GB1199273A - Improvements in or relating to machines for applying finely divided material to a workpiece - Google Patents

Abstract

1,199,273. Coating apparatus. BRITISH UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CO. Ltd. 11 Aug., 1967 [12 Aug., 1966; 22 June, 1967], Nos. 45249/69 and 45250/69. Divided out of 1,199,271, Heading B2L. Adhesive composition is applied in finely divided form to a surface of an outsole by a machine comprising means for heating the outsole surface on to which the composition particles are to be dispensed and for heating the particles dispensed on the surface, and conveyor means for transporting the outsole past the heating means and through a screen of particles dispensed by means comprising a hopper having a dispensing surface inclined to the horizontal and having a lip portion extending transversely to the direction of outsole transport, whereby on vibration of the hopper the particles pass upwardly over the dispensing surface to fall in a vertically extending screen from the lip portion. Endless conveyor belts 16, 20, interconnected by a chain 38 and driven by a chain 34, are separted by a distance which is less than the length of an outsole S, and the latter is supported on its passage from belt 16 to belt 20 by a platform 18 spaced from the respective belts. A hopper 50, positioned above platform 18, is carried by an arm 52 adapted to be vibrated by the cyclical energisation of a solenoid 76. Hopper 50 is divided by a transverse plate 58, the lower edge of which is spaced slightly above the base 59 which is inclined upwardly to a front edge or lip 60 positioned above the gap between platform 18 and belt 16. Granulated or powdered adhesive flows from the rear compartment 78 of hopper 50 through the gap between portion 58 and base 59, and after passing upwardly along the latter falls over edge 60 upon a passing insole S. Surplus adhesive passes through the gap between belt 16 and platform 18 and through an aperture in the supporting table into a receptacle. The rate of discharge is adjusted by varying the cyclic frequency of energisation of solenoid 76. Sole S is pre-heated by infra-red lamps in a casing 10, and the coated sole is heated by infra-red lamps in a casing 14. In a modification, Fig. 5, the particles are fluidised in a hopper 180 by the upward passage of compressed air through a porous abase 174. An outlet 178 in the latter is controlled by a pivoted cylindrical valve member 186 having a passage 188 which may be registered with outlet 178. In operation, member 186 is oscillatedto provide an intermittent discharge of particles from hopper 180 into a vibrating dispensing hopper similar to hopper 50.