Abstract The invention concerns a method and a press arrangement in which a panel is compressed between two heated plates of a press, and in which a vacuum is created between the two plates of the press during compression, one of the plates being flexible along one direction, wherein the curved flexible plate is applied to the panel to be pressed so that it contacts the panel on an elongated surface near a generatrix, the air pressure in the press around the panel is gradually lowered while the flexible plate is progressively developed to shape it into planar form, pressure is exerted on more and more surface starting from the surface of initial pressure so as to exert pressure over the entire surface of the flexible plate in order to shape it into planar form when the desired low pressure is attained.
A press for fabricating laminated panels having at least one layer of plastic material to be heat treated comprising, a rigid lower plate and an upper plate flexible along a direction of the generatrices, rows of jacks disposed parallel to the generatrix direction to force the flexible plate downwards into a planar form or a flexed form, means disposed at the peripheries of the plates to form a seal between them when sufficiently close together, means for producing a vacuum between the plates, means for connecting said vacuum means to said rows of jacks, means through said connecting means for regulating the lowering of said rows of jacks as a function of the lowering of the pressure between the plates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
A press for fabricating laminated panels having at least one layer of plastic material to be heat treated comprising, a rigid lower plate and an upper plate flexible along a direction of the generatrices, rows of jacks disposed parallel to the generatrix direction to force the flexible plate downwards into a planar form or a flexed form, means disposed at the peripheries of the plates to form a seal between them when sufficiently close together, means for producing a vacuum between the plates, means for connecting said vacuum means to said rows of jacks, means through said connecting means for regulating the lowering of said rows of jacks as a function of the lowering of the pressure between the plates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A press as in claim 1 wherein said regulating means comprises a means responsive to the position of the plates when the center part of the upper plate is placed in position for pressing, a manometer for constantly measuring the pressure inside the press and controls responsive to said manometer measurements for initiating the lowering of different jacks as a function of the pressure inside the press.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A press as in claim 1 wherein said connecting means comprises a pressure sensor means connected to lines for exhausting certain jacks to the atmosphere to permit detection of the end of travel of a jack position and for then generating a signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A press as in claim 1 further comprising end-of-travel detector means for commanding the successive retraction of rows of jacks.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
A press as in claim 1 further comprising a torsion bar for preventing the upper plate from tilting with respect to the horizontal, the torsion bar being rotatably mounted on supports attached to the frame of the press with the two ends thereof fixed to levers connected by links at two points of the press.