Modular press

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10011041-B2
Application number	US-201615154642-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2016
Priority date	May 15, 2015
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

A modular press suitable for use in the manufacture of EWC products may include a plurality of frame modules coupled together and aligned along a feed path axis. Each frame module may have a generally planar body supported on a corresponding pair of bases, an elongate aperture, an upper and a lower platform within the aperture, and a platen between the platforms. Optionally, the ends of the aperture may be curved. A first actuator system may be operable to move the platen from a raised position to an intermediate position, and a second actuator system may be operable to press the platen downwardly from the intermediate position onto a workpiece within the aperture. Some modular presses may include conveyor rolls and a third actuator system to raise and lower the conveyor rolls. In some embodiments, the actuator systems may be pneumatic actuator systems. Corresponding methods and systems are also described herein.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A press frame module comprising:
a substantially planar body with opposite faces, an outer edge, and an inner edge, wherein the inner edge defines an opening that extends through the body; and
an upper platform and a lower platform coupled to the inner edge and extending at least partially through the opening, each of the platforms having a corresponding outer face, wherein the outer faces are spaced apart by a gap and extend substantially perpendicular to the faces of the body, and each of the outer faces defines a corresponding plane,
wherein the platforms and the inner edge of the body collectively define an elongate aperture with a middle portion and a first and a second end portion at opposite ends of the middle portion, and the end portions are curved such that the width of the elongate aperture along a first longitudinal axis that extends through the body between, and parallel to, said planes is greater than the width of the elongate aperture along a second longitudinal axis that extends through the body and one of said planes, and
wherein each of the end portions is at least partially defined by a corresponding portion of the inner edge that describes a first arc, a second arc, and a third arc, the center of curvature of the first arc is above the plane of the outer face of the upper platform, the center of curvature of the third arc is below the plane of the outer face of the lower platform, and the center of curvature of the second arc is between the platforms.

2. The press frame module of claim 1 , wherein the middle portion of the elongate aperture is disposed between, and defined by, the outer faces of the platforms, and the greatest height of the end portions of the elongate aperture exceeds the height of the middle portion.

3. The press frame module of claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal axis defines a longitudinal centerline of the elongate aperture, the longitudinal centerline is between the upper platform and the lower platform and substantially equidistant from said outer faces, and the greatest width of the elongate aperture is along the longitudinal centerline.

4. The press frame module of claim 1 , wherein the first arc, the second arc, and the third arc are respective portions of a multiradial curve defined by the corresponding portion of the inner edge.

5. The press frame module of claim 4 , wherein the multiradial curve is a continuous multiradial curve.

6. The press frame module of claim 4 , wherein the multiradial curve is a mirror multiradial curve.

7. The press frame module of claim 6 , wherein the center of curvature of the first arc is vertical aligned with the center of curvature of the third arc along a corresponding vertical axis that extends through one or both of the platforms.

8. The press frame module of claim 1 , wherein the elongate aperture is symmetrical about the first longitudinal axis, and the center of curvature of the second arc is located along the first longitudinal axis.

9. A modular press frame comprising:
at least a first and a second press frame module, each of the first and second press frame modules having
a substantially planar body with opposite faces, an outer edge, and an inner edge, wherein the inner edge defines an opening that extends through the body; and
an upper platform and a lower platform coupled to the inner edge and extending at least partially through the opening, each of the platforms having a corresponding outer face, the outer faces spaced apart by a gap and extending substantially perpendicular to the faces of the body, and each of the outer faces defining a corresponding plane, the platforms and the inner edge collectively defining an elongate aperture with a middle portion and first and second end portions at opposite ends of the middle portion, and the end portions being curved such that the width of the elongate aperture along a first longitudinal axis that extends through the body between, and parallel to, said planes is greater than the width of the elongate aperture along a second longitudinal axis that extends through the body and one of said planes, wherein each of the end portions is at least partially defined by a corresponding portion of the inner edge that describes a first arc, a second arc, and a third arc, the center of curvature of the first arc is above the plane of the outer face of the upper platform, the center of curvature of the third arc is below the plane of the outer face of the lower platform, and the center of curvature of the second arc is between the platforms,

wherein the press frame modules are coupled together in alignment, and spaced at corresponding intervals, along a feed path axis that extends through the apertures, such that the lower platforms collectively form a workpiece support surface.

10. A method of forming a modular press frame, the method comprising:
positioning two or more press frame modules at corresponding intervals along a feed path axis, such that the press frame modules are in alignment along the feed path axis
wherein one or more of the press frame modules includes
a substantially planar body with opposite faces, an outer edge, and an inner edge, wherein the inner edge defines an opening that extends through the body, and
an upper platform and a lower platform coupled to the inner edge and extending at least partially through the opening, each of the platforms having a corresponding outer face, the outer faces spaced apart by a gap and extending substantially perpendicular to the faces of the body, and each of the outer faces defining a corresponding plane, the platforms and the inner edge collectively defining an elongate aperture with a middle portion and first and second end portions at opposite ends of the middle portion, and the end portions being curved such that the width of the elongate aperture along a first longitudinal axis that extends through the body between, and parallel to, said planes is greater than the width of the elongate aperture along a second longitudinal axis that extends through the body and one of said planes, wherein each of the end portions is at least partially defined by a corresponding portion of the inner edge that describes a first arc, a second arc, and a third arc, the center of curvature of the first arc is above the plane of the outer face of the upper platform, the center of curvature of the third arc is below the plane of the outer face of the lower platform, and the center of curvature of the second arc is between the platforms; and
coupling the press frame modules together such that the press frame modules are in alignment, and spaced at corresponding intervals, along a feed path axis that extends through the apertures, and the lower platforms collectively form a workpiece support surface.

11. The press frame module of claim 1 , wherein said corresponding portion of the inner edge describes a curved barbell shape.

12. The press frame module of claim 1 , wherein the body is a plate of steel with a thickness of 2-10 inches.

13. The modular press frame of claim 9 , further comprising a connector with first and second opposite ends connected to corresponding ones of the press frame modules, wherein the connector includes one or more beams or plates.

14. The modular press frame of claim 13 , wherein the first and second ends are coupled to the corresponding press frame modules above the upper plates along a vertical centerline of the press frame modules.

15. The modular press frame of claim 13 , wherein the connector is hollow.

16. The modular press frame of claim 9 , wherein the middle portion of the elongate a

Assignees

• Usnr Llc

Inventors

• Pope Samuel Taylor
• Meeker Laura Hart
• Bullion Conrad
• O'Connell Kevin K

Classifications

• B30B15/168

  for pneumatically driven presses (B30B15/165 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B27N3/20 Primary

  characterised by using platen-presses · CPC title

• B30B1/38

  wherein the plungers are operated by pressure of a gas, e.g. steam, air · CPC title

• B30B15/048

  Laminated frame structures · CPC title

• B30B1/003

  by an elastic bag or diaphragm expanded by fluid pressure · CPC title