DEVICE FOR PRODUCING REINFORCEMENT ELEMENTS FROM MATERIAL IN POWDER FORM

Abstract

An apparatus for producing reinforcing elements for shoes, bags or orthopedic applications comprises a first powder application apparatus, at least one downstream first compounding device, another second powder application apparatus as well as a second compounding device. Such a modular structure allows for producing different types of reinforcing elements in a simple manner.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing reinforcement elements, in particular for shoes, bags or orthopedic applications, comprising a first powder application apparatus having a first powder container for an at least partially meltable powder mixture, for providing a powder mixture on a feeding device and, provided at an outlet of the powder container, a template for defining a basic shape of a reinforcing element to be produced, a first compounding device arranged downstream of the first powder application apparatus for compounding the powder mixture provided in the basic shape on the feeding device a second powder application apparatus arranged downstream of the first compounding device and having a second powder container for an at least partially meltable powder mixture, for providing a powder mixture at least partially on the basic shape with the aid of a template provided at an outlet of the second powder container for defining a preliminary final shape of a reinforcing element to be produced, and a second compounding device arranged downstream of the second powder application apparatus for compounding the powder mixture provided in the preliminary final shape on the feeding device.

2. The apparatus for producing reinforcing elements according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or the second compounding devices comprise heating devices for at least partially melting the powder mixture.

3. The apparatus for producing reinforcing elements according to claim 1, wherein between the first powder application apparatus and the first compounding device and/or between the first compounding device and the second powder application apparatus, an arrangement apparatus for arranging intermediate elements is provided.

4. The apparatus for producing reinforcing elements according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate elements are configured such that a powder mixture penetrates interspaces of the intermediate elements during the melting process.

5. The apparatus for producing reinforcing elements according to claim 1, wherein between the first compounding device and the second powder application apparatus and/or between the first powder application apparatus and the first compounding device an arrangement apparatus for arranging additional elements is provided.

6. The apparatus for producing reinforcing elements according to claim 1, wherein the second compounding device comprises at least one heating device which defines the final shape of the reinforcing elements.

7. The apparatus for producing reinforcing elements according to claim 1, wherein the feeding device comprises a conveyor belt.

8. The apparatus for producing reinforcing elements according to claim 1, wherein, downstream of the second compounding device, compressing and/or calibrating devices and/or a cooling device are arranged.

9. The apparatus for producing reinforcing elements according to claim 8, wherein the compressing and/or calibrating devices and the heating device of the second compounding device are configured as a unit, and/or that the compressing and/or calibrating devices and the cooling device are configured as a unit.

10. The apparatus for producing reinforcing elements according to claim 8, wherein downstream of the second compounding device and the cooling device a coating device and/or a metal detector are arranged.

11. The apparatus for producing reinforcing elements according to claim 8, wherein downstream of the second compounding device and the cooling device a programming means for programming programmable intermediate elements arranged by one of the arrangement apparatus is provided.

12. The apparatus for producing reinforcing elements according to claim 1, further comprising individual stations of the apparatus that are linearly arranged in series.

13. The apparatus for producing reinforcing elements according to claim 1, further comprising individual stations of the apparatus that are partially arranged at an angle to each other and/or opposite each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the Figures:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, strongly simplified side view of a first preferred embodiment of the apparatus for producing reinforcing elements, and

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a strongly simplified top view of a second embodiment of the apparatus for producing reinforcing elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0025] In the strongly simplified schematic side view illustrated in FIG. 1, an at least partially meltable powder mixture is provided via a first powder application means 10. For this purpose, a powder container of the powder application apparatus 10 comprises, at an outlet 14, a template for defining a basic shape of a reinforcing element to be produced. For defining the powder quantity to be dosed, a slider or another dosing means can be provided. The powder mixture is applied onto the upper side of a feeding device configured as a transport belt in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. Thus, on the transport belt 12, the basic shape of a reinforcing element to be produced is provided.

[0026] In an arrangement apparatus 18 arranged downstream of the first powder application apparatus, as seen in the transport direction 16, intermediate elements can be arranged. Intermediate elements, such as fabric, textile fabric or other elements can be arranged as intermediate elements on the upper side of the already applied powder layer.

[0027] Downstream of the arrangement apparatus 18, again as seen in the transport direction 16, a first compounding means 20 is provided. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the compounding means comprises heating devices 22 which are provided on both sides of the transport belt 12. The heating devices cause the meltable constituents of the powder mixture to at least partially melt such that at least a loose compounding of the powder mixture is ensured.

[0028] Downstream of the first compounding means, again as seen in the transport direction 16, another arrangement apparatus 24 is provided. With the aid of this arrangement apparatus 24, additional elements, such as storage components or the like, can be arranged on the upper side of the powder layer produced by the first powder application apparatus 10. Subsequently, with the aid of a second powder application apparatus, another layer of powder mixture is applied onto the first powder layer. The second powder application apparatus preferably comprises a powder container having a template arranged at an outlet 28. The powder layer applied by the second powder application apparatus 26 at least partially covers the powder layer applied by the first powder application apparatus 10. If the arrangement apparatus 18 and/or 24 apply intermediate elements or additional elements, it is preferred that these elements are completely covered by the second powder layer.

[0029] Downstream of the second powder application apparatus 26, again as seen in the transport direction, a second compounding means 30 is arranged. The compounding means 30 schematically arranged in the illustrated exemplary embodiment is a compounding means comprising heating devices 31 located opposite each other. The heating devices 31 may be heating plates, heat radiators, heating furnaces or the like. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, further heating devices 32 are arranged downstream of the heating devices 31. Preferably, the heating devices 32 are heating dies which are preferably configured to be displaced vertically to the transport belt. Preferably, the heating dies allow pressure and heat for melting and producing the reinforcing elements to be simultaneously applied. Thereafter, the reinforcing elements are cooled by a cooling means 34 which may comprise cooling dies.

[0030] Behind the second powder application apparatus 26, as seen in the transport direction, one or a plurality of compressing and/or calibrating means can be provided. They can be arranged between the heating devices 30, 32 and the cooling device 34, in front of these devices or in combination with the corresponding devices.

[0031] In an area 36, the reinforcing elements arranged on the upper side of the transport belt 12 fall onto a second transport belt 38 arranged vertically beneath the transport belt 12. With the aid of a writing means 40, such as a laser printer, an item number or the like can be applied to the reinforcing elements. Thereafter, a metal detector can determine the produced reinforcing elements which then fall into a transport container 44.

[0032] In this area a programming means for programmable intermediate devices arranged in the reinforcing elements can be further provided. In addition, a sorting means, a packing means and the like can be arranged here.

[0033] In an alternative embodiment a schematic top view of which is illustrated in FIG. 2, the individual stations illustrated in FIG. 1 are also present, but arranged in a different way. In a section 46, a transport belt 48 serving as a portion of a feeding device is arranged. Above said transport belt, in the area 46, the first powder application apparatus 10, the arrangement apparatus 18, the first compounding means 20, the arrangement apparatus 28 as well as the second compounding means 30 are arranged one after the other from right to left or in the transport direction. According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the compounding means 30 preferably comprises heating devices 31, such as a heating furnace, and heating devices 32, such as heating dies, for example. With the aid of a redirection device 50 adjacent to the transport belt 48, the produced reinforcing elements are redirected in the illustrated manner and conveyed to another transport belt 52. In the area of the transport belt 52, the second compounding means 30 is arranged. Another redirection device 54 redirects the reinforcing elements onto a transport belt 46. In this area, the cooling means 34 is arranged. Here, instead of the cooling means 34, another heating means can be provided. The adjacent redirection device 58 redirects the reinforcing elements onto another transport belt 60, wherein, depending on the configuration, in the area of the transport belt 60, the cooling means 34 or possibly another cooling means can be provided. Via another redirection device 62, the reinforcing elements are transported onto a transport belt 64 which corresponds to the transport belt 38 and in this area the writing units 40 and the detection means 42 can be arranged. The reinforcing elements are then conveyed into the container 44.