CA1330703C - Method and apparatus for making paint rollers - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for making paint rollersInfo
- Publication number
- CA1330703C CA1330703C CA000609482A CA609482A CA1330703C CA 1330703 C CA1330703 C CA 1330703C CA 000609482 A CA000609482 A CA 000609482A CA 609482 A CA609482 A CA 609482A CA 1330703 C CA1330703 C CA 1330703C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- core
- fabric
- winding
- tubular
- strip
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000003973 paint Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 30
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title abstract description 9
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 82
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 45
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 239000004416 thermosoftening plastic Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 19
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 239000000853 adhesive Substances 0.000 abstract description 15
- 230000001070 adhesive effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 15
- 239000012815 thermoplastic material Substances 0.000 abstract description 5
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 11
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- -1 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000007795 chemical reaction product Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005242 forging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003345 natural gas Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05C—APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
- B05C17/00—Hand tools or apparatus using hand held tools, for applying liquids or other fluent materials to, for spreading applied liquids or other fluent materials on, or for partially removing applied liquids or other fluent materials from, surfaces
- B05C17/02—Rollers ; Hand tools comprising coating rollers or coating endless belts
- B05C17/0207—Rollers ; Hand tools comprising coating rollers or coating endless belts characterised by the cover, e.g. cover material or structure, special surface for producing patterns
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Coating Apparatus (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present invention provides an apparatus for manu-facturing a paint roller comprising an elongate support for a thermoplastic tubular core; means for winding a fabric strip over the tubular core in a helical path, said winding means including means for guiding the fabric strip to the tubular core at an angle to the axis of the core; and means for heat softening the surface of the core in the zone of the winding of the fabric strip around the core to fuse the fabric to the core; and means for causing relative movement between the winding means and the core in timed relation to the rotation of the elongate support, whereby the fabric strip is wound around the core in a tight helix, with consecutive windings of said strip being adjacent to one another to form an integral cover over said core. The pre-sent invention also provides a method for manufacture of a paint roller, comprising heat-softening the surface of a tubular core composed of thermoplastic material and applying a fabric cover to the heat-softened core while rotating said tubular core so as to cause said fabric to be fused to the core without an intermediate adhesive.
The present invention provides an apparatus for manu-facturing a paint roller comprising an elongate support for a thermoplastic tubular core; means for winding a fabric strip over the tubular core in a helical path, said winding means including means for guiding the fabric strip to the tubular core at an angle to the axis of the core; and means for heat softening the surface of the core in the zone of the winding of the fabric strip around the core to fuse the fabric to the core; and means for causing relative movement between the winding means and the core in timed relation to the rotation of the elongate support, whereby the fabric strip is wound around the core in a tight helix, with consecutive windings of said strip being adjacent to one another to form an integral cover over said core. The pre-sent invention also provides a method for manufacture of a paint roller, comprising heat-softening the surface of a tubular core composed of thermoplastic material and applying a fabric cover to the heat-softened core while rotating said tubular core so as to cause said fabric to be fused to the core without an intermediate adhesive.
Description
The present invention relates to a paint roller comprised of a tubular thermoplastic core and a fabric cover and a method and apparatus for the manufacture thereof. In accordance with the invention, the fabric cover is wound helically (in spiral form) over the plastic core and khe fabric cover and the plastic core are forged together, to form an integral body, by applying heat to the core.
This application is a divisional application of Canadian copending application No. 489,602 filed December 24, 1986.
In the manufacture of paint rollers as presently p~acticed, a tubular plastic or cardboard core is inserted lengthwise over a rotating cylinder or spindle. The fabric ~-cover, in the form of a tape or strip, is wound over the tubular core in a helical manner. This is done by feeding the fabric strip over the core from a guide oriented obliquely to the axis of the core and moving the guide lengthwise of the core in timed relation to the speed of rotation of the spindle. An adhesive is used to adhere the fabric strip to the core, and this type of device therefore requires both a supply of adhesive and apparatus for applying the adhesive material in the proper amounts to the fabric and/or the core.
The bonding of the fabric to the tubular core by use qf ~ -~
an adhesive presents several manufacturing problems resulting from the difficulty of consistently applying the adhesive in ~:
~'I' ~
proper doses. Also, a special adhesive must be used to produce the desired bond between the core and the fabric.
These disadvantages considerably increase the cost and complexity of manufacture of the paint rollers.
The present invention, therefore, provides a paint roller construction, and a method and apparatus for the manufacture thereof, that permits bonding of the fabric strip to the tubular core without the use of adhesives and the components required for the supply and measuring thereof.
The invention also provides a paint roller construction in which the fabric cover is heat bonded to a tubular thermoplastic core without requiring a separate adhesive material.
The invention again provides a paint roller construc- ;
tion, and a method and apparatus for the manufacture thereof, in which the fabric cover is integrally bonded to a tubular ;~
plastic core by heat-softening the core to fuse the cover thereto, to form a single unitary body.
According to the invention, the fabric cover strip is wound over a tubular thermoplastic core and by the fabric fused directly to the core, without the use of an adhesive, by applying heat to thelcore in the zone where the fabric~is . ~
wound thereon. Preferably, the heat source is located ;~
parallel to the plastic core in the region immediately -~
This application is a divisional application of Canadian copending application No. 489,602 filed December 24, 1986.
In the manufacture of paint rollers as presently p~acticed, a tubular plastic or cardboard core is inserted lengthwise over a rotating cylinder or spindle. The fabric ~-cover, in the form of a tape or strip, is wound over the tubular core in a helical manner. This is done by feeding the fabric strip over the core from a guide oriented obliquely to the axis of the core and moving the guide lengthwise of the core in timed relation to the speed of rotation of the spindle. An adhesive is used to adhere the fabric strip to the core, and this type of device therefore requires both a supply of adhesive and apparatus for applying the adhesive material in the proper amounts to the fabric and/or the core.
The bonding of the fabric to the tubular core by use qf ~ -~
an adhesive presents several manufacturing problems resulting from the difficulty of consistently applying the adhesive in ~:
~'I' ~
proper doses. Also, a special adhesive must be used to produce the desired bond between the core and the fabric.
These disadvantages considerably increase the cost and complexity of manufacture of the paint rollers.
The present invention, therefore, provides a paint roller construction, and a method and apparatus for the manufacture thereof, that permits bonding of the fabric strip to the tubular core without the use of adhesives and the components required for the supply and measuring thereof.
The invention also provides a paint roller construction in which the fabric cover is heat bonded to a tubular thermoplastic core without requiring a separate adhesive material.
The invention again provides a paint roller construc- ;
tion, and a method and apparatus for the manufacture thereof, in which the fabric cover is integrally bonded to a tubular ;~
plastic core by heat-softening the core to fuse the cover thereto, to form a single unitary body.
According to the invention, the fabric cover strip is wound over a tubular thermoplastic core and by the fabric fused directly to the core, without the use of an adhesive, by applying heat to thelcore in the zone where the fabric~is . ~
wound thereon. Preferably, the heat source is located ;~
parallel to the plastic core in the region immediately -~
~r J
forward of the point where the fabric is fed over the core.
The fabric is supplied to the core along a guide oriented obliquely to the core axis to wind the fabric over the axis in a helical path.
According to the invention disclosed in copending Canadian applica~ion No. 498,602 therefore there is provided in a paint roller including a tubular core and a fabric cover on said core, the improvement comprising the tubular core comprising a thermoplastic material; and the fabric cover being heat fused to the surface of the core by heat-softening said thermoplastic material without an intermediate adhesive.
Suitably the tubular core comprises polypropylene. Desirably the fabric cover is wound around the tubular core in a tight helical path.
According to the present invention there is provided an ~ `~
apparatus for manufacturing a paint roller comprising an -elongate support for a thermoplastic tubular core; means for winding a fabric strip over the tubular core in a helical path, said wind-~ ~
''11 '' ~ ~ ' ' i '"
, ~
- 2a -ing means including means for guiding the fabric strip to the tubular core at an angle to the axis of the core; and means for heat softening the surface of the core in the zone of the winding of the fabric strip around the core to fuse the fabric to the core; and means for causing relative movement between the winding means and the core in timed relation to the rotation of the elongate support, whereby the fabric strip is wound around the core in a tight helix, with consecutive windings of said strip being adjacent to one another to form an integral cover over said 10 Core.
In a particular aspect thereof the present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a paint roller, compri-sing means for supporting a thermoplastic tubular core, means for 15 heat softening the surface of the core; and means for winding a : `
fabric strip over the tubular core in a helical path in a zone heated by said heat softening means to fuse the fabric to the `
core, said winding means including means for guiding the fabric strip to the tubular core at an angle to the axis of the core, said guiding means including means for aligning the fabrlc strlp in a tight helix, with consecutive windings of sald strip being ad~acent to one another to form an integral cover over said core.
In another aspect thereof the present invention provi-des a paint roller manufacturing apparatus, sald paint roller having an integral thermoplastic core and a pile fabric cover comprised of an at least partlally thermoplastic backing, sald apparatus comprislng elongate support means for holdlng and rotatlng a thermoplastic tubular core in a generally constant ::
fixed axial position; said elongate support means lncluding means for engaging an lnternal surface of said tubular core to thereby support the core during holdlng and rotating; means for wlnding a fabric strip having a substantial wldth over the tubular core in a helical path, said winding means including means for guiding the fabric strip to the tubular core at a substantial angle to the axis of the core; and means for heat softening the surface of the core in the zone of the winding of the fabric strip around the core to fuse the fabric to the core; and means Por causing translational and rotative movement between the winding means and the core in timed relation to the rotation of the elongate ~upport, whereby the fabric strip is wound around the core in a tight helix, with consecutive windings of said strip being adjacent to one another to form an integral cover over said core.
In a further aspect thereof the invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a paint roller having a unitary thermoplastic core and a thermoplastic fabric cover, said apparatus comprising means for supporting and rotating a thermoplastic tubular core in a horizontal position by engaging an internal surface of said tubular core; means for heat-softening the surface of the core; and means for winding a fabric strip having substantial width over the tubular core in a helical path in a zone heated by said heat-softening means to fuse the Pabric to the core, said winding means including means for guiding the fabric strip to the tubular core at a substantial angle to the axis of the core, said ~;~
guiding means including means for aligning the fabr-c strip in a tight helix, with consecutive windings of said strip being adjacent to one another to form an integral cover over said core.
' !
In one embodiment of the present invention the means Por winding the fabric strip around the tubular core comprises ~.
means for rotating the elongate support; and means for moving - 4 - -~
,~, ~, , .
the guiding means parallel to the core axis. Suitably the heat-softening means comprises a heat source located immediately ahead of the zone of winding in the direction of movement of the guiding means; and means for moving the heat source in coordination with the movement of the guiding means. Desirably the means for moving the guiding means comprises a movable carriage; means for moving said carriage lengthwise of said tubular core; and means for mounting said guidir.g means on said carriage. Preferably said means for moving said carriage comprises a chain drive connected to said carriage. Suitably said means ~or moving said heat ~ -source comprises means for supporting said heat source on said carriage. Preferably the heat source extends over an elongated section of said tubular core.
The present invention also provides a method for manufacture of a paint roller, comprising heat-softening the surface of a tubular core composed of thermoplastic material and applying a fabric cover to the heat-softened core while rotating said tubular core so as to cause said fabric to be fused to the core without an intermediate adhesive.
In an embodiment of this aspect of the invention heat-softening means and fabric cover winding means are moved together relative to said tubular core. Suitably movement of -said tubular core and movement`of said heat-softening means and winding means are timed so as to cause said fabric to be ~' wound on said core in a tight helix.
The present invention will be further illustrated by way of the accompanying drawings, in whlch:-Fig. 1 iS a persp~ctive view of one embodiment of anapparatus for manufacture of the paint roller of the present invention;
Fig~ 2 iS a plan view o~ the apparatus of Flg. 1;
Fig. 3 iS a perspective view of a section of the fabric strip used in fabricating the paint roller of the invention;
Fig. 4 iS a perspective view of a section of a plastic tubular core used in fabricating the palnt roller of the inven-tion; and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the paint roller oE the invention, showing the lntegral forging of the fab~
rlc cover to the plastic core to form a unitary paint roller structure. -In the embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in Fig.s 1 and 2, a length of plastic tubular core stock 2 is inserted lengthwise over a spindle or cylinder 1. The plastic stock preferably comprlses polypropylene, but may be made of any suit-able thermoplastic material having the desired heat-bonding char-acteristics. As indicated in Fig. 2, the cylinder I is rotated (by a conventional means not shown) in the counterclockwise ~
direction so as to wind around the core 2 a fabric strip 3. The -;
fabric material ls shown in more detail in Fig. 3, and is in fact ;~
a conventional cover material for a paint roller.
The fabric strip 3 is fed to the core 2 by a guide 4 that is ad~ustably mounted on a carriage 5 so as to be oriented an an angle to the axis of the cylinder 1. The carriage 5 is moved paral~al to the cylinder 1 along a frame 10, on which it is ; movably supported in a conventlonal mannerO The movement of the - 6 - ;~
:~ ~
~.
carriage 5 is controlled by a chain drive ~. The speed of move-ment of the carriage 5 is timed relative to the speed of rotation of the cyllnder 1 so that the fabric strip 3 is wound on the plastic core 2 in a tight helix.
The fabric strip 3 ls fed to the guide from a supply (not shown) and preferably is of a standard width and thickness, as is known in the art. If desired, the walls of the guide 4 may be made adjustable to accommodate strips of different widths. A
hand wheel 12 is connected via a threaded shaft to a pressure pad 14 to apply a desired amount of pressure to the strip 3. This pressure serves to maintain the strip 3 under tension ~in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1), so that the strip will be wound tightly on the core 2. The carriage also includes a roller guide 16 which maintains the cylinder 1 and core 2 in the proper positional relationship to the guide 4.
As a feature of the invention no adhesive ls used to bond the fabric strip 3 to the core 2. Instead, a heat source 7 is positioned to soften the surface of the core 2 ~ust ln advance of the zone of winding of the strip on the core. The heat source 7 is preferably somewhat elongated in the direction of the axis of the core 2, and suitably comprises a manifold~like struc-ture for directing a series of flame ~ets agalnst the surface of the core. Any suitably fuel may be used, such as, for e~ample, natural gas. Alternatively, the heat source 7 may comprise an electrical, optl~al, or other type energy source. The heat source 7 is mounted on the carriage 5 for movement therewith ~;
along the length of the core 2. In this way, the surface of the core 2 in the zone of winding is heat-softened to the polnt that the fabric strlp 3 i5 fused thereto upon being wound over the core 2. The resulting structure 8, illustrated ln Fig. 5, is a paint roller in which the fabric strip and the plastic core have ln effect been fused into an integral unitary body.
The paint roller 8 of Fig. 5 may be used as a replace-,~
~ 7 ~
:--` 1 330703 .
ment element or it may be provided with end pieces and a handle to form a complete roller assembly.
The present invention thus affords a simple low cost method and apparatus of manufacture that obviates the aforemen-tioned problems of the prior art adhesive technique. The method and apparatus may therefore be readily set and practiced with only a comparatively small investment ln facilities and in per-sonnel training. Also, the paint roller of the invention is a lightweight, strong and very clean end product that ls free of the adhesive-related de~ects fou.nd in prior art paint rollers.
Although the invention has been described and illus-trated herein by reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that such embodiments are susceptable of modi-fication and variation without departing from the inventive con-cepts disclosed. :
~ :
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., ~
forward of the point where the fabric is fed over the core.
The fabric is supplied to the core along a guide oriented obliquely to the core axis to wind the fabric over the axis in a helical path.
According to the invention disclosed in copending Canadian applica~ion No. 498,602 therefore there is provided in a paint roller including a tubular core and a fabric cover on said core, the improvement comprising the tubular core comprising a thermoplastic material; and the fabric cover being heat fused to the surface of the core by heat-softening said thermoplastic material without an intermediate adhesive.
Suitably the tubular core comprises polypropylene. Desirably the fabric cover is wound around the tubular core in a tight helical path.
According to the present invention there is provided an ~ `~
apparatus for manufacturing a paint roller comprising an -elongate support for a thermoplastic tubular core; means for winding a fabric strip over the tubular core in a helical path, said wind-~ ~
''11 '' ~ ~ ' ' i '"
, ~
- 2a -ing means including means for guiding the fabric strip to the tubular core at an angle to the axis of the core; and means for heat softening the surface of the core in the zone of the winding of the fabric strip around the core to fuse the fabric to the core; and means for causing relative movement between the winding means and the core in timed relation to the rotation of the elongate support, whereby the fabric strip is wound around the core in a tight helix, with consecutive windings of said strip being adjacent to one another to form an integral cover over said 10 Core.
In a particular aspect thereof the present invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a paint roller, compri-sing means for supporting a thermoplastic tubular core, means for 15 heat softening the surface of the core; and means for winding a : `
fabric strip over the tubular core in a helical path in a zone heated by said heat softening means to fuse the fabric to the `
core, said winding means including means for guiding the fabric strip to the tubular core at an angle to the axis of the core, said guiding means including means for aligning the fabrlc strlp in a tight helix, with consecutive windings of sald strip being ad~acent to one another to form an integral cover over said core.
In another aspect thereof the present invention provi-des a paint roller manufacturing apparatus, sald paint roller having an integral thermoplastic core and a pile fabric cover comprised of an at least partlally thermoplastic backing, sald apparatus comprislng elongate support means for holdlng and rotatlng a thermoplastic tubular core in a generally constant ::
fixed axial position; said elongate support means lncluding means for engaging an lnternal surface of said tubular core to thereby support the core during holdlng and rotating; means for wlnding a fabric strip having a substantial wldth over the tubular core in a helical path, said winding means including means for guiding the fabric strip to the tubular core at a substantial angle to the axis of the core; and means for heat softening the surface of the core in the zone of the winding of the fabric strip around the core to fuse the fabric to the core; and means Por causing translational and rotative movement between the winding means and the core in timed relation to the rotation of the elongate ~upport, whereby the fabric strip is wound around the core in a tight helix, with consecutive windings of said strip being adjacent to one another to form an integral cover over said core.
In a further aspect thereof the invention provides an apparatus for manufacturing a paint roller having a unitary thermoplastic core and a thermoplastic fabric cover, said apparatus comprising means for supporting and rotating a thermoplastic tubular core in a horizontal position by engaging an internal surface of said tubular core; means for heat-softening the surface of the core; and means for winding a fabric strip having substantial width over the tubular core in a helical path in a zone heated by said heat-softening means to fuse the Pabric to the core, said winding means including means for guiding the fabric strip to the tubular core at a substantial angle to the axis of the core, said ~;~
guiding means including means for aligning the fabr-c strip in a tight helix, with consecutive windings of said strip being adjacent to one another to form an integral cover over said core.
' !
In one embodiment of the present invention the means Por winding the fabric strip around the tubular core comprises ~.
means for rotating the elongate support; and means for moving - 4 - -~
,~, ~, , .
the guiding means parallel to the core axis. Suitably the heat-softening means comprises a heat source located immediately ahead of the zone of winding in the direction of movement of the guiding means; and means for moving the heat source in coordination with the movement of the guiding means. Desirably the means for moving the guiding means comprises a movable carriage; means for moving said carriage lengthwise of said tubular core; and means for mounting said guidir.g means on said carriage. Preferably said means for moving said carriage comprises a chain drive connected to said carriage. Suitably said means ~or moving said heat ~ -source comprises means for supporting said heat source on said carriage. Preferably the heat source extends over an elongated section of said tubular core.
The present invention also provides a method for manufacture of a paint roller, comprising heat-softening the surface of a tubular core composed of thermoplastic material and applying a fabric cover to the heat-softened core while rotating said tubular core so as to cause said fabric to be fused to the core without an intermediate adhesive.
In an embodiment of this aspect of the invention heat-softening means and fabric cover winding means are moved together relative to said tubular core. Suitably movement of -said tubular core and movement`of said heat-softening means and winding means are timed so as to cause said fabric to be ~' wound on said core in a tight helix.
The present invention will be further illustrated by way of the accompanying drawings, in whlch:-Fig. 1 iS a persp~ctive view of one embodiment of anapparatus for manufacture of the paint roller of the present invention;
Fig~ 2 iS a plan view o~ the apparatus of Flg. 1;
Fig. 3 iS a perspective view of a section of the fabric strip used in fabricating the paint roller of the invention;
Fig. 4 iS a perspective view of a section of a plastic tubular core used in fabricating the palnt roller of the inven-tion; and Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the paint roller oE the invention, showing the lntegral forging of the fab~
rlc cover to the plastic core to form a unitary paint roller structure. -In the embodiment of the apparatus illustrated in Fig.s 1 and 2, a length of plastic tubular core stock 2 is inserted lengthwise over a spindle or cylinder 1. The plastic stock preferably comprlses polypropylene, but may be made of any suit-able thermoplastic material having the desired heat-bonding char-acteristics. As indicated in Fig. 2, the cylinder I is rotated (by a conventional means not shown) in the counterclockwise ~
direction so as to wind around the core 2 a fabric strip 3. The -;
fabric material ls shown in more detail in Fig. 3, and is in fact ;~
a conventional cover material for a paint roller.
The fabric strip 3 is fed to the core 2 by a guide 4 that is ad~ustably mounted on a carriage 5 so as to be oriented an an angle to the axis of the cylinder 1. The carriage 5 is moved paral~al to the cylinder 1 along a frame 10, on which it is ; movably supported in a conventlonal mannerO The movement of the - 6 - ;~
:~ ~
~.
carriage 5 is controlled by a chain drive ~. The speed of move-ment of the carriage 5 is timed relative to the speed of rotation of the cyllnder 1 so that the fabric strip 3 is wound on the plastic core 2 in a tight helix.
The fabric strip 3 ls fed to the guide from a supply (not shown) and preferably is of a standard width and thickness, as is known in the art. If desired, the walls of the guide 4 may be made adjustable to accommodate strips of different widths. A
hand wheel 12 is connected via a threaded shaft to a pressure pad 14 to apply a desired amount of pressure to the strip 3. This pressure serves to maintain the strip 3 under tension ~in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1), so that the strip will be wound tightly on the core 2. The carriage also includes a roller guide 16 which maintains the cylinder 1 and core 2 in the proper positional relationship to the guide 4.
As a feature of the invention no adhesive ls used to bond the fabric strip 3 to the core 2. Instead, a heat source 7 is positioned to soften the surface of the core 2 ~ust ln advance of the zone of winding of the strip on the core. The heat source 7 is preferably somewhat elongated in the direction of the axis of the core 2, and suitably comprises a manifold~like struc-ture for directing a series of flame ~ets agalnst the surface of the core. Any suitably fuel may be used, such as, for e~ample, natural gas. Alternatively, the heat source 7 may comprise an electrical, optl~al, or other type energy source. The heat source 7 is mounted on the carriage 5 for movement therewith ~;
along the length of the core 2. In this way, the surface of the core 2 in the zone of winding is heat-softened to the polnt that the fabric strlp 3 i5 fused thereto upon being wound over the core 2. The resulting structure 8, illustrated ln Fig. 5, is a paint roller in which the fabric strip and the plastic core have ln effect been fused into an integral unitary body.
The paint roller 8 of Fig. 5 may be used as a replace-,~
~ 7 ~
:--` 1 330703 .
ment element or it may be provided with end pieces and a handle to form a complete roller assembly.
The present invention thus affords a simple low cost method and apparatus of manufacture that obviates the aforemen-tioned problems of the prior art adhesive technique. The method and apparatus may therefore be readily set and practiced with only a comparatively small investment ln facilities and in per-sonnel training. Also, the paint roller of the invention is a lightweight, strong and very clean end product that ls free of the adhesive-related de~ects fou.nd in prior art paint rollers.
Although the invention has been described and illus-trated herein by reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that such embodiments are susceptable of modi-fication and variation without departing from the inventive con-cepts disclosed. :
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Claims (16)
1. An apparatus for manufacturing a paint roller comprising an elongate support for a thermoplastic tubular core;
means for winding a fabric strip over the tubular core in a helical path, said winding means including means for guiding the fabric strip to the tubular core at an angle to the axis of the core; and means for heat softening the surface of the core in the zone of the winding of the fabric strip around the core to fuse the fabric to the core; and means for causing relative movement between the winding means and the core in timed relation to the rotation of the elongate support, whereby the fabric strip is wound around the core in a tight helix, with consecutive windings of said strip being adjacent to one another to form an integral cover over said core.
means for winding a fabric strip over the tubular core in a helical path, said winding means including means for guiding the fabric strip to the tubular core at an angle to the axis of the core; and means for heat softening the surface of the core in the zone of the winding of the fabric strip around the core to fuse the fabric to the core; and means for causing relative movement between the winding means and the core in timed relation to the rotation of the elongate support, whereby the fabric strip is wound around the core in a tight helix, with consecutive windings of said strip being adjacent to one another to form an integral cover over said core.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for winding the fabric strip around the tubular core comprises means for rotating the elongate support; and means for moving the guid-ing means parallel to the core axis.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the heat-soften-ing means comprises a heat source located immediately ahead of the zone of winding in the direction of movement of the guiding means; and means for moving the heat source in coordination with the movement of the guiding means.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the means for moving the guiding means comprises a movable carriage; means for moving said carriage lengthwise of said tubular core; and means for mounting said guiding means on said carriage.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said means for moving said carriage comprises a chain drive connected to said carriage.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said means for moving said heat source comprises means for supporting said heat source on said carriage.
7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the heat source extends over an elongated section of said tubular core.
8. An apparatus for manufacturing a paint roller, comprising means for supporting a thermoplastic tubular core;
means for heat softening the surface of the core; and means for winding a fabric strip over the tubular core in a helical path in a zone heated by said heat softening means to fuse the fabric to the core, said winding means including means for guiding the fab-ric strip to the tubular core at an angle to the axis of the core, said guiding means including means for aligning the fabric strip in a tight helix, with consecutive windings of said strip being adjacent to one another to form an integral cover over said core.
means for heat softening the surface of the core; and means for winding a fabric strip over the tubular core in a helical path in a zone heated by said heat softening means to fuse the fabric to the core, said winding means including means for guiding the fab-ric strip to the tubular core at an angle to the axis of the core, said guiding means including means for aligning the fabric strip in a tight helix, with consecutive windings of said strip being adjacent to one another to form an integral cover over said core.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for winding the fabric strip around the tubular core comprises means for rotating the core; and means for moving the guiding means parallel to the core axis.
10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the heat-soften-ing means comprises a heat source located immediately adjacent to the guiding means; and means for moving the heat source in coor-dination with the movement of the guiding means.
11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for moving the guiding means comprises a movable carriage; means for moving said carriage lengthwise of said tubular core; and means for mounting said guiding means on said carriage.
12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said means for moving said carriage comprises a chain drive connected to said carriage.
13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the heat source extends over said tubular core.
14. A paint roller manufacturing apparatus, said paint roller having an integral thermoplastic core and a pile fabric cover comprised of an at least partially thermoplastic backing, said apparatus comprising elongate support means for holding and rotating a thermoplastic tubular core in a generally constant fixed axial position; said elongate support means including means for engaging an internal surface of said tubular core to thereby support the core during holding and rotating; means for winding a fabric strip having a substantial width over the tubular core in a helical path, said winding means including means for guiding the fabric strip to the tubular core at a substantial angle to the axis of the core; and means for heat-softening the surface of the core in the zone of the winding of the fabric strip around the core to fuse the fabric to the core; and means for causing translational and rotative movement between the winding means and the core in timed relation to the rotation of the elongate support, whereby the fabric strip is wound around the core in a tight helix, with consecutive windings of said strip being adjacent to one another to form an integral cover over said core.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for winding the fabric strip around the tubular core comprises means for moving the guiding means parallel to the core axis.
16. An apparatus for manufacturing a paint roller having a unitary thermoplastic core and a thermoplastic fabric cover, said apparatus comprising means for supporting and rotating a thermoplastic tubular core in a horizontal position by engaging an internal surface of said tubular core; means for heat-softening the surface of the core; and means for winding a fabric strip having substantial width over the tubular core in a helical path in a zone heated by said heat-softening means to fuse the fabric to the core, said winding means including means for guiding the fabric strip to the tubular core at a substantial angle to the axis of the core, said guiding means including means for aligning the fabric strip in a tight helix, with consecutive windings of said strip being adjacent to one another to form an integral cover over said core.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000609482A CA1330703C (en) | 1985-12-24 | 1989-08-25 | Method and apparatus for making paint rollers |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000498602A CA1262444A (en) | 1985-01-11 | 1985-12-24 | Perfectionated device of helicoidal roll of cloth tape on top of plastic tubes for paint rollers |
| CA000609482A CA1330703C (en) | 1985-12-24 | 1989-08-25 | Method and apparatus for making paint rollers |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000498602A Division CA1262444A (en) | 1985-01-11 | 1985-12-24 | Perfectionated device of helicoidal roll of cloth tape on top of plastic tubes for paint rollers |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1330703C true CA1330703C (en) | 1994-07-19 |
Family
ID=4132177
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000609482A Expired - Lifetime CA1330703C (en) | 1985-12-24 | 1989-08-25 | Method and apparatus for making paint rollers |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1330703C (en) |
-
1989
- 1989-08-25 CA CA000609482A patent/CA1330703C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |
Effective date: 20110719 |