MULTI-WALLED PLATE MATERIAL AND FILTER TAPE

Abstract

 Multi-walled plate material comprises a set of in particular at least translucent plate bodies (10,20) which are spatially separated from each other by successive separating bodies (15) while enclosing a series of cavity channels (30). The cavity channels debouch at an end surface (25) of the set of plate bodies (10,20). A ventilating but substantially dust-tight filter tape (40) is arranged over the end surface (25) and closes the cavity channels (30) in dust-tight but ventilating manner. The filter tape (40) comprises for this purpose a dust-tight but ventilating base on which a discontinuous covering (51..53) is provided which closes the base locally in at least substantially fully airtight manner. The covering features a characteristic coding (51) which is able and configured to identify the filter tape uniquely according to an origin and/or a destination.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to multi-walled plate material comprising a set of in particular at least translucent plate bodies which are spatially separated from each other by successive separating bodies while enclosing a series of cavity channels which debouch at an end surface of the set of plate bodies, wherein a ventilating but substantially dust-tight filter tape is arranged over the end surface and closes the cavity channels in dust-tight but ventilating manner, wherein the filter tape comprises a dust-tight but ventilating base and is provided with a discontinuous covering which closes the base locally in at least substantially airtight manner.

[0002] Such plate material normally constructed from transparent or at least translucent plate bodies is applied on large scale in canopies, conservatories and light corridors, wherein the entry of sunlight is desirable. The cavity channels provide here for a thermal insulation between opposite sides of the plate material. Because of the translucent nature of the plate material an accretion of dirt or growth of micro-organisms, such as algae and fungi, in the cavity channels is visually discernible from outside. In order to prevent this the entry of a breeding ground therefor in the form of airborne dust must be countered as far as possible, while a certain degree of ventilation of the cavity channels nevertheless has to be maintained in order to prevent condensation and to enable drainage from the cavity channels of condensation moisture which may be present. For this purpose the outer ends of the cavity channels are therefore closed in dust-tight but ventilating manner with the described filter tape.

[0003] Transparent and translucent plate material is relatively expensive and of a relatively vulnerable nature. Mechanical stresses can occur and be concentrated therein due to temperature fluctuations, whereby in the extreme case breakage occurs. The filter tape must also be arranged with care in order to ensure the filtering action thereof. If after a period of time there is found to be a hidden defect here, it is important to be able to hold to account the manufacturer of the plate material and/or the supplier of the plate bodies. This is found to be difficult in practice however because the origin of the plate material incorporated in a canopy or building, once it has been placed, can often not be determined with certainty. The present invention has for its object, among others, to provide a multi-walled plate material, the origin of which can still be determined unambiguously even after processing and also after a period of time.

[0004] In order to achieve the stated objective the multi-walled plate material of the type described in the preamble has the feature according to the invention that the covering features a characteristic coding which is able and configured to identify the filter tape uniquely according to an origin. Although the origin of the plate material per se cannot be identified, or hardly so, the covering with which the base has been provided thus fulfils the dual function of regulating the final degree of ventilation of the filter tape and uniquely identifying the tape, and thereby the purchaser of the tape who incorporated it into the plate material. This manufacturer can hereby be found quickly and with certainty even after a period of time.

[0005] In a preferred embodiment the plate material according to the invention is characterized here in that the covering comprises a visually discernible imprint, in particular a digital imprint, with an at least partially curing liquid, in particular a printing ink or polymer resin. Although use can also be made of other techniques, such as for instance calendering and screen-printing, a digital printing technique has the advantage that in-line changeover from a one coding to another is hereby possible quickly and without interruption during production of the filter tape. A batch number can for instance be coded relatively easily as such in the covering, or a (trade mark) sign of the purchaser, after which a desired length of the filter tape is finally detached from a greater length.

[0006] A particular embodiment of the plate material has the feature according to the invention that the base comprises a non-woven sheet, in particular a non-woven sheet of polyester fibres. Through a suitable setting of process parameters such a sheet can be embodied in a suitable density so that it possesses the desired filtering but ventilating properties, while a biologically as well as mechanically stable carrier is thereby also provided. A practical embodiment of the plate material according to the invention has the feature here that the filter tape is wrapped round the end surface of the plate material and adhered with a back side to opposite sides of the plate material.

[0007] The invention also relates to a filter tape for application with the plate material described in the preamble. According to the present invention the filter tape comprises for this purpose a ventilating but substantially dust-tight base which is locally closed at least substantially airtightly by a covering which features a characteristic coding which is able and configured to identify the filter tape uniquely according to an origin and/or a destination.

[0008] A particular embodiment of the filter tape is characterized here according to the invention in that the base comprises a non-woven sheet and the covering comprises an imprint with an at least partially cured liquid, in particular a printing ink or polymer resin. Such a covering can for instance be applied in a desired form by means of a digital printing technique, such as ink-jetting. This provides on the one hand for a local closing of the filter tape, and thus for regulation of the average degree of ventilation, and on the other for the characteristic coding by which the filter tape can later be identified and uniquely traced in the production chain.

[0009] It is possible to already allow for this later traceability during production of the filter tape. A particular embodiment of the filter tape has for this purpose the feature according to the invention that the covering features a first coding in a first longitudinally continuous segment of the filter tape and features at least one further coding in at least one further longitudinally continuous segment. The first coding and the further coding are each able and configured to identify the relevant segment part of the filter tape in unique manner according to a respective first and further origin and/or a respective first and further destination. Following production these parts are separated from each other and each packed separately and delivered to their destination.

[0010] A further particular embodiment of the filter tape is characterized here according to the invention in that the filter tape is provided at least locally on a back side with a glue track, in particular on opposite longitudinal sides, and that the filter tape is provided on a front side with a coating which prevents an adhesion to the glue track but maintains the ventilation of the filter tape, wherein the filter tape is wound into a roll. The coating thus avoids adhesion between successive windings of the roll.

[0011] For this purpose a separate layer can be arranged or be provided therein by the covering which according to the invention also carries the coding. Use can be made herefor in both cases of a suitable printing technique, such as digital printing in particular. The covering is preferably also applied according to the invention as such an anti-adhesive coating in order to thereby economize on a separate process step.

[0012] The invention will be further elucidated hereinbelow on the basis of an exemplary embodiment and an associated drawing. In the drawing:

Figure 1

is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of plate material according to the invention;

Figure 2

shows a visible side of an exemplary embodiment of filter tape according to the invention as applicable in the plate material of figure 1; and

Figure 3

shows a back side of the filter tape of figure 2.

[0013] It is otherwise noted that the figures are purely schematic and not always drawn to (the same) scale. Some dimensions in particular may be exaggerated to greater or lesser extent for the sake of clarity. Corresponding parts are designated in the figures with the same reference numeral.

[0014] The plate material shown in figure 1 comprises a first plate body 10 and a second plate body 20 held at a distance from each other by a set of separating bodies 15. Formed here between separating bodies 15 is a system of cavity channels 30 which debouches at an end surface 25 of the plate material. In this embodiment use is made of a translucent or transparent plastic such as polycarbonate (PC) or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) for separating bodies 15 and the two plate bodies. These materials are also referred to under their commercial brand names, Lexan® and Perspex® respectively. The plate material is hereby transparent as such, and such plate material is therefore applied on a wide scale for light corridors, canopies, carports and the like, where entry of sunlight is desired.

[0015] In order to prevent fouling of cavity channels 30 a filter tape 40 is arranged over the end surface. This filter tape 40 is dust-tight but allows a controlled measure of ventilation. Dust particles and pollen, which could otherwise form a breeding ground for the growth of micro-organisms and result in staining in the cavity channels, are as a result excluded from the cavity channels. Moisture and water vapour can however pass through the filter tape so that drainage of condensation which may occur in the cavity channels remains possible.

[0016] Use is made in this embodiment of a filter tape 40 in the form of stable non-woven carrier sheet of polyester. Use is preferably made here of a hydrophilic sheet or mesh so as to further enhance expulsion of moisture from cavity channels 30. On a back side the tape 40 comprises a glue track 41 on opposite longitudinal sides, see also figure 3. The tape is folded over end surface 25 and adhered with these glue tracks 41 to opposite free surfaces of plate material 1. Arranged on a front side of the tape, see figure 2, so as to regulate the final degree of ventilation is a covering 51-53 which fully closes the pores, channels or other openings in filter tape 40 at this position. In this embodiment the covering is arranged for this purpose with a digital printing technique and the covering comprises a suitable ink or polymer resin which later cures at least partially in air or under the influence of radiation (UV) or heat.

[0017] In order to enable later identification of origin of the plate material in the production chain, the filter tape carries according to the invention a characteristic coding (51..53). This coding is arranged in the covering here and comprises for instance a visually discernible mark of origin, such as for instance a brand logo or brand name (51) of the manufacturer of the plate material as unique identification of origin. A characteristic pattern (52), a batch number (53) or other unique identification can in addition or instead be featured in visually recognizable manner in or by the covering, see figure 2. The digital printing technique applied here, such as for instance ink jetting, allows the possibility during production of tape 40 of on-the-fly transition to different coding intended for a different customer, after which a respective portion intended for this customer is then separated from a greater length of filter tape while the remaining part of the filter tape is intended for one or more other customers or batches. Following this printing operation the covering will thus feature a first coding 51 in a first longitudinally continuous segment of the filter tape and feature at least one further coding 52,53 in at least one further longitudinally continuous segment, as for instance also shown in figure 2. The first coding and the further coding are each able and configured here to identify the filter tape uniquely according to a respective first and further origin and/or a respective first and further destination. The separate and/or successive longitudinal segments can subsequently be detached from the tape and be further processed individually subject to their destination.

[0018] Tape 40 can be wound into a roll. In order to avoid successive windings adhering to each other as a result of the presence of the two glue tracks, an imprint 42 can be provided on the front side which prevents adhesion to the glue track while maintaining the ventilation of the filter tape. This imprint can already be formed by the covering 51..52 or arranged separately thereover, for instance locally on the edge or over the full surface, for instance by spray-coating, ink-jetting or screen-printing. The coding imprint 51-53 is preferably also applied as such an anti-adhesion coating in order to thereby economize on a separate process step.

[0019] Although the invention has been further elucidated above on the basis of only a single exemplary embodiment, it will be apparent that the invention is by no means limited thereto. On the contrary, many variations and embodiments are still possible within the scope of the invention for a person with ordinary skill in the art.

[0020] Use is thus made in the exemplary embodiment of a covering in the form of an imprint featuring the unique coding. The covering provided according to the invention in or on the filter tape can instead also be arranged therein thermally, by local melting, or mechanically by local compression, of the material of the filter tape.

Claims

1. Multi-walled plate material comprising a set of in particular at least translucent plate bodies which are spatially separated from each other by successive separating bodies while enclosing a series of cavity channels which debouch at an end surface of the set of plate bodies, wherein a ventilating but substantially dust-tight filter tape is arranged over the end surface and closes the cavity channels in dust-tight but ventilating manner, wherein the filter tape comprises a dust-tight but ventilating base and is provided with a discontinuous covering which closes the base locally in at least substantially fully airtight manner, characterized in that the covering features a characteristic coding which is able and configured to identify the filter tape uniquely according to an origin.

2. Multi-walled plate material as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the covering comprises a visually discernible imprint, in particular a digital imprint, with an at least partially curing liquid, in particular a printing ink or polymer resin.

3. Multi-walled plate material as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the base comprises a non-woven sheet, in particular a non-woven sheet of polyester fibres.

4. Multi-walled plate material as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the filter tape is wrapped round the end surface of the plate material and adhered with a back side to opposite sides of the plate material.

5. Filter tape of the type as applicable for the plate material as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising a ventilating but substantially dust-tight base which is locally closed in at least substantially airtight manner by a covering which features a characteristic coding which is able and configured to identify the filter tape uniquely according to an origin and/or a destination.

6. Filter tape as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the base comprises a non-woven sheet and the covering comprises an imprint with an at least partially cured liquid, in particular a printing ink or polymer resin.

7. Filter tape as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the covering features a first coding in a first longitudinally continuous segment of the filter tape and features at least one further coding in at least one further longitudinally continuous segment.

8. Filter tape as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the first coding and the further coding are each able and configured to identify the filter tape in unique manner according to a respective first and further origin and/or a respective first and further destination.

9. Filter tape as claimed in claim 5, 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the filter tape is provided at least locally on a back side with a glue track, in particular on opposite longitudinal sides, and that the filter tape is provided on a front side with an imprint which prevents adhesion to the glue track but maintains ventilation of the filter tape.

10. Filter tape as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the covering featuring a characteristic coding forms the covering which prevents adhesion to the glue track but maintains ventilation of the filter tape.

11. Filter tape as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the filter tape is wound into a roll.

Drawing