Machine for producing plastic laminates

Apparatus for producing discontinuous plastic laminates comprising:

• feed roller means (1) comprising upper and lower feed rollers (11) for receiving discontinuous pieces of material (6) to be laminated,
• pre-heater and heat transmitting means (4) comprising
• an upper part and a lower part, wherein
• said upper part comprises an upper face of an elongate heating block (41) for transmitting energy to a top of said discontinuous pieces of material to preheat said discontinuous pieces of material, an upper heat transmitting part (42) integral with said upper face of said heating block for transmitting energy to an upper heating and pressing roller (31) for heating and applying pressing forces to the top of said discontinuous pieces of material, and a recess in said upper heat transmitting part having an upper heating means (43) therein for heating said upper face of said heating block and heating said upper heat transmitting part, and
• said lower part comprises a lower face of an elongate heating block (41) for transmitting energy to a bottom of said discontinuous pieces of material (6) to pre-heat said discontinuous pieces of material, a heat transmitting part (42) integral with said lower face of said heating block for transmitting energy to a lower heating and pressing roller for heating and applying pressing forces to the bottom of said discontinuous pieces of material, and a recess in said lower heat transmitting part having a lower heating means (43) therein for heating said lower face of said heating block and heating said lower heat transmitting part,
• said upper heating and pressing roller (31),
• upper cover plates (44) attached to opposed ends of said upper heat transmitting part (42) for covering the ends of said upper heat transmitting part and having bearings engaging a shaft supporting said upper heating and pressing roller (31),
• said lower heating and pressing roller (31),
• lower cover plates (44) attached to opposed ends of said lower heat transmitting part for covering the ends of said lower heat transmitting part (42) and having bearings engaging a shaft supporting said lower heating and pressing roller, and
• means for mounting said upper cover plates, said upper heating and pressing roller, and said upper part for vertical movement with respect to said lower cover plates, said lower heating and pressing roller, and said lower part to accommodate said discontinuous pieces of material having different thickness, wherein said means for mounting comprises resilient means (35) for elastically supporting said upper cover plates to allow said upper heating and pressing roller to elastically come close to or part from said lower heating and pressing roller.