Method and apparatus for the production of honeycombs for beekeeping

• US 6,358,340 B2
• Filed: 06/25/1998
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Breat SL
• Original Assignee: Breat SL
• Inventors: Ferrer Vidal, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Aftergut, Jeff H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CORCORAN, GLADYS JOSEFINA-PIA
• Application Number:
  US09/104,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20010002611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 449/17, 449/92, 449/44, 449/58, 449/60, 156/61, 156/152, 156/197, 156/245, 156/264, 156/292, 156/309.6, 156/308.2, 264/313, 264/213, 264/214, 264/216, 264/177.12, 264/212, 425/115, 425/116, 425/224, 425/262, 425/371
• US Class Current: 156/61
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 47/04 Artificial honeycombs
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 43/222 characterised by the shape of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 67/241 Moulding wax

Abstract

The method comprises a first step of applying liquid wax to a mold formed by a plurality of projections conjugate with the cells of the honeycomb in a manner such that the filling of the spaces of the mold with molten wax is complemented by the formation of an upper plate interconnecting the various cells, then proceeding with the molding of the half honeycomb and subsequent cooling to enable the half honeycomb to be removed from the mold. The apparatus has two parallel, endless belts separated by a space slightly larger than the height of a half honeycomb and driven in a manner such that the adjacent passes have the same speed and direction of movement, a mold constituted by a plurality of rows of silicone projections of a shape conjugate with the cells being fitted on one of the belts.

Claims

1. A method for the production of a single honeycomb for beekeeping including half honeycombs, comprising the steps of:

applying liquid wax to a mold formed by a plurality of projections directly mounted to and protruding from a first endless belt, adjacent projections being separated from one another at their point of attachment to the first endless belt so as to define spaces therebetween in which the liquid wax is received, the projections being deflected independently of each other as the first endless belt travels around a roller, the mold being made of a flexible material displaceable upon the application of a force and the projections being shaped so as to conjugate with cells of the half honeycomb in a manner such that the filling of spaces of the mold with the applied liquid wax is complimented by forming an upper plate interconnecting the cells by a second endless belt arranged parallel to the first endless belt and moving in the same direction, cooling the applied liquid wax to enable the half honeycomb to be removed from the mold by virtue of the resilience of the projections of the mold.

2. A method according to claim 1, prior to applying the liquid wax, further comprising adding to the liquid wax a small proportion of water which is replaced periodically as it is used up.

3. A method according to claim 1, after cooling the applied liquid wax, further comprising locally heating the upper plate of the half honeycomb to promote its separation from the second endless belt.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising coupling of two half honeycombs arranged back-to-back with the cells extending in opposite directions.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising producing the half honeycomb as a continuous strip.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising cutting said strip at preselected intervals.

7. A method for the production of a half honeycomb for beekeeping, comprising the steps of:

applying a liquid wax to mold made of a flexible material displaceable upon the application of a force and formed by a plurality of projections directly mounted to and protruding from a first endless belt, adjacent projections being separate from one another at their point of attachment to the first endless belt so as to define spaces therebetween in which the liquid wax is received, the projections being deflected independently of each other as the first endless belt travels around a roller, the projections being shaped so as to conjugate with cells of the half honeycomb;

providing an upper plate interconnecting the cells; and

forming the upper plate, resilience of the projections of the mold enabling the half honeycomb to be removed from the mold.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the upper plate is formed by a second endless belt arranged parallel to a first endless belt having a plurality of projections.