"PLANT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF INSULATING PANELS FOR VEHICLES SUITABLE FOR FOOD TRANSPORTATION, PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF INSULATING PANELS FOR VEHICLES SUITABLE FOR FOOD TRANSPORTATION AND PANELS MADE BY THE SAID METHOD"

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The present invention relates to a plant for the production of insulating panels for vehicles suitable for food transportation.

The present invention also relates to a process for the production of insulating panels for vehicles suitable for food transportation.

The present invention also relates to insulating panels for vehicles suitable for food transportation made by the above method.

The production of insulating panels suitable for lining vans or other vehicles suitable for food transportation is currently done by initially spreading a layer of wax over a negative mold - this layer of wax is then useful at the end of the process, to help the panel detach from the mold.

A layer of gelcoat spray is then deposited on the mold, so as to create a smooth and compact surface layer, protecting the panel while imparting a glossy characteristic. This layer is also intended to make the panel suitable for food transportation.

An additional layer, consisting of glass fiber and polymer resin, is then deposited on, for example by Spray Lay Up process. Basically, finely chopped fiberglass is sprayed inside the mold together with a resin, until the desired thickness is achieved.

After the resin deposition is finished, rollers are used so as to manually equalize the thickness in all areas of the panel.

After the polymer curing time has elapsed, the mold is closed with a counter mold to give the desired shape to the back of the panel made of polyurethane. For this purpose, polyurethane in liquid form is injected from a single point and allowed to cure for a predetermined time.

The last step is to open the mold and extract the part.

The Applicant first notes that this type of process comprises a considerable number of steps performed manually. This inevitably entails the possibility of inaccuracies and errors, as well as the inherent non-repeatability of the process itself. From a practical standpoint, one of the consequences is the production of manufactured artiche of inconsistent quality and shape. In addition, by injecting the polyurethane at a single point, the distribution of the polyurethane itself cannot be controlled in a punctual manner, resulting in an inhomogeneous product. To this must be added the fact that the curing temperature is not controlled; in fact, the molds are not thermoregulated. In addition, the Applicant notes that the materials used cannot be recycled, with obvious economic and environmental consequences; the materials used usually can also cause health problems for the workers in charge if they do not take adequate safety/protection measures.

Finally, returning to the topic of the preponderance of manual type operations, it is evident that by employing the known type methods, a single operator can only work on one panel at a time.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a plant and a method, as well as an insulating panel, that can solve the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Specifically, according to a first aspect, it is an object of the present invention a plant for the production of insulating panels for vehicles suitable for food transportation.

Preferably, said plant comprises a thermoforming station.

Preferably, the thermoforming station comprises an automated loading organ.

Preferably, the automated loading organ is configured to pick up a sheet material from a loading position and place said material in an operating position.

Preferably, said material is a plastic material comprising one or more of: Polystyrene (PS), High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS), Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS), Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), Polypropylene (PP), Polyvinylchloride (PVC), and the like.

Preferably, the thermoforming station comprises a pair of heating walls.

Preferably, each heating wall is pilotable between a distal position and a proximal position relative to said operating position.

Preferably, the thermoforming station comprises a motorized mold.

Preferably, the motorized mold is configured to be brought to said operating position in order to thermoform said sheet material.

Preferably, the thermoforming station comprises a pressure system.

Preferably, the pressure system is configured to operate on said operating position so that said thermoforming takes place in a vacuum condition. As the heated sheet softens, it may sag in the center due to the weight, which is why the pressure at the bottom of the sheet is increased. To do this, the thermoforming machine box must be vacuum-tight. Preferably, there is a system that controls the pressure difference between the bottom and the top of the sheet. Preferably, the vacuum (or better the air suction phase) is when the mold is approached, to make the sheet adhere to the mold itself.

Preferably, said thermoforming station is configured to deliver thermoformed sheets as an output to obtain thermoformed panels.

Preferably, said thermoformed panels comprise at least a first thermoformed panel and a second thermoformed panel. From a single sheet, from 1 to N thermoformed panels can be obtained depending on the size of the panels. Preferably, the thermoforming mold has a maximum size of 5100 x 2300 mm (as the raw material sheets).

Preferably, the plant comprises a trimming station.

Preferably, the trimming station comprises an automated cutting organ for separating said thermoformed panels from each other and/or trimming edges of said thermoformed panels.

Preferably, said trimming station comprises a swarf suction equipment.

Preferably, the plant comprises a tilting and cleaning station.

Preferably, the tilting and cleaning station comprises a robotic organ to perform a tilting of said thermoformed panels.

Preferably, the tilting and cleaning station comprises a cleaning organ, to remove by aspiration waste material.

Preferably, said tilting and cleaning station is interposed between the trimming station and the storage bays.

Preferably, the plant comprises one or more storage bays.

Preferably, storage bays are interposed between the tilting station and the foaming station.

Preferably, there is a handling organ that picks up the panels from the tilting station and lays them in the storage bay; the storage bays can move horizontally and vertically to approach the arm of the handling organ.

Preferably, said plant comprises a foaming station.

The foaming station comprises an area used for loading and unloading moving planes and a press area.

There can be, for example, 3 presses, and the foaming process can be carried out on all 3 presses independently.

Preferably, the foaming station comprises a bottom plate for each press.

Preferably, the foaming station comprises an intermediate plate for each press.

Preferably, the foaming station comprises a top plate for each press.

Preferably, for each press, the configuration is as follows:

Preferably, the bottom plate extends substantially according to a horizontal plane.

Preferably, the intermediate plate extends substantially according to a horizontal plane.

Preferably, the top plate extends substantially according to a horizontal plane.

Foaming molds are mounted on these plates.

Preferably, the intermediate plate is configured to accommodate thermoformed panels derived from a first sheet.

Preferably, the bottom plate is configured to accommodate thermoformed panels derived from a second sheet, thermoformed later than the first.

Preferably, the foaming station comprises a foaming organ. Preferably, the foaming organ is configured to perform foaming on the thermoformed panels derived from a first sheet housed in the intermediate plate, obtaining foamed thermoformed panels derived from a first sheet.

Preferably, the foaming organ is configured to perform foaming on the thermoformed panels derived from a second sheet housed in the bottom plate, obtaining foamed thermoformed panels derived from a second sheet.

Preferably, the foaming station comprises handling organs.

Preferably, the handling organs are active on the bottom plate.

Preferably, the handling organs are active on the intermediate plate.

Preferably, the foaming station comprises a control unit.

Preferably, said control unit is configured to control said handling organs so that the intermediate plate is moved to a loading zone, where it receives the thermoformed panels resulting from the first sheet.

Preferably, said control unit is configured to control said handling organs so that after the thermoformed panels derived from the first sheet have been foamed, the intermediate plate is returned to the operating area.

Preferably, said control unit is configured to control said handling organs so that, after the thermoformed panels derived from the first sheet have been foamed and returned to the operating area, the intermediate plate is moved against the top plate, forming the mold for the foamed thermoformed panels derived from the first sheet.

Preferably, said control unit is configured to control said handling organs so that the bottom plate is moved to a loading zone, where it receives the thermoformed panels derived from the second sheet. Preferably, said control unit is configured to control said handling organs so that, after the thermoformed panels derived from the second sheet have been foamed, the bottom plate is returned to the operating area.

Preferably, said control unit is configured to control said handling organs so that after the thermoformed panels derived from the second sheet have been foamed and returned to the operating area, the bottom plate is moved against the intermediate plate, forming the mold for the foamed thermoformed panels derived from the second sheet.

According to a second aspect, it is an object of the invention a process for the production of insulating panels for vehicles suitable for food transportation.

Preferably, the process comprises picking, by meas of an automated loading organ, a sheet material from a loading position and placing said material in an operating position.

Preferably, said material is a plastic material comprising one or more of: Polystyrene (PS), High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS), Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS), Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), Polypropylene (PP), Polyvinylchloride (PVC), and the like.

Preferably, the process comprises heating said sheet material.

Preferably, the process comprises bringing, at said operating position, a motorized mold.

Preferably, the process comprises performing a thermoforming of said sheet material.

Preferably, said thermoforming is performed under a controlled pressure condition.

As the heated sheet softens, it may sag in the middle area due to the weight, which is why the pressure at the bottom of the sheet is increased. To do this, the thermoforming machine box must be vacuum-tight. Preferably, there is a system that controls the pressure difference between the bottom and the top of the sheet. Preferably, the vacuum (or better the air suction phase) is when the mold is approached, to make the sheet adhere to the mold itself.

Preferably, one or more thermoformed panels are obtained from a single sheet because the molds of the thermoforming machine and presses contain the "impression" of one or more panels per mold. From a single sheet, N thermoformed panels can be obtained (depends on the size of the panels), the thermoforming mold has a maximum size of, for example, 5100 x 2300 mm, as the raw material sheets.

Preferably, the process comprises a cutting and/or trimming operation to cut and/or trim said thermoformed panels.

Preferably, the process comprises an at least partial swarf suction operation during said cutting and/or trimming operation.

Preferably, the process comprises a tilting operation of the thermoformed panels.

Preferably, the process comprises a cleaning operation performed on said thermoformed panels to remove by aspiration waste material.

Preferably, the tilting operation is temporally interposed between the cutting and/or trimming operation and the storage in the bays operation.

Preferably, the process comprises storing, at storage bays, the thermoformed panels before performing the foaming operation.

Preferably, the process comprises activating automated handling organs to pick up thermoformed panels from storage bays and supplying them as an input to a foaming station for performing the foaming operation.

Preferably, the process comprises preparing a bottom plate for each of the 3 presses.

Preferably, the process comprises preparing an intermediate plate for each of the 3 presses.

Preferably, the process comprises preparing a top plate for each of the 3 presses.

Preferably, the bottom plate of each press extends substantially according to a horizontal plane. Preferably, the intermediate plate of each press extends substantially according to a horizontal plane. Preferably, the top plate of each press extends substantially according to a horizontal plane. Preferably the process for each press is the same.

Preferably, the process comprises housing the thermoformed panels derived from the first sheet in the intermediate plate.

Preferably, loading of the thermoformed panels derived from the first sheet in the intermediate plate takes place in a loading zone.

Preferably, the process comprises performing a foaming of the thermoformed panels derived from the first sheet, obtaining foamed thermoformed panels derived from the first sheet.

Preferably, the process comprises bringing the intermediate plate into contact with the top plate, forming a mold for the foamed thermoformed panels derived from the first sheet.

Preferably, the intermediate plate is brought into contact with the top plate in an operating zone (press zone).

Preferably, the process comprises housing the thermoformed panels derived from the second sheet in the bottom plate.

Preferably, loading of the thermoformed panels derived from the second sheet in the bottom plate takes place in a loading zone.

Preferably, the process comprises performing a foaming of the thermoformed panels derived from the second sheet, obtaining foamed thermoformed panels derived from the second sheet.

Preferably, the process comprises bringing the bottom plate into contact with the intermediate plate, forming a mold for the thermoformed panels resulting from the second foamed plate.

Preferably, the bottom plate is brought into contact with the intermediate plate in the operating area (press area).

According to a third aspect, it is an object of the invention an insulating panel for vehicles suitable for food transportation, made by the above process.

According to a fourth aspect, it is an object of the invention a vehicle suitable for food transportation.

Preferably, the vehicle comprises a chassis.

Preferably, the vehicle comprises handling means associated with said chassis.

Preferably, the vehicle comprises a compartment for housing foddstuffs, mounted on said chassis.

Preferably, said compartment is delimited by one or more walls.

Preferably, said one or more walls comprises one or more of the above panels.

Preferably, said vehicle comprises a refrigeration system.

Preferably, said refrigeration system is associated with said compartment to maintain the same at a controlled temperature.

Further features and advantages will appear more from the detailed description of examples of embodiments of the invention provided below. The description will refer to the attached figures, also having illustrative purposes only and therefore not limiting, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a plant according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a block diagram of one station of the plant in Figure 1;

Figures 3a-3d show different operating configurations of the station in Figure 2;

Figures 4a-4b show different configurations of another station of the plant in Figure 1;

Figure 5 schematically shows a vehicle on which panels made through the plant in Figure 1 are used.

With reference to the attached figures, a plant for the production of insulating panels for vehicles suitable for food transportation according to the present invention has been collectively referred to as 1.

Plant 1 (Figure 1) comprises a thermoforming station 100.

Thermoforming station 100, as will become clearer later, acts for giving the panels the desired shape. Thermoforming station 100 comprises an automated loading organ 110, configured to pick up a sheet material 2 from a loading position P1 and place said material 2 in an operating position P2.

In more detail, a plurality of stacked sheets is initially placed at the loading position P1 . This operation can be performed either manually or in an automated manner. The automated loading organ 110, made, for example, as a set of automated motorized suction cups, picks up and positions the sheets, one at a time, on a horizontal translation carriage. The latter transfers each sheet to the operating position P2 so that it can undergo the thermoforming operation. The same moving carriage, once it arrives at the operating position, will then be loaded by the sheet thermoformed in the previous cycle. The latter, in particular, will be placed at the top of the carriage and then pulled out and transferred to an unloading area.

Sheet material 2 is a plastic material comprising one or more of: Polystyrene (PS), High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS), Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS), Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), Polypropylene (PP), Polyvinylchloride (PVC), and the like.

The thermoforming station 100 also comprises a pair of heating walls 120, each of which pilotable between a distal position PD and a proximal position PP relative to the operating position P2. In practice, each heating wall 120, through respective handling organ, is brought to the operating position P2 when a sheet is to be heated, to its own softening temperature, for thermoforming. For example, heating walls 120 are arranged horizontally, substantially parallel to the ground, and are moved horizontally, to be moved between the distal position PD and the proximal position PP.

Figure 4a shows schematically, according to a simplified side view, heating walls 120 in the proximal position PP, when sheet material 2 is in the operating position P2; Figure 4b shows schematically, according to a simplified side view, heating walls 120 in the distal position PD, when there is no sheet material in the operating position P2. In an embodiment, heating walls 120 are composed of quartz resistors mounted inside reflective dishes to increase the degree of radiation and to limit heat loss.

Preferably, heating walls 120 are equipped with an infrared pyrometer, which can read the temperature of the sheet so that the processing cycle can proceed once the set temperature has been reached.

The Applicant notes that the pyrometer saves time during machine start-up and allows the formed sheets to always be at the same temperature.

In an embodiment, the power output of each individual resistor or individual groups of resistors being part of the heating walls 120 can be adjusted. For example, the power of each individual resistor of the upper heating wall can be adjusted, while the adjustment of the lower heating wall resistors can be performed by pairs.

Advantageously, there is provision for the use of an energy monitoring technique, which can reduce electricity consumption when the heating walls are in the distal position PD.

Once the thermoforming temperature is reached (e.g., between 120°C and 230°C), the heating walls 120 are returned to the distal position PD a, around the material 2 being processed, a vacuum-tight environment is created.

Thermoforming station 100 comprises a motorized mold 130 that, at this point in the process, is moved to operating position P2 in order to thermoform sheet material 2.

Preferably, to prevent the softened sheet material 2 from collapsig under its own weight before the mold 130 arrives, the area below the material 2 itself is pressurized.

Using a pressure system 140, a vacuum condition is created around the operating position P2 (which, as mentioned, is at this point in a vacuum-tight environment) so that the sheet material 2 (previously softened by the heating walls 120) adheres to the motorized mold 130.

Once the material 2 has been thermoformed, it is taken out of the mold 130 and carried by the carriage to an unloading area.

In light of the above, it can be seen that thermoforming station 100 is configured to deliver thermoformed sheets 3 as output, from which a set of thermoformed panels 4 are then obtained.

Referring to Figure 1, an first unthermoformed sheet 2 is fed into the thermoforming station 100, which thermoforms sheet 2 to give a thermoformed sheet 3. The thermoformed sheet 3 is trimmed in trimming station 200 and tilted and cleaned in tilting and cleaning station 300.

We specify that thermoformed sheet 3 is a single sheet with two or more panels preformed. Thermoformed sheet 3 having, for example, three panel shapes is directed into trimming station 200 and made into three panels 41, 42 and 43.

The three panels 41, 42 and 43 together form a package or assembly of panels (called 4) that is directed to the tilting and cleaning station 300 where the three panels are precisely tilted and cleaned. Next, the package of, for example, the three panels 41, 42, and 43 is directed to storage bays 400 in stock.

At this point a new, non-thermoformed sheet 8 (not shown in Figure 1), having the same characteristics as sheet 2, is fed into the thermoforming station 100 and following all the operations described above comes to give a second package or assembly of panels (called 7), consisting of, for example, panels 71, 72 and 73 which is directed to the storage bay in stock.

In Figure 1 the thermoformed panel assembly 4 comprises at least a first thermoformed panel 41, a second thermoformed panel 42, and also a third thermoformed panel 43. It is reiterated that the number of panels of which the assembly is composed is determined by the size of the panels themselves, but we will for convenience refer to assemblies consisting, for example, of 3 panels. Preferably, downstream of the thermoforming station 100, a trimming station 200 is provided.

Trimming station 200 comprises an automated cutting organ 210 for separating thermoformed panels 41 ,42 and 43 from each other and/or trimming edges of said thermoformed panels 41 ,42 and 43.

Note that each thermoformed sheet may coincide with one thermoformed panel, or comprise a multiplicity of thermoformed panels. In the former case, trimming station 200 will be responsible for trimming the edges; in the latter case, trimming station 200 will also separate the various panels that are part of each thermoformed sheet.

In an embodiment, the trimming station 200 can comprise a 220 swarf suction equipment.

For example, a 5-axis CNC milling machine can be used for trimming.

Movement from the unloading area of thermoforming station 100 to trimming station 200 can be performed by a robotic arm.

Waste material is collected automatically and recycled.

In an embodiment, downstream from trimming station 200, and more generally downstream from thermoforming station 100, is a tilting and cleaning station 300.

From a practical point of view, at the end of the trimming performed in trimming station 200, thermoformed panels 41,42 and 43 are facing with the concave surface downward (in the case of a positive mold in a thermoforming machine) and machining swarf may still be present. Therefore, a cleaning and tilting operation should be carried out to facilitate subsequent storage and foaming operations. A pick-up system picks up thermoformed panels 41,42 and 43 from the trimming station 200 and deposits them in a hermetically sealed box. Thermoformed panels 41,42 and 43 are tilted with the help of a robotic arm equipped with grippers. During handling, the cleaning organ 320 (made, for example, as a suction system) removes residual swarf from the processing and excess material. Tilting and cleaning station 300 comprises a robotic organ 310 to perform a tilting of thermoformed panels 41,42 and 43; in practice, thermoformed panels 41,42 and 43 are rotated of 180° around a horizontal axis. The tilting and cleaning station 300 advantageously is also equipped with a cleaning organ 320 to suck up waste material from the thermoformed panel assembly 4 , and prevent such waste material (from previous processing) from interfering with the subsequent foaming operation.

Preferably, the tilting and cleaning station 300 is interposed between the trimming station 200 and the foaming station 500, which will be described later. Immediately after the tilting station 300 are the loading bays 400, after these is the foaming station 500.

In an embodiment, plant 1 comprises one or more storage bays 400 interposed between thermoforming station 100 and foaming station 500. More specifically, the storage bays 400 are interposed between the tilting and cleaning station 300 and the foaming station 500.

The storage bays 400 are equipped with automated handling organs 410 that allow each bay to move into position to accommodate the thermoformed panel assembly 4 that a robotic arm picks up from the tilting station 300.

The storage operation is useful because foaming (which will be described later) takes longer time than thermoforming/trimming/tilting operations.

For this purpose, at the exit of the tilting and cleaning station 300 the thermoformed panel assembly 4 is picked up by a pick-up system that lays it down in the assigned storage bay 400; the bay is automatically brought into position by a rail translation system. This system also allows the bay to translate along the vertical axis as well.

As mentioned above, plant 1 comprises a foaming station 500.

Foaming station 500 is located downstream of thermoforming station 100 and, more specifically, downstream of storage bays 400.

The foaming station 500 consists of 3 presses, each of the 3 presses comprises a bottom plate 510, an intermediate plate 520, and a top plate 530. Figures 2, 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d show the operation of only one press for convenience.

Each of the plates 510, 520, 530 extends substantially according to a horizontal plane.

Intermediate plate 520 is shaped on the top to accommodate the thermoformed panels 41-42-43 derived from a first sheet.

The top plate 530 is shaped inferiorly to form, in cooperation with the intermediate plate 520, a mold for thermoformed panels 41-42-43 derived from a first sheet after the latter have undergone the foaming operation.

The bottom plate 510 is shaped at the top to accommodate thermoformed panels 71-72-73 derived from a second sheet.

The intermediate plate 520 is shaped inferiorly to form, in cooperation with the bottom plate 510, a mold for thermoformed panels 71-72-73 derived from a second sheet, etc., after the latter have undergone the foaming operation. The foaming station 500 comprises a foaming organ 540, configured to perform foaming on the thermoformed panels 41-42-43 derived from a first sheet housed in the intermediate plate 520 and on the thermoformed panels 71-72-73 derived from a second sheet housed in the bottom plate 510. In this way, foamed thermoformed panels 4T-42'-43' derived from a first sheet and foamed thermoformed panels 7T-72'-73' derived from a second sheet are obtained, respectively.

In an embodiment, the foaming organ 540 consists of a dual-head foaming machine. One of the foaming heads is moved in an automated manner on a Cartesian manipulator, while the other has the option of being moved by an operator via a motorized cart. The head moved by the Cartesian manipulator is used for open-mold foaming (better described later), while the second is used for closed-mold foaming (should it be necessary, for example, in the case of so-called "sandwich panels").

Preferably, the foaming organ 540 also comprises two or more tanks to contain the substances necessary for foam formation. For example, polyol and isocyanate are stored in special steel tanks. These tanks are thermoregulated; in fact, there is a heating element in the jacket of the tank to heat a specific fluid in order to keep the reagents at a controlled temperature. From the tanks, the reagents are injected into a high-pressure dosing unit, using special recipes designed and recalled as needed. The reagents then pass into the high-pressure mixing heads where they are mixed so that foam (e.g., polyurethane) can be dispensed onto thermoformed panel assembly 4 and thermoformed panel assembly 7.

Foaming station 500 comprises, for each press, handling organs 550, active on bottom plate 510 and intermediate plate 520.

The bottom plate 510 is horizontally and vertically movable.

The intermediate plate 520 is horizontally and vertically movable.

In contrast, the top plate 530 is preferably fixed (e.g., mounted on a frame integral with the ground).

In an embodiment, each plate 510, 520, 530 is made of solid perforated steel.

Preferably, each plate 510, 520, 530 is heated with water, at a maximum temperature of about 70- 80° C and a maximum pressure of 10 about bar. The heating water flows inside the plates through special channels cut in the making of the plates themselves.

For horizontal movements, for example, carriages are provided; for vertical movement of the intermediate 520 and bottom 510 plate, a piston system is provided.

The foaming station 500 comprises a control unit 560, which is configured to control the handling organs 550 to carry out different steps within the foaming operation.

In more detail, for each of the 3 presses, plates 510, 520, 530 are initially found vertically aligned, as schematically shown in Figure 2. The zone where the plates are located in this configuration is identified as operating zone Z0. The intermediate plate 520 is moved from the operating zone Z0 to a loading zone Z1, where it receives thermoformed panels 41-42-43 derived from a first sheet (Figure 3a). This handling is preferably rectilinear and horizontal.

The intermediate plate 520, which at this point houses the thermoformed panels 41-42-43 derived from a first sheet, is moved back to the operating zone Z0. During this movement, the foaming organ 540 dispenses foam onto the thermoformed panels 41 -42-43derived from a first sheet.

When the intermediate plate 520 arrives at the operating zone Z0, the foaming operation of the thermoformed panels 41-42-43 derived from a first sheet is finished, and the foamed thermoformed panels 4T-42'-43' were thus obtained.

The intermediate plate 520 is then moved vertically so that it closes on the top plate 530 (Figure 3b). As mentioned, the cooperation between intermediate plate 520 and top plate 530 forms a mold for thermoformed foamed panels 4T-42'-43'. After a predetermined time has elapsed, the intermediate plate 520 is moved away from the top plate 530 and the finished product can be removed.

The bottom plate 510 is moved from the operating zone Z0 to the loading zone Z1 (Figure 3b). This handling is preferably straight and horizontal. Preferably, this handling occurs while intermediate plate 520 is returning from loading zone Z1 to operating zone Z0 and/or while intermediate plate 520 is in contact with top plate 530.

In the loading zone Z1, thermoformed panels 71-72-73 derived from a second sheet are loaded onto the bottom plate 510.

The bottom plate 510 is then returned to the operating zone Z0 (Figure 3c). During this movement, the foaming organ 540 performs the foaming operation on the thermoformed panels 71-72-73 derived from a second sheet. As mentioned, thermoformed foamed panels 7T-72'-73' were thus obtained.

Once the bottom plate 510 has returned to the operating zone Z0, the foaming of thermoformed panels 71-72-73 is finished.

The bottom plate 510 can then be moved vertically upward until it closes on the intermediate 520 plate and forms, as mentioned, a mold for the foamed thermoformed panels 71 '-72'-73' (Figure 3d). After a predetermined time has elapsed, the bottom plate510 is lowered and brought to the zone Z1, and the finished product can be unloaded.

Note that the foaming operation takes place in an open mold; in other words, foam is deposited on the entire surface of thermoformed panel assembly 4 and thermoformed panel assembly 7 by means of a moving head fixed on a Cartesian manipulator.

The Applicant notes that this solution allows for important advantages over processes belonging to the state of the art; the latter, in fact, typically involve foam injection from a single point with a closed mold, a technique with which, however, the foam is not able to homogeneously reach all areas of the manufactured article, both because of geometries that may present irregularities, and because as the polyurethane exits the injector head it begins to polymerize, increasing its viscosity and making its path to the furthest areas more difficult. In contrast, by injecting with an open mold, the foam is evenly deposited over the entire area of interest, and during polymerization the direction of expansion is mainly in height.

Advantageously, the foaming operation can be fully automated; the path, the amount of foam to be deposited and working parameters are pre-stored and recalled according to the specific operation to be performed.

Through plant 1 and the process carried out by it, insulating panels can be obtained.

Such panels can be conveniently used for vehicles suitable for food transportation.

For example, a vehicle 600 suitable for food transportation is schematized in Figure 5.

In a per se known manner, the vehicle 600 comprises a chassis 610, handling means 620 (engine, transmission, wheels, etc.) associated with the chassis 610, and a compartment 630 mounted on the chassis 610 itself.

Compartment 630 is configured for housing temperature-controlled foodstuffs. For this purpose, the vehicle 600 also comprises a refrigeration system 640, associated with the compartment 630, to mantain it at a controlled temperature.

The compartment 630 is delimited by one or more walls 631; such one or more walls may comprise or be formed by insulating panels made by plant 1 and the process carried out by it.

The invention achieves important benefits.

First, panels are made precisely, accurately, and repeatably by automating most of the operations performed.

Another advantage is that, by virtue of the technical solutions that are the objects of the invention, multiple sheets/panels can be processed substantially simultaneously, significantly increasing production efficiency.

In addition, open-mold foaming allows for a controlled and homogeneous distribution of foam, resulting in panels with homogeneous properties along their entire extension.

An additional advantage lies in the fact that the materials used are fully recyclable, which has obvious benefits in terms of production costs and environmental impact.