METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING HEAT INSULATING PANEL

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for manufacturing an inexpensive curved heat insulating panel which can improve productivity. SOLUTION: A heat insulating material 3 is arranged between two metal surface plates 1 and 2. By heating/pressing the surface plates 1 and 2 and the heat insulating material 3 by hot plates 5 and 6, the surface plates 1 and 2 and the heat insulating material 3 are curved and adhered to each other integrally. By forming the hot plates for heating/pressing the surface plates 1 and 2 from a metal plate, labour and time can be saved in manufacturing the hot plates 5 and 6 as compared with the case wherein a wood mold is used. Since the radius of curvature of the hot plates 5 and 6 formed from the metal plate can easily be changed, a prompt correspondence to the change of the radius of curvature of the heat insulating panel is made possible. Since the surface plates 1 and 2 and the heat insulating material 3 are adhered to each other while being heated and pressed, the curing of an adhesive can be accelerated. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO