US3887419A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for continuously forming honeycomb material
Assignee: Lancaster Research and Development Corp
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Filing: 1973-07-16
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Granted: 1975-06-03
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Expires: 1993-07-16
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for continuously forming honeycomb material of predetermined width dimensions. Feed rolls are provided for continuously feeding open cell honeycomb material with its cells expanded to a preselected degree so that the honeycomb material has a predetermined width. Intermittently operable drive rolls are responsive to the feeding of a preselected length of open cell honeycomb material by the feed rolls for supplying thereto from a honeycomb material source a length of less completely expanded honeycomb material which when expanded to the preselected degree will have a length equal to said preselected length thereby to insure that the feed rolls continuously form honeycomb material having the preselected degree of expansion and the predetermined width. A method of continuously forming honeycomb material of predetermined widths is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert C Geschwender
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 15:32
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B3/00; B32B3/10; B32B3/12; B29; B29D; B29D99/00; B29D99/0089; B32B37/00; B32B37/14; B32B37/146; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
Apparatus for continuously forming honeycomb material of a predetermined width dimension comprising: means for continuously feeding open cell honeycomb material with its cells expanded to a preselected degree so that the honeycomb material has said predetermined width; a source of less completely expanded honeycomb material; and means intermittently operable in response to the feeding of a preselected length of open cell honeycomb material by the feeding means for supplying to the feeding means from the source a length of less completely expanded honeycomb material which when expanded to the preselected degree will have a length equal to said preselected length thereby to insure that the feeding means continuously forms honeycomb material having the preselected degree of expansion and the predetermined width.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus for continuously forming honeycomb material of a predetermined width dimension comprising: means for continuously feeding open cell honeycomb material with its cells expanded to a preselected degree so that the honeycomb material has said predetermined width; a source of less completely expanded honeycomb material; and means intermittently operable in response to the feeding of a preselected length of open cell honeycomb material by the feeding means for supplying to the feeding means from the source a length of less completely expanded honeycomb material which when expanded to the preselected degree will have a length equal to said preselected length thereby to insure that the feeding means continuously forms honeycomb material having the preselected degree of expansion and the predetermined width.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus for continuously forming honeycomb material of a predetermined width dimension comprising: means for continuously feeding open cell honeycomb material with its cells expanded to a preselected degree so that the honeycomb material has said predetermined width; a source of less completely expanded honeycomb material; and means intermittently operable in response to the feeding of a preselected length of open cell honeycomb material by the feeding means for supplying to the feeding means from the source a length of less completely expanded honeycomb material which when expanded to the preselected degree will have a length equal to said preselected length thereby to insure that the feeding means continuously forms honeycomb material having the preselected degree of expansion and the predetermined width.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
121 words
Apparatus for continuously forming honeycomb material of a predetermined width dimension comprising: means for continuously feeding open cell honeycomb material with its cells expanded to a preselected degree so that the honeycomb material has said predetermined width; a source of less completely expanded honeycomb material; and means intermittently operable in response to the feeding of a preselected length of open cell honeycomb material by the feeding means for supplying to the feeding means from the source a length of less completely expanded honeycomb material which when expanded to the preselected degree will have a length equal to said preselected length thereby to insure that the feeding means continuously forms honeycomb material having the preselected degree of expansion and the predetermined width.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermittently operable means includes a drive roll having a peripheral speed exceeding that of said feeding means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the drive roll supplies less completely expanded honeycomb material at a substantially constant rate upon the actuation thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the honeycomb material entering the intermittently operable means has been expanded to a width in the range of about 110 to 120 percent of the predetermined width dimension.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the intermittently operable means includes a timer which actuates the intermittently operable means for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the intermittently operable means includes means for adjusting the timer to vary the predetermiNed time period.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the feeding means includes a feed roll the degree of rotation of which is determinative of the preselected length.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 which further includes switching means responsive to a selected degree of rotation of said feed roll to operate said switching means thereby to actuate the intermittently operable means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the intermittently operable means includes an electric motor with a gear reduction drive which is energized by the timer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the intermittently operable means includes a pair of rolls drivingly engaged with opposite faces of the honeycomb material to effect the supply thereof to the feeding means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the feeding means comprises a second pair of rolls drivingly engaged with the opposite faces of the honeycomb material to effect the feed thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermittently operable means supplies a plurality of strips of less completely expanded honeycomb material of preselected widths substantially in side-by-side relation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising means for predetermining the width dimension of each of the strips of side-by-side honeycomb material delivered from the source to the intermittently operable means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising means for merging the side-by-side honeycomb material supplied to the feeding means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising means for maintaining merged the side-by-side honeycomb material fed from the feeding means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feeding means further includes means for applying an adhesive to at least one face of the expanded honeycomb material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feeding means and intermittently operable means are respectively adjustable to accommodate honeycomb material of different thicknesses.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising means for continuously adhering facing material to opposite faces of the expanded honeycomb material supplied thereto by said feeding means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the adhering means comprises opposed rolls and endless belts of a compression conveyor, the endless belts also maintaining the facing material engaged with the opposite faces while moving the expanded honeycomb material from the feeding means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a converging channel through which honeycomb material is pulled by the intermittently operable means to effect an initial predetermined partial expansion of the honeycomb material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising means for continuously delivering unexpanded honeycomb material from a source thereof to the converging channel, and means including a slip clutch for driving the delivery means at a rate exceeding that at which it is utilized by the apparatus thereby to insure a continuous supply of unexpanded honeycomb at the entrance to said channel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the width predetermining means comprises a plurality of side-by-side converging channels through which the honeycomb strips are drawn toward the intermittently operable means, the honeycomb strips being pulled through the converging channels by the intermittently operable means to effect an initial predetermined partial expansion of each honeycomb strip.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus according to claim 22, further comprising means for continuously delivering the honeycomb strips from a source of unexpanded honeycomb strips to the converging channels, and means including a slip clutch for driving the delivery means at a rate exceeding that at which it is utilized by the apparatus thereby to insure a continuous supply of unexpanded honeycomb at the entrance to said channels.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of forming honeycomb material of a predetermined width dimension comprising the steps of: continuously feeding from feed rolls open cell honeycomb material having its cells expanded to a preselected degree so that the honeycomb material has said predetermined width dimension; and intermittently feeding to said feed rolls lengths of less completely expanded honeycomb material each of which when expanded to the preselected degree has a length equal to said preselected length.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of forming honeycomb material of a predetermined width dimension comprising the steps of: continuously feeding from feed rolls open cell honeycomb material having its cells expanded to a preselected degree so that the honeycomb material has said predetermined width dimension; and intermittently feeding to said feed rolls lengths of less completely expanded honeycomb material each of which when expanded to the preselected degree has a length equal to said preselected length.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of forming honeycomb material of a predetermined width dimension comprising the steps of: continuously feeding from feed rolls open cell honeycomb material having its cells expanded to a preselected degree so that the honeycomb material has said predetermined width dimension; and intermittently feeding to said feed rolls lengths of less completely expanded honeycomb material each of which when expanded to the preselected degree has a length equal to said preselected length.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of forming honeycomb material of a predetermined width dimension comprising the steps of: continuously feeding from feed rolls open cell honeycomb material having its cells expanded to a preselected degree so that the honeycomb material has said predetermined width dimension; and intermittently feeding to said feed rolls lengths of less completely expanded honeycomb material each of which when expanded to the preselected degree has a length equal to said preselected length.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 24 which further includes the step of sensing the feeding of successive preselected lengths of honeycomb material from said feed rolls and initiating successive intermittent feeding steps upon the sensing of the feeding of each successive preselected length of expanded honeycomb from said feed rolls.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 25, in which the velocity at which said less completely expanded honeycomb material is intermittently fed is substantially constant and exceeds that at which said expanded honeycomb is continuously fed from the feed rolls.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 26, in which said intermittent feeding step is carried out for a timed period the duration of which is a function of the preceding preselected length of the expanded honeycomb fed from said feed rolls.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 24, in which an adhesive is applied to the faces of the expanded honeycomb material by feed rolls.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 24, in which a plurality of strips of less completely expanded material are intermittently fed in side-by-side relation to said feed rolls.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 29, in which the side-by-side strips of less completely expanded honeycomb material are merged as they are fed to said feed rolls.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 30, in which the cumulative width dimension of the expanded honeycomb material fed from the feed rolls is predetermined by controlling the degree of cell expansion of the strips of less completely expanded honeycomb.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 31, comprising the further step of adhering facing material to the faces of honeycomb material fed from the feed rolls and maintaining the facing material engaged with the faces while conveying such faced honeycomb material away from the feed rolls.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 24, comprising the preliminary step of simultaneously supplying and initially partially expanding honeycomb material from a source of unexpanded honeycomb material for the subsequent intermittent feeding of the honeycomb material to the feeding means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 33, wherein the preliminary step includes pulling the unexpanded honeycomb material through a converging channel to initially partially expand the cells of the honeycomb material before it is intermittently fed to the feed rolls.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 34, wherein the preliminary step also includes maintaining a supply of unexpanded honeycomb material at the entrance of the converging channel.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 29, comprising the preliminary step of simultaneously supplying and partially expanding the strips from sources of unexpanded honeycomb strips for the subsequent intermittent feeding of the honeycomb strips to the feed rolls.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 36, wherein the preliminary step includes pulling the honeycomb strips through separate converging channels therefor to initially partially expand the honeycomb strips before they are intermittently fed to the feed rolls.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-02 | 1978-12-02 | 1979-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-02 | 1982-12-02 | 1983-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-02 | 1986-12-02 | 1987-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |