Apparatus for treating foam board to permit it to be accordion folded

Abstract

An apparatus for treating foam board to permit it to be accordion folded comprises mechanism for moving an elongate foam board along a longitudinal pathway into a slitting machine, mechanism for stopping the travel of the board and clamping it in stationary position, and powered actuators for laterally moving pairs of longitudinally spaced upper and lower slitters, which produce alternate slits less than through the thickness of the board to leave a foldable thickness, across the board. The board is then released to be accordion folded.

I claim:  
     
         1 . Apparatus for treating foam board to permit it to be accordion folded comprising: 
 a. a slitting machine having an elongate board support frame system into which an elongate foam board at a less than deforming temperature can be moved along a longitudinal pathway;    b. releasable mechanism for stopping the travel of said board and clamping said elongate board in stationary position on said frame system;    c. at least a pair of longitudinally spaced longitudinally alternately positioned upper and lower slitting members carried with said frame system to move laterally thereon, positioned vertically to produce slits less than through the thickness of the board and leave a foldable thickness;    d. power driven actuator mechanism connected to said slitting members for moving them laterally across said board; and    e. control mechanism operable for releasing said mechanism and thereby releasing said board for travel forwardly to a folding station where it can be accordion folded.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said releasable mechanism comprises a releasable gate for first stopping the travel of said board and a releasable clamping mechanism for clamping said board in stationary position.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  including a side guide system at one side of said frame system, and power driven side actuators for moving said board laterally against said guide system before moving said clamping mechanism and slitting members.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said clamping mechanism includes a series of longitudinally spaced automatically energized clamping platens; and platen actuators for vertically moving said platens down into clamping position, and, after slitting takes place, moving said platens vertically upwardly to unclamp said board.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein driven rollers are mounted on said frame system for engaging the upper surface of said board and moving it longitudinally, said rollers being provided on pivoted arms extending at an angle downwardly and forwardly so that the rollers can be raised by the front end of the board and remain in engagement with the upper surface of said board.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said board support frame system includes a series of longitudinally spaced tables, the slitting members of each said pair move in unison in opposite directions laterally, and move laterally in opposite directions to a return position when the next board is processed, said lower slitting members are provided in the spaces between said tables, said clamping mechanism includes vertically movable platens provided to span said tables above said lower slitting members, and said side actuators include pushers provided in some of the spaces between said tables adjacent said lower slitting members to move said board laterally and clamp it against said side guide system.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said alternating slitting members are provided in a longitudinal series of pairs extending the length of the board with said pairs being spaced longitudinally from each other and the ends of said board substantially the longitudinally spaced distance between said alternating slitting members.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said slitting members are provided as laterally double edged blades to cut when moved laterally in either direction.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said blades have triangularly shaped ends with a cutting edge on either side.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 2  comprising providing said gate as a stop gate adjacent said station which is movable from a remote position into the path of said board, and mechanism for moving said bar into position to block said board to perform step (b).  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the board is released by removing said stop bar and raising said clamping platens upwardly.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said board has a cover film on both sides and said slitting is vertically through the cover film substantially as far as the opposite cover film.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1  comprising providing said slitting machine as structure forming an elongate longitudinal open-sided tunnel and mechanism moves said foam board into said tunnel along said pathway.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said foam board is polyisocyanate at a temperature less than its deformation temperature.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus for treating foam board to permit it to be accordion folded comprising: 
 a. a slitting machine having an elongate board support frame system into which an elongate substantially rigid foam board at a less than deforming temperature can be moved along a longitudinal pathway;    b. a releasable gate at the front end of said pathway for stopping the travel of said board;    c. releasable clamping mechanism for clamping said elongate board in stationary position;    d. pairs of longitudinally spaced alternating upper and lower slitting members carried on said frame system, positioned vertically to produce slits less than through the thickness of the board and leave a foldable thickness;    e. power driven knife actuators connected to said slitting members for moving them laterally across said board at longitudinal intervals; and    f. control mechanism for releasing said gate and clamping mechanism thereby releasing said board to travel forwardly toward a folding station where it can be accordion folded.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  including a side guide system at one side of said frame system, and power driven side actuators for moving said board laterally against said guide system before moving said slitting members.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said clamping mechanism includes a series of longitudinally spaced vertically moving clamping platens and power driven platen actuators for vertically moving said platens into clamping position, and, after slitting takes place, moving said platens vertically to unclamp said board.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein driven rollers are mounted on said frame system for engaging the upper surface of said board, said rollers being provided on pivoted arms extending at an angle downwardly and forwardly so that the rollers can be raised by the front end of the board and remain in engagement with the upper surface of said board.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said board support frame system includes a series of longitudinally spaced tables, the slitting members of each said pair move in unison in opposite directions laterally, and move laterally in opposite directions to a return position when the next board is processed, said lower slitting members are provided in the spaces between said tables, said platens are provided to span said tables above said lower slitting members, and said side actuators include pushers in some of the spaces between said tables adjacent said lower slitting members to move said board laterally and clamp it against said side guide system.