PRESS PLATEN FOR CREATING DEEP STRUCTURES

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a press plate for creating deep structures in panel-like products, for example in wood-based boards or laminates made of resin-coated papers, composed of a metallic base body, in which strip-shaped and/or frame-like webs, which have a higher thermal conductivity than the base body, are inserted in depressions provided.

Claims

1. A press plate for creating deep structures in panel-like products comprising a metallic base body, in which strip-shaped and/or frame-like webs, which have a higher thermal conductivity than the base body, are inserted in depressions.

2. The press plate according to claim 1, wherein the webs are integrally bonded with the base body.

3. The press plate according to claim 1, wherein the webs are positively bonded with the base body.

4. The press plate according to claim 1, wherein the base body and the webs are chrome-plated.

5. The press plate according to claim 1, wherein edges of the webs facing away from the base body are rounded.

6. The press plate according to claim 1, wherein the webs are a steel alloy.

7. The press plate according to claim 1, wherein the webs are an aluminium alloy.

8. The press plate according to claim 1, wherein the webs are a copper alloy.

9. The press plate according to claim 1, wherein the webs are a brass alloy.

10. The press plate according to claim 1, wherein the press plate is chrome-plated.

11. The press plate according to claim 1, wherein an upper side of the webs features a structuring.

12. The press plate according to claim 1, wherein an upper side of the base body features a structuring.

13. The press plate according to claim 12, wherein the structuring of the base body deviates from a structuring on an upper side of the webs.

14. The press plate according to claim 1, wherein the webs have a height (H) of up to 5 mm.

15. The press plate according to claim 2, wherein the webs are welded, soldered or glued to the base body.

16. The press plate according to claim 1, wherein the webs are created in a 3D printing process.

17. The press plate according to claim 1, wherein the press plate creates the deep structures in wood-based boards or laminates made of resin-coated papers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] Examples of embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail in the following with the aid of a figure: They show:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a first press plate according to the invention;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view along the line II-II according to FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a perspective representation of a second press plate according to the invention; and

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a web inserted into a press plate in a partial representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The press plate is composed of a base body 1 which is, for example, a steel plate with a thickness of 5 mm. Parallel spaced depressions 4 are made in this steel plate, which may have been produced by etching or milling. Groove-like depressions 4 can be provided instead of recesses (holes); however, said depressions cannot extend across the full width of the base body 1. Strip-shaped webs 2 (see FIG. 1) or frame-like webs 3 (see FIG. 3) are introduced into the depressions 4. The webs 2, 3 are made of a material with a higher thermal conductivity than the material of the base body 1. They are preferably made of an aluminium, brass or copper alloy. A steel alloy can also be used. The webs 2 are integrally bonded to the base body 1 in that they are, for example, welded or soldered to the base body 1. The webs 2 may also be glued into the depressions or recesses 4. The upper side 1.1 of the base body 1 features a structuring 1.2 with which a structure that matches the decorative pattern of the wood-based board or laminate can be embossed in the upper side of the platelike product. The upper side 2.2 or 3.2 of the webs 2, 3 may also feature a structuring 2.3, 3.3. The structuring 2.3, 3.3 of the webs 2, 3 may deviate from the structuring 1.2 of the base body 1.

[0030] The edges 2.1, 3.1 of the webs 2, 3 facing away from the base body 1 can be rounded in order to render the embossing of the structure easier. As shown in FIG. 4, the transitions 2.4 at the web 2 to the press plate 1 may be rounded so that there is no difference in height from the press plate 1 to the web 2 in the transition area. This rounding can also be present on the frame 3 (not depicted).

[0031] The width of the upper area 2.5 of the web 2 is variable. This width depends on how wide the desired depression in the product should be. This width is determined by the saw cut used to divide a large-size panel into individual panels. The slanted flanks 2.6 of the web 2 are formed on the product.

[0032] A press plate designed according to the invention was used as follows:

Embodiment Example 1

[0033] Two grooves 4 with a width of >20 mm and a depth of <1 mm were initially milled at a distance of 200 mm from each other into a smooth, chrome-plated lab plate (size: 650×500 mm) serving as a base body 1; two chrome-plated metal webs serving as webs 2 were then introduced into said grooves and glued to the steel lab plate using a cyanoacrylate that remains stable at high temperatures. The webs 2, 3 were 2 cm wide and protruded 1 mm above the upper side 1 of plate. They were rounded on one side in the edge region 2.1. They were glued at the non-rounded side to the base body 1. Once the adhesive had hardened, the press plate was installed in a lab press as an upper plate. HDF panels (8 mm, bulk density: 850 kg/m.sup.3) were then covered with melamine resin-impregnated decorative papers on the upper side and backing layer impregnates on the underside, and pressed according to the press parameters below. Once cooled, the press depth was determined for the two web-shaped recesses in the upper side of the HDF panels.

TABLE-US-00001 Structure depth in mm Glued-on webs Glued-on webs made of chrome-plated made of chrome-plated Variant/press steel (thickness aluminium (thickness parameter of 1.0 mm) of 1.0 mm) p = 70 bar, T = 180° C., 0.45 0.65 t = 20 sec p = 70 bar, T = 200° C., 0.58 0.7 t = 15 sec p = 70 bar, T = 200° C., 0.6 0.83 t = 20 sec

[0034] As shown in the table, the use of a metal with a higher thermal conductivity produces significantly better deformation results. This means that, when using a metal with a more effective thermal conductivity, one can work with more moderate press parameters or reduce the thickness of the glued-on webs 2, 3 to achieve the same deformation result.

Embodiment Example 2

[0035] A frame 3 with an outer dimension of 350×350×1 mm and a width of 20 mm was milled into the middle of a non-chrome-plated lab plate (size: 650×500×5 mm) that features a wood structure. A steel and aluminium frame 3, which fitted in terms of format into the depression 4 and had a height of 2 mm, was glued into the depression using a cyanoacrylate that remains stable at high temperatures. The frame 3 was rounded in the lower edge region 3.4 so that no difference in height could be perceived in the transition between plate and frame 3 after glueing. Once the adhesive had hardened, the press plate was installed in a lab press as an upper plate. HDF panels (8 mm, bulk density: 850 kg/m.sup.3) were then covered with melamine resin-impregnated decorative papers on the upper side and backing layer impregnates on the underside, and pressed according to the press parameters below. Once cooled, the press depth was determined for the two frame-shaped recesses in the upper side of the HDF panels.

TABLE-US-00002 Structure depth in mm Glued-in frame Glued-in frame made of chrome-plated made of chrome-plated Variant/press steel (thickness aluminium (thickness parameter of 2.0 mm) of 2.0 mm) p = 70 bar, T = 180° C., 0.45 0.69 t = 20 sec p = 70 bar, T = 200° C., 0.61 0.79 t = 15 sec p = 70 bar, T = 200° C., 0.64 0.89 t = 20 sec

[0036] As the comparison between embodiment example 1 and 2 shows, the slightly thicker aluminium strip inserted into the plate achieves a better result once again.

Embodiment Example 3

[0037] A frame 3 with an outer dimension of 350×350×1 mm and a width of 20 mm was milled into the middle of a non-chrome-plated lab plate (size: 650×500×5 mm) that features a wood structure. A galvanized aluminium frame 3, which fitted in terms of format into the depression 4 and had a height of 2 mm, was inserted into the depression and soldered to the plate. The frame 3 was rounded in the upper edge region 3.1 so that no difference in height could be perceived in the transition between plate and frame 3 after insertion. The press plate was then chrome-plated. It was subsequently installed in a lab press as an upper plate. HDF panels (8 mm, bulk density: 850 kg/m.sup.3) were then covered with melamine resin-impregnated decorative papers on the upper side and backing layer impregnates on the underside, and pressed according to the press parameters below. Once cooled, the press depth was determined for the frame-shaped depressions 4 in the upper side of the HDF panels.

TABLE-US-00003 Structure depth in mm Variant/press Soldered-in frame made of chrome-plated parameter aluminium (thickness of 2.0 mm) p = 70 bar, T = 180° C., 0.69 t = 20 sec p = 70 bar, T = 200° C., 0.81 t = 15 sec p = 70 bar, T = 200° C., 0.9 t = 20 sec

[0038] As the comparison between embodiment examples 2 and 3 shows, no serious difference in structural depth is achieved with the glued-in or soldered-in aluminium strip. Thus, depending on requirements, glued-on or glued-in webs 2, 3 can be used, wherein the process of gluing on should take place before the chrome plating. Better, of course, are webs 2, frames 3 or other geometries that are to simulate inlays, for example, inserted into a milled steel plate and soldered or joined by “arc joining”. This makes it possible to create so-called “registered embossing” structures that would otherwise be difficult or costly to produce.

[0039] This plate with the inserted webs 2 or frames 3 can then be entirely chrome-plated, wherein if necessary the metal webs, frames 2, 3 etc. can first be prepared by a pretreatment (e.g. galvanizing, anodizing). As metals with high thermal conductivity, aluminium, brass and copper can be considered, with copper being more suitable due to its thermal expansion comparable to steel.

[0040] Depending on requirements, consideration can already be given to the required webs 2 and/or frames 3 when manufacturing the press plates. For example, when structuring (etching) the press plate, the structuring can be omitted at the points where a milled web 2 and/or frame 3 is to be located later. These can then be added after structuring and milling. In this case, it is advantageous that the structure of the plate can be adapted to that of the web/frame 2, 3. The webs 2, 3 can have a height of >0.2 to 5 mm starting from the height of the press plate. Of course, the webs 2, frames 3 or other geometries can also be created in the plate using 3D printing.

[0041] Such press plates can be used, in particular, for special products. These can be, for example, sheets used for the production of laminate flooring, which are to have a so-called pressed joint or an indicated joint for a tiling decorative pattern in the joint area. In addition, of course, the inserted webs 2, frames 3 etc. can also feature a different structuring than the rest of the plate. It may feature a wooden structure, for example, whereas the inlaid profile could be unstructured.