RU182592U1 - CONDUCTOR DEVICE FOR VACUUM FOAMING OF REFRIGERATORS - Google Patents

Abstract

A conductor device for vacuum foaming of refrigerated cabinets (18) for food products, moreover, a polyurethane mixture is injected into the hollow walls of the cabinet under vacuum conditions inside the foaming chamber. The conductor device comprises a main frame (10) and an auxiliary frame (12) configured to move between the lower open position and the raised closed position of the foaming chamber. The foaming chamber comprises a tray (22) for supporting the cabinet (18), side retaining panels (24), transverse retaining panels (25) and an inner supporting liner element (57) forming the foaming chamber. The side panels (24) are tiltable with sliding elements (30) arranged to move in the transverse direction relative to the auxiliary frame (12) to adjust the distance between them. The side panels (24) have gaskets (46) along their peripheral edges to pressurize the flat sealing surfaces of the pallet (22), the transverse panels (25) and the upper closing element (26) in any adjusted position of the side panels (24). FIG. 9.

Description

This utility model relates to a conductor device for foaming refrigerated cabinets by injecting a chemically reactive polyurethane mixture in a vacuum. The polyurethane mixture is injected inside the hollow walls of the cabinets for cooling food products, such as refrigerated cabinets for domestic and industrial use, freezers, etc.

As is known, foaming of refrigerated cabinets is often performed under vacuum conditions, since vacuum promotes and accelerates the distribution and foaming of the polyurethane mixture inside the hollow walls of the cabinets, making it possible to use fast reactive polyurethane compositions and the formation of a rigid insulating foam having a structure with small cells, uniform density and improved insulation.

A device for foaming refrigerated cabinets is known, comprising an element of the main frame, having vertically elongated guide racks for the auxiliary frame, elongated in the horizontal direction and supported by the ability to move the guide racks between the lower and upper working position; at the same time, a removable tray for supporting the refrigerator and tiltable side supporting panels corresponding to the outer side surfaces of the cabinet are placed on the auxiliary frame. The specified device also has a transverse locking panel corresponding to the transverse outer surfaces, and a locking insert corresponding to the inner surfaces of the cabinet, which extend from the upper closing element attached to the main frame in position above the pallet and the auxiliary frame; wherein the device contains controls for moving the auxiliary frame between the lower position to enable removal of the pallet with the foam cabinet and the upper position, in which the supporting panels and the locking insert are pressed against the outer and inner surfaces of the cabinet, forming a closed foam chamber.

To optimize foaming under vacuum conditions and to reduce the amount of intake air and production lines, sealing gaskets are made on the supporting panels to close the foaming chamber in an airtight manner.

However, in the known solutions, the gaskets are arranged so that any adjustment of the backing panels to adapt the foaming chamber to the dimensions of the refrigerator is prevented, unless complex solutions are required that require the use of intermediate spacers used for the peripheral backing panels of the foaming chamber.

The support panels and gaskets are arranged so as to prevent any relative movement between said support panels and relative to the auxiliary frame for changing the size of the foaming chamber.

The technical problem to be solved by the present utility model is to create a conductor device for foaming refrigerated cabinets in a vacuum, moreover, the conductor device contains a foaming chamber, configured in various ways, so as to enable fast automatic resizing of the specified foaming chamber in each case by adapting the dimensions of the specified chamber to the transverse and / or longitudinal dimensions of the refrigerator.

Another technical problem to be solved by the present utility model is the creation of a conductor vacuum foaming device comprising a support tray and a vacuum sealing system, which is made with the possibility of easily adjusting the size of the foam chamber without the need to replace the support tray and modify the sealing system. Thus, the time required to change and adjust the size of the foaming chamber is significantly reduced with a corresponding increase in productivity.

An innovative aspect of the present conductor device is the proper support and connection of the side support panels so that they can automatically adjust the distance between them each time depending on the size and type of the refrigerator through a special arrangement of gaskets that allow the foam chamber to be closed in an airtight manner over a wide range installation positions of the side panels relative to the auxiliary element ama and supporting tray cabinets.

According to a utility model, a conductor device is proposed for injection under vacuum by means of a mixing device of a foamable reactive mixture inside the hollow walls of a cabinet for cooling food products, comprising:

a main frame having vertically elongated guide posts;

an auxiliary frame element elongated horizontally and movably held movably between a lower position and an upper position by means of guide racks;

a removable support tray for the refrigerator and side locking panels supported by the ability to tilt the auxiliary frame;

transverse locking panels and an internal locking liner protruding from the upper closing element attached to the main frame in a position above the auxiliary frame;

wherein the lateral and transverse locking panels form a foaming chamber configured to enclose the refrigerator in an airtight manner in the upper position of the auxiliary frame;

first control means providing the ability to move the auxiliary frame and the pallet between the lower position and the upper position for, respectively, opening and closing the foaming chamber;

moreover, the lateral supporting panels are tilted by swinging levers with sliding elements arranged to move in the transverse direction relative to the auxiliary frame;

second controls providing adjustable free movement of the sliding elements and the side supporting panels between the retracted position and the extended positions relative to the bottom;

each swinging lever is pivotally connected to the sliding element, so as to provide inward rotation of the corresponding one of the side supporting panels under the action of gravity in the upper position of the auxiliary frame to close the foam chamber, each swinging lever has a lower shoulder for contact with the stop element, to automatically cause an outward rotation of the corresponding lateral support panel in the lower position of the auxiliary frame;

sealing gaskets located along all peripheral edges of the side supporting panels and configured to come into contact with the flat inner sealing surfaces of the pallet, transverse supporting panels and an upper closing element for closing the chamber in an airtight manner in any extended position of the side supporting panels when closing the foaming chamber; and

a removable rear box open on one side on a support tray configured to enclose the mixing device and connect it in an airtight manner to the hollow walls of the refrigerator in a position corresponding to the rear compartment for the compressor of the specified refrigerator.

The conductor device according to the utility model will become more clear after reading the description below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conductor device in an open position of a foaming chamber;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail of a refrigerator;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 with lateral support panels in the extended position;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3, in the closed position of the foaming chamber;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view in the closed position of the foaming chamber;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3, with lateral supporting panels in the retracted position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of side support panels;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a rear duct of a compressor compartment of a refrigerator;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the rear duct according to line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

Utility Model Implementation

The accompanying drawings show a conductor device according to a utility model for foaming under vacuum conditions cabinets for cooling and / or preserving food products, such as refrigerators for domestic or industrial use, freezers or the like.

The conductor device comprises a main frame 10 having four vertical guide racks 11 for supporting a horizontal auxiliary frame 12 configured to move in a vertical direction between the lower position shown in FIG. 1 and 3, and the upper position shown in FIG. 4 and 5.

The vertical movement of the auxiliary frame 12 is carried out by means of the first control means comprising a gear rack 13 on each guide rack 11, engaged by a gear wheel 14 of the gearbox 15; as shown in FIG. 3, the gears 14 are located on opposite sides of the main frame 10 and are connected via a transverse shaft 16 to the electric motor 17 so as to allow the auxiliary frame 12 to be moved while holding said frame 12 in a horizontal position when moving between the lower position illustrated in FIG. 1, and the upper position illustrated in FIG. four.

The conductor device further comprises a foaming chamber configured to receive and airtightly enclose the refrigerator 18; wherein the cabinet 18, as schematically shown in FIG. 2, comprises an outer shell 19, an inner shell 20, forming hollow walls, inside which a foamable polyurethane mixture 21 must be injected under vacuum by means of the high-pressure mixing head shown in FIG. 8 and 9.

As shown in FIG. 1-6, the foaming chamber comprises a support tray 22 for holding the refrigerator 18; the pallet 22 is supported by an auxiliary frame 12 with the possibility of sliding to move together with the already foamed or still foamable cabinet 18 between the internal and external position relative to the open foaming chamber.

The horizontal movement of the pallet 22 along the auxiliary frame 12 in the lower position in FIG. 1 may be provided by any means of control, for example, by means of a roller conveyor 12 'or any suitable conveyor system.

The support pallet 22 comprises a flat structure consisting of rigidly connected tubular elements and a metal plate 23 extending along the entire length and width of the pallet 22; however, the metal plate 23 forms a continuous flat sealing surface on the upper side of the pallet 22, so as to provide a tight seal of the foaming chamber during injection and foaming of the polyurethane mixture, as explained below.

Foaming chamber, as shown in FIG. 1-5, in addition to the lower pallet 22, comprises four peripheral supporting panels configured to come into contact with the outer surfaces of the side walls of the cabinet 18; in particular, the foaming chamber comprises two lateral supporting panels 24, pivotally connected to the auxiliary frame 12 and located parallel to it, and two transverse supporting panels 25, pivotally connected to the main frame 10, and the lateral supporting panels 24 and the transverse supporting panels 25 are provided on the inner the side of the chamber, metal plates 24 ′ and 25 ′, respectively, forming flat sealing surfaces, while in the closed position of the foaming chamber shown in FIG. 4 and 5, the lateral retaining panels 24 and the transverse retaining panels 25 closely extend between the upper flat sealing surface of the metal plate 23 of the pallet 22 and the corresponding lower flat sealing surface of the metal plate 26, forming a closing element attached on top of the main frame 10.

The foaming chamber also contains an element 57 of the inner supporting liner, removably attached to the upper side of the main frame 10, and the locking liner 25 is shaped and made to adhere to the inner surfaces of the refrigerator 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, 3-6, the side supporting panels 24 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the auxiliary frame 12 and the foaming chamber and are held so that they can be adjusted to adjust their distance and position depending on the lateral dimensions of the refrigerator 18; the position of the two side retaining panels 24 can be precisely adjusted between the fully retracted position shown in FIG. 6 and any extended position with respect to the pallet 22, as shown in FIG. 3 and 4; it is obvious that due to the possibility of proper adjustment of the position and the gap between the side supporting panels 24, the conductor vacuum foaming device can be used to foam refrigerated cabinets 18 of various sizes and types without the need for any significant changes, while installation operations can be performed automatically and in a very short time.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3 and 4, each of the lateral supporting panels 24 is connected to a swing arm 28, pivotally connected in position 29 to the sliding element 30, which is acted upon to slide in the transverse direction to the longitudinal axis on the auxiliary frame 12. In particular, each sliding the element 30 moves along the guide surface of the auxiliary frame 12 and is attached to the screw 31 with a nut, operatively connected to the drive shaft 32, extending in the transverse direction to the auxiliary frame 12; the drive shaft 32 has a right-handed screw thread and a left-handed screw thread, respectively, so as to simultaneously act on the two sliding elements 30 and move the two side support panels 24 in opposite directions; the drive shaft 32 is operatively connected to the drive motor 33.

As shown in FIG. 3 and 4, each swing arm 28 is C-shaped and pivotally connected at a pivot point 29 spaced relative to the outside of the corresponding lateral support panel 24, under the plane of the pallet 22. Each swing arm 28 has a shoulder 34 extended in the same plane with the corresponding lateral supporting panel 24, so as to ensure its contact with the lower contact element 35 of the contact and sliding along the specified contact element 35 when adjusting the position of the side supporting panels 24. Thus when the auxiliary frame 12 is completely lowered in the position shown in FIG. 1 and 3, each arm 34 in contact with the abutment member 35 automatically causes the lateral support panels 24 to tilt or outward, and thus automatically open the foaming chamber by them.

From a comparison of FIG. 3 and 4, it can also be seen that the inward rotation of the side retaining panels 24 to close the foaming chamber when moving up the auxiliary frame 12, is simply due to gravity due to the weight of the side retaining panels 24 and the special location of the pivot point 29 located above, in a position spaced outward from the side supporting panels 24.

In contrast to the side support panels 24, as shown in FIG. 1 and 5, two transverse support panels 25 are pivotally held movably by respective vertical transverse support panels 25 extending downward at both ends of the chamber from the upper part of the main frame 10; the lower ends of the struts 36 are adapted to engage with the corresponding stop element when lifting the auxiliary frame 12 to press said supporting panels 25 against the corresponding end surface of the outer shell 19 of the refrigerator 18. In FIG. 1 and 5, it is also further shown that the two transverse support panels 25 are pivotally attached to the uprights 36 by means of small connecting levers 37 that enable the transverse support panels 25 to be moved down and to the side under the influence of their weight when opening the foaming chamber, as well as moving in the opposite direction when closing the chamber, when they are pressed up by the auxiliary frame 12.

The conductor device further comprises locking means shown in FIG. 4, to lock the side supporting panels 24 in the closed position of the foaming chamber; said locking means comprise engagement elements 40 functionally coupled to a respective actuator 41 for engaging a locking lever 42 attached to the upper edge of each side retaining panel 24.

In the closed position of the foaming chamber shown in FIG. 4 and 5, the foaming chamber and the hollow walls of the refrigerator 18 can be connected to a vacuum installation comprising a vacuum tank 43, valve elements 44, 44 'and an air suction device 45 to create a vacuum of the required degree or reduced pressure necessary to facilitate distribution, foaming and raising the polyurethane mixture injected into the hollow walls of the refrigerator 18.

As indicated above, the side retaining panels 24 comprise sealing gaskets on all peripheral edges, allowing for tight sealing in airtight conditions between the peripheral edges of the side retaining panels 24 and the flat sealing surfaces of the lower pallet 22, the transverse retaining panels 25, and the upper closing member 26 consisting of a metal plate fixed to the main frame 10.

In particular, as shown, for example, in FIG. 7, each side retaining panel 24 is located at the peripheral edges, with the peripheral sealing gaskets 46 being pressed inside the respective peripheral sockets, the sealing gaskets 46 being able to come into contact with the flat sealing surfaces of the plate 23 of the pallet 22, the upper plate 26 of the closure element and a flat the sealing surface of the two transverse locking panels 25, regardless of what the adjusted position of the two side locking panels 24 will be, as schematically shown in FIG. 7.

Considering that the gaskets 46 are located along the four peripheral edges of the side retaining panels 24 for sealing the foam chamber, the distance between the side retaining panels 24 can thus be freely changed and adjusted between the retracted position shown in FIG. 6, and any adjusted position between said retracted position in FIG. 6 and extended positions, one of which is shown in FIG. 4 and dashed lines in FIG. 7.

FIG. 8 and 9 relate to an enlarged portion of the support tray 22 for the refrigerator 18, and illustrate a removable back box 47 for hermetically accommodating the mixing device 48 configured to inject polyurethane reactive mixture on the rear side of the tray 22 in a position corresponding to the compressor storage compartment 49 eighteen.

As shown in the drawings, the rear duct 47 is open from the lower and rear sides so as to allow the introduction of the mixing device 48; the rear duct 47 has an opening on the front wall, allowing insertion of the injection tube of the mixing device 48; the annular gasket 49 provides proper sealing between the injection tube of the mixing device 48 and the hole in the outer shell 19 of the refrigerator 18.

As indicated above, the side retaining panels 24 may be located in any extended position until the foaming chamber is closed; Thus, due to the special arrangement of the sealing gaskets 46 on the peripheral edges of the side supporting panels 24 and the free movement of these side supporting panels 24 when lifting the auxiliary frame 12, it is possible to easily press the sealing gaskets 46 during closing during foaming, while preventing the said gaskets from moving on flat sealing surfaces and their premature wear.

Depending on the type of mixing device 48 and the shape of the compartment 48 for hosting the compressor, the rear duct 47 can be removed and changed according to the requirements.

To this end, as shown in the above drawings, the rear box 47 is removably attached to the rear side of the support pallet 22 by peripheral protrusions 50 made on the rear box 47 and having through holes 51 for fastening the rear box 47 to the support pallet using a plurality of bolts 52.

Finally, as indicated above and shown in FIG. 1 and 5, the transverse locking panel 25, opposite the compressor compartment 48, may have an auxiliary locking panel 53 that is movably supported by the main frame 10, so that the position of said auxiliary locking panel 53 can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the foaming chamber between the fully retracted position opposite or near the transverse panel as shown in FIG. 1, and fully extended position, depending on the longitudinal length of the refrigerator 18.

The auxiliary inner locking panel 53 is connected by connecting levers 153 back to the uprights 54 extending downward from the corresponding screw nut 55 which moves along the screw shaft 56 rotatably supported by the closing element 26 located under it and is functionally connected to the drive motor not shown .

The operation of the conductor device is described in detail below: it is assumed that when starting the conductor device is with the foaming chamber in the open position in FIG. 1 and 3, in which the auxiliary frame 12 and the pallet 22 are in the lower position; the two side support panels 24 are also in the retracted tilted position shown in FIG. 3, the transverse panels 25 being in the retracted position of FIG. 1. In these positions, since the arms 34 of the swing arms 28 of the side panels 24 are in contact with the abutment elements 35, the side support panels 24 can be tilted outward; thus, the pallet 22 with the foamed refrigerating cabinet 18 can be removed, while a new cabinet to be foamed can be introduced by moving the pallet 22 on the roller conveyor 23.

After the introduction of the pallet 22 with a new cabinet to be foamed, the foaming chamber can be closed by raising the auxiliary frame 12 with the pallet 22 and a new refrigerating cabinet 18.

When lifting the auxiliary frame 12, the swinging arms 34 can freely rotate inside under the weight of the supporting panels 24; due to the special arrangement of the pivot points 29, the side support panels 24 are moved inward to a vertical position in FIG. 4, abutting against the surface of the outer shell 19 of the cabinet 18.

At the end of the upward movement of the auxiliary frame 12, the applied force will be such that all the sealing gaskets 46 of the side retaining panels 24 are pressed against the corresponding flat sealing surfaces of the pallet 22, the transverse supporting panels 25 and the upper closing element 20, closing the foaming chamber in an airtight manner.

After the required degree of vacuum has been established inside the foaming chamber and, thus, inside the hollow walls of the refrigerator by connecting the closed chamber to the vacuum tank 42, polyurethane mixture can be injected, while this degree of vacuum will facilitate the distribution and foaming of the polyurethane mixture.

After polymerization and hardening of the polyurethane foam, the chamber can be opened by reversing the movement of the auxiliary frame 12 to the position shown in FIG. 1 and 3, in which the pan 12 with the foam cabinet 18 can be removed again.

Suppose that now it is required to foam the cabinet 18 with a greater width than the previous cabinet; in this case, it is possible to move the sliding elements and, thus, adjust the position of the side supporting panels 24 to the desired position, for example, to the retracted position shown in FIG. 6, so that the side panels 24 do not interfere with the pallet 22; in this case, the foaming chamber 11 can again be tightly closed, as described above.

Finally, when the refrigerator 18 has a length different from the length of the cabinet previously foamed, it is also possible to adjust the position of the internal auxiliary supporting panel 37.

Thus, from the description and drawings it is obvious that according to the present utility model, an adjustable conductive device for foaming refrigerated cabinets under vacuum conditions is proposed; other changes and modifications may be made in the said conductive device or in parts thereof, while not exceeding the scope of legal protection determined by the utility model formula.

Claims (17)

1. A conductor device for injection under vacuum by means of a mixing device (48) of an expandable reactive mixture inside the hollow walls of the cabinet (18) for cooling food products, comprising: the main frame (10) having vertically elongated guide racks (11); an auxiliary frame (12), elongated in the horizontal direction and held with the possibility of movement between the lower position and the upper position by means of guide racks (11); a removable support tray (22) for the refrigerator (18) and side locking panels (24) supported by an auxiliary frame (12) with the possibility of tilt; an upper closing element (26) attached to the main frame (10) in a position above the auxiliary frame (12); transverse locking panels (25) and an internal locking insert (57) protruding from the specified upper closing element (26); wherein the lateral and transverse locking panels (24, 25) form a foaming chamber configured to air-tightly enclose the refrigerator (18) in the upper position of the auxiliary frame (12); first control means (17) enabling the auxiliary frame (12) and the pallet (22) to be moved between the lower position and the upper position for, respectively, opening and closing the foaming chamber; moreover, the lateral supporting panels (24) are tilted by means of tilting levers (28) with sliding elements (30) arranged to move in the transverse direction relative to the auxiliary frame (12); and the second means (32, 33) of control, providing the possibility of adjustable free movement of the sliding elements (28) and the side supporting panels (24) between the retracted position and advanced position relative to the pallet (22); each swing arm (28) is pivotally connected to the sliding element (30) so as to provide inward rotation of the corresponding one of the side support panels (24) under the action of gravity in the upper position of the auxiliary frame (12) to close the foam chamber, each the swing arm (28) has a lower shoulder (34) for contact with the thrust element (35) so as to automatically cause an outward rotation of the corresponding lateral support panel (24) in the lower position of the auxiliary frame (12); sealing gaskets (46) located along all the peripheral edges of the side supporting panels (24) and configured to come into contact with the flat inner sealing surfaces of the pallet (22), transverse supporting panels (25) and an upper closing element (26) to close the chamber airtight manner in any extended position of the side support panels (24) when closing the foaming chamber; and removable open on one side of the rear box (47) on the support tray (22), made with the possibility of covering the mixing device (48) and connect it airtightly with the hollow walls of the refrigerator (18) in the position corresponding to the rear compartment (49) for the compressor the specified refrigerator (18). 2. The conductor device according to claim 1, comprising an internal auxiliary supporting panel (53) configured to move longitudinally relative to the transverse panel (25) along the foaming chamber, and control means (55, 56) for moving the internal supporting panel (53 ) between the retracted position and the extended positions relative to the specified transverse panel (25). 3. The conductor device according to claim 1 or 2, in which said sealing gaskets (46) are pressed inside the corresponding nests made on the four peripheral edges of each lateral supporting panel (24). 4. The conductor device according to any one of paragraphs. 1-3, in which the indicated gaskets (46) are arranged so as to allow free adjustment of the distance between the specified side supporting panels (24) according to the dimensions of the cabinet to be foamed (18), while providing a hermetically sealed configuration of the specified chamber foaming made with the possibility of placing the specified cabinet (18). 5. The conductor device according to any one of paragraphs. 1-4, further containing an annular gasket (49), providing proper sealing between the injection tube of the specified mixing device (48) and the hole made in the outer shell (19) of the refrigerator (18).

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