the device as needed. If the full capacity of the device is not needed, one laminating station can remain switched off, which produces a saving in energy.
According to a preferred development of the device, a drying station is disposed at least between two successive laminating stations. This drying station can be simply accommodated between the individual successive laminating stations. Moreover, drying the surface structures leaving a laminating station improves the efficiency of a following laminating station. In addition to this, higher processing speeds can be achieved by the successive, sectional laminating with drying steps interspersed, such that the laminating efficiency with successive laminating stations is higher than that with a laminating station having the same capacity as the individual successive laminating stations.
Preferably only one conveyor belt, preferably a lower one, is present in the region of the drying station. By this means, the surface structures are uncovered on their upper side, such that moisture can be removed effectively from them in the drying station. The efficiency of the drying station can be further increased if, in the region of same, according to an advantageous development of the invention, the flexible surface structure is deflected away from the lower conveyor belt. Then the web-shaped surface structures (or even just a single web-shaped surface structure) are free on both sides, which permits more efficient dehumidification and vaporisation in the region of the drying station.
According to a further advantageous development of the device, a measuring station is provided between at least two laminating stations which succeed one another at a spacing. The measuring station serves to ascertain the tensile force of the web consisting of at least one surface structure, preferably of a plurality of surface structures which are already glued to one another, and if necessary to alter it in such a way that the web is transported at least through the next laminating station with a certain internal tension, which serves especially to smo
Inselmann Jurgen
Kannegiesser Martin
Maki Steven D.
Schaetti AG.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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