IP Library › Granted Patent US 12679020
Granted Patent B2
US 12679020 · App. 18/060,770 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Panel and method of producing a panel

Inventors: Thomas Luc Martine Baert (Sint-Martens-Latem, BE); Tom Van Poyer (Jiaxing, CN); Sven Boon (Jiaxing, CN)
Assignee: Champion Link International Corporation
B29C59/04B29C33/026B29C59/002B29K2905/12B29L2007/002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12679020
App. No.
18/060,770
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a belt roller system for applying a surface structure in a floor panel or wall panel, said system comprising at least one upper endless belt and at least one lower endless belt, wherein each belt is rotatable around at least two pulleys, and at least one drive unit for rotating the upper endless belt and/or the lower endless belt. At least part of the upper endless belt comprises a surface structure and/or at least part of the lower endless belt comprises a surface structure. The upper endless belt and the lower endless belt are positioned substantially parallel to each other such that a panel can be transported between the upper endless belt and the lower endless belt such that the surface structure of the upper endless belt and/or the surface structure of the lower endless belt is transferred into the panel upon transport of the panel between said upper endless belt and said lower endless belt.

Claims (18)

1 . A belt roller system for applying a surface structure in a floor panel or wall panel, said system comprising:

at least one upper endless belt and at least one lower endless belt, wherein each belt is rotatable around at least two pulleys,

at least one drive unit for rotating the upper endless belt and/or the lower endless belt,

wherein at least part of the upper endless belt comprises a surface structure and/or wherein at least part of the lower endless belt comprises a surface structure,

wherein the upper endless belt and the lower endless belt are positioned substantially parallel to each other such that a panel can be transported between the upper endless belt and the lower endless belt such that the surface structure of the upper endless belt and/or the surface structure of the lower endless belt is transferred into the panel upon transport of the panel between said upper endless belt and said lower endless belt, and

at least one cooling unit configured for cooling at least part of a surface of the panel via the upper endless belt and/or lower endless belt, while the panel is between said upper endless belt and said lower endless belt,

wherein the surface structure of the upper endless belt and/or the lower endless belt comprises a plurality of protrusions and recessions, wherein a height difference between at least part of the protrusions and recessions is at least 1 mm, and

wherein a length over which the upper endless belt and the lower endless belt are positioned substantially parallel to each other is at least 30 cm or at least 50 cm.

2 . The belt roller system according to claim 1 , wherein one of the upper endless belt and the lower endless belt comprises a surface structure and wherein the other comprises a substantially smooth surface.

3 . The belt roller system according to claim 1 , wherein an average diameter of at least part of the protrusions is at least 1 mm.

4 . The belt roller system according to claim 1 , wherein the surface structure of the upper endless belt and/or the surface structure of the lower endless belt comprises a repeated pattern.

5 . The belt roller system according to claim 1 , wherein the surface structure of the upper endless belt and/or the surface structure of the lower endless belt defines a cell pattern and/or a grid pattern.

6 . The belt roller system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper endless belt and the lower endless belt are made from a material chosen from steel, stainless steel, chilled cast iron, or combinations thereof.

7 . The belt roller system according to claim 5 , wherein at least part of the surface of at least one endless belt comprises a chrome surface, a plasma treated surface and/or a polytetrafluoroethylene surface, or a combination thereof.

8 . The belt roller system according to claim 1 , wherein the length over which the upper endless belt and the lower endless belt are positioned substantially parallel to each other is in the range of 30 to 100 cm.

9 . The belt roller system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the panel first enters an opening between the upper endless belt and the lower endless belt at an initial temperature; and

the at least one cooling unit is configured to cool the panel to a temperature below the initial temperature, while the panel is between the upper endless belt and the lower endless belt.