U.S. patent number 3,897,185 [Application Number 05/413,424] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-29 for apparatus for spreading material serving for the manufacture of fiberboards.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bison-werke Bahre & Greten GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Reinhardt Beyer.
United States Patent |
3,897,185 |
Beyer |
July 29, 1975 |
Apparatus for spreading material serving for the manufacture of
fiberboards
Abstract
Apparatus for spreading or scattering fiber or chip fleeces made
up of a mixture of cuttings of extremely fine or superfine, fine,
and coarser glue-covered chips for the subsequent press forming
into fiberboards and the like. A mixture of chips is supplied to a
fleece or particle carrier by gravity feed between sets of air
emitting classifying registers. The upper portion of the
classifying registers include oppositely facing air outlet openings
which face the stream of chips and effect an initial classification
by spreading some of the fine and superfine particles outwardly of
the central stream. The lower part of the registers include
openings facing oppositely to one another and away from the center
line of the stream of particles and spaced from one another to
permit passage therebetween of a central portion of the mixture
without further modification. Baffle plates are also provided in
preferred embodiments to assist in preventing further
classification of the central stream in the lower regions of the
registers. The baffle plates are vertically adjustable so as to
accommodate varying conditions for desired varying thickness boards
to be formed by the layers of particles passed through the
distributing chamber containing the air classifying registers.
Inventors: |
Beyer; Reinhardt (Springe,
DT) |
Assignee: |
Bison-werke Bahre & Greten GmbH
& Co. KG (DT)
|
Family
ID: |
5861081 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/413,424 |
Filed: |
November 7, 1973 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
425/81.1; 19/303;
19/302 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B27N
3/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B27N
3/14 (20060101); B27N 3/08 (20060101); B29j
005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;425/80,81,82,83 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Spicer, Jr.; Robert L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Craig & Antonelli
Claims
What I claim is:
1. Apparatus for spreading a mixture of superfine, fine and coarser
particles onto a particle carrier for subsequent press-forming into
fiberboards and the like; said apparatus comprising:
particle supply means spaced vertically from said particle carrier
and including means for supplying a heterogeneous mixture of
superfine, fine and coarser particles to said particle carrier such
that said mixture falls downwardly towards said particle carrier
with a particle path centerline extending downwardly from said
particle supply means to said particle carrier;
upper particle classifying means disposed between said particle
supply means and said particle carrier and including a plurality of
upper conduit means at each of opposite lateral sides of the path
centerline, the upper conduit means at one side of the path
centerline having upper outlet openings which face corresponding
upper outlet openings of the upper conduit means at the other side
of the path centerline, said upper outlet openings being spaced
from one another in a direction transverse to said path centerline
to permit passage therebetween of portions of said mixture while
gas under pressure is discharged from said upper outlet openings to
effect a classification of the particles with the superfine and
fine particles spaced further from the path centerline than the
coarser particles;
lower particle classifying means disposed between said upper
particle classifying means and said particle carrier and including
a plurality of lower conduit means at each of said opposite lateral
sides of the path centerline, the lower conduit means at one side
of the path centerline having lower outlet openings facing in one
direction away from the path centerline and the lower conduit means
at the other side of the path centerline having lower outlet
openings facing in an opposite direction away from the path
centerline, said lower outlet openings at the one side of said
centerline path being spaced from the lower outlet openings at the
other side of the centerline path to form a space therebetween for
the passage therethrough of a portion of the particle mixture
without further classification by said lower particle classifying
means while other portions of the particle mixture pass outwardly
of said lower outlet openings and are further classified by gas
under pressure exiting from said lower outlet openings, whereby
boards can be constructed with that portion of the particle mixture
which is classified only by the upper classifying means forming
central board sections and that portion of the particle mixture
which is classified by both the upper and lower classifying means
forming edge board sections.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said gas under pressure
is air, and wherein separate means are provided for controlling the
velocity of the air exiting from the respective upper and lower
outlet openings.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said upper conduit means
are arranged in vertical rows immediately adjacent one another,
said vertical rows being spaced from one another in a direction
extending transverse to said particle carrier for permitting flow
of gas across from said upper outlet openings.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said lower conduit means
are arranged in vertical rows immediately adjacent one another
which are aligned with respective vertical rows of said upper
conduit means.
5. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said gas under pressure
is air, and wherein separate means are provided for controlling the
velocity of the air exiting from the respective upper and lower
outlet openings.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein baffle means are
disposed at respective opposite sides of the space formed between
the lower outlet openings for adjusting the flow of gas in said
space and for guiding that portion of said particle mixture passing
through said space.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said baffle means
include vertically adjustable baffle plates at each of the
respective opposite sides of said space.
8. Apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a
distributing chamber for housing said classifying means, wherein
said upper and lower outlet openings are substantially uniformly
distributed across the width of said distributing chamber with said
outlet openings arranged in a mirror image-relationship at opposite
sides of a centerplane through which said path centerline
extends.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said baffle means
includes
a pair of transverse plates extending across the width of said
distributing chambers at respective opposite sides of said
centerplane, baffle plates arranged respectively in substantially
the same planes as said transverse plates, and means for
accommodating displacement of said baffle plates with respect to
the associated transverse plates.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said transverse plates
and baffle plates extend in oblique planes with respect to said
centerplane.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said transverse plates
extend below said baffle plates.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said baffle plates
extend between respective vertical rows of said lower conduit
means.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a pair of
driven and reciprocated spiked rolls positioned below a chute
formed by said transverse plates for assisting in uniformly
spreading that portion of the particle mixture passing between said
lower outlet openings.
14. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mixture consists
of superfine, fine and coarser glue-covered chips for the
subsequent formation of fiberboards.
15. Apparatus according to claim 1, wheren said conduit means
includes register groups having ducts connecting the source of
pressurized gas to each of respective ones of said outlet
openings.
16. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said conduit means
includes register groups having ducts connecting a source of
pressurized air to each of respective ones of said outlet
openings.
17. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the ducts connected
with said lower outlet openings are oriented obliquely downwardly
toward said particle carrier in a direction away from said particle
path centerline.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said particle carrier
is a conveyor belt.
19. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said baffle means
includes baffle plates and extension pieces connected at the lower
ends of said baffle plates, said extension pieces forming a guide
chute for directing that portion of said particle mixture passing
through said space onto said particle carrier.
20. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein each of said extension
pieces are adjustable with respect to respective ones of said
baffle plates connected thereto.
21. Apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a
distributing chamber for housing said classifying means, wherein
said upper and lower outlet openings are substantially uniformly
distributed across the width of said distributing chamber with said
outlet openings arranged in a mirror image-relationship at opposite
sides of a centerplane through which said path centerline
extends.
22. Apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a pair of
driven and reciprocated spiked rolls positioned below a chute
formed by said transverse plates for assisting in uniformly
spreading that portion of the particle mixture passing between said
lower outlet openings.
23. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said spiked rolls are
disposed at right angles to the direction of motion of said
particle carrier, and wherein roll driving means are provided for
rotating said spiked rolls in opposite directions of rotation with
respect to one another.
24. Apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said roll driving
means includes means for rotating said spiked rolls such that, as
viewed in the direction of the axes of rotation of said spiked
rolls, the left most spiked roll rotates counterclockwise and the
right most spiked roll rotates clockwise, with a consequent outward
dispersion of said particles with respect to said particle path
centerline.
25. Apparatus for spreading a mixture of particles onto a particle
carrier for subsequent press-forming into fiberboards and the like;
said apparatus comprising:
particle supply means spaced vertically from said particle carrier
and including means for supplying a mixture of particles to said
particle carrier such that said mixture falls downwardly towards
said particle carrier with a particle path centerline extending
downwardly from said particle supply means to said particle
carrier;
upper particle classifying means disposed between said particle
supply means and said particle carrier and including at least one
upper conduit means at each of opposite lateral sides of the path
centerline, the upper conduit means at one side of the path
centerline having at least one upper outlet opening which faces a
corresponding at least one upper outlet opening of the upper
conduit means at the other side of the path centerline, said upper
outlet openings being spaced from one another in a direction
transverse to said path centerline to permit passage thereby of
portions of said mixture while gas under pressure is discharged
from said upper outlet openings to effect a classification of the
particles with the finer particles spaced further from the path
centerline than the coarser particles;
lower particle classifying means disposed between said upper
particle classifying means and said particle carrier and including
at least one lower conduit means at each of said opposite lateral
sides of the path centerline, the lower conduit means at one side
of the path centerline having at least one lower outlet opening
facing in one direction away from the path centerline and the lower
conduit means at the other side of the path centerline having at
least one lower outlet opening facing in an opposite direction away
from the path centerline, said at least one lower outlet opening at
the one side of said centerline path being spaced from the at least
one lower outlet opening at the other side of the centerline path
to form a space therebetween for the passage therethrough of a
portion of the particle mixture without further classification by
said lower particle classifying means while other portions of the
particle mixture pass outwardly of said lower outlet openings and
are further classified by gas under pressure exiting from said
lower outlet openings, whereby boards can be constructed with that
portion of the particle mixture which is classified only by the
upper classifying means forming central board sections and that
portion of the particle mixture which is classified by both the
upper and lower classifying means forming edge board sections.
26. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said gas under
pressure is air, and wherein separate means are provided for
controlling the velocity of the air exiting from the respective
upper and lower outlet openings.
27. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein baffle means are
disposed at respective opposite sides of the space formed between
the lower outlet openings for adjusting the flow of gas in said
space and for guiding that portion of said particle mixture passing
through said space.
28. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said mixture consists
of superfine, fine and coarser glue-covered chips for the
subsequent formation of fiberboards.
29. Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said conduit means
includes register groups having ducts connecting the source of
pressurized gas to each of respective ones of said outlet
openings.
30. Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the ducts connected
with said lower outlet openings are oriented obliquely downwardly
toward said particle carrier in a direction away from said particle
path centerline.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for the spreading or scattering
of fiber or chip fleeces made up of a mixture of cuttings of
extremely fine or superfine, fine, and coarser glue-covered chips
for the subsequent press forming into fiberboards and the like.
Preferred embodiments of this invention include a distributing
chamber disposed above a fleece or particle carrier and of air
register groups arranged in the distributing chamber. The register
groups are mutually opposed to each other in mirror-image
relationship at a distance from each other and are laterally offset
with a gap in between. The mixture of cuttings is introduced from
above in between these register groups. Air currents which are
controllable in their velocity are fed to these register groups and
exit from the register groups at opposite sides of a particle
supply path in opposite directions.
Apparatus of the above-discussed general type have been disclosed
in Austrian Pat. No. 243,496 and Swiss Pat. No. 402,398. The
conventional devices of this kind have proven themselves well if
fiberboards are to be produced with a relatively minor thickness of
up to a thickness of about 10 mm. In producing such thin
fiberboards, the material introduced into the distributing chamber
is placed, by the air currents having a screening effect, on a
fleece carrier so that the two cover layers contain extremely fine
and fine particles and the central layer contains coarser particles
which, after the compression step, constitute an integral unit
which is nonporous even in the central zone.
However, if it is intended to produce fiberboards having a
thickness greater than 10 mm. with these prior arrangements, then
there is the danger that too few fine particles are present in the
central layer; i.e., the central layer becomes porous due to the
high concentration of coarser particles. If the velocity of the
screening air currents were to be reduced in order to avoid this
disadvantage, the two cover layers would not contain sufficient
fine components, which is likewise undesirable.
In order to overcome both of the above-discussed disadvantages, it
has been contemplated to construct a device having several feeding
points for the material to be spread. Between two register groups
emitting screening air streams in opposite directions, a feed point
would have to be arranged for material destined for the central
layer, and a homogeneous mixture of fine and coarser particles
would have to be fed to this feed point. The last-mentioned feed
point would be in addition to a feed point for the screened fine
and superfine particles for the cover layers. However, such a
construction is rather expensive and is justified only in case of
plants having a very large daily output and correspondingly must
operate with several spreading devices.
The present invention is based on solving the problem of
manufacturing, by means of a single apparatus of the type mentioned
in the foregoing, relatively thin fiberboards, as well as
relatively thick fiberboards, so that the superficial or cover
layers in case of each board thickness have a maximally uniform
proportion of fime and extremely fine or cutting fibers, and so
that furthermore, in case of relatively thick boards, a sufficient
amount of fine particles is present in the central layer with the
coarser particles -- i.e., the central zone of the finished
fiberboards contains practically all other fine and coarser
particles, except for the extremely fine components supplied to the
cover layer, although, a homogeneous mixture of extremely fine,
fine, and coarser particles is being introduced at a single feed
point location where the material is fed for spreading
purposes.
The present invention contemplates providing particle screening
apparatus with upper regions of opposed register groups having
outlet openings facing each other, and lower regions of opposed
register groups having outlet openings facing away from each other
with the outlet openings facing away from each other having such a
mutual distance that a space remains therebetween where an
unscreened portion of the mixture of cuttings can fall downwardly.
Although the superfine particles and also a certain portion of the
fine particles are air-classified or screened for the formation of
the two cover layers by both the upper and lower regions of
register groups, the screening process is practically eliminated
for the other particles constituting the central layer which pass
between the lower regions without further classification.
It is advantageous according to another feature of this invention
to arrange at least two level-adjustable or vertically adjustable
baffles in the space between the outlet openings. With these
baffles, the quantity of the practically unscreened particles can
be varied as these baffles act to limit effects of the air flow on
the central stream of particles, as well as guide the flow of the
central stream.
A preferred advantageous embodiment of the present invention
includes a pair of transverse plates extending completely across
the width of the distributing chamber at respective opposite sides
of a centerplane through the path of particles to form a guide
chute for the portion of particles not to be screened by the lower
regions of register groups. Obliquely oriented baffles are provided
between the registers of each register group and are displaceable
with respect to portions of said respective transverse plates
disposed in the same planes as said baffles.
If it is intended, for example, to produce first of all fiberboards
having a relatively minor thickness, e.g., having a thickness of 8
mm., then the baffles provided between the registers of the two
register groups are to be shifted downwardly onto the corresponding
transverse plates, and the velocity of the screening air streams is
to be selected, for example by increasing the number of revolutions
of the blower or blowers associated therewith, so that a spreading
effect is obtained which is similar to that obtained by the
aforementioned conventional spreading device. The difference in
operation as compared to the state of the art in this production of
thin fiberboards resides in that the air velocities employed in the
novel apparatus of this invention are higher than those of the
conventional spreading devices.
If it is intended to manufacture relatively thick boards, for
example those of a thickness of about 28 mm., then the baffles are
pushed outwardly in the upward direction, and the speed of the air
streams conducted through the registers is reduced. A portion of
the fiber mixture fed from above to the register groups, namely the
superfine and fine particles, are fed to the two sides of the
distributing chamber through the screening air currents from the
registers. This fiber material which is screened into superfine and
fine particles, enters, while traveling downwardly, into the
effective zone of the air currents flowing out of the lower parts
or regions of the registers in the traveling direction of the
fibers (cuttings). Since the air currents flowing out of the lower
parts of the registers are oriented obliquely downwardly, no
damaging eddies occur in the lower zone of the registers. A portion
of the fine components of the supplied mixture of cuttings, which
has not been deflected sufficiently laterally in the upper region
of the register groups, impinges on the baffles arranged between
the registers of the two register groups, slides therealong
downwardly in the direction toward the plane of symmetry of the
register groups, and is here combined with fine and coarser
particles which were practically not screened at all by the air
currents. Thus, a central layer is formed consisting of fine and
coarser particles, without the necessity for providing several feed
points to spread the material.
It is preferred to form the registers of both register groups of
ducts connected to the outlet openings of the registers so that the
flow direction of the air streams can be controlled more
effectively than in the case where the registers consist of boxes
which are merely equipped with outlet apertures (see German Utility
Model No. 7,037,391). The ducts terminating in the lower zone of
the registers are preferably oriented obliquely downwardly toward
the fleece carrier in a manner known per se (German Utility Model
No. 7,037,391).
According to another feature of the invention, the transverse
plates extending obliquely to the plane of symmetry of the register
groups can each be provided with an extension piece, forming
together a kind of guide chute for the fiber mixture of fine and
coarser particles to be applied. Each extension piece is also
preferably adjustable with respect to the transverse plate. A
preferred advantageous embodiment of the invention includes two
spiked rolls underneath the guide chute; the arrangement and
structure of these rolls being explained below.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent from the following description
when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show,
for purposes of illustration only, several embodiments in
accordance with the present invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional schematic view of a device for
spreading a mixture of particles onto a particle carrier for
subsequent press-forming into fiberboards and the like;
FIG. 2 is a sectional schematic view corresponding to a portion of
FIG. 1 and illustrating apparatus constructed according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a sectional schematic view similar to FIG. 2 and
illustrating apparatus constructed according to another preferred
embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 4 is a partial schematic view taken along the center plane of
and at right angles to FIG. 3 and and showing the registers of a
register group of the apparatus of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The distributing chamber 1 can be moved, by means of rollers 2
running on rails 3, over or above a conveyor belt 4, on which belt
4 the particles fed from above into the distributing chamber 1 are
placed in the form of a fleece. The particles first pass from a
feeding means, not shown, into a container 5 arranged above a
feeding belt 6, which latter is guided over a driven drum 7 and an
idling drum 7'. The feeding belt 6 operates so that the particle
mixture 8 is conducted toward the right, or in the direction toward
the discharge end of the container 5. Rotary rakes 9, 10, and 11
are disposed at right angles to the traveling direction of the
conveyor belt 4. These rakes 9, 10, 11 rotate in the clockwise
direction and throw the respectively uppermost stratum of the
mixture 8 toward the left and away from the discharge end of the
storage container 5. The rotary rakes 9, 10, and 11 are mounted on
axles so that the depth of the bed formed by particles 8 at the
discharge end of the container 5 is suitable for the introduction
of the particles into the distrubuting chamber 1. The belts 4, 6
and rotary rakes 9, 10, 11 provided in the apparatus are driven by
a motor, not shown.
The feeding belt 6 conducts, at its discharge end, the
heterogeneous particle mixture into the effective zone of a spiked
roll 12. The roll 12 is driven independently at a suitable speed.
The spiked roll 12 cooperates with the feeding belt 6 so that a
uniform and constant feeding of the particles in opened-up form to
the distributing chamber 1 is obtained, and the discharge of
adhering clumps of particles is prevented. The feeding device for
the particles also comprises a pair of pivotable deflectors 13
arranged at a mutual spacing. These deflectors 13 are pivoted, via
a linkage 14 by an eccentric drive 15 during the production of a
fleece at a relatively high speed in a pendulating fashion, so that
they execute, for example, 50 oscillations per minute, and the
introduction of particles into the distributing chamber 1 is
accomplished so that a uniform distrubtion is attained in the
chamber. The spreading of the fleece on the conveyor belt takes
place, in the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, during the movement
of the distributing chamber in FIG. 1 in one direction, whereas
during the return movement the feeding and distribution of the
chips are interrupted. This does not mean that the distributing
chamber must be moved to practice the invention. It is also
contemplated to arrange the distributing chamber to be stationary,
if the fleece carrier is moved.
Within the distributing chamber 1, two rows of air register groups
16, 17 are arranged transversely across the spreading width
(perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1) and at mutual distances.
Each group 16, 17 includes several spaced-apart registers. Other
preferred embodiments are contemplated without an interspace
between the register groups. Both register groups are suspended at
the upper wall of the distributing chamber 1 in a suitable manner.
The vertical end faces of the individual registers are provided
with a number of air outlet openings 18. The registers of the
register group 16 are in communication with a distributing conduit
20 via an air feed pipe 19. The conduit 20 is connected with a
housing 21 for a blower 22, taking in air through a conduit 23 from
the right-hand end of the distributing chamber 1. Analogously,
pipes 24 connect the upper ends of the register group 17 with a
distributing conduit 25 associated with a housing 26 for a blower
27, taking in air through a conduit 28 from the left-hand end of
the distributing chamber 1. By means of valves 29 and 30,
respectively, the air conveying conditions for each individual
register can be set. Whereas the upper air conducting ducts 36
extend horizontally, the lower air conducting ducts 37 of both
register groups are disposed to be inclined downwardly with respect
to the horizontal, namely with increasing inclination the closer
the air outlet openings of the ducts are to the fleece carrier
4.
According to the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated
in FIGS. 2-4, the air register groups 16 and 17 of FIG. 1 are
replaced by register groups 38 and 39, each of which consists of
registers arranged at spacings to one another in a side-by-side
relationship. The minimum spacing of these registers from one
another corresponds to the width of one register in these
embodiments. The registers of the two register groups 38, 39 have a
different structure than the registers shown in FIG. 1. Each
individual register group 38, 39 contains upper and lower groups or
regions or ducts having a preferably rectangular cross section, to
which air is fed via air feed pipes 19', 19" and 24', 24",
respectively. The outlet openings 40 and 41 of group 42 and 43,
respectively, of the ducts of the individual registers face the
plane of symmetry 44 between the two register groups 38, 39 and
blow air streams between adjacent registers of the opposed register
group, so that glue-covered superfine and a portion of fine
components falling from above are moved into opposite directions
and classified. The other group 45 and 46, respectively, of ducts
of each individual register terminates in outlet openings 47 and 48
disposed in the lower range of each individual register. The air
streams emanating from openings 7 and 48 move in opposite
directions away from the plane of symmetry 44. These air streams
from openings 47 and 48 thus increase the classifying effect for
the particles which are screened by the upwardly exiting air
streams from openings 40 and 41. Thereby, an almost laminar flow is
maintained in the two parts of the distrubuting chamber 1. The
number of ducts or outlet openings 40 and 41 in the upper region
and/or outlet openings 47 and 48 in the lower region of the
registers of the register groups which are provided depends on the
respective requirement. In order to balance the relative air flow
from the upper and lower regions, preferred embodiments include
plates such as sheet metal plates for closing off respective ones
of the upper outlet openings 40, 41 and lower outlet openings.
In the lower zone of the two register groups 38, 39, respectively
baffles 49 and 50 are arranged respectively underneath the ducts 42
and 43 (FIG. 2). The width of these baffles 49, 50 corresponds to
the width of each register group. The baffles 49, 50 are arranged
to be at least vertically adjustable but can also be pivotable and
lockable in selectable pivotal positions according to other
non-illustrated preferred embodiments. Also, preferred
non-illustrated embodiments using multi-partite baffles in place of
the single baffles 49, 50 are contemplated. The objective attained
by these baffles is that particles entering the space defined by
the baffles are fed to the conveyor belt 4 of the central layer
material without being further classified.
In the FIG. 3 embodiment, obliquely oriented baffles 51 and 52 are
provided between the respective spaced-apart adjacent registers of
the two register groups. The upper ends of these baffles 51, 52 are
located approximately in the center of the height of the registers,
and their lower ends rest on respective transverse plates 53 and
54. Plates 53, 54 extending over the entire width of the register
groups and are arranged in the lower zone so that they form a slot
55 which is extended in the downward direction by feeding surfaces
56 and 57.
The baffles 51 and 52 are preferably guided with respect to either
the registers between which they are located or by the transverse
plates 53 and 54. The baffles 51, 52 are arranged to be
displaceable and/or adjustable in order to place them into optimum
vertical positions corresponding to the thickness of board to be
manufactured from the mixture supplied to carrier 4.
Extension pieces 58 and 59, respectively, can be arranged at each
of the respective baffles 51 and 52. An adjustable mounting is also
preferable for these extensions, permitting particularly a pivoting
and locking in a selected position. The guide surfaces 56, 57 can
also be constructed to be pivotable and adjustable; and lockable
into position, especially in a releasable arrangement, with respect
to other points of the system. The dash line extensions of plates
53 and 54 indicate that these plates can be adjustably displaced
outwardly in the upward direction in order to change the size of
chute or funnel 60.
If it is necessary to take care of making the material fed to the
conveyor belt 4 via the chute 60 of a uniform consistency, it is
advantageous according to another feature of the FIG. 3 embodiment
to arrange two spiked rolls 61 and 62 below the chute formed by
baffles 51, 52 and transverse plates 53, 54. The length of rolls
61, 62 corresponds approximately to the width of the register
groups. These spiked rolls or the like are to be driven not only so
that they move the particles fed thereto toward the outside (as
indicated by arrows in FIG. 3), but also the spiked rolls should
also execute reciprocating motions at right angles to the fleece
carrier 4, in order to effect a uniform distribution of the
material fed to the fleece carrier. During operation with the
spiked rolls, roll 61 rotates clockwise and roll 62
counterclockwise for conveying the material between the rolls while
mixing same. The spacing between rolls 61 and 62 is also
adjustable.
The spiked rolls 61, 62 which can be reciprocated oscillatingly in
the direction of their axes of rotation can also be replaced by
other means, for example by a plurality of hinged flaps, similar to
the hinged flaps 13, but with pivoting axes extending in parallel
to the traveling direction of the fleece carrier or the spreading
station.
An example of the composition of the particle mixture to be
classified by the present invention is as follows:
8-15 percent superfine particles -- passes through mesh width of
0.315 mm.
8-15 percent fine particles -- passes through mesh width of 1
mm.
84-70 percent middle fine and coarser particles -- mesh width
greater than 1 mm.
The proportion of material which is passed through the lower group
of registers without further classification can be controlled with
the apparatus of the present invention to suit the particular board
width and composition to be manufactured by appropriate control of
the air flow in the upper and lower registers, the spacing of the
registers from the centerline of the particle flow path, and the
adjustment of baffles 49, 50, 51, 52 and plates 53, 54.
While I have shown and described several embodiments in accordance
with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not
limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and
modifications as known to a person skilled in the art, and I
therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and
described herein but intend to cover all such changes and
modifications as are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the
art.
* * * * *