Device for joining by calendering at least one sheet of glass and at least one film of plastic material

Abstract

A calendering device has a plurality of pressure rollers and an opposing plurality of counterpressure rollers, each rotatably mounted on a piston rod movable in a direction for permitting the pressure rollers and counterpressure rollers to approach one another to calender a product. The pistons of the piston rods are mounted within pneumatic casings and are moved by a diaphragm within the pneumatic casings. There is no contact between the pistons and the walls of the pneumatic casings, thereby reducing the frictional resistance to the movement of the rollers. Means are provided for equalizing the pressure applied to a roller and its corresponding counter roller. Separate pneumatic casings and diaphragms may be provided for each piston rod, or several of the pressure rollers or counterpressure rollers may be moved by a single diaphragm, which can be in the form of an elongated hose. In the case of the provision of individual pneumatic casings for each roller, pressure regulating means can be provided for each pair of a pressure roller and its corresponding counterpressure roller.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. A calendering device comprising: a frame;   a plurality of pressure rollers mounted side-by-side in first direction;   a plurality of counterpressure rollers mounted side-by-side in said first direction, each of said counterpressure rollers being positioned for cooperation with one of said pressure .[.rollres.]. .Iadd.rollers .Iaddend.to form a plurality of pairs of cooperating pressure and counterpressure rollers;   piston rod means for separately supporting each of said pressure rollers and counterpressure rollers;   means for moving each said piston rod means in a second direction so that said rollers of each said pair of rollers move toward one another to calender a product therebetween, said means for moving comprising: (a) .Iadd.at least one pair of .Iaddend.first and second fixed fluid tight casings fixed to said frame,   (b) an elastic diaphragm for each said fixed casing tightly dividing each said fixed casing into two portions,   (c) means for supplying pressurized fluid to one of said two portions of each said fixed casing,   (d) .[.a plurality of pistons.]. .Iadd.at least one piston .Iaddend.in the other of said two portions of each said fixed casing, .[.all of said pistons.]. .Iadd.said at least one piston .Iaddend.in .Iadd.each .Iaddend.said first fixed casing being fixed to said piston rod means of said pressure rollers and engaging said diaphragm in said first fixed casing such that movement of said diaphragm due to fluid pressure in said one of said two portions of said first fixed casing presses .[.all of said pistons.]..Iadd.said at least one piston .Iaddend.in .Iadd.each .Iaddend.said first fixed casing to move a corresponding pressure roller in said second direction, wherein .[.all of said pistons.]. .Iadd.said at least one piston .Iaddend.in .Iadd.each .Iaddend.said second fixed casing .[.are.]. .Iadd.is .Iaddend.fixed to said piston rod means of said counterpressure rollers and .[.engage.]. .Iadd.engages .Iaddend.said diaphragm in said second fixed casing such that movement of said diaphragm due to fluid pressure in said one of said portions of said second fixed casing presses .[.all of said pistons.]. .Iadd.said at least one piston .Iaddend.in .Iadd.each .Iaddend.said second fixed casing to move a corresponding counterpressure roller in said second direction,     wherein said .[.piston.]. .Iadd.pistons .Iaddend.are spaced from any walls of said .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.fixed casing; .[.and.].   .Iadd.means for compensating for movements of said rollers and piston rod means due to the weight thereof, .Iaddend.   means for equalizing the pressure between said diaphragms.Iadd., and   ball guide sleeve means for guiding movement of said at least one piston with low friction,   wherein said pressure rollers are positioned above said counterpressure rollers, and wherein for said pressure rollers the means for supplying pressurized fluid supplies the pressurized fluid to only an upper one of said portions of each said casings. .Iaddend.   
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1, wherein .Iadd.each of .Iaddend.said .[.diaphragm.]. .Iadd.diaphragms .Iaddend.comprises an elongated hose, said one of said two portions of said fixed casing comprising the interior of said hose.