IL46608A

IL46608A - Device for coating elements of continuous length

Info

Publication number: IL46608A
Application number: IL46608A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Hasbro Industries Inc
Priority date: 1974-04-17
Filing date: 1975-02-11
Publication date: 1977-06-30
Also published as: DE2504103A1; AU7848475A; FR2267877A1; IT1029931B; FR2267877B1; US3882819A; GB1483013A; JPS50136332A; CA1033118A; ATA115675A; IL46608A0; DE2504103B2; AR203676A1; CH580988A5

Description

η-ηκ o^pbn 'is'xb 7pnn A device for coating elements continuous length HASBRO INDUSTRIES , INC The invention relates to coating devices, and is more particularly directed to devices for coating elements of continuous length.

Recently there has been developed a continuous method for manufacturing pencils* A casing or sheathing composition is continuously extruded ove a core of a pigmented or colored lead or a graphite lead. The leads may be cut to length and fed in end-to-end abutting relation, or preferably the lead may also be continuously extruded to receive thereon the co-extrusion of the casing composition. In any event, the continuous length of pencil material must be coated with a lacquer or paint prior to being cut into predetermined lengths. If the pencils are of the type having an eraser at one end thereof the pencils are then subjected to the usual operations of applying a ferrule and an eraser.

At the beginning of a run in making a continuous length extrusion which will ultimately furnish pencils of fixed, predetermined lengths, it is necessary to determine whether the continuous extrusion has the desired characteristics; the diameter must be a predetermined dimension, the cross section must be of proper shape, truly round or hexagonal; and the surface of the extrusion must have the desired characteristics. To apply a micrometer to the extrusion, and to inspect it, it is essential that the extrusion pass through a coating device in dry condition* Then, it is desired to begin coating the extrusion without interrupting its travel* Also, it is desired not to waste any lacquer or paint until the characteristics of the extrusion are such that the extrusion is in readiness for the application of the coating composition thereto.

British paten specification 1,190,814 discloses apparatus for extruding several layers of insulating material 46608/2 multilayered flat films, bands, conveyor belts, sheets and .-\ the like from thermoplastic resinous materials. U.S. a e t specification 2,341,450 discloses a frusto-conical resilient die member for wiping a coating on a strand or element of continuous length. None of the above patent specifica ions disclose a valve means related to a die member to allow a coating composition to flow to the die member or to cut off the flow of the coating composition to the die member to thereby permit the continuous element to pass through the device in uncoated condition when desired.

A device in accordance with the invention employs a die member to apply a coating to the periphery of an element of continuous length. The device employs valve means associated with the die member to allow the coating composition to flow to the die member or to cut off the flow of the coating composition so that the continuous element may pass through the device uncoated when desired.

The coating device comprises a body member including an intermediate wall having an aperture to allow the passage of the continuous element to be coated. A first axial bore is provided in the body member in communication with and on one side of the aperture* A die member is fitted within the bore. An adjustable pressure member is positioned within the bore for engagement with the die member. A second axial bore is provided in the body member in communication with the aperture and on the opposite side of the intermediate wall. An inlet opening is provided in the body member to allow the coating composition to be fed to the second bore. Valve means is provided within the second bore to allow the coating composition to regulate the ¾iow of coating composition to the die member. r ing e Fig. 3 is a s imilar view showing the valve means of the d vice^ acting to prevent the application of a coating to the movin continuous element.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to F ig. 1, the device A for coating an element L of continuous length may be mounted for alignment with any equipment in a line, for example, an extruder (not shown) for applying a casing composition to a w-orkmg core, such as a pigmented or a graphite lead. A mounting B for the device A may comprise a clamping member 10 co-operable with a second clamping member 12, the clamping members havin cutout portions 14, 14' so that the clamping members may tightly embrace the coating device. The clamping members may by secured to one another by the connectors 1 6, one of which is shown. The assembly of the coating device and the clamping plates may be connected to a suitable bracket 18 which in turn is secured to a base plate 20.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the device A for coating the element L of continuous length comprises a body member C having an intermediate wall 22. Preferably, and as illustrated, the body member is cylindrical or circular in cross section. The intermediate wall is provided with a central aperture 24 to allow passage of the element L. The aperture has a diameter which is slightly greater than the cross-sectional dimension of the element L.

The body member C is provided with a first axial bore 26 in communication with and on one side of the aperture 24. A coating or die member D is positioned within the axial bore.

An adjustable pressure member £ also is positioned within the bore 26 for engagement with the coating member. The body member C is provided with a second^ axial bore 28 in communication with the aperture 24 on the opposite side of the intermediate wall 22. An inlet opening 30 is provided in the body member to allow a coating composition to be fed to the bore 28. Valve means P is provided in the bore 28 for regulating the flow of coating compositio to the aperture 24 and to the die member D.

In greater detail, and as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the die member D is frusto-conical and is made of a suitable elastomeric material, such as rubber, neoprene, a butadiene polymer, or any other elastomeric material which i>5 resistant to lacquers, paints or the like. The die member has a central opening 31. The shape of the opening corresponds to the configuration or cross sectio of element or extrudate L. The configuration may be round, hexagonal or any other suitable shape. The internal surface of wall 32 of the body member which defines the bore 26 is matingly contoured at 34 for engagement by the periphery of the frusto-conical die member, the wall tapering down or converging toward the aperture 24. Th internal surface of the wall adjacent the converging area 34 is of substantially constant diameter and internally threaded at 36. The adjustable pressure member E is matingly threaded at 38. The front face 40 of the adjustable pressure member is engageable with the side 42 of the frusto-conical die member having the larger diameter so that pressure may be applied in an axial direction to thereby control the diameter of the opening 31 extending through the die member. The pressure member has a central opening 43 in alignment with the opening 31 of the die member and the aperture 24. Preferably, the adjustable pressure member is provided with means cooperable with a tool for rotating the member. As shown, such means may be in the form of radially extending recesses 44 provided in a flange 46 designed to accommodate a tool having projections (not shown) .

The frusto-conical member D, and the mating surface 34 of the body member and the adjustable pressure member E are related so that the thickness of the coating which is wiped onto the traveling element L depends upon the degree of axial pressure applied to the die member by the adjustable pressure member* The element of continuous or Indeterminate length travels through the device in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Rotating the pressur member to increase axial pressure on the die member reduces the diameter of the opening 31 to thereby reduce the thickness of the coating applied to the traveling element L. Rotating the pressure member in the opposite direction to relieve the axial pressure on the die member increases the size of the opening 31 to increase the thickness of the applied coating, and further rotation of the pressure member in such direction Increases the size of the opening 31 to allow the element L to move through the device with minimal friction.

The bore 28 is defined by a circumferential wall 46 having a larger diameter than the wall 32 defining the bore 26. The aforementioned inlet opening 30 extends through the wall 46, and may hav an internally the area within the annular wall 52, through the aperture 24 and to the • die member D. · Like the adjustable pressure member E, the adjustable valve member G may be provided with means cooperable with a tool (not shown) to enable rotating the valve member. As illustrated, such means may take the form of spaced recesses 70 extending axially into the end wall of the valve member to receive mating projections on the tool.

While the coating device hereinbefore described is particularly useful to apply various colored lacquers or paints to an extrusion which will ultimately furnish pencils, it will be apparent that the device is useful for operation upon any suitable element of continuous length.

The continuous extrusion may omit a central marking core to furnish an extrusion which, when cut to desired lengths, furnishes barrels for mechanical pencils and ball point pen barrels. The central longitudinal opening extending through the cut segments receives the mechanically operated lead or ball point pen refills. . Also, the described coating device may operate upon elements of continuous length which need not be extrusions, for example, wire, or any other element of continuous length.

It is believed that the advantages and improved results furnished by the coating device of the invention and its associated valve means will be apparent from the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Various changes and modifications r.iay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims. 46603/2

Claims

1. A device for applying a liquid coating composition* to an element of continuous length comprising a body member including an intermediate wall having an aperture to allow passage of the leme to be coated, a first axial bore in the body member in communication with and on one side of the aperture, a die member within said bore, an adjustable pressure member within said bore for engagement with the die member, a second axial bore in the body member in communication with the aperture and on the opposite side of the intermediate wall, an inlet opening in the body member to allow a coating composition to be fed to the second bore, and valve means within said second bore for regulating the flow of coating composition to the die member, the valve means comprising an annular wall extending axially from said intermediate wall into said second bore and surrounding said aperture, the free edge of the annular wall providing a -vaLve element, and an adjustable valve member in the second bore cooperable with said valve element, the die member, adjustable pressure member and valve member having openings therethrough in alignment with said aperture.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the second axial bore is defined by a circumferential wall, said inlet opening extending therethrough*

3. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the die member is frusto-conical, of elastomeric material and has a central opening, and the wall of the body member defining the first bore at the area ad acent the frus o-conical member is matingly contoured, the wall converging toward said aperture.

4. A device according to Claim 3, wherein the wall of the body member defining the first bore adjacent the converging 46608/2 the pressure member being engage le with the side of the frusto-conical die member having the larger diameter to apply pressure in an axial direction to thereby control the size of the central opening-extending through the die member.

5. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the adjustable pressure member is provided with means cooperable with a tool for rotating the member.

6. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the free edge of said annular wall is beveled to provide a valve seat and the adjustable valve member is provided with a mating bevel whereby the pressure engagement of the beveled surfaces will prevent the flow of coating composition to the aperture and to the die member.

7. » A device according to Claim 6, wherein the adjustable valve member is externally threaded, an a portion of the internal surface of the circumferential wall defining the second bore is matingl threaded.

8. A device according to Claim 7, wherein the adjustable valve member is provided with means cooperable with a tool for rotating the member,

9. A device according to Gaim 7, wherein the adjustable pressure member and the adjustable valve member are each provided with means cooperable with a tool for rotating the members.