Abstract
The invention pertains to a sliding surface for a continuously operating double-belt press for manufacturing endless material strips such as laminates, particularly copper laminate, decorative laminate, fiber-reinforced plastic laminates and/or other technical laminates, wherein the double-belt press comprises an upper and a lower endless press belt (04) that are guided over deflection rollers, wherein a reaction zone (13), in which the material strip is guided and pressed together under a surface pressure, is formed between the opposing outer sides of the press belts, wherein the double-belt press furthermore has a pressure chamber (08) that generates at least part of the surface pressure and is formed in the reaction zone (13) between a base element (07), particularly a heating plate, and an inner side (11) of the press belt (04), wherein said pressure chamber can be acted upon with a fluidic pressure medium and is laterally bounded and sealed by the at least one annular, closed sliding surface (01), wherein the sliding surface (01) has a sealing surface (12) for abutting on the inner side (11) of the press belt (04) in a sealing manner, wherein the sliding surface (01) comprises a sealing element (02) that forms the sealing surface (12) and a sealing frame (03) that at least partially accommodates the sealing element (02) and serves for movably supporting the sliding surface (01) in the base element (07), particularly in the heating plate, wherein a compression element (17) is arranged between the sealing frame (03) and the sealing element (02) at least in a pressing direction, and wherein said compression element allows a motion of the sealing element (02) relative to the sealing frame (03) due to an elastic compression, especially in reaction to a pressure application on the sliding surface (01) in the pressing direction.
Claims
1. A sliding surface for a continuously operating double-belt press for manufacturing endless material strips, wherein the double-belt press comprises an upper and a lower endless press belt (04) that are guided over deflection rollers, wherein a reaction zone (13), in which the material strip is guided and pressed together under a surface pressure, is formed between the opposing outer sides of the press belts, wherein the double-belt press furthermore has a pressure chamber (08) that generates at least part of the surface pressure and is formed in the reaction zone (13) between a base element (07), and an inner side (11) of the press belt (04), wherein said pressure chamber can be pressurised with a fluidic pressure medium and is laterally bounded and sealed by the at least one annular, closed sliding surface (01), wherein the sliding surface (01) has a sealing surface (12) for abutting on the inner side (11) of the press belt (04) in a sealing manner, and wherein the sliding surface (01) comprises a sealing element (02) that forms the sealing surface (12) and a sealing frame (03) that at least partially accommodates the sealing element (02) and serves for movably supporting the sliding surface (01) in the base element (07), wherein a compression element (17) is arranged between the sealing frame (03) and the sealing element (02) at least in a pressing direction, wherein said compression element allows a motion of the sealing element (02) relative to the sealing frame (03) due to an elastic compression, especially in reaction to a pressure application on the sliding surface (01) in the pressing direction.
2. The sliding surface according to claim 1, wherein the compression element (17) is realized in the form of a closed O-ring or in the form of an inserted, open sealing cord with circular cross section.
3. The sliding surface according to claim 1, wherein the sealing frame (03) comprises a groove (18) for accommodating the sealing element, wherein the compression element (17) is arranged along a groove base (19) of the groove (18).
4. The sliding surface according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element (02) is at least sectionally made of a material with a low modulus of elasticity, particularly a polymer or a metal.
5. The sliding surface according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element at least sectionally comprises blind holes (22) or milled recesses on a lateral face (23) bordering on the sealing surface (12), wherein the sealing frame (03) comprises caulkings (21) that at least partially engage into the blind holes and secure the sealing element relative to the sealing frame (03).
6. The sliding surface according to claim 5, wherein the blind holes and the caulking (21) are dimensioned relative to one another in such a way that the motion of the sealing element relative to the sealing frame (03) can be realized up to a maximum stroke due to a compression of the compression element (17) and the sealing element (02) furthermore is secured relative to the sealing frame (03).
7. A continuously operating double-belt press for manufacturing endless material strips, wherein the double-belt press comprises a rigid press frame, deflection rollers that are rotatably supported on bearing brackets of the press frame and an upper and a lower endless press belt (04) that are guided over the deflection rollers, wherein a reaction zone (13), in which the material strip is guided and pressed together under a surface pressure, is formed between the opposing outer sides of the press belts, wherein the double-belt press furthermore has a pressure chamber (08) that generates at least part of the surface pressure and is formed in the region of the reaction zone (13) between a base element (07), and an inner side (11) of the press belt (04), wherein said pressure chamber can be acted upon with a fluidic pressure medium and is laterally bounded by the at least one annular, closed sliding surface (01), wherein the sliding surface (01) has a sealing surface (12) for abutting on the inner side (11) of the press belt (04) in a sealing manner and is supported in the base element (07) so as to be movable in a pressing direction, and wherein the support comprises an at least partially elastic, movable pressing element (10) that presses the sealing surface (12) against the inner side (11) of the press belt (04) in the pressing direction due to a pressure application on the sliding surface (01) on the side of the base element, and further comprising a sliding surface (01) according to claim 1.
8. The double-belt press according to claim 7, further comprising two annular, closed sliding surfaces (01) according to claim 1, which at least sectionally extend parallel to one another.
9. The sliding surface according to claim 1, wherein the endless material strips are laminates.
10. The sliding surface according to claim 1, wherein the laminates are copper laminate, decorative laminate, fiber-reinforced plastic laminate and/or other technical laminates.
11. The sliding surface according to claim 1, wherein the base element (07) is a heating plate.
12. The double-belt press according to claim 7, wherein the endless material strips are laminates.
13. The double-belt press according to claim 12, wherein the laminates are copper laminate, decorative laminate, fiber-reinforced plastic laminates and/or other technical laminates.
14. The double-belt press according to claim 7, wherein the base element (07) is a heating plate.
15. The double-belt press according to claim 7, wherein said pressure chamber is sealed by the at least one annular, closed sliding surface (01).
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the schematic drawings.
[0021] In these drawings:
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a section along a sliding surface in the entry region of a double-belt press according to the prior art;
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a detail of a section through a double-belt press according to the prior art in the region of the sliding surface;
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of an inner side of a double-belt press according to the prior art from the viewing direction of a base element;
[0025] FIG. 4 shows a schematic detail of a section through a double-belt press according to the present invention in the region of the sliding surface;
[0026] FIG. 5a shows a schematic representation of a detail of a side view of a sliding surface according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 5b shows a schematic section along the plane of section AA in FIG. 5a; and
[0028] FIG. 6 shows a section along a sliding surface in the entry region of a double-belt press according to the present invention.
[0029] In the figures, identical elements or elements with the same function are respectively identified by the same reference symbols.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] FIG. 1 shows an upper and a lower sliding surface 01 in the entry region of a double-belt press, which is not illustrated in FIG. 1. In this case, the sliding surface 01 comprises a sealing element 02 and a sealing frame 03, wherein the sealing frame 03 is conventionally accommodated by a base element, particularly a heating plate, and movably supported therein. The base element is also not illustrated in FIG. 1 in order to provide a better overview. A pressure chamber is formed between the sliding surface 01, the base element that is not illustrated in FIG. 1 and the press belts 04 of the double-belt press, wherein said pressure chamber is acted upon with a fluidic pressure medium, particularly for pressing the press belts 04 against the materials 05 to be pressed together.
[0031] In FIG. 1, the direction of rotation or revolution of the press belts 04 extends, for example, into the plane of projection in the section shown in FIG. 1 and correspondingly out of the plane of projection of FIG. 1 in a respective region extending above or underneath the section shown. In the exemplary illustration according to FIG. 1, the materials 05 to be pressed together have a width that is smaller than the width of the sliding surface in the entry region or the materials 05 to be pressed together have a width that is smaller than the distances of the sliding surface in the longitudinal direction of the double-belt press or in the direction of rotation of the press belts of the double-belt press. Due to the conventional or known sliding surface 01 with a lacking or insufficient flexibility between the sliding surface 01, particularly the sealing element 02, and the press belt 04 in the region, in which no materials 05 to be pressed together are provided or exist, the corresponding undersize of the materials 05 to be pressed together leads to the formation of a leakage gap 06, which is illustrated in FIG. 1 and in turn leads to an excessive and undesirable loss of pressure mediums from the pressure chamber. Consequently, a double-belt press and a sliding surface 01 according to the prior art illustrated in FIG. 1 only make it possible to process undersized materials 05 to be pressed together and to manufacture corresponding material strips if the thickness of the materials to be pressed together amounts to only a few tenths of a millimeter.
[0032] In addition, the known sliding surface 01, which are described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 2, have the disadvantage that an uneven pressing effect or an uneven contact pressure is exerted upon the press belts 04, particularly in the entry region and in the exit region of the double-belt press, wherein this can lead to the formation of visible streaks in the manufactured material strips.
[0033] FIG. 2 shows a detail of a section through a double-belt press according to the prior art. In this case, the double-belt press comprises two sliding surface 01 that extend parallel to one another and likewise have a sealing element 02 and a sealing frame 03 for accommodating the sealing element 02. Different pressure chambers are formed between the press belt 04 and the base element 07 by the sliding surface 01. On the one hand, a pressure chamber 08 is formed within the first or inner sliding surface 01 and can be acted upon with a fluidic pressure medium. In known double-belt presses, the pressure chamber 08 preferably can be acted upon with a pressure up to 80 bar. A vacuum chamber 09 is formed between the first or inner sliding surface 01 and the second or outer sliding surface 01 and accordingly can be acted upon with a vacuum, for example, in order to withdraw or discharge pressure medium leaking from the pressure chamber. The sliding surface 01 are movably supported in the base element 07 in that the sealing frame 03 is movably guided in a recess of the base element 07. The sealing effect of the sealing elements 01 relative to the press belt 04 particularly is realized in that the sliding surface 01 are acted upon with a pressure on the side of the base element. In the example according to FIG. 2, it would be possible, for example, to exert a pressure upon the pressing elements 10, which are also movably supported in the base element 07 and may be realized, for example, in the form of elastic O-rings of FKM and/or FFKM material, on the side of the base element such that the pressure is transmitted to the sliding surface 01, particularly to the sealing frames 03 of the sliding surface 01, via the pressing elements 10 and the sealing elements 02 connected to the sealing frame 03 are in turn pressed against the inner side 11 of the press belt 04 by the transmitted pressure. The sealing element 02 accordingly forms a sealing surface 12 in the contact region with the inner side 11 of the press belt 04.
[0034] The reaction zone 13, which lies between the pressure chambers 08 and is bounded by the inner sliding surface 01, is formed between the press belts 04, particularly between the opposing outer sides of the press belts 04, wherein the material strips are manufactured of the materials 05 to be pressed together in said reaction zone. According to the schematic illustration in FIG. 2, the materials 05 to be pressed together have to be manufactured or processed with an oversize in order to prevent the formation of the leakage gap 06, which is illustrated in FIG. 1 and occurs if undersized materials to be pressed together are guided through the double-belt press. This means that the materials 05 to be pressed together must have a width that protrudes at least over the reaction zone and therefore at least over the inner sliding surface 01 in the sides or longitudinal regions of the double-belt press and the sliding surface 01.
[0035] FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of an inner side 11 of a press belt from the viewing direction of a heating plate or a base element 07, which is not illustrated in FIG. 3. For example, the illustration in FIG. 1 is extracted from the region II. along the plane of section BB. The illustration in FIG. 2 is extracted, for example, from the region III. along the plane of section CC. Accordingly, the entry region 14 into the double-belt press is located on the left side of the inner side 11 of the press belt 04 and the exit region 15 of the double-belt press is located in the right region. FIG. 3 likewise shows an inner sliding surface 01 and an outer sliding surface 01, which are respectively realized in an annular and closed manner, wherein at least the inner sliding surface 01 bounds and also largely seals the reaction zone 13 laterally, i.e. at a right angle to the plane of projection of FIG. 3.
[0036] FIG. 4 shows a detail of a section through an inventive double-belt press that comprises two inventive sliding surface 01. The illustration in FIG. 4 essentially corresponds to the illustration in FIG. 2. Identical elements of the sliding surface 01 and of the double-belt press are provided with and identified by the same reference symbols. Analogous to FIG. 2, the sliding surface 01 are movably supported in the base element 07 by means of a recess 16, wherein a pressure on the side of the base element is transmitted to the sliding surface 01, particularly to the sealing frames 03, via the pressing elements 10 such that the sealing surfaces 12 of the sealing elements 02 are ultimately pressed against the inner side 11 of the press belt 04.
[0037] In contrast to the realization of the sliding surface 01 in accordance with the prior art illustrated in FIG. 2, the sliding surface 01 according to the present invention comprise a compression element 17 that allows a motion of the sealing element 02 relative to the sealing frame 03, particularly in reaction to a pressure application on the sliding surface 01 in the pressing direction A, wherein the compression element 17 is subjected to or carries out an elastic compression in order to allow the relative motion between the sealing element 02 and the sealing frame 03. In this case, the compression element 17 is arranged in a groove 18 of the sealing frame 03. The compression element 17 particularly is arranged on the groove base 19 of the groove 18 of the sealing frame 03. Accordingly, the groove 18 with the groove base 19 serves for at least partially accommodating and guiding the sealing element 02 and at the same time for accommodating and guiding the compression element 17. The compression element 17 serves for realizing an essential aspect of the invention, namely that a pressure exerted upon the recess 16 in the base element on the side of the base element 07 is transmitted to the sealing element 02 and its sealing surface 12 by the compression element 17 via the pressing element 10 and the sealing frame 03 such that the pressure leads to a more or less intense compression of the compression element within the groove 18 of the sealing element 03 in dependence on the resistance of the press belt 04 and a pressing force of the sealing surface 12 is in fact exerted upon the inner side 11 of the press belt 04, but the sealing element 02 is at the same time realized such that it is movable relative to the sealing frame 03 at least over a certain stroke, which is defined by the compressibility and deformability of the compression element 17, wherein this altogether leads to a flexibilization, particularly a local flexibilization, of the sliding surface 01 such that a more uniform pressure can be exerted upon the inner side 11 of the press belt 04 via the sealing surface and a superior adaptability and pressure applicability to a local contour change of the press belt 04, particularly also an inner side 11 of the press belt, is ensured. The compression element 17 preferably is realized in the form of a closed O-ring that is made of a material, which can withstand the operating temperatures of the double-belt press, as well as the temperatures prevailing at the location of the sliding surface, and at the same time ensures the desired functionality as an elastic compression element.
[0038] FIG. 5a shows a detail of a side view of an inventive sliding surface according to a preferred embodiment. This side view shows the sealing frame 03 and the sealing element 02, which is at least partially accommodated by the sealing frame 03. The sealing element 02 forms the sealing surface 12, which is arranged on top in the side view according to FIG. 5a. In FIG. 5a, a caulking is illustrated in the upper section of the sealing frame 03, wherein said caulking is realized, for example, in the form of a circular or punctiform caulking and arranged in the upper region of a sidewall 20 of the sealing frame 03 in such a way that the material displaced in the direction of the interior of the sealing frame 03 by the caulking 21 engages into a blind hole 22 and thereby secures and/or fastens the sealing element 02 relative to the sealing frame 03.
[0039] According to FIG. 5a, the blind hole 22, which is likewise arranged in a lateral face 23 of the sealing element 02, is dimensioned larger than the material or deformation section that protrudes into the interior of the groove 18 of the sealing frame 03 during the course of the caulking process. This dimensioning of the blind hole 22 relative to the caulking 21 serves for preventing that the caulking of the sealing frame 03 relative to the sealing element 02 does not cancel or unduly restrict the motion of the sealing frame relative to the sealing element 02, which is particularly realized by means of the inventive compression element 17. Accordingly, the caulking 21 and the blind hole 22 are dimensioned in such a way that a motion of the sealing element 02 relative to the sealing frame 03 can be realized up to a maximum stroke, particularly due to a compression of the compression element 17, and the sealing element 02 furthermore is secured relative to the sealing frame 03. This particularly means that the caulking 21 and the blind holes 22 of the sliding surface 01 cooperate in the longitudinal region 24 of the sliding surface 01, which is illustrated in an exemplary manner in FIG. 3, in such a way that a displacement of the sealing element 02 in the sealing frame 03 along the longitudinal direction of the groove 18 of the sealing frame 03 is prevented. As already mentioned above, the caulkings may accordingly be realized in a punctiform manner or lead to corresponding circular projections or elevations on a lateral face of the groove 18, wherein the blind hole 22 is realized, for example, in the form of an oblong hole such that the caulking prevents a motion or a displacement of the sealing element 02 along the longitudinal direction of the groove 18 whereas the caulking 21 allows a motion of the sealing element in the pressing direction, i.e. perpendicular to the groove base 19 of the groove 18.
[0040] The corresponding design of a blind hole 22, as well as of the caulking 21 in the sidewall 20 of the sealing frame 03, is likewise illustrated in the sectional representation according to FIG. 5b, which shows a section along the plane AA in FIG. 5a.
[0041] A pressing and sealing situation, which is schematically illustrated in an exemplary manner in the detail according to FIG. 6, is produced by the inventive compression element 17 for the flexibilization of the sealing element of the sliding surface, particularly in the entry and exit regions of the double-belt press, i.e. in the regions, in which the materials 05 to be pressed together extend and are guided perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the double-belt press. For example, the detail of the sectional representation according to FIG. 6 may likewise be extracted from the region II. in FIG. 3 and extend along the axis B. Analogous to FIG. 1, this figure shows the two press belts 04 of the double-belt press, as well as the sliding surface 01 that abut on or are pressed against the inner side 11 of the press belts 04. In the example according to FIG. 6, undersized materials 05 to be pressed together are also introduced into the double-belt press such that the materials 05 to be pressed together do not extend over the full width of the press belts 04, but rather end, in particular, within the width of the reaction zone 13 formed by the longitudinal sections of the sliding surface 01 and their distance from one another. However, a flexibilization of the sealing element 02 is achieved because the compression element 17, which is not illustrated in the sectional representation according to FIG. 6, is arranged between the respective sealing element 02 of the sliding surface 01 and the sealing frame 03 of the sliding surface 01 and allows a motion of the sealing element 02 relative to the sealing frame 03, wherein this flexibilization in turn leads to the sealing element 02 being able to better adapt itself to the progression of the press belt 04 as a result of the contact pressure exerted upon the sliding surface 01 in the pressing direction A or, vice versa, the contact pressures of the sealing surfaces 12 upon the inner side 11 of the press belts 04 being able to better reproduce the uneven surface or the uneven progression of the press belts, particularly the inner side 11 of the press belts 04, in connection with the not-shown compression elements 17 and at the same time to exert a more homogenous pressure upon the inner side 11 of the press belts 04. According to a comparison between FIG. 6 and FIG. 1, the variable adaptation of the sealing element 02 to the progression of the press belt 04 therefore prevents the formation of the leakage gap 06 shown in FIG. 1 such that the double-belt press can on the one hand be operated with undersized materials to be pressed together and the sliding surface 01 on the other hand exert a uniform contact pressure upon the inner side 11 of the press belts 04. The relative motion, as well as the sectional or local option of a motion of the sealing element 02 relative to the sealing frame 03 realized by providing the compression element 17, is also clearly visible or illustrated in FIG. 6 because the sealing element 02 protrudes from the sealing frame 03 over the width of the illustration in FIG. 6 to different extents in different regions of the entry the region of the belt press, wherein this is once again realized or made possible by a local or locally different compression of the compression element 17.
LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS
[0042] 01 Sliding surface
[0043] 02 Sealing element
[0044] 03 Sealing frame
[0045] 04 Press belt
[0046] 05 Materials to be pressed together
[0047] 06 Leakage gap
[0048] 07 Base element
[0049] 08 Pressure chamber
[0050] 09 Vacuum chamber
[0051] 10 Pressing element
[0052] 11 Inner side
[0053] 12 Sealing surface
[0054] 13 Reaction zone
[0055] 14 Entry region
[0056] 15 Exit region
[0057] 16 Recess
[0058] 17 Compression element
[0059] 18 Groove
[0060] 19 Groove base
[0061] 20 Sidewall
[0062] 21 Caulking
[0063] 22 Blind hole
[0064] 23 Lateral face
