Method and a machine for making a cell structure

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for producing a cellular structure comprising a number of elements. The elements forming part of the cellular structure may include short tubular sections permanently glued to each other. A structure of this type can be used, for example, as part of a multi-layer structure in building elements, where it serves as a reinforcement while at the same time guaranteeing a low weight.

A cellular structure including a plurality of tubular members is known, for example, from US Patent No. 2,477,852. Such tubular members may have a length of about ¼ inch to 2 inches (6.4 mm to 51 mm) and a diameter of ¼ inch to 2 inches (6.4 mm to 51 mm). The tubular elements or tubular sections can be joined together, for example by the use of an adhesive.

The solution according to the invention allows for an automatic production process with high efficiency and reliability. The device according to the invention can be adapted to the size of the elements forming part of the cellular structure.

The method according to the invention relates to a method of producing a cellular structure comprising a group of identical elements. The cellular structure as produced by the method according to the invention can be used, for example, as part of a multi-layer structure of building elements.

The inventive method for producing a cellular structure comprising a group of identical, hollow cylindrical members with an open end is characterized in that, in successive steps, a first group of identical, hollow cylindrical members are aligned in a first row of members at the open end and parallel to each other. , at the open end and parallel to each other, the second row of equal, hollow cylindrical elements from a second group of identical elements, the elements of the second group of elements being brought from two opposite directions, parallel to the first row of elements, until elements transferred in one direction come into contact with elements transferred in the other direction, forming the other row of elements, with the second row being aligned parallel to the first row, but with a phase shift with respect to the first row, adhesive is applied to the items in at least one of the two rows, and after the formation of the second row, at least one of the two rows is brought into contact with the other and thus joined with the adhesive.

Preferably, the supply is interrupted from both directions when a predetermined number of elements are transferred.

All elements preferably have the same shape and are cylindrical in shape.

Preferably, align, at the open end and parallel to each other, equal hollow cylindrical members of the third group of equal members into a third row of members, the third row of members being parallel to the rows in the composite cellular structure, and displacing the composite cellular structure by a section in the longitudinal direction of the first and second row of elements between the first position of the composite cellular structure and the second position, and further, adhesive is applied to the items in at least one of the second row and third row, before, after or while the cellular structure is moved to the second position, and the third row and the cellular structure are brought together after the cellular structure has been moved and adhesive has been applied to them. joining with an adhesive and forming a complex cellular structure of which the third row is part.

Preferably, the feed from both directions is interrupted when a predetermined number of items are moved and the second row and the first row come closer to each other when the feed is interrupted.

Bringing the elements in the first and second row of elements closer together is preferably carried out by simultaneously moving the elements in the second row towards the first row such that the entire second row is moved towards the first row as a coherent unit.

Preferably, when feeding identical hollow cylindrical elements in both feeding directions, the elements are moved along a detector connected to the control unit and it is determined how many identical hollow cylindrical elements are passed along the detector, and after a certain number of elements have been passed through the logical unit, a signal is emitted. decisive for interrupting the feed process.

PL 213 854 B1

Preferably, the adhesive is applied to the items in a row by guiding the carriage having at least one sensor and a nozzle connected to the source of adhesive along the row at a predetermined speed, the presence or absence of the item being detected by a sensor positioned at a distance from the nozzle, and furthermore the signal is emitted to the logical unit when the presence of the element is detected, and the logical unit is used to calculate, based on the known velocity and distance between the nozzle, and the sensor on the cart, the amount of time remaining until the nozzle has reached the specified position relative to the element the sensor has detected, and then emits a pulse to activate the nozzle after the specified time has elapsed. This type of solution ensures that the adhesive is applied to the correct part of the element.

The device according to the invention for producing a cellular structure comprising a number of hollow cylindrical elements is characterized in that it comprises a guide with internal walls forming a channel for a group of identical hollow cylindrical elements standing at the open end, drives acting in a first direction on hollow cylindrical elements, standing at the open end, placed inside the channel, carrier, disposed in communication with the passage, substantially parallel in a direction longitudinal to the first direction and movably substantially perpendicular to the first direction, at least one nozzle connected to the adhesive source and movable in a direction parallel to the first direction.

The device is preferably provided with at least one sensor associated with the channel for detecting hollow cylindrical elements carried within the channel.

Preferably, the guide is a straight guide inside which a coherent row of items can be conveyed in the first direction by a drive.

The apparatus preferably comprises a table receiving a coherent row of hollow cylindrical elements standing at the open end, the table being provided with a flat working surface with a skid for received hollow cylindrical elements standing at the open end, and the carrier is so arranged with respect to the table. that movement of the carrier into its final position prior to its movement in the second direction causes the hollow cylindrical members to move from the channel to the working surface of the table.

The table is preferably movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the carrier and parallel to the first direction.

Preferably, a plate or beam is connected to the table, the plate or beam being movable towards and away from the working surface of the table.

Preferably, the device is provided with a stand on which the cart is movably placed in contact with the working surface of the table, the nozzle being arranged on the cart, movable along a row of hollow cylindrical elements standing at the open end on the working surface of the table, the cart is equipped with at least one sensor that detects the presence of an element placed on the table, which sensor is at a distance from the nozzle in the direction of movement of the carriage.

Preferably, the trolley is adapted to be driven at a predetermined speed, and the device comprises a logical unit with stored information on the predetermined speed and the distance between the sensor and the nozzle in the trolley, the logic unit being connected to the sensor on the trolley and capable of calculating while the carriage is moving, the time remaining until the nozzle is at a predetermined position relative to the element detected by the sensor.

The channel is preferably arranged to be powered from two different directions.

The guide is preferably a straight guide that includes two stationary parts and a movable part, the movable part of the guide being vertically movable with the carrier between a first position, wherein the movable part of the guide is on a plane separate from the working surface of the table, and a second position. wherein at least a portion of the movable portion of the guide is level with the working plane of the table.

The movable part of the guide preferably comprises a support for elements of the cellular structure, the support being the bottom of the channel, and moreover being slidable in the vertical direction for placing hollow cylindrical elements of different heights in the correct position with respect to the carrier.

PL 213 854 B1

The subject of the invention, in an exemplary embodiment, is explained in more detail in the drawing, in which fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a cellular structure made according to the method according to the invention, fig. 2 - diagrammatic top view of a cellular structure made according to the invention, fig. 3 - perspective view. building element comprising a cellular structure made according to the method according to the invention, fig. 4 - diagrammatically bringing two rows of cylindrical elements closer together while moving the next row, fig. 5 - diagrammatically from above the next step of the manufacturing process, fig. 6 - diagrammatically from above, the next step of the manufacturing process, fig. 7-11 are schematic views from the side, successive steps in the manufacturing process corresponding to those shown in Figs. 4-6, Fig. 12 shows how the binder can be applied to a row of elements, Fig. 13 detail of the cell structure obtained, with the connection points marked, fig. 14 - perspective view of how the cylindrical elements are fed from one end of the device according to the invention, fig. 15 - perspective view of a further fragment of the device according to the invention, fig. 16 - to a greater close-up of what is shown in fig. 15, fig. 17 - schematically from above the process of feeding cylindrical elements from one end of the device, fig. 18 - schematically the method of controlling the element feeding process, fig. 19 - in a perspective view, a fragment of the feeding channel, fig. 20 schematically, a fragment of the feeding channel, fig. 21 - schematically the control system of the nozzle applying the binder, fig. 22-24 show a perspective view of the method for correcting the position of the elements, Fig. 25a and b - height adjustments in the case of elements differing in height.

Fig. 1 shows a composite cellular structure 1, which is formed by a number of cylindrical members 2. Fig. 2 shows a cellular structure of this type in top view. A cellular structure of this type can, for example, be used as part of a sandwich construction in building elements. A building element comprising a cellular structure of this type can be obtained by gluing boards, for example chipboards, to opposite sides of the cellular structure. An example of a building element of this type is shown in Fig. 3, where the cellular structure 1 is a layer of a building element 23 obtained by gluing particle boards 24, for example permanently gluing on opposite sides of the cellular structure 1.

The present invention will be discussed based on Figs. 4-6 of the drawings. According to the method of the invention, a first group of identical elements 2 (i.e. elements having the same shape) is prepared to form the first row 3 of elements. Moreover, a second group of identical elements 2 is prepared, which have the same shape as the elements 2 in the first group and which form the second row 4 of elements. The second row 4 preferably comprises as many elements as the first row 3. Preferably, the second row 4 is arranged parallel to the first row 3, preferably offset therefrom. This shift is to be understood in such a way that the second row 4 is displaced by a length in the longitudinal direction relative to the first row 3, this length being smaller than the dimension of one of the same elements 2 measured in the longitudinal direction of the two rows 3, 4. Adhesive is applied to the elements 2 in at least one of the two rows 3, 4, and then at least one of the two rows 3, 4 is brought closer to the other, allowing them to be brought into contact and thus joined with the aid of an adhesive. In this way, the two rows 3, 4 will form a composite cellular structure 1 which is then placed in the first position. A cellular structure 1 of this type is completed by providing a third group of elements 2 forming a third row 5 of elements as shown in Fig. 5. The third row 5 of elements 2 is preferably arranged parallel to the rows 3, 4 in the composite cellular structure 1. The previously formed cellular structure 1 is moved a distance in the longitudinal direction of the first 3 and second row 4 of elements 2, as a result of which the cellular structure 1 moves between the first and second position. Subsequently, adhesive is applied to the elements 2 in at least one of the second 4 and third rows 5. In this case, the adhesive may be applied before, after or while the cellular structure 1 is moved to the second position. Then the third row 5 and the cellular structure 1 come closer together, which allows them to be joined with the aid of an adhesive. The third row 5 thus becomes part of the cellular structure 1. The cellular structure 1 obtained in this way can be supplemented with a fourth row as shown in Fig. 6. It is of course possible to add any number of rows of elements 2 to the cellular structure 1.

According to the method according to the invention, the second group of elements 2 is particularly preferably prepared in such a way that the elements 2 intended to form the second group of elements 2 are

In a direction parallel to the first row 3 of elements 2 until the provided number of elements 2 forming the second row 4 parallel to the first is in a predetermined position, resulting in a complete second row 4. Approaching the elements in at least one from the two rows 3, 4 to the second row takes place when the second row 4 is in the predetermined position.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the second group of elements is prepared in such a way that the elements intended to form the second group of elements are delivered from two opposite directions. Figures 4 and 6 show that the process of feeding the elements can take place from two opposite directions. Fig. 4 shows by way of example how the third row 5 of elements 2 is formed while the second row 4 is brought closer to the first row 3. It is clear that all rows can be created in the same way. Two opposite directions run parallel to the first row 3 of items, the items being transferred until items 2 conveyed in one direction come into contact with items 2 conveyed in the opposite direction. These elements then together form a second row of 4 elements 2. The feeding process from both directions can also be interrupted after a certain number of elements have been fed. Of course, with all solutions, the powering process can be interrupted after the handover of a certain number of items. Bringing at least two rows 3, 4 closer to each other takes place after creating the second row 4.

The interruption of the power supply process after a certain number of elements 2 have been supplied can be carried out, for example, as follows. During the feeding of the elements 2, which are preferably cylindrical in shape, the elements conveyed in both directions move along the detector 6 connected to the control unit / logical unit 7. The logic unit 7, which may be a computer 7, controls how many cylindrical elements 2 are passed along the detector 6, and after a predetermined number of elements 2, the control unit / logic unit 7 emits a signal deciding to interrupt the power supply process.

The solution provides that all the elements 2 are the same (i.e. have the same shape) and have a cylindrical shape, which means that the composite cellular structure 1 comprises a number of cylinders connected to each other - preferably with the use of glue. The cylinders 2 are preferably tubular sections 2 5 to 200 mm high and 10 to 250 mm in diameter. A suitable material from which the pipe sections can be produced is, for example, a cardboard laminate. It is of course possible to use other materials, including for example plastic, wood or metal.

The bringing together of the elements in the first 3 and second row 4 of elements preferably takes place in such a way that the elements in the second row 4 are conveyed simultaneously towards the first row 3, such that the entire second row 4 is passed towards the first row 3 as coherent unit.

The process of applying the binder to the items arranged in a row is preferably carried out as follows. As shown in Figures 12a, 12b and 21, adhesive is applied to the items such that a carriage 15 having at least one sensor 16 and a nozzle 13 connected to the adhesive source 14 is guided along the row at a predetermined speed. The sensor 16 is located at a distance from the nozzle 13 and detects the presence or absence of the element 2. Sensor 16 emits a signal to logic 7 upon detecting the presence of element 2, and logic unit 7 can calculate from the known speed and distance between nozzle 13 and sensor 16 on the carriage the time remaining until the nozzle 13 is at a predetermined position. relative to the element detected by the sensor. Then, the logic 7 can emit a pulse after a certain time to activate the nozzle 13, whereby the binder will be dispensed towards the cylindrical element 2 - when the nozzle 13 is at its height. A solution of this type ensures that the adhesive is applied to the correct part of the element 2. As shown in Fig. 12b, the nozzle may be designed to dispense the binder towards two points on the circumference of the cylindrical section 2. These two points then constitute the connection points in the cellular structure 1. It is clearly seen that in this case each of the cylindrical elements or tubular sections 2 includes four points of connection 25 with adjacent elements 2 as shown in Fig. 13. The cellular structure 1 is then formed by cylindrical elements or tubular sections 2 which have six points of contact with adjacent tubular sections, four of which are also

The connection points 25 and two do not constitute the connection points 25 as no adhesive is applied at these points.

The invention also relates to a device for producing a cellular structure 1 comprising a plurality of elements 2. As shown in Figs. 14-20, the device according to the invention comprises a guide 8 with internal walls 9, which are preferably straight and form a channel 10 inside. a number of identical elements 2 can be fed. The channel 10 can advantageously be designed such that it can be fed from two different directions.

As shown in Figs. 15, 18 and Figs. 4-6, the device according to the invention may comprise a table 17 receiving a coherent row of items, such a table 17 having a flat working surface on which the received items 2 can pass. slip. The carrier 12 is here arranged in such a way that the movement of the carrier 12 into its final position before it is displaced in the second direction causes the elements to move from the channel 10 to the table 17, where they are delivered to the working surface of the table 17. The table is preferably 17 moves in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of carrier 12 and parallel to the first direction.

The table 17 is preferably connected to a plate or beam 18, with the plate or beam 18 moving towards and away from the working surface of the table 17. Accordingly, it is possible to correct the position error of the individual elements 2 when two rows come into contact with each other. Figures 10 and 11 and Figures 22-24 show how the beam 18 is used to correct position errors. During the transport process, a situation occurs when one or more elements 2 protrude above the remainder of the cellular structure. After the row of elements 2 has been fed through the carrier 12, the beam 18 is lowered, abutting the cellular structure 1 and simultaneously pressing down the protruding elements 2.

The device according to the invention also comprises one or more drives / drive devices 11 arranged in such a way that they can act on the elements 2 arranged inside the channel 10 for their transfer in a first direction, so that a consistent row of elements 2 can be conveyed inside the channel 10. Figures 14 and 17 show in turn how the elements 2 are conveyed on the conveyor belt towards the guide belt 27 around which the drive belt 28 moves. When the elements 2 reach the guide strip 27, being fed by the conveyor belt, they will be conveyed by the drive belt 28 towards the guide 8, the inner walls of which 9 form the channel 10. Both the conveyor belt and the driving belt 23 can be driven by common propulsion device 11.

As shown in Figs. 15 and 16 and Figs. 4-6, the carrier 12 is arranged in communication with the channel 10, with the carrier 12 in the longitudinal direction being substantially parallel to the first direction. The carrier 12 is also able to move in a second direction, substantially perpendicular to the first direction, such that, while moving in the second direction, it simultaneously takes with it a coherent row of items 2 that have been transported inside the channel 10. The row is thus conveyed. to the final position before moving the carrier 12 in the second direction. According to a preferred embodiment (see for example Fig. 18) the guide 8 comprises two fixed parts 23 and a movable part 21, the movable part of the guide 8 being arranged such that it can move in a vertical direction (see Fig. 7, 8 and 11) together with the carrier 12 between a first position in which the movable part 21 of the guide is on a plane separate from the working surface of the table, and a second position in which at least a part of the movable part 21 of the guide is flush with the working plane table 17. The movable part of the guide 21 comprises a support 22 on which the elements of the cellular structure 1 can be placed, the support 22 being the bottom of the channel 10, and further adjustable in the vertical direction so that elements of different heights can be placed in the correct position in relation to the carrier. 12. Fig. 25a shows schematically how cylindrical elements of a predetermined height are received inside the movable part 21. Referring to Fig. 25b, it will be explained how the elements of lower height are handled. To accommodate elements 2 of different heights, a spacer 29 is provided to raise the support 22 constituting the bottom of the channel. This solution ensures that the carrier 12 will still be in the correct position with respect to the elements 2 inside the channel even though the height of the elements 2 is then lower.

PL 213 854 B1

As shown in Fig. 12, the device is provided with at least one nozzle 13 which communicates with the source 14 of the binder. The nozzle 13 moves in a direction parallel to the first direction and is arranged to apply adhesive to the row of items 2 that have been transferred to the end position or to apply adhesive to the row of items before being transferred to the end position by the carrier 12. In this way, the nozzle 13 can move along a coherent group of elements 2 and apply a binder thereon.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one sensor 6 is arranged in communication with the channel 10, allowing detection of items carried within the channel 10, as shown in Figs. 18-21. According to an advantageous solution, the sensor 6 is in this case connected to the drive device 11 - for example via a logical unit 7 - and the transport of the elements 2 can be interrupted when a predetermined number of elements 2 are passed along the sensor 6.

The device is preferably equipped with a stand 19 on which a carriage 15 is movably arranged in connection with the working surface of the table 17 (see Fig. 21). A nozzle 13 is provided on the carriage 15, so that during the movement of the carriage 15, the nozzle 13 can be guided along a row of elements 2 on the working surface of the table 17. In this case, the carriage 15 is equipped with at least one sensor 16 that detects the presence of an element placed on the table 17. table 17. The sensor 16 is at a distance from the nozzle 13 in the direction of movement of the carriage. The trolley 15 is preferably equipped with two sensors 16. The trolley 15 can be driven at a predetermined speed, the device comprising a logical unit 7 in which information about the set speed and the distance between the sensor 16 and the nozzle 13 in the trolley 15 are recorded. The logic unit 7 is further connected to a sensor 16 on the cart 15, whereby, when the cart 15 moves, the logic unit 7 calculates the time remaining until the nozzle 13 is at a predetermined position relative to the element 2 detected by the sensor 16. .

The device according to the invention operates as follows. After actuation of the drive 11, the elements 2 are conveyed by a conveyor belt towards the drive belt 28, which pushes the elements into the interior of the channel 10. Under the pressure of the elements coming from the rear, the elements 2 are led forward inside the channel 10. The elements 2 then move along the detector 6 that emits a signal to logical unit 7 for each item 2 passing it. After a certain number of elements 2 have traveled along the detector 6, the logic unit 7 commands the drive 11 to stop. The power supply process then stops. The predetermined number of elements 2 is the number required to fill the movable part 21 of the guide. Thus, the supply process is interrupted when the channel 10 of the movable part 21 of the guide is filled with cylindrical elements or tubular sections 2. The detectors 6 can be placed in the moving part 21 of the guide or in one of the fixed parts 20 of the guide, or both in the moving part 21 and in the stationary parts 20. If the detectors 6 are placed in the moving part 21 of the guide, it is not necessary to count the elements. moving along the detector. It is also possible to place one or more detectors 6 and connect them to the central part of the channel 10 in the movable part 21. The detector or detectors 6 then readily detect that the cylindrical elements 2 have reached the center of the channel 10 from both feed directions. The logic unit 7, which is connected to the detectors 6, then receives information that the channel 10 of the movable part 21 of the guide is full, and can interrupt the process of feeding new elements 2. It is of course possible for the logic unit 7 to both calculate the number of elements 2 that move along the detectors 6, and to detect whether the channel 10 of the movable part of the guide is already full.

When the channel 10 of the movable part 21 is full and the feeding process has been interrupted, the movable part 21 of the guide and the carrier 12 are placed slightly below the level of the table 17. By means of lifting means not shown, for example hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, the guide part 21 is lifted with the carrier 12 to the level when the bottom of the guide part is level with the working surface of the table 17. The row 4 of cylindrical elements 2 will then be transferred by the carrier 12 to the working surface of the table 17. It is hereby assumed that the previous row 3 of cylindrical elements 2 has already been delivered to the working surface of the table 17 during the preceding process step. The following phenomena occurred during the transport of the new row 4. The trolley 15 guided the nozzle 13 along row 3, with sensors 16 on the trolley detecting the presence of elements 2 in row 3. The nozzle 13 sprayed the binder

At two points on each element 2. Moreover, the table 17 has moved a distance in a direction parallel to the feeding direction of the elements 2 inside the channel 10. In this case, the table 17 has moved a distance that is half the diameter of one of the elements. cylindrical. In this way, row 3 is placed at a certain offset. In principle, such a displacement can be obtained by selecting a different section, this section not being the entire diameter of the cylindrical body or a multiple thereof.

The preceding row 3 is thus positioned offset from the next row 4 that is introduced on the table, the elements 2 of the preceding row 3 also provided with an adhesive, for example glue. When the carrier 12 carries a new row 4 towards the preceding row 3, the new row 4 is transported close to the preceding row 3 and is then joined to it with the adhesive applied to the items 2 in the preceding row 3. The new row 4 thereby pushes the preceding row 3 back across the table 17. The new row 4 and the preceding row 3 then form a complex cellular structure 1.

The carrier 12 will then be retracted, with the beam 18, having a downward power stroke, traveling downwards towards the cellular structure 1. The elements 2 which protrude from the cellular structure 1 are then pressed down into the correct position. Then the leveling beam 18 is raised. At this time, the carrier 12 is retracted to a position where it meets the channel 10. The movable part 21 of the guide moves down to the feed position and the next cycle time can begin. The new items 2 are moved inside the channel 10 and the carriage 15 is moved along a new row 4 in the cellular structure 1, whereby adhesive is applied to the items 2 in the new row 4. The table 17 will again be moved some distance but in the opposite direction to the previous movement. table 17, as a result of which table 12 will return to its original position. In this way, the next coated row 4 will be positioned somewhat offset from the next row 5.

The present invention also relates to a fast and reliable method of producing cellular structures. In the case of a bi-directional solution, it has the advantage that the cycle length is shorter. Since the level of the channel bottom is adjustable, the advantage is obtained that pipe sections of different lengths are used. By using a leveling beam, in turn, the advantage is obtained that the misplacement of the elements forming part of the cellular structure can be corrected.

Due to the fact that the nozzle cart is equipped with sensors connected to the logical unit, the advantage is obtained that the adhesive can be placed on the parts in any position. Thus, the amount of the binder used here was reduced. When the table is movable, the advantage is in turn obtained that all the elements in a row can be easily arranged offset with respect to the next row. On the other hand, when using a logical unit connected to sensors and regulating the flow of the supply process, it has the advantage that the supply process can be interrupted automatically. In a situation where the entire row is moved towards the preceding row as a coherent unit, the advantage is obtained that the manufacturing process is faster than when moving individual items. When the detectors are placed inside the movable part of the guide, the advantage is obtained, on the other hand, that the feeding process can be controlled depending on whether the channel is filled or not.

As the channel is not blocked at the same height as the table, but can be raised and lowered, space is provided for the nozzle.