US1597219A

US1597219A - Method and apparatus for coating paper

Info

Publication number: US1597219A
Application number: US723969A
Authority: US
Inventors: Traquair John
Original assignee: Mead Pulp & Paper Co
Current assignee: Mead Pulp & Paper Co
Priority date: 1924-07-03
Filing date: 1924-07-03
Publication date: 1926-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1943-08-24

Description

Aug. 24 1926.

J. TRAQUAIR METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING PAPER Filed July 3, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

-Aug. 24 1926.

' 1,597,219 J. TRAQUAIR I .IIETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING PAPER Filed July 5 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOIL Aug. 24 ,1926. 1,597,219

J. TRAQUAIR METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR comma PAPER 'Fileq July 5, 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

A TTOR NE Y..7.

Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN TRAQUAIR, or cninmoo'rnn, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE HEAD PULP a PAPER COMPANY, or DAYTON, 01110, A oonronarron or OHIO.

, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING PAPER.

Application filedv July 3,

This invention relates to paper.

One of the principal objects of the inventlon is to provide a superior coated .paper. having a smoother and'more continuous, and a lighter, coating'than has been attained in coated papers as heretofore made; and a method of making such paper.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of apparatus for carrying this method into effect.

Other-objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description set out below, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

- In the drawing, in which like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views thereof,

Figs. 1 and 1 comprise a diagrammatic view of coating apparatus embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the coating and smoothing rolls which form elements of the apparatus illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a part of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2, the view being taken of the opposite end of the apparatus from that shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the color trough, and the adjusting and operating mechanism therefor, in conjunction with the lowercolor-applying roll;

F ig. 5 is a sectional view showing the color trough and its mechanism, in end elevation. with the trough shown moved back and tilted into inoperative position, the'secti-on being along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. dis a corresponding view of the same mechanism with the trough moved forward and tilted into operative position; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, along the line 7-7 of Fig. 4., of the actuating mechanism for effecting oscillation of the color trough.

In the manufacture of coated paper ac cordingto this invention a traveling sheet of paper; from any suitable source, such as the roll meral 10, is passed between the rolls of a color-applying unit 11, driven in. any suitable .manner, as by a belt and pulley drive, where a layer of color is spread upon one side of the paper, the rolls being spaced to insure a' given thickness to the layer the coating of" of paper designated by the nu-.

1924. Serial No. 723,969.

of color as the paper passes between them. Where the paper to be coated is fed from a roll, as shown, suitable brake mechanism, which may be of conventional construction and is therefore not shown in detail, is preferably provided to maintain uniformfeeding of the paper from the roll. Also the paper is passed over a guide roll 12 and a cooperating adjustable roll 13 and a tensioning guide roll 14, whereby the paper may be maintained under any desired tension as it passes to the color-applying rolls. After leaving this set of color-application rolls the paper passes in contact with a plurality of smaller spreading and smoothing rolls, designated generally by the numeral 15, several of which reciprocate transversely to the direction of movement of the paper, and each of which revolves preferably against the direction of movement of the paper. These rolls are positioned a predetermined distance rom the color-application rolls, this distance being determined in accordance with the absorptivity of the paper, the penetrating quality of the color. and the fluidity of the color so that a suitable interval is allowed between the time the traveling sheet I of paper leaves the color-application rolls and the smoothing roll to permit the paper to absorb the water of the color so that when the paper contacts with the smoothing rolls the layer of color will be of such consistency that it may be readily spread and smoothed and yet will not flow or tend to stick to the rolls. For purposes of description this point in the conditioning of the color coating is called the zone of critical val of time during which this desired point of critical drying is reached is called the critical drying period. These spreading and smoothing rolls are so arranged that relative slippage between the rolls and the coated surface of the paper takes place, and also the coating is concomitantly subjected to a compacting action by the rolls. Hence it is more desirable that the rolls revolve against the direction of movement of the paper. After this spreading and smoothlng action the sheet of paper, with the coating thereon, passes under a tensioning bar 113 and then around two driers 17, one above the other, with the coated side of the paper away from the drier surface. These two driers heat'the paper, driving off some of drying, and the interthe moisture therefrom, and start the setting of the coating. Each of these driers has a gear 18 which meshes with a pinion 19 which is driven in any suitable manner.

Located between the two driers and meshing with each of the gears 18 is a pinion 20 whereby the two driers are driven at the same speed. And these driers serve to draw the paper from the roll 10, through the color-applying rolls and over the spreading and smoothing'rolls.

From these driers the coated paper passes onto a carrier 25, which is preferably in the form of an endless belt of felt, or the like, this carrier passing the piper back above the first application roll. ounted upon the shaft which carries the gear 20, is a pulley 21 which is in driving connection throug the belt 26 with the roller 27 of the felt carrier. The carrier is thus positively driven, preferably at a speed slightly in excess of the speed of travel of the paper to carry the paper forward. The carrier is supported upon a plurality of rollers and sags slightly between the rollers so that at each roller a positive drive is imparted to the paper, so that the likelihood of stretching the paper into ropes, or rupturing it is substantially eliminated. Positioned above the carrier are several air pipes 28 provided with slits so arranged that jets of hot air may be blown down on the paper to further the drying thereof. This air also tends to press the paper against the carrier and thus increase the frictional contact and also to facilitate drying. This still further obviates the danger of pulling the paper into ropes. In ad dition a positive pull is imparted to the paper so that it moves quite readily through the remaining operations. This carrier also tends to prevent the objectionable cockling, curling and wrinkling which frequently occur when the paper is not thus supported. From the carrier felt the paper passes onto a second set of driers 30. This set of driers is illustrated diagrammatically as consisting of a plurality of drier rolls of conventional character, arranged in substantially the conventional way. Six drier rolls are shown but of course a different number of rolls may be used. If the paper is to be coated on only' one side then this set of driers should have a suflicient number of rolls to effect complete drying of the paper. But where, as illustrated herein, the paper is to be coated on both sides it is not necessary that the paper be completely dried at this point as complete drying must be effected after the second side is coated. In such case four drier rolls 30 will function satisfactorily, although six probably give better results. These rolls are not highly heated, but onlya moderate temperature is used; for the paper should be cool when fed to the second set of colorapplymg rolls. Very satisfactory results are obtained when the last two rolls 30 are run cool or slightly warm according as-results dictate. The number of driers will also be varied in accordance with the speed at which the machine is designed to operate.

The driers 30 are provided with a felt 31, of usual construction which holds the paper against the rolls to insure the needed frictional contact. In the practicing of this method the color contains considerably less water than is used in color solutions as heretofore generally used, and therefore the paper absorbs considerably less water than is the case in the heretofore prevailing practice, and this permits of using drying drums or rolls, which in turn results in very material economy of operation and space. I

As the paper leaves this first set of driers it is completely coated on one side. It then passes over a second tensioning roll 32 after which it'passes to the machine for coating the second side of the paper. As it enters this machine it passes over a tensioning roll 40, similar in construction to the roll 14, previously referred to, and then into the second set of color-application rolls 41, where it receilves a layer of color on the other, uncoated, sic e.

fed up to the second machine it is not necessary to have as much frictional contact between the paper and the upper color-application roll 41 and the tension roll 40 is thus positioned further in advance of the colorapplying rolls than is the case with the roll 14, so that the paper is not in contact with so large a part of the surface of the colorapplying roll. This second set of colorapplication rolls isidentical with the first set 11, and the thickness of the layer of color applied to the paper is determined by the relative spacing of these rolls. The paper then passes in contact with a second set of spreading and smoothing rolls 42, which are also the same in construction and function i as the spreading and smoothing rolls heretosingle large drier 43, the second coat of .color,

which is still plastic at this time, being on the underneath side ofthe sheet of paper.-

The paper'then passes above a series of hot air exhaust pipes 44, from which hot air is blown onto the paper to continue the dryingaction initiated as the paper passes over the drier roll 43. The drying action is completed as the paper passes over the second set of driers45, in which the various rolls are suitably heated to effect complete drying. After the paper leaves the second set of driers it is subjected to such treatment as -will give a coated the larger quantities of color.

may be suitable forgiving it the desired finish. In general practice the coated sheet 1s passed through steel calender rolls, which smooth or break the sheet forsuper-calem dering after which it is wound onto a reel as a finished product.

While the drier rolls, and certain other parts of the apparatus are of purely conventional character, so that no detailed description of the construction of these parts is neededfor a complete understanding of the invention, that part of the mechanism which is associated with the color-application rolls, and with the spreading and smoothing shafts, or rolls is 'of novel construction as to its details, and Figs. 27 illustrate these novel'features of construction. Each set of color-applicationrolls comprises a suitable framework 50, mounted upon a base 51. Supported within this framework is a rotatable shaft 52 upon which is mounted the lower color-application roll 53. Pivotally mounted upon the framework is a bearing-carrying lever 54, provided with a suitable bearing 55, within which is supported the shaft 56, this shaft in turn carrying the upper color-application roll 57 The free end of the lever 54 is connected by means of a link 58 to one end of the pivoted lever 59, the other end of which is connected by means of an adjustable link 60 with the base of the frame 50, as indicated by the numeral 61. is preferably provided with a turnbuckle 62 whereby the length of the link may be increased or decreased as desired. Increasing the length of this link causes the upper color-application roll to move closer to the lower roll while decreasing the length of this link moves these'two rolls relatively further apart. In operation the two rolls are so positioned relative to each other as to give the desired thickness to the layer of color-applied to the paper, this thickness being,- preferably, such that the completed paper will carry a layer of coating material vthinner than that generally applied to coated paper. Heretofore it has been the practice to use about 10 to 12 pounds of color to coat one side of a ream of 500 sheets 25 x 38 inches, while in the preparing of paper according to this invent-ion about 6 pounds per ream paper'superior in quality resulting from the use of As a result the product of this invention is a paper having a greater proportion, by weight, of fiber than othercoated papers, a paper therefore having greater strength. Not only may the positioning of the zone of critical drying be controlled by varying the character of the to that heretofore color and the character of the paper; butwhere these remain unchanged it may be con trolled by varying the thickness of the layer of color applled. And this in turn is con This adjustable link, 60'- ,construction, and it trolled by varying the relative spacing of the two color-applying rolls. Secured to the upper end of the frame 50, at each end, is an inclined guide frame 63, within which is slidably mounted the bearing 64. Supported in this hearing .is a shaft 65, which carries the tensioning guide roll 14. The guide frame 63 also has aspring 66 mounted therein, one end of which bears against the hearing (it and the other against the adjusting member 67. Manipulation of the adjusting member will vary the tension of the spring 66-to increase or decrease its resistance to movement of the guide roll. In the operation" of the device the sheet of paper from the roll .10, or from other source, passes upwardly around the guide roll and then downwardly around and over the surface of the upper color-applicationroll and between the two rolls, the tension of the paper being con trolled by the tension of the spring 66. This tension roll is positioned to give a large area of surface contact between the paper and the upper color-applying roll, so'that a positi\ e drive is thus imparted to the paper. The rolls 53 and 57 are positively driven in any suitable manner or by means of belts and pulleys, the location of one pulley being shown and indicated by the numeral 68. V Cooperating with the lower color-applica tion roll is a wooden trough, designated generally bysthe numeral 70, which, during operat'ioiu'contains the color solution. This trough may be of any desired shape and is not at all necessary that it bemade of wood. The base 71 of the trough is extended at each end and is supported upon a U-shaped member 72, which receives between the two legs thereof an eccentric 7S,'mounted upon the rotatable shaft 74, the opposite ends of this shaft being supported by suitable standards or supports 7 5 and 7 6 respectively. The extended ends of the base 71 are each provided with a plate 77, to each of which is at tached a pin 78, the free end of whichis mounted within the slot 79 in the upper end of a supporting standard 80. The eccentric 73 carries a lug or pin 85 thereon, which is adapted to cooperate with the slot or groove 86 in the upper leg of the U-shaped member 72, the proportions of the U-shaped member, the eccentric, and the lug and cooperating slot being such that the eccentric is received snugly but in freely rotatable relation within the member 72, the lug moving into and out of the slot 86 as the eccentric is revolved by the shaft 74, and also such that as the shaft is thus rotated in either direction the member 7 2 will be moved bodily upon the eccentric transversely to the v shaft to thus move the trough towards or from the cooperating color-application roll. Depending from the upper leg of the U- shaped member 72 is a member 87 having from the lower color-application roll.

that face towards theeccentric cut away to cooperate with the eccentric so that as the shaft 74 is rotated counter-clockwise the eccentric will bear against this cut away face to move the trough bodily towards the 'roll 53-. The member 87 is narrower than cause the eccentric to move the trough the left and also cause such shifting of the eccentric as will raise the curved end of the U-shaped member 72, thus tilting the color trough about the pins 78 as pivot-s; while rotation in the opposite direction will first lower the curved end of the U-shaped member to tilt the color trough in reverse direction, continued movement bringing the lug 85 into the slot to move the trough awgy n the preferred construction shown, the front of the trough, adjacent the color-application roll, is inclined as indicated by the number 90 and the upper end of this front is cut away to receive a flexible strip 91, which extends throughout the length of the front of the trough. When the shaft 74 is rotated to move the trough into operative position it is moved forward toward the lower colorapplication roll and is then tilted upwardly about the pins 78 to bring the flexible strip 91 against the lower color-application roll, as shown in Fig. 6. When in this position the color overflows over the relatively lowered front of the trough and flows across the flexible strip onto the surface of the color-application roll, by which it is carried into contact with the surface of the paper as it passes between the two color-application rolls. Means is provided for keeping the level of color solution in the trough constant. Any suitable means may be used, but preferably the conventional means for maintaining a constant level of liquid in a vessel is utilized, a supply pipe, 89, and an overflow pipe 89 having a predetermined outlet level being provided, the color being introduced through the supply pipe faster than it will be used, the excess color flowing off through the outlet pipe thus maintaining a constant level within the trough.

In practice the lower color-application roll is usually of brass, or some analogous metal, the upper roll being of felt or rubber. And it has been found that grit, or particles of one sort or another will inevitably accumulate upon the surface of the lower color-application roll and that very rapid and destructive wear will take place as these particles are caught and held by the flexible strip 91. In order to prevent this very destructive wear, means is provided for oscillating the color trough back and forth during operation. To efi'eet this os cillation the shaft 74 is provided at one end with a block 95, having a slot or groove 96 therein, arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 7 4:. Rotatably mounted upon the support 76 is a worm gear 97, which meshes with a worm pinion 98, upon the shaft of which is mounted a sprocket wheel 99, driven by, means of a chain 100 from a cooperating sprocket wheel 101 mounted upon the shaft 52 of the lower -color-application roll. Extending upwardly from the worm gear 97, and eccentrically arranged thereon, is a pin 103, which extends into the groove 96. This gives a construction quite similar to a Scotch yoke, and the arrangement is such that as the lower color-application roll revolves the shaft 52 will drive the worm gear 97 to move the pin 103 in a circular path, this clrcular motion im arting a reciprocating or oscillating motion to the block 95, and so to the trough, the shaft and trough being constrained to move together through the instrumentality of the retaining boss 104, carried by the U-shaped member 72 and cooperating with the eccentric 73. As a result the flexible strip 91 slides back and forth along the surface of the roll and thus prevents the accumulation of grit, or the like, and so prevents injury thereto.

Positioned in close juxtaposition to the color-application rolls, are several spreadmg and smoothing shafts or rolls designated as a group by the numeral 15 in Fig. 1. Four of these shafts are shown, and indicated specifically, in Figs. 2 and 3. by the

numerals

110, 111, 112 and 113. Each of these rolls is of much smaller diameter than.

the color-application rolls, very satisfactory results having been obtained where the

rolls

110, 111 and 112 were of approximately 2 inches diameter, while the roll 113 was of 1 inch diameter. The diameter of these spreading and smoothing rolls may be varied, but it may be generally said that the fineness of spread of the color varies with the diameter of the rolls,-th'e finer the rolls the finer the spread and conversely. Pref- 116, which is adjustable to give any desired pressure of the spreading rolls upon the coating of colorso that suitable compacting of the coating may be thus secured. The first two

rolls

110 and 111 are mounted in a single bearing member 117, carried by the bracket 118, which is mounted on the frame 50. The distance of the rolls from the nip,-or point of closest approach of the color-applying rolls to each other,is predetermined according to the thickness of the color solution, its penetrability with respect to the paper and the absorptivity of the paper relative to the character of the color solution used, so that the paper will contact with theserolls as'the layer of color reaches the point of critical dryness. With a color solution comprising about 35-40% of solids, very satisfactory results will be obtained if the first roll 110 is spaced ap-. proximately 18 inches from the nip, with the several other rolls spaced respectively about seven inches apart except the second and third which are spaced a greater distance to permit of edective use ofthe tension roll. 116. These, and other dimensions and proportions given herein are not intend ed as limitations but merely as indicative of what has been found satisfactory under actual operating conditions.

The roll 116 is rotatably mounted at each end within the bracket support 119, which is slidably mounted upon the standard 120. As shown in Figs. 2 and 8 the bracket and the standard are preferably dovetailed together. The bracket 119 carries a threaded adjusting screw 121, which is threadedly mounted in the upper end of the standard 120. This construction is such that by manipulating the adjusting screws 121 the tensioning effect of the roll 116 upon the paper may be varied as desired. This arrangement also permits of taking care of rolls 10 which are slack sided,that is, rolls on which the paper is unevenly wound so that it would, except for adjustment of the ends of the roll 116, pass through the device under unevenly distributed tension. Mounted ,upon the shaft 56 of the upper color-application roll is a sprocket Wheel 125, which is in driving relation with a sprocketmounted upon the shaft of the roll 110, through the chain 126. The roll 110 is thus driven at a speed which bears a definite relation to the speed of the color-application roll, the relative speeds being determined by the ratio of the sprocket wheels associated respectively with the two rolls, but being preferably somewhat faster than the speed of rotation of the color-application roll. As thus ar-' ranged the roll 110 rotates in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the color-application roll. That is, the roll 110 rotates against the direction of travel of the paper as it comes fromthe color-application rolls. This is not essential since any arrangement which gives relative slippage of the coated paper with respect to the spreadmg and smoothing members will give satisfactory results; but this arrangement has worked out very satisfactorily in actual practice. The roll 110 is in turn in driving connection with the roll 111 through a sprocket and chain drive designated generally by the numeral 127 and the roll 111 is in turn in driving relation with the roll 112 through a similar sprocket and chain drive designated generally by the numeral 128, and that roll in. turn drives the roll 113 through a sprocket and chain drive dcsig nated by the numeral 129. The roll 113 is preferably mounted within adj ustable bearings 1410 similar to the construction described above for supporting and adjusting the roll 116.

In practicing this new method of coating,

the color solution is made much thicker, much less fluid, than is the usual practice in preparing coated paper. As stated above, satisfactory results are obtained with a color solution comprising '3540% of solids; whereas it is the usual practice in the heretofore practiced methods of coating paper to use a solution containing about 2530% of solids. The viscosity of the color solution is adjusted according to the absorptivity of the paper to be coated, and the inherent penetrating characteristics of the solution so that after a very short interval from the time of application the coating of color will have reached such dryness, such consistency, that it may come in contact with the spreading and smoothing rolls without sticking to those rolls. As shown, these spreading and smoothing rolls are in close juxtaposition to the color-application rolls, the paper having a travel of only a few inches from the colorapplication rolls to the time of contact with the first spreading and smoothing roll. Consequently the color solution is very much thicker than has been heretofore enerally used, its condition being accurately determined with respect to the time interval for drying. It must be borne in mind that while satisfactory results cannot ordinarily be obtained if the paper is brought into contact with the spreading and smoothing rolls before the coating of color has reached the proper consistency, the proper dryness, likewise satisfactory results cannot ordinarily be obtained if the paper is brought into contact with the spreading and smoothing rolls'after too long an interval, for just as the layer of color will stick to the rolls if it is too wet, so it will not spread smoothly,

.and penetrate the paper properly, to make the desired continuous surface coating if it is brought into contact with the rolls after the coating has had too long a drying interval. As stated above, this critical period is called herein the point or zone of critical drying. r In addition .to imparting a rotary motion to the

rolls

110 and 111, against the direction of travel of the paper, each of these rolls is also given a lengthwise oscillatory motion, across the path of travel of the paper. It has been found that where all the spreading and smoothing rolls are given merely rotary motion the desired smoothness will not be imparted to the coating. But by imparting an oscillatory motion to the

rolls

110 and 111 this desired smoothness is attained. In order to impart this oscilla-. tory motion each

roll

110 and 111, has one of its free ends pivotally connected to a connecting rod 130, which rods are in turn connected to the crank shaft 131, which is driven from any suitable power source as by means of a pulley 132 which receives a belt connected to a motor or some suitable character. As is clearly shown in Fig. v3 the crank shaft is so arranged that the two shafts oscillate at substantially 180 apart. This has the useful function, among others, of preventing the shafts from tending to urge the traveling sheet of paper out of the straight path of .travehsince the two shafts move in opposite directions and thus counteract each others effect.

Because of the extra thickness of the color solution that may be used in the practicing of this invention, the drying of the paper after the coating is applied is effected much more economically. Thepaper leaving the first set of spreading and smoothing rolls passes over the two drying rolls 17 arranged as shown, one above the other, where the paper is heated and vaporization of some of the moisture efi'ected. The paper having been partly dried by these rolls then passes to the driers 30, the felt conveyor, as stated above, serving as a support and drive so that the paper remains perfectly smooth as it passes to the final driers and disruption or stretching of the paper is thus pre.

vented, and furthermore, cockling, curling and wrinkling is also prevented.

The driers 30 are so arranged that the paper passes therefrom with the already coated side up so that when it enters the second set of color-application rolls the color is applied to the uncoated side of the paper.

This second set of color-application rolls, and the spreading and smoothing rolls associated therewith, are identical with the corresponding parts heretofore described.

As shown by the drawing, and indicated generally by the numeral 46, the second set of drying rolls 45, is provided with a felt belt, similar in construction and function to the part '31 described above. No detail des'cription of either the belt 31 or the belt 46 thought necessary since each of these is constructed and operated in the conventional manner.

The drying roll 43 is preferably positively driven, b r means of a belt, or the like, at a speed whlch is in accordance with the speed of travel of the paper, this drive being from the color-application rolls 41.

As stated above, the paper is drawn from the roll 10, and fed through the coating and drying mechanism under a substantially uniform tension, due to the action of the braking mechanism described above as used in connection with the roll 10. In order to facilitate the feeding of the paper through the mechanism as in case of starting a new roll, threading mechanism is provided in association with the first set of driers 17. This threading mechanism consists of an endless canvas belt 150, which passes over the three rollers 151, 152 and 153, these rollers being preferably arranged in a triangular relationship as shown, and the belt being sufficiently slack, so that when in threading position, a considerable portion of the belt is in driving contact with the upper roll 17. This belt may be of any desired width but it has been foundto function very satisfactorily when approximately 12 inches in width. The three rollers 151, 152 and 153 are rotatably mounted upon a framework 154, which is pivoted at one end 155, so that the framework with the rollers and belt may be swung bodily about this pivot to lift the belt completely out of engagement with the upper roller-17, or to bring it into operative engagement with the roller, which is the position shown in Fig. 1. Attached to the frame 154 is a rope or cable 156, which passes upwardly over a pulley 157, and then downwardly so that by proper pull upon the rope the threading mechanism may be elevated into inoperative position, and by proper slacking of the rope it may be lowered into operative position. In starting a new roll of paper, the paper is guided through the mechanism and into contact with the lower roll 17 and the free end is then inserted between the belt 150 and the upper drying roll 17,, the belt causing a positive feed to the paper so that it will pass readily through the apparatus.

While the method herein described, and the form of apparatus for carrying this.

method into effect, constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise method and form of apparatus, and that changes may be made in either without departing from the scope of the invention which isdefined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a coating of color to a traveling sheet of paper and for limit ing the thickness of the coating of color; and a spreading and smoothing roll spaced from the said color-applying and limiting means.

2. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a coating of color to a traveling sheet of paper; a spreading and smoothing roll positioned in juxtaposition to said color-applying means, and means for applying rotary and oscillating motion to said roll.

3. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a coating of color to a traveling sheet of paper and for limiting the thickness of the coating of color; and spreading and smoothing rolls positioned in juxtaposition to the said colorapplying and limiting means.

4. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a coating of color to a traveling sheet of paper; a plurality of spreading and smoothing rolls positioned in juxtaposition to said color-applying means, and means for oscillating said rolls axially out of phase.

5. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a coating of color to atraveling sheet of paper; a plurality of spreading and smoothing rolls positioned in juxtaposition to said color-applying means,

and means for oscillating certain of said rolls axially out of phase.

6. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a layer of color to a traveling sheet of paper, a spreading and smoothing roll positioned in juxtaposition to the said color-applying means, and means for rotating said roll against the direction of movement of the paper.

7. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a layer of color to a traveling sheet of paper, a plurality of spreading and smoothing rolls positioned in,

uxtaposition to the said color-applying means, and means for rotating the said.

spreading and smoothing rolls against the direction of movement of the paper.

8. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a coating of color to a traveling sheet of paper and for limiting the thickness of the coating of color; and a spreading "and compacting roll positioned at the zone' of critical drying of the applied coating of color. I

9. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a coating of color to a traveling sheet of paper and for limiting the thickness of the coating of color and a-spreading and smoothing roll, of not more than 2 inches diameter, positioned in juxtaposition to the said color-applying means.

10. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a coating of color 'to a traveling sheet to a traveling sheet of paper and for limiting the thickness of the coating of color; and spreading and smoothing rolls, each of said rolls being not more than 2 inches in diameter, positioned in juxtaposition to said color-applying and limiting means.

11. Apparatus for coating paper, comprisii g means for applying a coating or" color to a traveling sheet oi paper; and four spreadiin and smoothing rolls positioned in juxtaposition to said color-applying means, three of said rolls being of substantially 2 inches diameter and the fourth of substantially 1 inch diameter.

12. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a coating of color of paper and .t'or limiting the thickness of the coating of color; a spreading and smoothing roll positioned in juxtaposition to the said colorapplying and limiting means, and a drying roll adjacent said smoothing and spreading roll.

33. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a coating of color to a traveling sheet of paper and for limiting the thickness of the coating of color; a spreading and smoothing roll positioned in juxtaposition to the said color-applying and limiting means, and a plurality of spaced drying rolls positioned adjacent the spread ing and smoothing rolls.

14. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a coating of color to a traveling sheet of paper and for limiting the thickness of the coating of color; a spreading and smoothing roll positioned in juxtaposition to the said color-applying and limiting means, a drying roll adjacent said smoothing and spreading roll, and a conveyor adjacent said drying roll for support ing and driving the partially dried paper as it passes from the said drying roll.

15. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a coating of color to a traveling sheet of paper and for limiting the thickness of the coating of color; spreading and smoothing rolls positioned in juxtaposition to the said color-applying and limiting means. means adjacent said spreading and smoothing rolls for eliecting partial drying of the coated paper, and means for receiving the partially dried paper and constructed to prevent cockling, curling and wrinkling of said partially dried paper.

18. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a coating of color to atraveling sheet of paper, spreading and smoothing means positioned in juxtaposition to the said color-applying means, a drying roll adjacent said smoothing and spreading roll, a conveyor adjacent said drying roll for supporting and driving the partially d-ried ranged to direct a jet of air downwardly against the paper supported by the conveyor.

17. Apparatus for coating paper, in which the paper to be coated is continuously unwound from a previously prepared roll of paper, or the like, comprising means for applying a layer of color to said paper and for limiting the thickness of said layer of color; means for spreading and smoothing said layer of color, means for drying the coated paper, and means for positively driving the paper through the said apparatus.

18. In apparatus of the character. described, or the like, means for applying a layer of color solution to a traveling sheet of paper, means for spreading and smooth ing this said applied layer of color, a revolving roll for drying the coated paper, a conveyor belt for supporting and driving the partially dried paper as it comes from the drying roll, means for rotating said dry-- ing roll, and means actuated by the said drying roll rotating means for driving the said conveyor belt at a predetermined speed relative to the speed of rotation of the drying roll.

19. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a coating of color to a traveling sheet of paper, spread ing and smoothing rolls positipned in juxtaposition to said color-applying means, a drying roll-positioned adjacent the spreading and smoothing rolls, aconveyor for supporting and driving the partially dried paper as it comes from the said drying roll; and a second drying roll for receiving the partially dried paper from the conveyor and completing the drying of said paper.

20. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising means for applying a layer of color to a traveling sheet of paper, a spreading and smoothing roll positioned in juxtoposition to the said color-applying means, a drying roll positioned adjacent the said spreading and smoothing roll, heating coils adjacent thedrying roll, and a second drying roll positioned beyond the said heating coils.

21. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising a color-receiving trough, a color-applying roll associated therewith, and means for oscillating'the said color trough relative to the applying roll. v

22. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising a color-receiving trough, a color-applying roll associated with said trough, means for. oscillating said color-receiving trough relative to the color-applying roll, and means for tilting the said color-receiving trough to flow the color solution con tained therein against the said applying roll.

E23. Apparatus for coating paper, comprising .a color-receiving trough, an u per and a lower color-applying roll spaced rom each other to permit the passage of a traveling sheet of paper therebetween, a flexible lip carried by said trough and adapted for contact with the lower color-applying roll, means for tilting said color-receiving trough to bring the said flexible lip against the lowercolor-applying roll to flow the color solution over said lip against the said lower color-applying roll, and means for oscillatrolls,- and at substantially the critical drying zone for the layer of thick color solution a drying roll adjacent the smoothing and spreading rolls for effecting partial drying of the coated paper; a felt conveyor for receiving the partially dried paper; and drying rolls for completing the drying of the coated paper.

25.- Apparatus for coating paper, comprising a color-receiving trough, a color-apply- 7 ing roll adjacent said trough, and means for moving said trough toward the said colorapplying roll, and at the same time tilting the said trough to bring the lip on the said trough against the said roll'and to flow the color solution within the said trough onto the surface of the roll for transfer to the paper to be coated. 26. Apparatus for coatin paper, comprisng a color-receiving trough, a color-applying roll adjacent said trough, a supporting member for said trough, and means including an eccentric cooperating with said supporting means and constructedwhen actuated in one direction to move said trough toward the color-applying roll and to tilt the said trough to flow the color solution in the said trough onto the said roll, and when actuated in the reverse direction to tilt the said trough to prevent the flow of color soluupon the end of said shaft, a gear member positioned adjacent to said slotted member, a pin eccentrically mounted upon said gear and extending into the slot within the said slotted member, and means driven by the said color-applying roll' for actuating the said gear to effect oscillation of the said trough relative to the color-applying roll.

29. Apparatus for coating pa er on both sides, comprising means for app ying a layer of colorto one side of the traveling sheet I of paper, means for spreading and smoothing said layer of applied color, revolving rolls over which the coated paper is passed,

means for heating certain of said rolls to efi'eet partial drying of the coated paper, the final rolls with whlch the paper contacts being unheated so that the partially dried "paper cools off as it passes over said revolving rolls into that-part of the apparatus for coating the opposite side of the paper, means for applying a coating of color to the opposite side of said paper and means for effect- 'ing complete drying of the resulting coated paper.

30. Apparatus for coating paper on both sides, comprising means for applying a layer of color to one side of the traveling sheet of paper, means for spreading and smoothing said layer of applied color, revolving rolls overwhich the coated paper is passed, means for heating certain of said rolls to effect partial drying of the coated paper, the final rolls with which the paper contacts being unheated sothat the partially dried paper cools 011' as it passes over said revolving rolls into that part of the apparatus for coating the opposite side of the paper, means for applying a coating of color to the opposite side of said paper and revolving drying rolls for effecting complete drying of said coated paper. 1

In testimony whereof I hereto atfix my signature.

JOHN TRAoUAIii.