Continuous presses

Claim 2

A continuous press for use in the production of chipboard, fibreboard or the like, including upper and lower cooperating pressing assemblies each comprising an endless belt carried by an endless conveyor in the form of a series of articulated plates guided by polygonal rollers, at least one pressure applying means mounted internally of each of said endless conveyors adjacent the press inlet and arranged to press outwardly on the plates of said conveyors in operation, and control means for adjusting the pressure applied by said pressure applying means.

Claim 3

A press as claimed in claim 1, including means for heating said articulated plates.

Claim 4

A press as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the said pressure applying means comprises at least one pressure applying member in the form of a roller.

Claim 5

A press as claimed in claim 1, wherein the direction in which each of the said pressure applying means applies pressure is adjustable.

Claim 6

A press as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said pressure applying means comprises a support which is pivotably mounted and securable in any of a plurality of pivotal positions to adjust the said direction of pressure application.

Claim 7

A press as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said pressure applying means comprises two pressure applying members mounted on a pivotally mounted support.

Claim 8

A press as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said pressure applying means comprises a hydraulic or pneumatic operating Cylinder connected via a pipe to receive pressurised fluid from a reservoir, and the said control means comprises an electromagnetically controllable feed valve with a choke situated in said pipe, a minimum/maximum contact manometer and an adjustable pressure relief valve with series-connected choke and an over-pressure safety valve all connected to said pipe, all of these elements being arranged in such a way that after switching on a power source via a time-lag relay the said feed valve is automatically opened to build up a minimum pressure in the said operating cylinder, on reaching which pressure the feed valve closes, whilst upon the pressure in the operating cylinder exceeding a predetermined maximum level the said pressure relief valve opens and closes again when the pressure falls below said maximum level, the said time-lag relay being arranged to open the said pressure relief valve when the pressure in the operating cylinder remains below a predetermined set minimum level for longer than a selectable time.

Claim 9

A press as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said pressure applying means comprises at least one pressure applying member in the form of a roller.

Claim 10

A press as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said pressure applying means comprises a support which is pivotally mounted and securable in any of a plurality of pivotal positions to adjust the direction of pressure application.

Claim 11

A press as claimed in claim 3, wherein the direction in which each of said pressure applying means applies pressure is adjustable.

Claim 12

A press as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of said pressure applying means comprises a support which is pivotally mounted and securable in any of a plurality of pivotal positions to adjust the direction of pressure application.

Claim 13

A press as claimed in claim 11, wherein each of said pressure applying means comprises two pressure applying members mounted on said pivotally mounted supports.