METHODE DE FABRICATION D'UN FILTRE ET APPAREIL DE FABRICATION

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A FILTER AND APPARATUS THEREFOR

Abrégé anglais

A method and apparatus for the manufacture of a
pleated filter from an endless web of filter material
scores a web of filter material scored in a scoring
station. The web of filter material is then passed with a
set pleat spacing into cogbelts. The filter material web
is then severed by a cutter into pieces suitable for
further processing.

Revendications

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A method for the manufacture of a pleated filter
from an endless web of filter material, comprising:
scoring the filter material web; and
introducing the filter material web between at
least two cogbelts spaced apart from one another and
disposed above and below the filter material web and
running with the filter material web, the cogbelts
subsequently pleating the filter material web according to
the scoring.
2. A method according to Claim 1, further comprising
advancing the filter material with a defined distance
between pleats by at least one helix adjoining the
cogbelts.
3. A method according to Claim 2, further comprising
guiding the pleated filter material web with at least two
spacing belts that run lengthwise of the filter material
web.
4. A method according to Claim 3, further comprising
severing the filter material wary which has been scored and
pleated so as to allow transfer of the severed filter
material web from the endless web.
5. A method according to Claim 4, further comprising
removing the filter material web from the endless web by a
transfer device.
6. A method according to Claim 5, wherein the step of
removing the filter material web from the endless web by a
transfer device includes operating the transfer device with
comb-like elements.
7. A method according to Claim 5, wherein the step of
removing the filter material web from the endless web by a
6

transfer device includes operating the transfer device with
elastic elements.
8. A method according to Claim 5, wherein the step of
removing the filter material web from the endless web by a
transfer device includes operating the transfer device with
foam grippers.
9. A method according to Claim 5, further comprising
adding a strip around the filter material web after the
filter material web has been pleated.
10. A method according to Claim 5, further comprising
directly encasing lateral edges of the filter material web
in plastic after the filter material web has been pleated.
11. A method according to Claim 5, further comprising
applying a bead of glue to the filter material web in a
glue station after the filter material web has been
pleated.
12. A method according to Claim 5, further comprising
assembling the filter material web by high frequencies.
13. A method according to Claim 5, further comprising
assembling the filter material web by high pressure.
14. An apparatus for producing a pleated filter from
an endless filter material web, comprising:
a scoring station that prepares the filter
material web for pleating;
a pleating station following the scoring station;
and
at least two cogbelts spaced apart from one
another and disposed above and below the filter material
web and running alongside the filter material web.
7

15. The apparatus according to Claim 14, further
comprising at least one helix adjoining the cogbelts.
16. The apparatus according to Claim 15, further
comprising two fixing belts which run alongside the filter
material web and guide the filter material web.
17. The apparatus according to Claim 16, further
comprising a cutter arranged after the helix.
18. The apparatus according to Claim 17, further
comprising a transfer device having foam grippers, said
transfer device being arranged after the cutter.
19. The apparatus according to Claim 17, further
comprising comb-like elements, said comb-like elements
being arranged after the cutter.
20. The apparatus according to Claim 17, further
comprising an assembling station adjoining the cogbelts.
21. The apparatus according to Claim 19, further
comprising an injection molding station after the cutter.
22. The apparatus according to Claim 20, further
comprising a frequency generator adjoining the cogbelts.
23. The apparatus according to Claim 21, further
comprising a press adjoining the cogbelts.
24. The apparatus according to Claim 21, further
comprising a glue station after the cutter.
8

Description

21UU4U'~
METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A
FILTER AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
Backaround of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an
apparatus for manufacturing a filter from an endless web of
filter material.
A method of this kind is disclosed in European Patent
260,267 and an apparatus of this kind is disclosed in
German Patent 25 23 424, for the manufacture of air filter
inserts, for example.
A disadvantage of manufacturing filter inserts by the
method described in European Patent 260.267 is that, after
the pleating of the filter material, the filter material. ~.s
loose as it enters the screw, which is a comb-like part
intended to define the projections. This loose transfer uam
Lesuit in damage t:<:, the filter material and cause leaxs in
it.
It is possible, as described in German Patent 25 23
424, to convey the pleated filter material into the screw
by means of a complicated drive mechanism. This is,
however, very expensive, and would increase the cost of the
method and with it the cost of the end product. It
furthermore calls for a greater cost of assembly and
complicated. adjustment in operation.
Summary of the Invention
It is thus an object of the invention to create a
method and an apparatus by which a simple, inexpensive and
1

2100~~
reliable manufacture of non-leaking filter inserts can
succeed.
It is also an object of the invention to provide a
method and apparatus whereby a filter web is produced such
that after the web of material has been scored, fixation of
pleats is provided so as to shape the filter material
without damaging it.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method
and apparatus for producing a filter material web in which
the pleated web of filter material is seamlessly
transferred from a cogbelt, so that the filter material web
is carried without interruption.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an
apparatus in which a cogbelt is followed overlappingly by
at least one helix such that the pleated web of filter
material will be carried through without interruption.
It is a still further object of the invention to
provide an apparatus which provides dense filter inserts.
These and other objects are achieved by the present
invention which provides a method for the manufacture of a
pleated filter from an endless web of filter material, this
method can:prising the steps of scoring the filter material
web, and introducing the filter material web between at
least two cogbelts spaced apart from one another and
disposed above and below the filter ~t~ateria~ web and
ru~ning with the filter material web. The cogbelts
subsequently pleat the filter material web according to the
scoring.
The objects are also achieved by an apparatus
constructed in accordance with the present invention which
provides an apparatus for producing a pleated filter from
an endless filter material web, comprising a scoring
station that prepares the filter material web for pleating,
a pleating station following the scoring station, and a t
least two cogbelts spaced apart from one another and
disposed above and below the filter material web and
running alongside the filter material web.
2

210049
Tt is an important advantage of the method according
to the present invention that, after the web of filter
material has been scored, at least two cogbelts running
lengthwise of the web of filter material provide both for
the pleating and for keeping the pleats a fixed distance
apart. Such fixation of the pleats makes it possible to
shape the filter material without damaging it.
An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides
that, by means of at least one helix, the pleated web of
filter material is transferred from the cogbelt seamlessly,
i.e., with a slight overlap, so that the filter material
web is carried without interruption.
In certain embodiments of the invention, the apparatus
includes a cogbelt that is followed overlappingly by at
least one helix such that the pleated web of filter
material will be carried through without interruption.
Certain advantageous embodiments of the invention
provide that the lateral edges of the pleated filter
material web are combined, by a frequency generator and/or
with the aid of a press, with lateral strips so as to form
dense filter inserts.
Other objects, advantages and novel. features of the
prese.:t invention will become apparent from the following
detailed description ~f the invention when considered in
conjunction with th.P accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 shows an apparatus, constructed in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention, for
manufacturing a filter.
Figure 2 illustrates another embodiment of the present
invention, but is shown with a view in the direction of
arrow II of Figure 1.
Figure 3 illustrates an end view of the embodiment of
Figure 2 in the direction of arrow III.
Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of the present
invention.
3

210049
Figure 5 illustrates a still further embodiment of the
present invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
In the illustrated embodiments of the invention, an
endless web of filter material 1 is first scored in a
scoring station 10. From there the filter material web 1
passes into the range of the influence of a pleating
station 11, or more precisely between two cogbelts 2 which
pleat the scored filter material web 1 with a fixed spacing
of the pleats. After the cogbelts 2 the pleated filter
material 1 continues, still with the fixed spacing of the
pleats, into a helix 3. This helix 3 is easily exchangeable
and can have a variable pitch. Before the pleated filter is
taken out by foam grippers 7 (see Figure 2) it is severed
from the filter material web 1 by a cutter 12.
In the embodiment of Figure 1, the filter material web
1 runs between spacing belts 4 so that a properly spaced
guidance of the pleated filter material web 1 is assured
from its entry into the cogbelts 2 until its removal by the
comb-like elements 6 of the transfer station 5.
In thF embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, a strip 8
is joined to the filter material web 1 by a joining station
14. This joining (or "assembling") station 14 includes a
?.5 frequency generator 16 and a press 17. In this embo!~iment;
the transfer station 5 is assisted by foam grippers 'i
rather than the comb-like elements 6 of the embodiment of
Figure 1. The combining of the lateral strips 8 with the
lateral edges of the pleated filter material web 1 will
form dense filter inserts.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4,
the transfer station 5 is assisted by the comb-like
elements 6. These comb-like elements 6 take the pleated
filter material web 1 out of the reach of the helix 3, so
that the filter material web 1 cannot assume a random pleat
spacing. When the comb-like elements 6 have arrived with
the filter material web 1 at the correct point, then the
4

210049
cutter 12 performs a cutting operation. The transfer
station 5 passes the piece of filter material web 1, held
by the comb-like elements 6 in the set pleat spacing, into
the injection molding station 15 in which the piece of
S filter material web 1 is injection molded in plastic.
The embodiment of the present invention shown in
Figure 5 differs from that shown in Figure 4 ir~ that a
gluing station 13 is added, which applies beads of glue 9
to the filter material web 1. These beads of glue 9 can
serve both for strengthening and for sealing around the
filter.
Although the invention has been described and
illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that
the same is by way of illustration and example, and is not
to be taken by way of limitation. The spirit and scope of
the present invention are to be limited. only by the terms
of the appended claims.
5

Dessin représentatif