Panel press with movable platens which are individually controlled with position-sensor transducers
AssigneeThe Coe Manufacturing Company
InventorsArthur L. McGee, David W. Rudman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multiple opening panel press is described with a plurality of movable platens which are individually controlled to adjust the spacing between adjacent platens to a predetermined panel width. Position-sensor transducers are employed to produce control signals corresponding to the platen positions which operate control cylinders by associated valves to adjust the platen spacing. The transducers are preferably sonic waveguides which interact with permanent magnets fixed to the movable platens to generate platen position signals which are applied to an automatic control system which includes a computer that produces the control signals.
Claims20
A multiple opening press for the production of compressed panels, comprising:
- a plurality of press platens including a fixed platen and several movable position adjustable platens which are spaced apart by nominal panel openings;
- a press operating mechanism for pressing the movable platens together to compress panel material between said platens and form compressed panels of predetermined thicknesses;
- a plurality of adjustment devices connected to the movable platens for adjusting the spacings between said platens to control the thicknesses of the panels;
- actuator devices for actuating said adjustment devices in response to electrical control signals;
- sensor devices for sensing the positions of the movable platens relative to the fixed platen and to each other, said sensor devices including transducers for producing platen position signals corresponding thereto;
- and
- an automatic control system for operating said actuator devices by producing said control signals in response to corresponding platen position signals.
A multiple opening press for the production of compressed wood panels, comprising:
- a plurality of heated press platens including a fixed platen and several movable position adjustable platens which are spaced apart by nominal openings;
- a press operating mechanism including a moving press table for pressing the movable platens together and toward the fixed platen to heat and compress sheets of wood material and bonding material between said platens and form compressed wood panels of a predetermined thickness;
- at least one adjustable hydraulic cylinder on each corner of the moving press table;
- a plurality of adjustment assemblies each including a plurality of adjustment cylinders connected to the movable platens for adjusting the spacings between said platens to control the thicknesses of the panels;
- actuator valves for actuating said adjustment cylinders in response to control signals;
- position sensor devices for sensing the positions of the movable platens and including transducers for producing platen position signals corresponding thereto;
- and
- an automatic control system for operating said actuator valves by producing said control signals in response to corresponding platen position signals.
A multiple opening press for the production of compressed panels, comprising:
- a plurality of press platens including a fixed platen and several movable platens which are spaced apart by panel openings of variable spacings;
- a press operating mechanism including a movable platen table for pressing the movable platens together to compress panel material between said platens and form compressed panels of predetermined thicknesses;
- at least four hydraulic cylinders connected to the movable platen table for moving said table and keeping it parallel to the fixed platen;
- a plurality of adjustment cylinders connected to the movable platens for adjusting the final spacings between said platens to control the thicknesses of the panels;
- actuator devices for actuating said adjustment cylinders in response to electrical control signals;
- position sensor devices for sensing the positions of the movable platens including magnets attached to said movable platens for movement therewith, and including a transducer for producing platen position signals corresponding to the movable platens;
- and
- an automatic control system for operating said actuator devices by producing said control signals in response to corresponding platen position signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.