US4923555A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for steam lamination
Assignee: ELEISON COMPOSITES LLC
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Filing: 1988-08-22
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Granted: 1990-05-08
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Expires: 2008-08-22
Abstract
Abstract Two sheets of material are laminated together using a heat-activatable or moisture-curing adhesive by: (a) forming a layered composite of the material with a layer of the adhesive in between; (b) passing steam (preferably superheated) through one sheet of material into the adhesive layer; (c) compressing the heated composite before the adhesive sets; (d) releasing the pressure on the composite; and (e) allowing the adhesive to fully cure. A laminating machine is disclosed that pulls the composite between two open weave belts, past narrow jets of the steam.
Inventors
- 👤 George M. Elliott
- 👤 Ervin L. Watford, Jr.
- 👤 George W. Howell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 09:54
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B37/00; B32B37/10; B32B37/1027; B32B37/06; C; C09; C09J; C09J5/00; C09J5/06; B32B37/12; B32B37/1207; B32B2037/1238; B32B2305/00; B32B2305/02; B32B2305/022; B32B2305/10; B32B2305/18; B32B2309/00; B32B2309/02; B32B2309/08; B32B2309/10; B32B2309/105; B32B2310/00; B32B2310/04; B32B2310/049; B32B2317/00; B32B2317/08; B32B2317/12; B32B2375/00; B32B38/00; B32B38/18; B32B38/1866
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
Apparatus for continuously laminating two sheets of material together, using a heat-activatable or moisture-curing adhesive, wherein at least one of the sheets is steam-permeable, which comprises: (a) first and second opposed, open mesh, endless conveyor belts, disposed so as to permit a composite of two sheets of material and an intermediate layer of adhesive to be clamped therebetween in a clamping zone, each belt having an inside surface and an outside surface, the outside surface being the surface which touches the composite when it is clamped between the belts; (b) means for revolving the belts in opposite directions so as to convey the composite between them; (c) a platen mounted adjacent the inside surface of the first belt, said platen having an enclosed chamber with a perforated surface facing the first belt in the clamping zone; (d) means for supplying superheated steam to said platen chamber under sufficient pressure to eject the steam through the perforations in the platen with enough force to pass through the first belt; (e) means for cooling the second belt during its return to the clamping zone; and (f) a pair of pressure rollers mounted adjacent to the end of the first belt, said rollers being adapted to receive and compress the composite after the composite has run off the end of said belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
Apparatus for continuously laminating two sheets of material together, using a heat-activatable or moisture-curing adhesive, wherein at least one of the sheets is steam-permeable, which comprises: (a) first and second opposed, open mesh, endless conveyor belts, disposed so as to permit a composite of two sheets of material and an intermediate layer of adhesive to be clamped therebetween in a clamping zone, each belt having an inside surface and an outside surface, the outside surface being the surface which touches the composite when it is clamped between the belts; (b) means for revolving the belts in opposite directions so as to convey the composite between them; (c) a platen mounted adjacent the inside surface of the first belt, said platen having an enclosed chamber with a perforated surface facing the first belt in the clamping zone; (d) means for supplying superheated steam to said platen chamber under sufficient pressure to eject the steam through the perforations in the platen with enough force to pass through the first belt; (e) means for cooling the second belt during its return to the clamping zone; and (f) a pair of pressure rollers mounted adjacent to the end of the first belt, said rollers being adapted to receive and compress the composite after the composite has run off the end of said belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including means apart from the superheated steam for heating said platen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said heating means comprises at least one electrical resistance heater element attached to the platen and wherein one of the pair of pressure rollers is mounted inside the second conveyor belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said heater element is mounted on the outside of the platen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first belt has an open area constituting about 30 to 60 percent of the surface area of the belt and the second belt has an open area constituting about 5 to 20 percent of the surface area of the belt.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each of the belts is made of a fabric having a degradation temperature above about 400° F.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the holes in the platen have a diameter in the range of about 0.030 to 0.080 inch and are spaced no more than about 0.750 inch apart.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the platen is made of cast aluminum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 8 additionally including vacuum means mounted inside the second belt in such a location as to be capable of pulling air and steam through both belts in the clamping zone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
202 words
Apparatus for continuously laminating two sheets of material together, using a heat-activatable or moisture- curing adhesive, wherein at least one of the sheets is steam-permeable, which comprises: (a) a pair of opposed, air-permeable, endless conveyor belts, disposed so as to permit a composite of two sheets of material and an intermediate layer of adhesive to be clamped therebetween, each belt having an inside and an outside, the outside being the surface which touches the composite when it is clamped between the belts; (b) means for revolving the belts in opposite directions so as to convey the composite between them; (c) a platen mounted adjacent the inside of the first of said belts, said platen having an enclosed chamber with a perforated surface facing the adjacent belt in the zone where the two belts clamp against the composite; (d) means for supplying superheated steam to said platen chamber under sufficient pressure to eject the steam through the perforations in the platen with enough force to pass through the adjacent belt; (e) means for cooling the second of said belts during its return to the head of the clamping zone; and (f) means for compressing the composite after it leaves the steam ejection zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
202 words
Apparatus for continuously laminating two sheets of material together, using a heat-activatable or moisture- curing adhesive, wherein at least one of the sheets is steam-permeable, which comprises: (a) a pair of opposed, air-permeable, endless conveyor belts, disposed so as to permit a composite of two sheets of material and an intermediate layer of adhesive to be clamped therebetween, each belt having an inside and an outside, the outside being the surface which touches the composite when it is clamped between the belts; (b) means for revolving the belts in opposite directions so as to convey the composite between them; (c) a platen mounted adjacent the inside of the first of said belts, said platen having an enclosed chamber with a perforated surface facing the adjacent belt in the zone where the two belts clamp against the composite; (d) means for supplying superheated steam to said platen chamber under sufficient pressure to eject the steam through the perforations in the platen with enough force to pass through the adjacent belt; (e) means for cooling the second of said belts during its return to the head of the clamping zone; and (f) means for compressing the composite after it leaves the steam ejection zone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the steam supply means is operable to supply steam to the enclosed chamber of the platen at a pressure in the range of about 40 to 90 psig and a temperature at least about 50 Fahrenheit degrees above the saturation temperature corresponding to its pressure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein at least the outside surface of the first belt is composed of a polytetrafluoroethylene resin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the steam supply means includes a vessel equipped with steam inlet means, an internal electric coil heater, and steam outlet means, and the first belt has an open area constituting at least about 30 percent of the total surface area of the belt.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the steam supply means includes at least two vessels connected in series, each vessel being equipped with steam inlet means, an internal electric coil heater, and steam outlet means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the steam supply means is operable to supply steam to the enclosed chamber of the platen at a pressure in the range of about 40 to 90 psig and a temperature at least about 50 Fahrenheit degrees above the saturation temperature corresponding to its pressure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the steam supply means includes at least two vessels connected in series, each vessel being equipped with steam inlet means, an internal electric coil heater, and steam outlet means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means for cooling the second belt comprises means for exposing the belt to open air.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the vacuum means is operable to pull about 10 to 60 cubic feet of air per minute, for each square foot of the platen surface, and the conveyor belts are horizontally disposed, with the first belt being on the bottom.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the platen is arched and the convex side thereof presses against the inside of the first belt.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the steam supply means is operable to supply steam to the enclosed chamber of the platen at a pressure in the range of about 75 to 85 psig and a temperature about 100 to 300 Fahrenheit degrees above the saturation temperature corresponding to its pressure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the steam supply means includes at least two vessels connected in series, each vessel being equipped with steam inlet means, an internal electric coil heater, and steam outlet means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 21 additionally including means for re-heating the first belt during its return to the head of the clamping zone.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-05-07 | 1993-11-06 | 1994-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-05-07 | 1997-11-06 | 1998-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-05-07 | 2001-11-06 | 2002-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |