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US 2011/0062636 A1Published application
Binding of particulate materials to manufacture articles
AssigneePanel Board Holding BV
InventorRichard Laurance Lewellin
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AssigneePanel Board Holding BV
InventorRichard Laurance Lewellin
Estimating the term…
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for binding of particulate materials to manufacture articles including continuous panels or sheets (22). Particulate feed materials are mixed with a heat curable binder and the mixture (21) is fed to and compressed in a die (25). A radio frequency (RF) field is applied across electrodes (28, 29) between which the mixture is held compressed to inductively or dielectrically heat and cure the binder. Prior to entering the die (25) the mixture is first fed to an intake zone (32) where the mixture is shaped into substantially the same shape as the shape of the mixture in the die so that any curing of the binder due to heating of the mixture in the intake zone (32) occurs while the mixture is in the desired final shape. Operating parameters including shape and dimensions of the intake zone, mixture advancement lengths, are disclosed.
A manufacturing method for producing a bound body composed at least partially of particulate material, the method including the steps of:
A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mixture is fed into the intake zone through a mouth which has progressively a narrowing shape in the direction of advance of the mixture into the intake zone so that the mixture is progressively compressed as it is fed through the mouth into the intake zone.
A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the step of feeding comprises feeding the mixture in batches in an indexed manner from the intake zone into the die so that each batch of mixture in the intake zone is a continuous extension of the preceding batch now in the die and so that the successive formed cured batches that are moved out of the die form a continuous body emerging in a stepped manner.
A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the die has side walls which confine the mixture laterally within the die during the heating of the mixture in the die.
A method as claimed in any preceding claim and further including locating a face member on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the mixture being fed into the intake zone and into the die whereby the face member is advanced through the intake zone and through the die.
A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a selectively replaceable wear sheet is provided and located so as to extend completely through the intake zone and continuously through the die on a lower face thereof thereby providing a sacrificial wear member protecting the faces of the intake zone and the die from abrasion and adhesion.
A bound body composed at least partially of particulate material when manufactured by a method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
Apparatus for manufacturing a bound body composed at least partially of particulate material, the apparatus comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.