Apparatus for impregnating web-like materials with thermally curable impregnating resin

#The present application is a U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2009/063040 filed Oct. 7, 2009, which published as WO 2010/040781 A2 on Apr. 15, 2010, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Further, this application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 and §365 of German Application No. 10 2008 050 704.0 filed Oct. 7, 2008.

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to an apparatus for impregnating web-like material with thermally curable impregnating resin, comprising an impregnating trough in which the web-like material is brought into contact with the impregnating resin, an inlet line which leads to the impregnating trough and through which the impregnating resin is introduced into the impregnating trough, and a heating device which heats the impregnating resin.

#One example of an embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of the construction of an impregnating apparatus according to the invention.

#In FIG. 1 an apparatus for impregnating a web-like material 12, for example a paper web, is denoted generally by the reference numeral 10. The impregnating apparatus 10 comprises an impregnating trough 14 in which the paper web 12 is impregnated with impregnating resin 16, more precisely impregnating liquor 16a.

#In the example of embodiment illustrated, the impregnating trough 14 is divided into three trough sections 18, 20 and 22, through which the material web 12 passes successively along a web path predetermined by guide rollers 24. In respect of its construction and arrangement and also in respect of the question whether one or more of these guide rollers are driven, the guide rollers 24 correspond to those of an impregnating apparatus of the state of art. Therefore, a detailed description thereof will be dispensed with here.

#In the example of embodiment illustrated, the impregnating apparatus 10 comprises a trough body 26 with a trough volume 26a. An insert body 28 is inserted into the trough body 26, in which the first trough section 18 and the second trough section 20 are formed. The partial volume of the trough volume 26a not occupied by the insert body 28 forms the third trough section 22. According to the invention, the volume of the first trough section 18 is smaller than the volume of the second trough section 20 and the latter is, in turn, smaller than the volume of the third trough section 22.